It had been a while since Bacchus had been awake, he knew. All the connections he had begun to make, they had been cut short by unexpected hibernation. It was only just recently that he had woken up.

So much had changed.

He was less clumsy. The thoughts inside his head made more sense. Additionally, he was larger now, and that was both a boon and a bane. It pleased him, to have his form be more visibly a competent predator. In contrast, though, he had lost the element of harmlessness that youth had brought with him. He had not recognized it as a cub, but he was aware of it now.

Bacchus wished to test if he could still appear harmless, so when he spotted a red mouse, he had slowly and carefully laid down. He kept the mouse in the corner of his eye, but he did not look directly at it. His body language, he kept relaxed and at ease. Not the readiness of a predator prepared to pounce, but that of a being that was not going to act at all, no matter how close this mouse traveled. Sleepy, almost.

It inched closer to investigate the shine off the red garnet shards that laid beside him from his hibernation chrysalis. Just barely in reach. He kept himself in that relaxed posture, but he was mentally far from such a state.

Content Warning
This post contains potentially sensitive material:

sadism

It appeared to Bacchus that the mouse appeared far more interested in the garnet shards than him, so he carefully watched it from the corner of his lazy-seeming purple gaze as it inched closer and closer. When he felt it was close enough, he lashed out a paw, the action sudden and unexpected from the previously languid leopard.

He nearly misjudged the timing of his strike, but the red mouse was captured by the tail before it could escape. He placed his other paw on its little body to hold it further still, and he grinned with sharp teeth. The leopard's eyes glittered with vicious delight.

The mouse squeaked and wiggled, but its attempts to free itself were fruitless... At least, for it. Bacchus, however, much enjoyed the pitiful struggle it gave. He was content to watch it wriggle and squirm. There was no protocol to his preferred method of play. Only freedom for him to act on his whims.

Bacchus eventually let go off the tail, but he kept his hold on the body of the mouse firm. Firmer than before, for certain. The squeaking turned raspy, and it was easy to imagine its lungs putting up a fight as much as the rest of it was. He raised his now free clawed paw to the mouse's face, stroking it in a mockery of soothing.

Then, ever so carefully, he used a single claw to take out the mouse's eye. Just the one eye. It screamed, for all that its breathing was weak and unsteady. That was the only way to describe the sound it gave. It was the most beautiful sound that Bacchus had heard in a long time. Music, he remembered the word he had given to the noises he had heard soon after hatching. It was music, but this time was better because he was the one orchestrating it.

And then... He let his paw up. The mouse, now half-blind, scrambled away in weak terror before the leopard could change his mind. Not that he would. He preferred to leave his toys alive when he was not hunting for sustenance. It was more satisfying, knowing that it would live and suffer because of him.

Bacchus had been faking relaxation before, but now he was truly relaxed. The tension had faded from him completely. For the first time since waking from hibernation, he was content.

@Archimedes

Archimedes' 'mighty steed' had arrived just moments prior--the serpent on the tongue-flicking track of the very same mouse. They paused, the both of them, upon seeing a far larger predator move in.

Archimedes was briefly torn between calling out a greeting, and simply waiting for Bacchus to kill his prey. It was an irritant, that the stranger had caught it first; he'd need to find something else for the Golden Charger, and-

Oh.

The screaming. The--torment, or had the leopard found some sort of last-second mercy? No; I think that was its eye. That looked deliberate, the rat decided.

The serpent beneath him wondered if perhaps they should move on, though not with fear, exactly. Archimedes knew, now, what the creature's venom could do. It wasn't that he particularly wanted to test it. But...

For reasons known only to him, the rat urged the gilded black snake onward, so that both slid into the clearing.

"An interesting choice," Archimedes observed, studying the leopard.

Freshly hatched, he noted. But that answered little, and he'd need answers for what he wanted. "May I ask what prompted it?"

@Bacchus

A rather relaxed purple gaze swung towards the speaker. It was a rat. And the rat was riding a lesser snake? That was odd. Interesting, as well. Bacchus was too lazily content to even consider a violent approach to this interaction.

Instead, the leopard rumbled a purr in greeting, amused by the direct nature of the questions. It was clear the rat had witnessed him toying with the mouse. ”You may ask,” Bacchus told the rat, and then paused as if he was going to playfully leave it at that.

“I assume you refer to my action of releasing that mouse, instead of eating it?” He inquired. There could be a multitude of potential reasons for that question, in truth, but that seemed the most obvious ine. Predators ate prey. They did not tend to let it go free.

Here he paused again, but this time to gather his thoughts together to better verbalize his reasoning.

“There was never any intent to kill that mouse when I acted,” Here he purred once more. ”Though I am sure it thought otherwise,” He pointed out with sadistic glee to his tone.

His tone shifted as he next spoke words brought forth from his serious consideration of his thought process. “When I awoke, I was angry at all the time I had lost. I suppose I could say I simply wanted to test whether or not I could still appear harmless, now that I was no longer a cub,” Another brief pause, but more dramatic in nature.

”Yet, I would be lying if I named that as my true reasoning. When I woke up, I was full of hunger as well. But my hunger was different than standard, and it was not for the consumption of food. Instead, my craving was to see pain inflicted. Not only that, I wished to inflict it by my own paws,” That still did not explain his choice, however, so he continued.

“Pain is over so quickly when a being dies. Prolonged suffering is a more satisfying pain to create than killing is. For as long as that mouse manages to live, it will suffer because of my actions. And that pleases me.” Indeed, the leopard sounded very content.

He let his words settle in the air for a moment.

”…Now, I wish to ask you a question as well. Why did you approach me after witnessing what you had?” The lazy purple gaze had turned sharp with curiosity. Still no ill-intent towards the rat, however. Nor the rat’s odd steed.

@Archimedes

He listened, silent.

This wasn't what he'd been asking, really--he'd wanted to know why the leopard had plucked out the mouse's eye, rather than why he'd let it go. But that, too, was answered in its time, and Archimedes sat back as if unconcerned, passing forepaws through his whiskers to straighten and to clean them. Beneath him, the Golden Charger remained motionless, bar the occasional flick of a tongue; Archimedes had found that it was mostly mindless, content simply to be, so long as it was not pushed too far in terms of endurance.

All the while, as Bacchus spoke, Archimedes was making little mental notes. Bluntly honest. Perhaps even proud. Clearly sadistic. Or perhaps his honesty is even pride. Gloating? It was difficult to tell, and so he set both thoughts aside as 'maybes.'

He showed very little of his own internal through process, instead responding mildly, even politely--though with his always-present confidence. "I do hope your anger has been eased by the act. Cruel as it is... such emotions are so unpleasant to have lingering." His tone was wholly noncommital. "Still, I see what you mean. You wish to make your mark."

"As for why I approached: I found it interesting. It certainly isn't normal behavior, is it?" he mused, pausing his face-washing to scrutinize Bacchus.

"I may have need for someone like you." Here, Archimedes leapt nimbly from the Charger, approaching with a few swift hops. He came to a halt--unless stopped--just before Bacchus's forepaws, then sat up to peer at him more closely.

"I intend to gather others for this task. Now, they would be beyond the scope of your... attentions, certainly. But those who stood against us might frequently need a reminder not to step out of line. And those who betray us... Well. Examples would need to be made, for the sake of keeping everything running smoothly." He came across as convincing as he could: reassuring, confident, nonthreatening.

He washed his whiskers again, apparently unconcerned with the proximity to the far larger, torturing feline. Behind him, the unnamed Charger waited. "If this doesn't interest you, I'll leave. Certainly answering to a rat, when you are so used to doing what you please with those my size, might not be to your tastes... But if it is something you can stomach, I will lay out my proposition for you."

How refreshing it was to be able to be so direct. He was tired of pussyfooting around, trying to instill his creed little by snaking little into cubs that then vanished without a trace. No: perhaps this one would listen... and agree.

@Bacchus

If the rat had asked about his bluntness, Bacchus would have admitted that he simply saw no point in lying after being caught. In addition, it was relieving, to finally put into words the feelings that had further solidified during his hibernation. There was simply no point to lying at the moment.

But the rat did not ask.

So when the rat spoke his interesting words, he viewed Bacchus as a mostly violent being. That much was clear, no matter how interesting this odd rat was. And such was not a true perception of the leopard, at least in his own mind.

The rat clearly understood his words, but he did not yet understand Baccuus himself. And so Bacchus spoke up after the other had done his own speaking, purple gaze sharp as he gazed down upon the rat before him.

“I am no tool of violence, little rat. I may violent, at times, I admit. You have witnessed it. Yet I consider myself to possess a creed of freedom,” Bacchus explained. “I am not a violent beast to be directed as one pleases, as your steed may be.”

He paused briefly.

“…But that does not mean your offer does not intrigue me. It is interesting,” He told the rat. ”What you are is not a factor in my decision. But the position I am given is. I have an intellect, and I would prefer to use it. And my magic is not used to cause pain, but instead to cause growth, the growth of plants.”

“While I am not opposed to be unleashed upon traitors, I would much prefer an option that allows me to demonstrate all of my skillset. Do you have such a path that allows me such, little rat?”

If the other had introduced himself, he would have used the other’s name. He is not rude, after all. But neither of them have given names, yet.

@Archimedes

Archimedes sat back. He was unperturbed at the leopard's rebuke; indeed he tilted his head a little, studying him with unblinking eyes, for a beat. Perhaps... reassessing?

"Violence, then, is not something you enjoy..? Not your goal? You wish to grow plants." He said this last thoughtfully. It seemed... incongruous, somehow, with the torture.

"Funny," Archimedes mused aloud (and he did not yet give his name). "I may well have. But tell me, first... as I'd like to ensure I offer something truly satisfying to you; what about the growth of plants gives you satisfaction? What are your... ultimate desires?" he asked, and this was not asked with some sort of dark suggestion but instead, again, simplistic directness. And Archimedes' words--his demeanor, his tone--would seem, to most, to be honest, intense, and even useful: his questions were not idle. They held purpose.

If the leopard and he could get on the same page, perhaps Archimedes could find use for him. A use that Bacchus found fulfilling. A use that, in turn, would serve Archimedes' designs.

To that end, he'd need to know the leopard's deepest goals and desires. Only then could he tailor a role to fit.

@Bacchus

Bacchus is pleased that the interesting rat has not dismissed his potential even though Bacchus has pointed out the discrepancies between the original position offered and who the leopard is.

“It is not the violence that pleases me. It is the pain. And there are far more ways to hurt than simply the physical. Causing pain and growing plants both grant me a sense of peace,” The leopard begins with, thoughtful as he speaks.

”Though it may not be viewed in such a way by all, both causing pain and growing plants are acts of creation,” Bacchus settles on, the words sounding right to him. There is a similarity to the two, and he has finally put it into words why both appeal to him.

”I suppose, then, my ultimate desire is to creating a lasting legacy,” Bacchus voiced. Whether that be half blind mice, or other beings that he has harmed, or plants that keep growing after he may be gone, Bacchus is uncertain. But that, ultimately, is his desire put in simpler terms.

”Do you have a position where I can create?” Bacchus inquires. His interest is keenly visibly in his purple eyes.

@Archimedes

Words could weave a fine tapestry--or expose their wielder for a fool. Archimedes was finding that Bacchus held a level of mastery perhaps surprising for an apparent brute--so, perhaps he was no mere brute at all. He, himself, sat for a moment to gather up his own tools of this metaphorical craft before beginning to speak.

"A legacy... Then, yes. That is the goal for anyone with ambition, isn't it? And ambition is what I need." He studied Bacchus, whiskers twitching. "Let me tell you of what I dream. I dream of a level of control. Of gathering those of like mind to ensure not only our survival, but our shared power, indeed our legacy to be stood like a pillar for others to look up to. I want our name to be greeted with respect, and even fear. With need. I want a world in these caves where other Gembound need us--need us alive, healthy and well-respected--for their own survival, even."

He paused, looking distant for a moment as he further gathered these ideas, for the first time, into something concrete to be said aloud. He'd harbored the ideas for many cycles but never articulated them, before, not like this.

"There are many toxins in the cave, for one thing. Plants, yes. The dust of Fairyflies and the venom of other creatures." Archimedes, of course, had but the barest idea; he'd hardly scraped the surface of it. "These are things that would grant an entirely new realm of being, to some. Imagine if we were the only ones to provide a dust that would enhance a Seer's visions, or a venom that an assassin could wield effectively. A drink that would send one into a wonderful stupor. They would come to us for more. They would know our names and, for the service we provide, would fall at our feet. Plants... as you say... would be useful," he mused. "I know little of their properties. I assume you can do more than I. To find those that would be useful, destructive, delightful... and to market them. And in turn we can barter for food, for protection, for creations and for comfort. We would provide a service, and product, for trade--one that no one else has offered."

Archimedes paused, again, here.

He knew he was getting wordy. He knew, also, that he was being quite convincing: that his tone thus far had been pitch-perfect, his words peeling away the outer layers to drive right to the heart of things. He had, now, to finish his speech and to see what Bacchus thought of things.

"I would like to gather others to this cause... But if you agree to join me, you will be the first. You may mark your place as the one who created the very base of our 'medicines,' and the enforcer of payments, when you so chose. You would be one of the founders of the procurers, your name immortalized among us."

The rat's whiskers twitched in what might have been a smile.

"So, what do you think..? If you'd like that name to be immortalized--if you like what I've said--perhaps now would be the time to share that name. I am Archimedes," he finished; "...and you are?"

@Bacchus

Bacchus listened to the rat speak, absolutely riveted by the words. Words indeed weaved a fine tapestry to assess a being by, and it seemed both of them were at least decently skilled weavers. Even if the leopard was not interested, he would have been intrigued by the art of word weaving that was demonstrated by the rat. But he was interested, and so the words fascinated him further.

Fascinated might be too simple of a word, for he was well on his way to gaining a new obsession.

The idea of being needed was particularly intoxicating to Bacchus. His tail swished as he considered the potential of this organization that the rat wished to create. And Bacchus could create alongside the rat.

Poisons, intoxicants, hallucinogens… Bacchus was fairly certain that plants could do all that was named equally as well as the listed entities.

Being one of the founders appealed… And that word. Immortalized. His pupils displayed clear interest even before he spoke. ”My name is Bacchus. It is a pleasure to meet you, Archimedes. May our names last an eternity.”

@Archimedes
Do you want to make these our exit posts or keep going?