It was time to discuss things. Aarani had long since given up hope that the child would ever be anything more than a rotten brat, and though she felt for @Seneca having to raise her, the woman put her own children first. The health and safety of her own blood far outweighed that of the royal family's, and so she felt no shame when she called for the king. He had been kind enough during her stay, yes, and helped resuscitate her from the brink of death. Everything had been fine before Genya had given birth, but she was growing tired of constantly needing to discipline cubs outside of her lineage. Aarani settled to wait, hoping he wouldn't be too long.

Table by Ice. Graphic by Brooke.

He had been expecting this meeting. @Aarani had, after all, asked him for one, and he has no reason to deny her. Seneca doesn't doubt her unhappiness within the Oasis recently; he is hardly fool enough not to recognize that she is suddenly raising her children alone. She is, evidently, much better at it than him, considering the wild forces of his daughters. Sons would have been easier, he's certain of it. His ears lay half reclined against the thick ruff of his mane as he makes his way in the direction of Aarani's call. He finds her at the edge of the oasis waters, and quietly approaches to recline beside her. An ear flickers towards her, anticipating that she will soon enough broach the silence with her reason for calling him here.

image by k'sariya, code by koi

@Seneca wasted no time in heeding her call, something the exhausted mother appreciated. She didn't want to take up much of his time, but her children were simply not negotiable. "You have your hands full," the lioness finally said, shifting her weight. Once upon a time she had looked at him with lust, but now, with no one to stop her from acting on it, she only felt sadness. She didn't want the freedom to act on it, she wanted her husband and wife. How had things gone so wrong so quickly? "I am tired of Diantha and Victoria bullying my children. Kicking sand at their eyes, calling them gross, acting as though they own the place and tearing my cubs down is inexcusable and abhorrent behavior. They have no manners, respect no one, and will bring you nothing but shame if they continue on the way they are." Rani felt comfortable saying as such. "That being said, the pride is yours and your family is yours, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. I only seek the release of my family to find home elsewhere." Somewhere there were no bratty princesses to kick sand and throw tantrums when they were disciplined.

Table by Ice. Graphic by Brooke.

There is a long moment of suffering silence between them; @Aarani's demeanor has changed, but it isn't unexpected, considering what she's been through. When eventually she does break the quiet, she is met with a low grunt of exasperated agreement. How the forces that be have deigned to give him such troublesome daughters drives a wedge into whatever relationship they had prior, and Seneca, too, grows tired of petulant behavior. He cannot, however, be constantly on the heels of his children and maintain the standing of his home. His lips purse, allowing Aarani to make her complaints -- they are valid ones, after all, and he boasts no argument. If nothing else, Seneca seems some mixture of steeled and exhausted, and where a father should be able to feel a blossoming love and pride for his children, he is beginning to feel only disdain. If Genya will not take up the task of keeping their daughters in line when he cannot, then he will soon set Vesuvia to the task. "They will be dealt with," he promises lowly, the frustration palpable in his voice, though it is clearly not directed at the former queen. She has done nothing to earn ire; quite the contrary, Aarani has earned a quotient of Seneca's respect, marking her one of the few who will find no argument when she asks such a request of him. "Go, then," he says quietly, his brooding stare still set upon the wellspring, "I would not try to keep you." Truthfully, he would prefer her to stay, but he is not a man of so many words or admissions, and so he leaves the thought in the back of his head unspoken. "May you find peace," Seneca muses softly, his gaze finally drifting to meet hers. He dare not say happiness, for who could even consider such a thing in the wake of loss that weighs upon her? He can hardly blame her for her desire to flee the Oasis, despite his own sense of melancholy to see her go. Despite himself, he's grown fond of the woman.

image by k'sariya, code by koi

"It's for your own sanity that I hope you are right," the woman murmured, eyes falling to the dunes she loved so dearly. Aarani couldn't deny she was heartbroken to leave her home, but what else could she do to protect her children? Outside of consistently disciplining an eighth child (not that her cubs often needed to be, bless their hearts) there was little to be done. Her children deserved a home where they did not need to fear being bullied by royalty, and she was intent on giving them the life they needed to flourish. @Seneca offered her release without complaint, as much as she may have wanted some sort of glimmer that she would be missed. He was a man of business, she understood, yet despite everything she had grown fond of him and his steely personality. "Thank you, Seneca," she offered softly, moving to press her shoulder against his and place a kiss on his cheek. "May your reign be long and prosperous, my king." Aarani took a moment to truly look at him, appreciate his features as though she would never see him again. She smiled softly before turning to leave, wishing things could have been different in the end. exit unless stopped

Table by Ice. Graphic by Brooke.

At least she doesn't fault him. @Aarani has been blessed with obedient children, it would seem -- idly, Seneca wonders how she has managed such a feat. Perhaps it is the fact that she's far more experienced at the task than he is, or perhaps it's simply genetics. He is admittedly surprised when she draws closer, leaning against his shoulder and offering something of a fond goodbye. His brows knit together, though he accepts the gesture without complaint, and with some amount of confusion. Evidently, they share something of a budding fondness -- something he wasn't previously certain she reciprocated. It's a shame his foolish daughters have stripped them of the opportunity to get to know each other better. "Until we meet again," he rumbles with an unanticipated softness, his muzzle brushing against her brow as that pang of melancholy hits him again. Foolish boy, if only he were capable of more than his stoicism. Seneca watches her go, withholding his budding sigh until she is out of earshot before he vanishes into the underbrush. Exeunt Seneca

image by k'sariya, code by koi