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 Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:43 pm
Maximus sighed heavily, his head bent down as he walked through the thick grass that outlined the pride's dens. It was early evening, and after a long day of patrol and checking up on things he was about to retire for the night. A nice sleep would be comforting...
A lot of mixed emotions and jumbled thoughts had plagued in the past couple days. The usual state of the pride, but now more... personal things. Perhaps it was merely Venus playing tricks on him. Or maybe she was trying to tell him something more...
He paused outside of a den that wasn't far from his own. A large space reserved for the older, more respected citizens. He cleared his throat and peered into the shadows. "Atia?" He called out hopefully.
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:30 pm
Atia had been lost in her own thoughts. She had spent much of the day reviewing the hunting situation in their new location, as well as searching their boarders for possible weak points. She was tired, and annoyed, but still, she had managed to get things together, and that was always pleasent. She missed her more luxurious lifestyle, when she had slaves to take care of this sort of thing... but still, it did feel good to get out and about on occasion.
She blinked when she heard her name and looked over her shoulder, "Ah, Caesar. How nice to see you. Come to visit, have you?" Atia asked, though she secretly hoped that he had come to ask her advice. She would much rather do that, for her political savvy was far more appreciated by her old body than wandering around so much.
She stood up and approached him, shifting her shawl thoughtfully as she observed him. What could be on his mind today? Perhaps, if she was lucky, a mate was on his mind. For it certainly tended to be on hers...
...perhaps she ought to find herself a lover. If her old bones could handle that anyway. But at least it would give her someone to manipulate, and certainly something entertaining.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:20 am
"Yes..." He said softly as he stepped forward, clearing his throat as he moved. "I hope you will excuse me for disturbing you in your home... But..." He bowed his head only slightly, enough to show respect and apology for the intrusion.
"It is rather important, I think." He muttered after a slight pause. He cleared his throat and sat heavily, just barely inside the entry of her den. He did not wish to intrude further, greatly respecting the need for one's personal space. The lion would not move further in unless asked.
Now he let an awkward silence fall, his mouth opening and closing for a few moments until he cleared his throat, looking away, then back at her. He was usually a very confident male, his charisma carrying him through life well... But the subject of love never sat well with him. He'd rather focus on politics and the pride as a whole.
"What is your opinion on the healer Nyao?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:23 am
Atia watched him, tilting her head a little and sighing, "Come in now Caesar. You're making us both uncomfortable just standing there. Or would you like me to come out? I suppose I could do that..." She said, standing and moving towards him.
She then listened to what he had to say... though she did realize he was taking a while. Atia almost immeditaly knew it was about either finding a mate, or love in the general sense... because since she had known the boy when he was a child, that had always been one of his major setbacks. He had no idea about that kind of thing, poor boy.
Though she couldn't help but be a little... taken aback by his question. "The healer Nyao? Well, I suppose she knows what she's doing, as well she should since she's our soul remaining healer... but she's a very forward little thing. Thinks very highly of herself. She could be meeker." Atia said, not holding back on her opinion as always. "Though I suppose we can't be picky when we have so few left..."
But now she was curious. Not alarmed quite yet... but overtly curious. Why would he be asking about someone like Nyao unless... Hum. He either wanted to assiasstinate her, or he wanted to mate with her. There was no other reason she could think of for him to be asking.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:36 am
He frowned slightly, almost moving to walk further into her home, but then sat again when she came out.
"I see..." He muttered, his thick mane shaking as he nodded. "She has the tendency to be a bit forward, yes... But I've corrected her once or twice, and she seems capable of listening and obeying..." He shifted again uncomfortably, looking at her now but not quite meeting her eyes directly. "And yes, she's a very good healer...." He continued, starting to rant until he realized it and pulled himself back.
Best be blunt and get it out of the way.
"I... think.... that I might like her. Very much."
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:45 am
Well, Atia assumed that meant that assassination was out. Shame. She hadn't seen a good execution in ages. However Nyao was... well, she supposed that there were worse choices. If the girl was willing to be taught to act like a proper Queen... then they could do much worse.
It wasn't as though a healer had any head for politics.
"Hum... I see." Atia said with a short nod. She supposed on the bright side, Maximus wouldn't be leaving the pride any time soon, which was good. They needed him there. And Nyao would certainly be able to bear children... so there would be an heir...
Atia would have to keep a close eye on the girl though. She knew that much already. Someone had to make sure that Nyao didn't get any ideas, just because she was one of two choices the pride had. And she would have to watch their children... decide who showed the most promise and make sure Nyao didn't get any ideas about what they would be doing. After all, Atia always looked ahead... and she was a schemer at heart.
"Well, have yo mated with her yet? I suppose if you haven't, you should wait until the festival so we can prepare her. Venus' blessing on the two of you is essential for a proper heir." She said, all business right away.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:54 am
He listened to her, feeling slightly ill about the whole situation. To be honest, he'd rather just forget the whole situation and see Nyao forever as just a healer and friend. He'd rather be a good Caesar and take care of his people... But he couldn't be a good Caesar without having a heir. And the idea of putting it off too long again... terrorfied him. He didn't want to go through a loss like that another time.
Then he flustered, taken aback by her forwardness. "Gods, no!" He blurted out, his ears tilting back in embarrassment. "No, I... she doesn't even know of my feelings, I don't think..." He paused again, suddenly frowning. "...Now that I think on it, I do not know her feelings either."
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:09 pm
Atia vry nearly scoffed at this. Honestly, she had never had these kinds of problems from his father. But then, Maximus' father had been the one who had made her marry against her own will. But that had turned out for the best. Or would have been for the best if everyone hadn't died anyway. But getting to the blunt truth had always been one of her specialities.
"Hum... well, it hardly matters if she shares your feelings. You are Caesar, she should be proud at the prospect of acting as your mate. And if she isn't... then, well, frankly she'll either have to get used to it, or we'll have to shift our focus." Atia mentioned off-hand, "When your father instructed that Cato be my mate, he had the option of throwing me out or making me, and Cato, slaves if we didn't do as we were told. Now, of course I realize we can't kick out our only healer, but we must make due." She said decivly, thinking forward.
It was hard to say if Atia even knew what love was. Or what feelings were, sometimes. She had gotten even rougher since Cato and her children had died. And now she only had one thing she felt she needed to do: Make sure Maximus had an heir. What his female mate wanted really didn't matter much to her.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:20 pm
The idea of forcing Nyao to be his mate didn't sit well with him... If he was going to do the whole mate thing, he'd prefer to do it right, after all. Then again, Nyao was very committed to the pride, and would likely not turn down the offer either way.
So many things to think about... Why couldn't this just be easy?
He sighed a little and nodded. "I will approach her before the opening night of the festival..." Which was only a day or two away. "I do hope she doesn't mind... But you are right. It is for the good of the pride that I... produce a heir soon..." He muttered, glancing away. He seemed to brood for a moment, then shook his head again and looked back to her with a smile.
"So I have your blessing, Atia? You know I would do no such thing without your consent."
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:55 pm
Atia sighed a little, shaking her head, "Well, I would have liked someone else, in all honesty, but as our options are limited, she will do well enough. You may have her as your mate, if it makes you happy Maximus. We will have to make her appear more... Queen-like I suppose, but I can arrange something, I'm sure." She said, tapping her chin thoughtfully and nodding.
"Alright, this will do. Make sure you have Venus' blessing by the festival, of course... good timing, this." She mentioned, smiling a little, "I'm sure our Goddess will be pleased with this... make her a healthy sacrifice and hopefully we'll have some good healthy cubs in a few months."
And then the line would be secure. She would have done her job... Maximus' mother would have been proud. Atia hadn't let her down.
Not that that was ever a question.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 1:09 pm
"Thank you, Atia." He had hoped she would have been more enthusiastic, but at least she didn't outright disagree. Having her approval meant quite a bit to him, being as she had been more like a mother to him since his own died when he was quite a bit younger.
"And I will, of course." He nods, his stomach starting to tie into knots now that it was becoming more... real. Now he just had to go talk to Nyao and know her feelings... Then he could go sacrifice to Venus... Ugh. So much to do, so many traditions. Though, he hoped it would be worth it in the end, when he saw... his... children.
"I'd better get going then... And prepare myself to speak to her." He smiled at her thinly, but sincerely, stepping closer to nudge her a little. "Thank you again... And I hope you will be willing to be the godmother, of course."
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 1:20 pm
"You're very welcome Maximus... and I'm very proud of you. I'm sure your mothr would be as well. You've become quite the Caesar." She told him, and she did feel that way. Maximus was an excellent Caesar, and she did love him, in her own way.
She bristled a little, grinning, "Well of course. I would be a happy Godmother. It will certainly give me something to do." She chuckled under her breath. After all, only one could be Caesar. The rest would have to understand what it meant to be one of the powers behind the throne.
Leading was excellent, she supposed, but she was always much happier to be the one who sat behind the throne, orchastrating things. Perhaps she would find someone else who would be able to protect the pride when she was gone...
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 1:30 pm
He nodded a little, smiling at her still as he stood and shook his fur off. "Thank you..." He said, turning himself a bit to leave. His chest has swelled a little with pride, taking her compliments to heart.
"Take care of yourself, Atia, and sleep well." With that he bowed his head, then started to trot away from the dens towards his own. Though honestly, he felt even heavier than he did before he spoke with the Elder...
Two days till Venerlia. Two days to tell Nyao he wanted the chance to love her.
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