There was something relaxing about the springtime in the confines of the rainforest. The medic walked at a leisurely place toward the falls that resided within the pride lands. She could feel each satisfying roll of her shoulders and her hips with each step that took her closer. The trees would part just after the sound of falling water reached her ears. Lilija walked beside her, her ghostly twin’s gaze roaming the landscape and away from Linn. The silence was comfortable. The water fall came into view. Linn would pause at the edge of its pool where her gaze would lower to look at her reflection. It rippled, but even she could oddly see that Lilija was missing here even though her twin was beside her. Ignoring it, her frame would dip to take a moment to drink.

@Jafar

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There had been a lot of contemplating lately over the things he had in his life. Perhaps age would do that to you after a while but with his children turning two and being fully capable of reproducing, it made him realize that the legacy he sought to create was slowly wandering out of reach. The Casales were known to be a very particularly strong ideal set on polygamy. Multiple wives were a must have and labeled you all the stronger and better, just as your own strength did. So when he reflected on his life and realized that he had two at-home fully grown children and only one wife.. well, he had to do something. It wasn't easy but truthfully, the first thing that came to mind was @Linnæa.

From the moment he had accepted her into the pride and the countless hunts that had followed where she had been present, he had felt (in the very least) something. Perhaps arguably not the pressuring and all encompassing quiet longing he had for Maia, but in the very least he admired the woman and needed to get to know her better. So when her scent crossed his way he altered his direction entirely to find her.

Locating her looking solemnly at the surface of water and hoped that he wasn't encroaching on some deep emotional turmoil that was waiting to explode. Good morning, Linnæa. He offered to get her attention before strolling to the water several feet to her left before lowering his own muzzle down to drink. Not that he was thirsty but it was enough movement to solidify that he was going to stay here for a moment and had something to do that wasn't stirring an ulterior motive.

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The sound of @Jafar's voice gave her pause. Her tongue retreated between her jaws as her skull tilted to catch the bronze lion in her gaze. Good morning, Jafar. She greeted in return, her tone of voice carrying a warm tone to suggest she hadn't minded his appearance nor his intent to linger. How are you? Her forelegs pushed her torso upwards to a seated position, though her toes still had to curl around the edge of the shore to keep from tipping into the pool. That'd be embarrassing. Linn was doing her best not to linger on the way his company seemed to stir the butterflies in her belly. She was rather sure it was one-sided. Her ghostly twin chose the moment to flit from her view and simply leave Jafar within it.

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As soon as her face lifted from the water, his did too. Purple eyes immediately searching to her greens that matched the green of their forest. A remarkable comparison and one that he was quite proud of himself for making. I am good, thank you. How are you? Small talk was bitter on his tongue but when it came to someone he held an interest in, he'd do most anything even if it was uncomfortable. Just as he wanted to give @Linnæa the whole world on a string just for breathing or looking at him. That was nice.

A nice breath was taken as he eventually mimicked her and took a seat, gaze seeping to the water for a few seconds so as not to stare but he couldn't help but turn it right back. A thought lingering in his mind as he looked at her and while his control was great, it was no match. I know the promotion to Heiress was a lot, for he did not know her reasoning for wishing to not be anymore but he did not question it. But should it interest you, Lead Scout is available. Jafar might have offered her lead medic and had intended to, but with the arrival of the Mordecai family it had been given to Ansella. Jafar wanted to give her something and in his mind, rank was quite important and something to be sought after for most lions.

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Me too. She’d answer the returned question, her lips raising in a slight smile at him as she did so. She found the bit of small talk to be a good lead, but figured with how little @Jafar often said, less was better. He would continue, the comment about heiress making her ears fold back in some discomfort at her withdraw from the position. It was quickly replaced by the offer for scout. Oh. She was a little surprised. I’m happy to fulfill it to help as I can. It would be nice to have some more cemented duties in her paws.

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Most lions that he was familiar with or even not so familiar with always seemed to be so good at making conversation. Jafar always felt like he was clumsy and delivered stupidity when really vocalizing things was just never his strong suit. You really had to ask the question straight to get the right answer. Just like he wasn't all that great with announcing his feelings but he had come quite a long ways in three years in Amaryllis. @Linnæa was lucky that she was meeting him now rather than before, otherwise he might have simply passed by. Blinded by his duty to his family years ago and not really seeing other potential happiness.

Her answer was what he wanted to hear.. for a second. There was something in it that made him feel uncertain and perhaps if her words to accepting Heiress weren't on his mind, he might've overlooked that, too. Is rank important to you? He would ask, raising a brow in curiosity and tilting his head a little bit. Wondering what it was that drove her forward in her days, other than her chosen trades, breathing and looking pretty, of course.

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Linn was decently new to feelings - the kind that bound others to her beyond the stretched thin familial line. (Her father was missing, her brother left, her mother and Eira were not of the name, her half siblings she’d yet to truly meet. Her twin long gone to everyone else but her.) Friendship was slowly forged as she interacted with her pride members. His question was an interesting one. Did it matter to her? Yes, and no. Linn began. Yes because I consider a rank proof of work and trust. No because I don’t need one to be helpful, even though I need one to be of assistance outside the rainforest. Silly little land laws.

@Jafar

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I see. Did he? Perhaps not as well as she did but Jafar could understand where she was coming from. Rank was of utmost important back home and to the long line of brothers, father, grandfather that came from the Casales name. To be strong in body was important and he tried to encourage his own children to believe the same, but to learn that being strong in other areas was helpful, too. Just because you were not a warrior didn't make you any less capable of something great. It was likely lesser so if you lived within the large pride of home but hear, he was sort of making up his own rules.

Jafar lingered in a comfortable silence as he contemplated her words still. Knowing his silence wasn't often comfortable for those he was supposed to be interacting with but he deigned never to say the wrong thing. Especially to a woman like @Linnæa who he very much wanted to continue tolerating him. The rank is yours, regardless. You may do with it as you see fit and can further teach other of your trades if you are interested. Even if that wasn't someone's interested path, it was always good to learn something else. Though, he was itching to jump to the next subject of his interest. Tell me of your family, perhaps? The only thing that he recalled was talk of her being a medic when she had joined and being interested in allies and laws. Though, he had yet to know anything other than her last name and what she practiced.

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I’m happy to use it. She accepted with grace, content with his offering. It was nice to know there were no hard feelings when she removed herself from the leadership ranks. One day, she’d like to be welcomed back. The subject shifted after some moments of silence. It had seemed @Jafar was thinking over her words. His next question felt like it held weight. I am of the Sìgrun, the followers of the sea god Vellen. There was less pride in it than if he had asked her some time ago. My mother is Revna and my father is Elïas. His second wife Dhaveria I like to think of as like an aunt or another mother. Reynir is my brother. Names for Jafar to hold onto should he come across them someday. My sister… Linn had begun and soon paused with her pale sage green gaze drifting inland as if to spot her with her mention.

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Perhaps it was his nature as a sleuth to get all the information he could one step at a time to learn more about someone or something. He could easily say that it was that but it was also the fascination with knowing her as best he could. Family was a large part of what made someone who they were and this would be no exception.

To any other lion, they might have recognized Sigrun instantly but he did not. At least, not to the writer's knowledge did he remember anyone ever saying the name to him. It was interesting hear that her family were followers of a sea god -- he might have to inquire upon that at some point. While he was not religious in any way, it did fascinate him. @Linnæa spoke of being a daughter of Revna and Elias. And a niece sort-of-thing to a Dhaveira, making her father also of the polygamy practice which (to Jafar as he puzzled it quickly) would make him coming to her as poly a lot easier to digest. Though, there was still a likelihood that she might not appreciate the idea of being potentially second even if Jafar didn't look at it like that. Brother Reynir and a sister...

What of your sister? He would ask gently, recognizing something amiss in the green eyes that had been a quick shift-to. Either the sister was at too large a distance or gone entirely, but the more he saw into her eyes the more he wanted to fight whatever force was keeping them apart.

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