saying something new [intro]

Nathanos knew Onyxia, his sister, had a paw-full of kittens, but he himself had hardly associated with them, likely because he was consistently so busy all the time, considering his rank within BloodClan. On that snowy day, however, he had just returned from a patrol, and the half faced devil of bronze wanted to take a bit of a break before heading out again. His reinforced claws flexed into the powdered ice his huge paws crunched through as he made his way through the woodland that surrounded BloodClan's church. The closer he drew to the lonesome cathedral, the easier he could make out the local inhabitants, and one in particular caught his eye, one of his sister's children lingering upon a cold box out in the cold. A morning breeze buffeted Nathanos' thick coat as he drew closer, a certain curiousness igniting his single eye of gold. "Why hello there, dearie!" The brute's voice was bold and cheerful, like chipper thunder dripping past lethal jaws. "What are ye up to on this fine early day?" Nathanos inquired smoothly, his vision lingering upon the young feline that his massive figure shadowed with ease.

JUNO . bloodclan . tags .

feeling smaller than ones kin was something juno resonated with; he truly felt like a pathetic scrap of fur by comparison to his parents, not to mention his extended family. the black male was tall but slender, a shadow cast by early morning light. even so, such insecurity was hard to spot, as he walked with an air of confidence, arrogance underlining every move. he was asserting himself into this conversation, not much concerned about wether the others would mind; socially bullheaded. he'd conversed with spinel's sister, so he figured this was only good manners. careful not to stand to close to Nate so that his fragile frame wouldn't be highlighted, the pretty faced male offered the midnight she cat a grin; one that was a little too toothy, but that would be picky. "making friends isn't bothersome." juno said, rather decidedly, unaware that some people didn't throw themselves recklessly into social scenarios. "if you're good at it, that is." he taunted, laughing to himself. "plus its useful to have people to talk to. otherwise you'll get bored eventually, for sure."

The brute chuckled lightly in response, parting his powerful, half mutilated jaws in preparation to speak, but before he could, Juno arrived. Nathanos watched the interaction between the two young felines with bubbling amusement, his long tail swishing casually through the bitter cold atmosphere surrounding him. Glancing between the two, Nathanos finally spoke once more, his voice bold and cheerful, "Oh but Juno is absolutely right, dearie! Havin' friends is a good thing, even if they're fake friends! Ya see, you don't have to actually be friends with others, ya just have to make them think you are, heh, wrap them around yer claw, dear, and they'll turn into wonderful little puppets." The deputy advised smoothly, a wicked grin lacing his scarred facial features. He didn't really have any real friends that weren't within his own family. Most of BloodCLan despised him, but he didn't really care, particularly with how detached he had been growing as of late, cold and glacial like the farthest northern reaches of the earth. Friends were still quite useful, though, even he recognized that. It was always nice to have someone that had your back, but he supposed he didn't have to worry about that. So long as a BloodClanner was loyal, they'd have his back. He was, after all, their deputy.

"You are so. Weird," pipes the jokingly stale voice of Ryland as he approaches the cats gathered around Nellie, his slightly narrowed eyes focusing onto Nathanos alongside a funny-looking half grimace. Puppets... He's advising for a child to make fake friends so that she can use them as puppets. What kind of advice is that? It's expected from someone with a fragile mental state such as Nathanos, but still. To a kitten! And Juno, though he likely means well, has taken up a taunting tone of voice... Agh, these cats are all such a mess. Rolling his eyes with an overly exaggerated huff (to show that he's not really mad with either of the other tomcats), he focuses then onto the she-kit in front of the three of them, lifting his brows at her in a strained sort of smile. "Y'know, if you don't wanna make friends you really don't have to," he says simply, having overheard their conversation from his previous seat and therefore easily integrating himself into it with a bored flop down into the snow. "But your life's probably gonna be boring without 'em. They make me tolerate a lot more than I probably should."

Spinel and Malcova were one in the same.

Despite their attempts at disregarding the idea of having friends, there was still an inner desire for companionship—the disdain for being alone. Although it was a feeling that Mal found alleviated in the presence of her family, even if her mother pushed for them to find friends outside of each other. There was just this feeling of... distance? between them and other children. A disadvantage caused by their inability to connect, their inability to relate or understand; however, they understood each other and that is what Mal found most important. It was impossible to say that she did not crave friendship, but she did not crave it in the way others did. As much as she loathed to say it, but Nathanos's ideals on manipulation and control were something that she could not easily dismiss as being... enthralling. Perhaps it was in their blood, a veiled view of what it was like to feel emotions and empathy towards others, she wouldn't be surprised.

Nellie and her differentiated on one point, and one point alone: Malcova was brazen, but she wasn't foolish. There was a difference with pushing insults and completely isolating yourself from someone, although she wasn't sure that made much sense. Callous behavior was not inherently destructive, but pushing against a wound that has already been open was downright stupid. Corrupt a relationship but don't destroy the possibility of forming future ones because of your actions. Hypocritical as that may sound. Then again, Mal knew she had a tendency to right her own actions and dismiss those of others—a habit she was not keen on ending anytime soon.

Spinel and Malcova were one in the same, even against their own opinions on the matter.

"You may tolerate them, but do they tolerate you?" Slipped from her mouth before she could stop them, her small body pushing past Ryland to settle closer to the box her sister stood upon. Although she turned apologetic eyes towards Juno, the Tyro who she had had the pleasure of meeting once before. She knew very little of him, yet she could see the same misunderstanding and emotional incompetence that ran through their shared blood. Turning back up to look towards Nellie, Cova let a small rare grin split across her face. "I don't think you're doing very well on the 'get along with everyone' part of your plan."