Life has been rather good, as of late. It was a rarity that Steel had little to mull about - it seemed Esarosa did a fine job of lifting his spirits. He didn't love the north, but he'd made it through his first winter here with a lot of help from his mate, and now.. spring made the world seem infinitely more pleasant. He and Esarosa had been trying to start a family; he wondered how long it might take for either of them to know if they'd been successful or not. His gait was relaxed as he weaved in and out of the tall pines, with no real goal in mind. He needed to get to know more of the wolves in Ivalice, that he knew, but he wasn't sure how to begin with that. For now, he wanted to find something to bring Esarosa to eat. He sniffed at the air lightly, though found no hints of prey nearby. With a huff, he would continue on at a steady pace, happy to feel the warmth of the sun against his dark coat.

Where was he...she'd spent some time with her friend, her only true friend at that, and discovered that the woman had found someone to share her heart with. Valentina was happy for her, truly, but couldn't help but feel a spark of jealousy. That meant maybe she couldn't tease her ebony friend like she used to, but then again who was to say she couldn't? Yes, she had developed a small crush for the other woman, but it was simply just that. A crush. Valentina had never thought about anything further then being friends. She'd seen the pair at the meeting, and she wanted to know who this Steel was. Not only was he someone that had been in their little group upon joining, but he was also the man laying in bed with her buddy, and she'd be damned if this male turned out to be one of those that used and abused. Not on my watch.

Red limbs carried her through the snow, the oddity detecting his scent nearby. Smirking, she stalked forward with a tail raised over her back and her gait smooth. Once he came into view, olivine gaze sparked mischief as she approached. "Well well, there's the cutie I've been looking for." She chuckled, a playful grin flashing at him.

Steel wasn't used to being approached. He didn't put off the vibe of someone who was.. overly welcoming. Today, though, his heart was a bit lighter, and his step had a bit more bounce to it than usual. Honestly though, that wasn't saying a lot of Steel - who, like his namesake, wore a cold exterior and tended to not express his feelings outwardly. He moved quietly through the tall pine trees, paying little attention to his surroundings, other than his nose's slight twitch as he searched for the scent of prey nearby. He hadn't expected Valentina to move to him so quickly, and with so little warning. Her voice made him flinch slightly, as he hadn't anticipated it, as his head swung to the side to face her. His packmate's posture was confident and sure, and he recoiled slightly as he grew aware of her. His nose wrinkled in slight confusion at her words. She called him.. a cutie? Was she joking? Perhaps she was being rude, in some strange way. "Hello," he'd say slowly, his voice quiet as he slowed his pace. "Do you need something?" Only the worst possible things began to flood his mind. Was Esarosa okay? Her smile said it was nothing like that, but he couldn't help but worry nonetheless, poised lightly on his paws as though to flee at any moment.

A smirk pulled up on her lips, though it was something playful and teasing. Esarosa knew her well enough to know her games were innocent, but this was a fresh new toy. Esarosa's toy, and Valentina would use that in all her teasing glory. She was different then her ebony friend in anatomy and personality, but Esarosa had caught on quickly to the oddity's antics. They were as close as could be, and apparently, this male was as close as he could be to her best friend too. No no no, the temptress would not give him a piece of her pie that easily.

His reaction to her presence made her gaze glimmer, the quiet man looking as if he might flee at any moment. Had Esarosa chosen a wimp to be her boyfriend? Nah. Maybe she was just that intimidating or something. She laughed, not bothering to hide her amusement. "Relaaax, I don't bite...too hard, anyway." She stopped her approach a few feet away, her smile playful as she winked at him. "I've only come by for a chat. After all, I'm sure we both have a similar interest. Don't you think?"

Steel didn't know how to take most wolves, and Valentina was even harder to read than most. The brute was naturally skeptical of others, and he watched her with a wary stare. Though poised on his paws, he was curious about what she wanted too. Her demeanor seemed.. playful, flirtatious even, though in a way that made him uncomfortable. It was nothing at all like Esarosa's sweet nature around him. He shifted his weight from one side of his body to the other, paws shuffling below him. "Oh," he'd breathe simply, unsure how else to reply. How would Esarosa want him to reply? He wasn't sure he'd ever felt so awkward in his life. Steel cleared his throat, glancing away from her for a moment before she spoke again. They had a similar interest? "What do you mean? I don't think I follow." His brows tugged together, perplexed - was she implying something? He really, honestly had no idea.