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 Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:47 am
'I've known her too long to be that,' Marut said, trying to keep the gravel in her voice for as long as possible. She just knew that she would cave soon though. She looked between the self styled musician and Raniero, and wondered if the stallion was always this way, or if he had some inkling that not all was right with this picture.
Marut blinked at the discordant 'music' that the stallion started making, her ears twitching, and she laughed, rubbing her head against a leg, to see if maybe she was mis-hearing what he was doing. Nope...it was still awful.
'Shouldn't it be 'I hate apples, they should die?' she shouted over the din, back to her own voice because there was no way she'd be able to shout in her fake voice.
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:43 am
It was only when the Angeni had finished his little piece that he ceased in what Raniero would have described as 'torture'. A bemused smile on his lips, he carefully propped the leaf back in to his wing and struck a pose. Chest puffed out, he stood squarely on all fours and arched his neck in an attempt to finalise his performance. With another flourish of his wings, he furled them against his sides and returned his gaze to the 'couple' - both of which seemed sufficiently unsettled by his spectacular performance.
Well it was spectacular to him at least. It had after all shattered both of their illusions in one fell swoop and all he had done, was play his flute. Truly, none could have done it with such 'tact' and so successfully. Both seemed terribly appalled at his performance and yet, neither had taken the time to realise that they had unkowingly howled at him in their real voices. This being said, Zhu smiled in his ever pleasant manner and feigned ignorance for a little longer. He was always an individual who preferred humouring others to avoid insults - he didn't like fighting and as a result...pretending he was oblivious saved his skin a lot.
"Ah, but why would I hate apples, sir?" He enquired as he glanced briefly towards Marut and shook his head slowly. "They have such a vibrant colour and wonderful taste - it would be an insult to hate them when I enjoy their company so much!" He announced, offering an emphatic nod at the statement. This being said, when he finally paid attention to Raniero again he did given another of his giggles and placed the tip of his tail to his lips again.
"Oooh, but m'lady - how else can you get them to come down form the highest branches? You have to make sure they hear you!"
"You...are absolutely mad." Raniero announced softly.
"Am I?" Zhu seemed to consider this observation carefully.
"Yes."
"Oh, then you are mad too! Yes?"
"Pardon...?" Somewhere down the line, Raniero seemed to have lost the train of thought the Uni-Angeni had chosen to follow.
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Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:21 am
Marut wiggled her ears when the last screeching notes finally faded away.
'My ears aren't bleeding are they?' she asked, grinning at the winged stallion. She'd given up all pretence of being male after having realised she'd yelled at him over the din in her normal voice.
'Bah, you don't need to call me 'sir' anymore,' she said, winking at the 'musican'.
'I'm not doing that voice again, I think the secret is out.'
She didn't care if Raniero got annoyed with her for giving up so easily, she'd heard his own male, dulcet tones over the winged stallion's playing, obviously he'd dropped the charade at the same time as Marut had.
'Yes you're slightly mad.' Marut agreed, but was smiling as she did so. Mad was good. Better than taking yourself too seriously at any rate.
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Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:33 am
Zhu smiled mildly at the discussion that ensued from Raniero's observation. He had never had the intention of spoiling their little facade, but the decision by the mare to shatter the illusion was her own after all. Thus, with the game completely up the winged stallion gave a nod. He seemed completely unphased by the odd behaviour demonstrated by the pair - the desire to role reverse and portray the opposite sex was almost a normality to him. After all, this particular bard had seen much in his young life and this would probably not be the first or last time he would have such an encounter.
That being said, the Uni-Angeni had always preferred humouring individuals more than pointing out their faults. Overly critical observations led to hostility and Zhu was a creature who enjoyed tranquility. Some might have considered this ironic given his choice of 'song' but this had all been a deliberate act. If he was to humour them, then surely they were to humour him! Alas, their facade had cracked under such pressure despite the fact that Zhu had rather enjoyed his own music and seemed not to have been suffering from ringing ears.
"Ah, it was meant to be a secret...?" Zhu enquired curiously as he glanced between the pair again.
"How long have you known?" Raniero's response was flat as he lifted his head and peered at the Uni-Angeni curiously. It appeared that this was one subject that the scholar had never encountered before. He had never truly met an individual who portrayed themself as a fool yet demonstrated keen intelligence and skills of observation. Not to mention, he had never met an individual who was deliberately bad at something.
"Erm, are we referring to your role reversal...?" Zhu wagged his tail lightly before releasing a giggle. "Since I saw you! Your Kind Friend cannot walk like a stallion," he pointed to Marut and offered a delicate smile, "Though your Kind Friend did try very hard."
"I see, and you chose to play along because...?" The stallion raised a brow and relaxed his weight. Despite the choice of stance, he still looked like a mare in his current disguise, it was just a shame that his little cohort had failed miserably to play her own role. Had she chosen to simply act like a mare he wouldn't have had the problem in the first place! Argh, while his immediate test of his disguise had failed, he did have to admit that it was perhaps unavoidable given the creature he was standing before.
"Well, was that not what you wanted?" Zhu enquired thoughtfully before glancing at Marut curiously, "Or did I miss something?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 9:09 am
Marut coughed, feeling the scratchiness of her throat;
'I don't think you were meant to find out straight away, that was the idea. Well, it was his plan originally! I just went along for a laugh.' Marut grinned at Zhu.
'Well, oddly I am glad I can't walk like a stallion.' she chuckled. She supposed she could have tried a little harder, but despite being unkempt and tom-boyish, she was still female, and didn't try to look anything else but who she was.
'Umm well, I wasn't going to do that until you called me sir,' she poked her tongue out at the winged stallion.
'So yeah, you started it and I was just having fun.'
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:01 pm
Zhu chuckled amicably towards the mare who seemed to remain in good humour despite blowing her 'cover'. The winged stallion remained unphased by either, though in a normal encounter it was safe to assume the stallion would have been less than thrilled. Given he had entered such a scene fully aware of the complex nature of it, it was only fitting that he should remain as he was. With a ruffle of his wings though, he did afford a brief moment to stick his own tongue out in response to Marut.
"Ah, but Kind Friend - " he paused and coiled his tail around his leg once more, a little habit he seemed to have kept since he was a foal. "You could have easily informed me that I was mistaken and that you were in fact - female..." he pointed out softly before chuckling. "That being said a game is a game and I must say, Kind Friend #2 has a very good guise!"
"I will take that as a compliment."
"Statement of fact," Zhu replied matter of factly, once again causing the blue stallion to start in surprise.
"Touche," he admitted after a few moments, canting his head to the side as he regarded the Uni-Angeni thoughtfully before shooting his gaze towards the mare. His eyes narrowed and it was perhaps the first time he had voiced his frustrations at any one before - no matter how mild they might have been. "If you knew you would crumble using such a facade then why adopt it?" he enquired darkly.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:43 pm
'Again, where would have the fun been in simply telling you?' Marut countered.
'Besides, if I'd had corrected you about my sex, than you might have guessed that he wasn't what he seems. Well, looks wise at any rate.' she motioned to the 'girl' with her head.
Kind Friend? She smiled, well grinned at the winged one, but still found his speech kind of peculiar. First Raniero, and now this one. Were there any stallions around that spoke in a plain manner?
She looked at Raniero as he spoke to her, a brow quirking as she noticed that he was showing a touch of emotion.
'Because it was fun? And, I am sorry to break it to you, but I do control my own actions. As dumb as they might seem to you.' she winked at him.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:11 am
Worthless! He could have positively exploded at the response the mare gave him and yet he didn't. Instead he simply snorted dismissively in her direction and shook his head. Really there were those in life that were terribly infuriating. Specimens or not they tested his patience to the point that on occasions it may very well break. He was good but he was not infallible and an individual who wished to observe him while he studied should have had the decency not to ruin it. He made a very quick mental note to deny Marut any further requests to accompany him.
He was reasonably secure in the knowledge that this Uni-Angeni could not have been fooled whether she had been there or not. However he was also aware that there was still sufficient ground for him to 'assume' that his immediate disguise was not in complete jeopardy yet. Without the tom-boyish mare by his side he was sure that he would have greater success. No snorting, giggling or twisted facial expressions... Nor would he have to listen to her fail miserably at lowering her voice.
Nevertheless, the scholarly stallion withheld further remarks as the Uni-Angeni turned his attentions back to the mare who seemed to have embraced the idea that it had all been for fun and games. The Winged stallion was in remarkably good humour from what Raniero could discern. Why remained a mystery, for Raniero had never encountered a soquili who was deliberately wistful and prepared to accept a statement until he was otherwise corrected by the individual - why be naive on purpose?
"Ah, but there is no shame in correcting an individual's fault. If I were to assume Kind Friend #2 was indeed male he could have simply reasserted he was female!" He smiled at this, indicating that he was more than prepared to accept the statements of another on 'blind faith' to the mare. Raniero could have insisted he was female and Zhu would have humoured him despite knowing the truth. There was method to his madness, he just refrained from explaining it.
"Although Kind Friend #2 is not thrilled by Kind Friend #1 and her actions by his words - no?"
"She is not a friend."
"A mate?"
"NO."
"Oh, then what exactly are you...Kind Friend #1?" He enquired as he continued to peer at the mare.
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:39 am
Marut heard the snort that Raniero expressed, but it merely made her grin more. He was so like her brothers, this behaviour she was used to. Besides, it wasn't as if he could actually prevent her from following him if he chose to. She probably wouldn't because eventually the novelty of seeing another males reaction to Raniero's get-up would fade...or might soon. She gave a small cough, and merely smiled in his direction.
'True,' she said, looking back at the winged one.
'Which would have been just as fun as me pretending to be male I suppose. But we shall never knooow.'
Marut made her voice sound over-dramatic, before quieting again to listen to the two males talk.She laughed at the firm way that Raniero said no to being asked if she were his mate;
'No offence taken of course, and I'm just along to..muck up Raniero's plans.' she spoke the latter to the winged one who had still yet to give his name.
'I'm Marut by the way.'
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:17 am
It was unlikely that Raniero would immediately dismiss her as a mate from a practical point of view. She was (he noted) very attractive, beneath the rugged and tomboyish appearance there were hidden qualities. However he had long since been aware of the desire that mare's had in this land for 'true love'. He was by no means a romantic, he had the personality of a dull rock...or so his more lively acquaintances had informed him during the periods in which they interrupted his studies. He would be inclined to agree with them based on stereotypes but he had for a very long time ensured that he was never swayed from his immediate purpose.
Ah, so while his denial had been abrupt and genuine from one stand point, this didn't mean he would have been completely set against it. Raniero was simply indicating that he was aware of the dreams and desires that mares generally developed at some point in their lives. Given that he was incapable of providing such pretty dreams at present, it was only fair and right of him to be so abrupt in his denial!
Nevertheless as she made reference to mucking up his plans he did shoot her a rather scathing look. There were few who could test his patience, he tended to dismiss them quickly. However, it seemed that now the tomboy had latched on to his tail it would be a little more awkward. He could hope that she would grow agitated and bored of his studies as most 'sane' creatures did...but without further observation of her behaviour he remained uncertain. Unfortunately, Raniero hated to be uncertain... Alas, he resisted the urge to remark further on her behaviour and instead returned his amber gaze towards Zhu.
Remarkably, Zhu seemed to have almost dismissed her introduction at first. Then as if by magic his wistful smile returned and he lifted his tail to poke gently at her nose. The Uni-Angeni had never been one to memorise names, nor had he ever been one to inform anyone of his own. It was better to be known as nothing than be drawn into a mix of politics and general gossip - he was truly a complete pacifist.
"A pleasure to meet you, Kind Friend Marut," he offered after a few moments, once again returning his tail to his leg where it coiled loosely and comfortably. There was a flurry of activity as the wings by his hooves gave a flutter and then they seemed to settle. "But why would Kind Friend #1," he had reverted back to his former manner of address, "Desire to ruin Kind Friend #2's plans...?" he enquired curiously.
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:28 am
Had Marut actually possessed mind-reading, she probably would have been surprised by his nice thoughts. And then laughed at them - true love? Males were for fighting and playing with, not for loving, and she was as attractive as a log.
Neither did she find Raniero boring really, he was very elaborate in his way of talking, had a sense of superiority and was incredibly intelligent..but boring no. If he was, she'd have walked away from him long before now.
She didn't notice the look that he flung her, her attention had gone back to the winged and ever so increasingly peculiar other stallion.
'Well I didn't do it on purpose..?' she let the end of her sentence tail off, unable to insert his name as he'd yet to give it. She could carry on calling him 'winged one' in her head, but how to address him out loud?
'I guess it just happened that way.' she grinned.
'So, Mister Music, do you play like that to everyone you meet?'
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:51 am
Raniero did have his good points, they were often visible unless in the company of his family but they were most certainly there. He had been raised by his father well after all, a soquili who was more than capable of balancing study with pleasure. Raniero hadn't yet learnt this art but then again, he hadn't had the same experiences his father had. To this day, the manner in which is father had discovered his mother remained a mystery to his son... Though Raniero often argued with himself over the unlikely union. He absolutely loved his mother but it simply didn't make sense.
Ailurinae possessed no great cridentials and didn't herald from a noble family. Raniero wasn't even aware of his grandparents on her side, all he was aware of was the unique bond his parents possessed. It made it very difficult to categorise both of his parents - but there was an old saying that one could never truly understand their parents. Try as he might, he would never be able to grasp those two... Then again, his father had reminded him that he was young and had much to learn.
What Paramekia had failed to mention was that not all of it could be studied.
"You just said that you accompanied me to disrupt my studies," Raniero pointed out cooly as she claimed it was unintentional. He found that most normal soquili were terribly hypocritical and often tripped up over their own words. He didn't often point it out, but at this precise moment in time he felt just a little childish. He was in an environment, surrounded by a male on one side he couldn't read and a deliberately infuriating tom boy on the other.
Everyone had to regress at some point.
"I hardly think that it 'just happened that way'," he growled before averting his gaze again, partially to chastise himself and to regain his composure. That being said his disgruntled behaviour was offset rather well by Zhu's typically wistful and bemused persona.
"You mean my leaf?" He enquired curiously before shaking his head, "Ah no...I play music that befits the situation!" He explained dutifully and tilted his head to the side. "If it was more sorrowful then I would have played something else and so on - would you like to hear another piece?" He offered loftily.
"No, no thank you..." Raniero murmured from the sidelines.
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:31 am
Marut looked at Raniero and then chuckled;
'Actually I was just saying what I thought you must have been thinking. I didn't actually accompany you specifically to mess up your day.'
Gawd! He didn't think she was that dumb did he? After all, he'd let her come along, and he must have gotten some idea of her personality in the short time they'd been talking. She wasn't stupid, she was just lively, and found what he was doing amusing.
'Actually it did.' she gave a shrug, and rolled her eyes at Zhu.
'Another piece? Uhh, will it be like the last one you played?' Marut asked with more than usual tact. Well, at least more than Raniero displayed.
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:07 am
Raniero's tact came in the form of a declined offer, he had the decency to make sure that it was polite though. His tone had sounded a little exasperated but given the current circumstances such behaviour could be excused. He was most definitely not accustomed to being in the presence of two very peculiar individuals. One was deliberately vague and the other seemed to be completely and utterly carefree. Admittedly he would have been fascinated to research them from a distance but at close range... well, it was a shame that aspirin hadn't been invented.
That being said, he would endure both for the sake of his research and really, even he could pander to his masculine desires. Though his facial expression would remain largely unreadable this didn't stop him from admiring what drifted passed him or happened to be nearby him. Contrary to belief he wasn't naive in regards to such things, he merely considered them impractical. However, if it ensured he could survive the 'onslaught' of rather ridiculous conversation and idle chit chat then he would do it.
Nevertheless when it came to Marut's intelligence he remained largely unimpressed by what he had seen. He was aware of her powerful skills of observation but when it came to being more precise or masking ones immediate thoughts... Hmph, she was a typical soquili through and through. She was easily read and would be until she proved otherwise. Alas when she opted to encourage the Angeni to be 'musical' again he let an inward grown echo through his being.
"Well, that would depend...would Kind Friend like such a piece or would she desire something different? I can accomodate whatever mood you desire!" Zhu proclaimed merrily, indicating that he was a rather good musician when he wasn't been deliberately bad.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:24 am
Marut would have been quite pleased to think that she was thought of as a 'typical' Soquili. She thought of herself as rather an oddity, most mares that she'd met through her mother had been all about the personal grooming..and were all happily settled with families or thoughts of family to content themselves with.
'Well if I'm honest, I think I'd prefer something that didn't quite hurt my ears so much. Maybe something cheery, and then Raniero might smile.' she grinned at the musical stallion.
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