He's been trailing her. Like a flea ridden lap dog he has set his nose to the faintest linger of her scent. The only place he had not been, the only place he knew she would be, was the lagoon. But still, he has not made it quite that far.

Ransom had paced up and down the beach for hours, debating with himself his course of action. Anger has nipped at his heels for days and he has stalked the lands of Amaryllis with a snarl waiting behind every benign encounter.

He's angry with her. Wants her to feel the humiliation he has felt these past days. Ransom was adrift in his life and the easiest target to blame for all that irritated him was the one that he most desperately wanted, needed.

Obsidian sand kicked up behind his careless feet until at last, tired, he stops and sits down to face the lapping tides whilst he makes his decision.

He will not leave her, the thought of that does not even enter his mind. It is an impossibility. They are connected, entwined. Their souls no longer separate. He is just bruised, both in body and in ego, and his young man's temper has been flared. At some point, as he sits there, he realises this. Standing, he knows that he must go to her.

@Alizabeth

The Sovereign had been a bit busy as of late, but it wasn't that she was purposely neglecting @Ransom, or anyone else in her life. With the Mist rolling in, it had become a bit noticeable that there were some within the Lagoon missing. The woman had been attempting to keep an eye out on the borders as well, as she didn't put it past the Rike to invade during such a vulnerable time.

A scent touches her nose, however, as she walks along the familiar shore. Taking a moment to search for those she loved, it was amusing that Ransom was the first she came across. A low, rumbling growl ushers from her jaws, but it is one of affection. "Hey babe." She croons warmly, unaware that he is angry with her.

Fighting was so much apart of her life that it didn't occur to her that it may affect him differently. Slowly she would slid up beneath his chin, running her nose along his cheek lightly. "How's that paw of yours?" Vibrant eyes cast down to the wound. Perhaps she could have Elixir look at it. Or had he sought a medic already?

Unknowingly, he had moved in her direction. His heavy steps rose to a slightly quicker beat when he caught sight of @Alizabeth's white form in front of him across the sand.
He is relieved, the expression was quick to show on his face as she neared, her voice a balm to his ears. The ghoul leaned down, pressing his mouth into her cheek, his hot breath needy and urgent as he caressed the soft white fur. He's almost lost to the feeling, the desire. Being around Alizabeth was so different than anything he had ever known, or ever will. In these moments, he would forgive her anything.

Reality comes crashing back in with her question, he's cruelly torn from thoughts of a blissful reunion to the image of her cooing over her son in the wake of their fight, her standing giddily on the sidelines as he and Alabaster came to blows.

"It's fine." He lies, still feeling the sting of injury. Ears slid back across his ebony mane, his cool gaze darkening as he pulled away from her slightly. "Alizabeth," He began, regarding the smaller woman with perhaps more sternness than he felt, wanting her to take him seriously. "I have seen you enjoying pitting me against those you love, knowing I must hold back and restrain myself out of love for you." His body stills as he runs his gaze across her face. "I do not appreciate being treated like a toy. If you would have me fight, let it be for a purpose."

The feline let out a soft hum as his lips pressed against her cheek, his warm breath and scent washing over her like a soothing blanket. A rumbling purr vibrated her chest, vibrant magenta eyes already taking on those 'come hither' eyes that she did ever so flawlessly when her desire was sparked. Ransom's voice rings out and Alizabeth remembers she's concerned for his foot, so her focus shifts back down to it.

Despite his words, she noticed that it wasn't as healed as it could be had a medic seen to it. Brows furrow slightly, about to speak and mention letting him see a medic at the lagoon, when he says her name. Ears perk, her head lifts and she gazes up at him, focused on his face. Words of accusation spill from his lips and those ears of hers instantly shift back, nose wrinkling softly. "Think you have me confused for a cold-hearted bitch, babe." She mutters, her heart sinking a bit. Did @Ransom really think she was capable of just pitting him against others so carelessly.

"I ain't pit you against no one. Nero's attack on you wasn't planned and I fuckin' stumbled across it on accident. Stepping in woulda done more damage to him, so forgive me for giving two fucks about my son." She growls softly, moving away from him, the hair along her spine standing on end in agitation. The ashen woman figured Ransom could hold his own, and while she had wanted to see what Ransom would do, she had at least trusted him enough to even let the fight happen to begin with. "Got any other fuckin' accusations you wanna throw my way while you're at it, hot shot?" Alizabeth snaps, head low, pink eyes narrowing intently.

The ghoul watches her, witness to the anger that courses through @Alizabeth and finds it's direction so keenly aimed at him. This woman has taken him down twice and scarred him in the effort. Yet he has no fear of her, he stands, ears slipping back whilst he's berated like a child. A perhaps not unjust punishment given his own choice words.
Ransom soaked in her vitriol, harnessing his temper better than in the past due to the epiphany gained only a few minutes before. Perhaps part of him enjoys flaring her ire, feeling the sharp slap of her words just to know that she does care, that she does, after all, love him.
"I'm sorry." Cerulean eyes sought her magenta gaze. "I thought that you were testing my loyalty or putting me in my place." He certainly had not liked the feeling of being at the bottom of her pile of collections.

@Ransom stands there quietly, simply taking her words and Alizabeth partially appreciates it, partially resents it. Half the time it's more fun when they argue, but she also didn't want that to be the base of their entire relationship. Despite their conflicts, the woman did love him - and deeply.

Her heart fluttered in her chest at his apology and the ivory woman found herself moving forward, pressing her nose along his cheek delicately, "I've never had to question yer loyalty, and yer place is by my fuckin' side. No where else." She murmurs, tongue dancing out to caress his flesh, gentle - which was oddly out of character for her.

War-torn, aggressive, and a little unhinged, Alizabeth was dedicated and gentle when it mattered. Especially to those who meant everything to her. "I'm sorry too, babe, if I've seemed too fuckin' callous. I'm not good at this shit." All she could do was motion to herself in general. Relationships had never been her strength, hell - Ransom and Alabaster were the only semi-stable interactions she'd had with men in her long life.

@Alizabeth's anger seemed to quieten and he is both relieved and disappointed. The male did not wish to constantly be in conflict with her, but he did not dislike that the heat of their exchanges often left him trembling with want and obsession.
Affection is permitted to him, to which the giant offers up the immediate press of his mouth to her neck in return, a lick and then the push of his nose into her desirable white fur.
A single ear flicked forward to catch her words, his throat rumbling out a growl as an initial response before he spoke. "You are not callous. You care. Too much perhaps." Is this how she viewed herself? Ransom did not see the lioness that she saw.

His mismatched stare swept across her scarred body as he withdrew his head to look at her once again, to assure her of his devotion. "You are strong, brave and beautiful. I am selfish and needy with you." He smirked a little, not exactly sorry for his often intense and very self centred feelings.

He speaks and surprises her. It shows briefly on her features as those vibrant eyes watch the male continued to talk and look toward her. She met his gaze, brows furrowing a bit. This was why. Why both Ransom and Alabaster were so important to her. Both saw her, understood her and never in her life had anyone ever done that. @Ransom, her beast, kept her on her toes. Brought out the aggression she needed to thrive, fed it and nurtured it. Closing her eyes, Alizabeth turned to press her forehead to his, inhaling his scent.

"I don't mind ya being fuckin' needy, just give me more credit next time, yeah?" She muses softly, tongue lashing out to begin grooming his mane as best she can. A heavy sigh escapes her. This situation with Nero and him needed to settle eventually. Living this way wasn't exactly something she wanted to do, but she would keep them both separate if necessary. "Also, ya must have me mixed up with some proper damsel, yeah? I ain't even close to beautiful." Laughing, the ivory woman coos and continues her affectionate grooming. It wasn't that she wasn't confident or didn't think herself attractive. Beautiful was just never a word she'd thought to describe herself with.

They cannot keep apart, such is the intensity of their connection. Some part of Ransom understands his place here, in this unusual threesome of theirs. He feels that Alabaster is her light, the goodness and the romance that she deserves. But Ransom... he was the darker parts of her soul. He loved her violence, her spiteful tongue. He craved her sharp claws and her passionate kiss.
Ransom leaned into the touch of their foreheads, leaning down to make the action easier for both her and himself. Her tongue delved expertly into his mane and the behemoth enjoyed the sensation, allowing quietness to overtake him as @Alizabeth spoke. His bobbed tail flicked mindlessly.
When she was finished, the ghoul turned his mouth to bite at the empty space where the rest of her left ear should be. "You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen." He growled, both playful and serious. Would he give his entire life over to a lioness that was mediocre?

Pulling back from his touch to her forehead, those magenta eyes gazed up at @Ransom with a softened look at his words. It was rare, but she was capable of being gentle and womanly, he knew all too well, but she was also brash and probably more manly than most lions she came across. Not that any of that mattered in the end. Alizabeth doesn't say anything in return, she simply stands and wraps her forelimbs around his neck and attempts to tussle him onto his side, pulling him into a playful wrestle of sorts. Teeth would grab for one of his ears, tugging on it before nibbling and purring deeply along the lobe. Say pretty words, get nice prizes. The ivory woman would rile him into a lustful embrace, wanting to keep their bodies close and touching for as long as possible in this moment.

/fade