"--Perhaps one day you'll teach me a word or two... I would love to be able to understand you; even if I cannot grasp how to speak it." Aika grinned, nodding as she imagined him and her simply revelling in her mother tongue, being able to whisper sweet nothings without being looked down on by others, or mocked, or given strange looks. Though the Japanese tongue was one she saw more as delicate and lady-like, she certainly wasn't prejudiced against a knightly sire like
him learning Aika's favourite language, especially if it was via
her.
He seemed to like the physical affection, evident by the way his tail wagged as Aika brushed herself against him; she'd make note of that, and try to incorporate more
touch into their meetings together.
"I would hope so," He said, vague on whether it was him not being selfish, or that he'd make a good father. Aika thought both, really. What he said next, though, would find Aika a little confused;
"It may be the only thing I believe I have ever wanted more than leading... Well, once upon a time. At least." Once upon a time? Was he saying that he no longer wanted children? The lady looked at him with a curious look, though nodded nonetheless, ever quiet in his presence, especially while he was speaking. She didn't want to miss some sort of important detail, now, did she?
"I think you doubt yourself too much, Aika," Ah, if that wasn't a tug to the heartstrings, Aika didn't know what was. She nodded solemnly, a silent, soft smile plastered among her paw as she looked back on how . . .
sad she'd been. Hm.
"As heavy as leadership is, the best leaders have a gentle paw." Ah, but such a thing made the lady smile once more, and she gave a little
"hmmf" as she'd gently bump herself into the sire besides her, giving him a look that said--
“Like you,” "And a soft heart—though if you do not believe this of yourself yet, I will believe it for the two of us." The two of us. It sounded . . . nice.
MJ sounded very connected to his people, as if they shared a sort of inseparable connection – something that she desperately pined for, especially with certain people – and came together in harmony, as a community. While the Dynasty had its ups and downs, she supposed they were all united under the reign of her sister, though Aika would love to properly understand her future packmates better. She wanted to . . . be there for them, she supposed.
"It is rather stressful, too, troublesome at times—" And he tilted his head upwards, giving Aika a few of the wounds that littered his jaw. Her eyes widened in alarm as she drew closer, looking to observe the wounds and give them a quick lick – a motion that, perhaps . . . could be mistaken for a
kiss.
“Who did this?!” She growled, paws indenting into the ground; though she was a pacifist, she was extremely protective of those she cared for, and she wanted to make sure that this
guy had definitely been warded off, though she didn't want it to sound like she doubted M’Jakuna's abilities, of course.
"—a wolf on our territory didn't take lightly to leaving and as the leader, even more so when the pack is so small, it was up to me to ensure he was gone. The cost I pay matters little so long as the pack remains safe." But-- didn't his health matter to him? Aika sighed, closing her eyes; the wounds were all too close to his throat, and she swallowed at the thought of something
worse happening. She gave a shallow breath.
"But little has felt so fulfilling as knowing so many look to me for guidance, of providing and seeing them thrive; there are days I know my muzzle will gray earlier for this all... but I know this is my place and it feels right, none unlike taking a breath," Their eyes met, and Aika found her face warming once more. He was so close-- butterflies invaded her stomach once more, and she gave a true smile, nodding at his words, even though they went through one ear and out the other.
"Though it does grow lonely, I consult with my counsel often but... Well, I'll be honest when I say it's more and more I wish I had the mind of another who led alongside me but I keep hoping experience slowly soothes that." “I'll always be here for you, you know. I'm merely a howl away.” She assured, pulling forwards to nudge herself against him once more, attempting to give him an odd wolf-embrace-thing to the best of her abilities.
He chuckled, though, and moved on.
"How many children did you used to imagine having?" Aika laughed similarly, tilting her head as she tried to remember how she'd spend her days with @
Honoka, planning our her perfect wedding and honeymoon and all the decorations in great detail; pups had been one of the first things she'd mentioned once she'd been old enough to really consider them.
"When I was younger, I used to believe two full litters would be ideal... Ha, can you imagine that? Everyone I ever told was aghast." “Two full litters?!” She jokingly gasped, eyes fluttering wide with a dramatic swoop of her lashes. She craned forwards in a laugh, clearing her throat as a comically proper look resumed her face.
“I've always pictured three or four mini-me's running around,” She smiled.
“Enough for me to handle, I think. One or two . . . I feel like that would get a little boring. Surprisingly, I'd like the challenge, you know?”
Aika smiled, and blinked a few times before looking at MJ with a sincerity that was immeasurable; one that spoke her true feelings, in which they surely couldn't be
"just friends," at least, she
hoped not. What she wanted was so much more.
“I've actually, ah, wanted whelps of my own lately,” She gave a soft chuckle.
“I worry that with my age may bring . . . complications. I'm four already, ha. Would you ever consider children of your own, MJ? Apologies if . . . that is an odd question.” The lady didn't want to make him uncomfortable. She quickly rushed to add to the end of her sentence, just to make sure he understood she wasn't trying to pry;
“You don't have to answer, of course! I'm merely curious. It might be a weird question for, uh, a friend to ask.” Some sort of subconscious distaste in the back of her mind put a lot of emphasis into the word
friend, and for that, she felt quite guilty . . . without even knowing
why.