Alastor

>12/25/2023
My adopted brother, Murl, and his mate, Rhea, finally had their egg hatch today. It's something I believe I have been anticipating almost as much as them. For weeks I have been working on a new magic; changing one's genes to appear as a completely different dragon. I have been trying to keep my work under wraps for as long as possible, but it was only recently that I could prove such a feat could be accomplished. At least, in our clan.
Nobody else would be willing to act as subject for my little experiment. I am well aware of the distrustful glances they shoot me every time I pass. I've never... gotten along with my brothers, so to speak, and harsh words and actions have been exchanged over our times together. With my relationship with everybody else in the clan already quite fragile, I decided the only way to conduct this test was through influence on a new hatchling that it would bestow some greatness upon them. At the time, I had Nyx's children in mind, but I realize how protective she is about them. I also didn't possess any knowledge on how to change the genes of ancients, and Mocha already had unique genes of her own. I wanted a clean, basic subject.
Luckily for me, Murl and Rhea announced their newest addition to the clan shortly thereafter. They are always burying their snouts in scrolls, so I found little trouble when I offered to watch their hatchling some time after he hatched so that the two of them could rest and allow themselves a recharge after welcoming him to this world. I brought the little thing, bright-eyed and already chirping, to my den then. The rest is history.
Of course, when I brought him back, his parents didn't take too kindly to it. There was some screaming on their part, but I managed to smooth things over after assuring them that it was harmless and that I could always turn him back. And after I explained some of the basics behind how it worked, behind what'd I'd been working on for weeks on end, Murl and Rhea, the inquisitive minds they are, were actually intrigued.
I believe it's safe to call this little experiment an overwhelming success.

>12/26/2023
Today, I was able to finally prove a hypothesis that I had been thinking about for some time. A hidden gene, with colours than can only be uncovered through my work.
I'd seen examples in Rhea, Caera, Mocha, and the aethers of our clan. A third element of colouration. A tertiary gene. I was curious to see if all of us held this gene, that it only had to be uncovered. This time, I asked Murl and Rhea if they were willing to let me try it with Socrates, assuring them that such process was just as harmless and potentially temporary as what I had tried last time. Hesitantly, they agreed with the condition that they would supervise and be informed on every step of the process. Eager to share my work, I complied. All went according to plan, and Socrates is just as ecstatic about as I'd hoped.
Yet another successful experiment conducted.

>12/29/2023
The new year is rapidly approaching. With it, our clan will be ready to welcome yet another hatchling. A nocturne. Another perfect candidate to test out my new technology.
But first, I've decided to finally try it out myself. To see if it could be self-inflicted. Lo and behold, it is so! My scales, now speckled and anew, feel... evolved, somehow. Now I can truly empathize with Socrates and any future candidates.
Experiment success.

>12/31/2023
It seems like Murl and Rhea's little hatchling grew up in a flash. In celebration of his turning, I offered Socrates with one more gene change. He eagerly accepted, as expected, and now I can safely say I was right in nearly every aspect.
Experiment success.

>1/1/2024
The egg we found- a nocturne- broke out of it's shell at last. Just in time for the new year. A fresh slate of which I could test to see if his breed allowed for a gene change. Lo and behold, it is so.
Experiment success.

>1/3/2024
I decided to indulge myself in decorating my scales once more. It had a sort of... invigorating feeling that I had craved. Needless to say, it was fully worth it.
Experiment success.