Post by Razza on Jan 7, 2019 0:03:17 GMT -5
Alissandra
"Of course. 'Generous' is a more flattering way to say it."
The side of Alis' mouth lifted good-naturedly. She'd initiated this teasing, yes, and in a way was glad that Blythe was participating, but the feeling of being laughed at and not with was settling uncomfortably inside her. By the time he finished replying, making an uninvited comment about hoping she was more frugal in harsher times, Alis had schooled her face back into a polite neutrality, hiding her disapproval.
They'd known each other for all of a few minutes and he must've already decided she was an idiot, Alis thought. Of course she was frugal when she needed to be, she did not need some random stranger to tell her it was a good idea. She decided to not comment further. All her earlier optimism about Blythe joining, outside of the prospect of him as a physical asset, was ebbing. She wasn't expecting immediate respect from him, but some manners would have been nice. Hopefully this wasn't going to be a habit of his to constantly nitpick her, or else she was going to go gray long before she even reached her fourth year, but the only way to tell was with time.
Thankfully Alis was able to recite the pack's ranks without much further comment, and despite everything she was at least pleased to see that Blythe seemed to be listening. She watched him carefully as he absorbed the information, searching to see if he had anything to add about this as well. He did.
"A rank for freeloaders, then. You truly are a generous woman."
Alis' face hardened now, and she made sure to make steady eye contact with him. "They earn their keep, either by assisting the other ranks or training to become one. As I said, it is tradition." Her voice was short and clipped, and when she was finished speaking she turned to look forward again, not seeking to continue the conversation any further. Blythe was a man of assumptions, she was learning. Assuming she threw food into the mouths of any hungry wolf and assuming the Almennt did nothing for the pack when he barely knew her or the Guardians. She supposed there was no crime in that, and she would take his words about her with gritted teeth, but questioning Syndrana and it's ways was not welcome. She wouldn't hear it from a Northbounder.
Thankfully the chatter moved on after that, Alis glancing to her side to see Blythe's smirk. Her own face turned to one of mild curiosity as he mentioned his old pack's "gods", but her brows shot up as he recited a few of their names. All long, with intricate syllables that Alis failed to grasp in the quick, easy way Blythe said them. And she thought some of the words Ryoki spoke were complex.
Deciding to push aside her insecurities and grudges, Alis decided to latch onto this subject, hoping to get a better understanding of Blythe as she originally set out to do. "Those names are elaborate indeed," she agreed. "Perhaps you won't have trouble with our ranks after all." Alis' gazed flickered momentarily to Ragnar for the first time in a while, as if checking to see how he felt about all of this, but she quickly retrained her eyes on Blythe. "Do you believe in those gods?"
Perhaps a very forward question, but Alis doubted it would be a problem. She liked to know what was important to her pack after all, and if Blythe was going to be among them then she wanted to know what he valued.
"What does it take to become a Kappi?" Oh, yes, the ranks. Alis' tail waved behind her and she took a breath. "Skill and experience," she said first. "Our Kappi are in charge of patrolling the territory and our borders, defending them if necessary. Most loners around here are not hostile, and can easily be removed if trespassing, but every now and then there are fights and we need wolves that can end them quickly." Her eyes knowingly looked towards the now-dry blood on Blythe's chest. "There are also ranks within the Kappi. Most newcomers would be Nemandi when first joining, but I can see you can handle yourself well. Let me witness a spar between you and one of my current Kappi and I'd happily promote you to Gildi." She then looked away slyly. She wouldn't say it now, but personal feelings aside, she'd happily promote a wolf as formidable as Blythe even higher up than that if she was especially impressed, even despite his quips.
Her thoughts slid back to Ryoki, and even Ragnar. She had a lot to ponder about the leadership in the pack. They were growing, and promotions were inevitable... she just needed to be sure she knew what she was getting into.
The side of Alis' mouth lifted good-naturedly. She'd initiated this teasing, yes, and in a way was glad that Blythe was participating, but the feeling of being laughed at and not with was settling uncomfortably inside her. By the time he finished replying, making an uninvited comment about hoping she was more frugal in harsher times, Alis had schooled her face back into a polite neutrality, hiding her disapproval.
They'd known each other for all of a few minutes and he must've already decided she was an idiot, Alis thought. Of course she was frugal when she needed to be, she did not need some random stranger to tell her it was a good idea. She decided to not comment further. All her earlier optimism about Blythe joining, outside of the prospect of him as a physical asset, was ebbing. She wasn't expecting immediate respect from him, but some manners would have been nice. Hopefully this wasn't going to be a habit of his to constantly nitpick her, or else she was going to go gray long before she even reached her fourth year, but the only way to tell was with time.
Thankfully Alis was able to recite the pack's ranks without much further comment, and despite everything she was at least pleased to see that Blythe seemed to be listening. She watched him carefully as he absorbed the information, searching to see if he had anything to add about this as well. He did.
"A rank for freeloaders, then. You truly are a generous woman."
Alis' face hardened now, and she made sure to make steady eye contact with him. "They earn their keep, either by assisting the other ranks or training to become one. As I said, it is tradition." Her voice was short and clipped, and when she was finished speaking she turned to look forward again, not seeking to continue the conversation any further. Blythe was a man of assumptions, she was learning. Assuming she threw food into the mouths of any hungry wolf and assuming the Almennt did nothing for the pack when he barely knew her or the Guardians. She supposed there was no crime in that, and she would take his words about her with gritted teeth, but questioning Syndrana and it's ways was not welcome. She wouldn't hear it from a Northbounder.
Thankfully the chatter moved on after that, Alis glancing to her side to see Blythe's smirk. Her own face turned to one of mild curiosity as he mentioned his old pack's "gods", but her brows shot up as he recited a few of their names. All long, with intricate syllables that Alis failed to grasp in the quick, easy way Blythe said them. And she thought some of the words Ryoki spoke were complex.
Deciding to push aside her insecurities and grudges, Alis decided to latch onto this subject, hoping to get a better understanding of Blythe as she originally set out to do. "Those names are elaborate indeed," she agreed. "Perhaps you won't have trouble with our ranks after all." Alis' gazed flickered momentarily to Ragnar for the first time in a while, as if checking to see how he felt about all of this, but she quickly retrained her eyes on Blythe. "Do you believe in those gods?"
Perhaps a very forward question, but Alis doubted it would be a problem. She liked to know what was important to her pack after all, and if Blythe was going to be among them then she wanted to know what he valued.
"What does it take to become a Kappi?" Oh, yes, the ranks. Alis' tail waved behind her and she took a breath. "Skill and experience," she said first. "Our Kappi are in charge of patrolling the territory and our borders, defending them if necessary. Most loners around here are not hostile, and can easily be removed if trespassing, but every now and then there are fights and we need wolves that can end them quickly." Her eyes knowingly looked towards the now-dry blood on Blythe's chest. "There are also ranks within the Kappi. Most newcomers would be Nemandi when first joining, but I can see you can handle yourself well. Let me witness a spar between you and one of my current Kappi and I'd happily promote you to Gildi." She then looked away slyly. She wouldn't say it now, but personal feelings aside, she'd happily promote a wolf as formidable as Blythe even higher up than that if she was especially impressed, even despite his quips.
Her thoughts slid back to Ryoki, and even Ragnar. She had a lot to ponder about the leadership in the pack. They were growing, and promotions were inevitable... she just needed to be sure she knew what she was getting into.
im writing this with a TV blasting in the background so hopefully everything makes sense lmao!