Untouched

CONNOR

It was clear that the bathing figure had been unaware of Connor’s arrival.

The artificial stallion witnessed the scene unfold, taking in the classic, knee-jerk response when someone has been snuck up on. The moment of surprise, then alarm. A very living reaction. A quick scan informed him that the odd-colored stallion’s heartrate had increased in beats-per-minute due to the emotional shock, but still Connor remained stationary, head tilted slightly to the right, his expression that same facsimile of quizzical.

He watched as the massive male lifted his head and twisted it in Connor’s direction, nostrils flaring as though trying to pick up his scent amidst sulfur and steam. Matted strands of unruly hair cling about the stallion’s broad neck, dripping wet and sopping. He looks as though he were quite enjoying his bath, and if he were able, Connor was certain he would feel guilty. As it were, however, he could feel nothing, and so thought very little on the repercussions of his interruption. Unabashedly, the bay continued to stare, inquisitive mahogany staring shamelessly into molten gold once their eyes met. His LED pulsed a steady, calm blue.

’You.’ The striped stranger began, his words careful. Cautious. ’You smell weird.’

Connor frowned. An ear flicked forward, head slowly tilting to a sharper angle. Did he? Admittedly, that was not the answer he had been expecting.

“I’m sorry,” he stated, his voice neutral and unbothered and completely contradicting his apologetic words, “I was unaware.” Knowing his own scent was a piece of data that he found unimportant. Unable to perspire or produce bodily fluid, other than a clear, thirium-based saliva used for chemical breakup, gave him no reason to have much of a scent. It was, quite honestly, not something that Connor had given much thought before that very moment.

The stranger didn’t seem bothered by this, at least. Not really. Or if he did, he did an admirable job in hiding it. Instead, the stallion introduced himself. His words repeated in Connor’s ears, and the bay found himself standing still as he processed the information provided. The LED upon his temple flickered to yellow once, blinking sporadically, before settling once more upon a calm blue.

’I’m Misael from the Kingdom of Halvyen.’ Then, a rather forthcoming, ’Here for a bath?’

Mortals were, quite honestly, rather perplexing creatures. Connor still frowned, looking pensive yet thoughtful. The stallion, Misael, was quite unlike any creature he had crossed paths with thus far. He was brightly colored, a stark contrast to the normality that the artificial bay was accustomed to. A perfect blend of colors, a myriad culmination of colors, blended together with stripes, broad, curled horns, and piercing golden eyes.

Dawn. He looked like dawn. Connor had not seen many sunrises in his months since activation, but he knew that the colors presented before him now on Misael’s coat, dampened and darkened as they were by water, dirt, and grime, reminded him of dawn.

“No,” he answered finally, blinking slowly, “Should I be?” Then, an introduction of his own, because that was how mortal interaction went, right? A mutual exchange of private information? “My name is Connor.”

@Misael - aaaaahhhhhh