"No shame in lookin' for a little spice, kid," Elspet crowed, gesturing again to her patterned forearms. She crowed again, and then hooted in laughter while Aristotle trudged out of the water and shook himself, his entire coat fluffing up with it. It was like he had a ghost of a mane there, and she said as much, "there's a jungle king!" None of it was mean-spirited; just Auntie Ellie having herself a raucous good time.

Electric eyes traced the pattern as the tiny cub was painting it into the soil, pondering over how he could have something so specific in mind - she quickly ran into the roadblock of well, how'd you think of all those lines on your arms? The answer to that was, of course, a resounding no clue. "I sure can try," Elspet called softly compared to the rest of her howling, already dipping her fingertips in the bowl of dye and slicking them over.

"Standin' would be best, actually," she chirped, patting gently at the cub's rump (with a clean hand, of course) until he stood up, "otherwise you'll get a buncha weird stretchy marks. Now, hold still, hm?"

And away she worked, smudging paint around the little lion's paws before drawing sweeping stripes against the grain of his puffy, soft fur - and back down again. It was a surprisingly brief process, her hands steady even as she leaned and danced around the cub to get a better angle, check her symmetry, the like. This certainly wasn't her first rodeo in painting another, and definitely not any sort of squirmy (or not squirmy) critter that got impatient or testy when she got a little close to a sensitive spot. She was smooth, quick, but not too sudden or rough if she directed Aristotle to move a little to the side or into better view of the orb-lights above.

When all was said and done, she instinctively sent off a pulse of magic, watched the dye glimmer and settle into place, and belatedly winced. "You... wanted that to be permanent, right?"

@Aristotle

Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

The young lion let a bright friendly smile slip into place on his muzzle. I’m glad you agree. I can see I’ll be in good hands. I’m assuming you put on those lovely decorations on your arms. He was in awe of the colors and swirling beauty of the ape’s own adornments. They were quite lovely. As he washed and waded back out and over to Elspet. Shaking himself d had caused his pelt and mane to fluff slightly. His mane wasn’t thick and full. No of course not who would expect a young lion to have his adult mane.

It was strange, he had only had a vague idea of the markings he had wanted to put on himself when he had begun the venture. Now as he was scratching it into the dirt, everything was so clear. He could see the spirals, the broad lines. He could see them all. Now he was more sure than ever that this was the right choice. A semi-concerned look came across the young boy’s face as she said she could sure try. Well if her arms were any indication of how good she could be, he was set. I leave my pelt in your capable hands. The look of concern fading from his visade to be replaced by a look of relaxed curiosity.

After he had already settled into a place on the ground the ape insisted he stand for the procedure. Giving a little nod the young boy slid back to his paws, with a rather confused look on his face as she patted his rump. What a strange feeling that was. With that thought he gave a slight flick of his tail as the confused look faded into nothing more than a soft smile. Lying down could cause the marks to go odd, that wouldn’t be good. Yes standing is best. He thought to himself.

As he stood he felt her… fingers. That's what she had called them wasn’t it? He felt them begin their work. It was a strange feeling having his fur moved the wrong direction. It took all he had not to let his muscles twitch to rid themselves of that feeling. But like a good boy he stood still for the time it took for her to do her work. Moving this way or that as he was told to do.

Finally she seemed finished with his new pattern. He glanced at her as suddenly had a look of concern now on her own face as she asked him a question. Well I was hoping to not have to reapply the dye but I wasn’t sure how I could do that. Why do ask? He asked growing a bit concerned himself.

"Speech sample"

@Elspet

"Sure did! If I rub it a lot, it'll give me and whoever I touch a poke," she chirped, lifting an arm and scrubbing up and down the tattoos for a moment. With an exaggerated flourish, Elspet leaned forwards and tapped on the cub's oversized (adorable!) ear. As soon as the static shock was delivered, she lurched back with a laugh.

Regardless, the painting session went off without a hitch and the cub was adorned with all the odd, swirling markings he desired. Bright eyes regarded Aristotle, brow still pushed down in that mildly worried mother ape expression. It softened some at his "I was hoping to not have to reapply the dye," and she waved a dismissive hand. "Ah, well, I wasn't thinkin' - you see - and now I've made it permanent. I dunno any ways to get it off, now."

But, ah, that's what the kid wanted.

Elspet crowed excitedly, "you're all set to go, I think!" She otherwise didn't make any moves to leave, in case Aristotle wanted to hang around and talk. This stone bowl was pretty neat, anyways - maybe she could emulate it...

@Aristotle

Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

A brilliant smile spread over the young boys muzzle as she assured him that she had in fact done the artwork on her arms herself. It truly was lovely. He was about to open his muzzle to ask what she meant by a poke, when she made the quick motion of rubbing her arms and poking his ear. Feeling the surge light through his little body, the young boy made a sound not quite like a growl not quite like a meow either and jumped back a bit. It wasn't that it hurt per-say, but it sure felt weird. She had leaped back laughing when it happened but he didn't exactly find it funny. Curious and uncomfortable but not funny. Lifting a forepaw he rubbed the ear Elspet had delivered the shock to.

It had taken a bit, but he hadn't expected it to be a short process. It had taken some time to complete, but now he had the markings he desired scralled over his pelt. Not to mention that they were now on him forever the way Elspet had made it seem. If he didn't have to re-apply them then all the better. It meant he could spend more time investigating his world. She spoke saying she wasn't thinking when it had been made permanent. That was fine with him. The young boy gave a dismissive shrug. All the better now I can spend more time finding out new things about this place. The boy flashed the ape a rather amused smile, hoping it showed that he didn't really care that it had been an accident.

He was all done apparently, but he wasn't sure he wanted to part ways quite yet. He hadn't really gotten to speak with Elspet as she applied his markings. So what are you exactly? I'm sorry you're the first person I've seen since I left my little cave. He was clearly naive and very trusting. He didn't seem to have any fear of meeting other either, as if the beginning of their meeting had been any tell. Are you like me? Are we the same thing? They had the same sharp canines, but looked nothing alike. Do you know where we are? He seemed to be a wealth of questions, both about Elspet and the world around them. He seemed to hoping she could answer his questions.

Ah, her static poke was a miss with this one. Note to self: maybe not all kids enjoy being shocked.

In any case, less time spent worrying about strange marks was surely more to spend exploring the Caves you live in; and more time spent asking many, many questions - and they were all good ones, for sure! Elspet made herself comfortable, leaf-satchel at one side with an arm slung over her round belly and the other propping her up at the elbow. Picture-perfect pose.

"Pfft," she waved her belly-hand dismissively, "no worries 'bout bein' rude, kiddo. You're clearly new and you'll have plenty'a time to learn. I believe I'm what's called a gorilla." Lifting a hand, the great ape pulled back her lip, revealing those large canines again just to pick mango scrap out from between two of them. "Word just came into m'mind one day - oh!" Light bulb! "By l'il cave, you mean your chrysalis? A rock jus' for you?"

"Are you like me? Are we the same thing?"

"Sorta! We're both Gembound," Elspet chirped, rapping a few knuckles against her diamond and gesturing towards the cub's ear, "I'm thinkin' you're some kinda cat, though - lion? You've got a bit of a mane comin' in already." Another big, toothy grin was delivered to Aristotle. "This is just one cave - Eridanus - of a whole lotta 'em. Some're pretty cold and some're pretty hot. I wouldn't advise you to go too far past that room full of bones, if I were you. There's lotsa dangerous beasties in there to be wary of, even if you're big and strong."

@Aristotle

Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

A light smile played over Aristotle’s lips as Elspet made a weird noise with her lips. COuld he do that? He gave it a try, a valiant effort but only managed to spit at his feet and spray a little. It sounded more like Pleh, than a Pffft. Oversized rounded audits shifted listening to the ape speak. So she was a Gorilla. They were interesting creatures to say the least.

Chrysalis? What was an, oh. The rock he came out of. Well sorta, You see there’s this little hidden cave not far from here that you can only find if you know what you’re looking for. But then yes inside that cave was a really pretty red stone that had broken open and I fell out of. The young lion explained eagerly. So what he had come out of was called Chrysalis. His had been growing against a wall and had grown in a distinctly round shape.

When the gorilla answered his next questions she seemed a little unsure how to explain it. They were sorta the same. A gembound? So the name that had been given to the creatures that lived in this place regardless of species was Gembound. Aristotle filed that away as well as everything else he had just learned. When she told him he was a lion, he looked at her. That’s what I kept hearing in my head when I was still in my Chrysalis. The boy seemed a bit surprised that she actually knew what he was, but was sure she had around far longer than himself. She was very wise, and he liked that. She was an interesting gorilla.

His last question was answered in time. They were in a cave called Eridanus. How interesting. The young lion lifted his chin gazing up above himself curious to see if he could see the ceiling. If it was a cave, it had to have a ceiling didn’t it? His gaze fell back on Elspet all the while as he listened to her. He nodded quietly thinking. The room of bones, a place not to tread. He took note of this as well and smiled. However standing there the young lion’s stomach growled rather loudly. A sheepish grin spread over the young lion’s muzzle. I..I guess I should go hunt. It would seem I’m hungry. WIth that the young lion stood up. Do you mind if I come find you again? I really like you. Aristotle mused hoping that the gorilla would be alright with him visiting her.


@Elspet

Pleh. Caves, was he adorable!

Elspet mushed fingers up against her chin, tickling the peach fuzz. The picture of consideration, punctuated by her humming, "I've never thought about it as being like a cave." What a concept. "A cave all to yourself - at least, until you break it. Then anyone can get in it." She was rambling at this point, but that was fine - kids ate that up, right? Just a bunch of words that might've just been nonsense straight out of the brain, but was still information nonetheless. "In Polaris, there's golems that like to collect those bits and pieces, stickin' them onto themselves. Who knows why."

Shrug.

"Well, a lion's just what you are, then! You'll be a big handsome fella, I bet," she cooed, gesturing towards his paws. Absolutely enormous. Elspet held a quiet hope that he wouldn't become like the Bloodberries that'd plagued the caves for a moment - but she held faith. She'd given him no reason to turn to such violence; and she hoped that nobody else would, either.

"Do you mind if I come find you again? I really like you."

Her gaze softened, and she might've even teared up a little. "'course, kiddo - you can come any time. If you can't see me, just shout!" She couldn't set aside mangoes or other fruits for him, but at least she could leave an open arm and space. "I'll see you around, Aristotle," Elspet finished warmly, gathering up her things despite not making any moves to leave this spot. Let the kid go of his own accord, and then she'd go off into the jungle.

exit, unless stopped
@Aristotle

Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

Aristotle nodded his tail giving a wave as she spoke. He liked hearing Aunty talk. She was smart and knew a lot of different things. Not to mention she was one heck of an artist. Thinking for a moment the young lion thought, maybe in the future when he had his own home he could have Aunty come decorate his walls with beautiful artwork. But that would be a question for when he actually found a home. As she spoke of the golems the young lion tilted his head curiously. I might like to see them sometime, do you think I could watch them for a while? Or are they too dangerous? It seemed the young lion actually did listen to everything the gorilla was saying.

The young lion perked up at the gorilla’s compliment. A bright smile spread across his muzzle as his tail gave a small happy little wave. He liked the way Aunty thought about him, and he only hoped he could grow to make her proud of him. This gorilla being the closest thing to a mother the young lion would probably ever have.

Aristotle smiled as she nodded and said he could visit whenever he liked, and to just yell for her if he didn’t see her. I will. I’ll see you around Aunty! The young lion called as he trotted off to go find himself something to eat.

EXIT ARISTOTLE