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 Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:03 pm
Sometimes life throws you a bone, it allows you to start something over that is wonderful, beautiful, and in Nerit's case she was sure magical. The chocolate colored lioness sat beneath a tree in the mid day sun. Her pelt shined glossily, and she was sort of proud of taking more care of herself physically. She had someone to want to look pretty for, and she was elated and angry at the same time.
No one had been outright cruel or mean to Nerit, but some were a lot shorter with words, only giving orders and not socializing. The lioness was just getting used to having Unyezi, her anger was ebbing away and she was softening to him and others. Showing up to give him the signal she wanted a chance was the hardest thing she had ever had to do. Now the hardest thing was knowing what comes next, and the fear that he would regret taking her.
Sighing Nerit closed her eyes as a cool breeze fluttered past. She internalized so much that it was so hard to vocalize and open up.
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:32 pm
Unyezi had finished with his one chore for the afternoon, a chore he had set for himself because still nobody was brave enough to ask- or tell- him to do anything for them. He had plenty of time to work on his respectful behaviors, on not acting quite the same way he had before.. it had been almost awkward talking to Upenzi, especially since she seemed so self conscious. With that discussion out of the way, and his last responsibility to the pride before settling in only as a slave looming.. and the extremely uncomfortable conversation with his daughter, he was happy only to look for Nerit and stick with her for a bit.
He was cheered up when he spotted her, immediately feeling better- though it was not without its own awkwardness. Nerit was giving him a chance, she was talking to him and.. she was all he needed.
"Nerit," he called softly, walking up.
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:59 pm
"Unyezi?" Nerit turns towards him and inhales quickly, "are you having a good day?" standing she smiled warmly at him waiting for him to cover the distance. She was having a hard time adjusting to not being unassertive and meek with him. She no longer lowered her shoulders in his presence but she had to make a conscious decision not to.
Her emerald eyes focused on his brown ones and she was just happy and elated to see him. It was also very hard to put on a front of anger and discomfort with him..she sort of wanted to talk about the future, and avoid the subject of Indu.
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:06 pm
When she smiled at him, he had to smile back, though he couldn't completely hide the anxiety he had. Daringly, he walked up and nuzzled against her affectionately.
"I spoke with Upenzi, after tonight my only job will what's asked of me each day," he said, stepping back to he could look at her, "I had to speak to Alcmene before I went, though. She's still not talking to me more than necessary." He took a seat, he had no idea what she wanted to talk about but he almost was leading into it anyway. His aim was not to complain or make Nerit feel guilty, he only felt he had to say something about it. Soon he would officially be only a slave and nothing else, have no other obligations. It was like the last step.
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:24 pm
Nerit nuzzled back and felt like her heart had skipped a beat. She wanted to be able to erase everything that happened between when they were young and now and she knew they were making steps to. She sat down beside him, but not extraordinarily close.
"It's not that bad...maybe because you were king lions will feel differently, but you know that. But none of them are excessively cruel to slaves," she murmured.
"Your daughter," Nerit stopped...what did she have to say about his daughter that would help. Her own daughter was somewhere..Nerit did not search, she was sure Indu needed her space and was just hiding somewhere near the pride. "I think in time it will get better between you, maybe not great not the same."
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:47 pm
"Everybody is still awkward, I don't know when someone will finally send me on a errand for them," he said with a short laugh when she commented on his previous rank, "They are not supposed to be excessively cruel to slaves, I've always thought that, even before.. but anyway, I'm half expecting Njiru will be the first to show up and send me to do something that it ultimately pointless."
He shook his head a bit, and smiled at her as she struggled to think of something comforting to say about his relationship with his daughter. He knew it was hard, he knew it would either get better or it wouldn't.. there wasn't much he could do about it right now but give her space. She knew he was there to help if she needed it, and that her mother was there to help too.
"Mm," he mumbled, then paused a moment before asking, "How about you, having a good day?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:21 pm
"A good day, not really any errands that need to be ran or anything to do," she rolled her shoulders in a lazy shrug and smiled at him. "Can we talk about.." her words cut off she wanted to discuss the future, not that there was much of one outside of doing errands and chore here and there. But, she was concerned about if they had cubs; concerned how the siblings would see one another.
"I know you cannot turn back, but I was wondering if you regretted leaving for me," she paused and turned her eyes from him, "I don't mean to hurt you by asking..I just.." she cut off and looked down in exasperation.
"I want to know what you think of the future too, what what do you think?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:33 pm
He smiled at her when she said she was having a good day, glad for that. He was struggling to decide if he was happy or not, with everything that happened that afternoon, but he immediately forgot the internal conflict when Nerit brought up a touchy subject that made it all seem very unimportant. First he felt panic, panic he never felt with Aureole- she was worried he might regret his decision? Or was she the one with the regret? It was the pain he felt at the thought that told him he'd made the right choice, the right choice for himself anyway. He did love Nerit, and he would have regretted not trying more than trying.
"I don't regret my choice," he said, tempted to turn the question on her but instead he answered her question, putting on an optimistic smile and hoping if she did have regrets she would tell him, "The future.. will be good. We're through the hard part now, aren't we? Everybody will adjust and we can just be happy."
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:55 pm
Nerit inhaled and turned back towards him, her emerald eyes focused on him and she exhaled turning into a sigh. "Unyezi, I will never regret loving you and being with you. I just don't want you to regret giving up so much for me."
"I want so much with you, I want to live happily ever after. If you say that the worst is over than I believe you. Adjust and be happy." Nerit slid closer to him needing his comfort, she pressed her said against his hoping he would not pull away, and reassured he would not.
"I was so angry that you became king and we were not together, so very angry. But, I can honestly say that my anger is gone. As long as you're here now it is gone."
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:07 pm
Unyezi was relieved when she spoke, reassuring him that she was not regretting her decision and that she wanted to be happy. He pressed back against her affectionately, daring to lick her nose affectionately and nuzzling her. This was how things were supposed to be, it had to be.
"The only thing I regret giving up is you," he said, resting his head by her shoulder and just breathing quietly. He had done what was necessary, he could not completely regret that, the pride was better off for it.. he regretted the circumstances that made it impossible to stay with her, had his parents lived a bit longer, had they had more time..
"Happily ever after," he repeated thoughtfully, smiling.
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:01 pm
Heat rose to Nerit's face but not out of embarrassment or shame, it was just a happy rush of adrenaline by his lick and touch. Breathing in his scent was reassuring that he was really there, was not going anywhere, and reminded her of long ago, he still held that same familiar scent.
"I also wanted to ask about, well about cubs. I feel like a bird who's chicks have all left the nest..Indu..isn't around and she's almost all grown up as it is." and well your kids are not too happy with you, but she couldn't say that although she was sure the subject would bring them up.
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:08 pm
As soon as the word 'cubs' left Nerit's lips, Unyezi leaned back to look her in the eyes. His smile changed ever so slightly, he wasn't entirely sure he'd been expecting this. He knew Indu was being about as accepting as his cubs were, and he knew that sometimes families- especially mothers- started to feel lonely when their cubs grew up. The fact that their cubs were not just grown but also avoiding them made it a tougher situation than it might have been otherwise.
"You want cubs?" he was still smiling and he sounded almost like he didn't believe it.
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:14 pm
She bowed her head pretending to be coy and smirked, "Yes, I want your cubs." Maybe it was that she wanted it to be official, wanted him to be completely hers, and having..well trying for cubs was a way to solidify that in her mind. It was silly, but she had been very lonely for a long time and the thought of starting a family was exciting. A family that Indu might be more accepting of a father figure, was something she longed for.
"I mean..if you want of course," she was used to pleasing others and doing as she was asked, so as much as she wanted, she would accept if he did not. She was sure that that he wanted her to be just as happy as she wanted him to be.
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:25 pm
His bad start to the afternoon was long forgotten by then, his brown eyes were fixed on Nerit, watching her. She was obviously playing with him, but she was being very sincere and he could see that. Until now, he had been feeling some insecurities about Nerit still being angry with him and possibly changing her mind because of it. She said she wasn't angry anymore, she said she wanted cubs..
"Of course I do!" he said, finally finding his voice, "I love you Nerit, of course I want to have a family with you."
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:36 pm
"Things are really looking up, past behind us, just the future," she stated and then nipped his nose playfully. Nerit felt invincible, a feeling she could not recall ever having in her entire life. There was only one feeling that trumped this one and that was the birth of Indu, that feeling would always be the best she was quite sure.
Looking up at the sun she smirked, "I should probably see if anyone needs anything done today." She did not want to leave his side, but it as her job. Even as a slave she understood the important of doing things for the pride. No job too small, every job is important and all.
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