Badb, as always, was furious. She'd lingered in one of the thrall dens for as long as was reasonable before stalking out into the bright daylight. Damn the sun. And damn the gods too. In the months since her family's exile and her fall to the rank of thrall she'd become very adept at avoiding actually doing anything. Many of the pride remembered her mother with some genuine respect and fear, and her own 'gift' had kept some of the more superstitious away as well.
It wasn't a bad life, as a thrall, but she was still not FREE. She'd not been free even before though, and so it was an anger she was well acquainted with. That didn't make it any easier to manage. Thankfully she had picked up some tricks. As long as she looked busy, usually lions would not bother her. They would think she was already doing someone else's bidding. She filled her hours instead with secretly making charms and trinkets, continuing her mother's work.
Funny, she'd always hated this before. Now it was all she had left of her family.
Domeykite was a lion that considered himself to be well off. He didn't have everything in life that he desired, but that did not mean life was not good for him. The young lion was under some pressure to go out on a viking excursion, but he had yet to do so. He rather liked remaining in the pride, though he knew he would have to prove his worth sooner or later. But, since that day was not today, he would entertain himself with one of his favorite thralls.
Badb was a handful, but she was entertaining, and after being around her for a while, he was beginning to learn her habits. He, at the very least, suspected that she didn't quite get as much done as she seemed to do. The lion with a muted green pelt wandered through the pridelands until he found the familiar markings of his thrall. She wa always terribly easy to pick out in a crowd, even before her status had been horrifically demoted. "Well, there you are," he greeted with that cocky smirk that looked so well on him.
Domeykite was the bane of Badb's existance. He was young, cocky, free-spirited, essentially everything she was not or could not be. He was a reaver, or would be one, and his life was one of plain luxury. If he didn't want to go reaving he didn't have to. If he didn't want to pray to the gods he didn't have to. "Damn your eyes and teeth to rot," She breathed as she spotted him gleefully heading her way. At least he was easy to pick out as well. He'd been a thron in her paw longer than she liked already.
And worse was that lately he'd taken to calling her his own thrall. Of course, she had no right anymore to gainsay him, and she'd noted recently other who wanted her to hunt or do something would seem to seek him out to ask if they could borrow her. It rankled her mightily, abd she snarled when he drew near. "What do you want, Domeykite?"
Naturally, Badb seemed to be as grumpy as ever. Domeykite supposed it didn't really matter if she was unhappy or not, so long as she did what was required of her. It made her interesting, too. She had been a priestess, and had quite the reputation herself for her lineage and her own abilities. Badb wasn't demure, and Domeykite truly enjoyed that she wasn't. He liked the banter, which was more playful on his side than anything else. He just enjoyed pestering her.
"Is that really how you should be greeting me?" Domeykite drawled, though he seemed rather unaffected by her snarling voice and her irritated demeanor. If he let it get to him, she'd likely only keep up the act. Domeykite was beginning to suspect she acted this way just for show. "And does it even really matter what I want? You're not doing anything important. I'm free to take up your time as I wish."
"Why no, not at all master Domeykite; it's my will to serve and please you however I might, isn't it clear?" Her tone was sickly sweet, painfully sarcastic, and his friendly behavior did nothing to lower the fire behind her eyes. She really did not enjoy being interrupted, but she knew better by now than to do more than moan and scorn him for it. Even lacadaisical lions like Dom could strike out. She could take their hits, but sometiems it wasn't worth the effort. And it drew attention.
"Well then, go on. What is it you want of your humble thrall, Dom?" She clearly didn't mean a word of what she said, but she WAS listening. That was something. The sooner she got this over and done the sooner he'd get bored. Then he'd leave and she could stalk back to the group den she shared with the other thralls, where he'd not bother to come finding her.
Domeykite laughed, his tone a little mocking, but he was genuinely amused by her sarcastic response. She definitely wasn't being subtle, but he never really expected her to be. It was well known that she loathed her position, and by the gods, Domeykite would loathe being a thrall as well. But, he wasn't, and she definitely was. The difference in their status was more than a little pleasing to the male lion. Sometimes he outright glorified lording over her. "It is very clear that you'll serve me, though I really don't think it's your pleasure to."
Badb was fortunate that Domeykite didn't usually lash out at her. It happened, but not nearly as often as she deserved for how she talked to him. "Your company," he replied, knowing that he would have it whether she wanted to give it to him or not. "Walk with me," the lion turned around then and began to walk away, expecting her to follow. He at least hoped she did, because it would be troublesome to reprimand her for such misbehavior.
The red-moon female stalked after Dom as he sauntered away, head high. She might be a thrall, but she had more pride in her than most reavers, and she would not let the pride see her cowed. Not let HIM see her cowed. He was damned insuffrable enough as it was. "Why ever would you think that? You know I live to see your every whim catered to..." Her words were (wisely) less biting, less loudly spoken as he led her along through the pride. There were many lions who would discipline her for such actions if they overheard.
"And where exactly do you want my company to? Can't bring down your prey alone?" She was a decent huntress, all in all, and usually that was what was asked of her. She had ample fire and anger, and it made her claws sharp and her wits sharper. Probably not though. He'd know she'd enjoy a task like that, killing, drawing blood. If she guessed, she'd say he was going to have her do something inane like watch him practice insulting his reflection in a pool.
"You do?" Domeykite answered, glancing back over his shoulder and to her with a look of mock surprise. "Well, then I'll be sure to make it so you cater to every whim and fancy of mine, just to make you happy, my dear." He turned his head away from her just so she couldn't see the smirk dancing across his features. His words, however, sounded fairly serious. Badb would know better than to believe Domeykite believed what she was saying, but if she was going to go ahead and say it... he was going to act on it. He did love making her miserable.
"Oh, I could, but why should I when I have you to do that for me? I don't want you getting soft, now." Domeykite was a rather capable lion, when he had a mind to be. But, having Badb at his disposal made him rather inclined to having her do all the work for him. Isn't that why they had thralls to begin with? He could focus on important things while she took care of every menial chore imaginable. The lion waited until they were away from the center of the pride before talking to her again. Some would say he was a glutton for punishment, but he rather enjoyed Badb's fiestiness. "No, I wouldn't have you do something you so enjoy, besides, I'm not that hungry."
She scowled at his retort, already furious at herself for teasing him so far. Of course now he really would take her up on her idiotic offer. Probably she'd be cleaning out his den and fluffing up his pelts now too, along with anythign else he cared to have of her. Oh yes, gods be damnedly praised for the labor of thralls. Grimly she reminded herself that she'd made use of their labor too, long ago. Never for anythign she couldn't do herself, but she had. It WAS a good system...but only when you were on the commanding side.
Her pace slowed once they were away from the main pride. Not enough to warrant a slap or a strike, but enough that it was clear she wasn't really cowed, and was resisting in whatever small ways she could to his attempts for control. "Whatever could it be then, that you want? Charms to try to get the gods to make your female fancy fall for you?" She scoffed. Thralls didn't make charms. She could, and everyone knew it, but only priestesses were supposed to be allowed. "Or did you think to try your claw in practicing fighting against me? You'll have a lot of explaining to do for the new scars I'll give you. Beaten by a thrall, the shame alone might win you a spot in the den alongside me." Probably not - he wouldn't be demoted for so little. But taunting was all the power she had.
Domeykite stopped and turned to face her, that cocky smirk still in place. It was clear that he rather enjoyed her attempts to ruffle him. They would be more effective if she actually had status, but she had no claim to anything now. She was practically nothing, which was a shame, she had been a rather fine priestess once upon a time. Badb did, however, make a far more fine thrall. "I don't need charms to make a female fancy me," he answered with a soft laugh. He wasn't poorly off in the looks department, and he was a strong lion. But, he imagined he'd be far more appealing if he was a Reaver. For the moment, though, he didn't need to be.
He had all the attention he could desire. "I wouldn't demean myself by fighting a mere thrall. That, and you'd be no challenge." Dom walked up to her then, completely confident that she would do nothing to retaliate his advances. To back away would show weakness, and to strike him would earn her a far greater punishment. "I think I'll put you to good use today. I want my den spotless, but you can attend to that chore after I'm done talking with you." To let her go now would only be a reprieve for Badb, and one he would not give her.
Badb may, once upon a time, have rather liked Dom. He had fire and spunk, and wanted to climb by his own claws...eventually. Then again he was also lazy, and manipulative. So was she, but she liked him less than herself. She scoffed at his comment - who'd go near that with a ten foot branch? He wasn't even a reaver. Just a freeborn. Still above a thrall, but less worth her time and respect. If he'd meant anything like that she would fancy him...he was dead wrong. At the moment, she'd like nothing more than to decorate her own cave with his pelt. Doing that would probably end up with her claws around some captain's neck and her own fur someone's throw rug. For now she would grudgingly submit.
She snarled as he drew near - he'd played her just right. She had too much pride to back off, but too much cunning to lash out. Her lip curled - she'd guessed right. Lovely, a chore-filled day. He'd probably left his den a filthy mess too. "I'll gladly clean your den, if only to spare what poor females you do woo the stink of it." She couldn't bite her tongue hard enough.
His smile widened at her snarl, as if any sign of discomfort from her brought him even more pleasure. Once upon a time, she could have been a lioness he'd want to woo, maybe even seek another priestess out for charms just to win her favor. But, that was a while back, and things had changed since then. Technically, he didn't even need to woo her if he wanted her favor now. She'd just have to give him what he wanted because he demanded it. It didn't matter if she wanted to or not, she had no right to ignore his demands.
He lifted his paw and pressed it against her cheek, slowly unsheathing his claws just to pinprick against her skin. It was a warning, and Badb knew that if she pushed Dom enough, he would feel more than obliged to put her in her place. That was fun too, in its own way. "You will, and you'll do it with a little less backtalk. Don't think I'm so soft that you can say anything to me and not be reprimanded."
The lioness didn't give him the pleasure of tensing up when he made his threat. She'd been beaten before, by him and others, and she would NOT give him the satisfaction. She might bend to his will, but she'd have him well aware that she was chosing to do it, not that he was forcing her. It was a very subtle form of rebellion, and one she often 'played' with him, though she didn't see it quite that way. She didn't look away, or flinch, or give any sign that he'd done anything but speak calmly and reasonably to her. He fed on attention, and she knew when to give it and whe nto take it away.
"Well then, since you're so certain I'm going to do all that, why not get on with it? I'm not allowed to clean until you're done filling the air with your chatter, but all you've done is tweet like a little bird." She did step away from him now, but not back. She circled to the side, out of his reach but without haste. She did not fear him. "Did you have something important to discuss with a thrall, or do you just enjoy using up my day?" Either way he was a cad. Making use of a thrall was one thing, but wasting their energy and time when the ycould be doing something (not that she would) was another. And what freeborn needed advice from a thrall? Maybe he'd just let her get on with this.
He did like Badb's strength. She was a true stormborn, though circumstances had never played into her favor. It didn't surprise him that she remained stout despite his threats, though he didn't quite appreciate that she out of his immediate range. If she was a proper thrall, she would have just stayed put until he told her to get on with things. It was something he would have to remind her of later, since clearly she was forgetting her place, or forgetting how much Domeykite would tolerate from her.
"I enjoy using up your day, actually. I'd put you to good work if you were any good at it, but you're no better at being a thrall than you were at being a priestess," he replied snidely, and this time when he did step up to her, he swiped at her cheek. His claws were sheathed, but his action was a reminder that she was a thrall, and he had laid claim to her. "If you're so desperate for work, I'll give you more than an appropriate share, Badb." His taunting had grown darker, his patience for her attitude beginning to wear thin.
She blithely chose to ignore the dark look clouding his features. He was a pouting child whit a toy beyond his ken, and nothing more. He always pouted when it didn't do what he wanted. Of course, he DID know how to push her buttons too...
She spun to snap at him for his quip at her use as a priestess - she might have hated being forced into the job, but she was DAMNED good at it. A seer, no less, though her mother had not announced it before fleeing the pride. Her sudden about face and fury unfortunately clouded her judgement, and what was meant to be a threat instead became contact - her head was smacked to the side by his heavy paw. It did much to clear out the fog of her unfocused anger.
"At least I was something worth being," She hissed through gritted teeth, tossing aside her tuft of hair to face him squarely again. She was as hard and cold as the stones the waves wore at, and she showed no hint that his strike had stung her. She'd had much worse. "If any of your work was worth doing, maybe I'd be inclined to do it. I've seen and done more than you ever will, hiding out and teasing thralls because you're too yellow to go reaving properly." She sneered at him and stalked boldly off towards his den, tail lashing behind her. "Cleaning's more worth my time than your threats, thrall or no," She called back to him. She was done with his teasing for today. Better just take his beatings and be done with him.
Badb knew what the line was, and she boldly crossed it. Domeykite could handle her little jabs, they were fun and easy to respond to. He could quickly turn her insults back against her and use them to her advantage. Outright insults, however, were not something he could let pass. His eyes darken with anger as she hissed at him. If his strike against her face had done her little harm, there was more that was guaranteed to follow. If her mind was clear enough, she'd realize that by letting her walk back to his den without comment was bad. When he was mad, anger boiled in him quietly until it overflowed.
With purpose, Domeykite followed her into his den to teach the spiteful thrall a lesson. His blows, this time, would hurt, and in the end it likely would not be clear that taking a beating was better than putting up with his taunting.
