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 Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 12:46 pm
He had resigned himself to the simple truth that, if he was looking for time to spend alone, he wouldn't find it. It seemed like mares crossed his path more often than they had in his entire life in these lands, and while he wouldn't exactly complain about it, it was a little trying in the long run. He was getting a bit better at socializing with them, which he supposed could only be considered a benefit, but at the same time, he'd had a series of meetings that had ended with no clear idea of meeting again. So, he was training himself to be good at initiating a conversation, but not one that inspired a lasting connection.
Well, he wasn't doing it on purpose. But that was the way it seemed.
Tail swishing behind him, he shifted his direction slightly, heading toward the village. Gaspard had just about made up his mind to stay in Kawani village - he really just needed to find Corine and see if she felt the same way. He'd traveled a great deal of his youth, and had seen many things, but he found he was learning more about himself by staying in one place. That aside, there was no rule that said he couldn't change his mind in a season or more, and pick up wandering again.
For now, this seemed like the next adventure. He'd always had a sneaking suspicion that Corine was less inclined toward travel than he, and had actually been surprised when she'd joined him. From what he'd seen of her, she seemed to be settling in well, and he wondered if he could do the same.
A couple of human children darted in front of him, laughing and playing a game of tag. He stopped, watching them with an ear cocked toward them, until they disappeared around a cluster of teepees.
Frowning a bit, he noted that this area didn't look like where Corine's human lived, and so he turned, deciding to skirt around the village. As he did so, he noticed another walking close by - and in accordance with his recent luck, it was of course a mare. Surprisingly, he didn't feel the instant apprehension that he was often plagued with.
Well well. Perhaps the constant exposure was really doing him some good.
Nodding toward her, he continued to walk, but slowed as he approached. If anything, Gaspard didn't want to be rude. "Hello, miss."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 6:01 am
 Meena was lost in her own thoughts, moving around the edge of the Village towards the teepee that belonged to the human her family was associated with. The Village seemed to be bustling with life and activity today, and so rather than have to pick her way around all the two-legged ones, she'd just stayed on the outskirts.
Her head was full of thoughts; mulling over the Soquili she'd just met and the conversation they'd had, and if her mother would be worried that she'd not managed to find her friend Dory down by the beach. With all this on her mind she only noticed the stallion after he'd spoken, and even then she wasn't sure if it had been herself he was greeting.
'Hello,' she said, after casting a swift glance around to make sure there was no one else he could be addressing. She didn't remember seeing him before now, and as she was often in the Village and the surrounding area it was likely he was either new to the area, or she'd just managed to completely miss seeing him around.
She gave him a warm, welcoming smile;
'You're new around here?'
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 12:08 pm
He wondered if it was so obvious that he was new. He'd been in these lands for a few cycles of the moon, but it was true he was still very much a new resident, and had met only a small clutch of others he could call acquaintances. For the vast variety of Soquili he'd seen, it seemed the community was rather tight-knit; otherwise, how would they be able to notice a new one?
Or perhaps he just carried himself in an awkward, I'm-new-to-this-place fashion. Either was just as likely to be true.
At least this mare seemed friendly. Her smile was certainly warm, and not one he was accustomed to receiving - often he was the recipient of more tight, small, nervous smiles. It took him aback a bit, and made him blink.
"I am, yes. A little." Tilting his head toward her, he swept his gaze over her face, taking in its friendly, welcoming lines. Not the same as Dia's frank, sturdy sort of prettiness, but this mare's face held a charm all its own.
Ears flickering for just a moment, before settling to point at her once more in interest, he introduced himself. "My name is Gaspard. I traveled to these lands not long ago with my sister."
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 7:18 am
'I thought you might be,' Meena gave a quick nod, beads on two of her braids clinking softly against each other as she did so.
'I've lived in this area since I was born, so I'm pretty familiar with most faces around here.' she smiled again. Why wouldn't she be friendly after all? She was in a pleasant mood today, and he certainly didn't seem as though he'd come to make trouble - though appearances could be deceiving.
'I'm Meena, very nice to meet you Gaspard. Did your sister and yourself come from far away then?'
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 2:10 pm
He wondered what it was like, briefly, to belong to a place in such a way. To have been born there, raised there, and grown into adulthood around all the same faces. There would be a comfort in it, a security, but he imagined it would also be... limiting. Perhaps because he'd traveled so extensively, and learned things about himself and the world that he couldn't have otherwise, but still. What would he have been like if he'd never traveled?
It came to him instantly: his father. Though he was stoic and reserved, Auguste was certainly moreso, his skills of socialization rusty and buried to say the least. As far as Gaspard knew, his father had never ventured far from his homeland, and had never been put in situations where he needed to introduce himself to unfamiliar others. That was the most striking different between them, he realized suddenly.
Whatever his own flaws were, Gaspard was glad, at least, that he had traveled. It was not a bad thing to resemble one's parents, but Gaspard liked to think that he and Corine had gotten the better parts of them - his sister for certain.
Swishing his tail, he murmured, "Yes, we do." Voice gaining volume, though still fairly quiet and deep, he continued. "It seems that we will be settling here, at least for a time, however."
Though his expression was solemn, it wasn't unfriendly when he looked her in the face once more. "The pleasure is mine, Meena. I hope I'm not disturbing a walk," he added, glancing around as if it suddenly occurred to him that she could possibly have other places to be.
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 7:52 am
Meena shook her head;
'Oh no, not really.' she explained where she'd been heading.
'I was just going to meet my mother after finishing an errand she sent me on. She's probably slightly wondering where I am, but once I tell her I was delayed by bumping into a handsome stallion she'll be perfectly fine.' she added the latter with a soft wrinkling to her nose as she smiled again. She wondered how he'd take a compliment so soon after meeting, but she felt it was due and so had said it.
'It's just you and your sister? My family is extensive, even I'm not sure how many relations I have out there now. And I hope you find yourself happy here, it's a nice place to live and to raise a family.' she added idly. Obviously she had no idea what his plans were, but mostly settling down meant that sort of life choice.
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