Broken Boulder look the void in the eye and laugh

*writes you a novel* as always, no need to match the ridiculous length of this! ♥

her soft laughter fills the air between them and causes the firebrand's ear to twitch as he listens to it, unwilling to hide the new grin that twitches and tugs like it is being pulled by invisible marionette strings across his muzzle. vilkas has no qualms about admitting what is truth to him: the sanctuary is a major culture shock for him. adaptation to the stark opposite of what he's used to was never destined to be easy or perfect. he offers lily a contemplative noise in his throat when she mentions cubs — no doubt queenie's — and goes on to say that they'll need a teacher. "yeah, might be a good idea to touch base with him soon." he teases with a lift of his lip in a wily smirk as he plays along. the truth is that he's not quite certain how well his ability to teach pups how to fight will be received ...and the only time he's 'met' queenie was at the meeting(s). he's been busy trying to integrate his skills into alarian's unorthodox ( to vilkas anyway ) pack that he hasn't made much time to get to know the only other mercenary. plus, she was heavily pregnant and from his experience he habitually gives mothers that look like they're about to pop any day space. an introduction — at the very least — likely wouldn't hurt, he tells himself.

the conversation lingers within the general topic that it started out but shifts then as lily confesses that presumably his skill set was what she wished to talk to him about. there is a swell of something in the raptorial firebrand's chest as she tells him that she sought him out. he does not have a specific name for the feeling: some sort of hybrid between pride, satisfaction and ardor — a flame that sparks to life and burns low and hot while in her presence. the firebrand admits to himself that there is something about her that allures him, captivates him in a way that he can't explain even if he wanted to ...wanting her is not too far of a stone's throw and thus should not surprise him as it ( briefly ) does.

vilkas is drawn back from his wandering thoughts when she asks about her first fighting lesson. a copper and rust ear twitches atop his skull and he drags his tongue across the roof of his mouth, sharpened canines biting lightly into the muscle as he assesses her. "of course." he replies a heartbeat's time later. it has been far too long since he's sparred ...or, rather, taught anyone how to spar and admittedly the last had been a bunch of rambunctious cubs with attention spans of squirrels ( and that was probably giving them too much credit or insulting squirrels whom had bigger attention spans than those particular cubs ).

he shifts, immediately, into hard-ass instructor mode without hesitation. the lax, ( perhaps ) flirtatious delinquent is gone. in it's place is the konahrik. vilkas approaches her, studying her closer. he already had done an assessment during the tour though she had not asked for it then. she is small; and particularly lovely. and in a fight her femme wiles could prove to be just as useful against a brute as actual skill. he knows for a fact that a goliath would look at her and see no threat at all against his brawn; arrogance and over-confidence was a surefire way to lose a fight. "the most important thing to remember is that during a fight it's not all about your skill. skill's important but so is learning how to play your opponent's disadvantages against them," he circles her slowly. "as i mentioned during the tour: you've got several advantages in your corner. if you spar at night it will be hard to spot you, but most importantly: you're small and pretty and i can guarantee you that anyone that is bigger than you will immediately pin you as an easy victory." because that was how it always worked. the big and the bad always thought that their size and brawn made them conquerers, that they would never lose. especially not against someone smaller than them and the arrogance made vilkas want to laugh. "it's important to let them underestimate you. it will put you at an advantage."

vilkas stops when he stands before her, taking a few steps back. he is used to cubs with no skill, no redefined instincts; and while lily might think that she has no ability she's an adult and has defined instincts that will give her more skill than she likely thinks. "i need to see what skill level you're at," he explains. "fighting should be instinctual. you have to pay attention to your opponent but overthinking it will get you killed in a real fight. listen to your instincts. they will guide you. survival, self-preservation. they'll keep you alive during a fight. don't doubt them, just listen to them." of course, this is easy for him to say and easy for him to do: he's always been extremely instinct driven. "i want you to come at me with everything you've got, lily." he encourages, because it's the only way he'll know what he's working with and how to proceed with the lesson. "don't think about it, don't hesitate. i won't attack back, only block and defend." he promises tucking his chin towards his throat. he offers her a Machiavellian grin as he shifts into a defensive stance, encouraging her to proceed.