NessiUmeko was puttering around the pride. The competition were drawing to a close in the pride and that meant she had less work. With less competitors there was less injuries, which was something Umeko was happy about. She was nervous for the last round of competition her son Torolf was in the final round. He could very well be declared the winner.
She had no where to go really so she found herselves wondering towards the cliffs that over looked the ocean. Umeko loved being here. She loved the sound the waves made as they crashed into the rocky wall below her. She had been told from some of the rogues who had joined the pride that the ocean seemed meaner here than it did where it met with beautiful sandy shores. Umeko couldn't imagine it any other way though she loved the way it was here.
Moose
There was a point at which any sane Reaver wanted nothing more to do with Thralls. For Vittorio, it wasn't as if he thought himself above them, or was signing off on retrieving them, which he had. His last viking had brought in a sweet female who had no idea what she was in for, but that wasn't what dwelled on his mind. No, what bothered him was the way in which Mitra's thralls prattled on like old women. They were grown males, for Gods sake! It was as if they spent all their time with each other gossiping, and talked to no one else. When he had asked a simple question they exploded into a conversation he could barely keep up with.
Vittorio had wanted company, but not that much company.
So it came to be that he went in search of the healer. He had meant to come to her sooner, but it was surprisingly awkward to be around her. Vittorio felt oddly guilty thinking about it, which meant he was contemplating cheating, but he wasn't. ...Was he?
When he couldn't find her at her den he decided to check out the tournament, then the shore line. Surely enough he spotted her as she watched the waves crash up against the cliffs. Clearing his throat, Vittorio stepped closer. "I wouldn't get too close; you might fall over and I'm a terrible swimmer."
Nessi
Umeko turned at the voice, it had startled her but when she saw the male with the purple mane she smiled and moved away from the cliff. "Yes falling would be rather terrible, I am the best healer in the pride and I can hardly heal myself if I am the one injured." she laughed to her self.
She moved closer and circled around the male trying to see the wounds that he had come to see her for. "You didn't come and see me like I told you to." she clucked her tongue at him. Circling back around to the front she sat before him, a serious expression on her face. She was barely able to keep it without letting it show, it wasn't natural to look this serious. Finally she cracked a grin, "You are lucky it looks as though its healing just fine, no infection." she told him. but then brought her serious face back this time for real, "But it could have been bad. Had infection set in and you hadn't come to me or worse had seen a different healer with lesser skills.... well it could have gotten into you blood and then well there wouldn't have been anything I could do to save you." Her eyes dropped to the ground, sadness filling them. It wasn't something she wanted to think about but she took healthcare seriously and hated it when others didn't.
Moose
"The best, huh? Guess I got lucky." Vittorio grinned. "I could have ended up with some hack, but instead I got you." Moving to the side, he turned so that she could have easier access to his wound. Sheepishly, he avoided looking at her. At least he tried until she moved around to his front and he had little choice. "Well...Well, I...uh..."
When she smiled he felt a weight lift off his chest. Vittorio sat down and gave into a little laugh. "I'm sorry, I really am! I just...I'm not used to females being as openly tender as you are. It's a little unnerving." Mirashi was a sweet lioness, and could be sweet when she wanted to be, but she was always a mystery. It was something Vittorio never wanted to take away from her, and yet...
Vittorio ducked his head, trying to get a better look at her eyes. "I really am sorry. I didn't realize it could have been that bad. Next time I'll make sure to come see you when you tell me too."
Nessi
Umeko relaxed immediatly, she was glad that the male had gotten her message. She felt a little bad for being so hard on him but she wan'ted to make sure he would know in the event of getting injured again that he would have to seek her out and get the proper care he would need.
"I didn't mean to unnerve you I am sorry." she said to him. She refraid from looking into his eyes, she gathered that he wasn't use to this and she didn't want to make it any worse for him.
"I am also sorry you don't have an attentive female in your life. Do you want to talk about it?" It wasn't really an uncommon thing in the stormborn they were a tough pride after all. Umeko was surrounded by females who wanted nothing to do with caring for their young or for their mate, he mom and Anika, just to name a few. Umeko thought differently though, not everyone could be the tough guy, there had to be someone who stayed back kept the household running and tended to all the wounds they inevitably came home with.
Moose
"Not...exactly." Vittorio shifted on his paws and exhaled. "The lioness I care for isn't one for expressions. She isn't cold, but it feels like pushing boulders to get her to say something nice to me. Lately all we've done is argue, and I haven't seen her in some time." It felt odd talking about her that way, wrong even, but it wasn't. Not really. Vittorio was just stating the truth.
"My parents were very affectionate. It was embarrassing, but nice to see them hugging onto each other like adolescents all the time. Even after two litters they couldn't stay away from each other. I guess I've just always kind of wanted that, and adjusting to life without it has been difficult."
Nessi
Umeko gave him a weak smile. "I grew up with the opposite, never met my dad apparently he is a god with all sort of cubs everywhere and my mom.... well she cares about us, but she isn't loving." she swallowed hard.
When she heard that he had a mate her stomach dropped a little. She had already fallen for a guy that had someone else in her life and that male had ripped her heart out and stompped all over it. She hated to admit it but she liked this male with the purple mane. She hadn't really realized her feelings until he told her he cared for another. She let out a little sigh.
"Yes life in the stormborn's can seem very cold for those that come from outside the borders. But there are a few of us that do care, perhaps even care too much."
Moose
Vittorio's eyes popped. "A God? That's...that's impressive but depressing all in one. Even Gods should watch over their cubs." He also would have understood if mother had been too frustrated to be as caring as his, but unloving? The very thought of it made him sick.
He turned his sharp gaze towards her, and felt his heart pull. There was just something about her that he didn't want to hurt. It was the very thing he wanted to protect, and for the life of him, Vittorio couldn't figure out why. He shouldn't feel this way. He should be faithful, mate for life like his parents had...
And yet...
Vittorio moved closer to the lioness. "...I don't want to insult you by lying to you, or asking you to go along with something you hate. You've already been let down once, and this is..." Shaking his head, he stepped back. "I can't. It would be too cruel."
Nessi
Umeko's brow furrowed, she wasn't sure what Vittorio was trying to say to her. She tried to study his face and figure out what he was trying not to say.
"I don't think you could be cruel." she said her voice barely a whisper. The conversation had taken a turn one she had never expected. She found herslef wishing him to say the one thing she knew damn well he couldn't. She shouldn't do this again. The last male had hurt her so bad. Yes her cubs were gorgeous but sometimes they were just a painful remind of what she had gone through. But somehow she knew that this male was different. Anything that happened with him would be different.
Her head cocked to the side she stared into his eys, a clear wanting filling them. "You can tell me." she pleaded.
Moose
"You haven't known me long enough to find out." His voice was soft, honest and pained. Vittorio knew that what he wanted was against his better judgement, but to hell with that. "I can't give you what you want...but I can give you what you desire."
Wasn't that it? They had danced around the topic long enough that he needed it out in the open. All thoughts of any possible aftermath were out of mind. All Vittorio thought of at that moment was the female in front of him, and the comfort she could bring. It was a path many had walked before him; one that he had thought never to tread.
Nessi
"Love?" she said her voice quizicle. She wanted a long term stable relationship but truly she just needed to be loved. Her eyes were glazed over with tears, this conversation had taken such an emotional turn.
"I can give it to you too. You sound like you need it." Umeko told him. Umeko had love to give in spades she just had never found some one to give it to worth her time. She questioned herself as to whether or not this was good to do.
"We can love each other and be good friends right?" she asked. Sure she wanted to spend a night or two with him but really she wanted to make sure that he would remain her friend even after the nights together had come and gone.
Moose
Love.
There were so many variations of that word. It filled him with an unease he hadn't seen since adolescence, but it wasn't all bad. He needed to be acknowledged; to feel as if his life mattered and he wasn't just a ******** up. "Yes, of course." He meant that; he really did. Even though he couldn't say the 'L' word, Vittorio had no intention of cutting her from his life. Their relationship might change, both in dangerous ways and not, but she was there to stay.
"I'll be here for you, if you'll be there for me."
And as odd as it all was, it all made sense to him.
