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 Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:55 pm
It was a lovely late afternoon, the sun low on the horizon but promising a good hour or two before nightfall. The birds still chirped lazily in the trees as they swooped from one branch to another, filling the air with their preparations for night. The shadows lengthened and touched the still form of a resting Maluess. She sleeping quietly, eyelids fluttering gently with the movements of subconscious dreams. Her chest expanded and contracted with every deep breath, her paws unmoving beneath her muzzle.
Her awakening was slow and gentle as her eyelids slid open to reveal startling red eyes, a stark contrast against the muted greens of her coat. It took a few good blinks for her to even sift through the sleepy fog in her mind before she raised her head to look about her. A short nap had very quickly turned into a few hours of slumber, and she shook her head in an attempt to get rid of the grogginess that clung to the corners of her minds like glue. Yawning, she tossed her forelock out of her eyes as she glanced at the setting sun. She would never get to sleep tonight.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:14 pm
Slinking about the dimming temple, a shady looking creature stalked the oncomming night. It was a prospect for ligt fog, something that would please the mysterious being quite well. He would stay up all night, even, to jog about in the fog, unseen by most Malu in his pack and in the others. Though it was true that there were nocturnal beings inhabitting the oasis that he called home, it was also true that his coat gave him an advantage over said nocturnes, and it meant he could blend in with a nice, foggy night, slipping away from all contact. And that was the way he wanted it.
Padding swiftly around the columns, graceful as a house cat on a banister, he hardley noticed the eerie green of a waking Maluess's body. It caught the edge of his eye, barely registering as anything of any importance, until those eyes opened. The startling red almost knocked Gustave off his cool... almost. Just as swiftly as he had passed her by, he turned back round, bending around the receding light, to look over the creature he had ignored before. She was startling, truely, with that coat and those eyes. Almost like an angry ghost, he mused. Quickly adopting a smooth, gentlemenly nature, he bowed his head slightly, spreading his feathered wings to emphasize. "Good evening, m'lady."
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:22 pm
There was a sense of awareness in the air that caused her pelt to quiver unnoticeably, though she felt the zing as she closed her eyes slowly for a few uninterrupted moments. Letting the feel of the coming night envelope her, she enjoyed the smells that wafted through the breeze and the sounds that assaulted her ears when her sense of sight was stripped away. It was the vibration beneath her paws and the sound of hooves on grass that made her aware of another malu making it's way near by. She couldn't tell the gender, nor the weight, only that they were moving silently. Midori might not have even noticed them had she not been in tune with what was about her.
When she opened her eyes once again, she saw that the being was approaching her. She supposed he'd meant to pass her by but thought better of it, though she would not think to attribute the occurance to the startling hue of her eyes. Watching his approach, a ghost of a smile crossed her features as she watched his slight bow and unfolded wings. "Indeed, good evening, sir."
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:37 pm
Gustave smirked lightly at her response. So she could be the lady and he could be the gentlemen for tonight, as they both knew how to at least put on a show of manners. Lifting his body from the bow, he smiled widely. She was quite beautiful ,upon closer examination. Those startling eyes had thrown him away from her coat pattern. After a slight adjustment to the war of different hues battling for attention, he was able to not stare at the stunningly unique Maluess in the eyes, and scanned his own over her markings. Quite nice, really. Easy on the eyes, once you got away from the forehead.
Shaking a buzzing bug from his antlers, he nodded to her politely. "May I ask why a lady such as yourself is snoozing alone near the temple? Surely there is some lucky male to accompany you on your travels?" It was a classic line, used by many a male of every species before him. Oldies, however, can be goodies.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:44 pm
She couldn't help the faint, though indignant toss of her head. "I was hardly snoozing - merely dozing." She knew she didn't snore, or atleast she'd been told so, but snoozing seemed such an awful way of putting it. Surely, she'd been sleeping quite soundly and much more deeply than she'd intended. Her paws moved gingerly to lift herself into a seated position, catching his eyes wandering over her as if he were inspecting her marks. Her brows rose subtly, though she refrained from doing the same. His antlers and wings were enough to admire for the moment.
Her attention was caught momentarily by the bug that had assaulted his antlers, but she looked back to him with a slow, soft smile at the classic inquiry. A lucky male? It was endearing. "Unfortunately, however, no. I've none to accompany me." For a moment she was quiet, letting her eyes drop almost demurely to the ground before repeating his own question, "And what of yourself? No fawning female to warm your side?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:54 pm
He watched her sit, taking a step back as to give her the space most beings would want when in the presence of a stranger. As he had been standing this entire time, he relaxed himself to sit back on his haunches, following the female's suit with an almost regal fold of his feathery wings. "I surely would have thought a male had gotten to you by now. You're quite the catch, if you don't mind me saying." He, of course, did not mean such a euphamism as demoraling to the female. He was all for females having the same rank as males and all that jazz. He simpley meant that she was quite gorgeous and that any male who could run away with her heart was a lucky Malu indeed. And from what he was seeing of her personality so far... Beauty and brains. Quite nice, quiiite nice.
"Ah, nah. I haven't found a female who would follow me about like that yet." He winked and smirked a little. "I tend to slink about at nightly fogs that grace the Temple with their cloudy presence. Most females I come across don't enjoy such activities." There was a slight sigh in his voice, as if it were truely a pity that no one loved the foggy mist as he did. "'Scuse me, I seem to have forgotten something quite important. I am Gustave. May you give me the lovely gift of your own name?" There was a sly smile permamntly planted on his maw as he threw out yet another classic.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:02 pm
The space, though not unappreciated, was unneeded. She was perfectly comfortable being in close proximities with the malu, though she wouldn't have let him know such a thing. That tidbit she would keep to herself, though her smile broadened as he spoke. He was surprising the young maluess, as she had thought he might be completely cold-hearted in the beginning. Now she was wondering just how formidable he was, though surely he was still as confident and as sure as himself as he had first let on.
Hardly feeling demoralized, her broadening smile allowed her teeth to catch the dying sunlight as once against her gaze dropped briefly. Had she been any other hue, a hint of a blush might have been noticeable as it graced her features, but for the time it was imperceptible. She looked to him again, "I don't mind at all. Though as far as your not having found a female, I'd say you were picky." It was a subtle compliment, alluding to the females that she was sure flocked to his side. As he spoke of nightly fogs and strolls - or slinks - about the temple, she laughed softly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Gustave. I am Midori, and nightly fogs are hardly unenjoyable."
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:13 pm
Gustave was quickly finding this conversation to be both amusing and enjoyable. The green female at least had some humility, as she did leave eye contact at least twice already since he had joined her in the dusk. That was a good thing, though, as he absolutely loved snobby females. Especially the pretty ones. Confidence was charming, of course, but too much made him drown in it. Not fun at all. "That's a beautiful name, Midori. Fits you perfectly." A wink was subtly thrown into the compliment and he tipped his head lightly. "And I very well might be picky. If I am, it says even more to compliment you, does it not?" It was a good point he had made. He was spending his evening with her, after all.
At the mention of fog, however, he lost some of his suave. A glint came into his greenish eyes and his smile widened, almost to the extent of hers. "I love these cloudy nights, y'know. The ones where it comes just low enough to surround the oasis in mist. Fog is quite... fun." That was a good word to describe it. Especially with a coat like his, he could run off into solitude in the low clouds, getting away from those he wished not to be bothered by. Not only that, but it was rather enchanting.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:22 pm
Her laugh was light, but not bright. Like the alto bells of Notredame, beautiful without ringing like jinglebells. Turning her head so that her view of him was not obstructed by the forelock of green hair, her smile softened, "I suppose your right then, I've increased the compliment to myself. And Midori does mean green in some nationalities, so indeed, it fits." Her brows rose in a second round of laughter, though this time silent as her gaze wandered toward the fog that gathered on the edge of the trees.
She noticed his change in temperment at the mention of fog, and found it charming rather than disconcerting. For one to hold so dear an object of worship was a show of merit, and those that followed nature could show it much more often. Her scarlet eyes turned back to him as she watched him calmly, "It's easy to lose track of things in the fog. Though I'd say it'd be much easier to lose track of you than anything else, thoughts or time." The smile was merely a ghost against her features as she studied him, watching his apparent appreciation for the eerie mist that awaited the coming night.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:33 pm
His gaze, too ,drifted towards the slowly accumulating fog that would soon envelop the dearly beloved temple in its vast emptiness. A faint smile played his features as he gazed at the clouds thoughtfully for a time, not responding to what Midori had said. He didn't mean to be rude, really. It was just... his mind had been lost to that which he admired. "That would be a pity. If you lost me, it would surely mean I had lost you as well. Don't want that to happen, now do we?" His head turned back to greet hers again, drawn back to the conversation by nothing more than the cursioty of what made the Maluess tick. He hadn't so much as lost interest in her beauty, but had become more so interested in the personality that lay behind it.
"I follow the god of fog, y'know. I've always loved it; since I was just a pup." The glint remained in his eyes as he smiled at her. "Who do you follow, Midori?" His voice had grown slightly more quiet as the sun descended. It was a reflex, really, even though there were none sleeping nearby. Force of habit to not wake those who were sleeping somewhere, anywhere in the oasis.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:02 pm
She didn't mind the silence, letting it surround and cradle them as the fog would soon. Her own gaze was trained on the mystic low cloud that hovered just out of reach, out of the murderous sunlight that would burn it from existance come morning. It was sometime after her spoke that she turned to look at him again, her smile returning slowly as she nodded, "Unless you wanted to be lost, but surely a malu such as yourself wouldn't dare to leave a poor, defenseless maluess out in the fog alone."
She took a moment to atlast take in his swirling coat more closely, her eyes following the beautiful fold of his wings before letting her eyes close softly with a smirk at his inquiry. Looking up at him, she tilted her head as her own voice descended in volume with the lowering of the day. "I follow the Goddess of Secrets; since I was a pup as well. The other pups would either come to me with their secrets, or keep them firmly barred against me. She whispered her firm advice that secrets trusted to me should be kept, and I keep them to this day."
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:16 pm
Gustave smiled, regaining some of the charm he had lost when he had become awestruck by the fog. "Of course I wouldn't. What kind of a crazy Malu would let such a pretty thing like you just disappear into the fog, anyway?" He winked at her and chuckled lightly, shifting into a far more comfortable, slightly less regal sitting position. It was true that he did not wish to loose Midori in the fog, for that would be quite the loss. It was possible he would stumble across her eventually, but... It wouldn't be good. Abandoning never went over well with others.
Ah, so she was an honest female. That was good, very good. He nodded, as if confirming the fact to himself. "We are not so much alike in the god and goddess we follow, then. The fog, you see, keeps many secrets. It hides things from others, and you could tell the sweet water vapor anything your heart desires without ever worrying about any other creature knowing." The last part, though seemingly a joke, was actually not. It wasn't all that unoften that Gustave found himself spitting things out into the mist, mostly towards his god. "Not telling secrets is a quality. A good one." A smile played his lips, an honest one.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:25 pm
Midori met his smile, shifting her own position so that she was subtly closer to him. It wasn't even a conscious effort on her part, but it was somewhat noticeable nevertheless. Once it caught her attention, though, it no longer mattered and she continued as if naught had happened. "A foolish one." Her smile broadened as she laughed once more, quietly. Midori was not overly confident, but she was confident enough that she could make such comments easily without feeling arrogant. She supposed she would forgive him, should he lose her in the fog, so long as his excuse were a brilliant one, but nevertheless she would prefer if she hadn't the opportunity to test her forgiveness at all.
Nodding as he spoke of their worship, her red eyes sparkled before she spoke, "Agreed, we are rather similiar in who we follow. The fog has kept many of my own secrets for me, though one should be wary of who hides there as well." When he spoke praise of her qualities, her smile returned as she glanced at the fog, "I fear one day it may be a burden, when a heavy secret becomes too hard to keep. But until that day; yes, it is a good one."
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:48 pm
Gustave adapted a slightly worried look at the thought of an unbearable secret. He hadn't thought of it from that point of view until she had mentioned it, and now he feared slightly for her mental health. What if that did happen? Oh, that would just be awful. Then she'd be reduced to a lifeless blob, wandering about the temple in a state of depression It was a horrific thought, really. "If you were to be told such a thing, you could confide in someone. Or rather... something." He smiled, slightly. Although he knew it would not be right for anyone to tell another living soul a deep, dark secret, he also knew that the bond between a Malu and their god was deeply rooted. "You could tell your goddess."
Off towards the trees, the fog was slowing growing thicker. It's wisps wrapped around stones and plants, and finally worked its way towards the Temple. It would not be all that long before the pair were enveloped in the low lying clouds, lost to all but eachother. It wouldn't be thick til nea midnight, though, so they would probablley still be able to see eachother... if they sat close enough. With that thought in mind, Gustave inched closer to Midori, though not so close as too look forward.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:57 pm
She hadn't intended on dragging the mood of the conversation down. A soft smile pushed over her features in an attempt to regain the lightness of previous topics as she shrugged, "Perhaps if someone were to overhear a secret in a fog, the speaker would not be at fault." His mention of her goddess, however, made her nod slowly, "Usually she knows of the secrets anyway, but it would be good to tell someone. I once was told a secret that was very grave for a pup to know, though now it is a much lighter load. I told a ladybug, and just to speak it outloud myself eased the burden."
His closer presence was noted, though she said nothing and only let her gaze drift towards the thicker fog near the trees. The soft smile that graced her lips was mildly coy as a paw moved closer to him, though nothing more for the moment. "Soon, we won't have to move to meet the fog, it will come to us."
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