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 Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 1:27 pm
 If someone would have walked up to Guilian as a young, newly minted stallion and told him that one day, he would be the foundation of a large and loving family, Guilian would have laughed in their face. Young Guilian had harbored no modest delusions when it came to his own charms and attractions, nor did he have any naive beliefs regarding the origins of children; the facts of the matter, though, were that he had gone through his fair share of mares without one single resulting offspring. Virility was supposedly proven in procreation, but as far as Guilian had been concerned his dearth of children meant nothing beyond a lack of responsibility. And he had liked it that way, flitting from mare to mare, place to place, with no ties beyond a mutual good time and the occassional resulting friendships. There was no sense in burning bridges just because one was moving on, after all!
Everything had changed with the arrival of his first children. The supposition that he was impotent and never had to worry about kids was gone in one swift instant, leaving Guilian suddenly the father of three and somehow connected to a mare that had been a firecracker in bed but a rather formidable warship in the pursuit of what she believed to be the 'proper' way of doing things. Never in his life had Guilian experienced such difficulties with a mare; he'd seen tears, heard threats, sobs, heartfelt pleas...never before had he been stalked. Never before had his companions been stalked. Becoming a father had opened a new chapter on his life, one where he was no longer given up exclusinvely to his amorous pleasures.
The strangest part of the whole experience hadn't been Izusa's wrath, however. Anger wasn't novel, insane kalona anger merely a sort he hadn't seen before. No, the strange part was that he actually, honestly, truly, LOVED being a father.
Never before had he thought of children as anything other than a building block, something to smile at and then pass on by. Having children of his own had made him realize how delightful they could be, and how much he'd missed out on in his own youth. The love of a mare was something special, but compared to the absolute adoration of a child that thought you were the most amazing creature in the world, a protector, provider, inspiration, companion...almost everything that anyone could hope to be to another individual. Guilian had been enchanted.
From that moment on, through the arrival of two successive sets of children and three sets of grandchildren, Guilian had done his best to live up to the high expectations of childhood. The majority of his time, time formerly spent solely in pursuit of physical gratification, was now given over to his family. He delighted in each of them, hearing of their joys and sorrows, plans, ambitions, and dreams. It was a wonderful life, one made more joyous by the fact he never knew it was even a possibility until it happened.
~~~
However, just because it had ceased to be the center of his life didn't mean that carnal pleasure was gone from Guilian's life. He was still an active fellow in that regard, just not quite as addicted as he once was...which was probably a good thing, or else he'd likely die of a heart attack brought on by overextending himself.
On this particular afternoon, Guilian was thinking just that sort of thing. He'd spent the last few days visiting his son Antony, who had just welcomed a beautiful trio of foals; spending time with his son and his latest grandchildren had been delightful, but it was time for Guilian to have some personal time once again, and he was currently debating just how he wanted to go about doing that.
On one hand, he could always pay a visit to one of his existing paramours. No courtship necessary, just a fun afternoon for all involved. Yet on the other hand, he'd always delighted in the hunt; watching a mare melt and swoon tended to delight him as much as reaping the rewards. Even his failures had their own allure; he could count among his fast friends two mares who he'd tried and failed to seduce but still enjoyed the company of.
Yes, he decided; new blood it was. Now, just to find some!
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 2:16 pm
Raniero had never originally intended to adopt such a facade. Nor had he anticipated that it would impact on his life quite so much, or have such a high success rate. The information he had required pertaining to his research had been substantial. In the course of just two weeks he had gathered more information than he had ever thought possible - and how? Well, in the last three weeks he had carefully planned and prepared to transform himself from a male into a female. Through a rather painstaking makeover he had become a surprisingly attractive female and in doing so, had been able to be a part of many more social gatherings.
Oddly enough, his cover hadn't even been blown!
He had to thank his lack of interest in exercise for his immediate success. While he was tall (due to his father), his lithe frame ensured his build was considerably less that of the usual stallion. In private moments he had also used the time to practice a variety of quirks and traits that females tended to possess. He could walk normally, he could sway and he could be sultry if required. He knew of the flirtacious movements, the simplistic toss of the head and the coy smile...and most disturbingly of all he had mastered the art of altering his voice. He had discovered that if he softened his voice considerably it became almost that of a well spoken female - a slightly deeper voice...but not substantial enough to be detected.
If he really thought about it the only thing he truly lacked skill in was the 'social' aspect. He was aware of the general protocol, in theory he was aware of how he should act in a variety of circumstances but when it came to being practical...well, he struggled just a little. It wasn't that he was incapable of it, he simply hadn't had the opportunity to master it on a level that was par to his other 'quirks'. As a result he had taken on the role of the coy female who only spoke when she was addressed - a small smile here and there, a little nod. For the most part if had worked and he had gained much information through gossip and flirtatious exchanges done in his presence. However, he had been left with a few admirers that he noted he would have to deal with at a later date. He wasn't about to run away from such a thing, was aware that by their designated categories and stereotypes they would most likely pursue him - but it was not his immediate concern.
No, this afternoon's immediate concern was to deal with the rebellious locks of hair that he possessed. While his crew had worked expertly to ensure he was an effective female, his bolt straight mane and tail were proving stubborn. Countless hours of training, tugging and twisting could make them submit but it would take weeks (if not months) to ensure they remained that way. It was a hassle but for the purpose of his investigations he was willing to invest the time in restoring his ringlets and curls to their appropriate appearance. Ah, weeks ago he would have considered this a waste of time and still would consider it a waste of time had it not been an absolute necessity.
"Take note that the flowers were loosening by the ear," he instructed coolly, his tone hushed just in case an on looker had followed him. He made no attempts to hide his voice from his cohorts, but he was in no mood to be dealing with any misunderstandings just yet. His mind was already a whirr of thoughts, all of which needed to be analysed and sorted accordingly. It was going to take quite some time and he suspected that he would have it completed by the time his companions had completed their work.
Thus, it was with glazed eyes and an otherwise unreadable expression that he sank into his thoughts while the squirrels and raccoons tended to his mane and tail. For the most part he simply looked like a pampered mare, even with his somewhat slumped and wearied stance. Ah - but in the forest there were few who could intrude or they were rare at least...
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 4:07 pm
Guilian had always loved the forest. As a wind in possession of a fine pair of wings, it often seemed to the stallion as though he really ought to spend more time in the open air. The thrill of wind, rushing around him; the joy of complete, unihibited three dimensional movement; the knowledge that he stood out like a red beacon against the bright blue sky...all of these things were lures in their own right, and all of them appealed to Guilian's sensibilities on some level. Yet his ventures out beyond the trees were limited, and when he did go out roaming it seemed as though he walked more than flew.
It was the intimacy of the setting that had always appealed to him, he supposed. Walking down the shady forest path, he was in complete and utter solitude; if he came across someone, then he could relax in the knowledge that out here, there was privacy. A strange thought, perhaps, for a stallion who loved companionship of all sorts to be so fond of solitude, yet with Guilian less had always been more. The only groups he had tolerance for were family-related; otherwise, he preferred all of his encounters to be of a smaller, more personal nature. Thus is was when he met up with friends, thus it was when he met up with lovers.
And really, one couldn't ask for a more ideal setting than the forest for a nice, peaceful bit of socialization. The trees created natural barriers, preventing prying eyes from observing or large groups from descending; and while he did like to be the center of attention, he did like to have a little bit of warning!
Besides, it was a large forest; though he'd lived there ever since arriving in the Kawani lands, he had yet to explore the entire thing. He was content to merely wander, trusting the infallible truth that there was always something of interest out there, he just had to look for it.
But unless he was mistaken, he might just have found such an object of interest.
It was the blue that had caught his attention, a mere pale color slit amidst the browns and greens of the trees. Blue...that was a color he hadn't seen on a Soquili in a long time. That fact alone was enough to bring the stallion closer; however, once he was able to get a better look at the Soquili in question, he knew color was the least gripping element.
Standing alone, being groomed by amazingly active little forest creatures, was a very fetching, very original mare. Original, in the sense that she was nearly as tall as he himself (yet lacked any and all kalona traits that he might contribute that fact to); fetching, in that her pale blue coat was accented by a dramatic black mane, tail, and body markings. The mane in particular he found interesting, as it hung straight about the mare's muzzle, creating a rather nice framing effect. One that the little rodents seemed hellbent on ruining, with their ministrations. Now now, that just wouldn't do!
Leaning against a tree, Guilian allowed a slightly amused smile to curve his lips, then commented, "You know, Chica, there is no shame in straight hair, particularly not when said hair creates as bold a statement as black."
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 4:30 pm
Bugger...
There was no other way for the stallion to express his feelings at this moment in time. While such thoughts remained concealed behind a mask of perfect stoism, his amber gaze did clear and shift slightly to the side. In his peripheral vision he detected that vibrant shade of rest. He couldn't see the individual particularly well but he was aware of their presence even with his back turned. It wasn't exactly the most ideal of meetings given that he hadn't intended to be interrupted in either his reverie or while in the process of being 'tarted up' again (for want of a better description). Alas, he refrained from assuming that this was another new found admirer and chose only to assume that they had simply crossed paths.
As 'wonderful' as it might have been to some, now was not a time when the stallion really wished to be disturbed. It was a private moment, or so he might have argued. Then again he did remind himself that his decision had been made and as a consequence, he was forced to accept whatever repercussions there may be for the duration of his investigation. He hadn't quite thought this through completely, given that he hadn't anticipated that he would have so many admirers. Truly, the stallions of the Kawani lands were most fascinating in their choices - perhaps it was his height that sealed the deal, it was something he would choose to note and test at a further date.
However, he was a man of manners (or woman in this case) and with a soft sigh he lifted his head and gathered his composure. Only when he had morphed his face into an amiable smile did he turn round slightly to observe the intruder. As was to be expected his immediate reaction was one of neither joy or disappointment, instead he simply placed the stallion into a category - he was a wind soquili. Immediately his mind began to dredge up the information he had gathered on this species thus far...it was an opportunity to further develop it.
Ah, but once again he had been mistaken for a female - truly he must have been a very impressive woman. He would thank his mother at a later date for her delicate features, without them he doubted he would have had such a surprising level of success. Yes, it was a surprise even for him, a being who calculated and measured everything presented to him.
"One might say it is up to the individual to decide what their preference is," he replied softly, clearing his throat lightly to keep the tone of his voice feminine. Urgh, he would end up with a hoarse throat but results were results and they would prove valuable in the end. "I do not appreciate straight hair." He stated plainly.
If he was honest, he simply didn't appreciate straight hair because certain individuals would know who he was instantly and would ruin his cover...thus ending his successful stint of study.
Nevertheless it was unsurprising that even as a femme he chose to remain aloof and somewhat distant, his gaze somewhat haughty...an attempt to inform the male that he hadn't the slightest chance in hell. Granted some males like the chase but Raniero reall meant this one!
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:09 pm
"Point, Chica." Guilian was amused. That she was not pleased to have company was completely obvious; if the sigh hadn't given that fact away, the dismissively cold look in her eyes was the gestural equivalent of showing him the door...albeit in a sublte, polite, and very lady-like fashion. Very charming.
Not that he was going to acknowledge that unspoken request, of course. Not when he had the chance to ply his trade on a refreshingly unknown mare who was choosing to play the subtle card. He did so love the subtle card; it gave him the chance to play oblivious and push the limits, all while testing to see how strong said mare's resolution was and how succeptable she was to himself.
Too early to tell how this one would pan out, but he was already intrigued, and that was a good start.
Maintaining his casual leaning pose, Guilian acknowledged the 'mare's' point with a nod. "Point, Chica; it is certainly up to you, and I know that I, as a stranger, have no right to try and force my own opinions on you. It is, after all, your own hair. It is simply that such fine, straight hair seems to be a rarity in this day and age of unkempt and disarrayed hair; I could not resist making even a small comment in its favor."
As a stallion with naturally curly hair in abundance, Guilian could very well have been perceived to be talking out of the far side of his mouth. However, everything he was saying was true; much s he adored curls, so too did he adore waves, crimps, straight....he was a fan of the 'natural state', whatever that might be. And this mare, going to such lengths to change hers....a pity.
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:24 pm
So this was the 'subtle as a brick' flirtation he had heard certain mares speak of. While it was much more flowery, significantly more eloquent and came from a stallion that oozed with confidence it had absolutely no affect on this 'mare'. After all, he had little inclination towards romance in general, let alone stallions who saw fit to attempt to change his ways. While an onlooker would have found considerable entertainment in this particular event, Raniero preferred to take it as further opportunity to assess the subject that stood before him...
As a consequence his eyes narrowed somewhat at the words that slipped from the equine lips of his subject. It appeared that with the confidence that exuded from the stallion, only a tiny does of that fabled 'sultry' tone was required for the additional affect. Or so the stallion gathered as he analysed the manner in which the soquili spoke - both from his choice of words, to the accent in which they were uttered. An intoxicating mix to some, particularly if the mare was suseptible to such things. Alas to be sure he would have to experiment at a later date, now was not the time to consider such thoughts when there were more immediate 'issues' at hand.
"Correct," Raniero agreed at last, skirting away from the stallion and increasing the distance between the pair. Ensuring he remained face on and in the 'open' so to speak, he had a number of escape routes available to him should it be absolutely necessary. Much as Raniero loathed to admit it he was an pacifist and he was NOT going to sit through eight hours of torture to fix his appearance again. It wasn't that he was vain, he simply didn't have the time to waste on such tedious activities. The same could be said for romantic pursuits if he sat and thought about it for long enough.
"However your definition of unkempt may be disputed by those who choose to style their manes in alternative ways," his voice never wavered and gaze remained somewhat hostile. No semblance of interest in further contact, if he could have frozen the stallion in place he would have with a mere gaze - for securities sake of course. "To style ones hair, does not immediately infer it will look unkempt or adopt a style of disarray." Snorting, the stallion shifted his weight somewhat and arched a brow.
"Though we are few in number, some of us still take pride in our appearances."
Not strictly true, but he wasn't going to ruin it after all that nonsense either. Whether he liked it or not, his appearance did hold some value at this precise moment in time. It was not a life or death situation but had improved his research considerably - he was not about to surrender it just yet.
Be social... His mind ordered sharply.
"And besides," he paused briefly, his mind shifting and rooting through various lines he had heard spoken before. Recalling some of the phrases used in reference to him and his appearance, he twisted them in upon themselves and chose to make one in particular sound like a personal view. It wasn't of course, if he had to at least seem reasonably normal...
"The thick 'girls' bring out the colour in my eyes and line my cheeks so much better!"
Urgh, he should probably work on that flourish if he was going to be saying phrases like that on a frequent basis.
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:41 pm
It would have taken a much sterner soul than Guilian's to keep a straight face when confronted with an explanation like that. The mare had done such an excellant job of sticking to her guns, maintaining that magnificent expression of disenchanted displeasure while providing a slew of extremely valid reasons supporting her choice in hair-styling; yes, an excellant job right up until that last line.
Uncomfortable was the word that came to mind when considering the way the mare said it. It didn't sound cheeky, as the words themselves seemed to imply, nor did it feel life a natural, spontaneous statement of fact. If he HAD been the dense sort of stallion that found it utterly impossible to pick up on body language, that statement would have told him immeadiately that she was all but desperate to get rid of him. After all....girls?
And that slip, whether intentional or accidental, amused him a great deal. Allowing the mare her distance (lest he provoke her 'flight' instincts over her 'fight' instincts), Guilian allowed his smile to become a grin, a grin accented by his amused laughter.
But the least he could do was honor such honesty, indirect as it was. Reigning in his laughter after a few moments, Guilian gave the mare a truly delighted smile, commenting as he did so, "You know, Chica, if you do not wish for the company of a stallion, you can always just say so. I assure you, we stallions are not so frail a sex that we cannot take a little rejection once and a while; subtlty, while charming, so often fails or sends the wrong message that it is difficult to know what is SUPPOSED to be conveyed."
Perhaps his directness could provoke something equal; if not, at least he might have the pleasure of seeing her thrown off-balance!
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:03 pm
Oh s**t...
Now there was a Freudian slip if he did say so himself and it was the most bizarre and unlikely one he could have possibly had! On an immediate level, Raniero wasn't even remotely romantically inclined towards either gender, so there was little reason for such a slip to occur. Unless he of course...took into consideration the more 'direct' issue at hand. He was playing a woman after all, was attempting to portray a female in all forms including quirks and mannerisms - so his subconcious mind was sure to be mulling over that but.... ARGH!
For but a few seconds the stallion lost his composure and had the decency to look taken aback. Thankfully, his immediate appearance was still that of a mare and he simply appeared to be a shocked femme. However, the moment was quickly lost and he quickly reigned in his rather ill controlled reaction. Not one to lose his composure on a regular basis, he wasn't about to permit it to go on for much longer than that. The most he could do was clear his throat and look away from the opposing stallion for a few moments - he would opt for a DIGNIFIED silence.
Tightening his jaw somewhat as he stared at a tree and attempted to reign in his thoughts, he could already hear the giggling behind his ear. The laughter of the stallion simply wasn't helping, he had no other choice than to drown both out. He had anticipated that other stallions would assume he was attracted to men following a revelation of his true gender but to be accused of being the opposite... By the spirits he really couldn't have planned any of this if he tried! Even his careful planning couldn't have staged such an utterly humiliating yet...fascinating moment.
The stallion was telling him to tell him to leave - but on the other hand he remained firmly in place. It was a somewhat peculiar situation to find oneself in and having not really planned for this little mishap, it was the first time in Raniero's life where he actually had to 'wing it'.
How would a mare act in this situation!
Somewhere in his mind a little man was slapping at his forehead, cursing the slip that simply shouldn't have occured. Really he was better that and so allow his subconcious mind to get one up on him at such a critical moment was unacceptable.
UNACCEPTABLE!
His equine lips twisted in discontent at this, unable to contain his expression as his train of thought became almost feral. Between trying to contain his rage and trying to come up with a suitable response, he had developed the expression of an angered and very spoilt princess. If he were human he might have been folding his arms, puffing out his cheeks and stomping his feet at this moment in time. Alas, he simply puffed out his cheeks and resembled a very ticked off mare. Somewhere, someone other than this stallion was howling in laughter at his miscalculation.
"You are assuming that I am attracted to females," it was a statement, not a question. He would make this work even if it bloody killed him, that stubborness bred into him through his father's line would sustain him. He could handle humiliation to a degree, his loss of composure fell under that category and now he would fix it! Nevertheless, there was no denying that his tone had developed a sharp, cruel edge to it as though the haughty princess had been deeply offended.
Really...he was just pissed off.
If he was honest.
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:28 pm
Oh, this was too perfect. Guilian's hadn't encountered this sort of mare in ages, not since Tiffany in the days when he only had three children. Unless he was wildly, wildly mistaken, she was furious with him; most mares would be, he supposed, so he couldn't fault her for that...but really, she was so terribly amusing in her pique that he couldn't help himself.
On the downside, this sort of interaction did NOT tend to inspire amorous thoughts, so he strongly doubted that their relationship would progress beyond mere words; however, there was something to be said for spirited debate that left him without the least bit of regret.
Well, almost. Spirit such as her's tended to carry over into other aspects of one's emotions; he didn't doubt that she was a passionate creature under that cool facade of hers and would LOVE to see her cut loose. Ah well, sometimes things were simply not meant to be.
So he merely returned her glare with the same amused look, shrugging his shoulders gracefully. "I assume nothing, Chica; there are numerous explanations for your displeasure, and an attraction to mares could be one. You might also be mated, you might be against intereaction in general, you might be afraid of me, you might have a bias against the color red; for all I know, you might even be a stallion. All are mere supposition, though; it is your choice how you wish to interpret anything."
At that, Guilian laughed again, raising one wing to tuck back his forelock. "I merely offer possibilities, nothing more."
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:46 pm
Ahhhh...And there it was, that endless list that reached his ears and caressed them as though it were such sweet music. It was this indecision, this string of assumptions that ensured his cover remained uncompromised (for now). Admittedly, it also meant that the stallion before him had drawn his own conclusions - perhaps not conclusions but he had a number of 'ideas' of which only one was completely accurate. He was after all one hundred percent male though the other things on his list could be disputed if Raniero opted to be quite so verbal. An aversion to the colour red though...well that was completely illogical and he wasn't going to act quite so ridiculous even if he was meant to be a mare.
He'd give a little more credit to his mother's gender.
"They are not possibilities," he arched a brow, his muscles easing until they began to reform his features into that familiar yet aloof expression from before. At last, the stallion had thrown him a life raft in the form of words that he could pick apart and analyse. The ability to analyse restored order to his chaotic thoughts and he was once again back in control. Granted he remained just a little ruffled and highly aware of his mind following his slip up for he couldn't permit another one to happen. Compromise was one thing, but he would prefer if it were not immediate.
"They are guesses," he corrected smoothly, rolling his shoulders and tilting his neck to the right to release the tension from within. For a brief moment he closed his eyes, savouring the instant in which all the tension fled his form and he felt lighter again. While he could handle stress and pressure, he was not their greatest fans and never would be. "Guesses intended to gauge the reaction of an individual," he continued. His expression remained the same, it would have been completely neutral had it not been for the raised brow.
"Depending on the response you receive for each word, whether it be verbal, facial or through the language of the body - you are able to discern whether or not any of your guesses are accurate," he offered a dark smile and shook his head slowly, "Or if they are not." He finished his statement softly before allowing his gaze to drift away from the stallion briefly. Regathering the remaining fragments of his composure was his primary concern, then he would return to analysing his specimen.
One that could knock him back a few steps was worth the time.
"Good grace, quick wit and the charms you possess do nothing against those who have long since grown accustomed to such tactics, even if they are subconcious attempts, " he spoke up again. At last his tone had softened, admittedly it still held a cool edge to it but that was unavoidable in the given circumstances. He could still tug the stallion for information but would continue to remind him that things just wouldn't go that way.
God forbid they did.
"Perhaps it would be wise to take note that 'possibilities' are also derived from assumptions," Aha, it was impossible for the stallion to prevent himself from sounding so tarty and curt at that phrase. However he had to regain his ground in some form or another, he had been humiliated and had to make up for lost ground. Even a mare would do as much, although perhaps the majority wouldn't be quite so brutal.
"It is impossible, not to assume to some degree or another...'Sir'," he completed his assault and cleared his throat, tilting his head to the side as he continued to observe the stallion. It was true that Raniero had no intention of permitting his specimen to leave just yet, but answering to his list of possibilities was out of the question for the time being.
If the stallion chose to direct the possibilities towards him as statements instead of in the form of musings, then Raniero might warrant him with a less than vague response...
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:01 pm
"Bravo, Chica." Straightening up, Guilian abandoned his position next to the tree in favor of a nice, leisurely stroll in towards the mare, though he continued to maintain the space between them. She was sharp, this one...but if her words were any indication, she was also on the defensive. Why else would she be so quick to point out the 'guess' possibility, if there were not something to conceal? And in actuality...well, she made a valid point, or would have, if he'd actually been after information of the sort she'd detailed. He'd already deduced that she was not happy to have him around, the specific reasons were irrelevant. He just couldn't resist an opportunity like this one.
If nothing else, his wits hadn't deserted him yet!
"Indeed, it is impossible to avoid assumptions, yet I am sure that you would agree with me that even acting on the assumption that those WERE guesses, they could also be possibilities. I could go on with more; after all, who can truly fathom the motives behind another's actions without having looked into the other's mind? I can't speak for you, but I have never been in possession of that marvelous ability. So let us instead consider the facts, yes?"
If she wanted to debate, then he would by all means do his best to accomodate her! "You are not pleased with my prescence, or you are at the very least doing an admirable impression of such. There could be many explanations for this, ranging from the logical suggestions that you are not interested in conversation, stallions, or being alone with a stranger to the absurd, such as the hatred of the color red or a distrust of anyone with black eyes. Now, not knowing your intimate thoughts, I can't assume that any one of these possibilities is more logical than any other, no? In THAT sense, to assume anything specific would be markedly foolish."
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:40 am
He was an insistant creature and didn't necessarily conform to much of which Raniero had already observed. Clearly intelligent and capable of noting an individuals distaste, the male showed no inclination to back down or to give up. Some might have deemed this to be a foolish or perhaps arrogant quirk, but Raniero simply chose to document it. In doing so he also took the necessary precautions to further distance himself from the stallion and moved accordingly. Stepping away from the stallion, he made use of the long legs he possessed and ensured that as Guilian moved the distance between the pair never differed. According to this stallions particular nature this would do little to deter him, but for the safety of his cover (for now) he would have to maintain that distance.
Let him think it was a chase, let him enjoy the games. Raniero could assume that there were a number of thoughts that could have run through the stallion's head. At present these remained unknown to him, but further observation would ensure that Raniero was capable of tapping on to them accordingly. It was true that no creature possessed the ability to read a mind directly but there were tell tale signs, stereotypes and categories that could help with that. Every specimen tended to fit in to at least one category and stemmed off from there - it was only a matter of time before Raniero completed his initial analysis.
"And yet to present such 'possibilities' to any other Soquili with less awareness, would place them in a position where the reason for such behaviour is apparent," Raniero cleared his throat and shook his head, weaving in and out of a number of trees until he halted on the other side of the stallion. He had never excelled at games, the art of the 'chase' that stallions revelled in was simply a theory to him. However it was that theory that enabled him to move in the most appropriate fashion.
"Allow me to put this to you, Sir." He arched a brow once more and relaxed his muscles a little, not entirely appreciative of the twitching in his neck. "As a creature that exudes confidence and is not immediately deterred by another's actions, it is clear that you also have the ability to read them. You have stated yourself that I am less than happy to see you and while that is not wholey acurrate it is close." He paused briefly, switching his weight from one hoof to the other.
"Your ability to at least read body language and mannerisms to a degree means you are capable of reading immediate reactions - or that is what would be argued. As a result you do not require the ability to read a mind, just a quick eye and the power of process of elimination," This was the skill in which Raniero possessed. He could read no minds but he could discern what a creature thought, felt or desired by the way they shifted and moved. Tone of voice, body, expression - they were all simply writing on a page and to one who had an analytical mind, they made for light reading. He didn't need to be able to read a mind to accurately guess the raw thought processes underneath.
Raw thoughts were enough.
"Thus your point is moot - one with your ability should be more than capable of drawing conclusions based on the reaction of another," he smirked somewhat at this and shook his head. "While you choose to deny it, you can make an assumption to a various degree of accuracy based purely on the reaction of your counterpart - the raw thought at the very least if not the entirely process."
"Assumption at this level would not be entirely foolish provided it was accurate or within reason," swishing his tail back and forth, the stallion lowered his brow and simply observed the wind soquili. He could debate for hours if he so desired, having such discussions with other soquili simply opened doors to him and granted him further material for his research. "Though allow me to assure you that red is not a hated colour - such irrational behaviour is beyond my ability."
...Although freudian slips were not, apparently.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:49 am
"Ah, but we are assuming that there is entertainment to be had in making such deductions. Now, I don't think I'd be far off the mark when I say that YOU seem to be vastly interested and fond of such analytical pursuits; for myself, however, such behavior is merely a means to an end that is not always relevant to the circumstances. Call it what you will, but just because someone possesses a skill doesn't mean they constantly have to exercise it, no?"
Guilian was very pleased he'd decided to scope out this blue mare. It had been a long time since he'd seen his friend Ariston, his usual bantering partner; though this wasn't he'd originally set out to find, mental stimulation was every bit as important as phyiscal, when you got right down to it. Besides, how often did you meet a Soquili who could give as good as they got, if not better?
However, it was the absurd little rejoinder to his comment on red that got the stallion smiling again. "Well, Chica, I can't even begin to tell you how pleased I am that THAT supposition was incorrect; red is such a bold and beautiful color, one I've been fond of for as long as I can remember, and it would pain me greatly to know that you found it distasteful."
He was, of course, being totally facetious and made no bones to hide that fact. After all, what was a little facetiousness between friends? And they WOULD be friends, in some fashion; there was no way that they wouldn't be, not after this little episode.
"I go by Guilian, by the way, though it is your choice to use the name or not." Might as well get an introduction in their somehow, though he figured he had a 50-50 chance he'd actually get a name back. Soquili could be strange in their ideas sometimes, after all!
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:13 am
"Fond would be the incorrect word to use under the circumstances," Raniero replied without missing a beat. So the wind soquili had some semblance of intelligence despite his obvious interest in females. His pursuit of such activities was almost relentless and Raniero was forced on more than one occasion to distance himself further. "Such pursuits and the skills required to ensure their success are harnessed more out of necessity than they are out of enjoyment," he continued after a few moments. Pursing his lips at this, he flicked his tail against his flank and shook his head.
Really, such a discussion could go on for hours. One party would say one thing, the other would say something else and ultimately they would go in circles. In a roundabout way the wind Soquili was admitting he had such skills but was refraining from confessing that on a subconcious level, he still used them. He may not actively pursue such things but this didn't mean he still didn't take note. This was at least the observation that the stallion had made from his 'discussion' so far with the wind soquili. Really, Raniero had the sneaking suspicious that he was simply biding his time until the inevitable occured.
A shame he didn't posses hands or it would have been a swift slap to the cheek in that case.
Or punch.
Nevertheless as Guilian made reference to his own coat colour, Raniero's expression became decidedly unimpressed. Oh this creature was a confident one and simply oozed with that quality. It wasn't the most desirable of quirks to possess but then again, he wouldn't have fit quite so well into his category if he didn't have it. A womaniser if he ever did see one, though one who was almost as pampered and prissy as the creatures he pursued. In a manner of speaking, Raniero should have been wary of how he looked in the given circumstances, especially if he looked so terribly delicate.
"I sincerely doubt you would be distressed at my lack of interest in your coat colour," he was not prepared to skirt around the subject. It was evident that the wind soquili loved such a colour because he was covered by it. To hate it would have promoted self loathing and if he had been of such a mentality then he wouldn't have been capable of being so 'bubbly'. "Disappointed perhaps that you would not receive what you seem to want, but it would not be the end of the world."
"To say I do not find it distasteful is correct, however to infer that I have interest in it is incorrect. I am not particular fond of such a blinding colour..."
Alas, as the stallion asked for his name Raniero paused briefly and seemed to consider this very carefully. None of the previous females had enquired as to his name before, they had simply permitted him to stay in their presence. He said nothing after all and never interrupted their gossip - therefore he was of little interest.
"I'm known as Raniera..." Well it sounded more feminine and so close to his own name that he didn't risk forgetting what it was. If he were to fail to respond to his own name that might be somewhat problematic.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:19 pm
"Ah, but in that you would be wrong, Chica. I would be the first to admit that I always have ulterior motives, but hate is a terribly strong, negative emotion that I never like witnessing in anyone, regardless of the inspiration. To feel neutral, depressing as I find THAT emotion, is far better than to feel hatred for anything. But enough of this delightful chitchat."
Guilian had never been the sort of stallion to lock himself in on one course of action, except in broad generalities (case in point: pursuit of an interesting mare). He was fond of spontaneity, of letting the mood and the circumstances direct his actions. He'd come into this meeting expecting one thing, but talking with this mare, this Raniera, had proved to be more entertaining than any conversation he'd had in weeks. Whether or not she would say the same was questionable, but he was sure having fun!
Which is why it was time to n** this delightful little conversation in the bud, before it lost it's charm. Such would depress him, and he didn't want this meeting to end badly, whenever it DID end.
"It is a pleasure, Raniera, both to learn your name and share your company. If I may ask, though, what brings you out into the middle of the forest for your ablutions? It seems that somewhere near a body of water would make that a bit easier, at least to me."
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