|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:11 am
-Despite her occassionally flighty and innocent demeanor, Vikasini had always been a pretty perseptive creature. So it hadn't taken her long to notice the small change in her sultan's attitude. They hadn't been together for too long, and she still wasn't nearly as close to him as some of the other girls, but she could see it. The stress in his eyes, the somberness in his steps. What exactly was wrong she did not know, her and Neema did little mingling with the other harems, so she only really knew of her own girls, and they all seemed to be fine.
But it was getting harder and harder to watch him suffer. A few days after she'd first noticed the subtle changes in his demeanor, when all the other harem sisters were off sleeping or doing their own thing, Vika found herself hunting out the sultan, settling at his side before he could try to shoe her off. Her voice was silent, her eyes questioning, but the soft hints of a purr rattled from her chest, barely audible.-
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:14 am
Aali felt Vika settle beside him and managed to lift his head to smile at her softly, he was after all trying very hard to keep up the facade of his usual cheer. It wasn't that he wasn't happy for his brothers, he was thrilled by the litters of cubs running around the pride. After all cubs were the future, but it was that distressing thought that had sent him into such a state of depression. Without any cubs of his own, it was as if he had no future. He had begun to wonder what was wrong with him, or his dear Aysel that they couldn't manage to produce when others were managing just fine. Both his Viziers had produced not one but two litters and as much as he was pleased by it, it stung his pride.
He tried to push away his bitter thoughts and gently nuzzled Vika, she was always so quiet that it surprised him she should seek him out. "What's on your mind dear one?" Was she distressed by all the cubs as well he wondered, or was he the only one pining for the soft pitter patter of paws?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:43 am
-She was pleased to see his smile even though she knew it was partly a facade. It was in fact... her best trick back in the day. If you could just smile.. well.. it often made others smile as well. Such a powerful silent cue. She returned his smile gently, but it quickly faded to a look of concern.-
"You are upset.. have been upset for atleast a little now..." -She trailed delicately. Certainly it wasn't her place to tell her sultan NOT to be upset, but it wasn't in her nature either to idlely stand by for such things.- "It has always brought me down when I knew others were suffering."
-Her ears pinned back gently, not in anger but more of an innocent submission. If he refused to let her try to help, she'd have to be a little more sly in her attempt to raise his spirits. But it never hurt to ask first.- "Is there something wrong?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:54 pm
Aali felt his own half smile fade away and he held back a sigh, so much for his facade his own banu could see right through it. It might help a bit if he didn't mope in the den so often, but being outside surrounded by cubs did little to allay his depression.
"I'm not angry..." He murmured reassuringly, hopefully none of his ladies had taken his somber mood as a reflection of themselves, they had all done so well and were adjusting nicely or so it seemed. Her question made him grimace and he shook his head gently nudging her.
"Nothing is wrong Vika..." It was half a truth, nothing was wrong with the pride, it was his own fault he was in such a bad mood. Yet, Vika had come to him and she had asked an honest question, which in turn deserved an honest reply. If he was to trust her and care for her as much as Aysel or Taja he owed it to her to explain his mood.
"It's just me...seeing all these cubs it's...upsetting." He finally admitted with a sigh.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 2:20 pm
-She hadn't thought him angry. Angry individuals snapped, paced about, took out aggression on innocent inatimate objects. But she nodded nonetheless to his words and reassurance. Even if he had been mad... as long as he didn't take it out on anyone it wasn't as if that was really such a bad thing either. But Vikasini had always been like a canary in a coal mine, she soaked up all that was around her, detected it with a soft empathy that she'd learned so early on. Her shoulder leaned gently against him, offering the heat and subtle feeling of 'having someone to lean on' that often soothed a person.
His confession however, suprised her a little and confused her. Why would he be upset by cubs? What he worried about too many cubs and not enough adults to care for them? It seemed hard to believe... with so many mothers about. But kings did worry about that kind of thing.- "I can help hunt more. If you think they need help, and asked me to do it."
-Thoughts drifting gently, she unconciously and obliviously stumbled onto his real concern, speaking thoughtfully.- "Even with so many cubs about it's different than home was. I saw alot more of them roaming about. Got to play with them more. It will be exciting when there are young ones running around our den I think."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 3:01 pm
"No...the banu are doing a fine job, some might need a little more company or a paw to help out with the cubs...but their fine. It's not the hunting..." He gently nuzzled her and leaned his muzzle into her fur, it was a comfort and once he felt better composed he moved his head away to look her in the eyes.
"It's just...our den should already be filled by young ones." He couldn't keep the concern, the anguish out of his voice as hard as he tried.
"My brother has two litters now, all his banu are happily occupied raising and teaching and feeding the future of the pride. Yet if you look here...in my den...there is no future running about...." He winced and slowly sat up feeling his chest tighten with emotion. He adored his nieces and nephews, all the prides cubs, but why couldn't he have any of his own? What were he and Aysel doing wrong?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:31 am
-She would have shown the soft embarrassement and shyness that was creeping on her face as he gazed at her, but his words lifted quick enough to quall them. She could clearly hear the pain in his voice, and with his words she suddenly understood.-
"You'll be a good dad when the time comes I think. You take good care of the pride, I'm sure the same will be said of you when there are children running around here. Babies aren't something you can rush though." -She offered, giving him a soft smile.- "I saw it all the time in the Pridelands."
"Families would try and try with no luck, while other girls would leave for a day and come back with a belly full of surprise gifts. It's one of those cruel, but magical little secrets of life I think. Maybe it's all the stressing and worrying?"
-It was strange, how that bit of shyness seemed to fade when Vika tried to comfort someone. It was as if there was some little spark hiding under the super soft exterior. It was hard to gush too much though.. with Aali so obviously heavy with emotion. Trying to gauge back her words alittle, she offered sincerely, tail settling over his.- "I didn't know that you wanted children so badly."
"I'm sure if you asked some of the..." -She paused, mid sentence as she realized what she was saying, that shyness flooding back to her face as her mind pictured him coming to her, asking her to mother his cubs. Really... eventually it would probably come to that wouldn't it? She should expect it, belonging to him and all. And yet... the young innocence in Vikasini could only quiver at the thought of intimacy ecspecially in such a blatant way. She'd always hoped to be swept away, tender and/or passionate.
Toes dragging self conciously on the ground, she continued.- "Really though.. we all want to help you. However we can."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:41 am
He nodded softly at Vika's words it was true, a cruel little trick of fate that he had to wait out. It didn't make the waiting any easier though, but it did soften the blow at least she didn't mention that the problem might not be nature, but Aysel or himself. He knew such things happened in males and females, the inability to create life no matter how much one tried.
Still he had to hold on, wait, have hope. "What male doesn't want to see his future secure, his cubs growing strong, his banu occupied in a duty far better then hunting? Yes I want cubs...but I'm also so very grateful to have you and the others, we're a family and thats what's important."
He lightly licked her cheek and smiled, he was happy for the company and obviously he would need to pull himself out of his sorry state before all his banu realized what Vika had.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:23 pm
"Love is probably the main ingredient." -She stated innocently, matter of factly.- "Maybe when love outweighs worries and thinking and planning in the heat of the moment, maybe that's when and how babies get made."
-It was such a childish thought, but if he had looked into her eyes at the moment, he would have been met with a dreamy look. Turning her eyes back to him, she leaned in, returning his affection with a soft lick of her own. She was happy to see him smiling again, to see any of that weight lifted off his shoulders.
Shifting once more to get comfortable, she asked curiously- "Do you want a big litter for your first one? Or a small one to practice with? Mostly boys?" -She prattled on softly, hoping to draw forth another lovely expression perhaps.-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:29 pm
"Yes love is important, it's the foundation of the pride, so it makes sense that it's needed the most to create cubs as well. Thank You Vika, you have a beautiful way of looking at things...it helps to try and look at things from your point instead of mine." He nuzzled her and felt himself slip another notch into relaxation, it was easy to do beside his sweetest Banu. There was no judgment in her, only the pure intention of seeing others happy, it was like sinking into the lake when it was at it's warmest.
He grinned at her question and tipped his head "I think I should like my first litter to be fair sized, but not so very large...and as much as I would love sons, I think I should like many daughters to grow into beautiful banu for the Pads who have all helped me so very much."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:51 pm
-She was pleased, and her eyes dipped shyly back down as the soft words of praise touched her. She was happy to help anyway, it made her feel better, but to be praised so nicely about it too. It was just one of many small things piling in her list of why Aali.. her sultan.. wasn't nearly as bad as she and Neema had thought weeks before. No... surely a monster wouldn't feel pain and agony over not having a family to love.
As her thoughts travelled on, she caught his words, ears twitching softly, her own words of praise lifting in a soft whisper.- "You are so generous and thoughtful for someone in a position like yours...."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:42 am
"I do try Vika, I'm sorry my first impression on you was such a harsh one, but I love my Pride, I love my brothers and I needed each of them to have their share of love as well, the love and attention only a female can give. I hope now you see or at least understand we did not capture females for a life of cruelty, we wanted only to have that which to protect and care for." He gently nuzzled her and slowly smiled at her kind words. He didn't think of himself as being either generous or thoughtful, but he supposed she was right, he did think of his Pads, and there were no doubt other rulers who had been far less of each then he.
"A Sultan's duty is to care for his pride, my duty as a Pad is to care for you." He smiled and licked her cheek. "and you...you Vika are a treasure as a banu, thank you for your wise words, they have helped." Indeed the heavy cloud of depression was gone, he knew Vika was right, it would take time, as anything ever did.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:05 am
((Oh my gosh, yay babies! Perfect timing for this rp XD I think we can end it in a post or couple anyway. heart ))
-She nodded softly, slowly, accepting his explaination in a way she hadn't before now. He really had done it for the good of his family. And while that didn't make it 100% moral.. none of his girls were hurt or in jeapordy, so all was well.
As another delicate affection touched her cheek, she shifted her head placing her own soft lick against his cheek, before immediately becoming ablaze with heat at her cheeks once again. He needed it though. A kiss from her after all he'd offered of himself.
Shifting gently, her eyes turning outwards to gaze out the cave, she pondered softly, the problem was solved.. or in the steps of being solved for the most part. Purring gently, she offered with a good natured smile, probably the closest thing she'd ever come to a tease.- "If you cheer up a bit, then I can keep your worrying and brooding the last few days a secret from Neema and Taja if you like."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:07 pm
He grinned at the soft sensation of her tongue brushing his cheek, it made him feel warm inside. He could feel that gradual slip as with Aysel and Taja he was slowly coming to love Vika and little more each time he had a moment alone with her. Her capacity for kindness and selflessness touched him, he only hoped that she would find some qualities in him to love.
He chuckled and nodded softly "I promise, no more moping or brooding." He gently nudged her. "Thank you for not telling them...I didn't mean to worry anyone...I didn't mean to worry you. I'm glad you came to speak to me though, you can always feel free...even when I'm not brooding." He grinned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:22 am
"O.. okay. I will, definately." -She nodded, hoping he wouldn't notice the heat that burned at her cheeks. It really was strange. She always had been the mooneyed sort. But it was so different to hear it in a story.. and to watch it play out before you. What with warm cheeks and tickley butterflies in the belly.
She had to wonder why so many of the moms in the pridelands.. had done without males, and apparently, without these strangely wonderful feelings. Her tail flicked softly back and forth as she lifted herself, bowing her head gently.- "I think I need to warm myself in the sun for awhile but..." -She paused a moment, briefly, before charging ahead with her offer.- "If anything bothers you, and you need someone just to listen, I'm very good at that. It's like my special skill" -Turning to head towards the den mouth, she couldn't help but smile alittle. It'd always seemed like a kind of dumb talent.. not nearly so useful as others. But now.. now it was kind of like.. it took ALL sorts to make a family.-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
