Verrazano

Day One - May 5, 2020
Outside, it is raining. A pair of red wings beating frantically against the storm becomes visible, and a Fae wearing a crown studded with sapphires gets up from where he was sitting and flutters over to the mouth of the cave. Another Fae crashes down at the entrance, waterlogged and ehxausted. The crowned Fae offers a hand, and introduces himself as Cobalt. The other Fae, Verrazano, takes it gratefully and stands up. The two walk inside together.

Being the shy dragon he is, Verrazano is overwhelmed by the number of other dragons in the cave. Cobalt, who he now knows is one of the clan's founders, leads him over to a corner where a Tundra is deep in conversation with another Fae. Cobalt says the other Fae arrived here today as well, and that the two would likely get along. He doesn't know Verrazano that well, obviously; he is not the social type. Regardless, he tells them his name is Verrazano, and that he picked it himself.

The other Fae turns her head around, surprised to hear other voices. Her face is soft and delicate, her teal eyes like aquamarine jewels. She tells him that her name is Maia. The Tundra resumes speaking, and Verrazano becomes lost in her words. The story she tells is so inspiring. At the end, Maia asks how to take the Vow that the Tundra had told of. She laughs, telling her to repeat what she says. Verrazano thinks for a moment. He also repeats what the Tundra says, and Maia looks surprised. He shrugs and tells her he figured she'd want someone to take it with.


Day Two - May 6, 2020

Verrazano follows the team to the Coliseum. He does what the others tell him to do, and is not bothered by the small items they receive as loot. He figures there will be better prizes as they move along. Later that day, a dragon named Mercury tells him a package has arrived under his name. Attatched to it, there is a note... from his family.

Raz, inside you'll find a familiar for your Vow of Poverty. We hope you do well in your new clan!

Verrazano scowls. They have the audacity to call him that?

"Raz? Is that a nickname?" Maia asks, coming up behind him. Verrazano rips the note to pieces. "Only my friends call me that," he snaps. Maia walks away, looking hurt. What have I done?


Day Three - May 7, 2020

Things are awkward between the team members, that's for certain. Maia looks very guilty as the team heads home. Despite her glum attitude, the pink rose she started carrying around that day compliments her hat. Verrazano looks away, scolding himself. He should not be having these thoughts, not after the note; not after what happened today. He knows he messed things up again, but Maia made him so angry.

Now he is confused. His emotions, mostly those towards Maia, are a constant roller coaster. One minute, he's admiring her grace in battle, the next, he's screaming at her. A tear slides down Verrazano's face. Thank goodness for his hood; it hides his secrets.

Verrazano holds his Wavehopper, who's still quite testy, as he stares across the cavern at where Kiri, Cloudberry, and Cobalt are discussing something in hushed voices. No doubt it has to do with what happened today in the Coliseum. Maia is alone in another corner, staring at the ground, her face still etched with guilt. Part of Verrazano wants to go comfort her, but seeing him will only bring her pain; that he knows. He strokes the Wavehopper. "Why can't things ever be simple?"


Day 7 - May 11, 2020

The fabric walls of his tent are too small. It feels claustrophobic. Verrazano leaves his temporary dwelling, and notices Kiri outside making food. She does not look up from her work. Verrazano walks past without saying anything. He stops in front of Maia's tent. At once, he misses the comfort of his impatient little Wavehopper. It had become somewhat less antsy yesterday, and had even presented him with an old, rusted chest. Then, Verrazano thinks of Maia. If only he hadn't messed things up so badly, maybe he could talk to her. Then again, maybe it would be possible for him to fix things.

As Verrazano approaches the tent, he can hear Maia's muffled sobs coming from inside. He hesitates, wondering if this is a bad time, but no. He needs to make things right. He needs to be more open than he was. Verrazano pushes the tent flaps aside and walks in. At once, Maia tells him to leave, believing he is Kiri come to give her a speech about the exalted warrior Stormweaver.

Verrazano laughs. "I'm not Kiri, and I would never bore you with stories like that. I noticed that, despite you getting stronger in battle, you looked a little uneasy with some of those new moves Kiri taught us. Would you like some help with them?"

Maia frowns. "That's not like you, Verrazano. Not at all." He supposes she's still somewhat mad at him.

"Then maybe you don't know me as well as you thought you did," He replies. "Come on, let's go train." Maia reluctantly follows him out of the tent.

After practice, Maia seems much more confident in her skills, and the tension between them has eased, almost disappearing entirely. They return to the battlefield. Verrazano scolds himself for getting distracted by Maia's newfound fluidity with the new attacks. They do well in battle, defeating four monsters even when their energy is getting low. When they return to the lair, Verrazano notices that the tension is now completely gone. Recalling what happened in the fights earlier, he guesses it won't be for long... he still has his secrets.


Day 9 - May 13, 2020

The team does well, and Verrazano is excited to join Heather. She seems to know more about the Vow than they do. A day or so in the coliseum should do it, and he is content to wait. Aliana is busy writing a letter back to Cloudberry and Kiri about how well their training is going. Kiri has allowed Aliana to complete it for her. Meanwhile, Maia is sitting just outside her tent. Verrazano looks away. He will not make any sort of moves, even though this is the perfect opportunity. Though it's looking up, his relationship with her is still very fragile. Verrazano doesn't want to shatter it accidentally. Besides, he is not... ready to reveal his secret... yet.


Day 10 - May 14, 2020

Some things are looking up- Heather got a much-needed battlestone that has come in handy. The Forgotten Cave is dark and dreary, not to mention Verrazano keeps getting distracted by Maia. Worse, she's on to him- he knows it. There's something in the way she looks at him now, with that returning spark of frustration, that tells Verrazano she knows he's not telling her something...


Day 11 - May 15, 2020

Verrazano watches Maia talk to the Skydancer, Midnight. He tries not to pay attention to the jealous sensation in his gut. Why doesn't she want to talk to him? The Skydancer tells her something, and she walks away. Every bone in his body wants to go talk to her, ask her what's wrong, perhaps even comfort her, but he hesitates. She likely doesn't want to talk right now. Verrazano sighs, looking away. Will he ever get this right?


Day 14 - May 18, 2020

Verrazano woke up far too early today, due to another one of Twister's pranks. This put him in a bit of a grumpy mood, but both the new venue and Heather's news healed the scars of that morning. The Cove is truly gorgeous, and Verrazano never wants to leave. Alas, they will have to as they reach higher levels, but for now, he can just enjoy the sun, sand and surf. Maia also seems to be having the time of her life, constructing sand castles and frolicking in the waves. He watches her as a particularly large wave knocks her over, and chuckles. Then he notices something shiny lying in the sand.

Intrigued, Verrazano walks over and picks it up. The black stone has been tumbled smooth by the waves, and glistens, still wet with seawater. A mysterious rune has been carved into its surface, and it glows with strange, teal light. Heather informs him that he's found a Traveler's Runestone, and that it was likely left behind by a Spiney Whale. There are similar stones found here with purple runes on them, from Deeprealm Hunters. Verrazano smiles, looking at the runestone. What a spectacular find.


Day 15 - May 19, 2020

Verrazano stares at the Ambush. She's right; he needs a second one, along with Eliminate, but... Maia does need Ambushes as well. He looks back up at Maia. Then again, it would be rude to refuse a gift... especially from her. He nods gratefully, picking up the battlestone.

Heather allows the team to head to Redrock Cove afterward for a break. They fight a few enemies, but not many. Most of the time is spent enjoying the sun and sand. Verrazano is sitting on the beach, watching the waves, when Maia runs over, clutching a small, purplish-black rock in her claws.

"Verrazano! Look what I found!" She squeaks, her frills twitching excitedly. He looks down at the stone. There is a strange purple rune carved in it. He recalls what Heather told him about the runestones here yesterday.

"Wow, neat," he says. "It's called a deeprealm runestone, and it's from those horrible Deeprealm Hunters we keep having to fight." She smiles, telling him that she's going to keep it. He watches Maia run back into the waves, pleased with himself.


Day 18 - May 22, 2020

Maia seems to be happy in the Crystal Pools. Verrazano watches her as he idly bandages Heather's leg, where a Fallen Streak slashed it pretty bad earlier and then it got re-opened when she got hit rather hard with a contuse. It would probably bruise. Maia splashes around in the tide pools, laughing and enjoying herself. Verrazano sighs, turning back to Heather, who's looking at him expectantly.

"You really like her, then?" She asks.

Verrazano blushes and finishes wrapping her leg. "I uh... what are you talking about? Of course not..." he trails off, watching her again. Heather smirks, eyeing him skeptically. Verrazano sighs again.

"If I tell her now, it will ruin our friendship for sure," he complains. She puts a large, flower-laced wing around him.

"Then tell her without actually telling her, you know?"

Verrazano ducks out from under her wing and makes his way nervously over to the tide pools. Immediately he regrets taking Heather's advice. What was I thinking? I can't do this! He stares down at his reflection in the water. He wants this so bad, but he's too afraid. When will this ever be easy? Tears well up and spill over into the pool, distorting the image so he doesn't see when Maia comes up behind him.

"What's wrong?" She asks, trying to look him in the eye. He shakes his head.

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me right now." He can sense the slight frustration that has crept into her voice. "Just... know that you can talk to me whenever, okay?" She wipes the tears from his face, and Verrazano's frills quiver a little at her touch.



Day 23 - May 27, 2020

Maia's sobs echo throughout the ruins. Heather told him not to go after her, but Heather's now busy setting up camp for them. Verrazano slips into the darkness, following the sound of her cries. He made a promise to himself not to hide from this anymore, and he's going to see that through. No matter what Heather tells him. Also, none of them should be alone outside of camp. The monsters here like to sneak up on unsuspecting dragons in the shadows. Heather has a fire going at camp, so she'll be safe from them, but in her hasty retreat, Maia had forgotten to bring a torch or lantern with her. This put her in a lot of danger.

Verrazano comes to a halt in front of a crumbling wall. Maia's sobs are louder here. She must be directly on the other side. Then, a shiver runs down his spine. There's something else here. Verrazano whirls around, finding himself face to face with another Carrioncorn. A few quick slashes and it falls to the floor. All this commotion has attracted Maia's attention, and she steps out from behind the wall.

"Verrazano? What are you doing here?" She asks, glancing from him to the dead horse. He shrugs.

"That thing tried to kill you," Verrazano replies sheepishly, pointing at the Carrioncorn. "And... I figured you shouldn't be out here alone with no light."

She awkwardly thanks him for killing the rotted stallion to save her, then begins following him back to camp. Verrazano prays to the Shadowbinder that they don't run into anything on the way back. He looks over at his injured teammate, who's trying her best to keep up. The injury must be worse than she thought. He recalls the promise he made to himself, and feels his face grow warm. But... this is a good opportunity. Too bad Maia takes it before he can say anything.

"I think we both know you're hiding something," she says, blocking his path. All the will to fulfill his promise is drained from his body. This is not how Verrazano wanted to tell her, not in the least.

"Me? Hiding something?" He asks, trying his best to look skeptical. He rolls his eyes. "And Heather wanted me to leave camp. I'm not hiding anything."

He feels bad lying to her, but it's the last option he has left to buy time...


Day 25 - May 29, 2020

His dexterous little Fae fingers expertly bandage Maia's leg. Verrazano can tell that she's itching to ask him about... that. But for once, she keeps her mouth shut. Knowing that they will all reach level 25 today, and that he will be done the Vow, he decides that it's now or never... time to reveal the truth he's been hiding since the start of their Vow.

"I should never have lied to you," Verrazano begins, briefly looking up from his work. "It's made telling you this many times more difficult." He takes a deep breath, gathering his courage. Now, there is no going back.

"When I first met you, you were listening to Heather tell you about the Vow. None of us knew each other at all. But I decided to join you. There are a lot of reasons behind that, the primary one at the time being that I needed a... purpose, if you will, in this new clan I had come to. I saw an opportunity, and I took it. I also wanted to prove the world wrong and do the impossible. I yearned for adventure. But I also did it because of you."

Maia looks at him in surprise. "What made me so special? I was a triple basic Fae, taken in randomly by some clan that could be wiped off of the face of Sornieth without anyone noticing? I was-"

"So captivated by that story, and when you turned around to look at me, there was the same light of adventure in your eyes that I had in my heart," he interrupts. "Sure, then you might have been rather plain-looking, but of all the plain-looking dragons I've met, you stood out. We began the Vow together, and sure, we didn't get along, but that was mostly my fault. I was so focused on my own thoughts that I didn't say much. That was a foolish mistake, as it often angered you. To be honest, I was afraid of messing things up. I... wanted you to like me, not hate me. But I did everything wrong. Later on, you seemed to let go of all that, and we became friends... sort of. It was still delicate, and I had no intention of breaking it. That day in the ruins was completely unintended. I was about to tell you, and then you lashed out and... I lost my courage. I thought we had finally reached the point when I could tell you anything, and I was wrong."

"Then that was my fault," Maia blushes, looking away. "For being so impatient and selfish. I should have listened to Heather, and even Midnight. They told me to wait until you were ready, but I was stubborn and I pressured you and this is all my fault. Don't blame yourself, blame me." A single tear slides down her sand-speckled face.

"Don't you ever say that. It's as much my fault as it is yours. I should have trusted you quicker, and not been so afraid. I was selfish too, to keep it from you, and still I hesitate," Verrazano admits. "But I think you know by now what it is- I care about you, deeply. Despite your flaws, despite all that we've been through. We still have our whole lives ahead of us- and there's no one I want by my side more than you. Besides, you and Heather still have a vow to complete." He looks up from his now-finished work, smirking.



Additional Information:
- Verrazano's favorite food is dragonflies, any kind.

Dragonfly

Insect

This doesn't look anything like a dragon!

100

9

- He's also an honorary member of Kiri's scouting crew.

-Maia is now permitted to call him "Raz"

Art and Stuff:
By Sleepyboi


Art by Zemo


Art by Jaius


And a little thingy by Katsuji from nature's Viridian CYOA: