Keeping it Clean (Open/Anyone)

Hale knew Maddie was in residence from the moment he walked in. He had no intentions of crowding her space on this visit. He was however willing to visit for breakfast everyday until she spoke to him. He held no illusions that when she did it wouldn’t be very cordial or polite. He held no illusions that his last actions had injured her pride. He knew that as calm as she had been with her clan that she like every tiger had a sense of self that wouldn’t be denied. All these things he knew and yet he wouldn’t change a thing of his actions. He was as he was and she as she was between the two if they could arrive at the same page the world would be their oyster. There was also the strange bit of magic housed in her blood that combined with his would make their line the strongest of any save the strongest pure bred golden tiger. There weren’t any such left living in the world his father being the last in the islands meant that by proxy Hale was in fact the last golden and he was a mutt. The promise of the blood however was his almost completely. He used those gifts rarely but he was adept at them.

As Dare stretched out taking up as much space as his large frame would allow Hale sat down his fork. He instead picked up the decanter of coffee and poured himself another. He liked good coffee and he especially liked good kona coffee. Sipping his cup he looked at the wreckage of what had been delivered to the table then towards the kitchen where Maddie would be emerging in a few seconds. Flicking a gaze to Dare he had to admit he found the man’s protective nature amusing. No one had ever really cared for him so it was a novel feeling and one he would do all he could to not read into, or count on.

“I’m taking you would prefer she didn’t join us,” He chuckled over the rim of his coffee cup towards Dare. He could allow his cousin to escape easily by not speaking but the easy way had never been his way. Mostly by no choice of his own but he had grown accustomed to doing things the hard way. Difficult was as easy as things got for him with impossible being the norm. He opened his shields inviting her even as he felt her armor of anger rising.

Maddie made her way through the kitchen and made a few quick stops to ask some of the other staff how they thought the new kid was doing. Most told her there hadn't been any problems but it was still rather obvious that some of them had yet to warm up to the man, it would take time and she knew better then to push any of them. Walking out into the restaurant she looked around catching the eye of one wait staff to get somebody over to clean some of the dishes off the boys table. With that done she walked across the room and stopped in front of Hale and Dare.

She noticed how the bigger of the two did his best to take up all the space on his side of the booth compared to Hale whom was doing his best to invite her. She thought seriously about getting up in Darren's space whether he liked it or not but in the end she chose to slide in next to Hale. Her eyes slid over the tiger across the table and smiled the most charming smile she could manage. "Its been a while Darren, nice to see you're still kicking." She didn't bother hiding the hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Madeline scooted even closer to the male sitting beside her and laid her hand on his thigh squeezing just enough to get a reaction. She didn't say a word to Hale as she was still pissed and wasn't quite ready to forgive him. All the while she kept her eyes trained on Dare almost daring him to do or say anything.

Darren watched everything, every detail was filed away in his brain and instead of words a grin spread across his face. This was not his normal smile, his normal was jovial and welcoming the kind of smile the one he gave his patience to comfort or express happiness. This smile was the type of smile a shark might have before it took a chunk out of you, or the smile a wild animal had naturally while it figured out the best way to run you down. Not even Hale would have ever seen that smile on his face till this very moment so if you'd never seen it you might mistake it for amusement.

Hale liked her and he just didn't get what it was about her but sometimes love was stupid and blind. He nodded to her  still kicking comment and thought about the fact that he was the premier ob/gyn on the islands for both humans and were's but he was pretty sure she wasn't one if his patients and was happy because it would be a clash of ethics and desires for him. To tempting to harm her some how, so it was best he went to who ever she went to, but the thing was if the day came and she ever needed to have prenatal care he was the only doctor who took pregnant members of their community and knew how to handle them safely. Most others had to go to the main land for the care he provided. If that ever came to pass he'd need to seriously figure something out because babies were one thing their parents something else entirely.

The fact that this even came to hiss thought meant Hale was to close and he raged inside at being put in this state. His gran would know what to do , she knew the girl some what had watched her grow from a far. 

The sarcasm on her lips was almost as surprising as her hand on his knee. Hale however was a master statesman or at least he was in his mind. Even if he wasn’t as far as the rest of the world he had learned to guard himself so thoroughly short of a telepathic lobotomy his true thoughts were his own. As such the smile that crossed his face spoke of warmth enjoyment and nothing that was amiss. Dare’s smile was an odd one that had he been anyone else in the world would have fooled. He knew his smile was real and true he could even hazard a guess as to its meaning. He wouldn’t not in present company not unless the actions hinted at in that smile came to fruition. He doubted that would ever be the case at least as long as Dare held some respect for him. He knew he didn’t agree with Hale’s dream just yet but Hale was sure he could make a believer of him in due time.

He knew that he wasn’t the only one conflicted but he would do what he always did. "I didn’t know you two ever paid any real attention to each other before now. You becoming the Chang has caught everyone off guard. What you do with your Streak will have ripples all across the islands." While the praise was a little thick it was entirely true. He wouldn’t head down that path too far the mention of the momentous nature of the happenings here in the islands would have effects all around the world. How they handled the convergence of not only one but two Streaks and two Little queens one having become Chang could change everything.

Of course few save him knew that the Liéren Yú Hei'án Wáng held its own true little queen. If he hadn’t clamped down on her aura and slowed her progression she would have been making calls since she was nine. Luckily Hale had been there. He had already begun helping her dampen her own abilities. It was a strange situation for Hale to be in. Eventually he would need to bring more people into his confidence so that she was protected by more than the idea of what Hale would do should anyone place so much as a stray thought on his ‘niece’.

“It’s good to see you Maddie. The food is as good as ever. I know you didn’t cook our meal but thank you for the hospitality of your establishment.” It wasn’t an apology for his actions. That wouldn’t be something he would do. It was an acknowledgement and nothing more. They had both missed out on each other’s dinner company because of his actions. But they were here now. There would always be tomorrow. Hale had every intention of insuring that the tigers of Hawaii would be more than what had ever been.

Hale cut a quick glance at Dare. He wouldn’t ask him to be fake or ‘phony kick-it’ he would ask him to reserve judgment until much much later.

Madeline didn't get much in the way of any spoken acknowledgement from Dare except the rather strange looking smile that she didn't fully understand and his nod. It looked like a normal smile but there just seemed to be something wrong, not that she could delude herself into thinking he had ever liked her but now there seemed to be a new level to his dislike. Pursing her lips she gave him one last considering look before turning her attention away from the mood killer across from her.

Rolling her eyes a bit she said to Hale, "Just because we haven't ever paid much attention to one another doesn't mean I don't know who he is. I would be remiss to not pay attention to who's who in the rivaling clan. I may be young but that doesn't mean I don't know my duties." Looking to see where that blasted high school kid was she almost let out a growl when she saw him hesitating on the other side of the room. She knew when she had hired the kid that he was a bit of a sensitive and had been doing what she could to ease him along side the others. She was also very aware of the amount of energy emanating from their table which was undoubtedly the reason he was standing where he was instead of doing his job. Letting out a sigh she caught the attention of the nearest waiter indicating she needed him to do clean up instead. The scowl on the humans face was clear but he knew better then to complain and did as he was told.

When he was gone with the empty dishes Maddie nodded at the kid knowing she would have to talk to him later but for now. "I'm glad the food was good as it should be, hope you come back soon." She knew she was being a bit of a bitch and would have to fix that before they left. Shifting a bit uncomfortably she nodded her head at the compliment even though she didn't really see how it was a surprise that she had taken over but that wasn't something she would ask him to explain. "It was really good to see you as well and Dare.." She trailed off trying to come up with something nice to say and actually mean it. Finally all she could really think to do was let her tiger nuzzle his whether he accepted it or not was up to him.

Sliding out of the booth she headed back to her office collecting the kid along the way.

If you've never seen a large blue cat jump a foot backward in the air you'd never forget it. When her tiger rubbed his that's what happened he took it but back peddled so fast it was comical to watch. Shaking its large head and then rolling on the grass in his mind like he might rub the feeling off. The man meanwhile sat still as death eyes wide, watching her walk away.

Dar glared at Hale then and got up and stalked out side for space he needed to not freak out a bit right then. Hale would be lucky if he didn't find the large man bare bottomed and running for the waves. Claws were already trying to pop from his fingers. If he hadn't been a grown man he would have been yelling " ew ew ew ew ew ew"

It was the most unexpected response but that was how he felt.

Hale responded as Maddie slid form the booth. Cutting his eyes to Dare as he froze stiff as a board. "I am sure you do know your duties. And thank you Maddie its always a good thing to see youHe knew it was a little elitist but he paid no major attention to the human sensitive. It happened too often with the influx of Howlie’s from the mainland. They came they got freaked out, they left having tales of their island adventures. The worse thing Hale or anyone else could do in his estimations was to validate those fears. It would be akin to educating the enemy. Hale shook his head as the sensitive wasn’t a howlie which made things worse in his estimation. He however did keep his composure managing to focus on Dare instead.

He nearly guffawed despite the anger that roared to the surface of him as Dare took off like well like a scalded cat at Maddies touch. He knew it was the feel of an unknown tigress or more specifically a scent he’d been bred to believe was wrong. Streaks or more specifically pure blooded streaks did not mix. Even those turned were considered second class clan members let alone tolerated. It was that instinctual inbred enmity of thought and progress that he was attempting to root out. He knew it would be a difficult thing and an uphill slog but in the moment it struck him as wrong. He slugged his coffee down and gave Dare time to attempt to compose himself. There was no since in pushing his issues off on the other man especially in his condition.

Even having such mature thoughts made Hale angry. Because without meaning to he had offended Hale the Bastard. Hale the wounded man child. Hale his Khan and mixed breed tiger. True these days and for the last decade he had gained enough control that not only could he choose which flavor of fur he showed to the world but also how much of his beast he allowed to show at all. As such he pulled that thread of Gold cloaking it in the fur of his Blue nature and called to Dare. He pushed raw majesty into his aura. The birthright of his gold nature and cloaked it in the feel of Streak of home. It was a majesty that no Blue Khan or even Chang had use of. It was what made him truly a dangerous Khan he had more than simply the blue to draw power from. He was born to be King but he pushed through trial and error to become so much more than that.

Closing the distance Hale gave Dare time to get a grip on himself. “You will get used to doing the hard stuff. I need you but I can’t have you failing on this stuff; we will be in contact with all sorts. Unless what I am asking of you is beyond you. I don’t think it is but in the end its not what I think or know but what you tell yourself that matters for you.“

He rounded on his friend and stared him hard in the eyes" You are trying to ruin thousands of years Hale mamu would die if she knew, you know how she feels about family and we are Ohana your my cousin and you want me to shuck all I've ever known so you can bed her?"

He pointed back at the restaurant" I have your back and have had your back more then any one else ever and fought for you to lead when they tried to make me take it. This is the thanks I get? "

He sighed " fine I will take the position you offered and keep my disdain under control but Im telling you now do not make me regret it " 

His large finger was pointed at him and serious the smile was all the way gone"I dont want us to be pitted against each other if this is all found out. We have to  go get ready now or we will be later then we are."

Shaking his head the once fluffy cakes now like lead in his belly.

Hale laughed. He laughed hard and long until tears flooded his eyes. He continued to laugh as the tears flowed. Sitting he pulled his legs together in front of him as his laugh quieted but the tears flowed freely. Taking the back of his shirt sleeve he dabbed at his eyes. He was awash in emotion and the fact he could express them in the here and now if he chose was an inebriating feeling. Far too inebriating than he wanted to admit but one he would have to deal with. Leaning against the warming façade Hale stared at the sky composing his thoughts. He could rage, he could rant, instead he refocused himself.

Reaching into his pocket he turned on his phone. Firing off a quick few texts he placed his phone away. Waiting a few seconds he patted the ground next to him as if it was the most comfortable of couches. Yes it was a test but so was everything these days. “Dare you ever pay attention to history?"

Realizing how that might sound Hale began again." What I mean cuz, is how much did you hold onto and did you do any personal studying of it? I ask because I did. It was one of the things that kept me going when things got rough finding how things worked at one time and how people of those times survived. One of the favorite people I looked in to and kept close to my heart through a lot of horrible times was Sir Walter Raleigh. He was the first English smoker amongst other things. He was also a poet. "

Hale sighed looking up the way towards where the car he’d ordered would be appearing soon enough. He looked back to Dare." The poem I read of his that really stayed with me and I keep saying to myself a lot goes like this… "

Hale closed his eyes a moment focusing on one of his many mantra’s. It was a solace to him in many of his rougher times. It was also a lesson he held close to him. It also amongst other things was a way for him to temper himself to cool his temper. While he usually recited it silently to himself he was willing to share this with Dare. Yes this was a test but then again so many things were these days. " Even such is Time, that takes in trust our youth, our joys, our all we have, And pays us but with earth and dust; Who in the dark and silent grave, When we have wander'd all our ways, Shuts up the story of our days; But from this earth, this grave, this dust, My God shall raise me up, I trust."

As he spotted the cruiser ease to the curb he stretched looking to Dare. It was a moment of truth and a decision that had to be made.

Eyes on the spot he patted then he started with all that poetry, and the bigger man frowned deeply. He had studied the local hystory as best he could which is why he was worried about something else he'd not mentioned yet.

" I have which is why I know the old ones and most of the elders are worried that you havnt paid tribute to the goddess of the island. She has left us be because we gave her tribute in the past and you refuse to send some one for payment. She never kills them and they get treated well until she tires of them or they fall from favor and return. You are seriously digging a hole hale on more than  one front"

He stretched and watched the waves then the car pull up" but I promised so I will keep my word"

Walking at a slow lope toward the vehicle steeling him self for what was to come.

Hale tried a different tactic and it failed. He rose to his feet in a flash bringing the full weight of his dual beasts to the fore. He hid nothing in the few seconds both tigers rushed from the hidden places in him. Before they crossed the distance from their place within to bursting through his flesh Hale slammed down his shields hard and fast. His anger which had settled over him like suit of flames he cooled even as his eyes danced with the predatory edge that could not be confused. Dare had hit a nerve. Mentioning the elders of their clan the same elders that abused him over the years and now attempted to stir the Streak into an uproar caused a momentary lapse of his shielding.

“Damn, them and everyone that espouses to their way of thinking. We can not move into tomorrow if we never let go of yesterday. The goddess they worship is no god of mine. She allowed them to rule from a point of fear. She allowed them to neglect. She allowed them to…" Growling his annoyance he closed on the other tiger and the car. There was murder in his eyes. He stopped himself from getting closer. Dare wasn’t his enemy, he was merely trapped by what had been. It wasn’t an easy thing to do. It was impossible for some. If his own life had run differently he wouldn’t be so willing so driven to divorce himself from the past.

Hale committed the one flaw you never did he took his eye off of the man before him. He had all but answered the challenge but he stopped himself. Under the old system that Dare voiced the battle would be joined. Hale wanted to do away with the negatives of what was and move into a brighter tomorrow. He looked back towards the Restaurant that housed what he knew was a hope if not the only one for what he was proposing. The enemy that shouldn’t have been one. The tribe that was as much tiger as any he’d grown up with. They were Ohana as well. They were island, family, and blood yet they were somehow the enemy.

“We’re going to see this goddess. Then the Elders. This is your only chance to get off this ride Dare. I don’t want you as an enemy but I will do what I know is right. What I know is needed at any and every cost. I am giving this to you as an out because I love you. But either this is happening or I am dying."

Hale moved passed Dare into the car. He leaned forward speaking to the driver there would be a change of plans. Or more specifically a few addendums added.

He wa shocked to say the least but at the same time glad and a bit worried looking at the other giving him a long contemplative look. " so now Im a coward to that you try to dissuade me from keeping my word and honor? Get in the car ya drama queen jeeze"

He got around Hale with very little effort and sat he hoped this whole meeting with the one who had many names went well. He'd heard stories, and most of them were just a bit scary if they were true. Some said she could suck the power right out of you leaving you a husk alive but dead to the world. If it was to happen he bet it would be Hales dismissive behavior and mouth that got them in trouble so he had to be there to be the one to smooth things over.

Then the elders should be cake after this but some how he didn't think so, to have to stand in front of his grand mother and grand father also Hales great aunt who was sister to his grand mother which was how he and the man were related. There were also two other families that made up the elders but theirs was the most powerful in both rank and purity,except now there was Hale.

That made him realize what he would have suffered being the one smudge on a spotless record of births. He instantly felt contrite for the behavior he'd displayed but nothing short of a divine intervention in his eyes would get him to tolerate the red chang. She just felt wrong some how to him  but for his cousin his best friend he'd do his best to hide it better.