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 Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:19 am
((this is set just after it's announced that Achilles is the head male, before the pups are born.)) Was Iosef feeling a bit threatened? Well, perhaps.
After all, for some time now he had taken on the role of head slave, if informally. He had trained Glacier, at any rate, and was showing Tui the way around the pack. Being the only wolf currently here with any experience, it had seemed natural enough to fall into the role, and he was quite comfortable in it. The idea that another wolf -- one that was a stranger to these lands, an outsider -- might usurp that position from him...well, to say it made him a bit uneasy would be to underestimate his anxiety.
Then there was the strange way Achilles had come to be in the pack. It hadn't been so very long ago that Iosef had labored under constant supervision from Cleite out of fear of the strange assassin's return -- and now, without much by way of explanation, the assassin had become the queen's consort? It didn't make much sense to Iosef, who knew that the queen was capable of taking any male she pleased and could surely have found someone less likely to kill her in her sleep.
But, well, everyone seemed to accept the idea, so perhaps he was missing something.
Deciding it was best to tackle this potential threat head-on, the calico wolf rose from his den and stretched. He'd go have a visit with Achilles, and get a feel for him, and however he wished their affairs to be run.
But...just to be safe...he'd bring Tui along with him.
Taking the long route around the territory, Iosef dropped down to the far-off den that Tui had been assigned, and settled himself at the mouth, letting out a good-natured bark. "Tui, are you awake?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:06 pm
 Something mumbly and a little sleep-drugged rose up from the den in answer; it was followed in fairly short order by the rest of Tui, who gave a bashful, blinking little smile to Iosef as he arched his back inwards, stretched his scrawny legs out of their sleeping angles. Waking up so early was foreign to him, but he was finding he appreciated so much structure - it was nice that he didn't have to make a choice about getting up every day. And, certainly, nice to spend a dewy hour with Iosef with less fear of crossing some Sister. Straightening his spine and skimming his eyes through the area, he cocked his tail briefly upwards and smiled at his friend. "What are we doing today, boss?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:39 pm
Boss...he smiled, genuinely flattered by the nickname. "I'm not sure, actually," he said, his soft violet eyes meeting Tui's as the lanky wolf emerged. "I thought it would be prudent to introduce ourselves to the Queen's consort and see if he had any requests."
His expression remained pleasant, but there was just the slightest edge to his tone that suggested perhaps he was less than pleased with the arrangement. But, as quickly as it had been there, it was gone, and he briskly began walking. "Perhaps we'll come across young Glacier on the way, as well. I don't think you've had a chance to meet him yet." He glanced over his shoulder. "He's quite nice. Shouldn't give you any problems at all."
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:26 am
 Achilles was ...as normal for this time of day catching the early morning sun as it flickered through the trees to cast beautiful dappled glows on his mottled hide - that is to say the vain beast as sunning himself in a half-doze outside his den. If he'd known that two wayward slaves were heading in his direction it's likely he would have found the motivation to be elsewhere for the foreseeable future.
But even the famous, the bold and the beautiful did not have such powers of foresight and so he lazed in ignorant bliss as the patched wolf and his scruffy companion made their way in his general direction.
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:12 pm
As was his way with anyone he cared about, Tui watched and listened closely to what Iosef was saying, and how he went about saying it. He knew this Consort had not gotten to his position through orthodox means (and remembered all too well the harsh treatment he'd received before Achilles did take that position), and he would have guessed that to be the root of the passing displeasure Iosef was showing. Taking all that in stride, he gave a little smile and nodded, following at Iosef's heels.
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:45 pm
Iosef moved at a swift pace, with the strides of a wolf that was accustomed to always know where he was going and when he would get there -- a wolf that was unused to lazing or lagging, at any rate. He had planned to traverse across the pack to where he knew the Queen's consort would, by tradition, have his den, but found himself stopping a bit short, his senses picking up on the presence of another outside the den.
Cautiously, he paused, glancing about himself before approaching. The new wolf smelled of the outside world and was, without question, extremely male. Iosef halted in his tracks, allowing his violet eyes to wander over the form of the brown-pelted male, taking in the jewelry he had been adorned with.
Well, so there he was. The consort himself, lazing about in the sun like a lizard. Brows raised, he glanced back at Tui for a moment, and then, adopting a position of deference, crept forward, head and tail lowered. "Greetings, sir," he said, finding the notion of addressing a fellow male as a superior very strange. He had not submitted to a male in some time, not since he had been a slave in training.
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:04 am
Achille's ear twitched even as Iosef and his companion paused to watch him. It was hard to sneak up on a mercenary - not that his visitors had been trying to sneak precisely but the mottled wolf kept his eyes stubbornly closed, feigning sleep in case a pair of the sisters had decided to try and boss him about. Perhaps if he feigned hard enough they would simply...go away. Surely they wouldn't be foolish enough to try and startle him awake - his fight with Pen would not be that far gone from their minds and Achilles was willing to milk that for as long as he could.
But as the other spoke Achilles eyes cracked open. So it was not the sisters then but their wayward slaves. Lovely. Rising to his feet in a swift and limber manner that completely gave away the fact that he had been faking Achilles regarded the two wolves with a critical eye.
One cautious and weak. One ratty and ill looking. Not a threat then - not that he imagined any of the males in this pack were...The 'sir' bit was a nice touch, it amused Achilles greatly to be the only 'sir' in this pack though if he recalled from pen's lectures this patchy beast was Iosef and he amounted to what might be considered the most trusted of the slaves. "Greetings" Achilles finally spoke "Iosef I presume? And..." He let his words trail off as he gazed at the other. "I'm afraid I don't know who you are"
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:05 pm
"Tui," Iosef said, quickly, glancing sidelong at his white-furred companion, knowing full-well how uncomfortable he was made by direct questions.
He returned his gaze to Achilles, and could not help but allow his eyes to linger upon the other wolf's form. It had been a long, long time since he had seen a wolf that looked quite like this. Sure, there had been other slaves that were not so weak and effeminate as Tui and his companion. Casimir, for example -- he had been a hulking beast of a wolf, and handsome enough in his way. But Achilles....well, he was no slave. That was obvious from the way he handled himself, his demeanor...his musculature.
Realizing he had been examining the other wolf longer than perhaps he should have, he tore his eyes back, meeting Achilles' eyes with some effort. Though Iosef would never brazenly meet the eye of a female in the pack, he was near enough to equal footing with the queen's consort that he felt it was appropriate.
"I thought it would be prudent for us to speak with you, regarding the way the slave's affairs should be run. To see if you had any...specific input...that we should heed."
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:26 pm
Tui, too was struck by Achilles' out-of-placeness in his newfound pack. To see that pushy, easy confidence in his leap, and hear it in his voice, shook him out of the fog of rhetoric in which he'd been immersed, and he was slightly startled to remember that, yes, there were strong and cocky males out there, and maybe even soft, kind females, somewhere. The realization that he'd forgotten this unsettled him, and he mutely watched his superiors with a knot slowly roiling in his stomach. Would Achilles be allowed to tear into him, he wondered? And what exactly did Iosef think he was doing, staring like he was? Acid bit at his insides, and he set his teeth against the discomfort, tried to focus on how exactly Achilles was fitting into the puzzle of pack life.
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Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:08 am
"Tui eh?" Achilles repeated settling his gaze on the mostly white wolf - and while he heard Iosefs next words it seemed like the big wolf was not at all interested in considering them for the moment, nor did he seem all that bothered by the patchy wolfs stare. Tui was far more interesting because Tui at the moment looked like he'd swallowed something incredibly foul and was close to being sick. Nerves perhaps? Or something else...Achilles wasn't sure if he particularly cared or just couldn't help but poke at unsettling things - much in the manner pups poked at dead bug and river slime.
"Tui looks a touch upset" He remarked moving a few paces closer at thought to inspect the other wolf while keeping one ear cocked in Iosef's direction - just in case - Why would the patchy wolf decide to bring this sickly looking fellow along anyways? Certainly there must be something going on there - though Achilles was willing to put it down to simple friendship, understandable he supposed that the slaves would seek comfort from one another. Certainly the sisters were not the caring type to which they could voice their woes.
Achilles didn't particularly want to be that caring shoulder either - shards imagine how irritating it would be to listen to them all whine? He was more then that, more then ...them truth be told and as suddenly as his interest had been peaked it waned at this realization. Of course he couldn't help but give the white wolf a tormenting wink before he huffed and turned away to look at Iosef again. Best to be cordial he supposed - for while the sisters liked to believe they ran everything all the time Achilles was not stupid enough to dismiss the servants. Servants had this frightening way of going unnoticed and unnoticed beings always heard,saw or were capable of doing thing that others wouldn't be able to. Or perhaps he was just being paranoid, a product he supposed of being a mercenary by trade.
"Do you enjoy your job Iosef?" He suddenly asked turning his bi-hued eyes upon the violet of the others with a sudden intensity.
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Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:25 pm
Iosef felt himself stiffen at the remarks levied against Tui. Why was it that he kept finding himself trying to defend the other male? It aggravated him, one because so many found so much fault in him...and two, because he felt honor-bound to stand up for him. The whole situation was very annoying.
Glancing sidelong at his submissive friend, he decided to drop it entirely and looked back to Achilles. When the other male spoke, his words caught him off guard; Iosef had been expecting all manner of remarks or questions, but somehow, this wasn't one of them. "I do," he replied, honestly, and the earnestness in his voice was evident. "It is the duty to which I am best-suited, and I do it well."
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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:28 am
Achilles Bi-hued eyes had not missed the stiffening of Iosef but the mottled male found he couldn't find much fault in the reaction - he had after all said them in order to pick at the poor wolves for disturbing him while he napped. Not that he was going to apologize for doing such a thing - it was perfectly fair to his mind.
And the earnest way Iosef responded! It was so foreign, imagine living only to serve others? Was he truly the best suited or had he only been conditioned to believe so? In the end it probably didn't matter Iosef was a slave and would always be a slave...perhaps it was better that he felt it his place rather then desired the life of another."If you do it so well..and have been doing such since long before my arrival why then should I interfere now?" Because really..Achilles had absolutely no interest in being 'leader of the slaves' or any such silly title that included more responsibility then he already had. "I am here merely to keep your queen happy and while she is happy surely your lives are better? However..." Why on earth was her offering this? It was stupid..he ought to just shut his yap right now and be done with them all, yet for some reason his mouth just kept right on going "If you have troubles, being treated unfairly perhaps...I could have a word with the Queen on your behalf, females are ever so much more easily persuaded when sated" He told them with a slight wink.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:33 am
Iosef wasn't entirely sure what 'sated' referred to, but he had a decent idea, and the idea revolted him, but he held back the reaction. What Achilles said -- aside from that -- made him smile, a slow, calculating smile. "I believe we understand each other," he said, and glanced back at Tui with a reassuring look.
"You're a busy wolf," he added, with only a hint of irony -- seeing as he had been napping moments ago. "And...I'm thinking that, whatever your goal in joining this place, it was not to pledge your allegiance to the Sisters?" His violet eyes flashed with amusement. Iosef was a smart wolf, and his mind was already working quickly to process this information. Where, a few moments ago, he had been afraid of being replaced, he was rapidly discovering an unlikely ally. Tui perhaps would not find this nearly as useful as he did...but Iosef was satisfied.
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Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 6:39 am
hmm, was that just a hint of sarcasm in the other wolf's voice? It amused Achilles to some degree - he certainly was a busy wolf, merely not in the same manner as these slaves were. Achilles would rather take a flying leap off a nearby cliff then spend his days hauling trash away from the dens or bowing down to the beck and call of every sister who walked by. Which was precisely the reason he lived way the hell out here - it was highly unlikely a sister would wander this far without running across some other slave to boss about and thusly save him the trouble of dealing with their puny concerns.
Of course he couldn't have this Iosef wolf running back and telling the sisters that he actually said he wasn't pledged to them, that would just get Pen all riled up and like most females she was quite bothersome when angry. Pretty...but bothersome. "I pledged my allegiance to Penthesilea" He responded to the patchy wolf - which was true he'd told her he'd be here whenever she needed him, but the others? Not so much, of course his answer was such that he couldn't be rebuked for making it...if Iosef did run off and tattle he'd merely say 'I pledged to your queen, clearly thats a pledge to the pack as well' ..and what more could they say after that? Questioning that would question their acceptance of Pen as the Queen and then they'd be the ones getting chewed on. In fact he almost hoped that would happen...some of the sisters deserved to be chewed on a little.
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