Daska found it simpler to stick to himself. Things were less complicated that way. Less questions to answer, fewer excuses to make in regards to the lifestyle he preferred to live. His brothers were the only lions in the pride who truly understood, and he liked it that way. Sometimes it felt like their oddities were the only things that kept them safe from overly-eager matchmakers in the pride. Daska was not keen on being married. He preferred his freedom, and he preferred the company of his brothers over that of anyone else in the pride.
It was the way it had always been, and it was the way that it would continue to be.
However, he did have old friends in the pride, friends he trusted beyond a shadow of a doubt. One such friend - a female, surprisingly enough - found it simple to look past the strange behaviors that Daska and his brothers embraced. Probably because she knew that there was no attraction between the two of them, and so she was able to let down her guard - and he was able to let down his guard, as well, without worry that she might judge him for the things he did in the sanctity of his own den.
That, and she was also an ex-Captain. There was something to be said for that. They'd called her Mother Captain behind her back, and even sometimes to her face. She'd taken it all in good humor. Her band of Reavers had all be female - and rumors had flown that perhaps Skada was fond of the female persuasion.
That illusion had been shattered when different rumors had flown about a secret escapade between herself and the Captain Thorgrim's son, Gaved.
So much had changed, but through it all she had been a friend and a confidante, though much time passed between their scarce talks. Daska was far too fond of keeping to himself and his brothers to attempt much more than sporadic talks.
"Skada," he called to her as he approached. "It has been too long since we have talked."
The lioness turned, smiled, shook her head.
"Daska. I hear you've been terrorizing the female populace - or perhaps it was your brother - or even your other brother."
He smiled, though he stopped before drawing up too close. He didn't like physical contact, and he tended to avoid it at all costs. Even though Skada was a friend, he was still a bit standoffish.
"They do not have as much tact as I do," Daska murmured softly, humorously. Perhaps he was not as fantastic a Dom as his brothers, but Daska was fine with that. "In fact, I am not so certain that they have any tact."
Skada chuckled softly, shaking her head as she slowly moved along. Her leg ached today, and so her pace was steady and yet unhurried. Daska took up alongside of her - but not too close - while sending a worried glance down at her foot. He said nothing: there might have been a time where he would have asked how it was feeling, but she'd lashed out at him plenty of times. He'd learned his lesson. The lawspeaker did not like to be coddled.
"I am not so certain that any of you have any tact whatsoever - and I have heard that you have caused an uproar with an outlander family. They are quite concerned with … I forget her name. Long and foreign." Skada paused, working the kinks out of her ankle before continuing onward. It ached at any given time - nothing in particular would cause pain to flare up. Sometimes it was a constant pain, and other times it was merely a dull, dull ache.
"Ahh. Alouette." Daska shrugged, glancing at Skada out of the corner of his eyes. "She .. I am not sure. She has adapted well to us, I think - but part of me believes she is far too needy for Slips, and … well." He shrugged again. "She is suited to us, that is what matters. We are very particular about our subs. I prefer her attention, but I do not think that we all do."
"Her friend is distraught over the entire situation."
"Her cousin, a male, spoke with me most recently. An odd bunch. I hear they hail from a pride that has .. I do not think they call them wives, there."
"Banu."
"An odd phrase."
Skada grinned. "We do not use the simplest terms here. I have spent far too much time familiarizing outlanders with our phrasing. It is not an easy language to learn. Most of the outlanders do not seem so bright, either, so it is a constant, uphill battle to teach them our ways." Skada chuckled. "Ah, well. It is not your trouble to worry over, I suppose."
Daska grunted. "Outlanders."
His disgruntled tone had Skada laughing. "Indeed. Outlanders."
Daska was silent for a short time before he glanced over at her again as they walked.
"I was shocked to hear of Aesir's fall."
Skada snorted. "You shouldn't have been shocked. I am not pleased by the turn of events, but I am no longer a Captain." It was probably a good thing, too, that she was not the Captain she had once been. She had not minded Aesir - it was during his reign as Warlord that she had risen to the rank of Captain - and fallen.
Unpleasant thoughts.
"We shall see how this Njal is. I know he associates with Thorgrim, which does not surprise me. That old b*****d makes a decent puppetmaster, I suppose."
"I suppose. It makes no difference to me, nor to the females I associate with."
Skada snorted again, louder this time.
"Yes, well. I know that it makes a difference to others. That is the most troubling part."
They drew up to Skada's den, and she flashed Daska a small smile.
"Thank you for the unintended escort, Daska. It was … well. It was nice to catch up with you."
Daska nodded. "I will see you soon, Skada."
"Assuredly. Have a pleasant evening, and do stay out of trouble."
Daska chuckled as he walked away, headed back to his own den.
WC: 1029
