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 Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:53 am
Okay, so as a foal he really didn't have too much in his life to reflect on as of yet, but he still liked time to think. And time to preen without anyone watching.
This morning he had found a quiet little pond nestled in a small willow grove, with a sandy bank that wouldn't get his white hooves dirty. The bright sun shone down from the gaps in the large trees and in the still water he could see a perfect reflection of himself, white and shining in the warm stream of light. He always thought he looked prettier in the sunlight, it made his coat seem that much brighter, and it was easier to see how soft and healthy it was.
The small unicorn was pleased with his appearance, and turned around a bit so he could better see himself in the water. He puffed out his chest just a little, held his head high, and let his long tail fall in a graceful arch, the confident pose making him feel just that much prettier. He took a couple prancing steps, careful as always to put his feet down in a way which made his fetlocks fall around his hooves in a very flattering manner. Now if only his short mane would grow out...
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:24 pm
 Tina darted behind a tree when she saw the colt in front of her. What was he doing? It looked as though he was practicing poses or something, which was a skill that she had seen her Uncle Ariston do from time to time. But why would a colt be doing that sort of thing also? Wasn't it for adults or something? How strange!
Finding amusement in the situation, Betina decided to make her way around the tree, since hiding wouldn't make for any future enjoyment. She swished her tail as she walked, and bobbed her head up and down in a very cutesy fashion. The colt had to have noticed her at this point, since she stood out completely against the snowy atmosphere.
Once she was close enough to the boy, she widened her eyes out of sheer confusement. Why did he have a horn sticking out of his head? And why was his tail all curvy too?
"Well hi there!" she then said, while smiling happily. "What the heck are you?"
Tina was being as blunt as always, and she continued to stare with wide eyes at the light colt in front of her. He should very well know what he was, since Tina couldn't answer her own question for herself! So in a sense, she demanded to know!
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:55 pm
Raphe paused in his posing when he realized he had company, and perked his ears forward. Well, at least he stopped trying to pose, with all his practicing a flattering stance came naturally to the little unicorn. He regarded the little filly with enough wide-eyed curiosity to match her confusion.
"Hello," he responded politely, smiling in an amiable fashion. He was as fond of his smile as he was of his coat in the sunlight. Besides, she was giving him a pretty smile, so he should return it.
His smile faded a bit as the little filly asked him what he was. Wasn't it obvious? He was the same thing as she was. It had occurred to him that she had a swishy-tail like his mother, and no horn, but his surrogate mother hadn't yet explained to him why he had a horn and a different tail. He just thought it to be another regular difference like how his fur was white and hers was a dark rose. But... maybe she hadn't ever seen a boy before, and that's why she was confused.
"Um, I'm a colt," he replied, hoping that would clear up some of the confusion.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:50 pm
Tina, rather then getting upset or something, let out a well deserved laugh, since apparently she had confused the boy! "Well DUH you are a colt." she then answered, while sticking her tongue out. "But what's with that horn and tail? I've never seen those before."
It was true, those were traits she had never seen or heard of, and she had only noticed wings on her father and brother. Horns and tails were a new discovery apparently! But, rather then dwelling on the physical, Tina took a few more steps forward so she could get a look at the boy. His coloring was so light, and she could have mistaken him for the snow! "Well, what's your name? Mine's Betina, but you can call me Tina. Everyone calls me that." And with a wisp of her head, she grinned as ladylike as she could.
"My sister and brother are much different then me, although you would probably like my sister, she is very friendly like me. But my brother is antisocial and weird, so you'd probably be freaked out." As usual, the filly was blabbering away, and she was acting as if it were nothing! "You got any siblings?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:47 pm
Raphe blinked, and tilted his head in an attentive manner. Why did she stick her tongue out like that? It made her look silly, and even though he was amused by it he decided he would not mimic the behavior.
"There's nothing 'with them', they are just me," he replied with a smile and a pretty laugh of his own. "Nobody I've met has them either." He swished his tail happily and struck a subtle pose, he liked to be looked at, so even if it was truly unusual it didn't bother him. The horn and tail was more likely to make him special than some kind of freak.
The filly's smile was certainly more graceful than that tongue face, and Raphe was quick to respond with like greetings. "I'm Raphe, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said, ducking his head in a short bow even as he smiled at how naturally the practiced phrase had to come to him. He thought that was how you introduced yourself to a girl, even if it was a girl who made funny faces.
"I don't have any brothers or sisters, it's just my mother and I," he said, smiling as he assumed his confident posture, and then after a second he took a couple dainty steps to re-center himself in the shifting beam of sunlight. Family was a confusing and almost frightening topic to the little colt, since he lacked a proper family of his own. He had no idea what it would be like with siblings, having to share his mother's attention with others instead of having it all to himself. "Why would I be freaked out?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:40 pm
"Man you pose a lot." Tina then said, while giggling a little. "Are you trying to impress me? Daddy warned me that boys will be like that some day." And Daddy knew everything, so Betina was sure that he was right! The filly then shuffled her feet in an energetic manner before bringing her attention back on the male.
She decided not to ask him about his horn and tail anymore, since she didn't want to offend him or anything. So instead, she dwelled on some of his other questions, and just continued to smile in a cheery manner. "Well Louie freaks me out, so I wouldn't be surprised if he freaked anyone else out. He says the strangest things sometimes, and I guess that's why? Confusing things tend to freak me out!" The filly then crinkled her nose, since she wasn't exactly perfect at explaining the situation.
"What's your mom like?" she then asked, while tilting her head carefully. "I love my mother.. I want to be strong and confident like her when I grow up." Betina knew that if she just payed attention and watched her mother, she could learn from all of the amazing things she did. "Well if you need a sibling I can help you out and be your friend." Betina was looking to make friends, but she wasn't really sure how! "I know me and sister Rosa play a lot, so we can play if you'd like." Rosa and Betina would create little games for fun, while Louie would just glare at them or something. "What do you say, Raphe?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:25 pm
Raphe glanced down at himself, perfectly illuminated against the more shaded scenery. If she had noticed his efforts he would definitely have to be more subtle about his posing in the future. He took a couple more dainty steps on the spot, shifting and testing the light's angle. In reality he would like to impress everyone, including his new friend, but that was not something he thought he needed to admit out loud. Instead he took the opportunity to bring up a related topic that he took very, very seriously. "When I stand like this, does it make me look prettier?"
The little unicorn's confident posture didn't waver even when asking such a self-conscious question, nor did he seem to fall back into a more carefree, colt-ish way of standing when his mind wandered to the family stuff rather than his appearance. "It sounds like fun, talking to somebody you don't always understand." Maybe if he were someone's brother, he would be confusing too.
"My mother is really nice, and knows a lot of things, and sings songs at night." A happy smile worked it's way across Raphe's features as he thought about his mother, but he really brightened up as a little bubble of happiness welled up. "You would be my sister?" He asked, almost prancing lightly with excitement. He had asked his mother much the same thing, and could accept Tina as family with the same seriousness if she would have him.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:28 pm
.... Prettier? "Boys aren't supposed to be pretty!" she then said, with a wide grin. "Girls are supposed to be pretty, see, like me!" And with that, she did a small turn on one of her legs, only to gracefully land with flushed cheeks and a huge smile. "That's what we do!" She had to admit, it was completely shocking to see a male who cared about his posture and prettiness, so Raphe was really something, wasn't he?
"I mean, it is good to care about your appearance, but boys are supposed to be all elegant and strong. At least that's how my daddy is!" Her father really was something, and even when Betina would sneak behind him, she could tell that he was very popular with all of the mares. "But then there are some that are super manly and tough, and don't talk a lot.. it just depends who YOU are."
Tina was only going with what she knew, and she giggled while trying to think of more advice to say. When she had given up mentally, she decided to dwell on the other topic of conversation, which was Raphe's mother!
"You mother sounds lovely! I am sure I would like her a lot!" Betina loved the thought of a mother singing, and she would surely do that if she had kids! "Well, unfortunately I can't be a real sister.. but friends can be known like that, right? I know boys call each other brothers sometimes.." she was happy the colt was so happy, and she just wanted his experience to be less lonely.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:20 pm
"Why can't boys be pretty too?" Raphe asked, frowning just a bit since too much frowning wasn't pretty at all. That didn't make any sense, that being pretty was for girls alone, it just had to be possible for boys to be pretty too. After all, his mother had called him pretty and she would never lie to him.
Being elegant and strong sounded good, but the little unicorn thought he could be both of those and pretty too, then others would really like him. He could have done that twirly thing too if he really wanted... Unknowingly he took a couple dainty, prancing steps, and gently tossed his mane in what would have been a very striking gesture had his mane actually been longer. Raphe prayed it would grow longer really soon, then he would be undeniably pretty.
"Your mother sounds really lovely too, but I think you're confident already." Raphe replied honestly, having settled his inner turmoil with thoughts of a much longer mane. He gave her a winsome smile. "And you could be a real enough sister too, I don't have any sisters that would be more real." The thought of adding to his family, even if it was only in words, cheered him substantially.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:43 am
" 'Cause boys can be handsome." she then said, with a blunt nod. "Handsome is waaay different then pretty. Everyone knows that." Tina was starting to wonder why this colt was so obsessed with being pretty.. it was a feminine word, and he would get made fun of if he continued to say that sort of thing! "I advise you to change your wording a bit, so that it fits in with your well, gender."
Tina was only going by what she had heard, and she shrugged slightly before adding, "But hey, whatever floats your boat I guess. I don't want to go around advising you to do this and that. It's not my right you know!" Tina wasn't of a bossy type either, so she was glad to correct and adjust her words, so she didn't come off as mean or anything!
"Well thank ya!" she then said, since Raphe's compliment was so kind. "I try to be confident, but it doesn't really matter that much to me. I just like to be myself!" And with that, she hopped on one hoof before balancing herself playfully. "You must be confident too, since you keep staring at yourself and posing! Daddy always says that's a sign of confidence!"
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:17 am
"It does... float my boat." Raphe said awkwardly. He didn't understand the phrase, but he got the gist of it well enough. He would continue to aim for pretty, because that's how he was, and even though he could learn from Tina he was happy he wouldn't have to try being un-pretty or anything like that. The little unicorn foal grinned at the idea. Perhaps he could expand his goals somewhat.
"I could be handsomely pretty." He stated happily, unknowingly shifting once again to make the best use of the light and puffing out his chest a little. That would be a good compromise, because then the girls that wanted boys to be handsome would like to look at him too.
The little unicorn grinned and daintily stepped away from the pond, and closer towards his 'acrobatic' friend. "I think you're confident because you talk like you're confident, and you do things like you're not afraid of tripping." He tilted his head gracefully and smiled. "Your dad must know a lot of things about being pretty, I don't have a dad to show me."
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:06 am
"My dad is the best!" she then said, while gloating a bit. "But I am very sorry that you don't have a father, but you are welcome to meet mine sometime. I'm sure he would be very nice to you, and hopefully he could help you with your pretty quest." Betina nuzzled Raphe kindly, before regaining her stature at the side of him. Poor fellow.. it seemed he still had a lot to learn! Maybe she was more used to things because her parents were always so blunt with her and her siblings? Either way, it made her happy!
"I talk like I am confident? Well thanks! You are full of compliments, aren't ya?" Goodness, she would get a big head if he continued on like that. "It will be interesting to see how you grow, Raphe. I think it would be awesome if you proved to everyone that being pretty was ok for a guy. I'd support you!" Tina really enjoyed that thought, since anything was possible really! If someone was bent on something and gave it their all, hell even Raphe could be considered pretty if he wanted it!
"Its every girls dream to grow up pretty.. but who's to say you can't dream like that either? I am sure you will grow up as something... fabulous!" she then said, with a wide grin.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:26 am
Raphe felt his cheeks heat up a bit at the nuzzle, but it was accompanied by the same warmth and happy feeling as a compliment. For a second he let his head drop into an almost shy pose. It was certainly different from his mother's nuzzles, but it was good too, so he decided it would be better not to lose his poise because of it.
"I would like to meet your father, and your family," he said once he had his bright smile and chin up again. "It sounds like it would be a lot of fun. And you do talk like you're confident. At least, that's how it seems to me."
He laughed softly as he thought about it. "Why do we have to wait until we grow up to be pretty? I think we can be plenty pretty right now." His expression took on an odd, almost determined and plotting quality. "But if you think I can be fabulous, I would have to wait until I grew up. My mane isn't nearly long enough right now. I really hope it grows out soon..."
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:48 am
"Well, I'm not saying we aren't pretty now." Tina then added, while correcting herself. "I just mean that we get more praise when we are older, since no one takes foals seriously when they are young.." Betina's face molded into a bit of a frown, since she wanted to be mature like everyone else. It drove her nuts to get little recognition, but she knew it would be better when she grew up, it just had to be!
Her thoughts were placed on the foal again, and she could only laugh in a silly manner. "So you want your mane to be super long and girly? I could have guessed that!" The filly was amused by the male's fascination with his hair, pose, and reflection, and she could easily connect them all together to understand that it was his wish to well, cross over and be what he wanted. "I have seen stallions with long hair so I guess its not that weird actually."
Plus, it was Raphe's wish to do what he wanted, and Tina wasn't going to stop him! "I have no idea what I want my hair to grow out like.. my father has super curly hair, so who knows what will happen." Appearances didn't really bother the filly, since she knew both of her parents were gorgeous anyways, so her growing up gorgeous was a given!
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:39 am
"You think so?" Raphe asked brightly, he was pleased with the attention he attracted even at his young age, so the thought of more as he grew simply delighted him. "It would be really nice to be looked at more often." He was pretty sure the more others looked at him, the more they would like him.
"Long manes are prettier," he explained with a nod, now that he had someone he could confide in about his notions of pretty, he was going to take that very seriously. "Mine is too short to toss with any flair, or blow gracefully in the wind, and it doesn't accent my neck at all. It doesn't even lie flat, or do anything I want it to." Obviously Raphe had put a lot of thought into his mane, and he was almost anxious for it to grow out. The biggest tragedy he could imagine would be for it to stay short forever.
"Your mane looks pretty straight to me," he said, tilting his head in a delicate, curious gesture. "Do you suppose it could get really curly even though it's kinda straight now?" He swished his tail a bit, and glanced down at his fluffy fetlocks. They weren't curly either, and his mother had a soft, straight mane, but there was no guarantee he would grow up like that too. He knew somewhere there would be a mother and a father who he would look like some day, but they could be anyone, and have any kind of mane.
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