Want of a Day || Casual Hang Out! (Open)

Turtlefang was bored. To say the least, that wasn't usually a good thing.

After some time spent out and about, he'd had his fair share of activity, but that inevitably left him drifting out of orbit for the rest of the day. On afternoons like this, where the sun cast far and wide, he usually liked to take one of his naps... something that for some reason did not seem to appeal to him at the moment. No, he was entirely too rested and almost a little too hot to even get cozy now that he had the luxury of doing so. So, as he slunk out of the warriors den from his quick breather, his attention caught the first cat who appeared to be in his exact scenario- Rabbitblaze, entirely unoccupied for once. What a look to see on their usually industrious deputy. After observing the point herself, Turtlefang couldn't help but note the prey at her paws. Another rabbit. Funny.

Yeah, it was too hot out.

Without much of an immediate agenda, the dark tom approached his fellow tortie. The two had never been all that close, with most of their interactions limited to daily tasks, but they didn't have to be any closer to help the time pass by. Better the deputy, always a little too put together, than anyone too troublesome. With a lazy tilt swish of his tail, Turtlefang peered at the other from just beside him, not wanting to make too much of a statement marching right up in front.

"Mind if I join you? Looks awfully comfortable over here."

It didn't take more than a word for Turtlefang to tucker down next to the deputy, flank rested off to the side while he shifted his weight towards propping up his front half, sphynx-like in nature. "Napping that long," he mused, eyeing Rabbitblaze with a hint of mismatched suspicion. "While my dear clanmates and deputy are already up and about? Slow day or otherwise, you never know when that'll change. I'd hardly want to miss it."

They both knew she was right, but in every statement, there could be a splinter of truth. Considering that much, he couldn't help but veer into measured defense- The thought that Rabbitblaze may think him to be unreliable in some way just didn't sit right under his paw, like a thorn he couldn't quite extract. He'd never been much of a fixer, though.

Electing to let go of his wariness for the time being, his gaze followed the movement of his companion's gesture, taking in the lull of the camp. "You're right, of course." It came as a bit of a contradiction, the easy agreement after having such an initial mouthful- But even Turtlefang had to be easy sometimes, when it came to these obvious things. Their shared restlessness was no secret, otherwise they wouldn't both be here talking about it. "I suppose even prosperity has its shortcomings."

Then, with the same sort of airy nonchalance, the warrior leaned in slightly, conspiratorial. "What do you think? Calm before the storm?"

A troublesome suggestion, for sure, but there was an interested gleam at play behind the usual half-lid of Turtlefang's often disinterested glance. If anyone had word on potential disaster, it'd be someone closer to Beestar. While the implications of his question were vague, the sudden seriousness certainly aligned itself with the Sunclan's latest gossip- The political mess that'd been brewing since the Gathering. And if anyone was gonna snap their jaws around any leads on that particular gossip, Turtlefang would be the one going for the throat.

Figures. Like the fleeting spark it was, Turtlefang's intrigue extinguished in one fell swoop, squashed beneath the unyielding step of Mr. Goody Two-Paws, over here. The glow of his eyes died with it, focus already wandering off with the drift of his muzzle in another direction, tracking imaginary birds across the distant skies. "I see."

It wasn't very likely the other tom would've let anything slip in the first place, but the tortie figured he'd at least try his chances while Rabbitblaze was lying out and about so unusually free of distraction. But even their fated circumstances wouldn't convince her to abandon her post... I suppose that's just like him. What wasn't like him, on the other hand, was that playful attitude bounced back against him. Then again, maybe it was? It wasn't as if they'd talked like this, before. Just two warriors. Even before she'd been appointed deputy, it wasn't as if Turtlefang often liked to converse with his denmates much in the first place. He pondered, for a moment, if that could maybe be a bad thing. If maybe investing more time towards the others- towards Rabbitblaze- would afford him some degree of power through establishing some social groundwork.

Yeah right. Like he'd ever live that down.

Tail twitching with sudden agitation, he flexed his back leg against the ground in an awkward stretch, secretly hoping to expel that annoying voice in his head through the motion. Any more of that, and he'd be sounding like his siblings. Starclan forbid.

Unexpectedly, Turtlefang's ears were met with a mutual question. Somehow, the conversation wasn't over yet. Pulled back from his sulking, he met the deputy's inquisition with a guarded expression, apprehension tingling in his whiskers. "No." One word, flat and conclusive. It was one thing for him to (admittedly) probe at her for information, but an entirely different situation to have to deal with the same treatment in kind. Almost offended by the reciprocation, he withdrew his paws from where they'd been stretched, tucking inwards on himself in a manner reminiscent of his namesake. Sulking again? He could practically hear his mother chide.

After his moment of delay, the next words were ones of reparation. It'd be better to shift gears, shift tone. "I just thought I'd look to one of my superiors for guidance. I suppose I should be more patient and let the future reveal itself in its own time." There. Still, he kept his head turned away, unable to fully shake the misgivings that would surely only harden his gaze should he resume their little staredown.

That last part seemed to catch the tortie thoroughly off-guard, breaking his self-imposed tantrum to look abruptly at the other as if the moon had dropped down on top of her. "What? That's..." Tail-tip flickering like a tiny flame, the initial surprise of the question melted off quickly, relaxing his face in tandem; shock never lasted long, for him. But regardless, Turtlefang hadn't been able to help himself from his own confusion. After all, it seemed like such a weird thing to ask a cat like him, with his careful opinions and slippery tongue. But moreover... What a pointless question.

If there was one thing Turtlefang knew, it's that everybody loved Rabbitblaze's appointment. And while he had his own temper flares here and there, it was obvious to see there was nobody better for the job. To go out and say as much would definitely be too much of a leap, but how was it that she didn't already know as much? How strange. If he didn't know any better, it'd feel like a logic trap, a paw fishing around for spare praise. But with this tom, always focused on the day's routine, the dark warrior knew it could only be a sincere concern. Always sincerity, around here. Bitter tasting. And to ask me? Geez. A bit uncomfortably, he recrossed his paws. Little did he know, however, that he'd successfully been pulled back from his evasion.

"If I were deputy," he started, giving her a pointed stare. "You wouldn't be asking me in the first place. But..." As he continued, Turtlefang mirrored the other tom's manner of detachment, hardly wanting to waste his time making faces at someone who wouldn't be paying attention to them- he went back to his imaginary birds. "It's not like I know the first thing about what a deputy should be. If you were supposed to be any particular way, then we'd have as much a training regimen for deputies as we already have for apprentices. That is to say... the only expectations you have to meet are Beestar's. There's no pleasing everyone. So you shouldn't worry about what I think."

It comes out harsher sounding than he thought, ending in a non-answer. Like playing back the same ball he'd been dealt with his early question, a spiteful retort from a sore loser. And yet... He can't help but continue on to state the obvious. It's.. not to be nice. But if Rabbitblaze can't see what's right in front of him, someone ought to say something before the poor guy goes blind doubting herself. "Objectively, if you weren't performing successfully, we wouldn't be laying here like this. Look around." Turtlefang's voice lowers to what might be a mutter, if he weren't still making an effort to have his observations heard. "The clan is prospering. We're well fed and defended. You're the one who handles all that, it's your job to organize those outcomes. So... that's evidence enough, isn't it? To have a day like today. That's because of you, keeping the storm clouds at bay."

Agh. That's way too much, and it visibly agitates him. In an effort to recapture his stoicism, he shakes out his ears, lifting his chin for show as he peers through narrow slits at the bright sky stretching like a lioness above them both. "But I wouldn't mind you letting a few slip through, if it'd take the edge off this heat." Perfect. Yes. Under control.

What a weird conversation.

In spite of her concerns, Rabbitblaze seemed to rebound from the admission as swiftly as her namesake might dart for a burrow, book-ending the complaints that started their interaction with the same sort of casual dismissal to end it. If Turtlefang didn't know any better, he'd almost think he'd been tricked somehow, forced to give up a tidbit of gratification for the sole purpose of keeping the deputy's humor afloat. It didn't match the response, so courteous and to the point. So what was that weird feeling again, the one that said things weren't as they seemed?

..If it's there, he won't be able to find it. It's gone on long enough that to pursue it further would be an endless goose chase. I never did like the taste of bird that much, either. With the circle back, Turtlefang had given up on understanding the other's smile. Some things just weren't worth the trouble of prodding around.

After all his wordiness, the tortie lapsed into sudden silence, merely studying the other cat's face with a nigh imperceptible nod to seal off the topic. Somehow, he had a feeling he wouldn't be getting to know much of anything anytime soon, regardless of what she told him. For now, once again reminded of the sun, he slowly stretched into a sprawling lay against the ground, flanks tucked cozily to one side as he angled to give his spine a break from the direct rays. With eyes still lingering on his superior's form, prey still poised between her paws, Turtlefang nuzzled his chin against the earth in a cue for withdrawal, the gesture ending in a lazy flick of his tail towards the deputy's hare. "Don't let me keep you from what little pleasures still remain, then."

"Just readjusting." Not one to be deterred from his companion becoming all the chattier (made it less work for him to come up with his own quips), the tip of Turtlefang's now lax tail began to curl in and out, tapping the ground rhythmically as he mulled over the question presented. Already, he'd been recornered into a trap- Rabbitblaze had been so quick to prop herself back up as a model warrior, self sacrificing and devoted entirely to the clan. With that kind of proud setup, how could anyone be expected to be honest? Not in any further mood to stroke the deputy's ego- Unless he really thinks that way?- he drawled out non-answer. "I'm driven by the same things any one of us is. We all have a sense of duty to answer to. I would deign to say that includes maintaining relations, however tedious it may be."


Hm.

Eyes clouding over somewhat, Turtlefang's tail finally stilled.

"..A warrior's life is fairly universal. Peace and prosperity is both our goal and our most cherished treasure." It's the most he can think of to make sense of his own listlessness. It's only natural not to know what's pleasurable when it's so common, so shared, that you might forget its presence entirely. Like right now, surely? "As much as we can complain about boredom, this is all anyone could ask for, I think. Good prey and good company."