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 Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 6:32 am
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 8:09 am
XXXXXXXX[Cinnamon]
When you knew, you knew, or so they said. In the years that he had spent within her company he had grown from despising her presence, to appreciating it more than he deemed healthy. When she wandered off to visit her family, he grew impatient and antsy - when she wasn't feeling the best, or happened to be in a bad mood, he felt it too. He had never gone so far as to try and cheer her up as this wasn't exactly the stallion's forte, but he had become more attuned to her than he had ever been to anyone else. The days when she wasn't around resulted in him feeling a little lost, and through numerous discussions, namely with Resynn, he had discovered that perhaps there was more to it than just routine and familiarity.
His 'superior', the very individual who had cast him out from the military when he had discovered he was unwell, had never completely abandoned him. On the contrary Resynn was now an individual who lived on the summit with Shizukii and he had, much to Cinnamon's surprise, retired to be with her. That was a 'love story' that was beyond complicated and Cinnamon had never been able to fathom it... or he hadn't until now. When Resynn had said that the mare had completed him, Cinnamon had thought he meant literally, but the more he thought about it...
No, Resynn had meant something deeper.
Still unprepared to trust his instincts and assumptions, Cinnamon had done the only thing that he knew he could. In Ashura's absence he had taken a trip of his home, wandering away from the Summit and towards the lowlands where his father was staying. If there was one individual who had considerable experience with mares, it was his father, and if there was one individual who could provide additional insight... it was him! Thus, the stallion had elected to seek out the assistance of his father, if only to answer that sole question that was bothering him.
Yes he regarded Ashura with affection, but he was fairly certain that this wasn't affection...so what was it?
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 8:26 am
XXXXXXXX[Biscuit]
His son was not an unwelcome visitor, but he was a rather unexpected one. Cinnamon was dominated by routine and preferred to remain where things were familiar. It settled his nerves, prevented him from becoming agitated and as a consequence, his temper was always under his control. As such, the older stallion never expected Cinnamon to visit and had always been of the assumption that he and the rest of the family would have to visit their more aloof son. Therefore it should have come at no surprise that the father of this aforementioned aloof son, had an expression akin to shock when the younger stallion passed into the clearing and graced the lowlands with his presence.
His brown eyes blinked rapidly, threatening to make him dizzy, and then after a few moments he promptly shook his head. He wouldn't hide the fact that he was surprised, but he certainly wouldn't let it dominate his expression to the point that Cinnamon felt uncomfortable. As such the stallion soon cleared his throat, dropped the leaves he had gathered to the side and regarded Cinnamon with a great deal of curiosity.
"Cinnamon," he greeted warmly and shook his head. "This is quite the surprise, it isn't every day you visit the lowlands," he observed. However with that in mind his brow did furrow in concern, it would have taken something exceptional to bring him down and it hadn't been long since Biscuit had visited. Had something gone wrong? Had someone been hurt...?
"Is...everything all right?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 8:36 am
XXXXXXXX[Cinnamon]
Biscuit had acted with as much surprise as the younger stallion had anticipated, after all, even Cinnamon knew he was very predictable. He liked things a certain way, he liked to be in a certain place, and he hated surprises... Thus, to have him come down from the slopes to a place that was entirely unfamiliar to him was something akin to hell freezing over. Given that Cinnamon had expected such a reaction, he was unaffected by the shock on his father's features, once upon a time he might have assumed the worst, but he now knew better. He saw things with much more clarity and no longer believed the world was against in... it had done wonders for his sleeping patterns.
"Father," Cinnamon inclined his head in a small nod, bridging the distance between them as he offered a rare, but genuine, smile. "Everything is as well as it was the last time you visited," he reassured and shook his head, his long mane momentarily shrouding his eyes from view. All things considered, it might have been wiser for him to have sent some form of missive to his father to express his intentions, but even he could be spontaneous on occasions... that was just something that Biscuit was going to have to accept!
"Ashura is well," he clarified, as he knew his father well enough, and knew himself well enough, to know that there were very few things that would result in him being spontaneous. "I however, am not so sure," he hesitated and shook his head.
"I'm not so sure that I am entirely myself."
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 9:03 am
XXXXXXXX[Biscuit]
Well that was a relief! Biscuit had assumed the worst when his son had acted in such an uncharacteristic fashion, but with Cinnamon's reassurances that Ashura remained healthy, Biscuit was able to settle just a touch. Suffice it to say that Biscuit sincerely doubted Cinnamon would ever recover if something happened to that mare. Ah, his stallion would never admit that the mare held a special place in his heart, at least not one beyond affection and lust, but there was something deeper. In fact, Cinnamon's reaction when Ashura had attempted to find a new companion for him had been very telling... There was no one for his son but that mare, everyone else was lacking.
That being said, Biscuit was not about to lecture or coax the stallion into anything he wasn't ready for. So long as Cinnamon and Ashura were happy, that was all that mattered. Eventually they would move on to a more fulfilling relationship, and each would recognise the significance they played in each other's life, but it was very much a case of recognising that for themselves... If he were to rush it, then things could go horribly wrong.
Nevertheless, while Ashura might have been well, Cinnamon's declaration did give the stallion cause for concern. At Cinnamon's remarks, his father flicked his gaze towards him with unconcealed concern - if something was wrong with Cinnamon and even he could recognise it, then that was something to take note of.
"I see," Biscuit furrowed his brow and came to a halt beside his son. "Have you told Ashura you are feeling out of sorts?" he enquired and then shook his head. "With the exception of this rather unexpected visit, you seemed entirely yourself..."
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 9:20 am
XXXXXXXX[Cinnamon]
"She isn't here," Cinnamon replied in his usual tone, though there was a hint of strain there that was quite unlike him. "She went to visit her brother," he explained and shook his head. He pulled a face, chastising himself for what he suspected was jealousy creeping into his system. Like him, Ashura had a family and they loved her dearly; while her relationships might have been strained and uncertain to begin with, they had eventually become as strong as any other on the summit. It had been a long time since she had visited them and on this rare occasion, she had rather insisted that she do so.
...Perhaps it was because she hadn't told him why that he was so disgruntled?
"She didn't even say why, she simply said she had to," he looked disgruntled at that moment and wrinkled his nose, decidedly unimpressed by the whole thing. Nevertheless he soon silenced his jealousy, reminding himself that others were entitled to her company too, though a tiny part of him did point out that he wanted the majority of it to himself. "Regardless, I think it has something to do with her anyway - as in, I normally don't feel like this... it only started happening once she left." he confessed and tilted his head to the side.
"I don't like it."
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 9:38 am
XXXXXXXX[Biscuit]
Was that jealousy? Biscuit had to try very hard to mask his amusement as his son transformed into a rather petulant child. Could it be that the evolution within the relationship that the elder stallion had been hoping for had in fact already happened? Based on Cinnamon's obvious 'distress' and his considerable discomfort regarding her absence, it appeared that his son was decidedly more attached to the mare than he cared to let on. So the older male had been correct, his son was more than just 'attached' to the mare, the jealousy he displayed also indicated that he loved her.
...Aha, what a turn up for the books!
He hid his smile as Cinnamon continued to explain his predicament and it was only when he had finished that the older stallion provided a slow shake of his head. The only thing out of 'sorts' with his son was the fact that he had developed an attachment and he wasn't entirely aware of its significance. The concern, the affection and that inexplicable desire to be close to another made things perfectly clear...
"You're in love," Biscuit replied at last and released a soft chuckle, his amusement finally getting the better of him. "That desire to be near someone because you feel like you're missing something when they're absent?" he let the rhetorical question sink in for a moment before he continued. "That is what couples mean when they describe their 'other half', Cinnamon," he murmured.
"When she is around you feel complete, fulfilled, yes?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:14 am
XXXXXXXX[Cinnamon]
What?
Cinnamon wasn't certain if he should be impressed that his instincts were accurate, or if he should be appalled that he had fallen. Granted he hadn't fallen easily, but it had never been his intention to become connected to anyone to that extent. Physical pleasure was one thing, but an emotional reliance was concerning... after all, if something were to happen to the one he was reliant on then he would be shattered. He had long since come to the conclusion that he wouldn't permit himself to become that vulnerable and yet, here he was, what was worse was that he didn't really want to let it go either.
"I see," he said slowly, his lips pursing as he dwelled on what his father had said. He hadn't lectured, he hadn't jested, he had simply stated what seemed to be obvious to him. His father had in essence confirmed his own suspicions and he had done so in such a short period of time that Cinnamon had to wonder if it was always this simple...after all, hadn't Resynn made a similar observation, or at least confession, regarding Shizukii?
"So the jealousy, the unease..."
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:25 am
XXXXXXXX[Biscuit]
"Is completely and utterly normal," Biscuit confirmed with a slow nod and a measured smile. It was both amusing and rather wonderful to see that his son was capable of the emotions he had attempted to push out of his system. The traumas he'd experienced during the wars had clearly begun to leave him and while Biscuit sincerely doubted they would vanish completely, his son was becoming much more whole. No doubt Ambala would be delighted to hear the news that her son was not only well, but that he had fallen in love - ah, but did this mean that children would soon be in the picture?
...Biscuit couldn't help but ponder over this and how his son might be as a father! In fact, he had no doubt that it would be a rather fascinating thing to view, as his son would be completely out of his comfort zone, yet faced with something that was very much a part of him.
"In fact I would surmise that I feel the same about your mother, that the vast majority of stallions in committed relationships feel very much the same," he tilted his head to the side and chuckled. He'd recalled the days when he'd been exceptionally jealous of other stallions, particularly when he had decided that Ambala was the one for him. It had taken him a declaration of adoration and many years to accept that his jealousy was perfectly normal, but also unnecessary.
...It was only then that his mind had settled.
"When you accept that you are rather inclined towards this rather beautiful mare, and when you inform her of this, you may find that this settles somewhat..." he cleared his throat and lifted a brow. "Though I would advise that you do not automatically assume that she knows, I am well aware you share your affections but there is a considerable difference between that and love."
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:31 am
XXXXXXXX[Cinnamon]
So what exactly was his father suggesting? Cinnamon could appreciate that the affection Biscuit referred to was not necessarily romantic, but anything beyond that was somewhat lost on the younger stallion. Was he meant to make a dramatic declaration, a simple one, or were there rules that he was unaware of? He was completely in the dark and not for the first time, he felt a sense of discomfort. Had Ashura been near and this hadn't been about her, then he would no doubt have used her as a soundboard as he pondered over what was wrong, and what he needed to correct it.
"So what are you suggesting?" he said at last, his brow furrowing in a manner that mimicked his father and would have left no one in any doubt that Cinnamon was definitely Biscuit's son. "Are you advising that I consider marriage, that I make things more official rather than simply informing her that I..." he drifted off and shook his head. He knew his affections were deeper than lust now, but saying the word 'love' was still surprisingly difficult and very intimidating.
"That I love her," he stated with marked determination. "I am not one for dramatic displays, she is intelligent, she should know..."
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:36 am
XXXXXXXX[Biscuit]
"And she most likely will fill in the gaps if you tell her and make it clear that you want something more than just a physical connection," Biscuit replied, smoothing over his son's discomfort as he wandered back to the fern and nudged a number of the leaves back onto it. He had been in the process of making a rather unique headdress for his mate, if only to see how she would react to it, but now he rather thought he should be concentrating on garlands... suffice it to say that he was going to need to tell Ambala as soon as possible!
"I am not advising marriage, that is something you will need to consider when you feel you are ready," he clarified and regarded Cinnamon with a warm smile. "All I am advising is that you let her know that you want more than what you have, that you don't want to share her," he paused for a moment and then released a sigh. "That she is the only one for you and you have eyes for no one else," he rolled his shoulders in a loose shrug and then returned his attention to his fern, nudging it with his hoof.
"You can always progress from there, the first step is that you are simply honest with her," he murmured. Satisfied that he had said what he needed to, he then raised a brow just a touch higher at Cinnamon and chuckled. "Now might I suggest you hustle your way back home? Unless you had any other concerns of course..."
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:41 am
XXXXXXXX[Cinnamon]
It was strange how right Ashura had been all those years ago when she had informed him that despite his assumptions, his family would always be there to listen to him. If he needed advice then she was certain they would be able to give it to them, when he struggled, they would help him. In her absence she had indirectly proven that, as having nowhere else to go, the stallion had been forced to descend the slopes and seek out his father. Much to his surprise, his father had also given him the answers he needed without implying that he needed to do anything completely out of his comfort zone...
"No, I think I have what I need," he replied softly, the smile lifting onto his lips again as he gave his father a nod. "Thank you, father," he added and cleared his throat. "You've given me much to think about," he finished and with that, slowly backed away. As he wandered back towards the pathway that would lead him home, he did throw his gaze backwards towards his father and chuckle softly...another behaviour very similar to Biscuit's.
"If it all goes well, I will be sure to let you know," he reassured him and then corrected himself. "I'll be sure to let you know regardless..."
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