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 Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:41 am
The revelation had struck him one night, causing the typically placid male quite a great upset. The thought had rolled around in his head for the next few days, plaguing him with realization that he was far too placid and uninspired. It wasn't that Azuell was lazy, as he often sparred or assisted others without any groaning or rolling of the eyes; he did what needed to be done with little complaint and often great joy. . . . but when nothing was absolutely necessary or needed. . . well. . . he took fondness in naps and good cuisine.
Life had been good, he had no complaints residing with his family and sharing in their joys.
But what joy had he personally brought back. . .? Most importantly, what joy was he bringing others while he snacked and slept his days away.
The thought was enough to drive the stallion away from the winter kissed ridges and the warm enclosure of the Grove. He had kissed his mother goodbye and taken a holiday. . . though it wasn't out of pleasure or out of a need to escape; merely, the blue eyed stallion had needed time away to truly think about his life and begin to put the pieces and reality together.
He was missing out on living all because he was too relaxed and care free. His most adventurous days had been as a foal, and mostly that was to show up his brother and prove his small size made him a just as formidable opponent. After ridding themselves of their personal demons and Kiyoshi. . . .
Well. . . . .everything had setteled. The rest of the herd found bumps in the road; Esper leaving, Esper returning, Sylph returning and forming his rigid but well-respected Knighthood. . . . Honestly it was easy for the quiet male to become complacent. But now was his time to shine. . .
No more would he sit back and wait for life to find him. No, he needed to do get out there and actually do something. Maybe it wasn't some grand adventure, maybe it wasn't well planned out, but it was time he stallioned up and actually went out with a purpose. Exactly what the purpose was, he was working it out as he went. . . but he did know where he ached to be.
His good friend, one of his only friends really, had moved away from the ocean and turned further inland. It wasn't difficult finding her exact location, as the pale and strangely clumsy mare was hard to forget. So Azuell decided to approach and pay a visit . . . the last time he saw her was well over a month and a half previous. . . why he waited so long even he didn't know. For a stallion that did very little, time certain flew!
Winter hadn't hit the plains nearly as hard as the slopes. While a light snow had covered the trees and the ground, it wasn't nearly as chilly nor as overwhelming as further up the mountains. Azuell understood the mare had great taste, and as such was laden with gifts of good tiding and good fortune.
The various winter treats he had discovered were carried in a woven basket that was slung around his neck and shoulder. Though Azuell didn't interract much with the two legged kind, there were others in his herd who did and often were gifted or returned with offerings. This particular basket and strap were useful, especially in his journey south.
The tricky part of his journy was just beginning. For while he knew of Honey's general location, actually finding her might be more tricky. Especially if she was away from the lakeside. . .
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Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:57 am
Honeycomb was a predictable mare not by choice, but out of necessity. Her rather severe vertico and extreme clumsiness could cause hazards. While the majority of her accidents were minor and caused no injury, there was a chance that something could go wrong. Her father had stressed long ago that she must stay within an area where she could be found - if she was hurt, it would be easier for the herd to find her if they knew exactly where she was most likely to appear. Thus, for all the time in which she had lived alone she had been led by routine and had acted in the same way with each changing season. From spring to summer she was by the beach and whenever the weather began to turn into it's more vicious state she made her move to the lakes inland.
Despite her father's numerous excursions he had come back in her first winter and both had looked for a suitable place for her to reside. It was definitely not in official Islagiatt territory but they always kept an eye on her and she knew it. Her father had given her free reign to choose a place she adored and eventually she had found one. As a bumbling filly scarcely into adulthood, she had selected a small grove off one of the tributaries that led towards the lake. It was a rather sparse forest in comparison to the more dense sort on the slopes, but it provided ample warmth and plenty of food. Biscuit had agreed that she would want for nothing during the winter months and had given his blessing.
...And so she had stayed there in the years since!
This year was to be no exception and as the weather had taken a turn for the worse much earlier than she anticipated, she had moved just a little sooner than most would anticipate. She had settled in quickly of course, slipping into her grove with a smile. The familiar warmth had embraced her and in the coming week of her arrival she had spent much of it shuffling bits and pieces about to make it more homely again. Eventually she was content though and the mare had settled in for a rather long winter. That being said she rarely regarded the severe weather as a bad thing, given that it brought her closer to society and she received more visitors than often. It made a nice change even if she missed the salty air!
Such was the mindset of the mare as she inspected her reflection in the river and gave a curt nod (soon followed by a wobble of uncertain legs). She had to admit that the snow really set off the rest of her features, a small ounce of her father's vanity began to shine through as she admitted to herself that on some level her eyes were looking simply staggering this afternoon. Unsurprisingly, this thought brought a rather spectacular smile to her lips and she giggled.
For a while after she had been visited by the hungry stallion she had pondered as to how he was; she hadn't been completely aware that he was part of the same herd as she was but he had left an impression. After all, it wasn't everyday that she somersaulted into the water upon being greeted and then nearly eaten out of house and home - especially by such a handsome specimen. Admittedly he wasn't like normal stallions (she recaleld this with surprising clarity) but he was still quite handsome; he was stocky and much smaller than normal but the muscles in his limbs and the manner he carried his head indicated he had far more strength. She would have bet good money he was underestimated until the day he flattened his opponent in about five seconds.
Alas, after he had failed to reappear after a number of weeks she had drawn the conclusion that he had just been a passerby, a very pleasant passerby but it was inappropriate to expect miracles when so many fell into the same category. It had come as a shock to her, how disappointed she was at the apparent loss of her new friend but she had reminded herself quickly that she had other friends to be thankful for and she shouldn't be maudlin. She had continued her life from that point in her usual manner and occupied her time with intellectual conversation with migrating sea creatures.
It was a quiet life and she was content, but to say she was completely satified with her lot might have been a slight lie...
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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:42 am
The stallion was in luck!
Blue eyes brightened with intrigue as he caught the form of a particular female gazing down in to the waters of the lake! Against the snow, the golden kissed mare could almost have gone over looked, but that thick mane of blond hair, as well as her honeyed socks that painted her legs helped her stand out amidst the snow.
Though Azuell hadn't forgotten how pretty a hostess Honeycomb had been, seeing her in person was definitely much more pleasant than stirring up a memory. There was something that had been lost in translation, though Azuell had been certain not to forget a thing. Remembering his manners, the young stallion trotted around the far edge of the lake as he bridged the distance between himself and the mare before him.
Of course, he remembered her spill in to the ocean during their first meeting and feared for her wobbly nature. She seemed lost in thought as she gazed down at the waters and he didn't want to startle her a second time. Pausing in his trot, the stallion wondered how best to approach . . . . He was still far enough away that any call he made to her would be slightly muted against space and wind. . . . Perhaps he might draw her attention away from the water that way?
"Greetings once again, m'lady!" He called out, hoping his cry might be muffled enough not to startle her in to the water but loud enough so she might catch wind of his presence. Clearing his throat, the male pawed at the ground, pausing in his approach as he watched and waited for Honey's reaction. Who knew if she was up for visitors or . . well. . . if she even remembered him at all.
He, unfortunately, wasn't nearly as stunning or memorable as the golden touched lady before him.
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:30 am
True enough, his words reached her over the breeze and her ears swivelled in response. This time she wasn't easily startled and instead she lifted her head and glanced over her shoulder to inspect the individual in question. She knew him and recognised him all right but it seemed almost impossible that he was simply appear in the moment she had been dwelling on him. It was odd how life worked, the Fates were often prone to their games but their timing was certainly impeccable and at first she hadn't quite believed her ears. Thus it had been with an eerie calm and curiosity that led her to inspect her visitor for a few moments before she concluded that he was in fact, Azuell. Ahhhh! What a pleasant surprise to receive in the winter months and it should have startled no one that a smile crept onto her lips in reply.
Then, everything went wrong.
He hadn't startled her by any means but the mare was inherently clumsy and while most would have spun round with ease she was not blessed with such grace. Her legs became tangled around one another and her hair became ensnared between - her eyes widened and with a startled yelp she found herself tumbling backwards into the river. It wasn't the most eloquent of greetings and she gave a weary sigh of exasperation from her new vantage point in the river. Hind legs sprawled out with her rump planted firmly on the river bed, she resembled a dog more than a horse as she was finally able to gaze at the stallion properly. There would never be a day when she would be graceful, she knew that one for sure - still, it was good to know that she was unharmed despite her tumble.
She bounced rather than shattered after all!
"Hello, Azuell!" she responded in her usual wistful tones despite her current position. The smile never left her lips but despite her ridiculous position she didn't quite trust herself to stand just yet. She'd give herself a few moments before she attempted to stand, she really didn't need to tumble twice in the space of a few moments (heaven forbid she lose more dignity). "Down for a spot of fair weather? I hear the mountains are becoming quite foul this time of year..." she continued conversationally. She hadn't been up the slopes in years and her father would be damned if she came up in winter but she wasn't about to question why he was here - maybe he fancied a bit of semi decent weather as opposed to snow storms? Regardless, it was nice to see a friendly face again.
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:39 am
Azuell was quite pleased to see that he hadn't taken the mare by surprise. A good start to being reunited that much was for sure! But just their luck, it was only as the mare began to move that everything went horribly wrong! She somehow got tangled up with her hair and legs and before he could get to her side and save her from her plight she was down and in the river. . . .
Oh bother.
Rushing forward, the stallion was more concerned for Honeycomb's safety than her ridiculous position in the river bed. The poor thing had a penchant for tumbling and he didn't entirely understand why. He wasn't going to ask or point it out, of course, for sometimes her clumsiness was rather endearing but right now he felt like a plank! If he'd only but run faster he might have made it in time to stop her from falling. . . .
Sure, he'd had to have known how to teleport due to the distance but Azuell held high and sometimes impossible standards for himself. He should have rescued Miss Honey from her hair. . . . He'd do better next time for sure.
"Honey it's . . a pleasure once again but are you quite all right!?" His concern was genuine, brows knitting as he reached the edge and trotted closer to her. She could use him as something stable if need be, considering her history with getting tangled or ensnared. Thankfully she didn't look hurt or in pain what with that pleasant smile sketched upon her features.
"The weather is indeed unpleasant but not entirely the whole reason for my escape. . . I had thought a visit between friends was in order, and have come to offer the golden maned lady a spot of company and some treats, should she accept. . . " Yes, he thought to spoil the mare, as she had so pleasantly hosted him. A nice change for her, perhaps. . .
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:45 am
He still wasn't accustomed to her clumsiness and given he'd only met her for a short while she didn't fault him in this. Both her father and she had gotten used to her vertico when she was a child, he'd learnt to recognise when something genuinely hurt and when he didn't he spent a great deal of time laughing as he helped her up. Her falls were generally painless if embarassment could be defined as 'painless' but it was a very valid reason for her not living on the slopes. She had been moved down to the lower regions as a filly by her father and had remained there since, the herd and borderguards had agreed that it was safer this way - that being said, that didn't mean she escaped their watchful gaze and she often saw them soaring overhead in a wide arch. They were subtle about it, often appearing to be a random soquili and the same scout rarely came twice in a row - they would alternate or come in twos and threes, no one need know any better!
His worry was endearing though and she couldn't help but smile at his attempts to be both courteous and worried at the same time. There was a certain amount of finesse when it came to completely dismissing a greeting like that, it was rather debonair. Her smile deepened a little as he continued and she slowly shook her head from left to right as if to say she was fine. It was only as he began to talk about the weather that she slowly began to clamber to her hooves, swaying like a newborn foal for a time before shuffling back to shore. She had the decency not to look dazed like a foal would, at least she could keep her dignity in this but suffice to say it seemed she fell much more regularly with him around.
...It wasn't even a swoon!
"You think I would deny myself the pleasure of your company?" she tutted softly at this and tenatively shook the water from her rump. She was gaining her balance again, so long as she didn't make any sudden movements it she wouldn't stagger and topple over again. "Although you have my interest piqued at the mention of treats," her eyebrow quirked mildly, or rather it tried. She'd never mastered lifting one brow and as a consequence both of them raised, one twitching as if it was trying it's best to beat the other to the top. The expression quickly vanished from her features though, she'd seen it in her reflection before and she already looked rather ridiculous as it was, why make it worse?
"Ah you are most welcome of course, had I known you were hunting for me I would have sent word that I move inland during winter, the coast likes to express itself a great deal more during the harsher seasons," she confessed and puttered about realigning various bits and pieces to make her little grove more comfortable again (if damp). "Welcome to my winter lodgings! Unfortunately I don't have any food yet, I've been too busy setting myself up to think about nibbling on some proper lunch..."
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:02 pm
Azuell didn't understand exactly what it was that caused Honeycomb to be labeled ' clumsy' and only slightly dangerous on her hooves but it was something he was beginning to accept. Sort of. He remembered her spill in to the ocean clearly from their first meeting. . . . And now her unfortunate slip in to the pond, the poor thing. Next time, he mentally noted, he'd make sure there was no water near Honey when he approached. At the very least, she'd not have to carry around a wet coat!
Giving a small shake of his head, his lop-sided smile grew a bit at her reply. "I had hoped I wouldn't be intruding, but one mustn't assume," he responded lightly, retreating a step or two so as not to crowd the mare. All she needed to do was trip over his tail or something equally as hazardous and she'd be back down in an instant! He was small for a male but that didn't make him any less in the way.
Ah, what luck! Azuell's eyes brightened as she mentioned her lack of proper eateries in her home. "Then fate surely has smiled upon us both," he mused, his tail flicking lightly in great amusement. His time couldn't have been better, even if the pale mare had taken a rather unexpected bath. "For you. . . " Shrugging the basket off of him, he nosed it closer to Honey before retreating a few ways.
He could only hope she'd approve. "I only hope you might enjoy them."
Inside the small basket was a variety of winter snacks! There were a plethora of good winter eats, including wintercress, fennel, bayberries, crowberries and various nuts saved from late fall. There was nothing incredibly exotic found within the mix, but he had done his best to scrounge up the most lovely tastes for Miss Honey. He certainly had the time and the patience . . . . No seaweed or mosses, unfortunately, but he did hope the treats would suffice.
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 2:36 am
Ah! Honeycomb was one of those mares who positively cringed at the thought of being caught unawares in her own home. To think she hadn't even gathered proper foods to be the good hostess! Alas, it seemed she had a habit of suffering from minor hiccups each time this soquili was in her midst and she could do nothing more than offer a smile. She should have been the one to offer him a meal, not the other way round! However as she eyed the treats more closely she did flare her nostrils at the scent. It had been a long time since she had been given mountain foods and she'd always had a penchant for them. There was something about their spiciness and rough texture that appealed to her, particularly after plenty of salty and sweet foods (depending on where she was situated during the seasons). Oh she enjoyed her apples of course, but it was nice to have variety!
"Oh, you shouldn't have," she murmured appreciatively as she inspected the contents, peering at the nuts for a little while to assert exactly what type they were. They looked just as tasty as she remembered and her smile grew considerably as she recalled the treats from her childhood. He'd certainly been busy since she had last had the opportunity to see him, he'd even been able to gather out of season foods! She did wonder how much he had bribed the squirrels and raccoons to receive such delicious treats - a small fortune, if memory served her correctly.
"They smell glorious," she mused and lifted her head once more to regard him. Aware that he had provided her with ample space she giggled just a touch and nudged the basket back towards him with her hoof. It was a considerable feat for one with hooves unsteady as her own, but she did manage and canted her head to one side inquisitively. It was such a sweet gift, particularly from one who seemed to enjoy his food quite a bit! To think, he'd refrained from eating them himself just so he could give them to her, she would have swooned if she possessed the ability to - unfortunately tumbling now would just look like on of her usually trips!
"Care to share them with me?" she offered and nudged the basket again. "I know you're quite the connoisseur, you're bound to know the best way to eat this sort of mix," she finished. Satisfied she'd given him the necessary opening to nibble on some of the mouth watering food, she lulled herself into silence and merely smiled.
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:15 am
Azuell watched as Honey inspected the treats before her. A small part of the stallion felt a bit nervous, as if he were waiting on some sort of judgment over a basket of nuts and mixed treats! It was strange, really, but he wanted the mare to enjoy the surprise . . . and if she somehow found him wanting he would instantly right it.
Honestly, the stallion realized he'd travel anywhere for the right 'gift' for the mare, even if it required him to collect forieng goodies that would take weeks to dig up in foreign lands. In fact, the stallion added the thought to a small but growing list of 'Things To Do For Miss Honey'. The list had begun the last they met by the oceanside, and had rather spiraled somewhat out of control. He hadn't thought much of it at the time, all things considered he was an amiable sort of stallion and wouldn't hesitate to bend over backwards if only to elicit a smile. It was only recently though that the smiles he wished to see were solely from Honey. . . .
Strange and peculiar as it might be. It wasn't as if they were particularly close friends, and it wasn't as if he assumed she remembered the 'pig' that had shared more than a few strands of seaweed on the shore. But the tiniest part of Azuell hoped he might have been more than passing face. . . . and so, with a realization that he quite possibly was interested in the beautiful ocean side mare, he realized he hadn't the first idea of courtship.
Gifts.
Lots of gifts, compliments and generally finding excuses to spend time in her company. That was how he assumed he was supposed to go about this thing, but to actually admit to the reasons well. . . . his pride and ego weren't entirely sure about confession anytime soon. He'd take it slow and try to prove in his actions that she meant something to him, strangers they still might be.
No need to rush off in to the sunset. . . no need to epically battle a demon-infested-relative. . . No, with Honey, he'd just play it cool and wait to see what came of it. Worse case scenario he'd cement a permanent friendship (unless things went HORRIBLY wrong in which case she'd toss him out on his ear and tell him to move along.)
So it was with such heavy thoughts that Azuell watched the mare before him inspect the treats. A small did indeed blossom upon her delicate features, a smile he made sure to tuck away for future recollection later. Really, she was pretty enough at any time but when she smiled she could lighten up the whole forest with such charm. And here he was, one of the few who got to witness it. . . .
Still, Azuell remained quiet as she thanked him, but he did quirk a brow as she pushed the basket towards him. "Ah, m'dear, your thoughts are truly kind but if you're not mistaken it is ladies first. And as you're such a charming lady, I really couldn't take the first bite."
Tossing her a wink and a flourishing bow, Azuell just as sneakly nudged the basket back over to her. "But if you're requesting a suggestion on what first to eat. . . I suggest some the berries, to sweeten the tongue, followed by the spicier nuts and ended with a bit of the dryer leaves and grasses. It'll tame and clean the palette so you might enjoy a different flavor or texture on your next bite."
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Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:00 am
Honeycomb had gone passed the point of courtship and fairytale romance. She wasn't a cynic by any means, she appreciated that many of her family had been subject to such lovely tales but she didn't automatically assume she was entitled to it as well. She had been apart from them for quite some time and while they visited her whenever they could, she had become somewhat used to her own company. She would be the first to admit that she knew living by the shoreline wasn't the best place to meet other soquili (only aquatic creatures) but she knew what she liked and the scenary there was second-to-none. That being said she was accustomed to the occasional gift from her relatives (particularly her father) who brought back trinkets here and there from his travels, though she had never actually requested or expected them.
...To think he was planning to shower her with them, she would never know where to put them all! Either that or there was a high chance he'd make her fat, she'd have to develop a greater appetite if he opted to bring her more foods. She enjoyed her meals and had a great fondness for exploring new tastes and textures but she certainly couldn't devour quite as much food as Azuell. Then again, she'd come to the conclusion many years ago as a foal that boys seemed to be bottomless pits and could eat pretty much anything. It had been quite the revelation to realise that they ate mountains of food in comparison to a typical mare - although Azuell probably ate even more than the average male!
Hardly a pig though, she would have been appalled at that suggestion - a healthy appetite was nothing to be ashamed of.
Her lips did part as though she were considering a serious protest about his refusal to take some of the food and then eventually slid shut again. No sound escaped her lips as though she had thought better of arguing, a fight she couldn't win perhaps? Either way, her smile did seem to deepen as he turned on the charm and she couldn't help but giggle just a touch at the ridiculousness of it all. It was such a cliche, a compliment she was sure many mares across the world had heard before but it didn't seem to lose it's appeal - cheesy or not, it was a very sweet gesture and she appreciated it. Nevertheless she would make certain that he would share in his picnic after she had taken a few bites, she could play this game too!
She was unsurprisingly, mildly taken aback by how much of a connoisseur he was towards food. She'd never been instructed on how to eat her food before but more bizarrely, she'd never been warned in advance of what eating it in such an order would do. It certainly sounded like quite the experience and with a small look of curiosity she returned her gaze to the food. It was all so very much to take in but she opted to embrace the opportunity and obediently did as she was instructed - a berry first, a nut second, the leaves and then the grasses. It wouldn't have been right to say that it was an 'assault' on the senses but the array of textures did startle her just a touch and she took a small moment to marvel.
"Oh, that's so nice!" she breathed appreciatively and shifted her gaze back to Azuell. "I didn't know you could do that sort of thing, how ever did you manage to discover that it was possible?" she queried after a few moments. Not bothering to await a reply just yet, she nudged the basket back to him and smiled just a touch slyly, "Now I've had my bite (as you requested), it's your turn."
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Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 2:06 pm
Azuell watched as Honey decided not to argue with his request. Perhaps it worked out, because it was entirely likely that the blue eyed stallion would have crumbled and fallen prey to her wishes. He was a bit of a pushover sometimes, if only because arguing was a rather large waste of energy and time. Especially if it was an argument that was as ridiculous as who eats first! There were some stances Azuell would not fall away from no matter the consequences, but in most cases he was a very complacent and easy-going fellow.
His smile grew as Honey found a moments pleasure in his suggestion of firsts. As a young colt he had always enjoyed eating, and had ever given much thought the order in which he ate. But as he grew, he began to discover that mixing up flavors made grazing even more a delightful task. Not only could eating the same foods be granted a different taste or texture, purely by mixing up the order in which he ate them, but it allowed him a knowledge which he could share with others.
Glancing down at the basket in which the petite mare nudged towards him, blue eyes studied the mix of foods in a mild, almost off-handed manner. Still, he wasn't ignoring his hostess, and he did turn his ears towards her before he spoke. "I made the discovery during the years of my youth. Seeing as I was granted an extremely healthy appetite, I quickly learned the art of mixing and matching various flavors and textures. After all, if one spends a great deal of his time participating in one activity, daily at that, one might learn to become a master of such a craft." Oh, given, he was also well learned in others areas - he could hold a pleasant conversation, and had sparred enough with his brother and father to understand the art of war and defense - but for the most part his life was quiet. Peaceful.
"So tell me. . . How has life been away from the sea?" Pushing his nose in to the basket, he didn't need to be encouraged twice to enjoy some of the savory treats. They were some of his favorites, after all, another reason he had opted to share. Still, he would be a light eater this afternoon, as this was just one gift to the fair-albeit-clumsy-maiden Honeycomb.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 3:30 am
She could appreciate his explanation, he had become a master in relation to food and she would certainly say she was well schooled in the ways of the sea. She was no kelpi or mersoquili, but she had learnt many lessons over the course of the years and they had served her well. However, she was always open to new ideas and the introduction to food that she had received was not something that she would dismiss so easily. Suffice to say, she would be interested to further her understanding of such things in the future though she was assuming that such lessons would have to encompass all seasons for the simple reason that the foods changed over the course of the year.
"Well, if you were so inclined I would appreciate further introductions to these meals," she mused after he was finished with his explanation and had been given a chance to eat some for himself. "If you can spare a moment, it would be interesting to find out about other alternatives - I usually just eat things as I see them so perhaps you can appreciate how nice it would be to try them in a different light," she explained. She did pause though and promptly shook her head, "That is provided you have the time of course!" It was an after thought but she did have manners and felt the need to express them.
He soon changed the subject though and she considered his question for a short while. It was a rather vague question if she was honest and she couldn't distinguish if it was meant to be a generalised question or a more personal one. She opted for the generalised one, it was easy to answer and to be frank, her circumstances and mood hadn't really changed since he last saw her!
"It's been quiet," she replied and smiled in a rather lopsided manner. "I fear you may be disappointed if you desired a tale of intrigue and adventure, I live a very quiet life," she explained. She refrained from shrugging her shoulders and instead glanced around her little grove. The place needed work, it still needed further weather proofing but it was getting there and there were already telltale touches of her presence here...the shells were a big giveaway.
"Very little interesting ever happens to me, I suppose you could say that I've observed a change in scenary and sound but that would be stating the obvious, no?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 9:07 pm
It delighted the young stallion to know that Honeycomb appreciated his taste. He was strong and rugged, but in reality he also knew he could appear lazy and sloth like. He wasn't nearly as outgoing as Penance, and he wasn't nearly as devoted to work as was Sylph. He was quiet, amicable, but . . . . bland. Very bland. In fact, he was almost forgettable. His small size and endless appetite wasn't exactly memorable but for Azuell was okay with that. Or at least he had been for a little while. . . .
Recently, he'd felt as if he were called for something more. Perhaps he would never be a general like his younger brother, and maybe he might not be a family man like Penance, but . . . surely he could find some use, somewhere, for someone like himself. He was loyal, zero-tolerance evil, and very sturdy. Perhaps he wasn't the most interesting or adventurous of soquili, but he was reliable and chalk full of good traits.
It was time for the young knight to strike out on his own. More importantly, it was time for him to go a courting and he knew the very mare he wanted to see more of! She had graced him with her wobbly presence once, and was now doing it again. . .
But it was as he listened to the blond haired mare that he realized he might be in over his head. He didn't know the first thing about courtship, and part of the stallion wondered if Honey would ever see something in him. Well . . . Azuell would just have to take it slow, step by step. The more he visited, the better he'd know how to proceed.
Bowing his head, the young stallion gave a small chuckle and nod. "It would be my pleasure to share some of my knowledge! It might not be a terribly useful trait, but it can make foraging a bit more pleasant if one is sick of the same thing." Grinning up at the mare, he added, "Besides, I have all the time in the world. I've no where to be and was hoping I might be able to spend a little time in the nearby wood." Ok, so he had come specifically to seek out Honeycomb, but now that he was here, he realized he didn't exactly have much of a plan.
Hopefully the spirits would be on his side.
"There is no shame in living a quiet life. Outside of the misadventure of my adolescence, I live a similar sort of existence. While a grand adventure could be fun in theory, in practice I find it's often less glamorous and far more stressful than many tales told." He knew that firsthand! After the drama between Numielle, Penance, and Kiyoshi . . .well. . . .Azuell was more than content to keep himself under the radar. For all the epic tales and battles an glories he heard, there were hundreds more of lives that were quiet and almost mundane.
Honestly, with as much 'epic' that ran in his family, Azuell much preferred the quiet. They all couldn't have magnificent and drawn-out plots, after all. Glancing around at her quiet abode, the stallion gave a small nod, "The scenery is indeed different from your ocean side retreat . . . but it's not an unpleasant change. Beauty can be found everywhere, certainly, though it seems less difficult to find here." So what if he said that while looking pointedly at Honeycomb. It was an innocent statement. . . . Oh, all right, so it wasn't entirely innocent. But one couldn't deny the pale females good looks, not even Azuell!
Females never seemed to interest him, and he had stared in wonderment as Penance fell head over heels over Numielle. He never understood the art of attraction, but then again, no mare had managed to make him start. . . .
But Azuell never rushed anything, and it was only months away from the mare before he realized she'd been haunting his thoughts. She was beautiful, no matter what she or the world thought, and that was that. It just happened to work out that her humble abodes could easily be considered gorgeous too.
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:30 am
She was a romantic, she had always enjoyed the fairy tale stories and happy endings. She smiled, felt great joy and celebrated the unions that her family experienced but, she hadn't really considered it for herself. The coastal regions were relatively isolated and few soquili visited them; she'd grown used to the lack of company and with it, the likelihood that she would never find that sort of connection. To begin with, a part of her had been somewhat upset by this notion but over time she had accepted that this was just the way things were.
The coastal regions were safe for her to live in, the surfaces were soft if she fell and there were no insurmountable obstacles as there were in forests or mountains. Her father had chosen well for her when she was a child, particularly when he had seen how well she had taken to the water. She'd taken to it like a duck, she'd enjoyed it immensely and as she'd matured she'd grown to greatly appreiate his judgement. Biscuit could be a headcase when he wanted to be, he was an avid traveller as well and may have been absent for long periods of time but he loved his daughter and he'd made certain she was happy.
...Thus, romance? Well, it wasn't really something she kept at the forefront of her imagination. It was idle fantasy, something to dwell on in spare time but she wasn't so presumptious as to assume it would happen to her.
Unfortunately this may have posed problems for the stallion who had selected her to court. Given she didn't immediately read into his behaviour she would only regard his remarks as good grace and manners. Idle flirtatious was pleasant and she rather enjoyed it, it certainly bolstered her confidence, but she wans't so naive as to believe that any male would wish to make his home in her world. As much as she adored the coast, most just found it too isolated and 'barren' to stay on a permanent basis. Alas, he was going to have to work a little bit harder to ensure he got the message across!
She wasn't completely blind though, he did stand a reasonable chance.
Nevertheless, all this remained to be seen and Honey smiled pleasantly as he took her request to heart and did indeed offer to broaden her horizons. It was fabulous news! However, her interest was peeked by his other remarks - he'd had adventures as a child? Now this was intriguing, it was a subject she couldn't really pass up and she could only hope he cared to share.
"Misadventures you say? I'm intrigued, were you an apple thief as a child?" she teased.
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Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:46 pm
Unfortunately for Honeycomb, Azuell wasn't very good when it came to romance. He knew how to go about it, sort of, and had certainly teased his brother enough about his relationship with Numielle. But when it came to being a romantic himself, he found himself on uncertain ground. He wasn't shy, but he also knew he wasn't exactly perfect. He was very petite, and while he was built like a brick, even some larger mares dwarfed his physical stance. He also wasn't exactly the most outgoing of sorts. He really was a homebody and preferred to settle quietly with his family and loved ones. He didn't need grandiose adventure, he didn't need damsels in distress, he just wanted a quiet and comfortable lifestyle. Some mares didn't appreciate this sort of cozy approach, and as such, the blue eyed stallion found himself a bit unsure on how to go about courting anyone.
Honeycomb was indeed his chosen target. He found her fun to be around, she was amazingly pretty, intelligent, and generally of a sweet nature. Really, how she had gone so long without being swept off her hooves, he didn't know. But he hoped that maybe, just maybe, he could get to know he well enough that she might come to think of him in a more romantic light. Still . . . he was going to have to go back and speak to his brother and more romantic family members. Maybe they'd have suggestions because he didn't know much about the wooing of a woman.
For now though, he'd go with traditional things - flowers, food (definitely food), and general niceties. He didn't want to come off too strong, it wasn't as if they really knew each other very well. He'd visited her that previous fall, but there was still much to discover about her. So he'd court her, but softly, quietly, and keep everything friendly. Besides which, she could possibly have someone else in mind anyway.
But that was neither here nor there. At Honey's inquiry, his ears pricked and he gave a small chuckle. "Me? An apple thief? As delicious as they are, I didn't get involved in such petty crimes. I suppose what happened to my brother and I was much more involved. My biological grandfather is . . .was . . .fairly evil. He wound up kidnapping my brothers young love, and found a few lackies and began to form an army. He was a manipulative creature, and my brother and I had no choice but deal with him. I suppose it was a bit of a coming of age story, but it wasn't entirely pleasant. And there were consequences. . . " Especially with Numielle an her children. But. That was neither here nor there.
He grinned and dipped his head, giving a shrug. "Of course, that is the abridged edition, but I don't want to bore you with details. It could have been a lot worse, but everything was righted in the end. An interesting youth, certainly, but I think it has given me a great appreciation for the quiet things in life."
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