Sol

This is an exert taken from outside fiction. The characters within are not dragons, sadly, but I hope you still enjoy!

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Their new clothes are done.

The house won't be ready for some time, so their hut is starting to get crowded. They still want to lay out all their clothes to look at together, though, even with the limited space. It's a nice little wardrobe. Airy long-sleeved shirts that are tastefully oversized, simple tees, pants and shorts cut to fit their Azel-like legs, some smaller tops for when it's really hot or they want to go to the beach. They even had a couple skirts commissioned to see how they feel.

"I'm meeting Pyly at the bar to talk about the board game," they explain to an uninterested Green Lizard, "but now I need to decide what to wear… I hope she likes the clothes."

Cap stares hard at themselves in the mirror, debating between pants or a skirt for this tentative outfit. The long, striped sleeves of their shirt are covering, though the material is light and airy, keeping them cool. They've matched it with a minimally embroidered vest and - yeah, okay, they'll go with the long yellow skirt. Paired with the simple anklet and the bow choker they've picked out, it - oh.

It's weird, seeing yourself for the first time. There weren't mirrors back Home - not ones Capricorn had access to, at least - and the first time they saw themselves after leaving all they could see was ‘Monster’. That's all they've ever seen. Dirty. Graela. Murderer. Monster. But -

That's an Azel, staring back at them. An Azel dressed in nice clothes that Cap likes. They have pretty white fur and big, brown eyes and curled ram horns that frame their face nicely. Sure, they're missing an ear, but it's weirdly complimentary to their look. Their piercings match the small bits of metal on their accessories, and -

'That's you, Cap.'

They turn, tugging at the clothes so they lay nicely all the way around. From one angle, they might think this Azel is a man, but from another they're definitely more of a woman. It's hard to say when you take in all of them at once. Maybe they're both, somehow.

Maybe they're both.

Oh.

. . .

That can't be Capricorn. That Azel is too nice looking, their smile is too genuine, they look too… Normal. Like a person. Capricorn isn’t a person. So that Azel can't be Capricorn.

That Azel wouldn't murder and steal for their own gain. That Azel wouldn't lie about who, or what, they are to their friends - that Azel wouldn't have to. That Azel could be sweet and sociable and have genuine relationships with people, that Azel drinks smoothies without the guilt of Fuyun shrooms on their breath, that Azel doesn't need to die to save others from themselves.

That Azel could be Good. That Azel could be Happy. That Azel could be Loved.

'… Are they crying?'

The Azel in the mirror raises a hand to wipe at the wetness gathering in their eyes, but that doesn't stop the tears. That Azel looks like the type of person that others would rush to comfort - 'why are you crying?', the kindly stranger would ask; 'I'm just so happy,' the Azel would say, 'the sun is warm and I feel at home in my skin.'

"That sounds nice," Cap whispers, wiping at their face. "I hope I'm not overstepping, but - I think you deserve a good, easy life."

The Azel blinks confusedly at them, still sniffling into their hand.

"You just seem like a nice person," their voice is coming out weirdly rushed, why are they so worked up? "And I bet you work really hard. I bet you are kind and creative and smart. I bet a lot of people love you. I bet you didn't deserve the bad things that happened to you."

The Azel cries harder.

"Sorry," Cap coughs around the lump stuck in their throat, "I didn't mean to make you cry."

The Azel doesn't respond.

Cap turns the mirror around.

. . .

"Okay," they splash a little water in their face and put on one of those practiced smiles. It's easy to tilt their voice casual and cute, easy to slip back on that mask, easy to sit back down with their lies. "I'm going to meet Pyly, she's probably wondering where I am."

Green Lizard tilts his head.

"Do you want to come with?" … "Yes, I thought so. Let's go."