[LOG] Hard Headed (Destati x Tala)

[Epine de Rose]

SOA - Tala

"There is absolutely no reason why you, or I, should have to part way on bad terms," the lioness spoke, her expression decidedly muted given her usual flamboyant. She was a touch tired, and without the company she had been blessed with on the way here, some of her journey had been somewhat arduous. What she hadn't accounted for, was just how boring the roguelands could be when you didn't actually bump in to anyone.

While not a wasteland, it was utterly empty and devoid of life on occasions. If you were on the wrong side at the wrong season, you would have even struggled to have found food. Admittedly she had almost stumbled in to this issue, but she had learnt how to hunt for the smaller prey very quickly.

SOA - Destati

"I would agree," the lion conceded and raised a brow. "With the exception of the fact that you not only threw dust in my eyes, but saw fit to slam your hint paws into my nose as well," he stated bluntly. His expression was largely unreadable, his tone the only indication of how he had truly felt. Suffice to say that the large male was less than happy with how he had been man handled. He could appreciate when someone was spooked, but he couldn't really accept that slamming their full weight in to him was the only option they had.

Hell, he hadn't even done anything to her to begin with! Frankly, from what he gathered, the very fact he had been wandering behind her, on the same path, without saying hello... was the sole reason he had been assaulted.

SOA - Tala

"What did you think was going to happen?" she demanded with a snort of frustration. "You were creeping along behind me without so much of a word, you could have pounced me at any second," she pointed out. Her nose wrinkled in distaste as she regarded him - he was a large lion, larger than most and certainly larger than a Pridelander. Honestly she hadn't even known that any lion could be that big, he even put Rag to shame...but it was his eyes that caused the biggest issue. They were piercing and didn't seem to contain a sliver of forgiveness. Was it any wonder that she had responded with hostility?

He had been a creeper; at the very least manners should have stated that he make his presence known rather than walking behind her for goodness knows how long! Where she came from, there was a thing called 'manners'.

SOA - Destati

"I expected," he began stiffly, his maw finely settling as the worst of the pain dulled. "To be allowed to continue along the path undisturbed," he continued and shook his head. For a brief instance his expression was incredulous as he regarded the large lioness. He'd seen lions her size before, he'd known the males were large but the females came in quite the size as well. Any other given day he would have noted this with more interest, but for now he could only accept that it was a large part of the reason she had brought tears to his eyes with a single kick.

He was by no means a weak lion, but he would challenge any male to not become teary eyed when punched in the nose by something that big.

"Far be it for me to fail to recognise that all individuals on the road should be greeted, and that you happen to own this particular one," he stated and shook his head. "I was far enough back not to cause you any trouble and you stopped just so you could kick me."

SOA - Tala

"I was always taught to make sure that your attacker couldn't get back up before you ran away," she replied loftily and gave a sniff of her own, her eyebrow raising as she observed the recovering demeanour of the lion. All things considered, he was taking this very well, all he had done so far was yell in shock when she had nailed him in the jaw and then protested at the sudden attack. He certainly hadn't attacked her and she had fully expected him to lunge by now... credit where it was due, he was much more reasonable than she had anticipated. All things considered, she was really quite impressed he hadn't been knocked out when she had landed her punch. Sure he had stumbled, but he hadn't blacked out like he should have done... Although now that she thought about it, her statement no longer made sense when she considered this fact. She hadn't punched him hard enough that he didn't get back up, so she had failed in that particular lesson.

"And it usually works," she amended after realising her error. "I'm going to credit your incredibly hard head to the fact that you're absolutely gigantic," she finished and arched her brow just a touch more. "You should make use of it more often, that's quite the weapon."

 

[Epine de Rose]

SOA - Destati

"Please excuse me, when I say that I do not take that as a compliment at this particular moment in time," Destati replied darkly and raised his paw to rub at his cheek. It was the first indication that she had given him a fair whack and it was still hurting him. Fortunately, the Justicar had been given his rank on the condition that he possessed the type of demeanour that he did. He wasn't one to react with hostility immediately, not when the rest of the evidence in front of him indicated that he had missed something. It wasn't often that someone else punched another in the head, at random, especially when he possessed nothing that she could take from him. For all intents and purposes he was a creature without value and even a thief would no that...so putting one and one together ensured he exercised caution, even if a more juvenile part of him wanted to clout the lioness's mouth in return. He wouldn't be surprised if he was left with some swelling tomorrow, that cheek was certainly going to remain tender for the next day or two at least.

"And you will forgive me for not providing you with pointers on how to better your aim," he added and slowly shook his head, acutely aware that the room might spin just a little if he did it too suddenly. Frankly, given his journey in to these lands lately, he wouldn't be surprised if fate gave him a concussion too! "You might actually kill someone if I did that and I can't afford to have that on my conscience, but perhaps I can advise you to just run if you feel uncomfortable rather than stopping to punch every innocent passerby."

SOA - Tala

"I will take your comments under advisement," Tala responded dutifully, though she wasn't entirely genuine in her promise. While she could see wisdom in his words, if she started to run then her attacker would simply run after her and she wouldn't have another opportunity to stun them. However, she would implement the 'run away' into her strategy in the future - she would stop, punch and then run, if anything the hesitation would be enough time for her to get away. Although he also did raise a valid point that not everyone may want to say hello, perhaps she would need to work out another method of determining if they were friend of foe. Maybe glance behind once or twice, measure the distance between their eyes...? Or maybe say hello herself, then depending on the response, punch and run? It was certainly something to consider and she would at least have something to ponder over while she wandered towards her next destination.

...Maybe she could ask that thief she had met before, he might know!

"But the head, you really should consider that a weapon."

SOA - Destati

"I'd prefer to avoid concussion," Destati responded in the same stiff tone as before, regarding the female with more clarity than he had initially been able to. Frankly, the more he examined her, the more he realised that the lioness was a bit of a duck out of the water. While it wasn't his place to enquire as to anyone's reasons for being in the roguelands, he did have to wonder why she was out here unescorted... She was so easily 'spooked' that a bodyguard or at least a companion should have been there to ensure she didn't kill any unfortunate, smaller individuals, who might walk the same path as her. He was fairly certain that he wasn't going crazy when he assumed that not everyone in the rogulands greeted each other. The paths were for everyone and not everyone cared to acknowledge one another... or had he missed a memo and his avian friend had failed to inform him of this change?

No, he was fairly confident that on this occasion she was just a weird one who really should have been accompanied by someone more sound of mind.

"If you are so easily spooked though, I would strongly suggest you return home or get an escort so that innocent lives aren't lost when you decide to lift your hindlegs," he announced. "How did you even get this far out with the urge to boot everyone in the face anyway?"

 

[Epine de Rose]

SOA - Tala

Tala rarely took offence at anything, it required too much effort, and thus when he asked her about how she had gotten so far she couldn't help but offer a winning smile. The fact she had assaulted the unfortunate male was largely forgotten in those moments as she recalled how she had encountered the Stormborn lion, one thing had led to another, and she had found herself happily escorted from her homeland and towards a number of sights she had wanted to see. She'd been to jungles, lakes and he had finally deposited her on the beach where she had enjoyed a fabulous party. All things considered, it had been wonderful and she had thoroughly enjoyed it. However when the party had been over she had noted it was time to move on to other sights and now she was here, back on the path to...wherever her paws took her (though preferrably not into the claws of danger). Admittedly she hadn't anticipated that she would be so unsettled, while she might try to hide it there were some times when small things spooked her, but she had to get used to it sooner or later.

"Ahhh well you see I had a charming escort all the way to the Kizingo'zaa and Bahari'mtoto," she replied merrily. "He helped me find my way from the Pridelands to the coast and then we parted ways, now I'm all on my lonesome."

Shame really, she'd quite liked him.

SOA - Destati

"I see," Destati replied in a measured manner and shook his head. "And where might you be off to now without this valuable asset in tow, back to the Pridelands?" he enquired and tilted his head to the side. Ah, but there was feeling returning to his cheek, he could be thankful for small favours, the swelling would probably be much less that he had initially anticipated. He'd still look 'off' but not as if he'd been flattened by an elephant. "Or somewhere else?" he added before pursing his lips. "Perhaps you would prefer directions rather than wandering blindly, it might stop a few folks from losing some teeth," he mused.

Granted, the lion didn't know everything about the roguelands or the prides around it, but he knew a fair amount.

SOA - Combined

"Ah, no, I'm okay... just going wherever my paws take me," she confessed and waved her paw somewhat dismissively. "Probably off to the jungle again to look at more of the plant life, it was really very pretty," she mused.

"The jungle..." Destati said slowly.

"Mhm, my companion struggled with the heat there so I didn't get to spend much time there." she explained, causing the lion to lift a brow. He seemed to be considering his options, as though her destination aligned with his own, though he was so difficult to read she wasn't entirely sure.

"Then I shall accompany you," it was a statement, not a request. "And you will refrain from punching any one else..." he continued. "You can go back to those antics after we have parted ways and I am moving safely in the opposite direction..."

"What, not even one more punch to even out both cheeks?"

"No."

"You're going to look terrible in the morning."

"I am well aware of that..." the lion lapsed in to silence as he finally began to walk away, this time with the lioness following behind him. It took all of his self control not to stop and punch her in return, tit for tat and all that.