Roleplay

Chou is right back to business in an instant.

"Of course. I do not think it is far. Now, admittedly, my rushing in to ward off that Infestation Hound has skewed my distance a bit, I'm not entirely sure just how far off course I've set myself. But we will be fine, I am sure."

With a beat of his wings, he is off the ground, armor rattling slightly from the rough takeoff. He keeps his eyes behind him as he ascends, however, keeping an eye on Nia to ensure they are following behind him. He wouldn't want to lose them in a moment like this, when they still needed medical attention.

He points himself north, though slows his flight pace to be doubly sure Nia is with him.

(hey there :) )


Nia uses his wings to lift himself off the ground a bit after Chou does, leaving him space to take the lead. He notices his wings hurting from using them again shortly after the long journey, but his small and lean build makes him look in pretty fine condition.

"Alright, take the lead!"

[ hi again! Sorry again for my absence most of yesterday, it got even busier than I was expecting. >< Also, I hope you don't mind me briefly bringing in a few of my lair's other dragons, Chou is still who I'll be mainly playing as but some others from the lair might pop in and out such as the clan infirmary staff for brief interactions related to the story. ^^" ]


The flight there couldn't have taken more than five minutes, though Chou spent most of it carefully eyeballing Nia for signs of fatigue in between his actual focus on navigating.

As they reach their destination, Chou points the lair out below. It looks something akin to a large clay mound, big enough, in fact, to make for a very small mountain. The entire foundation looks natural, save for what appears to be a squat ramshackle building that seems to be in the process of being reinforced with stone sides near the cave-mouth lair entrance.

"Down there," he directed firmly. "I will fly ahead and alert the dragons in our infirmary that you need assistance. Will you be alright outside for just a moment? I would bring you in initially, but I do not think I am capable of carrying another dragon my own size for the walk to our infirmary hall, and I do not want to put more stress on your wound by making you walk yourself."

He looks Nia up and down, feeling genuine... concern? On a surprisingly personal level... he assumes it is because he has never had to guide a rescued citizen to help before--it has always found its way there when he resolves a situation. There is a distinct protective urge in him to stay with the other dragon, but he assumes it is his drilled-in sense of knight's duty and honor.

[yeah no problem! I planned to do that at some point much later in the storyline as well! A few other characters now and then are just necessary! Feel free to link them or show pictures when they come into the story for the first tim :) ]


The smaller dragon is impressed by the lair space and takes everything in with interested eyes.

Nia smiles at the other after he is done talking. His wings hurt from the stain but not as much as standing would hurt his leg, so he is willing to take that risk.

"That is very considerate, thank you! I'll be fine waiting!"

They realize that they like Chou watching over them, even though he might only do it because it is his job.

"I'll be back shortly," Chou nods at him before disappearing into the lair.

It's a short trip to the infirmary from the central cave, but Chou double-times it down the hall nonetheless. He's thankfully careful enough in his training to have not necessitated many visits here, but the dragons, as all are in the closely-knit lair, are familiar with him.

In the back of the infirmary, the head physician, Doc, is still arguing with Otzi about his condition. Doc's on-staff nurse, Libra, however, has removed herself from the fruitless conversation, so he hastily makes his way to her and urges the medicinedragon to follow.

Not a moment later, Chou re-emerges, followed by the star-speckled, gem-bonded Snapper.

"Nia!" He calls with an amount of enthusiasm that he manages to surprise even himself with. "I've returned with help."

He gestures to the female Snapper with a wing. "This is Libra, one of our resident medicinal specialist dragons. She can support you while we get you to the infirmary proper, but I'll stay near as well, if you would like that."

He can't help but acknowledge he would like to be close as well, as he watches Libra warmly offer Nia a small supporting wing. Just to be sure nothing happens...

(Sorry it took me ages to answer, my family decided to watch a movie!)


Nia finds himself nodding embarrassingly fast to the suggestion of Chou staying with him as he lands with one leg held above the floor to avoid the pain that will surely hit him as soon as his foot will touch the ground.

"Yeah, I'd like it I'd you stayed with me... you know, since I don't know anyone here..."

It feels like there is more to it, but Nia is too nervous about what is to come to think about it. In addition, his wings are killing him by now. He briefly stretches them as he takes the Snappers help on the side where he cannot use his leg for walking.

"Thank you so much for your help! I'm Tithonia.", he addresses her.

[ That’s okay! I never mind absences or long response times, since I’m so casual myself. :) ]


“Libra,” she responds with a warm smile from well-hammered-in training on bedside manner. “But Chou already told you that. I have to say, I’m surprised. Chou’s work has never had him bringing someone back to the lair for treatment.”

“I don’t encounter injured citizens often,” Chou interjects, unconsciously red-faced as the two dragons help Nia into the lair proper. “Most jobs I’m given are regarding monster infestations in territories that have already been properly evacuated. And injuries I have seen have all been quite minor ones they insist on tending themselves.”

As the two help them through the central chamber and its many openings, several dragons, all from many elements, pass. None stay long, either heading up or down carved stone stairways to other levels of the lair, down large sign-marked halls, or into smaller offshoot tunnels designed to open into private homes and dens in their depths. Libra curls her stout tail ever-so-gently over Nia’s leg, applying just enough pressure to keep the foot from touching the ground as they move.

“The infirmary short walk down this hallway,” Libra references a larger passage carved into the north wall that they are nearing.

Chou slows down. “We’re almost there,” he adds in a (monotone attempt at a) comforting whisper.

Nia has an easier time walking with the help of Libra. Plus, they feel surprisingly comforted by Chou's presence.

The buildup of the entire lair is fascinating for them, and they keep looking around, taking in everything they can throughout the walk.

"This place is absolutely fascinating...", he ends up muttering to nobody in particular.

"I'm proud to say my twin sister and I were some of the first dragons who lived here," Libra reminisced at their comment. "It's seen much growth since then, but it still feels like yesterday we were little hatchlings playing in the dirt of the tunnels they were still digging."

Chou shrugged without comment. He'd been adopted into the lair when it was much further established, even if he had grown up there...

"Here we are," Libra advised, leading the three of them into a room that opened up from the long hallway, floor pressed with roughly sanded tiles of limestone for a clean, sterile(?) look.

"Rest here for a moment," she instructed, helping Nia over to one of the three medical cots large enough to accommodate an adult Guardian. "I'll fetch some water and antiseptic."

As she left to return to her medicine shelves, she gave Chou a surprisingly firm nudge with her tail, pushing him towards Nia, with a look on her face that was nothing short of confusing to the orange Skydancer. What was the smile for? Did she know something he didn't?

He glanced back over at Nia, unsure what to do now that they were alone again, in a situation where his soldier's persona didn't fit.

Nia nodded along to what the Snapper told him but felt himself getting more and more tired out. The long flight, attack and now travel to this lair had really tired him out.

As soon as he was able to, he laid down on the big cot, letting out a sigh of relief at the feeling of being able to rest. He shook out his wings a little, grimacing at the stain from overuse, then looked after Libra as she left.

Then, he looked at Chou, but after a few silent seconds, he looked down on the ground, slight blush on his cheeks.

I wonder how he looks without the mask. The thought came out of nowhere, so they were a little surprised by their own mind.

A few short seconds later Nia realized that he should initiate a conversation if he wanted Chou to stay with him, which he definitely did.

"So... tell me about yourself, Chou?" It was hesitant and a little awkward, but he at least looked up and into Chou's eyes again.