Ahh, yes family alliances. More bullcrap. They were fierce, sure, but misplaced fierceness, if Bhas had a say in it. Putting so much fire towards him, who had done nothing to wrong them. In fact, he had helped them. More than once. On @Aquila's question about Asteria fitting in, the peach paladin pause for a bit to reflect on her character and construct his response. The first time I met her she was just a tiny whelp, she was alone. Didn't seem scared. Looked cheerful, hopeful. Said she wanted to be a Queen someday. He vaguely wondered if she still had that wish. The onyx girl had changed so much in the blink of an eye that he wasn't sure if she had an ounce of grey matter to think with anymore. She brought Saga Sigrun to my doorstep, completely turning on me and blaming me for this other cub's malnourishment. As if he hadn't welcomed both Nero and Asteria in his home, among his friends. Offered them food and shelter. Pff. When I dragged her out of the sea, she looked like she had gone completely crazy. Bonkers. Flipped the switch. A sad, sad state. She never seemed fierce, just a cheerful girl with big hopes and dreams. Not anymore, he thought. Something had broken.

Bhaskar was never wrong about Aquila. He had always had a high opinion of the bronze lion, ever during their first meeting. That opinion only grew higher now as the bronze man mentioned that he'd be thankful nonetheless. While the red-haired man wanted none of that gratefulness, he couldn't help but feel appreciated for once. It was sad to hear that Aquila's family was forced into the foreigner's system, simply because it was a matter of survival for them. ...nothing but trouble since then. I'm sick of them. Bhas listened carefully, empathizing with the older lion. A big sigh left his lips as he observed the valley that Aquila was born in, his homeland that strangers like Bhaskar had changed so abruptly. I haven't lived as much as you, but I've learned one thing: lionkind is power-hungry. It always will be. He finally understood Aquila's perspective, had insight into why the man was choosing to play by the rules. Something needs to happen. There needs to be a change. He said firmly, but inside him there was uncertainty. Bhas didn't have any plan of action, nor did he know how to compose one. He was but a single man and the valley's rules seemed like an unbreakable stone wall. Vaguely, he thought about Gawain and Newt. About all the others who planned on starting a group with no hierarchy, no rules to play by. Was that their solution? He bit his lip, unsure.

_{ART — CODE}

Good for Something

He looked forlorn, lamenting the loss of Asteria (or rather who she was) for Bhaskar. She had to matter to him in some way. Enough that he was reacting like this. The way he described her, the way he gave thought about how to describe her, it wasn't time or attention you gave to just anyone. To lose whoever he had known in Asteria, and to meet the fierce blade of the Sigrun in one blow? It made sense why he was so impacted. It sounds to me like she might have crumbled under whatever pressure was put on her by the Sigrun. Aquila had seen the adults bred by the Sigrun, cheerful and far reaching dreamers were not two of the traits Aquila would attribute to them. Intentional or not. If I hear anything about her- do you want to know how she's doing? It just didn't sound like a child like Asteria would not be impacted by that family. Maybe Bhaskar wouldn't want to know.

Aquila lightly shook his head. He didn't think it mattered in this how young Bhaskar was, age was irrelevant. It had taken Aquila longer to learn just how hard things were beyond his homelands, to really know. It always will be. He echoed in agreement, the weight of his own thoughts pressing in on his chest and down his back like some invisible hand come to crush him. I don't think there is any chance left for change here. The greedy and power hungry had been let in. Doors thrown wide open and the red carpet rolled out. Not everyone lived that sort of life, not everyone wanted and took what they desired from others. But enough did. Enough that you almost had to play by that rulebook in order to not lose what little you had already. There was no hope for his home. Only hope is for survival, doing what we have to. Shutting out their hearts when they had to.

Crumbled under the pressure. That sounded like a viable option, but Bhaskar couldn't know at the end of the day. He hoped it wasn't anything worse, hoped that they haven't put her through harm. Although they were placing her in harm's way indirectly with whatever they were teaching her. Intentionally or not, they endangered the life of a child. She chose to be with them, so did Nero. Were they happy now with their new lives as Sigrun? The fiery-haired man felt that justice has been served, in a sense. After all, Asteria had brought Saga to his doorstep. Now, she suffers the consequences of her bad decisions. It was by far the noblest thought that lurked at the back of his mind, but to him, it was a valid one.

@Aquila was kind enough to offer to relay information to Bhas about Asteria's well-being, but the tense man stared into the distance. No, don't bother. There wasn't even an ounce of him that regretted those words. His trust has been betrayed once, then his good deed was spit on. That was more than enough for him to sever all ties off. He was an all-around friendly and loving guy, but once somebody betrays him he will not hesitate to cut them out of his life.

The bronze lion only confirmed Bhaskar's fear that there was nothing they could do to bring about change. He gritted his teeth in annoyance. The truth stung, but he was ready to fight it. Why? There needs to be something we can do. The land spread before them looked so calm and cozy under the blanket of snow, but both lions knew the turmoil that lied beneath. Was their only hope to play by the valley's rules? No, I refuse to play by their rules. He said through gritted teeth, his voice sounding more guttural now more than ever. Bhas still didn't know what to do, but he was going to find out. There needs to be a way to bring about change.

_{ART — CODE}

Good for Something

The older lion nodded, his chin tilting down slightly and staying there. He let his vision hang low, look out at stones and nothingness while he responded with a calm affirmation. Ok, of course. Bhaskar sounded certain of his choice, there was a biting sincerity to his voice. If he was ever destined to care and change his mind it would need to be something he did on his own. And maybe it was not a stage Bhaskar would ever get too. Aquila couldn't judge that, not that kind of betrayal.

Why was it impossible? Oh he felt his age in his bones. He felt a moment of warm light like he used to, like for a glimmering second his companion's hope and forcefulness might make it possible. It died away. There isn't enough of lions like you and I to go around. Not enough to begin to make ripples let alone sustain any change. Like you said, lions are power-hungry. They could try to live out their own ways but even his own family's ways were eroding bit by bit. Passive changes, acclimations, playing this game the strangers loved. His loving, gentle, arms wide open family. We only live outside their rules as long as they let us, or as long as we have fight in us. But never with enough energy to truly return things to a fraction of before.

The fire in his veins didn't stop burning, it simply changed direction. Why did this topic light him up so much? Why did he care about making a change? Bhaskar was outright sick of being undermined and looked down upon by men and women who think they can lead him around, simply because they had a made-up title. Their attitude shook him to his core because he had been stomped upon all his life. For fuck's sake, did he run away from one dictator only to stumble upon a bunch of wannabe dictators? His soul screamed, fought with tooth and claw at the very thought of bending a knee to this again. What if there are enough lions, but they think there aren't others like them? Just like Aquila thought. If everyone remained stuck in the same mindset, never wanting to at least try then real change would never come about.

"We only live outside their rules as long as they let us, or as long as we have fight in us." I'd rather die fighting than live by their stupid rules. It wasn't just a young man's dream. He has and will be fighting to make a difference all his life. There must be someone else beside @Aquila that would stand up. Bhaskar's mind often worked in black and white, especially when it came to his political views. It was a fact that he didn't see any difference between the tyranny of his homeland and the pride leaderships of Amaryllis. To him, power was the root of all evil. It was inevitable for even the good rulers to become corrupt and fall into violent ways.

_{ART — CODE}

Good for Something

What if there were enough? It was laughably naive to Aquila, that idea. But the older lion did enjoy the brief rush of confidence and possibility that Bhaskar gave him. For a few seconds he admired the possibility and then the jaded parts of his mind reigned supreme. Do you truly believe that? Knowing how few it takes to push lions into this behavior? One. A few. More close off themselves for protection. It cascaded into a wave from but a few souls at the start. There may be a of lions like he and Bhaskar who craved a different life but even so many sounded like too few.

But he challenged Bhaskar with the question anyways and remained receptive to the response. He did not sound with a condescending voice but was one truly curious how deep this belief went into the young lion.

It is going to get cold up here as night comes. And they would not be changing much of they froze to death. We should not stay up here for much longer. It would get cold, the chilly night would come and bring some true darkness to them. Travel would be dangerous and Aquila did not want to leave his younger friend alone just yet ..

Perhaps Bhaskar was naive, perhaps he was clinging onto a hope that only fools would cling to. He was, in the end, just two years of age. All his rage, all his insecurities were exacerbated by his inexperienced mind. He stubbornly agreed with the bronze lion. I do. His baritone voice held intense certainty, mirroring his iron-clad gaze. The cold winds blew snow towards the two men. The weather was changing as time flew by and night began to sink down. Bhaskar felt a shiver snake down his spine, his skin tremble ever so slightly. @Aquila was the first to say something about it, far less prideful than the young lion. You're right, He agreed, glancing to the side where his friend stood. Let's leave now. There was far less bitterness and stiffness in his voice, the conversation and Aquila's presence had managed to calm him down. The peach paladin stood up, taking a few steps in the snow to climb down the Lookout.

exit w/ Aquila

_{ART — CODE}

He believed. Aquila felt a complex confliction in his heart, one that would not let him speak up to dissuade @Bhaskar from this belief. Because somewhere in his own heart Aquila wanted to have that same faith, wanted to believe this future that had been built up here was not the only option for he and his family. The older male just merely nodded and hoped that Bhaskar could hold onto that hope, could make something of himself enough that he could have strong influence. Could propel the change he, and Aquila, both craved like oxygen.

A few flakes of snow settled on Aquila's eyelashes, white flecks that lived for a few moments and then faded with a shimmer. He blinked away the moisture as he rose up to his feet. Lead on. He offered his friend the chance to forge their path, trusting that they would not be led astray this day by each other.

/exit