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 Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 6:49 pm
[This is a Private roleplay between Tirokio & Epine de Rose. Please no posting without permission!]
 
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Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 10:53 pm
It was a warm summer's eve that the mare wandered on on her own, like she had many many nights in her lifetime. Solitude was no stranger for her as she welcomed and embraced it as a dear friend...but even friends had falling outs...and although it was purposeful that the mare kept her solitude close to her heart for reasons deeply threaded in her mind...she was slowly starting to let go. Peace lingered in her soul this very eve while neared the end of its decent as within a short time it would slip fully behind the western mountains till the morn. Needless to say, it was a calmer night than any she had experienced in the past few years.
Crossing over a shallow creek as she hopped along the flat stones; she stopped in her movement to really focus around her...amazed at the sight she saw. "Why hello friends..." She smiled, which in turn lit up her pale blue eyes as she watched in wonder the fireflies which danced around the creek coming from deeper into the woods. It had been since last summer that she'd seen the fireflies; remembering back to a tale of the firefly dancer. She'd learned it far east in the prairies, a mare so graceful that when she danced the fireflies would join her; creating one of the most spectacular dances anyone could have ever laid sight upon. "Too bad my sister isn't here..." She sighed, only slightly. Perhaps she too could have been an enchantress of fireflies and oh...how Miki would have loved to see such a sight instead of it being a tale in her mind.
Although she wasn't honed in the gift of dance, she still possessed a grace to make elegant movements; and a sense of rhythm to go along with it. Enthralled by the beauty of her surroundings the mare stepped along the rocks; careful with her footing as she hummed softly to herself a slow a mystical melody she'd heard while out in the desert. Tossing her head to the side as her body followed along the rocks her waves of dark locks flowed in time; skimming the edge of her tail as she imagined herself dancing as beautifully as the one in her story; the gentle clicks of her dainty hooves on rocks adding to her humming as she tried to keep the slow timing.
Peace, no matter how short lived felt like such a freeing sensation in the fibers of her very being that she couldn't help but express the beauty she felt inside in the limited ways she knew how. Lifting her lids she watched the fireflies continue to hang and flutter around the small clearing; while they did not dance with her like the Firefly dancer, she was grateful they hadn't flown off thanks to her dancing and movements.
It was surely something she would never forget; as the sweet melody continued to ring from her soft voice.
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 2:59 am
Life as he had known it, was now very different in the Kawani region and for all his travelling the stallion had not been prepared for the staggering changes that had occurred. What ever the mystical power that had enveloped the land in recent years had been, it had revealed a great number of new features and territories. That which had once been shrouded in mist or sand now watched dutifully over desert and forest alike - it was beautiful and intriguing, yet his instincts spoke of caution. He may have been a wanderer but he sought no adventure and what was once hidden, generally housed troubling secrets.
Unsurprisingly the stallion had elected not to take any detours on his way back to this region. He would seek out tales first, find out about what lurked in these lands first and then he would explore them. If there was beauty to be found and inspiration to be discovered, then he would be introduced to it in time. However until he had taken note of all the risks involved he was not going to place himself in harms way.
He was a pacifist - he preferred regions where he could run if necessary.
Or fly, flying worked too.
Nevertheless, having dismissed the new territories and their risks for the time being, the stallion had settled himself into a more familiar place. A favoured grove of his (and one he was very pleased to see untouched), it lay just on the outskirts of the river. Hidden from the outside world, though not a secret to those of the forest, it wouldn't have taken long to find it, less so when he had found comfort and drawn out his fabled leaf flute.
Ah - he regarded the flute with fondness; it had been the same one he had found as a child and it was only due to the influence of his mother's blood in his veins that it remained with him to this day. It was his one constant, his one love and he adored it. It had brought him a considerable amount of joy and companionship over the years, but more importantly, it had also gifted others with this delight as well.
No one ever knew what it was at first, but when they followed it...
He closed his eyes and positioned the leaf between his wings, carefully cradling it until he could place his lips against it and begin to play. A few dull and tuneless notes followed, and then he found his stride... What was once tuneless was quickly crafted into notes, more interestingly, what was once 'tuneless' had found indirect inspiration from something near by.
Miki's humming might have been soft, a 'quiet' thrum beneath the existing music within the forest, but it was there and the stallion had found it. Inspired by what he had thought was a natural phenomenon, he'd even begun to mimic it!
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:47 am
It seemed the forest was alive tonight with the sound of music, both subtle and profound as the mare felt as if an orchestra was about in such a magical land such as the one she lingered in. She almost didn't catch it first in her subconscious, too busy admiring the fireflies and the melody of the song she had memorized so closely. However, as her clicking hooves came to a stop she felt something ping at her thoughts; ears turning to pick up a sound she had never heard before even in the glory of nature.
Was it...actual music?
It was so different than the music of the Kawanii people, that she was sure its source wasn't a two legger. Yet...if that was not it what could play such a distinct set of notes the same as hers?
As always, the pull of curiosity and the chance of another tale for her collection drew her slowly from the stream and the butterflies and into the woods. Twisting around trees and foliage she let her ears do the guiding, the sway in her tail mimicking the sounds she heard as she kept her humm going - fearful if she let up that the music would stop like some kind of nymph in the night. Yet she remained alert, for it wouldn't be the first or last time her curious nature got her into trouble...who knew what was just beyond the tree line.
Then....she saw it. No...him.
It was a sight to behold, someone as brilliant as the stallion before her. She'd never met a fabled Angeni before, immediately taken by the multiple sets of wings protruding from his back, head and hind legs but oh did she know plenty about them. What was possibly more fascinating was the leaf he cradled upon a wing against his lips; watching him in stunned silence as the music was emanating from that very leaf. As it was her humming had ceased as she could hear the same melody echoed by his miraculous playing, and before she knew it instead of the throaty melody she struck before the words began to flow from her lips; a soft and elegant melody.
"Today I feel surrounded, Today I am connected. Today I am a part of something more; as if every cell were singing. Still, I can't embrace it - every silver lining has a cloud...Though I can't explain my reasons to you
I think we are the same..."
Her song faded, sky blue orbs locked on Zhu, unsure if he would catch on of her presence with the addition of lyrics to the once subtle music of the night. Already though, her mind began to race with thoughts, questions...fascination.
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:21 am
He hadn't expected another to be responsible for the phenomenon he had encountered, yet life was full of surprises. As her words replaced the 'hum' he had been mimicking, intertwining with his own notes in fluid harmony, he kept his eyes closed. He hadn't seen her, but her rich and dulcet tones had been enough to alert him both to her presence and existence, she was no spirit of the forest, but a living being.
Fascinating.
He only opened his eyes when she had brought her lyrics to a close, allowing his notes to trail away into companionable silence. His eyes opened slowly at first, his lidded gaze directed at the leaf that he cradled, but no sooner had he gathered his wits than his head had lifted. It was then that Zhu regarded the stranger with mild interest, his head tilting just a touch to the side. She was a unicorn, that much was clear, but it was somewhat unusual to find them in a musical profession.
"You are very good," he spoke, tone rich and clear as any bard or storyteller's should have been. That being said he was not inclined to shout, nor did he raise his voice to an unnecessary level. There were no children to speak over or entertain, he knew that she could hear him.
"A tune from memory, or newly composed?" he enquired. No doubt she had many questions of her own, but he was a polite creature and often offered up amiable conversation of his own to indicate that her presence was not unwelcome to him...
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 12:51 pm
It was a pleasant surprise that he'd continued to play along even once the rhythm of her hum had been replaced with words, but he kept the song going at an amazing accuracy. Once the angeni male had ceased playing and opened his eyes she was able to see his eyes which had become a rather important factor over the years. With every fiber of her being she was under the belief they were the gateway of the soul and she could to the best of her ability pick out ill intentions....most of the time.
As she had initially hoped - she could see none in him.
"You're too kind with flattery..." She breathed, taking a few tentative steps forward to close such an impersonal distance between them. A peaceful smile was stretched on her lips as her tail slowly swayed in time to the song still playing quietly in her head....aided now with the tune of that fantastic leaf. "It is truly not my forte...but I am taught enough not to be painful on the ears..." A delicate laughter mused in her throat, keeping her ears keen and alert to catch the details of his smooth vocals; wondering for a moment how he would sound singing with such a tone of voice.
"It is a very old melody, if you have ever heard of the tales of the Firefly Dancer." Miki indulged sparingly, not entirely sure if he was interested in such a topic or was merely wondering the origin of the song. She was not a composure, but she did have the innate talent of remembering even the smallest details, like the notes of a song to sing or in her case - hum.
"Yet you....." Miki spoke up, tilting her head slightly as she moved her sights to the most common, yet peculiar thing she'd ever seen. A leaf which played music? She had suspicion it wasn't magical...but who knew in this world of theirs. "Is that really a leaf, which I had seen pressed to your lips? How can a leaf make music like that...?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:19 pm
To find a story that he did not know, or was not at least aware of, was a rather rare thing indeed. Thus, his eyebrow lifted just a touch as she explained where she had learnt of the melody, it rose higher still when she gave the tale a name. It had piqued his interest to say the least, which was unsurprising given his bardic profession, though he waited politely for her to finish what she had to say. Admittedly, he couldn't help but afford a smile as she concluded her explanation and then confessed that she had been educated to the point of ensuring she was not tone deaf.
"I am not one to flatter another with pretty words," Zhu replied smoothly, tilting his head to the side as he regarded the mare more closely. She had become significantly more interesting upon the revelation that she was aware of a tale that he was not. Another one for his collection perhaps? If it inspired such music then it seemed that this was a decision that had been made for him long ago.
"I confess that I have never been regaled with the tale of this Firefly," he continued, hazarding a wry smile. It was then that he murmured a brief apology, excusing himself momentarily as he picked the leaf up with his lips and slotted it safely back into his robes. When he was satisfied that no harm would come to his instrument he then returned his full attention to Miki, lips parting to request further detail on the story, though he was beaten to the request.
Ah...but of course, everyone was intrigued by the instrument he had grown to love.
A ripple of laughter escaped from his throat and he glanced down briefly to where the leaf was safely stored. "I can confirm that it is a leaf, a very large one at that," he replied and flicked his case back towards the unicorn. "As to how it makes music... I am not entirely aware of the technical aspects, I just can," he confessed. Any other male would have appeared sheepish at the revelation that they were not all knowing, yet the rose male seemed unfazed.
"I discovered that it could make music as a child, I have been playing it ever since... Though I sound much better now than I did when I was a small child."
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:53 am
A child....it never ceased to amaze her the imagination of youth; her mind had wandered to how he could have thought to press a leaf against his leaf and try to attain music...but that was the wonder of it, wasn't it? Children didn't have to have reason for the things she did, just like she didn't have to hold back against her ideals that she and her sisters were princess' and the boys she knew were dashing princes. In reality though...they were gypsies, which of course came with the nicknames of Desert Roses or Desert Princess....but they had no true royalty in their veins or a kingdom to call their own.
The whole world was her playground and she was just a wandering muse of tales; a mobile and living collection from around the lands, far and wide.
"You have not?" Miki questioned with a light tilt of her head to the side, it was not surprising; she'd only come across the tale by chance, a few elder stallions speaking of a young mare in their herd at the time with such a title. The older in the herd were able to recount the scenes while the young colts and fillies knew the songs as lullabies. She'd been so lucky to stay a while and learn about it while assisting one little colt who'd given himself a nasty sprain in his leg while gallivanting around. "It seems to have remained within the herd I had spoken to; but it is as much of tale as it is a part of their heritage now. Most of the mothers use it as a lullaby to their foals..."
Casting him another look, taking in what she could see and was beginning to understand he was quite an enigma himself, curiosities taking a hold of her.
"Perhaps it is a tale for a leisurely stroll on a pleasant evening in pleasant company?" Miki inquired, sky blue orbs searching his face for hesitation...he didn't seem the type to not accept; he was quite the gentleman from what she could tell thus far in their short meeting. "Stories are my specialty, I seem to collect a vast amount from all the traveling....gypsies you know." Not that Miki minded, it was her passion...her lifeblood. Surely had she children of her own she would be the type to keep them up for hours spinning her tales to an audience to enjoy instead of for her own pleasure.
"I mean...if you are not busy. I wouldn't want to keep you from important matters..." Well, not everyone lived the wandering life as she...no rules or agenda. Simply the open trail, sunny skies and her walking hooves across the land at whatever pace she desired.
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Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:45 am
It was peculiar how their lives were so similar, yet different - if one were to regard both in terms they would recognise the almost paradoxical nature of the stallion and mare's history. While Miki was a gypsy, one who possessed nicknames that told of royal blood, yet had no evidence to support it; Nan Fang Zhu Que was quite the opposite. Son of an emperor and most definitely heralding from a kingdom where his name held merit, he strove for a life of anonymity and would have been perfectly content to remain a 'gypsy' his entire life if he could get away with it.
He was a most fortunate stallion in many respects, for the responsibilities of a 'kingdom' had been placed on his elder brother. As the 'spare' so to speak, Nan Fang Zhu Que had been permitted to travel, explore and broaden his horizons as he saw fit. The only condition to his freedom was that he remained safe, avoided causing wars, and refrained from bringing his family or nation into disrepute! Suffice it to say that he had managed to obey these terms throughout his life and as a consequence, he was left very much to his own devices.
Yes, the rose stallion was very fortunate indeed, had he been born a few minutes earlier then he would no doubt have been restricted by agenda, tradition and culture.
Shaking his head, the stallion promptly dismissed his thoughts regarding her very brief remark regarding her gypsy heritage. As a stallion who regularly wandered, he had no grounds to judge and from experience, those deemed as 'gypsies' and 'wanderers' had always been very kind and hospitable to him...
"I do not live in a world where I am bound to routine or matters that require an appointment," he replied smoothly, slipping a small smile onto his lips once more. He gave himself a small shake and stretched his limbs one by one so that he would be able to walk without wincing - standing in one spot for too long did tend to cause some minor inconveniences, even if he enjoyed the music he created. "I would be most grateful to hear the tale, if you would be so kind," he finished.
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