you expect me not to analyze it?

[ninazu]

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© lexasperated

I WISH YOU COULD SEE THE WICKED TRUTH
CAUGHT UP IN A RUSH, IT'S KILLING YOU

Acclimating to power came easier than expected; Sunhaven buckled before them and the Rosebloods had yet to return fire. The lioness decided leadership suited her, no matter how unlikely that seemed. But she had Stryker to thank for her elevated status -- the prestige, personal temple, and all the glory that came with the rank. Yet, even as her web fell into place around the Rosebloods, her mind drifted back to one uncomfortable variable.

Stryker. His last meeting replayed in her memory like a broken record, though she managed to push him and his words out of her mind. All that shit needed to stay out of her focus, if she wanted to prove herself. Preoccupation with a single member, even a useful marauder, could not possibly help her bring additional wealth to the Pitt or destroy their numerous enemies. But the uncontrollable variable continued to pop up. The small flame at the end of her tail flared as she quickened her pace, moving faster through the central marketplace. Throwing herself at bolstering the reputation of the Pitt and her reign, even with the distraction that the horned lion presented, had the irritating side-effect of clearing her schedule. Leaving her with little to do except brood on the emotions she couldn't manage to stifle.

Thus, in typical Ninazu fashion, she decided to do something about her conundrum with the free time; anything beat brooding in her temple. Yet she doubted exchanging Christmas presents -- with the disappearance of Caesar in their Secret Santa, it left her with the annoying half-excuse to get him a gift -- would help fix her thought storm.

Setting down the small cardbord box, the lioness looked through the faces in the crowd. Perhaps she should have told him to meet her in her temple, but she knew he'd take that the wrong way... unless that's what she actually intended. But what even were her intentions? For once in her life, Ninazu failed to understand her own goal for an end game. She didn't even know what she wanted from him -- or what she could realistically expect. Huffing, she rubbed the side of her face with a paw. Perhaps it would've been easier to brood in her temple, distracting herself with war plans instead.

[member=1738]Stryker[/member]

WRITTEN BY AXIOM * TAGS

© LEXASPERATED

[Stryker]

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[glow=#000,2,300]☣ —[/glow] Leadership had never troubled the lion. In fact, he rather enjoyed it. The power held many positives that stroked his ego the right way and gave him the thrill he dearly wanted, but it did expose him to unwanted judgement. Despite how much Stryker wanted all the eyes on him, that did not mean he wanted to be negatively criticized, only positively. If he wanted to do what he truly enjoyed, they would of scolded him further. At least he thought so. Snowbound's passive attitude was ingrained into him. Those such violent and cruel desires were being forced to be forgotten by their gun being held to his head, despite the group being dissolved. If only he could break free from the chains. Without any acknowledgement to judgement, the former ardent would prevail to be who he truly was. All he needed was a little push... If leadership wasn't it, then something or someone else had to be.

As a result, the lion had been doing some soul searching. During this time, Secret Santa had begun. As a leader he was forced to participate in the event. When results were drawn, Ninazu had been his partner. After the Caesar's disappearance, he defaulted to no gifts. 'No gifts? That's fine.' It seemed like a mutual agreement between each participant.But as his searching continued and his reign fell into pieces, his mind kept defaulting to a certain someone. Stryker had mistaken this for appreciation. To show his respect, the former ardent had planned to gift them with one of the highest of honors and a gift for their liking. For once, he was not trying to please himself, but instead was instead sacrificing his own time for someone else in hopes of seeing their smile. If only the lion could connect pieces of the puzzle together he would realize the truth behind the situation. If only...

With a gift near his paws, he sat in the corner of the camp awaiting his noble prize. His gift was a simple white box with black trim, topped with a black bow. What sat inside it was more intriguing than the outside. Stryker waited for a few until finding her broodish gaze within the crowd. A smile grin grew on his lips. "Ninny," he called out. His paw gestured for her to come towards him. "Come here, sweets." For now, he was unaware that she too had a gift to share.

Thinking she didn't hear him, he spoke out again. "Ninazuuu," came his glorified coo. It was not mocking whatsoever, but rather loving and appreciative.

[ninazu]

BURN
BRIGHT

The lioness’s ear flicked, head turning to look at the horned beast. Her golden gaze instantly found him, despite the bustling marketplace, now that his voice called. Heart dropping, the ardent immediately thought to run – emotions were weak, she was his superior. Stryker earned her loyalty and respect, but a gift? And in what world did she deserve the gift lying next to him? Even without looking at the contents, Ninazu wanted to violently reject the damn thing. Burn it. Burn her own cardboard offering, for good measure.

But Ninazu never ran from anything. Heavy paws took her towards Stryker, each second excruciatingly slow. The physical pain became stronger, as though to make up for the mental vice she clamped around her emotions. However, that only convinced Ninazu that she needed to do this. Whenever a decision hurt, then the more crucial that decision was – and the more she wanted to ignore the urgency.

“Stryker, thank you...” she said, voice trailing off with a strangled cough. The lioness didn’t know what to say; so she pushed the plain cardboard box towards him without another word. The ardent usually felt at ease around the marauder (more so than anyone else, at least), but it was obvious to any observer how tightly wound she was in this moment. Ninazu knew how to control fear and anger; fear of rejection, however… that was quite another matter.

Inside the cardboard box, the ardent carefully laid a golden grill on top of a thick layer of black tissue paper. But that was just the outer gag gift – she enjoyed the humor Stryker brought to her life. Underneath the paper, she put a few dull scales of Bai Shi in a decorative glass jar. And next to that, well… was a fucking lion heart. Clearly, Ninazu intentionally fucked up the age-old metaphor.

© MADI