Partner

Lillow's comment had my mind running around in circles like an eager bunny.

Not the case, but I can have my crazy moments.

Yes, Souse's tribe is not a properly made tribe. Obviously. There are no children to pull on hair, no couples (besides Essuan/Souse and Paw/Mik), no elderly and a lot of the ranks that exist in a normal tribe don't exist in Souse's tribe because it's too small to support those ranks.

Hohi's not built to be a defender, but defence has to be built up before offense can be created, which is likely the role that Hohi is better made for. He's quick, but defenders tend to be smaller, they can move faster. Paw is a better defender, Lillow will likely be a defender. Basically the rankings that are in Namesakes about the Sidhe defender/offender roles. I'm going to end up re-reading to find out what the titles are for those ranks. But yeah. Hohi and Lillow are going to be a pair that no one is going to want to screw with.

*coughs*

Read, Review and Enjoy.





Mik dropped his keys on the counter and moved to the living room. He dropped onto the couch beside Lillow and sighed. Lillow looked at him and then clicked off the television set.

“Mik upset?” She asked, setting the remote on the coffee table before turning her attention back to Mik, “possible as ‘cause Paw upset?”

“Paw is upset?”

“Paw brought Souse in and showed him three computers! Three!” Lillow sounded upset, “one was my computer. Now I have to go without a computer as well. I was playing with the programs on there, I’m not the one with an issue, Paw’s the one with an issue. Why should I be punished for Paw’s stupidity?”

“One. Paw is not stupid,” Mik muttered, “two, if there is a single computer in the office then Paw is likely to turn back to the computers, just as an alcoholic is likely to turn back to drinking if there is anything alcoholic in the place. Three. If your … father isn’t allow to use computers, why should you? Four. The mural isn’t done. Once you finish that, we’ll maybe talk about you getting your hands on another computer.”

“I was using it as reference for the mural,” Lillow snapped back.

“Oh. Well then, we’ll talk to Souse about you having access to a computer for reference pictures only,” Mik responded with a murmur, “where is Paw now?”

“With Souse. At the pool. Violet and Essuan there too, think Hohi is there as well.”

“…you weren’t invited?”

“Souse told me to stay home,” Lillow shrugged and grabbed the remote again, clicking the television back on, “something about how adults sometimes need private time.”

Images popped into Mik’s head. Only half of them were dirty, thank the gods, the other half… had him running for the door. Lillow stayed on the couch, and Mik left his keys on the counter. He tapped his leg in agitation as he waited for the elevator to open. When the thing finally pinged and the doors opened, Mik slid out of the elevator and into the pool room.

Souse and Hohi stood at the corner of the room, their backs to the large windows. At their feet, Paw sprawled, head on one arm, the other laying on the floor and curled around his head. There was a bruise across the smaller Sidhe’s cheek and his clothing was dishevelled. Paw stared distantly at nothing, eyes unfocused, oblivious to the world.

Essuan sat in a chair, pillows behind her back and a blanket over her legs. By her side was a mug and a teapot, a small plate of veggies and crackers. Violet stood to Essuan’s side, just by the woman’s shoulder, hands clasped before her.

The stance of a servant.

Violet met Mik’s eyes for only a moment before looking away.

This whole thing seemed to be some kind of clash of people and Sidhe. A servant yet there Paw was, being dominated in a very Sidhe way. The males and females, separated by cultural divides created by people. Unless, of course, that was the actual separation. Females had always seemed stranger than males to Mik. Perhaps it was because on some level, Mik could understand the males better because he was male.

Souse noticed Mik and let out a huff at the back of his throat. Hohi turned his attention to the man a moment later before stepping over Paw’s legs and angling himself in just a way that made him a threat. The tall male was ready to step between Mik and Essuan in a moment, and likely wouldn’t stop at pushing Mik away.

“What’s this?” Mik made a motion to the five of them.

Souse looked around the room before meeting Mik’s eyes once more, “complicated. Your people do not have a word for it.”

Mik motioned to Violet, “looks like a servant to me.”

“Oh. Ehm. Yes and no. More of a guard, Mari tells me Essuan is working more than she’s supposed to,” Souse muttered, giving his mate a disapproving look, “Violet has generously offered her services.”

“And what exactly are her services?”

“Basically a servant,” Violet growled.

“Ashun lick many wankles.”

Violet moved around to the other side of Essuan and poured more tea for the woman. She then moved back to her position at Essuan’s right side.

Mik arched an eyebrow at Souse, “So women can use other women as servants? Thought the gifting away of women was based on their mothers’ decisions.”

“Women can have servants in such cases, usually they prefer their own gender. Usually a friend step in, or a male relative. However, I need Hohi for other work and Paw here,” Souse made a motion towards Paw, “has proven to be unreliable. So. Essuan asked Violet to do it, thus reaffirming the fact that Violet and Essuan are of one tribe. It has reassured the new members of the tribe.”

Mik motioned to Hohi. Souse looked at the larger male, puzzled.

“Hohi is feeling rankled. I’ve given him a new position in the tribe, as a defender of our people. If we are going to expand our tribe, we need to have certain ranks that do not yet exist in our tribe. Hohi needs to learn that Mik is part of the tribe.”

Hohi crossed his arms when Souse looked at him expectantly.

“Uhhuh, so he’s cranky and that,” Mik motioned to Paw.

“I have disciplined Paw and put him into line.”

“Meaning?”

“I bent him over a table and had my way with him.”

Mik bit his tongue for a long moment before saying, “that is not the look of a satisfied Sidhe.”

Souse smirked, “Just wanted to see the look on your face when I said that. His punishment is being kept amongst the elders.”

“El…”

“Another rank that our tribe does not have, because we have no one old enough to fit it, nor the numbers. The five of us, along with Lillow when she comes of age, will step up as Elders. To fulfill the duties of our elders in their absence.”

“I thought elders babysat, taught traditions and ate all the food,” Mik muttered.

“Amongst other things. Our language and tradition, our culture, is passed on through the Elders. They make the rules and the leader enforces them.”

“But that would require you-”

“Stepping down as leader? Not quite yet,” Souse murmured, “we have our eye on another to replace me. But the time is not right to place that one in that one’s spot.”

Complete lack of pronoun. Souse had dropped into a Sidhe speaking pattern. Mik rubbed his palms against his pant legs and gave a small nod.

“Are Elders allowed to breed?”

“If they are capable.”

“Good,” Mik gave another nod.

“They want me to breed,” Souse snarled.

“Yes,” Mik said carefully, “Mari seems to think your powers would be useful and. Such.”

“You were given profile reports on Sidhe … blood,” Souse murmured, “what did mine say?”

“I have no idea. I don’t know how to read it. They told us about the combination of Essuan and your blood. I don’t recall anything being said about your blood specifically. But. Mari is an Illuen. She likely knows a great deal about genetics and breeding true. My suggestion would be to take her suggestion. But.”

“She suggested another female.”

“She suggested the possibility of you breeding on the wrong side of the sheets. I responded by telling her that even if you were to do something like that. What it would do to Essuan is impossible to guess.”

Souse looked down at his own feet and then to Essuan. Finally the Sidhe looked back at Mik, “this one’s life is this one’s tribe.”

“What does that mean?”

“That should it be needed, I will breed with whatever female is necessary, should the female agree to it.”

“A female not agree to having you in bed?” Mik asked Souse, scoffing at the male, “People will hop into bed with you and from what Paw’s said, he obviously doesn’t disagree with you.”

Souse made a sound at the back of his throat, “tell Mari that I will consider her words, though I would like her to elaborate, if possible.”

“I will. Though with the war business and the training of our own new members, I cannot say when she might be able to come to visit you.”

“Understood and understandable. Please take this one home,” a motion to Paw, “he may need a bed. And no medication for any wounds he may have.”

“He’s not bleeding.”

“Might be, but doubtful. Nothing worse that Mik suffered under Souse’s discipline,” Souse murmured, giving a dismissive flick of his hand.




.