the land of faerres { Sih likes shiny things }

[Cinnamon Vanilla]

Alright, I must. Purple!

Reserve

[pecan]

~The story will be written from Shiawase's perspective. More information about her can be found here.

The land of the Faerres contained more beauty than I have ever known.

Ever since my arrival to this magical land - the trouble of traveling through portals was worth it, after all - I had been fascinated by the uniqueness, and the rich culture. The Faerres held honor and dignity within themselves, and they regarded me with kindness, and with a hint of wariness, as well. I had promised the Queen that I would never reveal Vinara's secret location to anyone else, once I returned to my world.

On the first day upon arrival to Vinara, land of the Faerres, I had tried to explore every single inch of Vinara's heart: Avalon. The city was as beautiful as its name, it was full of life and happiness. Srail was equally as interesting; it was filled with Faerres, humans, and all sorts of wonderful creatures. I had roamed about and bought refreshments that tasted so delicious, I wolfed it all down in a minute flat. There were wonderful games too, and they did a good job of keeping me busy and boredom-free. As if you could ever be bored in Vinara!

I had seen the sacred Altar, too, and it was beautiful. I admired its purely natural design; it was carved out of smooth, rich brown oak, and there were countless myths and fables of several important Faerres. Those elegantly carved stories were what intrigued me the most, and to me they seemed the very essence of Vinara's wide diversity of culture. There were always no Faerres on the Altar, though, whenever I went to just glimpse its magnificence and hopefully befriend one.

Until today.

There had been a murmur of activity rippling through the Faerres around the Altar - a fanfare of trumpets announced the much-awaited arrival of a Faerre - until she came.

Anari the Beauty, they called her, and it was most fitting.

Anari was pirouetting to an unheard music. Her dance was filled with joy, hope and - strangely enough, or was that just me? - sadness. Her emotions were displayed in the tempo of her dance, and her pale purple pelt seemed to shimmer with each delicate move she made. Her exquisite markings - lavender and white that merged harmoniously together - looked as if they were glowing with each beam of sunlight that struck her, and that made her even more stunning. Her soulful eyes were the color of pure silver, like molten steel. They were what struck me the most; it had a huge impact on me which told me in the tiniest of a whisper that Anari and I were meant to be friends.

Were we?

Only if you take action, my conscience hissed back a reply.

I watched, captivated by the smooth movements and the expressiveness of the dance. The chance had come; I could just step up and ask for her friendship, and request that she return to my world with me. But I could not bear to disrupt her dance; a dance that revealed all thoughts and emotion.

It's now or never, a voice in my head told me fiercely. I took a deep breath, feeling giddy all of a sudden. My tail twitched uneasily, probably due to the awed silence that froze the air. In my world, there was noise every single second, be it the singing of songbirds or the hustle and bustle of life. Absolute silence always, in some odd way, made me uncomfortable.

My heart and hooves seemed to control themselves; almost tripping over a Faerre in front of me, I walked up to Anari in a daze, trying to clear my mind. Then I stopped. Simply asking her would not help. And even if she was going to be my friend, I would have to do something unique. Something special, just for Anari.

The legendary Dance of the Seven Veils.

I felt somewhat queasy as I reflected on my snap decision. I had not danced in ages, let alone stretch those muscles, and what if I stumbled and fell? That would not give Anari a good impression of me.

Nevertheless, I shook away my unconfidence. The dance steps were still fresh in my memory, and that would help me a lot. I imagined the tune drifting into my ears, the harmonious music that had graced the dance for centuries.

I began. I danced alongside Anari, careful not to let my long tail in the way. I felt joy radiating from myself, and suddenly I could hear nothing but the sweet music. The melody suddenly seemed to me like beer seemed to drunks. I was captured, ensnared in the grace and the beauty of it. The Dance of the Seven Veils was...magical. Entrancing. At that moment, I knew I was built for the elegance of dancing. It was my life-blood, and I never wanted the dance to stop.

When the last note rung in my mind and when I had ended the dance with the final step - a piaffe to accompany the crescendo - I still felt the strong happiness within me. Now to seek Anari's friendship. I wonder what she thought of the dance. Though these uncertain thoughts made my confidence waver, I held my head high and I stepped closer to the graceful Faerre.

Anari, I said softly, feeling slightly shy. May I befriend you? I paused, and the other words flowed naturally. I know you have a reason for coming to the Altar. You want a good, loyal friend, and you want to explore the world. We both have a love of dancing, and a taste for adventure. And for good measure I added, I can teach you the Dance of the Seven Veils too, if you like. Perhaps...you could help me improve on my dancing, if you befriend me? I love dancing, truly, and I would love to improve on my skills. I took a deep breath before my thoughts came tumbling out all of a sudden. I know, Anari. I know the joy of dancing, the magic of it. I appreciate everything it gives, and I know you do, too.

May I befriend you, Anari? I asked again sincerely, my voice stronger this time.

To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. ~Agnes De Mille

[Taiyo]

4 more days until Anari chooses her companion! Keep submitting those forms *U*!

[Taiyo]

3 more days until Anari is judged!

[Taiyo]

2 more days till Anari is judged!

[Taiyo]

Anari will be judged tomorrow! Touch up on your forms guys! :'D
Oh, looks like there's another Faerre lined up to get on the Altar already OuO!! Lots and lots of Faerres these days... wonder why...

[Starmz ♥]

the innocent.
we'll hide where love can save us

My father used to tell me, "Sylvie, you can reach for the stars, or you can shoot for them. But you can't stay on the ground, sweetie, otherwise you won't ever achieve your dreams." This, to my younger self, seemed like a relatively sensible assumption. As I grew older, I started to doubt this saying of his. For all my fanciful fantasies were very well accomplished on the ground - every time I dipped into a plié, weren't my slipper-clad feet firmly on the ground? Whenever I practiced a grand battement, was the barre not always grasped tightly by one hand? Whenever I performed, be it ballet, jazz, modern or swing, were my feet not attuned to the ground? My entire body would be connected, grounded, by this invisible red string of fate. It would tug insistently at my belly, drawing my knees ever lower and forcing my spine to straighten. That hardly made the cosmic forces any less powerful, however, and I still like to think that my high kicks are forever blessed by the galaxies to point upwards towards the sky.

Then there's that land I heard about. Firstly, despite the magic that is clearly the very fabric of that land, it was still very much on the ground. Secondly, while I'd never actually been there, I highly doubted that it was more than an inch off the ground. It's called Vinara, or so I heard. Apparently it's filled with mystical creatures, ones of much variation and beauty, and pure intrigue. I was headed there, on a personal mission that I was determined to fulfill. If Lady Luck smiled upon me, perhaps I would be able to arrive before a Faerre - the inhabitants of Vinara - took the stage. The metaphorical stage, that is. From the same source as before, I had heard that there was also an altar of sorts, where a Faerre would occasionally appear to the resonant sound of bugles. With that knowledge in mind, I had set out, as I wished once and for all to find out for myself what this land was all about. Yet, each step felt like lead, and I couldn't help but want desperately to sink down to the ground and curl up in the fetal position. Simply to lay there and wait for ivy vines to swirl around me in exquisitely strange patterns ... was not that a fate most befitting of me? Hah! It would be a cold, cold day in Hell before that happens. My vigor temporarily renewed, I staggered forwards with a lumbering pace so slow that I had no doubts that by the time I reached Vinara, there would be no sign of any Faerres at the Altar. That did rely heavily on a Faerre being present that day, but I shut that thought out of my mind, for it would do nothing but drag my faltering positivity down.

Maybe fortune reached out with a golden, benevolent hand of sympathy for me then, because it was not long before the sound of an ornate call beckoned, swirling through the air and to my ears. I pushed several messy locks out of my face, hastily tucking them behind my right ear before my feet carried me forwards once more as the wind whistled past. Wait, please! I half-collapsed through the entrance, rather clumsily slid my hands onto my knees, and at that moment desired nothing more than a respite from this self-inflicted weariness. I sucked in several deep breaths before I regained the ability to look around. And when I raised my head to do just that, the sights that awaited my eyes were simply incredible; awe-inspiring, breathtaking, stunning. Truly, there were no words to describe the experience. The best way to do so would be to outline the emotions that filled me up when I saw Vinara for the first time. It was a bustling area, but with a quiet sort of calm - a peace not often associated with a thriving place. Serenity, soothing to the point of suspiciousness, filled me up. Then came the natural siblings of surprise: wonder and excitement, two feelings that mixed unusually with the original basis of gentle serenity. So caught up was I in the absorption of this incredible land that I almost missed the entrance of the lavender Faerre. Had somebody not gasped a little at her fluid movements, I would have not had laid eyes on her in time. And boy, was I glad! Clearly astonishment overtook my senses, for I sat down abruptly, the pain an unnecessary distraction before I craned my neck upwards, seeking the lithe form of the twirling female. The first thing I noted was that her initial move was uncannily reminiscent of a glissade, something that only boosted the joy that bloomed within me at her very first dance steps.

"I- oh." A breathless gasp of unadulterated delight. A pinch of undiluted talent, and what do you get? One amazed girl, and one impressively interesting Faerre.

Azure eyes darted from side to side when Anari, as I believed her name was - though my source, whispers passed through the friendly crowd, was not exactly official - finished her dance. Almost immediately, an orderly queue of sorts formed, and I leaped up, all exhaustion forgotten some point between Anari's enthralling entrance and her smooth finish. As I realised what was going on, I dug through my duffel bag in search of a faded tutu, littered with memories of shining spotlights and glittering confetti. The line grew ever longer, which served only to speed up my pace. Frantically, I gathered my belongings and stepped apologetically into line, a small smile gracing my lips as a silent message to the people next to me. Sorry. Sorry! My hand reached into my duffel again, and it was a short while before I clutched a fistful of soft tulle in my hand. I drew the feather-light fabric out, gazed fondly at it for a few moments, and then slipped the sheer skirt on. It covered my current dress' lower half flawlessly, and I resisted the odd temptation to admire the cut of the longer tutu. Sequins, sewn lovingly on by my mother, glimmered in the setting sun. Though time was indeed ticking past at an admirable speed, the sky seemed as light as ever, so I felt no reason to grow anxious.

As the line grew shorter and shorter, I found time to circle my wrist with a fringe of vintage rosebuds, laced together with the essence of moonlight in the form of silken ribbon. The line must have been shorter than I had originally expected, for I soon realised that I was to be next in the span of a few short seconds, but I had yet to do anything about my hair or my shoes. While I adored the freedom my loose hair offered, it would simply not be suitable for the likes of Anari. Oh, no, for a dancer as elegant as she, one simply must be on their best behaviour! So when I stepped forward, I entered at once into a tight pirouette, taking care to use the ball of my foot. Sliding down to the ground once I was nearer to Anari, I pulled out my beloved pointe shoes, opening the floodgates of nostalgia. Inhaling the fresh, slightly sweet air, I deftly twined the ribbons around each leg, all the time continuing a rather one-sided conversation.

"Hello! I'm Sylvie. I, like you, am a dancer. Or, well ... I guess I was, to be more precise." My eyes darted up towards her, the corners of my mouth quirking upwards. "But that's not of much importance right now. May I just say that you have a wonderful figure? Your poise is indeed praiseworthy, and your grace speaks volumes. You must have worked very hard for years, hmm? Only a mixture of talent, potential and practice could have made a dancer as incredible as you." I paused my somewhat embarrassing babbling to push up my hair, combing it through with my fingers. Swiftly, I decided on the spot that a proper bun would take far too long, as there were still others waiting for their turn. Stretching out one leg as I started tying my hair in a loose chignon, I mentally hoped that this mediocre imitation of warming up would be enough. As I switched to my other leg, my slender fingers brushed against the violet streak in my hair. Pride welled up in me as I began my tale, though I knew that it was probably more appropriate to have felt awkwardness at the situation. "Ah, this ... This. After I quit dancing, I dyed my hair a little. This streak is purple, as you can see, and the other is blue. I guess it was my own, small way of rebellion, I suppose. Against the pressure of dancing and performing, that is." It was then, when it struck me. I had been judging Anari all this time, on her dancing, when I had yet to acknowledge the being under that. Though her dancing was more than likely what her life revolved around right now, as mine once had, perhaps she would appreciate a subtle nod towards the soul hiding underneath that experienced exterior.

"I do want you to know, however, that I completely understand your desire to dance. It's almost as if when dancing, your will is not your own, right? Your feet are your guide, your eyes when you cannot trust your real eyes. Your arms become your anchor, points of balance you must keep perfectly in sync lest you fall down. Or well, in your case, I suppose that they would be your legs instead. But sometimes, it gets to be too much. You may burn out, and it's fine if you do. It's a natural part of each dancer's life; there comes a time when you must take a break, or risk being ruined forever. And that's alright." A dark eyebrow arched up at my words, and I wondered if I had become too sentimental. I rushed my last words, all the time doing a quick heel raise, neck stretch and demi-plié to prepare me for my upcoming performance. "Though, uh, I'm sure you'll be fine for many more years." Beaming, I hoped dearly that I hadn't made too sore a fool out of myself.

Raising my arms in the traditional écarté position, I eyed Anari with what I thought to be calm, collected confidence ... though more than likely just came off as uncomfortably casual eye contact. "While that was a very interesting, um, talk we had there, that had nothing to do with dance." Sweeping my right leg into its allocated mental slot, I pointed my toes as hard as I could, feeling the candle of hopeful exhilaration rekindle. It has been much too long, my dear, old friend. Offering Anari a sincere smile, I gave her a silent invitation with a brisk assemblé, simultaneously starting what was to be our introductory dance. "Now that," A quick glance down locked my eyes firmly on Anari's, a defiant maneuver in the context of the swan-like neck elongation that was typical of the genre. "is dance." Let's see what comes out of this, shall we?

[ ooc ;; ] oh god I am so, so sorry Taiyo / Horned / whoever judges this! This turned out so much longer than I thought it was going to be. e u e Hey, you know what, I could always shorten this and link to the full thing someplace else - if you want?

[Taiyo]

Oh no Starmz its length is perfectly fine C: no need to link it else where (I myself enjoy long reads from time to time, so I don't mind C':)
Anari will be judged tomorrow night HK time. Slightly later than usual, it seems I have a dinner tomorrow oops :X
Everyone's forms are looking good so far *U* it's making it really hard to choose ;m;

Let me confiscate all blunt and painful looking objects hmm... for... personal safety of course.

Haha xDD
Good luck!

[Starmz ♥]

Alright, sounds good! I have something going on tomorrow night, so no worries about that - I'm sure I'll be just in time for the judging. c: Good luck to everyone else, and to the judge(s) - there's lots of tough competition for Anari!

[Wolf Shadowstalker]

I had a woo mostly finished for Anari, but my parents confiscated my iPad before I could sneak away to finish it past bedtime before judging started today. Darn. -A-
I'm posting from my 3DS at the moment; sadly I don't have the woo on it and it's such a pain to type on that I wouldn't be able to finish if it was.
Oh well, can't do anything about it (my fault for procrastinating anyways) and I've seen some beautiful woos for her, so she's sure to go to a good home. c:
Good luck everyone, I'm eager to find out how it goes!