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 Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:57 pm
Ashriel could not preen Iki'ryo's hair as he might like, but it served as a useful indicator. If he followed the warmth down Iki'ryo's neck, he could feel his way to the larger stallion's wings, and while his friend had fewer wings than he, he did have them. "If you are very good, perhaps... you might preen my mane?" he asked, as he shifted so that he could reach those feathers. He did so with far less skill than his friend, but with evident fondness. In all likelihood, Iki'ryo would have to preen his own feathers after Ashriel finished, but surely it was the thought that counted. "Can you reach my feathers, flameheart?" the angeni asked, feeling his way through the process of preening his friend, giving it his best effort.
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Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 12:05 am
The stallion had not expected his companion to seek out his own wings, but he did shift himself so Ashriel might have easier access to his wing. Whether or not the blind angeni was adept at preening made no difference to the ebony male. The other was giving him attention, and it . . . it was a good thing.
"I'm sure your mane would be less ticklish than your wings," he'd confess, glancing from the feathers he was working on, back to the stallion's red man so close to his side. It wouldn't take much, really; they were facing one another, standing shoulder to shoulder. Ah, but . . . he also still had three other wings to finish! Wings in which he, once again, dutifully went back in to preening.
Drat all of this. It wasn't fair, not really, that he should feel such affection for his companion. Ashriel was Iki'ryo's only friend, and that was just fine for the stallion. If all they ever were were friends, that. . . .that was fine. But he refused to share him. If he could not love him, he knew that having Ashriel love someone else more, would . . . . would be a crippling pain. A pain the warrior could not handle.
So he would not allow it. He was a selfish beast, but he did not care. "When I finish your wings. . or at least this one, perhaps I can take a look at untangling some of your mane. I'm afraid it is a bit disheveled." But he would behave, and act as good as gold. He did not wish to risk having his friend chastise him again, or worse, pull away.
And these small moments . . .well. . . . he could cherish, and keep, all to himself.
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Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 10:11 pm
It was difficult to speak with a mouthful of feathers, Ashriel realized belatedly. So he first finished preening this particular spot before he drew away enough that he might speak. "It is not so bad, being ticklish. It is only that I think you were teasing on purpose, and it tickled so very much." Which was very undignified! He was a warrior! He came from a proud lineage, and helpless laughter was really not the thing. But of course Iki'ryo could wring such laughter out of him with little difficulty.
"Is it very disheveled?" he asked, for he of course did not know. He could only tell that it felt coarser than usual. He leaned in once more, and began to preen Iki'ryo's wing studiously, determined to get it properly smoothed out. The feathers were in good repair, of course. As fearsome as Iki'ryo was, he did have excellent habits. "Flameheart," he asked when his mouth was a little less full, "are you sure that I don't look a fright?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 10:36 pm
Iki'ryo flicked an ear as his companion spoke about the detriments of having his wings preened, and being purposefully tickled. If only the ebony stallion knew why the flame-maned stallion had chose to do such a thing, perhaps he would be understand. Then again, if he knew, it was just as likely he would shrug away from him, if not keep far away. The lion-tailed male understood that he was different and he could not let himself hope, not even for a moment. If he did, and then things did not pan out, oh, what heartache and pain there would be. No, he could not hope. . . They were friends, and only that.
"I was teasing you," he finally admitted after a moment's conisderation, "But I have stopped, and won't do so again. The point of this is to help preen your feathers, of course, and make you comfortable.... incessant tickling doesn't help achieve any of that." Though whether or not that was to serve more as a reminder to Ashriel or himself, it was difficult to say. Still, he had admitted his sorrow, and would be more than well behaved. If Ashriel didn't like it, better he know now.
So it was, the stallion got to work, dutifully pulling at the loose and broken feathers, cleaning off any he could, and attempting to help smooth out those pale, white wings. Wings which were always inevitably getting a mess due to Ashriel's usual playful and almost coltish antics, as well as the trouble that they did occasionally cross. At the very least, making sure the stallions feathers were in fine condition was something he could do and was something Ashriel allowed. "Mmm," he grunted, pausing to spit out a mouthful of feathers. He glanced at the others hair and gave a small swish of his tail. "You look as if you have just come from battle, which is not so terrible a thing. A bit disheveled, but certainly not a fright, and certainly not something I can't fix." So long as Ashriel allowed, he would make sure the stallion looked his very best. . . . "No need to worry. I promise, you look--" He hesitated, searching for the word. Amazing. Handsome. Stunning. Gorgeous. Nope, he couldn't say any of that. "--you look just fine." It was the best he could do, and inwardly bemoaning his fate, he went back to his preening with vigor.
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Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 10:46 pm
As if it had just occurred to him that Iki'ryo might really have been teasing, the stallion was a bit startled. "... Oh? You were? I didn't mind so much, I just felt a little helpless. I can't see you, after all, only feel you, and hear you, and smell you. It's not as easy to tease back." Little did he know that every bit of his existence was a tease to Iki'ryo. He truly had no notion of it. Ashriel was not overly fussed about that teasing of earlier, but he had wanted to know for sure that that was what that was.
And so it was. He continued right on his way, making every effort to get Iki'ryo's feathers nicely ordered. There were certainly less of those than there were of Ashriel's, but that did not make the process easier. Iki'ryo was larger than he was, and he had to reach a bit higher to get some of the feathers. "Flameheart," he complained, straining a little, "I need you to bring your wing down so that I can reach it." It didn't even occur to him that his friend might have been flustered by his question about his appearance. Why would it?
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:01 am
The flame stallion glanced over at his friend, glad that his expression could not be seen. On the one hoof, he was glad that his friend finally realized that the tickling of earlier had been nothing but a tease. On the other hoof, how it pained the stallion to hear of his friends remaining senses. Ah, for all that Ashriel could feel, and hear, and smell, there was so much more that he did not see or understand; so much that he missed. The affectionate gazes, the love that he knew welled up within his ebony eyes, and the wistful yearning in which he looked upon him. Ashriel knew not what he looked like, nor would he ever know. . . But. This was the way of things, and it was, he reminded himself, for the best.
"Well, I assure you," he reminded with a small grunt, turning back to focus upon his companions wing, "There shall be no more teasing today. No sense in letting me have an unfair advantage, after all." . . . and there went any additional excuse at getting close to the other. At freely playing. . .at a. . . At being able to pretend that maybe, just maybe, his attention was well wanted.
So it was, the stallion bit back a great, forlorn sigh and instead listened to the other. He did as he was bade, allowing his wing to droop so his companion might have better access. "Is that better for you?" He questioned quietly, trying not to ache over that nickname, and the hopelessness of it all. Curse his heart. . . his love. . . his over-protectiveness. If they were but friends -- truly simply friends -- this would all be fine and not at a problem. If they were but friends. . . Ah. It didn't matter. There was no going back to just friends. . . even if the path he walked was that of a lovesick fool.
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:11 am
But Iki'ryo sounded so sad! Why did Iki'ryo sound sad? There was an edge to the stallion's voice that Ashriel could not hope to place. "Well. You may not be teasing me, but I will make no such promise. What if I want to tease you? What if you need to be tickled?" Oh yes, to be tickled back! Turnabout was fair play, and Iki'ryo had foolishly allowed his own feathers to be close to Ashriel's mouth. Very deliberately, Ashriel focused on tickling right back, on teasing his dear friend properly. There would be no mercy! No, he would not be merciful with the stallion who had tormented him mere minutes before.
He lipped at his feathers, and quite intentionally chose those most sensitive to torment. Oh yes, he would get his own back. "Yes," he said, a trifle smugly, and somewhat muffled by having his mouth half full. "It is." Better for Ashriel, yes, though not, perhaps, for Iki'ryo. His ears perked playfully forward, listening intently for any sign that his friend was not enjoying the teasing.
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:50 pm
A brow raised when his companion suddenly questioned the possibility that Ashriel wished to tease. Surely, he would have no interest in teasing him, or worse, attempt to tickle. It was true, they were grown stallions, warriors even, and neither of them were particularly small or frail. Still, it seemed as if Ashriel was being a particularly tricky sort, by getting him to vow not to tease back! "Surely you wouldn't---" Ah, but then his companion did start tugging and teasing his black and silver tipped feathers.
He was a sensitive sort, having had minimal contact as a foal thanks to his burning flames, his sisters spikes, and his other sisters delicate bones and eroded flesh. They had an awkward foalhood together, each with their own limitations on contact, so to be so teased by Ashriel was almost a new experience all together. "H-hey now, Ash!" He attempted to wiggle away, trying to be free of his friends teasing. It didn't tickle as much as it could, but it was enough, and he wished to please Ashriel with the appropriate response. "I can't groom your wings and hair if you're tickling, remember!" He laughed, gently, almost affectionately swatting at the other with his long tail. Ah, if only. ..
Iki'ryo's earlier teasing had almost been flirtation. An excuse to touch, to play, to get closer and elicit smiles and laughter from the other stallion. Now that roles were reversed, it was fun, and he cherished the fact that his companion was actually trying to play . . . but. . . It wasn't enough. It never was enough for Iki'ryo. Still, it was something, and he would take what he could get.
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:01 pm
Oh, Ashriel was not giving up so soon! Not when he had Iki'ryo laughing and playing. His friend's voice was no longer filled with sadness, and he meant to keep on teasing and tickling until there was no more sadness left within Iki'ryo. "No mercy!" He kept up his teasing, working on that wing, tickling the tiny feathers beneath the outer ones. He snorted, blowing a little to increase the ticklish feeling, delighting in the sound of his dear friend's laughter. "You shall have to plead for mercy, and I am not yet sure whether I shall give it, flameheart," he said quite smugly. Oh yes, Iki'ryo was quite doomed to be tormented.
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:54 pm
Despite the pain in his heart, the stallion absolutely could not stay upset. To see Ashriel so playful, to see him trying so desperately to tease him warmed his heart and certainly elevated his mood. No, there was no reason to worry about what he did not have and what he wanted. . . He needed to let it go, and simply enjoy what he DID have, right in front of him. Besides which, it was hard to focus and bemoan his fate when his wings were being tickled so!
"No mercy?" He questioned with another deep laugh. "That isn't the Ashriel I know. Whatever have you done with my friend, fiend?" He did attempt to disentangle himself from Ashriel, though it was weak-willed and lacking his usual gusto. But that was all right . . . he didn't really wish to be free. "I will never beg. . you know me better than that, or at least, the real Ashriel would!"
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:26 pm
"Not even for me?" Ashriel asked, knowing that in his heart of hearts Iki'ryo surely could not have meant that. Oh, he might say so, but he could not mean it. Not truly. Iki'ryo was halfheartedly attempting to wriggle away from him, but he would not let up. No, he would not stop tickling the stallion whose dignity and stoicism was surely compromised by such a thing. "Would you not even beg for me?" It was a serious question, if in a rather silly context. If Iki'ryo could not even bring himself to beg for Ashriel, where did that leave them?
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:56 pm
Dark eyes closed for a moment as his companion asked whether or not he would beg for him. Oh, if only the ebony coated truly knew what he was asking! "Well," the stallion finally, if a bit grudgingly, admitted. "Perhaps for you but only for you." He made sure to stress the word, as if it were some great secret, as if someone might hear their conversation. This was rather silly, the two of them, playing and picking on one another as if they were colts. But Ashriel was his very best friend, and he really was enjoying their time spent together. Even if it included tickling. "I'd beg, but that doesn't mean I'm going to. Not yet!" He nickered at the other, leaning forward to n** at the other in the most gentle of fashions, still attempting to squirm away from the stallion. "But I can reason. And if you don't stop tickling, you'll only wind up further disheveled."
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:17 pm
Anyone who knew them outside of their friendship together would never believe the coltish play that they were engaging in. No, they would not believe either Iki'ryo or Ashriel capable of it, and yet here they were. "And then you shall have to preen me again," Ashriel pointed out, not at all concerned by it, and rather pleased that that would put him on the receiving end of even more attention. He made an indignant sound when Iki'ryo nipped him, but did not let up. No, he was not ready to give up in his torment of his friend, no matter how many names the stallion called him.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:31 pm
Iki’ryo’s tail flicked, and he attempted to twine it around one of Ashriel’s legs and give it a tug. If he could distract the other just enough, he might be able to slip out from the others attack, might be able to get away. Still, another part of Iki’ryo didn’t wish to get away. He had longed for his friends personal attention, for his affection for years now, and this was as close as he could get. If only he might not be afraid to preen his feathers, or muss his hair; if only he could properly express his love and affection, as opposed to keep it locked away, and hidden from the world. He didn’t want Ashriel to be friends with anybody else, and he certainly didn’t want him to love another. How he yearned for the angeni’s heart. . . and how it hurt him ten times over to know they were nothing more than friends. Ah, but in these moments, at least, he could almost pretend. “All right, all right!” He cried, though laughter was indeed in his voice, a foreign sound for one such as Iki’ryo. “Truce, truce. Surely, you might spare some mercy for your best friend?” He half-pleaded, not entirely sincere. He didn’t need to stop the game, but to be so tickled was a little bit undignified. “I’ll preen you for as long as you wish, so long as you stop with such undignified tickling.”
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2014 4:57 pm
"... Is that all we are?" Ashriel asked, listening to Iki'ryo's laughter, his heart warming at the sound of it. As quiet and stoic as Iki'ryo was, the stallion always found sounds to make for Ash. Ash, who could not see him save through touch. But Iki'ryo was laughter to Ashriel. Laughter, teasing words, and warm nuzzles. Iki'ryo was love. "Oh, my flameheart, if only you could return my heart's longing," he whispered to himself, the words so quiet that surely no one might have heard them. The flaming stallion certainly could not.
He snorted, prancing a little on his hooves, and did not let up. "But Iki'ryo, you haven't answered my question. I won't stop until you do." And he would need Iki'ryo to answer his question. "Are you only my best friend?" he inquired, blowing into those feathers to tease them just a little more. Poor Iki'ryo. The quiet stallion surely did not deserve such teasing as Ashriel gave him. Even the tugging of the stallion's tail did not deter him. Not when he had such a goal in mind.
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