Down But Not Out ~ {Charade}

Sebastian Rothul

After the conclusion of the argument,the day had passed Sebastian, who reveled in the fresh surge of giddiness that had accompanied the action of putting his foot down. But his revelry was short lived and quickly turned to brooding. While he took a deranged sort of pleasure in seeing his most constant thorn crumple and wilt like a flower that had been pulled up by its roots, something unsettling was nagging at him. Zanita. The self made girl and by his words, a lioness. She had weathered his verbal barrage and come out on the short end of the stick, but...

It had been too easy.

Could something be amiss? Was she even now devising a way to deal with this latest turn of events? Sebastian could only wonder. Had he really drove the point home be threatening her mewling cub? The outcast of outcasts, the only breathing being that she showed preferential treatment to? Could she...love that Kovu? Stroking his chin, he reflected on the abstractness of the concept and how it failed to fall in with his line of reasoning.

No, such an abstract concept could have no place here. Which meant that the only plausible explanation for her reaction was... fear. Fear for that one life, or rather the termination of it. Sebastian would have to learn ever more if he were to understand the workings of her mind.

****

The setting of the sun brought with it the cool relief from the heat. But Sebastian found no relief from his mind. The myriad possibilities that could diverge from his single action were too many to fathom, and Sebastian did not like not knowing how something was going to turn out. Though he wouldn't dare admit it, some part of him feared that if he and Zanita were not actively engaged in a battle of wits, things would become dreadfully boring indeed. That is, if she wasn't playing a mind game right now. As usual, the fires were started and he kept himself away from the rest of the pack, stoking his flame and roasting his meal with a look of disconnectedness etched on his face.

Movement caused him to look around, searching for and quickly finding the smarmy face of the lioness. She took moment to pick a side, before plopping herself down next to him."I've thought over your... idea," Took her that long did it? "And I want you to know that I have worked too hard to let my power just slip away from so easily." But did she know he had worked too hard to wrest control to let it get away now?

Clearly annoyed, she continued talking, even as her physical action betrayed her discomfort."However, you haven't exactly given me a choice, So, while I agree with your terms I will, by no means, enjoy them so do not expect me to." There she went again. Caving. Sebastian smirked."I knew you'd see reason,"Offering her some of his rabbit meat he kept going. I meant what I said about allowing you a measure of control. Those fools in the mansion won't know what hit them, and with you by my side, they will fall. I will be in control at last. Turning to gaze at her, he squinted meaningfully. "Things will move much more efficiently around here if everyone is moving towards the same goal. Regrettably,to ensure this I must hold threats concerning him over your head.He leaned in."I know you're up to something but I just don't know what. I aim to find out. You don't really think I'd believe you'd submit this easily do you?"

Sebastian Rothul

While he waited for her response, Sebastian idly turned his meat over and over in his hands, squeezing the juice out to spatter here and there on the ground or to sizzle from the heat of the flames. He liked his meat tough and this was the best way to get rid of the excess grease.
"I want to make something very clear," she leaned forward, placing her hands on his shoulders in an altogether awkwardly intimate way. Her lips stroked his ear, and he felt an involuntary shiver run its course throughout his body. Zanita's voice was low and ruddy, in a way that almost mimicked the tones he liked to use himself. "No matter what happens, if you even look at Kovu in a way I don't like I can personally guarantee that you won't have any fingers left to lay on him."

So now the claws come out. Sebastian braced himself for the inevitable attack, and so, was not prepared for what followed. With her hands placed around the side of his face. It wasn't a painful motion, but one that confused him further. "One day, you will understand what it feels like to love some one that much. And when this day comes I'll be there to snatch it away and watch as your joy turns to anguish," In the next moment, he felt the touch of her lips and the tip of her tongue caress his cheek. It was an action that had no bearing. Sebastian sat rigid, his hairs standing on end, even as he knew she felt she had won something by the smug look on her face.

"I'm glad to be your partner, Sebastian," The light from the fire made her teeth gleam. "I would not want to be away from you longer than necessary." Mulling her not so veiled threats over in his mind, Sebastian felt as if if was a bit much to take in all at once. Still, the petals of her mind were spread for the moment, allowing him a glimpse into the hidden, softer side of her and before they shut, he meant to take the plunge into her psyche.

Sebastian scoffed at the prospect of being in love, and scoffed more at the thought of Zanita doing anything to undermine such. Not that he needed something like love. He was still unsure what her curious attachment to Kovu was. It was possible that having him under her heel pleased her. Perhaps they had torn up the turf together. Who knew who danced with who in the dead of the night and in the absence of etiquette or rules? She couldn't really love the boy could she?

She might. It wasn't like the rest of her pack had anything to offer. The Lebbinac's barely had one brain between the three of them, and the other two... Sebastian frowned. He could never remember their names. There was a girl that tried to imitate Zanita and a flea ridden mongrel. Neither of them were worth much. Still, if they were to be his pack, he would have to get used to their eccentricities.

Shaking the last few drops of stickiness off of his meat, Sebastian tore in two, eating a portion of it, and setting the rest into his pack. "The feelings mutual; I wouldn't want you out of my sight for more than is needed. You don't have to like me, or my methods, but I'd prefer not to think of you as an enemy. You're quite amiable when I'm not threatening you."Taking a moment to stoke the flame, he cocked his head to one side."We may not be friends, but... are you content with being unwilling allies?

Sebastian Rothul

There went that grin again, though this time it seemed to be less feral and more slightly amused. "Unwilling allies? Sounds like the Games- however, I do agree," The corner of Sebastian's mouth turned up in a barely perceptible smile at that particular remark. The Games. What was that but art imitating life? Life was as much of a struggle as the arena, the survival of the fittest, only improved by the relationships you make and the occasional lucky break. And if you played your cards right, you'd stay alive and get the prize. Sometimes, the strongest would would come out on top, other times the craftiest.

Thankfully for Sebastian, he felt he had the best of both worlds. After all, strengths and smarts were only as good as the wielder, and the person in possession of these traits had to be willing to do whatever it takes to survive. There are no second chances in the arena; And Sebastian doubted there would be in the mind games for power and control that occupied so much of his time. Out in the lawless way that he lived, the world was dog eat dog; in some cases quite literally, and Sebastian had no intention of ever letting himself slip to the bottom rung.

"I've accepted your terms, I just want you to promise me one thing."

A promise? Sebastian deigned to listen, having decided that with her acceptance of his terms, he had nothing further to lose, but everything else to gain. He was no stranger to promises, having made several to himself. Promises of exacting revenge on his enemies for the most part.

"Please, don't hurt Kovu."

There was a slight catch in her voice, the words leaving her mouth like the dying gasp of a fish out of water. Locking horns with Sebastian as she had, he could tell she was just a little out of her element. Her eyes shined a little in the firelight and he wondered if she was going to cry. Normally, that would mean he had won. Yet it felt like he had a small pit in his stomach. Was it from fear or reprisal? Or did he genuinely feel just a little ashamed for bringing someone so low?

In all honesty, he wasn't sure.

"You haven't given me any reason to,"he sputtered gruffly."So, the boy is...safe."He offered her some of his dinner again."Here."Arm one hand, offer with the other; that was his creed, but at the moment, he wanted her to take the food and move away, so he could sort out the reason behind his feeling uncomfortable.