Xibalba was quite pleased with herself. She had left Nzinga to rest, telling her that she would return with the lion she intended to hook up her. Them meeting could not be left to chance, seeing as Utesaji would rarely run into a lioness and strike up a polite conversation with her. No, Xibalba would have to confront him and make sure he knew what was going on before they met. She would not let him botch anything up. This lioness was perfect for him, and he could not lose such a beautiful opportunity.
She slowed her pace when she got near Utesaji's den, giving her paws a final dainty lick before she approached. The lioness hoped that her charge was around here, or at least somewhere close by. She didn't have hours and hours of time, and she did not want Nzinga to think that she would go back on her word. Xibalba stepped easily into the clearly, golden eyes darting left and right, looking for her lion. "Utesaji, are you there?"
Utesaji, in and of himself, was probably a lost opportunity. If he had actually taken the time and effort upon himself, he wouldn't be Xibalba's charge and he might have actually re-founded his pride instead of just thinking he did. However, life is full of should-ofs and would-haves and Utesaji didn't pay attention to any, and thus, when his lioness friend called for him, it was all the dark lion could do to roll over and shake himself off. It had been nap time and Xibalba had ruined it. The little white one was missing, which wasn't exactly at the top of Utesaji's priorities, though it should be. But, that wasn't the point. He blinked and grumbled and shook himself off again, sniffing the air as he swished his tail. "Xibalba?" He scurried out of the den. "How have you been?" He sat in front of her and blinked lazily. Xi was probably the only creature he could carry out polite conversation with on a regular basis.
Xibalba's black ears perked when a voice answered her, and she smiled when Utesaji approached. Aaah, so there he was. No doubt napping or daydreaming in front of his little den before she arrived. There were some things you could count on in life, and Utesaji doing very little was one of them. The lion didn't share the same kind of drive and underhanded manipulative nature that his lioness friend did, but that suited Xibalba just fine. She didn't make friends with people she couldn't hold some sort of control over.
"Hello, Utesaji. Nice to see you awake on such a fine morning. I've been doing very well, thank you. I just finished talking to a very intelligent lioness who was unfortunate to fall for a male with no talent and nothing to offer. You know what I say about those types." She paused to grin at him, dragging her claws across the ground as she did so. "And how have you been? Resting, I hope?"
Utesaji grunted and shifted his weight from paw to paw. Resting? "Resting?" He wasn't 'resting', he was being lazy, and even he knew that much. He didn't need to 'rest' for anything, which irritated him greatly, mind you. There were no battles, no missions, no nothing. Life was boring. So boring, in fact, all he could bring himself to do was lazy around and stare at the sky. Or the dirt. Or, perhaps, some insect floating by. All of which accomplished a great deal, we assure you.
"I'm fine." Nothing more. There wasn't much else to say. Wait, what as Xi talking about earlier? A lioness? She almost slipped that one by, didn't she? "But what about that other lioness? You're looking?" Not that he really needed a mate. It was continuing the bloodline he was after, but females were...involved in that sort of thing. He sighed. "Are you sure? How could you find one so soon?"
"Resting. Letting your mind and body relax," Xibalba replied, apparently unfazed by his response. She liked to believe that he was relaxing here, rather than lazing about like a bored warrior. One day she would get him back into shape, but for now she would accept this behaviour from him. He was still just a young lion, after all. Utesaji had time to blossom into a beautiful warrior. If not, she could always find someone else. It wasn't like her Utesaji was the only lion out. But she did have a soft spot for him, so she would keep him.
The lioness couldn't help but chuckle when his mind locked onto the mention of a lioness. So he was awake, and paying attention to boot. How very kind of him. "Yes, a lioness. I happened to meet one while I was traveling near the jungles. A beautiful girl in need of a suitable man. She's intelligent with a good heart. Why, you had something else planned for your future bloodline?" A slight hint of cold entered her voice as she settled down next to him, regarding him closely with her golden eyes.
Utesaji took the moment to relax, settling on his belly to better observe the grass. If he had any notion of what she was think (the 'blossoming' thing, we mean), he'd be horribly offended and showing off every trick in his book. And while sometimes dear Saji acted like a wet match in a damp cave, the lion actually had an impressive collection of battle tactics. He just didn't need them any more. Catching a hare for dinner wasn't exactly 'war' material. Anyone could catch a hare. Utesaji's talents just weren't that useful any more. But he didn't think about that. Xi told him there'd be use for that sometime soon. He believed her. It was his only choice.
Utesaji's ears flattened at the chilly tone. "No. Not really." There were some things he had to bring up, but clearly, now was not the time. "I'm just surprised you found someone so fast," he grumbled, shifting again. He cast Xi a slightly irritated look. He wanted more free time before cubs were involved. Gods. "She's not going to take the cubs and run?" he asked, followed shortly by, "When do I have to meet the lady?"
One day, there might be a fight, and Xibalba would need Utesaji then. But for now, he was simply her pet. Sometimes she felt bad for letting him sit here and do nothing all day. It probably wasn't very good for his warrior skills. But raising a family would definitely help him. He could use his time to train his sons to be warriors. Hopefully that would spur him into doing something a little more useful with his time. She had considered letting him fight with Thambo, but she didn't trust the two of them not to try and kill each other. Men. Honestly.
"I didn't think so." Xibalba's tone changed instantly when he said no, her smile sweet once more. It was nice to know that he wasn't out meeting girls while she was gone. She liked to know what her pets were doing while she wasn't present. "I didn't intend to find someone so fast, the someone found me. And no, she's not going to take the cubs and run. Her last cubs fathered by an imbecile took off the moment they could. If you are polite to her and show her that you mean well, I'm sure she'll stay with us." She shrugged at his question. "The sooner the better. I'm sure you would find her to your liking. I wouldn't find you someone horrible, now would I?"
Utesaji never really saw things the same way as Xibalba. This was probably a very good thing for the world, but not such a good thing when it came to the lion's understand of the world. Raising cubs and war seemed like two entirely different things to him. Which they were. Are. However, Utesaji sees no way to combine the two, and there in lies the problem. Little warriors rarely cross his mind, In fact, he already has a solution for that, but that's for another time and another place. Another chat. For now, Utesaji would be disgruntled.
"I suppose I could meet her. I won't like her. I don't like girls." And he didn't. There was no real reason. (Was there ever a reason for anything with the lion?) And no, he wasn't like that either. He might not really like anyone at all, but he had his fill of females who put their own needs in front of his own. Honestly. The nerve of some lions. "...probably not." Xi was very quick. And she was very good at bring Utesaji what he wanted. "But still." He didn't really want a girl at all. "...do I have to call her my mate?"
To Xibalba, raising cubs and being a warrior were one and the same. She had faith that Utesaji could do both. And if he couldn't, she was always there to pick up his mess. After all, that was what she did, in theory anyways. He could hardly understand that she engineered almost everything that happened in his life, and that was perfectly fine with Xibalba. She would help him raise the cubs when the time came.
A small frown creased her forehead when Utesaji said that he wouldn't like her, her expression turning to something akin to hurt. "You don't like girls? You like me, don't you? And what makes you think the girl I found for you isn't a nice girl?" She tilted her head and stared idly at her paws, flexing her toes idly. "I ask only that you be kind to her and you treat her with the respect she deserves. And you will be good to her, won't you?" Golden eyes lifted from the ground to stare pointedly at him.
The 'time' could not come late enough. But Utesaji could think about all that later. "You're different. You aren't like a real girl." He meant it in the nicest way possible. Not gibbering and gossiping and air-headed, that's what he meant. How she took it? Who knew? "Fine. But only the respect she deserves," he grumbled, still not sold on the idea. He wasn't going to spoil her, that was for sure. He'd be civil. (Being obnoxious would surely get back to Xibalba.)
"But you didn't answer my question," he pointed out, tail swishing. "Do I have to call her my mate?" There was a serious problem with that. Utesaji was a king, after all. And if he was a king, his mate would be a queen. And. He didn't want to share with a queen! What was wrong with that, huh? "Because I'm not doing that." He stamped his paw and rumbled again before he suddenly switched gears. "Xi, I need something to do. I'm bored."
"A real girl?" Xibalba raised an eyebrow, unable to help but chuckle softly. So he didn't think of her as a real girl, whatever that meant. She had never been entirely clear on his view of 'real girls', but she did know that he disliked dealing with them. It was a pity, really. It was the only area that Utesaji fought to valiantly against Xibalba's crushing will, and having cubs would be the greatest test of both her manipulation and his stubbornness. Clearly it would be an epic battle, and one that she intended to win regardless of the cost. If he accepted this female then he would be required to treat her and their cubs well. There was no other option for him.
"You'll find she deserves more respect than you currently think. But I will not judge her for you. You have a good head on your shoulders, now don't you?" The lioness flicked her tail idly, as she pondered the answer to his question. "I will decide that when the time comes. Whether you call her your mate or don't is inconsequential, seeing as she will be the only female you'll be with." Another pointed look. His next statement made her raise her eyebrows, and she tilted her head. "What sort of things, Utesaji?"
Utesaji rumbled. At least Xibalba respected his point of view. There were some small victories he couldn't take for granted. He rumbled again and flicked an ear, trying to ignore the pointed look. She could give him all the looks she wanted, really, but she would never be his mate. Utesaji, king of the Zamani'zavita would never be ruled by a female. He was a king and he was a warrior. No women. "It is consequential," he argued, casting Xibalba a sideways glance. "You don't understand. But it does matter. And I will decide if she is the only female in my life." He growled then. "She might be all well and fine now, but we'll see what kind of kin she gets." A dismal litter would ruin anyone, in his opinion.
He shrugged and shook his head, letting his blond mane ruffle around him. "I don't know what sort of things," he replied, blinking lazily. "That's why I asked you." It was true. She did seem to know everything. "Surely you have something that needs to get done." He was vaguely aware of Xibalba's 'network', or whatever she called it, and who knew? She might need a spare paw now and again. He flicked an ear before regarding her, expecting something to come his way. Utesaji was a little too used to getting what he thought he deserved. "Well?"
Xibalba's golden eyes narrowed a fraction when he said that she 'didn't understand.' Clearly he had been spending too much time here alone to think that she did not understand the majority of things that went on in his microscopic life. Utesaji never did anything as complicated as she did, so she sorely doubted that she couldn't understand any of his actions. He had a stubborn streak a mile wide and it was not hard to figure out. "You think me foolish then, and with not enough intelligence or empathy to understand your motives?" She asked quietly, lowering voice as was usual when she was getting irritated. "You speak ill of her kin before you've even seen them. Are you afraid that you will cause her to produce ill numbers?" It was not a thinly veiled insult, but Xibalba's patience was wearing thin.
She seemed to think about his next words, running the possibilities through her mind. What could she give him that would not only keep him occupied, but would keep him out of her business and out of trouble? Not many things, but she would offer him his choices. "You could always set out to speak with the locals, get an idea for who lives near here and what pride borders come close to the den. You could look for warriors, young lions who would be willing to fight for your cause."
Utesaji's ears flattened against his head and he growled. He did not like being insulted. Well, who did, but he had learned to deal with little jabs from Xibalba. Unfortunately, he was not in the mood to deal with them. "I fear her age will cause her to produce ill numbers," he shot back. "Didn't you say she already had grown cubs, or something? Ran off. Bad blood. There's something wrong there," he grumbled, picking a fight he knew he would never win. He was baiting. He knew he should, and yet, he just couldn't help himself.
And yet. "Meet the locals?" Utesaji snorted. He didn't see that as anything useful. Busy work, that's what that was. He wasn't stupid. But he couldn't argue on two fronts. He'd just make more warriors. That was an excellent idea, actually, one that he already had a start on. But he'd let Xi in on the later. "But what's my cause again?" he muttered, mildly ashamed he forgot. More ashamed for cause and less because he actually cared. Things just went over better that way.
Xibalba refused to change her expression, exhibiting her rather famous iron control. She would not lash out at him with her paws, and she would not show how truly irritated she was on her face. It was a battle of wills, and the lioness was determined to come out on top of this one. He would do what she said. "What would you know about age? She had them when she was young and ignorant. A disgusting lion impregnated her and then abandoned her, leaving her with two cubs of bad blood. Her blood is not the cause of anything, and her good mothering overrides any bad characteristics. You judge her before you've even met her."
The lioness resisted the urge to snort at his question. It was better not to provoke him on this front. She was already pestering him about one thing, and it would do them no good for her to laugh at him about this one. "The starting up of your pride, of course. You need a good house underneath you so you can take your place as rightful King. Then, once the royal house is formed, branches can be made and other houses will rise up," she replied, tone soothing and without the coldness she had let slip in earlier.
"You can't keep me from judging," he replied indignantly. Which, no matter what she said, she couldn't change. Oh sure, the female might be everything Xibalba made her out to be, but Utesaji wouldn't believe it until he met her. And even then, he didn't want to just take her for what she was. He'd have to make the decision himself. They were cubs after all. He wouldn't let some hag have them.
But Utesaji was fortunately soothed, as silly as it was, but he couldn't help but let Xibalba draw him under. He always did, actually, it was probably why she had the dark lion under her control in the first place. "Ah yes. That plan," he rumbled, rolling the idea back and forth in his head. That was a great place, one he understood and backed fully. Well, of course. "I could probably work on that one," he agreed, nodding.
Xibalba gave a small shrug of her shoulders, still keeping her face calm. "As you wish, Utesaji." But he would understand his purpose when the time came. She would make sure that there was some chemistry between the two, and that the dark lion did not let his stubborn pride get in the way of producing some fine cubs. The lioness owed it to Nzinga even more than she owned it to Utesaji. She would give that lioness a good family, for as long as she held sway over her pet.
"Indeed you should. You could have your own army, which you could train to hone your skills and theirs. Surely there are many lions in this world who wish to be stronger and to fight." She had not run into a combative creature yet but she was sure that they were out there somewhere. No doubt Utesaji would find them, and those that she did not find suitable would be "kindly" escorted away. She needed warriors who would obey Utesaji, not turn him against her.
Fine. Fine, fine, fine. This all would be fine, he supposed, but he really didn't want to push it anymore. Being this agitated made him feel...well, not good. If he was lucky, he'd avoid another spell. Beside, if Xibalba was willing to let it go for now, so would he. "Take me to meet her," he requested. It was almost like a gift. He would meet her, and be nice, as he said. And he would make his second judgment. "But not right now. I have things to do," he added, rising to his feet and turning towards his den. "I will see you tomorrow?"
The lioness tilted her head at Utesaji's statement, momentarily confused, but the second part cleared that up. Well, she had to be thankful for the small concessions. He was at least going to meet the girl, and that was better than nothing. "Of course. I will take you to see her when you are feeling up to it." She gave him a small smile, before rising with him. "Of course. Rest well, Utesaji." Xibalba turned and headed back the way she came, smiling to herself. Mission accomplished.
