I'm not stalking you or anything

As the two wolves settled in to begin their drinking game and learn more about one another, Maverick was delighted to find truth in the claim he made about Venom. To be fair, that had been a pretty easy one to suss out. She carried herself with authority and responsibility that went beyond her station—it was the sagacious attentiveness of an older sibling meant to look out for her younger kin. Still, he couldn't resist wearing his triumphant grin and giving a victorious "Aha!" when she confirmed his suspicion and took a drink. It seemed she was beginning to learn the mechanics of the game from his example, and he was keen to find out what sort of things the astute Empress could infer from her time with him.

Venom began by assuming he came from a strict household—namely, under his father's relentless scrutiny. Maverick's grin twitched a little, but didn't falter. Shit, she'd pegged him dead to rights with that one. Breathing a soft chuckle, Maverick raised his goblet and took a drink of what remained of his liquor. He'd have to move on to the mead soon enough if she made a streak of guessing things right about him. "I actually ran away before I was a yearling, but he caught me and dragged me back home," he corrected her with a wry smirk. "It was only once I was a yearling that he decided I wasn't worth chasing anymore, I guess." He was silently thankful Venom would never meet his sire, or his dam for that matter either.

Now it was the rogue's turn again. And while they were on the topic of fathers... "Your father was not an outwardly affectionate brute. He probably told you he loved you when you did something to make him proud, but I'm guessing cuddle times with daddy were few and far between." He paused, thinking for a moment before adding, "That's where your high expectations of yourself come from. Pleasing him was the way you felt loved." It was a bit of a harsh assumption, but Venom had shown to conduct herself with almost ruthless efficiency and decorum. That was a learned behavior, one he assumed didn't come from her mother.

"Maverick"