Mr. Sandman

Arodion,

Lion of Ithilien

Played by Naboo

---

Though the sun hung high in the skies above the jungle its rays could not penetrate the dense canopy that stood between him and its warmth. Instead the dimly lit path before grew darker, tangles of vine and leaves grew in the spaces where trees did not fill. Carmine eyes gradually becoming beacons in the dark, responding to the occasionally stream of light that filtered through mercilessly upon his form as he traversed deeper into the rainforest. Paws stepping over moistened earth, dew that had formed on the debris under foot had not cleared in the hours since its arrival, causing him to question his footing even as his claws sunk into the soft layer of soil. Nostrils switched betwing thinning and widening, the scents of the surroundings performing an assault as he was hit with the cold, damp earth, the vines which were working their ways up trees and strangling the very life from them released a scent reminiscent of ichor. There were no bountiful blooms nor theatrically flashy birds here, though that did not stop the sounds from above from reaching his ears, which slowly laced towards the sides of his skull as a tepid breath hung loosely in his jaws.

The path continued on into the darkness, forming a tunnel that narrowed and caused the nearby brush to close in around his tall and lanky form. Leaves rustled against his shoulders and left streaks of water to soak into his creamy coat, joining together the hairs and causing droplets to rain from his sides. Moisture began soaking into his mane and causing the strands along his spine to weigh down, curling in a manner that shortened them, leaving no natural spring to the chocolate tuft at his shoulders and towards his mid-back. The taste of the forest had even infiltated into his mouth, the air pregnant with the gritty, earthen taste of the ground beneath. Temporarily distracted by the acrid taste that had filled his mouth he'd not seen the snare of vine that laced between his shoulders and blocked his path, entangling around his right limb and halting all progress forward. Releasing the breath which had taken residence within his jaws came with a low sigh of mild irritation, unable to move for the time being.

_{art by munk, code by naboo}

Arcania,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Zena

---

There was so much to this place, and so many things to explore. Arcania enjoyed the darker places, and so when she had found herself heading into the rainforest she had purposefully sought out the more secluded areas. She hadn't anticipated running into anyone else along the way, so when she'd seen another in the distance she had been tempted to turn and walk away from him... but then she saw where he was going and followed with a growing sense of amusement. One could guess how this was going to wind up.

She followed as best she could without entering the tunnel herself, prowling along through the bushes to the side of the path he was following and winding up walking along a fallen log when she heard the sigh escape him.

"How's that working out for you?" she asked with no small amount of amusement.

@Arodion

Arodion,

Lion of Ithilien

Played by Naboo

---

Seeing another in his company rustled his ears forward and made his face distort into a mixture of displeasure and amusement. Equally torn between both a low sigh escaped him once more as he waggled his butt backwards in an attempt to free himself of the vines with no luck. It almost felt as if they had closed more around him - an impossibility really - but he did wonder if it was even possible to have become more stuck than he'd previously been. With some semblance of honest charm he smiled towards her. "Suppose not very well, my fault though." Whiskey rich tones rolled smoothly from his lips and he hopped back once more, feeling vines tighten against his chest and lace behind his elbows. "You wouldn't happen to be in the helping mood, would you?" There was a kind raise of his eyebrows as his carmine eyes gazed upon her, despite his age looking somewhat sheepish in his current predicament.

_{art by munk, code by naboo}

Arcania,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Zena

---

Not very well indeed, she thought, making no effort to hide her amusement. Well, at least he knew he'd gotten himself into trouble. It wasn't as funny when they tried to bluster their way through it. Well, it was when they finally admitted defeat, if they ever did, but it was so dull if they managed to get themselves out of whatever trouble they'd managed to wander into. Just served to enlarge their ego even further, really.

She made a show of considering his question before she jumped down from her perch. "I suppose so," she replied, intrigued by him enough to not leave him stranded there. The trouble was, how to get him out without getting caught herself?

Some of the vines she could just unloop from around him, but once that was done she was forced to resign herself to attempting to gnaw through them, and she realized very quickly that they didn't taste great. Her nose scrunched up in distaste even as she continued to chew, because she'd said she would help and she was, if very little else, a woman of her word.

@Arodion

Arodion,

Lion of Ithilien

Played by Naboo

---

There was a decadence with which she regaled him, the show placed the moment she jumped down and through the duration of her consideration for his request. It was almost endearing, if one could endear themselves to someone that was nearly a complete stranger. She seemed kind, even though she was clearly enjoying his misery far too much. "I will have to repay you in more than kind." A lilt of his voice somewhat faux mocking as she began helping him.

The vines began to unravel from his body and pulled away in a way that felt more liberating than he had imagined. Some of his fur still stuck in the wrong direction from where the wet vines had left their mark and other parts of his chocolate and creamy coat were stained with green and brown residue. When she began to gnaw on one of the vines he assisted unhooking his particularly tangled right leg, pulling back until at last it unhooked from behind his elbow and he was freed once more, ears popping forward and he turned to her, graciously and over-acting as he bowed to her. "I am indebted to you, madame. What is your name? I'm Arodion, from the Ithilien Pride of the forest." The introduction felt strange rolling from his tongue and all at once it settled so comfortably and well.

@Arcania

_{art by munk, code by naboo}

Arcania,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Zena

---

Oh, if only he knew who he was pledging a debt to, he might have thought twice about it. But, he didn't, and she smiled at the idea of having something over someone, even if it was a simple favor. Favors, when called in at the proper time, could be quite powerful after all.

They worked him free, and she immediately spit out the vine once he backed away, wanting to get the taste out of her mouth as soon as possible. No doubt it would linger for a bit, but she forced the look of distaste off her features.

"Arcania X'uekai, of nowhere for the moment," she replied, taking a seat and tucking her tail around herself as though she were some sort of dainty creature. If he wanted to play the gentleman then she would appear the lady. A pride in the forest eh? Well then perhaps he should have known better than to go wandering around into some vines. Clearly not, though.

She wasn't interested in any old pride these days anyway, unless it was out by the coast near Hecuba. She was nothing if not loyal to those who caught her attention. She didn't want to be too far away from them. "I prefer to live on the coast," she concluded, which wasn't a statement she had ever thought she would say, considering she had found it unlikely that she would ever find a place she was willing to settle down in.

@Arodion

Arodion,

Lion of Ithilien

Played by Naboo

---

She wrangled the vines with more finesse than he had managed as his paw swiped across his chest and rubbed lightly, jaws clenching for a moment as he felt a spot where his skin had tightened like an Indian sunburn and rubbed in a most unpleasant way. While his jaw scrunched for only a moment he felt it softening once more while she accommodated herself. "Arcania, you've a lovely name." Despite the flattery, which it was not meant to be lavish nor foolhardy, his voice was quite earnest and his smile returned in spades. "What draws you to the coast that you wish to make it your home? I find the sea-breeze a little harsh myself. However a sunset there.. well I'd stay for that." As he settled he found himself adjusting so that he could pull some debris from his coat, but laughingly looked back up towards her. "Quite different here in the jungle than the coast. Lucky for me something brought you here, speaking of which, what was it that pulled you from your favored place?" There was something energetic and smooth, charismatic about him that seemed almost contagious.

@Arcania

_{art by munk, code by naboo}

Arcania,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Zena

---

She tipped her head in acknowledgement of his words, though she wasn't certain what to say in response to them. Thank him? Eh, that wasn't her style. Might as well just let it slide, she decided. It wasn't as though she was interested in making friends and influencing people after all. Not just yet. If Hecuba asked it of her then perhaps, but until then she would remain at best a neutral party. She wasn't exactly afraid to speak her mind.

"My former queen," she replied simply, seeing no reason to lie to him. "She prefers to live there, and therefore so do I. The sand is... rather irritating, but the fish are plentiful and as you said, the view leaves little to be desired."

Well, wasn't he just nosy? Luckily for him, she was agreeable to being nosed at.

"Seeking interesting places," she said. "Those that are less frequented usually have some of the more intriguing things, and why shouldn't they considering they have to be forced to give them up?" Gems only grew in the depths of the earth, for example. "But what of yourself? This rainforest may be a forest but it isn't your typical one," she commented, knowing full well the more traditional forests that he spoke of living in.

@Arodion