|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:27 pm
 Asali was loving the Pridelands! She fit right in with her peachy-gold fur, so her deception was simple and there were so many lions about...so many stories! And since she was friendly and didn't seem out of place, they were oh so willing to share them. Just stopping by the waterhole for a drink she'd overheard several tidbits of conversation that could be the start of a good tale or two. Then a cub had told her of their kings who watched over them from the stars and the 'great circle of life'. And lastly a rusty female calling herself Tufah, recognising her for what she was, had engaged her for nearly an hour. Sharp wit, sharp tongue, sharp claws. Asali wouldn't be forgetting her for a while. They'd made a good pair. A pity she was female. They could have had a whirlwind romance worthy of a story all by itself. Love-hate, sparky. She'd had to restrain herself from asking if Tufah had a brother and if he was single (or atleast openminded). Ah. Such a good day and it was only just past noon. As the sun shone hot upon Priderock she found herself a rocky bed to stretch out on like many others were doing. 'Bask and enjoy it' seemed to sum it up and she didn't mind if she did. She lounged, ears pricked for any stories she might over hear and eyes half closed as she enjoyed the sun.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:02 pm
Someone else was in quite a good mood as well. Jing'fei, just returning from spending some time with his younger sisters and his mother.
He'd spotted the female on happen chance, and approached merely for the chance to make conversation. He was eager to get to know more pride members... but guiltily admitted to himself, particularly females.
It still felt a little wrong, but maybe if he just gave it more time that would go away, just stop the hurt. Stupid, he should've known what would happen, after all.
"I wouldn't be upsetting the lady's rest if I asked her name, would I?" He inquired, ducking his head a little so that she wouldn't need crane her neck so much to see him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:07 pm
"Depends if you want her to act like a delicate lady who needs her beauty sleep or act like real woman who'll give you the time of day." She joked as she opened her eyes and smiled at the stranger, obviously joking. Lady! Really. Was she starting to look old? First that rogue who'd insisted on calling her Miss, then that one who called her Mrs and now lady? Least she was moving up in the world of assumed titles, she supposed. Ladies were nobles, usually or atleast upper class.
"I'm called Msimbo'Asali. And yourself?" Mmm. He looked rather tasty really, now she'd opened her peepers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:10 pm
"I don't know, fiesty, hard to get personalities are kind of a weakness of mine, but I think it'd be more pleasant all around if you're willing to put up with me for a bit." He winked, settling down on one of the other nearby rocks. "Jing'fei, you can shorten that however you want. Msimbo'Asali... do you have a preference, or a nickname you like to be used?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:19 pm
"Take your pick, though most prefer Asali. I don't really mind" Funny really since it was the more impermanent part they usually chose. But then, it sounded sweeter. Honey. And lions had a tendancy to think Msimbo came from the same root as Simba, making her name mean Honey Lion. Silly dears.
"Jing has a nice ring to it. And I'll admit I don't really have a weakness for anything in particular - but I do know what I like."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:31 pm
Shockingly, the banter came more easily than he had expected. Jing found himself smiling a little bit as he watched her.
"Now this is a rare find... and what, if I can be so bold, does lady Asali like...?"
He was curious to a fault, but it hadn't led him wrong just yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:34 pm
"Tsk tsk." She tutted then closed her eyes. "I like someone who can keep up!"
He called her lady. What had she reckoned ladies would do. Close their eyes and be too busy to chat, all focused on looks and bed rest. She wondered if he'd make a smooth recovery or just be confused. Asali was a lover of words and banter.
"Need my beauty sleep and all that jazz~"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:38 pm
"Please, do forgive me. Such a beautiful countenance seems to be playing havoc with my mind. It's merely habit to refer to someone as well carried as yourself in such a manner."
He was playing of course. Jing, for as much a gentleman as he was, didn't truly care for such stuffy words normally.
Rising to his paws, though, he closed the distance between them and asked--
"However can I make it up to you? I could beg for your pardon...?"
He settled onto his back at that, exposing his underside, looking at her with imploring dark teal eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:45 pm
She laughed, opening her eyes, though they were half crinkled shut with her amusement. Not the best comeback but she was in a light hearted mood and was enjoying the attention. She'd let him off the hook. Why not? He was kind of cute in a loveable goofball kind of way.
"I'm a story teller. Tell me a short tale, or rhyme or joke or anything you care to. That would be a gift to me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:53 pm
Jing seemed satisfied by the laughter, rather than put off by it. He did not claim to be a wooer of the higher calibur, but he did aim to please and bring joy to those he met, and if that was achieved then he considered his job done.
A storyteller, was she? He had only been to three or four of his aunts' stories really, but... that one stuck out in his mind.
"Did you ever hear the tale about how the Hyena lost it's bark and gained it's laugh?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:57 pm
"There's a few versions I've heard - but I'd love to hear yours." She slid forward a little and rested her head again on her paws but watching him. All eyes and ears and twitching tail (a give away for anticipation). A simple but pretty pose - and comfy for listening to a story in. Had he known his aunt was a storyteller however Jing would have bon it. Asali would have run off to meet her instead!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:12 pm
Jing hadn't been to many but, he'd been to ENOUGH stories that he recognized the signs of an attentive audience when he saw one, and he was aiming very much to please and not to disappoint, especially not when she was so unknowingly kind enough to help him keep his mind off of Mbweha. His heart was still tender from that jilting, and he was eagerly seeking any distraction he could come by, ignoring his guilt for the first time in life to seek temporary relief. The more relief, the less the ache.
One day he'd be over it, and he did, in the meantime, wish Mbweha to find what she was looking for, but more than that, he hoped she'd find the happiness he wasn't able to give her...
It was brief, that flicker of attention, and he turned to his stomach again to better tell the tale now, holding Asali's eyes.
"Well... it all started when..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:17 pm
Msimbo'Asali was, as I like to say, footloose - so she could go where she wanted - and fancy free - meaning she was free to let her fancy settle wherever she wished. And there was no doubt Jing'Fei was catching her fancy in his own way, for today and maybe tomorrow and perhaps the day after that. Her heart was hers to give and take and share as she saw fit. If he fancied her too, maybe they could have some fun and some good company for a little while. If he did really well he'd become an actual friend and she'd visit if she traveled through here again, she thought, as she listened happily to the opening of his story. It was a good start, a very good start.
She had no idea how it'd go in The End.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
