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 Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:23 pm
'cuz you are beautiful inside
So lovely, and I...
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This is a private roleplay between Logue and Yayoi.
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:49 pm
 He hadn't been able to sleep.
The day was still young, the sun sending bright beams that shot through the morning mist as it began its ascension over the forest. His sisters would tease him, call him a recluse, but Arka truly did feel only at ease when he was able to meander through the serene trees, something he made a habit out of lately. It was almost hauntingly beautiful, and he was sensitive enough to appreciate it. So quiet, so undemanding, so peaceful.
Picking up cloven hooves with surprisingly dainty care, Arka stepped over a new path, head bent low to avoid frightening the forest dwellers the best he could. The trees around the kalona were dark, some illuminated by a sunny haze. He could see traces of breath whenever he exhaled, and shook out his wings.
The sound of rapidly-beating wings drew his attention toward a grove, of sorts; a large tree had raised its roots above the ground, twisting over the soil like outstretched fingers. It was surrounded by several large bushes and, upon closer inspection, also housed the familiar, thorny vines of a rosebush. It seemed entirely unusual, Arka noted with a sharp intake of breath, to see a rose bush in the forest. At least, to him. When he approached it, he was even more surprised at what he came upon.
Stuck in the array of plant life was a mare; lithe, heavy-lashed and in apparent distress, she was caught. The frantic chittering of a forest animal told him she was not alone, and slowly, he began to put two-and-two together. He took another step forward, instinctively folding his wings against his sides at the sight of another.
"Ah... ah, hello?" he asked softly, hoping to avoid scaring her. He had long ago become very aware of the fact that his appearance had the tendency of frightening other soquili, particularly mares. He was working on rectifying that, but it was proving to be a long, difficult road. "Mare, do you... no, hold still. I'll release you."
With that, he took the constricting plants in his mouth, snapping them with sharp teeth. Slowly, he freed the mare, and in the process, the animal, as well. He was not surprised to see it hurry behind the mare, shaking and eyeing him as if he were a demon. Well, he certainly couldn't blame it.
Heaving a sigh, he drew his gaze from the creature to the mare, looking prepared to leave. "There you go. Be careful next time... the forest can be unforgiving." He nodded once, awkwardly, and glanced away. "Ah, no... that's not right. First, are you... alright? Are you hurt?
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:13 pm
The day had started off well enough. Faith had risen from a gentle sleep. Hardly ever did she had troubled dreams. Quite frankly, she did not worry about much so there was never anything there lurking in her subconcious.
After a quick drink from a nearby pool the mare began her wandering. She had picked up a stick, tossed it into the air and whichever way the pointy end pointed was the way she would go. Today the pointy end directed her towards a large expanse of dimly lit trees. Well, no use in fighting with fate. Or sticks.
She had moved quietly along a windy path. Blue eyes shining with interest as she peered at all she could see. Stopping to smell random flowers before continuing on her way.
The sound of distressed chittering caught her attention quickly. Ears swivling forward in an alert position as the sound drew her ever closer to its source. And before she knew it she had come upon a large group of thorny vines. The chittering coming from within.
"Oh well hold on now." She reached down, lipping at the sharp vines. Thorns stinging her lips before she drew her head back quickly. Well that wasn't going to work too well. These vines were just too sharp.
So she pawed at vines, drawing them up and back. But before she knew it she too was entangled. Thorns biting at her skin as she struggled to get them off, only making things a bit more complicated. Small lines of blood formed on her flanks as she moved about. The little critter dancing around her hooves as he tried to stay out of the way.
But all of a sudden, as if her mind was screaming her thoughts a winged stallion appeared out of no where. Was he to be her rescuer? Oh she hoped so! These vines were quite painful. And then all of a sudden she was free, the critter as well who decided to hide, shakeing behind her.
A warm smile came to her lips as she gave the stallion a small, sheepish grin. She hadn't even noticed that he seemed to be just about ready to take off as suddenly as he appeared. "I'll be fine. I'm part unicorn so these little scrapes are nothing really." She lifted a front leg which had a pretty big cut across the knee. "I guess the rescuer needed rescuing herself. Thank you." She flicked her long blue tail at the critter behind her who quickly took off and up a tree, chittering what could possibly be a thank you.
Faith turned her attentions back to the stallion. Studying him closely, though not quite letting him see that she was studying him. He seemed...a little edgy? Was that the word she was looking for? Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth she pondered this for a moment before his wings caught her attention. They weren't feathery like wind wings, more like bat wings. She'd never seen those kinds of wings before.
"Mmm, well. I'm sure he's thankful that you helped as well. Perhaps he was just hungry and wanted to get home for a snack." Taking a step towards Arka she smiled more. "So my rescuer of rescuers...might I know your name?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:44 pm
Oh, well that was... curious. She wasn't running away, nor was she regarding him as if he were some sort of monster, something he had grown quite accustomed to from 'outsiders'. As he shyly examined her in return, Arka could feel himself growing a bit more comfortable, and decided he liked the feeling very much. It was new, to feel comfortable outside of his herd. That, and strange.
He furrowed his brow at the pricks of blood that spotted her pale coat. When she lifted a leg and presented the wound on her knee, his mouth opened as if to make a noise, but no sound came out. Instead, he leaned forward, looking troubled. When he leaned back again, he gently shook his head, still glancing over her wounds. He wouldn't have pegged her as being part unicorn, judging from the shape of her horn, but... well, it made sense, now, why she so fearlessly dove into the thorns.
"There is no need to thank me," he murmured, tossing his mane to force his bangs from an eye. Before he knew it, she was approaching him, and he immediately began to feel even more self-conscious and... dare he say it, bashful? 'Nice' mares had never spoken to him before, and it was showing. He did his best not to stutter like a fool, head turning away.
"My name? Ah.... it's Arka." He shifted his weight from one side to the other, short tuft of a tail flicking awkwardly. "And... you are?
His tone was laced with an almost virginal curiosity, his composure yielding to her warm nature. Already, he could tell, he was feeling less and less uncomfortable, although her gaze still made him feel as if he should hide his wings. Yet, there was no judgment in her eyes, nor in her tone, only a curiosity that matched his own. Again, it was a first. The small creature was already forgotten, and Arka felt that he didn't want to run away as much as he had before.
Today was already turning out to be... different. And he liked it.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:15 am
She smiled at the look of concern that came to his pale face as he examined the wound on her knee. It didn't really bother her all that much. Only stinging on random occasions. But perhaps she had just grown so used to being doted on by her own mother that really it felt natural. Of course, her mother sometimes took it a little too far with the whole concern...nurturing...stuff.
Faith tsked a couple of times. "No, not thanking you would be rude. I don't like people to think I am not grateful for their help in whatever matters it may be." Flicking her long blue hair, she blew a puff of air between her lips. Flipping a piece of red mane out of her eyes. Though the one side covered half her face anyway. A signature trademark from her mother.
She noted as she drew closer the air of of self-consciousness that seemed to grow around him. Faith, though naive sometimes, could still at least pick up on others emotions through their body language. Not that that was anything special really, it was simple if you knew well enough how others reacted.
Her head tilted as he turned his head away. A delicate eyebrow lifting as she took a smaller step closer to him this time. Testing the waters.
"Ah, Arka." Blue eyes lifted towards the tree tops as she pondered his name and she chewed on her bottom lip in contemplation before her gaze returned to him. "My name is Faith. Its a pleasure to meet you, Arka." She lowered her head briefly before lifting it back up again.
The mare tried to inch a little closer. His wings were of a generally strong interest to her. She knew how feathers worked to help birds and the Wind Soquili fly, but how well did these leathery ones carry their owner through the sky? Were they capable of getting much lift or did one just glide downwards from a great height? She reached out her nose to touch one gently. "I like your wings. They sure are different from the ones I've seen."
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 10:50 am
"Faith," he repeated, expression becoming contemplative. "It's a good name. Suitable..." He trailed off, as if unsure as to where, exactly, he planned on going with that. He certainly needed to practice giving compliments, it seemed.
Under her scrutinizing gaze, he knew he must have appeared entirely too concerned with himself; how he was carrying himself, his appearance... at the moment, he was trying desperately to hide the sharp points of teeth that resided in his mouth which, thankfully, he never really seemed to open that often, anyway. Somehow, though... she was making him talk more than he was accustomed to. And not in the way he reserved for his sisters: yelling. No, he felt... calm.
When her soft nose brushed against a wing, Arka flinched visibly, turning a wide eye to watch her. Of course, she went straight for the wings - they seemed different from other kalona wings, although he felt they wouldn't be so uncommon, soon. Especially at the rate his father was working. Faith wasn't poking them out of disgust, however; she was genuinely curious. He could see it in her eyes. Gods, she was fearless, or something.
Not that she had anything to fear. He would rather gnaw his own leg off than succumb to the age-old temptations of his kalona blood. The idea of being dictated as to how one should act by race alone was such a stupid thing, he'd decided, so it was such a... relief? Such a relief, to finally meet someone who seemed to think the same that wasn't 'family'.
He stretched out both wings slowly, letting her get a good look at them. Although he felt his face must have been burning from embarrassment, he let her inspect them. "Ah, thank... you. They are kalona wings. They can be a bit of a pain, at times -" he winced in recollection "- for example, they are somewhat easy to 'tear' if caught on something. It hurts very,very much." Forgetting himself, he chuckled lightly. "Although I suppose they do have their use."
With a wing, he gestured toward her forehead. "And what of that horn? It is... pardon me, unusual. I have never seen a horn like it. You say you are part unicorn? I have unicorns in my herd, and none have a horn shaped quite like that. Can you... heal with it?" It truly was a curiosity. He was used to the long, thin spirals, yet hers was shaped... well, lovelier, he supposed. It looked almost crystalline, like it would be very smooth, but also very fragile. He knew the latter couldn't possibly be true, but that seemed to be the charm of such a mare. She seemed dainty and naive, in a way, yet she already displayed inner strength akin to that of any other mare he had met.
She was truly a mystery. Faith... he couldn't figure her out.
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 1:46 pm
"Mmm, well. I'm sure my mother would be appreciative of you thinking my name is suitable. She is the one who named me after all." A melodic laugh passed through the pale mares lips as she shook her head lightly.
Amuseing thoughts running through her mind at the time of how her mother might react to his words if she were present. Not to say her mother was egotistical, but the older mare did hold herself at a fairly high standard.
Faith smiled brightly as he opened his wings a little furthur to let her get a better look. Indeed they were quite intrigueing although it seemed to her that Arka did not feel the same way about them. "Kalona?"
She had heard tails of Kalona, but never actually seen one in person herself. So she wasn't quite sure what attributes one of that breed might carry to actually be able to sit there and pick one out of a line up. They had a repuation for ferocity but in Faith's mind that was just the way they were. And she figured their personalities and ways of thinking were as varied as any other breed of Soquili. Now, depending on which variant you came across that day was another story.
But it bothered her not. Arka obviously was not like those she had heard of. So there was nothing in her mind to be fearful of in the first place.
Faith went cross eyed for a moment as she looked up at her horn to which he had motioned towards. A gift from her father's line. "Not all Unicorns have the same type of horn really. There is one look that is common but over time, just as with any other kind of trait, it can change. I think if we all had the same kind of horn it would get boring after a while."
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, an odd habit that really came out of no where, she tilted her head slightly to the side. "Well, since I'm not a full blooded Unicorn I can only heal minor wound. Nothing big and serious like they can. So I usually keep my healing to helping any hurt animals I come across. My healing is a lot more successful on them than it is a Soquili who is larger than them. I'm always happy to help them the best I can." She frowned lightly. The corners of her mouth falling downwrd. "Sadly, any Unicorn's healing, full blooded or not, can only fix physical injuries."
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Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 8:41 pm
His ears pinned slightly; not out of hostility or irritation, but out of confusion. Faith hadn't seemed upset at all when she heard the word "kalona" uttered. In fact, the inquisitive tone of her voice, riddled with honest curiosity, led him to believe that this was her first time seeing a kalona. It was an immense relief. She didn't seem the type to allow rumors and stories to sway her beliefs too strongly, which meant he would have a chance to prove himself before being judged outright.
Well, no, he told himself, a soft breath escaping his lips. That wasn't necessarily true. He had been too eager to let his guard down, something he had told himself, over and over again, that he would never do. Although he seriously doubted the possibility of being manipulated and betrayed by the kindly mare, it also wouldn't do to underestimate her, or anyone.
His eyes briefly looked upward in exasperation. There he was, overthinking things again. How nice it must be to be able to relax -- he shook his head, in turn shaking the idle thoughts away. No, she was alright. Faith was alright. He could feel it.
Ah, so unicorns, too, came with various types of horns. Did their healing abilities differ with their horn styles? He decided not to ask.
"The world is a mysterious place," he concluded, nodding firmly. "That's... true. It would be boring, if we were all the same." At that, he felt a smile begin to tug at his lips. He had been raised to believe that diversity was the best for everyone, that everyone should be accepted for who they were on the inside, not the outside. Conformity meant submission, which meant weakness of the heart and spirit.
"Sadly, any Unicorn's healing, full blooded or not, can only fix physical injuries."
His ears perked forward, and he stared at her in surprise. It was silly, but he felt as if that comment had been directed personally at him, although he knew there were many others who felt the same. Still, accidental or not, her insight had struck a cord in him and caught him off guard. Hesitantly, he leaned his neck forward, peering down at her.
"Pardon me for intruding, but... are you speaking from experience? You... don't have to answer if you don't want to." It was rare for him to press the matter, to delve into others' personal lives, but his curiosity couldn't be held back. Falling silent, he studied her frown, watched her pale face carefully, hopefully.
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Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 5:23 pm
Faith never judged one based upon things she had heard. She found it quite silly, in fact for anyone to do such things. For she knew that many thought Unicorns were subdued, gentle creatures who always would lend aid, when indeed there were those who were just as ferocious and black hearted as any Kalona of that nature. And vice versa.
Why judge before you truely knew? Even their own kind judged them. Though she was still quite young she had watched a few altercations when traveling about along side her mother. Dawn never sheilded her eyes from the truth of the world. She wanted her to take it all in. There was no use in stareing at the world with closed eyes. Grasping at it in the dark.
She smiled as she caught his own smile tug at his lips. Arka seemed to be having some sort of inner debate with himself a moment ago, but with a shake of his head the moment passed.
"Thats what makes it such a wonderous world. So many mysteries. And even when you think you've run out of mysteries to discover the world throws ever more your way." She smiled more. "Thats what I love about it, really."
Faith blinked her blue eyes a few times as he leaned towards her. Well that was certainly an interesting developement to say the least. He had been withdrawn for most of this, so far, short encounter that she hadn't expected him to lean towards her. The male seemed to shy away and hide himself in plain sight. But even so she didn't step back, just looked up at him with that same, warm smile.
She didn't mind answering his question. Faith wasn't quick to pick up on the fact that perhaps her insight had struck something of an emotional response with him though. He seemed pretty good at hiding it well.
"Well....not my own personal experience. I haven't felt that kind of pain before if that is what you are asking. To me personally, at this point and time, it would be like describing color to a creature without eyes." Pursing her lips, more curiosity bubbled up inside of her. "Have you?" It was a bold question, but he had asked her first.
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Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 5:28 pm
Hesitation caused Arka to withdraw, his hooves moving before he realized he was even taking a step back. It occurred to him that he had stood there and started a conversation with a complete stranger, something which was a complete mystery to him as to how it even came about; it was Arka's way to simply be done with someone and leave. Perhaps he was lonelier than he thought.
Willfully, he forced himself to answer the personal question, for it was only fair. After all, he had pressed the matter with her, and it had been very rude of him to do so. Her lack of hesitation in answering suggested that she was very much unlike him - not held down by fear of rejection or fear of being looked down upon for acting as he pleased. Why couldn't he be himself, as his sisters had done? They lived life as they chose, and although they made mistakes, they had the courage to admit to it and live with it. He ran away from those things like a coward.
Well, not anymore.
"Every... day," he said quietly, bowing his head a bit so his bangs would find refuge over his eyes completely. "If I leave the herd, even for a short while, I am judged, and I can feel their eyes on me wherever I go, regardless of whether or not they are truly there. I have been treated like a monster many times, but..." He quieted, knowing what he said next would make him sound foolish. Normally, he would have kept it to himself, hoping the other would still retain a somewhat normal opinion of him, but he had already decided to go through with it. It felt like a confession, which wasn't far from the truth. He sucked in a breath and continued boldly.
"It's... it's all me. I know things aren't as bad as they seem, but I am so afraid of opening up to others and letting them know that I am not as they say that I... in the end, I only fuel their anger or fear."
He tossed his head to the side, glaring out into nothing. It was frustrating - absolutely frustrating to admit something like that, yet know he had done very little to actually help the matter. The most he had done was scold his sisters for the way they acted, hoping someone would hear him and think that he was the level-headed one. The calm, normal one. To no avail, he knew, but he still did it as if hoping the outcome would someday reflect his efforts.
Fearfully, he looked back to Faith. He knew it was written all over him, now, his utter fear of rejection. Now it seemed inevitable; she would see him for the coward he was and push him away, just as he had always imagined it.
Fool! he thought, dropping his gaze to the ground. You utter fool...
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:43 am
His hesitation and step backward was no real surprise to her. Faith knew that perhaps her asking the same question to him might garner this reaction. But she merely saw it as another wall that he would try to throw up to shield himself. The vibe that the stallion gave off was one of sadness, confusion, anger. It enveloped the air so thick that it threatened to draw others into it if they were not careful.
But that didn't mean there was not hope.
His words, though, gave her heart much pain. It ached for him. To be rejected and thought so cruel by others that you trusted and spent your time with must have been the most awful thing one could experience.
A frown tugged at the corner of her lips, but before it could even fully form another smile swept it away. Her ears moved back and forth as she took a soft step towards him, leaning her head forward to brush his bangs away gently with her nose so that he could not hide his eyes behind them.
"I do not think you give yourself enough credit, Arka." Her voice was softer and a bit more hushed. "In the few moments that we've known each other you have opened up to me. Bared your heart and soul to me." Faith's red mane ruffled lightly in a soft breeze that fluttered by as she gave her long blue tail a small flick.
Straining her neck upwards, she leaned in close to his ear. Still a smile on her lips. "I believe you are quite courageous and not the fearful stallion you think you are. It takes a lot of strength to do what you just did and I admire you for that."
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:23 pm
Where he would have normally fled, Arka found himself glued to the spot as Faith drew close. She moved his bangs for him and he did not step back or push her away, although he could feel himself tense up out of discomfort. No; not discomfort, but... nervousness? He knew he was incredibly nervous. He bit his lip and practiced the calming techniques his father had taught him.
He did not give himself enough credit? Wasn't it pompous to assume that he was more than he was, though? To have a high opinion of oneself seemed so... cocky, so self-centered. He couldn't remember a time when he had projected those kinds of feelings to himself.
He blinked, and she was by his ear. It flicked but still he remained where he was, listening to her words and trying to believe them. He ducked his head, his own voice growing soft again.
"You... admire me? For admitting to my own faults?" he asked, sounding dubious. Arka bit his lip again; no, this kind of behavior was what drew him into his own shell all the time. It was what robbed him of his strength, which he knew he possessed - both mentally and physically.
Faith was right. It was time for him to stop putting himself down and start to see the better parts of himself.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Arka felt a genuine smile tug at his lips. He lifted his head and looked at Faith, unable to contain it.
"No one has ever... told me that. No one... no one has ever believed in me, especially not a stranger." He felt a little foolish for how giddy he felt over the ordeal, but he honestly felt like a weight had been lifted off his back. Like his wings were no longer tied to his sides.
"Faith... I want to believe you, he admitted, glancing down. All he'd ever wanted was to be able to believe those words. Was it really this simple? All he needed was a little encouragement? He looked into her eyes again, his own holding a look of determination that was rare in them. "So I will. Thank you. You have... you've given me confidence I didn't know I could have. I need to repay you, kind mare."
Anything. She could name anything and he would see to it that her request was fulfilled. That was how liberated Arka felt; how free his heart suddenly seemed. Even if the moment was fleeting -- no, he would see to it that it wasn't. He was going to take these words from a benign mare and hold them to his heart for as long as he lived.
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:13 am
Faith gave him a slightly cheeky grin and nudged his shoulder gently with her own. "It takes a big person to admit that they have faults, Arka. And an even bigger person to embrace them."
She turned her head to gaze off into the distance as if deep in thought. Her eyes lidded half way while her lips pursed lightly. "So many people cannot admit to their faults and even fewer want to embrace them. Because they are afraid that others will not accept them unless they are flawless. But we all have flaws. And it is our flaws that make us who we are and what make us endearing to others. To deny them would be to deny your true self." The young mare turned her gaze back to him, a softer smile upon her lips once again.
"I, personally, would rather know someone with all their flaws."
Tilting her head slightly, her bangs falling to the side slightly revealing her other eye momentarily. "No one?" A small frown tugged at the corner of her lips. All her life her mother had always been there. Always believed in her and her ambitions. How was it that this stallion could of gone his entire life so far with no one believing in him?
She caught the sudden look of determination in his eyes and it made her heart flutter momentarily. How interesting that it was that with only a few words of encouragement his temperament had turned around so quickly. And it made her smile internally that it was her that put that look into his eyes.
Repay? For a few words of encouragement? If he was wanting to repay her for that then the boost of confidence she had given him must have meant much more to him that she would have expected. Biting her bottom lip, she thought. Only a hearts beat passed before she spoke. "Would...would you mind if I traveled with you for a while? I haven't really traveled very far and I would feel a bit more comfortable if I had a travel companion for a while." She toed at the ground with a hoof lightly as she cast her gaze downward. "I promise I won't be too much of a bother. And once you get tired of me I would leave." Her voice was soft and timid now. It was probably an odd request and she wouldn't be hurt if he said no.
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