|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 8:29 pm
Nightshade loved his job, espescially on nights like this. Ponies of the daylight had their sunlit trees and lazy beach side wanderings, while he had his headstones basking in the glitter of the full moon light and the sway of a cool, midnight breeze filtering through his hair. What could be more beautiful? What could satisfy a soul more than that?
"Mm, no surprise that you need tending to, again." He mused, lumbering over a rather dilapidated looking headstone. The name had weathered off years ago, another unknown pony from somewhere who's bones had ended up buried here by someone else. There were many in a similar condition standing in the yard, but this one had an awful penchant for gathering weeds over the entire plot every single day. He half wondered if this pony had been some kind of botanist or gardener in their living years and their body simply didn't know how to stop making things grow even when it's host had long since passed on. A ridiculous notion, but one he couldn't entirely rule out given that the possibilities in this world were, in fact, infinite and endless.
He started to hum, lowering himself down to the ground enough to be obscured by the headstone, and set to plucking each weed out with his teeth. Sure, a trowel would probably be easier to use and probably better for his health, but he'd left it back at the house. It wasn't like anyone was going to come around and see him, either.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:49 am
Skelli was sneaking into the graveyard as quietly as he could. He wanted to look at the lovely grave stone art. He found the best time look at stone was at night when people weren't around to judge what he was doing. He could hear something off to one side of the yard but he thought nothing of it. Many animals wondered around at night.
He leaned over to get a better look at one grave."Wow this one is really pretty. Someone took a lot of time carving it."He admired the work for a moment before moving to the next one.He was shocked by how well kept up this yard was as well."This one has a good caretaker too."He was talking to himself as he looked around.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:56 pm
Nightshade paused, mid-tug of a dandelion plant, and peered up over the headstone. Though he'd been so sure that he'd been alone only a breath ago, there was now an unfamiliar voice coming from somewhere across the yard. His bright green eyes mirrored the shine of the moon as they tried to hone in on the source of the voice.
Headstones, headstones, moving bones, headst- Wait. Bones? He squinted, trying to make sense of what he was looking at, and a wave of relief soon washed over his features. A ghoulie with bone markings! Thank goodness. Otherwise he would have lit up a beacon and declared a zombie apocalypse. Still, a pony of the daylight being here at night was unusual, and they certainly didn't look like they were making a visit to anyone in particular. Perhaps they, like him, enjoyed the somber beauty of a moonlit graveyard? He couldn't help but smile.
"Evening, friend!" He called, swiftly out into view. He didn't quite make his way straight over to the other, just in case they were indeed mourning and wanted privacy, but gave them a curious glance. "Looking for someone?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 7:09 am
Skelli was enjoying the pretty head stone when he heard a voice and nearly jumped out his skin and became real bones for a moment. His brain first went to it was some monster coming up from the dead.
He calmed once spotting the other and gave himself a little chuckle before answering. "Oh no i'm just here looking at the art on some of the old stones." He gave a soft smile. He started to trot his way."I didn't disturb your work did i?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 2:06 pm
Not a mourner? Good, good. Nightshade's smile broadened and he moved to meet Skelli as he come closer. Under the shine of the moon those bone markings had looked quite convincing, but watching them in motion was still oddly fascinating. The bat gave a gentle head tilt, like he were working out the words on a sign, and shook his head.
"No, no, I was only weeding." He answered, continuing to observe the other with gentle curiosity. "That particular plot has a habit of gathering the most weeds, but it's nothing I can't leave and go back to another time."
He paused, leaning decisively around the other to see if he could catch a glimpse of Skelli's tail, and hummed softly.
"You, on the other hoof, are a rare sighting I can't ignore." He added, his eyes flickering back to Skelli's face. "What do you call yourself?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 2:43 pm
Skelli smiled softly and nodded. "That sounds like a very odd plot to me." He looked at where the other had come from before looking back at the bat.
He chuckled and blushed some at the others word. His tail just swayed slightly like in its own little world. "I'm Skelli....Skelli Bones."He chuckled and smiled a bit more. "Who might you be?"He thought about flirting some but decided against it for the moment, until he was sure the other was in bit into the idea of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 3:59 pm
Skelli Bones? Nightshade had to stifle a laugh. Such a fitting name for such a fascinating stranger! It made him wonder if there were other "bones" in their family. Tibia? Humerus? Coccyx? There were many possibilities but, at the current moment, there was no need to ask. He refocused.
"Nightshade." He replied, giving his mane a subtle flick to the side. He noted the blush on the other's face. Interesting. "No surname, not one that I know of at least. Perhaps it was lost years ago? My ancestry's long since faded into obscurity."
He leaned forward again, lingering mere inches from Skell's neck, and hummed curiously. Such accurate markings, almost like a detailed map of their inner body. Quite striking.
"Tell me more about yourself, Skelli Bones." He said, moving back again and flashing a pointy grin. "What is it that you do in the daylight hours? Or are you a creature of the night, such as myself?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 4:57 pm
Skelli grinned a bit once hearing his name. It fit him rather well. He only blushed more when the other got in so close to look at his bone markings. The very thing that gave him his name.
He watched him a moment before speaking."I'm a night time kind of man. Less people around to judge me for enjoying the nice art on the stones and reading what story they may tell."He shrugged a bit."You know how others can be about odd things." He frowned a bit thinking about it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 6:41 pm
Nightshade nodded along as Skelli spoke. Yes, such was the misfortune of being a creature of the night, no matter the reason for being so. Though he'd had plenty of interactions with ponies of the daylight before, he'd rarely found ones that were as interested in death or the darker side of life as he was. He supposed he could lend a few of those times to poor timing, such as trying to strike up a conversation during a funeral when he was significantly more green behind the ears as a keeper, but it seemed that averting your eyes to all things related to death was the norm and he was the exception. To find someone like him, espescially out here in the yard itself on a full moon night, felt all too perfect.
Perhaps he could entice Skelli to stay a little while longer.
"Of course I do, I'm a graveyard keeper. I've had plenty of sour encounters with those who refuse to understand." He agreed, stepping closer to Skelli. "However, I, too, like to admire all of the beautiful works of art here in the yard. I have a few favorites I could show you, if you'd care for a guided tour?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 7:01 pm
Skelli perked up and smiled once again. "I would love a tour."He sounded almost like a happy little kid in a candy store before pulling himself together."That would be really cool...but i wont get in the way of your work will i? I don't want to cause you any trouble or anything." He looked a bit concerned he was just going to be a bother and get in his way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 6:48 pm
Nightshade's wings fluttered a bit with glee. Oh, that reaction had been all he'd wanted to hear! He'd never actually given a tour of the yard before because most ponies only came by to visit those who had passed on or to attend a funeral. No one had ever come by just to see the grounds and the headstones themselves! He couldn't help but wiggle a little in excitement.
"Trouble? You? Don't be ridiculous!" He exclaimed, clearing his throat shortly after in an effort to steel his nerves. Easy now, Nightshade, play it cool. "I've always wanted to take someone on a tour here, anyone, really! You've made my night!"
He beamed before pausing to compose himself again and take a slow, sweeping look around the grounds.
"Now, where to start, where to start?" He muttered, clicking his tongue as he thought. "I know of one particularly large headstone which belongs to a late historian. It's rather intricate and lovingly made, but there is a section with several rows of bygone poets and musicians that are equally as breathtaking..." He paused again, turning a quizzical eye to Skelli. "Either choice is sure to delight! Which would you rather see first?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 7:46 am
Skelli chuckled a bit and smiled at how excited he became. He watched him being so excited and it made him excited and he didn't even know why he was getting as pumped as he was. His smile only grew as he did.
He listened to his choices and thought for a few moments.'Hm that is a hard choice. Hm...How about the poets and musicians then?"He said with a nod and smiled. "Those sound very pretty and a nice place to start." He looked out over the yard before looking back to the other. "Lead the way."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 12:25 pm
Lead the way Skelli said, and Nightshade grinned. He turned quickly and hopped up to hover next to Skelli while they moved through the yard. It wasn't too long of a walk, just through a few rows and over a couple of toppled headstones, but the section where these particular graves were was hard to miss. They were gated off by a towering steel fence which was covered with a particular creeping vine with blue flowers that only bloomed at night. Their fragrance, though subtle, drifted on the cool breeze as they approached and Nightshade couldn't help but take a sniff of the air.
"Lovely, aren't they?" He said, offering Skelli a gentle smirk as he headed toward the gate and nudged it. A couple of the blossoms fell off as the gate moved and he chuckled. "But they're a bit delicate, as you can see..."
He bent and nosed at one of them before moving aside and holding the gate open.
"After you!" He said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 5:24 am
He could tell he was so happy and excited to show him around. He trotted along with him looking around as he did. Once they stopped at the gate he stared in awe at the flowers. He slowly went over to them and sniffed at one before entering the gate.
"Thank you."He flashed him a sweet smiled before going looked around some. This place was so pretty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2020 7:50 pm
Nightshade watched as Skelli moved past the gate and quickly scooped up one of the freshly fallen flowers from the ground and followed Skelli inside. He hovered slightly behind the other's sight, his head tilting from side to side for a moment, before resting the blossom carefully upon Skelli's head.
"Apologizes, but I think the shade of blue in these flowers compliments you quite nicely." He offered, hiding a sweet, but sincere chuckle under his breath. "It's a shame they only last a day."
He turned his attention decisively forward and gazed out over the rows of graves just feet before them. There were four to a row, each with it's own intricately carved designs and charm, and had varying degrees of age between them. However, there was one in particular that stood out from the rest. The headstone was made of beautiful polished marble black as night, but with a special gemstone inlay that caused it to reflect rainbow speckles in the moonlight. The front of the stone also had several stone roses and floral details carved onto it making it not only a delight for the eyes to behold, but a tactile experience as well. He motioned toward it.
"There lies someone with impeccable tastes." He said, smirking up to Skelli. "If I were ever in need of a gravestone, I'd want one very similar, perhaps in a nice shade of purple... What about you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
