EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Following his father's instructions, Julan went straight to Janius. Kaleeth per her arm around him and patted his back gently in an attempt to calm him before turning her gaze back to Lunise. "Yes, he was practicing holding his breath in the water. It feels...bizarre to an Argonian not to be able to breathe the water. But, a werecrocodile can hold their breath for a very long time."

"So...she's a friend, then?" Julan questioned, looking to the reactions of the pack for his answer. Slowly, he raised up his oversized hand and waved awkwardly at Lunise. "Um, hello, then. Uh, nice to meet you."

Meesei's expression held an amused smile at the exchange, but regardless, felt that she wanted to get to their dinner sooner rather than later. If they were all sharing a meal together, Meesei hoped that it would be a better environment for Lunise to open up to her pack. "We have a good supply of meats, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Foods do not rot as easily in the desert, so not everything we have necessarily has to be dried and preserved. However, I would call this a special occasion, being the first time for you to meet my pack non-professionally. I can return to the clan to retrieve more ingredients, so if you had to choose anything you wanted for dinner right now, what would it be?" Meesei asked Lunise.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei turned her head briefly to Lunise. "Well, I shall not go into too much detail without your approval, but..." She began, turning back to Janius. "In Bravil, after learning the true stakes of our war, we both found we had more in common than we once thought. As you can imagine, it was quite an...emotional time for both of us. All of us, really. In that environment, it became much easier for us to see each other for who we were. Now, by chance, have you all made dinner yet?"

"No, um, I was about to make something." Ahnasha answered. She was still not completely certain about Lunise. Like Kaleeth, she found it hard to simply ignore how Lunise had always acted towards them. However, because Meesei trusted her, she supposed she should give her a chance as well. "Is there anything you would like to have in particular? I guess since you're the guest and everything." Ahnasha asked Lunise. Meesei, inwardly, had some hope of where that question might lead. Through her long career in Elsweyr, Lunise had developed a taste for Khajiit cooking.

Shortly afterwards, Julan emerged from the waters of the oasis. He had remained in the water longer than his mother, so he had not heard any of what was happening above the surface. Also of note was the fact that he had taken his swim in his werecrocodile form to practice holding his breath, since his lycan form did not retain his gills. He was well-fed, so control was not a concern, but he had seen Lunise so infrequently that he did not even recognize her out of her uniform. As he started to step towards the camp, his eyes settled on her. "Oh, someone new...OH!" Julan said, with a sudden realization. He stepped back timidly, terrified to the point that even Lunise would be able to see it in his demeanor. He did not know she was an ally, but her scent gave her away as obviously not being a lycan, and he was in his lycan form. He was frightened mostly by the fact that he may have accidentally given away that they were lycans to a stranger, but there was perhaps something amusing about a werecrocodile being frightened of a normal Altmer woman. He was not an adult, but werecrocodiles were massive enough that he was still about the size of an average werewolf.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei smiled. "Indeed, it is for that fact alone that I alluded to a secret lover at all. I was rather certain that she would be the very last person that any of you would guess, so the secret would be safe until we chose to reveal it. Of course, that is only because you have only met Lunise in her capacity as a Justicar. I have come to know Lunise more personally, without the facade. And yes, it is by my suggestion that we are here. She is quite understandably nervous about letting this secret be known to anyone; it could put her at great risk. Which, of course, is why none of you can make any mention of it, even to close friends."

Lorag, though still chuckling under his breath, quickly nodded in compliance with Meesei's order. "Understood, Alpha. Probably take a lot of convincing to get anyone to believe it, but still, we'll be quiet about it. Oh, and thanks for showin' up like you did, 'cause...basically everyone's face was just priceless. Nothing is ever gonna top that moment."

Kaleeth seemed to be somewhat nervous, holding her hands clasped together just in front of her stomach. In most of their meetings with Marod and Lunise, she had been quietly observing, and rarely had much to contribute. As such, Lunise was likely the least familiar with her out of everyone in the pack, apart from the children. Since she had only seen Lunise as a Justicar, it was hard for Kaleeth to erase that conception of her. She stepped up closer to Lunise, hesitantly making eye contact. Kaleeth had only recently climbed out of the water after a swim with Julan, so she was not dressed at the moment.

"So, um, you were just acting like a Justicar should act, then? It wasn't really you? I know we have to do that sometimes. Um, so...when did this happen? I mean, how long have you been Meesei's mate?" Kaleeth asked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

For Janius' question, Meesei quickly shook her head. "No, Justicar Lunise, the Thalmor representative, is not someone I could ever see myself being with. I have fallen for Lunise, the passionate, driven Altmer woman with a compassionate heart and a genuine love for her people."

Meesei's pack, more than most, was quite familiar with the concept of a professional persona. It was something that all of them had to adopt from time to time, so most of them would easily understand Meesei's meaning right away. Although, at least at first, Meesei expected that it would only make the situation slightly less unbelievable.

Putting her arms around Lunise beside her, Meesei leaned in close to whisper in her ear. "Do not be afraid to speak. Remember, they are just surprised. I think they should get to know the Lunise I just introduced."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

While their internal thoughts no doubt varied, the entire pack's outward reaction was universally the same. From the pack's perspective, this revelation had come entirely out of nowhere, and to most of them, was unlikely to make any sense. Justicar Lunise was hardly who they would consider to be a good match for Meesei.

The one to eventually break the silence was Lorag, and he did so in the most definitive way possible. After taking in what happened, he quickly erupted in raucous, almost uncontrollable laughter. He had his eyes closed and his hand over his side, and he looked like he might be close to collapsing onto the ground. With how absurd Meesei's choice appeared, uproarious laughter almost seemed like it could be the appropriate response.

Meesei chuckled as well, though much more softly and briefly. "To answer all of your questions, yes." Meesei commented. They did not need to speak for her to know what they were asking in their minds. "And I will assure you, it does make sense. Much more than you are likely thinking at the moment. "But still, feel free to ask the questions I know you have. I am quite aware that this is unexpected."

Ahnasha simply started to smile and shake her head. "Someone should wake me up. I know this has to be a dream."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Once Lunise looked like she was ready, Meesei began the process of creating the portal. In the time they had spent talking, she had been given a chance to rest and recouperate from her initial portal, though it still was somewhat more difficult than the first. Even so, Lunise's nerves made her look like she was under even more strain than Meesei was.

Regardless, Meesei wanted to try and support Lunise however she could. She knew that Lunise had nothing to worry about with her pack, but that would not stop her from potentially stressing herself to the point that she might be hesitant to be herself around them. As Meesei's spell came to its conclusion, she pulled open the portal, then took Lunise's hand gently in hers. "Do not worry, I will be right there with you. And if at any point you wish to leave, I will take you back. I am sure their initial reaction will be one of...surprise. But, they will understand once we explain everything."

With her last reassuring words, Meesei stepped through the portal with Lunise, immediately bringing them to the middle of the pack's camp, then closed behind them. As they were stepping through, Meesei put her arm around Lunise at her waist and made sure to hold her close. She did not want there to be any doubt as to who Lunise was to her.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I do not think you want to be that person, Lunise." Meesei remarked. "That person is threatening, cold, distant. The perfect persona for your work, granted, but that is not someone who can really be close to anyone else. I want my pack to be able to see you for more than just your title, for professional and...personal reasons. We will be able to work together more easily if they trust you, but more than that, I do truly feel that you would get along. I do truly feel that you would be happier for knowing them as I do. And you can trust me when I say that it would not make you seem any weaker in their eyes. They are accustomed to me putting on such personalities, just not as permanently."

Pausing a moment, Meesei kissed Lunise on the cheek. "So, would you like for me to create a portal?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I can take us anywhere, so you would never meet them with any risk." Meesei responded with confidence.

Meesei smiled with Lunise's last question. The reactions of her pas was something she had thought about on several occasions, and something that she was actually rather looking forward to seeing. "My pack trusts me as much as I trust them, and they are completely familiar with the concept of putting on an act for professional purposes. I do not suspect that it will be difficult for them to accept that you could be a different person than you have let on to them. Although, they do only know you by your Justicar persona, so when they see you with me for the first time and realize that you are my mysterious paramour...well, I expect the reactions to be quite honestly hilarious. Just try not to take offense to any of their initial reactions; you are quite a convincing actor." Meesei remarked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I understand why you are worried, Lunise. Your career has taught you to be, but it is not always necessary." Meesei responded, calmly and compassionately. "My pack has learned to be cautious as well through the years, do not forget. We are camped in the middle of the desert, and not so close to the city that we can actually see it. If someone were to approach us, well, they would have to cross open, mostly flat land as far as the eye can see. No one is going to be sneaking up on us, and it is not as if you have to wear your Thalmor uniform. I absolutely support your caution, do not get me wrong, but that caution should not become paranoia."

Slowly, Meesei stood and walked up behind Lunise, wrapping her arms around her waist and resting her head on her left shoulder. "You know I would not take unnecessary risks with your life. I am suggesting this because this specific meeting, in this specific place would be no risk at all. At least no more risk than you take just walking outside every day. I think it would make us both happier to have the knowledge that we do not have to live a lie around everyone except ourselves."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Lunise..." Meesei began, though she hesitated as she tried to reason out in her mind the best way to describe her point. "It is difficult to put into words how much I trust my pack. If you gathered every gold coin in the Empire and offered it to each of them in exchange for betraying me, not a single one would take the offer. If they were offered eternal life, health, and unlimited power to betray me, I am wholly and completely confident they would all still support me. They are a family closer than any I was born with, a family with bonds strong enough that they will transcend death itself. I only suggest telling them about us because I know that there is no risk whatsoever of them betraying that secret. I trust them just as surely as I trust the sun will rise every day. Even if we cannot have a public relationship, I would like for us to be able to at least have some part of that experience. Even if it is just a small group that we can be ourselves around, unafraid."

"And...it is not as if there are no...practical considerations for why I am suggesting this." Meesei added. "I want them to know to what extent I trust you. We are going to be working together against Vile, and later to hopefully replace your superiors. I do not wish for them to view you with suspicion. And if something were ever to happen to me...I would fear that they could possibly grow hesitant to work with you. They only know you as the person you act like you are as a Justiciar, remember. Besides, my pack already knows you are no longer a loyal servant of your superiors. They were there on that mission; they were part of at least one or two of the meetings we had with Marod and Areldril. That information alone, if spread to your superiors, would make your superiors brand you as a traitor just as assuredly as knowing that we are lovers. With that in mind...is there any real harm in proving to my pack why they should trust you?"