Ajay Pryde Pieced together rather like Frankenstein's monster, Ajay has an interesting view on life. But he is like anybody who wants a best friend, a mate, a family. Not everyone wants those kinds of people in their life, but Ajay does. The only catch is he is ace. So he will journey with his friends (found family!) to discover what being asexual means to him.
Ace Chroma Pryde and Managa Pryde Ace Chroma is a pretty cheerful person, and a little small for a soquili, perhaps. Her familiar Managa, a tribble, has an attitude as big as a soquili. They thought they were here to support their friends, but maybe this journey is about them, too.
Dumuzi Dumuzi prides itself on being truly Neutral (and has been tricked into doing the wrong thing to achieve that balance in its life) and agender. But, what does agender really mean? What does it matter to Dumuzi? In the past this subject never made it through to its conscious let alone careful consideration. But the thought process involved has a way of feeding on itself and Dumuzi can't help but carefully consider everything.
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This is a story about my lovely pride critters. Please understand that I am working through these questions myself and doing some research and soul-searching to inspire the story's content. Please do not be insulted or upset by anything in the story; it is not about you but about those mentioned. It is not meant to be a definitive explanation for anybody, just what might mean to somebody. That said I do hope you enjoy reading it, and if there is any upsetting content I will try to mark it out clearly.
Dumuzi uses the pronouns it/its/it's. It feels weird to me to use them because I was raised of the mind that 'it' would objectify the person they are used on, but I am hoping to make this meaningful as with everything else here.
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2026 12:26 am
A Wishing Star
A Loyal Companion
Who is Wishing?: Soquili Permission: N/A 10 Things I Like: - Pride (as in the whole month of June!) - The colors Black, silver, white, and purple (Ace flag colors!) - My friends (Ace Chroma and Managa, Dumuzi ) and being in a mixy-mashy small herd - Arguing semantics - Math and Art (school subject and just in general) - Breeding plants (that black rose was natural!) - Running until my paw/hoof prints are fire (or fire in general) - Exclaiming my sentences like this one!!!11!one - Being pieced together like Frankenstein's monster (I have a snaggle tooth!) - Being myself at all times 10 Things I Don't Like: - The color pink - Sex jokes - Just missing that (double!) rainbow or the end of one (do they really never end?) - Limiting myself to 10 likes (and having to come up with 10 dislikes) - Language Arts and P.E. (the school subjects) - People assuming I only like the colors purple and black. Or pink. Or just...assuming - People just assuming anything about me. - People believing I would never choose a mate (love is love, guys!) - Being alone, without a mate. - Fish and water
What does your character leave as an offering for the wishing star? An exquisite, mosaic painting of a rainbow. Short IC Response: Ajay Pryde was accompanied by the rest of his herd, a motley group of soquili and one familiar. They were there for support, and together watched him step away, holding a canvas strapped to his back. When he reached the appointed spot, he pulled a ribbon bow, releasing the painting to his waiting gentle grasp. Carefully he arranged the painting so that it pointed at the wishing star. He cleared his throat. "All I want is... my soul mate. Please." He turned away and stopped mid-step. He set his foot down and turned. "Thank you. Even if you cannot do this thing for me now. I have faith that someday I will find them."
WC: Words will not be counted.
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It all started when Ajay decided he wanted to go and pray to the Wishing Star or whatever it is that you do there. Dumuzi did not really understand the lore or the process. Its tiny friend worked diligently on a painting for several months before he presented it to his friends, in the hopes that it would be worthy of the Wishing Star's ever-watching eye.
At first glance, it was just a pretty picture of a rainbow. "Okay, now, come closer so that your nose almost touches the canvas. Be careful, some places are still tacky!"
His friends complied, and even the tiny tribble Managa was given a good vantage of the painting, on top of Ajay's head. "How's that, my friend?"
"Between you and Ace, I get the best view, I think," the tribble purred.
"That's great. I want to make sure everyone has the best view. Now, everyone, what do you see?"
"I don't see any-fff" Dumuzi blew the long fur out of its eyes and its jaw could have fallen to the floor. "Wooowww."
Ace Chroma's typically bright, cheery smile radiated with an inner glow like the sun. "That's very impressive, Ajay!"
"How did you paint such tiny pictures? How did you know where to paint them?" Dumuzi was always so full of questions and did not disappoint.
"Perhaps I shouldn't tell you." Ajay wore a smug smile, still looking at the painting. But he was merely joking. If anyone, it was Managa who figured that out before he spoke again. He looked down at the patchwork pony and determined what would be said next. "No, I'll tell you. See, I kind of cheated, when..." So Ajay explained everything from color theory to brush size and technique, and they all listened as they engrossed themselves in the mosaic structure. "You can kind of see it in that one there, where I..." He used his devil-like tail to point to things on the canvas. "So you see, as it was lighter there, I added darker paint...and as it was darker here I added lighter paint." By the time Ajay was done explaining all of Dumuzi's increasingly and surprisingly astute questions, and everyone had exhausted themselves craning their necks and squinting, it was meal time.
"I'm still amazed by this wonderful work," Ace Chroma marveled while they grazed in a lush field nearby.
"I still don't get it." Dumuzi may have felt a little contrary, but it wasn't all the attention Ajay was getting. It wasn't that the mare liked the shortie a little more than the taller guy right now. "It's hard to explain, but I really just... I guess I don't understand painting and art in general." It felt a little frustrated, looking for words. "How could anyone take something from their brain and make it into something everyone could see and touch? Or taste, as in the case with food?" It shook its head, a few blades of grass slipping free of its maw, and shrugged.
"Oh, Dumuzi!" It was not Ajay's desire to distress anyone! "If you would like I can help you learn! We can go as fast or as slow as you need. There are so many styles of expressing yourself that you could find your best expression any number of ways. We'll try them all until you find yours, if you want!"
Dumuzi had stopped eating and Ace watched him with worry. It thought, Well of course he is excited to share something like this with Dumuzi. This is his passion, after all. It shouldn't be surprised. But it was. It was hard to see the Hair Monster's jaw could not hang any further open, and impossible for its eyes to show that they were likewise wide open and even a little watery. The smile was also completely hidden. But Dumuzi's tail flicked side to side happily. Everyone saw it. "Oh... okay..." The awe was also apparent in its voice.
Ajay smiled, even grinned ear to ear. Was Ajay smiling that way at Dumuzi or at the situation? The question came unbidden to Dumuzi's mind and left it feeling unbearably lonely for a moment. It blocked the shivers that came up and down its spine. Individual hairs rose in their place, beginning life as a goosebump. Many goosebumps ran down its spine. But the feeling eased back and another, hopeful thought came to mind. One day I will be able to say such things to everyone, and even Ajay will be amazed. But would that day feel lonely too?
If only it knew that Ajay had an opportunity to teach, and yes, this was exciting to Ajay, but Dumuzi was his friend and any opportunity to help a friend was his pleasure.
