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Post by Warin Ilmatar on Oct 4, 2017 19:25:16 GMT
Warin was quite content to lay there for a minute, though he nodded a slightly delayed response to Connor's critique. He'd have to remember that. "I'm out of practice." He grunted, then slowly sat up, feeling like he could probably do that without throwing up. He was a little surprised by the offered hand but took it none-the-less with a grin that was only a little tempered by the after effects of the blow. "Warin Ilmatar-"
Before he could get any farther, Alvina came onto the trail in all her angry glory. She looked positively <i>murderous</i> and Warin hesitated, uneasy. But he wasn't a wolf, who gave way in the face of an alpha's rage and accepted their punishment tail tucked. Instead he tilted his head a little to the side, still smiling a little, and met her eyes squarely. "Philisophical disagreement."
It really wasn't smart to bait her. But his spirits were remarkably good. He was content with how he'd fared and he'd decided that the Immortal was an honorable enough sort of man. That he truly had good intentions when he'd done what was necessary at the ball. He shot a sidelong glance at Connor. "We'll have to do that again sometime though."
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Commander of the Immortal Army
Bisexual, Prefers Women.
Single.
Immortal
Authored by Rhys.
Offline.
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Post by Connor Lachesis on Oct 4, 2017 19:48:57 GMT
Her hackles were raised, every hair on her body standing on end as she regarded the pair. And then, as if he were intending to express his defiance, came Warin’s unbothered response and square look in her eyes. He did not avert his gaze, did not bow his head as others did. It was, in that setting with so many Weres watching, a haughty challenge to her authority. Her eyes narrowed, her voice projecting not just to Warin though she clearly sought to address him. Go. Now. Her lips peeled back from her teeth. Wait for me in the Hall.
And then came Connor’s words. He’d met Warin’s sidelong glance with a nod, before casting her a flat, unamused look. “It’s not my fault that I’ve been attacked coming to visit twice now. At least this one didn't use his teeth.” He gestured vaguely with his thumb toward Warin.
Seething, white-hot rage gave way to picturesque calm. The prospect of them getting along was not one she liked. Pacing forward, her form melted back into that of a nude woman – one who quickly closed the distance between she and the Immortal. Despite the imposing contrast, he being much taller, clothed, and armed, while she stood bare and vulnerable, the Alpha met his nerve. Her head cocked slightly, a brow arching. “Those are big words considering none of your people know you came here, do they? Or shall we also consider that you’re only here because you want something from me?”
His brows arched smoothly, some silent exchange passing between them, before he took a step back and held out his hands. “Your beasts are scaring my mare.” He wouldn’t deny it; he’d grant her the small victory.
"As if a swan were scaring her." She turned her head, a hand settling lightly on her hip as she regarded those lingering nearby. “Everyone’s dismissed. Go.”
A look of surprise crossed Connor's features, his gaze shifting from Alvina as he regarded Warin.
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Post by Warin Ilmatar on Oct 4, 2017 20:06:54 GMT
It was a defiance he was willing to pay for. Let her remember that he chose to obey her. Regardless of how he felt for her, he also wouldn't be taken for granted and he would do what he felt was right. He would also accept the imminent punishment because he understood the necessity but for him it had been important that this happen. The fact that it hadn't been a duel of live steel had both been a nod to the fact that Alvina harbored him no apparent ill will and that he was supposed to be allowed to come. At the same time, it wasn't as though Connor had announced his visit, sent word he was coming. They had not explicitly been told to watch for him.
He had taken a step forward, to go as he'd been told, when Alvina strode forward and shifted as she came. If he looked a little startled and quickly glanced away, it could have been explained easily enough. As she and Connor spoke, he slipped out of his shirt and held it out to her in mute offering. When Connor's eyes slid to him though, his expression turned into a grin at the man's look of surprise. He let the beast rise in him, just enough to let the wide dark pupils and brilliant scarlet iris of the swan fill his eyes before he pushed it back.
He waited patiently for Alvina to either take the offered shirt or ignore it, then he'd follow the rest of the disappearing werebeasts back to the compound and the Hall, to await her judgement. The cinnamon wolf who had been his partner lingered, eyes sharp as though he intended to make sure Warin went back as he'd been told.
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Commander of the Immortal Army
Bisexual, Prefers Women.
Single.
Immortal
Authored by Rhys.
Offline.
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Post by Connor Lachesis on Oct 4, 2017 20:27:15 GMT
Their social structure only held when all parties cooperated with one another. Alvina was not one to rule with totalitarian force of a dictator. On the contrary, she accepted discourse and welcomed disagreement, when it was launched in the appropriate time and place. After all, they had a plethora of resources between them all. With so many having been invited into the pack from diverse backgrounds, though, mutual respect was a requisite before all else. In her eyes, that was not something Warin had granted. Perhaps a different attitude might’ve acted as a balm to sooth her anger, following his disregard for the rule. But as it were…
Meanwhile, Connor blinked as he regarded the man – seeming more surprised than anything. Warin was a contradiction among her pack, something he didn’t even think Alvina would’ve taken amongst her ranks. Slowly, a small smirk found its way across his lips.
Meanwhile, Alvina paused as Warin offered the article of clothing. Her gaze flicked to his as he continued holding the fabric. Perhaps that was a semblance of an acknowledgement, even if she suspected the motivation was different.
She wanted nothing of it right then.
And so, Alvina did not shake her head, did not verbally utter a syllable; instead, her gaze lingered on his with the same challenge he’d put forth only moments before. No. The thought was communicated as clearly as if she’d spoken it, before she strode a few steps forward, joining Connor closer to his mare.
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Post by Warin Ilmatar on Oct 4, 2017 20:39:33 GMT
This time when she met his eyes, he only held hers for a moment before he let his gaze drop. He gave a one-shouldered shrug and turned to go without a word, accepting her choice. Logan turned to trot at his heels. As they left the trail to strike towards the sanctuary along a short cut, Warin glanced down at him and smiled.
"You did right, kid." The cinnamon wolf's ears pricked a little, and his gait became easier. They passed the rest of the walk in easy silence. He disappeared, likely to change, as they came to the clearing. Warin had pulled his shirt back on and he strolled to the hall, seemingly unconcerned. Word of what had happened had passed rapidly from ear to ear though and he got a couple of displeased looks and a few worried ones. As he had a hundred times before in a different time and place, he ignored them. Instead he made for the hall for all the world as if he wanted to be there, hands tucked into his pockets. There he waited, walking a slow circuit that looked a little less anxious than pacing though that was absolutely what he was doing.
In the aftermath, he felt a little chagrined. He shouldn't have challenged her like that, in front of the pack who had accompanied her and and an outsider. He blew out a breath in a soft huff, running a hand through his hair. He didn't regret the fight, no, but his reaction afterward had been bad. But he'd still been up on adrenaline and hadn't really thought it through.
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Alpha of the Blood Rose Pack
Heterosexual .
Widowed.
Werebeast
Authored by Rhys.
Offline.
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Alvina
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Post by Alvina on Oct 4, 2017 20:54:09 GMT
He would wait for forty minutes or so, before Alvina made her way back up the mountain to their compound. Speaking with Connor, despite his flippant attitude, had left her a little more curious than expected. He would be put up for the night, his horse secured, at one of their smaller outposts away from the heart of the territory. More discussion would be needed, and she did want to grant him a chance to see Branwen… if the younger wolf showed up. She’d been intensely sporadic, resistant to learning, and always seemed critical of her progress. It was if she’d viewed herself as beaten, her fate as inevitable, from the time she’d attacked the humans and encountered the Immortal Commander.
None of those thoughts were on her mind, however, as she finally swept into the hall. Having shed her fur in favor of skin once more, she’d taken only a brief opportunity to retrieve clothing: one of her normal, thin dresses, and woolen wrap. Her hair was messy, feet smudged with dirt, as she opened and closed the door behind her. She did not seek Warin out, fully expecting him to join her as she positioned herself in her usual position, sitting on the raised platform.
When he appeared, she wrapped her arms around herself. The friendly traces of their playful nudges, their jests, their banter, were replaced in favor of a stonier look as she regarded him. “So, Warin. Would you like the responsibility of running this place now? That seems to be what you wanted judging by that display outside.” Alvina sat back, crossing a leg. “Had that not been Connor, what would you have done?”
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Post by Warin Ilmatar on Oct 4, 2017 21:06:36 GMT
Warin did join her when she took her normal place, though he did not go to sit on the raised platform. Instead he stayed standing, hands clasped behind his back. He didn't press to close the distance between them. He knew the time and place for such things was not now. Her words, however, brought a slight huff, and yet he didn't immediately speak, waiting for her to finish.
"Had it not been Connor, I would have followed our normal procedure on patrol." He spoke clearly, not shrinking from the truth. He did not, however, challenge her in body language this time. Though his head was not bowed and he did not look particularly ashamed, he only met her gaze briefly to show her that she had his attention before his eyes fell to study the platform directly in front of her.
"I won't apologize for that, though I understand it was against your word and wishes." There was a heartbeat's pause, not really long enough to let her think he was done. "I <i>will</i> apologize for how I acted towards you afterwards. It was out of line and there is no excuse for it."
That was really all he had to say for himself.
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Alpha of the Blood Rose Pack
Heterosexual .
Widowed.
Werebeast
Authored by Rhys.
Offline.
113 posts made.
0 likes.
Alvina
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Post by Alvina on Oct 4, 2017 21:28:22 GMT
She felt a semblance of satisfaction for the way he handled this interaction, though she didn’t let it reflect in her face right away. Silence stretched on from her, too, as she continued to allow him the time to speak. Waiting for him to reach a point of finishing, much in the way he had for her. Her hands slowly shifted, resting instead on her knee as she seemed to consider. “I won’t claim understand why fighting him was so important.” Protecting her honor? Proving a point? She could speculate all day. “And for the apology… Prove it with your action. Don’t do that to me again, in front of everyone.”
Alvina continued speaking, smoothly. “You know why those procedures are in place. I think you understand that if you died without anyone else knowing what was going on during a patrol, it puts everyone here in jeopardy.” Everyone, including the young and the elderly, who couldn’t so easily defend themselves. “I can’t just let your action go. I can’t… set that precedent for that pack because of… personal interests.” She almost, almost stumbled over the words. It had been days since he’d put his intentions forward, offered her the flower, and she was still deciding what to do about it. Wetting her lips with her tongue, her eyes lowered. “Others will take your patrols for the next week. I want you tearing down and fixing rooves, or working on latrines for that time. Alright?”
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Post by Warin Ilmatar on Oct 4, 2017 21:37:14 GMT
"I won't." It held the weight of promise, immediately on the heels of her statement. Not an easy promise or a flippant one, but resolute. He could have made any number of arguments against what she said- that he knew who it was, that he trusted his patrol partner to do his part, etcetera. But he knew that wasn't the point. So he bowed his head in acknowledgement of the harm his recklessness could have caused, accepting her point in silence.
...personal interests.
His ears caught the ever so slight hesitation and his head lifted, eyes flicking up to look at her from under his lashed. A spark of humor flared in them, a smile tugging at his lips no matter how serious he tried to appear. To him it sounded like an admission that he was at least still under consideration, and it was quite enough to bring his good humor back. And his punishment was about what he expected.
"Yes ma'am." Rooves and latrines were hard work- and latrines foul- but it was necessary. He'd take it in stride and do it with similar good humor and dutiful attention as he did most things.
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