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 Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:04 pm
Orion frowned, looking down at Halili's paws again when she murmured her current dilemma. She seemed to be waiting for his opinion, but he wasn't any more decisive than she was. Maybe for himself it would be easy but for her..
"It- it sounds like it would be really easy," he said quietly, "If Shangyue can ever truly feel safe as king."
And considering how he got there, that seemed unlikely.
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:07 pm
She frowned. That wasn't...what she wanted to hear. Or was it? She didn't even know her own mind anymore. Everything had been turned upside down so rapidly and the lioness felt as if part of her ability to understand what was going on had been left behind in the ruckus.
"Orion...what do you think I should do?" Halili pleaded for her mate to give her a real opinion. She knew that in the end the final decision was - had to be - hers, but she shared her life with Orion. He was her beloved, her mate, the father of her children. She didn't want to make such an important and potentially life-changing decision without his input.
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:20 pm
He was speaking from experience when he said it sounded easy. Ranking above everybody else was easy, nobody questioned what you did because you were, typically, free to do as you pleased. If you didn't make a nuisance of yourself, you were fine. And it seemed the royal guards would outrank everybody except the monarch and shaman.
At that moment, when she begged for his opinion, he wished he was a smarter lion. More decisive. Braver. Somebody else entirely, really. But that wasn't going to happen. He was quiet for a long time while he tried to figure out what would be the best decision, one he would make if it came down to it.
"I don't think Shangyue deserves our support or to be king," he said finally, glancing up, "But it seems he will be king and he just spent the last few nights murdering his family, it might not be safe to refuse."
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:28 pm
Halili waited patiently, if nervously, while Orion considered her question. Most of the time it didn't matter that he'd been born to the high class. Most of the time he was just her mate and that was all she needed. But of late, she couldn't help being reminded of the rank he'd once held. Perhaps that would help him give her the advice she needed.
Finally he answered.
The lioness was silent, tears drying on her fur and failing to be renewed, as she considered the answer she had received. She had to agree, she did not think that someone as unscrupulous as Shangyue seemed to be deserved their support. But the topic of whether or not it would be safe to refuse...that was something she hadn't even considered. It was a foolish oversight, especially considering her motivation for even appearing to support the Heir, and she had to admit, it did make a certain sense.
Somehow, having Orion say the words out loud helped to solidify how she felt and what she wanted to do.
"You're right," she replied, voice still a bit harsh after the tears, but much closer to normal. "He doesn't deserve our support." Halili straighted her posture and gave her mate a grin. It wasn't her normal happy smile, and bore a distinct resemblance to the smirk she'd worn when the slaves were first brought into the spotlight that night.
"Which is why I won't give it to him. I'm going to refuse the rank," she announced.
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:43 pm
Part of him was relieved when she made her decision, but another part of him worried he was right to say it could be the more dangerous option.. but they should stand up for what they believed, shouldn't they? It was starting to feel like nobody would around here. This felt right, though terrifying.
"OK," he said, nodding.
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 5:03 pm
The lioness grinned crookedly as she came up next to her mate. She could tell that he wasn't totally confident about this - whether because he doubted the wisdom of her choice or feared the consequences she didn't know or care. The important part is that he would support her and stand by her. As she would stand by him.
Halili nuzzled him gently. "Thank you for being everything I need," she whispered into one dark ear.
There might be storm, fire, or flood. There might be politics and anger and repercussions. But she'd have Orion. And that made everything better.
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