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 Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 3:30 pm
... A lost soul, that granddaughter of hers was. The meeting between herself and Eponine's daughter had been thoroughly bothering the ivory and navy mare the past few days. She was such a lonesome, young mare, that Cassiel. The fact that Eponine never took Cassiel as a filly to see her is what bothered her even more. It was almost like her children didn't come to see her about anything. Sure, they were adults, but when did they stop being her kids? When was her duty as their mother dismissed?
Pacing outside the cave that she and Twilight had made their home, Cosette kept her eyes on the grass below her. It was incredibly depressing, to not be visited by her children. She remembered how her heart swelled when her rambunctious Zevach had visited when Cicely and Aiolos were born. She clearly remembered when Marius had come to speak to her around the same time period, tailed by a crimson colored Kalona - her grandson. The news had been shocking, but not unwelcome. She had only found out recently that Aiolos had kept the secret from her that Cicely's leg was not rendered useless due to a bd fall... But by a nomadic Kalona.
Snorting, the mare continued her mindless pacing. Where was Twilight when he was needed?
Marius' bi-colored eyes caught sight of his pacing mother outside the cave that was home to his parents now. She had obviously not heard them coming, for she would've looked up already. The dark stallion slowed in his step as he cast a glance towards the mare that he had accepted some sort of form of "love" towards. "Cosette, is my mother, as you should know by now." He said quietly, his gaze intent on Neve's face, "I... Don't knw how she'll react to you, to be honest." A sigh escaped his lips as he casted a side-glance in the elder mare's direction.
He was worried what Cosette thought of Neve. He was also worried what Neve would think of Cosette. And he was worried that his mother would be angered by his lack of visits. He had yet to visit her since his own children were foals, as he had spent those days raising three kids with the mare beside him. It was clearly a while since then, since the kids had been grown for a while and some were even looking for that silly, stupid thing Neve called "love".
"Dad doesn't seem to be around..." He trailed off, looking around for the large, black and blue stallion that went by the name Twilight. Marius, though he kept a good, guarded and reserved face, was clearly distressed over this. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his brow furrowed.
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 3:39 pm
'As well as can be expected I suppose,' Neve answered, looking at the pretty, older mare from where they stood. She could definately see now where Marius had gotten his looks from, remembering that first meeting between he and Neve, she had questioned where he'd gotten his 'swirls' from.
'After all, I think this is a meeting long overdue. Besides,' she flashed a look, a hint of dry amusement in it.
'What could she do to me that was worse than my own mother? I can survive most things..except losing you, and our children.'
She nudged him softly.
'I will be on my very best behaviour, I promise.' she watched as Marous looked about for his father. She was a little glad that he wasn't to be seen, meeting both of Marius's parents at once would be slightly overwhelming..but, if that was also the source of his mother's agitation than it also wasn't a good thing.
Neve simply had to hope things went well, there was a small matter she had to discuss with Marius, he either wasn't terribly observant, or he hadn't noticed that she had put on some weight. It wasn't a great deal yet, but as time went on...she arranged her face in a smile, trying to look friendly, and hiding her sharp canines all at once.
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 3:58 pm
Marius wanted to rebuke what she had just said, that she wouldn't be able to survive without him. He didn't howevr, but the look of disapproval was clear on his face. The mood soured over when she mentioned her own mother. That brought up memories he'd rather not muse over. At her "promise" however, he smiled vaguely. With that, he turned and began to walk towards the bothered mare that was his mother with longer strides. His ears perked, and even though he was an adult now, there was something about being with his mother again that almost made the chidlish glint that belonged to a foal appear in his eyes.
"Mom?" He called, pausing very lightly in step. He wanted to wait to gauge her reaction.
The familiar voice of one of her older sons pierced the rambling and ranting thoughts that ran their way thorugh her head. She was quick to turn her head in his direction, and after a second of looking surprised, a wide smile broke out onto her white lips. It almost seemed like it was on cue. Maybe she should grumble about her kids more often!
"Marius!" She called back, her voice almost a laugh. She cantered over, the only subject of her attention the one child of hers that stuck with her the longest. A remarkable, deep red color caught her attention, and Cosette slowed her gallop to a more comfortable walk. Before addressing the color she saw, she shoved her nose eagerly towards her son's and nuzzled him affectionatley. A soft laugh escaped her when she brushed by the length of his jaw, and pulled back. Her smile still stayed as she turned her attention to her son's company.
The red had looked much like her grandson's Belial, so she at first thought it was him. But the crimson-hued figure with Marius was a young mare. It didn't take an idiot to deduce who she was. "You..." She began, taking steps towards her. Curiosity was written all over her face, though her tone was accusatory. Cosette realized this instantly, and was hasty to apologize.
"Ah! I'm sorry. Marius, I think you ought to introduce us?"
"Mom," he motioned to Cosette, "this is Neve," he motioned to Neve, "and Neve," he cast a warm glance the mother of his children's way before looking back to his own mother. "This is my mom, Cosette."
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 4:07 pm
Still uncomfortable with anything that spoke of deep affection, she mused, picking up on his shifting mood. Still, she had known it was a long road with Marius, besides, she had all the commitment from him that was necessary in her belly as they spoke. It was true though, he and the children were precious to her, whether he could stand the knowledge or not.
Neve followed Marius slowly, making sure to keep her body language open and relaxed. She stood back when he moved forward to greet his mother, a slight pang touching her when she saw the affection that they met each other with.
Her ears flicked a little at Cosette's tone, but she had expected some small resentment, she should have met her before their first children had been born. At Marius's introduction she stepped forwards, bending a leg, her wings unfurled as she dipped a courteous bow to his mother.
'I am pleased to meet you Cosette.' she straightened and looked at the other mare.
'And I am sorry for not meeting you sooner.'
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:36 am
"So you're Neve..." Cosette trailed off, trying to be skeptical. She however, glowed when Neve bowed and the childish mare couldn't help but grin. She mimicked the motion, bending a knee and just as she did to Marius, moved over the rose-baring mare and affectionatley touched her nose to her cheek. She didn't linger however, in case it would have bothered her daughtr-in-law (if tha's what she was to be called).
"I'm very happy to meet you!" She giggled, taking a step back and looking her son and Neve up and down. "Yes, I too am sorry for not meeting you sooner. I have had the pelasure of meeting my grandson, Belial... He takes on your likeness very well." She beamed at the thought of her shy and polite grandson. At first she didn't believe him to be Marius' since he didn't look a thing like him... Except for the faint swirls on his back. "I am disappointed in not being able to meet your other children yet. I believe I have two more grandkids that you two have raised?"
Marius couldn't help but smile. So Cosette didn't seem to hold any grudges towards him and Neve, and the two mares seemed to be getting along fine... For now. He had a funny feeling that something was bound to go amiss, but maybe that was because his mother was sometimes incredibly childish or that Neve was a little arguementative. The stallion however, was unaware of what exactly could cause an upset did indeed have to do with Neve...
More exactly what was inside her.
"Dad around?" He asked, trying to be casual as he peered about.
"No... He's a nomadic spirit. He has to move around a lot. But hey, if he can see Eponine without me there, then I can see my boy Marius!"
Marius flushed a little at her proclamation, before he looked to Neve. He offered a small, apologetic smile at his mother's erraticness.
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:14 am
'Yes, and you are Cosette. I see where Marius got his looks from.' Neve hoped it wouldn't sound insincere as she did find him most attractive, and he resembled his mother greatly. Flattery couldn't go far amiss could it? When the mare approached and bestowed a small gesture of affection on Neve, she again couldn't help but compare her mother to Marius's.
'Oh you have? I am glad.'
She was as well, because she'd not heard from Belial in a while. She supposed that was the way of things; her daughter would stay in the family area, whilst her sons would spread their wings and travel far.
'You may find it easier to meet our daughter than our other son. Maharet, for that is her name, is a little bit..cautious about where she travels, but she will always go where I ask of her. Jaci is as independent as his brother, but I hope you will meet him one day.'
She looked between Marius and Cosette during their small conversation, catching his look. Really he had no need for silent apologies; she had a mother who tried to kill her, and would have little compunction in doing so to their children. Her father, (though she loved him) had sired children with two further mares after her mother, and was the biggest lothario that she had ever heard of. As far as dysfunction went, Neve had Marius beat.
'Eponine is your daughter?' Neve asked carefully, looking back at Cosette.
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:26 am
Cosette couldn't help but grin at Neve's comment "Well, he does resemble me the most out of my eldest children. Though Zevach, Cicely, and Aiolos all do have my marks as well!" She was absolutely glowing, filled with a mother's pride. Her eyes sneakily grazed over the belly that was Neve's, before looking back to the mare that apparently had her son's heart in the palm of her hoof, "I have. He's a very polite, shy boy. Takes after Marius, but h looks so much like you... I've never met Maharet or Jaci I'm afraid, but sometime you should bring Maharet over." Cosette wasn't saying this out of courtesy, but out of serious curiosity and the desire to see her family.
When the mare mentioned Eponine, a dumfounded look crossed the elder mare's face. How could Marius not mention his sister?
"Eponine is my eldest daughter. She looks very much like her father... She's a shy girl, but very upbeat. Or that's how I remember her."
The conversation had soured. He should've prepared himself if his mother brought up Eponine. She wasn't exactly the family mistake, but it was known to the family that Cosette had been very hurt, not being confided to about her daughter's pregnancy.
"Eponine is my sister, Neve," he started, and though he wanted to shoot his mother a dark glare he couldn't bring himself to do it. "She's got kids, but the b*****d that sired them took one and left her." His voice dripped with venom as he thought of the monstrosity that his own brother at one point looked up to. This wasn't helping the mood, however, so he casted a glance Cosette's way and offered a smile, "But I heard from a good friend of hers that she's been doing well."
A blatant lie.
Cosette saw right thorugh it, but understood the intention behind it. Clearing her voice, she forced the gloomy look off her face and began to circle around the two. Her eyes however, focused on Neve. There had to be a reason that they all of a sudden would want to visit. As with all her children, they only returned home when there was news or trouble.
Tossing her mane, she laughed light-heartedly, "So is anything new with the two of you? It's not everyday that my son comes home with his girlfriend."
Marius visibly tensed at the last word, but at least he didn't wince. His intention behind visiting was simple and innocent - introduce Neve to his mother. It had to happen sometime, didn't it?
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:17 pm
'He looks like me..mostly.' Neve said offhandedly. She was suprised that Cosette hadn't questioned her about Belial's wings; after all they were nothing like her own and Marius didn't have wings.
'There may be something that occupies my time shortly, but I will ask Maharet to come see you, I'm sure she would like to see one of her Grandmothers at any rate.' she said, slightly evasively but she had caught the swift look that Cosette had given her and wondered if the mare had twigged before her son. Neve hadn't gained very much weight yet but there was a slight change in her appearance, that Marius might notice if he did look properly.
She looked to Marius as he spoke, aware that her question had obviously unearthed their own family problems, but she chose to be prudent and not dig further. Well, maybe not in front of his mother at any rate.
'I am sorry to hear that happened to your daughter,' she looked at Cosette.
'To your sister.' she gave Marius a look, but for him she was as comforting as she dared to be in front of his mother. Neve's guard went up a little as Cosette circled them, but she relaxed as the mare's body language showed nothing untoward.
'It was time we met, overdue in fact.' she replied, swifter than perhaps her answer should be. She really didn't want to reveal her condition in front of Cosette if she didn't have to, she'd wanted to tell Marius beforehand but there never seemed an appropiate moment.
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:03 pm
Cosette didn't hav to ask where the wings came from - they came from Neve's mother or father, obviously. At least it was obvious to her. She didn't even know her own parents, and Twilight's parents were grounded. It wasn't her business to pry... Okay, actually, it was, but she wouldn't. Her brows rose and she grinned at what she said. "Oh really? Now now, what exactly is it that could occupy your time so soon?"
The grin stayed on her face half-heartedly as Eponine was brought up again, but it re-firmed once more as Neve confirmed Marius' answer. "That's it? No other news?" She cooed, waching Marius' reaction.
Marius rolled his eyes playfully at his mother, though his face kept up it's reserved guard, "It's not like we have some big announcement, mom. Well, I don't at least. It's not like we've come to say that Zevach is dead - oh, how I wish I had that news -"
"Marius!"
He winced at the scolding, but continued, "and it's not like Neve's pregnant or anything. We just wanted to see you." He offered a smile, and looked to Neve. "Right?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:26 am
Marius's mother was fast homing in on the fact that Neve was being evasive; the older mare might even already have her suspicions and holding out would only reinforce them. She was resigned to the fact that the news might in fact have to be broken in front of Cosette.
'Weeell..' Neve fidgeted uncomfortably, but was saved for a moment by Marius's comment about his brother. She listened, curious as to what exactly had made the sibling rivalry so intense, but figured that was something that really would have to wait until she was alone with him again.
This news however, she was going to have to spill it, and now.
'Umm. Well, that isn't entirely correct.' she said, sending him an apologetic look as she did so.
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Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:11 pm
Being a mother twice didn't mean she had "x-ray" vision or anything. It just gave her a better sense of whether or not another mare was with foal. And well, anyone with skilled eyes could see the rounder belly on her. Cosette couldn't help but feel envy towards Neve though as the other mare fidgeted. At least Neve had a parent-in-law and probably parents to tell this news too. She herself didn't, and she had only a very small moment with Twilight's mother.
A grin broke across her face as she held back a giggle, and she turned her eyes to her son. This was his time to react.
...
The only thing Marius could do at that moment was swallow. Swallow hard. His gaze was focused on Neve's face for a while, his face evasive of any emotion. On the inside however, it was a flurry of emotions. Suprise was the first to come, then embarressment... And now it was between anger and joy. He was having kids, again. His heart swelled with pride, but... Why didn't Neve tell him sooner? Before this trip?
He pressed his lips into a thin line, and without thinking, turned around and began to pace away from her. He walked back to the treeline from whichthey had come from, and then turned and walked back... But was careful to avoid the mare that bore his children. He kept his hardened gaze on the ground, his breathing coming hard through his nostrils.
He stopped when he was closer to Neve, looking at her with the same guarded expression from before, "I, you... Mom." A coherent sentence couldn't be put together. If she loved him so much, like she seemed to be, wouldn't she have told him as soon as she found out? And why did it have to come out infront of his mother?
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:33 am
Out of Neve's parents, the only one she would tell would be her father, so if she had an inkling that Cosette was envious of her situation she would have been quick to gently correct the mare.
Her own mother would never be told, and would hopefully never find out that Neve had born children with Marius, and not only that, was pregnant again by him.
She bit her lip when Marius walked away, her own ears almost laying back, wings rustling along with her nerves. Why was he taking it this way? She wished she could have told him in private but there hadn't been time before they set out, and she didn't want to start her relationship with his mother on any sort of lie.
'I'm sorry,' she said quietly, as he came back towards them and stopped near to her.
'I really would have told you sooner, before now but I haven't realised my self for long, and there didn't seem a good time. I wasn't sure how well you would take it.'
Neve realised she was sounding hurt, but it was hard to not sound like that because of how he had reacted.
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:26 pm
Cosette couldn't believe how her son was reacting. He was acting like a colt who had been lied to about some silly fairytale. When he was a colt, and his father had disappeared, he had grown up so fast. Marius was her rock when she felt lost, and bascally ran around as the parent of his siblings despite being their age, much to Zevach's dismay. Perhaps he had grown up to fast... He was always so mature, but now he was falling back. This logic made no sense however. Her son already bore kids. Did he act in such a horrifying manner before?
The aging mare, however, could not bring herself to speak. She turned her crimson gaze towards the pregnant mare, feeling nothing but sympathy towards her. She took a step towards Neve and brushed up against her side lightly, looking down at her with soft eyes.
But that was the end of her softness.
"Marius," she spoke his name in a terse manner, sharply turning her attention to the fuming stallion. Her son. "You... She is bearing your children and this is how you react? Why are you spurning her in such a manner?" Her words, intended to come down hard did so, but they shook at the end. Her brow was furrowed and though she wanted to show more anger towards her son, she couldn't. All she could protray was a look of pure confusion.
Confusion was not only felt by his mother. He was not confused by how Neve was pregnant. He knew very well why. But how she could not warn him beforehand... How she couldn't of waited...
And that's when it hit him.
He was dependant on Neve. While he contemplated this, he blocked out the cold words being delivered by his mother. The day Neve first came to him, heavy with his kids... He had told her that he didn't want to be tied down. He was his own stallion. He was to rely purely on himself. He wasn't going to be his mother, who was weak after her lover's leave. He was supposed to be the sturdy rock, the one to be relied on.
But the fact that she told him this joyous news now... And he couldn't be happy, because he was unprepared? Why should this even affect him in such a manner? Was it because she held out on him? She had simply put, deceived him.
A small voice in the back of the stallion's head denied this, trying to get thorugh his thick skull... To tell him that she had not, and that he wasn't dependant on the mare. That she isn't some screwbuddy, but the only mare that'll ever mean so much.
Unfortunatley, such a small voice could not penetrate his thick skull.
"Just go, Neve. Just leave." His words were blunt and emotionless, and he refused to look at her. His eyes stayed steady on his mother, who at the point visibly fumed.
"You can't tell her to leave! Who do you think--"
No, this was it.
She was his mother, but she was just going to try and tie him down,like she had done herself.
"Fine. Than I'll go."
And with that, he turned without giving his mother or Neve a second look. In a near instant he had turned his stomping walk to a gallop, and he was gone.
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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:46 pm
'What? What have I done? I'm sorry Marius I really am, but you can't be upset with me for giving you children!' Neve couldn't believe this. Yes she had wanted to tell him beforehand but there simply hadn't been time. She did not wish to have a relationship with her children's Grandmother that started on a lie, not when they had only the one that was safe enough for them to know in the first place.
Leave? He was telling her to leave? What was going on? Had she fallen into some strange world where up was down, and black was white..and the one Soquili in all the world that she'd ever known love with was telling her to go away, like she was scum.
'Marius..' she began, her words sounding small and pained. She hadn't thought she could feel as she had done when her own mother had attacked her. Deja vu. Of the most painful kind.
'MARIUS!' she yelled his name at his retreating back, and then dropped her head, trying not to cry in front of Cosette.
'I love you.' she whispered, broken.
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