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]

[ Senpaaaaaai 9u9! Don't worry, Ven's right on his heels--or as close as he dares to be, after last night and all that. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Amazing what a little personal space can do to a person's mood. He walks into the water, pausing on the shallow's ledge before turning to look back at Ven.]

You might want to consider working on holding your breath as well.

[And then slides down into the water.]

I am still gonna get to kage!! I swear sob

[didneyworl]

I can do that! [ He has the lung capacity from flying...but the mental fortitude and experience, not to much. He doesn't like the feeling of water pressing in all around him.

But then there goes senpai so of course Ven has to follow, squeaking a little as he hops through the water after him until he's deep enough he just...sinks. Alright, swimming time is a go. ]

It's all good~ Take ya time <3

[dark_to_dawn]

[There's a big difference between dealing with one's breath in a place with less air to dealing with one's breath in a place where there is no air. The difference between the emptiness of light and the heaviness of dark. But Ven would find that out soon enough.]

Your enthusiasm is amazing. [That would be sarcasm.

Once Ven's in the water, literally splashing until he just drops, Riku submerges himself and curls in the water to watch the goldscale. Time to see a first attempt.]

[didneyworl]

[ It's probably not overall impressive, but he's at least trying to get the hang of moving without his limbs. For several seconds he continues pawing at the water like he'll somehow be able to walk through it, but then he remembers that's not what he's supposed to do, so he starts wiggling and swishing his tail around instead...

And succeeds in tumbling himself forward through the water, once. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Once is better than complete failure. He resists the urge to correct him when he sees him trying to paddle on instinct. Already told him, so it's up to Ven to listen. But after a while, there's that "once" moment and Riku nods. Progress.

Water swirls next to the goldscale and silver scales slither past in a smooth motion, the larger dragon's body moving side to side in rippling S-shape motions, keeping his head straighter forward and his legs resting in a tuck near his body, wings also pressed to his back to make him rather streamline.

Just like that.]

[didneyworl]

[ Oh...was that how he did it? Ven's eyes blink through the protective membrane covering them as he cants his head (even underwater), but it hardly takes a second more before he starts early wiggling in the water, clumsily trying to mimic Riku.

There isn't exactly any grace there, but he's actually starting to move forward in the water! Just not in any sort of a straight line. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[You couldn't walk without crawling for a moment first. Riku only takes occasional glances towards the smaller male, noting his movements. Clumsy and not used to it, but he was making motions in the right direction. He curves around once more and this time comes at Ven in a more head-on manner, only to sweep by him with a smooth motion, the current of water rushing past the goldscale in a swirl.

More demonstration, more expectation.]

[didneyworl]

[ And a bunch more head-over-heels spinning as the current following Riku tosses Ven around like a ragdoll. He gets a little panicky after a couple of spins and heads back up to the surface with an anxious wiggle, chuffing and snorting through his nose for a few quick breaths. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[He turns again to watch the other's reaction to the currents. Exactly what he expects. It's sad... -_- ... really. A leisurely motion sees him turning upwards and his head breaks the surface in a far more controlled exposure than Ven's panicked scatter and snorting.]

You didn't drown. Better.

[didneyworl]

[ It's an improvement, alright. ]

It's hard! It's weird to move like that in the water...

[dark_to_dawn]

[He's not arguing with that now is he?]

Air currents and water currents are similar and different. You'll have to find your own balance between them.

[didneyworl]

So...back under? [ He has to try again already ):? ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[This is exercise. Ex-er-cise. You have to do it a few times before you get to take a break. It's called 'learning', pipsqueak.]

I'll meet you there.

[And then vanishes below the water once more.]

[didneyworl]

Ugh... [ He only makes that sound of displeasure because Riku's already beneath the water's surface. But he's also going to follow a moment later, after a few more quick breaths followed by one deeper one; down he goes again )x ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Good job on waiting; he might have got water thrown in his face if he made that sound within earshot.

Riku's waiting for him beneath the surface, nigh-hovering in the water. But once Ven's down there, he spreads his wings and gives a push to get himself moving. Pay attention there Ven: wing use, but only because he'd be still in mid water. None of that awkward un-dragon-like crawling through the lagoon.

Then it's back to the tucked legs and serpentine motions. Body and tail. The head directed. {This is gonna cost you big time, making him teach you like this. Ugh.)]

[didneyworl]

[ He will pay you back senpai he promises!! Just give him a few hours and a dozen tries to get down basic wiggling through water down. He might not get great at it and he'll never catch a fish, but he's at least able to tadpole through the water at about half Riku's speed :> accomplishment! ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Oh no. If he's gonna be staying here with him, he's going to learn to catch fish. Because there's times when the forest simply isn't the best place to go get food; put it that way.

Riku drifts past the other again, keeping himself in sight so Ven can pick up more tips and practice the motions. And this time, he's going to make sure to stay a little "above" him so that Ven can't just race back to the surface when he starts feeling the burn in his lungs. Sorry, little bit of tough love hard training.

But he's already noticing improvements... go you, goldie.]

[didneyworl]

[ He works hard! And only panics the first couple of times Riku tries to keep him under, bleating pleadingly as he struggles and flails.

But he gets the hint soon enough and by the end of the day he can wiggle around fairly alright through the water. He's just completely and totally bushed by the end of it. Congratulations Riku, you officially tuckered Ven out. He doesn't have any reserves left for this by the time he drags himself up onto the shore, flopping onto his side and rolling over on his back with a tired whine. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[He certainly doesn't drown him. If Ven needs to go to the surface desperately, he lets him go. But there'd be no paddling back to the shore for a break. Take your breath and come back down here.

Training's not easy, whelp, but if you wanna live here...

He works him through the day, aiming at getting his motions in the water down enough he can make semblances of motions through the water and hold his breath longer than when he started. But as the small goldscale pulls himself from the water, he knows he's done well.

Which is why he'll do something nice for him. That tail=fish trick from before? Yeah. Right up on the shore. Silver scales brush by and a load of fish falls to the ground near Ven's head.

Congratulations as well, whelp. You earned it. Now, if you could stop lying there on your back whining like a cute little puppy, that'd be nice.]

[didneyworl]

[ Oh goodness, that he definitely didn't expect. He was pooped and weary, already thinking of how he'd find something to fill his aching belly...when Riku goes and solves the problem for him. Ven actually stops whining and lifts his head in surprise, tail thumping against the ground once with high hopes as he looks quickly to the older drake. ]

--For me??

apologies all around for taking so long to get back T.T

[dark_to_dawn]

[Whining stops. That's good. He merely casks a glance over his shoulder (and down) as he passes the grounded goldscale. That thumping tail is compliment enough and the curious look merely earns a dismissive snort.]

Yes.

[Honestly, you think he just throws fish up on the shore for no reason? Now be good and eat it. And no, he's not giving you any of his if you don't. Might wanna hurry too. Cause one's making a flopping break back towards the water. Stubborn fish.]

it's okay<333

[didneyworl]

Thanks! [ Ven perks up right away. Energy or no he practically scrambles onto his feet to chase after the floppy thing, earstalks held high and an excited chirp in the back of his throat when he finally catches the darn thing.

He's quick to waddle back further on shore and plop down on his belly to eat, holding it between his paws as he gnaws and chews on it. ]

<3

[dark_to_dawn]

You worked for it. [Perhaps that's a compliment disguised as a statement? Regardless, Ven's definitely done some good work today so Riku'll give him a small reward for his efforts. Don't expect it to happen frequently.

Though consider him slightly amused when Ven finds the energy to go chasing after the fleeing fish. To go from floored and panting to running and pouncing... Riku shakes his head slightly and climbs up on his stone again, curling around the obsidian and regarding Ven with transparent interest.]

We'll be doing more of this tomorrow.

[didneyworl]

More swimming...? [ He can't help not sounding terribly enthusiastic about that, but he's still crooning through his words even as he eats. The fish has got him too happy for him now to do that. ]