Private Barracks/Imperial Condos Chevalier Exotique

[Tal'Rakan]

The lynx pulled the squirrel closer to himself, slowly running claws through their tail fur while considering their words and stare. How much could he say? Well, there was an easy way to check how much would she be willing to give... aside from what she gave so far that is. looking into her eyes, he gave a small grin before responding in quiet but truthful tone.

"To khive you full answer, you would have to pre a preast that accepts Phoenixes order as paramount. Simply so I would know that the secrets are safe. Prut I can khive you rikht now the simple answer. I'm tryinkh to khet my land out of the isolation. Inward perfectionism we've practised proved harmful. Some isolationism is to pre preserved, as otherwise other nations are happy to destroy us for our khoods. Preinkh too closed however is how we stakhnate and rot. I came here to fortche a deal of controlled trade and formalised relation... prut as you presumaprly have heard from Hikh Priestess Dusk, she offered me an alliance akhainst your enemies, one that would make my people also less of a tarkhet. Which is more than I wanted, prut for sure what I ultimately soukht."

He then leaned in and whispered. "And to hear more, I can explain to you the quickest way..."

 

[Orina Emberkin]

What he told her was nothing that had not already been given to Misanthropy and either relayed to her through Dusk or found out through Stealthblades within the Ministry of Misanthropy. Still, though, it was important to know his story was the same no matter who he spoke with thus far, and Orina did not sense any deceitful intent on his part. When he leaned in, whispering to her, she felt a jolt of sensation run through her torso that quickly descended and rekindled a certain warmth rather quickly.

Why did this cat's proximity cause such a stir that she had yet to experience in all her many exploits? Surely he was unique given his size and culture, but that could not wholly account for the deep stirrings she felt that were entirely foreign to her. Setting the strange feelings to the side for further exploration when diplomacy was not at stake--though the feelings did protest quite a lot at being ignored, whatever they were--she turned her head to brush her lips along his cheek and up to his ear to first nibble on it and then whisper to him.

"What then, Tal'Rakan, is the quickest way to the secrets of the Land of the Phoenixes, hm?"

 

[Tal'Rakan]

Hearing the request, the Lynx moved his paw and grasped on Squirrel's nape, pulling their head to face his wide, toothy grin. Making her able to see all his sharp teeth and her own reflection in the metallic fang he had. Upon which he simply articulated one word. Slowly and very deliberately accenting each sounds with a growl.

"Submission."

That was his answer. Noticing the reaction he had gotten, he Tal'Rakan smirked and let the squirrel lie on his chest again, kneading his massive paw on her back.

"Simply put, Phoenixes trust their children with a lot... as lonkh as those children continue to stay in line with the overall order they represent. You wish to have that trust? You need to assume a place in that order... And I do need allies on this soil. One as hikhly placed as you are would definitely do and I think it would pre enjoyaprle to cooperate more. I don't ask for state secrets, prut for a support mates would khive for one another. I could use one of those in this place too, seeinkh as I may come to this land more often."

 

[Orina Emberkin]

Her heart thrummed in her chest, not unlike it had during their diplomatic relationships prior to the current conversation. His paw was heavy and warm on her back, and with her hear to his chest, she could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady, his deep breaths sending thrills of that same damned, foreign and altogether nice, if not somewhat nerve-wracking sensation running through her. 'Gates, what was going on?

He's got you at your own game, Orina. She shut her eyes, trying to find some semblance of the sure foundation she had felt at the beginning of this whole foray with the lynx. It took the span of several long breaths, but finally she found it, a sense of normalcy as a hint of a phantom pain shot through her non-existent leg, grounding her somewhat. She let out a shuddering exhale. It felt far too good to be held by him like this. Orina pushed herself up so her elbows rested on the cat, chin cupped in her paws as she looked down at him, trying to keep her expression playfully neutral.

"Submission, hm?" She flicked her tail, meeting his gaze and holding it steadily with her own. "Assuming a place in the order and supporting you as a mate. It does sound interesting, to be sure. Tempting, even, on its face, if I get more of this" She gestured broadly to their current position.

"But I'm not one to jump into such an arrangement without knowing fully what it entails. There are many reasons I haven't made such personal commitments here in the Imperium, and forgive me, but there are even more unknown factors were I to enter in such an arrangement with a foreign dignitary, assuming that something akin to marriage is what you're implying?"

 

[Tal'Rakan]

Tal'Rakan chuckled softly and held the gaze without a problem. He's done this talk before. Many times in fact. However here he had to first start with explaining the cultural differences which was unique problem. One that definitely added to the exoticness of the situation. It was amazing feeling really to know how he could affect other beasts with acts and gestures that were all but natural to him. Ultimately, as Phoneixes taught, the way all beasts should be was to be true to their nature, as it was one coming from the natural order.

But the topic on paw right now was to explain the matter of "marriage"... something that Tal'Rakan did gather information on, but found bizarre still. With his other paw once more enjoying the luxurious tail of this squirrel, the lynx spoke with full confidence, as he did.

"Well, yes prut no. Your "Marriatche" is what feels like very restricted slice of what we know as sanctified mateship I suppose. We do not have specific rules of such union... not like yours... achto mikistli techkichiua amotlaxtlauas... the part aprout dyinkh preinkh only end. No. We settle the rules and seek to live pry them. As such every preast can have their own vision of what this entails. Some tripres do only stick to havinkh one mate for life. Others live pry idea that every memprer of tripre is a mate to all others. The options are endless and are as varied as the children of the Phoenixes are."

He then grasped her tail, letting her know now the real conversation begins. "So allow me to express what I mean. I am in a very open mateship, one with twelve preasts of which none cares if I seek more. Such is just our akhreement. I do however care if they are doinkh well, they live usinkh my wealth and position for their wants and khet to enjoy themselves. In exchantche, they provide me with care, pleasure, khave me kits and raise them... prut also serve me in other ways, politically, imatche-wise or spiritually. Within the Land of Phoenixes, pry their divine desikhn and project, I was free to choose. And comprininkh pleasure and primal desires with rational and advantatcheous choice was my choice when I khot to seek mates."

"And that is what I would seek in you. Pleasure, support, freedom from anarchy or constriction of rules... yet one with support that proth of us can offer. A mutual mateship, one that wouldn't restrict you and one that proth of us would prenefit from politically... and personally." He finished, giving her paw one long lick, running his rough tongue over her pawpads with deliberate slowness.

 

[Orina Emberkin]

She really did like the way he held her tail. A squirrel's tail was of great pride and joy to them, not to mention a practical necessity for the kinds of acrobatics one would often partake in her line of work--indeed, Orina would have been far more devastated had she lost her tail rather than her leg. When a beast touched her tail in the way Tal'Rakan did, and nobeast had ever made her feel that particular way about it (she was still determining just what it was she was feeling about the lynx and what he did to her), the squirrel could not help but melt a bit with pleasure.

As it was, she did manage to listen with great care to his explanation despite the distraction of his touch. And she had to admit, even though she had only just met the big cat, his offer was most tempting. However, the squirrel was a Minister, a politician, and she had responsibilities to the beasts whom she served, and the Imperium as a whole. It would not serve anybeast well to act purely on instinct alone in this matter, however much certain parts of her were very keen on immediately accepting his offer.

"I can see the benefits to both of us in this arrangement," the Minister said carefully. She traced her unoccupied paw over his strong chest to his well-muscled abdomen, enjoying the soft fur there as she teased at it with her claws. Tempted as she was to delve lower again, she knew this conversation had to play out before further somatic diplomacy could commence.

"It is as close as I would get to binding myself to another beast, and it is far more mutualistic than marriage arrangements can be in the Imperium. Allow me time to think on your offer, Tal'Rakan. I am most flattered that you would consider me for such a thing, really, given that I can't provide you with at least one of the things you might desire, that being kits. I myself have no desire for such things in life, and I'm well past that age, anyhow." She gave him a playful smirk. "I don't believe we are compatible for reproducing together, anyway."