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 Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:27 pm
The unicorn nodded her head and turned so she could start the return walk, laughing softly at Zaphiro's words, "A soul mate. I honestly do not believe they exist, but that is likely because I have never seen such an event occur. I must admit, though, it is a nice thought."
More than a nice thought. The mare looked at the ground for a moment, trying desperately not to give into her romantic side and actually believe in the concept of a soul mate. How could one person complete someone? Sides conflicted for a moment before she shook her head and continued her walk.
Why think on such things when there was no true way to tell? It was masochistic and that was certainly not something she was.
"I'm sure your presence will keep me on the straight and narrow, Zaphiro."
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:33 pm
Zaphiro smiled slightly, a smile both understanding and a wee bit bitter. "Understandable; I must confess that there are times when the concept seems a bit unbelievable to me as well, but I guess I just like to remain an optimist."
Which was a polite way to put it, he supposed, and much better sounding than the suggestion that he was a hopeless youth in pursuit of ideal. Not that he was a youth, perse, but he reminded himself of one.
And speaking of remindings... "Tsk tsk; here I just met you, and I'm already yakking your ear off with my opinions on the world. Hopefully I haven't made you regret to take a travelling companion yet!"
Once again he was laughing, laughing at the ease with which he had forgotten himself. It was too easy, really, to become bitter. Hadn't his friend Elizabeth just teased him about that behavior? Obviously he needed to listen better.
"I promise that I shall at least try to keep my tongue in check from now on, and to make up for it I'll not only guide you, but also protect you!"
The statement was punctuated with a wink; after all, there really wasn't anything around that might constitute a threat. But there was nothing like a little humor to lighten the mood, especially when it was leaning towards over seriousness.
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:38 pm
"Optimism is a grand thing, indeed," Hienna said with a small smile and a nose against her new companion - a simple nudge before she yawned softly, "I do not mind speaking of such heavy things, Zaphiro. I am often lost in my own thoughts of the world and there are few others who would be willing to debate the meaning or existance of certain things with me."
Most people thought she was slow, simply because she took a long time composing what she had to say before actually speaking it, choosing each word carefully and stringing it together just so. It was just how the mare was. And when she did speak, they believed her to be too wordy, too lengthy.
It was like looking at a grand painting and saying the artist took too long.
Hie was mildly surprised at the protection offer and quirked a brow, "Is it dangerous, here, Zaphiro?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:44 pm
"I like to think so, at any rate." A slight smile accompanied that statement, along with a look of gratitude for the mare that had said as much. He wasn't exactly sure if he believed her or not; it was difficult to judge the sincereity of relative strangers, after all; but even if she hadn't meant what she'd said it was nice to know that she was at least willing to put his mind at ease.
Though frankly, it WAS a nice thought, to be able to talk about goals and concepts and ideals instead of the weather, the taste of grass, and whether or not curls suited a certain body type. Such mundane topics could only hold the mind for a short while, after all..
Or at least, his mind.
But there was always a chance for levity, as Hienna's last question proved. Returning her quirked brow with a deadly serious look of his own, he raised a brow in an almost mirrow image of hers and innocently asked, "is that so hard to believe?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:55 pm
"There is not much that is hard to believe in the world," Hienna said, eyebrow lowering slowly, "But it did seem as this place was relatively safe to the point where one would not need such protection."
A long pause as she planned out just how to word her next statement, "However, if you would be so kind as to offer your protection to myself I cannot very well deny it or complain so I must thank you and accept your generous offer."
The mare dipped her head in thanks before a butterfly caught her attention and she smiled as it fluttered across the path, "It's amazing, isn't it?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:59 pm
"True enough. But I needed to offer something, so I went with what was available. While it's true that this is a remarkably peaceful place, lacking in kalonas or other dangers, the possibility of strife is always real; should the need arise, you can rest assured that I WILL protect you."
Smiling, Zaphiro returned Hienna's nod, the mirror gesture seeming to 'seal the pact' as it were. Just because it wasn't likely to come up didn't mean that they couldn't plan for contingencies.
As he raised his head, the dark stallion too caught sight of the butterfly, Hienna's words registering a moment later. "The butterfly itself, or the fact that sich a creature can exist at all?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:02 pm
"Both, I suppose." Another long silence as she stopped her movements and looked quietly at the butterfly that landed on a nearby flower, "The fact that such a creature can be one thing and emerge as something completely different and something of such beauty that it can steal someone's breath by just existing."
Hienna tilted her head in thought, "There are so few things in the world that can be...Well, lacking in the 'pleasing to the eye' department and then return with a beauty that could rival most things and be so delicate."
A shake of her head a moment later as she shook off her thoughts, "But I suppose I'm rambling."
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:09 pm
Zaphiro listened in silence as Hienna spoke, golden eyes watching the butterfly in question as the two walked along. An interesting discourse, to be sure, and he couldn't help but agree. After all, he'd met his share of flutters, and the issue of butterflies had been one he'd pondered once or twice before in his time.
"It's interesting, isn't it? It's so easy to judge a caterpillar as being ugly and desructive, yet upon emergence from their cocoons we can't help but swoon over their beauty. Fascinating, isn't it, how something as changeable as appearances can sway our opinions and influence our perceptions..."
Once again, there was a slight hint of bitterness in Zaphiro's tone, but the overall theme was thoughtfulness. One could see the way of the Soquili mirrored in a butterfly, after all; the plain could be overlooked while the populace flocked to the flashy, the dramatic, the 'beautiful'. It didn't matter if the plain ones were the kindest and most interesting of beings, nothing mattered beyond appearances.
"And I don't think you're rambling at all. On the contrary, it's a pleasant change of pace from the usual drivel on the weather." This time, the smile that he gave Hienna was warm and sincere; he was actually enjoying himself.
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:17 pm
"Ah, indeed. I have received so many compliments on my appearance, but I do wonder if I would get such attention if I were a simple brown mare. I despise being gawked at as though I were something to own and covet." The mare snorted softly, a hint of bitterness in her OWN voice for a single moment.
"I could live without the attention and oft times I do wish I was a bit more plain. While I enjoy being a little out of the ordinary...It...is tiresome."
With that thought she realized she was doing exactly what she hated by staring at the butterfly and respectfully lowered her eyes to the floor, "But I admit I am guilty of doing what I dislike the most myself. I do wonder if butterflies dislike it as much as I do."
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:27 pm
Zaphiro almost stopped walking, he was so shocked at what he was hearing. His statements had been tempered with his own experiences, the bitterness a direct result of being viewed by so many as a sex object. To hear those same experiences listed by this mare was a bizarre parallel, one that he hadn't expected but could completely sympathize with.
"Obviously we have much in common, Hienna; I myself have often wondered the same thing about the mares that seek me out; far too often I've been approached and sought out even while amidst a herd of other stallions, and the resulting conversations have been anything but pleasant."
To put it bluntly. Zaphiro still shuddered to remember one of his earliest encounters with a mare; mere minutes after meeting him, she had said he was the most attractive and complementary stallion she'd ever met, and that she would love it if he would father her foals. Needless to say, he'd declined...but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake that memory.
"In nature, bright colors serve a purpose; as a warning, attraction,or a distraction. It seems we Soquili aren't so far different in that attraction."
As he spoke, Zaphiro spread his wings, eyeing the dazzling sparkles of blue and gold that made him an eyecatch on sunny days like today. He was resigned to that trait, but the resounding wish he'd been born black or brown never quite left him.
"Hopefully the butterflies aren't so cursed in their beauty; after all, every butterfly of a species looks alike, so they don't have the misfortune of being objectifed if they are a bit more dramatic than their fellows. And given the simplicity of the butterfly mind..."
Zaphiro trailed off, realizing that he too was starting to ramble. And on a distasteful subject, nonetheless! So, simply... "I'm sorry you've had the same misfortune I have; I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:42 pm
"At least we are not alone in that respect," Hienna said slowly, wondering if that was the right way to put it, "Rather, as horrible a feeling it is, at least there is another I can confide in about my feelings and have them understand. As well as you can do with me. Does that make more sense?"
Hienna was always so worried that her words would be taken the wrong way. Perhaps it was why it took her so long to form a sentence. Her mother had always lectured her on being able to be polite and proper at all times. Be confident, but humble. Always so contradicting.
The poor mare definitely had her problems.
"That is a good point, about the butterfly species. Perhaps I won't feel so guilty watching them with such awe. After all, I do not feel guilt when watching the sun rise or set and those are some of the most beautiful moments in life. The birth of night and the death of date simultaneously...."
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:53 pm
"Perfect sense, to be truthful. On this topic, I think it's safe to say that we can sympathize with each other...and I"m sure that there are more like us out there. Whether or not that concept is soothing, we can't be a singular phenomenon."
Zaphiro smiled slightly, noticing the dark smudge of the forest coming into view up ahead and thinking how rapidly time was going. Amazing how time flew when you weren't bored out of your skull...
"As to the butterflies, I think that categorizing them with the sunrises and sets, with the gleam of sunlight on water, or the blooming or spring flowers, is as it should be. Beauty should be appreciated, that much I"ve always felt. The problems crop up when beauty starts to be objectified; or in the case of Soquili, taken as a constant that it shouldn't be. If anyone wishes to admire my appearance, that's their business; just don't foist that admiration onto me and expect me to be grateful. I can't control the way I look, after all."
Smiling, Zaphiro glanced at the mare next to him, truly looking at her for the first time. She was a deep, glossy purple; purple with a sheen to it like polished stone. Like him, she had golden markings on her body, but hers were less bright than his, most subdued; and while she had no wings, he horn was a draw all on it's own. He could well imagine that she was popular with the stallions, and the kind of stallions that brought to mind promptly made him think of one of his herdmates and frown. "Hrm..."
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:00 pm
Time was indeed flying and it wasn't something that Hienna often had happen to her. It was a nice feeling, having someone to actually talk to about something other than the normal weather blather.
There was only so much to be said about the weather before one wished to smash their head into a tree trunk.
"Aye, that's a sentiment I can sympathize with. While it was nice to perhaps be admired, it is another thing entirely to be thought of as a prize." Perhaps she was, in her own right, but not the kind of prize that many stallions thought her to be.
And then, Zaphiro was looking at her and the mare tilted her head, "Is there something wrong?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:05 pm
A prize; that was a nice way to phrase the objectification process, alright. Either way, Zaphiro would rather be regarded as an individual, and to that ideal he would continue to cleave.
At her question, though, Zaphiro blinked for a moment, then shook his head. "No, nothing; I was just thinking of something, but it's a rather trivial matter." To put it mildly. "Anyway, we're about to enter the forest; you probably want to lower your head, least you snare your horn in the branches. I've heard that that can be a rather painful nuisance."
So many Soquilis daydreamed about being unicorns; he'd often wondered if they'd ever considered the negatives involved. Then again, dreams were often ideals, and ideals weren't supposed to have problems!
"And just so we're clear, protecting doesn't include fishing you out of a tree. That would constitute an extra service." The wink he gave Hienna was teasing, a deliberate attempt to move away from their previous topic of conversation. After all, while it was nice to have productive conversation, that topic still wasn't very paletable.
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:12 pm
Hienna did lower her head as they entered into the forest, not feeling quite up to having her horn caught someplace. It had happened much when she was smaller and she had always gotten scolded for it.
At his jest, however, the mare let out a soft laugh and looked up at him, "An extra service, hmm? And what would I pay you with for fishing me out of a tree? I'm afraid I am not magical enough to grant wishes like the old tale of the fish that granted wishes. Of course, I'm not a fish, either."
See. She could have a sense of humor.
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