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 Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:08 pm
Lingering close to the treeline at the edge of the valley, Glinda drifted along without much purpose. She was grazing quietly by herself for once rather than among a crowd of admirers, and she felt a little exposed. Knowing Elphie was nearby was very different from actually seeing her -
- and as if on command, she caught sight of a flash of green among the closest trees. Smiling to herself, Glinda carried on. Just like her Elphie to watch over her from the shadows.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:49 pm
Gods knew it was wonderful; the small Bae contemplated this as she lowered her muzzle, ignoring the tickling feeling she got on her nose when it brushed against the pointed grass. Nipping a few pieces, the mare raised her head and chewed them thoughtfully. Perhaps she'd have some apples later... She turned her head and looked up, spotting her favorite, gnarled little apple tree not but a few yards away. With a smile, she turned to lower her head to the grass once more.
But she paused in mid-bite, noticing a pure white Ichsa mare. And what a pretty creature she was, too; diamond-like hooves with a similar pendant 'round her neck, and such pretty curls, too. She raised her head, offering the white mare a smile. "Well hey there. Wha's yer name? Ah haven't seen ye 'round here before."
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:58 pm
Glinda had already spotted the little Bae mare, and was all too glad to pause in her grazing and make pleasant conversation. She smiled back. "I travel a lot," she explained. "My name is Glinda - you may have heard it tossed around if you've been to the north of the valley. I used to live there."
She couldn't help noticing the scarf around the mare's neck. That was a human creation, certainly, and that gave them something in common from the start. Glinda had always been on excellent terms with the folk of Ryuten, helping them out whenever she could. The pendant she wore was a token of their thanks.
"Are you here alone, Miss...?"
It was easier to leave a space in conversation for the name than to ask for it directly. She was having trouble teaching Elphaba that: the silly green thing could talk to someone for an hour or more and never find out their name, much less where they came from.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:11 pm
What a lovely creature - the thought brought a smile to the gray mare's face. It was always nice to find someone so nice to talk to. "'Fraid ah haven't heard th' name b'fore, but it's a pretty name anyways," she offered, hoping the mare would take it as intended - a compliment; the Bae really did think she had a lovely name. "Ah dun move 'round too much; ah prefer t' just stay here in th' valley. Though, ah have gone up t' Ryuten at least once er twice, can't 'member exactly." At least once, yes.
"Elsie," she offered with a grin. "Jus' Elsie, no miss needed." Hum, what to talk about... Oddly enough, she was good at talking to foals, though she could hardly ever find any whose parents (if they had any) would allow her near their children. Normally not. But they were easy to talk to; you didn't need to worry about being fancy or correct, you didn't need to have perfect manners, things like that that most adults seemed to worry over. Oh, right, something to talk about. "Tha's a pretty necklace ye got there. From th' two-legs, ah s'pose?" Of course it had to be, but the purpose of asking was to make conversation. Plus, an interesting story could be attached to it.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:28 pm
Glinda listened quietly until the Bae - Elsie, and it suited her - asked a question. This was one of the things she'd learned late: it is better to be interested than interesting. Everybody loves a good listener. She smiled, glancing at her pendant. "Thank you. I do like it. It was from the humans, yes, for my help. My dear Elphie and I drove away some ne'er-do-wells who were destroying buildings for a laugh. You know how they worship us, poor things - they couldn't possibly have defended themselves, even if they'd been strong enough. So Elphie and I stepped in, and afterwards they made this for me." She chuckled a little at the next part of the memory. "They offered to make one for Elphie as well, but she made such a face that they thought better of it."
Elsie hadn't answered her question, Glinda realised. While it seemed that she was alone, it also seemed that Glinda was alone: Elphaba was a silent presence among the trees, ready to step in and defend her if necessary. That gave her courage that she would otherwise have lacked. Her companion was like armour, a living shield against anything that might harm her. Not that Elsie seemed hostile, of course, but being small and attractive all her life had taught Glinda to be cautious.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:36 pm
The gray mare couldn't help but chuckle as well. "Sounds awful nice." She couldn't help but wonder who this 'Elphie' was, but she figured she'd wait to ask such a question. A good friend, at least, from how Glinda spoke of her. "That's quite like how ah got this scarf," she started, looking down at it and perking her ears forward as she did so, though the scarf was still kind of hard to see. She could only see the end of it. "Ah chased off an annoying bugger who was botherin' one'a th' two-leg fillies, an' ah gave her a ride back t' Ryuten."
Yes, that was about right. The Bae back-tracked and ran their entire conversation thus far through her mind to see if she'd missed anything. Well, attempted to. She couldn't remember exactly everything that was said, but she couldn't help but feel as if she'd missed something. She wrinkled her nose and stared hard at the ground at her feet a bit. "Huh... Oh!" There it was, yes. She'd picked up on the 'miss' which hinted at asking for a name, and she'd completely missed the question that went right along with it. She quickly offered Glinda a sheepish grin. "Yeah, ah'm all alone. Sorry 'bout that; felt like ah was missing something," and she couldn't help but chuckle at herself. She couldn't do anything else about such a fault, so there was no use getting upset over it. She'd found it was much better to laugh at things then fuss over them and try to change them. "Ah've not got anymore fam'ly, at least not that ah know of. What about yerself?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:52 pm
So, both defenders of the humans. What a stroke of luck. Perhaps next time there was trouble in Ryuten she'd know where to find Elsie - three Nequus working on the problem instead of two would definitely be a big help. She didn't miss a beat at Elsie's sudden remembrance of her question. The flow of a conversation wasn't always easy to maintain: it was an art, she knew that. Besides, she was used to conversing with all kinds of people on the same level. Why be snobbish?
"I'm here with my Elphie," she said with a soft smile. "She's in among the trees near here - she tends to skulk, poor dear. Not exactly what you'd call a social butterfly. As for family, well, I haven't any left - my parents were both quite old when I was born, and I was the only one on my tree - but I suppose I'd count Elphie's little sister Nessarose. We don't see her often nowadays, but she keeps to the valley and the folk here take good care of her. I hear she's recently come into some position of power: advising a herdleader, I believe."
Having spoken of the Jala mare, Glinda suddenly wanted to see her again. For all that she'd grown up the favourite child, Nessa was a kindhearted soul and not at all spoiled. She was always warm and welcoming toward Glinda, who'd come to regard her as the sister she'd never had. Glinda often missed having her around - somehow it didn't seem right to mention it to Elphaba, though.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:11 pm
Ah, there was that name again. She hadn't had to ask, after all. She couldn't help but smile at the other mare. "Ah, not ev'ryone likes t' be around others, ah s'pose." And it was true; her father always kept the both of them away from others. Though, that was for other reasons. It was also good to know, at least, that hers weren't the only parents who'd died when she was young, even though it wasn't the nicest thought. "Nessarose; that's a pretty name. An' that's good she's well taken care of. Th' folks 'round here are pretty nice, ah've found. This one herd keeps off'rin' to take care'a me too, but ah'm able t' take care'a myself. Good t' know somebody cares, though." And it was a nice thought, to know that no matter what happens, there's people you could go to for help.
"What about Elphie?" Elsie quizzed; she couldn't help but want to know more about this creature she'd yet to see. Her hide twitched once or twice before she gave herself a good shake, hoping to get rid of the irritation, and flicked her silky tail. "What's she like?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:28 pm
What was Elphie like? Oh, she'd have to be careful not to spend a year answering this one! "Tall, dark and handsome," Glinda laughed, because this was an old joke of theirs - all those who'd predicted she would run off with somebody tall, dark and handsome had stood aghast when word got around about whom she'd decided to spend her life with. " - No, no, I'd better not say that: she'll be out of the trees and biting my backside before I know it. She's...she's wonderful. Sharp, witty, endlessly funny, and...no, it's no good, handsome really is the word." Shaking her head, Glinda smiled. "She's my dearest friend. I travel because I go with Elphie - the big wide world isn't half so frightening with her around. ...Hush, though, better not tell anyone how nice she is. She likes her fearsome reputation the way it is."
And wasn't that the truth. Elphaba couldn't bear to have everyone thinking she was soft-hearted, or anything close to it - she wanted to keep the world at a safe distance, perhaps so that it was less likely to harm her. Sometimes it made Glinda sad, the way everyone talked of her as though she was a monster, but then Elphie would always make some quip and they'd all sound like idiots and it would be funny, and everything would feel right again.
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:34 pm
The little mare couldn't help but laugh - she could tell Glinda was quite taken with this other mare. It was nice to hear someone talk to nicely about someone else; made her glad to be in such a lovely place with such people. "Well," she said with a lop-sided grin, "ah'll hush about it an' be sure not t' tell anyone about Elphie bein' nice an' all." She chuckled; she'd like to meet this Elphie sometime.
"Ah'm glad she gives ye th' strength t' step out int' th' world, Glinda. Such a lovely place it is; ah need t' go an' explore a bit b'fore ah die, ah s'pose; though ah'm sure that won't be happenin' anytime soon." Yes, she would stick around for quite a while; she was still quite young, herself. It wasn't that long ago she was a filly herself, she'd only just finished getting used to her adult body. It was so nice to be past the awkwardness of youth. "So where're you two headed next? Have ye been t' th' ocean yet?" She'd heard it was lovely. She'd have to go herself sometime.
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:20 pm
"We...we have," Glinda said haltingly, remembering the quiet roar of the waves and the salt sea air. "But we don't go there often - the cliffs frighten me. I...can't fly, you see. Never could. ...I was always too scared to try, and now I don't think I'll ever learn." She recalled watching the other youngsters leaping from hillsides, pretending that she was too dignified to join in, and then watching with silent envy as they wheeled through the skies on strong wings.
"And I still maintain that you will, my sweet," came a voice from among the trees, "if you will only summon your courage and try."
Glinda, who hadn't been expecting Elphaba to speak, started a little. "...Elphie, please don't lurk," she admonished softly, beginning to smile. "If you can see your conversation partner, it's only fair to let them see you."
"...oh, very well."
With a quiet rustling of leaves and thudding of hooves, Elphaba emerged from among the trees. She towered over her companion, as Aeri are wont to do, but if you ignored her leathery wings she didn't look like an Aeri. Her build was far too light and lean - tall though she was, she wouldn't be able to support the kind of muscle that most Aeri could. The shape of her face was almost Aeri-like, but there was a certain sharpness about it that felt incongruous. The set of her eyes, in fact, was Jala, and the eyes themselves were Jala too: proud, piercing, calculating...cruel, even. The only hint of a gentle Aeri in them was the soft twinkle of mica-like flecks amid the blackness. Her smirk, though, was more amused than unkind.
"Perhaps we'll set out for Quirne next," she suggested. "There are some good hills along the way for practice."
Glinda looked worried at the prospect, but as Elphaba drew closer to her she calmed. The green mare nodded to Elsie. "If you're interested in seeing it," she said, "you may as well come along with us. We know the lie of the land, places to shelter, that kind of thing."
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:34 pm
Elsie smiled and opened her mouth to speak in response to Glinda, but just then Elphie's voice floated over. The gray mare couldn't say she was startled or anything, because she wasn't. Mildly surprised that she hadn't shown up sooner, but that was about it. Not much could faze the tiny Bae mare.
She couldn't help but smile and chuckle at the pair before nodding to the green crossbreed. "Nice t' meet ye, Elphie. Ah've heard quite a bit about'cha from Glinda here." No, she wouldn't mention about what, as she'd promised not to say anything of the sweet words spoken of her. She had a fearsome reputation to keep, after all. And perhaps she'd heard, as well. Oh well.
She beamed at them both at the prospect of traveling to Quirne with them, though she hesitated a bit. "That sounds lovely," she said with a smile, fluttering her translucent wings. "Ah dun think ah'd be able t' stay there too long, though; ah'm not good with bein' in other places f'too long, ah'm too used t' bein' here."
Oh dear, she'd forgotten a part of their conversation; the nagging feeling at the back of her mind told her so. Rewinding and playing through the last couple of minutes thoughtfully, she managed to find an important word - fly - and grasped onto that firmly. She offered Glinda a smile, flicking her silky tail. "Ah'm sure ye could fly if you tried t'. Ah dun think it's so hard, an' from all ah can see, yer wings seem t' be in perfect order. An' besides, with such a wond'ful friend there t' help you, ah dun see how ye'd be even th' least bit scared." Oh dear, perhaps she should've worded that differently. Oh well, too late for that now. Hopefully they'd see it as it was intended, and not as some sort of insult.
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Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:16 pm
"If only fear were logical, life would be a lot easier," Glinda sighed. "My imagination's too vivid; that's what gets me. I can see myself hitting the ground, crashing into a tree, getting struck by lightning - any number of dreadful things - and I freeze up, and I just can't make the first leap."
"And the more times she goes over that, the more convinced she becomes of it," Elphaba added with a roll of her eyes, swatting Glinda fondly with her tail and making her squeak softly. "I'm glad somebody has some faith in me nevertheless. And listen, don't worry about having to stay long on our account. We seldom stay long anywhere."
Glinda, having recovered somewhat, jumped back into the conversation. "Oh, do come with us," she insisted with a look of glee. "We can come back this way and escort you - and who knows? Maybe I'll be so embarrassed when I see you and Elphie flying around and can't join you that I'll finally have the courage to give it a try myself."
The green mare chuckled. "Good old peer pressure, hm?" she said wryly, having had some horrid experience with the stuff herself - some of it had been Glinda's doing, she recalled, in the bad old days when they'd been young and stupid and the worst kind of polar opposites. Growing up, she considered, was looking back and realising what an idiot you'd been.
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:03 pm
The gray mare chuckled lightheartedly, flicking her tail a bit. "Ah think fear is one of th' tougher thing t' deal with, especi'ly fer some nequus," Elsie thought out loud, adding her two cents to the matter. "but ye have t' remember that more often than not, fears're unfounded, annoyin' li'l buggers." And they were, which was why she didn't let them get in her way.
She couldn't help but chuckle at Glinda's enthusiasm. "In that case, ah'll join ye both t' th' ocean. Sounds like a lovely place, too; ah bet it's even lovelier with friends."
She did hope Glinda would at least attempt to fly; it would do her good and hopefully be a big confidence-booster. The little Bae hadn't known these two very long at all, but they were an adorable pair, despite Elphie's - what had Glinda called it? - fearsome reputation, and Glinda seemed to draw most of her confidence from her larger, green companion. Elsie had no problem with that at all, but she figured it'd be good for Glinda to get a bit more confidence.
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