Elohim was surprised, he had to admit, to enjoy Avery’s company as much as he did. He did not distrust those with authority per se, but he had learned to be at least a little apprehensive around them. Avery, however, did not give him the distinct impression that he ought to be watching himself more closely. If anything, he found himself likening her to more ‘kin’ than ‘stranger,’ at least as far as ‘essences’ went. He thought, as he watched her digest the implication that he was Eden’s own son, that Iromar might be lucky to have a wolf as such leading them after so long. If she was kin to them rather than tyrant or stone-cold leader, he envied them a little for it. Perhaps, he thought, he ought to take that answer back to his father – a wolf who felt like kin ought to lead. He smirked to himself, though he tried to conceal it behind another small mouthful of meat. He smirked in amusement of his own thought but also because of Avery’s response – more creative than he thought? He nodded, swallowing down his food, but really, he thought it futile to even try to imagine his way up the path of that idea.
She started to discuss her pack-members then, and he settled back on his haunches to relax. He paid close attention to her, wholly absorbed in her words and face as she went over those she saw as prospective leaders. He cocked a brow, impressed by her judgement – she was able to name their weaknesses too, and to turn those weaknesses into a potential strength too? Well, weaknesses if one viewed not desiring power as such. For Elohim, he simply found it curious. It seemed to be a common thread among wolves, he thought with a slow nod, that those who did not blatantly seek power made the best impressions on subordinates. What was it about it? In some ways, he had always been under the impression that those with an obvious hunger for power inspired the most confidence. Had they gotten it wrong that many times? And for Avery to give names too...He was impressed. She trusted either Eden or herself so much to do so.
"Vain, you say? It is hard to imagine, though they do say such traits can come from many generations back,” he mused with an almost-playful grin. Avery was perhaps one of the least vain wolves he had encountered in some time! Then again, he often saw surprising things among his own siblings. He thought of Eva, and just how nobody could explain where her sheer, unspoiled optimism and kindness had come from. Wherever it was, she must have reached back generations ago to find it.
"You raise an interesting thought though, that those who do not seek it are oftentimes best suited for the role. After all, you do not need to work so hard to be born into the right family, no?” He grinned, fully then. "If you do not mind, I would be honored to meet Shaddix or Ruby someday.” He paused, then grinned sheepishly. "And if you ever wish to un-train some of that vanity, perhaps this Non-Prince can help your son too in some way.” Elohim knew he had a particular gift for finding sore spots. Maybe a few jabs in her sons’ or daughters’ could bring about some change.
He was quiet again when she spoke of desirable traits – selflessness, priorities, sacrifice. He nodded, but his eyes narrowed in thought. He wondered if she saw those traits in herself, or if she merely did her best to emulate them – which, he supposed, made her spiel even more honest. If one truly believed those traits to be ideal, then he thought they might do anything in their power to emulate and cultivate them within themselves. Could he ever do that? Cultivate some goodness like selflessness, some ability to set an example? His thoughts were interrupted by his own laughter. She was right, after all. Didn’t he have enough kin?
"Perhaps he does, at least in numbers. The question may truly be whether he’ll search among us to find the traits you speak of, or if he’ll search for those otherwise to displease us all.” Elohim was almost positive that was his intent – he had played with the idea of his father seeking an heir elsewhere, but he had always been...hypocritical in that regard. Blood is little more than coincidence, he’d say, but then he’d prioritize his own and spread it far and wide. Elohim shook his head with a low sigh beneath his breath. At least they hadn’t been mentioning the ability to unravel the minds of other wolves as a desirable thing, right?
"I ask on my own accord now – will you prioritize your own children when it comes to deciding? I have always wondered how it is possible to weigh and measure one’s own children to decide an heir,” he asked after a moment of quiet, his face somber once more. In a way, he hoped to gain some of his own insight. How, after so many years, had his own father never made such a decision? Never had he even implied it, like some unspeakable thing that they all tip-toed around.