Violarum

Violarum had every intention of soaking up the sun in this blissful portion of the season; whilst it's intensity was strong and quite rapidly reduced even the most leathery skin to a burning sensation, it was at least tolerable. Soon, the pride would be avoiding the blistering sunshine, instead taking up residence beneath the sparse trees.

Still, it took a cloud to pass in front of his personal heat-lamp to raise the King, groaning sleepily and propping himself upright. It was the day after the challenge now, and the day after he had learnt he was expecting more cubs - having doted mercilessly upon his wife.

So his curiosity of @Lucien drives him to his feet, seeking the male's scent with the occasional chuff.

_.

To say that his mind wasn't still spinnin' from the day prior's events would be a boldfaced lie. Lucien had stayed within the confides of his den the rest of that day, allowin' for it all to soak in and try to really grasp at what he had done - what he had be given. Although he was happy that the Sovereign crown was bestowed upon him, he felt as if he didn't actually prove himself worthy of it. And well, he didn't - not like he wanted to. He'd make a mental note of mentionin' havin' a proper fight with Fallon once she wasn't so full in the womb, but for now Lucien would be swimmin' in the high that came with his new title and responsibilites.

It was when the dun man had pushed himself out of his den that he heard the chuffs from @Violarum. He sounded close by, and with the man seekin' him out Lucien knew he best listen. He wanted to officially meet the Plains King anyways, to be able to see if they had a likeness in rulin' a pride. Large paws carried him in the direction the call had come from, and soon enough would golden eyes land upon the clay furred male. "Greetin's, King Violarum," Lucien would say once he was at a close enough distance. "Nice day, innit?" He had noticed the warmth of the sun on his back as he moved, only for it to be covered by a thick cloud - hot enough to feel it on the skin but cool enough for you to receive a quick respite.

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Violarum

"Hello," he greets simply, easing his lionly sway upon @Lucien's arrival. The male was simple enough, compared to most anyway, with warm flesh and striped stockings to adorn his somewhat more athletic build. He was big, but with more of the characteristics of agility and a wider spectrum of expertise - unlike Violarum, who was compromised of a simple skillset. Eating, sleeping and throwing his weight around.

It is a mostly neutral expression that makes up his countenance, save for the obvious display of curiosity; Violarum's face always a window to the mind. His round ears were cupped intently forward as he oggled the male, nodding upon his mention of the day. "Always nice in Lorien," he assures, which wasn't entirely true, but they were often spared a lot of the extremes.

_.

A bob of his head would be given in agreement. Ever since he was accepted into Lorien he hadn't really seen a bad day yet, other than some days were a tad hotter than others. A brief silence would come over the two men, Lucien's gaze shiftin' between @Violarum and the expanse of land before the two of them. "How's Miss Fallon doin'?" 'Alright, I hope'. He still felt a bit embarrassed about the whole situation even though he had nothin' directly to do with it. But knowin' that the pride was goin' to have a couple more mouths to feed and little ones to keep a watchful eye over, Lucien assumed that the clay man's time might be gettin' consumed by other chores and duties to both mother and children.

He would give ample time between his prior question before decidin' to start divin' into the nitty gritty of it all - how the High Sovereign ruled and what was and wasn't allowed to happen. "When Miss Ghyslaine accepted me she went over the pride rules briefly. I'd like to get the whole caboodle from you." While he spoke, haunches would recline so that he was now sittin' next to Violarum, tail thumpin' the ground a couple of times before becomin' still.

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Violarum

"Good," he answers simplistically to @Lucien's question of Fallon, the King's haunches flopping inelegantly beneath him, a blatant suggestion at his expectation of conversation - or at least company. "She'll be fat soon," the male observes, entirely matter-of-factly and without judgement. He quite liked it when his otherwise athletic and slender wife got all round in the belly, it tended to dramatize all his favorite parts of her body.

He feels at ease with the male, familiar. His scent and presence have been around Lorien for quite some time now, only Vio hadn't really made enough effort to track him down. That tended to happen when children were missing. Still, the Sovereign's next question is a good reminder that the pair don't know each other well at all.

There is a briefly pouty expression as Violarum ponders a good answer. He didn't care for rules, beyond the obvious anyway. "Uh, the usual sort," he delays mid-thought, shifting his weight, "Look after the pride. Don't be a psycho. Do mostly what you want but deal with what comes from it." Perhaps it's clear now that he's not much thought about the intricacies.

Vio didn't really care what everyone did, unless they were running around torturing the innocent for no good reason. Or eating all his food.

_.

Hearin' that Fallon was doin' well calmed Lucien's mind and nerves quite a bit, but when @Violarum commented that she would be fat soon enough made a brow rise subtly. Now that wasn't the way he would speak about a lioness carryin' his cubs for the sake of bein' nice, but the man didn't know the relationship between the two so he had no right to judge. "Good, good," would be his only reply, a nod of his maw and a twitch of his tail followin' suit.

When the High King began to dive into the more important stuff would Lucien's ears prick up a bit more, skull turnin' toward the clay man while he spoke. The rules sounded simple enough, easier to keep track of than havin' to juggle so many different ones that had intricate meanin's to them. "Sounds easy 'nough to remember." Drawl would voice his thoughts, golden eyes blinkin' a couple of times before they shifted to look back out over the plains. "And of allies or enemies?" The other important part to know, and to Lucien, the most important. He didn't want to go steppin' on toes or startin' trouble with those that despised their pride.

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Violarum

Ah yes, Violarum's blatant lack of any filter would surely niggle one way or another at a man of such gentlemanliness as @Lucien. He may have cut his words short about half of the time, but in every other sense he seemed wildly polite and... well-spoken. Still, Vio is oblivious to any signs of surprise - had there been any there at all.

The King shifted with a laziness that was palpable, raising a foot to look at his wriggly toes absent-mindedly. "No enemies. Alaric at Ecrosia is our only real ally... I haven't spoken to anyone else," okay so Tiamat at Scilla was annoying, but simple-minded as he was, he couldn't hold her desire for members against her.

"What are you good at?" he asks, genuinely interested, ears piquing towards the dun man.

_.

The way @Violarum moves and reacts was certainly different to Lucien. And if he had to be honest, the man didn't exactly scream King of a pride. He couldn't quite recall if he'd ever met a leader who was as casual and relaxed as he, but maybe that was what worked best for the pride here in the plains. "I can make some stops 'round the other prides, see how they are n' all." It would also help the man learn where exactly all the prides were located as well as be able to personally meet the leaders, to be able to put faces with names.

Their conversation would take a small turn, Violarum askin' him what all he was good at. "I'm good at huntin," Lucien would begin, his own paws beginnin' to knead the soft earth below. "I also take pride in keepin' who needs to be kept safe. I ain't afraid to get into a tussle or two." Lucien could recall the many times he had found himself in fights back in his youth, some he started and others where he was defendin' someone else like a friend or relative. He wasn't one to start it, but he was usually the one that ended it.

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Violarum

The burly male shrugged his hefty shoulders, "If you want," he declares his lack of fuss on the topic. "I will visit Alaric again soon," that was well overdue, and the wheat man didn't seem to venture this way of his own accord - for Ghyslaine apparently, but not Vio. He supposed Ghys had that effect on people.

"Ghyslaine is missing," he reveals on that train of thought, remembering Merveille's saddened visit, "Keep an eye out for her." Still, the clay man is happily distracted from that train of thought, his ears piquing with interest when @Lucien spoke of defending those who needed it. "I fight good too," he brags lightly, "Not hunt though. Too slow." A pouty moments thought.

"Do you have a family?"

_.

A nod would be givin' to the information of @Violarum wantin' to make his way to Ecrosia, mentally checkin' off that pride from the list of ones he wanted to visit. Their conversation would shift, the sudden news of Ghyslaine missn' causin' for slight worry and wonder to bubble in him. "Missin'?" Lucien would echo, brows knittin' together to show that he were clearly concerned. "I'll keep an eye out for her." He hadn't seen much of her once Violarum had taken his position back as the High Sovereign, and he assumed that she had left with Nero and their children, not missin'.

The shift back to casual talk would resume, the clay man speakin' on how he was a good fighter but not as good at huntin'. "It's an acquired skill," Lucien would reply with a quick roll of his shoulders. "Some find it borin' and can't keep up and others enjoy the thrill." Like himself. Stalkin' and huntin' had always been some of his favorite things while growin' up that he decided to harness those abilities to turn him into a fine hunter.

And then a question he were rather dreadin' on havin' asked: family. Lucien would stifle a heavy sigh that threatened to escape, instead shiftin' where he sat and allowin' for the briefest of silences to come. "Not here I don't." He would finally respond, his tail flickin' behind him. "I was better off leavin' home than tryin' to stick 'round." The easiest way to dance around what his past and his familial ties were all about.

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