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 Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:05 pm
Isi watched him, biting her lip in thought, mostly over his comment on attitude. She had to admit he was right about that, she'd been making a mountain out of a mole hill, as her mother would say. She just hadn't wanted to accept the fact things changed, but friendships still remained. That and family. Those thoughts brought alot of peace to her soul and it showed as her eyes became slightly livelier, losing the anger that had always been smoldering in the background for many months.
Still, she said nothing of it, after all it wasn't really his business in the first place and he'd care little one way or the other. She did remain silent however, trying to think of answers to his questions, and it wasn't until after he'd turned his back and flicked his eyes back at her that she responded.
"I could be wrong, but it seems to me that chance meetings such as ours don't always tend to end in the lions becoming life-long friends. Maybe a one-night stand, but I'm not looking for that, and neither are you. Thank you for the compliment, though...but I must ask why do you think I want to think of you? Do you want me to think of you? That I think is the better question....however, I could be wrong about this and no offense, but this...conversation...feels like it's more a game to you. No real meaning, just fun while it lasts. Like I said before, I hold no illusions of anything, much less that of a story-book romance or any such sort twaddle, coming from this. My motives for coming out tonight are my business, and I doubt it really truly interests you."
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:18 pm
Interesting... she had somehow completely avoided his question. The girl would have been interesting to bat a game around with but that wasn't his intention tonight. Perhaps she would even be a worthy adversary.. He had to bite his lip, it was all too tempting but for once he was trying to curb his otherwise appetites.. "You still didn't answer me. First answer me and I might think of answering your own questions. You were the one that brought up the whole conversation on this becoming more than a passing fancy.. And I'm curious." He stepped closer, smirking slightly as he poked her with the end of a tail feather. "I'll answer you... once you answer me. It seems fair if you ask me."
Sitting down more comfortably he thought it better to completely address her other statement, "This is a conversation. You might have to forgive my less than educate approach to the subjects.. You would be right about one thing, I'm use to playing games, getting into my subject's head than actually talking.. But I'm trying, hard I might add, to do only the latter." Hearing the end of her statements there was a light that was lost in his pale eyes for a moment. She sounded so much like Amaya...
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 8:17 pm
Isi nodded her head sagely, and replied "That's fair enough." Her tail twitched as she thought for a moment how to best phrase her answer, but decided to stick with the truth. "I'll...make my answer simple and sweet. The fact of the matter is that I don't really have any friends, and so I'd decided to do something about it, hence why I had decided to go walking tonight since who knew whom one might meet. My...personal view of myself isn't all that high, not to mention your earlier remarks, led to my believing that once this was through...once you got bored with me and left, I'd be about as apt to cross your mind as that beetle by my paw." She lifted one toe, flipping it over onto it's back for emphasis, letting it's little legs wiggle about as it tried to right itself back up.
"As for the question of why I'd want you personally to think of me actually isn't specifically for you alone, but for anyone I might meet or have met possibly tonight or later in my life. My brother and I used to be inseperable, but now that he's found his mate and has a family, well....as you know, priorities change and so does life. While I miss my brother and hanging out with him, I've come to realize I can't let being alone now drag me down and so hence my deciding to do something different for once." She shrugged indifferently, and glanced down at the wiggling bug watching it wobble before turning it back over and letting it scurry off.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 3:10 am
Well, at least she was being honest. Still, this feel good moment had him reeling in his brain and it took digging a claw in the dirt to keep from trying to put some sense into her. However, he had asked. "There is nothing wrong with being alone, I prefer it actually. You learn to be strong, you learn things about the world that you couldn't when having others around you." It was cliched, yes, however trying hard to keep that as his only answer was the hard part. Spoiled.. probably not her as much as the others. Lions that expected they should have families, or friends.. or even a moment in time when they had no pain. Shaking his head, he wretched himself out of his horrible thoughts and focused on her, his vision changed, she was a broken lioness, somewhat like him and yet completely the opposite. Was he just as spoiled? Was that why he fought Zee so hard when it came to his rights with their children? No... maybe not, he just wanted a reason... something other than the pain he felt for still living. He probably should have ended it all the day that Amaya sacrificed herself.
He had a choice, he could lie to her and tell her that everything was fine, that she'd meet someone wonderful and live a happy life. Life never worked that way, at least not for him. However, he seemed somehow cursed among everyone else. That was probably the answer the girl wanted, to keep her hope that her brother hadn't abandoned her for nothing, but it wasn't the truth. Opening his mouth to say exactly that, instead something else came out... "At least.. you have a brother." It was a thin voice that came from his throat, eyes staring at the patch of dirt that he had upturned earlier with his claw. "My sisters died when I was a cub... My oldest.. died while trying to save me.." There was hardly any emotion behind his flat voice. "You should be lucky you had your cubhood to spend with him." Returning his cold eyes to look at her. Something was boiling down in the pit of his stomach, just as it always did when he talked about his past, though that rarely if ever happened. His lips were clinched tight, his stance looking as though he might be ready to fight and tear into a victim. Defensive... that was what Viryn called it the day that they had met. The slavers had just said it was his spirit. Regardless, it was taking all his might to not give into the rage building up inside him. This was how he built up his walls. Ears flat, he eventually raised his head, lips still clinched though there was more of a sadness in his eyes. They were right.. he was too different... he couldn't even hold one conversation.. only bred to be a monster... how did he expect to raise children when he was like this? Maybe Zee was right to sacrifice his rights with their offspring... "I'm... sorry Amaya.." He whispered under his breath.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:29 am
What Eth said made Isi feel like she'd been the luckiest lioness in the world to have the family she did. They were all loving and supportive, close, and she knew her brother would do for her what his had done for him in a heartbeat. Those thoughts also made her feel intensely guilty for ever feeling the way she had, specially when there were others who had none, or like in his case, had them ripped away. She wondered what happened, sitting up as he tensed and grew angrier but she felt it best not to press the issue. There were other times more suitable for such questions, and as it was, she didn't want to scare him away.
She tried to think of something she could ask him that would disfuse his tension and anger, or at least distract him from it. To be honest, it didn't feel as if he truly preferred being alone as much as it had been thrust upon him as a cub and he'd grown to know little else. His games were all a facade...a distraction from his loneliness perhaps, something to help him forget his troubles for a time, all the while keeping himself walled off from the world. In many ways, his walls were built for the same reasons her had been, protection from hurt, even if the motivations were vastly different. She could be way off, but she suspected it wasn't by far.
Amaya...who was Amaya? Come to think of it he still hasn't answered my own questions previously..oh well...
Finally unable to really think of anything, she immediatly stood up and walked up to him. "Come walk with me," she said softly before turning slightly and padding away without turning to see if he followed. She knew walking at least helped her calm down, and she hoped it do the same for him as well...least if he followed her. Hoping he was, she said the first two questions to pop into her head, "What is it you want most out of life? If you only had one day to live, and you had the choice of doing anything in the world, what would it be?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:41 am
Yes, her first few questions had gone unanswered, not by choice though. Among all the memories, he had completely forgotten that he had promised to answer them too, there was now too much on his mind to fully process what he had thought in the beginning to be such frivolous questions to begin with. He wouldn't have known how to answer them even if he had. He was now using all his strength to keep calm in his present circumstance.
When her voice finally broke into his thoughts his ears which were previously laying flat on his skull slightly twitched to a more upright position. His tight muscles finally began to relax and he cautiously inched forward just barely to follow her. Why he began to follow her he wasn't even sure, but he did regardless. Perhaps it was because she ordered it instead of asking, even if it wasn't in a commanding tone. Some part of him was use to having to obey every order, even if he was rebellious.
The first question was a piece of cake and he answered that before he could even think. He knew she wouldn't like the answer, but she had asked, "Revenge." It was a short answer but precise to the question. "Its the only thing that has driven me to stay alive for so long." Stepping in front of her he didn't look at her for a while until finally pausing to her next, this one he had to think about. Sighing, the truth was he didn't want to live, "Anything?" His eyes drifted in her direction as he thought. "I'd have one more day to spend with Amaya..." Flipping his lids shut, Ethiradan was now stopped in the middle of their path with his tail drifting around himself.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:37 pm
Isi paused as well as he'd stepped in front of her, glad to see her idea had worked and that at least he didn't look like he'd rip the nearest object to shreds at the slightest provacation. Sitting down, her own tail curling about her paws, she cocked her head on him curiously, knowing what she was about to ask was rather personal and wouldn't blame him if he didn't answer her. "Revenge? For what happened to your family? Amaya...you keep saying that name...was she your mate?" She studied him closely, surprising herself when she realized he intrigued her the more they talked.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:10 pm
Ethiradan's eyes skid across her at her questions, he had expected them although he wasn't too keen on answering either one of them. "I swear... you say you're sorry for what happened.. or show any kind of sympathy I'll make sure you wish you hadn't asked." He barked in her direction. "Its only on those conditions that I'm telling you anything." Truth was he didn't want to tell her, but he had opened it up so it was his own fault and he somehow felt obligated. "My family was killed when I was a cub. My father worked in the military and had secrets of the royal family that no one else was trusted with. They came for him.. and were met in surprise to find my mother and four offspring.. My mother was raped in front of my eyes.. " He closed his lids as he remembered the events. "My oldest sister... the only surviving cub from her liter grabbed me and hid me in the forest.. I still don't know what happened to my other sisters..." His voice trailed off as a large sigh forced itself from his throat. "They followed her.. found her... and killed her in front of me after doing the same thing they had to my mother... Eventually they found me but for whatever twisted reason they thought it would be fun to keep me alive and toy with me.. I was in a workhouse as a slave for a number of years, until I was sold to an older assassin who felt a need to teach someone his tricks before he passed."
Continuing with a flat voice, "When I was old enough he admitted me into a school for further training. This school was different... in the end was a test that was to be performed with five other departments of study, we were to perform this test in unity or we failed. It was unknown that I was actually there to make it as hard as possible for them while still performing the duties of the assassin clan. It was... Osgerb of the Thieves, Nertari of the Warriors, Calen of the Merchants, Viryn of the Healers... and Amaya.. of the Scholars. We were to find the obtain the legendary Lycoris Pekelo... that is the stones of power and knowledge and bring them back to the school.
At first it went wonderful.. Nertari was so easy to fool. It was almost too easy..." His lips turned into a smirk at the thought. "So I decided it was best to weave another member into my trap.. Amaya was the weakest.. so I decided to start with her next. I told her my story.. we shared.." Letting out a breath as his eyes were completely distant, "And.. I fell in love with her. I was stupid.. and I let my love for her distract myself.. I made stupid decisions... and the mind traps in the Temple got the better of me... all because I cared for her. I put myself in a situation where I should have died... Amaya.. sacrificed herself so that I could live.."
He finally broke his story with eyes cast on Islandia. "Now you see why I don't trust anyone." His voice was gruff upon saying that.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:33 pm
"Agreed," Isi said, nodding her head to his request...or was it demand? didn't matter really either way, she'd of agreed anyways. Listening to his story, she was careful not show sympathy, but in her eyes, he would probably see further understanding dawn as to why he acted the way he does. Seems she wasn't so far off the bat after all in her thinking.
Her first instincts were to comfort him, but she ignored that. Her voice was quiet, no trace of anger, sympathy or even distaste for what he'd chosen to do with his life (for she couldn't blame him as it made her wonder what she'd of done to have had that happen to her own family), but there was a hint of curiosity about it. "So now you're on a quest to get revenge for you family's death. Thing is, if you kill them, will that bring your family back? Will that solve what they've done to you? Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging you or what you want to do with your life, it is your choice after all, but what are you trying to accomplish? Granted, it'd be one thing if they were hunting you and trying to kill you off right now, and yes it would make you feel better for a time, but will it solve anything at all in the end?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:43 pm
So she chose condemnation? Grunting, Ethiradan eyed her for a moment, his braids falling into his eye. Shifting his body weight, he was trying to find a strength inside himself so he wouldn't yell. What was it about this female that brought out emotions that he swore he had hidden? Still... "What I do with my life is my business." His voice was a growl but it still remained quiet. "Do I judge you for hiding yourself? We each have our own way of dealing with our problems." With his head turning, he tried to hide the flicker of emotion that had washed over his face. Was he crying? No, he couldn't cry anymore. "I have no intention of trying to bring my family back by killing those that did what they did to me. Its my intention to stop them and make sure they can't do it again. To make them pay for what happened." The fierce appearance returned to his face as he looked back in her direction, "Rather it solves anything or doesn't. That is my digression, not yours."
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Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:31 am
"Even subconsciously we still judge when we try not to, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad, but each judgement is what leads us to take the paths we have even in conversation. Yes, you could judge me for being stupid for my reactions, and even if it hurt, I'd have to admit you were right."
Isi went silent, cocking her head and studying him for a moment. Seems he could be more noble that she'd once thought, though his choices could just be to protect any future interests he might develop in the future from harm. Selfless or selfish, she could find little fault in the path he chose. Dropping her gaze to the ground, she scratched idly at a rock before turning to the horizon sort of wisfully.
"In your case, I admit you are right as well...while in part it is revenge, something which I actually have to admit they deserve, but you also do it for a more noble cause...something that extends not just beyond yourself and the pain you've endured, but to save others from the same fate. Or is it to protect anyone you may become close to in the future from retaliation? Either way, of the paths I can see available, I do think you are wise. As you said, either it solves anything or it doesn't. Whether or not I approved or disapproved means little in the scheme of things, it would not change the choice you have made....however, if you should wish a little help on your path, I'd be more than happy to offer my services to you.
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Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:03 am
Ethiradan couldn't help but hear a chuckle come from his own throat at her perspective of what was going on. "Noble, me? You certainly have the wrong idea of things..." He began to object but quickly silenced himself at the end of her statement. Help? She really wanted to help him?
Narrowing his eyes a bit, he cast them to the ground, braids hiding his face so that it was unreadable. A part of him... though only a small sliver, was touched by her wanting to help him at all, though he knew she was convinced that his venture was more worthy and ethical than it actually was. "...Are you sure you'd want to help someone like me...?" He took a step closer to her, running his tongue over his canines as he was now only a breath away from her. "..Are you sure?" He repeated, only an inch from her ear as he spoke. "...It won't be glamorous..." The last part of his statement was a little more forced as a small part of him was trying to break the spell he held on himself, to play or not play... that was the question. Though the girl was now making it way too easy on him.
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Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:35 am
Actually, Ethiradan was giving her more credit than she deserved, for she didn't actually think him as selfless as he was assuming she was. Still, she began to wonder if even that small amount of selflessness had been wrongly assumed. Keeping silent, she merely raised an eyebrow as he'd approached nearly nose to nose first, then feeling his breath upon her ear as he moved to whisper beside her face. She twitched it, fighting to keep from chuckling from the tickle it'd caused.
Once satisfied she had her emotions in check, and sensing he was playing with her (it was, after all a bit obvious), she decided to play her own game against him. Standing, she turned and proceeded to walk around him, effectively wrapping her body and tail around him to his other side, stopping when her mouth was a inch from his own ear. Her voice was a seductive whispered purr, a slight smile touching her lips. Yes, two could play this game. "Perhaps I did judge you better than you deserve...serves me right for wanting to believe that everyone has good inside them, wanting to be selfless and serve a greater cause other than ourselves. And yes, I wouldn't mind helping you, but for my own reasons...those being mainly that I'd hate see others suffering an unjust fate when the chance presents itself to stop it from happening. I can care less about glamour and recognition...fame is fleeting anyways. My mother, a true warrior, taught me better than that."
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Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:45 am
It took all Ethiradan's strength to suppress the laughter growing inside of his throat. She thought she could play him! While very foolish of her, it was also that bit of spark about the girl that oddly drove him to her. She was different, so very different than the other females he had run across. A quiet spirit with a bite... it made him slightly tingle at the thought that there might actually be another who could handle him. Interesting to say the least.
While all this was going on inside of his head, however, outside he remained as still and emotionless as a brick. The only sign of life on him was the small twitch at the ends of his lips. "Well, if you know me so well... than I know you Milady. But you need practice on your seduction skills." Letting out a soft chuckle, he finally moved his body, letting his tail ride up against hers, his own purr in his voice. "..And perhaps I can teach you better how to play games, you have a lot to learn."
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Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:03 pm
Chuckling in return, Isi couldn't help but be amused, if a bit more wary of Ethiradan's motives towards her. "I never said I knew you, as you have only but scratched my own surface...and perhaps, but it doesn't matter. I have no intention of seducing you anyways." As he moved his tail up hers, she side stepped to put some distance between them. Instinctually, she was getting a very bad feeling about all this now...and she did little to hide it.
"Perhaps, it's time I went back home now. I do wish you luck, and perhaps the time will come we'll meet again. Good night, Ethiradan." She gave him a nod and a smile (one that didn't quite reach her eyes), and started towards home, obviously disturbed and distracted now. The fact had dawned on her that she could never trust him, for as soon as she did, he'd play her for some sort of fool, and his being more skilled meant that she'd be bound to fall into a trap sooner or later. No, she'd been foolish to even offer to join up without knowing him better. She wanted nothing more at this moment then to talk to her parents..
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