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 Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:11 pm
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Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:46 pm
Endless azure depths stared, with a familiar sadness, into the indigo abyss above that was the night sky, crystalline irises searching the stars for something that simply wasn't there, as it never was. It had been months, years since that day... would he ever cease to haunt her? It was a question with no answer, of course, as were many of the questions in her life... she wondered if any of them actually had answers lying somewhere.
Silken ebony and ivory-feathered wings stretched absently over her sides, a bored yawn escaping her jaws as she shifted her weight from one foot to another. The melancholy in her eyes was once again locked away behind a layer of ice and steel as she regained her bearings, scanning the area to make sure she was still alone. Absently, she wondered where Nanaki and Shadow had gotten off to. Although she didn't like either of them at first, Nanaki had become a close friend, with his companionable silence and quiet wisdom. Shadow was someone she wasn't as fond of, but she could relate to his pain, and she did feel sorry for him.
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Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:27 pm
Pure darkness was something that Guilian had never cared for; the night was most unkind to the eye when no reassuring light was there to guide the way. However, tonight the sky was clear, and the full moon and twinkling stars were able to provide more than enough light for the cardinal stallion's needs. That aside, he knew his feathers shown very becomingly in the moonlight, so he could consider it an added bonus.
However, that wasn't the only bonus tonight.
Casting his gaze out as he strolled along in his search for a suitable place to relax for the night, Guilian's attention was suddenly drawn to a silvery glint. Feathers...pale feathers, reflecting the light of the moon just as his were. Only unlike his feathers, these belonged to a mare....
Perhaps tonight wouldn't be as lonely as he'd been thinking.
Stopping, he raised his head and whickered pleasantly at the solitary mare. "Good evening to you, Chica. 'Tis a most lovely night to be out, isn't it?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:43 pm
One ebony-furred ear twitched as the sound of heavy footsteps met her senses, and a soft, exasperated sigh befell her lips as she realized that her time alone was going to be cut short. She refused to acknowledge that some deep inner part of her was glad for the interruption, and for the company.
Turning her head to look upon the intruder, she squinted lightly as her vision met bright red- a large contrast with the dark forest and dim indigo sky. It was a stallion, she noticed... a wind, like herself. Curiosity flooded her being as she turned to observe him fully, head tilted to one side in a rare display of innocence as she eyed him. As soon as he opened his mouth, however... her brows lowered, and the corners of her lips tugged downwards into a frown. "What did you call me?" she asked incredulously, looking at him like he was gum on the bottom of her shoe.
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Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:02 pm
"Chica." Without pausing in his slow stroll towards the mare, Guilian repeated himself with the same smooth tone he'd been using. After all, even though she seemed tense he had nothing to be guilty about. "It means 'girl' and always struck me as less formal than 'Mare' and less banal than 'hey you', at least to my way of thinking."
As he approached, he allowed his gaze to wander over her form, noting the graceful arch of her neck, the excellant proportion of her wings, and the curious ribbons tied up her legs. How very peculiar...perhaps there was some story behind it. "If I had an actual name to refer to you by, then I wouldn't need to use it."
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Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:10 am
Her eye twitched a few times, but she was forced to concede and let it go after a moment. As much as she would've liked an excuse to tear him a new one, his explanation made sense, even if she didn't like the designation. The scowl remained on her face, however, as she turned to look towards the sky and muttered in a low tone, "It's Sukari." Did she often tell her name to strangers? No. Strange stallions? Certainly not. If it was between telling him her name and having him call her by that ridiculous nickname, however... she supposed she could deal with him knowing her name.
While she underwent his scrutiny, she observed his own appearance herself, azure irises lingering briefly on the black markings on his face, the roses that adorned his mane and tail, and the curious texture of his back legs. He was quite attractive-looking... too bad it was completely lost on her, as her 'brothers' often referred to her as a 'living ice cube'. She always made sure to beat either one senseless when she caught them calling her that, though- it was usually Shadow.
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Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:02 am
And he had a name! Normally, Guilian persisted in calling mares 'Chica' even after he had learned their name; it was a habit that he'd gotten so involved with that he really couldn't shake it. Still, in this case he'd have to make an exception, apparently; from the way this mare, this 'Sukari' had responded, he'd be talking to thin air very soon after.
Ah well, there was nothing like a little challenge to keep you on your toes!
"Sukari, is it? Well, Sukari, my name is Guilian, though whether or not you call me such is entirely up to you." Finishing his scrutiny as he started speaking, the cardinal Soquili turned his attention to the night sky, head tilted upwards. "It is certainly a lovely night to be out and about, isn't it? Forgive me if you were desiring solitude, but when I saw that I wasn't the only one out enjoying the starlight I simply HAD to investigate. Call it a social weakness, if you will."
As he spoke, he kept his gaze fixed on the sky, noting how vibrantly the stars were sparkling against the inky blackness. However, just because he wasn't looking at Sukari didn't mean he wasn't aware of her, and even as he was staring at the sky he was strolling closer. "What brings you out here this late...Sukari?" A lover's tryst, perhaps? If so, he'd undoubtably be chased off shortly!
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Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:22 am
Although his upbeat attitude was anything but contagious to her, Sukari found it difficult to maintain her distant coldness in the face of what seemed to be open kindness... although if or when she ever found out that he was just doing it to flirt with her, there would be hell to pay. A soft sigh befell her lips once more, although this one was not out of annoyance or irritation- if she were forced to put a name to it, it probably would have been 'wistful'. "I suppose it is a nice night, although I hadn't really noticed." In reality, she rarely noticed the weather at all anymore, unless it was raining or snowing.
Whether or not she was willing to admit it, part of her was glad for the company; glad to have been distracted from her depressing reminiscings of the past... despite the fact that this soquili was a stallion, he was a wind like herself, so he couldn't be all bad, right? She pondered how to answer his question for a moment, shifting her weight uneasily from one foot to another. She didn't want to share more than was absolutely necessary, but he was trying to be kind (or so she thought), and she didn't want to write him off completely. "Just... trying to come to peace with my thoughts, I suppose." That was a half-truth. "And yourself?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:36 am
Had the question been put to him, Guilian would have vehemently denied that he was doing anything just to flirt. After all, mares were unique creatures, and no self-respecting connesuer would ever dream of making a move without learning something about the mare in question first. That aside, Guilian always enjoyed talking to mares; they offered so many varied views on the world, how could he not? And each had their own story to tell...
And this mare seemed to be no different. Turning his gaze from the heavens to the heavenly, Guilian took note of the mare's awkward shufflings, the stiffness in her body language; she clearly had something on her mind. Well, if that was true then perhaps there was a reason he'd been out in this region tonight, to help a mare in need.
"I myself have no real reason to be out, other than sheer enjoyment of the night. There's nothing quite like the sight of a shadowy landscape bathed in moonlight; tis like a rover's dream, or a lover's paradise." Tilting his head back to the sky for a moment, Guilian closed his eyes, feeling as though he were almost one with the serenity that was the night. This was his hour, after all, when the world had closed in and you were shrouded in darkness, alone with yourself and, if you were lucky, someone else...
However, there was no reason to get distracted right now! How could he justify such actions, anyway, when he had a much more attractive distraction right next to him? "Disregard this if I'm being forward, but you seem to have a lot on your mind. I've been told that discussing such things with someone else can help, and if such is your desire I am more than willing to listen."
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:24 pm
One ear twitched in his direction as ice blue eyes widened fractionally at his offer, partly in shock, and partly in indecision. It was a kind offer, to be sure, and she didn't doubt that it might help her with the guilt and sadness that she was suffering... but sharing her story with a complete stranger went against everything she stood for. Besides, no matter how kind he might have seemed, Sukari remembered that above all, stallions were not to be trusted. A soft, conflicted sigh befell her lips as she shifted slightly, ribboned feet pawing at the damp earth lightly as her gaze dropped.
"It's... somewhat of a long story." Another half-truth, and an attempted dismissal of the subject. While the offer was tempting, the bottom line was that Sukari trusted no one, and her life story was something that was not to be taken lightly. It wasn't as if he would understand, anyway... he might even turn her away, like her mother had.
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:38 pm
Whether or not she realized it, Sukari had just offered Guilian a challenge. The mere realization on his part was enough to make him throw back his head and laugh, but he doubted that she'd see the humor; he might even undo all that he had potentially done to further his cause. So instead of laughing, the cardinal stallion very deliberately lowered his body to the ground, settling himself comfortably before looking up at Sukari and patting the ground beside him with a wing. "I have time if you have time, and there's no telling what benefits you might gain from the telling, Chi-Sukari."
She didn't like the word 'Chica,' something that he'd have to remember. And though it was hard...he was at least trying.
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Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:07 pm
Her first instinct was to frown and glare, but from the disarming grin that the ruby stallion was wearing, it was rather hard to be angry with him. Slowly, reluctantly, she carefully laid herself down next to him, letting loose a sigh that spoke volumes of tension and apprehensiveness. She was entirely unsure of where to start- while she knew the tale herself inside and out, she had never told it to anyone else, and was uncertain of how it would sound to someone else's ears. Her mother had never truly forgiven her, and if she were honest, Sukari had never truly forgiven herself, either.
Inhaling deeply, the silver mare allowed her eyes to slip closed briefly before they fluttered open again, clear blue irises focused intently on the starry horizon before them as she began her tale. "It was a short ways from here," she murmured, shifting uncomfortably. "Only a few years ago. My family was very proud, very arrogant, but we never meant anyone harm..." here, she paused, and her eyes narrowed as a frown marred her features, "except maybe my father. He wanted to prove himself stronger than the rest- above the rest of us. He was convinced that he could somehow add honor to my family's name if he could prove his own worth. My brother, you see, was a pacifist... a weakling, to be completely honest, and it shamed my father." She fidgeted again here, clearly reconsidering her own decision to tell the tale. "Are you certain you want to hear this?" her voice sounded weak to her own ears, and she hated it.
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Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:52 pm
Guilian was more than a little bit pleased with the way things were working out. Sukari's body language belied the tension she no doubt must be feeling, and he'd learned from much experience that tension was something best assuaged. Granted, talking was only his SECOND favorite method of dealing with it, but conversation had its rewards as well. So his sincerity was evident as he nodded his head at her question.
"Indeed I do, Sukari; please continue with the telling." Though he had an inkling he knew where this story was going; the basic setup always lead to the same inevitably sad conclusion...
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 3:03 pm
Reluctantly, she conceeded, lowering her head as she steeled her nerves to continue the tale of her life. "My father, since his days as a stallion in his prime, had always dreamed of having a son who would become his successor- so you can imagine his chagrin when he discovered that his firstborn was a female." She sneered at these last words, wings twitching in agitation as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. "I always wanted to please him. I tried everything that I could think of, training myself to be the perfect warrior, but he never even glanced my way. You can imagine my adversity to having a little brother that instantly drew all of my father's attention."
She sighed heavily here, trepidation clouding her thoughts as she forced herself to continue her story. "For some reason I could never fathom, my little brother- Kureno was his name- idolized me, despite my obvious hatred of him. I treated him badly- always told him he was a failure to our family- but I suppose I didn't want to accept that I was the failure. My father was outraged that Kureno didn't want to fight or train, but Kureno didn't care about what my father said. It was what I said that mattered to him."
An unmistakable grimace contorted her features as the winged mare paused again and struggled to keep her train of thought flowing unhindered. "I told him I wouldn't consider him any brother of mine if he didn't follow my father's wishes. I... I told him that he was an insult to our family... that if he didn't change his ways and bring honor to our family, I would hate him forever." The amount of shame and guilt in those words was unimagineable, and for once, Sukari didn't try to repress it. "He was devastated, and finally agreed to leave with my father to go train."
There was another long bout of silence here, and when her voice finally broke it again, it was very soft and quiet. "They were attacked by skinwalkers shortly afterward. I left to go find them myself- I found my father ripped to pieces, and my brother on the verge of turning into one himself. He..." she struggled to speak past the lump in her throat, her voice coming out as hoarse, "he begged me to kill him. He said that he would always hate what he would become, and wanted to bring honor to the family, even if he had to die to do it. I refused at first, but in the end... I granted his wish. My mother... saw me do it, and refused to call me her daughter after that."
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 3:21 pm
By the time Sukari had finished speaking, Guilian had closed his eyes, trying not to imagine how utterly horrendous those experiences had to have been for her. He himself had never known his parents, having been orphaned before his earliest memories; consequently, he'd never really been able to truly sympathize with family problems. However, a trauma of this sort was something that made even him wince in disbelief.
Shaking his head, Guilian reached out with a wing to wrap around her and simply hold her against him. "I cannot imagine having to remember such a past, Chica; and I had no idea that such was the case when I asked you to talk. That you have been able to move beyond that at all is stunning, even admirable, however."
And it was.
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