[open] I L L U S I O N -ANY;ALL

[Modicum Mortem]

The ebony stallion stayed hidden deep in the underbrush, watching a scene before him unfold. The shadow  turns his body towards the hostile mare, ears pricked directly at the coal stag. Mortem is aware of what he is doing - he has heard him, and he is trying to see if Mortem can be found. Unphased, Modicum Mortem continues to listen as the silhouette reveals his name - Chemdog...a strange, but oddly fitting title. He informs the mare that she can come with him to his home - Hyaline, the lake - and take a position in the kingdom.

A recruitment? How boring. He certainly figured Chemdog would've had something far more interesting that would lead him to the unnamed femme. He rolls his eyes slightly, and continues to stalk. 

"I serve no one." 

Her tongue is biting. Uninviting. Cold. Calculated. The comment is truly nasty.

 If Modicum Mortem wasn't interested before, he certainly is now. 

The mare begins to circle the shadow, continuing her rant. She is nearly floating as she walks, circle growing tighter with every word. Then, just as she is about to touch the shadow, she has stepped away. She is graceful in a brief moment, but demeaning with every remark. She degrades him, talks down to him, shunning him for becoming a cog in another horse's machine. 

A deserving partner indeed. 

Just like Mortem, she wants to take over the world, have it bow to her. She wants everyone to fall to their knees when she walks by, unable to look into her piercing eyes. He knows this feeling all too well...and he wants a part of it. 

The stallion emerges from the bushes, approaching the two equines in front of him. He doesn't wait for Chemdog's response, because frankly he doesn't care. It is her he is interested in...the shadow has become an afterthought. They are both taller than him, the stallion to a shocking degree. He smirks fiendishly. 

"Sorry to interrupt," He begins, sarcasm seeping into every word. "But I couldn't help but 'overhear' your conversation." He exchanges a glance between each of them, ice blue eyes piercing theirs. "You are quite the interesting pair, indeed." He looks over to the mare. 

"You," His eyes travel across the pattern of her body. "To answer your question...life is but a game. Your mind is your only line of defense...but you should never act inferior, if you know you are not." A grin stretches across his lips. "Unless...you are. And this is just an act so others give you attention." 

The stallion says this coldly. A test. He wants to see the fire in her response, he wants to pour gas on the flame...he wants to ignite her temper. He keeps a close eye on each of them, preparing himself for a quick escape if she decides his comment was enough to fight about...women: such drama queens.