Laertes (Mogami)
Mogami
Laertes returned to Elsinore and plopped down in front of his den at the end of his shift. The purple and black lion yawned lazily, watching his fellow higher class members move from one place to another, chatting about the King and the weather or gossiping about the latest scandal. Occasionally, a lion would stop and exchange a few pleasantries which Laertes greatly appreciated despite knowing that the words of nobles weren’t always heartfelt. Still, being acknowledged made him feel like he truly belonged in the pride and he kept watching the people around him with a small smile on his face, truly happy that he had decided to join the Suka’Fumo.
Buffy The Bloody
The female was heartbroken. Mauwi had told her that if her family couldn’t be okay with him then she needed to move on. She didn’t care what her family thought! She had so many thoughts going through her head. She was on the edge of tears and doing anything to hold them back. She gulped and sniffed a bit. Daizee was heading back towards the noble class dens and she felt so out of place. Some knew of her scandal and so some stared with pity. But some did not and it were those that she was thankful for. She wasn’t looking where she was going and so when a bird yelled angrily at her as she almost stepped on it she jumped backwards.. Colliding with a handsome male and she fell to the earth.
Mogami
Laertes was keenly watching the female as she moved closer to the mouth of his den. Even though they hadn’t been introduced, Laertes had seen her family around. They were easily recognizable as they all shared these elaborate – often bright – markings on their coats. It had been a large litter and Laertes could recall a few things he’d heard about them: How one girl had been born without a speck of purple, how one of her brothers had little to none of the noble color and, recently, there seemed to be some scandal with one of the girls though Laertes wasn’t quite sure what it was about. He was, however, very interested in the contradictory glances that she kept receiving.
She seemed distraught and the purple lion was already getting ready to offer a few friendly words to the poor lady. He was about to tell to watch out for the bird when things started happened too quickly and a chain of events led him to being stepped on even before he could get a word out. He had not anticipated this.
“Are you alright?” he asked quickly, both looking and sounding concerned.
Buffy The Bloody
She shrieked in surprise and once she hears his voice she muttered apologies and looked around her. When everyone stared at her she panicked and looked him in the eyes. She didnt mean to run into his den but she had to get away from those prying eyes. Once she was inside her breathing was stricken and she was obvioisly so lost... 'Im so sorry..really. I had no right to be so clumsy." she gulped looking up at him.
Mogami
Laertes had leaned back a bit one the lioness shrieked looking positively dumbfounded when she ran… into his den? Well, that was unexpected… again. It would’ve been amusing (it might be in the future) but Laertes was far too concerned to find the situation entertaining. He followed the lioness into the den and sat down as far from her as he could from her as if not to crowd her.
“I think every lion has the right to be clumsy every once in a while.” He said gently. “I don’t think I have a bad reputation but you might start some rumors running into my den like this.” He said playfully, trying to lighten the mood.
Buffy The Bloody
"I’m sorry." She whispered, and her eyes were genuine. She had a sort of fire within them, showing that she had a penchant for life.. She enjoyed life.. but this moment in time right now.. She was weak.
Her heart was broken. She heaved a bit, trying to keep the tears in and looked away quickly. Rumors? Bah. She'd feel bad about him being the subject of such rumors, but she didn’t really care about them.
Though it would maybe ruin his reputation to leave the den after the noble who had fallen for a peasant. She tried to offer a sad smile, but it was hardly considered a smile at all.
"Rumors are evil, black things. Others would do well by ignoring them." She growled, obviously upset about that very thing.. Rumors. She flicked her ears back, lowering her belly to the earth. She couldn’t look at him. Tears were stinging her eyes and they couldn’t fall.. They couldn’t fall..
"I’m..I’m......I’m Daizee." She said.
Mogami
“No problem whatsoever.” Laertes said lightly and then continued with obvious mock seriousness. “I mean, If Fate went to the trouble of placing a bird in your path in order to get you into my den, then I have to assume this meeting was simply meant to occur.”
He laughed, breaking the façade. Maybe he had the makings of a Player.
“You think? I quite like rumors, I admit. I’m relatively new to the pride so I find the information – once properly filtered – to be invaluable. And, more importantly perhaps, you find a lot about someone by the way they gossip.” Though he wouldn’t like to put it quite as bluntly, Laertes had learned a lot about who to avoid and who not to upset in Elsinore by using such methods. Though he enjoyed being part of the high class, he had to admit that were some foul and dangerous individuals here. “it’s a pleasure. Laertes, at your service.”
Buffy The Bloody
"Then you have a good head. Because those who spread those malicious rumors should be punished." She knew that their rumors about her hadn’t been untrue, but they had brought all the attention down upon her and Mauwi. It had made everything so hard. It had made Mauwi think twice about who they were. Of course he would never leave.. She felt that. But inside? She hurt so badly. With a sigh she covered her muzzle with her paw. She didn’t really know what to say. Should she tell him the truth? She feared he'd mock her as well if he knew, everyone else had. She didn’t get the mean vibe from him, but nobles could be so snotty sometimes, and so believable. She ticked her eyes up towards him.
"I think Fate is a cruel being. I think she hates me. Really. I’m not just pitying myself either." She said, adding that last sentence as a matter of fact, so that he wouldn’t think that for even one moment. She felt that fate had lead her to Mauwi too, but fate had been cruel to make sure that her soulmate had been too different. No, no she needed comfort.
"It’s a pleasure Laertes, really. I’m sorry that you had to meet me on such circumstances.." She said, and her last word was another heave to not burst out in tears. She didn’t know where her relationship was with Muawi, and right now she wanted to just stop thinking about him! But she knew she couldn’t.
Mogami
“Perhaps Fate just wants to shove you in the right direction.” He felt as though Daizee was close to losing it but wasn’t quite sure how to help the lioness. “Whatever happened, you really shouldn’t hold it in. You probably have better company ready to hear you out but I don’t mind taking that role if you need it.”
He wasn’t quite sure what expression to make as took a few steps towards the noble girl. Not knowing the situation, he couldn’t pretend to know what Daizee needed right now.
“Though if it’s something serious, you should just cry until you run out of tears. It worked with my sister when an idiot broke her heart.” He said with a little smile and winked again. “Don’t worry, my brother broke his toes.”
Buffy The Bloody
She wasn’t sure if this was something she should just cry out. She was feeling that maybe it was, but she was hoping maybe getting it off her chest would help her. She didn’t want to use her own story though, she didn’t know if she could really trust him yet. What if he was mean? He seemed nice but others had a way of making you believe them and then stomping all over you. So she cleared her throat, wiped her eyes, and tried to make herself not look so sad.
"I.. I.. In all honesty I was planning on lying to you... and telling you my issues were all because of my sister. But what kind of lioness would I be if I lied to you? No, I’ll tell you. But I’m not proud of it, and if you’re looking for rumor material or to judge me, I can just bid you adieu now." She said with a serious gaze, but it wasn’t an angry one. She just wanted to make sure she protected herself. At his comment she looked down at her toes, and wiggled them, but then her eyes lifted back towards the male.
Mogami
He felt she was being defensive, something he completely understood considering their positions in the pride and the fact they were complete strangers.
“I assure you I’m not one to judge. Having been born outside the pride gives me a certain… perspective that differs from most of the people here. And while I am very glad you chose not to lie to me, I understand you don’t really know each so expecting your trust is not really reasonable. You don’t really have to talk about what’s bothering you, we can just talk about… the Theater or the latest litter or… the weather!” his tone varied from serious to playful and he smiled gently. He didn’t know what he could say to ease her worries or gain her trust.
“But if you do feel like talking about something, you should know that whatever we discuss will not leave this den.” And now he really was serious but a stern look had no place in the Guard’s face and it quickly dissipated. “While I do enjoy hearing the latest rumors, I don’t truly believe nearly half of them and certainly don’t go around propagating them.”
Buffy The Bloody
She knew that trusting him was stupid so early.. But he had a trustworthy face and what she wouldn’t give for a response that was free from judging her. She was almost desperate for it. She sighed, nodding, and looked up at him. She hoped that she wouldn’t bust out crying because of the story but she had to say it to someone.
"I’ll tell you. I feel I can trust you. I just hope it doesn’t bite me in the.. Erm.." She realized the remark was the farthest thing a noble should say and so she just sort of dropped it.
"As a young lioness, I met an artisan and we fell madly in love." She smiled at the recollection, but it was a bittersweet smile. That fateful decision had almost ruined her life.. and now everything was in a mess. "He was kind, and I was rowdy, and we just sort of.. completed each other." She felt her heart began to ache now, and she gulped.
"No one liked that he wasn’t a noble. His green and pink pelt not really the most desired trait.. But I loved him. And now..Now my family has driven us apart, and I’m alone, I’m broken, and no one sees me the same.. Everyone looks at me in pity." She said, and then she did begin to sob, she tried to cover her face with her paw, but it was hard to keep him from seeing her tears.
Mogami
Oooooh. A forbidden romance. My, could there be anything more characteristic of the Suka’Fumo daily dose of drama? Which such a rank distinction, it wasn’t surprising that cases like this popped up once in a while. This was the first one he’d heard about though.
He was almost startled when she started crying – in retrospect, he knew he should’ve expected it – and he stood up at once.
“There, there.” He whispered softly, sitting next to the dark lioness and leaning slightly against her. Though she might not feel comfortable with warm embrace he wanted to give her, he assumed Daizee wouldn’t mind the small physical gesture. “Just let it all out.”
He looked at everything around him except Daizee, just in case she was the type to hide in her weakest moments. And even though he really wanted to talk about it, he wanted to give her time to release all the accumulated tension.
Buffy The Bloody
Once he stepped closer to her, she cried harder, digging her face into his chest. Sure, he was probably not going to be too comfortable with the idea.
But she didn’t care right that moment. He was comforting, and soft, and she needed someone to lean against. She cried herself out into the comfort of his mane, sniffling. Once she had calmed, she stayed pressed into his chest, trying to keep that feeling of a strong male around. He felt safe, he felt... friendly. She was very thankful for him in that moment, and she knew she had a friend in him, even if they had just met.
"You probably think me absolutely ridiculous. Such a little girl." She said disdainfully of herself. Once she felt her eyes didn’t look as puffy as they had earlier from the tears, they looked up at him to see if he was looking at her. When he wasn’t, she smiled, and looked down at the earth but pulled back slightly.
Mogami
And comfortable he was not, though Laertes couldn’t quite bring himself to shy away from her touch. It was a familiar sight and one that he did not enjoy seeing again. He was silently worried that they were crossed a thin line here but he decided she needed someone right now and if she was willing to trust him, the purple lion had to offer the appropriate comforting. He was about to drop his head to rest on her head when she moved away and his blue gaze followed her.
“No, of course not. I believe in love and one doesn’t simply choose who to love.” He started slowly, carefully choosing his words. “So… do you know want you’ll do? There is no chance he will ever be accepted by the higher class but you are not without options. Things will work out one way or the other.”
Buffy The Bloody
His words rang true to her ears, and she nodded, wiping her eyes and offering a soft smile. She still felt that pang deep inside, and.. and.. well now Mauwi was leaving her. She had lost, and now she had to learn to apologize to her family for her mistakes. She only hoped her family would forgive her.
"I’m afraid I don’t have many options." She said, and looked away, standing to go to the far back of the den, so the shadows would hide her face. She was such a mess today, and how embarrassing to have met him when she felt this way. Once she was concealed in shadows, she sat, and stared at the rocky surface.
"He left me. He thought he was doing me a favor, giving me my family back, when instead he made me out to be a damned fool." She said, and there was a hint of a growl in her voice. "I’ll move on. Or try to. I’ll make friends, apologize to my family, and be what they wish. I will beg no one to take me back."
Mogami
“I think you’re mistaken there, he is the fool here, for letting you go without considering how that would make you feel.” Had her boyfriend taken her so lightly that he would believe her feelings would simply vanish with time? That she would fall madly in love with another noble and forget about him completely? Would his feeling disappear that easily? “It sounds as f he’s protecting himself because it pains him to see you suffer. Or because he is unsure of himself or your feelings for him. But that was not his decision to make, it was yours.”
He didn’t follow after her, but he did feel that more than comfort, what the lioness needed were options, solutions, paths to follow…
“Daizee. Pride has no place in these decisions. You have to decide what you want for the future, for the distant future. You can fight for this lion if you think he’s worth it and that he truly loves you. Though perhaps this sort of advice is not… proper in the eyes of the Suka’Fumo. But this is the pride you were born in and this is the situation you’ve always know. You broke the pride rules and so people will look down on you. It not kind but hardly unexpected, I think.” Was that too harsh? He didn’t want her to think he was calling her naïve or anything like that. “You seem to be about my age. We’re young. We have our whole future ahead of us. Just accept you can’t have everything you want. You can fight for the artisan’s love, you can say goodbye to your parents and join him in the valley. Or you try to forget all that has happened and take the role you were born into. If the prejudice of the pride is too much you, join the Groundlings or leave the pride altogether. There is a whole world out there. But don’t decide anything with a hot head. Sleep. After a good night’s sleep, think carefully about everything and then make your decision.”
Buffy The Bloody
She nodded, and turned, her black eyes still gleaming in the darkness. She stood again, and approached him, looking into his eyes with genuine care.
"Thank you.. You didn’t know me from a hole in the wall, and still you treat me like I’m just like any other noble here. You are indeed a rare breed. It’s a shame." She said with a smile. If only she had met him at a different time. He was such a nice guy. But she looked at her paws, wiggling her toes, before, she looked outside the den.
"It’s getting late. I think that it will look scandalous if I stay much longer." She grinned, the first real smile their entire meeting. He was her friend now, he had to be. She flicked an ear, and began stepping towards the entrance.
"Can I see you again sometime? I think I like having a friend."
Mogami
“Well, how can I truly consider myself part of this pride if have no rumor going around about me or my family?” he joked, immensely relieved that she was grinning. “And, of course you can. Fate did bring us together, after all. And I can certainly use some friends as well.” Especially the kind that wouldn’t backstab him or secretly slander him behind his back. Daizee didn’t seem to be the type to do such things. He moved to the mouth of the den and stood there until she crossed the threshold, bowing his head as she moved past him.
“If you don’t mind the company of a humble Guard, feel free to meet me any time you want, my Lady. You do, after all, already know where I live.” He said playfully with a wicked grin, giving Daizee a quick wink.
FIN!
