|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:33 am
 It had been several days since the sunset stallion had last encountered the mare called Equinox. And in that time he was no closer to figuring out why she'd done the strangest thing he'd ever seen or heard of - she'd licked him. On the nose, he added, sounding indignant even in his own thoughts.
It wasn't that he'd disliked it, or that he'd been so shocked by it that he'd let her swim away without another word. It was that he had absolutely no idea what had possessed the mare who (apparently) wanted nothing to do with him to lick him. On the nose.
All he'd done was offer to help her out. Try to heal her leg with the abilities he'd inherited from his mother. Never mind - and don't tell her! - that he'd never done anything like that before in his life. Calor was convinced that he could help.
But he had to convince her before he go any further. To that end, he'd been practicing talking diplomatically and politely to trees and lurking around the places he'd seen Nox, hoping to catch the elusive mare in conversation again.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 3:54 am
Life had been rather enjoyable for the mare. She'd given no further thought to the stallion once she had escaped his clutches. The turkey had been left stunned and she had been given the opportunity to escape. In short, she had returned to her quiet life and could be thankful for the gods and their small favours.
Since those fateful and otherwise exasperating encounters she had been granted the opportunity to return to her usual routine. She awoke each morning, had a quick bath to tend to her stiffened limbs and then proceeded to stretch her legs with a leisurely stroll. She would stop for her meals, occasionally discuss passing news with a travelling creature and then proceed onwards. She rarely stopped for any great length of time, she had no need to and all in all she remained undisturbed by hte more vocal and irritating members of society - one might say she led a life that quite a few would envy!
Alas, unbeknownst to the mare this was not to be the case this morning. She had followed her routine until this point, she had dined on her morning meal and could feel her limbs (especially her leg) loosening. However, this morning she made the fatal flaw that would be her downfall for the rest of the day.
...She backtracked.
Yes, she had assumed she had thoroughly rid herself of the stallion permanently and as a consequence she was free to explore old haunts. The fates appeared to laugh upon her though, for they had made sure he had frequented these particular haunts! Alas, unaware of what awaited her the mare pressed on through the forest towards her favoured apple orchard. Her head remained bowed and her head in the clouds (figuratively speaking) as she mused over her more mundane thoughts - none could blame her for being unable to spot the male if he were near...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 8:24 pm
Calor had been munching absently on early apples between practicing diplomacy on trees and glancing around for Equinox. He'd thought she liked this place, but so far he hadn't had any luck spotting her here. Finishing his apple the stallion prepared to leave.
Then he saw her. She didn't appear to be looking at him or anything else in particular. But she was here! And so was he! Now was his chance!
"Good morning Equinox!" the stallion called out. He'd decided days ago that he wouldn't ask how she was. He could observe that for himself and it would do no good to give her such an easy opening like that.
"The apples aren't quite ripe yet, but they're still quite tasty," he told the mare. It was small talk, true, but it could just be that she'd come hoping for something to munch on and so she might actually care what he said.
He found it amusing that he'd learned enough about Equinox to know that she probably didn't care what he had to say to her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 3:20 am
"Oh by Mother Nature's holy knickers!"
It came out before she could stop it, the most unusual expletive most soquili had probably ever heard. However, it expressed the exasperation that she felt welling up within her rather well. A simple and very blunt expletive just wouldn't work, not when you were yelling at the spirits for toying with your head in the way they sought to do now. She would put good oats on a bet that they had purposefully planted him here - the turkey, the one she had assumed she had escaped and been rid of permanently. Whatever the spirits were playing at, she didn't appreciate it in the slightest and once she had thrown her eyes to the heavens in protest, her expression darkened considerably.
How was it, that this Turkey had become her shadow.
"It's you," she stated flatly, the effort to sound anything other than wry proving too difficult. She had certainly never been one for enthusiasm, but even she could express interest in something on occasions. Today wasn't one of those days and when he proceeded to jump into conversation, she was left at a bit of a loss. He hadn't even given her the opportunity to shoot him down this time, he'd left no immediate openings and he had amazingly, not asked any questions. Good grief, had someone actually given him tips?
Nevertheless, despite the lack of an opening, Nox still felt a tiny part of her rise up to the challenge and she lifted a brow at his statement about apples. She knew he hadn't said anything wrong this time, he'd made an observation about the fruit, but that small part of her just wouldn't let it lie. She wanted to say something, no, she needed to say something.
"Given I frequent this particular haunt, I happen to be well aware of the condition of the apples," she replied quietly. It wasn't a most creative response, in fact, most probably would have rolled their eyes at it (even she) given that she was just being a pain in the a**. It seemed appropriate though, he was a pain in her's.
"Do you have nothing better to do than stalk me?" she queried after a few moments of silence. "There are more interesting things in this world."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:52 pm
The stallion blinked at the nonstandard swear and wisely decided to say nothing. He had to think before he spoke, if he was going to avoid giving the blue mare any opening to poke sharp words into. But if he thought too long, Equinox would start talking, build up steam, and crush him into verbal oblivion.
She was less than thrilled to see him. That...wasn't surprising, but still disheartening. And though he hadn't asked any questions, let alone stupid ones, she still found a way to rip in to him. He closed his eyes briefly, suppressing a wince, and stood his ground.
"Well of course it's me," the sunset stallion retorted. "I doubt you've got other beaus trying to get to know you this badly." He hoped not at least. Equinox was certainly pretty enough to have multiple suitors if she chose to encourage them. Of course she wouldn't though. Which meant he shouldn't have any competiton...
But if he let his mind wander, she'd flay him with her words. Again. And he was determined to avoid that - if he could. He wouldn't respond to her statement about frequenting the orchard, they both knew that was why he'd been here, waiting and hoping. Instead, he'd answer her questions.
"There's nothing I'd rather be doing than trying to get to know you," Calor told her, trying to keep his pride and smugness out of his voice. And there really wasn't anything else he had to occupy him. Unless if he went home...and to leave now would be to admit defeat.
"I've never met a creature or seen a sight more interesting than you," the stallion pointed out. His statement had the advantage of being true when taken at face-value. It was also something that could be as sappy as the listener wanted. Which meant, perversely, that the mare would probably read it as being intended in a hopelessly romantic fashion and take offense therefore.
Calor made a private wager with himself and waited to see which side won.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 6:03 am
She spluttered.
Yes, spluttered.
It was the only true experssion of astonishment she could make in the given circumstances. It was also the most 'eloquent' considering that he had just taken liberties and decided to bestow the title of 'beau' upon himself. She was pretty certain she hadn't encouraged this either, she had done everything (or almost) in her power to get rid of him. She'd been sharp with her words, been largely unimpressed by him and had spent all of the time in his company exhausting quite a few insults.
"You're a masochist," she breathed at last, her voice weak as she regarded him in the most peculiar manner. Her features weren't sharp, her eyes weren't stealy - on the contrary, she looked a bit dazed and frazzled. She'd been subject to forward males before but this was another thing entirely, once she'd smacked them around a bit they got the message; this one on the other hand kept coming back. What was she going to have to do to get rid of him, break his legs?!
"This is the only logical explanation for this entire debacle," she continued meekly and shook her head. Her shortened mane clapped lightly against her neck and she fought hard to stop her mouth from gaping. So surprised had she been at his remark that she hadn't even picked up on the veiled insult, her lack of male interest as it were. Had she picked up on it she would have pointed out that that was her preference but as it was...
The illusion shattered immediately at his last common and she lifted a brow, her features scrambling to return to their unimpressed expression. She still hadn't picked up on the little insult but she wasn't going to fall for a cheesy line like that. Now she was definitely sure of it, this had to be a bloody bet and the rewards must be damn high if he was walking over hot coals like this!
"Ah so the limping hermit is of great interest to you - I'm sure you find the limp most entertaining," she drawled and rolled her eyes. "I would say there are much better things that I could be doing, than getting to know a beakbrain like you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:13 pm
Calor watched the mare splutter as she tried to get a handle on a situation which had deviated from their normal type of encounter. Score one for him, the stallion thought with a smile, though he'd never say it out loud. The smile didn't fade as she accused him of being a masochist. It brought back a memory that he would simply have to share with her.
But then,as he'd known would happen, she recovered her calm and honed in on the could-be sappy statement he'd made. Now he knew which end of the bet was the winning one...
When he was certain she'd had her say (for the moment), Calor paused to put his thoughts in order, and though he could have tried to wipe the smug smile from his face, the stallion truly didn't think it worth the effort.
"My mother once told me that 'love is masochism.' I'm not saying that I love you or anything so forward, but perhaps you're right in calling me a masochist. It won't make me less interested in you though." She had a point and he had to concede it. But simply because Equinox was right didn't mean he'd give up on her that easily. She'd been right before and he was still here.
His smile faded though as he considered what else she'd said. "I don't find the pain of any creature entertaining," the stallion told her simply. His uni blood rebelled against the thought, insisting that he do what he could to heal any injured creature he came across.
"I'm sure it would be easier for you to do better things if you would let me help you with that leg," Calor offered again. He didn't even care that he was implying that he would let the mare go her own way if she accepted his aid - he simply wanted to see her healed if he could.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 3:25 am
"I question whatever relationship your mother had then," Nox replied coolly. She recalled the relationship between her parents well, the absolute love they held for one another. Her father had protect and shielded them from harm, ensured the brunt of Paramekia's criticisms remained unheard and mere rumour on the grape vine. Unfortunately, not all of the criticism had been lost and she'd heard bits and pieces that made her skin crawl. It had made her question why anyone would go through with that, why anyone could possibly place themselves under such strain and abuse. There was no reason for it, there was a better life beyond -
Oh goddamn he'd made another point hadn't he?
Her expression darkened again, a clear indication that she had recognised he'd raised another valid remark. She wasn't going to confirm or deny that she had drawn this conclusion and she was certainly not going to openly agree with him. On the contrary, she was going to get just a touch more irritated and cast a curse in the general direction of the spirits who seemed to have bestowed a new level of intelligence on the male while she was absent. How was this supposed to be fair, he was supposed to be the moron who spoke before he thought!
Better for her not to dwell on this, nor to provoke him further lest he back her into a corner by responding properly.
Instead, she turned her attention to his remarks about her leg and wrinkled her nose in distaste. If she'd wanted a unicorn to fix it, surely sense would have informed him that she would have found one? Why she had chosen to be cruel just because she could was even lost on her, she wasn't meant to be like her grandfather and yet...
She couldn't stop it.
Perhaps it was survival instinct, but she needed to keep him away from her. If he became a constant this would be a problem for her, he stood out, a beacon in the forest due to his colouring. If she was sighted with him then her cover would be blown and this was somethign she couldn't afford.
"I have no need of a unicorn's assistance for my leg," she replied at last and shook her head. "And I can operate without issue, despite the limp," she pointed out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 6:01 am
This think before you talk thing really did work. Things his mother had said time after time were making sense and falling into place in ways that they never had before. The stallion watched as Equinox's expression darkened and managed to keep the smug smile off his face as he scored another point off of her. She was quiet now, probably thinking over what he'd said, possibly thinking of how she could chase him away verbally, possibly plotting some kind of revenge on him.
And as for her other statements, well, he'd get to them later. First things first.
Calor shrugged off the question of his parents' relationship. "I believe my mother regards my father as an annoyance that she can't get rid of except with sharp-edged words." He paused for a moment, realizing the similarities in the situations. "It never seems to drive him away from her for good though." The stallion wondered what she'd make of that.
He grinned as she pointed out that she needed no assistance from a uni. "I have no doubts that you can get along, since I've seen it, though I know you could do more and better things without a limp." The grin broadened as he got to what was, in his view, the punchline. "But, fear not! I am not a simple unicorn, but half-angeni!" He hadn't been able to resist. She'd probably get him for the joke, but he couldn't not say it. He did manage to not burst out laughing, and instead simply stood, grinning ear to ear.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 7:15 am
Well that explained his behaviour at least - he seemed to have inherited it from his father and she pitied his mother a great deal for that. What must her life have been like when surrounded by such fools? It put Equinox off reproducing for life in that respect, she had been spoilt for choice with intellectual conversation thanks to her upbringing and to live in a world where she had to deal with the likes of him everyday wasn't a very pleasant notion. Alas, if sharp words would get rid of his father then she could assume he was accurate in claiming he doubt they'd get rid of him either - it would mean she would be required to take more drastic measures.
"Duely noted, I'll hire a hitman then," she replied with a rather disturbing level of calm. She had no qualms about ending another's life if it was absolutely necessary, and frankly, for the sake of her own sanity the assassination of this particular stallion was perfectly acceptable. One less dandy in the world would be a public service for everyone, she would be thanked in years to come should anyone be made aware of her existance!
However, it seemed that the ground he had gained was soon to be lost when he cracked a joke she didn't understand. What was worse was that he seemed to be incredibly proud of this joke - unfortunately for Calor, it would be one of a comedians worst nightmares as it flopped painfully and was greeted with silence. The largely unimpressed expression was quick to relieve her features of their darkened scowl and instead, she seemed to find herself on comfortable turf once more. Alas, for the uni-angeni his fate was sealed and he was going to be shot down again when the moment presented itself.
...And that didn't take too long at all.
"As far as I was aware what an individual chose to do with their own body was entirely up to themselves," she pointed out, her tone decidedly chilly. "More importantly, those around them should respect that opinion rather than claiming to know their mind or what is best for them," she gave a snort and shook her head.
"You know nothing and you would do well to remember that," she snapped sharply.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:36 pm
The grin quickly faded as Equinox simply stared at him and then spoke a single sentence in a deadpan voice. A hitman? Was she serious? Her attitude said yes, but Calor found it hard to believe that anyone would really want to see him dead. It was always someone else, right?
Worse, she genuinely didn't understand the joke and he lost all the ground he'd gained in an instant because he hadn't been able to resist. The stallion sighed inwardly - it was his mistake, a massive one, and now he was back at square one. Again.
"You don't really want me dead, right?" he asked, chuckling nervously and attempting to make it sound like a joke. But she had also brought up a much more important issue.
"Well, yeah. If you don't want me to heal you, I won't. I'd never touch you without your consent," the sunset stallion told her simply and honestly. "But I think we both know that it would improve the quality of your life."
He chose to ignore her last biting remark. "If it's what you want, I won't bring up healing your leg again."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:01 am
Now she was back in control, she could feel him wavering and quivering uncertainly under her gaze. He’d gotten a good few shots in, he’d made her hesitate and lose her composure briefly, but it was only a matter of time before he messed it up. She could applaud him for the effort, all things considered the stallion had done very well to get that far but unfortunately, there was no way for him to recover lost ground in this little meeting. Or at least, this was what her own instincts told her but for the last few minutes they hadn’t been terribly accurate – on the contrary, even she could recognise that she’d been a touch over confident.
Just a touch.
Nevertheless, she was deliberate in her attempts to torture him and fixed her gaze on him. She maintained her silence as he chuckled nervously and attempted to discern whether or not she was serious. She’d never been one for jokes and jest, she had a sense of humour, and she just wasn’t as excitable or bubbly as either of her siblings. Thus, keeping a straight face wasn’t particularly difficult for her – she’d make him quiver, wonder and question until the point that he squealed like a little girl and ran for the hills. Well, this was that she would have done in the past but now it all seemed like so much effort. It was bordering on spiteful and she hadn’t leapt to her ‘death’ off a cliff to continue down that particular path.
“I have no intention of having anyone’s death on my conscience,” she replied once she was sure she had delayed it for long enough. She could make him sweat further later if need be, but for now she would put him out of his misery. It should have been enough to satisfy her but unfortunately, there was still that part of her who desired to be catty. He really was a masochist if he was prepared to put up with this nonsense and while his remarks had been harmless they still set her off – even though they weren’t even intended to!
“You wouldn’t have the chance to touch me without consent,” she snapped waspishly and wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I would break your legs before you had the chance,” she flattened her ears against her head. “My quality of life is fine, there is no question in this – your perception of quality is evidently different than my own. I fail to see why you must subject me to your views; I don’t give you my own and nor do I intend to.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 10:52 am
Well, at least she wouldn't actually kill him. That was good. Or at least, Calor tried to convince himself it was. Whatever momentum and control of the encounter he'd had, he'd lost and Equinox was now firmly in power. He had to make up the lost ground, somehow, but his brain just wasn't functioning fast enough at this point. The stallion began to consider a strategic retreat.
But he had to try to make things...better with her.
"Well, if you broke my legs, we'd be equal in that respect, right?" His voice was pitched a little higher than usual due to the nerves that the mare had set off in him. But maybe this was the key, bringing him down to her level. It wasn't exactly something he'd like to do, but if it worked...?
"I think my views are as valid as yours," he went on, slowly. "I mean, everyone has the right to their opinion. You just don't seem to want to share any of yours." Of course that could be because she was trying to get rid of him, not to hold a conversation, but he had to try. Right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 2:01 am
"I have my opinions," she conceded with a raised brow. At present the blue mare couldn't understand the point he was trying to make and had reserved further remarks until she did. She had leapt to conclusions earlier and had landed in a series of traps, it was a performance she had no desire to repeat again. There would be no encores for this mare, she had slipped up and the crowd had jeered, now she was content to revert to her more tried and tested strategy - shut up, assess, think and then speak. It worked far better than the 'catching someone out' malarky that she had used earlier; she knew that now.
"However I don't consider it a necessity to share them, I hold my own counsel and stick to what is decided," she pointed out simply. It was an easy explanation in her mind, he should have been more of grasping the message but given his previous track record perhaps she should spell it out for him. "I do not require company. My thoughts and opinions are my own. With no creature around, I have no need to share them and nor would those who frequent my space care either," she snorted in distaste.
She wasn't belittling herself of course, but both she and the animals that tended to frequent her favoured territories had their own business and lives to attend to. They didn't care for philosophical chitchat or nonsense, so long as it didn't get in their way they didn't care - she was much the same.
However, when he finally made reference to breaking his lips her other brow rose to meet it's sister. To say she was appalled was an understatement, the mare was completely and utterly insulted. So he considered her inferior to him, her inability to walk as 'soundly' as he, an affliction that required he cause such abrupt harm so that he could reach her level? Her nose wrinkled and she was soon backing away, a hollow stare fixed firmly on the stallion.
"I was unaware that my minor injuries were so extreme that one so high and mighty would have to subject himself to such agony in order to stoop to my level," she voiced, her tone more cutting than ice. "I would advise you to return to your world, I am content in my solitude and don't require the company of one deemed 'superior' to I," she finished.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:15 am
That hurt. A lot. Not physically of course, but it seemed he'd well and truly made her mad. Again. And he knew that if he tried to make it up to her, today at least, he'd just trip over his own tongue and get even harsher words out of her mouth.
"I never meant to imply superiority," Calor told Nox softly. "And I would like to hear your thoughts and views." He retreated a few steps.
"But as I'm sure there's nothing I can say to get you to share those," today, he added to himself, "I'll leave you to them."
Not the best encounter with the blue mare, but perhaps he had salvaged enough pride on the exit. Hopefully. Obviously he needed to practice more. Or had to find some trees that talked back. Or...something!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
