Zelda had spent a few days traveling across Amaryllis and when she had gotten almost to Andal, she realized that the male she'd been searching for had a scent trail that was fading quickly. At first she felt sad but it was short-lived. Anger soon set in before she lifted her head high and made the trek back without inquiring further. He'd left and so would she. At least, she was leaving him behind in her heart. Zelda had no room for someone who thought so little of her and had found out in the last year just how little friends she had. None that stuck by her side as Vronti once had.

So in the early morning that she did so return to the Mire did she bring herself to a log that had only just begun to decay. Leaning upon its less than perfect posture, she jumped up on top of it and turned a few times before eventually rolling herself over it. Belly up for all to see her beautifully laid bodice, the sun streaming down in perfection formation while little light wisps trailed over what looked like a fairy-like glow upon her log. A quick little bath in the sun or even an unintentional nap sounded like a good idea. Especially when there was no one to stop her.

@Alaric

+10 - Sunbathe or take a nap
+10 - Convince someone else to shirk their responsibilities
+10 - Relax with someone else

ART BY NOVI, CODE BY LARS

granted he had been... distracted. raising children, taking a new mate, naming a queen, and losing said mate and queen tended to take a toll on a guy. let alone the regular visits out of the mire to check in on aidoneus and the youngest of his brood; worrying, always, that something would happen when he was not there to protect them. he knew aido to be more than capable but still the worry lingered, a constant weight he bore when he was home.

granted he had seen less of zelda than he would have liked. while he might not go so far as to consider them friends (not yet, at least) he did trust the girl, and appreciated her loyalty to the pride above all else. or maybe that was all alaric needed in a friend, and thus she could be counted among the very few that he called such.

in any case he was pleased to find her, amused but not surprised to take in her very comfortable position. "shame that log is not large enough for two," he rumbled by way of greeting, rearing up to place his front paws near her head, neatly blocking her sun.

@Zelda

coding and art by dusk

Zelda, too, couldn't immediately count @Alaric as a friend but he at least had continued to provide her with a stable home. And he, unlike so many others, hadn't simply left her in the dust and showing that she wasn't worth shit. Alaric saw enough in her, blindly, to give her a position as a lead role which still felt laughable but she supposed that maybe in some way he saw that she was at least smart.

So when he just so happened to cover up her sun and not letting the white chocolate melt provide an ample tease did she grumble and roll over so she could see him better. This is the Queen's spot but the ground below is almost as good. Please, do try. Take a moment from your difficult duties and live a little. Or don't. Zelda grimaced, hoping that her King would take the bait and just relax for a second instead of focusing on the things that were out of his control.

At least he might be more willing to listen to her and stay with her, even if it seemed like it was because he was a King wishing to make peace with his commoners.

this world is dying in our arms

Cheeky little bugger wasn't she? Alaric glanced at the ground, acting much like he was considering her offer. "It does look almost as good, doesn't it?" That was a lie, but he was playing the part, here... "But I think I'd rather take the King's spot..." Without any further warning he pushed heavily against the log, seeking to rock it in it's spot and unearth her from her position. Playing with her, as unusual as that was for him to do. A snort of amusement expelled from his nose as he strained against the log all while readying himself to leap up if he manages to be successful. @Zelda.

code // art

A part of her expected him to try and fight her word and suggestion while another didn't think he had any sort of playful side. @Alaric had never seemed to have a whole lot of life behind those eyes aside from live, breath and do your duty as a king. Zelda, however, liked that she was being proven wrong and that he actually did have some young spark in him after all.

So with a sneer as her claws went out to grip as best she could upon the log. Body moving back and forth as it scraped a good portion of its woody skin off, she glowered at him as he readied himself to take what he now claimed was a king's spot. Not one for taking orders, hm? She asks, her eyelids slightly hooded, only giving them? She teases, of course, wondering if he truly was a male who didn't take too kindly to others telling him what to do or maybe he just really wanted to find out why Zelda was so wanted all the time. She couldn't blame him for that - not really.

this world is dying in our arms

She was a sticky little bug, wasn't she? @Zelda clung to the long with seemingly little effort, causing the King to eventually abandon his initial attempt and re-evaluate. Keeping his forepaws on the wood he flashed her another mischievous grin. "I'm much better at giving them," he agreed, "why do you think I fought so hard for my place?" Determined and driven, he had not given up so easily after losing the first time, not that she had been around to witness that. "And," he continued, as he re-positioned his paws and prepared himself for a secondary attack, "I quite like getting what I want." Without any further warning he shoved harder against the log, putting his full weight in an attempt to completely roll it over and thus unseat her from her place..

code // art

Ah, but losing can be quite humbling I am told. She wouldn't know, of course. Zelda had had her fair share of troubles but she did not believe that she had ever lost in any capacity that was devastating to her nature. Perhaps the separation of her soul-sister Vronti but she had managed thus far without her. Unfortunately this time as he readied himself for the attack she stood no chance even if her claws had managed to hold on. The log moved from underneath her without much warning. A few places on it that had rotted getting weaker but otherwise staying in tact where she had been laying. Leaving it wide open for the king as she was thrown down into the mud. It caked mid-way up all four of her legs as she slowly - very slowly - drew her head back up with narrowed golden eyes. Without much warning given she angled herself as best she could before pushing her right front paw into the mud and fling it upwards in an attempt to fling it at @Alaric.

this world is dying in our arms

Oh now that was perfect! He watched her tip, tumble, and fall in to the mud with a most satisfying splat. The look on her face was the icing on the cake, and he tipped back his head to let out a hearty laugh. Unfortunately for the King that was the precise moment that she decided to launch mud his way, and extra unfortunately his mouth was open. Much as he didn't mind the mud he didn't much enjoy eating it, and he immediately tried to spit it back out. "Oh, now you've got it coming," he snipped with a grin, lunging forward in an attempt to shove her completely down in to the mud. @Zelda.

code // art