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Lockes


Social gatherings had never really been her thing. Soquili practically flaunted their flaws at social gatherings, and by the end of the night, there were more than a few dirtied coats. Whether a fruit stain, a spot of dirt, or a tussled mane, Lockes would be able to identify any imperfection of another's appearance, and it was there that the chaos would begin.

Lockes was a perfectionist, you see, and when it came to personal appearance and the appearance of those she interacted with, she was a very fussy pony. Every hair had to be in place, her hooves had to be smooth and without cracks, and her mane and tail had to be in the most lovely of curls. If anything were amiss with her appearance, she would go into a frenzy. She would not rest until her flaw was corrected, even if she had to go to extreme measures in order to get such an outcome.

With other Soquili, it was even worse. Other Soquili were not as appearance-conscious as our little mare, and some even thrived in areas like swamps, where they were sure to get positively grimy! Lockes, unable to look away from such filth when upon another, will always offer to help, but when turned away, things get nasty. She isn't entirely certain of what happens after an encounter with a muddy stallion or frizzy-maned mare... It gets rather fuzzy. She always finds herself some time later, standing in a clear area with blood on her legs and body, which simply can't do, so she goes to wash it off. She certainly can't have blood on her coat, no matter how it mysteriously got there. Still, it is quite a mystery, and she never seems to see the same imperfect pony in question twice. Where ever could they have gone to?

One of the only reasons that Lockes was attending this gathering, was because it was an evening event. She had overheard it from a mare with a leaf in her mane, though she hasn't seen or heard of the mare since her first conversation with her. Anyway, as it would be taking place during the darker hours, Lockes suspected that she would be less likely to see the imperfections of others, until the morning sun began to rise. The event itself, was to be a firefly watching event. Having never seen fireflies, Lockes had decided it was about time.

It was late dusk by the time that Lockes actually came upon the meeting place for the event. If the mare was knowledgeable about her location, she would know that she was just on the outskirts of the Western Forests, looking out into the Plains. Ahead, she could see two other Soquili, a mare and stallion, with their heads close together. She snorted slightly, and turned her head away. Of course couples would show up, but she wished they wouldn't be so public about it. For goodness sake, they were surrounded by a forest, why not escape into the woods if you wanted to canoodle?

Despite the lovey-dovey couple ahead, Lockes did not leave. She was here for fireflies, and gosh golly, she was going to stay until she saw them! And, who knew, maybe a few other Soquili would show up, and she'd find some extra entertainment. So long as their coat was in perfect condition, anyway.

Lockes


Lockes had once more begun to suspect that she wouldn't be able to get along with anyone at this party. The lovey-dovey couple hadn't moved since she'd arrived, and it was growing increasingly darker. She gave a lady-like snort, and after another moment of looking around in the dim lighting, she began to turn around. Social gatherings really weren't her thing after all.

That's when she heard the sound of another close by her, and she found that upon turning, that she was looking up at a large stallion with a mane full of ringlets. Her chest tightened, for ringlets were something that had to be maintained with the utmost care, and she didn't want to be sent into a frenzy should the stallion have a single hair out of place, or spirits forbid, a split end.

Even in the dim lighting, she was able to scan him with her eyes, taking in his appearance with the highest of scrutiny. After going over him twice, which took less than a minute, for Lockes had very keen eyes when it came to personal appearance, she came to a startling discovery. He was perfect. Not a hair out of place, not a speck of dirt on him, and not even that ruffled look that curly hair often got from a distant breeze. Never had she met someone who was on the same level of cleanliness as she, and she was positively delighted to meet someone like that now.

"No, I don't think we have." Replied the golden-maned mare with a coy smile. She couldn't help herself; the stallion before her was perfect. She dipped her head to him, a single curl falling from its place, but with a swish of her head as she straightened again, it dropped back into place, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Calixto, truly. My name is Lockes." She stared at him for a moment more and then turned her head when a small flickering caught her gaze. The fireflies had started to appear. Her smile disappeared to be replaced with a small frown and she muttered, "I still don't see what all the fuss is about. They're just bugs."

She quickly glanced back at Calixto, fearing that he'd heard her. He was standing a bit close. So, she framed her expression into an apologetic one, and raised her voice to a conversational tone again.
"I confess, I didn't come here for the fireflies, but for the ponies attracted by them. What about you, Calixto? Are you interested in these fire bugs?" She asked him, hoping she hadn't offended him, if he had, in fact, heard her.

Lockes


What a relief it was to find someone so like-minded as herself. Lockes had always found other Soquili either running from her, or too dirty to stand being graced with her presence. Really now, how a stallion or mare could roll in dirt and then expect others not to comment on it was a mystery to her. No... It wasn't just a mystery, it was maddening!

It was a further relief to find that Calixto hadn't taken offense at her words, and his smile sent her heart a-flutter for the Flutter stallion. Silly of her, but he was gorgeous and she was wholly available to him. Oh dear...
Settle down, girl. She chided herself, You don't want to seem desperate or needy. Just smile, and act polite.

As he agreed with her and informed her that he had come here to meet other Soquili, and when he said that he hadn't expected to meet someone like her there, she flashed him a smile of her own.
"Someone like me? Why, I certainly hope that's a compliment, Calixto. I was growing so fond of you." She said with a soft giggle, her eyes moving from the lightning bugs to his pale blue eyes, illuminated by the glow of the pester-some bugs. He'd said he was glad that he had come, which assured her that he was pleased with her company.

Now, to keep things in her favor, so as to make sure that another mare didn't approach the two, she stepped back, and inclined her head towards the Western Forest,
"Forgive my boldness, but I doubt there will be any others that come along to this gathering that either of us will be very interested in meeting. Shall we move to the forest's edge, so to have someplace to talk, just the two of us?" She suggested to the stallion.

Lockes


How handsome this stallion was! How kind and considerate, too! Oh, if he were not the male equivalent of perfection (to which of course, she was the female) than she dare think that she didn't know what perfect was anymore. The charming grins, the well-groomed curls, the shimmering coat... There was nothing she could find that was wrong with him.

Not to mention how courteous he was! He was a true gentle-stallion. She had meant to be joking, but he too it so sincerely, that she just had to smile. Oh, what a grand thing it was to have come for the lightning bugs--er, the Soquili--and walk away with such a perfect stallion at her side! Maybe... Maybe things were finally looking up for Lockes, after all this isolation she had to deal with.

"It's quite alright, Calixto." She had replied to his apology, too sly to say that she had been jesting when she mentioned her worry at his earlier comment. She had also smiled in true sincerity when he mentioned that he did hope that she was more fond of him than she was the bugs, to which she added, "May I also say, that I am also more fond of you than I am most Soquili." She informed him, batting her eyelashes at him while he agreed to walk with her, "It is quite difficult not to admire your excellence." Alright, that was bordering on dull flattery. She would have to shape up quickly, if she were to hold his attention.

She looked briefly to the side, and gave him a shy, sideways glance. At least, she hoped she looked shy and not possessive, like she really felt. Was it really just his perfection that had such an effect on her being, or was it her solitude as well? How long had it been since she had been so at ease with another Soquili? How strange that she couldn't seem to remember...

The two began walking, passing through the line of trees that separated the plains from the forest. It was significantly darker here, without the light of the bugs or the stars. Under normal circumstances, Lockes would've become very aware of the dirt beneath her hooves, or the leaves falling upon her that she couldn't see, but with Calixto at her side, everything felt as it was meant to be: perfect.

Then she remembered that she was supposed to be having a conversation with him, not just marveling at how splendid he was. Oh, how embarrassing. The realization caused her to move her ears back slightly and warmth spread to her face as she tried to come up with a conversation topic. Why did she have to come up blank now? Oh, he must think her so foolish for inviting him out into the woods to talk privately, only not to have anything to talk about!

She was prying into the depths of her memory for something that she would've talked about with another Soquili, but she only seemed to remember how imperfect other Soquili were. Finally, she came up with something-- She'd ask about whether he had any useful tips for working snarls out of a curly mane, and in return, she could offer advice on an herbal remedy that made her coat gleam! Yes, it was a brilliant plan, truly--

But then up and out of no where, a large root of a tree appeared, which caught a hold of one of Lockes' hooves. She was sent falling forward and she scrambled to get her hoof free before she hit the ground, when she found her weight shift and she landed softly against Calixto's flank instead, though fully upright.
"That cursed branch!--Oh, I'm sorry, Calixto! My hoof got stuck and, well, I fell..." She explained, wrenching her hoof from that clever vine and Lockes moved slightly away from him, checking herself over for any hairs out of place, only to realize she couldn't see herself without a reflective surface in this light. With a sigh, she looked up at Calixto, "Are you alright? I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to fall on you, but..." Goodness, she really was standing quite close to him, wasn't she?