Totally Not Snooping [Emerson]

[Blair]

katluver458

After meeting Emerson, as brief as it seemed to her, she was quite curious about him. Miraculously, she had made it to the veldtlands, and even further still to the Eastern Veldt Mountains- without encountering a single Meurtrier member. She had no idea what sort of state the pride was in, so she never considered they could be on lock-down. She wondered if she would chance upon him again, but as she paced back and forth she was starting to believe her coming here was foolish. She didn't much like the idea of treading further into their territory, she doubted it would look good if she was found by some patrol. In all likelihood she presumed they would think her to be snooping around, looking for their weaknesses..or something like that. She stopped then, wondering if they would even take her prisoner if they assumed something like that. She shook her head, refusing to think about the worst that could possibly happen. The ebony 'ess continued her pacing while every sound the forest made had her twitch with a hint of nervousness.

[katluver458]

Emerson '^Nero' _Donovan

He silently trekked ahead, head low, ears flat, a quick red blot as he traveled up the rocky mountainside. He wished to speak with Donato once more, sooner rather than later with all that's been going on. Now, normally he would have obviously invited one of the higher-up's to come along with him, to speak with Caitlyn as well, but -- Surely the Caliver pride had been informed on what was going on as of late, or at least the Queen herself, anyways. But, nearly halfway there, he froze, a vaguely familiar scent tickling his nose. Wait, was that...? His whiskers twitched, muzzle wrinkled in thought, and not a moment later, he saw the other feminine figure just up ahead. Ah, that's what he thought. And just what was she doing all the way out here again, hm? Perhaps chalk it up to coincidence once more? "Curse." He called out, hoping to catch her attention.

Perhaps his visit to their neighboring splinter-pride could wait for just a bit. Their last encounter had been cut rather short last time, and she'd left him with intrigue.

[Blair]

She turned immediately at the sound of her name, pleasantly surprised that it was Emerson who had called out to her. Though, when she thought about it, there really wasn't anyone else in Meurtrier that would know her name..so she shouldn't have been too surprised. She opened her mouth to say how she coincidentally wondered into the veldtlands and then decided to trek up the mountains. However, she stopped herself simply because of the absurdity of it. "Emerson, just the man I was hoping to run into." She said, however, she immediately felt embarrassed for saying such a thing. What if he took that the wrong way? She cleared her throat, "What I mean is...." She trailed off as she tried to find a reason for coming here slightly less embarrassing. "..is that I'm....lost." She hung her head in shame for even saying such a thing. Of course, she wasn't lost, but she was too shy to come right out and say she wanted to know more about him. She apologized silently in her head for deceiving him, if only slightly, in this moment. Maybe one day she would get the chance to tell him the truth about what brought her out to the veldtlands.

[katluver458]

Emerson '^Nero' _Donovan

He quirked a brow, giving a bit of a smirk at her sudden flusterment at just trying to start conversation with him. "Hm. Is that so?" He shot back smoothly, giving a shrug. "Luck must be on your side today, then. I usually don't travel this way. Never had a reason to before." He commented. And then, like before, she confessed something he could have easily guessed, though she shouldn't have been so badly turned around as the first time, considering he'd managed to lead her through the territory quickly, but direct enough that she could have possibly picked up on some familiar landmarks to help lead the way if she was indeed so bent on seeking him out, like she tried to fib. Still, something seemed off about the way she said it that normally would have thrown up a flag of warning in his mind, but he only chalked it up to her embarrassment. "I don't know how much help I can be this time, considering what I've just told you, but. I'll do my best if you don't mind possibly getting turned around a few times anyways." The Veldt was large but not impossible -- He fully didn't intend to get them lost. This would be a piece of cake, and then they'd be on their separate ways once more.

[Blair]

Curse nodded at Emerson, "Well, it isn't like I haven't been turned around once or twice before." She said, as if proud of the fact, although internally she was laughing at her stupidity for admitting that out loud. Anyone else, she probably would have just nodded and followed after, but not with him. It was as if he oozed some kind of aura that just made people want to talk around him- or at least that's how Curse wanted to see it. "So, you're telling me you never wondered into the mountains- even out of curiosity?" She asked, wondering what it was like for one day as a meurtrian. She assumed that most of them would be busy with patrols, but surely they had their own down time.

[katluver458]

Emerson '^Nero' _Donovan

"No, not at all." He shook his head honestly. "Until just recently, the mountains haven't really been 'settled' by the pride. There wasn't a good enough reason to." He flicked his tail, gesturing for her to go ahead and walk with him, at a comfortably slow pace so she could take in the landscape better this time around. An idle silence settled over the two of them for a moment, him unsure of what exactly he could tell her about the recent chain of events going down back home. "So," He cleared his throat. "I guess you've been well? What have you been up to since I last saw you?" There, that worked about as good as anything. A topic change, but he wasn't sure how long that would last.

[Blair]

She followed beside Emerson, nodding at his explanation. However, she wasn't going to let forget the words: "until just recently". So, if she were to assume correctly, that means that the pride has only recently started to frequent the mountains? Curse wondered what their reasons were, however, she knew not to pry into things she had no business with. Although silence fell over the two, Curse didn't mind it much, taking the time to gaze up at the magnificent Sakura trees. When Emerson cleared his throat, she found his golden eyes. "I've been well, however, I had to say goodbye to my brother a while ago." The slightest bit of aggravation slipped into her tone, "He was practically kicked out of the pride...for something he could have easily avoided." She said, still quite frustrated with the events of that day- mostly with her brother, but also with the white devil. She sighed, "I didn't leave the pride, though....but now that I think about, maybe I should have." As far as she knew, Yasha hates Crimsons- her family could for all Curse knew.

"Well, what about you? You seem well- anything change since I last saw you?" She gave him the same question, hoping to get away from the conversation of her brother. Even if it had happened a few months back, she still felt a little sensitive to the details of that day. She was much more eager to hear about him, rather than talk about herself in the first place anyways.

[katluver458]

Emerson '^Nero' _Donovan

His whiskers twitched curiously, surprised at the sour look on her face, the tone of her voice. "That is unfortunate." He grunted quietly. "To me, it seems like it was both of their faults? If it was something he could have avoided, but did anyways." He shrugged, not wanting to seem like he was taking any sides in this. "You can't blame a pride for reacting to any sort of inner-turmoil, yes?"

He pointed out gently enough, brows raised. "Now, if they reacted poorly, like it sounds like what your saying? Then yes, it's a dual sort of problem that needs to be addressed." Clearly he was half-associating her tale with Kimiko and her own crimes. "I don't know. As you meet more and more beasts in your life, along with family, you have to decide for yourself who you trust more; Blood, or the clan you swore your life to? But I can tell you this -- Always go with your gut instinct, it will never steer you wrong." Emerson nodded firmly, clearly satisfied with that answer. He wouldn't be the one to tell her what to do about it. After all, it wasn't like he had skewed thoughts on the matter. The Kingdom came first, because nearly all of his family was dead or gone, somehow even now long after the war not knowing that one of his brothers, Cyber, was over in Arelth and La Morte. Then, the question was turned on him, and he shrugged again. "Mm...Not much, really. Well, not much that I can tell you, anyways."

[Blair]

Curse shook her head, "I don't blame the pride itself- or the decision the leader made, I think he made the right call. I'm mad at him, my brother- as well as the other one that caused him to have to leave." She didn't want Emerson to get any weird misconceptions, so she set the record straight. "The moment Elliot started talking to her, I knew the rest of the pride would take her side immediately. He could of stopped, but he didn't...He went too far." She nodded to his next words, telling her to always trust her gut. Her gut had told her to stay, and so she had. For something she was dwelling over for months, Emerson was able to completely erase her indecisiveness. "Thanks for listening Emerson," She said, smiling at him. "I really needed to get that off of my chest." Sometimes it was easier to vent to a stranger rather than a close friend. Curse nodded in understanding at his words, I see."

"You know, Emerson, you're a pretty great listener for a guy- the ladies must love you." She said, giggling lightly, not mentioning the fact that he's pretty smooth, too. Or at least, that is what she has come to characterize the creature knows as Emerson thus far in her mind. She didn't know many males that would actually listen and return with another perspective on the subject- advice included.

[katluver458]

Emerson '^Nero' _Donovan

She further clarified herself, and he found himself continuing to nod along in mild agreement. This 'Elliot' fellow -- It was easy to assume who was who once you put the pieces together -- Sounded lost, mostly. Confused. Much like he was years ago. It was something he never wished on anyone, and he could only hope he would somehow make his way out of the darkness, as he was lucky enough to before he was too far gone. "Makes sense, now that you say that." He grunted, shaking his head. But, at least now she seemed a little more at ease with herself, which in turn echoed onto him, a more peaceful airs. "But, you're welcome. Though I'm sorry I couldn't be any more help than just empty words." He shrugged. Still, she continued to insist, and he laughed quietly, waving her off with a massive, white-toed paw.

She was giving him too much credit. And it suddenly showed at the girl's next little off-comment about females. He snorted roughly, attention turned to stare out ahead of them. "Ah, no...See, that's where you're wrong." This particular male just hadn't had much luck with the ladies. And he certainly wasn't the best pick either. That's all there was to it, end of story.

[Blair]

She shook her head at his comment about only giving empty words. "They're not empty to me.." She muttered, mostly to herself, though she completely forgot about that when he spoke again. Her eyes widened as Emerson revealed that he actually isn't popular at all. How can he not? If you just look at him, you can tell that he's good looking... She looked him over once more, Okay, really good looking. Plus, he's been nothing but polite to me- well, I think he was trying to mess with me when we first met, but whatever. She then thought of other reasons as to why he may not have ladies jumping at him. "Oh! Is it because you're already spoken for?" She asked, thinking it was the only logical reason- he must have a mate already. Therefore, other females were less inclined to go after him.

[katluver458]

Emerson '^Nero' _Donovan

Her rationale was absolutely incredible. But, he couldn't exactly blame her for coming to that conclusion. Seemed like a good enough explanation, though again it was far from the truth. "That's not it either." He decided right then and there that he wouldn't tell her why. It was so long ago, another lifetime. He was a different male, and it's what ultimately broke him, in the end. "Trust me, it's not that big of a deal. Besides, most of the females in the Kingdom are my cousins, distant or not." No, he refused to go back to that dark time. Roy'al. Arcana... He sighed heavily, shaking his head. "I've had females before. Or, perhaps they had me. It just didn't work out in the end. That's all." Maybe he wouldn't tell her. Maybe he just wouldn't tell her everything. He didn't want to ruin their company so early.

[Blair]

The female inhaled deeply, as if suddenly realizing something- of course, how could she forget that most of the females in his pride are related to him in some form or fashion. Well, she never had the pleasure- or perhaps displeasure- of being surrounded by family, so she supposed she just didn't think about it. "Right, I almost forgot...you're a Donovan and the Donovan's are prominent in Meurtrier." Still, that didn't mean there weren't other females, but she decided not to press the issue. She didn't want to irritate him and he said that it wasn't a big deal anyways- so she let it go fairly easily. Though, she was still somewhat skeptical with the fact that he wasn't popular. She looked over at him as he told her that he's had relationships that didn't work, her eyes filled with empathy. "I'm sorry to hear that, Em- can I call you Em? If you don't like it, I won't- it was by accident anyways." She had shortened his name without even thinking, but now that she had said it, Curse wondered if he would be okay with that.

[katluver458]

Emerson '^Nero' _Donovan

He offered a mild smile, a rather pathetic attempt to appease her before she could get torn up over this. "Ah, well. Thank you. But I mean, it was for the best in the end, so." He shrugged. It wasn't her fault. Besides, thankfully she was turning out to be quite the intelligent girl indeed, just as fast to make a mistake, she corrected herself about it. She must've traveled around after the whole mess with her brother broke out in her homelands, learning of the world. She was ever the oddity as well, just as she left him, how he remembered, and he rolled his eyes, shaking his head in much more honest amusement. "It's alright, you may call me whatever you wish." 'Em' reassured again, nose to the wind to be sure they were still on the right track, though it was slow going. "And what about you? Surely you've got more than a few males tripping over themselves back home?"

[Blair]

Smiling, she was relieved that it was all right if she called Emerson by 'Em'. Slowly, she realized that the scenery was changing, she wondered how much longer she would get to casually speak with him. Looking away from Em, she should have guessed that the question would be turned on her. "Nope, most of Stygian is comprised of Neko's and Kain's. Yasha Neko has show her distaste of my family, I can only assume most- if not all- share some of her thoughts on Crimsons. The Kains are of course friends to the Neko's." She sort of laughed, mostly at herself, at the end of her sentence. "Perhaps I should confront her.." She said aloud by accident, though she had mostly mumbled it Curse wondered if Em had heard her. "Well, I was never lucky in the department of 'love'..or mate-ship..or whatever you want to call it. Even when I hear others talk about it, it's hard to really imagine the emotion- if it even is one." Emphasizing the world love as if it is an unknown entity, she put the subject back on track rather quickly. She had never been in love, nor has she ever experienced a crush- as far as she remembers. She had trouble relating to those that did and often put her in an awkward position, considering her own age. Most would think that she has several experiences of love, lust, and what have you.