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 Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:55 pm
They were almost halfway up the hill now. The clothes that he wore rustled softly as Akio walked. Sometimes he thought that he could smell the rose that Utena wore, even though she kept ahead of them. It was a tantalizing scent, so delicate and feminine. It might not seem to suit her, Utena being anything but feminine in her day to day activities, but Akio thought it was appropriate. Even though she dressed herself as a prince, she still exuded an air that was absolutely female.
"Andromeda was just fine," he said in reply to Capriccia. "She ended up marrying Perseus and together they lived very happily. She was so grateful to him for saving her from that monster that she gave him absolutely everything." Everything. That was what he wanted from the two mares that surrounded him. Now if only he could find a way to be Perseus to them...
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:00 pm
Utena still had her back to them. She was focused on the top of the hill now. From the bottom of the hill it always would seem impossible to reach the top. It was only when she was almost there that the height seemed less imposing. She loved the way the air felt up here. She felt buoyant, like she could get caught up in the breeze and just float away herself.
She walked on. Once they were almost there she began to trot, then run. She galloped on forward until she was standing on the flat top of the hill. The whole world spread out around her and she laughed with exhilaration. It was beautiful.
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Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:38 pm
Enraptured as she was by the stallion, when Capriccia saw Utena run up to the top of the hill she still rushed to follow her. She was in uncharted territory with Akio. She wanted to be by Utena's side, a place where she was far more familiar and comfortable.
Her leonine tail lashed behind her as she ran and when she reached the top, a startled smile came across her face. It seemed like the whole world stretched out in front of her. She turned around and gaped in astonishment at seeing the landscape laid out before her.
"It's amazing," she murmured, eyes alight with wonder.
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Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:47 pm
"I'm glad that you two like it," said Akio, coming up from behind. The blue of the sky silhouetted the mares in beautiful contrast. Somehow, the color of the sky heightened the hues of both mares. The pink in Utena's mane was now a vibrant glow, and Capriccia's dusty shades looked more golden than brown.
"I suppose I'll just leave you two ladies alone with the view for now," he said bemusedly, still watching them. Their innocent pleasure was lovely to see. Maybe he should invite them to live there, he mused to himself. Would they say yes if he offered?
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Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:51 pm
Utena laughed again at Capriccia's expression. She probably looked something like that when she had first seen this place. She wanted to bound around playfully like a filly, but Akio's presence kept that urge in check. He'd probably tease her if she did something like that, but she couldn't imagine him being mean about it.
She stepped up to Capriccia and gave her a friendly nudge. "If you want to stay until night, Akio can show us the stars and constellations." She had never known another soquili to have so much knowledge of the night sky as Akio did. It was fascinating hearing him talk about legends from far off places.
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:51 pm
Capriccia hesitated uncertainly. She didn't usually meet with stallions into the night. Her father would say that it was shameful to even consider something like that. He would say that the stallion was only after one thing and that it was the worst sort of mare that would take one up on it. Was Akio a stallion "like that?" Was there any stallion that wasn't?
She glanced at Utena. She thought she would be safe with Utena there too, but couldn't be sure. It was still a new idea to her and new ideas were a little frightening sometimes. "Won't it be inconvenient for Akio if we stay all evening?" she asked uncertainly.
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:58 pm
Smoothly, Akio stepped into their conversation. "It would be no problem at all. It's wonderfully quiet up here, but sometimes the silence can be lonely." He smiled warmly at the two of them, his two beautiful roses. "I would be honored if you would stay and let me show you the stars."
Capriccia seemed nervous. Akio knew the type. She might be afraid of stallions but he knew he could tame that out of her. If he had enough time with a mare, he could turn any into a docile and loving lady. He probably wouldn't get that much time with her, but one never knew.
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:10 pm
Utena answered before Capriccia had a chance to respond. "Then we'll stay," she said, smiling. It was such a lovely day. She couldn't imagine a nicer place to spend it. Capriccia hadn't opened up yet to Akio, but Utena knew that with time she would. Akio was that sort of person. He had drawn out her quickly enough, and Utena wasn't entirely fond of most stallions either.
"Do you think it's going to be a clear night?" Utena peered up at the sky. "There are some clouds already. It might rain." Rain was one time that she didn't want to be on top of Akio's hill. It might be nice on the clear nights, but if the wind was blowing and the rain was falling it would probably be miserable.
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:16 pm
It was too late. There was no way out of staying unless the rain spirits saw fit to make a downpour. Capriccia tried not to let the dismay she felt make it to her face. "It isn't going to rain," she sighed softly. "It's already less cloudy than it was this morning."
At times like this she wished that she was an angeni. If she was an angeni then she might have powers to control the weather. She wished she could call upon the storms herself to bring rain down. It would be a pretty extreme act just to avoid a meeting, but...
Internally, she chided herself. She was being ridiculous and she knew it. Akio seemed like a perfectly nice stallion and Utena could protect her if he wasn't.
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:23 pm
"Your friend is right," replied Akio with a glance skyward. Puffy white clouds were rolling across the blue expanse. It was lovely, of course, but there were far more beautiful things in the world. He valued the beauty of the mares beside him more so than the sky, and he valued the sight of the stars and the moon even higher. The sky during the daytime was capricious and varied. It was the sky at night that was always there, always constant.
"It isn't going to rain tonight. It should be perfect for stargazing." He smiled thoughtfully and considered. "I'll have to think which stories would be best suited for the present company. Is there anything in particular you would like to hear about?" He turned to Utena. Sometimes she liked the myths about warriors and fighting, but just as often he could draw her into one of the more romantic ones. What sort of night would it be?
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:29 pm
Utena brightened. They would get to stay with Akio! Her tail twitched thoughtfully and she considered what sort of stories she was in the mood for. Usually Akio didn't ask, he'd just talk about whatever was on his mind. Utena enjoyed those murmured ramblings. It was just as interesting to know what Akio thought about as it was to hear the stories themselves.
"Well I don't mind, really." She turned to Capriccia and gave her a soft nudge. "Unless Capriccia here has a favorite. What do you think?" Capriccia was really the star guest, after all. It should be her decision about what she thought would be the most fun!
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 7:28 pm
At the last moment Capriccia balked. She shook her head and moved to step away from the beautiful stallion and her best friend. The fact of the matter was that she didn't want to stay there with them. She knew that the longer she stayed the more sway the stallion's beautiful words would have over her. She couldn't allow that, so it was time to go.
"I'm sorry, Utena." She gave one last smile to Akio as she started retreating toward the edge of the hillside. "And thank you for the offer, Akio. But I have to get going. My father..." she hesitated while thinking of him. "My father will be angry if I'm out too late. Worried, I mean." She caught herself but too late. She hated admitting to others that the relationship in her family was less than perfect and now she had hinted at it in front of a new friend. She turned and left the two of them, nodding to their goodbyes as she went.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 7:31 pm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As evening fell, Utena looked at the gathering stars and chewed uncertainly on her lower lip. She replayed in her mind Capriccia leaving. What had been going through her mind then? "I'm worried about her," she admitted to Akio. "She hasn't ever been here before today. What if she gets lost going back?" She hated the thought of Capriccia wandering around out there alone. She seemed so fragile sometimes, even with company.
She looked to Akio, her wise companion. "Do you think I should try to find her and make sure she got back all right?"
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 7:34 pm
Akio shook his head and smiled. "I'm certain that your friend is fine. If she did get lost she could find her way back here easily. It isn't exactly a well hidden spot, you know." He chuckled softly at the idea that anyone might not be able to spot the high hilltop from miles away. He had decided that he was glad the kirin had left. It meant that he was alone with Utena, a situation he rather enjoyed.
"She's lucky to have such a good friend as you." He gave her shoulder the briefest of nuzzles and pulled back to look at her again. "I'm lucky, too."
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 7:40 pm
A shiver ran through Utena at Akio's touch. As quickly as it had come she willed her reaction to stop. He was her friend and nothing else. She even thought that he had a mate. He didn't mean anything by it and was probably just being friendly. She knew that she shouldn't exaggerate gestures. As she inhaled she drew in a large whiff of his smell. He smelled like roses and something muskier and male. Embarassed, she steered herself away from those thoughts.
"Yeah, I'm sure she's fine." Her voice was quieter than it had been. She looked up at the darkening sky. "How much longer until it's full dark, do you think?"
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