|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:55 pm
 It was a warm afternoon, bright and sunshiney and clear; the sort of day that made one really appreciate summer and all that it entailed. Right now, Raphael was thinking just that, standing chest-deep in the stream and enjoying the feeling of cool water washing over his sun-warmed hide. It was a distinct disadvantage of being dark blue, absorbing heat as much as he did, but it made him appreciate the cold mountain water almost as much as his father.
In fact, he'd originally sought out his father, thinking that it would be fun to share a bit of catch-up time with Zaphiro while enjoying a brisk swim; unfortunately, when he'd swung by his parents' home clearing no one had been around.
But oh well; he'd likely see them soon, and in the meantime...
In the meantime, the water felt GREAT.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 2:22 pm
 Leon had a rather unnerving moment of deja-vu. He had been wandering dreamily, thinking of his love Gemma, when suddenly before him appeared what at first he was sure was her father. He stopped, stock still in shock. This had already happened, and was happening again?! You could have knocked him over with a feather in that moment.
But like the warmth of the sunshine sinking into his sunset hide, reality slowly filtered in. This was not Zaphiro. His pelt was faintly purplish, and his mane and tail were glaringly different, being a sharply contrasting blonde. But goodness, did he resemble Zaphiro! Memory clicked finally that this was Raphael, Gemma's brother.
Although this relieved the dizzying sense of deja-vu, it did not relieve his own tension. Here he went again, trying to prove himself worthy of Gemma to her family members. How could he help it? She was so lovely and dainty and bold, winged and determined. And he... well, he was a forgetful, day-dreaming fool with neither wings nor determination, save in his love for her. He felt unspeakably inferior to this family of beauties.
Oh, he knew his mother and father would scold him for feeling so, would reassure him that he was special in his own way. He supressed the urge to roll his eyes at the thought. His sister... well, 'Mary would likely just bite him hard and tell him to get over it, while grinning at him the whole time. That thought made him smile and bolstered him as no platitudes to his ego could have.
Taking a deep breath, he moved towards Raph slowly. "You look as if you'd be as comfy with fins as legs," he commented suddenly, the image having flashed through his brain and flown from his lips before he could stop it. Mildly aghast, he halted, ears flickering embarassedly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:12 pm
Unlike Leon, Raphael had never seen Leon's father, so the possibility of mistaken identity was pretty unlikely. Besides, it was doubtful that Raphael could have mistaken Leon for anyone else even if he wanted too, coming so soon on the heels of the fiasco that had been Gemma's 'announcement'. He didn't blame Leon, of course, but things like seeing one's parents at odds for the first time in his entire life had a habit of etching things indelibly on one's psyche.
Consequently, Raphael's first reaction, upon realizing that the new speaker was Leon, was at first to simply stare.
But after a few moments, he recollected himself and gave Leon a suitably warm smile. "Well, if I had fins, I think that walking from place to place would get a great deal more challenging, but I suppose I could always fall back on my wings if necessary. But how are you, Leon?"
If nothing else, the sons of Zaphiro could be mannerly when called for!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:54 pm
Those few moments gave Leon a time of feeling as if he might have swallowed a small fish whole, for Raphael stared at him as if he had sprouted fins suddenly. He swallowed hard and stood his ground, though he longed to just make an excuse and bolt.
But those moments passed, and things began going more smoothly again. He breathed a silent sigh of relief. Gemma's whole family made him so nervous! In his dreams (which were often), they lauded him as her perfect match, intended from birth to do naught but make their girl happy. This, he was all too painfully aware, was impossible. Thus, he tended to expect the opposite. He kept bracing for them to try to shoo him off, get rid of him, so that she could find a more appropriate mate.
They hadn't, of course. The more he interacted, the more he realized they were too mannered a family to do any such thing. But he still couldn't help feeling somehow... inferior. So inwardly he cringed as he stepped forward to continue friendly conversation with her brother.
"I...I'm doing well," he answered lamely. "Erm... how is the water?" He didn't quite fidget or mumble, but he felt like a foolish colt being confronted by a dignified elder, rather than one stallion socializing with another.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:10 pm
"Good, good; it's a bit cold, but...ok, let's not do this." Almost in mid-pleasantry, Raphael cut himself off with a stern shake of his head. Though he was sporting a slight frown, it was directed at himself, not Leon, and just in case there was any confusion as to what he meant, he was quick to continue, looking the other stallion squarely in the eyes. "This is awfully ridiculous, don't you think? Talking about the weather, about the water, about the general good health of ourselves, our parents, and the gangly little foal from two meadows down we knew when growing up?"
As he spoke, Raphael had started to move through the water towards Leon, climbing up to the bank and finally coming to a halt right next to him, not seeming to notice or care about the water that ran off him in rivulets. "That is to say, there's only so much dancing around any sort of point that anyone can do and keep their lunch down, so I propose we just accept that we are two sane, mature, and independant stallions who not only are capable of speech, but reasonable speech. And accepting all of that as fact....it's good to see you again, my brother, and in pleasanter circumstances."
With that, Raphael gave Leon a truly warm smile, one that brought light to his eyes. He had never meant to make Leon uncomfortable, after all; he had never known Guilian, didn't believe in judging the son by the father anyway, and ultimately believed in his sister's judgement. If she liked Leon enough to want him to be her lifemate, then that was good enough for Raphael!
Which he really should have clarified earlier, if Leon's sudden uneasiness was any indication. Darn but he needed to work on these things.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:40 pm
At first Leon watched and listened in astonishment as Raphael suddenly switched gears, began babbling on about random inane things, and then clambered out of the water to stand beside him, still rambling. Leon listened warily, feeling held in place by shock. Was the axe about to fall? Was he about to tell him to shove off and leave his sister alone? Eyes wide, he watched and listened more.
But when the blue stallion finally got around to his point and re-greeted him in a completely and so drastically different way, you could have knocked Leon over with a feather. For a moment he stared at his brother-in-law. But as the word "brother" sank in with the genuine smile offered to him, the purple stallion melted from the inside out.
His body relaxed, his eyes softend and warmed. Stirred by the sudden feeling of comaradarie, Leon moved closer to Raphael and leaned into his shoulder. He gently butted his head against the other stallion's neck affectionately, blowing softly through his nostrils.
"Thank you. This is much nicer than the other way of doing things." The relief was clear in his voice. "My family are all so very gregarious, such things come easily to them. I'm afraid I was not similarly blessed." His self-deprecating statement was made in a rueful tone, but lacked the self-pity one might imagine it could contain. "It makes me terribly awkward to be around sometimes." The was offered as an apology for his part in their stilted original greeting. His curly tail swished behind him in evidence of his more relaxed demeanor.
Perhaps someday soon he'd be able to feel more comfortable around all her family. This was turning out more pleasant than he'd feared at first, so it was possible, wasn't it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:15 pm
This was infinitely superior to posturing. Though his previous meeting with Leon had been brief, Raphael was all too aware that this was different, this ease. Granted, if he were meeting his mate's family for the first time, undoubtably he would have been nervous too; he much preferred the ease that he was seeing in Leon right now. Then again, Raphael always enjoyed ease when dealing with others; it had tempered his relationships with his brother and sister, with his parents...it was just hard to feel any sort of bond with someone you had to hold at arm's length.
Not too mention it made for livelier conversation.
Chuckling, he shook his head at Leon, dismissing his thanks with a shake of his blond curls. "Believe me, I get as uncomfortable at the stiffness as you, so this is as much for my benefit as anyone else. But regardless, there shouldn't be any stiffness between us, as we are family now. Your perceived awkwardness will just have to learn to accept that such things are not allowed, not among siblings."
Raphael was undeniably passing up an opening; after all, there was a prime opportunity to learn more about Leon's scandalous father and (potentially just as scandalous) other relations, yet he let it slip by without comment. Gossip mongering had never been high on Raphael's list of priorities, though, and all that mattered now was taking advantage of this chance to get to know Leon. His family was moot, in the grand scheme of things, until such a time as HE felt like discussing them.
With that in mind, Raphael simply moved onward, conversationally. "I hope that you weren't too intimidated when you met our parents. They were both very pleased to meet you, and pleased WITH you to boot." Which, in all honesty, was the truth. Now, the lies and deceit surrounding the specifics, THAT was a different story, but that wasn't Leon's problem. No reason to dredge up past history.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
