Callisto

Something of a perfectionist in his work, Calisto can be considered a procrastinator. His den is littered with drying plants and projects at varying stages of completion - despite the apparent untidiness, each item has its own designated working space. Though as a young hatchling he'd been fond of telling stories, these days he doesn't speak... to no fault of his vocal cords. He communicates predominately through sign - and rarely - writing.

Quiet, apparently reserved, and often by himself - dragons within his clan have a strong impression of him being a polite but unsocial loner. While Callisto does, in fact, love communicating with others, he has difficulty mingling with larger groups or in crowded spaces.

So much so, he's rather taken to living in the nearby forest.


His best friend is found in a spiral named Sylph - along with being a regular source of comfort and dragon interaction even while separated from the majority of his clan, Sylph also functions as his brewing instructor (a side hobby in which he has minimal talent). They both share an appreciation for soft and shiny things, though where Sylph is more likely to collect large sparkling stones and bits of glass, Cali often focuses on more delicate goods like feathers and old fabrics.

Though he's not totally without a sense of fashion, Callisto is most often found wearing his old and tattered Tree Warden's Garb. Along with being once of his most comfortable apparel pieces, it has the added benefit of being quiet and helping reduce the chances Cali might startle the wild birds and smaller animals in the woods when passing by. He does often sport earrings and other jewelry, though, especially when made of smooth metals or natural stones. He quite likes the feel of them.


He may have had a less than pleasant life as a hatchling, but now after having just breached into adulthood, life is just vibin' with funky flora and that weird squirrel who stole his dinner last week and it's pretty much the dream.


He once crushed pretty hard on a boy he'd met in the woods. They haven't met since, but occasionally Callisto will still think about him and what he may be doing.
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Unsorted Notes:


added: Seraph
Dream Dragon
was going to give him light eyes but I FORGOT so here we are I guess

He hates mud. He hats how it slides, how it sticks, how bits of rock come up in it, how squirming bugs can be found in it - it wigs him out. It's the worst.

To date, Cloud (ZeroLovesyou ) and Sylph may be the only two dragons to have heard even a word out of him since he was a hatchling

Dragon sign language ~ this might be hugely edited later, but for now, ayye. He knows a version! ISL (Imperial Sign Language)?? Cali will predominately use one claw to communicate and will use wing/head gestures to add tone/nuance. Maybe sometimes some tail flick action, but i imagine that's more of a "regular body language" type 'o thing rather than any variety of dragon SL

He's gotta mask and hood so it may go w/out saying that he doesn't use facial expression much. He also only understands faes as well as the next Imperial - which is to say it's a difficulty, since their brand of communication doesn't crossover with his any, and he (as well as the rest 'o my clan) simply don't interact w/ fae often enough to have a solid grasp on it

(Anari and his good fae buddy being the clan exception?)

fast and loose thoughts; SSL (sornieth sign language), DSL (Dragon sign language)
DSL has a lot of variation between breed - not sure how to break that down further (could do things like ISL for imperial sign language, but then you'd get SSL for both sornieth, spirals, snappers, etc...)

Functions in FR pretty much how SL does in real life, variations and all... two dragons from different clans/flights can use very different styles and dialect in their sign from the other, might have regionally-specific sign or use some variation of the more universal SSL, etc,

My dragon who uses this regularly (my imp, Callisto) primarily uses his front claws to sign, though he'll sometimes include his wings, esp when communicating with dragon breeds like Fae and Coatls. SSL doesn't incorporate many individual finger motions so as to better accommodate a wider range of dragons/breeds, though many variations of DSL do. Cali uses DSL most often, as he learned it from a spiral (same amount a fingers, ayye), and lives in a clan that has very, very few species who actually do have less claws to work with, and/or less articulate digits.

SL can range wildly from breed to breed, and even from ancient to modern. Though dragon breeds each have their own specific signs, most dragons (esp if they're from more highly populated/varied areas) use a combination of signs. A dragon from a clan of predominately spirals will use SL very differently from the way a dragon from a clan populated mostly by wildclaws, though there will be a good amount of crossover...


Cali Deals with anxiety, especially in relation to large groups, public busy spaces, lots of noise, and communicating with others


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Callisto likes black teas, mostly. He’s very particular about the smells of teas, though, so even if it doesn’t taste particularly great, if the smell is enticing enough he’ll still come back to it regularly. Soft and warm flavors, hints of florals, sweet teas that suit sugar, honey, and milk - it’s just as well his preferred flavors also tend to suit his smell … and caffeine. If tea doesn’t have some amount of caffeine in it, there’s almost no point in having any.

This is slightly contradicted by his growing interest in herbal teas, even with their total lack of caffeine. They’re not something he immediately took to, but his interest in plants and his time in the forest has begun cultivating his favor towards them. Mint, chamomile, hibiscus - even the fact that herbal tea isn’t “tea” in the traditional sense is something he finds interesting. Though he doesn’t drink it often, his guests probably often find themselves drinking his experimentations with them. Fruits and sometimes vegetables that might taste good mixed with a particular herbal tea, what sort of spices he can put in to bring out better flavors and in what quantity, etc… like potion-making, it’s a side hobby he doesn’t have any particular talent in, but he has had a few successes he’ll keep the recipes around for.

Aside from his growing interest in herbal teas, he’s also found they’re quite nice when he’s having difficulty sleeping or dealing with some anxiety. Lavender, mint, chamomile, rooibos, even catnip and sage - they’ll help him calm down and resort himself, provided he’s not dealing with *too* much.

Callisto will also, occasionally, mix bourbon or more particular whiskies with iced teas. Just when he’s feeling extra or in the mood for something more refreshing than straight whisky.

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Forever we remain oblivious to the future,
lost to the past and enduring our torture.
Forever we take chances to settle our scores,
losing some battles and winning some wars.

Forever praying out loud hoping someone will hear,
forever crying softly but never shedding a tear.
Forever exists behind a disguise,
but the belief in forever keeps our hearts alive.

- Terri Nicole Tharrington

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//loose thoughts on his home/den

partially wood and partially cave
like, it's a small cave mostly in the back but it's just wooded floors and the front is straight-up cabin - though especially further back you can see cave wall through gaps in wood boards n whatnot

blockin' out the elements and keeping that warmth in

then it's just sort of...mismatched mostly second-hand/hand-made furniture, which mostly consists of a table, maybe three chairs, and some other functional but basic odd bits and ends

there are drying herbs hanging everywhere, and most available tablespace will be occupied by flowers being pressed, scribbly drawings, or brewing material/tools/recipes

cozy but chaotic