[P] Sometimes we fall - Printable Version +- HELOVIA || The Way to the Sun (http://helovia.com) +-- Forum: Out of Character (http://helovia.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: Archives (http://helovia.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=11) +--- Thread: [P] Sometimes we fall (/showthread.php?tid=25179) |
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Sometimes we fall - Tembovu - 09-10-2016 tembovu Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.
The days were shortening. Not terribly noticeably at first; but the Lunar Butterflies soon made the shift of seasons known with their evening light display. They drew attention to the hastening sunset with their pale, glowing wings that flocked to the grand, old trees’ trunks. Bright veins of color glittered amid the glow, drawing the Elephant’s eye as he rested alongside the Edge’s lake’s shores. His dark gaze stared placidly over the calm, glass-like water, disturbed only by the delicate dip of Mbwene’s trunk as she drank. A black-rimmed ear swiveled, black-lined neck swiveling as gentle, cool breeze ruffled his short mane. He probed the darkness, eyes still seeing pinpricks of light where the lunar butterflies had been. “Anzanie?” His voice was quiet, recognizing the long, jewel-studded horn and delicately splashed skin. “My beautiful Glazier, are you alright?” He turned away from the water, facing the slender woman whom he had known for nearly as long as he had been in Helovia. Only Mauja and Rexanna had been his friends before this woman. His head dropped to her level, gaze probing her pale eyes in concern. The glass-crowned woman had not been her usual, gentle self lately. She had seemed distracted, upset. His black rimmed ears tipped forward, closely listening for her reply. Mbwene hung back, wrinkled eyes shifting between the slender lady and her bonded. Not subtly, an image of Rexanna suddenly flooded Tembovu’s mind from the small elephant. And then Zubari. And Katua. The King sighed softly, mentally scolding his companion for her unsubtle reminders. He knew what she was implying, and was anxiously awaiting the Orangemoon Festival. But it was useless to try and block her, so he returned his attention to the friend, face lined with concern. @Anzanie RE: Sometimes we fall - Anzanie - 09-15-2016 @Tembovu RE: Sometimes we fall - Tembovu - 10-21-2016 tembovu Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.
The Elephant’s concern grew as Anzanie’s incoherent mumbles funneled into his perked ears in answer his to his question. His massive body leaned towards her, taking a sweeping step to close the distance that separated him from the delicate, downtrodden woman. The Lunar Butterflies gently lit their two bodies alongside the lake, giving an ethereal glow to her downcast, pale eyes. But then, words began to stream from her lips—an answer, an apology, a ’my love.’ His ears twitched at the words, dark brows raising and creasing slightly as she hastened to amend the easy slip of her tongue. His head, already dropped to her level, reached out towards her, muzzle gently seeking to briefly brush the soft skin just below the base of her horn. Navy eyes sought her pale gaze, uncertain of what he would find there but knowing very little happiness existed in the once-cheery woman. “Anz,” his low voice rumbled softly, “Anz, what is wrong? You may speak to me, you are among my oldest friends in Helovia.” He sighed softly, his hot breath filling the narrowed space between the King and his Glazier. He wasn’t certain exactly what was causing such a change in his Glazier, nor what caused her to confuse her words or carry her elegant body in such a dejected manner. In the face of the delicate woman’s sadness, even Mbwene was swayed. She stopped the mental onslaught of images to her bonded, instead shuffling forward with a soft wine and twining her long trunk in Anzanie’s silken, ivory tail as a gesture of solace. The King offered a small, lopsided grin, “You’ve even won Mbwene over.” And then his low voice faded, waiting to see what ailed his friend. @Anzanie RE: Sometimes we fall - Anzanie - 10-24-2016 @Tembovu My brain's a little foggy so sorry if it's a bit everywhere! But omg I'm so in love with Temb he's such a cutie <3 RE: Sometimes we fall - Tembovu - 10-26-2016 tembovu Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.
The lovely, splashed woman allowed his gentle touch beneath her horn—a relief to the King to know that her grief was not so deep as to be beyond the reach of his offered solace. Mbwene’s trunk stilled in the lacing of her tail as the ivory and chestnut mare began to speak—her navy eyes peering around the Glazier’s hocks to stare accusingly at her bonded. Her blameful glare was caused equal parts by the King not realizing this before this moment and unknowingly provoking Anzanie’s grief. As she spoke, the Elephant slowly withdrew his muzzle from her forehead. He shifted backwards, putting distance between them, as his navy gaze probed her pale eyes. Gradually, all the pieces began to fit together—all the irregular edges of Anzanie’s strange behavior towards him, her general downtrodden behavior, and her intermittent anger (so out-of-place for the genteel woman) began to fit together as she haltingly explained herself. And, for the first time since the King had first met the mare that day of clearing away glass shards, he was at a loss of what to say. This was the woman who had encouraged him to keep the lion’s claw that still hung at his chest because it was from someone he loved. This was the woman that encouraged him to pursue Rexanna’s love, so long ago. And so he was no small part shocked and nonplussed that, for her, their close bond of friendship had morphed into something more. A soft sigh pushed out of his flared nostrils; brows raised in consternation. “Anzanie, I—” but his deep voice broke off, uncertain as to what to follow it with. Mbwene, who hadn’t retreated, began to once again twine and untwine her trunk in Anzanie’s tail, feeding off of the Elephant’s uncertainty and discomfort. Silence stretched, navy eyes unable to look away but voice unable to articulate anything of meaning. He wanted to give her something, anything, because he felt he owed that to her for as deep as their friendship ran. And so, halting, he tried once more, “Anzanie, you are one of my closest friends. And I hold you close to my heart. But I have made promises to Rexanna, and I cannot—will not—break them. I am sorry, my dear friend, I do not wish to cause you more pain…” his tongue searched for more—some offer of solace or solution to this impasse, but found none. @Anzanie RE: Sometimes we fall - Anzanie - 11-11-2016 @Tembovu RE: Sometimes we fall - Tembovu - 12-02-2016 tembovu Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.
As his navy gaze saw her physically shaking in response to the distance he put between them, he felt the overwhelming urge to close the distance and hold her. But (Mbwene glared pointedly at him, as if to say, ’Don’t you dare’), he knew that would not help the matter at hoof. In fact it would only serve to make things harder for his dear, splashed friend. So, despite the urgings of his subconscious, he remained apart from Anzanie, pained eyes watching for her reaction to his words—but the tears. Black rimmed ears tilt backwards as he leans towards her, “Anz,” was his low, sad murmur as the tears began to streak down her face. His own muzzle reached out to hers—but she turned away before he could touch her—comfort her. He let her have borderline-hysteric tirade; it was her right, and he felt he had somehow wronged her. Though, when she dealt the final blow: “I need to leave,” he visibly winced. “Please stay,” the quiet, deep words were out of his dark, thick lips before he could stop them. He took a deep breath, steadying his mind as well as his soul, “I accept your resignation from Glazier, and understand if you must leave but—” he paused, navy eyes studying her pale gaze for long moments, before glancing to her glass crown they had crafted together, “—I would hate to lose you. I will give you time to think about it.” And, with a final and pained look, he turned to walk away. Mbwene gave one, last stroke of her silken tail before she plodded after her bonded—though she glanced back at Anzanie many times as they left. @Anzanie sorry I drug this out forever ;-; we can end it here? 3 |