[Art] Stolen Haircut - [Mlima Pride RP]

"Hey Uncle Ichtaca! How have you been enjoying pride life so far?" The familiar voice of his half-nephew rung into the air, drawing Ichtaca out of his deep thoughts. Just the sight of seeing the now fully grown lion made his shoulders feel ever so lighter. Family just did that, he supposed.
 
"I'm not foreign to pride life, Ujumbu. It's about the same as I'd always remembered it." Ichtaca's tone was low, one of bluntness and straight to the point. It was what he usually answered with, young Ujumbu was no exception.

With a roll of his eyes, the lion grumbled. "Eesh, dad was right, you really are a grump. Anyway, pride's been starting to notice you linger about outside of the healer's den. What's that all about?" There was a smug tone in his nephew's voice, one that had Ichtaca's raise an eyebrow.

"I'm not quite sure what you mean by that." Ichtaca would hesitantly admit, looking at the lion with a look that could only show how unamused he felt. What exactly was Ujumbu getting at?

Ichtaca could already hear the smirk in his nephew's voice as he spoke. "Ohh, no reason. You just look like a lost hyena pup!" Snickers followed after, the older lion only grew more confused.

"Well, yes. I didn't want to come to Mlima's camp under such.. Circumstances." The rogue would admit, tilting his head to the side once Ujumbu's laughter got louder. He could feel himself growing embarrassed and let out a few tentative laughs of his own, as if, he got the 'joke'.

"Oh uncle, that's not what I meant at all. You know she'll be fine, right? You don't have to hover over her constantly." Ujumbu seemed to take on a softer, more understanding tone. The rogue let out a 'tsk', shaking his head. He had finally picked up on what his nephew was referring to. "I know I just.. Can't really help it." His voice seemed faraway as his attention was returned back to the den.

Ujumbu's smirk returned. "Ah yes, I wonder why." He'd put on a purposely thoughtful face. It took a while but Ichtaca eventually realized what the lion was hinting at. His fur would ruffle in embarrassment, a growl laced his words.

"Augh! Just scram, Ujumbu!"

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While Ichtaca likes to consider himself to be a cool and collected fellow, it seems that nowadays, that was becoming less and less true. He's overwhelmed with all these emotions, all these new friendships and relations. The feeling of growing attached, well, it wasn't nice. It hurt. But of course, the rogue can't really help himself. Things just happen!

One of these emotions that Ichtaca can't quite help are the new stronger feelings he's beginning to harbor. For Mlilo and Jahaira. Two completely separate sensations that he doesn't know how to name. Mlilo makes him feel understood, seen, or makes him feel less out of place in the world. While he's believing to be falling for her, this isn't exactly true. He simply enjoys her company a lot, makes him feel nice and warm. However, that's just the feeling of comfort that he's mixed up with. Ichtaca so desperately wants to be her friend and have someone to have company with. He's just shocked that someone else knows how he feels. Fortunately enough though, the two will remain friends despite their relation.

Now towards his first friend, Jahaira, it's different. Rather than feeling stable and comforted as with Mlilo, he feels nervous, odd, feverish, and maybe even uneased. Ichtaca would describe them as negative, he just feels so nervous, he doesn't really know how to deal with it! He's lived a life of neutrality, then began building confidence. With her though? He feels it deplete immediately. Mainly because he doesn't want to look like an idiot in front of her or intimidate her with his habits. Honestly, the guy just wants to impress her. Jahaira's snarkiness, energy, and sense of humor immediately caught his attention during their first meeting. The fact that she wasn't afraid to give him attitude and call him out on his BS really shocked him! He was never really used to that type of behavior, he felt lighter in her company as she guided him to the waterhole. That's where he met Kinaya, Queen of Mlima. Where he was given a proposition to remain in Mlima for a while longer to see if he'd like to join it fully. Jahaira was asked to help him and she accepted.

Eventually though, he started noticing that his more stoic demeanor was beginning to melt with her. All of a sudden, he's smiling, laughing, actually making jokes? With her, he feels like his younger self. Before the death of his mother, before his father's many punishments, before the grim and bad. And it almost scares him, how one feline can just drop all the walls he put up with a mere smile. He feels soft and small. Maybe, he could even cry. Damned feelings!

While that's nice and dandy, Jahaira contracted the mysterious virus and is going through a hard time. Ichtaca, having been in contact with her due to their earlier hunt, is to remain in Mlima to get frequent checkups. So far, no symptoms from him. Still, his worry isn't really on himself but on his friend. She's constantly on his mind, her health worrying him. He knows he shouldn't, he knows how strong she is but he just can't help it and it truly does terrify him.

Other than that though, his arrival at Mlima, despite it's original circumstances, isn't all bad. He's gotten to see his nephew, Ujumbu, once more! And he's all grown up! Honestly, the rogue is rather surprised that himself and his half nephew share more similarities than himself and his half-brother, Umar. Mostly because of their mane style and naturally messy/wavy texture. Ujumbu likes to state that he's looking more like his uncle by the day. Ichtaca adamantly refuses this, telling him to stop stealing his damn haircut. Don't tell Ujumbu, but Ichtaca has to resist the temptation to cry every time he hears Ujumbu say this.'

Also, I have absolutely no idea why I thought making a file this big was a good idea. Well, you live and you learn! Never again!

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