AW And all I want is to live amongst The H2O

Juniper,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Swan

---

They came in hoards, so wild and free. Cutting through air as if they were dancing, and oh how their graceful wings clashed with their shrill voices. As if they’d been gargling with sea-glass. Those vultures of the sea. Juniper strolled down the shore, smelling of sea-spray and veiled the shadow of white birds. Her eyes bright, glinting in the momentary light. It was a chilly afternoon; the breeze had resorted to playful bites instead of savagely clawing down her flank and face. And yet…still she shivered. From cold or simple premonition, she did not know. The girl sat herself firmly in the sand, a yawn disfiguring her young, tender face. A long journey was behind her, and yet so much unknown spread before her eyes. There’s nothing like the fear of the endless, pearly-white page. Turquoise, swirling waves welcomed her, wearing their lace collars made of foam. It was an age-old tradition, one that brought back many memories. Along with the usual dose of pain. But who could’ve stopped her fluttering, childish heart when Juniper got up to chase the waves as the ocean sucked them in? Who could’ve stopped her high-pitched giggles as she ran from their foamy fingers? It was a game, a timeless tale. A vestige of her youth. Why would anyone deprive her of such happiness? "Speech" And I will try to fix you

Arodion,

Lion of Ithilien

Played by Naboo

---

Prints lined the sand, softly embossed into the coast's surface if only until the waves lapped away the evidence of her journey here. Chilly winds blew from over the water and in the distance formed little lips to waves that prematurely crashed over themselves, rising just barely above the surface to make a soft foam, though the closer they got to shore the higher and more powerful curl they achieved. Red gaze however pulled away from the waters, following idly in the steps of the paws, out of coincidence rather than actual interest in whomever had come this way. Long limbs stretched before him, tall form muscular though leaner than the average build for a lion his size. Ears rounded forward as the sparse mane - more like a ridge upon his neck - ruffled just at his shoulders where it was thickest.

There she was, chasing the waves freely with the abandon that he himself did not posses. Quietly he let his haunches sink to the earth, ears slightly leaning forward as his carminic gaze followed her. The sound of the waves was calming, but there was something in watching her that was equally as cathartic, letting his toes sink into the sand deeper each time that the waters tickled the hairs of his feet. Words did not manifest within the confines of his lips, so instead he watched quietly, letting her play undisturbed for as long as she wished.

@Juniper

Juniper,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Swan

---

Out of the corner of her glistening eye, she spied him. A pale figure, an unnamed ghost, Some stranger whose life she’d briefly intercept, whose mind would house her momentarily, or perhaps forever, as a blurry face. A pair of powder blue eyes. And yet she let herself savor that small handful of minutes in which her game continued. Until finally, the ebb and flow of the ocean disinterested her. Until the veil of misty childhood had gently slipped from before her eyes. It was so sweet and yet so bitter. A part of her wished to continue, to forcibly shift the veil back over her miserable eyes. But this other part, this quiet yet venerable part, knew that there were rules. Her poor mother, certainly the mere thought that her small Juniper had forgotten her manners would kill her. No. Not yet. She wasn’t that gone yet. Juniper swung around to face the stranger, flashing him a half-moon smile. She trotted up to him, her gaze travelling the landscape of his face. Searching for what lay behind those eyes. Oh-so-eager to drink in whatever stories, whatever mysteries his head and heart might hold. It’d been so long since she’d seen someone else that she had to wrestle with her desire to simply…to EMBRACE him. I know, it sounds horrible. But it was…it was just…so nice to see a friendly face. Well, depends what your definition of friendly is… “The water’s gorgeous this time of year,” she sighed wistfully, sneaking a glimpse back at the curving waves, “isn’t it?” "Speech" @Arodion And I will try to fix you

Arodion,

Lion of Ithilien

Played by Naboo

---

It had not been his intention to be wraithlike and looming, though it was easy for him to get lost within his own thoughts, having not been around others for a fair bit in the recent past had made him more comfortable with the way he interacted with nature and the creatures that he'd found along his travels. It hadn't meant that he'd been completely isolated or left to his own devices, but rather solitude was something he feared not, something that, in fact, he occasionally took comfort in. The company of his own thoughts and musings had been a comfort since his youth. The fact that his presence didn't immediately disturb her despite her apparent awareness - or so he hoped - of him soothed him somehow, as if she felt equally comforted in his presence and within the bounds of her own skin as he did here within hers.

Docile by nature the long-legged and svelte lion did not appear famished nor underweight; instead muscular and lean. When she turned to face him there had already been the very softened expression of ease and even the traces of a smile on his lips. Quickly she moved and approached, offering a smile, offering a fearless and almost brash expression of her emotion, of her self, and despite the red hue of his eyes, within the reflection and sharing the space that was occupied by her figure, was the softened appreciation for her response. The soft and honeyed tone of her voice simply made him smile, a small chuckle breaking the tension of his silence. "I must admit I was admiring you and not the water." As odd as the words may sound though, his soothing and gentle voice did little to spark a controversy to the contrary.

"I appreciate your enjoyment of the little things, that which most often overlook, like I myself did today." Now he basked in her appearance, looking at the circlets about her eyes and catching her blue gaze that matched the waters she had just basked in. "I'm Arodion, who might you be?" He didn't presume to know her or know of anyone from here, despite having been here since his birth, for until now it had been a relatively quiet and peaceful place.

@Juniper

_{art by munk, code by naboo}

Juniper,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Swan

---

Perhaps for him, solitude was but a windy meadow. A shady tree on a hill, eyes full of dappled sunlight. Solitude for him could be the rustling of leaves. And yet for her, it was an endless turbid ocean. It was a swirling whirlpool of thoughts, of regrets. As terrifying as other people were, they were often the last tether she had to this world. This world cloaked with light instead of darkness. Where fears were mere shadows that dissipated when the sun came up. Not like that inner world, were worries prey on the innocence of happy thoughts. Of hopes and dreams. They were complete opposites. And yet they didn’t know… What wonderful thoughts he must have had, in order to feel safe with them. A sharp little intake of breath hisses past her teeth, into her throat. It had caught her off guard, his compliment. Maybe it was the not being around people for such a long time, but she had the slightest feeling that he was flirting with her. Or was he just being nice? Hurry Juniper! Be nice back! “Wow, thank you,” the corners of her lips curl slightly, her gaze taking a dive towards the ground before she wills it up to his face again. “You’re not too bad yourself.” Though as he goes on it seems it was more of a…philosophical admiration rather than something more, um, carnal? Juniper could feel the little imaginary sprite of her consciousness just smacking her upside the head. What could she say? She’d forgotten people were so…deep. Her purplish head bobs in a nod, at least her understanding is sincere. “I think I like the little things the most, big things just make me nervous,” she chuckles. Now that she thought of it, he was quite big. At the very least, bigger than her, not that it took much to be so. During her youth she’d always wanted a smaller sized gal-pal so she could feel all royal and graceful. Like an older sister, perhaps. “Not that you, well you’re so…you don’t make me nervous.” Juniper beamed at him awkwardly. Her sprite of consciousness was looking some dark corner to hide. “I’m Juniper!” Finally, something simple. A minute more and her tongue would’ve been a pretzel. “Juniper Kingsley, at your service.” She sat up nice and straight. “I’m a doctor.” "Speech" @Arodion And I will try to fix you

Arodion,

Lion of Ithilien

Played by Naboo

---

Comparatively they had likely tread different paths on this earth, and their experiences most likely shaped whom they had become up until this very moment. While she seemed to maybe depend more on the contact with others, for him life was like the ocean; particles of water that went wherever the tide pulled them. Sometimes he would be at the shores of others and content to be within contact, and other times he floated endlessly as part of something larger. Whether there were others to keep him company, or whether he was depending on his own thoughts, dreams, and imagination to tide him through the long nights, he had always adapted. Much like the wandering breeze he had floated through life unbothered, but also perhaps unmotivated. He had never felt like there had been no reason or a lack of ambition until these others began arriving and claiming prides and staking their futures here; the evolution of the thoughts had slowly begun creeping up on him, but had not yet affected him such that he felt a desire, or a need, to change.

A serene and light laugh leaves his lips the moment she tells him he's not bad himself, though he is unsure of how to take it, how it was meant of the many possibilities his mind could conjure. Though the smile that affected his lips had reached his eyes, pleasantly crinkling the corners back and widening the chocolate markings which outlined the carmine gaze contained within. "I must need to try harder if i'm only 'not too bad'." The light hearted jest was accompanied by feigned hurt, arching his brows and pursing his lips slightly. He felt almost bad when she stumbled over her words and how he didn't make her feel nervous, once more having remained where he was, seated in the sands which were wet and gaining a rather accurate imprint of his tush around him. Though this time he was more gentle, pulling his ears forward and giving a more hearty chuckle.

"I should mention my last name is Firestone - but that doesn't mean anything here, unless I'm the center of some fearsome legend I haven't heard." The dig at himself only honest, for yes he was tall but he was lean, though often it was his eyes and their red hue that had others worried as well. The threads of mane at his shoulder ruffled a little as he took a deep breath in, overall feeling mirthful. "The pleasure is all mine Juniper, but I can't say I've ever met a doctor, a true honor." He bowed in an exaggerated manner with his right paw rising and sweeping towards his left, some threads of mane tickling the top of his head as the mohawk along his spine ruffled a little. "What brings a talented doctor here, to the shores of the sea?"



@Juniper

_{art by munk, code by naboo}

Juniper,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Swan

---

Her heart sent terrified pangs through her. Despite his teasing manner, her chest squeezes with guilt. A bitter, burning feeling. “No! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.” Juniper chuckles sheepishly, as that little voice in her head tells her not to take things so seriously. She’s rusty, real rusty at this apparently. As rusty as the crumbling Titanic. Definitely rustier than the necklace the stupid rich lady threw into the water at the end of the movie. He was stoic, well…not stoic. More like…a statue! Yes, beautiful and graceful but so still or at least distant that you sometimes wonder if they have a heartbeat. Is there anything at all encased in that cold, perfect marble? Juniper stared blankly at the mention of his last name. It was a cool one, certainly. Much better than Kingsley. Though the question of who’s better between kings and fire still stands. “What sort of legend? What did you do?” Half of it is curiosity, the other half is to make sure he does most of the talking. Because, again. Titanic. And well, who wouldn’t want to hear about Arodion’s epic travails? Maybe if she listened hard, if she closed her eyes, she could imagine going on those adventures with him. They were whispers, ghosts, the gossamer wings of long-gone butterflies. How long had she lived with a pit in her stomach instead of butterflies? Forever, forever…that’s all she could think. It’s been forever since she felt something good. And if only he could tell her, describe in beautiful and excruciating detail whatever forbidden love story got him thrown out. If he was thrown out. Maybe he walked out? A righteous knight, a savior of his people…painted in a terrible light. Oh, the drama! His solemn yet goofy bow was returned with a similar clumsy curtsy, her head falling forward and her limbs bending slightly before she sprung up again. Never met a doctor? Well, perhaps she was in the right place. It made her giddy, yet frightened. Imagining them coming in droves, caked in blood and filth. They needed someone better than her, right? Someone like… “I guess I just…it was time for me to find my own place,” she smiles. That’s putting it lightly. But I was chased off by my mother due to a pandemic doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. And it definitely isn’t a worthy icebreaker. “What do you do?” "Speech" @Arodion And I will try to fix you