it was never a lonely world ;; malakai

[Crackers]

MALAKAI DIMERA
SABERTOOTH X TIGER - MALE - 21 MONTHS - CONQUEST/GREENSIDE

While it wasn't something he'd ever openly admit too, charisma was something he wished he wasn't so lacking in. There had been plenty of times in the young sabertooths life when he'd watched with envy as friendships were formed and acquaintances made so easily by others, and he knew that if he'd had even half of the natural charm he'd seen come to so many others that finding new members for his group wouldn't be anywhere near as challenging. But there was no changing who you were, not at the foundation at least. Even if he figured out the right words his delivery of them and body language would never quite sell it. That was okay with Mal, though. He didn't want to spend his life pretending to be someone he wasn't, and if that meant people had to spend a bit more time with him before they realized he was an okay guy then that was fine by him. His hopes had been dashed enough times that he wasn't hoping for much out of the smaller black cat with their brightly mismatched ears, but he was bullheaded enough to try regardless. And to his surprise the body language he'd been expecting wasn't there. There was no tensing in uncertainty, no nervous shuffle of their paws. In fact, the stare they gave him was almost reminiscent of wonder even though he couldn't see the eyes beneath the glasses, and Malakai found himself momentarily unnerved by the smaller felines gaze. Kai didn't see himself as anything special and surely the other didn't either, so why did he have to look at him like that?

To his great relief- more than he'd like to admit- the other began to respond in a tone that could only be branded as friendly- talktative, even- their bobbed tail flailing behind them in an excited manner that was reminiscent of a puppy that had just been given a bone to chew. It was a promising response to say the least, by far the most promising he'd received since beginning these random expeditions out into the neutral grounds, and he prayed to whatever god that kept bringing him back that he wouldn't totally blow this with his aloof nature and boring responses. His rounded ears would prick forward in interest as the other reply with their energetic, "Oh! Yeah, I'm new! Just out for a stroll across the land, hoping to run into something interesting.. Or someone." Their playful smirk didn't go unnoticed, and had Malakai did his best to offer what he hoped was a friendly smile. He couldn't say he was interesting in any capacity, but maybe he could prove to be enough so to keep this colorful guys attention for longer than just a minute.

And the conversation seemed to be going okay. The other was friendly and polite with an energetic edge to them that seemed more than happy to humor Malakais attempt at talking to them, and the blue and silver sabertooth had been on the verge of working up a response to their nearly formed question when a sudden look of horror left them backing away with their jaw gaping slightly. Malakais own smile would falter and he'd tense, wondering if he'd done something wrong only to have the thought cut off by the others next string of words."I-I'm not trespassing on clan territory, am I?"

It wasn't exactly what Malakai had been expecting, but at least the minor freak out wasn't due to some he'd done and he was quick to give his large head a shake 'no', wondering if the others respect was only out of fear for what Malakai could do, or if they were truly that honest a person. "These are the neutral lands, so you should be safe to wander where you want." the soldier would say with a shrug, though 'safe' was only relevant to whoever the other happened across- the territory may lay unclaimed but that just meant that anyone and anything was allowed here. Still, he noted the chance to draw the others attention to his own group and he wasn't about to pass up that chance. "The only claimed territory around here is my own, and that's still a good walk to the east from here. You'd notice the scent markers long before you were deep enough to be considered trespassing in Greenside, though." he'd reply, assuring the other they had nothing to worry about on that front. "You don't seem to be carrying any clan scent on you- are you a loner, or something?" he'd ask, letting a brow quirk upward in minor curiosity even though it was the only thing he had an interest in. Did this guy already have a clan to call home? He hoped not. It was better to persuade people to come of their own free will rather than forcing them into it, but Malakai wasn't against the latter. The cold truth of it was that people didn't always know or care what was best for them, and sometimes it took a little force to make people understand. It was why his group was so controversial to begin with, as his people weren't above taking innocents into their ranks without the consent of the individual. It was the mission of all Greensiders to see the world come into a lasting era of peace, by destroying the wicked and making safe the innocent.

"SPEECH

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