[PRP] Wax On [Evren x Gaspard]

[oo Ded]

"You're spending too much time thinking. Give your enemy that opportunity and they'd be at your throat. Your movements need to be instinctive. Like breathing."

Gaspard backed off from the younger lion before moving back through the edge of the oasis. The muharip was positioned at the posting farthest from the territory line. There were some younger lions, here. Ones that hadn't seen battle before. Ones that had to be trained. The battlefront had been quiet and unbearably dull. Gaspard had motioned to spend his time at one of the less battle-ready postings to see to training.

Not that it was much more exciting here, but at least there were things to do.

The lion pressed his mouth into a thin line. They were the Burkuteshti. They were born fighters. Gaspard had few concerns. The lion moved olive green eyes across the oasis before moving towards the edge, letting his mind wander. It was difficult for the muharip to get his mind away from the battle. War was their life and it was hard to escape. One could accuse the lion of having a hard time taking it easy, and that would be mostly true. But these were important matters, and it wasn't like Gaspard had anything to take his mind away from it all.

Hopefolly

Hey! Here's a thread for them if you're still interested in this plot c: This can be current, or backlogged to when Evren's an adol~

 

[Hopefolly]

oo DeD

Like breathing, he told them now, as he'd told those trained before them. Gaspard's lectures never changed much. To this day Evren found his advice easier said than done with those eyes staring you down.

The mind of a lioness in love had a strange way about it. It could see what it wanted, what it feared, or both if they were one in the same. Evren was convinced some of the younger females looked at Gaspard the way she had and still did. But their affections weren't as pure, weren't as just as hers.

Late one night, when only her thoughts could hear, she swore she'd revere Gaspard as much whether his brother was the Bey or dead or... or even if he was a Qyrhyeshti. Back then she'd only just grown into her adult paws and still had the time, the imagination, and the idealism for capricious fantasies. Now she was just grateful he wasn't a Qyrhyeshti and left it at that.

She'd been lingering around the oasis, inconspicuous as one could hope to be. When he left, she followed him, grasping at straws for conversation. It wasn't the first time and was unlikely to be the last.

"It's been quiet lately."  

[oo Ded]

As distant as Gaspard tended to be from the social gears of the Burkuteshti, it was difficult for the lion to remain disconnected from the gossip. It was a small pride. Word got around. He knew the rumors of the younger lioness and her... infatuations. The muharip did well enough feigning ignorance, though; like with many things, Gaspard treated the murmurings with a sort of terse distance.

Not that Evren was distasteful, or anything; she was a strong lioness and her lineage was admirable--romantic endeavors were simply low on Gaspard's list of priorities. The war had a high place in the lion's mind, and members of the fairer sex didn't seem to register very high on his radar. Gaspard had treated the resulting rumors of his indifference towards lionesses as being evidence of his preference being towards the maned and burly type the same way he treated the rumors of Evren, and though his apathetic indifference did little to help his case, the lion didn't seem to mind.

There was little surprise on the dusty-pelted lion's feathers as the familiar female voice came from behind him.

"Evren," he spoke without turning. His brow furrowed as he thought for a moment. There had been many a time that he had given the lioness the cold shoulder. Poor form, his new eagle companion had started to chide in response to his treatment of his pridemates.

Perhaps Ashnh had a point. And though it wasn't a smile on his features as he turned towards his company, it was pointedly not a frown. "It has indeed," he murmured before sitting, olive eyes pressed firm and unmoving towards her.

Hopefolly

 

[Hopefolly]

Indifference was the enemy she feared most. How did one best a foe too apathetic to meet on the battlefield? Evren wanted to assume the best in things — in other lions, more so — but the stakes were too high, so far out of reach it seemed, to be naively optimistic like that. What he'd intended to be a gracious step toward genuine conversation she saw from her prospective as indicating dismissal or rejection.

He gave her too much credit. Evren's kin were venerable fighters, but her? She was weak. Petty. She gave those outside her good graces a cold shoulder to speak to. It worried her to perceive him as doing the same. What did I do? she'd ask herself, if not for the fact she was too busy asking him something else. "We could go on patrol?" said a voice that was hers with words that weren't. This is what her mother would say, or maybe her brother.

Evren took a short and heavy breath after that, watching him with her head slightly bowed. If he paused for longer than three or four seconds, she would add, "To see if we can find anything," but otherwise she would remain silent.

oo DeD

 

[oo Ded]

Gaspard had long since given up the notion of ever understanding the inner workings of a young lioness' mind. There were far to many trivialities and complications for him to worry about. Still, he couldn't help but knit his brow, perplexed at her actions, her words... everything, really.

His head lowered enough for him to make eye contact with her head bowed. A few moments after she spoke again, he let loose a collected breath. "That is no way for a Burkuteshti warrior to hold her head, Evren. You should be tall and proud. A fighter." If she wasn't one yet, he reasoned, she would become one. There wasn't much choice otherwise, in these lands. His voice was distant and rumbling as he spoke, but by no means cold.

Gaspard lifted his head and looked to the horizon. Evening was coming. The shifts would change, soon. "That isn't a bad idea," he mused. It didn't cross his mind that it could have been an uncharacteristic suggestion. The bey's brother had wired himself to focus on the war for most of his life. It was difficult for him to grasp the thought that not everyone would think the same way.

He glanced at her once more, holding his shoulders stiff and square. "Where do you suggest we begin?"

Hopefolly

 

[Hopefolly]

"That is no way for a Burkuteshti warrior to hold her head, Evren."

What about her breath? "Right," she'd murmured, but it had been too quiet and far too subtle for him to have known. Taut shoulders found their tension abated and her head was held high, soon joined by her ears as they picked up the sound of roundabout agreement.

It really wasn't a bad idea. As for where...

"By the river?" Evren hadn't meant for it to sound like a question. That was close enough to enemy territory there just might be others patrolling there. Maybe Gaspard would focus more on his present company than present location if she suggested somewhere secure. Superficially her logic was sound, but in reality very much flawed; if the Qyrhyeshti happened to be scheming an attack, that would be the place to start.

oo DeD

 

[oo Ded]

"Was that meant as a question, or a st-"

Tact, Gaspard. One could reason that the lion wouldn't know how to charm a lady even if she had been in the forefront of his mind. It wasn't an art he was planning on mastering anytime soon. But he could almost hear the nagging voice of that damned bird buzzing in his ear. So Gaspard cut himself off, flicking an ear and twitching his tail in a thoughtful motion.

"...the river it is." The lion stretched. Tense muscles appeared relaxed for but a moment before he stood again, looking to her with thoughtful consideration. "Shall we be on our way?" He was moving forward before she could answer.

Hopefolly

 

[Hopefolly]

Evren could turn a blind eye to certain things. Deafening herself was more of a challenge. She hadn't missed that terse fragment of a response and was startled to hear him change his tune halfway through.

"Yes," was all she said, all she could say. There wasn't the time for much else. Already he was walking past her, and as always seemed to be the case, Evren did her best just trying to keep up.

Several Burkuteshti were watching the river, not surprisingly.

Esta bint Dasha took almost nothing personally. Her limitless patience was for most part rooted in apathy, but at the end of the day, she doubted anyone cared for as long as she kept doing her job well. With her parents and grandparents dead on both sides, a sick cub sired by a rogue left to die as the pride dictated, and no siblings to speak of, Esta had no reason to care about anything but winning this war. That included what other lions were thinking.

Maybe that was why she had never minded Gaspard, whom she'd often joke must have been born scowling. She'd take a broody, sour-faced jerk over the pity any day.

"You're out here again? I didn't think it was your shift yet." Esta was speaking loudly on her way over, lowering her volume accordingly when she reached them. A quick look to Evren and she couldn't help but smirk, one brow raised and a knowing look — bordering taunting — sent Gaspard's way. "And good to see you, Evren."

oo DeD

Figured I'd toss Esta in since she needs some screen time and we'd talked about her and Gaspard being friends (of sorts).