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 Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 4:24 pm
 They were alive. They were alive and they knew it. Springing forth from the ground with hopeless abandon, dozens and dozens of flowers and weeds and grasses, everything blooming like it hadn't any shame. It was no wonder, as Spring was their season. Sometime before, something had decided Spring would be their season to live, and although they sometimes tried to bloom in Winter or in Fall, their true place was in Spring.
Such was the thought weighing heavily on the male's mind; not a very productive thought, but it nonetheless had him captivated, wide moons of eyes staring down a delicate, milky flower. No matter how hard he stared, the flower didn't falter, simply beamed up at him in all of its voluptuous glory. If he'd had less respect for nature, he might have picked it and carried it with him to the next clearing.
Rolling a shoulder, Wolfram's ears docked a bit as his gaze shifted from below to his left, alert. A noise had distracted him, but of what? Something in the brush. Becoming very still, he listened.
Something small and brown and red and white shot from the foliage and into the sky, becoming clear as its wings steadied - a bird. He relaxed at once, his shoulders drooping and tail flicking. Such was nature, unpredictable and wild, but it was all he wanted, and all he chose to protect.
Today, his daily round had brought him to a large, sunny clearing, encased in lush trees and alive with flowers of many kinds. Together, they created a cheerful mass of beauty and indulgence, taking in the sun and showing off their colors and shapes happily. It put him at ease. Not at all somber, as many mistook him for, Wolfram simply enjoyed a bit of quiet here and there, and today had granted him his wish. The only sound now was the wind, quietly whistling through the branches and lifting the flowers in waves as it went.
Pleased, he perched himself onto the ground, amidst the array of flowers, enjoying an area that man had not yet touched. He would probably end up picking a few, if not simply to spread them around the forest; some places were growing back bare after the harsh winter, he'd noted, and it would be his job to replace what was lost.
Tilting his head back, Wolfram closed his wide eyes and sighed, the bulk of his weight being supported by his palms. Thus far, the day was nothing short of... perfect.
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 1:19 am
 Curiosity had prompted her out of the lonely forest, leaving behind the lonely little pond she occupied, waving farewells for the day to animals with peering eyes. She walked through dimly little foliage, flecks of light peered through to shine their rays on her pale skin. The road ahead would lead to a sunny clearing soon, the craving for fresh air and bright sunlight, without littered noises of the townspeople and crowds interupting the natural silence of the earth. Few hardly traveled along this road, her hand gripping her prized harp in a relaxed manner, a pale hand to her mouth as she giggled at nearby birds. An spot of color in the distance amongst the green scenery had Rhyme turn soft red eyes into that direction, tipping her head slightly as she tried to ponder what it might be, her feet shifting soundlessly under the large heavy fabric of her kimono. She neared the area in an undefinite amount of time, the sun still high in the sky, critters scurrying about. Sensing her presence, they looked up to confirm if the approaching constellation was dangerous or not. Once deciding that she held no threat at all, she moved forward into the colorful horizon. She spied a large brown figure, mistaking it for a rock at first, until upon coming closer, she realized it was not a large rock as originally thought. In fact.. it was most likely a constellation. Since he did not resemble a twilif nor any other sort. Constellations came in many forms, so Rhyme discovered, cheerfully intruding on the visitor. "Is this your domain? .. If you don't mind me admiring the bright surroundings for a minute, I assure you, I won't be a bother." She stated simply, her figure stood in the sun's direction, the shadow denied flowers of the bright sunlight for several minutes, her shadow cast over the other constellation.
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 7:26 pm
Ears twitching, his mouth opened in a silent gasp as the wolfish constellation turned his head to gaze at the woman. She was beautiful, like a glowing sunset, held into a touchable form by crystals and silk. He had to shake his head lightly, to break himself of gawking. A rare sight indeed.
She had asked to stay here and admire the flowers. Feeling at once embarrassed, he shook his head again, and in a low, quiet voice replied, "This is not my domain. I only... watch over this forest." It was beyond Wolfram to think of any part of the land as "his". After all, no part of the planet truly belonged to any one being - they all shared it. So he found no reason to deny the beauty the right to stay.
Now, if only he could find the words to tell her.
He was bad enough with others as it was. Talking had never been his strong suit, and so he envied animals. They spoke through actions, and that was all they needed to understand each other. It was not so simple with the "more advanced" beings.
Sucking in a breath, he abruptly turned back around, ears bent back in discomfort, as he was afraid he'd already done something to offend her. Looking up hopelessly at the sky, one thought repeated in his mind: Why am I so hopeless?
The shadow was covering him, and he was well aware of it; was she going to move? He didn't dare ask her, instead gesturing with a hand weakly over the flowers.
"You can stay."
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 2:23 am
The wolfish constellation surprised her in his appearance, his primitive and solemn appearance gave off a moody aura but as Rhyme knew, personalities didnt always match appearances. He seemed nice enough she judged since he didnt immediately growl at her or attempted to send her away quickly. His dark features gave him a menacing aura, although the soft demeanor was like a docile rabbit. The term she would use would be a 'tamed wolf.'
It wasnt his domain? He watched over the forest? Then he must be .. a guardian of the forest? It certainly fit, since a wolf was one of the top of the hierarchy of wilderness. Probably on the same levels as tigers or lions but Rhyme preferred wolves, their majestic posture was elegant instead of a tiger's instinctive and deathly unpredictability. She gave him a small smile, the silence that hung in the sunny area was a friendly one, at least to Rhyme it was. Such confusing mixed signals the other gave though, even though he had admitted he just watched over the area, his lowered ears implied he seemed to be uneasy or uncomfortable about her question. Did he not approve of her wandering into the area? But his confirmation, soon arriving, made her tip her head in slight confusion.
"You seem to be a little uneasy. Is there something bothering you?" She asked him, while smoothing over the folds of her kimono to sit delicately on the patch of flowers, legs bent to one side as she laid the golden harp on her lap. Rhyme hadn't realized her appearance put him in awe and silence, she didnt think much of it, being not the type to use one's beauty to her advantage.
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 8:25 pm
And now she wanted to engage in conversation? He'd assumed that the woman would simply sit quietly, as she had stated she wouldn't be a bother. Since this was no longer the case, Wolfram felt he had no choice but to somehow accommodate her; he had little experience with other creatures aside from animals, but he knew something of courtesy.
Rolling his shoulder awkwardly, Wolfram placed a hand over it, finally turning to look at her. Although his mouth was glued into its typical position - a tiny frown - he didn't hold any malice in his eyes as he prepared to address her again.
"You will... have to forgive me." He tried to keep himself from shying away, as he always did. "I am always like this. I... do not have a lot of experience with... others of my own kind." He winced a bit, fully aware of how pathetic he already sounded. It was of no use to try to come up with any excuses for his behavior; he simply was what he was. Being painfully honest saw to it that he never attempted such a feat. The heavens knew it wouldn't go well, anyway.
Feeling his face heat up and suddenly thankful for the tanned color of his skin, Wolfram felt the urge to turn away again, but battled it.
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 10:08 pm
Rhyme was quite confused when the other asked for forgiveness, wondering if he had done something for forgive for? He hadn't even done anything in the first place to even remark maliciously on. But she realized in a few moments that he was apologizing for his awkwardness, a quality that Rhyme saw no need to apologize for. The fact that he did so seemed to imply that he thought it was wrong or lacking. Quite frankly, Rhyme saw no need to be social.
"Who said you needed to be experienced? There's no forgiveness needed." She replied with a smile, admiring him for admitting one of his faults. "Actually I'll have to apologize for not realizing it. It must have been quite awkward to have a stranger approach you most randomly. I'm sorry, it must have been quite a shock." She laid her head on her lap, turned upwards to stare up at the other, her long pink locks of hair spreading randomly over her body.
"It's nice how you can admit it so freely. I dont like crowds myself so I dont have much experience within the social whirl as well. It's quite a hassle if you ask me." She said to the other, remembering society and all it's little mannerisms and silent rules. She laid her harp beside her on the grass, a little smile on the other. So he wasn't frowning out of displeasure after all.
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:03 pm
His ears docked in response to her kind patience. She didn't seem displeased at all by his lack in social grace, rather being quite understanding toward the matter. It caused the tension in his shoulders to ease a bit, and he felt them droop. To the untrained eye, he would have appeared very submissive; this was not the case, although the wolf certainly didn't feel any need to assert any sort of dominance over the woman.
Heavens, no.
Cocking an ear upward a bit, he began to see her in a different way. He was seeing her and not, he knew, but he was also finding a new way to look at her. Not at her looks or her words but at how she carried herself. Her body language. She was perfectly at ease, and the energy she radiated tempted him to mimic the mood. He had no reason to be afraid, he knew, and yet his tail still remained flat on the ground.
Eyes wide with silent concentration, he blinked once, realizing he had not only been staring, but had been staring very, very intently. The owlish expression he bore must have been a sight, and he sucked in a loud breath at his blunder. Now she would surely think he was the strangest thing she had seen, and would leave. He would be alone again.
It was strange, the way his mood had shifted. Suddenly he wanted attention. Someone to talk to on a day like this.
Drumming claws against the soft ground, he lowered his head and began to mumble, "You know me well. We have just met, but you know me well."
His skill in the tongue of his peers was poor at best.
Blinking at her latest comment, he turned his head again to look at her, this time listening instead of looking, for the tone she would answer with.
"It is wrong of me to admit my faults to...," he paused, struggling with the word, "strangers," he concluded, voice curt and blunt. Purely unintentional, but that was his way, because he did not practice. He clicked his jaw uncomfortably.
"I look weak to you now."
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:52 am
Rhyme, being more humanoid, thought it was quite interesting how Wolfram's tail and ears reacted. She could only guess by their dropping manner, that he was either sad or relaxed. Judging by the situation, she would guess he was slowly becoming more comfortable in her presence. Rhyme's gaze met Wolfram's studying eyes. He reminded her of an animal new to the forest, Rhyme often saw animals studying her with an intent gaze, the same as his at the moment.
"You remind me of an animal in the way your gaze observes someone. Humans use words but those words are often misunderstood. People interpret them to their own desires and things become complicated. Animals have a far easier life, expressing through their actions." Rhyme said softly, as if to show Wolfram she didn't mind his stare, plucking a flower to twirl it between her pale fingers. It was a red flower, pressing it to her face, inhaling the faint scent. "I dont know you well um..., " she trailed off, the lack of knowledge of his name stopping her. "..But I understand your feelings well. Living in isolation, it was quite hard for me to understand the way of society. I have grasped the basics but not much more." She gestured helplessly, shifting uncomfortably.
"Wrong? How? Do you really believe that admitting one's faults makes one weak?" She asked the other, holding the plucked flower to Wolfram. "We voice our problems, our accomplishments, our thoughts and much more. Yet do we consider any of those wrong?" Rhyme asked, pressing her finger to Wolfram's mouth, silencing him for the moment.
Rhyme shook her head, her eyes closing, as she faced the other constellation. "On the contrary, you look quite dashing at the moment. As a stranger, I think your honesty is quite refreshing. In a reversed situation, someone boasting of their strengths certainly wouldn't look very strong to me. They would simply look vain. But for someone to freely admit their faults? That's quite a virtue, proving you know yourself well." She took her hand away, flashing a delicate smile, an idea coming to her.
"If you think otherwise, we can review my faults, if you wish. Believe me, there's a list." She gave a small laugh, her hand over her smiling lips. "But, introductions first, my honest stranger. I'm Rhyme." She introduced herself with a small bow, red eyes glowing with mischief.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:44 am
She was mysterious. Elegant in mannerisms, gentle in her voice, yet her words pierced his mind like a dagger, sharp and true and very direct. It was strange, the way someone so calm could have such a piercing voice.
Quiet and quiet and
loud.
He didn't mind it. He didn't mind when she picked one of the flowers of the forest, he didn't mind when she hushed him with a thin finger. Some of the words she used confused him, and he didn't quite understand all of what she said, but nor did he have the time to stop and ask questions. So he listened to her voice, and not her words, when she spoke; again, he listened to her voice. It was gentle. Thoughtful. Quiet. Loud.
Isolation. He didn't know that word. However, judging by her words surrounding that mystery word, he could only guess what she meant by it. She understood his feelings well. She knew what it was like to be him, is what she meant, then. To be alone and awkward and searching, to be cornered into living with what had been given to them, but to want more. Was he selfish for that?
Dashing. He didn't know that word, either. The rest he understood, and he felt foolish for the compliments, feeling he had done nothing to deserve them. He shifted a bit uncomfortably, bringing his shoulders up again in that way he did because he did not practice speaking to others. What she said held some truth, he knew, because there were many creatures who boasted of strengths they did not possess, in an attempt to frighten another.
He wished he knew the words to properly speak with her. What was a conversation like?
Bringing the heel of his hand to his cheek, he rubbed at it, eyeing her with only slight mistrust now through the corners of searching eyes. He did not know her as well as he knew himself; he would never know another that well, and perhaps would never know himself very well. Understanding this, the ever-quiet Wolfram glanced over her, to her hand to a smiling mouth, to red eyes that glowed into his. Like the setting sun.
"I," he cleared his throat, "am Wolfram."
Simple enough. He was Wolfram. That was his name, and although he didn't have complete understanding of the language that sounded like bells on the wind, coming from Rhyme, he knew himself enough to know his own name. Would that be good enough?
Pushing himself off of the ground, he stood awkwardly, arms at his sides and tail swishing gently now at his feet. He wanted to contribute more to the conversation, to know what a conversation was. He wanted to be able to learn about someone not just through silent observation, but through speaking. Asking questions and getting answers.
His eyes became half-moons, but remained ever-alert. "You talk," he nodded in her direction, understanding that it was rude to point. If there was anything he understood about their etiquette, it was that it was rude to point. "In a strange way. I do not understand some words."
Where one may have grown frustrated, he only felt his face heat up, as if a flame were being held close to it. It wasn't as if he was completely clueless to their language, the language of words; he knew many of them from observing, and from listening. He knew words like forgive and experience and sorrow. He did not know enough.
Embarrassment, a word he did not know but knew regardless, was what he felt. Feeling the need to make his predicament well-known, he went on with a bit more determination.
"I learn." He gestured, hands awkward in the air. "I learn? From you. Words. And maybe.... faults."
I want to learn to speak the way you do. I want to learn about you, who you are, what makes you you.
If only.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:10 pm
"Wolfram." She repeated, trying to follow the pronunciation correctly. Even if it was only that sentence alone, Rhyme was glad to see some confidence from the other constellation. He wasn't completely unsure. His voice sounded very much like the low growl of a wolf but it held more emotions than any animal could express. In a way, it reminded her very much of a young but majestic tree.
"You don't understand some words? I do use large words and people often tell me so." She reflected, one hand pushing strands of red hair back on her shoulder. She couldn't see the struggling Wolfram was debating within, oblivious to it at the moment. Rhyme had never been able to refrain from her overly formal speech, most people and twilifs seeing that as her way of placing distance, asking her why she could not speak 'normally' with them. But.. what was normal? Was what she spoke.. not normal? It had taken a long time to discover they wanted her to speak as they did, but she could not simply change her natural manner.
Wolfram's words surprised her, the act of displaying your lack of knowledge accompanied by your willingness to learn more .. Well, this constellation seemed to surprise her in many different lights. "Learn from me? That's quite an honor and a surprise. If you don't mind settling for a poor teacher, I'd be happy to. It seems like a fun activity too." She clapped her hands softly together, the prospect of teaching someone was a new experience. She didn't know how well or poorly she could 'teach' since Rhyme had never taught another anything in her short life.
"Well, Wolfram. You mentioned there were words you didn't understand. Do you remember what they were? We can go over my list of faults later. They're quite long, a laundry list, I assure you." Rhyme cheerfully stated, her smile widening. Evidently, she had no problem displaying her faults.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:44 am
He nodded, acknowledging that he understood her request. It was difficult to keep up at times, but she was kind to be patient with him, and he appreciated it. Thinking back, he tried to remember the words that stuck out, sounded foreign.
"Com... complicated," he began, holding a hand up and counting on his claw-like appendages. Gods, he didn't even resemble her that much. Were their worlds truly that different? Her marveling at his mannerisms - and his hers - seemed to prove that adequately enough. "Soc... iety, contrary, refreshing, reversed..." He trailed off, shrugging when he couldn't recall anymore.
He wasn't even certain if he'd pronounced them all right, but hopefully it had been close enough to be understandable. It was pretty embarrassing, the way he had to sit here and ask for assistance on words, but something deep down told him that if he didn't, he would be lost in their conversation. Thankfully, she seemed to be a very kind sort, if not mischievous, too. She remarked that he was 'honest', like it was a surprising thing, but she didn't seem to have any trouble holding anything back, either.
Letting the words hang in the air for a moment, he silently nodded, sitting back a bit. "There are more," he admitted, glancing away for a brief moment. "But I can't remember."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:16 am
She waited for his slow halting list of words, reflecting that there were times she had to ask others, stupidity taking over when they stared down at her with a baffled and condescending look. It had taken a while for Rhyme to be to brush off the opinions of others, realizing that her lack of knowledge did not put her on lesser ground than that.
"If you cant remember, it's alright. Next time, if you dont understand a word, interrupt me to ask, okay?" Rhyme asked, a crystal tablet in her hands as she wrote down the words Wolfram listed to her. Her mind formed the words in crystal engravings within the tablet, far easier than a paper and a pencil combined.
"O-kay! Let's go over these words." She said eagerly, the fun task had her eyes lighting up. She held up the tablet, the lettering of the word appeared in Wolfram's vision. "Complicated is a compli--- Oops." She cut herself off sheepishly, realizing that she would have repeated the word again. "Um.. Let me start over. That word means it's difficult, or hard to explain. There are similar words that have the same meaning.. Just like the word 'complex.'" Rhyme fumbled through the lesson with some mistakes, her ability to teach wasn't the most effective but it was far from being the worst. At least, she got her point across, or so she thought she did.
( Did you have any idea on what should happen next? XDD I'm at a loss for events @w@;; )
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