Dance Till You Drop (Open)

He’d thought of going back to San Diego and committing suicide by claw and tooth. But the biggest part of him knew he’d win. He would become the new Rex and perhaps make a bigger mistake than he had in New Orleans. So instead he’d spent a year on the road. Staying ten days here fifteen there always back woods towns off the beaten path. As far from other preternaturals as possible. It worked more than not. However, he’d found that there were a lot like him out there those wanted nothing to do with the rat race of politics that the community offered.

His extended leave from the VA also gave him time to study and pass a slew of certifications. As such a thought began to percolate in his brain. He could help the still he could offer therapy sessions to not only soldiers suffering PTSD but lycanthropes who suffered from their infection. It would be a first of its kind not state sanctioned and perhaps in the doing help himself. His thoughts of New Orleans were jumbled. He knew he was right yet he felt very wrong about it all especially about leaving. But he’d tried to get Aminta and Pepper to come with him. They refused Chidera wouldn’t see him to even say goodbye. Though he hadn’t tried very hard. He still ached when he thought about her. So he did so as little as he could.

He was still several months from affording his own office as such he met most of his patients in their homes or other places. He also spent his days avoiding his grandmother. He watched her from afar and his cousins but in the end he was ashamed to be back and not the success they wanted for him. He was ashamed that they would know why he left the forces. They had been told it was part of the armies standard operating procedures to notify next of kin in the advent of an infection occurring. He hadn’t spoken to them in years and was unsure how he would be welcomed.

So he surfed in wall of the tourist traps sunned himself and kept as low key as he could. All in all it was a perfect place to retire from everything provided he continued living like a tourist. And if his thoughts would allow him a moments peace. Both of which he doubted as even now looking over the balcony his mind raced with images memories of Chidera and what could have been.

Nala had been having plenty of fun playing with the human men as her night wore on. Finally she'd taken a breather and was sitting on one of the stools along the wall when she felt it in the air. In most places it was normally a very common thing but this was Hawaii and the islands were ruled by tigers and of course the Goddess.

Looking around she didn't find the source of the smell so instead she sent her tigress through the building. It was she that found him on the balcony. She looked up her eyes searching out the male that wasn't really looking at anything in particular. She got a good look at him before he seemed to come back from where ever he'd gone and it made her sad he was a lion. He was positively gorgeous in a very male sense.

She caught herself when she realized she'd been staring to long and decided to get back onto the floor hoping to put the man out of her thoughts.

The scent of tiger was all over the islands it was as far as he knew the scent of home. Elsewhere in the world Lions bears or god-forbid Vampires ran the world around them. Here it was Tigers and the Island Goddess who he’d run from when he fled without realizing it.

It was such an ever present presence one that became part of the soul. Part of ones idea of the island part of what one considered home. He hated it now as he knew what he was and refused to accept anything less. He knew in the end he would be run off or worse and yet he had it in his head that this in the end was home. The lions here were wrapped in themselves scattered and not needing a King or Queen, he would have time to build a foothold. He would have the time he needed and yet part of him knew the time he needed would never materialize that the part of him that led him across the country would never be at home. He still kicked himself for all he walked away from.

Lost in thought he didn’t register that he was staring at the woman until she looked away. He felt like an ass so he took his drink and made his way down to her.

“Hi, I’m Terrance my friends call me Tibs.”

She was still standing on the outer edges of the crowd swaying a bit when he approached. She hadn't expected that by any means. Tilting her head she considered him and whether she would reply but she wasn't here to be her more normal conservative self.

Smiling in response she replied "does that mean we are friends already? Or that you'd like to be." Her eyebrows lifted a bit mischievously as she waited.

It had been a long time since she had directly spoken to a lion. In the past it had never been about anything good but maybe this one would go differently. Though if they were to be friends he'd need her name to. "Well Tibs I'm Nala" her mouth quirked in amusement at the situation.

He smiled back mirroring her tough but with a hidden warmth exterior "Nala,” He said looking around conspiratorially as he said, “I don’t know if you know this or not but I’m male you’re female we have the right attachments. I don’t see why not." He was not a bold man but as he was officially neutral in his head at least had no reason to choose sides in the never ending battle on the islands. Tiger versus Tiger. Native versus Howlie. Hell if the Pride of Oahu came for him he would hold his ground he bent a knee to no King and licked no boots. Leave him alone was all he asked. No demanded. He looked the strongest vampire he knew existed in the face and survived telling him to go pleasure himself vociferously with a sharp object.

"So dancing which I am no good at or drinking and talking which I am pretty great at" he teased back.

Nalas eyebrows rose and she tried not to laugh at the obviousness of his words. Oh she knew full well that he was male and she was female. She'd have to of been blind to not see the sign over his head that said alpha male. But in the spirit of the night she would keep playing along.

"I did notice that you have the right parts.." at that she looked him up and down again her eyes traveling slowly along his form. Even for a lion he was well put together and she let him see that she liked it. When her eyes finally met his she looked like a contented cat and she grinned as she considered her choices. "I think we do a little of both. Start out dancin and then go drink and talk." She put her hand out to him waiting for him to take it so she could lead them out into the middle. "Can you really be that bad at dancing or are you just playing me?"

He had no real interest in getting trussed up with the tigers of the islands. He knew even before he’d left that they were the powers of the land and always at war with each other. Nearly every death he was aware of had something to do with one or the other family.

Yet this blue haired beauty was giving him the time of day and honestly who was he to not capitalize on that attention. It was clear her ice queen façade worked like a charm. He was willing to hazard a guess that she was as lonely as him.

"I am that bad and I am playing with you. Its part of my new lease on life. Appreciate and be mindful of each moment. Though I’d be willing to make a fool of myself for a small bit of time provided you are willing to do the same."