Dragon

[draconic_historian]

[video. The screen is initially filled entirely with a giant yellow, reptillian eyeball surrounded by brownish red scales. It backs off to reveal the head of what is unmistakably a dragon. You even catch a thin wisp of smoke emerging from one nostril.]

What a useful toy this is. I just wish it was a little bigger.

A minor matter that I can address later. Know that you have the honor of meeting the dragon Ricasthix. I have decided that your cause is a noble one, and will offer you with what aid that I can in the coming battle against this oppressive reign.

[Action.]

Ricasthix flew over the city, memorizing the layout and eying the people. Specifically, he was looking for a suitably out of the way place to set up his new lair. That he might have caused alarm in the populace was a low worry. He wasn't planning on eating anyone, so they might as well start getting used to him.

Comments

video;

[fintastic]

[ Likewise, a pair of big yellow eyes peer back through the screen, but these are more humanoid, if you ignore the fins, and the gray skin, and the horns. ]

Are you really a dragon?

Re: video;

[draconic_historian]

Yes. I'm not quite sure what YOU are, though.

video;

[fintastic]

I'm a troll!

[ But she won't be deterred! ]

What kind of dragon are you?

[draconic_historian]

Just a dragon. Are there multiple kinds where you come from?

[fintastic]

No, but my friend has a dragon for a lusus, and I raised a dragon once! Sort of. In a weird way.

[ She seems a little unsure of that herself. Time travel and alternate timelines make explaining things a little difficult. ]

[draconic_historian]

You raised a dragon.

[fintastic]

I hatched him and then he got stolen, while he was still a baby.

[draconic_historian]

Sounds like you've got some interesting stories there. Or some sub-par dragons.

[fintastic]

No, I don't think so! If I had known more about dragons, I don't think he would have gotten stolen, if Eridan hadn't offered him lots of shiny things, or if I'd offered even more shiny things.

[draconic_historian]

So were you raising this dragon or paying it tribute?

Also, do you still have more of these "shiny things?"

[fintastic]

I was trying to raise him! He just wanted pretty jewelry.

...and yes I still have some, why?

[draconic_historian]

When they pulled me here, they did not see fit to include my hoard. I shall need to build a new one.

[fintastic]

I appreciate the honesty, at least. I have some spare bracelets. They're gold and they're pretty but they're not comfortable to wear! You can have them if you want.

[draconic_historian]

Just like that? I was expecting to have to haggle favors.

Not that I'm going to stop you if you don't feel that's necessary.

[fintastic]

It usually isn't necessary! I would rather you remember me as "the troll girl who did something nice" than "the troll girl who hassled you", you know?

[draconic_historian]

Well consider your mission a success, then.

[fintastic]

Yessss! Perfect!

I'm Feferi, by the way, I'm really glad to meet you, and not just because you're a dragon! You seem nice.

[draconic_historian]

I imagine my kin haven't left me a high bar to beat. I've known other dragons that would be eating people and torching buildings out of boredom by now.

[fintastic]

Well thank cod you're not like that!

It is actually nice to see someone who's willing to help for once, though. A lot of the humans that show up here get all grouchy about it and want to fight the Initiative instead of helping.

[draconic_historian]

I have the time, I've got thousands of years. Going on a rampage isn't going to solve anything that just being patient for a few years can't.

[fintastic]

That's a good way of looking at it! Anyway, you would probably lessen your chances of getting back to your world if you destroyed this place.

[draconic_historian]

It probably would, yes.

[fintastic]

Soooo... were there any questions you had? Maybe I could answer some!

[draconic_historian]

Too many. I don't even know what the important questions are yet. I may have some for you later, though.

[fintastic]

Alright! Just send me a message whenever, I usually check them right away!

[Action]

[mach_n_roll]

[Sure, most reasonable beings would run away as fast as they possibly can upon seeing a dragon. But what does Sonic do?]

[He follows it.]

[He's amazed, you see, and curious, and if anyone can keep up with a giant airborne lizard from the ground, it's a high-speed parkour master like Sonic.]

[draconic_historian]

[About a minute after Ricasthix realizes what Sonic is doing, he scans for a good landing place. The roof of that factory over there should do fine. It took his weight without even gently cracking.

This left Sonic in the ever nerve wracking situation of being face to face with a dragon.]

Why are you following me?

[mach_n_roll]

[it may be nerve-wracking, but it doesn't phase Sonic... much. He blinks and flashes a grin, staring down his snout.]

Just curious where you were headed. Never met a dragon before! Well... not one that could talk, anyway.

[draconic_historian]

A dragon that can't even manage something as simple as speech is barely worthy of the name.

[mach_n_roll]

Good thing I found one that can to set the record straight, huh?

[draconic_historian]

Er, I suppose.

So what manner of creature are you?

[mach_n_roll]

I'm a hedgehog! Mobian Hedgehog, if you wanna get technical.

[He hops up onto an exhaust duct to gain a little more height against him.]

Sorry I chased ya down, but I was really curious where you were going in a hurry like that.

[draconic_historian]

No where in particular, really.

video

[flightlessbird]

[ oh boy, cue one SUPER EXCITED lookin bird lady ]

Oh! Can you also be a person? Or are you only a dragon? Do you have fire, too?

[draconic_historian]

It comes with the territory, doesn't it?

Dragon: Big, scales, can breathe fire, flies, good at magic.

[flightlessbird]

No. [ pause, frown. ] I do not fly, and do not breathe fire, either. Or magic.

[draconic_historian]

Then, logically, it would follow that you aren't a dragon.

[flightlessbird]

Of course I am. [ like it's just completely obvious ] I am only in my other shape right now.

[draconic_historian]

I can't fly or breathe fire in my human form either.

[flightlessbird]

[ staring, NOT SEEING HIS POINT. but then she shrugs. ]

Where are you? I want to see you without this small window.

[draconic_historian]

At the moment, I'm on the roof of a large building of some kind.

[He glances off to the side.]

Looks like it has a big white dome on one corner with a spire on it.

[flightlessbird]

[ she considers it, then nods. ]

Yes, I know there. I will be there soon, do not leave.

[draconic_historian]

If I must.

[When she arrives, she'll find Ricasthix rather hard to miss. He's thirty eight feet long and red. His tail is hanging over the edge of the building and twitching like a cat's, and his head is visible on a medium length snake-like neck, scanning around the city.]

[flightlessbird]

[ She spends all of her being-impressed time a good distance away, as soon as he comes into sight. By the time she actually hauls herself up onto the edge of the roof, she's back to looking pretty nonchalant. Well, as nonchalant as someone can be wrapped up in a large, furry winter coat. She makes straight for his head, dark eyes wide and interested. ]

You're very large! How old are you?

[draconic_historian]

[Face to face, he is intimidatingly large.]

One hundred and seventy two. I'm probably going to get a lot bigger over the next few centuries.