meet the, uh, parents?

ooc; before the summit and duskguard trip
@Nikolai and @Valeska - please let nick post first
 

It had taken two days to get back. The weather was fair enough, which made for an easy trip, and Tallulah kept a watch for any predators. If one or two strayed too close to Fate's Respite, she would inform Valeska of this upon their arrival. Between chatting and stopping a few times, the trek was not very eventful outside of their own company. She couldn't stop wagging her tail and laughing sometimes, the self-doubt slowly fading.

"I'll call fer Ms. Valeska" she informed Nick when they got to the border. Bumping her shoulder against him as she passed, she walked to the scent line and howled for the pale alpha woman. If Amaranth got here too, that was fine, but Tallulah didn't expect both at once. At least one had to wrangle their pups! She turned after calling, sitting down next to her... what was he now? Boyfriend? She didn't use the term yet... Oh goodness, maybe they should have discussed this more.

She could just feel Ms. Valeska's eyes, brows wiggling after being shocked, in her mind's eye. Don't make this embarrassin!' the piebald felt herself think.

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Would he have come here… eventually? It might’ve made sense. The waters near the mountains had brought him to life, returning to them after such wandering could be poetic, but the prospect of a pack remained only a quarter of why Nikolai found himself trailing behind Tallulah as she led them past that barrier she once told him to abide. She was the rest. Hell, she was probably all of it. The loyalties to a community the wolfdog held passed in the fires. Tallulah held him entirely. She came. He did. Same as if she left, he would. But that wasn’t the ideal way to pitch yourself as a member, was it?

 
 

Tallulah took the reins, he settled back and watched, contented as the woman howled to watch how the golden sunlight fell through the clouds just to drape over her splotched fur. If this Valeska of hers took some time, that’d be fine. He could stew in his nerves and numb them with her like she was fine bourbon.

 
 

Nerves bred in the slow realization during their travels that he could be turned away. This Valeska could deem him… unfit to join, could take some distaste with his heritage as many seemed to, could simply not like him (likely). ”If she don’t take no likin’ to me, ya’ reckon she’ll shoo me outta ’ere without ‘er teeth?” He said, finally, a tease that he met with a lick to Tallulah’s ears that was a comfort for her as it was him. They’d wandered far enough with one another… spent plenty time moving as one, sleeping as one… he didn’t know everything about her but he knew she liked it. It soothed him. It worked as it needed. Oh, he hoped he’d some kind of decent impression.

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She had been mentally and spiritually preparing herself for the journey to Frostfang Vale, as close as it was to their own home, knowing that the task of herding five unruly pups across miles of tundra would be no small feat.

Valeska had fasted the last two days, knowing that an empty stomach meant a full spirit; she needed as much of a connection to the Five as she could get before their journey. She prayed fervently, asking for their strength and protection, and for the good behavior of her own children so that they might not disgrace the family name to Tiberius and Olive. Gods, that was the last thing she needed. Elysium was finally making proper friends and allies, and to throw it all away because Violent - Violet - curses, how that unfortunate nickname stuck - might open her mouth and said something awful was unthinkable.

"О Хоуту, Все-Мать Пяти," — O Houtu, All-Mother of the Five she whispered under her breath, eyes closed in desperate prayer. "Пожалуйста, заткните зияющую дыру, которая является грязным ртом моей дочери, пока длится наше путешествие." — Please silence the gaping hole that is my daughter's foul mouth for as long as our trip lasts.

She took another breath to continue, when she was suddenly interrupted by Tallulah's call at the border - which was odd. She lived here, now, and there were rarely any disturbances in or outside of their territory. The little wolf heaved herself to her paws, determined to resume her plea to the gods later on, and trotted amiably toward where the sound had originated. It hadn't come across as urgent, at least - it couldn't be anything too terrible.

Spotting the earth-hued woman, she was surprised to see another figure standing beside her. He was tall and imposing, and his coloration was most unusual for a wolf - but as she drew closer, she noticed his smell was... different. Diluted? That was not the word either, but her ears pricked forward with great curiosity. Tallulah seemed almost shy, now, and thankfully the gentleman beside her had a kind face.

“Hello, my friend,” she greeted, before turning her gaze toward the newcomer. “And who might this be?”

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As she thought; Valeska was kind to greet anyone. Tallulah tried to soothe her bristling scruff, out of sheer embarrassment and also nerves. When the pale woman came on the scene, she turned to face her friend first before looking at Nick in curiosity. No doubt Elysium's leader (or rather, leaders, since she'd tell her wife later no doubt) was trying not to pry all at once. Though she could almost assume the questions. Best get this over with. 

"This here is Nikolai" Tallulah introduced them, turning to look at Nick "this is Ms. Valeska, me friend and alpha" Her eyes returned to Valeska, smiling shyly but kindly "err, Nick... Nick is... me boyfriend." We're working it out. We're trying it out. We're taking it slow, even if there is mutual interest. Oh gods, please don't titter and laugh and giggle...! She used the word. The word, right in front of Nick. Red flashed across her cheeks, wondering what he thought about that.

But she didn't look at him, too flustered and almost afraid he'd correct her. She tried to move on best she could. "I asked him t' be in Elysium. Wit' me, while we court" She floundered into unknown territory. Tallulah shuffled her paws against the earth "and I obviously ain't gonna sneak round behind yer back, Ms. Valeska. Was wonderin' if he was welcome here... He wanted t' stay." She finally glanced at Nick. He was close enough to feel the heat rolling off her in waves.

Go on. She leaned to him, bumping her shoulder against his. Tallulah couldn't speak for him. 

Court. Court. Court.

She hoped Valeska didn't laugh about her choice of word. The correct term is 'date', universal in nature. Tallulah was old-fashioned though. She used the word her Pa had used long ago, to describe his dance with her Ma.

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Nikolai wasn't entirely sure what to expect when the wolf at the helm of Elysium answered the call of the wolf at his side, white as snow and appearing as steadfast as the mountains reaching tall and fierce around them arrived. He remained quiet as Valeska spoke, offering a gentle smile but little more, allowing Tallulah to continue to lead this conversation until he felt it right to press on. He didn't anticipate how he'd be introduced. He... certainly didn't expect that to be how he'd be introduced.

 

Boyfriend.

 

It sounded sweet coming from her lips. He couldn't help but wag his tail, betraying any shred of proper presentation that he intended to exude, make a good first impression and all. Far from the timid way she behaved, Nikolai felt no hesitation for any sap or affection, meeting her nudge with an eager nudge of his head to hers in a brief nuzzle. Taking Tallulah's goading to let out a breath and step forward. "She also told me 'bout what y'all stand for n' all an' I reckon I'd like ta' be apart of that, too," he said. The dance of induction wasn't one he was new to, having been taught when he arrived on the ranch as a pup, and though he lacked for ears they twitched back against his skull, a perhaps overly polite expression of respect, perhaps, dipping his head once and looking Valeska in the eye. "If y'all'll 'ave me that is."

 

Tallulah was why he ws here right now but he grasped well enough a leader would seek a prospective member who desired to offer loyalty to, if not them, the cause. Individual loyalty could always brew later.

---

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He was adorable.

Well, adorable for an enormous canine of ambiguous origin and paws the size of dinnerplates.

The stranger shifted once or twice, appearing almost shy, his nervousness somewhat veiled behind the formal manner in which he conducted himself. If anything, he was almost too polite, and Valeska felt a touch of embarrassment on her part at the way he seemed to think her some great monarch ready to mercilessly tear apart his application.

She grinned, giving her tail a few good-natured wags to show she was not so intimidating after all.

“You would be more than welcome here in Elysium,” she replied merrily, doing her absolute damnedest not to make eye contact with Tallulah. Valeska liked to tease, but she wasn't mean, and had a suspicion that the heat radiating off her friend had not simply been induced by the (crisp and downright pleasant) weather.

“Any friend of Tallulah's is a friend of ours - tell me, what are your interests? Rank does not necessarily mean privilege here; it is merely a wellspring from which to train and hone your skills,” she explained easily, her tone light. Higher rank often simply meant greater mastery in their chosen field, apart from the usual ritual of being able to stand in the places of Valeska or Amaranth should they be absent. “We have positions for the strong, the swift, those interested in medicine and herbs, as well as positions for wolves of a spiritual inclination.”

The silver wolf really wanted to look at Tallulah.

And grin.

Widely.

She held it in for now.

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She would fall silent as she watched the exchange.

Nick had always been polite to her, so she didn't really assume he was being too polite. If anything, he acted the same around Ms. Valeska that Tallulah had done so far. It wasn't a problem, for Valeska wagged her tail a few times to make him relax. The piebald rancher let out a soft sigh, not realizing she had been holding her breath. The pale woman didn't even twitch her lips in amusement when Nick gave her a quick muzzle. 

Though this would not be the end of it. Oh no. Tallulah could almost feel the alpha's desire to poke and prod. Not in a bad way, but in a way that was good-natured and curious. That almost made it worse. She fully expected to be cornered one day, Ms. Valeska waggling her brows and asking questions. Tallulah prepared herself for this. She would expect it, and be a bit disappointed if neither woman (Amaranth included) came around asking.

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The wolfdog felt as though there was something transpiring between the women that he was missing. It quirked his brows and tilted his head briefly, unconvinced it had anything to do with him or this, of course. Nikolai shook it from his pelt, presuming Tallulah would fill him in on anything he might need to know, allowing his focus to fall entirely on Valeska.

 

A breath of relief escaped past his lips... her acceptance meant more than he'd know quite yet though he appreciated it plenty now. "Thank ya', ma'am," he said, his tail finally offering some loose wag. "'an I'mma be honest, I ain't got much of a clue 'bout ranks still yet... just happy to be involved." Part dog, truly. Nikolai whuffed a light chuckle, though it remained clear he was attentive to her words when she spoke again and he said, "Yer' position for the strong, what'd that be? Spattin' it with folks? Oh—" he looked back at Tallulah. "The border thing ya' talked 'bout?" And then to Valeska, as if he worried none that they lacked familiarity, eyes wide and brows raised; he met her warm, curious. "That gotta lot to do with border things?"

 

He kind of hoped not... but maybe he could kick the ignorin' it habit.

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Tallulah need not use her words to express her inner turmoil. She said it all with her eyes, silently begging her leader not to crack during this exchange although it consumed the very fires of her soul. What else was she supposed to do? Her newest comrade had gone off for a brief excursion and returned with a boyfriend half the size of Houtu's Eye* - of course she wanted the juicy details.

She continued to refrain.

The gentleman spoke of his interest in a more strength-related role - spattin' it with folks, he called it, which took the Priestess a few extra seconds to process. Although her English had markedly improved over the past two years, she still struggled through some of the thicker accents. It was a welcome challenge, at any rate.

“Ah! Yes. That would be Shadowsbane, a fancy term for spattin' folks,” she said with a giggle, realizing how amusing it sounded accompanied by her own Russian undertones. “Mordecai is one of the only others, here, so I am sure he would welcome a sparring partner and someone to assist with his patrols.”

“Although we are a peaceful pack, we would be wise to bolster our defenses - we have no current enemies, but having so many young pups...” she trailed off, looking back toward the dens. “I am grateful for you both.”

Valeska looked at the pair, then, standing together as they were. She did think them a nice complement to one another; Tallulah, all rough-and-tumble and spry, while Nikolai seemed quite mellow and even a little on the shy side.

She really, really wanted to ask how they met.

Would it be prying?

{*Valeska's giant boulder she likes to perch upon}

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He was in. Of course, she had no doubt Valeska would approve of him into the ranks. The question was; would she approve of him in general? This was unknown territory on so many levels. Tallulah never had a mother to poke and pry, and while Ms. Valeska wasn't that much older than herself... She was sort of a mother figure to Tallulah all the same. Nick looked briefly confused about the borders, and she turned to him with a confirming nod. She tried not to giggle when he said 'spattin'. 

Instead, she puffed her cheeks. Protesting that laugh. It was cute, okay? Valeska obviously seemed a bit lost for words at the moment they were uttered. He was trying his best, okay? They both were, she could see that. Valeska finally giggled at it, which caused Tallulah to relax further. She let out a mental sigh. The name Mordecai has dropped again - and she recalled the large brown fellow at the event. He had been so enthusiastic. So puppy-like. It was hard to believe sometimes... He was a Shadowsbane.

Though she didn't rightly want a stiff and unfriendly one either!

Valeska stared right at them now. Her words were silent. Oh, was it Tallulah's turn to speak? She shuffled a bit. "I'll go over t' borderline wit' Nick again" she commented with a relieved smile "we met not far from Elysium's" He surely remembered a bit, considering his words to her. She inclined her head to Valeska now "thank ya, ma'am." She echoed her (new? first? well, yes, first) boyfriend's words. We can gossip later she also wanted to let the pale woman know but felt it was impolite to say it openly. She just gave Valeska a knowing stare.

Before she rose.

Walking toward the border now, she beckoned Nick over it. He was part of the pack; there was no reason to keep it from him any longer. "Welcome t' Elysium" she smiled, glad he was close by now. Instead of roamin' all over the place, doing goodness knew what so close to winter. It'd be a difficult trek in the mountains, so close to the tundra. She didn't want him getting hurt, just to see her.

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"Well, I'll be might 'appy ta' be put ta' use," Nikolai told her at the mention of the... rank? Thing? He was to be. He remembered the two pups he'd met here not so long ago, really, little things still yet it made sense that they'd want a bulk of wolves among them with some wit to them when it came to fight or keeping an eye out for any unsavory folks. He'd not mind. Nikolai lowered his head once more, a polite sign of departure this time. "Grateful to ya' for takin' me in, thank ya', ma'am."

Tallulah spoke next, beckoning him from the line of Valeska, and he abided—clearly finding that he should pay a level of respect to her; far from feeling like this was his home that he was welcomed in as he felt more that he'd been allowed in briefly, a timid acceptance he'd come to find was customary among the groups the dogs often made back home. Nikolai remained wordless, bumping Tallulah with his shoulder as she welcomed him.

It wasn't his home. It could be though, he reckoned. Maybe.

Tentatively, he thought, always tentatively.

 

Nikolai exits.

---

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The pair seemed satisfied for now, although cautious concerning Nikolai's new acceptance. It was easy to forget that even Tallulah was still fresh in their ranks, having settled in so quickly and with such kindhearted sincerity, and Valeska only wished she knew how to reassure them both. Well, time would tell - they were by no means like any of the more traditional packs that lay sprawled across the mountain region. One did not have to earn their keep to call Fate's Respite their home, although any efforts toward collaboration were always met with gratitude.

They were a haven - a place to rest and find peace.

Allegedly.

That reminded her.

“Well, it has been wonderful to meet you, Nikolai,” she reaffirmed, nodding her head pleasantly toward the wolf-dog. His ears were so interesting - short and cropped and tight against his head - but she didn't want to ask how it had come about. “I must return to my meditation and prayers to the gods, for their watchful eyes will be the only thing that stands between our safe journey and utter chaos.”

She looked toward Tallulah affectionately, offering her a wry smile.

“And you, no doubt!”

Turning back toward where she had first been summoned, she pursed her lips briefly. She had never offered it before, but - well, no one had asked either - it was an option -

“I know it is often a private thing - but if either of you has any inclination toward spirituality, all faiths are welcome here, so long as they are not harmful to others. I myself ascribe to the wisdom of the Five, but I have learned that the gods go by many names to many individuals -”

She looked suddenly embarrassed.

“That is all. I just thought it was worth, ah, mentioning. There has been confusion before - I am not a tyrant.”

... Hopefully they would tell her if she was.

Valeska dipped her head to each of them in turn, and trotted away.

 

{Exit Valeska}

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