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 Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:22 pm
 Lutalo was bored and when he was bored he tended to look for someone to hang out with. If he was lucky then he'd usually find a pretty lady to 'woo'. Lucky for him perhaps, but not necessarily for his chosen lady.
In any case, it would take more than bad luck to put him off. Lutalo believed himself to be quite the catch and if a female couldn't see that then...that was their problem, right? Their loss. One day they'd wake up and realise what they could have had and weep at the regret of not leaping on the chance.
The sun was just disappearing behind some clouds as he strode purposefully out across the lands, pausing for a brief moment to enjoy the slight dip in temperature as the rays ceased beating so hotly against his dark-pelted back. The sun was nice but not when he was trying to get somewhere and his current location lacked shade.
Okay. So where would all the pretty ladies be hanging out today?
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:39 pm
It was rare that Shani was out and about by herself, being the matriarch of such a large family- but she was out for a walk, headed for the waterhole. Not that her solitude was intended to last, she was supposed to meet with Fyulisi so she could keep an eye on her cubs for a little while. Always happy to help her grandchildren and play with her great-grandchildren, she wasn't very hard to convince. She was thinking she might take them to visit Fahari, he had no brothers or sisters his own age and the cousins all got along well enough.
Since the pride was always so busy, she didn't take any special notice of Lutalo as she walked along.
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:52 pm
But Lutalo took notice of her.
He stopped in his tracks to watch her for a moment and realised where she was heading. The waterhole! Stumbling to turn in the right direction he began to job in the same direction, hoping to arrive there at the same time as she so it might be considered a 'coincidence' or rather 'fate' that they had come upon each other like that.
Grinning inwardly at how amazing his thinking was, he was perhaps a little out of breath as he caught up. He took a moment to steady himself and then opened his mouth to greet her with the first 'chat up line' that sprung to mind.
"I must be lost." He declared with a smile. "I thought paradise was further south."
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:00 pm
Shani heard someone approach her but when she looked over and spotted a stranger, she was surprised. She mentally shook her head at herself, it wasn't so strange to chat with random pride mates, she was just taken aback because she was expecting someone specific.
Then he spoke and, though she smiled, she looked somewhat confused. She wasn't quite understanding what he said the way he hoped- or if she was, she was too stunned to respond except to question him.
"Excuse me?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:05 pm
That little setback might have been enough of a sign to put most males off, but that was not the case with Lutalo. He was persistent if nothing else. Widening his smile, he took another step closer and tried his best to look as 'dashing' as possible.
"What I mean to say is." He blinked. "Your very presence brightens the land." Oh yeah, she was totally going to fall for him now. Who wouldn't after hearing something like that?!
"My name is Lutalo, but I'm sure you already know that." After all he was pretty memorable and surely all the ladies spoke about him when he wasn't around. "I would bet my life that you have a beautiful name to match with that beautiful face."
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:15 pm
Normally, Shani was very good at keeping things together- but this was never really a situation she had been in. She had taken on a lot of responsibility from a young age and when she did fall in love, it was much more subtle than this, even from the start.
And, of course, there was nobody else to focus on and the conversation was harder to change when it was started like this.
"Shani," she introduced herself simply as she tried to wrap her head around how exactly she was supposed to react to this.
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:20 pm
Well, she wasn't being as receptive as he thought she might. Was there just something wrong with Pridelander girls? The place was budding with romance, new cubs popping up every day (or so it seemed to him). So what on earth was going on? Was he just not being quick enough? It's not like he wanted anything serious! He was soooo not ready to settle down.
"Shani." He repeated the name smoothly. "That is a beautiful name."
Okay, so how to reel her in..hmm...
"Well today is your lucky day as well, Shani. There's many a female who would want a chance to spend some time with me and today you could be living their dream. What do you say to a date? I'm free right now, in fact, and you..." He trailed, casting a casual glance around him before settling his eyes back on her. "Appear to be as free as free can be."
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:29 pm
Shy as she was, there seemed only one appropriate response to what was happening and that, unfortunately, was to laugh. It was more about herself and the situation she was in than about him, but it was hard to tell once she starting laughing.
"N-no-"
She hesitated, and though she was quiet again the amusement was still in her eyes. It was difficult to figure out what exactly to say to let him down easy- though he spoke with such confidence, she wasn't sure a simple rejection would get him down.
"I'm sorry-"
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:33 pm
No?
What did she mean No!?
Maybe she was just confused, or shy, or overwhelmed at this opportunity. Maybe she simply wasn't used to receiving attention from handsome males such as himself! Well she didn't need to be! She was pretty, after all. So yes, the laughter must have been nervous laughter. All was not lost yet. He wasn't about to give up on her when she could be talked around.
"What? You're meeting someone?" Perhaps that was the reason. He was clearly grabbing at any excuse he could think of. "Well, don't worry, I'm sure they'll understand if you couldn't meet with them because you made other plans..."
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:45 pm
Her tail swayed behind her as he argued, insisted there must be an obstacle that could be overcome stopping her from agreeing to the great honor of accompanying him on a date. She could have made it easy and simply stated that she had a mate, but she was distracted by his question and the idea of how her explanation might be received was too interesting to pass up. Even if she looked free, she was far from it with a family like hers. A mate, 27 children,
"I am meeting my granddaughter here," she said, emphasizing granddaughter just a touch, "I am going to be cub-sitting my great-grandchildren."
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:51 pm
"Well I'm sure she'll--" Wait. What? Had she just said what he thought she had said? Granddaughter? As in, a child of her own children? And that this child of her child also had children? How was that even possible? She didn't look that old. Maybe she'd just aged well or something...
In any case, age aside, did that mean...
Daaamn.
"You already have a mate, don't you?" He grumped, deciding to skip the whole 'great-grandchildren' part. What was age anyway? Just a number and she was still pretty.
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:10 pm
His reaction was funny and, thankfully, it got the point across. He didn't sound pleased but at least he didn't sound terribly offended- he didn't even seem that put-off, though he did seem like he might respect the fact she already had a mate.
"I'm afraid so," she said before she could consider how it might be taken if he were more determined than persistent, "But there's no charming way to find that out first, is there?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:19 pm
"Well, I should have guessed with a face like yours." He replied, looking a little sobered by the whole realisation.
After a moment, Lutalo gave a sigh and risked another glance up into her eyes. "I guess you wouldn't be the type to cheat on your mate either, would you?" It was definitely wishful thinking but he would have always wondered 'what if' otherwise. Being someone's secret might be quite fun, too.
"Because if you were, I'd definitely still be up for that date..." He trailed, a glint of hopefulness coming into his eyes.
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:32 pm
The look in her eyes changed when he mentioned the idea of cheating, and it wasn't a very hopeful change. She simply shook her head, her tone becoming more simple as she responded.
"That isn't the kind of reputation you want," she said. It was his own business what he did in his own love life, but if it was enticing mated lionesses then he ought to be more discreet about it. For his own good as much as theirs.
"I hope you don't make a habit out of that," she added.
In the corner of her eye she caught sight of Fyulisi standing nearby with her gaggle cubs. The conversation was really over, now, and so she moved to go and meet her granddaughter.
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 8:30 am
He backed up a step at that, thoroughly beaten back. Okay so she wasn't the cheating kind. Even still, he didn't really care much about his reputation. Actually, if he ever achieved that, he'd probably be quite proud and eager to show off in front of others.
"Oh, oh, of course not." But he didn't sound very convincing.
And then she was leaving, bringing their 'conversation' to a close and he glanced past her to where another lioness stood with her cubs. He sighed and, pulling himself back together, he turned and padded off as if nothing had ever happened.
He'd be quick to recover this little set-back, he was sure.
/fin
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