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 Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:12 pm
A small dot of purplish blue laid, curled, in a tight neat ball out the den area. He wasn't one to usually just lay around but today he had nothing to do. The cubs orange eyes were focused on on his tail. His tail twitched from side to side and Lucianus fought the urge to bat at it. Playing with ones tail was an idiotic thing to do. It was brainless and had no point to it. Still, he watched and fought the urge.
What would mother think if she saw him prancing about after his own tail. He didn't want to think about that. So he shut his eyes tight and rolled on to his back . When he opened his eyes again the cub found that he staring straight up at the sky. He sighed and rolled onto his feet. So much for just resting.
Lucianus trotted off back into the family den in search of a sibling or some one he could bother. Sitting around doing nothing was just so uneventful and idiotic. His tail twitched behind him, and the cub ignored it as he padded on.
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:40 pm
Octavian had been watching. His mother had spent no time in making sure he and his siblings know they had to prove themselves. Prove that they were worthy of being loved and being kept. And he very much intended to do that. And right now, he was stalking his brother with every intention of doing... well, something. They were both good at observing after all, if only for different reasons.
He grinned, watching his bored brother go about his business. So much for being productive, but then, Octavian only saw his siblings as hinderences to his greatness. Though his mother did take the time to remin him, and the others, that on occasion, it was better to act as a team than it was to act alone.
"Really Lucianus, is that all you're going to do?" Octavian asked, approaching from behind. "You can be so dull sometimes for all your talk."
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:15 pm
Lucianus shut his eyes tight, annoyed, by the sudden intrusion of one of his siblings. At least it was one he had some respect for but it was still very unwelcome none the less. Slowly, taking his time, he turned to face said brother, Octavian. Oh goody.
"Octavian....." He greeted his brother with half lidded eyes, posture straight and head up like he was better then him. The leopards tail swished from side to side in annoyance, what ever the reason his brother was watching him for he didn't want to know. "Rest of the mind is needed to ponder lessons learned by mother. Not something a brute like you would understand."
With that he turned his back, in annoyance, and started to pad away. How dare Octavian call him boring. He was just smart. The purple blue cub seethed as he slowly walked away, cursing under his breath. Though, despite the brute comment, Lucianus had a great deal of respect for Octavian. He'd never admit that out loud though.
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:26 pm
Octavian grinned, following after him and laughing, "Come now Lucian. Don't be such a drag." He resented the brute comment, but only a little. It was true, after all. He was bigger and stronger than his brother, with an eye for tactical advantage that was sometimes missed by others. But he knew very well that Lucianus had an eye for things as well, different than his.
Their mother had taught them, after all, that people were smart in different ways. Only she was good at everything. He was still young enough to believe that, and hoped that some day he would be just as clever as his mother was. Her whispers would probably be with him, and his siblings, for the rest of their lives.
"Lucian..." Octavian said, padding up beside his brother, "Come on now, so huffy, such a bad mood... you'd think I had insulted your looks from the way you act. Though everyone knows I'm better looking." He grinned, just looking for ways to bother his brother. How could he resist? He loved finding the perfect little weaknesses to use against his siblings...
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:37 pm
His brother was following him, and now beside him. His arrogant mask did not break but he was still seething. That showed in the frown he carried with him as he listened to his brother talk, not interrupting, just listening.
"A bore you say," The lidded eyes turned to his brother, "Not as good looking?" Still the leopard didn't waver in his pace or even show the slightest bit of anger in his eyes. The frown said it all though, Lucianus disapproved strongly at what his brother was saying. If he had been the bigger one, he'd have pounced and pinned his brother for saying such rude things. But he wasn't, he was smaller and weaker physically.
"So your good looking, brother, and maybe in the hearts of females and some males that is an advantage. But may I remind you, in the battle field we lay paw in right now that its brains. " The leopard smiled as he carried on. Lucian didn't bother calling him a brute again, he felt he made his point.
Finally the leopard took a seat when there seemed to be no sign of anyone else around. Fine, he'd give his brother attention. It wasn't the worse thing in the world after all, Octavian was witty.
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Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 3:31 pm
Octavian grinned. He loved playing around with Lucian. For all his arrogance, and arrogance did run in the family. But... what was it his mother had explained? It was only arrogance if you thought you were better than other people. If you were, it was just the plain truth.
"Looks are alwyas an advantage brother. You think someone will trust your ugly mug? Everyone likes a pretty face." Octavian said, not yet losing his cool against his brother. He would, eventually. Their mother always had to break up fights amongst the families.
"And who said that good looking leopards don't have brains? Hum?" He chuckled, "I'd outwit you in a battle of brains any day!" He proclaimed, though that was unlikely. In some ways, sure, he and his brother were on par... in others, they outdid each other. And that was why Octavian liked his brother in the end.
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Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:33 pm
Being called ugly made Lucianus grit his teeth. The leopard wasn't sensitive about his looks or put much thought into how he looked but he didn't think he was ugly. A little plain on the markings and a little frail in his build, but he didn't think he was ugly. In fact, Lucian thought he was attractive, not the most attractive, but not ugly. The insult had shattered his arrogant mask and now only anger showed in his eyes as he gritted his teeth.
"You might out do me in a physical battle but I'd cream you in problem solving. You couldn't find your way out from under a giant leaf," The leopard grinned evilly, "Nay, a normal small leaf." With that the leopard lifted his chin and slowly rebuilt his arrogant mask.
He was still very much so seething, but he wasn't going to show that side of himself anymore. Or try not to. Still, this cub was young and still sloppy with his composure. He had practiced to his stride and the airs about him but he still had not mastered his temper.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:32 pm
Now that insult finally snapped the usually impassive Octavian. He knew for a fact that he was smarter than his brother was! And that he could beat the snot out of him too. "Hey! You take that back!" He growled, crouching down into apouncing position. Oh, he was so going to make Lucian regret saying that he wasn't that smart!
Of course, the part where he was kind of proving it by resulting to brawn over brain was lost on him for the moment, but his mom would probably point it out later. After all, anger was a sign of weakness, and she had pointed that out to them many times. A bad temper would only get you into trouble. Subtle-threats against another's person were far more effective than actually doing it. You could hire slaves to do that kind of leg work.
"Come on! Let's go! I dare you to fight me Lucian!" He said, cracking his paws and spitting on the ground for emphasis. He would take out his brother no matter what! That was the new goal. After all, if he killed off Lucian now, he would have less competition later!
...Not that he could have killed anyone anyway. Not yet anyway.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:55 pm
Lucianus's eyes widened as Octavian challenged him. Was he serious or really good at acting. Of course Lucian didn't doubt that he was serious. It would have been stupid to think that his brother would act in a foolish manner if he wasn't really upset. Course, Lucian didn't care that he had dishonored his brother by insulting his IQ. In fact, he grinned and got up, turning his back on his brother.
"Oh come now brother," The little leopard's lidded eyes fell on his brother as he turned his head to drink up the scene. Point proven and it felt so good. Though, Lucian was also stupid from his anger and his judgment was lacking. He should have continued onward, he should have shut up and stopped but no, Lucian was enjoying his ego being fed by his up set brother. Drunk with anger and power he turned to face his brother.
"I'll never take those comments back," His voice fell to an unnatural low, "Your a brute and nothing but fodder for war . No better then a barbarian dog or a slave. You're nothing brother but an under evolved p***y cat." Oh it felt so good to say that but at the same time he opened him self wide up as a target with a big freaking target sign on his forehead.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:04 pm
"I'll make you eat those words!" Octavian growled, more 'paws on' when it came to insults. He ran forward at full speed, catching his brother around the waist and knocking him over. They rolled down the nearby hill, rolling over each other while Octavian took every oppertunity to scratch and bite his brother as they fell straight down.
"I'll get you!" He swore, growling angrily when they hit the bottom of the hill, each brother flying in other directions from the impact, but Octavian was quickly on his feet and ready to attack once more. He was a little scuffled, but he wasn't finished yet.
He hissed, grinning wildly, "Wanna see what THIS dog of war can do!? Huh!? Sometimes you don't need a brain to beat the crap out of someone who can't fight back!" He snarled, happy now with his upper-hand on the situation.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:19 pm
The impact from Octavian had not been a surprise to Lucian. He really thought his brother would at least do that , but the fall and the scratching was a shocker to the the small purple blue cub. Lucian was seemingly frozen as the two feel, his arrogant mask still in affect, but only because he couldn't believe what was happening. The scratching , it hurt but the fall had been the big finish.
His body, almost lifelessly, flew through the air like a rag doll and when he landed, it was on his side on a hard slate of rock. Bam.
Despite all this, the mask stayed, though he squinted his eyes in pain as he slowly got up. No blood, just minor scratches and major bruising. It hurt and it hurt bad but Lucian got up any way and looked over at his brother as if nothing had happened. Mainly because he was still trying to put together the pieces of what just did happen.
Then, laughter, like a maniac. The cub laughed and laughed, and winced. He was hurting, why the laughter. It even scared Lucian, and the bewilderment showed in his eyes as the rolled on sight of Octavian. Still, he laughed and laughed.
"My my brother, " He winced and slouched some on his haunches, "So thats how you solve your problems. Such power," He weakly laughed weakly fell over to his side. The pain finally sinking in as he withered on that slab of rock. He winced but did not cry, just laughed in small weak snorts before finally stopping.
"I admit defeat today. No sense in battling when I can hardly stand," He winced some more. It hurt alot.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:33 pm
Octavian chuckled a little, "I wouldn't say that flailing your arms around and beating your enemies to a bloody pulp is always the best idea... but it works more often than you'd think." He said, dusting himself off with a grin, "But brother... I'll forgive you today. Note, however... insult me like that again, and one day, I'll cut off your paws and stake them to the oracle's temple." He sad, a grin and composure back on the young leopard's face.
He himself laughed, walking over to his brother's side and pulling him up, "There are worse things than being a brute... at least I'll never be weak. No one will ever get me in a head-on fight... and soon I'll make sure I never get a claw in the back either."
He grinned at his brother, glad he had helped him up. The 'bigger' man. Show some comfort. Make them think you have sympathy. One of his mother's teachings. Never trust anyone. Never befriend anyone, not really. See people as pawns. Who can you use to meet your ends? And your ends should always be protecting the Binadamu. Always.
"Admiting defeat brother... is always more gracious. I will always wonder though... if you'll stab me in the back some day." Octavian mentioned, laughing a little.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:51 pm
Lucianus winced, but was grateful that his brother had helped him up. Still, being of Atia's teachings too, he wouldn't let his guard down completely. But none the less, Octavian had earn respect from Lucianus. Not from the beating he had been gifted but from the mercy Octavian had showed. He had expected to have had a worse beating then before, but since his brother showed mercy, he'd never call his brother a brute again. Or at least that's what went on in his head.
"And mercy, most honorable," Those words weren't words the cub would speak unless he meant it. And he did mean it. Octavian had his respect, sure, but not his trust. He was not that naive to believe his brother was the golden armored hero that did all that was just and pure. No, he was something much to deep and complicated for that.
Lucianus's head lowered some as his brother laughed. "You never know brother. I can't say I won't or will. And the same goes for you," The cub lifted his head some and grinned at his brother.
"Lets ... not tell mom about the falling thing. We'll both probably ... " The cub didn't want to think of what Atia's reaction would be to the violence and even more so, Lucianus admitting defeat.
Though, it was no contest. Of the litter, Lucianus wasn't a runt, but he wasn't Hercules either.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:17 pm
"Indeed... mercy can earn a friend where you wouldn't expect it." Octavian admitted with a nod, grinning at his brother. After all, in the end they were cut from the same cloth and did tend to think the same way when it came down to it. And he was glad for that... because they'd always know what the other would do when they got older. Until they developed their own political styles he supposed... Lucian his cunning, and Octavian his brute strength.
"Yes, I suppose that would be best..." Octavian trailed off. Their mother didn't like really physical fights... she was worried they would scar and mess up their pretty faces. And who wanted to hang around ugly children? And he hadn't really meant it when he said his brother was ugly either. They had a very good looking family as far as he was concerned.
"We'd best... yes, not mention this at all. We can tell her we were... doing something else. Adventuring, learning the scenery..." Because the one thing the siblings could always count on was this: They were all very, very afraid of their mother. And they knew that they should be, and that no one else should know about it either. They were, after all, a family of secrets and silence.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:39 pm
Lucianus smiled at his brothers lie. It was brilliant, and he was glad that he had come up with it.
Good thing for the bruises. The hurt like hell but at least they weren't visible under Lucianus's already purplish blue fur. There were no bruises on his face either and no worries for any black eyes. The cub could conceal those easily with his some what mastered mask. He wasn't one for crying of whining about getting hurt. Mostly in fear what his mother would think, and , possibly do.
It was true, the cub feared his mother worse then death.
"So, Octavian," Lucian stretched a smile on his maw, "What do you say we actually.. do explore and make our lie a little more believable." There was no masking a good lie unless you really knew what you were talking about. Lucianus was sure their mother may see through the lie if it came to the point they had to lie. She was the best at everything, at least that's what Lucianus was taught to think.
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