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 Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 6:09 pm
He was still too young to fully understand everything, but he knew that he had more to learn. To understand. And yet, he wasn't allowing himself to mingle much with the general population of the Pridelands. He heard the rumors that some didn't trust him. He may look like old blood, but he was born under a different land, a different rule, far enough away that no one could easily investigate to rest their fears. And so Tau kept himself away, barely speaking to anyone but Simi and his adviser.
He needed change, and yet he didn't know where to start. He stood on Pride Rock, his violet eyes that couldn't be found in kings of the past scanning the land. There was no where to start, was there??
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 6:19 pm
More and more, Habu had been spending his time staying near Pride Rock. The fact that his responsibilities had changed- and his age- had finally started to affect his habits. There wasn't a great deal of stress being on the council in the Pridelands, not in the very common peaceful times.. worrying about the heir and his adjustment to the pride was about it for recent times. And that simply wasn't something that worried him, Habu was confident it would work out.
However, while strolling around he caught sight of the young heir staring out across the pride lands. It was not so secret that he had his doubts, but it seemed especially evident in his gaze now. Habu smiled and adjusted his path so that rather than going back down the Rock, he approached Tau.
"You look troubled," he said when he was within earshot.
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 6:41 pm
"Huh?" Tau hadn't expected anyone to approach him...at least probably no one but Simi. His grandfather was very good to him, which in some wasy complicated Tau's feelings. Sometimes he missed his parents, missed being called Lóng Jīnsè...
"Ah, well..." He still felt young and gangly, especially next to the few council members that his grandfather had. Wahabu approached him, only making Tau feel stupider. He sighed as the yellow lion approached, not sure if he really wanted to discuss his stupid issues. Even if that's what the council was for...he just didn't feel part of it.
"Troubled only begins to describe it," he finally answered.
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 7:16 pm
As the father of thirty, and grandfather of many more, Wahabu had no hope of treating this interaction in a completely objective, professional manner. Already he felt sorry for the lad who had so much trouble fitting into the lands he was set to take over someday. At least it was his job to advise the royal family, perhaps Tau would actually talk to him.
"Is it anything I could help you with?" he asked, stopping at a respectful distance but getting close enough to talk without being too loud.
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 7:47 pm
"Probably not," he replied in all honesty. What would lying do? The same rigors of keeping face didn't exist in the Pridelands like they did in Tianxia, though his adviser tried to keep him in line with Tianxia customs.
"Am I Tau? And I Lóng Jīnsè?" He was certain that the name was odd to Wahabu's ears, though he knew he was certain he'd heard that name before, if rarely. "Am I an heir, or just a stepping stone? An in-betweener for two vastly different cultures, or just a foolish little lion?"
Heavy questions, and Tau didn't really expect an answer. It wasn't easy, which is why he had withdrawn himself from everyone so much.
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 8:03 pm
"Those are excellent questions," Habu responded, letting quiet fall between them as he considered. To Wahabu, a name was only a name but he knew well enough that it could mean a great deal more to another, it would not do good to tell Tau he was only himself. The prince had legitimate concerns.. and a questionable plan for dealing with them.
"If you can't answer any of them, you may need to reconsider your approach to life," he said carefully, still thinking, "Thinking about it won't do you much good. If you don't mind my saying so, you might do better learning about yourself and your place here if you stepped off this old rock."
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 8:52 pm
Tau looked down at his paws for a moment...a reflex that he didn't really realize he had until he just let himself go. He glanced around again at the horizon, and then finally to Wahabu.
"Its scary to leave when you see the distrust in their eyes," he replied, though he knew it was a poor excuse to close himself off. Regardless, he couldn't help but see that when he attempted to mingle with others.
"Do you...know someone who would talk to me? And maybe not judge me, not even how I judge myself." Tau was trying to ask for help but he really didn't know how to go about it. He wanted someone to talk to...maybe someone not so old, either. He was tired of always being surrounded by old males, even if he was doing that to himself with his seclusion.
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:21 pm
"That may be, but you can trust them," he said, a smile returning to his face as Tau looked back at him, "The worst they'll do is look, you just have to show them that they can trust you. Right now, I'm not sure there'd be much any of them really know about you. It's important to learn from your grandfather but you ultimately decide what you'll do and be like, they want to see what you do."
A lesson learned from a long life in the common crowd, but really it applied as much to the general population as it did the rulers. It was just more crucial for those in charge.
"I'm afraid I don't know enough of the lions around your age except my own youngest litter," Habu answered without hesitation, glad that this was something Tau was considering, "But I'm sure they'd be happy to talk with you, or help you find someone you get along with."
Hopefully he'd be able to track one of them down!
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:44 pm
"Wise words," Tau replied. "My tutor from Tianxia, and even Grandfather, hadn't said anything to me in that way before." It was a simple, yet strong way of looking at things. It left him much to think about, but some time soon he would have to start this change. Slowly. Quickly. Sometimes he feared for his grandfather's health, though other time it seemed like Simi would live forever.
"I would like that," he added on. "If you could...introduce me to someone, perhaps I can start there. Learn a bit from a different viewpoint..and perhaps move on from there." It seemed like such a cubbish way of doing things, one small step at a time, but he needed to learn new things. Nothing about being a royal, or being in charge. Just...how one was to live within the Pridelands. He may never set foot in her birthpride again, and yet he still needed to know both of them. The Pridelands was still a mystery to him, and it was time to see the light.
"Do you think you could bring someone to me tomorrow? If that isn't too soon to set this up..."
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 11:00 pm
"Not a bad place to start, if you ask me," Habu said with a nod, pleased to hear Tau making a plan that didn't involve his grandfather or lurking around Pride Rock trying not to draw much attention. His mind quickly began running through the common areas he might easily find one of his younger offspring- or perhaps even one of his grandchildren.
"It's not too soon, don't you worry," he said, chuckling, "This time tomorrow, I'll meet you right here with someone with some fresher insight."
Smiling, he looked from Tau off into the distance that the heir had been gazing before he was interrupted. The view from up here was pretty good.
"I'll let you get back to your observations."
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