[PRP] Finding Friendship (Pachu'a, Akos & Inoshishioni)

[LydaLynn]

Pachu'a and Inoshishioni from Bardess Ookami's teepee
and
Akos from LydaLynn's teepee.

 

[LydaLynn]

Akos had decided that it was time to see the world. He wanted to find others like himself. But, to be honest, he also wanted to get away from little sisters. Granted, there was a little brother now, but that was almost worse.

Besides, they were all so alike, dark and colorful and lovely. And Akos was pale and bland. He liked picking up random odd bits to wear, sometimes putting things together that he found to make something new. And he did have the two little red sprites that followed him around and added at least a little color. But there was no mistaking the fact that he didn't fit in with his adoptive family.

Not that he was ever made to feel unwelcome. He just wasn't like them. And it wasn't only the color of his fur. Akos wondered at his feathered mane and tail, at the claws on his front legs. He needed to find others like himself, to learn what he was.

But more than that, he needed to learn who he was. And some time out in the world, meeting others, making decisions, hopefully making friends, and generally having adventures sounded like the best thing ever.

So he walked along a path, heading farther and farther from home and wondered what awaited him just around the bend.  

[Bardess Ookami]

Just around the bend, Pachu'a walked alone and quiet, lost in thought and happy in his solitude. Well, as happy as he ever was. So long as no one was talking at him or pulling at him, he was free to go where he wanted, think what he wanted, and to enjoy a world without the constant yammering of other Soquili. Quiet. Blessed blissful quiet. It was a rare treasure, and one he appreciated whenever he actually got it. It wasn't that he hated other Soqilli, though there were..... some... he did. Mostly it was the constant yammering. He hated how so few Soquili could ever manage to keep their traps shut for more than a minute. Talking was a crutch. True communication happened when two soqs took the time trouble and effort to pay enough attention to each other that words were superfluous and unneeded.  

[LydaLynn]

Akos smiles as he rounds the bend. Another stallion was walking along the path. Bobbing his head in greeting, he flares his wings in what he hopes is a friendly manner.

The stranger was refreshingly colored. A plesent grey with only added accessories for color. And while he didn't look like Akos, it was nice to have the kinship of a less oddly colored hide.

Akos hopes the other will stop to talk, but with a lantern in his own mouth, he can't manage a proper greeting just yet. And while Akos wouldn't mind just setting it down on the path, he knows it would distress the little sprite, Anne, so he just stands there, not quite sure how to proceed.

Bardess Ookami

 

[Bardess Ookami]

LydaLynn

Pachu'a saw the other and paused. He wanted to leave, he wanted to run away before the incessant never ending torrent of words spewed forth at him. But the other merely bobbled his head, a nod of greeting. Pachua's eyes settled on the lantern in his mouth, and allowed himself a small flare of hope. Maybe the other would not talk after all. Maybe the pleasant day could actually remain thus. Hesitantly he nodded a greeting in return then flicked an ear in silent question. How the other chose to answer more than what he chose to answer - as in what question he thought Pachu'a was asking - would tell Pachu'a much of what he needed to know. Would the other reply with words, or might this be someone he might not have to hate?  

[LydaLynn]

Well that was different. Akos wasn't sure why the other had just flicked an ear instead of greeting. Maybe the strange stallion was mute, or deaf, or something.

But since he still didn't have anywhere to set the lantern, and thus Anne in it, that wouldn't cause her distress (and by extension Jack, the other sprite's distress), Akos couldn't really ask. Besides, maybe asking would be insensitive. Maybe the deaf really don't like when those who can speak moved their mouths at them all day.

Not that Akos knew the other stallion was deaf . . . or mute. But what else was he to think. What he couldn't think was how to respond. So after a decent pause in which he considered his options, Akos also just flicked an ear. How on earth was he going to make friends this way?

Bardess Ookami

 

[Bardess Ookami]

LydaLynn

Relief filled Pachu'a. This one wasn't going to yammer his ear off all day! How refreshing. He nodded warmly once and allowed himself to move a bit closer. It was nice to know his day wouldn't be ruined, that there were at least some others that could be quiet. He took a mouthful of leaves from a bush and inclined his head slightly, an invitation for the other to share a meal with him. To eat with another in companionable silence was an odd and rare treat for Pachu'a. In fact the last time he could recall a quiet meal with another was Lian...

No! he would not think of Lian. She made her choices, she was gone, and that was that. He fulfilled his obligation and there was no reason to dwell on thoughts of her. He raised her, did the best he could, and she flew away. So this was not what he should dwell on now...  

[LydaLynn]

Okay, it could be worse. Akos at least understood the implicit invitation. And there still weren't any words. Maybe this wasn't so strange, who was he to know? After all, he really only had his adoptive family to go by . . . and the occasional stranger he had met before. Of course, the occasional stranger was generally more interested in fearing Akos' adoptive father than in really communicating.

So . . . maybe this was the way of strangers on the road. No names, no words. It still didn't seem right. Surely there was more, the stallion was deaf or something. But it didn't matter. Akos had wanted to make a friend. This seemed like an invitation.

Now the only problem was figuring out where to set the lantern.

Akos looked around. Anne wasn't going to be happy just set upon the ground. And if Anne was unhappy, Jack would buzz around Akos' head until Anne was moved. The whole thing was rather annoying. But Akos felt responsible for the little things, so he would continue to care for them.

Finally he found a rock with a flat enough top sticking up to about knee height. That should do. Akos carefully set the lantern down, letting the handle down gently so it didn't clang against the side of the lantern. Then he opened the little 'door' so that Anne could leave if she wished, not that she ever did. Or Jack could visit with her, rather more likely.

Akos sighs as he opens and closes his mouth a few times. He was used to carrying the lantern now, but it still made his mouth stiff and sore after a while. Turning back to the other stallion he wonders if he should introduce himself.

But the other hadn't even said 'hi' and there was no excuse of a full mouth. So there must be a reason for the silence. And Akos would go along with it for now.

Rejoining the stranger Akos takes a mouthful of leaves. They had a lovely crunch and were a beautiful green. He started to comment on them but remembered the silence and took another bite instead.

It was odd, but somehow relaxing. The silence between strangers. It shouldn't be, that chasm of ignorance should cause a certain tension. But instead it was strangely liberating. There was no fumbling with words or worrying about saying the wrong thing. Akos would still have liked to know the stranger's name, but for now, companionable silence and a decent lunch was enough.  

[Bardess Ookami]

Relief was almost as pleasant a feeling as silence. They ate together in the quiet and Pachu'a allowed himself to hope that perhaps the companionable quiet could continue. He had few he could consider as friends, as far too many Soqs felt the urge to fill the air with needless redundant words, chose to be lazy and focus on verbal cues rather than physical ones. But the rarity of company such as this made him appreciate it all the more. So long as it lasted. To date the only other Soqs he could count that he had tolerated this long were Lian, Arden, and that winged Soq with the amazing eyes. Lian had spoken at times, and quite frankly... was gone. Arden.... had started to speak some, which was annoying, but Pachu'a thoroughly hoped it was just a phase and that when whatever spooked him was dealt with he would once more revel in the pleasures of silence. The other Soq.... she was interesting. Harder to read than most, but she understood the value of silence. She had vanished from his life once, twice maybe now? Would she be back? He didn't know and didn't quite dare to hope.... Those who left him... didn't come back. So... he enjoyed the rare moments of silence when he could.... And hoped to grass that he could find the others again when he wanted to, since few if any ever sought him out. Well... few worth wasting time on, that was.


(Not sure where this is in relationship to his RP with Calamity. Doing the best I can....)  

[LydaLynn]

Akos enjoyed the silence, almost forgetting the other stallion was there at time. He wouldn't have stopped quite so early for lunch normally, but the leaves were quite good. He'd have to remember what this plant looked like so he could keep an eye out for more in the future.

A small cricket hiding among the leaves made Akos smile as he quickly snapped it up as well. The crunch was nice with a lovely sharp tang of flavor. It was a nice contrast to the leaves. Though he couldn't see any more among the leaves right off.

Finally he was full enough. After all, he had eaten only a few hours before. Akos looks up at the other stallion. He wasn't really sure what to do now. The other was still silent.

An ear twitch didn't seem enough to convey thanks or a further move towards friendship. And he still didn't know the stranger's name. Actually, the stranger still didn't know his name either.

Maybe that would be a good opening salvo. "I'm Akos." He thought about saying more, but wasn't even sure the stallion could hear him. So he just inclined his head in a small bow. Maybe it would be enough.  

[Bardess Ookami]

... And it had been going so well too....

He had almost let himself enjoy the quiet companionship and then the other had to go and speak, go and ruin it. His ear flicked in irritation, then he calmed himself. No, it was alright. Names were okay to speak, because unless one was named for something on hand, there was no realistic way to convey a name non-verbally. But really, the first word had been so unnecessary. Redundant. Pointless. Why did he feel the need to say "I'm"? It would have been obvious once he said his name what the word had been. After all, there was context, there was their companionship, his stance, a million clues that this was a greeting of introduction.

Well then, Pachu'a could lead by example. Brevity, succinctness, a single word, that being his name, and then never another uttered. Would that work... or would that invite more words? He hoped the first and feared the second. He gave a small nod of greeting and an ear flick of welcome. "Pachu'a," he said simply. Just his name, nothing more needed to be said, and thus it shan't be.  

[LydaLynn]

Akos was taken a bit aback. 'Pachu'a'? Well, he could speak, and hear. But . . . was that even the same language? Hopefully it was a name and not just a sneeze. It didn't look like a sneeze, but . . .

Akos took a deep breath. Either the stallion had just given his name, or he had said 'what?' or 'I don't understand' or something else completely unhelpful in a language Akos didn't know.

But he definitely didn't look happy when Akos had spoken, had given his name. And he didn't look much happier to speak, though there had been some indication of friendliness.

Akos sighs and shakes his head, eyes closed for a moment while he thinks.

The other, Pachu'a presumably, didn't seem to want to talk, or to want to have any conversation at all. Akos wasn't quite sure what to make of that. A friend would be good, but how could a friendship be built when one of the potential friends didn't want to communicate.

After all, there was so much that couldn't be said in non-verbal movement. Sure, there was the potential to speak volumes without a word, but it took a foundation, a knowing of the other. And how that could be built without words . . . it would take years. And even then so much could be misunderstood.

And there was no way to talk of concepts in gestures and looks. To speak of things spiritual or moral or . . . but that's what the stallion seemed to want.

Was that something Akos could give?

The silence was nice after his younger sisters, constantly talking, chattering, babbling. But now that he was thinking about it, Akos almost missed it.

No, he didn't think he could build a friendship without words. Another shake of his head and Akos opens his eyes to look at Pachu'a, "Sorry." That was as little as he could say to try and communicate his thoughts.

Akos couldn't live with wordless silence. Perhaps a bit of brevity, but conversation was part of friendship in his mind. And what he needed was a friend. He respected Pachu'a's desire, but knew he couldn't live like that.

So with a sigh he turns and heads back towards the lantern. Anne and Jack were silent companions, but he didn't expect anything more from them, they were little more than bugs. They were just lives he cared for, not friends who he could support and who could support him. He wouldn't leave them, but they weren't going to be his answer to friendship.

And now it looked like Pachu'a wasn't going to be either. It was better to leave now than spend who knows how long trying not to talk, being annoyed, and ending up annoying the other. Companionable silence was good. But perpetual silence . . . Akos couldn't live that way.  

[Bardess Ookami]

Pachu'a watched the other carefully. When the other said "Sorry" Pachu'a was understandably irritated. Clearly his body language said as much. He needn't have vocalized.

And the kicker of it was... Pachu'a wouldn't have cared, shouldn't have cared... but he had let himself hope. That had been a mistake, but then he knew that. It was always a mistake to hope. There were so few who actually could be bothered to learn to communicate without words. It wasn't for everyone and this fellow had tried. Having failed, he was taking his leave rather than forcing his words upon Pachu'a, and that made it hard to be angry with him. No, he wasn't angry with Akos. But he was disgusted with himself. He knew better than to try, to hope, to think he could make friends. He knew better than to even want it. And why did he want it? He didn't! He was happier alone! Why couldn't he ever remember that?

He walked to the other and gave him a small nudge o show that there were no hard feelings, then he turned and went on his own way. Alone. As it should be. As it nearly always was. Other Soqs were just a headache and a heartache waiting to happen. He was better off alone. Calamity's face came to mind, as did Lian's. He banished both images with a shake of his head. The one would leave him like the other already had. No... he was best left to himself.  

[Bardess Ookami]

Inoshishioni was in Akos' path, not that he knew it. He loved laying in piles of fallen leaves. He loved the softness of them, the crinkling sound as he moved, and the scent all around him. It was the scent of death that led to life, of life inherent in death. A pile of dead leaves could well hold all the answers to all the questions in the world, if one stopped to really consider it. The leaves were part of the tree once, but for the tree to survive, the leaves must die. But for the tree to survive, it needed living leaves. Further, the dead leaves broke down into nutrients to feed the trees from below. But they also fed the weeds and grasses that competed with the trees for water and good soil.
And then there were the living things that made their homes in these piles of dead leaves. And of course, there was him. Inoshishioni could easily spend a whole day and night in a leaf pile. Unfortunately for him... Brown, red, hints and splashes of gold and white... he often got stepped on while lost in thoughts, blending with the leaves in the lee of a tree as he was just now. One would think he would have learned....
(please add him to the title/first post, when you get a chance. Thanks)  

[LydaLynn]

Akos walked along, a bit lost in thought. That encounter had been strange. He wished the outcome had been different, that he could have made a friend. But at least he didn't end up in a fight.

Plodding along it takes him some time of just breathing to return to a pleasant attitude. Honestly, Akos likely would have walked right by the pile of leaves with a small stallion laying upon them if he hadn't caught a sight of bright red that didn't seem quite connected with the surroundings.

Stopping, blinking and looking towards the red, for a moment Akos wonders if it is more sprites like Anne and Jack. The pair had been with him for most of his life now, but he had never seen any others.

But no, it seemed to be . . . an Usdia? Akos wasn't quite sure. He had heard that there were smaller soquili out there, the size of foals when full grown, but he hadn't met one before. For a moment he almost kept going, having already had an encounter that didn't go well. But this was someone new, more than that, a type of soquili he had never met before.

Akos was drawn to those who were different, after all, he had never met anyone who looked like himself either. He didn't even know what he was. So the chance to meet someone, and possibly befriend someone, who was that new . . . he couldn't pass it up.

Of course, he was still carrying the lantern. He'd thought about the problem, though, and realized his claw would hold the lantern just as well. Not as far from the ground as Anne would like, but it should work for a short time.

So Akos transferred the lantern to a claw. Opening his mouth, he pauses. Maybe this one would be strangely silent too. Maybe everyone in this area hated words.

But Akos couldn't make friends with someone who wouldn't speak, and he wasn't going to try. "Ah, hello." There, that was friendly but brief. Hopefully it wouldn't offend, but at least open dialogue if the other was willing.