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 Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:47 pm
A surprise? ..Well, not many taur radiated heat like she did. Though, not many radiated cold like him, either. He was a surprise, too.
But, again, her face lit up brightly as he held out his arm. No one had ever escorted her somewhere before! Taking a deep breath, she looked down at her hand as she raised it back up. After a moment, she reached out and wrapped her fingers gently around Triston's offered arm. Peeking up at his face, she tried to adjust her magic as best as she could so that her hand would stay warm without completely melting the male's cold skin. "Can't even tell you're cold~" she said with a giggle, leading him on down the path now with light steps. Her hand could sense the coolness of his skin, but it wasn't anything her magic couldn't handle.
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:14 pm
Triston lightly shook his head at her comment. This cattaur was definitely something. Still as she led him down the path he had to wonder, “Where to?” Secretly in the back of his mind Triston was trying to figure out the path that they were walking. If he wasn’t careful they could go the wrong way and into town where that place was. He frowned quietly. The last thing he needed was for them to find out about this. His ears twitched at the thought of the reactions…they wouldn’t let him forget this one.
That reminded him. Taking a moment to quell the ice cold coming from his fingers Triston calmly lifted Constance’s hand before fixing her grasp on him to be lower towards his gloves, “Enchanted.” He commented softly as he felt her warmth linger lightly on his skin before being numbed by the gloves. They were a present from the young centauress he worked with. Her strange connections had allowed her to find a pair of blockers like these so that others could at least touch his arm without being bit by the cold. Not that he often thought to use them to be touched through...but for the fact that they along with his cloak helped him to function here during the warmer seasons.
He looked at Constance with a light in his gaze. That might make things easier for her. Even if he couldn't stop the difference in their auras as they moved close together he could at least have her comfortable on his arm.
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:43 pm
Smiling playfully, she refrained from answering his question. It was a surprise!
When he shifted her hand, she perked her ears and looked wide-eyed at the gloves. Enchanted gloves? To protect him from... what? Just in case someone else needed to hold his arm? ..No matter. If it made him more comfortable, and it eased the strain on her magic, she wasn't going to complain. She looked up at him curiously. "May I ask where you got these? They're very.. I've never heard of anything like them before." Though, there were many things Constance had never heard of...
Her ears twitched back when she noticed something different about his gaze. Unused to so much contact with another, she couldn't place what that look meant. It was nice to see though. "Does it only work for keeping heat out, or is it simply a barrier that keeps anything in and anything out?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:19 pm
Triston found himself slightly amused by the reaction. Though admittedly he had a similar one himself...he never understood exactly why Zura had pushed him to start wearing them before, but she did enjoy randomly clinging to his arm. Ever since he had become a teen and the cold had gotten stronger Zura had to hold herself back from expressing herself like she did with most of her family. Family Triston nearly shook his head at the thought. Why those centaurs cherished his visits so much still baffled him. Still he looked at Constance, "A friend made me take them...the cold made her uncomfortable."
"Perhaps a barrier of sorts?" He shrugged lightly, "That's how it seems." Triston nearly paused in their walk. How was it that this cattaur was slowly getting more and more out of him? Even if it was just about his gloves...it was rare for anyone but his family and really old friends to hear so much from him. Ah, it was only for now. So it was okay to talk a bit. That was true...once the season changed the chances of them seeing each other again was slim. That was the answer that Triston gave himself.
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 10:31 pm
"Wow. Barrier gloves. Those are very nice. Does she know how to get some for around your hands as well? Or do you prefer to keep those open and free?" She looked down at those pale hands, which made her tan skin look even darker by comparison. Amazing!
Suddenly, her ears perked high, delicate brow rising with them, as if Triston's previous words had only just registered in her mind. "You have friends?!" she squeaked, gripping his arm harder. "What's it like having friends? Is she nice? Does she live around here? So you see her often?" She paused, and giggled, "Is she a special someone to you~? Is she a winter life like you are?" Boundaries? What are boundaries?
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Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:07 pm
Triston looked down at his hand where his fingers were uncovered. “So I can feel.” He replied quietly. It wasn’t possible for him to completely block off his hands. The idea was strange. He shook his head. He much preferred having them open like this. As inconvenient as it might be for others. Still it was his choice. The cattaur noted her studying him and nearly flushed. Was it that intriguing how different they were? Maybe it was just because he was used to being so cold and everyone else being so warm…though she was admittedly warmer than most.
Her reaction to his friend comment startled the male, “Yes.” Blinking at the flurry of questions he quickly shook his head. “Never mind.” He didn’t want to give away too much about himself. Just the thought of Constance meeting with some of the ones he knew nearly made his skin twitch. He would really never get any rest then…”But no.” He looked over at Constance, “More of a sister…and she’s warm.” Still he had to pause as realization hit him. Was she reacting so much because she…she wasn’t used to friends? “What about you?”
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Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:07 pm
To be able to feel. Naturally. She would hate to be unable to feel the softness of the leaves, or the grass between her fingers, or even the roughness of the bark. What would that be like? Though, she loved the feel of the breeze on the whole of her skin, and she remained flummoxed by those who wore full shirts and cloaks and things.
She looked at him expectantly, her expression falling a tiny bit. Aww! She wanted to know more about his friends! More like a sister? Oh! Like Euthalia to her! When the question came to her, the excitement slipped from her face a tiny bit. "Well... Euthalia is more like a sister to me. Boss. Nanny. Gnat. I.." Her brow knit, before she pushed the cloud away and smiled up at Triston. "Just you, I guess! It's nice so far." She giggled and looked forward again. "Ah! We're almost there!"
Breaking through the tree line, she smiled brightly at the sight. She'd brought Triston to a hillside that had once housed a family of some sort. That was long ago. Now, the old supports still remained strong and created a complex cave of sorts. The home had built deep into the hill, so it remained cool in the summer and could be warmed in the winter. The grassy hill itself held only a few bushes, and was made of hard clay, which kept it from wearing away from the weather. "I thought you might find this interesting," she said, leading him to the open entrance. "If the fall ever has an unseasonably warm day before winter comes, you can stay here~"
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 12:33 pm
Really? He was her only friend? Triston blinked at the summer cattaur next to him. Was she what he would have been had it not been for the foxtaur who had taken him in? If he had just been left to the ice then he probably would have stayed up north forever wandering the mountains alone…as it should be. Yet here he was traveling all the time just to come back to this area year after year because of others who cared for him. Who loved him despite his cold touch and stone exterior. He looked away from Constance so that she couldn’t see the thoughtful expression that clouded his face. He was the odd one here amongst taurs that thrived in the warmth of life. Rather he felt as if he lived always for the shadows and the ice of death. Shouldn’t she be the one to have friends since she represented so much of the warmth of summer?
At least he had given her something then. As she suddenly called out Triston snapped back to attention so that he could look at the deserted home. What was he a ghost needing an abandoned place like this to haunt? He almost let out a retort before looking at how her expression glowed as she showed him about and instead his heart softened just a bit. It really wasn’t a bad place…up north he stayed in actual caves of ice and in a way it reminded him of them. Breaking away from Constance he reached out to touch the walls as he made his way past the entrance. It was cool to the touch and not so bad. Especially with how the wind whistled through the cave. Some remnants of items that the family used littered the entrance and Triston bent down to pick up a faded ragdoll quietly. Something a child must have left when either they had grown older and moved out or when the family left in a rush…whichever the case had been.
Perhaps this place could offer him some sanctuary when he was traveling between seasons. This way even despite his home at the tavern he could find this place when he was on his own…or even wandering in the summer heat. Something that happened rarely whenever he ended up staying longer than planned down here. Looking back at Constance he sat the doll up against the wall and nodded quietly, “Thank you.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:42 pm
Walking up to one of the surprisingly sturdy posts, she gently rested her hand on it. "I suppose I should count my family, though I haven't seen them in many years..." She looked at the 'ceiling' hesitantly, choosing to remain outside of the old home. "I know that most townfolk live in homes like these. Though, less underground. I didn't have a house growing up, and I never really gave it much thought until I started traveling and saw them for the first time." She wrinkled her nose. "I don't know about not being able to sleep under the stars, but having something open like this.." She giggled. "I remember when I first found it. Thought about living here myself. I didn't want to take it all for myself though, since I would never go any deeper into it than that table there. And Euthalia and I always have so much work..." She looked off into the woods with pursed lips. How long would the little spirit be mad at her?
Her smile brightened when Triston spoke his appreciation though. "I'm glad you like it! I can help fix it up a bit if you like!" She giggled again. "Though, you'll probably just freeze over anything I do." She turned to walk away from the shadowy home, turning her face up to the autumn sun. "Is the sun truly painful to you? Or is it just when the rest of the air is warm as well?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 3:07 pm
“Blood family?” Triston tried to hide the interest from his voice. He had seen plenty of families together before…but it was still strange to have the realization that most hadn’t been abandoned like him. Rather they had true parents with blood connections that didn’t abandon them for a new lover. The thought trailed off in his head and the cattaur frowned before trialing back outside towards Constance. Did she not like being underground then? “Stars? I understand.” He nodded. Like her he enjoyed being under the night sky, “Up north the lights shine at night.” That was his favorite experience. Every summer when he went up there the dancing lights which lit up the landscape at night soothed him. It was a pure beauty with awed him.
“Why not go further?” Triston questioned her as he gestured towards the house, “It’s still earth and ground.” He studied her as she mentioned work. Was that what he had interrupted? His tail twitched just a bit in thought. She really was a summer cattaur. If she wanted the home then why should he take it from her? The thought made him frown, “I don’t have to live here…if you wanted this place.” He touched one of the poles again and looked over at her, “I won’t take it from you.” He didn’t want to tell her about the tavern. Just the thought of her knowing made a shiver go down his back. If she found out…would she find the place? Would she come there? Not that he minded her…it was just his way of being secretive.
“A winter sun is nice.” He commented quietly before looking away towards the sky with squinted eyes, “But usually it’s so warm…everything melts.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 3:19 pm
"Yes. My blood. I have my mother, my father, and two siblings. They're like me, and care for the woods." Constance looked down at the ground. "They were good, but quite detached. Their main interest was caring for the land, and raising us to do the same. My siblings and I got what we needed."
Her gaze snapped back up with interest. "There are stars up in the winter lands? Are they brighter than the ones here? I bet the snow absolutely sparkles at night!" A dreamy look took to her features. "I love watching the lakes at night, with the starlight making the surface glitter and dance.." Her ears perked, and she shook her head. "Oh, no. I want you to have it. I.. can't go so far underground. It's too... closed in." She dropped her eyes again bashfully. Here she was, showing fear at something that Triston seemed to have no problem with!
Her brow knit curiously. "So, even the winter sun is still quite warm...?" That was an interesting idea. Did that mean she might be able to tolerate winter? As long as the sun was there, it would be fine, right? Of course, Constance had never seen more than a glimpse of winter from her childhood. Though, what would Euthalia do? She would freeze and whine every second!
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 3:44 pm
“Ah.” Triston looked thoughtful as she talked about her family. So they all did the same thing? It must be typical of family members to share many of the same traits then. He wondered if he had a family out there somewhere then who were dedicated to the ice of winter. He frowned though at seeing her glance towards the ground, “I see.” So not even all blood families had the happiest of stories. He nearly reached out towards her before pulling back with realization.
“Yes.” Triston looked back over at her with faint amusement. She really was getting interested, “When the colors gleam on the ice it’s the prettiest.” He admitted softly. He wanted to describe it to her, but was at a loss for words. Thinking he nearly started to do something with his magic before pulling back. Maybe later he could show her. It could be a parting present for when they would separate again. “Shame.” He shook his head at her refusal to go underground, “It’s not all small.” But he respected that. To each their own then.
“Of course.” Triston replied with amusement in his voice, “Same sun.” Just different places and seasons. No matter where it was as long as it shone brightness and warmth followed. Even some winter days he felt warm and out of place.
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:07 pm
She sighed softly at even that small description. "It sounds wonderful..." Wait- what wasn't small? Oh, that... Constance bit her lip and shook her head. The tunnels could have been the size of a whole village and she still would have felt crushed. At least he wasn't pushing the issue.
It.. was the same sun? She peeked up at the bright light with surprise. "Oh! So it's similar to me then! Despite how cold it gets around us, we stay warm!" She giggled and hugged her arms around herself, quite pleased with this new discovery.
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:22 pm
Triston nearly smiled. Hopefully she would enjoy what he would show her later. It was too light out now for him to really give the full effect that the lights could have. Even here…he wondered if he could give a good enough reflection of them. The icy cattaur closed his eyes at the memory. At this rate it would be a long winter down here. It was a shame that these lands didn’t have such sights as what was up north. Admittedly though there were things down here that he could never find back up there among the ice and snow.
Looking over at Constance he nodded with amusement. A soft chuckle escaped him at her reaction. Had she really thought it was so different? He looked over the old house one last time before gazing calmly back towards Constance, “What now?” Already though it was starting to get dark and the cattaur realized that night would be coming soon. There was still time though...before he would have to continue on his way.
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:42 pm
Constance was busy daydreaming about sunlight on a blanket of white, unfortunately missing his chuckle entirely, when Triston asked that question. Now what...? Her eyes went wide, still looking up. Such a horrible, distressing, vile question! There had to be something else they could do before it got too dark! Before she had to go back to work, and follow the warmth. Before she had to go back and get her ears nagged off by Euthalia for her behavior.
"I..." she hugged herself a little tighter, looking over to the winter male. Suddenly, her eyes lit playfully. "Oh, no! I picked what to do already. Now it's you're turn!" She skipped closer to the frozen aura, smiling brightly. "What do you like to do while you're down here?"
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