AIM RP Log: Mawu & Ulivuma
Mawu had found her child that day, no problem. Now that she was more used to the pride and the way it ran, she was more open and happy appearing. It was very interesting for herself even, to find a smile on her face instead of a grimmace or a frown. Fact was, she was happy here. She had a good time talking to other Slaves. She saw her daughter often. She had fun. She had even played a game recently with some cubs. This pride... was a new begining and a new life for her.
She paused to clean her face, rubbing her paw across her nose for a moment, before looking up at the bright starry sky.
Ulivuma was having a far worse time managing his life than Mawu was. He couldn't seem to settle himself anywhere in particular. He knew he should quit hiding and pick something other than lord, but he was a little shy of going to talk to his uncle about becoming a hunter.. and he had two of his half brothers in the guard, he didn't want to force any interaction there. Truthfully, he was thinking about it too much. His parents made it a little awkward talking to others, even if they didn't openly care, it was always on his mind. And the little comment his mother had made about his brother and love.. well, it didn't seem it was going to happen very fast.
He was out for a walk, not particularly sure where he was going but knowing he could go pretty much anywhere he wanted. He didn't realize anybody familiar was nearby.
Mawu hadn't noticed him right away, until he was close enough for her to hear him approach. She didn't blame him for not noticing her in the darkness. Her black pelt made it every bit as easy to hid under the cover to night, than in the blazing daylight hours. She lifted her eyes to him.
"Hello Ulivuma." She said softly, her tail curling around her paws.
Distracted as he was, he was quite startled when suddenly he heard someone call out to him, almost jumping out of his mane. He stumbled to a stop and looking around- first looking right at Mawu and not seeing her but double-taking at her and smiling immediately. He remembered talking to her, it was one of the few distinctly cheerful interactions he had. But she'd also been so interesting and unique that she was really easy to remember.
"Mawu," he greeted her, walking towards her, "I almost didn't see you there, you're well camouflaged at night!"
Mawu chuckled. "yes. My mother used to boast that my dark coat was not one of my dark past life... but of the beauty of the night." She twitched her ears and gazed upwards. "And Onalim came into hte world white as the sun. Strange is it not?" He chuckled, looking to him. "what are you doing out here so late?"
She looked rather surprised all of a sudden at seeing him again.
"I'd say she was quite right," he said, looking Mawu up and down thoughtfully, and then back up when she mentioned Onalim. He had seen her in passing more than once since they had been chatting before but he hadn't really gone to chat with her-- though now he thought about it, it seemed an obvious thing to do. She probably wasn't someone to be so anxious about meeting. He'd have to keep that in mind.
"I'm just out for a walk," he said, shrugging, "I don't hunt or patrol with the guards, I don't really have anything to do. Not because I don't want to, I just don't know where to start." He didn't want to look lazy, he didn't particularly want to take advantage of his rank and let the pride take care of him. And he especially didn't want to look that way to Mawu.
Mawu nodded. Being indecisive was a good trait for a youngster. Course, she wasn't that old was she? She looked around for a bit, smiling peacefully off into the distance. "I see. I happened to be out on a walk myself but couldn't help myself from staring at the nights sky. So amazing, all these stars. I'm used to a jungle-"
Doing the first decisive thing in a while, Uli took a seat so that he and Mawu could chat. This was far more interesting than wandering around aimlessly, so long as she didn't mind, this was how he could occupy his time. It was certainly much more interesting and enjoyable than the rest of his time.
"It is beautiful out here at night," he agreed, smiling and glancing up to the stars before looking back at Mawu curiously, "A jungle.. that's lots of trees, right? I've never been anywhere less wide and open than this, unless you count the mountains but they're not quite the same as a bunch of trees would be. I think."
Mawu chuckled. "trees and things called ferns, all things that keep the sky from our eyes and the sun from our backs. Mine especially. I went out into the open once as a cub and found out really fast that black fur means extra hot."
She chuckled at her memory. "The open was rather frightening at first, felt like everyone was staring at me from above... like the stars were gazing down at me constantly.. it was un-nerving I suppose. Onalim.. she was fine with it being young as she was.." She paused. "I never knew how lovely stars are!" She looked over at him. "I must sound absolutely daft!"
Uli was silent until Mawu finished, seeming to be listening very carefully until her tone change snapped him out of it. He smiled immediately, shaking his head. She was very interesting, and she couldn't be more wrong of his opinion of how she sounded.
"No, no!" he said, "The stars staring is not odd sounding, the Great Lion is up there watching with them, you're in the right place to accept that feeling of being watched. And everybody is up late here, you get plenty of time out of the hot sun and to watch the stars. It would be weird going from closed to open, though, or the other way around. I don't think I could do it, but I don't intend to go anywhere!"
Mawu smiled. He was such a nice fellow to talk too... she really hadn't ever had conversations with males like this.. it was always short and too the point back home and... with Vestip it was just.... not the same. "I couldn't agree with you more... I don't think I will ever leave. I like it here... its so... perfect." She stopped to stare upwards, her eyes soft and serene.
"Its nice to be home in a place where... i am normal."
He was distracted again when she looked up. She was very pretty, it seemed increasingly ridiculous that she had ever been considered otherwise. He didn't didn't comprehend how you could see someone who was attractive as unattractive.. but maybe it was like if you have a thing for red fur, you just .. though red-furred lions were more attractive? Maybe.
"It's good you found us, then," he grinned, "And good for us, I certainly like having you around." Everybody liked feeling liked and wanted, right? And he wasn't lying.
Mawu listened to him speak, her eyes shutting and her head swaying slightly side to side before his last words caught her a bit off guard. She turned to look inquiringly at him. "Oh..." She looked slightly stunned. "I suppose we are friends aren't we?" She said with a chuckle.
"You have talked to me more than anyone else has here... except Onalim but she has to talk to me... haha." She smirked. "Not like its so hard for her... she talks a ton as it is."
"I'd like to think we're friends, would you mind being my friend?" he beamed, not certain she would say yes but happy enough about the idea (and wanting to encourage a positive response) that he couldn't help but keep on smiling. He chuckled when she mentioned how chatty Onalim was, nodding.
"I know plenty of chatty lions, but they're not always this interesting."
Mawu felt her cheeks get red and hot... though she was glad it was dark so he couldn't see. "Oh well of course... of course we are friends. I would love that... to be friends." She felt her words sounded silly coming from her. "I'm interesting... really? You think so."
She looked rather timid and meek for a moment... like a little girl called cute. "I find you pretty interesting too Uli..."
"Good!" he said, grinning more sincerely now that she had agreed. He didn't have many friends. He might call some lions friends but it was different when you actually were friends.
"Of course, you've been other places and have seen different things and.."
He wasn't sure how to describe it without sounding completely ridiculous so he just kind of let himself trail off, his ears turning back and he shrugged.
"I like talking to you."
Mawu looked over at him and smiled, her ears flattening and her by her appearance, was obviously very flattered. She looked down at her feet. "I like talking to you too Uli... In reality... you are very nice... I can see where you get your personality... You and your father have some shared traits I think." She looked over at him coyly, standing up and moving closer to him, sitting down again.
"You're a good lion Uli."
The look she gave him made him flush, if you could see through his fur he'd be blushing. He smiled back at her, inching himself a bit closer to her as well but not getting up, brushing against her, smiling. And then he looked up at the stars, not saying anything else. He could spend the whole night there, happily stargazing with her.
Mawu didn't say anything as he leaned her way, and met him with the same amount of pressure. She smiled, shutting her eyes for a moment, before looking back up at the stars.
Fin.
