rivia

She could understand that is seemed odd that she was not already with Firnen when the rest of the crew came to the rainforest. To be honest, Roarke had made that decision without them. So much had happened in the juggle between who would rule the rainforest, having gone through several leaders in the short amount of time that Rivia was even here. The woman cleared her throat before she answered. "Roarke joined the rainforest while I was occupied with other affairs and healing from battle." Rivia explained, "The politics of this land, who holds a throne and who doesn't. It all changes so quickly. I don't understand the point in claiming a banner if it can fall so easily." A scoff spat from her lips, dismissively shaking her head at the rising irritation bubbling from within.

"I'm hesitant to be here. I'm only here to be united with the crew as a whole. As it stands, my loyalty is to the crew." If this king holds his throne longer than the rest then perhaps that would give Rivia time to settle and find a reason to pledge more to the rainforest and this way of life than she currently was. Roarke made the final call and what he says goes. She knew he had his sights on the rainforest from day one, unsure of why, but she knew this was his plan all along; as a ruler or not.

@Calypso

In a few sentences she had learned a great deal - not only about this land but about Roarke as a leader. While she was not entirely sure if he was considered a captain -- how could there be two? -- she knew that he had led some of them here. Yet by Rivia's account he was prone to making significant decisions without any conversation... or without the consideration of his crewmates. Calypso tried to envision a situation where Calhoun joined a pride while she was injured, and without speaking to her about it, and she could not. As much as he made the decisions he was not the type to ignore his crew when he made them.

A small frown, then, as she mulled this over. "I don't know how long Calhoun will be happy here," she spoke truthfully, "it is... not de sea." As much as there was one border that ran along the ocean it was not the sandy beaches and open skies she knew he loved, and she had seen the signs of him being... smothered. The man didn't exactly hide his displeasure of the thick foliage and vines.

"D'is land is strange compared to what I have known. So many prides, so much turmoil." Calypso shrugged -- she didn't see much point in it either. "My home... d'ere was no such constant change."

@Rivia

Art by Rabbit | Table code by Zodiac

i am my mother's savage daughter

the one who runs barefoot cursing sharp stones

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Rivia nodded along with @Calypso's musings, casting a sidelong glance at the vegetation that surrounded them. "The sea it is not." She mimicked, knowing full well that they couldn't stay here for long. Roarke seemed quite comfortable to settle, but she could see the rest of the crew subtly stirring. Taking the time to heal, to grow and become stronger was all well and good, but Rivia couldn't stomach it for long. Surely not Cal as the shaman woman indicated.

There was a pit of uncertainty brewing within her. Hesitance to truly devote herself to the pride completely overwhelmed her. She felt as though she was teetering on a precipice of which to choose the wilds -- the sea -- or say fuck it and dive head first into this thing and give it a fighting chance. Of course, that's how she got started with the crew. Rivia was hesitant to join them, at first, too. "As was my birthplace," the dark woman murmured, "The turmoil that bleeds into the soil of these lands is thick indeed. We shall see what comes of our stay here."

a part of her wanted to continue, to tell the woman how her home had not been better for the lack of change. but instead of that deep dive she only adds - perhaps some change be good - with a shrug, followed by but dere needs to be balance. too little change can lead to... stagnation. an' leaders growing mad wit' de power.

she did not know what the best solution to that was, but she had experienced first hand what happened to a pride when nothing changed. those that led gave birth to the next leaders and beliefs twisted and altered over the years until the original normalcy was long gone. until lions could eat other lions and not bat an eye.

calypso curled a lip at the memory, her gaze unfocused as she faced the ghosts of her past. a shake of her head clears them away, and she tries to pick up the conversation her silence had interrupted. cupid seems... kind, at least. that was a start, even if it was not the most admirable quality in her mind.

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i am my mother's savage daughter

the one who runs barefoot cursing sharp stones

⚓︎

"Perhaps," she trailed off, nodding subtly. "This is true." Rivia was walking a fine line of how much she wanted to commit to anything right now. Contemplating and weighing her paths and her loyalties. Always with the crew, but she had to admit there was some waning feelings when it came to Roarke. And the other women he had brought with him. Miette, Teuta. She never really spent much time with them and their relationships seemed strained at best.

At the mention of Cupid, Rivia hummed in thought as she reflected on the man. He seemed softer than those she had seen on thrones before. Though, that didn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. "He does. I haven't had many chances to interact with him much." she paused, "I know Roarke seems to vouch for him or else he wouldn't have stayed." There was something in the rainforest that drew him here. It was his goal from day one. She couldn't quite place it.

Rivia looked up to the breaks in the canopy above and squinted at the air, returning her eyes to @Calypso. "I should get back to scouting den spots before it gets too dark." She rose from her place and began to turn to head in the direction she was going last. "Thanks for the chat. See ya 'round." The sea wraith called over her shoulder, disappearing into the vegetation shortly after.

exit rivia.

calypso knew little of the crew that lived here, and was concerned for those that had come with them. it had been some time since she had seen several of the others, and she ached to think that they had moved on to find some other path.

what was to become of them?

a small frown across her lips as she puzzled over this thought, and in her distraction @Rivia is bidding her farewell. "aye, anytime," she mused with a nod of her head before turning the opposite way. back to her den, to continue organizing it for whatever patients may come her way.

-exit-

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