Suffice it to say that he was, more or less, in one of his more unpleasant moods. Not only was the day unbelieveably hot, so much that even if he lay still with his wings wrapped around the whole of his body didn't couldn't keep him cool, but even as he wandered he'd yet to run into someone to curb his boredom. Normally under such circumstances he'd have flown back up to the haven for some peace of mind, however something seemed to keep him grounded. Literally.With an irritated expression, the male snorted as he kicked a passing lizard without so much as a thought. The poor creature landed on its back, but quickly recovered and started scurrying away. Unluckily for, Tarik had to simply reach out with his paw to catch up. And reach he did. With a sudden THWACK the god's paw landed on the tail of his victim, and he reeled him in slowly.
"Come here you.." he said, lifting the lizard so it could see eye to eye with him. "Seems today just isn't your day either, is it?" It wasn't as though he was expecting an answer..
Domo was on the look out, as he always was. Alert, attentive, hearing the voices of the savannah and keeping his ears perked for anyone that might be crying out for help. He had taken it upon himself, with the gifts he was given, to keep the innocent safe, and to thwart what evil doers he could find.
What gifts? Well, for one he was fairly strong and sturdy for a leopard. Above average size, yet still fast and sleek, he felt like he was built for this kind of work. Besides that, he considered his mind particularly adept at discerning right from wrong, and passing judgment on those who walked the line. He knew about justice and what it took to earn it, having a fair dose of injustice through his history.
But that wasn’t something he talked about.
Moving along, head high and chest proud, he spotted a young lion messing with a lizard. Nothing wrong with that, per se, but it might be a sign of a bullying nature. The leopard decided it was his duty to check it out.
“Having a bad day?” he said as he approached, hearing the lion’s comments to the lizard. Of course the little creature was having a bad day: he was hanging by his tail in the paws of a giant carnivore.
For a second Tarik thought it was the lizard that had replied. Surprising, especially since its mouth hadn't moved. He scrunched his brows, then lifted his gaze to an approaching shadow that he'd caught from the corners of his eyes. The god made an 'o' shape with his mouth, as if to say that he finally understood what just happened, then promptly lowered the lizard. He didn't let go though, in case this leopard was just passing through. It'd be a waste to let any form of entertainment, however minor, escape if it meant he had nothing else to 'play' with.
"Somewhat," he said, his voice very much reflecting his mood. "I don't believe it concerns you though. Up until just now it was between me and this lizard right here." Tarik lifted up the paw that was resting on the main body of his captive. Its tail still in the deity's posession, the unfortunate creature wriggled and writhed in place, trying to escape his clutches. Of course, one so small had no chance. At least not in this case.
"In any case, since you've decided to involve yourself I assume there's a reason?"
“I was just concerned,” he said with a charming smile. He was a genial leopard, by nature, because his chosen path required it. He wasn’t one of those brooding types with the general public. Or at least, he was a good enough actor to keep that part of him hidden with the civilians. It was his secret identity, of sorts. Beneath it was a dark and righteous creature, who was capable of less than savory things in his pursuit of the ultimate good. That, however, was reserved for his enemies. He shook his head.
“I thought you might be bullying that little thing. Something so small hardly needs to be reminded to fear big things like you and me. But it seems you were just having a conversation with it.” He shrugged his thick shoulders.
“I apologize, though, if I’ve offended you by inquiring! Perhaps you would prefer to keep to yourself until your mood passes? I could easily do that, if it was helpful to you. That is, after all, what I try to do around these parts. Keep everyone safe and happy. You’re not a trouble maker, are you?”
The idea of keeping everyone 'safe and happy' wasn't new to the god, not that he'd ever tried it before. As far as he was concerned it was an absurd and impossible task, so there was no point in wasting his time. Not that he had anything better to do though. With a shrug Tarik released the lizard, and it scurried away, no doubt glad to know that it'd see the light of another day. "He wasn't replying anyway. Not that he could, being as scared as he was, but one-sided conversations are only entertaining for the first few minutes."
Trouble maker? Honestly, Tarik would probably admit to being a 'trouble maker' were it any other situation. However, if he did admit to being one he'd probably have to put up with a pointless confrontation. His reply to the other's question was a simple shake of his head.
"My 'mood'," he started to say, annoyance still evident in his tone. "Would've passed if you'd let me have my way with that lizard. However, since you didn't I'm afraid it won't simply pass even if you leave." Tarik quirked a brow. "Since this is your fault," he continued, pointing a claw at the leopard. "And since you said that it is 'what you do around these parts', what do you suppose you could do to alleviate this boredom and make me...'happy'?"
Domo nodded. He imagined one sided conversations were, in fact, boring after a while. He knew his patience ran out when creatures he was questioning failed to reply to his promptings. Of course, then he resorted to other tactics to get their vocal cords working. But that, again, wasn’t for the light of day. And it wasn’t exactly fun, either, so the lion’s point remained firm.
“Whoops, I’m sorry to hear that, and to be the cause of it, my friend,” Domo said, bowing his head, “I didn’t mean to make your mood worse. Though, I think I did make that lizard’s mood better, so I guess it wasn’t a total loss.” He grinned, teeth surprisingly white and straight, even his fangs were glistening.
“But I don’t know you very well, do I? I can only solve problems with obvious answers, or with experience. Since you’re kind of challenging to make you happy, I don’t think I could no matter what I tried. You seem to be content to be angry, so I guess I’ve already done my job.”
He laughed, teasing but only kind of.
“I’m sure your mood will improve when you let it.”
Whether or not Tarik would admit it, he had a point. There wasn't a mortal on the planet that could make him happy if he chose not to. Still, he frowned, pretending he wanted the other to at least try. "Hm.." he mused, then shrugged. "Most would actually try...oh well. Your job is none of my concern anyhow. In any case I'm not 'content' with being angry. I don't like being bored, and it isn't easy to rid myself of the feeling." He idly waved his paw, as though to insist that he really did want the feeling to pass. Which he...really did, but since this leopard was so convinced that he was fine the way he was then his form of amusement, in this case, would be to try and get him to do his self-proclaimed 'job'.
"I should say again, I was oh so close to being lifted out of my anger only a moment ago," and he paused, glancing sideways at the other. "But then came you, and the weight of the feeling once again fell onto my shoulders. That is, of course, your fault," a deep sigh. "However, if you've intention to oblige then I believe you should promptly dismiss yourself. I shall simply go and hunt down that lizard and try to have another conversation with him."
A small bit of acting never hurt anyone, and it was mildly amusing...albeit mediocre.
Domo watched, smiling. He felt bad, not being able to help this lion. He wanted to see him laugh, at least, but Domo wasn’t actually a particularly funny guy. He didn’t know what he might do to lift this guys spirits. And he didn’t want to look like an idiot for trying. Not that he was particularly self conscious, but he didn’t think it would do either of them any good. He tilted his head thoughtfully.
“I take the blame entirely. If there is something I can do, specifically, to ease my debt to you feel free to ask. I don’t feel good about being the reason you’re angrier now, so just let me know.” He sighed, shaking his head. He should stick to the super heroism, not the one on one encounters. He was more cut out for fighting off hyena than he was trying to cheer someone up.
He bowed his head again, keeping it down.
“I guess I should be off, then, if that’s what you want me to do. I’d feel bad though. Maybe I can help you find that lizard?”
The leopard's last question brought the smallest of smiles to Tarik's maw, and he nodded at the suggestion. "Of course, finding a lizard might be a good way to help me. It might be all you could do, after all, to make up for something you take all the blame for." Who knows, it might actually be able to help in the slightest of ways. And even if it didn't, he'd have something to do until the next concerned wanderer happened to come across him and the lizard.. maybe.
"Well?"
Domo grinned and nodded, bounding triumphantly toward the bushes. He landed lightly on his paws, bringing himself close to the ground and inching forward silently, a stark change for his bounding just moments before. He was all business now, sniffing the earth for traces of the previous lizard, or maybe an entirely new one. There were probably a few around here, anyway.
He moved into the bushes, careful not to disrupt them too much, keeping low and moving slowly. He stopped when he felt a branch poking into his back, telling him no to go further. It was fine, he could see what he wanted from here. Grinning, he flashed out his paw and caught a lizard, whether it was the same one he couldn’t tell, by the tail. Trying to push himself backward, and drag the lizard toward him, failed however.
It seemed he was a bit stuck.
“Well, I caught one! But you’re going to have to help me here. Either come in here and take the lizard, or try and give me a good yank and get me out of here.”
Tarik preoccupied himself with a bit of grooming as he waited for the other to return, wondering several random thoughts until he was interrupted by shouts from the leopard.. who, come to think of it, had never told him his name. At once the god got onto all fours and approached where the leopard now sat. He couldn't help but snort at the sight as he rounded the other's figure and took hold of the lizard beneath his paw. "I think I'll do the former," he said with a grin. "You're well able to get out of there on your own I hope?"
And with that Tarik turned and started off, glancing back just once. "I appreciate the help, leopard. Keep up the good work." Though he said this, he lacked both a genuine tone and expression. Still, from that distance he figured the leopard wouldn't have been able to tell the difference.
Domo blinked, watching as the lizard was taken from him. Well, not all citizens were upright and stalwart. He couldn’t blame the younger lion for not wanting to be helpful. Shaking his head, disappointed but not entirely surprised, the leopard waved his paw after the lizard was taken and grinned, though he couldn’t really be seen.
He managed to haul himself out of the bush just fine, now that he wasn’t worrying about crushing that poor little lizard in his big meaty paw. He shook his body, leaves fluffing off him, and then draw a deep breath.
Well, that was a weird encounter. But he didn’t mind it. The creatures around here were all different, and he needed to get better at interacting with each type. Or he had to make the decision not to. He didn’t know, really, which was better. Be the interactive hero, or the one that watches from the shadows. He’d have to give it more thought. Padding along, he yawned and decided it would be a good time to go and take a nap, and gear up for his night time duties.
So he went and did just that.
End!
