Hey there, new kid

It was late afternoon on Anathema. A bright and swollen sun sat low on the horizon, effectively scorching one side of the island and covering the other in shadows cast from the jungle. A single trail of pawprints disturbed the flatness of the sand, leading eventually to the silhouette of a long-legged feline standing in the sun. Its shape would be entirely unfamiliar to any of the island natives - the sun would soon be setting on the kougra's first day here.

A place full of life, parties, and sunshine, that's how the island had been described to him. It definitely had the sunshine, he noted, pupils turning to slits in his golden eyes as he turned to look into the sun. But what about the rest? He'd had enough of his old, awkward life, and had been looking forward (albeit, somewhat anxiously) to the oppurtunites the island could provide. Except now it wasn't providing them. Part of him said he'd not given it enough time, it wasn't even sunset of the first day, but he couldn't help feeling a bit let down and a lot nervous. His expectations had led him to believe he'd be greeted by a smiling, attractive welcoming committee and though it was bound to be a bit strange at first, he was ready to let the new him take over and win over everyone's companionship.

Particularly the female companionship, he thought, blushing despite his solitude. He would need more than a personality revamp to attract any of the females here, however. A lifetime of long, clumsy limbs had caused him walk with a bit of a stoop, even though his body had long since filled out and grown into its lengthy legs. And his fur, naturally a rich tawny hue beautifully set off by the sleek black spots, was dull do to lack of grooming. His thick cheetah face stripes and dark spots had lead to enough teasing in his youth that he was loath to display them with any pride. Even his tail, thin and heavily banded with black stripes hung low behind him, almost hiding around his hindquarters. And yet, beneath the unwashed fur was a lithe, masculine form, well padded in ropey muscles, and the exoticness of his features that had been cause for much ridicule in his youth now lent his face a definite attractiveness. Too bad he didn't realise it for himself.

Isaiah's lithe frame moved idly along the shoreline, his skull lowered as if he were stalking some unseen creature. Each paw step was placed with caution so as to avoid the tiny waves as they rolled ashore, only to pull back and leave a dark stain in their wake. The evening had yet to bring relief from the thick, humid air, and left the wild cat panting silently with his thick, grey coat clinging to his skin. It was obvious his build was not meant for this climate. His thick, lengthy tail hovered only inches from the ground behind him, the tip flicking occasionally as he walked. Deep pools of navy blue were set on the terrain before him, though their clouded hue proved that his mind far from the situation. Though nothing particularly interesting had happened recently, Isaiah was finding it difficult to concentrate on the present... perhaps because the present had nothing to offer him. He was stuck on this island with limited companionship and a depleting supply of alcohol. All of his friends had deserted him, and for the time being, the prospect of any sort of company seemed incredibly appealing.

While lost in nostalgic visions of his thrilling adolescent years, he failed to heed the distinct, though very faint sound of pawsteps in the shifting sands. It was a gentle breeze carrying the strangers scent that alerted the cat and he slowed his idle gait to a hault and lifted his head. Parting his jaws, Isaiah tasted the musky odor, wrinkling his nose at the blatantly male notes. He would have preferred a kougress companion, seeing as they had a wider variety of activities to offer him... But nevertheless, he was thankful for the company. Scanning the stretch of beach before him, he spotted the strange male heading in his direction, the contour of his body rippled in the waves of heat rising up from the sand. Deciding against meeting him half way, Isaiah remained standing where he was, facing the approaching cat with a placid expression. Although he was eager for a comrade, he had come to the conclusion that he shouldn't be expected to go out on a limb to meet another, however disobliging it was.

Isaiah tilted his head in curiosity, observing the males movements. He seemed... awkward wasn't the best term, but he couldn't think of anything better. "Hey," he responded, a dark simper coiling across his features and splitting the mock calm expression. Rolling his shoulders until he felt a satisfying crack between his shoulderblades, he leaned back into his haunches, reclining against the warm sand and curling his long tail to the side. "I'm just going to assume you're new to the island, so I'm Isaiah," he dipped his head in greeting, not once taking his gaze from the strangers, "the Alpha." It had been years since he'd played the dominance game, and it really no longer appealed to him anymore... But he figured he'd test the waters on this new islander, just to figure out where he stood as a rival male or a friend.

His gaze roved over the cats frame as though he were sizing him up, but to Isaiah, this was merely a game. He was having fun. "Well, Kobe-the-New-Guy," he repeated his name, as well as the joke, "welcome to Anathema. It used to be fun here." Though his tone still held an authoritative chime, his expression had warmed and a genuine smile had replaced the smirk.

"Since it's your first day, I'm going to treat you to a welcome party. You drink, right?" He met Kobe's gaze with his own, arching a brow in question. It was not so much the fact that he was eager to make the newbie feel welcome, although that was part of it (a very, very small part). He had just found a reasonable excuse to get drunk, and who better to do so with than a newcomer? And who knew, maybe he'd found a new drinking buddy to replace the many he'd lost over the years.

ooc. Alrighty, goodnight. (:

"Good," he replied, his grin tugging further across his ivory lips, "because you won't fit in too well if you spend most of your time sober." It was obviously an exaggeration, but Kobe didn't know that, and Isaiah figured it would only prove to convince the cat further to get trashed with him more often. Although it seemed he had just sat down only a moment ago, he climbed once more to his paws, kicking the irritating particles of sand out from between his toes. With a brief, feline-esque stretch, he tossed a stray tendril of fur out of his line of vision before proceeding forward. "This way," he pointed out, as if it weren't already apparent, glancing to his companion with a 'come-hither' flick of his tail.

ooc. Blah, I just realized how rusty my roleplaying has gotten, sorry. :/

He remained silent for a moment, mulling his choices of words over in his mind as he treaded along the worn path towards the drink hut. He could tell by Kobe's slip of the tongue that the question of alcohol consumption on the island was not the only thing on his mind. Deciding against investigating his true intentions, he muttered, "Everyone that's left, sure. Drinking is sort of our cheif pastime." He turned to offer the cat a crooked smirk before returning his attention to the trail before them.

Hardly five minutes had passed before the two reached their desination. Pushing past the palm frond entrance, Isaiah didn't bother holding the door for Kobe as he entered. Chivalry was reserved for female company. He approached the shelves, scanning over his options and quickly settling on a dusty bottle of scotch. Cradeling the glass carefully between his jaws, he padded towards the back of the room and reclined onto the tattered old couch. The poor sofa looked as though it were on it's last leg, and Isaiah's weight as he collapsed into it's cushions sent a cloud of dust coiling into the air.

ooc. Yeah, I was taking my time at first, but now I've just given up and settled for some mediocre replies. x)

ooc. What a coincidence, same here. The family & I just got back from a weekend at the coast. =)

ic. When he realized Kobe was not going to join him on the sofa, Isaiah stretched his hindquarters out along the entire length of the couch, crossing his forepaws over the edge of the cushion and resting his head in the crick of his bent elbow. With his beverage on the floor beside him, he studied the male opposite him with a creased brow. His dark, navy irises were now swallowed by his pupils which had expanded in the dim lighting of the room, giving him an almost sinister guise; His amused grin suggested otherwise.

"I guess you could say that," he answered, filling his lungs with the warm, musty air of the room. Dust, and a hint of mold were the predominant scents, as well as the very faint odors of older felines who'd come to share drinks with friends. There was a definite musky aroma that hinted at activities other than just drinking, also shared by the claw marks and stains on the couch. This hut held so many memories, not just for Isaiah, but for nearly every cat ever to call Anathema their home. Bringing himself back to the present, he met Kobe with a mock-accusatory glare, arching a single brow for a comic effect. "But life's too short for small talk. Where'd you come from? Why'd you come here? Any kougresses waiting for you back home?" He flooded his companion with genuine questions, leaning his head in curiosity. Normally, he would have settled on sharing sex stories or rating the girls on the island... But obviously Kobe would have no idea what he was talking about. That, and Isaiah was so starved for companionship, he truely wanted to hear about this stranger's past.