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 Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:40 am
Raniero and 'smile' - they were two words that rarely met one another in open conversation. On occasions the blue stallion could offer a smirk, but a smile was something reserved for family only. Thus, the mere thought of someone attempting to make him smile made his eyebrow raise curiously. This was a form of entertainment he hadn't seen in a long time due to the lack of jester-like personalities that he had encountered as of late. The stupidity that ensued often amused him to a point but more often than not it served only to further his research. He would humour them for the time being by looking at least mildly interested though. However, his 'mild interest' was not lost on Zhu who could read the blue stallion like a book.
Alas, not a soquili to get involved in immediate disputes, the Uni-Angeni simply offered a smile of understanding to the mare and withdrew his leaf from his wing again. Propping it up in his hooves again, he made himself comfortable and lowered his head so that his lips could brush along the edge of the leaf. For a time he remained in this position as he mused over the most appropriate song before at last he seemed to give a very slight nod and blew.
Raniero prepared himself.
However, the outburst of high pitched squealing that had been anticipated never came and instead, a low and soft whistle began to excape from the musician. The Uni-Angeni's eyes remained closed as he coaxed the leaf (his pet) into singing in complete harmony with the birds above his head. After a moments delay it did and the soft and harmonious song that he had been playing prior to their meeting could be heard with considerably more clarity than before....
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:01 am
Marut herself had been braced for something along the lines of the last musical effort, but when the first notes did sound, she relaxed, her ears taking in the melodious sound, her own eyes shutting as she listened.
When the tune had fixed itself in her mind, she had to restrain from humming along, not knowing at all if her own voice was nice or sounded just as bad as his first musical 'attempt'.
Instead, she just stood quietly, letting it tug at her along with the breeze, standing that way until he happened to finish.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:14 am
"So you can play," Raniero mused as the Uni-Angeni brought his song to a conclusion. His brow remained raised as he attempted to understand the mind of this odd creature. It was a bizarre thing for him to witness, an individual who was openly prepared to look the fool despite possessing the necessary talents to be a 'star'. Having only been accustomed to 'typical' soquili, Raniero was more than a little intrigued by the behaviour demonstrated by the deliberately vague stallion. Raniero had already noted Marut's attempt (and failure) to find his name...
"Yes," Zhu replied, mild mannered as always. Returning the leaf to it's position in his feathers he offered a soft smile towards both Soquili. He knew what soquili craved, they didn't like 'squeals' but the moment in which they could be lulled into a stupor was a dangerous one. It left them vulnerable and open to predators but Zhu had always been of the firm belief that music wasn't music unless you became lost in it and embraced it in it's entirety - risks included. "But then again, Kind Friend #2..." he released a soft and contented sigh. "Music is based on taste and preference...what you find relaxing is a -"
"Pain in the backside to others, I am aware." Raniero finished with a small sniff. Despite the interruption the Angeni remained unphased.
"Correct."
"Then humour me - why do you choose to play poorly, why feign ignorance in light of such skill and intelligence...?"
"Why not?" Zhu retorted calmly, a small and almost impish smile appearing on his lips as Raniero's expression clouded again. "You are very blind, Kind Friend..."
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:25 am
Marut let out a wistful sigh, and for a moment seemed the most composed and gentle a mare she had been in her life. Music did tame the savage beast..even if in this case it meant her hair! She smiled at Zhu.
'That was really wonderful. You have a knack for music, even though that's probably the first time I've heard anyone other than the birds make it.' she fell silent again, still in a peaceful state of mind from his melody. She listened to the two stallions talk and then quietly said.
'Well, I can see that it would have been really fun to watch us yell at you, especially given how we were both trying to sound at the time. Although,' she looked briefly at Raniero.
'I wouldn't have minded hearing the prettier tune the first time.'
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:52 am
"He was playing harmoniously the first time," Raniero addressed Marut without looking at her. It was a shame really, given it was likely he would have found her change in composure to be intriguing. That being said it was highly likely that she would lose it if he did look round. However he had a point in what he had said. Prior to Zhu's interruption, he had been playing a harmonious tune nearby that neither had completely listened to - Raniero had only vaguely paid heed to it, considered it a bird song...
"So well in fact, that I didn't even see him," he raised a brow and continued to observe the pink stallion darkly. There was something that had snapped within the stallion, something that had shifted as he examined the Uni-Angeni. He had never been called blind before, nor had he been spoken to in such a polite yet derogatory way. It both intrigued and repulsed him that this particular creature had the ability to remain polite, yet land such a blow.
"Indeed, Kind Friend!" Zhu's smile never shifted, though his brow did raise as he watched the changing expressions flicker through the panda stallion's eyes. It was unusual how similar both were in terms of up bringing, both with imperial fathers and yet... Each had broken free in their own way. They were both observers, both read into others like books but the similarities ended here.
Raniero was abrasive, Zhu was not.
"Why?"
"You still do not see?" Zhu tilted his head to the side and then released a sigh. Closing his eyes, a small smirk clambered onto his lips and he shook his head. "Perhaps it will give you something to think about, no?" He opened his eyes again and with a courteous bow towards Marut he began to drift away from the pair. No doubt if he had hands he would have waved without turning round. "When you have opened your eyes Kind Friend #2, come and find me again - yes?" He chuckled and with that broke into a trot, leaving a very disgruntled stallion behind him.
What was he missing.
"That insubordinate little...urgh!" Raniero gave an abrupt snort, stomped his hoof and looked away. Shaking his head with such force that the flowers fell from his hair. "Are you happy now?" he enquired at last, having regained his composure. He flicked his gaze towards the mare and arched a brow. "Satisfied?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:10 pm
'I guess I didn't pay attention the first time properly.' Marut shrugged, flicking her hair from her eyes as she did so. She was still in a fairly calm mood, but it was slowly wearing off, and she was starting to feel that itch that meant she needed an outlet for her energy; a good run usually did the trick.
The mare listened again, her head moving between the two stallions as they spoke, noticing that the musician seemed ever calm, and that Raniero was getting..agitated? At Zhu's bow she nodded her own head, and gave him a last smile, watching as he left. Raniero's question drew her attention back to him, and she raised a brow.
'I had some fun if that is what you mean? That squirrel is going to be upset,' she added, having watched the flowers fall to the ground.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:44 pm
She was stating the obvious, it was inevitable that the squirrel would be infuriated by his rough treatment of his hair piece but he was not a trained consort. He could surpress his emotions and rule his actions completely, however now that he had lost his immediate composure he didn't regret it as some might. He merely accepted it and as such, could dismiss the loss of his decoration and prepare for the onslaught of 'abuse' that he would receive in the following hours. So he had wrecked his hair, the hours wasted in fixing it would be punishment enough but he had needed to release some stress - she had already ruined one experiment and that stallion...
Raniero rarely permitted another's words to lay heavily on his shoulders but the stallion had addressed him in such a bizarre way. His eyes narrowed slightly as he mused over the words, attempting to locate whatever it was that he had apparently missed. From his stand point he hadn't missed a thing, what he had concluded was that he needed to observe that pink stallion further to understand him and his methods. He was a pacifist, Raniero could see this...but his behaviour outside of this was erratic and a little more complex.
A dream specimen and yet he could see right through the scholar.
How annoying.
Nevertheless the stallion did at least shoot a scathing glance towards the mare who had been silent for a time. Zhu had 'tamed' the beast through his pretty music indicating she had some appreciation for finer things but she recovered reasonably quickly. Now she looked at him with a raised brow, a mirror of the expression he was often accused of carrying. Aha - how ironic.
"I cannot say I am glad you found entertainment in such a line of study, then you were here for mere novelty than for any semblance of deeper understanding," he flicked his tail against his flank and shook his head. "I am no comedian and the squirrels are always agitated at this time of year -" he rolled his eyes and released a dark chuckle.
"It is Autumn after all," he pointed out loftily as his composure slowly began to return to him. Piece by piece his all but infuriating and arrogant front was reappearing.
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:46 pm
'Well yes, I would have thought that completely obvious given how eager I was for you to find a stallion and try your..err, disguise out on?' Marut grinned. He had to have known she was just along for the ride, it wasn't her idea to make it sooo serious.
'Well, I guess I can say sorry and mean it that I disappointed you or something, but I just like to have fun, and it was. Meeting that stallion who played along so well just made it even more so.' the mare smiled, trying to keep her mirth down to a minimum.
'Are they? I can't say that I keep up with squirrel life, but thanks for the information. So,' she looked at him proper, with only the slightest hint of a smile on her face now.
'Off again? I think I might go for a wander elsewhere if it's okay with you?'
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:55 pm
"Then you lack any immediate observational skills," he snapped darkly. "You are blinkered outside of what is in your immediate range - fun and games will only assist you with so much in life," he added calmly. He was of course referring to her inability to recognise the habits of the creatures around her. For years he had observed the almost frantic behaviour of Squirrels at this time of year. Other animals were much the same and as such he was capable of noting their behaviour and the potential issues it may cause at certain times of years. She may have been capable of spotting his masculine qualities but she fell very short in terms of everything else...
Ah yes, he could safely slip her into a category. She was most definitely female but had so many masculine qualities that she would find interest in only one thing - sports. No doubt if he had been fitter, stronger then he would have received more of a reaction out of her by challenging her to a race. He snorted in distaste at such an idea, the very thought of exerting so much energy for little purpose other than to laugh at the slow pace of another was foolish - much of ones speed was attributed to their build and as an immediate result of this, their physical prowess.
Flicking his curled tail against his flank he at last cast a final look of disdain upon the mare before sauntering away. "Do as you please," he muttered, a dismissive snort coming from his nose as he distaned himself from her. She could chase after the wistful bard for all he cared, so long as she didn't butcher his studies any further. He was not a comedian and as such, wouldn't be viewed as one!
Ah, a shame he lacked a sense of humour outside his family.
"Just stay out of my way," he finished darkly.
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