Open In the Halls of Snowsong (Juliane)

[Ouity]

Spring, 1st, Year 513 (Morning)

Ouity Snowsong wandered through the halls of his hold, humming along to the constant noise that kept their people company throughout their lives, smiling easily to himself. His simple black tunic, and brown leggings make it easy for him to do a few hops of dance, which he did, albeit rather clumsily. Still, it was with a light heart, and a lighter smile that he met the doors of the hold, throwing them open jubilantly. Today would be the first time he'd go on a hunt this season, or so he had hoped, but as he looked out over the landscape, his smile drooped, and his dark blue eyes tinted a bit red as he was met with a blast of wind and snow, stumbling back a foot or so into the hold, before slamming the doors again.

Hunting was out of the question, it seemed. One could hardly see a foot infront of himself, let alone cast a spear at his prey. No, he would have to occupy himself some other way. As he strolled through the halls, he muttered to himself in bordom, thinking up poems and lyrics under his breath. Perhaps he would carve a flute today?. Ouity continued to walk, lost in his thoughts, until he rounded the corner, to find himself gazing at a fragment of his past. There stood a beautiful young Vantha, looking the other way, though he remembered that person from somewhere... Who was she again? Jane? No... Juliana, that was it. He hadn't seen her in... well, it had been years now. How does that happen? He mused to himself. They lived in the same hold, after all, though they had no relation by blood, he often remembered sitting near her when the elders told stories to the younger Vantha.

She had clearly changed in the years since he had known her. Having isolated herself just as she was reaching her peak into adulthood, Ouity had never had the opportunity to watch her morph from an enthusiastic little girl to a seemingly equally enthusiastic young woman. He eyed the results of her unseen years of growth for a moment, flecks of gold appearing in his bright eyes, before he snapped himself out of it, and waved a friendly hand.

My old friend! Hello! Juliane, right? I would be so disappointed if I got that wrong, it feels like only yesterday we sat at the hearth together with the others, listening to the tales they wove. How do you fare? I have not seen you in... well, years!" He said, the Vani language weaved itself around his thoughts easily, taking the context of a friendly greeting, and almost managing to spin it into a fanfare, his bright smile emphasizing the greeting, and his eyes morphed themselves into a nice hue of blue, glittering happily. Unbeknownst to him (though he would have found it a relief) the coup of blue in his eyes quickly smothered out the few specks of gold which had found their ways into his gaze.

[Juliane Snowsong]

Juliane had wandered about the Hold, eyes searching for things to admire or look at and her mind lost in thought for the billionth time in her life. She stopped a few times here and there, brushing past a person or two, or reaching out to touch carving that she'd seen hundreds of times before. She once again stopped briefly, trying to recall a tune her mother once sang to her. It was then that she heard someone speak in her direction. Turning, her eyes widened a bit at the realization of who it was; the color in them turning to a shade of purple that gleamed brightly. Juliane wasn't one to forget people as easily as everything else that slipped her mind, so recalling his name came easy to her. So did flashbacks of childhood and- well lots, really.

Juliane smiled brightly and clasped her hands together, nodding, that vibrant bright eye color still shining. "Years, yes. I know. But after this long, drawn out time, you've still managed to remember me and my given name quite alright.. Ouity." She let her hands drop and her smile turned small. "How are you this fine evening? I'm splendid. Thank you." Her eye color changed slightly, the purple's vibrancy toning down just a hue or so. Even if she was happy to see a fellow Vantha who was willing to speak with her, she was still hesitant anyways. Given that she was called out by a few in previous years for being 'crazy' as they put it. Even if he wasn't one of them, the fear still lurked in her mind.

[Ouity]

Ouity smiled, pleased to see the vibrant hue of purple which so often graced his counterpart's eyes. Many could attest that it was her most common color, her vibrancy expressed not only through her actions, but even through her eyes as well. It pleased him even more that he could illicit the reaction, and this simple pleasure caused his own eyes to intensify, the sky blue shade becoming brighter, and his grin wider.

"I am doing very well today, though I could be doing much better if this blasted storm would let up. It keeps me penned in these halls as if I were a chicken in a coop!" Ouity's eyes took on a slight tint of red, causing the colors to blend in a light hue of pink, as if his eyes were suddenly unsure of which color would best denote his mood. After a moment however, they faded back to their cyan shade, and he grinned once more. The smile was short lived, however, when he saw her eyes darken slightly, both literally and metaphorically, and he knew something was on her mind.

"What troubles you? Are you displeased to see me? A jealous spouse, perhaps? Does my company bore you?" Ouity realized that he knew almost nothing of the exuberant young girl, no, woman who stood before him, it had been so many years. Perhaps she had only been initially pleased by his presence, that spark of happiness slowly melting from her eyes and mind? Was it as he'd said, and she no longer sought the company of a man after marrying? She did look the right age, and he had not seen her in so long. Perhaps she was living in another hold, with another man? Ouity's eyes spiked with a frenzy of confused emotion, red, grey, gold, and blue gently swirling around for control while he battled to reunite with his long lost friend.

[Juliane Snowsong]

Juliane's eyes wandered about, finally landing back on Ouity. She always looked people in the eyes, especially Vanthas. Always fascinated by the colors that seems to change and mix, causing beautiful shades and hues to appear - that was what she loved about Vantha eyes. And even though she tended to stare, she didn't care. Who wouldn't be fascinated?

She kept the happy and content look on her face though, unaware of any color her eyes took on; which at the moment they were still a shade of purple. She chuckled a bit, replying quickly, "Might as well make a frenzy in the coop and get the chickens stirred. It'd be a lot more entertaining. Plus it'd take your mind off of getting out."

When Ouity brought up multiple questions, Juliane kept a calm demeanor. Her eyes slowly faded to a light brown, mixed with already vibrant purple. You'd think the color would be odd, but it wasn't. The light brown sat as a backdrop for the purple, only making the purple hue a bit darker. You really couldn't notice the brown in her eye unless you looked carefully.

Juliane shook her head, answering, "Oh, no, no, no~ I'm happy to see you! I love seeing people I grew up with, honestly. And no, no jealous spouse to worry about." She had to laugh. It was crazy to think she'd even have a spouse. After months of fighting off the thoughts, she led to the conclusion that no matter what her fellow race thought of her, she'd fly solo - gracing the seas and traveling to who knows where by herself. It was a happy thought. "You're not a boring person, so your company doesn't bore me at all."

All the while Juliane stared at Ouity's eyes, as fascinated as ever by the colors. But such a flurry of colors meant multiple feelings going on at once, and it worried Juliane a bit. "Are you alright, Ouity?" As soon as the curiosity and worry set in on Juliane, her eyes changed to a mixture of pinks - from light to a a bright color.

[Ouity]

Ouity shrugged apologetically, aware that his eyes had mirrored his internal turmoil. It couldn't be helped, however, and he grinned, trying to mask his embarrassment. "Oh, I'm fine. Excuse my manners, my mind often works faster than my mouth. It's just your eyes shifted a bit, and I assumed the worst, it was silly of me, utterly silly." Ouity winced a bit, moving to change the subject. "Nobody has claimed your hand yet? That is g- I mean to say, I'm surprised is all, you are quite beautiful, er, not to say that I think you're beautiful, NO, uh, I do, of course..." Ouity's face flushes with embarrassment, and he scuffs his boot against the floor with a thump. His eyes roam around the room, looking for anything to settle on but Juliane's face. They finally landed upon an intricate carving of a bird that covered one wall of the hallway, his eyes turning back to their bright pink.

Woah, that was bad. He thought to himself. When did I become such a stutter tongue? Perhaps I'll think next time I use my big mouth, ice-brain! He began to fiddle with the buttons of his coat, chewing on the inside of his mouth, he knew that talk of relationships could be a touchy subject among the Vantha, and had no clue how Juliane would react to his nosing. Why hadn't she found someone anyway? She was a bright enough person, he supposed, though she had endured quite a lot of teasing. There must have been someone in the whole of Avanthal who would have her, hadn't there? he frowned, concerned for his friend. Perhaps she had been away, and had no time for finding a fellow worthy of courting. Perhaps he shuddered she didn't even like men. Ouity glanced up, trying to read her face, his mental hopscotch only taking a few chimes to carry itself to an end. He finally decided that perhaps instead of jumping to conclusions, he would hear her side. After all, conversations work two ways.

Well, one way if you manage to get on a girl's case enough. He sincerely hoped he hadn't.

[Juliane Snowsong]

Juliane simply blinked a few times, tilting her head at Ouity. She looked at her hands for a moment, observing her fingernails before looking back up at him and chuckling softly. Her eyes had shifted to shades of brown; her overall aura and demeanor showed off her calmness as well. Juliane didn't really mind speaking of the subject at hand, it was how others dealt with it that bothered her. Sure, other races not see the big deal, but she was a Vantha and Ouity was a Vantha - they both knew how this subject went amongst their race.

Juliane shifted feet for a moment; a small trace of a smile left on her face after chuckling. Her overall morals might be different than that of an average Vantha, but they were what she wanted. She remembered speaking of it in public once before, with her fathers disapproval. "I spoke of it long ago once - of how I'd rather travel around before settling down with someone.. or at least letting them get so much as to where they fancy me that way. But even so, I don't what someone courting me for my beauty and making me stay here forever." She pursed her lips for a moment before continuing on. She new the names girls like her were called for not being courted at her age. And she knew what elders would think of her for wanting to just up and leave, travel the world, do things outside of her Avanthal home - she didn't care. "People here sometimes don't want to leave, and those who do get away before a words said. I'm only staying because I promised my father I'd stay until I was around twenty in age."

A few seconds after Juliane finished speaking, her eyes quickly changed to a shade of soft pink, her eyes going back to Ouity's as a thought came racing through her mind. "And what about you? Where's your girl? You're what.. two or three years older, right? You should've courted someone by now, hmm?" She kept her eyes on Ouity's, reading the colors, still fascinated. It had been a while since she'd conversed with someone like this, she realized. And she usually picked up on someone's eye colors quickly; learning which emotion they went to. But a part of her felt bad for staring so intently. It might seem a bit.. odd.

[Ouity]

Ouity grimaced as the last few words were spoken, his cheeks flushing a bit. He hadn't had the greatest success in the female department, his most worthy prospect being a frivolous sixteen year old of the Skyglow hold. Even that had eventually failed him when he blurted out one afternoon that her vanity was driving him insane. The resulting cold shoulder he received was chilly enough to feel even through Morwen's Gnosis.

"My romantic life is... erhm nonexistent, to say the least. He spread his arms wide. "The scholars once said that he who reaches twoscore years without a mate is simply saving his experience for one worthy of his stature." He paused for a moment, and dropped his left hand limply, reaching behind his head with the other to scratch his shoulder. "Not really."

Ouity said nothing for a moment, considering Juliane's last few sentences before breaking out in a grin, his pink eyes giving way to solid sky blue. "I have often thought the same. It is impossible to hear the tales of the merchants, and of the cities to the south and not wish to see for yourself! The poems, the epics, the ballads that could be sewn from such a journey! The wisdom one could gain, to rival that of even the elders!" Ouity grinned widely. "The only thing that has stopped me was my last.. prospect, and the fear of being waylaid on the road by bandits, monsters and the like... but if one became two..." Ouity looked into her eyes, his own full of hope. He realized absentmindedly that she had been staring at his the entire time, and wondered idly what they had been up to. It was fine, he supposed. His father had often told him that a person's eyes were the windows into their souls, and that those of a Vantha were not only windows, but an inviting door that allowed those curious to enter and leave as they pleased. He had been glancing at hers every so often, trying to piece together what each hue, shade, and color represented. It was slow going, but a rewarding pastime that allowed one much better understanding of their friends. It had become such a habit for him that he often found the eyes of the merchants- stubbornly brown, black or blue, disturbing.

He snapped out of his mental lapse, watching Juliane's face carefully for a reaction. He realized with a pang that he wanted to leave much more than he thought he did, to see the world outside the large walls of Avanthal, beyond the bleak fields of Morwen's snow and ice. He loved the place, he truly did, but his body yearned for adventure, he craved the unknown, and he dreamed of the wondrous cities that many Vani never came to see in the warm reaches of the world.

As an afterthought, Ouity glanced around the corridor, making sure that no previously mentioned elders were catching them unawares. He shrugged lightly, convinced they were alone, and turned his full attention back to Juliane.

[Juliane Snowsong]

Juliane chuckled a bit. Wise words, she thought. But she felt a bit of envy for men among the Vantha race. They didn't get titles hung over their heads once they passed the age of twenty unmarried. But it was a bit odd, nonetheless. So as she tilted her head and observed him for a moment, he eyes mixed in various colors, envious of how he's gotten away without courting. Men had it easier, she concluded. Much easier.

Juliane straightened back up and sighed inwardly, speaking her mind to Ouity; "At least you're not going to be deemed an Icemaiden or hopeless. Though Icemaiden could seem an interesting title to those who don't know our ways." While she had her arms crossed, she lifted her left hand up and tapped her chin momentarily, looking over to nothing in particular; "I should have been born a boy." She looked back at Ouity, her eyes filled with a soft pink shade. She could image her life as a boy and wanted to laugh. She would have gotten revenge on people without a word. But revenge wasn't in her morals, so she shook the thought away.

Juliane smiled brightly at Ouity's words, agreeing with every bit of them. For years she wanted to travel, see the other cultures and places that lied outside their city gates. She was oh so curious as to who the people were and their stories; who was who, what was what. Their art and music was another thing she was dying to see and hear. She imagined all the designs possible, the music possible, the lyrics, and on and on. As she let her mind wander for a few moments, her eyes stayed at that soft pink hue, almost sparkling. She stopped her thoughts and whispered, "Could you image just getting past the Icewall Gates and traveling to your heart's desire? The land to travel over and experience.. the amazing scenery you might picture.. the endless possibilities!" She sighed inwardly. Let the idea of her words draw out in her mind. She longed to leave, to search for things. But as of now - she realized quickly - she still had to wait until her father's approval to leave. They agreed on it.

"It would be fun, wouldn't it? Going on an adventure with someone who shares the longing to explore?" She gave a half-hearted grin, her eyes' color fading to that rare, stone grey color. Three more years, she calculated. That would be around 12 seasons. Twelve, long, cold seasons she didn't want to wait through.

Once Juliane saw Ouity look around, the thought of someone hearing them rushed into her mind as well. She furrowed her eyebrows. She didn't want anyone walking up, hearing their chatter about longing to explore and scold them. She'd been scolded too much before. So she reached her hand out to Ouity, saying lowly, "Take my hand and follow me." Even though she knew it probably wasn't the most proper way to get someone to follow you, it'd have to suffice for the moment.

[Ouity]

Ouity grinned as she lamented her gender, playfully nudging her shoulder. "If every girl were born a boy, than none would be born at all." He replied with a wink. He smiled, unable to contain the simple happiness that bathed his face as the two conspired about running off to the south. He didn't dare harbor anything more than a faint glimmer of hope; he knew that it was a hugely dangerous trek, and that many Vantha would frown heavily upon two of their kin leaving together, no matter what excuses they came up with. Still, one could dream.

His own expression of happiness receded somewhat, his eyes toning down a few hues as he watched the color fade from hers, but before he could question her, she reached out, and with a "Take my hand and follow me." His foreboding vanished, and he took her hand, allowing her to lead him through the halls of Snowsong Hold, his chest bubbling with excitement. It was the simple pleasure of going, of acting. He was an easily satisfied man, and found great joy in simply acting in the moment. He ran along behind her, easily keeping up, and leaving his hunting spear propped next to the intersection of the halls, all thoughts of hunting long gone from his mind.

"Where are we going?" He asked as they ran down the halls.

[Ouity]

Ouity grinned as she lamented her gender, playfully nudging her shoulder. "If every girl were born a boy, than none would be born at all." He replied with a wink. He smiled, unable to contain the simple happiness that bathed his face as the two conspired about running off to the south. He didn't dare harbor anything more than a faint glimmer of hope; he knew that it was a hugely dangerous trek, and that many Vantha would frown heavily upon two of their kin leaving together, no matter what excuses they came up with. Still, one could dream.

His own expression of happiness receded somewhat, his eyes toning down a few hues as he watched the color fade from hers, but before he could question her, she reached out, and with a "Take my hand and follow me." His foreboding vanished, and he took her hand, allowing her to lead him through the halls of Snowsong Hold, his chest bubbling with excitement. It was the simple pleasure of going, of acting. He was an easily satisfied man, and found great joy in simply acting in the moment. He ran along behind her, easily keeping up, and leaving his hunting spear propped next to the intersection of the halls, all thoughts of hunting long gone from his mind.

"Where are we going, oh adventurous one?" He asked as they ran down the halls.