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 Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:01 pm
 Another day, another round of duties. Some lionesses would have grown bored of the strict routine that Yeye followed, but those lionesses usually weren't matchmakers, and certainly not the Head Matron! No, Yeye Anaona'Moyo thrived on her routine, and followed it to the letter nearly every day. That wasn't to say, however, that she didn't enjoy her mid-afternoon and evening breaks. (Though, really, even her breaks could be considered a part of her duties!) No, she greatly enjoyed strolling through the pride and meeting with others, seeing happy pairings, watching cubs play, and above all making sure that everything was going well with those she had personally helped to set up.
Of course, there were those who still had no mate, and no cubs, like Yeye herself. She kept a watchful eye out, now and then, for someone who might be a suitable match for herself, but as of yet she had seen no viable candidates, and to be truthful she was much too busy with her duties to focus on that kind of thing, anyway. As for the other mate-and-offspringless pride members, she hoped to eventually have a talk with all of them, and find out why they remained as such.
If it was something she could help with, she would be only too happy to do so! For the moment, however, she was content to find a nice rock to rest on for just a moment and look around for someone to chat with. Her pale eyes scanned across the gathered pride members, finally spotting a likely target conversation point, and with a soft sigh she climbed down from the rock she had been resting on, and made her way over to the area she had spotted the blue-gray lioness she had chosen to visit with.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:09 pm
 Tarafa was wandering around the pride, as usual, looking for stories unfolding around her. Her eye fell on a multicolor lioness - the Head Matron - headed straight for her. The Bard had never had any cause to talk to this particular lioness before, and now was as good a time as any to remedy that oversight. "Good day," she offered cheerfully. "How are you?" She wasn't entirely certain why this lioness was apparently determined to talk to her, but given the position, she could hazard a guess. It was a subject she'd successfully avoided for some time - since Uzazi died - and she wasn't really looking forward to discussing it.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:19 pm
"Good day to you as well," Yeye said, smiling. This was probably the part of her job she loved the most - simply talking with others, getting to know them, and spending time with them. "I'm doing well, though today has been a bit busy. And you? Have you been faring well?" She asked. Yes, she did have something of an ultimate goal with this encounter - to find out why Tarafa had never taken another mate, nor mothered cubs - but it was horribly rude to act so bluntly about such a subject.
Besides, there was plenty of time to bring it up. For now it was just a normal conversation, and it would stay that way as long as necessary... despite her burning curiosity over the matter.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:25 pm
"I've been doing well," the blue and grey lioness replied. Normally she was fairly comfortable with conversations like this one, but as she could only think of one reason why the head matchmaker would seek her out, she wasn't really looking forward to when they got there.
"What about you yourself?" she turned the question back on Yeye. "I haven't seen or heard much of you lately, what have you been up to?" That was a legitimate question for the Bard, she always liked to know what people were up to, especially when it ended up sounding good when retold by an expert.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:49 pm
"Oh, nothing of particular note," Yeye said, rolling her shoulders in a casual and comfortable shrug. "My usual duties are simply very time consuming, much more so than they might appear at first."She tilted her head a little, flicking her tail back and forth with a pleasant smile.
"Do you have any new stories that you will be sharing tonight? If so I will be sure to come back after my rounds, though I might anyway," she added, keeping the conversation on pleasant topics for as long as she could. Sometimes she wished she truly could simply offer social calls without any strings attached, but such things had to take a backseat to her duties for the pride.
Not a bad thing, really, but sometimes it did make her visits a little less pleasant than she would like them to be.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:53 pm
"Oh I'm sure I'll share something," Tarafa replied with a smile. "There's an old tale that comes to mind, of the queen's grandfather and a deermouse." The story in question carried no great meaning, but it was always good for a laugh. And proof that Kings were born cubs just like anyone else.
It was probably a good thing that the matchmaker was so busy, as her job was somewhat vital to the pride. Tarafa could only imagine how many matings would have to be researched and arranged once Sliabh's many children grew old enough to have cubs of their own.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 3:14 pm
Yeye smiled brightly. "Oh, I think I remember that story a little. Perhaps I heard it back when I was a cub. I'll be certain to attend, in that case!" It was always nice to relax for a little while and simply listen to a story, without having to mentally run through all of the data that her position required her to remember.
Speaking of her position... she really should get down to her duties, at least a bit. "So, other than in health and in duties, how have you been?" She asked, tilting her head, her expression reassuring and inviting. For all her nosiness, Yeye was very good at keeping her mouth shut on things that had no purpose in being spread around. She needed to know, yes, but she personally took on many cases that she felt deserved the utmost privacy - sometimes, the fewer who knew the reasons behind a pride member's relationships or lack thereof, the better for those involved. Many of them didn't wish to have their name passed around in rumors, after all.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 3:29 pm
"I wouldn't be surprised," she commented brightly. It was a popular story even now, and she was happy to continue telling it to new generations. She wasn't as happy as the matchmaker was clearly starting to steer the conversation, but she didn't want to be rude. And, after all, Yeye had a good base to support having this discussion. Tarafa couldn't deny it.
"I've been trying to convince the ah, less open members of our pride that Mittere is not going to turn and attack us, and that she's given Nawiri her loyalty." The Bard shook her head. "So far, there's a lot that don't seem to be buying it, which is a shame, since we're stuck with each other."
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 3:50 pm
The splotched lioness remained quiet for a moment, her expression thoughtful as she listened to Tarafa speak. "Well, I suppose all you can do is give it time, and work to prove the doubters wrong," she said softly. She knew of Mittere - what kind of head matron would she be if she did not? But truthfully, she wasn't too worried about it all - and besides, her authority lay in the realm of the heart, not matters of security. It wasn't her place to decide that kind of thing.
"Might there be something that I could help you with?" she asked after a moment. It was an open question, because she truly was willing to help with things outside of relationship advice and matchmaking... but it was also the area her job was focused. Thus, the Bard could see the question in whichever light she chose, and if necessary Yeye could back off for now and approach her on this touchy subject another time.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 4:02 pm
"Yeah, time is the best cure for anything and everything," Tarafa agreed. That and the shorter-than-most-prides lifespan of the Kitwana'antara. Not that she truly wanted it to come to that, but it'd do in a pinch. The Bard mentally shook her head and told herself that hoping for someone's death was not the way to do things.
"I don't know," she answered honestly. There was no way in hell she was going to broach the subject she suspected the matchmaker was working her way towards. She'd make Yeye work for that one. Tarafa gave a rueful snort. It seemed Mittere was rubbing off on her.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 6:00 pm
Yeye nodded quietly. She had her duties to fulfill, truly she did, but neither did she want to force someone to talk about something they felt very uncomfortable about. There simply was no way to make this easier for either of them, was there? Sighing a little, cheer knocked down a peg or two, she murmured softly. "Would that I could simply visit with no other motivation," before turning a much more solemn gaze onto the other lioness.
"You know that one of the reasons I'm speaking with you now is to find out why you have never taken a mate, nor had cubs." Her gaze softened a little and she managed a smaller, but still gentle smile. "I'm not here to judge you for not taking a mate - merely to help you with what you may need. And whatever your reasons are will go no further than myself, should you wish it." She wanted to invite her to an area more private, but she would do that only if Tarafa was willing to talk. She could push a little, yes, but she wouldn't force the issue.
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 6:22 pm
Tarafa winced. That was not a particularly subtle change of topic. "We...weren't exactly mates," she said softly. "We were young and betrothed and we were friends." The older lioness fell silent, remembering for a few long moments.
"I have no interest in taking any mate," she said at last. She considered elaborating on that, telling Yeye that she had no interest at all in any male, that she would never care to take a mate.
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:15 pm
"I understand," Yeye said quietly. She would not press for reasons, not unless Tarafa wished to provide them. However, as a matchmaker she still had to ensure the pride's future, so she moved on to the next topic. "What of cubs? I am not saying this to push you into a mating - merely asking if you wish to remain cubless as well, or if you desire them." Her gaze was apologetic - with a little luck, this portion of their conversation would be over soon and they could move on to a less unpleasant topic.
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Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:30 pm
Tarafa blinked. This conversation was getting more awkward and uncomfortable by the moment. "I...hadn't thought about cubs much," she admitted quietly, all trace of her normal exuberant personality gone for the time being.
The blue and grey lioness was quiet, considering the idea. "I suppose I wouldn't mind cubs at some point - for the good of the pride," she added. If so many children died, it behooved those who had no progeny to at least try to assist with the continuation of the Kitwana'antara.
Or so she told herself. There was more to it that she was only just beginning to consider, such as not wanting to raise those cubs by herself...
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:00 pm
Yeye nodded, tilting her head as she listened. Finally, she felt a response was appropriate to reply again. "Well, it's nothing that you have to decide on immediately," she said, keeping her voice gentle. "Just something to think over." Going quiet for another moment, she looked around to get a better judge of the time, and smiled, her posture shifting subtly to one more relaxed and less businesslike.
"As long as I'm here, is there anything of particular interest that's happened to you of late? Have you seen anything that isn't quite story-worthy, but interesting all the same?"
She wasn't working now - this was simply Yeye's natural nosiness acting up before she returned to her duties. She just loved conversation, and learning what everyone was doing
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