[PRP] A Little R&R (Cicely and Ian)

[Summer Raaven]

Growing up was easy.
Easier than expected, at least.

His brothers didn't take it very well at first, they were still both colts at heart and wanted to still be carefree without being judged. But Ian was grateful, foalhood was not one of his fondest memories. Oh, he loved being small, it was easier to manuever, but he hated playing. He didn't like getting down and dirty, he saw no point to it. Becoming an adult just gave the stallion an oportunity to be the self that he was supposed to be. No longer did he have to fake it, because 'you could be whoever you wanted to be when you grew up'....wasn't that the saying?

But there were, of course, some downs to getting older as their were the ups. His Father still acted like a colt, which humilated him around other stallions, or pretty mares...he couldn't understand why his Father acted that way, and although he never questioned it, the possible answer bothered him. Ian did love Bliss though, despite the flaws. He was a good guy, a caring father, and he did keep his son on his hoofs a lot.

So Ian was the backbone to his family, as he liked to call himself. He kept his Father in line, he made sure things didn't get too out of hand with the whole 'Kureno situation'. His Mother...oh, boy, his Mother was a different story.

Her boys were grown, so they didn't need her as much as before. She didn't fawn over them like trophy's, it was a gigantic weight lifted off of Ian's shoulders when he happened to become an adult. Not that he didn't love his Mother, Evelyn was fantastic....but she was different too. Almost as if she wished none of this happen, Ian could see it when he looked at her.

So he was happy to be alone, and have no parents to really worry about him all the time. He, on the other hand, worried about his parents all the time. They were so different then him, in so many ways...he couldn't imagine acting the way either of them did...life like that would just be completely unbearable.

But they seemed fine the way they were, they were happy. And if Evelyn and Bliss were happy, Ian was happy.

A stick in the middle of a muddy pathway made a loud SNAP as the weight of a rather large stallion pressed hard against it as he walked, and broke it in half. His mind was preoccupied at that moment, having no idea he just killed a poor stick....  

[`raze]

Growing up was not easy.
It was not as easy as expected.

Transcending from adulthood from fillyhood proved to be nothing but another challange in her life. Though she had been on her own for a while now and not doing half bad, she'd do anything to go back to her filly days and avoid that one fateful day that has ruined the possibility of an easy future. It wasn't like the ghostly mare to mope and emo like this, but on dark, gray-skied days like the one that day, it was unavoidable.

She layed under a tree in the comfort of it's shade. She had her head rested on the ground, her eyes half-lidded as she tried to woo herself to sleep. There was something in the air... Something that made the mare woozy but excited. Was it the oncoming storm? Or was something else coming her way? She lifted hr head for a second to toss her mane, a habit that often came into play when she was anxious. She settled her head back into the slightly moss grass once more, this time her eyes opened and searching.

In the distance, she heard a branch crack. Oh well, she was sleeping by an often-traveled route in the forest. It didn't surprise her someone was taking a walk, but her paranoid side began to kick in, and she turned her head in the direction of the sound. The mare saw nothing, and felt a pang of relief and disappointment. The disappointment was aimed at herself; even as an adult, every break in the silence made her think something was lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce.

"Ugh..." She groaned quietly, pursing her lips.  

[Summer Raaven]

Life was pretty boring.

Growing up the way he did, he didn't exactly leave home often. As a colt, his parents usually wanted him around them all the time, them....or 'Nilla his adult half-sister. It didn't bother him one bit though, he wasn't one to jump into danger when it called.

Yeah, a boring life wasn't a bad life if it meant that he'd be safe. Eh, adventures were fine, 'playing' was fine, but not over the top. If Ian knew that in some way, a possibility of getting hurt was involved, he wouldn't do it.

But in the back of his mind, he knew there was something wrong with that logic, and wished he could take it back. But one couldn't just change themselves that quickly, they needed a good enough reason...right?

Right.

The stallion continued on, his eyelids getting heavy with every step. Maybe he'd go find a good place to rest, away from his parents for once. Yeah, that sounded like a plan. He was, afterall an adult now, and had to do adultish things. He couldn't run back to Evelyn and Bliss when something bad 'might happen.'

So Ian trotted off the trail he was traveling, and stumbled across a fine looking tree very close to it. Unaware that a mare was laying on the other side of the large tree, he plopped his body down with all his weight, the ground making a loud, "THUD" as he landed.  

[`raze]

Life was... Interesting.
It was constantly throwing curve balls.

With a brother like Aiolos, Cicely had spent a good deal of her childhood running out and about with him. Danger was practically her brother's middle name, and by following him around, the mare had obviously thrown herself in the path of danger. Adventuring had always been her passion in life, and even with her permanent predicamant, it still was. Even if her travels went on quite slowly.

Danger however, had become something she had been avoiding but secretly craving. Perhaps if she were to throw herself in the way of something potentially life threatening, it'd change the course of her life again, and maybe for the better? Unfortunatley, she never seemed to get the courage to do so, afraid that she may run into the same blue and white Kalona that ahd been so unmerciful towards her.

So when there was a large thud that came from behind the tree, Cicely practically jumped. Her eyelids snapped open and her head turned towards the other side of the thick trunk, still for a few moments in time. What was behind the tree? Was it what was coming down the path earlier? Was it something scary and possibly what she had been looking for?

The ghostly mare didn't have much time to debate on whether or not she'd speak up and take a look or not. Her body had made the choice for her, for when she tried to breath in, she ended up hiccupping.

Quite loudly at that.  

[Summer Raaven]

Life threw curve balls all the time.
It was just a matter of whether or not you were a good enough player to hit the ball out of the field.

And most of the time, he was.

Growing up with Bliss proved to be quite a challenge. He was a father once before, a long while ago...and he pretty much failed. His daughter, Vanilla Swirl stayed with him, but his eldest son Soqui left with their mother. Bliss now wanted to prove himself worthy for his boys, so he tried a tad bit more then necessary to impress them.

There was also that stallion that he so obviously hated. Kureno. Evelyn's best friend, and a mentor to the boys. He taught them things that their mother couldn't and their father....couldn't either. Ian liked him, but Bliss didn't....it was hard to watch his father's expression change when that stallion was around.

Kureno took the boys on adventures sometimes, as well. Ian wasn't one to enjoy what they were doing...but it was something. Definitely more logical then sitting on the ground in the middle of the field doing nothing. Walking would, at least, give him more exercise, and a chance to view the world.

So that's why he walked. As an adult, he was able to hold in information better than a colt would, so the knowledge of the forest was totally more interesting then before.

Ian was about to fall into what felt like a deep sleep, but then he heard it. A loud...
....
hiccup? What?

The stallion took a moment to take in what he heard, and he quickly got up from his resting spot. He hadn't seen anyone near him while he walked...had this figure just come? Or were they...

Ian made his way on the other side of the tree, behind the mare so she wouldn't be able to see him unless she turned around. He saw her, gazing with his smokey eyes...at a beautiful mare. No! Not beautiful, well...she was, but he couldn't be thinking that. It was foolish, love was foolish, it didn't make any sense....and he didn't do things that didn't make sense.

"Why...uh, hello there, Miss."  

[`raze]

Cicely had never been good enough to hit the ball out of the field.
Or to catch it for that matter.
She was always the one on the sidelines. The water-boy, perhaps?

So whatever came her way she dealt with it in probably the most irresponsible way possible - walking away from it or fighting it head on. Reason was what she'd like to incorporate somehow into dealing with problems, but it never seemed to be an option for her. Probably because she was too heated to even think of it. Figures.

So when she heard rustling behind her, she froze up quite quickly, and bit down on her lower lip. The ghostly mare swallowed a hiccup and winced, debating on what to do. She opened one eye and peered around one side of the tree, and saw nothing. There was still some rustling, like someone was walking around? With both eyes open she craned her neck to look around the tree, but saw nothing. Hmm, that was odd--

Hiccup! The voice of another induced it, and her head whipped around to face the figure that had appeared to her side. She stared at him wide-eyed, dumbstruck. Of course whoever was behind the tree would walk around it the one way she wasn't looking. Figures. But the stallion wasn't frightful looking or mean for that matter. He was larger than her, no doubt, and his smokey gray eyes weren't bad to look at either-- 'Wait! I'm over this already. I cannot revert back to a giddy little girl.' She mentally scolded, and so a smll smile pulled at her lips as she regained composure of her face, "Well yes, hello there sir."

Okay, so she wouldn't be giddy, but nothing was wrong with greeting another, right? Even if she did put emphasis on the word. "Is this common for you? To walk around a tree and happen upon a mare? Not very common for me," she said without thinking, trying to fill up ay awkward silence.  

[Summer Raaven]

There was nothing wrong with being the water-boy. For they were the ones keeping the players healthy.
The real heros.
Sometimes life called for a break from the game.
And water was always good.

Walking away from a bad situation always seemed like the best idea at the time. Then, moments later when it was too late to take back past actions, Ian always regretted it. A foolish reaction, but at least it stopped him from getting hurt. It just appeared to be easier than facing something he didn't want to face. Figures.

He was there while she flipped out at the noise, he was behind her, watching as frantically searched for the owner of the noise. It amused him that she responded in such a freaked out manner, he wouldn't dream of harming a creature such as her. He couldn't dream of ANYONE wanting to harm her. Ian realized if it wasn't for him pipping up, he could have gotten away with standing there, just staring...but for how long?

But when she descovered his presence, he smiled back at her. If not to show her he didn't mean any harm, then just to be polite. That's how he was brought up, afterall. Not a mean bone in his body, and if he did exist, it would take a lot of anger to come out. "Oh, I'm no sir. Still too young for a title such as that."

There was absolutely nothing wrong with greeting another, on any basis. "No, not really. You're the first. And really?" Ian laughed at her, amused by her choice of words. "Not very common for you to happen upon other mares, is it? What about stallions, then?"  

[`raze]

The thing about life was that there were no breaks.
You keep going even when the going gets rough.
There is no waterboy to keep the players of life healthy.
You have yourself and yourself alone to depend on.
If only life were like a baseball game, however. Then there would be teammates to depend on.

Her only true teammate was Aiolos, and he had poofed from her life as soon as adulthood came on. He had played his role as her defender as a child. Unlike the stallion before her and her brother, there was someone out there that would and indeed had harmed her.

At his smile her nerves calmed somewhat as she watched him, a small smile on her face aswell. So he was young, huh? He certainly did look it. Maybe younger than her? She always assumed the extra strain she put on her body aged her, but that was her own opinion. Cicely flipped her mane a little and laughed while shurgging. "Would you be interested in knowing if I happen upon other stallions?" Okay, so she was flirting... A little. It was in her nature to do so! But she didn't want to outright say she did, but none ever really came up in her life again.

"So if I can't call you sir," she turned back to the introductory topic, "What may I call you?"  

[Summer Raaven]

There were breaks if you gave yourself breaks.
Life happened because of descisions one made.
If you wanted things chilled, if you really wanted things chilled, it could happen.
True, you were your own self, but sometimes it was for the better.
Nothing was put on you to do.
Yeah, it was better alone.

If Ian had to give one example of his 'teammate', it would be his father, Bliss. They couldn't be more opposite in both looks and personality, but the big goof was always there for him. Trying to make him laugh, to smile, and even though he knew he didn't know much about anything, he tried to teach his sons about life. Anything and everything that popped into his mind, he'd tell them.

Didn't technically mean it was right. Heck, half the time Bliss got common sense facts wrong, but that didn't bother Ian all that much. He knew his Father was trying to do his best because he cared. That's all that mattered in a teammate. Trying your hardest and caring.

The stallion could have guessed that the mare in front of him was younger than him, if it had not been for the fact that he grew just a few days ago. It's less likely the mare grew after that, so she was...older. But certainly didn't show it. He noticed the flipping of the mane and it amused him. What in the world was she doing?

Well of course, just being a mare. But it still amused him. "Well, if it's a common theme of yours to happen upon stallions, then I wouldn't feel as lucky to be graced with your presence." He flashed her a flirty grin back, and raced his eyebrows just a little bit. It wasn't really his thing, to flirt or talk in a non-serious fashion, but he could try right?

"Hah. You may, if you'd like, call me Ian. What about you, miss?"  

[`raze]

If you screwed up early in the game of life, there are no options.
There's no option to "chill" things, just to keep moving on in life.
Because life doesn't stop for anyone.

And it didn't; Life went on as usual for the mare. Life didn't stop for her when her leg was rendered useless, and she certainly couldn't stop life. It was her fault to wander into the monster's home, that she even ran away in the first place. And there was the lie that went with it... Mother still did not know that she didn't just "fall"... Unless Aiolos told her or papa.

It was the only lie she ever told, really. Everyone stretched the truth every now and then of course, but it was the only time she deceived someone she truley cared for. So when the stallion answered her question, she couldn't help but tell him the truth. She cleared her throat and tilted her head a little, "I don't happen upon stallions; they happen upon me... And not very often! So..." She smiled shyly up at him, taking in his height. Then again, he would look taller since she wa son the ground.
"I'm not expecting you to feel graced, of course, but at least welcome."

"Ian, huh?" She repeated, trying the name out on her tongue. Her playful smile came back at his grin, and she winked, "Miss sounds too old, Ian. Call me Cicely."  

[Summer Raaven]

One screw up didn't ruin everything.
There was still tomorrow to look foward too.
For if tomorrow came, and you were still alive you were one day older.
And not everyone got that lucky.

Choices were made for reasons. Life happened for reasons. Not one thing, no matter how 'bad' it appeared to be at first, was ever truly bad. A leg rendered useless would only make someone stronger, someone more aware of just how important life was. Aware of the danger thay lie ahead.

It was no one's fault when something bad happened, either. Things just happened, and you couldn't stop them.

Now lies, lies were something that could be stopped. Lies were just as stupid as walking straight into the lair of a murderer and expecting not to get hurt...if even worse. Lies hurt the ones you love, if they ever descovered the truth, and even if you didn't mean it, it's not something you can fix. Not something you can live with.

Ian watched the mare, perpared to be bombareded with a story by the look of how she responded, but nothing came. "And I'm evidence of that happening, aren't I? Hmm, well then I suppose you could say that I'm the happen-er. Lucky me. Ah, so modest. Stand up at least, if you will. It's rather awkward staring down at you." He moved out of the way so she'd be able to stand up without having him right on top of her.

He caught the wink, and wasn't so sure what to make of it. Name exchanging wasn't THAT big of a deal, was it? Or were the pair of them just having too much some-what-flirting with each other? "Yes. And alright, fine. Cicely it is."  

[`raze]

After one mistake, sometimes it's not worth making that next day.
Because that one mistake can haunt you.
Somtimes those who did not become a day older were the lucky ones.
But... Compensating for that mistake can make life all the worth living.

She had always tried to hide her bad leg. She walked, never ran, and leaned against trees and laid down when she had the chance. She let her personality shine, hoping whoever she was talking too did not get the chance to gawk at how her one hind leg did not stand completely straight. So when he asked her to stand up, she had to avert her gaze for a moment.

A look of discontentment crossed her face when he moved. He really did want her to stand, huh? Fine then. "Lucky? I wouldn't go that far. Just wait and see. You'll hear or see something you won't like about me, and then you'll regret saying those words!" She laughed, leaning against the tree as she stood up. She kept her gaze however on the dirt ground, trying to make her standing up look as natural as possible. She pushed herself from the tree lightly and was grateful she didn't keel over to the side, but she put her weight on her other leg.

Cicely didn't think that she was flirting with him, just being happy and fun. But if that constitutedas flirting, than she was just a flirtacious git, wasn't she?

"So Ian... I guess the geeric questio I should ask for a conversation is what you're doing out here?" Her smile was playful and her intention innocent.  

[Summer Raaven]

Sure mistakes can haunt you, but you learn from them.
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

He noticed the fact that she seemed a little off when he asked her to stand up. Almost embarrest, but why? It was much less awkward talking to someone who was eye level at best. Standing over someone who was just lying there like they were a part of the ground was just strange.

The stallion kept a fake happy-go-lucky expression on his face as he watched her, confused at her reaction to him wanting her to stand up. Had it really been that big of a request? Cause if so, he could easily plop on the ground next to her. "What do you mean? I highly doubt that's true..." He trailed off, his expression changing to a frown. Cicely laughed at herself, like she was hiding something and just played it off like it was no big deal. He knew that laugh...Bliss used it wonderfully.

Smokey eyes continued to stare, but not in the way she thought he would have. The leg that she tried so desperately to hide from the rest of the world didn't stick out like a soar thumb to Ian, or rather...he wasn't looking there at that moment. He was looking at her face.

They were both flirtacious gits, if being happy and fun meant you were actually flirting.

"Haha. Well Cicely...I suppose my answer to such a generic question would be that I'm just out looking for something interesting. And I suppose you're my something interesting at the moment." He grinned back at her, the same intention written on his face. "How about you? Enjoying a nice nap that I intrerupted, I hope not?"  

[`raze]

(Summer should learn from her mistake of liking Jacob and move onto Edward, or at least the smex that is Carlisle <3)

Whoever said that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger...
Snort. However, it must be true if some do get stronger...
Huh. There was no retort to that.

She kept a small smile on her face as he replied, though she had to glance away breifly. So he didn't notice anything wrong... Hm. Not bad. As long as they didn't go for a walk, she'd be fine. She rolled her eyes at him playfully, and sighed, "It's impossible to like everything about a stranger." But there wasn't anything wrong with Ian as far as she could tell. He was tall, smokey-eyed, built, handsome, and he was proving to be the highlight of her day. Cicely was in no rush to find something she disliked about him.

"So I'm interesting, eh?" She flicked her tail and giggled, grinning. "Well, you did happen to interrupt my nap, but it was not important. Just boredom-induced, not out of fatigue." She would have paced around if she oculd, but she kept to her same position and looked off coyly for a moment, before looking back to him, "So... What do you do when you meet or happen upon something interesting?" She bat her eyes for extra effect, but not over dramatically.

Okay, maybe she could flirt a little. Just for fun.  

[Summer Raaven]

((How about no))

Quotes like that get passed down from generation to generation.
So the words get misheard and changed.
Doesn't technically have to be true.
But it does lighten ones spirit.
That's the point anyways, right?

A walk would have been the first thing to pop into the stallion's mind, had he been thinking about the location in which they stood. But his attention focused completely on the mare, and not on what they could do for 'fun', so it passed right through him.

Besides, doing one thing at a time was more of way of life. Multi-tasking was too difficult, and almost foolish. If one multi-tasked two things that were completely irrevelant to each other, they'd get mixed up, no doubt. And then they'd have to start over. Much easier to handle life one thing at a time.

"Well you are technically right with that one, but I have yet to see something about you stranger that I disapprove of. And I firmly believe I won't." There wasn't anything wrong with Cicely, he knew that. Not only was she pretty, smart, and funny...but she was guarded. A guarded mare proved to be the ones to keep, rather than those who whored themselves out.

And Ian prefered not to find things about someone he didn't like, until he really got to know them, so the 'bad thing' wouldn't ruin his first impression.

He laughed back at her, nodding his head in an approving fashion. "Very much so. And aww, I'm terribly sorry about that, but it's good to hear I've broken you out of your boredom, eh?" Ian laughed even harder at her manner towards him, but he wasn't doing it out of rudeness. Merely amused at the way she was acting.

Maybe she was just being a mare. But then again, he was a stallion and he definitely wasn't acting like a stallion....

"Uh, I usually don't find a bunch of things that peek my interest. Stuff that does probably would bore you to death." He made a face as if he was thinking about his past, and debated whether or not saying something would ruin this meeting...

...yeah, it would. Better to not admit he liked sunsets, studying rock formations, admiring the flowers, finding new tasty foods....

...stuff that his Mother loved. Stuff that would bore an average soquili, because it dealt with improving knowledge. Yeah...

"So I'll leave that question for you to answer."