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Post by strixx-variaa on Jun 19, 2016 18:02:36 GMT -6
It was an odd parallel. They did their best to love the transition, to celebrate it and publicize it, but there was little room for analysis of its parts and its consequences among those who were not on the high council. And Thaumas Anereus had not yet been born the last time the streets were flooded with these -- these -- What do you call people who are celebrating an event which cannot occur without the death of their dearly-beloved leader? Dutiful citizens, I suppose. Because they'd had their time to mourn the Old Emperor's passing, of course; this parade was no hastily-constructed surprise party on the morn of His Majesty's death, but rather meant to symbolize the joyous birth of a new era in the coronation (some days after the grievous fact) of his eldest trueborn son, Hawkeye. It was the state's version of the proverbial silver lining, and most folk were happy to see it. And Thaumas was happy to see it, but he'd expected to see it from rather a different perspective than he was seeing it now. From the crowd, if you will, rather than... well, in it. The deliberations over who should assume the post of Defender of the Herd had been simmering away behind locked council chamber doors since the old man's passing some months ago, even before the Old Emperor fell ill. And then all of a sudden, young Emperor Hawkeye ascended the throne, and some days later Thaumas was called into His Glorious Presence and given both the proudest and the most terrifying honor in all his thirty years. And now he was part of the Trinity, and he could feel the weight of his responsibilities resting so heavily on his broad shoulders all of the time, and he was marching in the Coronation Jubilee parade before God and country, and if he hadn't been raised with such a solid amount of sense beaten into him he'd have been tempted to think he was merely experiencing a very long and very lifelike dream. As the procession made its way back into the palace complex, the newly-appointed Defender Anereus felt a vice around his heart loosen its hold a little as he heard the grand gates being pulled shut behind them. The eyes were gone. It was a simple thing, now, and so much more difficult, too; all that remained of the day was the Gala, a grand ball for highborn invitees only, held in the palace's great ballroom in Emperor Hawkeye's honor. Thaumas felt his stomach churning behind his stoic facade. This would be the first time he'd be presented as Defender, and the prospect was daunting -- not to mention the fact that he'd never been fond of parties, and he'd never been very good with people. He was promoted for his battle sense, for his keen military mind -- not for his charm, or his lightness of hoof. (Spoiler alert: he has none.) But there was a little time to gather himself before the evening festivities began, and for that he was grateful. The throngs of people disbanding in the courtyard after the parade made moving anywhere difficult, but again he counted his blessings: Thaumas's sheer size meant it was fairly easy for him to part the crowd and make way. He began heading back through the crowd to his Guardians' barracks, hoping to wash his face and dust off his coat before the Gala. words: 571 tags: Chipo-H0P3 notes: since this is roughly 20 years ago, i'm imagining thaumas looks pretty close to the "young adult" phase in his age meme, rather than what he looks like in his ref. :D (also most of my posts should be way shorter than this one; it just turned out to be a long starter, sorry!) |
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Post by Chipo-H0P3 on Jun 25, 2016 17:33:54 GMT -6
Nagisa’s reflection stared blankly back at her from the jeweled mirror in her room as she fastened the last of the purple flowers made of shell into her beautiful braid of onyx hair. She was ready to go but Nagisa felt no motivation to leave. Too much had happened in the last month. She had watched her father die, seen him through his final days, sent his body back to the Cascade’s embrace, then witnessed her brother rise to take his place. Her whole life was spinning in whirlpool of change. Time felt like it was passing without her. The parade earlier that day was proof to Nagisa that the public was already moving on. All eyes were on her brother, Hawkeye, as he lead the procession. Nagisa and the rest of their siblings followed closely behind with their mothers. They were the remnants of the old age soon to be forgotten. She cursed such an existence. A soft knock from her bedroom door interrupted her thoughts. “Nagisa, my lovely jewel, are you ready?” Her husband, Jonah, was waiting outside. He had joined Nagisa at the palace just a few days prior to participate in all the major events that were happening with the crowning of the new emperor. Her heart sunk lower at the sound of his voice. Oh how she was dreading this gala. The last thing she wanted to do right now was celebrate, but it was pivotal that she would show, for it was custom. Without breaking her gaze from her reflection she answered. “Yes, dear husband, I’ll be right out.”The pair entered the great hall together. It was decorated spectacularly with drapes and different kinds of corals for the event. Glass columns filled with bioluminescent phytoplankton kept the room illuminated in organic blue light. The attendees only consisted of high profile horses, food was abundant, and the entertainers were the best Aquore had to offer. Nagisa should have been reveling in the pageantry, but she remained numb to all of it. She kept to her husband’s side the majority of the time as he chatted happily with the other guests. They talked of happy futures and the great opportunities to come. Nagisa could have gagged but she kept to her facade of the blessed wife and proud sister and smiled. ----- The couple made their way through the ocean of faces. Jonah was making sure that they would talk to everyone at least once, much to Nagisa’s dismay. Only the horses with the highest prestige held her interest. Everyone seemed like a waste of time until they eventually found themselves in the company of a large roan stallion. Jonah trotted up confidently to him despite being completely dwarfed by his frame. “Ah, if it isn’t the great Defender himself!” Jonah bowed his head merrily before continuing respectfully, “It truly is an honor. My name is Jonah and this here is my lovely wife, Nagisa Marinus.” Nagisa bowed gracefully with her introduction, eyeing the stallion before her curiously. She remembered seeing him in the palace as a guardian during her father’s final days. He too, seemed to be moving forward. “Congratulations Defender Anereus, the new position suites you well.”words: 533 tags: strixx-variaa notes: Ugh you write so well!! I'm not worthy ;A; |
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Post by strixx-variaa on Jun 25, 2016 22:41:00 GMT -6
She was tall, and lithe, and beautiful, and he'd seen her before from afar but never so close. From afar -- This entire evening was a lesson in diplomacy Rycaron had never had occasion to teach him. Everyone seemed to want to trade a few words with the newly-appointed Defender, and everyone seemed to know exactly what to do except Thaumas. And Thaumas Anereus was not an idiot, of course; he knew exactly how deeply he should bow to a foreign dignitary, exactly how he ought to pitch his tone when addressing a Councillor, exactly how poised to seem when in the presence of those of lesser station (which was nearly everyone now) -- but he'd learned it all in books. Books.Because what lowly Guardian needed to look at a Councillor without emotion, without reverence for The Law? None but the foolhardy and the eager-to-be-jailed. And he'd shot up through the ranks, as perhaps only Guardians or Emissaries have the potential to do in Talorian society, and the rapid ascent left him dizzy and lightheaded even in the wake of the aftermath. And he'd shot up through the ranks, and now he had to look at royal blood as if it wasn't royal blood and -- -- and he couldn't quite do it. Because so far nobody he'd spoken to had been blood-related to the Emperor, but she was. She was the Old Emperor's own daughter, by the will o' the waves, and her presence threatened to overwhelm him the way few others in this room could do. And in that moment he prayed hard to his God, thanking Her for the little husband, for this friendly face who held no imposing stature nor gods-granted lineage, who allowed Defender Anereus a rope to furl his sails with in this tempestuous atmosphere. "I thank you, sir," he replied, his deep voice rolling from his throat onto the tiled floor and away through the throngs of people. Then, to the mare as he dipped his head just the right amount to greet the both of them: "My lady." (It was difficult to look her in the eye.) "May our Great Mother bless your fields as generously as she has blessed me." And he never used their names, because of course he knew who they were. words: 380 tags: Chipo-H0P3 notes: omg stahp :'D also i admit it's super-hard to resist the temptation to have him crush on her just a little bit, so i'll be fighting that urge this whole thread |
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Post by Chipo-H0P3 on Jun 27, 2016 20:41:44 GMT -6
He had a lovely voice. It was low and intimidating and powerful, it was the voice of a commander, and Nagisa thought it fit him well. Jonah chuckled heartily, “The mother is generous and kind, we already expect a great harvest this year! A gift to the New Emperor I take it, she seems to favor him well!”Nagisa’s eyes squinted in annoyance directed at her husband. Not this again. She was so sick of all the groveling to empty air. “Well she did chose him above all others, dear, I do pray she picked someone she thinks well of.” Jonah laughed only harder, despite that his wife was silently biting at his intelligence. “I suppose you’re right! If she didn’t, well, I don’t have to be the Divine to know it would mean very bad fortune, indeed! Hahaha!” It took every bit of willpower for Nagisa not to roll her eyes. His boisterous energy was embarrassing her but it would be worse if she left him laughing at his own joke so she joined in and laughed too. I'm Such a good wife. She looked back to the Defender to try to get a read on him and found that he was avoiding her gaze. Whether it was some male thing or lost form of respect, she couldn’t tell. The rules of eye contact were an old and silly etiquette, one of the few that Nagisa chose to disregard, but the Defender outranked her, so it shouldn’t have mattered regardless. So what was it? Most stallions couldn’t look away from her. She wanted him to look at her. Every moment he didn’t only irritated her. Jonah cleared his throat. “Nagisa, what of your insight? What should we expect from our New Emperor? He was your brother after all.”Nagisa sighed and turned solemnly back to her husband. “I come from a large house, love, I’m afraid I know too little to make proper judgment. I have heard he’s done well as a guardian, however.” She looked back to the tall roan, daring him to meet her eyes. “Perhaps our Defender Anereus is better suited for your question.”
words: 358 tags: strixx-variaa notes: LMAO!! I went in this with the full intention of giving Nagi a secret crush on Thaum!! I mean, how could I not? |
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Post by strixx-variaa on Jun 30, 2016 17:34:59 GMT -6
Nagisa.As if her name was that easy to say. Thaumas Anereus felt the deep, sharp, stabbing blade of jealousy bury itself deep within his breast at the ease with which the lord addressed his lady. As if her name was that easy to say. The pain of the knife woke him; stirred his eyes from their dull slumber and sharpened the look of them as he looked at them. Why should Jonah's familiarity with his own wife put the Defender on edge? By any standard, he should pay no attention to the closeness of their marriage. The pain of the knife confused him, and Thaumas Anereus decided he didn't like it. Within the span of a breath he was determined to remain deeply resentful of the feelings within his breast, whatever they may be and whatever they may signify. Their clawing fingers could not burst his ribs, no matter how hard they tried, for now he stood resolute in the seethe of his acrimony, and he would not be moved. This was why it was best for Talorian soldiers to remain apart from the pleasures and nuances of society. This, whatever it was, was a distraction. And tonight of all nights, he could not afford to give anyone anything less than his full attention. His voice never took the edge from that blade in his breast. It retained instead its even measure, its low, relaxed pitch, and its own brand of confidence. "Indeed," Thaumas replied, "His Majesty showed great skill as a protector of the herd." His words were as calculated as an unsubtle conscript could muster, but every syllable rang true from the Defender's lips. Emperor Hawkeye really had been quite apt in the force, even given his young age. And really, it wasn't Thaumas's place to speculate further into Hawkeye's prospective reign (or maybe it was, but he hadn't quite come to terms with the power of his station yet, so in either case he didn't dare). "Will you remain in the city during all the celebrations?" he asked, under the impression that Jonah had vast tracts of land in the countryside upon which they both lived throughout much of the year. words: 365 tags: Chipo-H0P3 notes: welp temptation not resisted :'D |
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Post by Chipo-H0P3 on Jul 3, 2016 13:24:17 GMT -6
Jonah nodded, satisfied, as if that bit of information was all he needed to know that Hawkeye would be the finest ruler to ever grace Hireath. Nagisa smiled too. It was nice to know that Hawk was doing well for himself. She almost didn’t have to fake the happiness she felt for him. The Defender’s question was answered by Jonah, who quickly changed his expression to one of shallow remorse. “Not all of them. I regret we have to return back home fairly soon. There’s a lot of work that needs tending to.”
Home. The word echoed in Nagisa’s mind. This palace was Nagisa’s home not some old estate hidden away in the country. She grew up here, a princess in the grand city of Inaria, but that time had drawn to a close. The palace was her brother’s now, him and his future wives and children. She didn’t belong here anymore. Her heart ached. Jonah was in the middle of trying to convince Thaumus to come visit them in the countryside when someone announced the arrival of Emperor Hawkeye. Nagisa shifted her gaze to the grand staircase to see him, only it wasn’t him she saw, but their father. Her father. The very man she watched die now stood before her in all the splendor of his youth, doused in gold and wearing the Emperor’s crown. He shimmered brightly in the blue light as if it was radiating from his own body. The sight of him stole the breath right out of her lungs. He was alive! Tears began to swell in her eyes. She wanted to run to him, to embrace him, to tell him how much she had missed him, but when she tried to move her legs she found them to be firmly stuck in place. A sickening feeling came over her as she began to realize what was happening. No! Her vision began to ripple like disturbed water. It started subtly from the edges then increasingly got worse. NO! Just a moment longer! Don’t take him from me! But it was too late. The vision of the Last Emperor vanished as if swept away by an unyielding current, leaving Nagisa broken and empty. All was white. A muffled voice called to her above other muffled voices. “-gisa, Nagisa, my dear, did you have a vision?” Jonah was the first she saw when she came to. Excitement was laced his voice. He turned quickly to the Defender to give an explanation for the peculiar expression on his wife’s face. “Nagisa has been blessed with Recognition, since birth too mind you, It’s really quite extraordinary!” Blessed. This gift was a curse! For what reason would Cascade show her these images other than to torture her. She looked back to where she had saw her father’s ghost but it was Hawkeye she saw this time. She felt faint and dizzy. Jonah crept up to her, concerned. “Dear, are you alright?” He reached out to touch her and she flinched away from him. “Don’t!” Nagisa hissed. Jonah retracted his reach instantly. He looked up at her with worried and hurt eyes but it was another pair of eyes caused her to immediately regret her outburst. The Defender’s gaze weighed heavily on her body and made her blood grow cold. Nagisa shifted apologetic looks between the both of them. “I’m sorry but I suddenly don’t feel very well. I think it’d be best if I retire for the evening.” “I’ll-” Jonah started but Nagisa cut him off before he could finish. “There’s no need, please do continue to enjoy yourself dear. Say hello to my brother for me. Goodnight gentlemen, blessings to the both of you.” She hated having to leave in such a crude manner but her charade was cracking. She had to get out there, away from judging eyes. She couldn’t swallow back the agony any longer. With a quick bow she left them. Jonah watched his wife disappear within the crowd and sighed. “She’s a strong woman, that one, but these last weeks have been really hard on her. I really thought the gala would lift her spirits.” He turned to Thaumus looking very much like a defeated man. “Would you do me a favor and make sure she gets back to the room safely? I’m afraid, my presence would do more harm than good at this point.”
words: 731
tags: strixx-variaa
notes: These two need couple's therapy
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Post by strixx-variaa on Jul 14, 2016 12:13:55 GMT -6
He’s thirty years old and he has to work hard to stamp down the little ember of pride threatening to burn a hole in his chest. How embarrassing would it be if it burned right through, just fell right out of him onto the polished tile floors for everyone to see? Look there, the Defender’s pride. How shameful. Why doesn’t he hide it?And so of course he does hide it, because his military legacy isn’t going to be one of rash decisions and fiery emotion, no matter how righteous or well-intended. Or well-intended. It was because Jonah’s request was well-intended (surely it was, wasn’t it?) that Thaumas felt his train of thought crashing to a halt as if against a solid ten feet of brick-and-mortar. As a Guardian, the big stallion would never have hesitated to comply – but now he was no mere Guardian, but the Defender of the Realm, and surely such tasks were below his station? And there’s where that little troublesome spark comes into play, because Thaumas wanted to accept. He wanted to give a curt nod (as he always did), and make his way through the crowd, careful not to catch anyone underfoot (as he always was), and see the lady safely off. Would it be wrong if he did? Would people stare? Would that be the story of the night, afterward, that the Defender is apparently so spineless in his new position that a well-connected merchant can give him orders? Compromise. The sound of his mother’s voice rang loud in his mind’s ear. She was here somewhere in the grandiosity of the ballroom, having begun her return journey from Breim when she got the word of the young Emperor’s selection, and having arrived just in time for the festivities. If the wellbeing of no beast nor body is at stake, compromise, and be proud of your solution.She was an Emissary, Thalassa was, and had raised her son to have as diplomatic a mind as could be expected of a child destined for military service. Thaumas resisted the temptation to search the crowd for his mother’s face. He focused his attention on Jonah instead. “I shall have her looked after,” he replied, trying to steep his words in the implication that he would not be the one to escort the lady. “Excuse me.” With the slightest nod of his head, Thaumas Anereus made for the exits, just barely able to distinguish the bright-on-dark of Nagisa’s coat through the crowd as she fled, several steps ahead of him. At each exit were posted Guardsmen, Thaumas’s peers-turned-subordinates, and it was absolutely his intention to instruct a change of guard so that one or two of them could follow the Emperor’s sister until she found whatever solace she was looking for. Except there was that damned spark. And the sound of the gala was slightly less here, just near the door, as the voices and the music and the sound of hooves on tile bounced off the walls and leaked through every open door and window. He felt caught up in the rush of sound flowing from the room, and felt no desire to turn ‘round and head back into the stream once more. In fact, Thaumas Anereus felt a rather strong desire to do exactly as Nagisa Marinus had done, and leave the gala for the evening – but of course he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t do that. He couldn’t do that, but perhaps he could do something else. (Ignore the clicking, scraping sound of a flint being struck in his breast. It is a fantasy, I assure you.) “Sir?” asked one of his posted Guardsmen as the Defender drew near. They both saluted him, and it was odd, because not long ago they’d have only saluted each other in jest, and it would’ve earned any of them a good thumping on the practice courts the next day. “Stay your post,” he said, glancing around the grand hallways as best he could from the edge of the ballroom, looking for – Ah. Found.“I’ll return shortly. Send a bird if I’m needed.” He’d seen the flash of pearls sparkling in her hair, and sure, everyone wore bijous tonight, but even without them she’d have outshone the moon. The little ember danced, and threatened to hop right out of his throat. He followed her. words: 734 tags: Chipo-H0P3 notes: i'm so sorry for how stupidly late this is! i was having muse issues, and then when it finally arrived i made a monster :'D |
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Post by Chipo-H0P3 on Nov 2, 2016 19:24:49 GMT -6
She kept her gaze low as she expertly maneuvered her way through the horde of gregarious horses. Some looked back curiously at the grulla mare, some even tried reeling her back into another conversation, but Nagisa fervently ignored them. The only thing she could focus on now was making it out of the ballroom before she fell apart.
Some relief came to Nagisa as she stepped out of the crowd and into grand hallway, but she was't in the clear yet. There were still the guardsmen. She held her breath as she briskly walked passed them so she could find somewhere to be alone. Tears were already flowing freely down her cheeks.
Further down the hallway she transitioned into trot as she became more desperate to get to her room, but she wouldn't make it. Her resolve finally gave out. The breath she was holding escaped her and with it came the suppressed sobs. The first few were loud. Loud enough that the hallways were able to play back her pain. Her own cries mocked her.
Why can’t I be free of this?!
Frustration pushed it’s way in front of grief. Everyone else was moving on. She hated them for it, every last one of those so called loyal supporters. Why should they be able to feel joy and hope when all she could feel was the agony of a the void left by her father? In a fit, Nagisa tore away the band that held her braided mane together. She shook her head trying to relieve the tightness. Decorative pearls clicked as they bounced across the marble flooring as Nagisa fell into the nearby wall. Pathetic, was the word that crossed her mind as she listened to her quiet whimpers. Pathetic! It was a word her mother used often and the correct word she'd use to describe Nagisa if she were to stumble upon her now. Her prized daughter thrown against a wall, mane in disarray, with snot and spit dripping from her maw like some classless heathen on such an important day. It was deplorable. unacceptable. And she knew it.
Her body ached and shook as she struggled regain her composure. The effort was exhausting and the temptation to rest her eyes and sleep right where she stood was hard to resist. But that would be just as unacceptable as her wailing here. She had to stay awake to get back to her room. Her breathing was heavy as she tried to build the courage to continue forward. With every breath she lifted her head higher and a strange urge beckoned Nagisa to look to her side, to the wall she had pasted herself to for strength. Realization of where she was brought her knees to the floor.
Nagisa shifted to her side so that her clouded eyes could better focus on the large mural that spanned above her. A few of the pearls that flew from her mane just moments prior, pressed uncomfortably into her skin as her weight rested on them, but she did not notice. She was in too much disbelief to what she was seeing. It was one of the palace’s older works, one that Nagisa had often sought out as a little girl. It was a beautiful rendering of her magnificent goddess. The artist had placed her upon a blanket of stars, watching over the ocean, the land and the tiny hippocampus beneath her. She was painted spectacularly at least four times as big as the average horse, but it wasn’t the size of the goddess that was so dazzling, no- there were many just as big- it was her gesture. She was poised to look below her, her eyes serene, her front leg extended gracefully as if reaching out to Nagisa herself. She'd sat here for hours as a child. The loving and receiving image of the Wave Mother was often more comforting to the young and emotional filly than the hypercritical mother she was born to. Cascade seemed to listen to her then. Are you listening to me now?
“I miss him, mother.” Nagisa barely whispered as she rested her head back against the wall for comfort but all she felt was the indifferent coldness of stone.
She laid there in silence till she heard the heavy clopping of someone making their way towards her from behind. It didn’t take long for Nagisa to recognize the imposing dark figure and her breath hitched as she did so. Of all the horses to catch her in this state it had to be him… She glared upwards to the untroubled eyes of Cascade before addressing her intruder.
Sniffling back the snot in her nose- disgusting- and swallowing the last of her recent blubbering, she called out to Thaumas Anereus in an overly flirtatious tone with maybe a slight hint of aggression. “Why Defender, couldn’t stay away from me, could you? I admit, you had me worried for a moment when you hardly looked at me at the party, but no true stallion could really ignore me, could they?”
She could not appear weak in front of him, she refused to. Nagisa was no vulnerable filly, even if in that moment she felt just as small.
words: 878
tags: strixx-variaa
notes: I'm so sorry this is so late and so long AHHHHHHHHHHH
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Post by strixx-variaa on Nov 9, 2016 17:15:48 GMT -6
“Certainly not when you are weeping, my Lady.” Doused. He could almost feel the ash, the little deadened ember, washed away somewhere deep and unexplored on the current of her coldness. She took his pride and doused it flat out with a flick of her tongue and a flip of her hair. And he was shocked, at first, but like any warrior he recognized the shock for what it was and embraced it, pushing himself to adapt his brain and his body to the unexpected. With the ember gone, Thaumas Anereus stood square, and still, and as if made from stone he replied to her rebuke with kind words and an impassive tone. He was – – was he? Yes, why not – he was grateful for her lashing. First, because to be completely honest he hadn’t been at all sure of what he was actually going to do if he came face to face with her before she disappeared into her suite. It was the crying that unnerved him, you see; in the rank and file of the Guardians’ barracks, there is laughter, and there is anger, but there is almost always an unspoken moratorium against weeping. It isn’t masculine to show that much tender emotion, of course, and it certainly isn’t a trait commonly valued in a soldier. Guardians study each day with their bodies and their minds to be strong, and furthermore to be the image of strength to the communities they protect – and weeping is a weakness, isn’t it? And when he heard the symphony of anguish echoing from Nagisa’s mouth, and from her body’s thrashing, the Defender realized that he had nothing to say to her. As it turned out, divine blood flowed through her veins but a mortal soul consumed her heart and she cried like anybody else who’s experienced a deep, cutting loss. But he had nothing to say to her, no words with which to calm her, because when his father died Thaumas had rather uncharacteristically gotten stone drunk so as not to face the truth of Nereus’s absence. By the time he was well again, he was made too busy to mourn, and too tired to grieve. He had nothing for her, and that was the crux of it. So when she fashioned her words into a blade to cut at him in self-defense, he reminded himself that he knew how to stitch a wound and took the blows in stoic form. The impulse to defend his honor rose first in his throat like a wave of verbal bile. What could he say? That’s the trouble with explanations; they contain so many words, and Thaumas Anereus had always been, even in his youth when other babes spew unfettered wisdom from their pipes, a taciturn sort of fellow. How could he excuse himself for following her in person? Why hadn’t he sent a guard? Your husband is worried for you.That’s obvious. Obvious words don’t need saying. You are sister to the Emperor, and too important to leave to chance.Obvious, obvious. Weak excuses, all, and it was obvious. And so he could say none of them, don’t you see? “May I help you up?” is what his brain and his gut decided on, and though he was too far away to lend the use of his body, he could offer her – – well, the irony would’ve been amusing if not for the dark atmosphere. He could offer her his telekinetic essence, teal-colored and effervescent… … or he could offer her his ice. words: 597 tags: Chipo-H0P3 notes: because he's gifted with ice manip get it get it :'D /dies quietly |
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Post by Chipo-H0P3 on Nov 14, 2016 0:04:06 GMT -6
“I was not.” Nagisa curtly denied the Defender’s acknowledgment of her weeping. Now, Nagisa knew Thaumas was no idiot. Convincing him that he was mistaken would be impossible at this point. Even if he had been deaf to her cries, which he most certain was not, the stallion was sure to notice the glistening streams of moisture stemming from her reddened eyes. They alone were proof enough his observation was accurate. Maybe if it were someone else, Nagisa could have intimidated them into silence, but she'd have to be insane to think such tactics would work for her now. No, Aquore's Defender would most certainly not be stirred by the words of a broken mare, even if that mare were a royal jewel such as Nagisa. So what could she do? The cries he witnessed should not have transpired. They shamed her and were an insult to her brother’s reign. So her abrupt denial, in actuality, was more of a plead than anything. However, it was her glare that she conveyed this more so than her voice. Through her willful gaze she hoped the Defender understood. No one must know. Nagisa kept her eyes locked on the Defender’s for what felt like ages. She was trying to read him, to see if he had gotten her message, but his cerulean blue eyes revealed little. He continued to remain as cold and stoic as the wall beside her. It made her nervous, the coldness. Usually a stallion would be tripping over themselves to accommodate her and then she’d be the one to smugly shut them out, but Thaumas Anereus had kept his distance since the beginning, denying her that power. Nagisa withdrew her eyes from the Defender’s to where his hooves met the floor in submission. She could not sway him and perhaps it was for the better. Nagisa was strong willed when faced with temptation but even she had limits. A man like Thaumas would be difficult to turn away from if he presented himself to her. She stole a peak at his well muscled chest to confirm her thoughts before quickly returning her eyes to the tile floor. Difficult indeed. He was well bred, well stationed, tall, masculine, and young. The man she was bound paled in comparison. Jonah wasn’t even a hippocampus. Surely she was worth more. NO. Stop it. She couldn’t think this way, it was sin to do so. Nagisa’s stomach churned in guilt as she grew even more disgusted with herself. The two of them occupied the empty hallway, neither knowing exactly how to proceed in the situation they found themselves in. Thaumas broke the heavy silence, offering to help the lady stand but Nagisa’s pride would have none of it. “No. No. I can stand on my own, thank you.”She should have taken the offer. While struggling to find her footing, Nagisa’s hoof found itself atop one of the precious pearls sprawled across the floor, and she slipped. words: 505 tags: strixx-variaanotes: She's falling for him lol Feel free to catch her or let her hit the ground. Either way, she's not going to be happy.
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Post by strixx-variaa on Nov 14, 2016 12:53:05 GMT -6
Distance is what kills him, every single time. And the thing is, he's always preferred a little bit of distance. Growing up, he had friends, but never too many, and if you asked him now why that was, he'd say it was probably because he was too distant. Always content playing by himself, or reading -- which is a strictly one-person activity as far as Thaumas Anereus is concerned -- or accompanying his parents to their places of work. He didn't thrive off of making interpersonal connections, and never really has. It doesn't mean that he isn't lonely, or that he doesn't long for those connections sometimes (because he is, and he does), but it does mean that he'll never be the one to reach out and forge the bonds himself. And it's hard to build a friendship or a relationship or what have you, you know, when the other person is nice enough and interesting but doesn't seem to want to actually do anything to get to know you in return. Doesn't seek you out, won't come out after work, doesn't like to be the one talking in a room full of people, doesn't seem to trust easily, tends to have unfairly high standards as applied to other people -- that sort of thing. Just doesn't try. Just distant. And though he'd grown as a person and as a citizen since his foalhood, as everyone does and ought to do, that part of his personality was still the same. The Defender saw life in a big-picture context. He looked for the forest, not the trees, and he liked trees, liked the idea of trees, but tended to talk himself out of his gardening classes before they'd even begun, if you catch my meaning. And this is an entirely different meaning of the word "distance," now, that's killing him, because he's about four lengths away from her and it's got nothing to do with gardening his nonexistent forest of friends, and everything to do with the fact that he's just too far away. It's an instinctive reaction, to reach out as he does with every ounce of strength he can shove into a ray of telekinesis, shimmering teal in the soft arcane lamplight -- but he's too far away, and he knows he won't be able to hold her from this distance. A low grunt issues from Thaumas's barrel with the effort. His second reaction comes in the instant after the first, and in its hasty, hurried, sloppy execution it performs a change of climate so drastic that the new air shocks his lungs. Nagisa Marinus falls amid a rapidly-dissipating cloud of teal-blue magic that was too little too late to save her from her tumble, and when she falls, it is not onto a hard tile floor but onto a billowing bed of snow so fresh and so light that its powder leaps up in little clouds around her. It came from the moisture in the air, and it wasn't what you'd call a precise exhibition, so as he catches his breath the air is as cold and as dry as any from the high slopes of the Barrier Mountains, and as he makes his way toward her with deliberately even steps the tiles which bear his weight erupt in little blooms of frost. "Forgive me, my lady," he says, his voice low and his tone measured. He cannot hide his sincerity, and later when he plays this conversation back in his mind that will bother him. She will know. "Are you injured?" His telekinetic essence regroups, and shimmers close to her. It is a hold if she should need his aid to rise, an offer freely given, and backed entirely by its originator. words: 632 tags: Chipo-H0P3 notes: ahahaha! that was such a good prompt! i am not worthy D: |
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Post by Chipo-H0P3 on Nov 28, 2016 20:41:58 GMT -6
For the second time that night, Nagisa was caught off guard in a blanket of white. Though this time was drastically different. This time, the white was tangible and entirely unfamiliar. Nagisa laid motionless, dumbstruck by the unforeseeable events that had transpired and by the speed in which they had occurred. What just happened? Did I fall? Why is it so cold? She watched her own panted breaths materialize in front of her as she struggled to recollect the moments that led up to her current situation. The Defender’s voice brought it all back. Dammit! She fell. Stumbled on her pride and crushed what was left of her dignity on the way down, and a third of the trinity there to witness it. Her reputation was surely in shambles now. Dammit! For the first time that night, he spoke softly to her, a slip of unguarded tenderness in his words she mistook for pity. Pity was a rotten sort of kindness, Nagisa despised it. She turned her body away from him in anger as he made his way to her. How dare he. How dare he try to be kind now.“No. I’m fine.” She said in low tone that shook with the cold air. She put in no effort to mask her irritation. The mare moved to stand but a sudden paranoia that she might fall again crippled her, that’s when she took notice of the shimmering teal telekinetic energy between her and the Defender. Her mouth twitched in displeasure at the thought of accepting the aid but her legs were untrustworthy having betrayed her once already. With a heavy sigh she allowed him to help her up. She kept her emerald gaze on the floor, still too angry but mostly too ashamed to look the Defender in the face. Her hooves slushed around in the melting white blanket that had saved her from injury. Snow. Now that she was standing it was easier to comprehend what she had been laying in. Nagisa had never seen snow before. Why, with living in the tropics and blessings being so rare, how could she? What she understood of it only came from books, but the written word always failed in comparison the the real thing. “You’ve been blessed with Frost.” It was an obvious statement but one that escaped her upon realization. Nagisa tentatively stepped out of the cradle of snow and onto the palace marble to reexamine the scene from a different angle. Sea foam was the closest thing she could think to compare it to, but the snow, she noticed, had so much more presence. It didn’t give way as much, it made noise, and it changed the feeling of the air. She became aware of how the chill made her breath visible again. She watched it dance like smoke in the wind. “Beautiful” She whispered. “And useful.” She added more loudly. “I… I just see ghosts.”
words: 493
tags: strixx-variaa
notes: Thinking we can wrap this up in the next couple posts  |
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Post by strixx-variaa on Dec 1, 2016 23:09:25 GMT -6
Ghosts.He didn't know what to say to that. The stallion had caught his breath, but now that he had it he didn't know how to use it. He almost preferred her to be angry with him, because when she slung verbal daggers at him at least he could pretend he was on a battlefield. Dodging intangible attacks takes a lot of the same attitude as does dodging real ones, after all -- a cool head, an impartial analysis, and some very thick skin, for example -- and that's a skill set he's learned rather well over the years. But here she was, giving him a compliment.And he had to look at her with her royal blood as if she wasn't who she was, because now he was the Defender of the Realm and ought not be so cowed by the pedigrees of his best-born charges. As a Guardian, Thaumas Anereus had never spent long stints assigned to one particular fixed assignment, like some of his friends who'd spent most of their careers providing personal security to some of the higher-up officials and members of the royal family. Perhaps his friends would've been better equipped to handle the sort of overwhelming rush of information and emotion he'd been exposed to tonight, but because Thaumas was more or less a complete stranger to the private world of the people he still considered his naturally-born betters, he'd never had to think of them as people. I mean, alright, sure: His Royal Majesty was one thing, and a rather unique case; the young Emperor had been trained as a Guardian himself, and so Thaumas had at least gotten to meet him and speak with him before on fairly informal occasions. This mare, the image of beauty in a deliciously Talorian frame, was nothing like her brother, and a complete enigma to the Defender. Ghosts. Thaumas Anereus had never been particularly gifted with regards to empathy, but all of a sudden the word settled into place in his mind as if the events of the evening had left a uniquely ghost-shaped hole and he thought -- oh.Of course. How stupid of him. She was mourning her father. And he had to admit, she was handling it much better than he'd handled the loss of his own father. Superior blood, and all that, probably. He looked at her, handling her heartbreak so bravely before a person she was forced to trust but whom she did not know, and felt a rushing wave of pride and admiration for her swell up through his breast. What elegant strength she had! The steam in the air from her words had barely dissipated as the brawny Defender murmured, "You are not alone there, my Lady." It was said in such a way, with such a quietness about it, that as it left his lips he could've been talking to himself -- and indeed, he almost seemed not to realize he was saying it aloud until it had already been said, and in that moment if he'd had any pink skin on his face to betray him it would've flushed. A flapping, fluttering sound filled the air in the hallway behind him and, mercifully, gave him a reason to look away from her. It was a little bird, one of the smaller types of parrot, silvery-grey in color and headed straight for him. Landing lightly on Thaumas's loin the little messenger did his duty and chirruped, "His Majesty summons the Defender!" Then he gave a little coded whistle, the sort used by the Guardians as a unique signature to each of their winged communications. Thaumas's expression flattened. It is valid. Time for His address, perhaps. And thank God for that, too, because the prospect of business as usual and the fulfillment of his official duties made the Defender much more comfortable than the prospect of any interpersonal relations of any sort ever would, especially those including tearful princesses with sharp minds and sharper tongues. "I hear it," he replied in ritual confirmation. "Reply: On his way." The bird gave a low whistle, one of Thaumas's own codes, and cocked its head for a moment as it silently asked, That one? And Thaumas nodded sharply, his neck bent towards the bird as it flew off again down the hall behind him. "Forgive me, my Lady," he said for the second time that evening as he turned his head back towards her and stirred his legs. "I shall escort you to your apartments." words: 754 tags: Chipo-H0P3 notes: i agree! and sorry this took a minute, i had a take-home final due this morning and spent the last few days working on it. :'D so as a result this entire thing is just rambling garbage, just ignore most of it, idk. word count bonuses amirite -dies- also feel free to just ditch him or call back the bird or whatever ❤ |
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Post by Chipo-H0P3 on Dec 2, 2016 23:27:08 GMT -6
...Not alone...The words were soft, barely audible, but she heard them. They halted the depression that came with remembering her vision, and replaced them with a sudden wave confusion and curiosity. Her ears twitched to his voice and she turned to him.
What did he mean by that? In what way am I not alone?In the experience perhaps?
Everyone experiences a cutting loss at one time or another. In fact, the proud stallion before her, in some cruel coincidence, had lost his father too, and had she known this maybe she would have been more sensitive to this notion, but she did not. The idea of a universal suffering or a shared experience, did nothing to comfort the mare and the idea that it was somehow supposed to make her feel better only made her more irritated. Sure, we all experience loss, but this was her loss, and no one could fully understand the pain she was feeling. How could they when half the time she didn’t even know herself? No, she was alone in her experience. Or are you implying that I have some sort of support to fall back on?
But she was alone in this sense too. There were only two people in her life who Nagisa felt would have been appropriate to confide in, her mother and husband. She learned fairly quickly that her mother would be no comfort to her. The concubine kept her grief private and strongly suggested her daughter to do the same. If her mother cried at all, Nagisa had no knowledge of it. Then there was her husband. Ideally, Jonah should have been able to emotionally support her, and maybe he could, but Nagisa had never given him the chance to fulfill it. She couldn’t. She hadn't realized it yet, but their sham of a marriage was the big mysterious root to why Nagisa just couldn’t let go of her father. Without him, without his approval, her marriage and the life that had been planned out for her meant nothing and whatever importance her mother put on title and stability would not change that. She was not happy with her husband and that was that. So, how could she open her heart up to Jonah and confide in him if she knew she did not want him there? No, she had no one to fall back on. Or are you suggesting I do? A dangerous thought crossed Nagisa’s mind. Was the man who had just inherited all of the country’s problems offering her his shoulder? Certainly not. The aloof an sanctimonious disposition she'd come to know him for wouldn’t allow it. Whatever the young mare's fantasy was she knew it contradicted with her reality. She was simply loved starved and reading far too much into this, but she had to know... What did he mean?A messenger bird saved the Defender from having to explain himself. It flew right in, completely naive to fact that it had just interrupted a private conversation. Audacity comes with feathers after all. Nagisa watched, a bit disappointed but also a bit relieved, as the message was relayed to the Defender. Her brother was calling for him. An opportunity to end whole this embarrassing ordeal had presented itself. When Thaumas turned to her again the mask she had originally been wearing that night returned to her face. Her emotions were finally back in check. She calmly spoke to him, “It’s alright Defender, despite whatever impression I gave tonight, I’m perfectly capable of finding my own way.” In truth, a big part of Nagisa still wanted him to stay with her, but she couldn’t ask that of him, not when he had other more important matters to attend to. She turned away quickly to pick up the hair trinkets and pearls sprawled across the floor and continued, “You should go, your job isn’t here. If my husband is worried, he’ll come.” It was hard to ignore the selfish desire she had for his company, but she imagined it would only get worse the longer Thaumas stayed. She convinced herself it was for the best as she busied herself with collecting her things. The pearls were particularly hard to find but it looked as though she had gathered most of them. It was enough to erase any suspicion that something had happened, at least. Nagisa turned to the Defender for the last time, holding her belongings close to her chest in her own shimmering teal glow of telekinetic energy and bowed her head in all the grace she should have done the first time. “This is my final goodnight Defender. May our great mother bless you and all you do.”And with that she started her leave. When she found solitude again, his words came back to her.
...Not alone...
She smiled solemnly to herself. She was alone but...
...Maybe in another cycle Defender Anereus.
words: 830
tags: strixx-variaa
notes: Final Post! Feel free to add or leave as is ^^
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Post by strixx-variaa on Dec 2, 2016 23:58:53 GMT -6
Imbued lamplight sparkled from the curve of her neck as she lowered her head to him. Starstruck. That's what he'd convince himself happened, in the time after this when images of her crept back into his thoughts. He was starstruck by her divine blood, by her elevation in society and by her natural closeness to God. That's what this was, when the shape of her and everything she did seemed so correct, so innately perfect.He didn't know then what he knows now, about her and about himself and about everything, but if you'd tried to tell him he would've scoffed and called you a fool. He wouldn't have wanted to believe that the ember in his breast, now slowly kindled back from the brink of ash and glittering tremulously as it fought to stay alive, would take hold and remain there long after this night. But that didn't matter now. All he knew was that she'd earned his respect -- and his sympathy -- when others of her station wouldn't have bothered, and the prospect of seeing less of her felt like wearing armor. Heavy. Dipping his own head, he honored her, and as she walked away from him he turned away from her, too. "And you, always." And the words rang truer than you'd think. words: 215 tags: Chipo-H0P3notes: oh my god i freaking love it T_T -high fives- thread done! |
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