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 Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2010 12:08 pm
The ebony stallion was glad that the spirits blessed him with a kind mare. Rather, it wasn't so much her amicable attitude, but the fact she was the sort of company Nocturne preferred. Unlike some females, she wasn't a chatter box or one who appeared to be entirely self-centered. She wasn't needy, clingy, or overly dramatic and her presence was rather refreshing. It wasn't that Nocturne couldn't accept those sorts, he had before and likely would again, but it was nice to enjoy the company of another, even a stranger, without merely having to tolerate them.
Nocturned listened to Wind Gypsy, mulling over her words and gathering his thoughts. It was nice that the conversation didn't seem forced or terribly awkward, even though the spiked tailed mutant knew he wasn't the easiest to speak to. He was often quiet, and like his grand father, often didn't voice his thoughts aloud. "Diversity seems to haunt all of Islagiatt, as well as my family." A slight smile crossed his features as he thought of his siblings, and his uncles and grand parents. "Though in some cases, I think the term 'oddity' might better suffice. My great-grandmother is a raccoon, to start, and that's just the beginning of my families . . diversity." Thankfully for Windy, he wasn't going to bore the strange with stories from his family and home life. Despite making mention of their quirks, Nocturne loved his family, and such warmth was easily distinguished within his words. They could be a headache - what family wasn't, after all - but he couldn't have been born in to a luckier lineage.
"No need to worry about prying, I have no secrets, and nothing to hide." His voice was quiet but his words true. While he didn't often opt to speak much or let his thoughts and comments be known, he had no trouble sharing his views with those that inquired. In fact, this was the longest conversation he'd had with another in awhile. It was . . .pleasant. "I left the mountains by choice, purely for a desire to see some of the world. It also was an excuse to give my mother and brother a chance to reunite, as he has been away for quite some time." Ah, his biggest shame and his biggest regret. But such was the way life went - he had been young, stupid, and hadn't realized the hurt he had caused.
Glancing over at the mare, it was Nocturne's turn to dip his head apologetically. "I meant no offense by my choice of words. In a way, I'm almost envious of your freedom, of your ability to travel with no restrictions, no restraint or obligations keeping you in one place." Unfortunately for Nocturne, he also understood part of that envy was spurned from his guilt. It was what had driven him away from Numielle and Esper most recently, an inability to properly patch things up with his brother.
If he didn't have to face him all of that pain and hurt didn't have to be recognized. Not yet, at least. Someday it would, but . . . right now the wounds were too fresh, Esper's return too sudden.
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Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 9:09 am
"It haunts you, does it?" She's still smiling, but again, there's teasing in her eyes. "Diversity is a blessing, I think. How boring would life be, were we all the same?" In Wind's opinion, 'boring' is more of an understatement. It would be near unbearable. Variety is part of what keeps her traveling; part of the marvel in going new places and seeing new things. What interest would there be if the sights weren't new at all? "Can you imagine keeping yourself company?" This she means quite literally, in the spirit of standing side-by-side with oneself. And she can't fathom it.
As she's trying, Wind realizes she's strayed rather far from the intended topic. Bashfully, she dips her head very slightly, her expression apologetic. "They are yours. Family knows no biases," the alicorn adds, placidly. While may be more accurate to say it shouldn't know any biases ─ she's familiar with less ideal examples of kinship ─ she sees no point in granting something so foul any acknowledgment. Clearly it has no bearing here.
"Still." There's no denying she's glad he doesn't mind. Try as she might to keep her nose to herself, she is a curious creature, and she does enjoy learning of others. It's a particular joy when those others are as pleasant and sensible as Nocturne seems.
Despite herself, she says "It isn't my place," as much a reminder as a statement, before continuing. "Have you enjoyed what you've seen?" Not knowing how often he strays from his herd, she can't begin to guess what he must think when he ventures into the lowlands... Surely he enjoys it some, if he bothers coming, but he may also have left just for courtesy. She'll probably never know. Wind decides that topic is best left alone. Family matters should stay within the family.
But she's been bothering him with all these inquiries; it's only fair he returns the favor. "You've said nothing to cause offense," she assures, smiling faintly again. And even if he had, Wind is too assured to be affronted so easily. "It isn't as glamorous as it may sound." Pausing briefly, the mare gathers her thoughts. "Do you have someone you miss while you're away?" Another pause. Her question is not a rhetorical one, but she presses on. "I don't know anyone well enough to miss him." By no means does she sound sad, but there's a ghost of wistfulness in her tone, as though it's a longing lingering forever just out of reach.
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:59 pm
The stallion raised a brow at the female, though he quickly recognized the good-humor within her gaze and the small smile upon her features. His own smile broadens some, a rare feature for the typically stoic male, and he can't help but give a small snort. "Haunt is a good word for it, in some cases it is literal. My great-grandfather, the last I heard, is being stalked by a ghost. . . . And my mother recently adopted a polar bear whom she calls Fluffy-Fluff. But you're right . . . Uniformity is boring. While a world full of me would surely be safer than the one we currently live in, it would also be awfully quiet and fairly uneventful." While in some cases, that would be a good thing - no worries about kalona or skinwalkers residing in the neighborhood - all the same it would be very dull. Nocturne didn't mind keeping to himself and his own council, but sometimes the spirits offered him a break from his often solitary lifestyle.
Like now. Here he was waiting out a storm with surprisingly good company. He hadn't had such easy conversation in awhile, it was refreshing, and kept his social skills up to par. The hermit lifestyle ran in his family, and Nocturne understood he could easily fall in to such a category if he weren't careful.
So a world full of spike tailed stallions. . .well. . . it was good there was no such thing.
Giving a small shake of his head, Nocturne offered another small smile at the female, this one purposely for her. She seemed almost bashful or reticent over the fact that she questioned his personal life or reasoning. "We are new acquaintences, with no where yet to go. Getting to know someone often involves a small amount of prying and I assure you it . . . is pleasant, to be able to share." And it was. Not many expressed interest or intrigue in his lifestyle. Given, he wasn't the most social of soquili, at least not by choice. In Windy's case, severe weather brought them together. . . and for once, Nocturne was glad for it. Had the weather been clear, even if they had stumbled upon each other, he likely would have kept any conversation polite and brief.
"I have enjoyed my time away from home, and have certainly enjoyed the change in scenery. I can certainly see the appeal of discovering new places. . . and shall likely try to keep a better habit of leaving the Grove from time to time. Assuming my responsibilities allow for such a thing." Thankfully, he wasn't the only guard or protector of his home and herd, and while he took his duties seriously, he also understood that sometimes it couldn't ALWAYS be work.
Nocturne was pleased that the mare wasn't offended or slighted by his choice of words. Despite his size and somewhat grim appearance with his usual stoic expression and mutations, he had a good heart, and his intentions were almost always well meant. Still, as Wind Gypsy spoke, he was surprised by the question . . .
Did he miss anyone while he was away? Well . . . he couldn't say he missed his family, because he was never gone long enough to truly feel their loss. Furthermore, he was a fairly independent male, perhaps even borderline avoidant in nature. But as for somone special . . . It was almost sad to hear that she didn't know anyone well enough to miss them. In fact, it was almost surprising. Did she truly move so much as to never be able to make a lasting friendship? Did she never see the same face twice? He felt a twinge of sadness for the alicorn, though it was in no way pity. Just . . . surprise . . . and a little regret that she had no one to miss or care for.
Despite his feelings, his expression remained thoughtful and serious as he mulled over her question. "I suppose you're in good company. While there is family that I could miss if stripped from their side long enough, I haven't met anyone that crosses my mind while away. There is no one to miss, though my home life and nature likely make it so." While Wind spoke of her life taking her away, from land to land, to never being able to get to know someone to stay attached, Nocturne's life was frequently solitary. Not many entered the Grove that he wasn't related to, and even fewer still had the patience to handle his quiet moments and bouts of introversion, his duty bound heart, or were of any interest to the male.
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