Shikamana was enjoying a lazy day, relaxing under the shade of a tree. The weather was quite warm and he didn't care for it- the jet black male wasn't exactly made for hot temperatures. His coat was more designed to blend in shadows than keep out heat. Panting slightly, he rolled onto his back, letting the dirt decorate his sleek body.
Normally he didn't like getting himself messy, but today it was okay. Today he wasn't trying to impress anyone. With only himself in the area, what did it matter? Like letting your hair down, really.
He hadn't noticed that there were other creatures in the place, completely drawn into his own little world. Nothing out of the ordinary. Shikamana wasn't exactly the most caring or attentive of leopards out there. Animals could be dying in front of him and he wouldn't raise a paw unless they offered him something as payment first.
Phedre was out wandering a bit today. Normally, she didn't go far from home if not on an assignation...but she just had a case of wandering paws today. World be damned if she would take the new bodyguard Delaunay hired. The male made her a little skittish, with his shifting eyes and stiff demeanor. She missed Guy. And...and HIM, much as she hated admitting it. And that put the normally friendly leopardess in a somewhat foul mood.
She gave the few creatures who greeted her a polite nod and smile, then launched herself into the first tree she saw. The feel of the bark under her claws was somewhat soothing as she found herself an advantageous perch. Perfect if she got hungry later though...something did bother her.
There was someone else nearly directly under her perch. A rather attractive someone, quite probably, once all the dirt was removed. But the idiot had gone and rolled in the dirt, it seemed. She laughed softly. "Well...you look out of your element." He looked dark, so she wasn't the only miserable one...though his reasons would be rather different from hers.
Opening his eyes, the male noticed the pretty female in the tree above him, instantly regretting rolling around in the dirt. How messy he must have looked to her! She wouldn't be able to see just how glorious a beast he really was. But he didn't let these thoughts hinder him, the long creature plopping over onto one side and once again looking into the tree, a grin on his face.
"Well hello there," he offered, "you caught me at a bad time! I'm not usually this messy. Why don't you come down and I'll let you clean me off? Then you can see what I really look like." It was his only real concern on any day- how people saw him. His looks were more important than anything else.
Standing, he shook himself off a little, waiting a response from the lady in the tree.
Phedre raised a brow. "Really now? Well...I suppose every is allowed their awkward moments." With a movement that was more reflex than conscious decision, she jumped from the tree to land near the leopard. "I won't do ALL the work...but perhaps I could help you." She knew this game. And for it, she chose an almost innocent smile as she looked to him.
"What did you do to get yourself so messy, though? You're certainly not a cub..." Perhaps this was just what she needed. Someone to banter at that wasn't part of her 'clan' or an assignation. "Or perhaps you were just on the wrong side of a dust spinner."
"Well good," he replied, amused that she was playing along. Normally he had to pretend to be the good guy to get woman to stay with him. It was nice to be a bit more normal. But he would have to see if it would allow him to get what he wanted out of her.
Shikamana grinned. "Well maybe I'm just young at heart," he replied, "I was only rolling around because the dust is kind of cool. It was better than just lying out in the sun panting, you know?" Still smiling, he sat himself down, tilting his head to one side as he watched her. "I can see why you wouldn't like getting dirty- your fur is so lovely. Must be hard to look that pretty all the time."
Cracking his neck, he shook his head about, ears moving forward. "Do you have a name, beautiful?"
Phedre laughed softly. "Well...Nothing wrong with being a bit young at heart. Keeps your view fresh and open." She took a place next to him and brushed some dirt from his back with a paw. "And I can see where the logic is. Better dirty than looking like you're dying."
She was rather proud of her appearance. "Ah...it can be a challenge at times. But it is worth it. There's something wonderful about looking one's best." And it usually kept her 'clan' in trinkets and all sorts of tasty things to eat...as well as favors. "I am Phedre no Delaunay. But Phedre is perfectly fine. And you, handsome?"
"Phedre? I've never heard a name quite like it before. Very lovely. Matches your beauty," he mused lightly, "you can call me Shikamana. I'm not really into nicknames very much." He felt his name was just fine the way it was. Why ruin things by shortening the already glorious word? Seemed a step in the wrong direction, really. Sighing, he looked himself over, trying to spot any lingering dust on his frame.
"So, beautiful, you come this way often? I'm afraid I haven't really seen you around much. I would have remembered seeing someone like you before." Not that he was a native to the area, but still.
"Mmmm...I rather like Shikamana. Sounds positively mysterious." She drew the last word out a bit, enjoying herself. This was a game she was good at. One that didn't involve anything other than two creatures looking for a good time, but were being veiled about it...somewhat.
"Sadly, I do not. I came this way today because I was in a rather...foul mood. Though I'm rather glad for my foul mood now...by the looks of you under the dirt that's coming off, you're quite the looker." She laughed softly, being completely sincere. Phedre knew this one had no connections to anyone Delaunay knew...she was safe of having to worry for a bit.
Shikamana chuckled lightly, straightening himself a bit so she could get a better look at him. No point in hiding his glory from the lady he was trying to impress. "Yeah?" he replied when she commented on his name, "well I'm glad for that. I like being a leopard of mystery." Indeed, that sounded perfect- a personality to match his slick coat of jet black.
But he wasn't really mysterious at all- he wore his intentions in his expressions.
"I see," he remarked, "if this is you in a bad mood, I wonder how nice a creature you must really be? Probably too nice for someone like me to... enjoy." He was teasing- he'd get with anything so long as it had female bits. Watching her, he purred faintly, tail beating the ground slowly. "Why thank you. I do try on most days. So, Phedre dear, what put you in a foul mood?"
Phedre's laugh grew brighter. "Well, you brightened my mood right up. My foul mood is rather foul indeed, despite my beauty." Now...Phedre wasn't exactly VAIN...but she did pride herself on her looks. "Sadly...it is something I would rather not discuss. It is a fresh wound still that does not wish to heal." She was sure the memories would go away one day. But until then...until then, it still hurt when she thought about it.
"So what brings a handsome leopard like you to this remote area, Shikamana? Certainly nothing pressing?" She kept a smile on her face...no longer the vaguely innocent one, but a sultry one she preferred wearing in good company.
Watching her, the male nodded. Maybe it wasn't his place to be asking anyway. He didn't need to know her backstory- only that she was interested in him for one short moment. Never was he willing to let things last more than one encounter. Just didn't have that kind of time. "I understand, I won't mention it again. Wouldn't want to ruin that pretty smile of yours!" He smiled, soon finding it his turn to face a difficult question.
"I was looking for someone," replied he with a tone more serious than he had intended at first, "but she doesn't seem to be around here." A grin spread over his feature soon enough, the moment of seriousness gone with the wind. He watched her, giving a light laugh. "But don't worry! I wasn't looking for a mate or anything like that. I'm completely... free to play."
If that wasn't a hint he didn't know what was.
Phedre just chuckled. "Thank you. It's nice to talk to someone who understands the value of not pressing the issue." She did raise her brow when he mentioned looking for someone...but the raised brow was quickly replaced by another chuckle. "Hmmm...free you say?" She stood and stretched languidly.
"Perhaps you'd like to play then?" Obviously, she was accepting the...invitation. She rather did like the idea of a tyrst she didn't need to worry about repeating later, if this one was like what he gave off. And the idea of something that wouldn't leave marks to heal was a comfort, once in a while. "I know a rather...lovely spot not far from here. Nice and quiet."
"Sounds like a plan to me," the black male replied casually, treating the whole thing like just another day. Some animals like to play tags, others enjoyed a slow conversation with some other creature. For Shikamana, the best was to really relax was to get it on with a girl. Wasn't a bad thing, just his way of handling stressful situations. Just like his sister, though he had no idea.
He still couldn't find her.
"Lead the way, beautiful," he told her, moving close only to rub his body against hers. He was comfortable with what they were doing. She had to be too if she had accepted so easily- normally he had to trick his ladies just a little bit.
Phedre welcomed the contact and rubbed back as she started towards the bit of jungle she had thought of. There was a flourish to her steps that banished any thought that she didn't know what she was getting into. "Willingly." This was definitely a good way to smash old hurts and kick away the dust settling in her heart. And she didn't have to worry about screwing up. This guy wasn't paying her.
