A quiet groan ushers from the man as he shifts beneath the sheets of his bed tucked away within the small studio room of the hotel he'd made his temporary home. Slowly, the embrace of slumber relinquishes him back into the real world, though it had not been one of the most restful nights which would often allow for him to be lost within the realm of sleep well into the morning. Usually, the sunlight filtering through those cheap off-white linen curtains draped over thin plastic blinds would be the reason he would awaken, the ever so subtle sensation touching gently upon sun-kissed skin calling the were to wakefulness. And, on such nights where his sleep was deep and his mind relaxed, he might be fortunate enough to dream. It was not often that he did, but when the lion did dream, he would find his paws touching sun-bleached sand and golden-hazel eyes would be welcomed by endless ocean blue. The sound of saltwater waves crashing against its soaked shoreline, each one foam-crested and thundering as they collided against the innumerable grains was the symphony that would beckon him, accompanied by the screeching of sea birds riding the uneven currents above with wings outstretched. Salty zephyrs would whisper unknown words into black-tipped ears almost entirely hidden within the lion's thick golden mane that would stir around his proud and massive head as the ocean winds brushed against his thickly muscled frame. Here, the sun felt so real as it caressed tawny golden fur, the sights and scents just as seemingly present and tangible to him although he knew better than to believe that what saw before him was true. It was always the same beach, the same ocean, not a single building familiar to the were and recognized as one belonging to the southern side of the city to be seen in any direction he would turn golden-hazel eyes nor could he catch the most distant sounds of children laughing joyously as they played in the shallows of the surf. He did not know where such a place exists, if perhaps it was one of the few beaches he'd wandered during his seemingly endless journey which had ended up bringing him to Sacrosanct, but what he did know was the sense of peace that surrounded it... and the presence that would find him there.

The lion was never left alone on this beach for long, the call of a familiar voice reaching out above the waves and the wind."Ro! Hey, Ro!", she would call out, the laughter and light in her sterling lyrics hard to miss and even more harder for the lion's heart to forget. Roman would turn his proud head to look behind him only to feel the familiar warmth and ache squeeze his powerful chest in a twisted and almost cruel sense of love and longing. The lioness would hardly slow her running pace, colliding against the much larger and more muscular build of him, forcing from him a gruff "oof" as they would end up tumbling over the sand, his baby sister's laughing ringing out like silver bells around them as she successfully tackles Roman in the same fashion she always would when she desired to wrestle with him. She jumps up then, leaping away and shaking the sand from her pelt, Roman giving a deep chuckle as he follows suit. She would tease him then, perhaps about how he should have run so she could have chased him and shown the were how much faster she was now or maybe taunting him lovingly about how much slower he was to bat her away and off of him as they would roll across the sand in a flurry of tawny gold and paws. Then, they would walk side by side only mere inches from the furthest reaches of the ocean, talking all the while before the distant figures of the rest of his pride would come into view. The twins would be wrestling in the water, chasing one another with wild and careless abandon while their mother and father would he lounging peacefully together. Nicolette would be only a small distance away, often sharing in a session of mutual grooming with Tristan whose own mane was much darker than Roman's own. Here, the lion would be with his pride once more... Trinity would turn her molten chocolate gaze to Roman then, those depths so spirited and reflecting his own nature smiling where lioness features could not."Come on, Ro! I'll race you, she would say as her shoulder pressed playfully into his own before her lithe frame would bolt forward and ahead of him, though not without a single glance over her shoulder to ensure that Roman followed. He would laugh, watching her wistfully for a moment before giving chase and running towards their pride which waited in the distance for them.

However, this dream does not find him during the twilight hours this time. Instead, there is only darkness and the quiet of his mind as it struggles to break free of sleep's hold on his consciousness. He'd awoken several times during the night, the melancholy always felt and yet often livable having gotten the best of him it seems as heavy eyes protest opening to that same dim hotel room, the sun still hidden behind the eastern horizon. Another soft groan pulls from the man's lips as he runs a strong hand through golden-brown hair before turning his head within the comfort of his pillow, drowsy golden-hazel eyes looking over to the nightstand beside his bed and reading the time displayed on that digital clock. 5:30am. Shifting under those sheets once more, he dared to tempt the idea of trying to fall asleep yet again, and yet he knows better than to try. It was likely he would feel no less rested, if he was even able to accomplish such a thing as slipping back into the arms of sleep. Oh well. I'm awake now, so I might as well get up. After giving a large yawn and stretching well-defined muscles to awaken the rest of himself, the man finally pulls himself from the warmth of his bed, dressed in a pair of black gym shorts, and shuffles the few strides required of him and over to the small bathroom baring only the essentials. His hand reaches over to the wall, flipping the switch and squinting for a moment against the light as his eyes blink several times, working to adjust to the sudden change. When they've finally refocused themselves, he moves over to the shower stall and opens the plexiglass door, fingers grasping one of the knobs and turning on the hot water and allows for it to run for a few minutes. While a cool shower was often satisfying after a hot day spent landscaping or performing various other tasks for those willing to offer him pay in exchange for work, he wasn't particularly keen on the idea of a cold shower in this very moment. Not this early in the morning. Slipping out of his typical sleepwear when steam begins to fill the air, pouring over the top of the door, he climbs into the running water and sighs with pleasure at the sensation of warmth and water pelting against his bare skin, seeping into his hair and washing away a larger majority of the tiredness that clings stubbornly to the corners of his mind that have yet to fully shake off the remnants of sleep.

Cleaned and dried, the man steps out of the bathroom and back into the living area of his modest accommodations, towel wrapped securely around his waist and steam still rolling off his bare arms, shoulders, chest, and torso. Moving over to the backpack containing what little the were had to call his own, he retrieving boxer briefs, socks, khaki shorts, and a dark navy blue polo shirt. These were nee to him, the lion hardly ever spending the money he would earn through those various odd jobs he would do on material things when there was rent to pay the owner of this complex as well as food and other necessities, but the city has proven to be kind to Roman, the man having little difficulty in finding people in need of someone like him; someone who was strong and capable of fixing things, a jack of many useful trades when it came to home repairs and difficult yardwork. He requested far less than most professional hires, hardly considering himself to deserve those higher wages and yet it was his reasonable negotiations which likely had those tasks readily given to him, the man taking silent pride in the careful yet precise quality of his work and efforts. He was thankful for the skills that he'd learned through the patient teachings of his father and older brother, but then again it had been far more practical - and safe - for the males in his pride to have the ability to repair things as well as be able to restore tattered structures or preen overgrown landscapes. When money was scarce and there was no telling if the dark hunters might have more resources than expected in those small towns and villages, it was crucial that the Lionels had what was needed to look after things for themselves. A life of being hunted, of always needing to be ready should the worst come, demanded much from the lion and yet it has not only proven to help him survive as the nomad he'd been for so long, but it also has given him the many skills he wielded now that he could utilize to earn enough to keep a decent roof over his head and a warm meal or two in his stomach. And, now that Roman had another to look after and provide for, the very image of Maeve bringing a soft and affectionate smile to his chiseled features, the were knows now more than ever that he will need more than a single backpack of clothes and personal items.

Now, he would need a steady income and a much more sensible and permanent place to live, though the housing situation would suffice for a while longer, the lion more concerned with securing a fair job. For the first time in his life, Roman has been given a reason to settle, and it was here within Sacrosanct that the lion would make his home. The idea was a foreign one, thinking that he would likely be laying down roots when it had been the last thing he ever find for himself, but despite the fae child far from being his own, he wanted what was best for her. Maeve would always come first in this new world, this went without question or hesitation, and it was this acknowledgement of new needs he would have to fulfill that had been able to have him justify the purchase of these new clothes he begins to dress himself in, removing the towel and stepping first into those undergarments and then the shorts, the last article of clothing being the shirt that he pulls down over his muscled torso. Clothed, the man moves back into the bathroom and runs a comb through his thick hair, styling it simply as he always does. After all, he was hardly attempting to catch the eye of a woman, though that did not mean he did not enjoy looking presentable to potential job offerors or the general eyes of the public. He has found that it is best to look well so that the rest of the world might consider him to be nothing but an ordinary man among the sea of faces that filled the streets of the city when perhaps he was what could be regarded as far from such normality. Satisfied with his simple yet clean appearance, the man closes the bathroom door behind him and makes the bed before sitting on the edge and putting on those black socks and well-cared for black tennis shoes. He then stands and reaches for the hotel room key and worn leather wallet on the nightstand beside the clock now reading 6:10am, stifling another yawn, and exits his room to begin another day of searching for work. First, though, he intended on checking in with Maeve. While he was far from keen on the idea of the child staying in her own hotel room on the eastern side of the city, he was not about to force the child to leave the security she found in her own space.

He walks through the city streets, hands tucked into the front pockets of his shorts as he meanders down the familiar route he often takes. It was still quite early, the sky only just beginning to grow lighter with the rising sun, golden-hazel eyes lifting upwards to seek the golden light of morning. It wouldn't be long now before the days became colder and shorter, the shift in the earth's axis rather clear in how much later it was for the sun to only just begin appearing from the east when just last month it would have already been risen above the skyline. As he keeps his leisurely stride, mindful to avoid foot traffic going the way he'd come since it seemed so many had their eyes lowered to the sleek smartphones in their hands rather than paying any attention to the path ahead of them, yet another yawn seizes the man. I suppose I'm more tired than I thought... Maybe a coffee will help It was another thing that the man did not often spend money on, but the day ahead was likely to be a long one, and he would much rather spend a couple dollars on coffee and be in a better state of mind than appearing tired and distracted. He does not divert from his usual path, though, knowing well of the little café that he's walked by several times since assuming guardianship over Maeve. Turning at the corner of 50th Avenue and Main Street, the lion can already see the sign hanging over the sidewalk that reads "Inner Sanctum". When he comes to the large window, golden-hazel eyes peer inside to see just how busy it was, though it made sense considering that school was starting up again for most who were still living the life of a student. He opens the door, allowing for an older woman and her husband to go inside before him, nodding his head respectfully as they smile and offer him a brief and courteous "thank you". Stepping inside after them, he is welcomed by the rich aromas of coffee beans and baked treats filling the pastry case at the counter. As much as a blueberry scone sounded delicious, Roman decides against it, instead choosing to ask for one of the banana nut muffins to take back to Maeve. He waits patiently in line, his attention not lingering on any one thing for long as he looks idly over the drink menu hanging over the barista's head, even though the lion already knew what it was he would be ordering.

Several minutes pass when his turn arrives, the blonde woman smiling brightly to Roman as he stands there in front of the cash register."Good morning! What can I get for you today?", she asks radiantly, the man affording her a casual smile."A small blonde roast with no cream or sweetener, please. And one banana nut muffin, also", he answers then, removing his trifold from his pocket and removes five dollars from its confines, handing it to the woman who accepts it with a perfect customer service smile."Coming right up!", she says then, moving to retrieve the items he'd ordered. Roman moves to the other end marked "pick up", and it is now that he allows for his golden-hazel eyes to look over the tables and booths that fill the small café. It seemed that all the tables were occupied, couples talking quietly among themselves or people sitting alone with their laptops or newspapers sprawled out before them. That's when he sees her. Sitting alone in one of the small booths just bit enough for two, a young woman with milk chocolate hair falling just past her shoulders accented with a soft and subtle crimson hue as the sunlight filters into the café and touches down upon the place she sits is absorbed by the sketchbook in front of her, each stroke of her pencil purposeful and smooth, though shortly followed by the shift of her hand to run the erase on the other end of her utensil across the paper. He regards her for a moment, unsure of whether or not he should bother her by asking if he might sit there with her to drink his coffee. His attention is diverted when the barista announces his drink, the man turning to thank her as he reaches for the paper cup. He then turns around and casts his gaze over the seating area once more to see if a table has opened up only to find that there was still nowhere else to sit, and so he lingers where he stands for another moment before deciding that it was worth a try. Carefully making his way through the occupied tables, he stops there beside her with coffee and pastry bag in hand, clearing his throat softly."Good morning, miss. Would you mind if I sat here with you?", he asks quietly then, giving her a warm and gentle smile as he waits patiently for her to either turn him away or not. If she did, he would hardly argue with her nor would he be hurt by her rejection, certain that he could probably sit on a bench outside somewhere if needed.