Tilly leans along the edge of the pool, her focus at a crossroads of indulging her hunt for shiny shells and starfishes, and the equally intriguing thing that was @Kvare. It had been some time since she’d gotten the opportunity to just… sit and chat with somebody. It was nice.

So she entertains both of her whims, lazily trailing a paw in the cool saltwater to disturb the sand, feeling for smooth shapes with tentative claws. “You haven’t?” she pipes up absentmindedly, eyes lifting briefly back to him. “They’re a lot of fun.” There was something so electric about the tension, the hushed conversations shared between friends - between enemies. Tilly felt she could sit there for hours, just simply people-watching.

“We can go together, next time.” she offers, seeking to meet his eyes. Hm, look at that! Now they were out of the darkness and settled down, she could see they were not only orange, but partially silver. How lovely. “You must see one.”

She listens to his description of the cove as she swishes her paw through the still pool, scooping a fractured and worn shell from the disturbed sand. She lets it plop back from her claws - she didn’t want anything broken, for her collection. “If you had the chance, how would you make a name for yourself?” she presses with an intrigued prick of her ears. It didn’t sound like something Tilly herself would pursue, but listening to other’s describe their goals and interests was just part of the social butterfly hobby.

She is more fascinated and deeply delighted to hear Kvare’s secret, and she pulls her dripping paw clear once more to lean toward with a conspiring grin. “Oh?” she gasps, “Why that is dastardly of you. Do they suspect it?” Her eyes gleam with the charm of it all. “Hm- but how do I know you’ve not done the same to me!” she doesn’t seem perturbed by this, merely amused. “I think that’s what I would do, if I had a twin. Introduce myself as them and cause trouble.” Not that she didn't on purpose now, but having a built-in scapegoat? All the better.

There is something satisfying in the way he captures her attention. The focus and intent with which she'd had finding those shells when he'd first happened upon her might have been admirable had it been something Kvare himself enjoyed (fighting, hunting, and all those other things stereotypical men stereotypically enjoyed), but the half-distracted manner in which she trails her paw through the water is as equally satisfying as it was dissatisfying, part of him enjoying the way he held her attention, another part of him desperate to see that focused and pleased expression on her face once more.

Strange, he thought, how much he longed to see it. How intent he was on her face, beautifully different as it were.

She insists on seeing a challenge, and while Kvare anticipated that it would not be long before one entertaining enough would happen upon them (not knowing that the very next would one be for his pride, at a time where he is truly unable to see it), he smirked at her suggestion of going together. Sure, he says, too capturing the deep blue and yellow of her eyes, a blissful contrast to the soft rose and thin doe-brown fur of her face. She were quite pretty; where Kvare might have always preferred the soft, plush, and pale colored, there was something about @Tilly that was equally as captivating.

He struggled not to be a selfish, brutish man.

We can take bets on the winner, He suggested playfully, slowly lowering himself onto the flat face of the stone he'd perched on. Every so often, a stray wave would spurt seafoam up toward his face, causing him to blink the salty water out of his gaze. It is only when she implores him next does he pause, his fiery gaze returning to the pool as it seemed to settle for those few brief moments. Take a pride for my own. Rebuild my family. And how hard his parents had made it on him; they had imparted on the twins the weight of two heavy names, two insurmountable burdens to bear. And Kvare, in all his boyish foolishness, thought he could do it all.

When she describes the antics which Kvare and Kozrain had partaken in, it suddenly seemed a stark contrast to the dark and handsome soldier he had attempted to paint himself to be. His lips pressed into a firm, thin line; he suddenly rose to his paws, a dreadful weight falling into the pit of his stomach. When she spoke it aloud, it seemed almost childish the way he and his brother acted in Caladan, so very far from the men Arsynia had aspired to raise; they had wasted their lives, and the cruel realization of it happened unfortunately here, now. Now that you say it aloud, it kind of sucks, He finally relents, his brows knit thoughtfully, though frustration clear in his expression, For a man who is striving for glory, it seems rather dumb to play such tricks. And causing trouble is exactly what Kvare had done, flirting with the King's obvious interest right in front of him, parading as his brother who was courting another.

Though, when he imagined Tilly in that same spot, he found it almost endearing. Suddenly, he found himself delighted at the idea of two of her, instead of just one.

Art by Raph, table by cala

Even if the sky was not as clear as it would be in warmer months, the light played on the water’s surface, sending ripples of light up the rock and her own skin - in a way she can’t help but admire.

Delight flashes to her face at his agreement, a happiness budding in her chest. It felt like it had been quite some time since she’d just settled and made plans like this. It didn’t feel like the auburn dragon was just humouring her, as many had before. Though Tilly hardly knew enough about him to say with any full certainty his intensions, but he seemed all the part the charming, well-spoken thing she should like to understand further.

She shows all this appreciation in a smile. “Then it’s settled,” Tilly laughs, “No take-backs.” Her bare tail tip flicks against the stone as she lounges, emerging with the question; “Well, what would we bet?” to his playful proposition.

Tilly drifts to contemplative quiet as @Kvare offers her insight into his goals. A nod lowers her crown, decisive. “I think you could do it.” she hums, not particularly helpfully but definitely with a supportive enthusiasm. After all, why not? Ever since her first arrival here, this island had been a place of opportunity and hidden potential. All one had to do was release it.

“Nooo, I don’t think it sucks.” she soothes with a gentle but amused edge to her voice. She reaches out a paw (the damp one) to pat reassuringly atop the closest of his. “I like it. It’s fun.” And by the spirits did people need to learn to loosen up around here. “You don’t have to pick between having a prosperous and happy life, and being well-renowned.” she says with a sudden conviction. “Work hard, and I don’t see why both can’t be possible.”

A healthy balance was best; something she strove for herself. Though perhaps not as obviously as ambitions of leadership, she still sought success for herself in form of proving skill in her trades and above all else, happiness.

Well, what would we bet?

Kvare's ear flicks backward, every inch of him desperate to take, to control. That Tollaire drive wells deep within, that instinctual drive desperate to take her up on that offer and win whatever he wanted. And yet, he stays his paw; he has not the strength of his grandfather nor the tenacity of his mother, and the level-headedness of his father often found itself prevailing in times where he may have sought the advantage, may have burned bridges instead of creating them. He was fire; but he was not uncontrolled.

So, when a smile curls upon his lips, it is one more humored than it is sinister. Whoever loses has to go up to the challenger who won, and congratulate them on their victory...by using the wrong name. It left the results to vary, whether or not the challenger was particularly prolific in their politicking and alliance-making; but regardless of the outcome, it would be hilarious. He could only imagine @Tilly loudly proclaiming the very wrong name of a very embarrassed new leader. Harmless, he chuckled inwardly, mostly.

I think you could do it, she then goes on to reassure him, and it causes the slight smile on his mouth to fall away. There is a hint of shock in his expression, as if he hadn't expected her to place his faith in him. Even if she weren't proclaiming her everlasting loyalty, there was something...strangely warm about her support, and Kvare quickly averted his gaze, desperate to hide the heat that crawled to his cheeks. Of course I can, he coughed, willing the strange feeling away, It's what I've always wanted.

Back then, however, it had been his and Kozrain's dream. The two of them had never thought that they couldn't get what they wanted; it had always only ever been a question of who would be the deciding King between the two of them. Eventually, they'd settled as all Tollaire did: with a fight.

He feels reassured when she assures him he wasn't cruel or unkind. At the very least, his intention hadn't been to continue this fraud well into his stay at Caladan. Rather, Kozrain's recent escapades and Kvare's own isolation had simply prolonged the truth. He had know way of knowing what was going to happen next. What do you want out of your life, Tilly?

Art by Raph, table by cala

Tilly can see the consideration that passed across his face. She doesn’t yet know him well enough to tell what he’s musing over, even if it’s only brief. She think she’d like to figure him out. He is complex, fascinating. She wants to trail after him and see what a day would be like for him, and what were his favourite things.

He had a very entertaining proposal though and Tilly’s eyes glitter with interest and amusement as he outlines it - to gleeful shock.

“Oh no!” she giggles her delight at this devilish idea. “I’m just imagining- the look on their faces!” She straightens up on the wet, barnacled stone and nods a swift agreement. “No take backs.” she grins and shifts her seated weight from forepaw to forepaw.

Her mismatched eyes go back to the water, missing @Kvare's initial shock at her faith. It’s only as he clears his throat and confirms for himself his aspirations does she glance back, fishing a smooth cream and dusky pink banded shell onto the shore in one piece. It was pleasant, heartwarming to listen to someone share their hopes and dreams. “Good.” she says - glad that he knows, even if he is bashful of it.

It is easy to believe in him.

The question he delivers past that pondering look again catches her off-guard and a laugh gusts, stalling, from the lykoi woman’s lips. “Gosh. Who knows.” she hums, but she does know, she’s had thoughts and plans in her head since years ago as a little girl.

“I guess… I want to be happy.” she admits soon after, “I've always wanted a little mushroom garden I can look after. And plenty of people to cherish.” She is at her best in big, social moments where she can worm her way in so fast they don’t even do the usual hesitate in shock routine at her appearance. Instead they just laugh along at her jokes, enjoy her chatter with plenty of time to exchange stories.

“And maybe like…” It’s the sideways glances and unspoken things that hurt the most. “One day I won’t feel ugly.” She had always hated feeling different. He had asked, and Tilly was not one to do things in halves, spilling these surface thoughts without any real hesitation.

Her acceptance of his proposal causes a small, cunning smirk to appear on his lips. He could have thought of many other things to bet, had she disagreed, but the idea of embarrassing themselves in such a manner was simply too good to pass up. The giggles that burst from her lips cause a sudden warmth to settle deep in his belly, eyes widening at the strange feeling. As many women whose fancies he'd entertained, he'd never felt quite like this before. Never before had he, either, simply talked for so long, simply enjoyed her presence. No take backs, she says, and Kvare nods his head firmly. No take backs.

The beach and the tide are all but forgotten, content on resting his gaze on the strawberry lykoi as she relaxes on the poolside. Slowly, Kvare lowers himself onto his belly, allowing his forepaws to cross over each other, his toes barely dipping into the water's surface. He watched as hundreds of hermit crabs scattered, clambering away to their small hidey-holes nestled within the rockface. Kvare paid them little mind, his attention swiftly settling on @Tilly once more. He remains silent, however, anticipating her answer to his broad, strange question.

And answer it she does.

He lingers in contemplative silence as he regards her words, brows knitting slightly, from her talks of mushroom gardening (something he figured Sunder might like to hear about, considering her inclination toward plants and all the odd things about them. However, her last statement perplexes him, his head turning to the side as he lingers in a moment of contemplative silence. Ugly? he asks, as if taken aback. Sure, the fur around her muzzle and belly were especially thin, but the soft skin underneath accentuated her beauty in a way he hadn't considered before. The soft rosy hue of her fur glittered in the sunlight, accompanying the soft browns and blues of the shore and the sea. He inclined closer, attempting to get a sniff of her, in case he missed her smelling bad. But she didn't. If anything, her drawl was intoxicating; salty, but they'd been sprayed by the sea several times over by then. I think you're beautiful.

Art by Raph, table by cala

Tilly could stay sprawled here all day, listening to the distant ocean, the peal of the mournful gulls and watching the light send rippling little reflections off of @Kvare's coppery fur. What had been a chance encounter had turned into a lovely ‘noon of discovery and lovely discussion.

She isn’t nervous about revealing her hand in such a way. The simplicity of her ambitions compared to his are not lost on the lykoi woman, but she doesn’t think either of them feel any less strongly about them. For that reason she thinks they are wonderful. Passion could be a rare thing, which she thought was very sad. If one was to do anything, it was best done with one’s whole heart. Life had taught her that.

Still, he has surprises for her.

Tilly’s lips part in gentle astonishment as Kvare comes forth with an answer… she has never heard before. It had been many, many years since she’d ran with that gang, left her family behind but since her youth it had been a fixture of her identity; a label given by her mother and her sleek, full pelt. Tilly had often felt the odd one out; weird and wrinkly. At it’s worst, her condition had been mistaken for mange. She takes a soft and sudden breath in, trying to make sense of it.

“I- um.” she says; suddenly warm under her sparse fur. “I don’t think anyone’s ever said that before.” she had been staring, and ducks her gaze bashfully. “You don’t have to spare my feelings, if that’s why. I’ve heard it all.”

She swallows and struggles a smile back to her muzzle. “If you mean it, though... Thank you.”

The relaxed and near laissez-faire air lingering between them was atypical of Kvare's usual brutish and fiery disposition, but his time in Caladan had been mostly lazing around, gorging himself on the cache, and ogling the women who'd pass by his den every now and then. Despite his words betraying his more lax disposition, there is a fire burning deep within him, one that would not be tempered until the months leading after this very moment.

For now, he finds peace in this simplicity. In this lack of want, distrust, desire, politics. All he had ever known was forgotten for just a moment.

But even he couldn't deny his curiosities. Older and traveled as he were, he'd never come across a woman quite like @Tilly. And yet, when he saw her fur thinned around the edges of her muzzle and paws, he saw only the soft dark skin lingering beneath, a private glimpse into what most other lions kept achingly private, mysterious. Were she less well-groomed and awash with the distinct glow of water dancing off her rosy pelt, he might have seen closer what others saw in her; but never quite like that, never quite the extent of a brutal ugliness, one to be repelled and rejected.

Kvare were a selfish and blunt man, but he were no fool.

I wouldn't lie to you, he interjects, his brows furrowing. There is no sympathy or confusion in his gaze; rather, if one were to look upon Kvare, they might think he seems offended by her inclination. He'd spare no feelings. If he'd found her far too ugly to entertain he would have left, cruel a fact as it were. And though he delighted in the fancies of traditionally beautiful women, he would never shirk at one more misunderstood.

Eventually, as her last words of thanks begin to settle into the blissful noises of the sea, the tide begins to settle, the pool begins to still, urging the hermit crabs back into the safety of their dens. I should probably get going, he finally says, rising to his paws. He spares a final glance back toward her, his tail lashing out behind him. If I wanted to find you again...? Would it be here, among the shells and the crabs and the sea?

---

Exit Kvare.

Art by Raph, table by cala

The lykoi woman eyes drift to meet his gaze, scanning the lion’s dark-masked face as if she could glean the world’s secrets from the very lines of his form. She finds only conviction in his two-toned eyes, not the mirth or judgement she feared.

Tilly… doesn’t know what to do with that. She instinctively had thrust him to arm’s length in fear of hurt in the moment, and the strawberry lioness feels a tinge of regret for being so, however gentle it had been, defensive. It was not an instinct so quickly forgotten. “Oh.” she comments, feeling surprised, foolish and yet her heart warm with the compliment that It had been.

A twinge of disappointment catches her breath away for only a moment as @Kvare announces it is his time to leave. “Alright,” she sighs, “Oh- look at the tide…” She hadn’t realised how long that had talked, til she noticed how the lapping waves had settled.

Where could she be found indeed? “I’m sure I won’t be far from here,” she muses with a warm crinkle of her eyes, thinking of the little beachside cliff alcoves she’d been meandering between in indecision “If you call for me, I’ll find you.”

/exit Tilly