Bekile yawned lazily as she lifted her head sniffing the air. The mid-day sun beat down on her dusky blue hide as she gazed about before getting to her feet, stalking towards the grasslands. It was time to try her luck at getting something to eat.
Shikamana was strung about the branches of a tree, sleeping within the leaves in an attempt to escape the sun. He purred softly to himself, just warm enough to be very comfortable. Opening one eye, he spotted a lioness making her way over the grounds. Smiling, he offered her a whistle.
"Looking good, sweetheart," he said from his place in the thin branches, "come this way often?"
One brow arched as Thembekile looked about then looked up, her violet eyes narrowing as she spotted the male leopard.
He watched her, amused. She didn't look particularly happy to see him. Still, that didn't mean that he wouldn't grow on her. Grinning, he stretched his front paws, letting his claws grip at the air for a moment before they retracted.
"What's the matter, lovely? Are you lost or something?"
"I am busy." Turned her head she sniffed the air again studying the lands around her. There had to be prey around here somewhere. Glancing up at the leopard again, she couldn't help but study him curiously.
"I see," Shikamana replied thoughtfully, "busy checking me out, it seems. But don't worry! you're not the first one to do that, you know." He continued to grin at her, standing up in the branches. He didn't jump down right away, though, a little unsure of the female. She didn't seem the... friendliest. And his charms weren't having much effect on her.
"Aside from seeing how hot I am," he said after a short pause, "what are you busy doing?"
She snorted faintly, "I was -not- checking you out. I have simply never met on of your kind before and I must say that if you are the prime example of your species I am not missing out on much."
"Oh, honey, you're missing out on EVERYTHING. You just can't see it yet." He watched her still, blue eyes taking in the very stern lioness. So she'd never seen a leopard before. That was... cute. He would have some fun here, he knew it.
"You don't have to be so stiff," he informed her, "no one here's going to judge you. Let your mane down and chill for a bit- you probably look a hell of a lot cuter when you're smiling."
She cast him another cold look as she got to her feet and headed towards the grasslands. She would -not- let herself be charmed by the cocky male, it was too risky to even seem overly friendly with the leopard.
Oh no, she wasn't getting away from him that easily.
Jumping down from the tree, the black leopard followed behind the female, doing his best to keep just enough room between them to be able to escape any kind of attack she might throw his way. This one would take some breaking, he imagined. Which was fine- he didn't mind playing rough.
"Come on now," he cooed, "don't look so upset. I was only funnin with you. Tell me your name. A pretty thing like you can't be nameless."
Bekile glanced over her shoulder and scowled coming to a stop. She forced herself to talk a deep breath and unclench her jaw. "Why are you following me?"
"Cause I like watching you walk from back here," Shikamana replied calmly, sitting down once she had stopped. He was still a ways back, but close enough to hear her. And smile at her. And she her scowling back at him. This was fun.
He was enjoying himself.
"Why are you being so cold to me? Don't they know how to make friends where you come from? Shouldn't push people away, cutie, you're too pretty to die alone."
Her lips twitched in what might be a snarl or a smile. "My name is Thembekile oh pushy one and who says I am alone?"
"Oh pushy one?" he chuckled, "most people just call me Shi. Nice to meet you, Thembekile. You got a nickname or something?" He didn't like the name. It was too hard to say to be a girl's name. Maybe he would have said something about it if she didn't already look ready to wail on him just for being there.
"You're not alone? Huh, well, color me surprised. You got yourself a boy toy, or is it more of a slavery kind of thing? No offense, sweetheart, but you don't look like the dinner and casual conversation type."
Again the arched brow as she watched him, the twitch of her whiskers defiantly from amusement this time. "It seems to me you are the one that has such a closed outlook if you are so quick to assume that because I do not wish to become overly friendly with you that I am that way to everyone." Her violet eyes were slightly mocking but she didn't seem to really mean the cruel words.
"Hey, I won't deny it-" Shikamana almost hummed, "if you don't show it to me, I'm not going to assume anything. I go off looks and what I see, not the moments in between I actually know nothing about. What else am I supposed to think? Who knew I was so special to earn this... lovely form of conversation." He smiled at her, clearly unfazed, "so how are you around all the lesser folk?"
He looked down at his paws a moment, shaking some dirt from between his claws.
She did laugh then, her ears flicking lazy, " Ah I am afraid I must ask for your forgiveness. My pride is not very welcoming to anyone but lions and since I am truly never met a leopard, I had no reason to be overly friendly."
"Ain't nothing to worry about," the male replied easily enough, "I guess if you're in a pride like that you got to think things a certain way. Though it also shows you did the same thing I did. That close-minded assuming, I mean. am I really so bad after all?" He exposed his fangs in a big, toothy grin towards her, wagging his tail about like a dog might.
"Least you can say you met one now. Though it they don't like my kind I guess it's not really something you should brag about too much. I, on the other hand, will be telling everyone about the pretty lioness I got to meet today."
Bekile chuckled softly , "I did mean what I said. I am not alone so don't
"Who's trying to charm?" the male asked, as though offended at the mere thought of it, "this is all natural, baby. Just how I am. But now you have to share. Who's this guy and what does he have that I don't? A mane? I bet he's a lion, isn't he?" He was being nosy just for the sake of it. If she wasn't interested in him he really didn't have any need to keep talking to her. He couldn't help that he was mildly entertained by the conversation.
Bekile smiled faintly ," Yes he is a lion, his name is Vestip and he makes me happy which is more than enough. And please do not call me baby, babe, toots, or sweetheart. If you must call me a nickname call me Bekile."
"Bekile, hm? I guess it'll do. Not my usual, but I won't go against your wishes. Just don't try to stop me from complimenting you- they just come out and I really have no control over it. You'd be asking a fish not to swim." He purred to himself, rolling his head about his shoulders.
"Vestip, eh? Well, if I see him around some time maybe I'll say congrats to him for scoring such a hottie. Anyway, you said you were busy, right? Maybe I ought to let you get back to ... whatever it was you were doing."
"I was about to go hunting but considering that it looks like the prey is settling in for a nap as well, I might go back to the swamp to fish."
"Swamps?" Shikamana wrinkled his nose at the thought of living in some place so dirty. "to each their own... I guess." He got up, turning to leave now that he knew she wasn't going to be swayed by his attempts to woo her. There was really nothing more he needed to talk about with her. "Well, maybe I'll see you around some time. You'll have to introduce me to that Vestip of yours one day." He smiled back at her.
"It was nice to meet you Shi!" She called after him amused. So..that was a leopard...rather interesting fellow. She allowed herself a private chuckle as she headed back to the swamps her tail twitching behind her.
