Maua, again Maua. This belief was certainly widespread.

He didn't let talk of false gods rankle him, not when this conversation was reaching such an interesting point. This was a sibling of the forest queen, one who seemed a bit more interested in the world beyond her border.

He could tell there was a game they were playing, a dance that they had each so far met the beat of. He would turn and she would match him, their steps echoing the other to a dance as old as language. The dance of intrigue and politics. And he had to admit, this @Onyxia Valour was not a bad dancer. There was much to be gained by starting slow and purposeful, one did not show their finest moves immediately.

Should she and hers meet the unfortunate fate of being marked as corrupt...

"Now that would be a bit more complex," he admitted. "I'd hate to talk about unfortunate ifs so early on, but it's an understandable question mirn mauholna grrue."

Realistically, he would not go about casting judgement upon an enemy he had no grasp of. He did not known their numbers or any skillets they had hold of, just that their even tempered leader had a mild case of agoraphobia. He would have to learn more before he even thought of such a thing. And what better way to learn than to rub shoulders and make some...connections. Maybe not friends, but connections were just as good.

"I don't think it would be hard to keep a target from your back," he spoke to her as an individual, but there was an ommited 's' attached in there somewhere. The royal 'you', but it could have easily been meant on an individual level. What a mystery!

"I hunt monsters. Although, plenty of them have pretty faces that they hide behind. As long as I don't see any hidden scales or horns poke through, I won't tell if you don't."

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onyxia valour

Had she been more aware of Faust's dislike for her deity, she might have implored him for his beliefs, the way his world was shaped. She was fascinated to hear the tales beyond Maua's own, to view the island through eyes unfettered to such an ancient religion. As it were, their conversation was yet limited to the back-and-forth banter of acquaintances hellbent on coming out the victor. Onyxia was no fool blinded by the glittering gold temptation of winning such a word game, however, and was content to give Faust the victory of her information if only to see what he did with it.

Now that would be a bit more complex, he began after a brief silence, and Onyxia smirked, I'd hate to talk about unfortunate ifs so early on, but it's an understandable question mirn mauholna grrue. The twinge of foreign language on the tail of his sentence piqued her interest, but she did not press for its meaning. Rather, she was far more intrigued by his reply; he had not given her the straight answer she might have hoped for, but she would not let her eyes speak of her mild disappointment. She would have almost hoped he would have sworn her and her family destruction if they stood in his way. Such a bold claim would have driven her further into the political game when it had only just barely begun.

I don't think it would be hard to keep a target from your back, he finally began again, and Onyxia noticed the individuality of his statement, I hunt monsters. Although, plenty of them have pretty faces that they hide behind. As long as I don't see any hidden scales or horns poke through, I won't tell if you don't. Onyxia had never wanted power, had never felt the pull of ambitions that often drove lions to do animalistic, base things. Yet, she was not withheld from the temptations of dangerous desires to protect her own interests, and there were very many rogues who threatened her precious lifestyle and family. Perhaps she did have a few scales under all that plush fur and pleasant smiling.

Boldly, she took a few steps forward, her gold-grey gaze baring into the fervent red of his own. “Very well, Archangel,” she began, her tone half-whispered, “I will endeavor not to be your monster.” She would, after all, do anything to protect the Brook.

@Faust

Another soul promising to not let its dark outrun its light. He knew she could not promise such a thing for the entirety of her pride, always there were those who would turn left when their kith and kin turned right.

He was slowly learning the faces of Vermeda, bit by bit despite not having visited Nymeria formally as a leader yet. That would soon have to be done, but he was learning a fair amount over time by luck too. Maybe it would give him that edge of familiarity when he did approach the Forest Queen. Trust, he doubted. But a familiar face who had shown no malice was as good as any could hope in this life.

When @Onyxia drew closer to him, his eyes followed her with interest. Ever the watchful one, he did know there was the potential of her attacking him, but he did not feel that this would be the case just yet.

A returned smirk, light but enough to curve one side of his mouth and lend his crimson eyes a mischievous sparkle. "Please see to it that you dont, Lady Onyxia."

Several beats of the heart, only a few seconds of further silence before he decided to play a few cards he had been holding back. Another little calculated gamble in a series of gambles, a little boldness for character. "As new neighbors I imagine we'll be crossing paths again at some point. So perchance at a later date I'll drop by and check for any budding scales and horns." Faust's smirk deepened with unintended amusement, he himself even finding the words to be particularly grandiloquent.

"If the lady would like, of course. But for the time being I think I should be returning to the Bluffs." He had plans to make, monsters to find, souls to save.

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onyxia valour

Onyxia enjoyed the air of uncertainty that lingered around him, a fog that threatened to blind prying eyes and smoke out the weak-willed. She could see the curve of his lips, the clever smirk where fangs threatened to peak through dark lips. Please see to it that you dont, Lady Onyxia, he responds, and Onyxia swears she could see some sort of kindling fire behind his blood-red eyes. And after their brief silence, Onyxia draws back slightly, escaping the warmth of his breath and the view of each curled ringlet of his mane.

As new neighbors I imagine we'll be crossing paths again at some point, he began again, and Onyxia's ear twitched in response, So perchance at a later date I'll drop by and check for any budding scales and horns. The amusement etched in his tone was reflected in the sudden glint of her silver-gold eyes. What would their next meeting entail, then, if not rummaging through each other's most precious thoughts in search of secrets and new evils? She could nearly shudder at the excitement of it, wondering briefly just what sort of man Faust was in his own element, surrounded by his own army in his own territory. Was he just as cunning? Was he quite as blindingly celestial?

If the lady would like, of course. But for the time being I think I should be returning to the Bluffs. Onyxia could not quell the disappointment that welled briefly in her fluttering heart, but even she knew that all good things must come to an end, and the most fruitful of political relationships was borne out of patience. “I very much look forward to our next encounter,” she finally responded, tipping her head toward the Archangel, and waiting patiently to make sure his form disappeared between the trees before she, too, would begin her journey home. “Safe travels, Sovereign Remiel.”

— exit Onyxia

@Faust

This would be quite the tidbit to bring home.

Neither had ultimately revealed much, but what cards they had played held layers. Thin layers with hidden manifestos and intentions, painted over monarchs and aces to make sure that their hand look benign and unthreatening. But depending on the company it was rude to count one's winnings up at the table, so he would have to wait until he was on his way to dissect this.

He offered a final nod to the lady cloaked in black, "You as well."

With that, the Wolfbron Archangel turned and began the process of disappearing into the shadows and patterns of the grove. Even with his lighter pelt there was enough darkness beneath and between trees to eventually swallow his nephilim form.

Maybe those shadows were dark enough hide worse things as well, devils and monsters just waiting to sink their venomous fangs into unassuming flesh.

/Exit

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