Her breath came out in icy puffs, little white clouds escaping her maw as she lipped at the frozen grass. A copper tail flicked idly as she meandered down the beach, stopping every few minutes to look around herself and sigh, expecting someone to magically appear.
It'd been only two weeks since she'd left Amerlei behind, the daughter split off from her mother for once in two years. She'd chosen to follow Merl when the mare had left the family, leaving Cia and Anansi's brothers behind. Not that she blamed Merlei for what she did. It was just in the mare's nature.
Still... It was a bit boring, alone. She wished by some random faith that a handsome stallion would come and rescue her. Hell, she'd even put up with a Unicorn's cooties!
---
Did someone wish for a handsome stallion? They must have for at that moment Lyle stepped through the bushes and onto the beach. The Unicorn’s lavender eyes looked over the beach, his head held high. His statuesque appearance was ruined by the smirk that flashed on his muzzle at the sight of a female not all that far away. This was his moment to shine, taking a moment to collect himself the stallion trotted over to the black and white female with the golden mane, stopping right next to her.
“Why hello there, gorgeous, what’s a pretty girl like you doing out in a boring place like this?” Lyle grinned at her, full of confidence.
---
And, just like that, the wind blew his scent in her direction. The mare raised her head, coming eye to eye with a tall, lavender pelted stallion... The horn gleamed on his head and his lion's tail was...snakelike.
His voice was soft, smooth like crushed velvet and Anansi felt her lips curving up into a grin. Her ears pricked up, tossing her head to the side. "My, my... Prince Charming, right out of a faerie tale, coming to rescue me? How did you know I was bored?" she teased, winking.
---
The stallion couldn’t help but laugh at that, ”Oh, I have my ways,” He winked at the mare, his tail swinging side to side, the tip just barely skimming the sand. Her reaction to him was a boost to his confidence, not that he needed it. ”Although I must say you’re prettier than I was hoping for,” He pranced around her in a quick circle before standing in front of her. ”Why lookit that, your beauty has stolen away my manners. I’m Lyle, what’s your name? Or should I just call you Angel?” If he was any other stallion, one would think he was laying it on pretty thick, but that was just Lyle.
---
She watched him with interest glittering in her silver eyes, ears pricking forwards. Just the way he moved, the way he spoke; it screamed confidence. It screamed perfection. So different than stallions she'd met before. So different than mares, even. Briefly, she wondered if this was how her father wooed her mother. The thought was almost sickening and she snorted instead.
As he circled her, she resisted the temptation to turn with him, to match him step for step. She didn't want him thinking she was some... damsel in goddamn distress! She was Anansi. And Anansi could hold her own against a stallion with looks and charm. "Lyle..." She rolled his name over her tongue. "I'm sure your manners aren't with you all the time. You can call me Anansi."
---
At her words he laughed, a lesser stallion would be insulted by the words but they just rolled off his back. ”You should see me around my mother, Anansi, I’m the politest stallion you’ve ever seen,” He smirked ”Of course my mother doesn’t look like you.” He moved to stand besides her, also having to resist the urge to touch the mare, she was perfect to him. Although most females were perfect to him, but somehow she felt different. Looking sidelong at her he smiled. ”So you never did answer my question, what are you doing in a boring place like this?”
---
Around his mother. The mare gave a snort of surprise. She couldn't tell if he was being completely honest or pulling her leg. With his last comment, she decided that, sadly, he was being honest... Of course you're polite around your parents, she wanted to chide him. "Thank you," she said instead, taking the compliment willingly. She knew she was beautiful. She wasn't vain, but it didn't mean she didn't know. "As for me... I'm just wandering. Taking a step at a time and all that jazz. I'm on my own for once."
---
”You’re quite welcome” He grinned, pawing at the sand beneath his cloven hoofs. He waited for her response and then his eyes widened in slight surprise. ”A mare like you is all on her lonesome? I don’t believe it. You must be beating the stallions off by the dozen.” For once he actually was being serious. ”You know, a pretty young lady like yourself shouldn’t be all alone, not all the stallions are as nice- or handsome- as I am”
---
She had the sudden urge to lip at the grass near his hooves, the short tufts of salty grass that was so delicious and only grew near the sea. She shook it off, her eyes focusing on him, tracing the green pattern across his back. Like a leaf, she decided. "Well believe it, pal. I split off from my mother a few weeks back. As for the stallion bit..." She paused, eyes lighting up like lightbulbs. Why not make the cute little boyo think she was a vixen? "I've had a few...would you say, suitors? I know all about the baddies but don't you worry. They won't hurt me." And she flicked her tail again for good measure, letting out a soft laugh.
---
Lyle could feel her eyes on him and he enjoyed the attention, especially from pretty mares. At her words he smirked and took a step closer, looking into the mare’s silver eyes. ”Really? And have any of them struck your fancy?” At the comment about the baddies he laughed ”So you’re a tough girlie, eh? That’s alright I like mare’s that can take care of me” He winked at her with a grin.
---
Anansi smiled, moving away from him with a toss of her mane. If he was like she expected, he'd follow her. And ask his questions, of course. Slowly, she padded down the beach, swaying her hips from side to side as she went.
Had any of the suitors passed her marks? Hardly. "No. They were interested in 'committment'. Can you believe it?" she gave a bark of laughter. A tough girlie... She liked the sound of that. "You don't want -me- to take care of you, baby... Believe me."
---
Lyle of course followed after Anansi, he wasn’t going to let her just walk away, he was already invested in this flirtation. His eyes couldn’t help but drift down the mare’s body watching her hips and rump for a moment before he gave himself a mental shake and quickened pace enough that they were walking side by side.
At her words he laughed along with her. Well, she wouldn’t have a problem with him, commitment wasn’t exactly Lyle’s strong suit. ”Well, you’ve just struck gold. I’m not sure I even know the definition of commitment.” He winked at her with a grin, but something inside him was pouting. What if he did want commitment? What then? He pushed these thoughts away, settling down wasn’t exactly in his plans. He smirked at her warning ”Whyever not? You’re gorgeous, and obviously can take care of yourself, I wouldn’t mind you taking care of me, not at all.”
Nansi kept an eye on him, smiling and tucking her nose as he followed her. He moved with a liquid grace, his violet pelt sliding along muscles with ease. She could even get used to the spike on his forehead, she figured. She'd never been one to like the unicorns. She had more of a ...wing fetish. And fetish was a good word for it.
He didn't do committment? She paused in mid-stride, turning to face him, her lips turning up at the edges in a grin of her own. Perhaps...she did strike gold.
"Well, I -am- gorgeous," she murmured, moving her body as to block any movement from the stallion. "And I can, indeed, take care of myself. Butttttt...." She eyed him up and down, then flicked an ear backwards. "I dunno... There's just something about you..."
---
The Unicorn was aware of each movement the mare made and he couldn’t help his eyes from sliding over her body once or twice. Oh yes, he reaffirmed to himself, she was gorgeous and so self-confident. It was exciting, too many mares he ran into shied away from his compliments and couldn’t even play the flirting game. It seemed this mare could.
Oh yes, she could. He just grinned as her body blocked his, ears flicking towards her to catch her words. He chuckled lowly as she confirmed his compliments and then looked curious as she eyed him. Something about him, eh? A slow grin grew on his muzzle as he spoke. ”Mmm, something charismatic and seductive that makes you wonder if I’m really as good as I think I am?” Oh yeah, he was totally full of himself, but he just couldn’t help it. ”Something that makes you wonder if I really need taking care of, or if I’m just trying to get closer to you…” He nuzzled her neck for a short moment before he pulled away and looked her in the eyes, the grin still on his face.
---
As his skin touched hers, she felt the spark of electricity that raced between them, that shocked her neck and made her eyes widen, the whites showing around the rims. He... Was good... Part of her wanted to flatten her ears and give him a good bite on the cheek, for taking advantage of the situation. But...she'd do the same thing, given the opportunity, so she got over it. Instead, her ears pricked up and she stared at him, into his eyes, almost daringly.
"Good tries. Really. But it was more along the lines of wondering how much of a pig you are underneath the good looks and smooth voice." She tossed her mane away from her eyes, then nipped at his shoulder and took off in the opposite direction, her tail flagging behind her.
---
Seeing her reaction to him his grin grew, yeah he had that effect sometimes. The grin stayed on his muzzle until she finished talking. Oooh, burn. His grin dropped and he stared after her shocked, that had never happened before. His smooth words and compliments had always gotten him in before, rejection was not something he was equipped to handle. Not even the n** snapped him out of it. It wasn’t until she was a good couple yards away from him that he gave himself a shake and realized she had gone off.
”Hey! Wait a second,” He trotted after her, determined not to let it end as a failure.
---
Anansi was actually surprised. Perhaps she'd gone too far...? He had a quick tongue and good looks and he -knew- it. And he used it to his advantage. His words would make normal mares swoon. Putting the same charm on her mother, Amerlei would be eating out of his hoof. But Anansi couldn't fall for just anyone. Sure, a boyfriend would be nice. Hell, a friend would do the trick. Keep her company.
Instead of another quick comeback, the stallion had looked shocked. And he'd not moved a muscle. A small part of her wanted to go back, to apologize and ask if they could start over from the beginning. But her pride was a bit too strong.
If he wanted her...he'd have to come after her. And she felt herself smile when he called out to her, his hooves thudding in the sand.
---
Lyle kept up a quick pace until he caught up with her, moving to block her path much like she had just done to him. He stared at her for a long moment before he shook his head. ”For your information I’m not a pig, I just admire beautiful mares, such as yourself, although obviously you rather be alone.” He snorted and then turned and walked off in the opposite direction. Aright so that hadn’t gone as planned but he had his pride, and she had insinuated that he was a pig. Plus the rejection was a huge blow to the stallion. He resisted the urge to look behind him and see if she was coming after him to apologize, a part of him thought she might not come after him.
---
Anansi paused, flickering her ears back for a moment in surprise. Her eyes met his and he shook his head and spoke. He...admired her? But they'd only just met. And now...they were nothing more than passing souls. As he strode past her, she turned and watched him go, a strange hollow feeling in her chest. You stupid mare... she chided herself.
She watched him leave. He'd only done what was natural for him. Spinning around, she took off at a lope, lunging forwards and skidding to a stop in front of him. "W-Wait. Lyle... I didn't mean it. I mean...I meant it. But you have to understand me to understand...And you can't. Because we just met. And I'm sorry..."
---
He stopped suddenly as the mare came to a halt in front of him. He gave her a wary look, he wasn’t going to tolerate being called a pig again, or any other insults. Her words blew the wariness out of his eyes, well she should apologize. He was silent for a moment before he spoke. ”I forgive you,” He nipped at her softly and then smirked. ”Although, you have to admit if I were a pig, I’d be a handsome pig.”
---
She stared down at her hooves rather sheepishly, waiting for his judgement. When he finally spoke, she gazed up at him, unsure, then laughed. "A very handsome pig," she murmured, letting her silver gaze flicker over his rump once more. "But..." She let the silence take them for a moment, recalling his words before. "Are you really as good as you say you are?"
---
He grinned at her agreement, pawing at the sand under his hooves as they stood there. Hearing her inquiry he perked his ears and a slow smile played over his muzzle. ”I usually don’t give out my secrets, but for you….” He leaned forward whispering into her ear. ”I am” He pulled back and winked at her, before he turned and headed down the beach slowly, expecting her to follow him tail swishing back and forth as he moved.
---
A chill ran down her spine, his breath warm against her ear, tickling it. She felt a rush of heat hit her face -- HER face! who would've thought! -- and he took off. Her head bobbed up and she scrambled to collect herself once again, hurrying after him.
He was... She grinned again. He was...
