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 Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:21 pm
There had been a lot of talk about babies going on among the Palu as of late, and many of them had decided to pair up and decided to be in a family way. But there was one Palu, who definitely would not have any of it. This palu thought that all the baby nonsense was so overrated. She thought all babies did was whine and cry and poop. And they smelled funny of top of it. Bundles were popping up everywhere, and it was getting too much for the Palu to take. That palu was Desdemona.
Desdemona had been born out in the wild in the thick lush undergrowth of the forests on the island. Her mother and father had both been Earth Attuned Palu, and it was a tradition in her family for the offspring to attune to the same element their parents were. But not too long after Desdemona was born, her parents were killed off by the Ingi, horrible birds that had tried, and succeeded to kill all of her family. Everyone but her. It was monumentally lucky that Desdemona had even survived all this. But it had made her bitter and untrusting. She wasn't happy and affectionate like other Palu. She was afraid of family and commitment. And she never wanted to be reminded of her dark past again.
As she sat watching the other twitterpated Palu, running around with their new offspring, happy families at last. She couldn't help but feel disgusted and it showed. Her fur prickled and her ears lay back, she looked severely disgruntled. "What's the big deal about kits, anyway? They're useless..."
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:05 pm
Mehistopheles, usually skulking somewhere within hearing range of Awai Tenshi while their kit was still young enough to need protection, was also within earshot of Desdemona's muttered inquiry and felt his tail twitch in emphatic agreement. However, he'd observed that most females seemed very interested in having kits and then tying down the hapless male they managed to seduce. Not that he would have claimed to have no blame in the matter if asked, but he might have pointed out that his options had been narrowed down to Very Few once Awai discovered she was going to have kits.
Moving utterly without sound, he slunk closer to the dark-colored palui who had voiced her less-than-sentimental opinion and answered darkly, hoping to maybe surprise her, Aside from continuing the species, I'd agree. More confusing, however, is that those who have kits don't seem particularly well-equipped to survive anyway, let alone keep miniature, more-helpless versions of themselves alive.
He had certain palui in mind as he said this, but he was not going to speak their names. He did not gossip. Gossip involved far more interaction than he was usually inclined to. In fact, simply approaching the strange earth-attuned female was relatively uncharacteristic for him, especially in light of recent events. Eh. If she decided she did want kits, they could be with someone else. He'd no qualms about using Awai as an excuse if necessary.
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:26 pm
Desdemona's hair twitched, almost as if pulled by static electricity, as she felt someone closing in on her. Whether she knew he was there or not, his voice startled her. She tried not to jump too much and looked more than a little miffed, not only by the cubs, but by someone who she didn't know talking to her. She tried to look vague and a little uninterested in what he had to say, but she knew by the way that he spoke that they were more alike than they knew.
I mean, who really wants to responsibility of dragging around something that not only causes you continuous stress and pain, but can also put you in monumental amounts of danger by slowing you down? She said about his first statement. She was in full agreement, unless one had no other choice, why not leave breeding up to those who loved using at as the hobby it was turning into. Desdemona certainly didn't want to think about popping out any kits any time soon, though she could only think of one person that she might want to... No! She pushed the thought from her mind and the painful memories of her childhood flooded back.
Maybe the want something to keep the Ingi from attacking them first, because they ARE so ill-equipped to keep themselves alive. Maybe it's a distraction technique- Sounds like a plan to me, really... But still! What if they survive? And come back? There was a look of sheer disgust on her face, as if she'd stepped in something unpleasant.
Desdemona suddenly spotted an Angel looking female palu, followed by a small kit, black with blue markings... Dark with eyes like her new chat buddy. She got a smirk across her face. That one looks like you... Could it be that you've got little ones of your own? The teasing look on her face was so malicious she couldn't help but smile. Care to explain?
She would love to hear about this....
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:28 am
Mephistopheles was firmly in agreement with the other palui's stance on the utility of kits, and it had not occurred to him to use them as bait. He doubtd any of the other parents had had similar thoughts, though. It did not seem like the sort of thing any of them would consider. Nevertheless, the idea brought a very feline smirk to his features. Not that he actively disliked kits. To be honest, he was mostly content to ignore their existence. However, they did wear on his nerves, which were never in a very good state, even at the best of times.
I somehow doubt the majority of them are clever enough to think of such a tactic, he pointed out dryly. And even if they were, they would probably be the sort who ought to be passing their intelligence on, and not using their offspring as bait.
He was startled by her observation of Awai Tenshi and the kit. Akuma? He believed that was what she had decided to name the male. He really was disinterested in the child-rearing process. It was not his job to hang around and coo over the thing. He supposed it might be considerate of him to teach the kit to hunt, but lately he had been forced to re-learn the process himself, and the methods available to unattuned palui were no longer available to him, due to the glow he gave off at night and the prickly feeling most creatures got when he drew too near.
I have sired several kits, he agreed. This was a small litter, and my first with Awai. Probably my last, too.
He didn't really care to go into it too much. He tried to be fair and accept that Awai probably had reasons to want him around which were every bit as valid as his own reasons for not wanting to be there. This was mostly because he didn't want to get into a fight with her. It was an acknowledged fact among almost all species that the female can be extremely unpleasant when there are kits involved. Besides, the kit would grow up soon, and then he would be absolved of all responsibility, and stay as far from Awai Tenshi as he could manage.
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:37 pm
Desdemona was tickled by Mephistopheles' statement about baiting the Ingi with kits. At least he had humored her idea. She agreed that those who figured out this sort of thing were the ones with the genes to continue the species, instead of those who cooed and loved over and coddled their youngsters- doing so just turned you soft and weak. She had never needed affection or love as a kit, and she had surivived right?
Maybe they should consider it, and get the little annoyances out of the way. Sounds like you're a little soft on the little buggers- seeing as you have one of your own, and from what you say, that you've had them before- just a bad outcome of breeding, right?
She didn't know if the thought of breeding sickened her or angered her more. There were a few palu who approached everything they could get their paws on. She wasn't going to name names- but she found those sort of palu very sick and twisted.
Your last? Didn't like having kits with her? She seems very happy and bright and well... yeah... We'll stick to happy and bright. She smiled, trying to make it obvious that she meant no offense by it. Desdemona didn't care for bubbly personalities. That's why she hated kits so much, they were loving and needed cuddly constantly.
I most certainly will never be having any kits- Too much hassle... besides, what male would be interested enough in me to want me to have his kits? She could tell he hadn't minded having kits with Awai, but didn't really want to be around her now that they were around. She wondered if it would change and that one day Mephistopheles may grow to actually enjoy having kits. She hoped that he would, at least for Awai's sake. She looked like she so enjoyed having little ones. Desdemona's face grew a little distant and sad.
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:29 pm
If Mephistopheles had been human, he would have had eyebrows and they would have shot up to his hairline. He wouldn't have described himself as sfot in any respect. Even his fur wasn't particularly soft. He groomed enough to keep it from matting, but he did not take any special care of it as he saw so many doing. He found grooming relaxing, but time-consuming, and he honestly wasn't that fond of the process. It was something to fill time. However. Soft. Not what he would have used to describe himself.
Note carefully the distinction between siring a litter and fathering one. If I didn't think it would earn me more unpleasantness than I care to deal with, I would not be here. I have yet to find someone I wish to settle down with, but in the meantime, I see no harm in taking advantage of opportunities as they're presented to me.
He couldn't help being amused at how he described Awai. Clearly she had not spoken to the seemingly angelic palui, who could be extremely sharp-tongued at need. His own attraction to Awai had been fleeting, and the arrival of the kits had cemented his assurance that he did not want to spend the rest of his life with her. He preferred the independent, short-tempered palui she had been at their first meeting to the more maternal creature she had become. Besides, his thoughts were still occupied largely with a pet palui he had only seen on one occasion.
She is certainly bright. And while the process of conception wasn't unenjoyable, the entanglements which follow are not activities I would volunteer for. As you say: too much hassle."
He didn't comment on her remark that there was a dearth of males who might want to mate with her. He had a fairly priviliged view of the male psyche, and he could have assured her that there were definitely times when no male would turn down a female who was willing. But that really didn't need said. It was hardly appropriate to speak of it, anyway, when one's kits were within view.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:21 pm
Desdemona continued to look amused at Meffy's annoyance at her use of the word soft. She continued to smile coyly, though still eyeing everyone around her and especially those with kits, in disgust.
Yes, I suppose you would be right- there is a difference between accidently getting another Palu pregnant and then when they have kits deciding not to have anything to do with them at all and actually caring about your offspring.
She didn't wish to comment on his statement about taking advantage of oppurtunities- it was sad when Palu bred just for the heck of it. She always thought that if they MUST breed, then it should be with someone a palu could stand for the rest of her life, or until the mate got killed by Ingi- but she strongly believed in one's heart belonging to only one person- and that meant breeding rights as well.
Desdemona wondered in the back of her mind if she ever WOULD have kits- would it be that horrible? She thought about it for only a second before shaking her head to rid it of the horrible thought. There were plenty of palu who never procreated, weren't there? Surely! Desdemona stood and stretched.
So once you find this one palu that you want to 'settle down with' as you say- what then? Are you going to do a 360 and become father of the year? Or will you both just leave your kits to fend for themselves? The thought stung her as she said it.
Why do you hate them so much anyway?
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:51 am
Hate who? Kits? I don't hate them. I just don't find them particularly interesting. Or did you mean this particular litter? I don't hate him, or the mother. I'm simply not good at staying in one place for long periods of time.
He didn't know why he was attempting to justify himself to this stranger, or how their conversation had progressed so far without either know the other's name. It didn't really matter, he supposed, as he was unlikely to see her again, but perhaps some of Awai's pet-traits were wearing off on him. Like the emphasis on acquaintance as opposed to simple companionship. Well. The idea of companionship was also very much a pet-trait. He'd certainly not been plagued with it frequently in the past, and at the moment he would give his left forepaw for some solitude, but he could easily envision a future in which he might crave the company of his own kind, which was somewhat unsettling.
In response to her first question...
I sincerely doubt I could survive such an abrupt about-face. I suspect I will never be good at a family life, but for the right palui I would make a sincere effort to be there and be the protector and provider I'm expected to be. With any luck, the devotion I feel toward this theoretical palui will keep me there, even when I don't want to be.
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