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 Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:35 am
Mvushi lay on his back, his mind felt completely blank as he looked up at the night sky. Little, glittering stars dotted the sky wonderfully. Each little cluster was beautiful in it's own right, but the most beautiful object in the sky was the Great Lion. He was stunning, and nearing full. It wasn't long ago that Mvushi felt slightly bitter towards the Great Lion, believing no wrong was done on his part that such bad luck had befallen him. But recently he was having these thoughts less and less. In fact, life had become quite routine. He went about doing what he had to for the pride, hardly spoke to anyone and just... lived his life.
It was almost sad, really. But this did not seem to bother him, or perhaps he'd yet to think of his life very seriously. Every so often the glimmer of thought would touch his mind, but he would quickly think of something else. It was safer this way, safer for his mental health.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:48 am
 It was a beautiful night. Oftentimes Caritas wondered why, in a pride that was so devoted to the moon, more members weren't nocturnal. There were clear advantages to the daytime, yes, but the moon was faint and difficult to see then, if it was visible at all. Not that the black lioness' duties knew day or night. A lioness would give birth only when the Great Lion ordained it and so far there was no difference between the two that Caritas had noticed. Then again, it wasn't as if there were that many pregnant lions in the pride right now. The Midwife often wondered if she felt so comfortable at night only because she knew the Great Lion was watching over her. If she was one of the godless rogues, would she fear it more? Or maybe she would embrace it as much as she did now. After all, her black coat would make night hunts easier - if she'd been a hunter. But that had seemed too much work and so she'd chosen Guard duty. None of which had anything to do with her current station or the night sky. Becoming a Midwife had brought her into contact with a much larger portion of the pride than she'd ever met before. Now she was in a position to meet and serve lions of every rank, whereas before she had been somewhat insulated from the lower ranks. Damn shame that, but there it was. Speaking of, her eye fell on a lighter shape lying on the ground ahead of her. The figure didn't look ill, but she couldn't imagine what the other was up to. So Caritas did the only logical thing she could do. She went up to the other lion and stood over him. "Are you okay?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 12:06 pm
Mvushi had not really been caught up in his thoughts, he was just sort of zoned out as he stared up at the Great Lion, not listening for others' nearby. Much of the pride enjoyed this time for sleeping, or getting their cubs to sleep. Most did not socialize, and kept close to their dens. In Mvushi's opinion, this was the best time for a slave.
As a figure appeared over him it gave him a slight start, his deep maroon eyes widening just a bit. Luckily he had not sat up quickly at the other's words, otherwise he might have cracked her in the skull with his own face. Unpleasant for both parties, for sure. He cleared his throat, one brow raising. "Aye, I'm fine." She definitely wasn't a slave... he knew he saw her around the pride often. But doing what? He tried to wrack his memory, but it wasn't of much use. He just didn't like interacting with others. It was safer to just assume her station was far above his, even if it ended up she was lower-middle or something.
Though her face was familiar, he couldn't recall her name either. "Just taken' a moment to view the Great Lion. Do you need something?" Oh he didn't want to do work right now! "Miss?" He added after a moment, realizing he shouldn't be... too rude.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 12:39 pm
Well, she was glad to hear that there was nothing wrong with the lion. The black lioness smiled to hear what he'd been up to. It was good for everyone to take some time out of their day or night and reflect on the Great Lion above.
"Caritas," she corrected. She didn't want to be seen as a higher rank than most of the pride, not if she was to help the lionesses through one of the most important of life cycle events.
"No, I don't need anything," the lioness went on, backing off a little and settling down nearby. "But I would like to know your name." She guessed he was a slave and she greatly preferred to differentiate what she needed assistance with and what she could do herself.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:54 pm
He took a deep, slow breath. Fine. He'd call her by her name. "Caritas it is, then." He said simply, and as she moved back a bit he rolled over and sat up, then shook his mane out a little.
She may not have wanted any errands done, but it seemed she wanted conversation of some sort. Which was equally annoying. What did he have to speak about? "Er, It's Mvushi." He wondered if he should say anything else... but she hadn't asked any other questions, had she? If she wanted conversation she could provide it... or something.
He'd obligingly answer any question she asked, but he would not offer any effort to make that conversation easier. At least, that was how he felt for now.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 2:07 pm
The lioness raised an eyebrow, invisible in the darkness agianst her black fur. Okay, she knew that not everyone was friendly and not every cared for the high class but she tried to give everyone the same respect and courtesy. Apparently not everyone felt the same.
"It's nice to meet you, Mvushi," she replied, searching frantically for something else to say. Or at least, something to say that wouldn't be politically awkward. She couldn't exactly ask what he thought of Fuu or if he was interested in how Selene was taking a bigger role as Heiress or even what he thought about the the shuffling of several key positions a few months back.
"Do you often come out here to meditate?" she asked instead.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 2:17 pm
He bet it was nice to meet him! He withheld the snort he wanted to respond with, instead nodding and forcing an awkward smile onto his face. He really should learn to handle these situations better... ah well.
He glanced once again to the Great Lion when she asked her question, brows raising slightly. Meditate, huh? "Eh... most nights. I wouldn't call it meditating, exactly." At least he was honest. Though after a moment of silence he realized this whole... not putting effort into the conversation wasn't really working out. It was just making things awkward he felt. Maybe if he spoke up she would soon grow tired of conversing and be on her way?
"And you, Caritas? Just enjoying a night stroll?" Wait... maybe that sounded like he was trying to nose into her business. He wasn't, of course. But he could have worded that better, probably. "I am surprised more are not out tonight, when the Great Lion smiles so pleasantly down on us." Ah, that just felt forced. He glanced toward her, tail flicking.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 2:26 pm
Caritas blinked. Religion was a key part of the pride, so she found it a bit odd that he wouldn't call contemplating the Great Lion meditation, but perhaps to each his own. She couldn't force her beliefs onto others, so she'd just hold her tongue on the subject.
"Ah, yes," the lioness answered. "I prefer to relax by walking around the pride at night." She too glanced up at the moon above as she considered what Mvushi said. "I am as well, but I have to admit, I enjoy the night more when there are fewer out and about. It's...more peaceful." She smiled at the lion. He seemed..tense. Maybe if he truly allowed himself to meditate and relax in the light of the Great Lion's Eye, he would be more at ease.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:57 am
Mvushi hardly ever felt relaxed, usually because something like this happened. Another would intrude on his solitude... though somewhere deep in the back of his head he found it to be a little nice. He'd never admit that, though. "Mm, I guess I get most relaxed from napping in the shade." Especially if he'd been in the sun for most of the morning, doing things.
He was nodding his head in agreement before even thinking it through. It was peaceful, most of the time. "Aye, a sort of quiet you can't quite obtain in the day time with all the youngsters about and everyone doing their work." He chuckled at this, surprising himself. Bleh, he shouldn't even be making this sort of small talk... his tail flicked and he glanced in the direction of the dens.
But if one didn't make this sort of small talk than one would be by himself forever, wasn't that true? He couldn't help but feel... like his life was just some big joke. He told himself over and over that it was better in solitude, especially with his station in life... and yet... and yet he was here, putting up with the lioness. He'd never dream of just getting up and leaving, of course. But it was an option! He glanced over to Caritas, watching her for a moment.
Ah! "Midwife." He said it out loud after realizing why she looked so familiar, not that he had any reason to be around pregnant females. But pregnancy was quite a favorite subject for members to talk about, he figured any sort of lions enjoyed speaking about the miracle of life. He cleared his throat. "Er, that is... what you do, right?" Well. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if he'd gotten that one wrong?
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:42 pm
The lioness smiled, picturing Mvushi stretched out in the shade. She could see him enjoying a bit of relaxation fairly easily. Everyone needed some. She nodded as he went on, commenting on how not only did most people have duties during the day, but all the children were awake and active as well.
She supposed that was why he was here at night, alone. If he was a slave, this was probably the time when the fewest lions had something for him to do, and he could do as he pleased. Caritas saw him looking towards the dens and a surge of guilt hit her. She didn't mean to keep him up late or anything.
"Ah, yes," she responded with surprise as he gave her her title. The lion hadn't shown any real recognition of her before, so she was surprised he knew her position in the pride. "I'm...still somewhat new at it though. That is, there haven't been that many births since I got the job," she admitted. It made her nervous in many ways. What if there were complications or problems with a birth? She didn't have half the experience of her predecessor and feared that when such a trial came, she might not be able to save both mother and children.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:09 pm
Hmm, it was true there hadn't been a lot of new cubs in the pride but Mvushi couldn't really see that as a bad thing, with everything that had recently happened. "I'm sure thats bound to change soon enough." He commented, a slightly amused yet bitter tone tainted his voice. "And you'll have your paws full before you know it." He added, trying to sound more pleasant.
Though Mvushi hardly acted like it, and would never admit it, he rather liked spending time with cubs of the pride. He secretly enjoyed when he had to baby sit them and such, even if they were a real pain in his rear! They were amusing and cute and... well usually constant reminders of what could have been with Denge. Ugh, he didn't want to sink back down into the merciless cesspit of what-ifs in his mind! They managed to take control of his thoughts most days, and a day like this was a rare day indeed! He'd gone most of it without once lamenting over his past!
"You have cubs of your own?" Wait, that wasn't changing the subject! Damn his mouth! Still... it would make sense if she'd already birthed a litter. How else would she be able to help mothers? No, he didn't want to think about the private and secret lives of females... birth was a secret they could keep to themselves. He never wanted to be part of that process!
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:24 pm
Caritas raised an eyebrow - invisible in to Mvushi in the darkness. Did he know something she didn't? "Oh?" she asked quietly. She wasn't suspicious or antyhing, but she was curious as to what he might be able to tell her.
He was hard to read, this lion. Maybe because she hadn't truly met him before, maybe because she hadn't spent much time among slaves she wasn't related to, there were so many possibilities. The end result was the same - that Caritas had no real way to know what he was thinking. Her only clues were gross motor movement - the only shifts in body language she could detect at night - and the tone of his voice. She hadn't realized how important sight could be when trying to figure out what a person meant as opposed to what they said.
The lioness was so caught up in her thoughts she almost missed his question. "What? No!" she all but snapped in response. Cubs? Her? Impossible! She had yet to meet a single male in the whole pride that interested her enough to even consider having a litter. Yes, it might help her to better understand and perform her duty, but damnit, if she was going to have cubs, she wanted them to be the child of a mate with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life.
And she was starting to think that lion just didn't exist.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:30 pm
He winced when he realized he'd asked the wrong question, and he wasn't sure how to further respond. He certainly didn't want to point out that it was a logical assumption... he also didn't want to point out that he wasn't at fault for not knowing if she was romantically involved with another in the pride or not... change the subject. He needed to change it!
"Sorry." He said finally, his voice just a hint stunned. After a moment he realized it was probably a natural reaction to someone who didn't have children, or something. "Didn't mean to go steppin' on any tails there." He mumbled, then chuckled slightly because his surprised had melted into amusement. "Fer a midwife, doesn't sound like cubs are too appealing of an idea." He pointed out, though now it was just to heckle her a little. Just a tiny bit, because he knew it wasn't good to provoke those that were above him.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:37 pm
The lioness' tail lashed a few times as the silence stretched on, but calmed when the other lion apologized. Just because so many other lions her age were off having children didn't mean she should be, Midwife or not. After all, if she and Hagryphus were both pregnant or mothers, who would have the time to administer to the expecting mothers of the pride?
The voice of reason pointed out that the likelihood of both Midwives being unavailable at the same time was part of the reason why there were two of them to begin with. Caritas purposefully squashed it.
She considered responding to Mvushi with a retort about being a slave and work, but that would be far crueler. Besides, she didn't know his rank for certain, she was only guessing. She settled for a noncomittal snort and comment. "It's not the cubs that are the problem."
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:45 pm
So she was single, it seemed. At least, that was what her words were leading Mvushi to believe, because it sounded to him like she thought it was the male that was the problem. Really, and he knew this to be true, it was the females there were lying cheats. Or at least, so it had been in his case. "Aaah." He curled his tail about his toes as he looked back to the moon, shaking his mane away from his eyes.
"So you're going through some self improvements then?" His tone was innocent as a cub's, though he hadn't been able to help himself with that one. Of the two, he would probably benefit much more from some self-improvements. He would... never have cubs, he thoughts. Well... he wasn't sure. He and Denge... he didn't want to think about that. If he ever did take a mate again he sure as hell wouldn't be finding her among his fellow slaves. He knew it was not right to think of schemes like social-climbing, and he used to look down on it with disgust... but to live the rest of his life as a slave!
It wasn't... so terrible. It didn't matter anyways, he could never muster enough enthusiasm to even fake being interested in another lioness since Denge had been so cruel, and his bitter attitude tended to give the impression that he wasn't really much of a keeper.
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