The Meaning Of Relaxion (Alba)

[BRUTIS]

Brutis stared at his reflection in the lake, not liking what he saw. It wasn't that he looked bad, though he wasn't particularly good-looking in his mind. Rather, it was simply that he could see the strain in his own face, the anger in his eyes, the way he looked like he was gonna snap any moment that bothered him. Those who didn't know him would probably not see it, but he certainly did.

He slapped his reflection with his paw, then rolled over so he was facing the trees. Yeah. That was better. As he lied there, he heard something moving and instantly jumped to his feet. A hunt by himself was exactly what he needed. Lying around only made him dwell on his problems more. He looked around and sniffed, trying to determine what prey he was going after. When all he smelled was wolf, he tried not to look disappointed. He wasn't one to start conversation, so he instead looked in the direction the noise came from and waited, hoping this wolf was friendly.

[Teu~]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/2h81m4i.png] The female had been crouched low to the ground, her slim bodice prowling forward toward her imaginary prey. She might have looked silly to any one that might have chanced upon her, but it was a good exercise for her. It helped her mind, and body get into the swing of things. Her stunning sheer blue optics were locked on a prey that was not really there, her movements slow, and calculated. She looked as if she were a cat stalking it's prey. That was when another's scent wafted into her nostrils, and she froze. For a few moments, she could not tell if this wolf was female or male. She seemed to have a knack for running into other wolves while honing her hunting abilities. The female rose to her full height, her slender columns raising her white bodice above the ground, and into view of the male. Her petite crown was turned toward him, audits perked forward as she determined if she should stay to chat, or leave. Alba was never really one to show any emotions at all. Her face was always blank as a slate, and no emotion was hardly ever heard in her voice unless it was extreme. An unwavering emotion that demanded to be let free of the confinements of her body. Her fur was white as snow, not a speck of dirt to be seen on it. She took care of it, and herself, that much was clear. She paused for a few moments before moving forward, her movements smooth, and easy going. "Hello there, stranger." She called out to him, her voice void of emotion, but some how soft, and cold like a winter's first snow fall. She came to a stop a few paces away from him, her gaze looking him over the way a guard might look one over. There was no attraction involved at all.

[BRUTIS]

When Brutis laid his eyes upon her, he was immediately stricken by her appearance. If there were an ice goddess, that was what she'd imagine she'd look like. When the fae spoke, her voice even sounded reminiscent of snow. But, of course, this wasn't the first fae to catch his attention in such a way, and he took deep breaths to calm himself down. Of course, most faes, or wolves in general for that matter, didn't normally come within a few paces of him and greet him in such a way. Well, no matter. He'd greet her the way he normally greets other wolves, when he has to. He crouched down into a half-bow, which was his normal way of showing his fellow wolves his respect.

"Greetings," he responded, his voice coming out in the slightly raspy calm as was usual for him. "My name is Brutis, beta of Sensuret. And who might you be?"

[Teu~]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/2h81m4i.png] The white femmora watched as he fell into a semi-bow, and responded to what she had to say. His voice was raspy, but still welcoming. There was no threat here, no not yet. She herself had allowed her body to tilt on the forehand, her crown tucking in near her chest. It was custom to bow this way in greeting where she was from. She was not giving him any special treatment. She remained in the pose for a few moments before raising her stunning blue gaze to his once more. "Brutis, is it?" She asked, testing the name on her tongue. It was foreign, but still had a nice ring to it. She was not used to these names that weren't elaborate. Where she came from names were like her own. Her name meant "Moon flower". She didn't seem to be friendly, yet she didn't show any signs of hostility either. There was no smile upon her maw, and no welcoming gaze with in her optics. There was only what was on the surface, and nothing to be seen in-depth. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Ipomoea Alba. It means "Moon Flower" - but please, don't call me either of those. I'd feel much more comfortable if you called me Alba." She spoke, her lyrics tumbling from her tongue easily, and being executed with precise delicacy. She was silent for a few moments as she accessed the situation. He was the beta of the pack she was looking into joining, so perhaps giving a good appearance would be much better for her image than being a cold, heartless wench. She nodded her crown to his second statement, and allowed the words to flow once again. "You don't say? I am seeking entrance into Sensuret. It seems like I'd fit in well within it's borders. A loners life really is not the life for me... neither is the life of a slave." Her sheer blue optics seemed to narrow at the mention of slavery; the first real sign of any emotion at all. It was very little, but there all the same. She did not believe in something that could not be justified, and nothing you said could convince her otherwise.

[BRUTIS]

"Lady Alba..." he tested the name, forming it silently in his mouth a few more times. He was used to addressing his fellow wolves by "lord" and "lady" upon first meeting them. Yet another show of respect he taught himself.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," he continued. "And I am sure you will be welcomed warmly into Sensuret. We do not have slaves. We do have servants...but they are still treated better than in other packs, I would say. Also, faes are equal to men. Some would even argue females have more power than males within Sensuret." A small shadow of a smile crossed his lips. "Though that depends on how you look at it."

He wanted to say more, but then realized he'd already said far more than normal. She did have an effect, for sure. In fact, he got the impression she was hiding emotions, just like he was. Not that he'd make such an accusation aloud, of course. He was too polite for that. He got up from his half-bow and waited for a response.

[Teu~]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/2h81m4i.png] As the male tested her name out on his tongue he had added the title 'Lady' to the beginning of her name. What a peculiar wolf! It did have a nice ring to it though. The white female would say no such things though, it just was not in her nature. She may be cold as the winter season, but she was proper. She knew her place. As he begin to speak about the pack she listened eagerly, her audits perking forward to show her interest, but nothing else. She absorbed everything he had to say, and found it quite interesting to be honest. So, females had more power in the pack than males, did they? She tilted her crown slightly at this, yet some how managed to keep her face a blank slate. She was almost like a porcelain doll - her features were perfect, and unmoving. Not a blemish to be seen on them, and her stunning optics seemed to make her all that much more an ice goddess. However, she was no goddess. She noted the slight ghost of a smile, but opted for not returning one. She was not being rude, just simply living by her rules. If one showed too much emotion one was setting themselves up for destruction. She nodded her crown, and rolled back into her haunches. She did not mind this conversation, no not at all. The male was quite intriguing to say the least. "That is good to know, sir. While I refuse to bad mouth the hierarchy of any other packs in this area, I will opt to say that I do not agree with said packs. To treat females like they were the scum of the earth simply is not right." She eyed the male in front of her before she continued to speak. "In fact, females normally do all the hunting. At least, where I'm from. We would go out, and take down the prey, and bring supper home while the males stayed at home to 'guard' the pack lands." Having said this, she allowed her stunning optics to roll in mild irritation, and then began to speak once more. "Surely, you are not like that, are you? I find it rather cowardly. Please, stop me if my words are offending you. I tend to forget my place sometimes."

[BRUTIS]

Brutis' smile faded at her response. He decided he'd better tread carefully. "It is, indeed, a shame that some packs treat their women in such a way. Females give life to pups and, as you mentioned, support the pack with hunting and gathering. But I would not expect anyone to bring me food while I sit on my rump at home. Our alpha is female, and she would not stand for any such action. As a matter of fact, I am usually right at the head of the hunting party, though the alpha is technically in charge of it." He said this with his usual calmness, but was there a tiny bit of bitterness that managed to creep in there?

"We have hunters, then we have those who stay behind to protect our lands, or who are too weak to join us. We do not pick which station you are based solely on your gender. Sexism when having a female alpha is pretty difficult to pull of." Again, saying too much. You really should stop doing that. Just tell her all your secrets, why don't you? His face remained impassive, and the bitterness, if any did sneak into his tone, had disappeared almost as soon as it could be detected. He'd had practice with concealing that sort of thing. Still, he continued to mentally scold himself.

[Teu~]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/2h81m4i.png] Alba's keen eyes saw as his smile had disappeared as soon as it appeared, and a new emotion had flicked upon his constitution, and in his tone. He smoothed it over quickly though, and if she had not been paying attention she would have missed it all together. Oh dear. She had offended him with her remarks. The white female bowed her head to let him know she realized she stepped out of bounds, and raised her crown once more to let her sheer blue eyes gaze at him. "It is good to know that you don't sit at home on your rump while the females go out, and hunt - however, I am sorry if you thought I was saying all males were like that. I never meant to imply that I thought so lowly of you, and I'm sorry if that's how you took it. If you wish me to I will leave you alone." Having said her fill, the slender female stood at the ready. She was waiting for him to tell her to leave him be. To go back to where she came from. After all, the prim and proper Alba had stepped out of lines, and was silently weeping on the inside. She wouldn't allow herself the emotional release though. Not in front of him. She had been holding emotions in all of her life, and now just was not the time to release them simply because she could very well end up killing him by accident, and she was already quite fond of him. So, she stood silently, her audits turned slightly back as she awaited the verdict.

[BRUTIS]

As Alba talked, Brutis's brow creased. What brought that reaction on? What did he say that would give her the impression he wanted her to leave? Then, he remembered that when talking about the alpha, bitterness managed to sneak in his tone. She must've detected it. Oh, great. How the heck was he supposed to explain that one?

"I did not think you meant that, Lady Alba," he said calmly, without even a trace of the nervousness he felt on his expression or his tone. "And I would like it if you would stay. The...what you detected...was not brought on by anything you said or did. It was...toward my situation."

He really hoped she wouldn't ask about it. He would be at a loss for what to say, and actually talking through his emotions wasn't something he was used to at all. What if he lost control again? He almost wanted to tell her not to ask, but he managed to keep his mouth shut. After all, he didn't make it want to seem like he had something to hide.

[Teu~]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/2h81m4i.png] His situation? The females sheer blue optics narrowed on him for a few moments as she tried to access the situation. Whatever could he mean when he said his situation? Was he perhaps in some type of trouble? Or maybe there was more to him than met the eye. Should she be more cautious around him? Was he perhaps a mass murderer? If so, he would have quite the time with killing Alba because she was very good with water. She could take it out of any plant that was in the area with ease. She could even manipulate ones own blood if she so wished, but that was used only in extreme cases. She didn't like the idea of being able to bend another's blood to do her will, but she didn't have anything against it if they forced her paw. They would do good not to do so. The females mind was whirling with all these possibilities, yet she didn't voice any of them. The female merely nodded her crown, and took a few steps forward to make herself more friendly, and less hostile. Her mouth quivered at the edges, and her tongue itched to expel the question. However, if he wished her to know the details then he would have told her already, would he have not? It simply would not be proper to ask him what was wrong if he did not offer the information up himself. So, instead, she pulled the impulse to blurt a question out down deep inside herself, and took a different approach at conversation. "What element are you? Or do you not have an element? My element is water - I've grown quite good with the arts. I'm not one to toot my own horn though, there's always room for improvement." She spoke softly, her lyrics falling upon audits like a winters first snow. So soft, and delicate. So new, yet so cold. The female watched him for a few moments before gazing into the darkness. "My mother had taught me everything she knew - that is, until she died. She... well, the reasons for her passing are not important, what is important is that what she taught me was the foundation of my spells today. Most of what I know now I learned by trial and error." She had nearly lost her iron grip on her emotions as she spoke about her mother. There had been hesitancy in her voice, and that was simply not something Abla could tolerate again.

[BRUTIS]

Had Brutis lacked restraint he might've smiled or even laughed as Alba suddenly, and somewhat awkwardly, changed the subject. As it was, his expression didn't even change, but he did think it was kind of cute how she was trying to avoid prying.

"I am of the air element," he answered. "And even though I've technically mastered it, I've only ever really used it for hunting. There are so many other uses for my element I never troubled myself to learn. Now that I'm older, I regret not learning broader uses." When Alba talked about her mother, Brutis couldn't stop himself from looking sympathetic toward her. "It's okay, Lady Alba. My mother died when I was a pup from illness. My father should have taught me, but he didn't. I had to learn through a different avenue." He managed not to look pained during that, but when he thought about the fae he accidentally killed, he inwardly cringed. After she died, he had to learn his spells on his own, and, for a while, he refused to use his element at all. He was content with her not wanting to talk about how her mother died. He wasn't exactly telling her everything, himself, and besides, he wasn't sure he wanted to know that information.

[Teu~]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/2h81m4i.png] Ah, so he was an air elemental? She had to tilt her crown slightly at that. She had never met a air elemental before so she was understandably intrigued by his revelation. He didn't use his element for anything other than hunting? So he didn't know how to bend the wind for defense? This seemed odd. For one to truly master the arts of hunting they would be wise to know how to defend themselves just in case the situation became hostile. Say a buck caught wind of your scent, and knew you were coming before you knew they knew you were coming. They could blind side you, and with their deadly rack it would be quite easy to kill a wolf, or any predator for that manner. That was what Alba had been taught from a young age, but she didn't see it fit to correct him in that manner. She merely nodded, and replied "I have discovered how to use all my abilities for both attacks, and defense. It took a long time to figure out how to ask water to do my will, but once I gained a talent for it, it's never left me." If Alba had been a wolf to show emotion she might have blanched as he showed sympathy toward her about her mother, or perhaps she would have scowled. She did not like sympathy. It only meant that she had showed another weakness, and weakness was not an option for the white femmora. She silently cursed herself, and the day she was born, but held her tongue. There was no use showing the male her discomfort about his display of sympathy. After all, he was only trying to be friendly, and gentlemen like. She merely bowed her head as he spoke about his mother dying as well, and his father not teaching him as he should have. She understood that situation very well. After her mother had died her father had become more distant, and isolated than before. He would hardly speak to any body, especially Alba. He wasn't even there when she left home, as was custom for their pack. Once a female came of age she would leave the pack, and venture out on her own. If she succeeded in finding a mate she would return to the pack. "My father never taught me more either. It was his fault my mother had died. It had been a hunting expedition that went terribly wrong. We were ambushed by an enemy pack, and my father wouldn't get off of his lazy rump to come aid us. After my mother died, he seemed to just not care about anything anymore. Especially me. He shunned me the most because I was a lot like my mother. It was his way of dealing with it, I suppose." She had to muster all her strength to keep the corners of her mouth from quivering, or her sheer blue optics from filling up with tears. She some how managed to remain stoic, but it came with a price. Her chest felt as if it were going to burst, and send her beating heart bouncing across the terra.

[BRUTIS]

"I have discovered how to use all my abilities for both attacks, and defense. It took a long time to figure out how to ask water to do my will, but once I gained a talent for it, it's never left me."

"Ah. Air is a bit harder to control than that. Sometimes, it won't take much concentration at all to control it, and I can do it for minutes at a time. Other times, I can only control it for a few seconds," Brutis admitted. "But make no mistake: those few seconds are usually enough to accomplish what I need to."

And that was when she started talking about her father, and Brutis had to use all of his will power not to show all the emotions that evoked in him. There was anger, of course, sadness, empathy, and...well, a bit of hating himself, really, for understanding her father and thinking that's what he'd have done if he'd been a parent to the dead fae's children. Since she was being so open with him, he decided he'd better do the same for her. He let out a deep breath.

"I can understand why your father shunned you as he did, but that doesn't mean I like or approve of such actions," he said as calmly as he could manage. "I know what it's like to be responsible for the death of a wolf that's close to you. It's not the same thing as killing threats to your pack. It's, well...I accidentally killed a fae from the pack while training when I was younger. It never leaves you. And you never forgive yourself. All you want to do is try to forget about it and move on, but there are reminders everywhere you turn. And some members of the pack will always see you as a murderer, no matter how much you try to change their minds. The reason I was bitter earlier was because I was reminded of all this when talking about my position...and how I will never rise up beyond what I am, no matter how hard I work."

Brutis couldn't stop himself from not showing emotions during that, but he managed to keep all of them dulled down to the point of being almost undetectable. He almost felt like crying, but, luckily, he managed not to even choke up. Though perhaps his voice did waver a bit.

[Teu~]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/2h81m4i.png] She cocked her crown to the side for a moment. Air was not the same? Alba had always been taught that the most effective way to get an element to do your will was to as it nicely. To coax it into being, and doing what you needed to be done. You couldn't simply force an element to do something because it could easily come back and bite you in the butt. Or kill you, which ever comes first. The female blinked a few times as he spoke, and then chose this as her moment to say something. "Have you ever tried to ask your element to do something? To create a bond with it. I know that we are of different elements, but every element likes to be asked what to do instead of being forced. That is, unless your fire. Fire operates solely on rage, and hatred. At least, that's what fire elementals of today have turned it into. It used to operate on beauty." She spoke wisely, her crown tilting to the side only slightly. She had been mentored by all four elemental masters in her old pack. They had taught her the spirit, and power of all elements before they had taught her how to wield the power of water herself. They did this so she knew how to approach an opponent, and how to properly defend herself. He spoke of how he could understand her fathers actions of shunning her, and to be honest with you, so could she. That didn't mean that she liked what he had done, or approved of it at all. She needed him just as much as he needed her mother, but what did he do? He tossed her aside like chopped liver. Her audits perked forward as he began to open up about his past. He had killed another during a horrible training accident. Her optics softened a little bit, but she made certain not to show any type of sympathy. He wasn't looking for sympathy if he was anything like her. He spoke of how others saw him as a murderer, and she shook her head. Then he spoke about how he would never rise above what he was, and she stood up quickly, fire flashing through her optics. "You are not a murderer! You were a young, stupid wolf who didn't know how to use your powers. It is unfortunate that the female lost her life, but her time was up. It was her time to leave the earth because she fulfilled her purpose. It was your time to learn something from her leaving. What ever it is that the God's were trying to teach you was given to you solely for you to bare. It is not a punishment, it is a lesson. Its a grave lesson to bare, but you were given it on purpose. If those things would not have played out in the order that they had you could be any one right now. Perhaps if she hadn't been called home the way she had, by one of your mistakes, you would have turned into a mass murderer. You would have let your powers go to your head. However, that is not the case. It was simply the will of the Gods, and other's would do good to learn that." As she spoke, fire could be heard in her tone. Passion, for the first time, was heard in her speech. It was really the only time when she dared show emotion. For a crowd to take you seriously, you couldn't just talk like some monotone robot. You had to fire them up. She was a wonder with speeches, and could have been Hitler of this time, only female. And wolf. She was now standing on all fours, and her stunning gaze was still probing into the male that was stationed in front of her.

[BRUTIS]

"Asked it? I'm not too proud to admit that I've begged air to cooperate with me before. But sometimes, it just wants to watch you squirm," Brutis said. "But I suppose I could stand to maybe ask it nicely more often. I'd have to make sure I do it in private, though. I might look insane if I don't." He cracked a small smile at his joke. He wondered if she'd understand he was just kidding. It was strange. He only ever really joked around with Castor. Then, Alba got all passionate, talking about him not being a murderer. He couldn't help but be relieved, and a bit grateful to her.

"I did, indeed, learn a valuable lesson. It was a rough time in my life, and I couldn't control all the emotions I was having during that time. Unfortunately, when you don't have control over yourself, you don't have any over your spells, either. She died...and nothing I do can change it. But I learned how to control myself since then, a lesson I might never have taught myself had it never happened. Of course, if I try to explain it to the rest of the pack, or her parents...well, it'll just sound like I'm trying to justify what I did. I'd look like a complete ass, pardon my vulgar language. I just, for killing another wolf, even accidentally, I was supposed to stay an Omega my whole life. I had to work really hard and kiss a lot of butt to get so far as I did, and many of the pack don't think I deserve it. Yet they still depend on me and, they won't admit it, but they need me. Milady Castor is the only one who doesn't treat me like she should be my superior, and she's the only one that is, rank-wise." His expression softened a little as he spoke of her, and he seemed lost in thought for a few moments before he finally spoke again.

"Ah, but I am being so rude, ranting about my situation. There is nothing I can do about it, so I should probably shut my trap. I think you'll get along really well with our alpha. She knows how to deal with wolves that don't like to express emotions too often."