Nanashi moved amongst the pride with confident steps. He was the Boss, and so he knew he had nothing to fear from those around him, nodding his head in greeting to a few of the citizens, and pausing to speak to a grunt or two about duties, before moving on. He was quite used to his pridal life now, he mused, smiling only ever so slightly. He was not one for large grins, or sappy smiles, but the slight quirk to his mouth hinted at his contentedness within the pride.
His niece was not joining him today, he thought with some regret, as he moved amongst the pride. Usually she would tag along to learn all about the pride, but she was absent, staying home with her mother instead. It was fine, since he knew Aiko would protect Satomei, but still, he felt some regret that she was not with him currently. She was usually quite interesting company, at least, if not a little more childish then he wished she would be. He sighed, and continued to walk, now down to the stream in the center of the pride.
- -
Vailea moved out around the Pride, stretching her legs and getting a good whiff of the day. The young hybrid had grown up in the lands, and now that she was bigger, she could do more exploring. The leotah was usually rather good at blending in...if not for the soft pink and blue spots that flourished on her brown pelt. Not that she minded of course, she liked seeing her spots. They were like her Father's and it was nice to have a reminder of him around, even if he wasn't. Vailea never really liked when Dysi was gone, but took solace in the fact that someday he'd be back.
She padded along quietly, for the most part at this time of day, just watching everyone go about their daily business. As happy and loud as Vailea could be, she was also abit of an observer and that in itself, made her happy. It also gave her some insight to how others reacted to their environment, which was interesting.
- -
Nanashi had never really liked the idea of Dysi spawn being allowed into the pride, simply because of his dislike of their father, rather than any dislike of the cubs themselves. He had never interacted with them knowingly and he didn't really feel the need to do so at any point, which was why when he spotted the female hybrid, so obviously Dysi's spawn as shown by the spots, he felt no desire to rush over and begin a conversation.
Instead, he continued on his way to the stream, which unfortunately, brought him across paths with the adolescent female. He was reluctant to engage in covnersation, but was even more reluctant to be rude, so he inclined his head once coming close enough for her to notice him – if she hadn't already. “Royal Vailea,” he greeted her politely, no warmth to his tone but no aggression either. A royal. He'd always hated the fact that those cubs had been given that rank. An insult, it was, but Nyoka had wished it, so it was done.
- -
The young hybrid was aware of her passing company and returned the curt nod, " Boss Nanashi " Her voice just as kind as it always was. " How are you today? " Vailea hadn't really spoken to many in the group, aside fromher siblings, Momma Nyoka and her Dad. She'd seen Nanashi many a time, even when the Leotah was a tiny cub. So, she was making an effort to speak more often to him, though sometimes Vailea wondered if the dark male even agreed to her presence. She wasn't blind, and many a time observed how Nanashi interacted with many in the land.
- -
Nanashi slowed, as she inquired about his health, coming to a stop. It would be rude to disregard her question, he knew, and sighed inwardly, outwardly portraying a rather bland and calm expression. “I am well,” he responded simply. “Simply examining the pride to keep occupied. And you, Royal Vailea? How are you?” He returned, simply to be polite. He had nothing really against her, simply her heritage and while he'd much rather that she was out of the pride, he wasn't so cruel as to be violent or aggressive towards her. He had known her since she was a cub, after-all, since Nyoka had quite a relationship with the youth.
- -
Vailea was pleased that Nanashi had acknowledged her question, and replied in kind. " I am doing well, and that's all I could ever ask for, aside from my home and my family. " This was true. You may have no feasible home, but as long as you have family, then you always will. Family was important to Vailea, she liked the sense of security that it brought. If ever alone, you weren't truly alone. Your family was there for you in your time of need. Within reason, of course, as each member has their own lives. Her brow furrowed in thought, a site that was slightly humourous, because some might not she Vailea as a serious thinker. " May I ask you questioin, if you're not too busy, that is. "
- -
Nanashi inclined his head without any real interest as she spoke. He agreed, of course, that family was the most important thing. It had been originally why he had taken the position in the pride, to protect his brothers and his sister, but had grown into something more...personal, as to why he stayed. He was a little down-hearted that she was not unhappy in the pride, and that she did not wish to leave. He supposed that it would make Nyoka sad if she did leave, so he should be pleased that she was enjoying pridal life, but it was still hard to stomach that Dysi spawn was going to stay with them, even after Nanashi and Nyoka had settled together.
He was, however, intrigued as she went to ask him a question. “You may,” he said coolly, regarding her with a somewhat curious gaze.
- -
Vailea took a minute or two, to think how to properly and respectfully. " What is it about me, or..perhaps not particularly myself as an individual character, but something about me that you do not seem to like? " Vaileas had hoped that the way she worded her sentence would have been deemed more curious and observative, rather than direspectful. She meant no harm in asked, as it had seemed like there was something to how the male acted around her. Or, didn't, in a way.
- -
Nanashi's posture tensed at her question, eyes narrowing but not with curiosity this time. How dare she...He was careful not to let his dislike show on his face, or his actions, but he had never been particularly good at hiding his emotions, so it should not have surprised him that she knew of his dislike. “It is nothing personal, Royal Vailea,” he said stiffly, if only because Nyoka liked the whelp, he would attempt to be polite and civilized with her. “Simply...bad blood.” he said, phrasing it carefully. It could have been taken as a slight against her mother, who Nanashi did not know of but knew she was from outside of the pride, or against Dysi, as it had been intended. Nanashi didn't care which way she took it, it was the only explanation she would get from him over his dislike for her.
- -
Vailea's expression did not change, as she kept herself calm. " I see. " Her voice still in kind tone. " I thank you, Boss Nanashi, for your honesty. " Though she was fairly hurt by it, and took insult to it, she would not give the cheetah the pleasure of seeing her crumble. It was a fact of life that you cannot please everyone. For the many that like you, there will always be the few that hate you. That was just how things went, this much she knew. " I would apologize if I saw anything wrong with my blood. I am proud of it, as I am sure, that you are proud of your own. "
- -
Nanashi was pleased that she did not react badly to his declaration, taking it, instead, as simply a statement of fact. He regarded her calmly, looking unconcerned by how she might have taken it personally or any such things. He would rather be honest about it then pretend that he did not dislike her strongly because of her blood.
“There is nothing wrong, per say, with it,” he remarked casually. “It is simply 'bad' in my opinion.” He wouldn't want the creature thinking that she had horrible blood in everyone's eyes. However, his intense dislike of her father made her blood dirty in every sense of the word. He admired her pride of her heritage, but it was still disgraceful.
- -
" As I somewhat figured. " As the hybrid grew, she took notice of certain cues that would periodically threw her off. Until she thoroughly thought about it, and came to the conclusion that she now knew as a truth. Even without verbally saying something, there were still smal bodily clues someone would give away. Seemed as though these cues weren't always acknowledged, either by the speaker, or by the one they were talking to. " I realize that you cannot make everyone happy, for whatever reason that may be. For the few that like you, there will always befe some that dislike you. "
- -
Nanashi inclined his head. Well, at least she was clever. If it had not been for her blood, he might have found her company quite enjoyable. Unfortunately for her – and him too, perhaps, because he would not get to know the creature before him, despite her obvious intelligence – that her blood was how it was. A shame, he thought, that any creature who could show such logic could be related to Dysi.
“You are quite correct, Royal Vailea.” His tone was always polite. “An astute observation.” He gave her a curious glance over. “What is rank is it that you aspire to be in the pride?” If she stayed a royal, he would be forced to interact with her more often. However, with logic like hers, he was honestly a tad curious over her future goals.
- -
Vailea had wondered that herself. " I do not personally know, Boss Nanashi. I have put some thought to it, however. " She titled her head slightly, in half thought. " Perhaps a rank that would utilize my observational skills. Everyone speaks not only with their voice, but also with their body. The latter of which, as I've noticed, is not usually noticed by the speaker, and perhaps not even the individual that they are talking with. " Vailea didn't know much of the ranks, but she would not admit this. She had a very comfortable life, and rather liked it. But it did get stale every now and then.
- -
Nanashi peered at her. “Indeed,” he murmured. She would be useful, her observational skills useful. “Fighter rank would be useless, if you do not – in fact -fight. Entertainter's also useless, unless you are willing to -entertain- the members of the pride while watching.” His mouth quirked in a slight smirk. “Perhaps High Grunt?” Now that would be a fall from grace. From Royal to Grunt. He didn't think she would appreciate the rank, needing to do all the dirty work for the pride. “Of course, Nannying is always an option, especially for your...kind.” Hybrids. Useless for breeding and furthering the pride, but useful for teaching the next generation of youths.
- -
The Leotah raised her brow slightly, catching a glimpse of a smirk on Nanashi's face. That told her much more than his tone ever could. " I do not have the build to fight, nor do I have.. ' the view ' of myself to ' entertain '. " Vailea exhaled softly. " And one of us would enjoy the other's rank change, more than the other. " She knew that, while Vailea was good at observing others, she knew the grunts have a rough time. And something told her that Vailea may be curious about it, but.. perhaps that's as far as it would go. Maybe some things are better left unknown. " I do enjoy being around cubs, but I do not know if that's really for me. " Vailea shrugged her shoulders, " Perhaps, I'm being to picky. Or maybe, I'm just yearning for something more.. "
- -
Nanashi resisted the urge to smirk as she picked up on his desire to see her fall to the rank of Grunt, but did not deny it. It would be useless to deny, she knew it already. He was interested when she seemed uncaring of his suggestions.
“Stay a royal then,” he said calmly, “or maybe by 'more', you are just craving something outside of the pride.” He knew of yearnings for rogue life, but he had lived it before. Once or twice he had missed the freedom it had given, but raising a family, even that of his siblings, had made the ways of the rogue land seem dangerous to him and he was pleased to be in a safe environment, the pride.
- -
Vailea chuckled to herself. She caught the hint, though .. not like it was much of a hint. It was more like ' Go outside and find out what it's like there. ' Maybe also a sutble tone of ' oh, and don't come back. ' Even if she had worked up the courage to venture out, there was no telling what was out there. It may be safe here, but that didn't mean it was safe beyond the boundaries that she knew. Vailea was also pretty sure that Momma Nyoka would would mostly like chew her ear off. However, the youngster couldn't help but allow the grin that crept it's way onto her face. " Aw, but if I left you'd miss me~ "
- -
Nanashi had been content to talk with the female, seeing as she offered some intelligent conversation, however he refused to stand by a be mocked by this little brat. Miss her? He scoffed, a scowl building on his face. “The day I miss the spawn of that leopard is the day I denounce my claim to the pride,” he said tersely, a dangerous glare aimed towards her. Up until now, he had been friendly.
“Good day, Royal Vailea,” he remarked coldly, giving her a dark look before moving passed her. The dismissal was obvious, as he began his decent to the water. He had been interested in her mind, knowing now what Nyoka saw in the whelp, but he would nto allow her to mock him as such, claiming that he would 'miss' the retch was like saying he would miss the leopard who spawned her, both of which was an insult.
- F I N -
