You're Hardly A Match [Nen]

Subject: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:46 pm

High noon acted as a torch to the mountainous terrain that Wysteria called her domain and all surrounding it. Her sensitive nose alerted her to any strange smells, but today none reached her senses. 'That's strange the area is quiet, nothing new wandering about.' she thought to herself. Days like this never turned out quite right in her eyes, something "always" managed to go wrong. She landed at the base of a sheer drop and peered into the trees carefully. "What could possibly decide to hang about in this deity-forsaken part of the country. . .?" She hardly saw anything bigger than a deer or a wolf, never anything closer to her size. Her gut told her this was going to be a very troubling day indeed.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:55 pm

He was circling high overhead, had caught sight of the female whilst he'd been flying through and became curious. As he watched her, she landed at the base of a sheer drop and peered down. "No one ever looks up" he murmured as he turned his back to the sun and tucked his wings. He plummeted immediately and called out in distress as he neared visible range, opened his wings a bit to level out and only stretched one out entirely so he tipped, flapped desperately with it. The result was a careening 'crash' into the wood below the female. When he got out of clear sight and into the brush, he stretched out his other wing for a hard landing. It was hard enough to believe that he'd crashed. He laid down on his side, a wing tucked underneath him, the other splayed out and moaned.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:11 pm

When the sound of the crash reached her ears she took off in search of the grounded dragon and paused upon finding it, figuring by color alone that he was a male of her own breed. With a low hiss she walked over and looked down at him. "That wasn't the best landing you know. Can you get up?" This wasn't exactly cause to be concerned, she herself had crashed many times and escaped major injury. Though now she was starting to question why this male was here. Her only partly matured mind was a bit muddled and she narrowed her eyes. "What brings you to these parts? Not many dragons like it around here." She did think for a long moment on what his motives might be, and the answers she came up with only succeeded in further confusion.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:18 pm

He got up slowly and tried to stretch his wing out, only to growl in pain and pull it tighter against his body. "I know it wasn't the best of landings. I was trying to fly to Didienne, but I got caught up in some turbulence and was blown off course, and I got lost... and something struck me up there, I think I sprained my wing..." he said all rushed and awkward. His voice trailed off and he smiled sheepishly. "Hi. I'm Gerris... is this your territory? I'm sorry..." he said and backed up from her, looking for a way to get out of the wood on foot.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:38 pm

She gave a snort. "Why do I get the feeling I shouldn't believe what you say about your wing?" She paused and sighed. "But very well if that is what you say. I wouldn't try getting out by walking; you'd tear your wing membranes to pieces on the pines around here." This male was a bit bigger than her, and she'd be at a serious disadvantage if he decided to get up and attack her, which was the worst case scenario to her. Her tail lashed back and forth in anticipation and she suddenly realized that he had posed a question. "I suppose this is my territory, yes. My name is Wysteria." Now she was most definitely confused.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:43 pm

He frowned. "Why do I get the feeling like you're attacking me after I've done nothing to you?" he asked and backed away from her further. "I'll find my own way out. Nice to see the breed's as accepting and wonderful as ever..." he said and under his breath "wish I was a Clubtail". He tucked his other wing hard against his body and ducked his head, looking around for a way to clamber out. Gerris wondered if it would have been better to land behind her and shout, and watch her fume up out of surprise. He'd met few females of his own breed, but they were especially lovely compared to the females of other breeds. Gods above but female clubtails were scary. It was like the gods decided that there had to be a female in that breed and just took the log and fruit right off one of the males.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:56 pm

She shrank back a bit and curled her tail around her back legs. "Well excuse me, I'm not exactly used to kindness. Dragons and humans alike have never liked me all that much. I stay here because nobody ever comes here of their own free will." She looked up and flicked her eyes to her right. "That way's your best bet. Safe travel, Gerris." She started to back away and paused muttering to herself, "First time someone hasn't tried to hurt me in ages and I make them angry. I must have awful luck for this to happen." Still, nice to know that there was hope for her own breed at least.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:01 pm

He looked over his shoulder at her. "You know, dragons and humanoids don't really know a pretty dragon when they see one. They're afraid they'll die if they breathe our fumes" he said and blew out a puff. "But they're harmless unless we intend them to be..." he said and turned to face her. "Maybe they're afraid of us because they think we'll kill them at any point" he said and chuckled. "But that's silly because they should be more afraid of clubtails and other dragons. They're the kind that smash and eat humanoids, and the ones that breathe fire like to roast them. A nice fume dragon is a lot less threatening than one of them. Heck, my dad wasn't at all afraid of raising me, and I couldn't contol my fumes when I was young" he said.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:31 pm

She smiled a little and snorted a puff of smoke-like gas that dissipated quite quickly, but it was much akin to the smell of lavender. "I must say female dragons are more difficult to converse with as a whole, discarding breed entirely. I suppose that would include me, seeing as I was so defensive earlier." She took a few cautious steps forward and blinked. She figured he wouldn't hurt her at this point. "Heh, "pretty" is the last word I'd ever think to use for any reason. Not much use for such a word in a world where someone would kill you just to say they did it. Wish the humans would wise up and live peacefully."

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:40 pm

"Wysteria. It's a beautiful flower you know. There's a lot of pretty in this world if you stop to take a look" he said and shrugged. "Humans are not meant for peace. They have this hole inside of them that they need to fill, it's a hole they created when they tore themselves away from nature and started building and writing. It's a hole that they fill with blood and treasure, and some are content to patch themselves with that. Others, not so much" he said and touched the skull hanging from a necklace round his neck. "My father wasn't. He was a peaceful man, preached that the hole should be filled with love for your fellows, which included dragons... It's my fault he's dead. I didn't check the straps and I flew far too far to the left and he just... he fell" he said and returned his claw to the ground.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:41 pm

"I don't think that kind emptiness is restricted to just humans. I so far have found that I have no purpose in life. I'm sort of just here taking up space. As a little one I spent most of my time looking for a home, but that I suppose I can live without." She'd felt like nothing her whole life and had very simple desires, or so she thought, but they seemed impossible to reach. She thought about the flowers and looked at the ground sadly. "I guess they are." It would never be said that Wysteria didn't at least attempt to make conversation, no matter how badly she failed. Something still didn't feel right to her, and it was starting to make her feel uneasy. "Why do you defend humans so much? I wouldn't defend one if my life depended on it."

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:45 pm

"My father was a human and I was raised by humans and they were more than kind to me. Better to me, in fact, than other dragons... which is a crying shame" he said and sat down. "I'm exhausted, do you mind if I stay in your territory a while? I flew a long way and crashlanded..." he reminded her. "I'll be gone by the morning, I promise". She was quite suspicious, and he supposed he had a right to be, but it was almost as if she knew he was being fake, which would be impossible because she didn't and hadn't known him. Maybe he'd be a bit more aloof.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:13 pm

"Very well then, you can stay. If you want conversation I'll be over here." He'd be gone by morning, good. That meant that this whole incident would go away quicker than she thought. She didn't take too kindly to being lied to or used, but then again there was precious little she could do in any case. She walked back to the edge of the trees and lay down, the sooner Gerris left the sooner things would go back to normal. Yet, it seemed like it was once in a blue moon she found a creature that didn't run off immediately or try to hurt her. 'Best to stay on my own. Can't depend on anyone but myself after all.'

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:17 pm

Gerris thought this female could have used some clubtail confidence. Rolling his eyes he got up and followed her and laid down next to her. "The reason you're alone is because no one will make the effort to go to you. If you want something, you take it, madame" he said. "So if you desire company, it would do you some good to find company and if you want to keep them, you best try hard to please them..." he said and laid his head down. "Although I'm just pleased to see you. I don't meet many female fumes".

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:58 pm

"Twenty summers I've tried that sort of thing and it hasn't worked yet." She gave him a pointed look. "Oh really? Ha, I'd have thought you for a Casanova when you first crashed. No one is that easy to please. I don't see lots of my own breed period." She yawned a bit and glanced at the larger dragon next to her. "I'll be honest something about you puts me on edge." A smirk sort of made its way to her face and she laid her head down. "Thank you though, for not treating me the way everyone else has."

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:03 pm

"Maybe it's because I'm a stranger that wears a skull around his neck and has crashlanded out of the sky from seemingly nowhere?" he asked her and chuckled. "Why yes I can see what puts you on edge, and I assure you if I was a Casanova, I wouldn't have been on my way to Didienne" he said and laid his head on his claws. "You're welcome, though. Though I still don't see why you haven't at least met one creature that can stand the sight of you. You're a very lovely dragon... with a very lovely name. You're hardly as ugly and scary as a clubtail and hardly as dangerous and unseemly as one of those horned lava dragon things..." he said.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:45 pm

"I think it's because I'm still considered, by some breeds, to be a child. I think in the case of humans not liking me it's because I'm a rather big dragon compared to most of them. Not like I'm some tiny little fluffy Mist Hound pup running about. And when someone recognizes I am what I am, well that just makes it all the worse." Her ears perked a little and she flicked her tail to one side. "This coming from you in all your cleanliness is a miracle to hear. Now. . .Question. . .What's your idea of the absolute WORST breed of dragon that you've seen?"

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:49 pm

"I'd have to sayyyy... hm. That's a really tough one. Clubtails are really ugly and the ones I've met are short tempered. Not to mention ungainly and large. Desert chasers are useless pack morons... so I guess. Maybe the worst dragon breed I've ever met would be Clubtail. A desert chaser can't kill me, a Clubtail can" he said. He didn't like her line of questioning, it barely revealed a part of his nature to easily judge himself above all other things and find fault with his fellows.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:07 am

"Anything can kill you if you give it the chance, Gerris. All in the eyes of the beholder or some saying like that. Though we as a breed have our own faults that have given us quite a bad reputation. Other breeds have similar problems based on their weaknesses and unique points too." She watched a rabbit go dashing by and nearly got up to go after it but relaxed and let it go. "Ah, I'm too lazy to get up at the moment." she said resting her chin on the ground.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:11 am

"...You just asked me..." he said and sighed. "Never mind. I should have figured that would be a trick question" he said and looked at her. "Why didn't you just stun it? Don't you have fumes that do that?" he asked. "A rabbit's heart beats very fast, so they breathe very quickly, it would have been no contest if you'd have gassed it" he said. He, of course, knew why she hadn't. She didn't have the minute control he did, but the character he was playing wasn't a know-it-all.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Fri Jan 13, 2012 5:52 pm

"I don't know how to stun things. And it wasn't worth the energy expenditure to catch it." she said simply. She stayed quiet for a few minutes not quite sure what to say and hoped her guest would say something at least. It took a hawk screeching to wake her from her open-eyed sleep. This was officially the most awkward day she'd ever had. She stood up and rubbed her back against a tree in order to get rid of a few flaking scales: they did that quite frequently and she couldn't imagine why, but her right shoulder was soon rubbed painfully raw and she growled under her breath as she sat back down.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:44 pm

He made a face at her. "You need to get somewhere that you can properly take care of yourself. You're not eating.... your scales are flaking..." he said and swept his tail back and forth in a curious motion. "Why don't you come with me? I won't despise you and I won't kick you out. We're the same breed... I'm not afraid of a little fume" he said. She was an odd one, and filthy now that he thought about it. It made his back itch to think about the diseases that could be on her flaking scales.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:35 pm

"Okay this is what comes of living in the wild, there's nothing life-threateningly wrong with me." She sighed and looked at her shoulder. "On. . .On second thought. . .I'll go with you. . ." Couldn't hurt to get this issue fixed. "Which way are you wanting to go?" Perhaps her luck was changing for the better finally. The sound of that made her happier than she could ever remember being over "anything". Her tail lashed one way and then the other, hitting a tree in the process which then caused her to jump. "Oops, didn't know that was there."

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Sat Jan 14, 2012 6:00 pm

Clumsy too. He was making great progress with his own breed. He'd have sighed if he was being himself. Instead he chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "It happens". No it didn't, not to dragons with a great vestibular sense. How could you be an adult and still smack your tail into things? He realized he'd been silent too long. "To Didienne. Do you know where it is from here?" he asked her. He had never been headed to Didienne, but it wouldn't hurt to walk with her and get to her know her before he flew off and headed back to Maledictus Eice headquarters.

Subject: Re: You're Hardly A Match [Nen] Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:33 pm

She looked a bit embarrassed at hitting the tree but nodded. "Part of the way at least. Been a long time since I last saw that city." She moved in front of a trail that looked a bit rocky. "Longest way over but easiest on things with wings that can't fly." After a moment of making sure it was the right direction she snorted. 'And to think he said he'd be gone by morning. Now he's leaving immediately but I'm going with him! I must be out of my mind.' The sun still hadn't left the sky but the shadows were getting longer and longer the more they just stood around, but far be it from her to rush a guest.