Outwardly, he met her story with only mild interest, but Kalahari's ears were keen. There was something being mulled over in that thick skull of his, though she wasn't entirely sure what. Rival prides, maybe? It could have just been that he was amused at the idea of another king losing a claim in such an undignified fashion, though she also wasn't entirely surprised when the orange-eyed male used it as an opportunity to offer his own home as "shelter". She was about to answer that, when the full impact of what he said finally hit, and her eyes widened. "Your cous--oh, Sekhmet's snot," she groaned, craning her head back in exasperation. "Isn't that just my luck..." Of course, she had to find herself stuck waiting out a rainstorm with a relative of that bastard.

Fortunately, though, it didn't seem like it was the sort of family where a slight against one was a slight against all. In fact, he had seemed greatly entertained at the idea of taking her in where Vine had failed.

For a few long moments, Kalahari made a show of thinking it over, and when she looked back to him, her eyes were hooded, a glint of thoughtfulness shining in their azure depths. "Mmh. You do have a point, I suppose," she murmured, rising to her feet. "He was mad as hell the last time I saw him. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't hesitate to try and rip my throat out if he ever caught me alone." The lioness's body language had changed, seeming less sure of herself, more...receptive. She dipped her chin demurely as she padded towards him. "You'd keep me safe then, wouldn't you?" she asked as she drew closer, her eyes soft and searching.

"...And I would owe you for it, wouldn't I?" All of a sudden, there was an edge to her sultry murmurs, growing stronger with each word. Her doe-eyed expression was now tainted with contempt. "Right? You could hold it over me, wring 'favors' out of me, then threaten to turn me over to him if I ever stepped out of line." By the end, she was practically up in his face, the act completely dropped in favor of fang-tips revealed below drawn lips and tail lashing against her hocks.

"Honestly," she hissed in digust, "how naive do you think I am?"

@Gwyn

code by corvus

Honestly? He hadn't been thinking of such things beyond annoying his cousin; truth be told such devious plots were too much effort. Could result in too much friendly fire and splatter damage all around. He had children and a wife to think of, so while, perhaps when he had less... responsibility and experience he might have plotted so. Or perhaps not; Gwyn always had a touch of slothness to him so even then...

Even then he may not have come up with the sort of plan she suggested or implemented it.

As it was, her first reaction had him rumbling out a dark chuckle. Sekhmet's snot was a new one. Watched her as she seemed to think it over, curious as to whether or not she would take him up on his offer. Oh and now, hmm, that body language was promising, though, it seemed quite sudden. Brute eyes her, appreciating it, but not acting on it. Simply waiting, watching, not knowing her well enough to know how true she was or if she was lying. So the Gargoyle is a patient predator, balefire eyes seeing all but offering very little in return.

Brows rose slightly at her observation. Indeed, that did sound like something that one of his kin would do, though, not he. He much rather do other things with women thank you. Would be a waste of fierceness, of a mind clever enough to outwit his cousin to end it. "He and his pitifully small pride would not be able to hold a candle to me and mine." he observes, not outwardly promising protection, but announcing that he could do what she asks. However, something has tipped him off to the lie in her body, her words, he isn't sure what. So he doesn't offer her more than that, and doesn't jump when she suddenly changes her tune. Oh no, he matches her glare, her challenge, her disgust with a calm impassive gaze. Unflappable.

Another laugh, this one darker still, rumbles betwixt his lips. Amused and flattered by her assessment of his cunning mind, of his nature, but amused because he is less than inclined to act upon it. As stated earlier, he had children and a mate and a pride to care for. Such things would put them in danger. "As much as your assessment of my nature and my mind flatters me, no, I would not hold it over your head, a Guillotine to ensure your good behavior" he begins, rising for no one looms over the Beast and is not challenged with one in return. Drawing himself to his full height he assesses her, gaze sharpening, pinning her. "Nor do I think you are Naïve. Any who can outsmart my kin is worth a closer look." he continues, studying her as if she were a bug beneath his microscope. Attempting to figure out what made her tick. "I have my children and my wife to think of. So as much fun as what you suggest might be, I do not wish the fallout to splatter upon them. The offer stands. Join me for your safety and to piss off my kin for the sake of both our amusements." he finishes, shrugging. She could believe him, or not, but truth be told, he would like a woman of her caliber in his ranks. Perhaps in time, in his bed, if she were receptive to such things. Why not? @Kalahari

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In truth, she hadn't been entirely sure what to expect when she answered him so rudely. Perhaps violence, if he was anything like his cousin, in which case, Kalahari had been prepared to leap backwards, clear of an attempted swipe or lunge. Instead, he only chuckled, seemingly amused by her shrewdness. The nomad's tawny form tensed slightly, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. Even when he confessed that he hadn't been plotting that far ahead, she didn't lower her guard. Did she really believe that? Maybe he was just very, very good at playing the role, or maybe he really was that straightforward. When he slowly rose to his feet, she felt for a moment that her suspicions might have been vindicated, and let out a brief, quiet growl of warning, but there was no attack forthcoming. Even so, there was a clear message in the way he held his considerable bulk now, dwarfing her. She held both her ground and her nerve, refusing to let him cow her into breaking her gaze.

The woman's jaw tightened slightly, as she debated whether or not he was being truthful, and whether or not he had really thought her gullible enough to be swayed into following him by the promise of protection. Both felines were eyeing eachother intently now. She was searching him for signs of deception, while he seemed to be regarding her with an analytical curiosity that made her fur prickle all the more.

Eventually, she once again let out a huff that seemed to release the tension she had been holding within herself. Her posture relaxed, claws no longer gripping the shells and pebbles underfoot as tightly. "With all due respect," she said quietly as she stepped back, with a tone that suggested not much respect was due at all, "I think I'll have to decline for now. I've been fending for myself for a full year, and if Vine's numbers really are so few, then I should be fine as long as I give his territory a wide berth. Not that I would want to go anywhere near a mire, anyway." She would need to be careful if she ever dared wander into the eastern jungles, but there were ways of concealing one's scent and hiding evidence of passage. "If your mate and cubs really are so important to you, then perhaps you ought to be spending time with them, rather than letting your eyes roam over nomadic women."

@Gwyn

code by corvus

Suspicious thing wasn't she? Shrewd, paranoid but in many ways he could understand, particularly after his wife's explanation about being female. Still, it only amused him more; to be thought such a terrible threat was oh so flattering. He watched her body relay her thoughts, stiffening, eyes narrowing, considering. The beast revealed nary a thing but the amusement that already lingered. Even at the growl he was unmoved, waiting it out. Waiting for her to decide what she would do; he was curious, and thus far it hadn't killed this cat.

She huffed, relaxing, and he let a smirk touch his lips, signaling his approval. The smile faded and his gaze sharpened at the "with all due respect". He had thought they had an understanding, but apparently not if she was inclined to offer such things. Now that, was a surefire way to irritate him. Despite her previous behavior more than enough for many others, it was the hint of disrespect that annoyed him more. Still, he wasn't inclined to offer violence quite yet, so long as she marked his irritation and backtracked a bit, or at the very least didn't add fuel to the fire. "Pity. Though, I do agree on your opinion of the Mire." he rumbles, tones still relatively neutral. Her next words earn a smirk touching his mask once again. His eyes rove her just because it would likely irk her, and because well, it was Gwyn. "I'm not great with children as young as they are. A bit, breakable for one as large as myself. Besides, my mate and I both take multiple partners so roaming with others is par the course." he rumbles, taking a step to steal back the distance she had created. A challenge, teasing, wicked, testing the waters. Seeing if she would play with him; it would be a welcome distraction from their previous animosity.

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His excuse that he was too big to be safe around his children received a quiet scoff. In many traditional prides, it was the male who cared for the cubs while his wives went out to hunt. Of her own father, she could remember little, but the memories that did remain were ones of powerful, yet gentle paws, and a cloud-spun mane she had loved to snuggle into as a babe. She wouldn't bother to criticize him for being a deadbeat dad--at least not aloud. Nor did his apparent polygamy bother her, among their kind keeping to a single mate was often the exception, rather than the norm.

When he closed the distance she just tried to create, however, there was a suggestive amusement in his tone. Was he...coming on to her? Sharp-tongued though she might have been, she had known males like him in her natal pride, who were all honeyed words and flirtatious smiles until they were actually turned down. Alarm flitted through her eyes and she very nearly took another step back, before she recovered her nerve and raised her chin in challenge of her own. She was her own lioness now, and she wouldn't allow others to intimidate her any more.

"And I suppose you think you're all that, that you could seduce any woman you come across," she mused. Kalahari set her head to the side in pondering, a smirk on her lips. "Do help me understand: is it that you're such a poor flirt, that you think that barging into a stranger's rest and shaking rainwater all over her is a good way to introduce yourself?" Had he forgotten that their initial encounter had been a rather rocky one? "Or do I look like I have such low standards that I would lift my tail for the first male to croon sweet nothings to me? Because if that's the case, then I would be fairly insulted."

@Gwyn

code by corvus

Perhaps that was the case in her pride, but for the Casimir? Child rearing of the smallest children was left to the mothers; he didn't really step in hardcore until they were around 5-6 months, big enough to handle roughhousing and the lessons in battle he insisted teaching. He narrowed his eyes slightly at her scoff, but did not comment more. Besides, when he had daughters who delighted in babysitting, then why should he be worried about her perceptions? It worked well for them as a family. She could take her opinions and shove them where the sun didn't shine.

She wavered a little but ended up holding firm, the beast amused and intrigued by the challenge she presented. A shrug, "If such things are true, then such confidence is perfectly reasonable." he rumbles brows raising at her. He often got what he wanted, often was able to bed whomever he came onto. So he was rather sure of the fact that he was all that. Her question earned a rumbling chuckle. "No, but, first impressions are not everything, and nor did I know I had company before you responded" he points out, easy, confident, sultry. His head tilts slightly then, and he shakes it lightly. "No, but you cannot blame me for trying. You are intriguing and beautiful." he states, the smirk playing upon his mask turning roguish. Yes, he was an arrogant asshole, but he wouldn't apologize for that or his attraction to her body and her spirit. He was glutton in more ways that one, both punishment and pleasure. @Kalahari

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He was so casual with his compliments, and yet so sincere, that it took her a moment to register what he had said before she abruptly felt her face heat up under her fur. The lioness's prickly barriers wavered a moment more, before she doubled down on them and hmphed, plunking down her hindquarters on the broken shells and stones (ow) and curling her tail primly about her paws. "Such honeyed words might have won you a partner before," she snipped, "but rakish as you might be, I'm afraid I'll have to turn that offer down as well. I'm in no position to risk an accidental litter, nor do I have any interest in being someone's careless fling."

That, perhaps, what was she bristled the fiercest against. The thought of just...letting him clamber atop her, have his fun, and then saunter off without a thought for her after. It reminded her too much of the brigands who had ruled her home, it was something they would have done. Collect mates like they collected feathers, to braid in their manes and flaunt as trophies. She had never given much thought to what kind of male she would actually want to have cubs with, if any, but she would have liked a bit of commitment, at the least.

She eyed him for a moment, ears pinned back. "Least of all, someone who would proposition a lioness before they even give their own name. Mine is Kalahari, if you care."

@Gwyn

code by corvus

Ah gosh darn it. He caught the slight waver, blood simmering with the proposition of getting lucky tonight before she sits down, hard. Inwardly, he winces, outwardly, his mouth carves a slight frown, disappointed. "Indeed they have." he notes, a roll of his shoulders accompanying them. The frown disappears face returning to neutral outside his eyes, there, a glimmer of the sultry promise was resurfacing. "Fair point, but, it does not have to be casual if you are so inclined" he rumbles seriously. While he does not have to worry about kids, it does not change the fact that if she wanted something a little more committed, it was no skin off his teeth. Pistis would like her, and she would make a fine addition to his ranks, as previously stated. That and he did not mind working for his eventual sensual reward. Made the victory all the sweeter.

Her pinned ears and abrupt seat did point that he was unlikely to get lucky today, alas. His head tilts a touch, considering her words. "Another fair point, and yet such things can be handled later." he points out. He has slept with someone and only learned their name after, but at that point it was almost moot. They already knew each other well. "I am Gwyn, I would say it's my pleasure to meet you @Kalahari, but you're being a bit of a spoilsport today." he rumbles, entertaining a touch of wordplay and a joke. Truthfully, he did not mind her dismissal today; only meant he would have to work a bit harder, a challenge he did not mind.

Oh no, he enjoyed a bit of spice to his pursuit.

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She could almost smell his excitement turn to disappointment, and couldn't stop herself from feeling a small bit of spiteful satisfaction at the observation. No, mister. You don't always get what you want. And she was prepared to fight, if he refused to accept that and wouldn't take no for an answer. Thankfully, he didn't seem like that sort of lion, although she was taken by surprise at how readily he insinuated that it did not have to be a one-night-stand. If she wasn't interested in a fling, she certainly wasn't looking to commit, especially not to a lion she knew nothing about! At least he finally gave his name, so they were no longer total strangers. She gave another quiet snort, but she was no longer glowering at him as if she wished to claw his smug expression off his face. "Well, sorry to 'spoil' your fun..." she said, although her tone said otherwise.

Something had changed in the air, she realized, and it wasn't just the tension crackling between the two lions. The constant white noise of the rainfall outside had softened, the storm was moving on. Kala turned away from Gwyn to pad towards the cave entrance, pausing just at the threshold to look up at the sky. Still grey and broody over the horizon, but the deluge was gone from the beach. "Seems like the weather has cleared. I'm going to take my leave, then." With that, she stepped from the cave into the weak sunlight, though as she stalked away, she happened to look over her shoulder at him one last time. The smirk returned briefly. "Good luck with your...sport."

-exit Kala-

code by corvus

Gwyn was not someone who would recklessly pursue his goals, no matter what others thought of him. He is a calculating fellow, and despite his arrogance and pride, he is not a fool. He can wait, he can be patient. Not to mention, what he had been learning meant he thought about others before he truly acted on things. If she was wary of him, and rightly so based on his cousin's treatment, he would simply have to work harder to convince her to see his side of things, and allow him to claim her in the most base way. Patient predator was he and he took no offense to her spirit or refusal. It only made him more interested in her.

He snorts, brows raising as if to say, you really aren't are you? She rose and the man pondered her as she approached the entrance, only realizing then what she had. The storm had ended. Her parting words earned an answer long after she had disappeared, the man speaking before rising himself. "In time, I will enjoy making sport of you." he promised to her scent in the air, making his way home shortly after.

-Exit

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