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+----- Thread: [private] Wrap Me In Your Comfort || {Solace} (/showthread.php?tid=18731)
Wrap Me In Your Comfort || {Solace} - Hephaestus - 03-20-2018
Standing on the edge of a plateau, he gazed down at the whitecapped river below. Snow melt had thickened the gurgling water, making even the consideration of crossing impossible. Large as he was, he knew even he could not brave the rapids. Stoic upon his perch, it was easy for him to forget the truth of his identity. He let the breeze toss his mane freely, not worrying for once that he might be standing exposed. The feeling was surprisingly freeing.
The rocky alcoves and steep cliffsides reminded him of the place of his birth. It was familiar to climb the multitude of trails that wove throughout the land. Some things were hard to forget. Far in the distance he heard the soft chatter of the herd that resided within those mountains. It was odd, the feeling that washed over him. For the first time in a long time he’d found himself tempted by their existence. They felt like home, though he wasn’t entirely sure why that fact was tempting to him. He doubted that their prejudices would be any different than that of the lands he’d visited before. Though they would say otherwise, their eyes would hide their disgust at his deformity. He wasn’t sure if he was prepared to face that reality again.
Sighing into the wind he closed his eyes and leaned into it’s welcoming whisper. Warm fingers of spring rode upon it’s current, whispering the beginnings of new life throughout the land. It was beautiful. A truer companion than any other he’d have in his life, the wind beckoned him towards a new beginning. As he had a thousand times, he knew he would follow it’s call.
@[Solace]
RE: Wrap Me In Your Comfort || {Solace} - Solace - 03-24-2018
Solace
Solace grazes in one of the lower valleys, lazily clipping away at the young, budding grass. These were the first places to shake off winter and she was drawn to the fresh forage - until of course, she sees him. Silhouetted against the brilliant sky, the dark stallion is hard to miss.
With a toss of her tri-colored forelock, she spreads her cerulean wings to take to the sky. Damp earth and lavender colored blossoms cling to the young queen's pelt, she hadn't bothered to shake off the tokens of the wisteria grove where she had spent the night. Not that she minded... the living, earthy scents were a welcome change from the sterile, cold air of winter.
It doesn't take long for her to reach the plateau where he stands with his eyes closed and black mane lashing in the wind. He paints a pretty picture - Solace thinks. But it only a moment before she smiles to herself, correcting her mistake.
A noble picture.
That's more like it.
The scars on his face do not dilute the good-natured sparkle in her eyes as she lands softly off to the newcomers left, letting out a friendly nicker in case he somehow didn't hear the rustle of her approaching wings. In Tepra as a girl, Solace had learned to see pat the scars of many of the adults at her mother's urgings - it was a lesson that she had not forgotten four years later.
"Welcome to Hyaline, traveler," she greets the unknown stallion in a casual, warm tone. With leaves and flowers still clinging to her dark mane, she couldn't play the part of the poised queen now.
But she finds she doesn't mind - not today at least.
caretaker of hyaline
RE: Wrap Me In Your Comfort || {Solace} - Hephaestus - 03-28-2018
Eyes still closed he considered his time spent thus far within the borders of Beqanna. He’d traveled through many kingdoms, met faces he knew he could no soon forget. Good mixed with the bad, it was hard to deny the surprising peace he’d stumbling upon. Hyaline, however, had to be his favorite kingdom thus far. Known as the sanctuary, it’s resemblance to the place of his youth was frighteningly uncanny.
Praised as a safe-haven for the bruised and broken, he imagined the herd of those who’d chosen the mountains as their home. Hidden from the demons of their past, many of them were grateful to be given a reprieve from their running. It was hard not to admire the concept, but it was hard not to compare Hyaline to the place of his birth. His own father had claimed benevolence and, yet, when he beheld his son, scraggly and ugly, the only words he’d wasted upon him were those meant to exile. Even his own mother, known as the Good Queen to those who adored her, hadn’t fought her mate’s decision. Growing up, his only sanctuary had been that of his own creation.
Abruptly he opened his eyes once again to the never-ending expanse of mountains before him. It was only then, as he considered the birds as they flew above him, that he realized that he was no longer alone. There, to his left, a blue winged mare observed him. Bare faced and unhidden he set his jaw as he searched for signs of disgust upon her face. Frighteningly void of judgement, she nickered a polite greeting.
Like him, it would seem that the young mare had been out enjoying the beauty of spring. Nature had embedded itself into her black mane and the tickling of amusement filled him. She was young, that much was clear and it was her youth that prevented him from fleeing from her.
Thank you, he replied calmly.
Distractedly, he allowed his eyes to drift back towards the world around them. Hyaline, there was no need for him to rush.
@[Solace]
RE: Wrap Me In Your Comfort || {Solace} - Solace - 04-10-2018
Solace
He is distracted, he is serene - he strikes as a man who enjoys his moments alone or at least is not bothered by them. A gentle sigh escapes her lips, low and easy to miss, as she turns her face to follow his gaze across the mountains.
For several moments nothing but the spring air passes between them. She remembers the first time the former king, Amet, had shown her the same landscape and how her thoughts had tumbled wildly. She was no longer that young girl, but ever since then something about standing high up in the mountain peaks always made her feel a little unbalanced. She draws a breath to break the silence but her blue eyes do not leave the land.
"By the way, I'm Solace... the Caretake here." She finally says. Most who found their way into her kingdom wanted to know who did what, and the names and ranks of the residents. They were always seeking information - and she had stepped into the habit of providing it before they asked. "If you would like time to explore on your own, at your own pace, I understand. Or I would be more than happy to give you the tour, show you a few prime pastures and shelters." Her voice lifts a little on her second sentence as she returns her gaze to his face.
She knows absolutely nothing about this stallion, but she is enjoying his calm energy - so different from the vibe that diplomats and emissaries tended to omit. She tells herself that if he refuses her offer she will keep an eye on him, between her wings and her intimate knowledge of the land he would hardly know she was keeping tabs. But she hopes she has no reason to worry.
caretaker of hyaline
RE: Wrap Me In Your Comfort || {Solace} - Arithmetic - 04-16-2018
Although her blue gaze remained planted on the scenery before them, her voice reaches out to touch him. For a moment he is tempted to shy away from it, as he had many times before, but, almost unexpectedly, he found himself leaning in.
“I am called Hephaestus,” he offered the proclaimed caretaker.
Titles and secondary names were regarded with importance throughout Beqanna, it seemed. His whole life he’d been called a mistake, a burden – all titles he had regarded as curses. He wondered the reaction he would get if he went around tacking on those titles to the end of his name. Would he gain respect or pity? Neither were things he wanted.
Her voice breaks the silence once more, lilting upwards to match the song of a bird. As her gaze turned towards him he considered her offer and he couldn’t help but imagine the thousands of times she must have presented visitors with those same semi-empty words. He didn’t require a tour and, as the wind fingered through his billowing back mane, he angled himself away from her.
“No, thank you,” he set her at rest. “This view is the only tour I am in need of. I thank you, Solace Caretaker of Hyaline.”
Perhaps his language would feel stiff to her, perhaps it would give him away as a stranger to the land. Either way, he could sense that the mare would understand. Beneath her words he could sense an even bigger question.
She wanted to stay.
The revelation surprised him and he found himself unable to react to her silent request. Instead, he watched her and waited.
@[Solace]