[PRP] Greetings (Astraea x Alejandra)

[Lunadriel]

Alejandra knew these woods well. They were near her home. Though, this home, was not the home of her birth, nor the home she would stay in for the remainder of her life. It was a place where she stayed under the care of another, with a promise to to be surrogate to one Mesoamerican diety, and his lover. It had been arranged by Alejandra's father, ruler of a far off land, for her to serve under Quetzalcoatl, and to keep him company.

The original agreement had been for marriage. Alejandra's father had nine daughters, and as such, used them to strengthen trades with other diplomats, kings, and princes. Quetzalcoatl had been kind though, and treated her as she deserved. He was sweet, and kind. Yet, she did not love him. When he fell in love with another, she vowed she would be honored to bestow them with the heirs they could not create on their own. Believing it part of her agreement arranged between two royal families.

At night, she would give the two lovers their privacy, and wander under the stars. Being in a climate warmer than the one she grew up in, travel by day was a challenge in the middle of the sunny season. It gave her a chance to be comfortable, and have time to mingle with the locals.

Meeting new soquili is always a pleasure, especially the young. Alejandra tried to stay close to home though, in case there was trouble. A princess like her, could never fend for herself against any predator.

The silence flitted away, as she heard someone nearby. Alejandra quietly approached, and peered from around a tree. There, she saw a beautiful angeni, pristine, and white, touched with the slightest colors of the stars. These golden coin eyes could appreciate beauty, when they saw it.

"I beg your pardon. Good evening Miss." she said with a gentle smile, and bowed with only the slow blink of her eyes. This was part of her custom. She would only ever bow her head, to her husband.  

[Lunadriel]

AstoriaFallen

Thank you! XD She's my absolute favorite pony.

Aleajandra was nothing but proper. Being raised as a princess, a full time job in itself. There were rules, restrictions, what to say, what not to say, and a whole list of other things she followed. To some, it sounded odd the way she talked. Even living in the Kawani land, didn't change the way she talked. Although, she had lost much of her accent of the years. That accent tended to pop up, anytime she told stories to the foals around the Kawani Village. Back home, this was also a passion of hers. It brought out her heart, and her roots. One day, she would make a perfect mother. She didn't think of it often. The foals she would one day bear to Quetzalcoatl, would be his to raise, or so she had thus far convinced herself. Motherhood was something she tucked away, in order to prevent future disappointment and attachment to Q's surrogate foals. Though it would be delightful, to help raise them too, she never brought it up.

"There is nothing that requires assistance, thank you kindly." she replied in response. A polite question. The mare had manners, she noted.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Astraea. If it pleases you, my name is Alejandra. How do you do?" It wasn't often she met someone with proper words, and polite intentions. It gave Alejandra a refreshing feeling, always happy to meet a new friend.

The doe eared white angeni, named Astraea. she thought to herself, assuring to never forget a face. Names were as important as the face behind them. Alejandra always practiced remembering them all.  

[Lunadriel]

"Astraea, it would be my pleasure to accompany you on a walk and have a chat with a nice mare such as yourself." Alejandra gave her a soft smile, and a dip of her chin to one side. Having a chance to spend time with another mare, would make for a refreshing afternoon under the bright night stars. The stars had a way of making Alejandra feel nostalgic. They seemed so very far away when she looked up at them. Her family too, was far away. Though she could not look on them, the way she could the stars. Often she wondered of her sisters, and how they were doing. Surely father would send word, if any of them were due to marry soon. Care packages with occasional word, was sent to her from home. The time between them, grew ever longer each time. One day, she would return home to visit them, after her duty was fulfilled here in Kawani lands.

"Shall we?" Alejandra gestured in one direction. "I cannot go far, but will go as far as I feel safe to do so." she informed her as she lifted a hoof and began a casual stroll. Each hoof gingerly kissed the ground with her movements. The delicate mare floated as she walked, like a cool nights breeze.

"Might I trouble you to tell me about yourself Astraea? Where are you from? Do you reside in an area close by?" Alejandra genuinely wanted to know more about her, and wasn't just keeping up with traditional formalities when you meet someone new.

AstoriaFallen

 

[Lunadriel]

Two mares walking alone at night. They would be safe as long as they stayed on this side of the river outside of the forest. It lay within safe boundaries of the territory protected under Quetzalcoatl. If danger found them, help would not be far. Though dangers were chased far from the borders of this area. One could not be too safe, since some threats had wings!

The night had a peaceful soothing glow, with the moon hanging above them both, framing their walk, inviting them from under the canopy of the trees. Alejandra walked towards the edge of the trees. The way around this place came easily. Though not when she first arrived a few years back. Everything was strange. Even the local food seemed unsettling at first. That too, she grew to appreciate and enjoy.

"The pleasure is all mine." she closed her eyes briefly and shook her head. "Thank you for your kindness Astraea." Kindness a thing that Alejandra respected, and appreciated. It came naturally to her. Most she met, exuded politeness to her. Perhaps, because she gave it back in full measure. Only rudeness caught her off guard, and even then, she remained calm and cool in the heat of the moment.

Alejandra raised her eyebrows, and turned her head with her ear, to show she was listening to what she had to say. Turning an ear was one thing, but turning your head too, and making eye contact, was the proper way she had been taught as a princess. "Welcome to Kawani lands Astraea! You must miss your home and your family. I wish you speedy travels in finding your friend! She is lucky to have someone to travel so far to come see her, and sacrifice much to welcome the happiness of her friendship." Alejandra could relate to those feelings all too well. She too, had left much behind in search of new beginnings here in Kawani. Her story wasn't over yet!

"Mmm." she raised her chin, giving a regal air to her stance before she began to speak. "I have a warm, loving home, not too far from here, in the care of my own friend." Quetzalcoatl was in fact, her friend. She counted herself blessed, to have things turn out the way they had between them. He could of been cruel, or could have thrown her out long ago. Instead, she ended up with someone who cared for her. She often told the spirits how thankful she was for her life, even though it was one away from her home of yesteryear.

Coming to the forest edge, Alejandra stepped out from under the trees, and into the moonlight. Pausing for a moment, she took in the sight of the land bathed in moonlight. "A brilliant night to look upon the lands of your new home."

AstoriaFallen

 

[Lunadriel]

"You are very welcome. It is a shared pleasure it would seem." she smiled brightly, at having Astraea share that she too, was pleased at the experience of meeting someone new.

Alejandra leaned over with the utmost grace, and nipped at a few blades of dew covered grass. As graceful as grass eating could be at least. The evening had cooled the grass off, making it quite delectable to snack on. The golden crown on Alejandras head did not move. Alejandra had practiced hard growing up, on not loosing that crown. It had been so difficult at first! Now it was second nature to be aware of it, and move in a way so it did not fall. As natural as walking.

Even though the night was shared in good company with the seemingly polite mare, Ale did not dare to wander too far. Their meeting of two proper ladies, could easily turn to a frightening one. Could this pristine white and star kissed feathered angeni, need a safe haven for the night? Or even a few nights. Alejandra smiled, wondering these things. Her thoughts wandered to nights spent with her sisters. Filled with nostalgia at the memory of her sisters in another far off land. How long had it been since she had seen them? Too long it felt.

Lifting up from her green snack, she looked Astraea over once again. How wonderfully different it must be to have wings. Often she would watch Quetz fly with wonderment in her eyes. Not envy, but a deep appreciation for what makes each of us unique.

"You are very polite Astraea. It would be my pleasure to continue this friendship past tonight. A delightful thought, to have a mare-friend, such as yourself to meet with on occasion." The thought really did please her. Being around Astraea, would help to fill in the void of missing her homeland so much. Not that Quetz wasn't good company! It wasn't that at all. Sometimes, mares made for a different type of friend, depending on the individual. For Alejandra, she felt she could open up more to other mares.

"I shall not stay out long at this hour." Ale said with a bit of worry in her voice.

"Miss Astraea, do you have somewhere safe to rest on this night? I fear there are many dangers in the land, you might not know of." said Alejandra. Being new to the area, she wanted to make sure she knew of the many dangers.

"You are ever so welcome to come and stay with me for as long as you need. Till you find where your hoof belongs in this land. Forgive me if it is rude to impose." said Alejandra. She would leave it at that, and not press the topic on her if she refused. The offer was there though, should she need a place.

AstoriaFallen

Finally got the muse for this!