RP between Ave, AJ, Degu and Coltara (Part 1)
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Ave — 05/23/2020
It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, prime opportunity to turn over a new leaf and become a GOOD MAN. Yes, that’s right, ladies and gents, Jaxamir the ex-Knight, paragon of depravity, debauchery, and sin, had at last seen the LIGHT was going to be a good boy starting... now. Hallelujah.
Okay, after Jax pays some busty babes for a good time at the local village brothel. When that was over and done with, Jax atoned solemnly that from this moment on, he will take his penance seriously. “Just wait and see,” he’d tell Vaidya, expressing lightly that he had purged himself from a life of wickedness for good. Yes. Yes, this was a surefire way to break his damn curse. Yes! All part of the plan.
Brimstone the warhorse was received from the stables. Time to move on to the next village before Something Bad Happens... again.
Wait.
Where the everloving fuck was the Bride? Jax could have sworn the tiny Indian was by his side this whole time, walking to the stables to pick up their horse and cow. Patience. Remember your sacred vow, Jaxamir. Do not let the absence of the Bride allow you to lose your temper now.
Oh, there’s the Bride. Running. Towards him. “What—?” Jax could hardly get a word out before the Bride cut him off, but he knew that look. The Bride couldn’t help themselves, and with the potential of something valuable stowed away in their red garment, Jaxamir relented and obeyed like a hound promised treats. The sacred vow lasted all but five minutes, a record for Jax, but just like all the other promises (sacred or otherwise), was tossed unceremoniously like yesterday’s garbage. It was time to make like filthy thieves and bust this joint.
Jaxamir mounted his horse and firmly captured the Bride’s hand in his own and brought them up onto he saddle easily. With the poor cow close behind them, they assumed their positions as easily as a woman fits on her favorite leather glove—this situation was all too familiar, and happened like clockwork. Almost every village they’ve been to, one or the other couldn’t help... Being Themselves, and suffered the repercussions together. This was just their way of life, it’s how it’s always been.
Jax gave his massive warhorse a sharp kick, and they were off at breakneck speed.
AJ — 05/24/2020
The Bride--The Nameless one--who wore only titles and nicknames, the Vaidya, Physician, Doctor, once Bride, perhaps Widow... They cut an androgynous figure, dressed in men’s robes, layered under a chogha vest and sash, cuffed pants and soft shoes. Their long wavy hair was a glossy black streaked with grey, pulled back in a tidy bun to reveal soft facial hair running from their sideburns to the start of their jaw.
And they were currently running, shoving their Prize into the heavy folds of their jama and looking pointedly behind them, where a stout scholarly fellow was giving chase, pursued by a guard. Their attention returned forward and they skidded to turn a corner, catching sight of Jaxamir staring in their direction. “Nothing!” The little Indian shouted indignantly, voice a muted tenor. Avoiding the man’s accusation. “It was of no use to them anyhow.” They reached out a long hand as they drew near.
Sometimes their lives felt like an endless loop of the Exact Same Scenario playing out over and over again. Enter a town, attract the ire of the Guard, or the mayor, or whatever authority, and promptly flee on Brimstone’s back. Looking at the pair, it would be easy to assume Jaxamir was the usual suspect. And they would be correct. But maybe,
occasionally,
rarely,
the Vaidya would concede they were at fault. Once in a blue moon. Usually it was Jaxamir’s wanted poster. Claims of Kidnapping. This time it just happened to be the Bride’s sticky fingers. With Jaxamir’s strength, they easily swung up onto the warhorse’s back, and with a click of their tongue, the well-dressed kankrej cow followed. Letting out a thoughtful “mhhhuh,” she broke into a hasty trot after the pair.
The city hardly had time to muster a force, and the pair took off in a heavy gallop towards the town gates, the Indian clinging to Jaxamir’s middle and looking behind them with a hard expression. As they closed in on the entrance, the guard scrambled to pull the leavers, but Brimstone was swift and tore through the heavy oak doors before they could even climb into position.
The dappled silver cow was the only issue, lagging behind the pair as she beat the path with all her might. The gates started to close and she let out a few distressed honks, tossing her head angrily. “Gaya,” the physician hissed over their shoulder, unable to do anything to assist their dowry cow. It looked as if she didn’t need it; putting her head down, she tossed it threateningly at one guard who backed out of the way of her horns, and took off in a full sprint, charging down the narrowing opening. She burst through just in time with an impressive MOO, landing with a thud and taking off at full speed down the path after the pair.
It wasn’t long before the guard assembled and took off after them. The Bride stared behind them with a stiff expression before they ducked under Jaxamir’s arm, grabbing at Brimstone’s reigns. They were calculating. Eyes darting across the paths up ahead. Next town was on the left, but on the right... They tugged on the reigns—not harshly, just enough for Jaxamir and Brimstone to get the idea. “Into the forest. The terrain will be rough; they will have trouble following us.”
The group veered off towards the hauntingly dark twist of trees and brambles, crunching through leaves and picking their way carefully over exposed roots. They slowed to a crawl, but it allowed Ajaa, the cow, to catch up and the group quickly disappeared into the thick brush.
Things quickly turned into an argument on whether or not they were lost, bickering on whether they were safer here or if they should have taken the left path. “I feel something uneasy,” the Vaidya eventually admitted, looking up at the trees blotting out the sky. “Heavy magic. I am not sure.” What they’d experimented with didn’t feel like this. They discussed it at length with the dragon, pinpointing a general direction. Curiosity had them plod on, and they’d finally settled their nerves that they were no longer being pursued, the night fully upon them. So when Ajaa and Brimstone’s ears perked up to a sound, they didn’t react perhaps as quickly as they should have.
“HALT.” The Bride froze, twisting around on the warhorse’s back and smacking Jaxamir’s shoulder agitatedly. “You don’t know what you’ve taken—"
“Ja’o! Ja’o! Go!” With a loud whiney, Brimstone took off again. They were headed straight for... Whatever they were feeling. Another argument broke out with Jaxamir, but they reasoned that perhaps it was something that would give the guards pause. A haunted witch’s tower or something.
Neither of them noticed the arch of the trees, curved inwards as if to form a natural doorway. Instead they focused on the large root they had to jump in the dim light, taking the leap and feeling a weight—heavy, lifting in the Bride’s stomach and then dropping again.
And then the powerful muscles of Brimstone bucking the pair off in fright, and Ajaa’s sharp, terrified moo.
The Vaidya had been bucked off Brimstone’s back a few times in the past, and they hit the ground hard but managed to roll, fumbling to hold onto their Prize and unsheathe their shimshar. They finally came to a stop in a tangle of leaves and scrambled to their knees, ready once again to fight off guards.
Degu — 05/24/2020
The transition was often daunting. When they regained a sense of their surroundings they were in no mere forest but one absolutely saturated with both magic and megaflora. Every tree seemed to be hundreds of years old, taller and wider than any some had ever seen before, dotted with brightly glowing mushrooms like stars. Movement among the trees was hard to spot, but among those glowing toadstools were ring-like eyes. Bright pink, green and white, three pairs boring down on them from high in the branches predatorially.
The court guard watched the gate closely and were quick to descend from the trees. Three of them, each gliding down with seemingly unfeasible but beautiful iridescent insectoid wings. “Halt, newcomers.” Called pink-eyes, the tallest of the three with the darkest skin. Holding a spear, he makes contact, keeping it raised against his shoulder in some attempt to be ready for action while remaining non-hostile. Each are armoured in a uniform black carapace, iridescent in its own rights with hues of purples and greens.
All three of them seem vaguely concerned with the animals. One of the guard’s coo’s softly to the poor, disorientated cow while the other man keeps his sharp eyes on the horse as it wanders away a short distance.
“You’ve arrived ‘pon Anexus through a Gate of Aetheros” Pink-eyes tells them, voice laden thickly with a strangely flowing accent that seems to have a patchwork of influences, a soup of Welsh, Irish-Gaelic and Scottish-Gaelic. With the tip of his spear he points towards the arching mossy stone crescent above their heads almost as large as the forest clearing itself. “Whether your arrival is intentional or otherwise, If you plan to stay we can direct you towards the city of Thornmouth. None are permitted west of here without clearance.” His eyes linger on Jaxamir if the man hasn’t already lunged at him, his eyes seeming to pierce the man’s soul as if seeking the truth behind it, like he was on the cusp of figuring the man out. The same look is later reserved for Vaidya. Curious, it seemed.
The court guard liked to check-out the newcomers but they didn’t seem to have any interest in policing them beyond directing them away from the fae-lands and ensuring they’re not wanted criminals by fae-standards. Part of their truce with the East involved allowing new citizens to arrive and leaving them unmolested upon arrival. The captain points a sharp finger East “Follow the beaten trail to the city of fallen thorns that they call ’Thornmouth’, The so-called *’Faewatch’ will greet you at the fort and get you your papers to file for citizenship if you so wish.” These words drip from his tongue like venom, the contempt held for the city and its ‘faewatch’ are as clear as day.
Ave — 05/25/2020
Praise the good cow Sir Loin Steak, who, once again, proved that she was more than just a walking, brainless piece of meat to salivate over (the inner dragon ALWAYS gave the cow a hungry stare, at the ire of her master). Jaxamir had little time to praise the beast for her heroic efforts, for there was the matter of... escaping.
Of course they were being pursued. How typical.
"HEY, we're kind of BUSY RIGHT NOW--" Jaxamir absolutely loathed the Bride assuming role as rider when he was at the front steering the horse. Fortuntely the ex-Knight caught on quick, eyes following the new pathway spread out ahead of them. "Way ahead of you. Alright! Into the forest! Let's go!" He gave Brimstone his head, and they were off, as fast as the wind.
Brimstone was made for running around tight obstacles, for he was no ordinary horse. Built tall and wiry, curiously heavy but without the excess bulk like a draft to drag him down in a race. After several years of carrying Jax and Vaidya's weight, he was used to all the escape attempts... even if he did not particularly appreciate the lifestyle. Is it terribly wrong for a horse of his caliber to enjoy a life grazing by a nice lake? Is that too much to ask for? Apparently, it is. Regardless, poor Brimstone carried both ex-Knight and the Bride into the forest.
Unfortunately, this was not the kind of forest for Brimstone to simply ease his way around. There were tangles of treeroots and low-hanging branches to worry over (especially since Jax was a particularly tall fellow, he kept getting THWACKED in the face). Even if Brimstone had his way, Ajaa was a clumsy creature and would need time to catch up. As a result, their progress slowed.
The location of this supposed 'magic' post argument had the grumbling ex-Knight at least agree; going somewhere was better than going nowhere. Moving forward, Jax could sense it, too, even if it was faint (for him, anyway). Oh, how he missed being a dragon.
At least they were no longer being pursued. Oop, Jax had this internal thought a bit too prematurely. "Fucking HELL," he snarled. The pursuers' voices did not go unheard--"THE HELL DID YOU TAKE?" Jax shouted at the Bride. "IT HAD BETTER BE WORTH A FORTUNE, OR I WILL FLAY YOU ALIVE." And, off they went again. Jaxamir was not a terribly observant individual unless something captured his interest (like gorgeous women or sparkly jewels); not even a twisty tree was hardly worthy of excitement, but by golly, they leapt over the evil roots, charged right through that peculiar archway--
Only to be bucked off the dang horse. Jax fell face-first into the dirt, collecting a mouthful of rotten leaves and dirt. After a moment of wishing for that vacation with hot babes and a beach, he grumbled and glowered and glared at everything as he rose up, dusting off his heavy coat and armor. One thing he noted: they were no longer being pursued. Jax immediately called for his horse. "Brimstone! BRIM!" The beast whickered indignantly in reply, prancing away with a swish of his tail. He has had ENOUGH of this bullshit, clearly. "Brim, to me!" Jax whistled sharply, but still, Brim would not come. "SO MUCH FOR LOYALTY!" He shouted at the horse, who happily munched on a patch of grass in the distance with his rear facing his master. Even a horse could teach the dragon a lesson, damnit.
Jax did a mental checklist. Bristome--off somewhere being dumb. Vaidya--alive, good, check. Sir Loin Steak... still the best cow ever. Now... where the heck are they?
Big trees, glowing shrooms, weird atmosphere. Uh-oh, Toto, looks like we're not in Kansas anymore. "Vaidya, where the f--"
Halt, newcomers. Jaxamir immediately unsheathed his sword, acting more on the fight or flight mentallity considering the place they had just left. "Who speaks?" Jax demanded, gripping his greatsword one-handed while he made a fist with the other. Creatures the like Jax had never seen before descended upon them.
One spoke, and Jaxamir, still holding Bite in front of him, gave a leery look to the one with pink eyes and dark skin. "The fuck are you trying to say? I can't fuckin' understand you with that accent. Speak plainly, or I won't hesitate to run you through with steel. We're tired, hungry, and have little patience for this nonsense." Oops, Vaidya, best you take care of this situation before Jaxamir Does Something Stupid Again.
AJ — 05/26/2020
“Nothing they would miss. They just had it for display, not to learn from.”
---
All the Vaidya needed to hear was ‘Halt’ and they whirled around on the speaker, stumbling to their feet and wielding their shimshar with practiced grace. They’d had a competent teacher. Still, they made for a sight with twigs in their mussed greying hair, embroidered clothing disheveled with dirt and leaves. They looked like a scholar down on their luck. They held a hand out to Jaxamir, trying to silence him to answer their watchers.
These were not the same guards, and the physician took a moment to soak in their surroundings proper, their normally sleepy countenance piqued with a slightly wide-eyed... wonder wasn’t the right word—bewilderment. The ancient looming flora was a far cry from the sickly twisted trees they had been stalking through. Although they had encountered many magical beings in their adventures with Jaxamir, those had taken places largely in sandy deserts, and these new watchers they had trouble placing. Still, the magic here was palpable.
“Shhh.” They sidestepped quickly, lowering their curved sword and darting to Jaxamir’s side. A hand outstretched and then rested on his breast, easily a soothing movement, if not for the intense irritation creasing the little doctor’s features. If they hadn’t a sword in their other hand, they would be pinching the bridge of their long hooked nose. Instead, the Bride looked up at those watching them. They had no background to identify the thick accent that had come their way, but their own androgynous tenor was similarly touched by a faintly sing-songy Gujarati accent, a relative of Hindi.
“My friend is easily disoriented, and it makes him testy. Our... arrival was unintentional. Where is Anexus? If you can answer our questions. And we will head east at your discretion.” Wherever east was. They felt like they were pushing their luck, hoping for answers. To drive the point home, the Vaidya stepped a soft, slippered foot on top of Jaxamir’s fully plated one so they could lean in close. A warning to stay silent.
If the faery guard’s eyes bothered to linger long on them, he would see a lot of things. And much more lacking underneath. A story, if he had the skill to interpret it. The cow, too, was certainly different; odd, not quite mundane. She looked up at the coo, belting out a dreamy “muu”, before nodding and tossing her head at the faery. Dipping to nose at the snippets of grass poking up through the underbrush, she snuffed her distaste and ambled slowly after Brimstone instead, getting playfully combative with his patch of Lunch.
Degu — 05/27/2020
The threat seemed to pass like electricity among the court guard. The fae all seemed to come to life, eyes glowing more brightly and their lips peeling back into terrifying grins full of sharp teeth. They seemed amused by the prospect of a hostile arrival. Surely the fool would understand what they'd said if they cut it into him? The captain of their group uttered something lowly in a strange language and around them tiny lights appeared, fluttering faeries... one might assume they were even greater numbers of court guard. They lit the trees and if one were to look up they'd see the bodies of many pierced upon branches and hanging from vines. These were effigies, these were warnings of what they were within their rights to do should anyone pass beyond their checkpoint without permission, or ...of course, threaten them.
Vaidya's hushing and insertion might have come too late, though they listened and silently debated whether they needed to let these people go after the initial threat. They were nobodies in this land and perfect additions to the effigies.
Answer their questions? they were debating whether to let them live or not, let alone do anything beyond that for them.
The cow was their saviour, it seemed. That dreamy 'muu' had all their heads snapping rather robotically towards the sweet animal. Green-eyes looked back at them and there was a silent stare-down. There goes green-eyes again, falling in love human-food and wanting to keep it.
A frustrated exhale escaped the captain before being replaced with a sly, toothy grin. With lidded eyes he leans in a little too close towards Jax and tests the mans patience with only a smug stare "We'll answer your questions... but only for the sake of your animals." he then locks eyes with the bride, fascinated by that strange aura but saying nothing.
"Anexus is a world, It was created for magic, by magic. The mundane masses continue to taint it and dilute it as they have on every other world they infest."
His words dripped with venom. "To the west are the lands we've managed to preserve against their onslaught. To the east" A pointy, long finger was jabbed in the direction of the city "Thornmouth sits where our thorns once did. The last mundane city before our lands... not so mundane now" he smirked smugly "You will find it somewhat hospitable if you are each unique..."
He rose up to his full height, eyes glowing brightly and his teeth baring as he raised his spear, rising up slowly. The lights in the trees began to pulsate aggressively with increasing speed.
"Now my patience is wearing THIN. Either LEAVE through the gate or HEAD TO THE TOWN lest you become a part of the EFFIGY!"
Green-eyes was apparently a lot sweeter than his captain and hurried to the animals, doing what he could to fetch them their critters and bring them back over before his captain and white-eyes ran them through. Fae were not good tourist information boards.
Ave — 05/27/2020
The nerve! Jax knew about fae, the mischevious little bastards, but these ones were different than some of the fae-folk he knew back home. He was no stranger to magic, considering what he is--used to be--and Jax had lived for a long, long time. One of the fae got up in his face, and that was a big no-no. The challenge would not go unheeded! The ex-Knight's fist tightened around the hilt of Bite, ready to perform just what the name of his sword intended--but then Vaidya, bless their soul, came along to quell his anger. It worked when Jax was not already so riled up, and so he peered down at the tiny Indian, somewhat perplexed by their restlessness.
"What?" Jax snapped at his comically much shorter companion, but he knew perfectly well their predicament. Jax looked back at the twisted tree of which they entered through. That was a portal? Hmm. Face the guards, or accept the second chance the fae were granting them? Jax was not easily one to accept defeat, but exhaustion won this round. He did not like the idea of jumping from the frying pan and into the fire right now, and besides, he wanted to live long enough to see what the Indian stole.
Jax forcibly swallowed his pride. "UGGGGHH, alright, alright, fine." Bite was slid back into its sheath, and he held up his hands to show that he yielded. "WELL." He clapped Vaidya on their back. The force might accidentally knock them forward a bit. "It seems fate saw fit to spare us from... ah... uh..." He glanced at the excitable fae, with their disturbing, hungry looks. "The uh... evils that pursued us from the other side. Even these--um--noble creatures seem willing to grant us clemency. This is the chance for a NEW LIFE." More like, a fresh start to steal from every village available, visit every brothel, and get absolutely smashed in every pub. His shit-eating grin did little hide that his heart was not exactly into his words; it was like he was reading from a script. "As much as I do not blame the each of you for wanting my body strung up on your branches, I think it would be best if we go on our way." Suddenly, his face screwed up as though he was constipated. His lips parted, but his teeth were glued shut. He looked like he struggled to say something, and perhaps at Vaidya's behest, Jax relented and grunted a "thanks" at the fae as they brought them their animals. 'Thanks' should cover everything, right?
Jax patted Brimstone's nose, who seemed even tempered now that he calmed down and had a semi-full stomach (Brim loved Ajaa and let the poorly abused cow have all the yummy grass she wanted, okay). "Ready to pursue our next adventure, Vaidya?"
AJ — 05/27/2020
The Vaidya looked up at the twisted ornaments, their face more muted intrigue than anything truly emotive. They feared they were too late in silencing Jaxamir’s outburst, and they waited silently as the fae twittered in the trees above them. Perhaps they should have groveled. Should they now? ...They decided they would rather die. The physician’s ire once again turned to Jaxamir for putting them in this situation, but they would go down swinging their sword at his side if it came to that. Still, they grabbed at Jaxamir’s wrist with their free hand to prevent him from swinging Bite. Jaxamir of course did them a solid and slid the bloody thing away.
As attention snapped to their familiar, the Bride’s eyes followed a bit more hesitantly, eyebrows tenting thoughtfully at their reaction. But the words that followed caused a subtle tension in their shoulders, staring up at the watchers intensely.
No offer came. No threat to trade their companions for their lives. Weirdly, the tensioned ebbed even as the shock of the fae’s booming voice washed over them. They didn’t want the retched cow. They weren’t separating them. The fae watcher’s anger left them in an odd trance.
“Oh—" The dragon’s firm hand caught the Bride off guard, and they stumbled forward, grabbing at it tightly. “Yes--yes.” Jaxamir was taking the fae’s ire in stride, but the little Mughal approached it more carefully. “Thank you for answering our question. Your generosity is...” They looked to the man as he struggled out his ‘gratitude’, their lip pulled in a grimace attempting to play itself off as a grin. Yes, that. Composed, they turned back to cock their head in feigned graciousness at their welcoming party. “Let us depart before our hosts retract their kind offer.” Their polite, airy tenor only passably hiding their sarcasm as they lowered in a shallow bow and retreated.
They had no other choice, did they? Back through this ‘gate’ were more guards. One world was as good as another. They’d slipped through once before.
“I suppose we’ve no choice,” their voice dropping low as they grabbed at Ajaa’s bridle and led her off—rather quickly—in the general direction the fae had indicated. She nosed her owner happily and trotted along without protest, swatting her tail. The Vaidya deigned to take the lead and let Jaxamir and Brimstone follow, more confident in their own ability to navigate the... Megafauna forest. Of which they had no previous experience with. Well, neither did the dragon, they mused.
Degu — 05/27/2020
Silver-tongues recognised a failed script rather easily, but they also recognised the effort and supposed they'd let them go...if only because green-eyes would be 'sad' if they separated the cow from those it was fond of... the horse would manage but not that sweet little cow.
The captain sneered after them and turned away, shrinking himself back down to return to the trees. They were followed by twinkling lights for a short distance and then finally left alone once they passed a waterfall. Up ahead on a small island down stream at the centre of a large pond was a tall and unnaturally twisted oak. If one looked more closely they might see the faint impressions of body parts within it, faces, arms. A thick mist surrounded the edges of the forest and made visibility a little hard
The sounds from the swamp and the forest were strange at this time, unusual animals calling to each other, occasional zips of light across the canopy... there was an almost permanent sense of being watched but one might find it hard to tell if it were animals, people or the trees watching them.
Passing the large, twisted oak would reveal the light of a fire dramatically striking a large stone in the night. The fire seemed to be hidden on top of a rocky platform on the opposite side of a 'path' but whoever was at said fire was hidden by the trunk of a large tree.
The light, somehow seemingly focused upon the stone opposite, soon became cause for alarm as the shadow of a 'HUGE' dragon slowly stepped into view, its teeth bared and its head down and snarling It was a long snouted thing with a mane and two large horn(s) arching back behind its head. Low growls and snarls echoed through the forest threateningly, wings rising and its tail whipping back and forth.
Ave — 05/28/2020
Jaxamir is an arrogant, courageous fool, even in the worst of times. As the ex-Knight mounted his steed, he gave a lazy, smarmy wave of his hand at the fae. "Farewell," he said with the smuggest smirk ever seen on a man like him, but at least on his big ol' mug, it fit. They had just narrowly escaped death, of course he was going to be a smug shit about it.
The forest positively exuded magic, and even Jax, whose abilities were suppressed, could feel it. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Sure, sure, the megafauna was impressive, whatever. What he was more interested in was the potential treasure buried in this place... if there were any. Travelers must come through here often. Perhaps Jax could... ease their burdens for them.
Speaking of treasure. Did the Vaidya think they were going to go scott-free without being grilled for answers about the object hidden under their jama? "So..." Jax strode his horse next to Vaidya and their cow, having the air of someone about to flirt. "About that you-know-what. There has to be a story, and you know how I just love stories, so..." He sideglanced with a simpering smile. "Tell me all about it."
Perhaps the story was best saved for another time. They had been followed out by the small lights for a time, and then a fog had rolled in, all things Jax had not noticed until now. Great, just great. Not to mention the unusual sounds, and the feeling of being watched. Okay, Jax will admit it, he did not like being watched by things he could not see. Maybe it was just him--
FIRE! Jax reigned in his horse, watched as the light came alive, and the shadow that stepped into view. The large, horned creature whose wings spread aloft was undoubtedly... "A dragon," Jax muttered darkly, voice laced with obvious jealousy and hatred. Unable to take the form of a dragon himself any longer, he found contempt for all things serpentine. "Stand back, Vaidya. Allow me."
In one motion, Jax slid off of Brim, and moved a hand to the hilt of his sword. The ruby brooch on the leather strap across his chest seemed to come alive as he boldly approached. There was a strange aura about Jax, if anyone could sense it about him; there was something uncanny and... more than what was visible to the naked eye. If there was any fear of being scorched, the ex-Knight did not seem to give a rat's ass. "Step aside. We require passage through here, and you're in our way... dragon."
AJ — 05/28/2020
Ajaa was as sweet as a peach, fluttering her big soft eyelashes at the fae before ambling after her companions.
The little Mughal looked pensive as they walked, at least for a time, lost in their own thoughts before becoming lost in the world around them. They dragged Jaxamir down by stopping to look at the flora, wondering aloud what medicinal properties—if any—they could possess. So caught up were they that Jax and Brim trotted in close, and the physician either wilfully ignored them or was so taken in by the scenery as to be completely oblivious. They didn’t look at him, crouching down to fondle a mushroom instead. As they rose again, arms crossed their chest to protect their prize and show their contempt. And they waved a finger to admonish his nosiness and flirty tone.
But eventually they spoke. “A book.” Another one. Of course it was. Most of their ‘prizes’ were books, as Jaxamir was well aware. Books on anatomy, books on foreign medicines and surgery, concepts of healing, banned arts. “This one is different. But I think I can learn from it. If I have anything of the Arts in me.” That was probably all he would get from them for now. This wasn’t the place. The lights made them uneasy; the sounds of the forest weren’t helping matters. As the group walked, they carefully wedged themself between Ajaa and Jaxamir on Brimstone, looking up to meet his eye. No, they felt it too. But even that looming, oppressive feeling couldn’t take away from the intrigue they found in the tree, and it caught the Vaidya’s attention immediately. This they would have to investigate.
But as they approached to move past it, new sights caught Jaxamir’s attention. Jaxamir dismounted from Brimstone, and the Bride obliged to stay behind him, still holding Ajaa by the bridle.
...
Yeah right.
They released the cow, who simply dipped her head with a murmur and went to munching on grass. The little physician, of course, put their hand on Jaxamir’s shoulder, following close behind him. They had to get a look at this dragon up close, even as he threatened it. The creature would see Jaxamir’s imposing figure, and a little scholar with a curiously neutral expression, tight-lipped but punctuated by a subtle, curious lifting of their sleepy eyebrows. Oh...! Their free hand flittered near their mouth.
Degu — 05/28/2020
Enfield grinned devilishly at his own shadow, making sure he could see ALL his teeth but- oh- wait, someone was talking to him? HIM? a dragon?! It was so thrilling to be called a dragon by a stranger when sometimes folks didn't quite recognise him as such... He wasn't entirely dragon-like in appearance, an almost canine shape seemed to mingle with the genes of his mother.
But wait, in their way? did they think he was guarding the path below? "I'm NoT iN y-" a comically pubescent voice squeaked from between the trees, thwarting any attempt at sounding like a big scary dragon. He cleared his throat and leapt down into the path in front of them from atop the rock...nowhere near as large as his shadow, nor as impressive. What had been rigid horns in shadow form were merely big floppy goblin-esque ears bent back in a way that could only ever be deceiving in silhouette-form. A thick mane like a curly afro ran from his spine, over his neck to the adorable puff at the top of his head and ruby-red scales covered the majority of his body.
He tilted his head at them, sniffing the air with a fanged grin. The measly dragon, just about the size of a lion at this age, approached only a few paces only to stop at the sight of Jaxamir's sword, big inquisitive eyes flicking between Vaidya and him, focusing in rather hard on that brooch the moment his eyes passed it. The fur on his body seemed to stand on end and his ears pricked upwards, a little drool falling from his chin although he were looking at something quite delicious. Oh he wanted that. He wanted it so much that he had to fight for the sense not to try to take it.
"Oh! you came through the gate. Right? I know there's one out there somewhere!" he hadn't seen it yet because he didn't think his dad would like him to venture that close to the court guard. "I know the way to the town! you want a guide? I don't cost much. I'll give you a tour of the whole city if you want! what are your names? I'm Enfield!" he said it all without sparing a few seconds of breath in-between, practically bubbling with energy to the point that he ended up bouncing up and down on his front talons.
Ave — 06/04/2020
"A book," echoed Jax tonelessly, staring deadpan on top of Vaidya's head. "All this for a fucking book. You and I are going to have a long chat about what we should prioritize." Yes, he managed to say this while staring down a potential threat. "Back!" Jax thrust out a hand to ensure that the Bride would not be foolish and step on ahead, the hand lingering on Bite's hilt, narrowing his eyes at the movement over the rock, getting a good look at this 'dragon'.
Oh. Oh.
Jax grunted in apparent disappointment, and released Bite, visibly folding his arms. If there was one thing in the world Jax hated more, was a child, no matter the form it took. Especially the squeaky and excitable kind, like this one demonstrated. Still, children were immune to harm where Jax was concerned--at least he had that going for his 'moral code'. When the dragon-child eyeballed his cursed gem, however, Jaxamir scowled and slapped his hands over it as a gesture of jealousy and protectiveness. Mine.
"We do not need a guide. Get out of here, Pup." Jax nudged Vaidya. "Let's go. WAIT." He held out a hand again. "PUP." He pointed at the dragon, almost accusatory. "You make it sound like you know the city. They welcome our kind into its boundaries?" Just what kind of place was this if they allowed DRAGONS of all things? Back where he came from, dragons were not very nice creatures, and often condemned by humans, and killed on sight. Jaxamir... was a special case.
AJ — 06/05/2020
Jaxamir’s second attempt to hold them back was met with as much consideration as the first. They reached out to grab onto the arm he was trying to shove them away with, scowling up at him mutely. Excuse you. The squeak of the young dragon’s voice and the curve of his stunted form got a disparaging snort from the Vaidya, an inquisitive tilt of their head as they followed close behind Jaxamir. If the older dragon hadn’t covered his gem protectively, the twitch of their lip (hiding a sneer) suggested that the little Indian might have moved to intervene themself. Despite being completely physically unimposing to the likes of even a small dragon.
They opened their mouth to protest as Jaxamir shooed the child-dragon off, elbowing him back at the shove. “We may,” they whispered hoarsely, unsure how keen the young one’s hearing was. They started to move past him, intent on getting a better look like he was some caged spectacle. “Is this a city of your kind?” It stood to reason; he didn’t seem at all surprised to see Jaxamir. In any form. “How old are you?” If Jaxamir didn’t make another attempt to pull them back (he was probably used to having to stop the crazy little doctor from touching people like they were objects!), they’d step closer with a curious glint. The request for a name was utterly ignored, not that they had one to give. His mannerisms were taxing, but he was certainly intriguing.
Degu — 06/15/2020
Enfield scowled and tossed his head back, ears folding back as he turned to prance away with a grumpy flare of his wings and sassy flick of his tail "Fine! Find your own way... see if I care if you wander into the devastating poisonous fog of death, or into the grand pit of vipers" all entirely made up, of course, but hey... keep them keen, right?
When he was called to wait he sighed and looked over his shoulder at them, head tilted as if to say 'What?' "...haha... our...?" he sniffed at the air as he stared at Jax before going wide eyed and rushing over "You're a dragon!? ...woah! a GUY dragon? With my group there's just a buncha girls and my brothers but they're younger than me. I bet you have LOADS of spikes and big teeth! What colour are your scales? can I see?- oh um" he backed off a bit, trying not to dance on his front talons too much.
"Yeah! uh- sure, they're kinda spooked by us but as long as we aren't part of the big flight up north they're ok. The Penmoor Isles dragons are apparently pretty scary. I want to meet them really but dad says I shouldn't risk it."
Then again, dad also probably had a few words about talking to random strangers in the damn forest.
Big yellow-orange eyes then fixed on Vaidya "So not my kind, just a few of us. It's a lot of folk... it started out mundane and then lots of magic folk integrated into it because of where it is I guess? that's kind of what I got from the books anyway. I did a lot of reading in the library already" he rambled without barely a breath between sentences "I am ALMOST 15! so, a fully grown man. Yeah, I grow beard hAIRs-" he squeaked hoarsely as his voice cracked again, huffing.
"So I guess don't eat the people here, right?" more directed at Jax, obviously "Or they'll probably sell your parts for medicine, you know what they're like with us dragons .. um- So do you need that brooch?" he asked abruptly at the end, leaning towards the draconic thing Jax wore as if hoping to pry it away with his teeth.
Ave — 07/08/2020
“Sounds like a challenge. I’ll pick my teeth with their bones. Let’s go, Vaidya.” Except now the Bride was distracted, which made Jax throw his head back and groan. When attention diverted back to him, this time from the kid, Jax smirked at Vaidya. Haw, haw, he’s more interested in me than you-u-u. He puffed out his chest proudly. “I am Jaxamir, the mightiest dragon of all the land, and with a mountain of magnificent treasures that is the envy of all dragonkind.” Yes, even Jaxamir had a hoard. And if Vaidya remembered, another dragon encroached upon Jax’s territory in his long absence, and laid claim to it. Jax will never admit his loss. As far as he knows, that hoard is still his. The new dragon laughed and laughed and blew Jax and Vaidya away with a mighty snort. “And this is my human, Vaidya.” He clapped Vaidya on the back. A fond gesture, but somehow considered them an afterthought. You’ll have to forgive him; he never liked sharing the spotlight.
“I... cannot transform.” This was the first time Jax had ever outwardly admitted to anyone that he cannot take his real shape, and he looked rather sour about it, too. He scowled. “Sure, kid, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Don’t think Jax didn’t see the way the little red dragon looked at his brooch, or inched closer. He even made that comment which earned a very dragonish response from Jax, who growled. “Its not for sale. Or stealing,” Jax pointed out. “Do not test me, child.” He bared his teeth, an odd thing for a human to do.
He puffed out his cheeks as he watched Vaidya fawn over Enfield. In OBVIOUS jealousy, Jax stepped up to Vaidya, hoisted them up and over his massive shoulder like hunted meat. Any sign of protest went ignored. How could Vaidya find a dumb kid more interesting than him, who is a REAL dragon? Not some... yappy mutt.
“I’d love to see them try to take me for their ‘medicine’. It’ll be the last thing they do.” He’d started to walk away, whistling sharply for Sir Loin and Brim to follow. “Where to, kid? Show us the way out, and I might let you look at my shiny brooch again.”
AJ — 07/11/2020
The little Bride looked up to meet Jaxamir’s mocking stare, their lips frowning but the look not quite reaching their eyes. Oh, it just meant they could get a better look while he was distracted. But as they looked to Enfield again, that comment (and the clap of a hand) snapped their head back. “Your human?” By the gentle, quiet tone of their androgynous voice, Jaxamir knew he’d be hearing about this later. They were still quietly fuming at his admission, and were it any other situation may have offered comfort.
“Ah, I see.” Some mismatched city of dragons and humans—and magic folk. “Library?” They’d almost spaced off at the thought of this city but that caught their attention instead, and they waved off his discussion about age, despite having been the one to ask for it. “There is a library?” Someone stop this tiny Indian before they got the pair kicked out of another town—
They’d already shuffled themself between Jaxamir and Enfield out of intrigue, idly fidgeting their fingers as they stared at him unabashedly, but almost subconsciously planted their feet down as if to stand as an extra barrier between the little upstart and that brooch as well. A very fleshy, easily-broken barrier. So that when two large hands reached out and picked them up with no effort at all, it caught the little physician by complete surprise. They squeaked, flailing their feet in confusion first and then clutching their arms to their chest to keep their stolen prize from tumbling out of their breast. Hoisted like a sack of potatoes onto his shoulder, they hung uselessly, squirming and complaining loudly in Gujarati.(edited)
Degu — 07/14/2020
Enfield rose a spiky brow and tilted his head, gigantic ears flopping to one side "Uhh you can't transform? ...so you aren't the mightiest dragon with a big pile of treasures? you just were?" he knew he was pushing buttons, toothily grinning as Vaidya was picked up "You can't OWN humans, I think that's illegal.- haha he's carrying you like a sack of angry flour" he snorted and bounded off ahead.
"I can't transform all the way human, you know? we're PRACTICALLY BROTHERS!" he told this...fully grown man he just met "I keep all the scales on my arms and my legs and a buncha red freckles. I'd change but uh, my clothes are at home." he shrugged his wings.
"Yeah there's a huuuge library. Won't be open right now but I spend a lot of time there when I'm not, you know, being master of worlds ...the most powerful dragon there is..." he said it with such a casual eye roll and a tail flick.
"Actually ..." the cogs in Enfield's brain were turning. He looked back at Vaidya, at Jax, at the brooch and then back ahead.
"I'm probably late for dinner! ... why don't you join us? there's always plenty of food and- you could stay the night! until morning anyway before you explore the city? We live right outside the city in the forest houses! Me, one of my mums and my main dad. My Dad's a SASQUATCH and my mum's a SOUL DRAGON, you should definitely at least meet my mum! My birth mother is a red orium dragon like me, but my adopt-mom is a blue sea dragon!" he bounded off ahead until they saw the glow of torches and a watch tower.
The guards jumped as a dragon came running their way and Enfield slowed down "It's just me again!" he yelled out and slowed as they looked up at the other two following him "They're with me boys!" the guards stepped out anyway to get a better look before nodding them through. Not fae? not their problem.
Ave — 08/09/2020
Jax has Had Enough (tm), and ached to find a tavern and drown in good, amber beer. Did this world have anything like that? “Yes, my human,” snapped Jax warily, knowing that he was going to getting an earful later and not giving any fucks about it (spoiler: he WILL regret it).
“Fu—I mean—“ Jax cast an irked look to the young dragon, catching himself just in time before a swear exploded from his lips. “EFF the library. I need a place to sit my a—butt down with beautiful girls delivering good beer to me. Vaidya, do not waste your time on sordid tomes when you could enjoy life more, surrounded by music and bouncing....” Jax made a peculiar, suggestive gesture in the air behind Enfield’s back. God, can someone please kick this sexist bastard in the shin? Might need steel-toed boots or something equivalent to get the point across; he was well armored.
Now with the Bride slung unceremoniously over his shoulder and their mounts following, Jax obliged to shadow the young dragon into the city. “Watch it, boy,” he growled, clearly offended that Enfield resorted to mockery. “What is this fantasy you have conjured? We’re not brothers.”
Jax perked up like a dog at the mention of food. “Food, you say?” Without waiting to hear Vaidya’s input, the ex-Knight smiled wide. “Supply me with a huge slab of steak, and I will share stories of our adventures.” He smacked the Bride’s rear. “FOOD, Vaidya! Delicious food!” On cue, Jax’s stomach gave a humongous growl. He smacked his stomach with a grin. “Oh, how I’ve missed meat... I’m tired of eating fu—effing grass. A dragon does not eat grass, Vaidya.”
Jax fell quiet, listening to Enfield talk about his parentage. “Red orium dragon?” Jax blinked. “I have not heard of such a beast.”
Tired of hauling Vaidya around, the ex-Knight plucked them from his shoulder, and placed them, surprisingly gently, onto the ground. He probably realized carting around a protesting human was not ideal in front of guards.
“Of course, yes, whatever you say, I’ll meet whoever you want me to meet as long as there’s food.”(edited)
AJ — 08/09/2020
The Vaidya pounded on his back with their tiny little fists. Tiny and full of wrath at that comment. “There is more to the world than that,” they berated, but they couldn’t put up enough of a fight to free themself. “Slavery is not new,” they muttered, but ignored ‘angry sack of flower’. “Where is this library? It does not matter if it is open.” ...Because they just wanted to know so they could plan to return when it did open, right?
The concept of free food did appeal to them, although their stomach avoided growling perfectly on-cue. Instead, a hand clapped on their behind and the little doctor froze. They began to shake like a leaf, likely out of anger if their clenched fists were any indication. “I’m sure you do,” their voice sounded weak and far away. The rest of the conversation went un-commented on, until Jaxamir lifted them from his shoulder.
He moved to set them down gently, but oddly, the Bride’s legs immediately buckled and he was forced to more-or-less set them down crumpled on their knees. “મૂર્ખ માણસ. Do not touch me,” they hissed, holding their arms close to their chest. They would have fixed him with a withering stare, but their eyes were downcast instead. This could have been any other tantrum, but their nails had carved deep impressions in their palms, one drawing blood, and they had shaken with a heavy, raspy breath. “મારા પર હાથ ના મૂકશો,” it turned to a hoarse snarl. They hadn’t taken very kindly to his manhandling or slap.
Oops, sorry Enfield. Your family dinner sounded wonderful.
Degu — 08/09/2020
Enfield didn't know these people, didn't know their relationship...he figured that slap was nothing more than something commonplace between them. It washed over him when it had happened as nothing important.
"You can say FUCK you know?" he said it as loudly as possible, grinning as if expecting to see the adults bristle. He wasn't from such a prude family. Max didn't care a whole lot, Joan was a little more correctional in public but at home she didn't really care.
"I love stories! I want to hear all the stories you both have! And songs if you have any!" he delighted and bounded along like a spring lamb "That's my house right over there! that one!" he pointed his nose towards a homely looking building, partially reclaimed by the forest in a way that seemed almost decorative. The lights were lit and at least one woman was stood looking out the window (because Enfield was LATE)
"Oh thank goodness he's home" she told Max with some relief and stepped out the door with a gentle creak.
Enfield noticed Joan but then he noticed the smell of blood, turning his head sharply to sniff at Vaidya. Canid in nature as well he noticed the tension, but he didn't understand why. "Hey are you okay?" he moved a little closer before Joan interrupted.
"Enfield, you're so late. It's dark- who are these people?" Joan worried, masculine jaw working into a terribly disappointed frown "Where are the mushrooms?"
Enfield's head spun from front to back "Oh- Wait i'll be back"
"Enfield! who are-!?"
But the dragon was already off running back the way they came. Joan sighed and noticed Vaidya on the ground, unaware as to why but she offered her hand out to help her up "Joan." she introduced herself with a wary smile to these strangers from the woods. The smell of food was wonderful from the house behind. "...I am sure there's a reason Enfield has brought you to our doorstep, are you travellers?" she asked with uncertainty.
Ave — 08/09/2020
Jax looked, as expected, as outraged as a parent might. An unorthodox one, anyway. "You're not allowed to say 'fuck'! You're a fucking CHILD, start acting like one, goddamnit!" Oops, he might have said that in front of Enfield's parents. "I cannot tell a story with an empty belly," Jax said with a happy sigh, clearly excited at the prospect of a meal. "Is there a barn or stable nearby for our horse and cow to stay in?" He jabbed a thumb at the stallion and dowry cow trailing not far behind, heads hanging due to exhaustion from their travels.
Once the realization hit that Vaidya was no longer following, Jax paused, and turned--Enfield would have to wait a moment, or continue on. They will catch up. "Vaidya?" Confusion turned to concern, which may come to a surprise to anyone observing this scenario, but both ex-Knight and Bride have been through a lot together for Jax not to react to this. Then, quiet understanding as Jax watched them break down, because of him.
Shame was an understatement as Jax lowered himself to the ground, a foot away from his distraught companion. If anyone had a way of instilling humility even to one as stubborn as Jax, it was the Bride. "It will not happen again," Jax said quietly. "Not from me, or anyone." He tried to search their eyes. "कृपया मुझे क्षमा कीजिये/कर दीजिये."
A hand gently reached out. An offer, and nothing more, to help the Bride back to their feet. "Come, let us eat. We have earned it, after all we've been through."
He rose up, either with or without Vaidya, and peered over at Joan for the first time. As a potential guest, it was expected to be as polite as possible, but this is Jax. Polite was not exactly in his dictionary. It was a wonder he ever became an anointed Knight at all.
"My companion and I need food. I have a horse and cow needing sustenance as well. I have little coin to offer in return for your... kindness." Do the people here even share the same money?
AJ — 08/09/2020
Stories? Stories they had in spades. But the little Bride wasn’t much up for talking at the moment, somewhere between blinding rage and a breakdown. The situation got largely ignored, the little doctor hunched over in a bout of melodramatic misery, Enfield getting a paranoid, spaced stare and no answer. Joan got more of a look through her than any attempt at meaningfully meeting her eye, until Jaxamir blocked their view and her offered hand.
They hissed a sharp exhale through their teeth, ready to tell him to back off again. He was fixed with a seething but faraway look, lost in their mind or thoughts or anywhere that wasn’t here. It slowly came back into focus at his words, whether the quality of them resonated, or—just the simple fact that he had switched to their language? A questioning look, puzzled. “कब...?” Jaxamir would have to have some patience, a pause long enough for them to gather themself before taking his hand unsteadily. Unsure how to react, they muttered under their breath in Hindustani that his grammar needed work. The closest they could come to affection, and the closest Jaxamir would come to an acceptance of his apology.
Climbing to their feet, they wiped away a smear of blood against their jama and huffed again to clear their throat, turning to look at Joan proper and... Pausing. Their stare became a bit piercing and wide-eyed, and slowly followed upwards at something Unseen with a faint shortness of breath that might still be the trailing remnants of their Episode. Still, the Bride at least realized their coin may not be of any use in the traditional sense (having made one jump before). “We are.” She had offered a name, and they searched their mind for it. Nothing came. “I am a physician,” they offered in lieu of payment, their masculine voice pitched lower in a shaky whisper. It slowly grew bolder. “And this is Jaxamir.”
Coltara — 08/10/2020
There came more creaking of wood as someone still inside the house rose to join them in investigation of unfamiliar voices.
The furry, muscular silhouette of a beastman pulling a tunic over his head appeared in the doorway behind Joan.
A contrast to the human forms in present company, this man was wild - largely covered in a coat of silver-streaked auburn hair, lower jaw with jutting lower canines, his nose flattened, and the lining of his eyes dark. When he leaned out the door to squint into the dim light of the fungal glow, broad and pointed ears subtly swiveled forward.
“Enfield…!” the man called past them with a furrowed look. Oh, that boy was long gone. A soft sigh was given as he accepted the situation, slit nostrils flaring in mild exasperation. A cautious air hung about him as he turned attention to their surprise guests: dark blue eyes passed from warrior (lingering upon his armor), to rising physician, to their animals. While he was uncertain and wary in the moment as he loomed protectively, there was a warmth in his eyes that could not be hidden even in beastly features.
Max would remain silent for now and wait for Joan to introduce them, staying vigilant while checking every so often to see if Enfield was returning.
Degu — 08/10/2020
Joan reached out to put a hand on Maxie's shoulder, leaning closer to talk to him more quietly but not inaudibly "She's a physician" she said with an almost hopeful glimmer to her voice before she turned back. She fixed Jaxamir with a less trusting stare, his armour was considered and she drew in a long breath. Perhaps Vaidya would see unseen forces looking at Jaxamir and taking draconic form if only for a brief moment.
A glance was passed to Max to see what he thought, but her hospitality knew no bounds. "Come, we've food and somewhere for you to stay for the night. Did you come through the portal to the west?" she asked as she pointed back the way they came before turning to lead them towards the house "Max... take Jaxamir to the barn for me?" she leaned in to peck his cheek "And.." she looked at Vaidya, realising she had no name for her "Perhaps you could help me with the dinner? lets get your hands patched up first though." she said softly and walked ahead to get the door for Vaidya. The smell of food was unsurprisingly stronger inside, the place was clean and beautifully wooden, sporting animal skin rugs. Spacious enough, as it likely needed to be with her hefty partner and a dragon child running around. The sheer amount of food being cooked in the kitchen might've been a shock, the stew pot was huge over the fireplace.
"I'M BAAAAAAAAAAACK!" bellowed Enfield as he swooped back towards the house from the sky, mushroom bag in his maw. He landed in the small courtyard behind the house and shoved the mushrooms in at Joan through the window and they spilled out of the bag onto the floor. Joan sighed "...thank you, Enfield" she said wearily and lead Vaidya to the kitchen table if let and would pull out a seat for her "Please take a seat, i'll fetch some bandages." Even if the wounds in her palms weren't terrible, it was more hygienic and comfortable regardless.
"I hope Enfield didn't give you too much trouble" she'd chuckle and head off to a cabinet.
Enfield, meanwhile, pretended to be hanging around doing nothing but he had every intention of sneaking up behind his father and Jax to listen to what they were talking about in the barn once they were inside, assuming they went there at all.
Ave — 08/10/2020
Jax would not leave Vaidya’s side despite the welcoming gestures given to them by their new hosts. When the Vaidya was ready, Jax was there to lend them a hand.
“हमेशा.” With no effort, Jax pulled Vaidya to their feet. “यह आपके साथ शुरू हुआ.” Scowling at the muttering, Jax gave them a grunt of his own, and folded his arms in. “My grammar is flawless.”
Now his attention could focus on their hosts. A woman with a mean jaw, and the man, whom the ex-Knight guessed was the husband, appeared next to her. Jax was unsure of what to make of the pair. The husband looked like a menacing, grizzled beast with subtle warmth preserved in his eyes. The wife was, like Vaidya, quick to break the ice and introduce themselves.
These were not the company to cross, Jax observed. It would vastly benefit him and the Bride to behave and accept their hospitality, which was a rare thing indeed in the old world. Then again... the Bride and their dragon counterpart were such instigators, and just now, this new world gave them the freedom to start fresh. A clean slate. How long would that last before Vaidya’s meaty little fingers twitched for another cursed book that didn’t belong to them, or Jaxamir’s sticky claws wrapped around a precious, shiny stone chained to some poor woman’s bosom? Both have known only survival, whatever it took. The chase was fun while it lasted, thought Jax.
“Yes,” Jax confirmed, seeing no good in lying to the woman called Joan. “It is a grand tale, my lady, and I should like to give it justice over dinner...” Jaxamir peered around the pair to look into their cozy home, seduced by the intoxicating smells that wafted from inside. Food... glorious food. Once more, his stomach rumbled loudly, and followed it up by shamelessly giving a sidelong smirk at Vaidya. Ohoho, they’re going to feast like gods tonight... and this time, they didn’t have to kill for it. If Maxie would oblige at his wife’s behest, then Jax would follow him to the barn, holding both Brimstone and Ajaa’s bridles.
The shout, the kind that instantly grated on Jax’s nerves, came from far behind as the dragon-child returned with the coveted mushrooms. God, he hoped Enfield wouldn’t follow. Guess who was wrong?
Jax was not one to initiate conversation, and chose to keep the awkward silence as he covered the ground with long and ponderous strides, boots trudging heavily through stone and vegetation with the beastman at his side. Nothing yet, Enfield, you little rascal.
AJ — 08/10/2020
Perhaps the physician was glad. They opened their mouth to say something back, appearing touched by his words, but instead decided to stick close and say nothing. Although his grunt and offence brought the whisper of a sardonic smirk to their lips.
Still not quite right, they couldn’t quite help but stare at Joan (well, not at her so much as somewhere above her head), Max receiving a much more fixed and lucid look, albeit brief. Interesting. The little physician prickled at the woman’s whisper to her significant other, something about her choice of introduction; but they found they couldn’t focus on it long. They inhaled deeply, side-eyeing their own companion to see if he noticed what they saw. They knew he didn’t have their eye, but. Something about this?
“Yes, we did.” Apparently, their portal was not so mysterious. ...Although they had no designs on jumping back through it anytime soon. They touched the dragon’s wrist at his hungry sidelong look, but said nothing. They would eat if they managed to behave and not have this family run them out. “I have no talent for cooking,” they remarked a bit gruffly, but hesitated, unsure about leaving Jaxamir (he was a trouble maker); they returned briefly to their cow. “That—ah,” they quickly untied a strap, slinging a small satchel of medical supplies. “Is... not necessary.” They doubted it was that deep of a cut. Turning to follow her proper, they stepped out of the darkness of the night into the warm lighting of the house.
It may become apparent that ‘she’ was an ill-fitted pronoun. Although one unversed in Indian attire (from a world far away) might mistake their men’s cropped robe and pants, the soft sideburns that ran part of their jaw blurred the line between masculine and hirsutism. Their grey temples added another layer.
The little doctor looked around, bag clutched to their chest and a bit ill at ease in the comfortable house. The two, as travellers, had rarely spent a night in a place so welcoming. Cheap inns were never so warm. They inhaled deeply of the cooking pot, but didn’t have time to process it before a screaming dragon threw a bag through the window. They paced, but settled at the offered table, opening their bag of supplies and cleaning the largely superficial cut on their palm. “It was unexpected. Ah...” They rubbed the mark with their thumb. “...But we were not expecting to step into another world.”
A long pause and they leaned in to peer at her. “I see something odd. What is that?” Blunt. Maybe the little Bride would get them kicked out before Jaxamir managed to.
It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, prime opportunity to turn over a new leaf and become a GOOD MAN. Yes, that’s right, ladies and gents, Jaxamir the ex-Knight, paragon of depravity, debauchery, and sin, had at last seen the LIGHT was going to be a good boy starting... now. Hallelujah.
Okay, after Jax pays some busty babes for a good time at the local village brothel. When that was over and done with, Jax atoned solemnly that from this moment on, he will take his penance seriously. “Just wait and see,” he’d tell Vaidya, expressing lightly that he had purged himself from a life of wickedness for good. Yes. Yes, this was a surefire way to break his damn curse. Yes! All part of the plan.
Brimstone the warhorse was received from the stables. Time to move on to the next village before Something Bad Happens... again.
Wait.
Where the everloving fuck was the Bride? Jax could have sworn the tiny Indian was by his side this whole time, walking to the stables to pick up their horse and cow. Patience. Remember your sacred vow, Jaxamir. Do not let the absence of the Bride allow you to lose your temper now.
Oh, there’s the Bride. Running. Towards him. “What—?” Jax could hardly get a word out before the Bride cut him off, but he knew that look. The Bride couldn’t help themselves, and with the potential of something valuable stowed away in their red garment, Jaxamir relented and obeyed like a hound promised treats. The sacred vow lasted all but five minutes, a record for Jax, but just like all the other promises (sacred or otherwise), was tossed unceremoniously like yesterday’s garbage. It was time to make like filthy thieves and bust this joint.
Jaxamir mounted his horse and firmly captured the Bride’s hand in his own and brought them up onto he saddle easily. With the poor cow close behind them, they assumed their positions as easily as a woman fits on her favorite leather glove—this situation was all too familiar, and happened like clockwork. Almost every village they’ve been to, one or the other couldn’t help... Being Themselves, and suffered the repercussions together. This was just their way of life, it’s how it’s always been.
Jax gave his massive warhorse a sharp kick, and they were off at breakneck speed.
AJ — 05/24/2020
The Bride--The Nameless one--who wore only titles and nicknames, the Vaidya, Physician, Doctor, once Bride, perhaps Widow... They cut an androgynous figure, dressed in men’s robes, layered under a chogha vest and sash, cuffed pants and soft shoes. Their long wavy hair was a glossy black streaked with grey, pulled back in a tidy bun to reveal soft facial hair running from their sideburns to the start of their jaw.
And they were currently running, shoving their Prize into the heavy folds of their jama and looking pointedly behind them, where a stout scholarly fellow was giving chase, pursued by a guard. Their attention returned forward and they skidded to turn a corner, catching sight of Jaxamir staring in their direction. “Nothing!” The little Indian shouted indignantly, voice a muted tenor. Avoiding the man’s accusation. “It was of no use to them anyhow.” They reached out a long hand as they drew near.
Sometimes their lives felt like an endless loop of the Exact Same Scenario playing out over and over again. Enter a town, attract the ire of the Guard, or the mayor, or whatever authority, and promptly flee on Brimstone’s back. Looking at the pair, it would be easy to assume Jaxamir was the usual suspect. And they would be correct. But maybe,
occasionally,
rarely,
the Vaidya would concede they were at fault. Once in a blue moon. Usually it was Jaxamir’s wanted poster. Claims of Kidnapping. This time it just happened to be the Bride’s sticky fingers. With Jaxamir’s strength, they easily swung up onto the warhorse’s back, and with a click of their tongue, the well-dressed kankrej cow followed. Letting out a thoughtful “mhhhuh,” she broke into a hasty trot after the pair.
The city hardly had time to muster a force, and the pair took off in a heavy gallop towards the town gates, the Indian clinging to Jaxamir’s middle and looking behind them with a hard expression. As they closed in on the entrance, the guard scrambled to pull the leavers, but Brimstone was swift and tore through the heavy oak doors before they could even climb into position.
The dappled silver cow was the only issue, lagging behind the pair as she beat the path with all her might. The gates started to close and she let out a few distressed honks, tossing her head angrily. “Gaya,” the physician hissed over their shoulder, unable to do anything to assist their dowry cow. It looked as if she didn’t need it; putting her head down, she tossed it threateningly at one guard who backed out of the way of her horns, and took off in a full sprint, charging down the narrowing opening. She burst through just in time with an impressive MOO, landing with a thud and taking off at full speed down the path after the pair.
It wasn’t long before the guard assembled and took off after them. The Bride stared behind them with a stiff expression before they ducked under Jaxamir’s arm, grabbing at Brimstone’s reigns. They were calculating. Eyes darting across the paths up ahead. Next town was on the left, but on the right... They tugged on the reigns—not harshly, just enough for Jaxamir and Brimstone to get the idea. “Into the forest. The terrain will be rough; they will have trouble following us.”
The group veered off towards the hauntingly dark twist of trees and brambles, crunching through leaves and picking their way carefully over exposed roots. They slowed to a crawl, but it allowed Ajaa, the cow, to catch up and the group quickly disappeared into the thick brush.
Things quickly turned into an argument on whether or not they were lost, bickering on whether they were safer here or if they should have taken the left path. “I feel something uneasy,” the Vaidya eventually admitted, looking up at the trees blotting out the sky. “Heavy magic. I am not sure.” What they’d experimented with didn’t feel like this. They discussed it at length with the dragon, pinpointing a general direction. Curiosity had them plod on, and they’d finally settled their nerves that they were no longer being pursued, the night fully upon them. So when Ajaa and Brimstone’s ears perked up to a sound, they didn’t react perhaps as quickly as they should have.
“HALT.” The Bride froze, twisting around on the warhorse’s back and smacking Jaxamir’s shoulder agitatedly. “You don’t know what you’ve taken—"
“Ja’o! Ja’o! Go!” With a loud whiney, Brimstone took off again. They were headed straight for... Whatever they were feeling. Another argument broke out with Jaxamir, but they reasoned that perhaps it was something that would give the guards pause. A haunted witch’s tower or something.
Neither of them noticed the arch of the trees, curved inwards as if to form a natural doorway. Instead they focused on the large root they had to jump in the dim light, taking the leap and feeling a weight—heavy, lifting in the Bride’s stomach and then dropping again.
And then the powerful muscles of Brimstone bucking the pair off in fright, and Ajaa’s sharp, terrified moo.
The Vaidya had been bucked off Brimstone’s back a few times in the past, and they hit the ground hard but managed to roll, fumbling to hold onto their Prize and unsheathe their shimshar. They finally came to a stop in a tangle of leaves and scrambled to their knees, ready once again to fight off guards.
Degu — 05/24/2020
The transition was often daunting. When they regained a sense of their surroundings they were in no mere forest but one absolutely saturated with both magic and megaflora. Every tree seemed to be hundreds of years old, taller and wider than any some had ever seen before, dotted with brightly glowing mushrooms like stars. Movement among the trees was hard to spot, but among those glowing toadstools were ring-like eyes. Bright pink, green and white, three pairs boring down on them from high in the branches predatorially.
The court guard watched the gate closely and were quick to descend from the trees. Three of them, each gliding down with seemingly unfeasible but beautiful iridescent insectoid wings. “Halt, newcomers.” Called pink-eyes, the tallest of the three with the darkest skin. Holding a spear, he makes contact, keeping it raised against his shoulder in some attempt to be ready for action while remaining non-hostile. Each are armoured in a uniform black carapace, iridescent in its own rights with hues of purples and greens.
All three of them seem vaguely concerned with the animals. One of the guard’s coo’s softly to the poor, disorientated cow while the other man keeps his sharp eyes on the horse as it wanders away a short distance.
“You’ve arrived ‘pon Anexus through a Gate of Aetheros” Pink-eyes tells them, voice laden thickly with a strangely flowing accent that seems to have a patchwork of influences, a soup of Welsh, Irish-Gaelic and Scottish-Gaelic. With the tip of his spear he points towards the arching mossy stone crescent above their heads almost as large as the forest clearing itself. “Whether your arrival is intentional or otherwise, If you plan to stay we can direct you towards the city of Thornmouth. None are permitted west of here without clearance.” His eyes linger on Jaxamir if the man hasn’t already lunged at him, his eyes seeming to pierce the man’s soul as if seeking the truth behind it, like he was on the cusp of figuring the man out. The same look is later reserved for Vaidya. Curious, it seemed.
The court guard liked to check-out the newcomers but they didn’t seem to have any interest in policing them beyond directing them away from the fae-lands and ensuring they’re not wanted criminals by fae-standards. Part of their truce with the East involved allowing new citizens to arrive and leaving them unmolested upon arrival. The captain points a sharp finger East “Follow the beaten trail to the city of fallen thorns that they call ’Thornmouth’, The so-called *’Faewatch’ will greet you at the fort and get you your papers to file for citizenship if you so wish.” These words drip from his tongue like venom, the contempt held for the city and its ‘faewatch’ are as clear as day.
Ave — 05/25/2020
Praise the good cow Sir Loin Steak, who, once again, proved that she was more than just a walking, brainless piece of meat to salivate over (the inner dragon ALWAYS gave the cow a hungry stare, at the ire of her master). Jaxamir had little time to praise the beast for her heroic efforts, for there was the matter of... escaping.
Of course they were being pursued. How typical.
"HEY, we're kind of BUSY RIGHT NOW--" Jaxamir absolutely loathed the Bride assuming role as rider when he was at the front steering the horse. Fortuntely the ex-Knight caught on quick, eyes following the new pathway spread out ahead of them. "Way ahead of you. Alright! Into the forest! Let's go!" He gave Brimstone his head, and they were off, as fast as the wind.
Brimstone was made for running around tight obstacles, for he was no ordinary horse. Built tall and wiry, curiously heavy but without the excess bulk like a draft to drag him down in a race. After several years of carrying Jax and Vaidya's weight, he was used to all the escape attempts... even if he did not particularly appreciate the lifestyle. Is it terribly wrong for a horse of his caliber to enjoy a life grazing by a nice lake? Is that too much to ask for? Apparently, it is. Regardless, poor Brimstone carried both ex-Knight and the Bride into the forest.
Unfortunately, this was not the kind of forest for Brimstone to simply ease his way around. There were tangles of treeroots and low-hanging branches to worry over (especially since Jax was a particularly tall fellow, he kept getting THWACKED in the face). Even if Brimstone had his way, Ajaa was a clumsy creature and would need time to catch up. As a result, their progress slowed.
The location of this supposed 'magic' post argument had the grumbling ex-Knight at least agree; going somewhere was better than going nowhere. Moving forward, Jax could sense it, too, even if it was faint (for him, anyway). Oh, how he missed being a dragon.
At least they were no longer being pursued. Oop, Jax had this internal thought a bit too prematurely. "Fucking HELL," he snarled. The pursuers' voices did not go unheard--"THE HELL DID YOU TAKE?" Jax shouted at the Bride. "IT HAD BETTER BE WORTH A FORTUNE, OR I WILL FLAY YOU ALIVE." And, off they went again. Jaxamir was not a terribly observant individual unless something captured his interest (like gorgeous women or sparkly jewels); not even a twisty tree was hardly worthy of excitement, but by golly, they leapt over the evil roots, charged right through that peculiar archway--
Only to be bucked off the dang horse. Jax fell face-first into the dirt, collecting a mouthful of rotten leaves and dirt. After a moment of wishing for that vacation with hot babes and a beach, he grumbled and glowered and glared at everything as he rose up, dusting off his heavy coat and armor. One thing he noted: they were no longer being pursued. Jax immediately called for his horse. "Brimstone! BRIM!" The beast whickered indignantly in reply, prancing away with a swish of his tail. He has had ENOUGH of this bullshit, clearly. "Brim, to me!" Jax whistled sharply, but still, Brim would not come. "SO MUCH FOR LOYALTY!" He shouted at the horse, who happily munched on a patch of grass in the distance with his rear facing his master. Even a horse could teach the dragon a lesson, damnit.
Jax did a mental checklist. Bristome--off somewhere being dumb. Vaidya--alive, good, check. Sir Loin Steak... still the best cow ever. Now... where the heck are they?
Big trees, glowing shrooms, weird atmosphere. Uh-oh, Toto, looks like we're not in Kansas anymore. "Vaidya, where the f--"
Halt, newcomers. Jaxamir immediately unsheathed his sword, acting more on the fight or flight mentallity considering the place they had just left. "Who speaks?" Jax demanded, gripping his greatsword one-handed while he made a fist with the other. Creatures the like Jax had never seen before descended upon them.
One spoke, and Jaxamir, still holding Bite in front of him, gave a leery look to the one with pink eyes and dark skin. "The fuck are you trying to say? I can't fuckin' understand you with that accent. Speak plainly, or I won't hesitate to run you through with steel. We're tired, hungry, and have little patience for this nonsense." Oops, Vaidya, best you take care of this situation before Jaxamir Does Something Stupid Again.
AJ — 05/26/2020
“Nothing they would miss. They just had it for display, not to learn from.”
---
All the Vaidya needed to hear was ‘Halt’ and they whirled around on the speaker, stumbling to their feet and wielding their shimshar with practiced grace. They’d had a competent teacher. Still, they made for a sight with twigs in their mussed greying hair, embroidered clothing disheveled with dirt and leaves. They looked like a scholar down on their luck. They held a hand out to Jaxamir, trying to silence him to answer their watchers.
These were not the same guards, and the physician took a moment to soak in their surroundings proper, their normally sleepy countenance piqued with a slightly wide-eyed... wonder wasn’t the right word—bewilderment. The ancient looming flora was a far cry from the sickly twisted trees they had been stalking through. Although they had encountered many magical beings in their adventures with Jaxamir, those had taken places largely in sandy deserts, and these new watchers they had trouble placing. Still, the magic here was palpable.
“Shhh.” They sidestepped quickly, lowering their curved sword and darting to Jaxamir’s side. A hand outstretched and then rested on his breast, easily a soothing movement, if not for the intense irritation creasing the little doctor’s features. If they hadn’t a sword in their other hand, they would be pinching the bridge of their long hooked nose. Instead, the Bride looked up at those watching them. They had no background to identify the thick accent that had come their way, but their own androgynous tenor was similarly touched by a faintly sing-songy Gujarati accent, a relative of Hindi.
“My friend is easily disoriented, and it makes him testy. Our... arrival was unintentional. Where is Anexus? If you can answer our questions. And we will head east at your discretion.” Wherever east was. They felt like they were pushing their luck, hoping for answers. To drive the point home, the Vaidya stepped a soft, slippered foot on top of Jaxamir’s fully plated one so they could lean in close. A warning to stay silent.
If the faery guard’s eyes bothered to linger long on them, he would see a lot of things. And much more lacking underneath. A story, if he had the skill to interpret it. The cow, too, was certainly different; odd, not quite mundane. She looked up at the coo, belting out a dreamy “muu”, before nodding and tossing her head at the faery. Dipping to nose at the snippets of grass poking up through the underbrush, she snuffed her distaste and ambled slowly after Brimstone instead, getting playfully combative with his patch of Lunch.
Degu — 05/27/2020
The threat seemed to pass like electricity among the court guard. The fae all seemed to come to life, eyes glowing more brightly and their lips peeling back into terrifying grins full of sharp teeth. They seemed amused by the prospect of a hostile arrival. Surely the fool would understand what they'd said if they cut it into him? The captain of their group uttered something lowly in a strange language and around them tiny lights appeared, fluttering faeries... one might assume they were even greater numbers of court guard. They lit the trees and if one were to look up they'd see the bodies of many pierced upon branches and hanging from vines. These were effigies, these were warnings of what they were within their rights to do should anyone pass beyond their checkpoint without permission, or ...of course, threaten them.
Vaidya's hushing and insertion might have come too late, though they listened and silently debated whether they needed to let these people go after the initial threat. They were nobodies in this land and perfect additions to the effigies.
Answer their questions? they were debating whether to let them live or not, let alone do anything beyond that for them.
The cow was their saviour, it seemed. That dreamy 'muu' had all their heads snapping rather robotically towards the sweet animal. Green-eyes looked back at them and there was a silent stare-down. There goes green-eyes again, falling in love human-food and wanting to keep it.
A frustrated exhale escaped the captain before being replaced with a sly, toothy grin. With lidded eyes he leans in a little too close towards Jax and tests the mans patience with only a smug stare "We'll answer your questions... but only for the sake of your animals." he then locks eyes with the bride, fascinated by that strange aura but saying nothing.
"Anexus is a world, It was created for magic, by magic. The mundane masses continue to taint it and dilute it as they have on every other world they infest."
His words dripped with venom. "To the west are the lands we've managed to preserve against their onslaught. To the east" A pointy, long finger was jabbed in the direction of the city "Thornmouth sits where our thorns once did. The last mundane city before our lands... not so mundane now" he smirked smugly "You will find it somewhat hospitable if you are each unique..."
He rose up to his full height, eyes glowing brightly and his teeth baring as he raised his spear, rising up slowly. The lights in the trees began to pulsate aggressively with increasing speed.
"Now my patience is wearing THIN. Either LEAVE through the gate or HEAD TO THE TOWN lest you become a part of the EFFIGY!"
Green-eyes was apparently a lot sweeter than his captain and hurried to the animals, doing what he could to fetch them their critters and bring them back over before his captain and white-eyes ran them through. Fae were not good tourist information boards.
Ave — 05/27/2020
The nerve! Jax knew about fae, the mischevious little bastards, but these ones were different than some of the fae-folk he knew back home. He was no stranger to magic, considering what he is--used to be--and Jax had lived for a long, long time. One of the fae got up in his face, and that was a big no-no. The challenge would not go unheeded! The ex-Knight's fist tightened around the hilt of Bite, ready to perform just what the name of his sword intended--but then Vaidya, bless their soul, came along to quell his anger. It worked when Jax was not already so riled up, and so he peered down at the tiny Indian, somewhat perplexed by their restlessness.
"What?" Jax snapped at his comically much shorter companion, but he knew perfectly well their predicament. Jax looked back at the twisted tree of which they entered through. That was a portal? Hmm. Face the guards, or accept the second chance the fae were granting them? Jax was not easily one to accept defeat, but exhaustion won this round. He did not like the idea of jumping from the frying pan and into the fire right now, and besides, he wanted to live long enough to see what the Indian stole.
Jax forcibly swallowed his pride. "UGGGGHH, alright, alright, fine." Bite was slid back into its sheath, and he held up his hands to show that he yielded. "WELL." He clapped Vaidya on their back. The force might accidentally knock them forward a bit. "It seems fate saw fit to spare us from... ah... uh..." He glanced at the excitable fae, with their disturbing, hungry looks. "The uh... evils that pursued us from the other side. Even these--um--noble creatures seem willing to grant us clemency. This is the chance for a NEW LIFE." More like, a fresh start to steal from every village available, visit every brothel, and get absolutely smashed in every pub. His shit-eating grin did little hide that his heart was not exactly into his words; it was like he was reading from a script. "As much as I do not blame the each of you for wanting my body strung up on your branches, I think it would be best if we go on our way." Suddenly, his face screwed up as though he was constipated. His lips parted, but his teeth were glued shut. He looked like he struggled to say something, and perhaps at Vaidya's behest, Jax relented and grunted a "thanks" at the fae as they brought them their animals. 'Thanks' should cover everything, right?
Jax patted Brimstone's nose, who seemed even tempered now that he calmed down and had a semi-full stomach (Brim loved Ajaa and let the poorly abused cow have all the yummy grass she wanted, okay). "Ready to pursue our next adventure, Vaidya?"
AJ — 05/27/2020
The Vaidya looked up at the twisted ornaments, their face more muted intrigue than anything truly emotive. They feared they were too late in silencing Jaxamir’s outburst, and they waited silently as the fae twittered in the trees above them. Perhaps they should have groveled. Should they now? ...They decided they would rather die. The physician’s ire once again turned to Jaxamir for putting them in this situation, but they would go down swinging their sword at his side if it came to that. Still, they grabbed at Jaxamir’s wrist with their free hand to prevent him from swinging Bite. Jaxamir of course did them a solid and slid the bloody thing away.
As attention snapped to their familiar, the Bride’s eyes followed a bit more hesitantly, eyebrows tenting thoughtfully at their reaction. But the words that followed caused a subtle tension in their shoulders, staring up at the watchers intensely.
No offer came. No threat to trade their companions for their lives. Weirdly, the tensioned ebbed even as the shock of the fae’s booming voice washed over them. They didn’t want the retched cow. They weren’t separating them. The fae watcher’s anger left them in an odd trance.
“Oh—" The dragon’s firm hand caught the Bride off guard, and they stumbled forward, grabbing at it tightly. “Yes--yes.” Jaxamir was taking the fae’s ire in stride, but the little Mughal approached it more carefully. “Thank you for answering our question. Your generosity is...” They looked to the man as he struggled out his ‘gratitude’, their lip pulled in a grimace attempting to play itself off as a grin. Yes, that. Composed, they turned back to cock their head in feigned graciousness at their welcoming party. “Let us depart before our hosts retract their kind offer.” Their polite, airy tenor only passably hiding their sarcasm as they lowered in a shallow bow and retreated.
They had no other choice, did they? Back through this ‘gate’ were more guards. One world was as good as another. They’d slipped through once before.
“I suppose we’ve no choice,” their voice dropping low as they grabbed at Ajaa’s bridle and led her off—rather quickly—in the general direction the fae had indicated. She nosed her owner happily and trotted along without protest, swatting her tail. The Vaidya deigned to take the lead and let Jaxamir and Brimstone follow, more confident in their own ability to navigate the... Megafauna forest. Of which they had no previous experience with. Well, neither did the dragon, they mused.
Degu — 05/27/2020
Silver-tongues recognised a failed script rather easily, but they also recognised the effort and supposed they'd let them go...if only because green-eyes would be 'sad' if they separated the cow from those it was fond of... the horse would manage but not that sweet little cow.
The captain sneered after them and turned away, shrinking himself back down to return to the trees. They were followed by twinkling lights for a short distance and then finally left alone once they passed a waterfall. Up ahead on a small island down stream at the centre of a large pond was a tall and unnaturally twisted oak. If one looked more closely they might see the faint impressions of body parts within it, faces, arms. A thick mist surrounded the edges of the forest and made visibility a little hard
The sounds from the swamp and the forest were strange at this time, unusual animals calling to each other, occasional zips of light across the canopy... there was an almost permanent sense of being watched but one might find it hard to tell if it were animals, people or the trees watching them.
Passing the large, twisted oak would reveal the light of a fire dramatically striking a large stone in the night. The fire seemed to be hidden on top of a rocky platform on the opposite side of a 'path' but whoever was at said fire was hidden by the trunk of a large tree.
The light, somehow seemingly focused upon the stone opposite, soon became cause for alarm as the shadow of a 'HUGE' dragon slowly stepped into view, its teeth bared and its head down and snarling It was a long snouted thing with a mane and two large horn(s) arching back behind its head. Low growls and snarls echoed through the forest threateningly, wings rising and its tail whipping back and forth.
Ave — 05/28/2020
Jaxamir is an arrogant, courageous fool, even in the worst of times. As the ex-Knight mounted his steed, he gave a lazy, smarmy wave of his hand at the fae. "Farewell," he said with the smuggest smirk ever seen on a man like him, but at least on his big ol' mug, it fit. They had just narrowly escaped death, of course he was going to be a smug shit about it.
The forest positively exuded magic, and even Jax, whose abilities were suppressed, could feel it. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Sure, sure, the megafauna was impressive, whatever. What he was more interested in was the potential treasure buried in this place... if there were any. Travelers must come through here often. Perhaps Jax could... ease their burdens for them.
Speaking of treasure. Did the Vaidya think they were going to go scott-free without being grilled for answers about the object hidden under their jama? "So..." Jax strode his horse next to Vaidya and their cow, having the air of someone about to flirt. "About that you-know-what. There has to be a story, and you know how I just love stories, so..." He sideglanced with a simpering smile. "Tell me all about it."
Perhaps the story was best saved for another time. They had been followed out by the small lights for a time, and then a fog had rolled in, all things Jax had not noticed until now. Great, just great. Not to mention the unusual sounds, and the feeling of being watched. Okay, Jax will admit it, he did not like being watched by things he could not see. Maybe it was just him--
FIRE! Jax reigned in his horse, watched as the light came alive, and the shadow that stepped into view. The large, horned creature whose wings spread aloft was undoubtedly... "A dragon," Jax muttered darkly, voice laced with obvious jealousy and hatred. Unable to take the form of a dragon himself any longer, he found contempt for all things serpentine. "Stand back, Vaidya. Allow me."
In one motion, Jax slid off of Brim, and moved a hand to the hilt of his sword. The ruby brooch on the leather strap across his chest seemed to come alive as he boldly approached. There was a strange aura about Jax, if anyone could sense it about him; there was something uncanny and... more than what was visible to the naked eye. If there was any fear of being scorched, the ex-Knight did not seem to give a rat's ass. "Step aside. We require passage through here, and you're in our way... dragon."
AJ — 05/28/2020
Ajaa was as sweet as a peach, fluttering her big soft eyelashes at the fae before ambling after her companions.
The little Mughal looked pensive as they walked, at least for a time, lost in their own thoughts before becoming lost in the world around them. They dragged Jaxamir down by stopping to look at the flora, wondering aloud what medicinal properties—if any—they could possess. So caught up were they that Jax and Brim trotted in close, and the physician either wilfully ignored them or was so taken in by the scenery as to be completely oblivious. They didn’t look at him, crouching down to fondle a mushroom instead. As they rose again, arms crossed their chest to protect their prize and show their contempt. And they waved a finger to admonish his nosiness and flirty tone.
But eventually they spoke. “A book.” Another one. Of course it was. Most of their ‘prizes’ were books, as Jaxamir was well aware. Books on anatomy, books on foreign medicines and surgery, concepts of healing, banned arts. “This one is different. But I think I can learn from it. If I have anything of the Arts in me.” That was probably all he would get from them for now. This wasn’t the place. The lights made them uneasy; the sounds of the forest weren’t helping matters. As the group walked, they carefully wedged themself between Ajaa and Jaxamir on Brimstone, looking up to meet his eye. No, they felt it too. But even that looming, oppressive feeling couldn’t take away from the intrigue they found in the tree, and it caught the Vaidya’s attention immediately. This they would have to investigate.
But as they approached to move past it, new sights caught Jaxamir’s attention. Jaxamir dismounted from Brimstone, and the Bride obliged to stay behind him, still holding Ajaa by the bridle.
...
Yeah right.
They released the cow, who simply dipped her head with a murmur and went to munching on grass. The little physician, of course, put their hand on Jaxamir’s shoulder, following close behind him. They had to get a look at this dragon up close, even as he threatened it. The creature would see Jaxamir’s imposing figure, and a little scholar with a curiously neutral expression, tight-lipped but punctuated by a subtle, curious lifting of their sleepy eyebrows. Oh...! Their free hand flittered near their mouth.
Degu — 05/28/2020
Enfield grinned devilishly at his own shadow, making sure he could see ALL his teeth but- oh- wait, someone was talking to him? HIM? a dragon?! It was so thrilling to be called a dragon by a stranger when sometimes folks didn't quite recognise him as such... He wasn't entirely dragon-like in appearance, an almost canine shape seemed to mingle with the genes of his mother.
But wait, in their way? did they think he was guarding the path below? "I'm NoT iN y-" a comically pubescent voice squeaked from between the trees, thwarting any attempt at sounding like a big scary dragon. He cleared his throat and leapt down into the path in front of them from atop the rock...nowhere near as large as his shadow, nor as impressive. What had been rigid horns in shadow form were merely big floppy goblin-esque ears bent back in a way that could only ever be deceiving in silhouette-form. A thick mane like a curly afro ran from his spine, over his neck to the adorable puff at the top of his head and ruby-red scales covered the majority of his body.
He tilted his head at them, sniffing the air with a fanged grin. The measly dragon, just about the size of a lion at this age, approached only a few paces only to stop at the sight of Jaxamir's sword, big inquisitive eyes flicking between Vaidya and him, focusing in rather hard on that brooch the moment his eyes passed it. The fur on his body seemed to stand on end and his ears pricked upwards, a little drool falling from his chin although he were looking at something quite delicious. Oh he wanted that. He wanted it so much that he had to fight for the sense not to try to take it.
"Oh! you came through the gate. Right? I know there's one out there somewhere!" he hadn't seen it yet because he didn't think his dad would like him to venture that close to the court guard. "I know the way to the town! you want a guide? I don't cost much. I'll give you a tour of the whole city if you want! what are your names? I'm Enfield!" he said it all without sparing a few seconds of breath in-between, practically bubbling with energy to the point that he ended up bouncing up and down on his front talons.
Ave — 06/04/2020
"A book," echoed Jax tonelessly, staring deadpan on top of Vaidya's head. "All this for a fucking book. You and I are going to have a long chat about what we should prioritize." Yes, he managed to say this while staring down a potential threat. "Back!" Jax thrust out a hand to ensure that the Bride would not be foolish and step on ahead, the hand lingering on Bite's hilt, narrowing his eyes at the movement over the rock, getting a good look at this 'dragon'.
Oh. Oh.
Jax grunted in apparent disappointment, and released Bite, visibly folding his arms. If there was one thing in the world Jax hated more, was a child, no matter the form it took. Especially the squeaky and excitable kind, like this one demonstrated. Still, children were immune to harm where Jax was concerned--at least he had that going for his 'moral code'. When the dragon-child eyeballed his cursed gem, however, Jaxamir scowled and slapped his hands over it as a gesture of jealousy and protectiveness. Mine.
"We do not need a guide. Get out of here, Pup." Jax nudged Vaidya. "Let's go. WAIT." He held out a hand again. "PUP." He pointed at the dragon, almost accusatory. "You make it sound like you know the city. They welcome our kind into its boundaries?" Just what kind of place was this if they allowed DRAGONS of all things? Back where he came from, dragons were not very nice creatures, and often condemned by humans, and killed on sight. Jaxamir... was a special case.
AJ — 06/05/2020
Jaxamir’s second attempt to hold them back was met with as much consideration as the first. They reached out to grab onto the arm he was trying to shove them away with, scowling up at him mutely. Excuse you. The squeak of the young dragon’s voice and the curve of his stunted form got a disparaging snort from the Vaidya, an inquisitive tilt of their head as they followed close behind Jaxamir. If the older dragon hadn’t covered his gem protectively, the twitch of their lip (hiding a sneer) suggested that the little Indian might have moved to intervene themself. Despite being completely physically unimposing to the likes of even a small dragon.
They opened their mouth to protest as Jaxamir shooed the child-dragon off, elbowing him back at the shove. “We may,” they whispered hoarsely, unsure how keen the young one’s hearing was. They started to move past him, intent on getting a better look like he was some caged spectacle. “Is this a city of your kind?” It stood to reason; he didn’t seem at all surprised to see Jaxamir. In any form. “How old are you?” If Jaxamir didn’t make another attempt to pull them back (he was probably used to having to stop the crazy little doctor from touching people like they were objects!), they’d step closer with a curious glint. The request for a name was utterly ignored, not that they had one to give. His mannerisms were taxing, but he was certainly intriguing.
Degu — 06/15/2020
Enfield scowled and tossed his head back, ears folding back as he turned to prance away with a grumpy flare of his wings and sassy flick of his tail "Fine! Find your own way... see if I care if you wander into the devastating poisonous fog of death, or into the grand pit of vipers" all entirely made up, of course, but hey... keep them keen, right?
When he was called to wait he sighed and looked over his shoulder at them, head tilted as if to say 'What?' "...haha... our...?" he sniffed at the air as he stared at Jax before going wide eyed and rushing over "You're a dragon!? ...woah! a GUY dragon? With my group there's just a buncha girls and my brothers but they're younger than me. I bet you have LOADS of spikes and big teeth! What colour are your scales? can I see?- oh um" he backed off a bit, trying not to dance on his front talons too much.
"Yeah! uh- sure, they're kinda spooked by us but as long as we aren't part of the big flight up north they're ok. The Penmoor Isles dragons are apparently pretty scary. I want to meet them really but dad says I shouldn't risk it."
Then again, dad also probably had a few words about talking to random strangers in the damn forest.
Big yellow-orange eyes then fixed on Vaidya "So not my kind, just a few of us. It's a lot of folk... it started out mundane and then lots of magic folk integrated into it because of where it is I guess? that's kind of what I got from the books anyway. I did a lot of reading in the library already" he rambled without barely a breath between sentences "I am ALMOST 15! so, a fully grown man. Yeah, I grow beard hAIRs-" he squeaked hoarsely as his voice cracked again, huffing.
"So I guess don't eat the people here, right?" more directed at Jax, obviously "Or they'll probably sell your parts for medicine, you know what they're like with us dragons .. um- So do you need that brooch?" he asked abruptly at the end, leaning towards the draconic thing Jax wore as if hoping to pry it away with his teeth.
Ave — 07/08/2020
“Sounds like a challenge. I’ll pick my teeth with their bones. Let’s go, Vaidya.” Except now the Bride was distracted, which made Jax throw his head back and groan. When attention diverted back to him, this time from the kid, Jax smirked at Vaidya. Haw, haw, he’s more interested in me than you-u-u. He puffed out his chest proudly. “I am Jaxamir, the mightiest dragon of all the land, and with a mountain of magnificent treasures that is the envy of all dragonkind.” Yes, even Jaxamir had a hoard. And if Vaidya remembered, another dragon encroached upon Jax’s territory in his long absence, and laid claim to it. Jax will never admit his loss. As far as he knows, that hoard is still his. The new dragon laughed and laughed and blew Jax and Vaidya away with a mighty snort. “And this is my human, Vaidya.” He clapped Vaidya on the back. A fond gesture, but somehow considered them an afterthought. You’ll have to forgive him; he never liked sharing the spotlight.
“I... cannot transform.” This was the first time Jax had ever outwardly admitted to anyone that he cannot take his real shape, and he looked rather sour about it, too. He scowled. “Sure, kid, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Don’t think Jax didn’t see the way the little red dragon looked at his brooch, or inched closer. He even made that comment which earned a very dragonish response from Jax, who growled. “Its not for sale. Or stealing,” Jax pointed out. “Do not test me, child.” He bared his teeth, an odd thing for a human to do.
He puffed out his cheeks as he watched Vaidya fawn over Enfield. In OBVIOUS jealousy, Jax stepped up to Vaidya, hoisted them up and over his massive shoulder like hunted meat. Any sign of protest went ignored. How could Vaidya find a dumb kid more interesting than him, who is a REAL dragon? Not some... yappy mutt.
“I’d love to see them try to take me for their ‘medicine’. It’ll be the last thing they do.” He’d started to walk away, whistling sharply for Sir Loin and Brim to follow. “Where to, kid? Show us the way out, and I might let you look at my shiny brooch again.”
AJ — 07/11/2020
The little Bride looked up to meet Jaxamir’s mocking stare, their lips frowning but the look not quite reaching their eyes. Oh, it just meant they could get a better look while he was distracted. But as they looked to Enfield again, that comment (and the clap of a hand) snapped their head back. “Your human?” By the gentle, quiet tone of their androgynous voice, Jaxamir knew he’d be hearing about this later. They were still quietly fuming at his admission, and were it any other situation may have offered comfort.
“Ah, I see.” Some mismatched city of dragons and humans—and magic folk. “Library?” They’d almost spaced off at the thought of this city but that caught their attention instead, and they waved off his discussion about age, despite having been the one to ask for it. “There is a library?” Someone stop this tiny Indian before they got the pair kicked out of another town—
They’d already shuffled themself between Jaxamir and Enfield out of intrigue, idly fidgeting their fingers as they stared at him unabashedly, but almost subconsciously planted their feet down as if to stand as an extra barrier between the little upstart and that brooch as well. A very fleshy, easily-broken barrier. So that when two large hands reached out and picked them up with no effort at all, it caught the little physician by complete surprise. They squeaked, flailing their feet in confusion first and then clutching their arms to their chest to keep their stolen prize from tumbling out of their breast. Hoisted like a sack of potatoes onto his shoulder, they hung uselessly, squirming and complaining loudly in Gujarati.(edited)
Degu — 07/14/2020
Enfield rose a spiky brow and tilted his head, gigantic ears flopping to one side "Uhh you can't transform? ...so you aren't the mightiest dragon with a big pile of treasures? you just were?" he knew he was pushing buttons, toothily grinning as Vaidya was picked up "You can't OWN humans, I think that's illegal.- haha he's carrying you like a sack of angry flour" he snorted and bounded off ahead.
"I can't transform all the way human, you know? we're PRACTICALLY BROTHERS!" he told this...fully grown man he just met "I keep all the scales on my arms and my legs and a buncha red freckles. I'd change but uh, my clothes are at home." he shrugged his wings.
"Yeah there's a huuuge library. Won't be open right now but I spend a lot of time there when I'm not, you know, being master of worlds ...the most powerful dragon there is..." he said it with such a casual eye roll and a tail flick.
"Actually ..." the cogs in Enfield's brain were turning. He looked back at Vaidya, at Jax, at the brooch and then back ahead.
"I'm probably late for dinner! ... why don't you join us? there's always plenty of food and- you could stay the night! until morning anyway before you explore the city? We live right outside the city in the forest houses! Me, one of my mums and my main dad. My Dad's a SASQUATCH and my mum's a SOUL DRAGON, you should definitely at least meet my mum! My birth mother is a red orium dragon like me, but my adopt-mom is a blue sea dragon!" he bounded off ahead until they saw the glow of torches and a watch tower.
The guards jumped as a dragon came running their way and Enfield slowed down "It's just me again!" he yelled out and slowed as they looked up at the other two following him "They're with me boys!" the guards stepped out anyway to get a better look before nodding them through. Not fae? not their problem.
Ave — 08/09/2020
Jax has Had Enough (tm), and ached to find a tavern and drown in good, amber beer. Did this world have anything like that? “Yes, my human,” snapped Jax warily, knowing that he was going to getting an earful later and not giving any fucks about it (spoiler: he WILL regret it).
“Fu—I mean—“ Jax cast an irked look to the young dragon, catching himself just in time before a swear exploded from his lips. “EFF the library. I need a place to sit my a—butt down with beautiful girls delivering good beer to me. Vaidya, do not waste your time on sordid tomes when you could enjoy life more, surrounded by music and bouncing....” Jax made a peculiar, suggestive gesture in the air behind Enfield’s back. God, can someone please kick this sexist bastard in the shin? Might need steel-toed boots or something equivalent to get the point across; he was well armored.
Now with the Bride slung unceremoniously over his shoulder and their mounts following, Jax obliged to shadow the young dragon into the city. “Watch it, boy,” he growled, clearly offended that Enfield resorted to mockery. “What is this fantasy you have conjured? We’re not brothers.”
Jax perked up like a dog at the mention of food. “Food, you say?” Without waiting to hear Vaidya’s input, the ex-Knight smiled wide. “Supply me with a huge slab of steak, and I will share stories of our adventures.” He smacked the Bride’s rear. “FOOD, Vaidya! Delicious food!” On cue, Jax’s stomach gave a humongous growl. He smacked his stomach with a grin. “Oh, how I’ve missed meat... I’m tired of eating fu—effing grass. A dragon does not eat grass, Vaidya.”
Jax fell quiet, listening to Enfield talk about his parentage. “Red orium dragon?” Jax blinked. “I have not heard of such a beast.”
Tired of hauling Vaidya around, the ex-Knight plucked them from his shoulder, and placed them, surprisingly gently, onto the ground. He probably realized carting around a protesting human was not ideal in front of guards.
“Of course, yes, whatever you say, I’ll meet whoever you want me to meet as long as there’s food.”(edited)
AJ — 08/09/2020
The Vaidya pounded on his back with their tiny little fists. Tiny and full of wrath at that comment. “There is more to the world than that,” they berated, but they couldn’t put up enough of a fight to free themself. “Slavery is not new,” they muttered, but ignored ‘angry sack of flower’. “Where is this library? It does not matter if it is open.” ...Because they just wanted to know so they could plan to return when it did open, right?
The concept of free food did appeal to them, although their stomach avoided growling perfectly on-cue. Instead, a hand clapped on their behind and the little doctor froze. They began to shake like a leaf, likely out of anger if their clenched fists were any indication. “I’m sure you do,” their voice sounded weak and far away. The rest of the conversation went un-commented on, until Jaxamir lifted them from his shoulder.
He moved to set them down gently, but oddly, the Bride’s legs immediately buckled and he was forced to more-or-less set them down crumpled on their knees. “મૂર્ખ માણસ. Do not touch me,” they hissed, holding their arms close to their chest. They would have fixed him with a withering stare, but their eyes were downcast instead. This could have been any other tantrum, but their nails had carved deep impressions in their palms, one drawing blood, and they had shaken with a heavy, raspy breath. “મારા પર હાથ ના મૂકશો,” it turned to a hoarse snarl. They hadn’t taken very kindly to his manhandling or slap.
Oops, sorry Enfield. Your family dinner sounded wonderful.
Degu — 08/09/2020
Enfield didn't know these people, didn't know their relationship...he figured that slap was nothing more than something commonplace between them. It washed over him when it had happened as nothing important.
"You can say FUCK you know?" he said it as loudly as possible, grinning as if expecting to see the adults bristle. He wasn't from such a prude family. Max didn't care a whole lot, Joan was a little more correctional in public but at home she didn't really care.
"I love stories! I want to hear all the stories you both have! And songs if you have any!" he delighted and bounded along like a spring lamb "That's my house right over there! that one!" he pointed his nose towards a homely looking building, partially reclaimed by the forest in a way that seemed almost decorative. The lights were lit and at least one woman was stood looking out the window (because Enfield was LATE)
"Oh thank goodness he's home" she told Max with some relief and stepped out the door with a gentle creak.
Enfield noticed Joan but then he noticed the smell of blood, turning his head sharply to sniff at Vaidya. Canid in nature as well he noticed the tension, but he didn't understand why. "Hey are you okay?" he moved a little closer before Joan interrupted.
"Enfield, you're so late. It's dark- who are these people?" Joan worried, masculine jaw working into a terribly disappointed frown "Where are the mushrooms?"
Enfield's head spun from front to back "Oh- Wait i'll be back"
"Enfield! who are-!?"
But the dragon was already off running back the way they came. Joan sighed and noticed Vaidya on the ground, unaware as to why but she offered her hand out to help her up "Joan." she introduced herself with a wary smile to these strangers from the woods. The smell of food was wonderful from the house behind. "...I am sure there's a reason Enfield has brought you to our doorstep, are you travellers?" she asked with uncertainty.
Ave — 08/09/2020
Jax looked, as expected, as outraged as a parent might. An unorthodox one, anyway. "You're not allowed to say 'fuck'! You're a fucking CHILD, start acting like one, goddamnit!" Oops, he might have said that in front of Enfield's parents. "I cannot tell a story with an empty belly," Jax said with a happy sigh, clearly excited at the prospect of a meal. "Is there a barn or stable nearby for our horse and cow to stay in?" He jabbed a thumb at the stallion and dowry cow trailing not far behind, heads hanging due to exhaustion from their travels.
Once the realization hit that Vaidya was no longer following, Jax paused, and turned--Enfield would have to wait a moment, or continue on. They will catch up. "Vaidya?" Confusion turned to concern, which may come to a surprise to anyone observing this scenario, but both ex-Knight and Bride have been through a lot together for Jax not to react to this. Then, quiet understanding as Jax watched them break down, because of him.
Shame was an understatement as Jax lowered himself to the ground, a foot away from his distraught companion. If anyone had a way of instilling humility even to one as stubborn as Jax, it was the Bride. "It will not happen again," Jax said quietly. "Not from me, or anyone." He tried to search their eyes. "कृपया मुझे क्षमा कीजिये/कर दीजिये."
A hand gently reached out. An offer, and nothing more, to help the Bride back to their feet. "Come, let us eat. We have earned it, after all we've been through."
He rose up, either with or without Vaidya, and peered over at Joan for the first time. As a potential guest, it was expected to be as polite as possible, but this is Jax. Polite was not exactly in his dictionary. It was a wonder he ever became an anointed Knight at all.
"My companion and I need food. I have a horse and cow needing sustenance as well. I have little coin to offer in return for your... kindness." Do the people here even share the same money?
AJ — 08/09/2020
Stories? Stories they had in spades. But the little Bride wasn’t much up for talking at the moment, somewhere between blinding rage and a breakdown. The situation got largely ignored, the little doctor hunched over in a bout of melodramatic misery, Enfield getting a paranoid, spaced stare and no answer. Joan got more of a look through her than any attempt at meaningfully meeting her eye, until Jaxamir blocked their view and her offered hand.
They hissed a sharp exhale through their teeth, ready to tell him to back off again. He was fixed with a seething but faraway look, lost in their mind or thoughts or anywhere that wasn’t here. It slowly came back into focus at his words, whether the quality of them resonated, or—just the simple fact that he had switched to their language? A questioning look, puzzled. “कब...?” Jaxamir would have to have some patience, a pause long enough for them to gather themself before taking his hand unsteadily. Unsure how to react, they muttered under their breath in Hindustani that his grammar needed work. The closest they could come to affection, and the closest Jaxamir would come to an acceptance of his apology.
Climbing to their feet, they wiped away a smear of blood against their jama and huffed again to clear their throat, turning to look at Joan proper and... Pausing. Their stare became a bit piercing and wide-eyed, and slowly followed upwards at something Unseen with a faint shortness of breath that might still be the trailing remnants of their Episode. Still, the Bride at least realized their coin may not be of any use in the traditional sense (having made one jump before). “We are.” She had offered a name, and they searched their mind for it. Nothing came. “I am a physician,” they offered in lieu of payment, their masculine voice pitched lower in a shaky whisper. It slowly grew bolder. “And this is Jaxamir.”
Coltara — 08/10/2020
There came more creaking of wood as someone still inside the house rose to join them in investigation of unfamiliar voices.
The furry, muscular silhouette of a beastman pulling a tunic over his head appeared in the doorway behind Joan.
A contrast to the human forms in present company, this man was wild - largely covered in a coat of silver-streaked auburn hair, lower jaw with jutting lower canines, his nose flattened, and the lining of his eyes dark. When he leaned out the door to squint into the dim light of the fungal glow, broad and pointed ears subtly swiveled forward.
“Enfield…!” the man called past them with a furrowed look. Oh, that boy was long gone. A soft sigh was given as he accepted the situation, slit nostrils flaring in mild exasperation. A cautious air hung about him as he turned attention to their surprise guests: dark blue eyes passed from warrior (lingering upon his armor), to rising physician, to their animals. While he was uncertain and wary in the moment as he loomed protectively, there was a warmth in his eyes that could not be hidden even in beastly features.
Max would remain silent for now and wait for Joan to introduce them, staying vigilant while checking every so often to see if Enfield was returning.
Degu — 08/10/2020
Joan reached out to put a hand on Maxie's shoulder, leaning closer to talk to him more quietly but not inaudibly "She's a physician" she said with an almost hopeful glimmer to her voice before she turned back. She fixed Jaxamir with a less trusting stare, his armour was considered and she drew in a long breath. Perhaps Vaidya would see unseen forces looking at Jaxamir and taking draconic form if only for a brief moment.
A glance was passed to Max to see what he thought, but her hospitality knew no bounds. "Come, we've food and somewhere for you to stay for the night. Did you come through the portal to the west?" she asked as she pointed back the way they came before turning to lead them towards the house "Max... take Jaxamir to the barn for me?" she leaned in to peck his cheek "And.." she looked at Vaidya, realising she had no name for her "Perhaps you could help me with the dinner? lets get your hands patched up first though." she said softly and walked ahead to get the door for Vaidya. The smell of food was unsurprisingly stronger inside, the place was clean and beautifully wooden, sporting animal skin rugs. Spacious enough, as it likely needed to be with her hefty partner and a dragon child running around. The sheer amount of food being cooked in the kitchen might've been a shock, the stew pot was huge over the fireplace.
"I'M BAAAAAAAAAAACK!" bellowed Enfield as he swooped back towards the house from the sky, mushroom bag in his maw. He landed in the small courtyard behind the house and shoved the mushrooms in at Joan through the window and they spilled out of the bag onto the floor. Joan sighed "...thank you, Enfield" she said wearily and lead Vaidya to the kitchen table if let and would pull out a seat for her "Please take a seat, i'll fetch some bandages." Even if the wounds in her palms weren't terrible, it was more hygienic and comfortable regardless.
"I hope Enfield didn't give you too much trouble" she'd chuckle and head off to a cabinet.
Enfield, meanwhile, pretended to be hanging around doing nothing but he had every intention of sneaking up behind his father and Jax to listen to what they were talking about in the barn once they were inside, assuming they went there at all.
Ave — 08/10/2020
Jax would not leave Vaidya’s side despite the welcoming gestures given to them by their new hosts. When the Vaidya was ready, Jax was there to lend them a hand.
“हमेशा.” With no effort, Jax pulled Vaidya to their feet. “यह आपके साथ शुरू हुआ.” Scowling at the muttering, Jax gave them a grunt of his own, and folded his arms in. “My grammar is flawless.”
Now his attention could focus on their hosts. A woman with a mean jaw, and the man, whom the ex-Knight guessed was the husband, appeared next to her. Jax was unsure of what to make of the pair. The husband looked like a menacing, grizzled beast with subtle warmth preserved in his eyes. The wife was, like Vaidya, quick to break the ice and introduce themselves.
These were not the company to cross, Jax observed. It would vastly benefit him and the Bride to behave and accept their hospitality, which was a rare thing indeed in the old world. Then again... the Bride and their dragon counterpart were such instigators, and just now, this new world gave them the freedom to start fresh. A clean slate. How long would that last before Vaidya’s meaty little fingers twitched for another cursed book that didn’t belong to them, or Jaxamir’s sticky claws wrapped around a precious, shiny stone chained to some poor woman’s bosom? Both have known only survival, whatever it took. The chase was fun while it lasted, thought Jax.
“Yes,” Jax confirmed, seeing no good in lying to the woman called Joan. “It is a grand tale, my lady, and I should like to give it justice over dinner...” Jaxamir peered around the pair to look into their cozy home, seduced by the intoxicating smells that wafted from inside. Food... glorious food. Once more, his stomach rumbled loudly, and followed it up by shamelessly giving a sidelong smirk at Vaidya. Ohoho, they’re going to feast like gods tonight... and this time, they didn’t have to kill for it. If Maxie would oblige at his wife’s behest, then Jax would follow him to the barn, holding both Brimstone and Ajaa’s bridles.
The shout, the kind that instantly grated on Jax’s nerves, came from far behind as the dragon-child returned with the coveted mushrooms. God, he hoped Enfield wouldn’t follow. Guess who was wrong?
Jax was not one to initiate conversation, and chose to keep the awkward silence as he covered the ground with long and ponderous strides, boots trudging heavily through stone and vegetation with the beastman at his side. Nothing yet, Enfield, you little rascal.
AJ — 08/10/2020
Perhaps the physician was glad. They opened their mouth to say something back, appearing touched by his words, but instead decided to stick close and say nothing. Although his grunt and offence brought the whisper of a sardonic smirk to their lips.
Still not quite right, they couldn’t quite help but stare at Joan (well, not at her so much as somewhere above her head), Max receiving a much more fixed and lucid look, albeit brief. Interesting. The little physician prickled at the woman’s whisper to her significant other, something about her choice of introduction; but they found they couldn’t focus on it long. They inhaled deeply, side-eyeing their own companion to see if he noticed what they saw. They knew he didn’t have their eye, but. Something about this?
“Yes, we did.” Apparently, their portal was not so mysterious. ...Although they had no designs on jumping back through it anytime soon. They touched the dragon’s wrist at his hungry sidelong look, but said nothing. They would eat if they managed to behave and not have this family run them out. “I have no talent for cooking,” they remarked a bit gruffly, but hesitated, unsure about leaving Jaxamir (he was a trouble maker); they returned briefly to their cow. “That—ah,” they quickly untied a strap, slinging a small satchel of medical supplies. “Is... not necessary.” They doubted it was that deep of a cut. Turning to follow her proper, they stepped out of the darkness of the night into the warm lighting of the house.
It may become apparent that ‘she’ was an ill-fitted pronoun. Although one unversed in Indian attire (from a world far away) might mistake their men’s cropped robe and pants, the soft sideburns that ran part of their jaw blurred the line between masculine and hirsutism. Their grey temples added another layer.
The little doctor looked around, bag clutched to their chest and a bit ill at ease in the comfortable house. The two, as travellers, had rarely spent a night in a place so welcoming. Cheap inns were never so warm. They inhaled deeply of the cooking pot, but didn’t have time to process it before a screaming dragon threw a bag through the window. They paced, but settled at the offered table, opening their bag of supplies and cleaning the largely superficial cut on their palm. “It was unexpected. Ah...” They rubbed the mark with their thumb. “...But we were not expecting to step into another world.”
A long pause and they leaned in to peer at her. “I see something odd. What is that?” Blunt. Maybe the little Bride would get them kicked out before Jaxamir managed to.
See more
(Part 2)
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Coltara — 08/12/2020
The man called Max gave a hum of acknowledgment as an understanding for her interest came into his eyes. An agreeable nod followed as he leaned back to fetch a keyring off the wall and quickly light a lantern.
It would be like Enfield to invite strangers to dinner. There would be no argument from the wild man however: he wasn’t about to turn down those in need, especially when aid had already been offered. It would be cruel to send weary travelers back out into the night.
A gesture was given for Jaxamir to follow him with horse and cow. In the light cast from the windows it became clear his feet were like other primates as they left handlike impressions in the mud and a long, strong tail curled back and forth at the tip near his ankles. There would be a clear path to follow, vegetation thinned by foot and the wheels of a cart.
The lantern illuminated their path to a modest little barn in the midst of being fixed up - it was perfectly serviceable for the night, but could certainly use some more work. Max inserted a key into the chunky padlock on the doors and gave it an experienced little shake to get it to pop open. It hardly seemed to need being locked, however: from the shadows of a cart rolled up next to the building came the rumbling growl of a large dog. The wild man slid the latch and turned to greet the absolutely massive canine crawling out from underneath the cart with a wave of the padlock.
“Ah, shuttup Duke. It’s okay - y' stop that,” he told the dog as he pulled open the doors. The canine was a huge Turkish Kangal with a thick leather collar, red in tone and with a bit of a shaggy ruff, perhaps a mutt if not in actuality an unknown breed. There was something not quite ‘right’ about this dog beyond the fact it was nearly the size of a small horse. ‘Duke’ eyeballed Jax with rather intelligent eyes before huffing and wandering off to lay elsewhere. Max grunted an apology as he hung the lantern up on a hook inside the barn. “Duke ‘as a bit o’ an attitude,” he informed the other man before gesturing to Brimstone and Ajaa, “but he’ll keep them safe.” He moved aside to give Jax room to bring them in.
The shed of a barn was able to fit only two, perhaps three larger animals, but luckily the couple appeared to have none of their own at the moment. There was tack for some large beast hanging up on the walls (presumably whatever pulled the cart), but most hooks were empty and what was being stored was little more than a couple small bales of hay, a sack of grain, and what looked to be a wine barrel stamped with the logo of a rooster-headed basilisk printed in black.
“We don’ ‘ave a lo’, but they’re welcome t’ wha’ grain an ‘ay is lef’,” he said. Now that that the man was speaking at more length, it would become apparent his voice carried a mix of archaic Scottish-Gaelic and Middle English that could easily be mistaken for a local fae dialect. A beat was given before he scratched at his beard and decided to ask this traveling stranger a question.
“So, y’ a regular realm traveler or jus’ good at takin’ things in stride?” he asked with raised brows and a soft smile.
Max wondered if they had managed to spot the night sky through the coverage of trees yet.
Meanwhile, back inside the cozy little home there were well-kept weapons hung on the wall (blades for the most part, knives and swords in clear favor) and sprawled out on the floor asleep instead of the dog outside, a pig. It was a large, but normal enough looking boar until one looked a little closer - hovering above it was what looked like a small sun, a strong source of light in the room that projected a soft warmth. An even closer inspection of the animal would reveal she had shards of stone scattered across the back and shoulders. It seemed the pig was as mundane as any of this household could claim to be: that was to say, hardly at all.
Degu — 08/12/2020
It wouldn't become apparent to Joan, a woman who hadn't come across much in the way of anything beyond gender 'norms', to her, unless corrected, she had thought that Vaidya was a woman albeit a more masculine one...a bit like her, actually.
"Oh- of course" Joan said sheepishly, this woman was a physician. Instead she brought over a basin of clean water and a cloth "Here.. I'll leave you to it then." she smiled, the corners of her eyes creasing as she instead headed over to the mushrooms on the floor to wash them off and chop them up with practiced hands before adding them to the stew. A huge basket of bread rolls was laid out on the centre of the table and covered with a cloth, a covered butter stick set nearby too.
Joan lifted her head from her work when she was asked a question, brow quirked in question "What do- oh." the hive informed her as the towering souls of many dead sailors (and others) peered down at the bride, it seemed Joan wasn't as in-tune with them as she could be yet, despite being the one housing them.
"You...can see them? oh-" she cleared her throat, touching at the scar across said throat "They are rescued souls, many of them lost at sea. Many of them far more ancient than I...I inherited a dragon- that is to say, I became a dragon." she smiled awkwardly, knowing this sort of thing made sense to very few as it was such a bizarre thing to say and she was being as vague as she could be without being evasive. "A sea dragon, she once collected these souls. A hive." Joan told Vaidya as she headed back to the stew to turn it. "I suppose I still think of myself as a human at times, despite everything. It has been a good while now, but it is no small thing for me to accept. I've been getting better about it, Max has helped... we've both been coming to terms with our own natures this year." she smiled over her shoulder at Vaidya "And what of you, who can see the dead? Where does your gift come from?"
[cont for Enfield.]
Degu — 08/12/2020
Enfield had left himself some clothes hanging in the courtyard on some twine to wear when he came home. With no one looking he transformed back to his humanoid form (with scaly arms, legs, wings and tail, oof!) and quickly pulled on his clothes before plodding off after Jax and Maxie.
His scaly feed muffled the noise of his footsteps and allowed him to pad quietly up to the door and put his ear to it carefully, listening hard. Maybe Jax and Max would exchange incredible stories. He silently prayed that Duke wouldn't rat him out, but hopefully the 'canine' was too busy keeping an eye on the visitor.
Come on Jax...say something! He was relieved when his father did, he could rely on his dad to do a little vetting, the guy was protective of his family. Meanwhile...he couldn't stop thinking about Jax's amulet, he wanted it. That treasure... it'd be the perfect item to really start his hoard.
Ave — 08/18/2020
Not knowing what the Vaidya was sensing (he rarely paid attention to much unless it was shiny, a beautiful lady, or food), Jax resumed his trademark surly huff as the wait continued. What about his grumbling stomach did they not understand? Come on, people. Do not make a dragon wait for his meal! He let his companion do the talking, distracted more by the delicious scent in the air, and imagining stuffing his face silly with a nice prime rib. His fantasy was short-lived, as everyone decided to split off.
--
With little else to focus on, Jaxamir let his glance shift to his new, albeit temporary, companion. The apelike features, the odd foot. "What are you? I don't think I've seen your likeness before." And he has seen much in his lifetime. The growl of the dog did ensnare his attention; it shifted downward. Brimstone remained calm, as he was a well-trained warhorse fit to withstand most surprises, even when it came to menacing dogs. Ajaa, having seen much in the past ten years, was not very shocked by the dog, either.
"I'm sure he'll do a fine job," Jax grunted, unconcerned about Duke the dog. Jax tugged at the harnesses of the animals. They stepped in, only wary because it was a new place, but with a few encouraging pats, they walked in, nostrils flared, dipping their noses to the dog in curious greeting. Both beasts had lived in the odd shelter more times than they cared to admit.
"Sir Loin Steak--I mean, ah, Ajaa, the cow, has a bit of an attitude, as well." Jax hoisted Vaidya's dowry cow's head up. "Be a good girl," he said firmly. "Inside you go." Once the beasts were secure and comfortable, Jax took up a pitchfork. "Hmm," was his response to hay, stabbing some hay and bringing it down for the animals to eat.
Jax narrowed his eyes, pausing in his efforts. Was Maxie patronizing him? Taking down a bit more hay until he was satisfied that the animals had enough, Jax retired the pitchfork against the wall. "Shadow worlds, self-proclaimed gods, puppets of darkness, fire that speaks, ancient kings, eldritch nightmares, arrogant creatures of light, sorcerers, curses, betrayal, and death... all I have seen, and so too has my..." Jax's face screwed up, as if in pain. "Friend," he murmured, sampling the word for the first time, and unsure of what to make of it. He scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward in the peculiar way he said it. "I've much bigger fish to fry than to worry about what realm I've stumbled in this week--"
A snort followed, and a peculiar side-glance to the door. Jax walked towards it. "...Or eaves-dropping runts." It came out of his mouth before he had time to think. He opened the door, his glare palpable as he glared down at Enfield, then reached out to grab the scruff of his shirt. "What the hell do you think you're doing, pipsqueak?"
This is where Jax dies.
AJ — 08/18/2020
After years of dressing and passing as a fair man alongside Jaxamir to avoid specific harassments, it was irksome to say the least. But they were... Grateful for the clean water, pulling out a fresh cloth to dip and clean their hand. It wasn’t any serious mark, and although their face had drawn in a tired, distant stare as they cleaned it, they were silently cursing themself for letting their anger get the better of them. Again. They dabbed a bit of salve after it stopped bleeding, but deemed it not worth expending anything over. Instead they reached out to lift the corner of the cloth, eyeing the breadrolls. Oh, Jaxamir would be pleased.
“Yes. People long passed.” They turned towards her in their chair, gripping the corners of their seat to lean forward. They were not so articulate as to eloquently pry her story from her. Instead they gave her their full attention, humming after a turn. Oh, she hadn’t gone into nearly enough detail for their tastes.
The question gave them pause, and their droopy gaze drifting to the pot of stew she was working on. “I have had it as long as I can recall.” They could make an educated guess at what caused it, but not one they were willing to share. “It grew as I grew. It was further enhanced with... Ah, study.” Sure. Study.
“How does one ‘inherit’ a dragon?” Oops, probably too personal for a stranger your son just dropped on your doorstep. Maybe they thought their answer was a fair enough trade for another question.
ADD-ON: Ajaa, meanwhile, batted her big, beautiful eyes at Jax when he grasped her chin, all innocence, and crooning a content 'mu' to his face. She would be the very best. With a loving toss of her head, she nudged at his shoulder but obediently ambled into the stall as directed.
Coltara — 08/18/2020
“I used to be a man,” the auburn furred fellow answered rather evasively. “Now - well - I’ve been called a lo’ o’ things…”
What terminology had Enfield picked up somewhere and introduced him with, ‘sasquatch’? That was certainly one to add to the list.
“Sir Loin Steak?” the man had repeated with a laugh as he watched Jax take down the hay, glancing at the poor cow with amusement. This reminded him that dinner was still waiting inside and like Jax his mind wandered to thoughts of food. It had already been difficult waiting for Enfield to bring home those mushrooms…
It seemed his query had been far from patronizing, however. There was almost a sense of relief when Jax stated he had better things to worry about: good news for him and his, there would be no need for them to be concerned about the relative peace of mind over the situation. It would seem like his lot, these strangers were used to this sort of thing. Max was glad they would not be needing to console any individuals coming out of shock in the morning.
An understanding hand was rose and the subject waved off.
“Aah, the latter then - say no more. I think we’re on the same page there,” he chortled. It didn’t seem like the shared list of experiences surprised him much, conversely Max had given very understanding gestures to things like ‘self-proclaimed gods’, ‘eldritch nightmares’, and ‘curses’. In fact all of this somehow seemed to set him at ease and a more genuine, relaxed smile came into play as he listened.
It fell away when Jax reached over the gate to snatch up a budding teenager with one hand.
Max stiffened and curled a lip, but instead of approaching he made an attempt to lock eyes with Jax.
“Ey,” the wild man warned, a ‘put him down’ very strongly implied by the look he was giving and a follow up point at the ground. A harsh expression had taken over his features.
It went without saying that he was used to Enfield’s shenanigans and perhaps had been ignoring him if he’d known he was there himself. However, he recognized that Enfield could press on the patience levels of others rather quickly and was willing to forgive and forget. That was of course if the other man put their eavesdropper down right away.
Degu — 08/19/2020
Enfield squeaked hoarsely as he was grabbed unexpectedly, eyes wide. BUSTED. He swung his foot immediately for poor Jax's family jewels without considering any sane course of action "Get off me you- fat, smelly dragon fart!" he shouted as he wriggled aggressively, and yes he was aware that Jax wasn't fat but ...when did Enfield ever make sense. The little shit immediately grabbed for that brooch that Jax wore, trying to rip it free in the heat of the moment now that he was too close to resist. This could be his moment, a well delivered scaly kick to the balls, grab the brooch and run back to the forest, right? he could pull it off.
All he could think about when Jax was close was about that brooch. It was a strange obsession, utterly consuming any sense he had left in him. He needed the treasure for his hoard. He didn't have a hoard and it could start it! It was all his pubescent dragon brain cared about.
Joan's hive of souls seemed to rise up and fade away, not gone but less apparent. Apparently they'd been suspicious of Cecille and had decided to be less serious about keeping their many eyes on her for now. One did, a man that looked a lot like Joan, he stayed watching.
"A frightened, desperate man cut my throat and I died." she said sadly "It could've been avoided but it wasn't. This dragon has been in my family since ancient times, though my family were not as aware of it as you'd expect. She was on our family crest, the Kingsley crest, but no one thought of her as a real dragon. My fathers ring held its soul, dormant and waiting... there are more sensitive matters surrounding my reincarnation but..."
Such as Evren's stillborn eggs.
"I came back as a young fledgling and grew quickly into adult form. It has been very confusing for me... I'm...no longer Joan, I am hundreds." she looked up at the faint heads above her. "I suppose I am Joan, but Joan with council, heh." she finished up the stew, hitting the ladle against the side of the cauldron loudly "FOODS READY, BOYS!" she yelled out the window without realising what was going on and instead set out some bowls.
"The meat in the stew is in... large chunks, so I apologise in advance. The boys eat like ravenous lions" she mused and wiped her hands clean, serving up a HEFTY bowl of venison and rabbit stew. They'd just put whatever meat they could into the stew to pad it out enough to feed the household.... often that resulted in mead medley's like this. She served a bowl up for Vaidya and took it over to them, setting it down with a spoon "Help yourself to bread and butter...don't worry about waiting for them, they'll be eating long after we're done anyway." she chuckled.
"Would you like a drink? ...I can make it ice cold. My favourite benefit to my new found form" she laughed. Well, she'd once run a tavern and cold drinks had made her place even MORE popular! what a silly thing to love being a dragon for, though.
Ave — 08/19/2020
"Used to be?" Okay, that got Jax's attention. If there's one thing he liked other than girls and food, was a good story. "You do not start off a tale that way, and not expect to finish. It's teasing." Jax may be an idiot at the best of times, but he knew when someone attempted to sweep a topic under the rug. "I expect to hear how you 'used to be a man', and I'll tell you how I used to be a dragon." Hopefully this would compel Maxie to swap stories.
The ends of Jax's lips hinted at a suble smile. "There you go again. Teasing me with the cusp of your tales. I take it you've had a taste of adventure. Judging by the looks of your home, you've wiped your hands of such a thing nowadays." Now the smile transformed into a smirk. Jax never had any hope of settling down. Not yet.
The situation escalated once Jax took hold of Enfield. It did not stop there, once he had a grasp on the boy's shirt, the shouting match started. "FAT? BOY, DID YOU JUST CALL ME FAT? YOU SCRAWNY CHICKEN LEG, I WILL EAT YOU UP AND SPIT YOU OUT--OHOHOHO." Enfield attempted to kick Jax right between the legs. Luckily, Jax jerked his waist out from reach of that foot. The grab for his gem proved fruitless; it was attached well on his chest, and would not budge--perhaps because there was a scuffle between them. The ex-Knight was about to wring the boy's neck until the stern warning reached his ears. Jax did not need to look Maxie in the eyes in order for him to feel the stare. Okay, admittedly, it did send a shiver down Jax's spine, but he'll never admit, at least not to the 'sasquatch's' face, how he managed to instill a mountain of fear in the ex-Knight. Never get between a father and his kid. There is a power there that not even Jax understands, despite having many of his own that he abandoned.
Jax grunted, and unceremoniously dropped Enfield like a sack of potatos. He gave Enfield a rough pat on the head. "You're alright. See? Nary a scratch." Jax gave Enfield a fixed smile, like a carved stone man giving off that uncanny valley. Joan's announcement snatched Jax's attention, who turned like a hopeful hound. He pushed Enfield out of the way as he raced to the house for food. He burst through the door, skidding to a halt.
AJ — 08/19/2020
The Vaidya watched the souls move, ascend, and then dissipate into the background, intrigued as ever and eyeing the man cautiously. When they were no longer the centre of attention, the physician’s eyes shifted to the rest of her, looking Joan in the eye for... Perhaps the first time. It didn’t linger, and their gaze drifted down to space out on her stomach with a muttered ‘oh’. They blinked. “It was trapped within the ring?” With some effort, they pulled their gaze from her stomach to look to her proper. That rang a little bell, running parallel to Jaxamir’s predicament. Perhaps. “But you are you, you do not identify as... The dragon.” She kept referring to it as ‘her’, a separate identity from herself, afterall. Or maybe the council were of too many souls for any to have ‘purchase’ on her form. “The dragon is part of this council?”
The little doctor was apparently keen on dragging out this conversation longer even as she turned to call the rest for dinner. Oh—what help they had been in preparing it, of course. Moral support. They reached sideways to steal a roll from the basket without a second thought while her back was turned—but quickly retreated their hand when she returned from calling the boys. She offered the basket soon afterwards and they took their chance then.
“I take no issue. I am grateful for the food.” Roll in hand (already sans one large bite-mark), they reached out to slide the bowl closer. “Oh? ...A... Innate talent?” They imagined her breathing ice on their drink, the silly daydream interrupted by Jaxamir slamming the door open and screeching into the room. The little doctor stared. Then returned their attention to Joan as if it were the most usual behaviour of the ex-knight. “If you care to spare something sweet.” They didn’t want to push their welcome.
Coltara — 08/22/2020
Max chided himself for answering in a way that made someone want to know more - he really needed to stop being so honest and come up with some kind of answer people would readily accept!
In this case it seemed a fair enough and even perfectly equivalent exchange - a once dragon, was it? Well, if Jax was willing to divulge that sort of information freely, than perhaps there was a chance this beastman would be more forthcoming than he might usually be.
“We’re tryin’,” he would have answered right before the situation turned tense, “but adventure seems t’ find us.”
Maxie could feel his ire rising and his blood begin to stir. It was taking a lot to not immediately come to the rescue and for a split second he saw red - but then Jax put Enfield down.
It could have been that Jax could sense the beast hiding behind those eyes. A fiercely protective parent to be certain! It would take the wild man a moment to compose himself as he cleared his throat and watched their guest dart off with a speechless expression.
Max made an attempt to relax with a shake of his head and a sigh, one hand rubbing at the back of his neck. A brief moment passed as he settled before reaching the other hand out to gruffly ruffle Enfield’s hair.
“Wot are you doin’, eh? Go on,”
A playful shove and a gesture for him to head back into the house followed. Max would retrieve the lantern and head back himself with a bit of a clip in his step. Nobody was getting first dibs on his dinner, damn it!
When he got there he would make a beeline for a heavy chair near the fire that was clearly his ‘spot’.
Degu — 09/01/2020
Enfield hit the floor with a resounding "OOF!" before rubbing his backside with a grumpy pout up at Jaxamir. "Yeah just a big butt bruise" he snapped and pushed himself up to his scaly feet. All was forgotten when he heard the clang clang clang of the stew pot, eyes wide and head turned towards the house. He laughed and shoved at his dad as he was caught off-guard by that big hand coming to mess up his hair "GET OFF ME!" he laughed and ran away, hurrying ahead and annoyingly lingering close behind Jaxamir, opting to try and sit beside the fellow with big beady eyes fixed up at him.
---
Joan tilted her head "I don't know if i do or i don't identify as the dragon, it has been some time now. I've just been a human so long. I am the dragon, of course...I just..." she sighed, becoming distracted because she hadn't the foggiest how to explain it.
"The dragon is the council building" she chuckled, it was the best way she could put it "It houses and cares for them, more like a landlady...I suppose she - I am the head of this council. I'm sure there's untouched potential I need to learn about"
She jumped at the arrival of Jaxamir as the man BOWLED into the room like a bull, laughing and belatedly answering Vaidya "Yes"
"Come in, sit down please." she greeted Enfield with a gentle hug and touched Max's shoulder to press a kiss to his head before she started to serve them each up bowls of stew. Her boys got HUGE bowls while she picked up a smaller bowl for Vaidya and then Jax ...but upon staring at Jaxamir she picked up a larger bowl. Everyone was served, Joan ate less alongside Vaidya though they were all reassured they could go up for more as long as there was stew left and to help themselves to bread.
Joan practically beamed, it was nice to have a full table and for a moment Enfield was silenced by food...so she spoke. "Jaxamir, was it? Would you mind helping me wash the dishes after we eat?" the dragon 'queen' asked with a kind smile.
Ave — 09/10/2020
Jaxamir might have made quite a startling presence skidding into the dining room, but nothing was more important right now than feeding his face. "Yes, good," was his waspish answer to Joan. It's not that he meant to be rude, it's just that--okay, yes, he totally meant to be rude. It's just that he has been delayed his dinner a moment too long, and no filled belly meant a grumpy Jax. He gave Vaidya a shrug, as is his way. He's not very polite company, everyone, sorry.
Jax sneered. "What am I supposed to do with that?" The small bowl was nearly given to him, but then Joan seemed to change her mind, and so a bigger one took its place. "That's more like it. I'm a big fellow, I require a heaping serving." He grunted, took the bowl, sat down, and prepared to dig in.
A spoonfull was halfway suspended into his mouth when he felt a very annoying stare coming from a certain child. "What are you looking at?" He growled in undertones, side-eyeing the kid like he was a buzzing fly at his ear. "Stop staring at it, you're not getting it."
And so the shoveling began. Dropping the spoon, Jax picked up the bowl and gobbled the contents, then slammed the bowl on the table. Thankfully, without cracking it. "DELICIOUS!" He boomed, rubbing his belly, and stretching. Then Joan asked him to do the dishes. "What?" Was his curt response, sitting up straight. "Do the dishes?" Jax leaned lazily back on the chair. "Am I getting paid?"
AJ — 09/12/2020
“Hm. Very likely. You have a... a conglomerate of souls at your disposal.” They’d like a conglomerate of souls at their disposal. The physician nibbled nonchalantly on the bread as Jaxamir circled hungrily, then touched the smaller bowl, but said nothing to it; they would at least swoop in for seconds. They weren’t Jaxamir’s size in appetite. Speaking of, they gently grabbed his elbow, wordlessly, warningly, in the meantime at his comment, intent on at least claiming their free food before they made a muck of things and got run out of the household.
Although Jaxamir was boisterous enough to point out Enfield’s blatant staring at the brooch, the little physician said nothing and eyed him back suspiciously. The gaze slipped briefly to Joan, and after a pause of thought, they spoke candidly to the young dragon: “Yes, it is something to look at, isn’t it?” They brushed the comment off casually with a mouthful of stew, sinking into their food so they could return to slyly taking in their surroundings.
They ate their fair share, forgetting any pleasantries and thanks—up until Jaxamir decided to start a conflict. Realizing they had no idea where they were, if they could, or should get back, and whether or not this family may be a contributing factor to how pleasant their stay in Thornmouth would be—“Thank you,” the little physician piped up gruffly, wiping their mouth and shooting Jaxamir a blank stare that conveyed a ‘shut up’. They had never stayed in one place long enough for Jaxamir to have ever washed a dish, and they doubted he had ever done so even before meeting them. How hard could it be? ...Nevermind this would be a disaster. They started to collect together their own dishes, standing as if they intended to do it themself.
Coltara — 09/14/2020
Maxie returned the touch with a rumble of affection before sinking into his chair. It was built for his weight, but creaked under his collapse into it anyway.
A sword hung over the back of his chair, the hilt looking suspiciously made of carved bone rather than metal. There was a rounded orb set in the top, dark like smoked glass, which matched the eye of a gaping dragon head forming the rain-guard.
There was no time wasted in pulling his bowl closer to dig in, but he ate at a less feverish pace than Jax, if a steady one intending to go through several bowls. That steady pace slowed to a near halt as he glanced between Joan and Jax upon the latter’s response, bread roll halfway to his mouth fixing in place. A rather firm expression took over his apeish features as their unruly guest failed the test he had been given in spectacular fashion.
While the hair across his body rose and he made a point to put the poor bread roll down before he squeezed it back into dough, he didn’t make a move to say a word. Joan could handle this.
It seemed he was a little more perturbed by the need to investigate the source of growing cold at his shoulder. The sword on the back of his chair had began to leak mist like the sheath was filled with dry ice. What had been a dull orb in the pommel began to spin with a dim icy light. Max quickly turned his attention back to the situation as Jax leaned back lazily in his chair and asked if he was going to be paid. There was an attempt to make eye contact with the physician and give a little shake of his head - oh no, Jax was going to do those dishes.
Vaidya couldn’t save him from himself this time.
Degu — 09/14/2020
Jaxamir's rudeness and his lack of gratitude had gotten Joan bristling in her own way. She didn't take people into her home and feed them lightly...and well...never pick a fight with a woman who has owned a tavern in a place crawling with werewolves, vampires and hulking beasts of all sizes, right?
Her strong jaw worked. He'd work for his forgiveness, but she wasn't about to ruin the atmosphere of her good meal. Enfield screwed his face up sourly at Jax before sticking his tongue out and instead looking at Vaidya with a deflated sigh "It is... I don't have anything like it. I need it." he didn't care if Jax heard him, his hoarding instincts were too strong to be subtle at this point.
Joan smiled at Vaidya when the physician thanked her, bowing her head to them before turning her head towards Jaxamir in a snap. She rose from her seat and let out a low, dangerous growl that was far from human. Icy wisps licked at the corners of her mouth as her eyes turned from brown to piercing blue with slitted pupils.
With each footstep towards him around the table she became heavier, growing in size as blue scales blossomed across her skin. Her muscles bulked and the fabric of her clothes started to tear, more terrifyingly so did the leather of her boots. Her head elongated, horns rising from her brow and wings violently tearing from her back and sprouting outwards until a much taller, much more muscular draconic half-form loomed furiously over him with glistening blue scales and piercing eyes. She panted out furious puffs of dry ice, gigantic teeth bared down at him.
Her words started out dangerously steady, voice naturally booming so it became even more terrifying as she grew louder until shouting *"You are paying for your board and meal with menial labour... so I will rephrase. YOU ARE DOING. THE. FUCKING. DISHES!" her clawed hand snapped out to grip him by the ear abruptly and then unceremoniously she'd pull him up from the chair by it and turn him to face the table, leaning in closer with fangs close to his face "Now collect the dishes you ungrateful fledgling" she hissed and released him.
Enfield stared on with wide eyes, glancing at his dad in horror...only to have to cover up a snort by pressing his face into his arm and looking away. Nope, it wasn't funny (it was).
Ave — 09/14/2020
Jax knew he was in hot water just by the change of atmosphere (or rather, there was a permeating chill, the source of which he could not pinpoint). Rather than being cowed by it, he gave them all his trademark shit-eating grin. Might as well for what they were about to do to him. Get tossed out? Come on, now, Vaidya, stop looking at him like that! You know better than anyone that it was practically tradition!
Surprisingly, he wasn't thrown out, which is possibly the largest reason why he kept shoving his foot in his mouth. Vaidya's concern was paid no mind. Jax was as chaotic as one can get.
Everything changed drastically when Joan seemed to shift, clearly having had enough of Jax's shit. At first, Jax paid the woman the smarmiest, smuggest grin on a man never before seen, until now--and he regretted it. Jax gasped, sinking back into his chair when the woman turned dragon. He sank so far in, that he fell backward with a resounding crash. It was a miracle he hadn't hit his head, but he wished he had. The beastly creature's shadow fell over him as he stared wide-eyed, mouth gaping, wanting to yell. He could feel the chill on his face, making the ends of his beard turn frosty. He might have tried to said something, then, but all that came out was a comical little squeek in place of 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry!' Oh, he will be sorry.
Next thing Jax knew, he was being dragged by the ear, having little choice but to make his wobbly legs walk. Collect the dishes, Joan snarled. Feeling as though he had a hundred or so years taken off of his life, he forced himself to swallow, and started collecting everybody's empty bowls. When he passed Enfield, Jax gave the boy a wounded scowl, eyes narrowed so thin that his eyes were almost closed.
Off to the kitchen he went with bowls piled precariously high, but careful as to not drop a single one. Lesson learned? Time will tell.
AJ — 09/16/2020
Jaxamir had ruined the mood, as was just his way; the little physician sighed at Enfield. “He needs it still.” They’d been eyeing Joan in hopes that drawing the other (adult) dragon’s attention to the piece might yield some insight. But Jaxamir had stopped that in its tracks. As they stood to gather their dishes, they felt the drifting cold, and their eyes tracked the trailing mist back to its source with an inquisitive quirk of an eyebrow. It was nothing compared to the sight when they turned their attention back, and they turned on their heel to face Joan’s approach with their sleepy eyes bright and wide. Something was muttered in Hindustani, although they didn’t look exactly afraid--leaning after her as she rounded her attention on Jaxamir.
With a crash, the red dragon tipped his chair, and the Vaidya shifted their dishes over to one hand to free up the other, playing a few fingers against their lips and chin. They very politely held out their own dishes as Jaxamir made his hasty rounds to collect them.
And then they were left to pick up the pieces of that encounter—the awkward ‘companion’ of the man so rude to cause that scene. If the Vaidya bared any second-hand embarrassment at all—they hid it so well, or else felt nothing at all. Still standing, they looked back over the table instead, settling their hands on the back of their chair. And then to Joan. “He will likely break several of your dishes. Not out of malice.” He was just... A bull in a china shop. They’d certainly never seen him wash any, and they had never settled together in one place long enough to own their own.
They then pointed to Max, to where the sheathed sword hung, while maintaining Joan's eye. "Your weapon is imbued with ice magic? Or linked to your nature?" They had already moved onto more interesting things.
Coltara — 09/20/2020
Max had expected Joan to discipline Jax as she did unruly tavern customers. While it had been no surprise that she took offense at his dismissive attitude, the degree to which it had affected her was another story. It was high his brows rose as he watched the transformation before him.
This was the first time he was seeing her in a half-form like this, draconic form expressing itself in a chaotic manner more akin to a less refined shifter. It surprised, scared, and impressed him all at once.
The pig on the floor by the fire got up just enough to lift its head with a questioning oink. It did not however open its eyes, both of which seemed to potentially be missing beneath the lids.
A moment of silence passed before he met Enfield’s look of horror and subsequent snort of mirth. It appeared contagious as his own startled expression faded into a barely restrained smile and shoulder shake of silent chuckles.
Max would have something to say to Joan about this new form later, but for now he returned to eating. Jax would be spared at least one dish from the table: this man was likely to refill his bowl a couple (if not several) more times before calling it a night.
A finger was briefly raised to confirm the second assumption made about the sword - a link to her nature - as he continued to stuff his face. It seemed the sword was letting off far less chill now, the mist spilling to the floor gently fading away, but the brightly lit nature of the inset crystals remained.
Pebbles - the elemental pig now rising to her hooves - clipped after Jax like a dog to the kitchen, where she would expectantly sit nearby as if hoping for scraps. It might be eerie how much an eyeless animal appeared capable of staring at someone.
Degu — 09/26/2020
Joan followed him, practically breathing that threatening icy breath down his neck as she did so. Her piercing icy gaze snapped quickly too Vaidya at the warning passed her way, pupils narrowing and her finned tail flicking. She was quick to press back in close to Jaxamir's ear "You break any of our plates and you'll work to pay for the damages. Handle them carefully" she growled with the echoes of multiple voices and probably made things worse by lingering and looming over him but his disrespect had been so momentous that her anger didn't quite fade, not yet.
She followed Jax's narrowed gaze to Enfield and snorted in warning, causing the boy to stop snickering and quickly jump up to start clearing the table with a nervous glance to his dad. Vaidya's explanation seemed to give him pause "Oh he needs it...? bah okay..." apparently he could respect that and only that when it came to possibly liberating someones property.
Joan tore her eyes away to Vaidya as her gaze was met, looking to the sword "His sword responds to me, yes. It reacts to the magic I am using." it was a bit of a lie, or the wording was anyway. She didn't want to divulge anything that Maxie didn't want to divulge about the true properties of the sword, so she nodded to him so that he could explain to whatever extent he felt necessary. These people were strangers, it'd be unfortunate if the sword went missing in the night.
When free of the question she was back to growling quietly to Jax "You're a fool to be so rude in the face of your hosts. You really are a dragon. Arrogant enough. I suppose you had worshippers once? monks?" Joan didn't even realise she was accessing old dragon memories when she said these things, they just came naturally.
Ave — 09/26/2020
Jax grumbled loudly, ensuring that everyone (and their mom, as it were) heard him complain like a teenager (Enfield certainly has competition in the form of a grown-ass man). Still, he did the job—the dishes were collected, and carried carefully to the sink while speaking to Joan. “If you were my wife, I wouldn’t put up with this crap. Will you stop breathing on me? If you want your dishes intact, you will give me some space, woman.”
The leather straps on his arms were carefully removed, revealing hidden knives, and dropped them on the floor. He rolled back his sleeves. He filled the sink with water.
“How the bloody hell... where the fuck is the soap?” Ah, there it is. Soap obtained! The little pig-creature followed him there, too. Too fucking adorable, too smol to eat. When he was sure Joan wasn’t looking, he glowered at the pig, but passed a filthy plate for the pig to lick clean. He realized that this could be the start to a beautiful friendship.
Jax continued to let the pig be his personal plate-cleaner. Once the plates were licked sparkling clean (assuming smol pig was eager to help), Jax put the dishes into the soapy water. “WHO SENT YOU?” He suddenly shouted, and dunked the plates deep into the water with some (careful) aggression. “TELL ME WHO YOU WORK FOR, OR YOUR LIFE IS FORFEIT. Oh, are you still here?” He sighed loudly so that Joan can hear. “Can a man torture in peace?” No, obviously.
“I...” Joan’s cutting words gave Jax pause. “No,” he said truthfully, tone strangely mellow. “I was taken as an egg. Bought by a powerful lord. Brought up as his page boy. Then when I was old enough to lift a shield, I was made a knight’s squire. I know nothing of growing up in the comforts of a hoard... only the bite of a blade. All of that has been left behind me. So... what brought that on? I would not be surprised if you had fellows worshipping the likes of you. You are scary.” A compliment?
AJ — 10/03/2020
The physician frowned a little at the mute answer from Max, but they weren’t about to interrupt his eating for more Information (or were they?). They weren’t sure if Joan’s look their way had been a warning in turn, but she looked more wrapped up in her own anger than anything; they quietly observed her shifting with a quirk of their head. ...And another glance the sword’s way. Joan marched Jaxamir to the kitchens, and they crept over to obtain a better look at that sword, passing the pig on his way to beg for scraps.
“Yes. He does.” There was a weight and importance that the little physician could only begin to carry in their voice, when speaking about that brooch. Joan’s explanation got a long, thoughtful hum as they crouched down to inspect the hilt from where it stuck out of the scabbard. “But it is your sword?” To Max. There was a story there—they did not like coincidences. No touching, yet, although they were probably already pushing boundaries.
So used to Jaxamir’s grumbling and bitching, he was almost completely ignored, minus furtive, passing glances dancing with a subtle amusement as he tried his hand at washing up. They reached out to feel the ‘air’ around the sword, about ready to grab the hilt if someone didn’t smack their damn hand away. Afterall, they hadn’t been tasked with any ‘chores’ yet.
That is, until Joan snarked at Jaxamir’s history. The red dragon answered it, and the doctor’s head snapped in their direction, quickly padding over to the kitchen to hover behind the ice dragoness. They knew Jaxamir’s history, the things he didn’t want to talk about, and there could have been a touch of worry in that otherwise utterly impassive expression as they stared past Joan at their companion. They added nothing to the conversation—even if that meant Joan would have to explain her origins twice.
Coltara — 10/12/2020
Maxie didn’t dare chuckle again, but an amused glimmer remained in his eyes as he watched Joan haul Jaximir from the room. It was tempered by a respect for the echo of multiple voices in her snarl, but he still smirked softly as ‘if you were my wife, I wouldn’t put up with this crap’ reached his ears: on the contrary, Max quite liked her bold and spirited nature. It was one of the many things that made her so endearing to him.
A sharp start would be given at the loud threat coming from the kitchen, but he looked embarrassed as he realized their guest was only being ridiculous in his cleaning duties. This reminded him enough of his son to direct a now wry smirk in Enfield’s direction. That seems like something you might do, his expression teased as he settled back into his chair.
“It’is,” he replied with a single nod. There was no doubt some kind of story here, but the man seemed unwilling to offer it so freely as he turned to face the stew pot. The Vaidya was watched warily over one shoulder as he ladled a fresh portion of meat and vegetables into his bowl. It looked as if he might say something as that hand reached for the sword, both ladle and eyebrows raising - but before his mouth could open to accompany them, the Vaidya turned away to address the conversation in the kitchen. It was with a sense of relief he settled back once more and resumed shoveling down stew.
Pebbles licked the dishes clean with enthusiastic grunts, all too eager to assist and even cast a helpful light around the kitchen from the false ‘sun’ hovering over her back. This was where she would remain until needed no longer.
It seemed the wildman in his chair was perfectly content to keep himself out of their business. There would be no ears perked towards the conversation and once he had finished with the contents of his second bowl, he’d get himself a third and remove a box from the mantelpiece. It was from this he’d withdrew a simple pipe to begin packing herbs in.
The man called Max gave a hum of acknowledgment as an understanding for her interest came into his eyes. An agreeable nod followed as he leaned back to fetch a keyring off the wall and quickly light a lantern.
It would be like Enfield to invite strangers to dinner. There would be no argument from the wild man however: he wasn’t about to turn down those in need, especially when aid had already been offered. It would be cruel to send weary travelers back out into the night.
A gesture was given for Jaxamir to follow him with horse and cow. In the light cast from the windows it became clear his feet were like other primates as they left handlike impressions in the mud and a long, strong tail curled back and forth at the tip near his ankles. There would be a clear path to follow, vegetation thinned by foot and the wheels of a cart.
The lantern illuminated their path to a modest little barn in the midst of being fixed up - it was perfectly serviceable for the night, but could certainly use some more work. Max inserted a key into the chunky padlock on the doors and gave it an experienced little shake to get it to pop open. It hardly seemed to need being locked, however: from the shadows of a cart rolled up next to the building came the rumbling growl of a large dog. The wild man slid the latch and turned to greet the absolutely massive canine crawling out from underneath the cart with a wave of the padlock.
“Ah, shuttup Duke. It’s okay - y' stop that,” he told the dog as he pulled open the doors. The canine was a huge Turkish Kangal with a thick leather collar, red in tone and with a bit of a shaggy ruff, perhaps a mutt if not in actuality an unknown breed. There was something not quite ‘right’ about this dog beyond the fact it was nearly the size of a small horse. ‘Duke’ eyeballed Jax with rather intelligent eyes before huffing and wandering off to lay elsewhere. Max grunted an apology as he hung the lantern up on a hook inside the barn. “Duke ‘as a bit o’ an attitude,” he informed the other man before gesturing to Brimstone and Ajaa, “but he’ll keep them safe.” He moved aside to give Jax room to bring them in.
The shed of a barn was able to fit only two, perhaps three larger animals, but luckily the couple appeared to have none of their own at the moment. There was tack for some large beast hanging up on the walls (presumably whatever pulled the cart), but most hooks were empty and what was being stored was little more than a couple small bales of hay, a sack of grain, and what looked to be a wine barrel stamped with the logo of a rooster-headed basilisk printed in black.
“We don’ ‘ave a lo’, but they’re welcome t’ wha’ grain an ‘ay is lef’,” he said. Now that that the man was speaking at more length, it would become apparent his voice carried a mix of archaic Scottish-Gaelic and Middle English that could easily be mistaken for a local fae dialect. A beat was given before he scratched at his beard and decided to ask this traveling stranger a question.
“So, y’ a regular realm traveler or jus’ good at takin’ things in stride?” he asked with raised brows and a soft smile.
Max wondered if they had managed to spot the night sky through the coverage of trees yet.
Meanwhile, back inside the cozy little home there were well-kept weapons hung on the wall (blades for the most part, knives and swords in clear favor) and sprawled out on the floor asleep instead of the dog outside, a pig. It was a large, but normal enough looking boar until one looked a little closer - hovering above it was what looked like a small sun, a strong source of light in the room that projected a soft warmth. An even closer inspection of the animal would reveal she had shards of stone scattered across the back and shoulders. It seemed the pig was as mundane as any of this household could claim to be: that was to say, hardly at all.
Degu — 08/12/2020
It wouldn't become apparent to Joan, a woman who hadn't come across much in the way of anything beyond gender 'norms', to her, unless corrected, she had thought that Vaidya was a woman albeit a more masculine one...a bit like her, actually.
"Oh- of course" Joan said sheepishly, this woman was a physician. Instead she brought over a basin of clean water and a cloth "Here.. I'll leave you to it then." she smiled, the corners of her eyes creasing as she instead headed over to the mushrooms on the floor to wash them off and chop them up with practiced hands before adding them to the stew. A huge basket of bread rolls was laid out on the centre of the table and covered with a cloth, a covered butter stick set nearby too.
Joan lifted her head from her work when she was asked a question, brow quirked in question "What do- oh." the hive informed her as the towering souls of many dead sailors (and others) peered down at the bride, it seemed Joan wasn't as in-tune with them as she could be yet, despite being the one housing them.
"You...can see them? oh-" she cleared her throat, touching at the scar across said throat "They are rescued souls, many of them lost at sea. Many of them far more ancient than I...I inherited a dragon- that is to say, I became a dragon." she smiled awkwardly, knowing this sort of thing made sense to very few as it was such a bizarre thing to say and she was being as vague as she could be without being evasive. "A sea dragon, she once collected these souls. A hive." Joan told Vaidya as she headed back to the stew to turn it. "I suppose I still think of myself as a human at times, despite everything. It has been a good while now, but it is no small thing for me to accept. I've been getting better about it, Max has helped... we've both been coming to terms with our own natures this year." she smiled over her shoulder at Vaidya "And what of you, who can see the dead? Where does your gift come from?"
[cont for Enfield.]
Degu — 08/12/2020
Enfield had left himself some clothes hanging in the courtyard on some twine to wear when he came home. With no one looking he transformed back to his humanoid form (with scaly arms, legs, wings and tail, oof!) and quickly pulled on his clothes before plodding off after Jax and Maxie.
His scaly feed muffled the noise of his footsteps and allowed him to pad quietly up to the door and put his ear to it carefully, listening hard. Maybe Jax and Max would exchange incredible stories. He silently prayed that Duke wouldn't rat him out, but hopefully the 'canine' was too busy keeping an eye on the visitor.
Come on Jax...say something! He was relieved when his father did, he could rely on his dad to do a little vetting, the guy was protective of his family. Meanwhile...he couldn't stop thinking about Jax's amulet, he wanted it. That treasure... it'd be the perfect item to really start his hoard.
Ave — 08/18/2020
Not knowing what the Vaidya was sensing (he rarely paid attention to much unless it was shiny, a beautiful lady, or food), Jax resumed his trademark surly huff as the wait continued. What about his grumbling stomach did they not understand? Come on, people. Do not make a dragon wait for his meal! He let his companion do the talking, distracted more by the delicious scent in the air, and imagining stuffing his face silly with a nice prime rib. His fantasy was short-lived, as everyone decided to split off.
--
With little else to focus on, Jaxamir let his glance shift to his new, albeit temporary, companion. The apelike features, the odd foot. "What are you? I don't think I've seen your likeness before." And he has seen much in his lifetime. The growl of the dog did ensnare his attention; it shifted downward. Brimstone remained calm, as he was a well-trained warhorse fit to withstand most surprises, even when it came to menacing dogs. Ajaa, having seen much in the past ten years, was not very shocked by the dog, either.
"I'm sure he'll do a fine job," Jax grunted, unconcerned about Duke the dog. Jax tugged at the harnesses of the animals. They stepped in, only wary because it was a new place, but with a few encouraging pats, they walked in, nostrils flared, dipping their noses to the dog in curious greeting. Both beasts had lived in the odd shelter more times than they cared to admit.
"Sir Loin Steak--I mean, ah, Ajaa, the cow, has a bit of an attitude, as well." Jax hoisted Vaidya's dowry cow's head up. "Be a good girl," he said firmly. "Inside you go." Once the beasts were secure and comfortable, Jax took up a pitchfork. "Hmm," was his response to hay, stabbing some hay and bringing it down for the animals to eat.
Jax narrowed his eyes, pausing in his efforts. Was Maxie patronizing him? Taking down a bit more hay until he was satisfied that the animals had enough, Jax retired the pitchfork against the wall. "Shadow worlds, self-proclaimed gods, puppets of darkness, fire that speaks, ancient kings, eldritch nightmares, arrogant creatures of light, sorcerers, curses, betrayal, and death... all I have seen, and so too has my..." Jax's face screwed up, as if in pain. "Friend," he murmured, sampling the word for the first time, and unsure of what to make of it. He scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward in the peculiar way he said it. "I've much bigger fish to fry than to worry about what realm I've stumbled in this week--"
A snort followed, and a peculiar side-glance to the door. Jax walked towards it. "...Or eaves-dropping runts." It came out of his mouth before he had time to think. He opened the door, his glare palpable as he glared down at Enfield, then reached out to grab the scruff of his shirt. "What the hell do you think you're doing, pipsqueak?"
This is where Jax dies.
AJ — 08/18/2020
After years of dressing and passing as a fair man alongside Jaxamir to avoid specific harassments, it was irksome to say the least. But they were... Grateful for the clean water, pulling out a fresh cloth to dip and clean their hand. It wasn’t any serious mark, and although their face had drawn in a tired, distant stare as they cleaned it, they were silently cursing themself for letting their anger get the better of them. Again. They dabbed a bit of salve after it stopped bleeding, but deemed it not worth expending anything over. Instead they reached out to lift the corner of the cloth, eyeing the breadrolls. Oh, Jaxamir would be pleased.
“Yes. People long passed.” They turned towards her in their chair, gripping the corners of their seat to lean forward. They were not so articulate as to eloquently pry her story from her. Instead they gave her their full attention, humming after a turn. Oh, she hadn’t gone into nearly enough detail for their tastes.
The question gave them pause, and their droopy gaze drifting to the pot of stew she was working on. “I have had it as long as I can recall.” They could make an educated guess at what caused it, but not one they were willing to share. “It grew as I grew. It was further enhanced with... Ah, study.” Sure. Study.
“How does one ‘inherit’ a dragon?” Oops, probably too personal for a stranger your son just dropped on your doorstep. Maybe they thought their answer was a fair enough trade for another question.
ADD-ON: Ajaa, meanwhile, batted her big, beautiful eyes at Jax when he grasped her chin, all innocence, and crooning a content 'mu' to his face. She would be the very best. With a loving toss of her head, she nudged at his shoulder but obediently ambled into the stall as directed.
Coltara — 08/18/2020
“I used to be a man,” the auburn furred fellow answered rather evasively. “Now - well - I’ve been called a lo’ o’ things…”
What terminology had Enfield picked up somewhere and introduced him with, ‘sasquatch’? That was certainly one to add to the list.
“Sir Loin Steak?” the man had repeated with a laugh as he watched Jax take down the hay, glancing at the poor cow with amusement. This reminded him that dinner was still waiting inside and like Jax his mind wandered to thoughts of food. It had already been difficult waiting for Enfield to bring home those mushrooms…
It seemed his query had been far from patronizing, however. There was almost a sense of relief when Jax stated he had better things to worry about: good news for him and his, there would be no need for them to be concerned about the relative peace of mind over the situation. It would seem like his lot, these strangers were used to this sort of thing. Max was glad they would not be needing to console any individuals coming out of shock in the morning.
An understanding hand was rose and the subject waved off.
“Aah, the latter then - say no more. I think we’re on the same page there,” he chortled. It didn’t seem like the shared list of experiences surprised him much, conversely Max had given very understanding gestures to things like ‘self-proclaimed gods’, ‘eldritch nightmares’, and ‘curses’. In fact all of this somehow seemed to set him at ease and a more genuine, relaxed smile came into play as he listened.
It fell away when Jax reached over the gate to snatch up a budding teenager with one hand.
Max stiffened and curled a lip, but instead of approaching he made an attempt to lock eyes with Jax.
“Ey,” the wild man warned, a ‘put him down’ very strongly implied by the look he was giving and a follow up point at the ground. A harsh expression had taken over his features.
It went without saying that he was used to Enfield’s shenanigans and perhaps had been ignoring him if he’d known he was there himself. However, he recognized that Enfield could press on the patience levels of others rather quickly and was willing to forgive and forget. That was of course if the other man put their eavesdropper down right away.
Degu — 08/19/2020
Enfield squeaked hoarsely as he was grabbed unexpectedly, eyes wide. BUSTED. He swung his foot immediately for poor Jax's family jewels without considering any sane course of action "Get off me you- fat, smelly dragon fart!" he shouted as he wriggled aggressively, and yes he was aware that Jax wasn't fat but ...when did Enfield ever make sense. The little shit immediately grabbed for that brooch that Jax wore, trying to rip it free in the heat of the moment now that he was too close to resist. This could be his moment, a well delivered scaly kick to the balls, grab the brooch and run back to the forest, right? he could pull it off.
All he could think about when Jax was close was about that brooch. It was a strange obsession, utterly consuming any sense he had left in him. He needed the treasure for his hoard. He didn't have a hoard and it could start it! It was all his pubescent dragon brain cared about.
Joan's hive of souls seemed to rise up and fade away, not gone but less apparent. Apparently they'd been suspicious of Cecille and had decided to be less serious about keeping their many eyes on her for now. One did, a man that looked a lot like Joan, he stayed watching.
"A frightened, desperate man cut my throat and I died." she said sadly "It could've been avoided but it wasn't. This dragon has been in my family since ancient times, though my family were not as aware of it as you'd expect. She was on our family crest, the Kingsley crest, but no one thought of her as a real dragon. My fathers ring held its soul, dormant and waiting... there are more sensitive matters surrounding my reincarnation but..."
Such as Evren's stillborn eggs.
"I came back as a young fledgling and grew quickly into adult form. It has been very confusing for me... I'm...no longer Joan, I am hundreds." she looked up at the faint heads above her. "I suppose I am Joan, but Joan with council, heh." she finished up the stew, hitting the ladle against the side of the cauldron loudly "FOODS READY, BOYS!" she yelled out the window without realising what was going on and instead set out some bowls.
"The meat in the stew is in... large chunks, so I apologise in advance. The boys eat like ravenous lions" she mused and wiped her hands clean, serving up a HEFTY bowl of venison and rabbit stew. They'd just put whatever meat they could into the stew to pad it out enough to feed the household.... often that resulted in mead medley's like this. She served a bowl up for Vaidya and took it over to them, setting it down with a spoon "Help yourself to bread and butter...don't worry about waiting for them, they'll be eating long after we're done anyway." she chuckled.
"Would you like a drink? ...I can make it ice cold. My favourite benefit to my new found form" she laughed. Well, she'd once run a tavern and cold drinks had made her place even MORE popular! what a silly thing to love being a dragon for, though.
Ave — 08/19/2020
"Used to be?" Okay, that got Jax's attention. If there's one thing he liked other than girls and food, was a good story. "You do not start off a tale that way, and not expect to finish. It's teasing." Jax may be an idiot at the best of times, but he knew when someone attempted to sweep a topic under the rug. "I expect to hear how you 'used to be a man', and I'll tell you how I used to be a dragon." Hopefully this would compel Maxie to swap stories.
The ends of Jax's lips hinted at a suble smile. "There you go again. Teasing me with the cusp of your tales. I take it you've had a taste of adventure. Judging by the looks of your home, you've wiped your hands of such a thing nowadays." Now the smile transformed into a smirk. Jax never had any hope of settling down. Not yet.
The situation escalated once Jax took hold of Enfield. It did not stop there, once he had a grasp on the boy's shirt, the shouting match started. "FAT? BOY, DID YOU JUST CALL ME FAT? YOU SCRAWNY CHICKEN LEG, I WILL EAT YOU UP AND SPIT YOU OUT--OHOHOHO." Enfield attempted to kick Jax right between the legs. Luckily, Jax jerked his waist out from reach of that foot. The grab for his gem proved fruitless; it was attached well on his chest, and would not budge--perhaps because there was a scuffle between them. The ex-Knight was about to wring the boy's neck until the stern warning reached his ears. Jax did not need to look Maxie in the eyes in order for him to feel the stare. Okay, admittedly, it did send a shiver down Jax's spine, but he'll never admit, at least not to the 'sasquatch's' face, how he managed to instill a mountain of fear in the ex-Knight. Never get between a father and his kid. There is a power there that not even Jax understands, despite having many of his own that he abandoned.
Jax grunted, and unceremoniously dropped Enfield like a sack of potatos. He gave Enfield a rough pat on the head. "You're alright. See? Nary a scratch." Jax gave Enfield a fixed smile, like a carved stone man giving off that uncanny valley. Joan's announcement snatched Jax's attention, who turned like a hopeful hound. He pushed Enfield out of the way as he raced to the house for food. He burst through the door, skidding to a halt.
AJ — 08/19/2020
The Vaidya watched the souls move, ascend, and then dissipate into the background, intrigued as ever and eyeing the man cautiously. When they were no longer the centre of attention, the physician’s eyes shifted to the rest of her, looking Joan in the eye for... Perhaps the first time. It didn’t linger, and their gaze drifted down to space out on her stomach with a muttered ‘oh’. They blinked. “It was trapped within the ring?” With some effort, they pulled their gaze from her stomach to look to her proper. That rang a little bell, running parallel to Jaxamir’s predicament. Perhaps. “But you are you, you do not identify as... The dragon.” She kept referring to it as ‘her’, a separate identity from herself, afterall. Or maybe the council were of too many souls for any to have ‘purchase’ on her form. “The dragon is part of this council?”
The little doctor was apparently keen on dragging out this conversation longer even as she turned to call the rest for dinner. Oh—what help they had been in preparing it, of course. Moral support. They reached sideways to steal a roll from the basket without a second thought while her back was turned—but quickly retreated their hand when she returned from calling the boys. She offered the basket soon afterwards and they took their chance then.
“I take no issue. I am grateful for the food.” Roll in hand (already sans one large bite-mark), they reached out to slide the bowl closer. “Oh? ...A... Innate talent?” They imagined her breathing ice on their drink, the silly daydream interrupted by Jaxamir slamming the door open and screeching into the room. The little doctor stared. Then returned their attention to Joan as if it were the most usual behaviour of the ex-knight. “If you care to spare something sweet.” They didn’t want to push their welcome.
Coltara — 08/22/2020
Max chided himself for answering in a way that made someone want to know more - he really needed to stop being so honest and come up with some kind of answer people would readily accept!
In this case it seemed a fair enough and even perfectly equivalent exchange - a once dragon, was it? Well, if Jax was willing to divulge that sort of information freely, than perhaps there was a chance this beastman would be more forthcoming than he might usually be.
“We’re tryin’,” he would have answered right before the situation turned tense, “but adventure seems t’ find us.”
Maxie could feel his ire rising and his blood begin to stir. It was taking a lot to not immediately come to the rescue and for a split second he saw red - but then Jax put Enfield down.
It could have been that Jax could sense the beast hiding behind those eyes. A fiercely protective parent to be certain! It would take the wild man a moment to compose himself as he cleared his throat and watched their guest dart off with a speechless expression.
Max made an attempt to relax with a shake of his head and a sigh, one hand rubbing at the back of his neck. A brief moment passed as he settled before reaching the other hand out to gruffly ruffle Enfield’s hair.
“Wot are you doin’, eh? Go on,”
A playful shove and a gesture for him to head back into the house followed. Max would retrieve the lantern and head back himself with a bit of a clip in his step. Nobody was getting first dibs on his dinner, damn it!
When he got there he would make a beeline for a heavy chair near the fire that was clearly his ‘spot’.
Degu — 09/01/2020
Enfield hit the floor with a resounding "OOF!" before rubbing his backside with a grumpy pout up at Jaxamir. "Yeah just a big butt bruise" he snapped and pushed himself up to his scaly feet. All was forgotten when he heard the clang clang clang of the stew pot, eyes wide and head turned towards the house. He laughed and shoved at his dad as he was caught off-guard by that big hand coming to mess up his hair "GET OFF ME!" he laughed and ran away, hurrying ahead and annoyingly lingering close behind Jaxamir, opting to try and sit beside the fellow with big beady eyes fixed up at him.
---
Joan tilted her head "I don't know if i do or i don't identify as the dragon, it has been some time now. I've just been a human so long. I am the dragon, of course...I just..." she sighed, becoming distracted because she hadn't the foggiest how to explain it.
"The dragon is the council building" she chuckled, it was the best way she could put it "It houses and cares for them, more like a landlady...I suppose she - I am the head of this council. I'm sure there's untouched potential I need to learn about"
She jumped at the arrival of Jaxamir as the man BOWLED into the room like a bull, laughing and belatedly answering Vaidya "Yes"
"Come in, sit down please." she greeted Enfield with a gentle hug and touched Max's shoulder to press a kiss to his head before she started to serve them each up bowls of stew. Her boys got HUGE bowls while she picked up a smaller bowl for Vaidya and then Jax ...but upon staring at Jaxamir she picked up a larger bowl. Everyone was served, Joan ate less alongside Vaidya though they were all reassured they could go up for more as long as there was stew left and to help themselves to bread.
Joan practically beamed, it was nice to have a full table and for a moment Enfield was silenced by food...so she spoke. "Jaxamir, was it? Would you mind helping me wash the dishes after we eat?" the dragon 'queen' asked with a kind smile.
Ave — 09/10/2020
Jaxamir might have made quite a startling presence skidding into the dining room, but nothing was more important right now than feeding his face. "Yes, good," was his waspish answer to Joan. It's not that he meant to be rude, it's just that--okay, yes, he totally meant to be rude. It's just that he has been delayed his dinner a moment too long, and no filled belly meant a grumpy Jax. He gave Vaidya a shrug, as is his way. He's not very polite company, everyone, sorry.
Jax sneered. "What am I supposed to do with that?" The small bowl was nearly given to him, but then Joan seemed to change her mind, and so a bigger one took its place. "That's more like it. I'm a big fellow, I require a heaping serving." He grunted, took the bowl, sat down, and prepared to dig in.
A spoonfull was halfway suspended into his mouth when he felt a very annoying stare coming from a certain child. "What are you looking at?" He growled in undertones, side-eyeing the kid like he was a buzzing fly at his ear. "Stop staring at it, you're not getting it."
And so the shoveling began. Dropping the spoon, Jax picked up the bowl and gobbled the contents, then slammed the bowl on the table. Thankfully, without cracking it. "DELICIOUS!" He boomed, rubbing his belly, and stretching. Then Joan asked him to do the dishes. "What?" Was his curt response, sitting up straight. "Do the dishes?" Jax leaned lazily back on the chair. "Am I getting paid?"
AJ — 09/12/2020
“Hm. Very likely. You have a... a conglomerate of souls at your disposal.” They’d like a conglomerate of souls at their disposal. The physician nibbled nonchalantly on the bread as Jaxamir circled hungrily, then touched the smaller bowl, but said nothing to it; they would at least swoop in for seconds. They weren’t Jaxamir’s size in appetite. Speaking of, they gently grabbed his elbow, wordlessly, warningly, in the meantime at his comment, intent on at least claiming their free food before they made a muck of things and got run out of the household.
Although Jaxamir was boisterous enough to point out Enfield’s blatant staring at the brooch, the little physician said nothing and eyed him back suspiciously. The gaze slipped briefly to Joan, and after a pause of thought, they spoke candidly to the young dragon: “Yes, it is something to look at, isn’t it?” They brushed the comment off casually with a mouthful of stew, sinking into their food so they could return to slyly taking in their surroundings.
They ate their fair share, forgetting any pleasantries and thanks—up until Jaxamir decided to start a conflict. Realizing they had no idea where they were, if they could, or should get back, and whether or not this family may be a contributing factor to how pleasant their stay in Thornmouth would be—“Thank you,” the little physician piped up gruffly, wiping their mouth and shooting Jaxamir a blank stare that conveyed a ‘shut up’. They had never stayed in one place long enough for Jaxamir to have ever washed a dish, and they doubted he had ever done so even before meeting them. How hard could it be? ...Nevermind this would be a disaster. They started to collect together their own dishes, standing as if they intended to do it themself.
Coltara — 09/14/2020
Maxie returned the touch with a rumble of affection before sinking into his chair. It was built for his weight, but creaked under his collapse into it anyway.
A sword hung over the back of his chair, the hilt looking suspiciously made of carved bone rather than metal. There was a rounded orb set in the top, dark like smoked glass, which matched the eye of a gaping dragon head forming the rain-guard.
There was no time wasted in pulling his bowl closer to dig in, but he ate at a less feverish pace than Jax, if a steady one intending to go through several bowls. That steady pace slowed to a near halt as he glanced between Joan and Jax upon the latter’s response, bread roll halfway to his mouth fixing in place. A rather firm expression took over his apeish features as their unruly guest failed the test he had been given in spectacular fashion.
While the hair across his body rose and he made a point to put the poor bread roll down before he squeezed it back into dough, he didn’t make a move to say a word. Joan could handle this.
It seemed he was a little more perturbed by the need to investigate the source of growing cold at his shoulder. The sword on the back of his chair had began to leak mist like the sheath was filled with dry ice. What had been a dull orb in the pommel began to spin with a dim icy light. Max quickly turned his attention back to the situation as Jax leaned back lazily in his chair and asked if he was going to be paid. There was an attempt to make eye contact with the physician and give a little shake of his head - oh no, Jax was going to do those dishes.
Vaidya couldn’t save him from himself this time.
Degu — 09/14/2020
Jaxamir's rudeness and his lack of gratitude had gotten Joan bristling in her own way. She didn't take people into her home and feed them lightly...and well...never pick a fight with a woman who has owned a tavern in a place crawling with werewolves, vampires and hulking beasts of all sizes, right?
Her strong jaw worked. He'd work for his forgiveness, but she wasn't about to ruin the atmosphere of her good meal. Enfield screwed his face up sourly at Jax before sticking his tongue out and instead looking at Vaidya with a deflated sigh "It is... I don't have anything like it. I need it." he didn't care if Jax heard him, his hoarding instincts were too strong to be subtle at this point.
Joan smiled at Vaidya when the physician thanked her, bowing her head to them before turning her head towards Jaxamir in a snap. She rose from her seat and let out a low, dangerous growl that was far from human. Icy wisps licked at the corners of her mouth as her eyes turned from brown to piercing blue with slitted pupils.
With each footstep towards him around the table she became heavier, growing in size as blue scales blossomed across her skin. Her muscles bulked and the fabric of her clothes started to tear, more terrifyingly so did the leather of her boots. Her head elongated, horns rising from her brow and wings violently tearing from her back and sprouting outwards until a much taller, much more muscular draconic half-form loomed furiously over him with glistening blue scales and piercing eyes. She panted out furious puffs of dry ice, gigantic teeth bared down at him.
Her words started out dangerously steady, voice naturally booming so it became even more terrifying as she grew louder until shouting *"You are paying for your board and meal with menial labour... so I will rephrase. YOU ARE DOING. THE. FUCKING. DISHES!" her clawed hand snapped out to grip him by the ear abruptly and then unceremoniously she'd pull him up from the chair by it and turn him to face the table, leaning in closer with fangs close to his face "Now collect the dishes you ungrateful fledgling" she hissed and released him.
Enfield stared on with wide eyes, glancing at his dad in horror...only to have to cover up a snort by pressing his face into his arm and looking away. Nope, it wasn't funny (it was).
Ave — 09/14/2020
Jax knew he was in hot water just by the change of atmosphere (or rather, there was a permeating chill, the source of which he could not pinpoint). Rather than being cowed by it, he gave them all his trademark shit-eating grin. Might as well for what they were about to do to him. Get tossed out? Come on, now, Vaidya, stop looking at him like that! You know better than anyone that it was practically tradition!
Surprisingly, he wasn't thrown out, which is possibly the largest reason why he kept shoving his foot in his mouth. Vaidya's concern was paid no mind. Jax was as chaotic as one can get.
Everything changed drastically when Joan seemed to shift, clearly having had enough of Jax's shit. At first, Jax paid the woman the smarmiest, smuggest grin on a man never before seen, until now--and he regretted it. Jax gasped, sinking back into his chair when the woman turned dragon. He sank so far in, that he fell backward with a resounding crash. It was a miracle he hadn't hit his head, but he wished he had. The beastly creature's shadow fell over him as he stared wide-eyed, mouth gaping, wanting to yell. He could feel the chill on his face, making the ends of his beard turn frosty. He might have tried to said something, then, but all that came out was a comical little squeek in place of 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry!' Oh, he will be sorry.
Next thing Jax knew, he was being dragged by the ear, having little choice but to make his wobbly legs walk. Collect the dishes, Joan snarled. Feeling as though he had a hundred or so years taken off of his life, he forced himself to swallow, and started collecting everybody's empty bowls. When he passed Enfield, Jax gave the boy a wounded scowl, eyes narrowed so thin that his eyes were almost closed.
Off to the kitchen he went with bowls piled precariously high, but careful as to not drop a single one. Lesson learned? Time will tell.
AJ — 09/16/2020
Jaxamir had ruined the mood, as was just his way; the little physician sighed at Enfield. “He needs it still.” They’d been eyeing Joan in hopes that drawing the other (adult) dragon’s attention to the piece might yield some insight. But Jaxamir had stopped that in its tracks. As they stood to gather their dishes, they felt the drifting cold, and their eyes tracked the trailing mist back to its source with an inquisitive quirk of an eyebrow. It was nothing compared to the sight when they turned their attention back, and they turned on their heel to face Joan’s approach with their sleepy eyes bright and wide. Something was muttered in Hindustani, although they didn’t look exactly afraid--leaning after her as she rounded her attention on Jaxamir.
With a crash, the red dragon tipped his chair, and the Vaidya shifted their dishes over to one hand to free up the other, playing a few fingers against their lips and chin. They very politely held out their own dishes as Jaxamir made his hasty rounds to collect them.
And then they were left to pick up the pieces of that encounter—the awkward ‘companion’ of the man so rude to cause that scene. If the Vaidya bared any second-hand embarrassment at all—they hid it so well, or else felt nothing at all. Still standing, they looked back over the table instead, settling their hands on the back of their chair. And then to Joan. “He will likely break several of your dishes. Not out of malice.” He was just... A bull in a china shop. They’d certainly never seen him wash any, and they had never settled together in one place long enough to own their own.
They then pointed to Max, to where the sheathed sword hung, while maintaining Joan's eye. "Your weapon is imbued with ice magic? Or linked to your nature?" They had already moved onto more interesting things.
Coltara — 09/20/2020
Max had expected Joan to discipline Jax as she did unruly tavern customers. While it had been no surprise that she took offense at his dismissive attitude, the degree to which it had affected her was another story. It was high his brows rose as he watched the transformation before him.
This was the first time he was seeing her in a half-form like this, draconic form expressing itself in a chaotic manner more akin to a less refined shifter. It surprised, scared, and impressed him all at once.
The pig on the floor by the fire got up just enough to lift its head with a questioning oink. It did not however open its eyes, both of which seemed to potentially be missing beneath the lids.
A moment of silence passed before he met Enfield’s look of horror and subsequent snort of mirth. It appeared contagious as his own startled expression faded into a barely restrained smile and shoulder shake of silent chuckles.
Max would have something to say to Joan about this new form later, but for now he returned to eating. Jax would be spared at least one dish from the table: this man was likely to refill his bowl a couple (if not several) more times before calling it a night.
A finger was briefly raised to confirm the second assumption made about the sword - a link to her nature - as he continued to stuff his face. It seemed the sword was letting off far less chill now, the mist spilling to the floor gently fading away, but the brightly lit nature of the inset crystals remained.
Pebbles - the elemental pig now rising to her hooves - clipped after Jax like a dog to the kitchen, where she would expectantly sit nearby as if hoping for scraps. It might be eerie how much an eyeless animal appeared capable of staring at someone.
Degu — 09/26/2020
Joan followed him, practically breathing that threatening icy breath down his neck as she did so. Her piercing icy gaze snapped quickly too Vaidya at the warning passed her way, pupils narrowing and her finned tail flicking. She was quick to press back in close to Jaxamir's ear "You break any of our plates and you'll work to pay for the damages. Handle them carefully" she growled with the echoes of multiple voices and probably made things worse by lingering and looming over him but his disrespect had been so momentous that her anger didn't quite fade, not yet.
She followed Jax's narrowed gaze to Enfield and snorted in warning, causing the boy to stop snickering and quickly jump up to start clearing the table with a nervous glance to his dad. Vaidya's explanation seemed to give him pause "Oh he needs it...? bah okay..." apparently he could respect that and only that when it came to possibly liberating someones property.
Joan tore her eyes away to Vaidya as her gaze was met, looking to the sword "His sword responds to me, yes. It reacts to the magic I am using." it was a bit of a lie, or the wording was anyway. She didn't want to divulge anything that Maxie didn't want to divulge about the true properties of the sword, so she nodded to him so that he could explain to whatever extent he felt necessary. These people were strangers, it'd be unfortunate if the sword went missing in the night.
When free of the question she was back to growling quietly to Jax "You're a fool to be so rude in the face of your hosts. You really are a dragon. Arrogant enough. I suppose you had worshippers once? monks?" Joan didn't even realise she was accessing old dragon memories when she said these things, they just came naturally.
Ave — 09/26/2020
Jax grumbled loudly, ensuring that everyone (and their mom, as it were) heard him complain like a teenager (Enfield certainly has competition in the form of a grown-ass man). Still, he did the job—the dishes were collected, and carried carefully to the sink while speaking to Joan. “If you were my wife, I wouldn’t put up with this crap. Will you stop breathing on me? If you want your dishes intact, you will give me some space, woman.”
The leather straps on his arms were carefully removed, revealing hidden knives, and dropped them on the floor. He rolled back his sleeves. He filled the sink with water.
“How the bloody hell... where the fuck is the soap?” Ah, there it is. Soap obtained! The little pig-creature followed him there, too. Too fucking adorable, too smol to eat. When he was sure Joan wasn’t looking, he glowered at the pig, but passed a filthy plate for the pig to lick clean. He realized that this could be the start to a beautiful friendship.
Jax continued to let the pig be his personal plate-cleaner. Once the plates were licked sparkling clean (assuming smol pig was eager to help), Jax put the dishes into the soapy water. “WHO SENT YOU?” He suddenly shouted, and dunked the plates deep into the water with some (careful) aggression. “TELL ME WHO YOU WORK FOR, OR YOUR LIFE IS FORFEIT. Oh, are you still here?” He sighed loudly so that Joan can hear. “Can a man torture in peace?” No, obviously.
“I...” Joan’s cutting words gave Jax pause. “No,” he said truthfully, tone strangely mellow. “I was taken as an egg. Bought by a powerful lord. Brought up as his page boy. Then when I was old enough to lift a shield, I was made a knight’s squire. I know nothing of growing up in the comforts of a hoard... only the bite of a blade. All of that has been left behind me. So... what brought that on? I would not be surprised if you had fellows worshipping the likes of you. You are scary.” A compliment?
AJ — 10/03/2020
The physician frowned a little at the mute answer from Max, but they weren’t about to interrupt his eating for more Information (or were they?). They weren’t sure if Joan’s look their way had been a warning in turn, but she looked more wrapped up in her own anger than anything; they quietly observed her shifting with a quirk of their head. ...And another glance the sword’s way. Joan marched Jaxamir to the kitchens, and they crept over to obtain a better look at that sword, passing the pig on his way to beg for scraps.
“Yes. He does.” There was a weight and importance that the little physician could only begin to carry in their voice, when speaking about that brooch. Joan’s explanation got a long, thoughtful hum as they crouched down to inspect the hilt from where it stuck out of the scabbard. “But it is your sword?” To Max. There was a story there—they did not like coincidences. No touching, yet, although they were probably already pushing boundaries.
So used to Jaxamir’s grumbling and bitching, he was almost completely ignored, minus furtive, passing glances dancing with a subtle amusement as he tried his hand at washing up. They reached out to feel the ‘air’ around the sword, about ready to grab the hilt if someone didn’t smack their damn hand away. Afterall, they hadn’t been tasked with any ‘chores’ yet.
That is, until Joan snarked at Jaxamir’s history. The red dragon answered it, and the doctor’s head snapped in their direction, quickly padding over to the kitchen to hover behind the ice dragoness. They knew Jaxamir’s history, the things he didn’t want to talk about, and there could have been a touch of worry in that otherwise utterly impassive expression as they stared past Joan at their companion. They added nothing to the conversation—even if that meant Joan would have to explain her origins twice.
Coltara — 10/12/2020
Maxie didn’t dare chuckle again, but an amused glimmer remained in his eyes as he watched Joan haul Jaximir from the room. It was tempered by a respect for the echo of multiple voices in her snarl, but he still smirked softly as ‘if you were my wife, I wouldn’t put up with this crap’ reached his ears: on the contrary, Max quite liked her bold and spirited nature. It was one of the many things that made her so endearing to him.
A sharp start would be given at the loud threat coming from the kitchen, but he looked embarrassed as he realized their guest was only being ridiculous in his cleaning duties. This reminded him enough of his son to direct a now wry smirk in Enfield’s direction. That seems like something you might do, his expression teased as he settled back into his chair.
“It’is,” he replied with a single nod. There was no doubt some kind of story here, but the man seemed unwilling to offer it so freely as he turned to face the stew pot. The Vaidya was watched warily over one shoulder as he ladled a fresh portion of meat and vegetables into his bowl. It looked as if he might say something as that hand reached for the sword, both ladle and eyebrows raising - but before his mouth could open to accompany them, the Vaidya turned away to address the conversation in the kitchen. It was with a sense of relief he settled back once more and resumed shoveling down stew.
Pebbles licked the dishes clean with enthusiastic grunts, all too eager to assist and even cast a helpful light around the kitchen from the false ‘sun’ hovering over her back. This was where she would remain until needed no longer.
It seemed the wildman in his chair was perfectly content to keep himself out of their business. There would be no ears perked towards the conversation and once he had finished with the contents of his second bowl, he’d get himself a third and remove a box from the mantelpiece. It was from this he’d withdrew a simple pipe to begin packing herbs in.
