Serenity stands outside Praetorian’s home. She raises a hoof and knocks lightly on the door.
There is a short wait, and then Praetorian opens up the door. “Ah, Serenity. How are you?”
She smiles. “Oh, I’m doing quite well. I have a bit of time before my next appointment, so I thought I’d drop by.”
“Well, come in, come in!” he says, standing back to let her through into the small room. She can see in one corner a neat and well-kept collection of small pony statues, barely twice the size of her hoof. Above it, on a hook, hangs a small circlet of oak leaves. On the other side is a neatly kept bed, and a closed chest.
Serenity finds the accommodations quite spartan, but somehow still quite homely. She nods to him. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”
“It’s nothing, really. Just the Lararium and a place to sleep, really,” he says. “I’d offer you something, but...not really much food or drink here, heh.”
“That’s perfectly alright,” she says, “I didn’t come here for the food, after all.”
“Just the company?” he says in a little bit of a tease. “Please, do sit down,” he says, indicating the bed. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
Serenity hops up onto the bed, making herself comfortable. “Oh, nothing in particular. Just looking for some pleasant company.”
“And instead, you found me?” he says with a slight chuckle.
She chuckles in kind, sliding over to offer him a seat.
Praetorian sits down next to the mare, a smile on his face. “So, then. Now you’ve found me, you going to try and find out more about me, huh? Interrogate me like I’ve been interrogating you?”
“Well, I suppose I could... Where are you from?”
“A little city, out in the middle of nowhere. You’ve probably never heard of it. Called Roana,” he answers.
Serenity nods. “I
think I may have seen the name in an old schoolbook once. What’s it like?”
“It’s a nice place, if a little small and insular. I suppose its most important feature is the barracks just outside the town, where some of the military of the Meandering Gloss is trained. Called the Field of Nokzam. All the ponies of the city go there, even if they’re not part of the military, for exercise and some weapon practice,” says Praetorian.
“That’s quite... different. Was the city often under attack?”
“Not too often. It was just a good way to get exercise, I suppose. We did contribute a few more soldiers to the legions than most cities, too.”
Serenity nods. “I see. So then what brought you out here?”
“The military, of course,” he says with a little self-deprecating smile. “Third term, and all.”
“So you were deployed out here. But then why would they send you alone?”
“Well, I admit it’s not the most typical of deployments. But it wasn’t too large of a place, nor did it have too many ponies. I guess we were just the ones they could spare.”
She nods. “I suppose we don’t really have anything out here important enough to warrant a full military deployment.” Serenity slides a little closer to Praetorian. “So, do you have any family in Roana?”
“A couple now, just the paterfamilias and materfamilias.” He smiles a little sadly. “Not many others of my family I’m in contact with now. And more than a few are dead.”
Serenity looks confused. “Forgive me... I’m not too familiar with the terminology. It sounds like... ‘father-family’ and ‘mother-family’?”
“Father of the family, and mother of the family,” corrects Praetorian. “They’re the heads of the household. In this case, my mother and father, but it could be so far as my grandparents, were they still alive.”
“Ah, I understand now. And what are they like?”
“They’re pleasant ponies, if a little distant,” he answers.
“I see.” She says, the faintest twinge of envy in her voice.
“What are your parents like?” he asks in return.
Serenity looks away. “...My parents died when I was still a little foal. I never knew them.”
Praetorian hugs the little mare tight. “I’m so sorry...”
Serenity leans into the hug. “No, it’s alright. It wasn’t like I was alone, I had my brothers and sisters.”
“Still,” he says, giving the mare a little nuzzle.
She accepts it, turning it into a brief kiss on the cheek.
Praetorian turns an interesting shade of red at the kiss, and only barely restrains a slight flinch at it.
Serenity blushes as well, chuckling nervously. “So, ah... do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“Uh, well. I’ve had a few,” he says, joining in on the chuckling after a second’s pause. “Three brothers, and four sisters.”
“And what are they like? Are any of them in the military too?”
“Well, some of my brothers were. Munifex and Miles were, yes. My sisters aren’t, and neither is Artitus.”
Serenity notes his use of the past tense, and looks concerned. “...Something happened, didn’t it?”
“...To Munifex, yes,” he says, looking over to the little set of figures, and noting the one of his brother. “He’s dead, now.”
“I’m sorry...” She leans against him, “...and Miles?”
“Miles... I don’t even know what happened to him. He just stopped sending letters, after a while. I pray that he’s well... But...”
Serenity raises his chin with a hoof, looking into his eyes. “Do you have faith in him? Do you believe he’s a strong, skilled warrior?”
“...Yes, I believe he is,” Praetorian eventually admits.
She smiles. “Then I believe he’ll be alright.”
“Yeah...” agrees Praetorian.
Serenity decides to change the subject. “And what about your sisters?”
“They’re still all alive, last I heard,” he says, happier to get on to a different topic. “Let’s see... Equa’s married to a stone carver back in Roana. Pulchra’s a clothing-maker, I think she’s moved to another city... What was it again, Cartwheel or something? Sacerdotessa’s a priestess, just moved to Coupledye if I recall. And... that just leave little Graminea, who’s married too, to a military officer, a captain if I recall.”
“Interesting. Is there some convention in your society against mares in the military?”
“Of sorts. Mares are to be protected. The military is also...well, less salubrious than most places, shall we say.” He shrugs a little, not breaking the hug that hasn’t been broken yet. “I suppose it might be different in other places...”
Serenity nods. “One of my sisters is a soldier. She’s actually been very successful.”
“That’s good to hear. You could be a good soldier too, if you wanted,” he said, and then smiled a little teasingly, before saying “I’m sure we’d be good partnered up. Keeping watching each others backs, and all,” in a teasing voice.
“I’m sure we would.” She looks away. “But... I don’t really want to hurt anypony if I don’t absolutely have to. I guess it’s just not in me.”
Praetorian turns her head to face him again. “I know you don’t...and that’s what makes you a better pony than I am. I’m just a soldier. You’re something more, something better, you and Maize are.”
Serenity looks up at him. “You’re so much more than that to us.” She cranes her neck up, hesitates, then moves up and pulls him into a brief, tentative kiss.
Praetorian enjoys the taste of her lips, but though he hides it, he is happy when it ends. “Serenity...” he says, not sure what else to say.
Serenity blushes furiously. “I-I-I’m sorry, I... I don’t know what...”
“Serenity,” he says again, brushing her mane. “It’s...It’s alright. Have you told...Have you told Maize about how you feel?”
“Well... she
has mentioned that she’d like it if the two of us were a bit... closer.”
Praetorian bites his lip a little. “Serenity... I... Please don’t be offended by this. I... I love you...but... This is a little new to me. Can... Can we hold off on going any further than this, at least for a time?”
Serenity nods. “Of course. More than anything, I want you both to be happy.”
“That’s what I want for you two as well, Serenity... To be happy.” He brushes her mane aside, and gives her a little peck on her forehead. “Please, whatever happens, whatever comes between us...don’t let me hurt you, Serry.”
Author
Topic: Duskfields (My Little Fortress) (Read 48518 times)