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 Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:03 pm
"Well, I wish you luck finding family then," she offered. "Other than your sister." Wasn't it just like a stallion to be thinking of family, in even the vaguest sense? Family that wasn't a sibling required finding someone you could put up with. And then mating with them. And then trusting that they'd still be around in the aftermath which didn't, judging by the stallions she knew, seem to be a strong point with any of them.
To his credit: "You seem like the sort who could make it work, somewhere. You're not ...twitchy," she decided. Gave him another long moment's stare. "Or flattering for no good reason. Or like an overgrown colt." That was high flattery in and of itself, coming from Dia's mouth.
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:26 pm
It was rare for Gaspard to meet someone who seemed to observe his stoic, reserved nature as anything positive, and rarer still to have them comment on it. Though her words couldn't be considered great praise by any means, he was a stallion who did his best to take most things at face value, and as such, he was pleased. Later, he would mull over exactly what she had said, pick it apart and see if it was true of him in all situations or just during first awkward encounters, but for now, he would be content.
Oddly, her prolonged stare didn't cause him discomfort. He'd grown accustomed to being tossed odd looks and often being on the receiving end of others' ill humor, though of course such things could still get under his skin from time to time. He didn't get the impression that Dia was examining him in the same manner others had, though. There was something more honest about her appraisal.
"Thank you." It was the only thing that seemed appropriate. It was nice, after all, to be scrutinized without immediate disappointment or puzzlement. "For the luck, and the observations."
Though it was a step further than he usually took in a conversation, their discussion of family piqued his interest about hers. She hadn't spoken much of a family, and while there was the possibility that she didn't have one, he also didn't want to be callous and speak only of himself. Gaspard didn't find himself all that interesting, for one, and in his experience, most others didn't like to be treated to a monologue.
"You live near here... are you part of a herd?" Though he still spoke in an even tone, he added quickly, "If you don't mind my asking."
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:50 pm
Dia didn't shy away from much. Certainly not from looking at a stallion, or making eye contact with him. If he could hold her gaze without winking or waggling his eyebrows or leering, well then, so much the better for him. So far, Gaspard had done ... nothing that she expected. Which threw her somewhat off balance and off her guard. That, however, could be recovered. She could readjust. She would.
"I just say things the way I see them," she explained. "I suppose some don't like it, but I like honesty first." It didn't often win her friends, but that was just the way she was.
"Not by blood," she answered his question. "Part of a herd, a little one, but none of us are family. The same two-leg watches over us when we need it, but we're not mates or brothers and sisters or anything like that. We're...friends," she offered, and that was stretching things. "We get along."
Friends might have been stretching it, but Dia cared more than she was letting on, as well. If anyone had crossed the herd, she'd have been first to defend them as a whole, no matter the petty squabbles they might have one-on-one from day to day.
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:15 pm
"That sounds... nice." And it did. Though less structured and certainly less informal than most herds he'd come across, there was perhaps something to be said for simply surrounding oneself with friends and having a small herd. Greater intimacy was possible, he supposed, and there wasn't the risk or fear of getting lost in a crowd. That possibility was one that had always inspired Gaspard to shy away from the notion of a herd; he had enough trouble reaching out on his own, much less as a member of a herd.
As far as he'd seen, at least in this area, there was much less of the rigid herd structure he'd grown used to, and more of the informal type that Dia described. He would feel comfortable in one of those, probably, and they would fill the need for family that he had expressed earlier. He wasn't one to assume that family necessarily meant a romantic partner and children, and for him to settle, it could be as simple as finding a few close friends and forming fast bonds with them.
A two-legger, though... he really didn't have a lot of experience with them. Most of his life he had been wary of them, and it was only in his recent years that he was growing accustomed to them, and finding that some could be friendly. If it worked for Dia, however, he certainly wouldn't be the one to judge that.
"I've never thought to join a herd. Most that I've seen are large and difficult to approach without mating with one of their members." He shook his head slightly, adding, "I think the only way I would join a herd would be... well, to start one, as you mentioned."
But he really couldn't see that happening, either. Not at this stage.
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:16 am
"Nice?" She thought about that, too, muzzle twitching as she did. "I suppose it's nice. It's just the way things worked out. Better to stay together than be apart," she reasoned. "It's safer this way."
She shifted her weight, hip shifted out to bear her weight, right rear hoof camped up. She'd gotten comfortable, since they were talking and not moving. Gaspard was certainly not a threat and again, not being completely alone could be a good thing, if the company was welcome.
"There are some big herds around here," Dia admitted, then tossed her head a bit. "Don't know how they keep track of everyone. Not many mares I've met that are sharp enough to keep so many all in line, and if something happened, they'd just scatter anyway."
Her ears tilted toward him again. "You could try joining a smaller herd, if a herd was what you wanted," she offered. "Or. Well. Starting one is fair, but you'd need a good mare."
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:37 am
Slowly, and nigh imperceptibly, Gaspard's guard was lowering. He found that he enjoyed Dia's precise tone, and he could easily follow her pattern of speech. More, the simple and effective way she phrased things made him feel comfortable to do the same. It was a little odd for him to feel relatively at ease around a mare other than his sister, but he was adjusting well enough.
It would be difficult to be anything but at ease around Dia, he thought, if only because she was so straightforward. It was an aspect of her personality that he found particularly refreshing.
Expression thoughtful, he murmured, "I would need an exceptional partner." Realizing that he was speaking softly, he cleared his throat and continued. "If I ever were to seriously consider starting a herd... Well, I'm not necessarily a follower, but I'm not the most comfortable leading, either."
It was difficult to explain, but Gaspard could see himself leading a herd only if he was the mostly unspoken of leader. A partner, one who was more accustomed to being the center of attention and energy, would suit him nicely, and he could be the quiet, constant support. He was certainly capable of micromanaging if he needed to be, but he preferred not to. Background work was much more his chosen realm.
Curled tail swishing behind him, he observed slowly, "You seem to have a very practical outlook on the entire thing. Are you the leader of your herd?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:36 am
"Well, you wouldn't want someone who wasn't ready for it, that's for sure," she opined. Comfortable made a tidy loop, because the more he relaxed, the more she did, the freer she was with her opinions as it seemed that he wasn't going to tell her that she'd overstepped herself or said something unbecoming of a mare or lacking the proper respect or...
And she was ready. She was born ready, she'd say, if asked. "A stallion doesn't need to be much of a leader, not in the every day sense of things. He's there to make sure nothing happens to his herd, no wolves or mountain lions or anything like that gets the idea that they can just come and take what they want. He keeps his herd safe. The rest of it, well."
She blew threw her lips, not quite snorting but making a wry, rolling sound. "If you met the other girls, you wouldn't need to ask. They're nice enough, but lead?" She shook her head. "That's for me to do." Not that she asked. She'd just taken the position and the others, with the occasional grumble, respected it.
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:37 am
If Gaspard had thought about it, he never would have suspect that upon first meeting someone, a mare above all else, he would be discussing herds. He'd never really given them much thought, as he'd been traveling since he was a young adult, part of the time by himself, and then later with his sister. While there were certainly advantages to having others around, company and protection a couple of notable ones, he hadn't considered himself the type, really.
Now, Corine... Socialization had always come easier for her. He was proud of his sister, always, but he especially admired her ability to remain true to herself and still garner as much attention as she desired. As he'd expressed to Dia earlier, he wasn't certain exactly where she was, but he was confident that she'd made connections with others when they'd arrived in the area. After all, she was an intelligent, attractive mare, and her good sense only enhanced her beauty. Though he stayed out of her personal life as much as he possibly could, it wouldn't surprise Gaspard if she had admirers in this place, as she had others.
He could picture her in a herd much easier than he could himself, but then again, he'd always seen himself as just a little bit socially handicapped. It really wasn't an instance to assign blame, but if he cast around for a reason, he would have to pinpoint his father's attitude; always closer to him as a colt, he had fashioned himself in his father's likeness, and was fumbling along as a result of it.
Gaze downcast as he thought of his father, he listened while Dia spoke, doing his best to push thoughts of his more distant family members aside. While it was true he missed them, it had been years since he'd been in contact with either of his parents, and they were miles away. It was best to focus on the present and not wonder about things he had no feasible means of discovering.
"I believe you." It wasn't said in sarcasm, and Gaspard looked up again, dark eyes finding hers. "Even just knowing you for a short while, I can tell... you have a strong spirit."
Stopping abruptly, he blinked a couple of times, a little embarrassed by his own speech. He'd really let his guard down, hadn't he? It was rare for Gaspard to venture his personal opinion on another unless he was expressly asked, and even then, only if he was particularly confident in his estimation of them. He hadn't insulted her by any means, but that didn't mean that his unsolicited opinion would be appreciated.
Tone a little hesitant, he added, "I'm afraid I don't know much about herds, having only been on the outside looking in." From what she'd said, though, he thought he could fit the bill for a stallion's lot.
As long as he had someone very confident, strong, and efficient beside him, anyhow.
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:43 pm
Dia was ...not good at taking compliments. Or more precisely, bad at not trying to figure out the hidden meaning behind them. So her instinct, upon hearing Gaspard's praise of a strong spirit, was to reject it, deny it and give the stallion the cold shoulder.
But the conversation had gone so nicely. And, as she thought about it, wariness flickering through her expression and her ears twitching like she might pin them--but didn't--she figured that a strong spirit wasn't a bad compliment. As a matter of fact, it was pretty nice, all told. She did have a strong spirit, she thought. A strong will. A strong sense of responsibility.
So rather than taking him to task, she shifted her weight a bit, finding a comfortable spot again. Lifted her ears and just offered a somewhat bewildered, "Thank you."
From what she'd seen so far, she'd have agreed with his assessment of himself. He looked capable, seemed the same, not flighty or distracted or perpetually young like some stallions she knew. So she offered, "What you knew before isn't always what you need." And backed it up with a decisive nod.
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:26 pm
Because he was watching her, and was used to seeking signs of discontent, he saw the subtle shift in her expression. With it, his stomach sank a bit, Gaspard recognizing the change immediately; without intending to, he'd offended again. However, her ears merely flickered, didn't flatten, and that gave him a little hope. Perhaps he hadn't managed to drive this one off just yet.
He certainly hoped that was the case. It was rare that he got along with a new acquaintance well enough to have a prolonged conversation, and a mare at that. Though certainly different from most that he'd come into contact with, he found that her personality not only intrigued him, it allowed him to express his own. Such a circumstance wasn't one he would take lightly.
It wasn't until Dia spoke that he realized he'd been holding his breath, and he expelled it in a slow, grateful sigh. Where it could have gone either way judging by her expression, she had chosen to not take offense. He would have to be more mindful of his words in the future lest he put his hooves in his mouth again and cause a scene.
Tension leaving his shoulders, he rolled them back, hoping his worry hadn't been quite as obvious to her as he feared. "Very true. That's a lesson I've learned many times over, and it seems to strike me differently each time."
Lips flattening into a solemn line, he waited a moment before adding, "I seem to have some trouble with speaking my mind. It never quite translates the way I want it to. I'm glad I didn't offend you."
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Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:26 pm
Dia shifted her weight again, deciding whether to be honest or just polite. She took a breath several times, as though she might say something, then stopped and frowned, not at him but at her own thoughts, though that might not have translated.
Eventually she tapped the camped hoof against the ground in frustration and straightened, putting weight on it as she flicked her tail, like chasing off a particularly persistent fly.
"You didn't do anything wrong," she told him. "And you didn't offend me, of course." Or else he'd know for sure.
She kept studying him. "And that's kinda odd."
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Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:06 pm
Honestly, he wasn't sure what to make of her. While normally that would have made him retreat and politely excuse himself, he could sense that Dia was making an effort. More than a little bit of an effort, if her agitation was any indication of things. It was the least he could do to venture out and do the same, out of respect for her, but also for himself.
He wanted to change, and so it was time to start acting like it. So, instead of firmly closing his mouth, he ventured, "What's odd?"
He was opening himself up for all kinds of caustic comments, mostly on his personality and manner of presenting himself, but he supposed that was what you did when you went out on a limb with someone. Dia had proven so far to be frank but not unkind, so whatever statement she might have for him he trusted wouldn't be too difficult to swallow.
That didn't stop him from tensing through the shoulders just slightly, though.
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Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:49 pm
"You," she answered with her already demonstrated candor. And then, for the first time since they'd started talking, she looked honestly embarrassed, ruddy color touching her cheeks. Her ears splayed sideways and she shifted again. "Not. I mean. That didn't come out right." She paused, uncomfortable, and added, "Sorry."
Figuring out what she did mean was much, much harder. "Maybe it's all the wandering," she offered. "Maybe it's because you don't know a herd. But you don't talk like the rest of them. Haven't said a word about how good you are at everything. Don't have your chest swelled and your head up like everyone else ought to take another look.
Haven't said a word about me being pretty." It wasn't really an invitation. "Or about me talking a lot. Or not being friendly." The fact was that she was completely out of any sort of familiar element. She honestly didn't know what to do with a stallion that didn't set her teeth on edge.
And for all that, she didn't look unhappy or upset. Just. Bewildered."It's just odd."
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Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:10 am
Patience was a virtue, and sometimes, he was glad to have it. While the outlook of the conversation seemed bleak, he remained silent, watching her face through her speech. It took him a good few moments to realize that she was as uncomfortable as he; the color in her cheeks certainly hadn't been present before, and the knowledge of that made him feel a little awkward on her behalf.
To experience the feeling for someone else was certainly novel. Generally, he was the one who inspired long silences and shifting glances, and by the time others were plagued with unease, he was already acutely aware of his own. Not to say he enjoyed the scenario, just that it was new for him.
He didn't have time to really consider it, however. As Dia continued to describe what was odd, a slow, cold ball began to gather in his stomach. All of what she said was true, certainly - he wasn't one prone to long, eloquent speeches or displays of grandeur. He wasn't insecure, simply realistic; he knew his own limitations well and while he did attempt to overcome them where he could he certainly wasn't one to boast where he had no foundation to stand upon.
He was not a social, outgoing creature, as most stallions were. He didn't boast of his travels and accomplishments, seeing them as benefiting him personally and not really extending far beyond that. If he didn't strut about and encourage others to take a good long look, it was because he was uncomfortable as the center of attention and much preferred to exist in the peace and comfort of relative obscurity.
It wasn't as though he didn't notice things, like the particularly graceful arch of a mare's neck or the way her hair teased around a pair of soft and lively eyes.
He just didn't comment on it.
He assumed - and there was fault in that, to be sure, but he assumed - that beautiful mares had been told they were beautiful time and again. They were, of course, and most were decidedly aware of it. What use would there be in his offering a compliment that was just a statement of fact? That sort of thinking certainly hadn't attracted him any mates, but then again, mares tended to be attracted to flashier, more outgoing stallions.
Stallions such as Dia had just described, which were nothing like him.
Silence reigned, and he was at a loss of what to say. She reiterated her feelings, and he blinked, a thousand replies turning over in his head, each as unsuitable as the next. With the growing quiet he began to feel less like there would be a proper response, and to his dismay, he could feel his own face warming as his discomfort grew.
When he finally spoke, it was in the same even tone he'd used all along. At the very least, he could sound normal. "I understand. Odd is... not the only word that's been used to describe my temperament."
Ears flickering, his voice quieted a bit. "I may not have offended you, but I have made you feel uncomfortable. For that, I am sorry."
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Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:52 am
And now she'd made him uncomfortable and she didn't feel better for it. She'd just been explaining herself and her bafflement. She blinked at him mildly. What did one say when told that another got called names. When she'd called him one herself, undeniably.
One tried to explain more and probably got oneself in a deeper mess. Still, there was either sinking or trying to swim.
"Odd's not so bad, if you have to be called some kind of name," she offered. "At least, I don't mean it to be bad. It's not bad or wrong or anything but just ... odd. Not the way most stallions are." And that? That made her add, with a little smile, "You ask me, that's good."
As for making her uncomfortable, had he? Well, yes, in a way but it was more that her thinking about how he was different that had got her all confused and that wasn't something in his control, now, was it? "Don't have to apologize. I'm not mad." And? And. "Guess I made you uncomfortable too, didn't I?"
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