A beautiful day for a neighbor
03-09-2020, 09:25 PM
Despite the trouble, Eligos found himself pleased he had brought the pups with him, because he was able to watch as the other alpha's eyes went from soft puppy-fever to a neutrality that was damning by itself as soon as she heard his surname - if it had been a more subtle change it might have gone unnoticed.
Eligos wasn't willing to let it go unremarked.
Still holding the pups, Eligos matched her neutral stare with a calm, equally neutral regard of his own. He didn't even twitch an ear when the little female chomped down on his ankle and settled in for a chew at it. "That depends," he said softly, "on you." It didn't, really. How he would treat the packs in Boreas was not predicated upon this initial meeting, or any of his initial meetings. Every pack would be be given the same neutrality as far as he was concerned, regardless of their previous interactions. But it wouldn't hurt for her to think so, if it kept things cordial.
He tilted his head slightly to study her. "I have no doubt that your knowledge of my family is... extremely biased." The last part was said flatly, and he continued with a frank honesty. "I do not feel the need to prove myself to you, Aurielle. I am sure we will not grow to be friends, or allies. I honestly do not care. I am indifferent to you, your pack, and your allies. I do not dislike you. I just do not care one way or another about you." Blood-red eyes peered into sapphire without expression for a long moment to let that resonate, and then he moved in a faint shrug.
"That said... If you think I have moved here with the intention of taking over your pack, or sacrificing your children, or whatever other nonsense you believe it is that we do, you are incorrect. I have no interest in conquering as my grandfather did. I have no interest in forcing anyone to acknowledge our beliefs, or oppressing anyone else's. All we intend is to go about our lives here and engage in trade with whoever has the interest and the tradegoods to do so."
His muzzle twisted in a faint, humorless smile that didn't reach his eyes, but he kept his tone carefully polite. "And what kind of neighbor can we expect you to be, Aurielle?"
Eligos wasn't willing to let it go unremarked.
Still holding the pups, Eligos matched her neutral stare with a calm, equally neutral regard of his own. He didn't even twitch an ear when the little female chomped down on his ankle and settled in for a chew at it. "That depends," he said softly, "on you." It didn't, really. How he would treat the packs in Boreas was not predicated upon this initial meeting, or any of his initial meetings. Every pack would be be given the same neutrality as far as he was concerned, regardless of their previous interactions. But it wouldn't hurt for her to think so, if it kept things cordial.
He tilted his head slightly to study her. "I have no doubt that your knowledge of my family is... extremely biased." The last part was said flatly, and he continued with a frank honesty. "I do not feel the need to prove myself to you, Aurielle. I am sure we will not grow to be friends, or allies. I honestly do not care. I am indifferent to you, your pack, and your allies. I do not dislike you. I just do not care one way or another about you." Blood-red eyes peered into sapphire without expression for a long moment to let that resonate, and then he moved in a faint shrug.
"That said... If you think I have moved here with the intention of taking over your pack, or sacrificing your children, or whatever other nonsense you believe it is that we do, you are incorrect. I have no interest in conquering as my grandfather did. I have no interest in forcing anyone to acknowledge our beliefs, or oppressing anyone else's. All we intend is to go about our lives here and engage in trade with whoever has the interest and the tradegoods to do so."
His muzzle twisted in a faint, humorless smile that didn't reach his eyes, but he kept his tone carefully polite. "And what kind of neighbor can we expect you to be, Aurielle?"