Force-claiming is not allowed here. This is a peaceful, neutral area meant for socialising.
| NUKA and now it's a knife |
| “Calm down, would ya?!” comes the gruff bark of an ill-tempered individual. Muttering beneath his breath, the scruffy male limps into view, his blue-grey eyes settling on the young mare’s form. “‘s jus’ me.” These words are softer, and meant as a reassurance. But no sooner do they leave his lips, Nuka wishes he could take them back. Considering their last meeting, and how rude and defensive he’d been… He seems to shrink a little at the memory. “Not tha’ it makes much’ve a diff’rence, I guess… I weren’t real nice las' time.” There’s no keeping the trace of sheepishness from his tone, and he ducks his head, but after a moment, lifts his gaze to meet hers, so that she’d see that he meant what he says next: “ ‘M sorry.”
And now that he’s looking at her, properly looking, he can’t pull himself away. How long has it been since they last met? Nuka can’t quite remember. But it doesn’t go unnoticed by him that she’s grown. Several moments too late, and Nuka realises he’s staring. With a hasty shake of his head, he clears his throat. “Hey, uh...” I’ve gotta go. Tabaxi would be waiting. And besides, isn’t that what she wanted? Go away, she’d shouted at his shadow. Leave me alone. It’d be for the best. He didn’t make good company. The blue and white girl deserved better than him. But, still, Nuka lingers, shuffling awkwardly. He mumbles under his breath about the weather, as if to make an excuse for his continued presence. The sable male’s mind races, and he cannot help but agonise over her anger. Why was she alone? What had upset her? And the dampness of her coat only served to remind him of when he first met her, and Tabaxi too. Cautiously, Nuka inches closer, half-expecting to see a flash of teeth coming for him in response to his blatant encroachment. Miraculously, he remains unscathed thus far, and Nuka, being Nuka, cannot help but tempt fate. “Silly girl,” he says hoarsely, a half-hearted, fleeting smile fading upon his lips. Thus he begins a gentler echo of their last encounter, though this time, his tone isn’t coloured with irritation. “You tryin’ t’freeze, or...” He trails off, secretly hoping that his poor attempt at initiating banter will lighten her spirits a little. Nuka attempts to look her over for injuries out of the corner of his eye, without making it obvious, and he cannot be sure if he succeeds. “R’you okay? Did somethin’ happen?” And it seems pointless to ask, because he knows there’s nothing he can do to help her. (He's weak and wounded and -- 'Can't do anything right, can you Nuka?'). But he asks anyway. “Um, ah‘m Nuka, by th’way. Last time…” Last time, he wasn’t in the mood to talk. His leg had been so tired that it ached, and navigating the rocky shelves of the Ruins had been far trickier for them than he’d ever care to admit. “Anyways, you got a place to go? I c’n go with, if y’want, make sure ya get home okay. It, ah, it ain’t no good winterin’ here, not unless y’got nowhere else ta go. ‘N even then…” It was the last place Nuka really wanted to be. The Meadow was bare and open. Even the sparsely forested expanse of the Falls was bitterly cold. It was easy to see why no herds had settled here, despite the bounty of food in the warmer months. The Peak and the Lagoon obviously afforded decent shelter, and more than once, he’d considered heading north for the mountain. But he would struggle there, even if they allowed him to stay, and Tabaxi would not leave him. Nor did he really wish her to, least ways, not in the middle of winter. The cold months ahead would take their toll well enough, even with the spotted girl at his side. If he had to, he’d delay returning to her to make sure the distraught roan filly before him was safe. Why? Because Nuka knew what it was to be alone, and he wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Least of all the blue and white girl, whose shivers were almost overtaking her. Nuka circles around her clumsily as he waits for her response, trying (and frustratingly failing) to discern which way the wind was coming from, so that he could tuck her on his leeward side before she froze entirely. |