Keeping it Clean (Open/Anyone)

Hale moved with Dare onto the launch his eyes were on the little cottage but his mind was on breakfast or more specifically the tigress he was sure to see there. Turning to Dare he started to speak stopping himself. He was still the Khan and while he liked Dare he was for the first time unsure of his steps. He knew he was contemplating a move that was sure to cause an uproar. He knew that he should choose not to but he rarely did what anyone expected and it always worked out. Fortune favored the bold, but was he being bold or plebeian. Was he placing his wants over the needs of the Streak. He wasn’t sure so he knew it would be better if he kept his thoughts to himself just yet. It was one of the many reasons being the head of any group was such a heavy responsibility.

He needed someone to speak with but no one had ever been in the position he was placing himself. As they neared the dock he smiled. “Alright Nijeni’s then we’ll head to the office I have a change of clothes there and we can go over a few things. I know you are busy with your practice but I know you would make a great Rishi. Especially as even amongst those we have now I don’t trust anyone more than you.”

The big man arms crossed over his massive chest leaning let the smile drop from his lips it happened rarely. He gave Hale one of his considering looks the same look he got on his face when a baby was turned the wrong way and wanted to get out or had to retrieve some strange object from where it shouldn't be. The man was up to something that might be so very dangerous for him and every one of them. He swore to save lives but right now there was one he wanted to take because until she arrived Hale had done what was expected of him and had run them well. He was a first in near forever to hold the lead as a male he was historical but didn't seem to give a crap.



"You not plan gon do something suicidal type den now are you? I know what that position means and yeah I take it bra but dis better not be no trickin type stuff you got up your sleeves ya?"



He let the smile ease back but it didn't reach his eyes it hadn't for a long time unless you caught him in a true joy moment like saving a new life or holding a new baby or any baby. He loved kids it was like he was born to be a dad which was the irony of the mating ritual. Even if they did not mate for life which was the way of it because that had happened unless people fell in love true and hard they could pick someone this year and then two years later trade off. It was done to promote diversity in the blue line and not let them get inbred to the point of dangerous mutation and malformations. He didn't want the love even he wanted to hold something that held a piece of him the mother while she would be well kept by his ohana mattered not they almost expected him to have several of them.



Hale tho those girls wanted to play for keeps they swore they would be that one so it was funny and wrong how deluded most were as to the power they had when in earnest none existed. Snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of the approaching boat it blew its horn to them twice

Hale looked at Dare a moment longer than he would anyone else. He appreciated the man’s candor as well as his direct approach. He however wasn’t accustomed to being challenged in the least. It made him smile all the same. He needed someone he could trust to shoot as straight with him as Dare but just because he knew what he needed at times didn’t make it easy to swallow. He had made it his M.O. to do pretty much what he damn well pleased as it always worked out for him one way or another. He was always working an end game from the first move. Instead of explaining he usually just moved.



"I always have a plan or at least a solid notions for the risks I’m taking. Namely with you sitting so close to me it raises your stock as far as the ladies. They will see you more than just a good lay and more of a keeper. It also gives me someone that can relate to me or at least give me the right amount of respectful grief when I go out on limb."



As they touched down he made his way to Nijeni’s with Dare in tow. Their steps despite their size falling as loud as leaves floating on the wind. He was sure the looks they received was only slightly from his rumpledness. And more form the fact that even non-preternaturals could occasionally sense when a predator was around. He knew Maddie would have a fit and maybe even try to throw them out but the food was good and he would be on his better behavior. Or so at least he told himself. Something about the redhead made that not nearly as good as he could pretend he was.

Darren paid no mind to the howlies and locals who eyed them he knew they had presence when they walked any where especially when they were together. He laughed about the ladies thing " maybe you right maybe they would like me more eh? But if that gets um who needs um right?"

Shaking his head and then rubbing his muscular but empty belly. He could eat a horse like literally chase one down and tackle it but they were gorgeous creatures so he'd never actually eat one. The first thing that hit his nose made him rumble deep in his chest when they walked in but he'd behave and unlike Hale his best behavior was actually well mannered and polite by societal standards.

"so you on buy me a huge stack of hot cakes and a pile of bacon ya? for you know not using my considerable medical knowledge to poison a certain some one"

He nodded being playful but in a way he wasnt he really really didnt like the woman who had managed to turn Hales head.

Hale ignored the real and true sentiment in Dare’s voice. It would have been telling if he had mentioned it as it would speak as to how much he really paid attention. He knew that not many would have caught the acid just beneath his jovial demeanor or that the twinkle in his eyes glimmered darkly as he mentioned Maddie in the barest of terms. He knew he wouldn’t win any votes of support with his slow yet ardent chase of the Ugniné Nagi Streaks Chang. Not many would be able to see past the rivers of blood the two Streaks had spilled into the sand and sea over the years. Luckily for him he was not one to look back with anything more than an eye as to what pitfalls could be avoided.

"Consider it a done deal cousin. After all you’re supposed to keep me from being too reckless, well more accurately from allowing my recklessness from getting too close to giving me my just desserts won’t do none no good at all if you are the big bad in all this will it?"

No that wouldn’t do at all. Especially as Hale had trampled through what good will he’d built by behaving so emotionally previously. He could see why she might be a bit angry but he would do it hundred times over if the moment came again. It was a factor not a detriment. The Howlies needed to respect the island and that meant its people as well. Yes he didn’t like tourist, well touristy tourist who had no respect. It was a pet peeve and annoyance he could not stomach. Smiling at the host as she led them to a booth, in fact the same area he had occupied not more than a few days prior. As he sat he spread his arms over the back of the booth taking in Dare. Cocking his head he smiled as the hostess left them menus.

"So Dare, tell me true, what are you gonna do about your practice and your clients especially as I plan on keeping you busy enough where you won’t have time to catch your breath? There are a lot of irons in the fire and I could use your strength of body and mind…"

He paused as the waitress came over. She was the new girl that had gotten hassled he raised a brow waggling it in recognition as she smiled nervously her gaze flicking to the back of the house where he knew Maddie was doing her best to ignore the two of them. “Hey, gimme one of everything on the breakfast menu and two platters we’ll sort it out once it gets to the table and bring a pot of coffee over k?” Hale said as he slipped his corporate card form his wallet handing it to her in advance so as to show his seriousness. The cooks wouldn’t be happy but he would make it up to them by making sure they were tipped out separately for their efforts.

Darren laughed " but Im always the good cop you should hear what they say bout me .oh hes so generous hes so strong hes so sweet and selfless, hes such a good person I love him like a brother.. you know what they say about you cousin? Hes sooo hot, the things I do to him, Id show him the best night of his life  and hed want to keep me around. Pft maybe I need to do something to flex my muscles and show them what it really is"

He smirked then looked at him" the girls in the office know most of the procedure I can bring in guest doctors who want to work with supernaturals and I will take any emergency and or trouble births or pregnancies my self to be sure I dont lose important patients but it will free up most of my week to handle what ever I need to with the group.. does that work ok for you then?'

He wanted to do this for him and Hale but also out of his sense of duty to the streak. Watching the man smile at the pretty waitress and offering her a nod but her looks were nothing compared to the thought of the coming food. There would be pecan pineapple pancakes and fried spam and paki and dolphin hash. He rubbed his belly again and almost wiggled happily mouth watering.

Hale chuckled as Dare replied, "No such thing as a good cop cousin. Especially round here. Its why we are the law the enforcers and the executioners when need be." Sitting forward in the booth a hair as he lowered his voice he went on. “I know you and a few others don’t like my attention paid to The Chang. That’s of little consequence if we are ever going to be more than what we were. So you know I pay her attention because of the promise of what she is. What could be if we but dare to do what none think is possible because of the shadows of the past.”

Rubbing his chin he pointedly looked around the restaurant that had weathered the many storms of nearly unending troubles between the Streaks. It was in his opinion a testament to the worthiness of his aims. “We are by far the stronger martially. Our men and women are bred, built, and trained from early on to fight for everything we could have and yet we have not been able to do away with them. They have fought as hard and on occasion harder. They are by far more purebred than most of us yet they can’t do away with us. But what if some idiot had the strength, the wherewithal, and foolish understanding of what will come if the two of us become one Streak. One true power. No one could stand against us. Our children would grow and prosper and our empire could not only weather what the future holds but rise above it.”

Hale left the details out of the picture knowing Dare would fill those in in his own time. His smile fooled a lot of folks into not realizing that if not for Hales existence he was the tiger to lead the Streak. If not for Hale Dare would be the most powerful male in the Streak and also the deadliest. Hale didn’t forget nor did he underestimate Dare. He knew that with the two of them pulling and pushing in the same direction that the streak could not only move in the direction he wanted but would do so because their heads and hearts would dictate they do so.

Had he been drinking something he would have choked hard, looking at him with a raised brow. He couldn't be serious they only intermixed as needed to avoid inbreeding but to set out to mix the colors he cause a war or worse if they found out. The old ones would not let this happen he was seriously speaking sacrilege. Occasionally it happened they fell in love the mixed but it wasn't welcomed normally it was usually frowned upon and here his best friend wanted to. 

It was almost to much and the fact that he thought this way because of that..that. Jaw tightening and his large fist tightened on his napkin there was almost no amount if pancake to smooth this over. He hoped he was still a bit drunk and or joking so he forced him self to laugh and then really started laughing because if he didn't he'd probably grab him by his shirt and shake sense into him.

"stop pulling my leg man you know better then that"

The orange juice showed up and then the first of the dishes and he took some eggs and some other things to focus on so as not to dwell on what he'd just heard.

As Dare choked as he laughed Hale bit his tongue something he rarely did especially for the reasons he was doing so now. He bit his tongue figuratively and literally. Picking up his now filled coffee cup he drained the black ichor of mornings and late nights. He looked away from Dare to push down the hot heady broil of his anger’s heat. As Dare laughed he was suddenly the same teenager who was being ostracized by the clans elders because of his mixed breed status. He was ostracized ad made to feel less because he was male, small for his age, and he dared to dream of being more than his birth would allow. He was the same low born child that the elders segregated. He was the same angry teenager that was shamed on his second shift because he didn’t shift true. His first shift went great. His first hunt was a massive success he at the time didn’t know why his mother and father cried tears of joy as he shifted blue through and through. His second shift they and the elders of the tribe were considerably less pleased. His bright blue coat bore high lights of gold along with a raised ridge of fur that went from the crest of his head his massive shoulders down the center line of his spine to his tail.

He remembered the pain as he felt the clamoring din of all those alpha beast attempting to force him to change back. As they fought to force him to swallow his beast. He also remembered the sheer joy as none were able to force him, the sheer thrill of victory as he smelled the fear wafting off them. He knew then that he was destined for more. More than being simply cannon fodder in the war against the Ugniné Nagi. He was destined for more inspite of the shame the others felt when they looked on him.

"I know that things need to change. I am not saying that we force everyone to attempt to breed with one another. I am not saying we undo centuries of blatant rascism in one fell swoop. I am saying if we joined together as two arms of the same family that we would be a force to reckon with. I am saying that if we can really embody the spirit of the islands if we really dared being Ohana we could be so much more. More than Vegas. More than Chicago. More than St. Louis, we could be… "

He stopped mid thought as he realized he was showing his hand. He was doing the one thing that he had never done before. He was baring his actual truth and hope to someone else. He without meaning to was offering more of himself than he had any intentions of doing.

" Its all fine and good to wanna change unfairness but your talking centuries of tradition yes some of them are horrible crap behaviors but at the same time some of them are beautiful and meaningful and need preservation just like the traditions of these islands some horrible and bloody but some beautiful time less'

He could feel the sadness anger and bitterness in Hales mood and understood only part of it his friend was the leader of the clan and from a pure family as far as he knew unless.. his eyes narrowed. " Is there something you haven't told me man?  I wont abandon you or not have your back but the way your talking is like there something I missed that's majorly important to this puzzle"

Waiting patiently trying to be open minded there was something big going on he hadn't been home for the first change of the boys around their age so he had been forced to change in the clan of the family he was visiting in LA at the time.

Hale chuckled bitterly at his own moment of dredged up pain." Sorry, Dare.” Was all he said on the subject as he smiled at her then continued speaking as she flitted back away. “There is a lot I haven’t told anyone. I am taking you into my confidence. The first person ever in a very long time. We can talk about how much back at my offices. But for now tell me about how you spent your first rites? Namely is it true you had a whole hunt for yourself?”

Hale smiled as bright as the sun and as open. He really wanted to know more about Dare. His time away from the isles was no end of wonder for the whole Streak. Yes he was changing the subject some but he was also genuinely interested. “I know it seems like I am daring a lot but trust me if we get through this it will be worth it. Now spill."

Eyes crinkling in the corners he knew good and dang well when Hale was changing the subject but he wouldnt push him and only shook his head then nodded" Ok fine bra I will share bout that magical time."

He had known from a young age what he wanted to do and was always extraordinarily smart even tho he hated to use main lander speak. So he was a senior in high school by fourteen and went off to live in LA for his last year so he could get right into howlie college of medicine as some of the others called it. Then being around the white tigers and seeing how other streaks behave the same as his own but different. It was interesting to a young analytic mind.

" They treated me like I was someone  important ya know like always asking me if I ate enough warm enough clean enough it was almost annoying and the girls der oh worse then here bra. Stuck up with they noses in the air like they hairs to heavy and pulled their head back permanent like."

He stopped to shovel sausage gravy over biscuit in his mouth. Chewing happily then washing it down " that full moon was the crispiest widest moon Id ever seen and so white, it had been calling me for days I knew it was time and so did others. They separated us pure clan in one group mixed clan in another and me as visitor but high born I was in deed on my own but they figured I could handle it.  We went to the mountains up round the valley and there were lots of deer. It hurt man I'm not gonna lie that first one phew. I was so tripped to look at things from lower to thr ground and then I smelled it.. the buck that had been there and the chase was on"

Hale chuckled nodding along as Dare relived the moments he spoke of through amber tinted glasses of memory and nostalgia. His own change was nowhere near as neat and clean. His first hunt was a thing of beauty. Clean pristine and filled with the impulses of his other portion. It helped dissuade him from his illusions."That’s funny. You know you were treated by strangers better than I was by family. My first hunt was a boy my same age he was part of the Ugniné Nagi. He and his brothers had unk two of our ferries and the old chang hoped either I would be killed by him or my killing him would restart the open warfare between us. When I set on him my beast was high and foaming at the mouth but I pulled it back enough to communicate with him. He left the islands the next day. The open war didn’t happen and I lived long enough to attend the old bitties funeral."

Clapping his hands together he dug into the mountains of food sitting on their table. Savoring each bite he let the truth of some of what befell him settle in. Part of him was immensely jealous that Dare had such a blessed golden time while away. Yet there was another part of him that knew what was had to be so that he wouldn’t be just some muscle the elders could use as they saw fit throwing him aside as if he were some rubbish. Forcing a smile he chewed with gusto washing the lot down with a large swig of coffee.

“You know Dare you are important. If I can convince you to really believe in what could be then maybe we can change far more than even I think possible."