Some kind of dragon au

[occulthymns]

[Before you lies a picturesque kingdom of forests and fields and farmlands. Mountains rise up in the distance, and set at the edge of a massive lake is an elegant castle with tall spires. It looks out over the land - forests surrounding the lake, a small but pleasant medieval town pushed up against the castle walls, farmer's fields further out.

The land itself is fertile and full of wild game, unsual plants, and natural wonders like crystalline caverns and waterfalls. Rivers of all sizes wind their way down from the mountains, which alternate between covered in fir trees and bare, jagged rock with mazes of caves hidden within.

Dragon AU go!]

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[didneyworl]

[ YOU'VE BEEN ADOPTED DEAL WITH IT. And deal with his sad moooom crooning too, because he's going to give a few more of those too as he flattens his earstalks back guiltily. ]

I've never seen any before! I didn't know they had metal breath... [ He doesn't even know the correct word for what they'd been fired at with. THAT'S HOW LITTLE HE KNOWS. Ven drops his chin to the ground and whines. ] I only left my nest a little while ago...

[showmeanguish]

[Ghhhhhhhh... his worst fears are realized. This thing really is green--just his luck.

Vanitas continues to lick the cuts on his forearms, watching the other through slitted pupils and narrowed eyes. What to do with him? The runt's still practically helpless, and he's already gotten attached to the blackscale, judging by his behavior.]

Figures.

[Huffing through his nostrils, he straightens himself, standing back on all fours before he shakes himself off. His wounds are still bleeding slightly but they're starting to close--no thanks to Ven and his sharp little teeth.]

Forget about finding food. You're on your own.

[didneyworl]

Huh?? [ Ven's head lifts abruptly, but his body language is anything but perky as he looks up at the older dragon in surprise and alarm. He can't really mean-- ]

Don't go! I won't go near anymore humans, I promise! [ He's on his feet a moment later, shying forward a few steps in a quick dart until he remembers he got hissed at last time for trying to impose on the other's space. ]

[showmeanguish]

It's not just humans--I don't have time to hatchling-sit you.

[He has better, way cooler things to do. Like gather treasure and cool off in his river okay.

The dart forward also gets him another bristle, before the larger dragon moves past him, into the thicker trees. Of course, since Ven is smaller he won't have a hard time following, if he's brave enough.]

Go bug someone else.

[didneyworl]

[ Biggest butt ever.

But Ven's butt, and you bet he's brave enough to follow--or in reverse, spooked enough by their recent encounter with trouble to want to stick near the other, bristled spines or not. Ven's on his heels almost immediately, yapping once at him, imploring. ]

You don't have to look after me, I'll be good! I'll take care of myself!

[showmeanguish]

Right. 'Cause you've done such a good job of that, so far.

[He doesn't even turn around, just grumbles that at him as he walks, ruffling his wings a bit before his tail lashes in a thwap.]

[didneyworl]

[ It bowls the goldscale right over and sends him tripping over himself as he tries to get his feet under him once again, but Ventus persists and hops after the larger dragon quickly with another imploring croon. ]

I said I was sorry... I won't do it ever again, I swear.

[showmeanguish]

[Suddenly, the larger dragon stops, and turns, head arching back around as his wings lift higher off his body. His lips pull back, revealing his very, very sharp teeth and canines as he snarls.]

I said... Get. Lost. Now.

[didneyworl]

[ This time Ven practically flattens himself into a pancake on the ground as his eyes widen and his own wings do the opposite and tuck in close. That definitely wasn't the reaction he'd been expecting if the expression on his face is anything to go by, and after a moment of staring up into Vanitas' sharp maw he actually skitters back a few shuffled steps as well.

Definitely cowed now, Vanitas is the boss :c ]

[showmeanguish]

[Vanitas chuffs once in response, and turns back, slinking through the bushes and trees more hurriedly. Several ground birds scatter in his path, flying towards the higher branches to escape his determined march away.

Back towards the river he'd first come from.]

[didneyworl]

..... [ And for several moments, Ven stays put. He's unsure and guilt-ridden and worried he may have run off a new friend he's only just met. All by being naive and foolish. He hates that, doesn't want to leave things as they are. But Vanitas certainly doesn't want him around right now.

He couldn't stay mad forever...right? Ven could find some way to make it up to him right?? And then Vanitas wouldn't be upset and he'd let the goldscale hang around. He just needs to give him a little room!

So with that thought in mind he very slowly raises himself up again--and hurries after the other, trying to keep low and be as quiet as possible. ]

[showmeanguish]

[He knows he's being followed, but if the smaller dragon knows what's good for him he'll give him plenty of space. His paws hurt with every step, which only makes him more irritated as he winds his way firmly back into the heart of his territory.

Instead of heading straight to the river, though, he follows a worn path into the moss and ferns upstream, towards the sound of rushing water. When he breaks from the foliage, he's at a ledge that seems to disappear into the middle of a tall waterfall. Actually, it leads behind it, into a natural cave with mist and more moss and algae clinging to the arched walls overhead. But the floor is relatively clear, and his large form disappears with ease inside, heading towards the furthest back corner.

It's not a huge den by any means, but it's comfortable enough for a lone dragon. It's obvious he hasn't lived here long, from the lack of items littering the floor, but he has managed to collect a few treasures and trinkets. A few geodes, crystals and unpolished stones are tucked into one niche. In another, an open coin purse, silver and gold rings, and circlet.

These treasures are ignored now, though, as the black dragon curls himself on a bed of dried branches, and goes back to licking his wounded forearms.]

[didneyworl]

[ He's very, very careful not to get too close as he (poorly) sneaks along after the other. He isn't making tons of noise, he's just not very...subtle. And when Vanitas disappears behind the waterfall he hurries forward along the ledge, thinking he's lost him...only to come to the open-maw of the cave, screech to a halt, and quickly turn on heel to run back out of sight.

Totally subtle. ]

[showmeanguish]

[...So subtle. Though the sound of the waterfall drowns out any sound of him scrambling back, Vanitas still sees the cast of his shadow against the cave's opening, and perks his head.

And after another moment he huffs and gets up, resettling in a more comfortable position with his tail wrapped around his limbs and his wings tucked in close.]

[didneyworl]

[ HE'S STILL LEARNING OKAY. Hush. At least he knows better than to go barging into another dragon's nest willy-nilly and hangs back.

For like all of five minutes but the effort to be patient was there. He can't help being curious and anxious to see what Vanitas is doing, so he'll slowly start to creep forward until he can poke his head around the corner. ]

[showmeanguish]

[And he's met with eyes glimmering at him from the cave's back.]

I thought I told you to get lost.

[didneyworl]

[ Hurk, whoops. Alright he definitely needs to work on his sneaking. Ven's earstalks flatten back again, passive. ]

...I'm not following you. [ yes he is. ]

[showmeanguish]

You're really bad at lying.

[He rumbles, but he's also too exhausted to do much about it. The glimmering eyes blink several times, falling half-lidded before he gives a yawn.]

[didneyworl]

[ It's not a hiss or a bristle which is promising, so Ven allows himself to look just a but more hopeful and take a tiny half-step forward. Not into the cave or anything. ]

...I didn't wanna be alone.

[showmeanguish]

[Vanitas continues to stare at him even when he feels his eyes starting to blink closed more and more often. For a long pause, he debates kicking the other out again, maybe even biting him to get his point across.

But after a moment of suspense, he finally sighs.]

Fine. Just don't touch anything.

[didneyworl]

...! I won't! I'll be good. [ He fails to keep the excitement out of his voice but contrary to the bubbly tone he doesn't bound in like a bundle of energy. He toddles in carefully, still expecting maybe a snap or two as he wanders a weaving path and sniffs the air. He's also making sure not to get too close to any of Vanitas' "things" before he ultimately settles down a couple yards or so away from the blackscale and curls his tail around his legs. ]

[showmeanguish]

And don't make any noise.

[Because he'd really, really like to take a nap. Though he's wary of actually sleeping around another dragon, even one as young and naive as Ven, due to his survival instincts. Letting one's guard down was absolutely out of the question, so even when he lets his head settle against one paw he keeps his eyes opened and trained on the goldscale.]

[didneyworl]

[ Because he is just a bundle of evil waiting to happen. Just look at the heinous way he's settling his front paws on the ground and kneading at it. Diabolical.

a.k.a you're a paranoid butt Vanitas, even if your instincts are good. The only thing Ven's really doing is trying to make his spot more comfortable. It's not as if he's unused to a cool cave floor, but the moisture from the waterfall's new and it makes him a little restless, settling his wings over himself like a coat and tucking all his paws in under himself until he's able to settle his chin on the ground and sigh with a little huff at the end.

Cold :c and wet. And he winds up shuffling around again to try and wrap himself up a few different ways until he finds something passably comfortable...and just closes his eyes right away. His attention isn't even trained on Vanitas. ]

[showmeanguish]

[Maybe some day you'll have a bed of fallen branches and pine needles to lay on. But for now, Vanitas shows no sympathy and doesn't offer up even a square inch of his nest.

The roar of the waterfall is soothing, though, and soon after Ven has curled up and closed his eyes, the bigger dragon finds himself drifting off. His sleep is light, and not very restful--the slightest disturbance has his eyes snapping open again to take survey of the cave's entrance.

But he does get a little rest in, however fitful and anxious it might be.]

[didneyworl]

[ Poor vanibutt :< dragon lyfe is hard.

Ven's out like a light in a matter of minutes, and within an hour he's a tight little ball with even his head tucked in under a wing. If it were warmer he'd have been sprawled out, because even having a grumpasaurus around is a comfort for him.

Also he might snuffle a bit, sorry if that wakes up grumpy butt :>; ]