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 Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:39 pm
 Gaved was not a happy lion. He found Dalla a bigger den and ordered Stygg to move his things into it. He sat through the feast, miserable as it was, and tried to keep a smile plastered on his face. It was difficult. The knowledge that he had to sit and eat and make nice with his horrid new wife and his (correction, THEIR) family had ruined the feast from the start. Try as he might, no matter how many berries Gaved chowed down he never got righteously snockered. He hardly felt the effects at all, in fact. He must be sweating the alcohol out just as quickly as he consumed it. Sweating it out into his newly well-groomed mane, which Dalla had insisted on. And now he was leading his blushing bride back to their new den for what was sure to be a hellish night. Gaved drew up to the entrance and stopped short. "Well. This is it," Gaved said sullenly, waving a paw vaguely at the den. "Get on in."
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:26 pm
 Had Dalla been a brutish, vengeful b***h, she might've snorted at him, perhaps lifted a paw - maybe she would have even gone so far as to strike her new husband across his hideous face when he spoke to her like she was a mere belonging, like she was a thrall. However, Dalla was a lady, a lady that refused to publicly be thought of as anything less than a lady. She'd seen the pitying looks she'd gotten from Ulrika - the lucky lowborn b***h that had gotten a decent lion for a husband. The sad looks that Brynja had given her, Lena - even Skada. It left a sour taste in her mouth, but this would be her lot in life. She'd accepted that. She was wed now, well and true. The instant that they were both in the den, Dalla spun around, eyes spitting fire. "Get on in?!" Her voice was trembling. "Is that how you speak to your wife, Gaved?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:57 pm
Oh boy, now it would begin. He had known she would be an uppity b***h in private, he had known it.
Gaved minced back from her, his lip curled back in a silent snarl. He didn't know what to do at this point. Was he supposed to smack her to shut her up? Was he supposed to apologize? He didn't know how to deal with a wife.
He opened his mouth, attempting to form the words of an apology and roar at the same time. The result was a sputtering cough. Gaved hesitated for a moment to clear his thoughts.
"How should I speak to you, then?" Gaved asked finally. "Surely you don't want me to speak to you like a -- a flowery bard."
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:21 pm
Dalla's tail was the only outward sign of annoyance she gave (aside from the snapping aquamarine of her eyes, of course) and she seemed more than a little mollified by his question. Perhaps she could train him into being a proper husband.
Yes, right, and tomorrow night she would sprout wings and fly with the Gods.
Moving around the perimeter of their den, Dalla paused now and again to brush a paw over this piece of shell, that bit of leather; her crafting supplies were so precious to her, and it had been good of Gaved to have them moved.
She supposed.
"With respect," Dalla finally replied, sounding marginally less miffed than she had moments before.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:32 pm
Gaved watched his wife with narrowed eyes. It annoyed him how she was walking around the place like she owned it ... which she sort of did, come to think of it. At least he was somewhat used to lionesses invading his private space since Stygg's arrival. And this den was large enough for the three of them. He would have some breathing room.
"I didn't want a wife, not even for ... breeding ... more cubs of the old blood," Gaved grumbled. "If I had my way, I'd take you and be done with it." He snorted. That would be so much easier. So blessedly easy. Unfortunately Thorgrim would not be happy if Gaved sired illegitimate cubs on Dalla and got rid of her, even if they were properly bred. Marriage, of all things, was necessary. "But now I'm stuck with you, wife." The word tasted foul in his mouth. He lashed his own tail, angry that Dalla now had the power over him to still his urges and desires.
"How do I get you to be meek and sweet in private, wife? I'm not fond of your tongue."
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:23 am
Dalla was doing her best to ignore her husband - Gods, the word was so bitter and grotesque on her tongue - all the while pretending to listen. Okay, no, she was really listening to each word that he spoke, and it did not take her long to come to a very slow, sad realization.
Neither of them had wanted this relationship that had been forced onto them. She certainly didn't, and while she was no foolish lioness, part of her felt almost bad for Gaved.
Almost.
"Gaved," she began, suddenly sounding exhausted. Dalla found a patch of soft dirt and swirled her paw about, "Are you truly such a rancid beast, or is there a part of you that yearns to be gentle and decent in the privacy of your own den?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:55 pm
Rancid beast indeed. Gaved had never wanted to be gentle or decent (the words sounded suspiciously feminine), but Dalla's comment rankled just the same. He scowled at her, beginning to feel truly upset. What had he done to deserve being stuck with such a lioness? She clearly didn't like him and had no intention of trying. Gaved didn't like her either, but he felt instinctively that wives were supposed to love their husbands. Weren't they? Wasn't it their job? Weren't they supposed to be sweet and agreeable?!
He couldn't stand Dalla, and he couldn't think of a way to silence her that wouldn't have her go running to the Lawspeakers (or worse, his family) to complain.
With a sigh of resignation, Gaved sat down heavily. "I'll have no privacy now that you're here," he snarled, but his heart really wasn't in it. All he could do to show his dominance over Dalla was bicker with her. Unfortunately she didn't seem intimidated by it at all, the damnable beast. It had only been hours but it seemed that he had been married for a thousand years. It was going to be a long, miserable road ahead if he couldn't bring Dalla to heel, but he didn't have any idea how to do it! Going the other way, and bowing himself to Dalla's wishes instead, was unthinkable.
"Are you truly such a b***h, or is there part of you that yearns to be a sweet and obedient wife?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:48 am
A flash of utter rage took control of her features for a mere moment before she schooled her expression into something more ladylike. Something more wifely. Something completely opposite of the true emotions that were rippling through her at this very moment in time.
"We both know neither of us wanted this."
No, she couldn't help but think of Don and his sweet demeanor, and at that moment she yearned that she were wed to him instead. Though he was a near stranger... well, it would be preferable to living with the beast she was now wed to.
"Is it too much to ask that you put your sour attitude aside - and in return, I shall do the same."
Uuuuuuugh.
"I.." ugh ugh ugh, "have a gift for you."
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:54 am
Gaved opened his mouth to shout at her, but halted himself just in time. She had finally said something to him that was only slightly insulting, and he supposed he should reward that. Like training a pet, or something. Gods.
"I do not have a sour attitude," Gaved said stiffly, despite all evidence to the contrary, "But I will try to be more agreeable to you."
He wasn't sure how he felt about getting a gift from Dalla. His heart wasn't exactly melted. For one thing, it made him feel vaguely guilty about not getting her a gift, which was aggravating. For another...
"You haven't had Brynja curse it, have you?" Gaved asked suspiciously. It seemed like the kind of thing she would do.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:11 am
Dalla's bright eyes widened at his comment about his not-having-a-sour-attitude, but she said nothing to refute it. She was tired of arguing, in truth, and while she might no like where her life was right now - or the fact that she'd had no choice in the matter - Dalla truly did not want to live the rest of her life fueled by hate.
"Of course I haven't," Dalla said stiffly as she pushed a turtle's shell aside and withdrew a sturdy looking wooden cuff. There were engravings along the surface, beautifully crafted.
"I made this. For you," she added, gesturing at it with a paw.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:22 am
"Hmph," said Gaved, reaching out a paw for the cuff. If she really hadn't cursed it, it looked ... nice. Lovely was not an adjective Gaved typically used, but it was definitely nice. Now he felt even more lost. He had taken such things before on raids, but no one outside of his immediate family had ever given him such a gift.
What was he supposed to do now, coo over it?
"Thank you," Gaved said gruffly. He was not at home with pleasantries, and the words felt awkward in his mouth.
He couldn't very well shout at her for making him feel guilty, so he would have to fix that. "Our wedding was so quick I did not have time to get you a proper betrothal gift. I will have to find one quickly," Gaved said. Actually, he had been too busy feeling sorry for himself and chasing what tail he could to bother with finding Dalla a gift, but it occurred to him that saying so would probably set Dalla off again.
"What sort of gift do you want, wife?" Hopefully something he could beat and drag back to the den. Hopefully she wouldn't set him some horrid task like finding rare tree bark and powdered eagle teeth for a craft project.
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:02 am
Dalla eased slightly when he thanked her. It all felt forced, but it was better that screeching and hissing at one another. The evening would progress into unpleasantness on its own, there was no need to rush it along. In fact, she was rather surprised when he offered to bring her a betrothal gift. It was likely obvious in her pale, vibrant eyes when she turned to stare at him fully, mouth open slightly.
"I.. ah, I hadn't thought of it. Perhaps a female thrall so that I do not have to ah. Use Stygg. She is kept busy enough."
Her tone was soft, moderate, all bitterness gone - for the time being.
"A large one. I am not bulky in stature, so having someone around that could do all of my heavy lifting would be nice - I would hate to have to bother you over it, husband."
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:41 am
Dalla seemed almost mild-mannered. It was refreshing. She acted dainty and ladylike in public, but in private she was full of withering scorn for him. This was an interesting change of pace.
Pissed lioness + gifts = happy lioness. Duly noted.
As much as the thought of having to bribe his wife annoyed him, if gifts would keep his new wife from ripping his face off he would gladly scour the savannah for presents.
Gaved lashed his tail, considering her request. With luck, he should be able to bag a thrall for her. A big strong lioness might take some time though. He would have to start prowling the borders immediately. Lately all the thralls coming in had been dainty little things like cheetahs and hyenas.
"Are you sure you don't want a male?" Gaved asked cautiously, keeping his tone as pleasant as possible. "A male might be, er, stronger." He felt a bit uncomfortable with dragging in a female anything these days. Dalla would probably assume that he tasted the thrall's charms out on the borders and start bitching at him about it. AGAIN. It was embarrassing enough to be heckled about Stygg.
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:46 am
Dalla gave Gaved a strange look.
"If you find a male you would trust me to be around," her voice held a tinge of venom, "then a male would suffice."
Honestly. She'd heard of the way he berated his thrall, accusing Stygg of cheating on him with this lion or the other. The last thing she wanted was to open that particular door in their relationship. They were on shaky, shaky ground as it was; there was no need to introduce yet another issue.
Maybe it was a test. Maybe he was trying to trick her. She couldn't be sure - all she knew was that she didn't have the interest nor the strength in playing yet another power game with him. Not tonight. Not when there was still one last issue to tend to. A distasteful one, yes, but necessary.
She daintily cleared her throat.
"Your father expects cubs," she started, hesitantly.
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:53 am
Oh for the love of -- really? Really? Here he was just being nice, trying to be considerate, but she was getting snippy again and he could hear that bite in her voice.
All of a sudden his head hurt terribly. He was tired of trying to understand Dalla, tired of trying to deal with her. Shouting and arguing got him nowhere, and just when he thought he was making some progress at coming to an understanding with her she started getting wound up all over again. Dalla was impossible.
Gaved sighed and sulked off to a corner of the den that would do for sleeping. He didn't want anything more to do with Dalla or his husbandly duties. He certainly did not want to attempt to sire any cubs on her tonight. As pretty as Dalla was, his interest in her as a playmate was rapidly approaching zero. "He can wait." Gaved flopped down and put a paw over his eyes, wishing Dalla would disappear.
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