Aliss walked towards the sound of the surf in a terrible huff. That no good, insufferable, ugh! How dare he, how dare he suggest that she kiss toads! And suggest that there was something wrong with her mind! With her mind! If there was something wrong with her, then by the gods he must be beyond help! Who was he to tell her there was something wrong with her mind? They hadn't even been talking about toads until he'd brought it up. Granted... she had been kissed by a few males in the past who probably qualified as toads... But that was beside the point and absolutely none of his business!
Passing a small bloom of flowers, she paused and considered them for a moment, light blue eyes narrowed. Just try it, she dared them. Call me a name, say one damn thing to me and I swear... Oh, to hell with it, no one was around to see her. Without a second thought, she let out her frustrations on the blooms, wrenching a pawful out of the ground and throwing them away with a soft growl.
"Gracious, my dear, what ever did those flowers do to you?"
The sudden masculine voice washed over Aliss like frozen water and she turned around, finding a tall, thin male watching her with one eyebrow raised over his golden eyes. As soon as she turned, the other eyebrow joined the first for a moment before he smiled.
"Oh, good afternoon, Aliss isn't it?" he spoke again, causing her to frown. His voice was smooth, cultured and polite. The smile he gave her, though, it looked just like every other male's when he was trying to charm a lady. It made her want to sigh in aggravation.
"Good afternoon, sir. Forgive me, but have we met before?" Euri felt his smile turn a little sheepish as he shook his head. No, they hadn't met before, but he knew things about her, both from his vision as well as his discussions with Reggie. Granted, his visions hadn't been clear enough on her appearance; she really was a rather attractive young lioness. Far too prim for his own tastes, but if the incident with the flowers was any indicator, she had a fire hidden in her. He couldn't help but wonder if his friend didn't have something to do with it.
"I'm afraid not, but I have a friend who has met you before. He told me what you looked like and I made a rather educated guess," he replied, avoiding broaching the subject of his wayward visions. "Oh, please don't let your friend be Mr. Hatter."
"Would that be so terrible?" He tilted his head and sat down as she let out an almost, almost unladylike sigh as she rose one paw so she could rub at her temple.
"It would indeed. It would seem that he only consorts with very mad individuals and I have had quite enough of his kind of company for one day. If you would excuse me-" She rose to leave, but Euri rose one paw.
"No, please wait. I can assure you, my personal madness is well contained. I'm really far more... eccentric and amusing than anything else. Please, stay a few moments. I promise if I start having an episode, I'll try to warn you."
Aliss paused, a bemused look on her face before she reluctantly sat back down. Fine, she would give this one a chance. At least he seemed mostly lucid and mildly pleasant. No real harm in giving him a chance.
"So you are a friend of Mr. Hatter's, Mr. ...?" she asked, mildly curious about this new male, but she really did need a name. At least he had the decency to look a little bit sheepish when she trailed off.
"Godchild, please. No honorifics are necessary. Would you rather I call you Miss Aliss?" he asked and she looked off, considering that for a moment. She hadn't really thought about it. She was just so used to calling others that way, and having others treat her without the return courtesy that she rarely ever thought about it anymore. But now that she considered it...
"No, no, Aliss is fine. Thank you for asking my preferences, though."
"My pleasure. Now, dare I ask what those flowers did to deserve such malice?" She sighed as he smiled at her, his tone curious and even a bit amused. She was extremely embarrassed that her moment of anger had gotten away from her and that she had been observed in the process. It certainly wasn't proper.
"I was frustrated... No, I was quite angry. And in all honesty, the last time I was here, the flowers had been rather rude to me. I needed something to take out my anger on and those flowers seemed the best subjects for my misplaced fury."
Good gods, Reggie hadn't been jesting when he said this female was far too proper. He couldn't help but wonder if this wasn't the place for her. But she managed to interact with his friend... If she had been here once before and hadn't been terrified, what on earth could have happened to have her grow up like this?
Still, he allowed his smile to soften.
"Is it safe for me to assume that the cause for your frustration is our mutual acquaintance?" he asked, one eyebrow rising. He watched her sigh again and rub at one eye.
"He suggested I kissed toads. And that I needed my head checked. Among other things." The poor thing, she looked rather tired over it all and who could blame her? It took someone with their own bit of madness to put up with the head crafter. Euri shook his head and his smile turned reassuring.
"He can be difficult at times," he agreed. And yet, there was a more lucid side to his friend. One he almost wished Reggie would show a little more often. He would have more friends if that was the case. But... then again, maybe that was what made Reggie special. It certainly made him more amusing. But it didn't look like this young lady was very charmed by his eccentric nature. Seemed to him that she needed a bit of magic in her life.
"Would you walk with me for a time? I'd like to stretch my legs, but I have a few more questions."
He was a rather charming male after all, but he was older than her, and he struck her almost more as a father figure. At least, with these first few moments. She couldn't help but wonder if he had children, following that was the question of what he was in this pride. He had a sort of bearing about him, he wasn't the ruler, was he?
When he stood and took a few steps, Aliss joined him, walking at his side.
"Your questions?"
"Yes. I wanted to know, how- no, more importantly, why did you decide to return? Forgive me if it's too personal, I'm simply curious." Aliss shook her head.
"It isn't too personal. I... I left my home and somehow found my way back here. It's really the only other place I know." She wondered if there was a quality to her voice when she talked about leaving her home. If there was, he gave no indication of having noticed.
"So you're trying to find a new home?"
"I suppose, yes. I hadn't... really meant to come here and have this be my home, but..."
"But if you had a place here, it wouldn't be a terrible arrangement, right?" Aliss couldn't help but ducking her head a little bit.
"You're very good at reading others."
"I've been told that before," he replied with a bit of a chuckle.
"I was hoping to find a new pride to call home. I don't think I could be a very good rogue."
"Well, what skills might you have? Hunting, crafting, perhaps judging the value of things?" Aliss considered his suggestions. She was an okay huntress, but it certainly wasn't her strong point. And she had no idea whatsoever on how to craft anything. But that last one, now that drew her interest.
"Judging the value of things?" Euri hid his smirk at the interest he heard in her voice.
"Yes, there is often a lot of trading done within the pride. Trinkets and decorations, things made by crafters, even services. We have members who judge the worth of the physical objects and trade them among the pride. I take it that has your interest?"
"My father always said I did have a fairly keen mind..."
"Very well, then tell me, what would my scarf be worth?" He stopped so that she could study the cloth wrapped around and through his mane. The look in her eyes was shrewd.
"It's in surprisingly good condition. And I've never seen the design on it, not on cloth. I'd have to know more about what is common in the pride, but being undamaged cloth, I'd think it'd be worth quite a bit. Would you agree?" Euri smiled like a proud parent.
"I would indeed. Come, I'll introduce you to the head merchant, see if she approves of your skills and can help you adjust. That is, if you 'd like to stay." He studied her closely when he posed the question, wondering if she truly wanted to stay or if her past experience would make her far too wary. After a few moments of silence, his doubt started to grow...
"Yes, I would like that, very much. Thank you, Godchild." Her smile warmed his heart and he nodded before leading her in another direction. He just hoped she'd be happy here.
And that she and Reggie would get along.
(WC: 1,637)
