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 Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:56 pm
Zeus was... himself, as always. Striding boldly, his gaze swept the area with an eye for detail. He took in everything, but nothing seemed to bother, or even interest, him. After all... the real source of his entertainment wasn't the enviroment and there was really nothing out there he felt he should fear or worry about.
"Lovely day, isn't it, my dear?" He said as he turned to seek out his current 'companion', the lovely Chaka. "Anything strike you as a source of inspiration for that name you're looking for?" He teased her lightly, half serious. He did sort of care about the quest she was on... if only for the fact that it's what allowed him to spend time with the pale lioness.
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Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:59 pm
Chaka wasn't in the most bright and talkative of moods since the two had set out. Last night she'd dreamed of home, and of mother. With the memories of the day she'd been sent on her quest burning fresh in her mind Chaka was just a bit distracted. She almost didn't hear Zeus' question, in fact, as she followed alongside the larger lion in relative silence. She looked up in soft surprise when she realized he had spoken to her.
"I'm sorry, what...?"
Truthfully her mind wasn't so much on her name, so much as it was on the humid swamps and the tangled paths that she called home, and how much she was aching and longing to return there now. It was visible in her eyes just how distracted she really was.
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:05 pm
The large male was a tad annoyed that the subject of his earnest persuit was paying him no mind at all, but it didn't last long as he decided to press on with her.
"You said you were looking for your name, so you could go home to your pride. I asked if you saw anything that might inspire you in that direction. Surely you have some idea of what you want your new name to be, even if you don't know which one is the right one." He said as he paced along beside her, his tail gently swaying behind him.
His tail... a source of both embarrassment and sometimes gratification, depending on his company. He often wondered who in his family had passed on this marking that made him look like he dipped his hind end in something dark. Blinking out of his revere and wondering where that throught had come from, he focused again on the pretty female at his side, shifting to move a little closer to her. Their shoulders didn't quite touch, he wasn't that foolish, but an outsider might wonder if the two were lovers, they stood so close.
Which, of course, was the point.
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:56 pm
"Oh... no, I don't... I mean, I guess I never really thought about what I'd like my name to be. I always thought it would be something that had to come to me, not a choice."
She wasn't criticizing or even being sarcastic. She really hadn't thought about it before. Now she regarded the area with a bit more attention, but still didn't seem to notice him moving any closer, perhaps her distracted state was to blame. Even paying attention now, though, she really didn't see anything that stood out at her. Trees... some boulders... some lovely flowers, but nothing interesting or dynamic.
"I don't know, I wish I had some kind of clue, something to tell me what to look for! This is going to take forever!" She sighed with a firm shake of her head. She would eventually understand, but right now, nothing was coming to her.
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:24 pm
Zeus chuckled as he shook his head, his shoulders rolling in a shrug as he paced forward.
"Did anyone say it had to come to you? Are you just supposed to sit there and hope that you get some kind of sign that tells you this is the name you're looking for?" He shook his head again as his tail gave a gentle flick. "Did someone say you can't -look- for it? Why can't you try out a few and see how they fit? Or make lists of names and narrow it down to ones that seem to call to you? I guess I don't see the point to a quest that's not... really a questing."
A low chuckle rolled from him as he shrugged again, brushing off all this higher thinking. "The gods may help us along, but they expect us to kind of help ourselves at the same time. I guess I don't know much about your ways, though. I'm just a simple rogue. Maybe the way you're doing it is the right way after all."
Taking a side step, he brushed his shoulder to hers as he moved past, trotting a little to break out infront of her for a few steps by himself.
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:30 am
Chaka listened without interruption, but her thoughts were racing a bit. Was he right? Did he have a point? She had never thought about it like that was really all that she'd meant to say but it sounded like he'd taken offense from her wording, if his last bit of wording was any indication. Embarrassed now, she trailed quietly, not sure what to make of the shoulder-rub.
"I didn't mean it like that... I just... honestly never considered it that way, but..."
She paused, watching him move ahead of her. To seek her name aggressively? Or to seek it intuitively.
"..." She shook her head gently then, knowing which she would do. "... but I feel like it's something that will come to me, not the other way around. I'm already out here looking for it. Meeting new faces, visiting new places, this is just my way. Maybe my brothers and sisters will do it differently but I think that the only way my new name will feel... like the right fit is if it finds me when it's ready to."
She moved to catch up then, coming alongside of him again but this time trying to stick to the shadow he cast for a bit of shade.
"You believe in gods too, Zeus? I thought you were just joking around about it when we first met..."
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:54 pm
The words coming from behind him brought a smile to his face and he glanced back over his shoulder.
"If that's the way you wish to do it, then its probably the best thing to do." He laughed as he paused to let her catch up. "I just wanted to be sure you knew what you were doing... if you understand me. That you weren't just wandering around like a seed in the breeze." Zeus shook his head with a smile as he started walking again, at her side once again.
He lifted an eyebrow at her question, tossing her a side-long look. "I very much believe in gods, Chaka. The place where I grew up, they were the founding principles." He grinned as he puffed his chest and lifted his head, looking rather proud of himself. "I was actually named for the king of those gods. Zeus, the god of the sky and thunder, the Cloud-Gatherer. Its a very weighty name."
He left out what other characteristics he shared with his namesake, nothing but the smile on his face giving it away.
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:32 pm
"It does sound like it." Chaka smiled kindly, taking in what he had to say with earnest, but keeping to herself that she didn't really follow or believe in other gods, herself. There was no need to point this out, and she didn't want to offend. Clearly he took some great pride in his name(sake), and she wouldn't be the one to belittle that.
Chaka's ears twitched as the sound of distant laughter caught her attention. Swiveling her head and neck a bit she spotted the source, a rogue lioness with her cubs, a male dozing behind her. The sight made Chaka's smile soften. She remembered so well being that age, rough housing with her siblings and vying for their mother's attention.
"Zeus, have you any children?" She suddenly asked, glancing to the male. Surely someone as striking as him had a few offspring running around. It didn't seem at all an odd question to ask, and frankly her impression of him was mixed, some days more than others believing him to be some self-practiced Casanova, but it was such a weird concept, such an odd thing to her that she more often than not simply looked the other way concerning his flirtations.
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:39 pm
Zeus smiled as he walked beside Chaka, his tail swinging behind him.
"There are a wealth of stories about the gods, you know. Their exploits could fill many hours of storytelling and they make good teaching for cub as well." He called back to her, his eyes scanning the other side of the horizon. The orange male wasn't ready then, when her question was sprung on him. His head jerked around, eyes widening as he too caught sight of the famly. Unlike Chaka, he didn't get the warm fuzzies from the sight.
"Well, um..." He coughed and cleared his throat, averting his eyes with ears lowered. "I don't think so. I've never heard of any, at least." The subject was an uncomfortable one for the rogue. He specialized in the 'before' and had nothing to do with the 'after'. Picking up his pace, he pulled out in front of Chaka, his head held low.
Cubs... what would he do with them, even if he did have them? What kind of a father would he be? Never around, never with the same girl twice in a row. Any cubs of his were better off without him.
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:00 pm
"Zeus, wait a minute! ...."
Chaka sighed, shaking her head as he hurried off ahead of her. Was it a bad subject? Why did it seem like she just couldn't click with this guy? He really didn't seem to mind it or care either way but several times now she'd gotten the distinct feeling that she had managed to put a paw in her mouth by not watching what she said or asked. Now that she was getting more accustomed to life out on the road though she was starting to learn.
No kids that he knew about, was it? That meant that he had reason to believe there was a chance he might. It made sense. Just thinking over things wouldn't get her caught up with him, though, so she picked up a light trot to catch up and pull alongside again, quirking an eyebrow at him sideways. "You know, if I say something that offends or upsets you, you should tell me so I know to avoid it next time."
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:27 pm
The sound of paws padding along behind him drew Zeus' attention and he eased the troubled look from his features. The subject of cubs was rarely brought up to him and he prefered it that way. When the pale female came up beside him again, he slowed his walk to match hers and plastered a brazen smile on his face, giving her a lecherous look in the hopes it would distract her from that touchie subject.
"Forgive me, lovely Chaka." He chuckled as he shook his head, fluffing out his mane with the motion. "Its not a question I'm normally asked, that's all. Its not such a touchie subject just... unusal. There is no reason why you can't ask me anything you like. I will try my best to answer it and truthfully."
Shifting his steps, he closed the distance between them to something more intimate, trying to decide how best to go about this turn of conversation. Well, when in doubt, turn it towards the lady.
"What about you, my dear? I never asked if you had someone special at your home. I fear that if you have a male already, I shall be quite heartbroken... I don't know how I'll recover! And if you have cubs, well... I'd think you were deceiving me and not as sweet and innocent as you appear."
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:16 pm
She'd have been blushing if it were possible. As it was she just laughed a bit nervously at his question.
"Someone special? No, I'm afraid not. I'm related to most of the pride members, even if I hadn't been sent on my naming quest by the time I was old enough to start thinking about such things. No cubs, either. I'm actually hoping to find new blood to bring back for our pride." She quipped with an optimistic tone and smile. "So if I did find someone out here, it would probably be more than I set out for. You know..." She smirked as she eyed him sideways. "Your coloring almost makes you a dead ringer for one of us. -You- could always come back with me..." She grinned impishly, toothily, but contained. It was a tease, her playful side coming through. Lack of experience told her nothing about the close proximity he initiated, but instinct set her mind on aware.
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:28 pm
The large male gave an inward sigh of relief when she confirmed that she had no male in her life, no one she'd be going back to and no one to get in his way. It was always so much harder to seduce a lady that was taken, and Zeus had long ago decided to add Chaka to the list of females he had spent... quality time with. She was lovely, sweet, a little timid at times, altogether perfect as she was.
Her suggestion though, following her comment on his coloring, pulled him put a little, but he never faltered in his confident stride. Go back with her? Join her pride? His immedient answer was a resounding NO, but he chose instead to play it off as a joke she'd made.
Eyes playful, he grinned and flicked his tail. "You'd want a rogue like me in your pride, my angel?" He purred, soft ears layed back in a sly expression. "I take it you've grown rather fond of my company, to suggest such a thing. What sort of a pride is this and where is it located? I'm find myself quite curious now to know about something you prize so highly."
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:54 pm
"Well... I have."
Chaka quirked one side of her brow at his question, though aware he was joking, she was surprised by the question even if not offended.
"Our land is in the swamps," She quipped back in amusement, sure after seeing these lands that anyone from them would likely find their swamp a strange place to live. She did love it, though, the maze of roots and pathways, even the murkiness of the waters that made up their home.
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:39 pm
Zeus smirked as he thought about that. A drap green and brown world where he would stick out like the sun come to earth... mud on his paws and fur, bugs to torment him at every turn... yeah, it sure sounded appealing. But then again... Chaka would be there, a pale spot of purity amid the mucky. What a tempting thought indeed.
He grinned at her as he turned his head, letting his shoulders roll. "I'm quite pleased you've grown fond of me. It has always been my wish to ingratiate myself to you and earn your good regard, Chaka. Lovely lady, you honor me more than you know." A soft chuckle slipped from him as he changed course, directing them more towards the shade of a tree by a small spot of water. Time for a rest, he was thinking, and maybe a chance to explore that 'fondness' she had for him. If luck was with him, that was.
"Your home sounds most unusual. There aren't many that live as you do. I find myself curious how else your world is different... Are the other girls of your pride as lovely as you are, or are you just a shining example?"
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