Eldarwen & bluemoonstonight {Title to come}

Guest

The small village by Amelle Falls was quite a sight, at least in the eyes of Faolen. He had recently arrived to the small town tuched between Amelle Falls and Amelle Forest, and enjoyed it very well. The town was, despite being a tad reclusive, quite lively, which meant plenty of music. It was also a bit chilly, being next to the Falls.

It was a perfect place for the half-elf.

His green eyes had looked upon the town and his boot-clad feet had walked in and the fair-skinned man was taken quite cheerfully. By the time an hour had passed, there was one thought under his light brown hair; I'm going to live here. Faolen often made quick decisions as such, though he was easy to persuade to change his mind.

Faolen had been at Liernes- as the village had named itself, after it's founder, naturally- for three days already. The sun was setting, but regardless, he was resting on the edge of a rock, looking to the Forest. "Do I really want to stay here?" He was musing, aloud but to himself and quietly. "Liernes is perfect for me..." He glanced over his shoulder at the settlement. "But... At the same time..." He stretched himself out, then leaned back on the rock, and smiled to the orange sky. "I like wandering around Dragon's Cove. I wouldn't want to give that up." He closed his eyes now. "I can always return..." Faolen decided.

Sitting up, it seemed as though the tranquility had dropped out of him. More energy ran with his blood now. "And I could be a lot more useful not dancing around in alonely village. However nice it might be," he finished with a grin. "I doubt I'll ever become a rider sitting around all day," he finished. Once again, Faolen had made his mind, and again had returned to the decision of roaming and looking for a dragon to befriend. Then, the halfling laughed softly. "I'll leave in the morning, though. No sense in starting a journey at night," he added to himself, and stood, taking a moment to stretch and take a final look at the Amelle Forrest before heading back to Liernes for the night.

Never had the cosmos dragon left this place where she had been born, close to the waterfalls and amidst a natural environment so tasty to the eye that quite a few travellers came here just to see it once in their life. The Amelle Falls were renowned for their pretty fall and everything surrounding them. The particular village Cruinne had chosen as her food source – she adored being adored and having humans serve her, which they all did lovingly – was a nice little place. Maybe a tad secluded for Cruinne’s taste since she liked meeting new people, if only to have them tell her how beautiful she was, but it was a place she would not trade for anything. She was adored here, it was a beautiful location, the people somewhat knew what to make of themselves, or else they came to her for advice, and she would not want to give up the beauty of the waterfalls and the forest surrounding the village of Liernes. It was her home. Her pretty nest.

Her actual lair however was not in the village itself but in the forest, close to the water so she could profit from the best of everything. The most important feature of her home was a huge mirror, which she often contemplated, sometimes for hours, just sitting in front of it and admiring herself. Needless to say that everything about her was spotless. If she was having a good day, she was most willing to help people with a little magic if they were in dire need of having something fixed up, like a hair sitting out of place or a tiny spot on their clothing.

With some difficulty, Cruinne now tore her eyes away from her mirror to head out for an evening walk. She loved to sit on the rocks just by the forest with a view onto the falls, especially when at sundown. It was perfectly lovely. As she stepped out the forest, prepared to take in the full blow of the wonderful view, her eyes caught something else however. An unhealthy pale figure, very poorly dressed was stretching like a cat after a nap. Now this would really not do in public. And the whole attire. No, just no, Cruinne thought.

“And what do you think you are doing?” the cosmos dragon addressed the man in her high, clear voice. Tutting at the man, the cosmos dragon took a few steps closer and took in his whole appearance in more detail, the frown on her forehead clearly saying what she thought of the way he was dressed. “And what is up with your skin? You really need a bit more colour on your cheeks. Why, you look like you’re about to keel over.” It was almost worrisome just how pale this poor man looked. Maybe he needed help. Her help. And with that thought, Cruinne pricked up her ears and stared at the man in hopes of him understanding the hint that he definitely was in need of a make-over.

Guest

Stifiling a gasp- for gasps weren't manly- Faolen jumped and looked around for the person who'd spoken. The only problem with that search was that it wasn't a person who had spoken, but a dragon. Had the half elf not just been thinking of finding a dragon? Well, the chance had just presented it. Now.. How was Faolen exactly supposed to convince the dragon to accept him as a rider, or however you go about that business?

Oh, that was right. She had asked him a question.

"What... Am I doing?" Faolen repeated, still dumbfounded. Then he blinked, and cleared it away. Partially. "Well, I'm talking to a dragon now, you see. A lovely dragon, I might add. Just now, however, I was sitting here and pondering my options of whether or not to settle down here in Liernes. I had just decided not to, and to se if I could make myself useful with the trouble to the west, and was going to head back to the village to gather my things and rest for the night, and leave in the morning." Faolen stopped and took a breath, realizing that he was rambling. It was a bit of a habit.

"My skin? There's nothing wrong with my skin. I don't know what you're talking about," he added with a frown. He was confused, though not angry. "What do you mean, look near dead? I'm quite alive, you know. Sure, I spend more time in the shade rather than the sun... But, I mean, it doesn't mean much. It doesn't affect my health that much." Faolen peered at his hand, flipping it over a few times before looking up at the cosmos dragon. "And what of you? What are you doing here, if I may ask?"

Cocking her head lightly to the right, Cruinne observed the man, growing a little impatient. Here she was almost offering her help to this poor man and he was just so slow. Anyone else would just jump at the possibility and thanking her wholeheartedly for her help, but not him. It made her want to reconsider her offer. He did not seem like the kind of person to really appreciate just how much she might be able to do for him. He would be positively radiant once she was done with him. Well, maybe not quite, because of course there is a limit to how much she could do for anyone who simply was not as beautiful by nature. Then there was also the small notion of her not wanting him to be more beautiful than she was. That would simply not do.

However, as soon as he started speaking, the cosmos dragon was immediately appeased again. He had called her lovely! Of course, she knew she was lovely, but it never hurt to hear a compliment. Almost purring, she nodded for him to keep going, bathing in his words. Sadly, he then kept going on about himself, and on top of it all about things she did not really care about. Then again, she might be able to forgive him, after all his first words to her had been to tell her how pretty she was so he had earned himself a few points in her graces.

“No no, your skin is just.. Well.. It’s too pale! And you need to get a bit of meat onto your bones, you might fall apart soon.” Not that she wanted him to be fat, but he did seem to be a little skinnier than was really necessary. He really needed to work on his physique a bit. Shuffling a few steps closer, Cruinne cocked her head to the left now and inspected the man once more, goggling as he kept going on and on and on. Why coud he not talk about something that mattered? Like, her beautiful self maybe?

She tutted indignantly as the man turned her earlier question on him. “Why this is where I live of course,” she replied as if he were a moron not to know such a thing. “And today might just be your lucky day.” The cosmos dragon gracefully sat down on her haunches, curling her tail in an artful way around her feet and making sure her wings lay in absolutely perfect fashion around her back so they could be easily admired. Looking at him with a small, self-satisfied smile on her features, she finished her sentence: “Because I have decided to help you.”

Guest

Encouraged by the dragon's nod, Faolen had kept talking until his breath was run out. He was happy to have seemingly pleased her by the flattery, and made a mental note that he ought to do it again at some time. He did, however, notice that she seemed to be a bit... Focused on looks, the halfling decided, not wanting to be rude, even in his mind. One never knew what could come spilling out accidentely. Not that it was of too much consequence, he supposed; were he that nice on the eyes, Faolen figured, and around such natural beauty, ugliness wouldn't be something he'd want either. The matter of 'ugly', however, was still yet to be determined.

After she'd spoken, Faolen had figured that 'help' meant 'help out west', as he had mentioned, and his face lit up. Then, he remembered her words of his skin being discolored and him being too skinny. Rather than let his face fall, he simply peered instead at his stomach. "Surely not..." He started to protest, but decided against it. Surely, a cosmos dragon would know more than a dragonless rider. It simply made logical sense.

"Right. So I need help. Color and flesh, you say?" Faolen looked at the dragon, head straight rather than tilted as hers was. "And you'll help me," he repeated with a smile. "Thank you." It was a kind offer, especially for a stranger. "If I may ask... How exactly do you plan to help me, however?" He was curious, after all. Mostly, in terms of location. "Will I have to stay here, or shall we.. Travel, instead?" Hopefully, the pair would travel; Faolen might be able to convince her out west, where his goals laid.

Then of course, came the question of name. No intelligent creature went nameless, after all. "And what is your name? Mine is Faolen," he offered with a smile. "And it is a great pleasure to meet you."

Cruinne proudly looked upon the man before her. He had done what she had wanted him to do, namely accept her criticism about his colour and skinniness, and on top of that, he was willing to accept her help. That was just the way she wanted it. The cosmos dragon was very pleased indeed. To her own surprise, she did not even mind his constant babbling, in an odd manner it was even somewhat soothing, even though he really could dial the ‘me, me, me’ part. Wasn’t he a little too self-absorbed to talk about himself so much?

“Yes, yes,” the cosmos dragon nodded, self-satisfied. “You do need help. With colour and flesh,” she confirmed after he hesitantly asked once more, adjusting her head to face his straight on. Nodding once more, she acknowledged his thanks but didn’t reply to it. He could appreciate her wonderful work once it was done.

A slight frown wrinkled her face though when he asked how. He seemed unsure all of a sudden. Did he not want her help anymore? That would be such a disappointment, and really almost an insult. Cruinne huffed at his proposal to travel instead of staying here, here in her own little paradise. “My help consists of a few logical suggestions on what you should do and a little magic of course. I could make anyone shine, so radiantly that any princess would die with little green monsters plastered all over her back at the sight of anyone touched by my magic.” It was not hard to tell that Cruinne was very proud of what she could do and that she was of the opinion that anyone in her good graces should count themselves lucky to be affected by her generosity.

“But travel? No,” the cosmos dragon shook her head, slightly recoiling from the man without really moving an inch. “Why would you want to travel when you can stay here? In the most beautiful place to ever have been. Why would anyone want to leave such a perfect little village, where everyone is living in absolute peace and harmony?” Though, he did raise a point she had secretly been considering. Was there a more beautiful place out there? Was there a place more suited for a dragon the likes of her? Were there other unbelievably beautiful dragons? Almost laughing at her own nonsense, she lightly shook her head at those thoughts. Of course there was no dragon out there more beautiful than her.

The cosmos dragon looked back to the man, who had now introduced himself as Faolen. How perfectly rude of her not to have introduced herself yet! “Well, where have my manners been?” She might think a lot of herself and often disregarded others, but she knew how to behave well, or at least in a polite way. Most of the time. When it suited her. “I go by the name of Cruinne,” she replied gracefully to Faolen’s question, giving a tiny, barely noticeable bow with her head, her face lighting up once more when he offered her a smile.

Guest

"Logical suggestions... Of course..." Faolen's voice didn't match the understanding of his words, but he forgot of that when she suggested magic. "Magic? For naught but appearance?" The halfling's eyebrows arched. "Surely..." But he stopped himself. Obviously, the cosmos was proud of her magic. She also thought high of it's results, Faolen noted, which probably meant similar thoughts for it's caster. "But if your magic is so great, why not use it for something more significant than one man's looks?" Then it struck Faolen how that must have sound. He didn't want to be rude, after all.

"Er.. I mean... Why not do something that would be more widely appreciated?" He tried rewording it. "I have no doubt on the greatness of your power," he added. She did seem to enjoy flattery- well, who didn't?- and after that, Faolen was sure he would need to earn some forgiveness if he wished for this conversation to not be a total waste. And of course he didn't, if for no other reason than this was one of the few times in his short life that he'd spoken to a dragon as of yet.

Finally, the man shut his mouth, fidgeting. He was torn; here he was presented with a perfect opportunity, but Faolen of course had to go and ruin it. He was certain that there were ways to have milked this chance meeting into actually becoming a rider, but he had not thought that strategically. Instead, he was blathering about looks and great things and traveling and flattery. Internally, he readied himself for the disappointment of the cosmos leaving, offended. He would simply have to search elsewhere.

And as it was, he couldn't help but to open his mouth again. Faolen figured that he had already lost the chance, and so there was no harm in trying to regain it. "Cruinne; an equally lovely name for such a pretty dragon. And I don't argue that this village is wonderful- but I think of the places that aren't as such. I would simply like to make them as harmonious a place as Liernes. That would be why someone would want to leave, I imagine."

Slightly taken aback by Faolen’s words, the cosmos dragon began to consider their meaning however. Inclining her head to the side once more as she took in this odd man before her, she was intrigued by what he suggested. “But what more important is there than appearance? If something is not pleasing to look at then it will mostly not even be considered, by anyone, for anything. One would not want to waste a moment’s glance in that case.” Something about this however caught her interest.

“Huh…,” she then suddenly said, straightening herself up again and beginning to pace around a little. It had suddenly occurred to her that Faolen had pointed out the exact flaw in her thinking. What if he was right with his suggestion? What if she could do so much more with her magic if she did not bother with only the beautiful things in order to keep them that way but what if she were to turn the ugly things into their opposite as well?

Surprisingly, Cruinne barely registered – for once – that the man was praising her, so lost in thoughts she was. For the most part, she had not considered her magic valuable enough for the truly ugly, whether people or other things entirely, and she would never have considered bestowing such a gift upon them if Faolen had not just turned her view around a little. But then she shook her head. No, it would be such a waste!

“No,” she then said out loud, addressing Faolen. “Why would I waste my magic on something like that? It would be futile and people would not even know how to appreciate it. No,” she repeated. It had worked perfectly well until now. She chose the ones she wanted to help, the ones who could in some way or other truly appreciate her wonderful work. Why would she waste it on people who didn’t know how to do that? On people or things who didn’t even know how to praise her afterwards for her accomplishment?

The man however seemed to have a way with words – more than she had given him credit for. After charming her into a beaming smile when commenting on her name, he made her sway. Had she not taken the right decision? It might be interesting to see what this man would do to make other places more beautiful, and that was exactly what she was going to ask him now, curious and excited about this notion: “How would you make them more beautiful? Do you have magic?”

The more she thought about it however, the more she began to like the idea of going out into the world and spreading the beauty. “Hmm,” she mused, “if we were to find another place as amazing as Liernes… That might be interesting.” With a wistful glance at the village, which was hidden away not too far away from where they currently were, she sighed: “But leaving this place? The familiarity? The harmony? The beauty? I don’t know… Nothing could ever match this.”

» "Insert Title Here" (Taj X Eldarwen)
» Title to be added - (Umdtaoc X Eldarwen)
» (Monty) Title? We Don't Even Know. (Katz)
» Rogue X Saphire [title to come]
» Storm and Tricky - This is a Title