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 Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:56 am
Alizeti was waiting near his mother's den, as he had told Alcmene. He didn't think he'd have to wait long, but as he waited his mind was swirling with different ideas. Of leaving, and of staying. Of this girl, and of his home. Family, friends, mother, siblings. It was a lot to take in, and he thought that he might never come up with the right decision. There was weight on his shoulders, but he was the one putting in there. Alcmene gave him the way out (and a very well put one at that), but he wondered if that was best. What was best?
Alizeti waited patiently, since Alcemene might not have known where Uncle Fafnir immediately was. Just as long as his mother didn't come out wondering what he was doing, staring at nothing. That would be awkward to explain.
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:37 pm
He'd been pondering over the exact right words all the way over here, but then he realized that he couldn't just make a speech and be done with this. His nephew probably had real questions, expected real answers, not some stupid enlightening speech about how he just had to put his mind to it and he could accomplish anything.
Who in the world thought making Fafnir do this was a good idea? Fafnir certainly didn't.
Regardless, he put on his best serious-king-face and crossed the last few paces to stand before his nephew, dipping his head in greeting before he finally plopped down into a sitting position (really more for his own comfort than anything else). "Ally said that you wanted to see me?" Great opening, really.
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:51 pm
Alizeti turned to face his uncle, his own nerves rattling in his head. He had questions, but he didn't know how to ask them. They sounded dumb the more he turned them over, wondering if they were the right ones to ask. Nothing.
"Yeah," he replied with a goofy smile. "It was more her idea, but it was still a good idea." She seemed full of them, even if she hadn't been...thrilled when she had confronted him. Her support as a member of the family helped him along.
"I have questions, but they're all pretty dumb. Like, what was it like? Why did you do it? In some ways I know the answered, and in others...well, I won't know 'til I do it myself, y'know?" Man, was he talking quickly, and yet casually with his uncle.
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 1:24 pm
Fafnir smiled slightly as his nephew mentioned that is was Ally's idea, and a good one. It was hard not to smile over anything related to Ally, especially a compliment someone was giving her. It was just in his nature to encourage it. Then, sadly, all the questions started to come, and so rapidly that he could hardly follow them.
"Slow down just a little Alizeti," he said with a deep sigh, shaking his big white man out a little as he tried to clear his head just enough to gather his thoughts. He thought he had a grasp at what he was getting at, at least mostly, but he wasn't.. quite sure how to answer all of it.
"I did it because I love Alcmene, and she needed someone to love her for who she is and be her friend when everyone else wanted a queen." And he'd almost royally screwed all that up, but Alizeti didn't need to know all those dirty details.
He pondered over the other question, but he could only shake his head again as the answer came to mind. "It was terrifying, and I almost ran away from all the responsibility because I was scared I couldn't be what Ally needed me to be." He frowned at this, then sighed and glanced heavenward as if he might find some guidance in the hiding moon. "In the end, I overcame my fear for Ally, and I still make mistakes but I haven't done anything that's made the pride rebel yet." He smiled slightly at the though, the faintest little curl at the corner of his mouth, and glanced back down at this nephew. "Right?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 1:31 pm
Alizeti couldn't resist, and his eyes glanced up at the sky above when Fafnir did it. He lowered his head and glanced at him, still...unsure. But that smile got a grin in return. "Not from my, but I can't vouch for my mother or siblings," he chuckled, teasing his uncle a bit. He had always been a fairly laid-back lion, perhaps because of his status, perhaps not. He wouldn't know...or he always thought that until now.
"I'm scared I won't be what this girl needs me to be, but I don't have the fall back of love on my side to make it work. Still...if it is something that might help the pride, I would gladly do it. Strength, so hopefully another war won't...." he let his voice drop. He had only heard bits and pieces, but it was enough to make him realize that the world wasn't peaceful, not always. "I want to make sure my family is extra protected," he hastily added on.
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 1:45 pm
Fafnir frowned as Alizeti's concerns came forward, a stern face taking over his expression. "Don't think like that, the war is behind us and we are at peace." It wasn't snappy, but it was a tone he wouldn't have used with anyone if he didn't know he had the power of a title behind him. It still wasn't malicious, regardless, just that.. he didn't want anyone thinking that way. Pessimism was no one friend. Still, he knew the fear was probably right there, lurking like a shadow in the minds of a lot of the older members. Still, he was confident in himself, in Ally, in their family. They would not suffer that again.
"Ally and I will see this pride through, we have great lions here, with strength and intelligence." He was almost positive his mother could predict a war a year before it would ever happen - one day he'd find out if she really had spies or not. "If you want to do this, it is your choice Alizeti. No one will bind you to it, and we will not ask you to do it for us." He smiled again, albeit a bit weaker than before.
"It's your choice, remember that. We would appreciate the strength it would give us, and the piece of mind, but we would never hold it against you."
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 1:56 pm
Alizeti's ears flattened against his skull, but it wasn't because of his uncle's tone. It was the fact that he had aired those concerns, as baseless as they were. They were at peace, and for all he knew, they would be at peace for a very long time. Maybe even forever. One could never completely tell.
"I understand," he nodded. "I'm sorry I brought it up, I just..." He paused, trying to gather his words. "I worry too much, apparently enough."
He was feeling a little more nervous to talk, but only because he did not want to speak incorrectly again. One of his many problems, as he had never really needed to be guarded about what he said.
"My choice...It is, no matter how I try to paint it a different way." And he was. He didn't want to be a hero, but he wanted help in making this decision. Help that he wasn't getting, because it was his decision alone.
"Guess I should learn to hold my tongue better," he joked, chuckling.
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 2:05 pm
He relaxed a little, reminding himself that he was supposed to be helping the boy, not reprimanding him for voicing perfectly valid concerns. Besides, this wasn't even what he was here to talk about to begin with.
"No, there's no reason to hold your tongue," he shook his head, "not if you're going to be an important part of that pride. You should be learning to do the opposite. Meek and mild is definitely no help to anyone if they expect you to.. take care of this heiress." He had heard a little of what they had explained of her to Ally, but he always suspected the worst in these kinds of situations. If they were saying she was difficult, he was imagining a devil.
"We can't force you to make this decision, but I'm here to answer any questions you have about the.. transition. But I can't tell you exactly what it'll be like, because this seems vastly different from what happened between Ally and myself." He pursed his lips a little, as if it were a sign of sympathy, and shrugged his shoulders a bit. He and Ally had been in love, he hadn't left his family behind, and he had never had thoughts of saving his pride with an alliance. It had just been.. love.
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 2:20 pm
Alizeti knew the significant difference in this. He didn't even know this Ria that might possibly become his mate. It seemed normal to the maned wolf and the waterbuck; arranged marriages were common. And they had wanted someone specifically in a different pride. Perhaps they were the ones looking for strength, and not view it as a possibility just for the Mwezi'Johari to beef themselves up.
"I probably won't make my full decision until she comes here," he finally said. "I'm not expecting love, but if this is something I can do, then I might do it." And he just hoped that he would get along with her. Thinking about it more, he laughed. "Well, and we get along. The pair that visited didn't paint the prettiest picture, but now I'm more curious about her than anything at the moment."
"Thanks, Uncle Fafnir," he nodded, a swish of his tail adding to the affect. "You've given me a lot more to think about." And...some things that he was already thinking about, but Alcmene had been so firm that this was his choice, and no one would think bad of him if he did not accept.
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 2:29 pm
"It's good to wait and weigh all your choices at least," he nodded at that, but part of him was wondering what would happen if the heiress got all the way over to the Mwezi and Alizeti turned her down. He really didn't want a princess throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of his pride. Or worse - what if she got here and decided he wasn't good enough?
Suddenly, this seemed like it could be more headache than it was worth. At least he managed not to grimace, or make much of a change in his facial expression at all.
"You're welcome," he said with a nod, pushing himself up to stand once more. "You know where to find me if you have any other questions, right?" Well, there was the royal den, or his mother's den, or any number of places. Fafnir had a feeling he was probably awfully predictable though, and if Alizeti couldn't find him, Ally could probably point him in the right direction.
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 2:42 pm
Alizeti nodded, content and happy that Uncle Faf had liked his idea of weighing the options. There were so many pros, and a few cons, he had quite a lot of sleepless nights ahead of him. As long as he could still hunt, he wouldn't mind too much.
"Oh, yeah, I'm sure if I can't find you, Alcmene always seems to know where you are." He wasn't as used to his uncle's patterns, if only because he didn't need to talk to him too much. That might change between now and when the girl came, and Ali wasn't going to let a chance of more experience sharing and idea bouncing to just slip between his paws!
"I'll see you later, Uncle? I'm sure my mother and everyone else will find out soon..."
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 6:21 pm
Fafnir nodded with a small smile as Alizeti pretty much read his mind. Even if he didn't know where to find him, he certainly knew who could. He suspected that he would have quite a bit more to say him between now and when the time came, but their first meeting had gone.. rather smoothly. He'd leave him be with his thoughts.
"Yes, they'll all find out soon enough," especially if Malkia had anything to do with it. "On that note, I'm going to go see my mother and explain to her if she doesn't already know, because someone help me if she thinks I was hiding this from her." He gave a half-hearted laugh that suggested he was partially telling the truth, then gave Alizeti one last nod in parting before he turned and headed back towards Malkia and Mwezi's den.
At least this wasn't as awkward as he had been expecting.
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