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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2023 23:27:15 GMT
”Won’t know unless I try. So let’s find out.” Good. That was just the thing he was hoping to hear. Nycteus began walking, testing the air for a trail. At least they will try. Whether they catch anything, it will be up to fate to decide, but regardless of the outcome, it will be fun if nothing else. He was craving a good chase. His suggestion of taking a chance on romance and initiating was met with a chuckle and a, "What, so I can get laughed at?”"If she laughs at you, she was never worth the effort anyway," said Nycteus. Rejecting a man's advances is one thing, but laughing at them was completely sophomoric. But the other man kept talking, his insecurities showing through. He wasn't tall, wasn't strong, surely he'd be passed over for any other guy. "It's true, physical attraction matters. You're very short and thin. Some women might dismiss you for that alone, but this doesn't mean you're hopeless." His insecurities were rooted in reality. These things were not easy for almost any man, especially if one didn't have the body of an Adonis, a face carved by angels, and a great reputation. Nycteus would be honest with him. "Confidence is the real key. Take my brother for example. He was handsome. Tall and very fit, stronger than I had ever been. He was an accomplished and disciplined warrior who didn't indulge in the common vices that plague many men. Yet women did not like him."Nycteus remembered countless times his brother would sulk over this, always hung up on their childhood friend who never saw him in that way. "He was terribly insecure and afraid of rejection. In his mind, he was always second place to someone else. He didn't make an effort and if someone did take an interest in him, he couldn't see it." He wasn't sure but he didn't doubt that someone liked Teuthras, or at least found him easy on the eyes. If he was a little more confident, if he didn't let himself get caught up in his self-pity and bitterness... Nycteus was frowning at the memories, his brows knitted but there was something soft in his eyes. "His best friend, however, was a smaller man like you. Not much of a fighter. So thin the others called him Twiggy, and a bit strange-looking. It was his eyes. They were too big, always with the whites showing, and he had this dreadful smile that was all teeth," Nycteus reminisced. "He was very unapologetically himself and never hesitated to start a conversation with whomever he wanted. With all his faults, even he managed to charm someone. The last I saw him, he was just married and had a child on the way."There was traces of a smile on his lips but no happiness to be found; there was a fondness for the past and the people he knew but a sadness as well. It all felt like so long ago but it had only been months since he was forced to begin anew, and still he was unsure of how to move forward. He wouldn't let himself linger on these thoughts. The other man acknowledged he'd learned a lot from what he'd been through, that there was surely more to learn. Nycteus nodded. "There always is," he said. Introductions shortly followed and finally the short and scarred wolf walking alongside him had a name. Jethro. "Yours.. does it mean something?”Nycteus kept his eyes on the path forward but his head tilted a bit. Most don't get curious about these things and simply take a name at face value. Gliding over a fallen log in his path, he answered. "Nocturnal."Molo ooc: this post ended up very long because nycteus went on a whole tangent, haha. please do not feel pressured to match length or anything.
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Nov 19, 2024 22:03:32 GMT
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Post by Molo on Feb 5, 2023 7:34:10 GMT
If she laughs at you, she was not worth the effort, Nycteus proclaimed. A thin smile played across Jethro’s face at that. ”Another thing we fully agree on,” he remarked. Though, clearly, he took it further than that. What he could never hope to achieve wasn’t worth his time or effort, anyway. But still, the other didn’t think so.
He couldn’t help but huff a little - mostly innocuously though - as the other said he was short and thin. That most women would dismiss him for that alone. But it didn’t make him completely hopeless.
”Uh. Yeah, it pretty much does,” Jet retorted, though there was still no real bite to the words, and he was still more than willing to at least listen as the other went on to explain that confidence was the real key and then to recount a story from his past that involved his brother, and vices, and best friends. The whole thing was rather intriguing to listen to, and perhaps even a little amusing. At least at first.
Somehow the tiny man, who they called twiggy - a name Jethro would kill or try to kill anyone if they were to ever called him that - who was ugly and thin had managed to charm someone and was expecting a child.. the last time Nycteus had seen him. ”That’s.. good for him. But it’ll never be me,” he murmured. Although the former sanzin wanted to speak to that some more, to restate how he knew that could never be him, because of many reasons, there was something more pressing. Something that led him to feel an emotion that was almost like concern, or empathy, for the giant.
The way the other had recounted the tale, it sounded as if he cared for everyone in it greatly. And that begged one question first, above all else. ”Can I ask.. why you left? It seems like, sounds like, what you had, was good..” and Jethro couldn’t understand why anyone would leave a place like that. But.. "if it ain't none of my business, tell me to fuck off. And we're good." Because it really wasn't his place to pry. That much he knew.
A glance at the path ahead revealed an old fallen tree in the way, something the other moved over with ease but that Jethro had to move around. That didn’t prevent him hearing the answer to the name question, though. ”Nocturnal. Fitting..” Both considering Nycteus seemed to be a creature of the dark as well, and his coat was as dark as a cloudless night sky.
--it is all good! this discussion has turned out to be more wholesome than I first imagined, and I like it!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2023 1:01:55 GMT
Nycteus told Jethro he wasn't hopeless; unsurprisingly, Jethro didn't believe it. It might've been the first time anyone told him that. It must be hard for a man to see his own value when he's gone his entire life being told he had none. He was willing to listen, though, and did so attentively when Nycteus told his story about Teuthras and his smaller, scrawnier friend. At the end of it, Jethro spoke, his voice soft and a little hesitant at first. ”That’s.. good for him. But it’ll never be me.”"It could be," was all Nycteus said in reply. For a moment there was silence, a kind that was thoughtful and heavy, then Jethro came out with a question. Why did Nycteus leave? Immediately after asking, Jethro let him know he did not have to answer. The gesture, he appreciated, but he was not going to tell Jethro to 'fuck off'. A few more moments of silence followed while Nycteus gathered his thoughts. "I did not leave by choice. I had a duty to my people and I would never abandon them," he said finally, with a stoic expression and even tone. "We were at war. One decisive battle concluded with my capture by the enemy. I was lined up for execution, but I escaped before they would have my head."Molo |
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Nov 19, 2024 22:03:32 GMT
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Post by Molo on Feb 6, 2023 23:31:31 GMT
It was rare for Jethro to ever feel something like sadness or sympathy for another. Almost everyone he’d ever met had been luckier, taller, stronger, more attractive - or more privileged in some other way than him. Usually that meant their existence was better than, or at least less shitty than what Jet had experienced.
And from where he viewed things, it surely looked like Nycteus had been brought up in a much better place. A place where he’d been valued, educated, perhaps even loved, yet he’d been forced to leave all of that because of a war. He’d been captured and faced summary execution. In a way the two of them were the same then - running from a form of death.
But the difference was Nycteus had had to leave behind everything he’d cared about, whereas Jethro.. well, he cared for precisely none of who and what he’d left. And he wasn’t really sure what was worse. Being born into this world as nothing and learning that perhaps he could have things - or being birthed into a place where he had been loved and valued and then having to leave it all behind.
It was, at the very least, something he’d be thinking about for a while.
”I know it doesn’t mean much, but.. I’m sorry that happened to you.” Practically speaking, Jethro knew those words did nothing to help the other man or change his fortune. But as he was starting to learn, words.. or sometimes a little bit of patience, empathy, or understanding could make a difference in other ways.
”Is there any chance you can ever go back?” It felt like the only appropriate thing to ask after that, and was the last bit of prying he’d do on the subject. But perhaps, for once in his life, Jethro was glad that he was not the subject of a conversation. If there was one thing he was starting to find utterly fascinating, it was learning about the different, various backgrounds and beliefs of others.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2023 17:22:10 GMT
Everything happened for a reason, Nycteus had said before. There was purpose in suffering, lessons to learn in one's losses and failures. He was unsure of what he was meant to learn from all he had endured. Many nights, he found himself wishing his mother was still here so he could look to her for guidance and hear her insights. Perhaps he leaned on her too much when she was alive. He was alone now, with nothing and no one. He was meant to be. Perhaps with time, he will better understand the reason. For now, all he could do was reflect on what was but dwelling would only keep him trapped in his regrets and yearning. He had to keep moving forward. Jethro offered his sympathies, before asking if there was any possibility Nycteus could ever return. He thought about it. He'd thought about it many times. Wished for it. With a furrowed brow, he gave his answer, "I would be returning to a land far different than the one I knew. I was their king. My capture would have created a power vacuum and the perfect opportunity for our enemy to conquer the land." The Empire had his homeland now, he knew. All of his most trusted allies were gone. Either dead or lost like he was. There was no chance he could return. If he did now, he would only get himself captured again. Then he would be worse off than he ever was. "It would be a suicide mission to return now without an army at my back," said Nycteus. "I am not afraid to die, but I will not let my death be a useless one."Molo |
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Nov 19, 2024 22:03:32 GMT
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Post by Molo on Feb 10, 2023 17:18:13 GMT
Nycteus provided a response to the inquiry rather quickly, which was probably an indication that he’d thought about it a lot. The response, too, was decisive. His home, the land, would be far different now. He’d been their king - definitely valued and educated then - the absence of which would’ve created a power vacuum. It was a concept Jethro understood, at least in theory. Power always needed a place to rest.. the absence of it in one form would lead to something else rising.
The former sanzin felt worse for his company now. That whole thing was hard to wrap his mind around. It truly was unfortunate that this mand had had everything, only for it to have been stripped away. Taken away, stolen. Now he had nothing better to do than spend time with a literal puny nothing of a wolf.
”For whatever it’s worth coming from this nobody, I would’ve been happy, if you were my king,” Jet offered. Coming from him, he wasn’t sure it’d mean much, considering he was the lowliest of the low. Not a soldier or a scholar or even.. just a regular wolf.
But that didn't change the fact that someone who was literal royalty had actually been treating him like he mattered. Who seemed to care about even the lowliest of wolves, at least to a degree - had been conversing with him, asking his opinions - and seemed genuinely interested in the conversation the whole way through. That was someone he would have followed. Someone he wished had been leading the sanzin instead of that bitch Artemis.
"Thank you, for uh.. just being a cool guy." He didn't get to meet many of those. If nothing else, this meeting had turned out to be a rare treat, and had given Jet things to consider and think about.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2023 6:05:56 GMT
He did not allow himself to be sorrowful for what had happened, not in front of his company. His words were calm and his face lacked expression, but something heavy brewed beneath the surface. Things he would file away for now, to reflect and ponder upon when he was alone with only his god to listen. ”For whatever it’s worth coming from this nobody, I would’ve been happy, if you were my king,” Jethro told him. Nycteus had been staring straight ahead but now was looking straight at the other man. "You are not nobody," he said, but it was the words that followed that provoked more thought. As prince, he was well-loved by his people, who prospered under his mother's leadership. He freely mingled with the common wolf. No one was too lowly to speak to, his mother had taught him. A lofty king who spent all day in the comfort of his palace was distant from his people; he did not see their struggles. If he did not see them and listen to them, how could he provide for their needs? Under his mother's leadership, his people were happy. Under his, they were not. They could not be, in the circumstances he became king. He'd like to think they would have been, if the war had a different outcome. Had Jethro been one of his wolves, he would have been a different man. Stronger, perhaps. One who had a purpose and was hopefully more confident in it. Perhaps they would have spoken man-to-man, or perhaps not. He couldn't know. They were brought together on this day, under these circumstances for a reason. But maybe one day things will be different. Nycteus might one day rebuild. The two may meet again, with Jethro this time looking for purpose and a new home. Nycteus would give this to him. Jethro thanked him for being a cool guy. "Thank you for listening. I'm enjoying our conversation so far," said Nycteus. He then stopped, his ears perked. He raised his muzzle to sniff, having caught a whiff of something that caught his interest. Another deep inhale to confirm his findings before he lowered his attention to his hunting companion. "There is a lone elk roughly northeast of here." He gestured with his muzzle for Jethro to follow before starting in that direction. "If we're lucky, it might have a calf for us to take."Molo // we can move straight to the hunt, if you would like. |
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Nov 19, 2024 22:03:32 GMT
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Post by Molo on Feb 17, 2023 15:12:26 GMT
The other told him he was not a nobody. Words that felt foreign and odd to Jethro, to hear being spoken in relation to him. It was almost always the opposite of that. Except for Timber, not too long ago, he reminded himself. It was perhaps because of the rarity of the.. compliment? Or maybe the nature of the story Nycteus had just spoken of that made the former sanzin decide not to argue that point, either.
He didn’t believe that. Maybe there’d be another time to discuss it further. Maybe not. Probably not, he imagined. But even he knew that right now was not the appropriate time. Besides, maybe it would be best to think things over for a while, on his own.
It was equally odd to be thanked for listening - how hard was that to do? And for one to enjoy a conversation with him. Even rarer still was for that feeling to actually be mutual.
”Um. Same to you. This’s been nicer than I thought it’d be.” Especially with the way things had begun. Maybe there was something to be learned from that, too, though. It definitely wouldn’t work with a sanzin - but maybe exercising a little bit of patience and showing respect could de-escalate any future tense situations he might encounter with someone other than one of them.
The other was speaking again, but this time it wasn’t about anything deep or philosophical. It was about an elk. And it possibly having a calf, something they could kill more easily. An actual, honest-to-goodness hunt sounded wonderful. Better yet, with someone he was pretty sure wouldn’t try to stab him in the back once it was over.
There was no need to speak though, for a nod and a small gesture of his nose for the other to lead on would suffice.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2023 20:26:56 GMT
The trail led the two wolves a few miles out from the great tree where they'd met, to somewhere in the forest not so dense in trees but abundant in shrubs and patches of tall grass. As anticipated, a cow elk grazed, and as he hoped, with a calf in tow, roughly a couple of months old and still lightly spotted. It grazed just as its mother did and looked big enough to split between the two of them. "There," Nycteus pointed out the elk, his voice soft, barely above a breath. His silver eyes were fixed on their quarry and he lowered into a stalk, ears pulled forward. It was unusual a cow elk and a calf would be on their own this late into the summer. Separated from their herd, perhaps. Maybe they were looking for their way back but stopped to feed. The mother did not look that strong and fit, likely weakened by a diet of dry, brittle grass and a lack of water, but she would defend her calf to her last breath, he was sure. Even if not in peak shape, those hooves could still be devastating. "I want you to go for the calf. Snap your jaws, snarl, do what you must to make it run away in terror," the black wolf whispered. "The mother will attack you, but do not fear her. I will make sure to keep her attention."Molo |
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Nov 19, 2024 22:03:32 GMT
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Post by Molo on Mar 15, 2023 16:12:52 GMT
---I sincerely apologize for the wait on this
Nycteus led them onward, to a point where the trees began to thin, and the night sky above grew more visible. Amidst the shriveled and dying plants and grass was their target then, a not so healthy looking mother and a much smaller, also not incredibly healthy-looking calf trailed her. Quietly, he mirrored the actions of his company, stalking forth whilst attempting to keep the wind at his front and as many shrubs between them as possible.
The tiniest part of Jethro felt bad about the idea of killing the calf. To end its life before it ever really got to live - as had nearly happened to him so many times. But to take its mother would also mean certain death. So, in a way, he supposed they were being merciful.
His company spoke of a plan, to which Jet nodded slowly. It made sense and was what he’d seen other wolves do before. Separate mother from calf, making the lone target easier to kill.
”Okay,” he breathed out with a nod. ”Let’s just.. try to kill it quickly, though.” His feeling of guilt wasn’t enough to prevent him from doing this. But they could try to be as quick as possible.
After a couple of quiet, deep breaths, Jet cast a glance and a nod toward his company, signifying his readiness before he broke into a run. A deep, guttural snarl, the loudest he could manage accompanied the action, drawing the attention of their quarry. His sudden and quick advance seemed enough to prompt the calf to turn about and dart away from its mother's side, as Nycteus had suspected.
Trusting his companion to distract her, Jet attempted to skirt around her to proceed after the calf.
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