[Chain texts? What are those? Being from the mid-1990s, he's not that familiar with texting in general.]
My apologies for the abrupt message. I was told to send a random picture or question to a stranger and your name simply caught my interest. I am known as Count D and I ran a pet shop in my own world, selling all types of exotic animals.
An alchemist? I presume then that you are not from the modern world.
[He already knows of others from the past though so it's not as if he's fazed much.]
It's part of the decoration at a Chinese restaurant in the Pleasure Gate. A pair of dragons. Aren't they lovely? They remind me of the ones in my own world... [Although he means real dragons rather than wall decorations!]
Hmhm, I am not, I'm afraid. My estimates tell me I've a few hundred years at least before I catch up.
-Ah, I thought I'd seen it somewhere! And what a treat to hear of another who speaks of dragons as if a natural occurrence in their home world. It took me my familiar appearing in town to convince quite a few others of their existence, though I suppose speaking of dragons could be considered bragging in some regard.
That is quite an amount of time, larger than any other person I've spoken with here.
[So, it seems the Landlord's reach across time extends into the centuries...]
Your familiar? You own a dragon? [There's a bit of excitement in his voice now. Oh, he would love to meet it even if he couldn't talk to it the way he could back home!] Many in my world did not believe dragons to be more than myth but I've spoken to such creatures and even kept one in my shop.
Ha ha! 'Tis the opposite for me- Dragons were something of a boogeyman, one that none ever wanted to meet and hoped were simply a myth until a charred corpse turns up.
Elusive, but fierce. I've always been fond of them. It was a great surprise when one bonded to me.
It seems your world shared the Western conception of a dragon, with wings and breathing fire. But Chinese dragons are well regarded and control water and related weather. The one in my shop was a mixed species, sharing traits of both.
They are marvelous creatures, aren't they? I would love to meet yours.
That sounds delightful. A weekend or evening would suit me quite well. [Not that he isn't usually sneaking off from the training center for afternoon tea anyway.] And you must tell me what his favorite treats are so I might bring some along. [And a box of pastries, of course.]
[The next evening, D arrived promptly at eight after a short walk from his own house. A pastry box from the Honeybee Cafe in hand and a box of brown sugar tucked under his arm, he rang the bell of house 1421 and waited. He looked forward to meeting another dragon enthusiast. And even better, his dragon.]
[He answered promptly, the door opening to reveal the voice from the other side of yesterday's phone conversation. At his shoulder was a lithe, gray-green winged reptile, solid-colored eyed regarding him and smoke trailing from its tiny nostrils.]
Good evening. Do come in and make yourself at home, my friend.
[He backed aside to invite him in. What an odd individual... intriguing.]
But all told, a name for him hardly exists. He simply doesn't seem to like any that I've attempted to grant him. Instead he simply comes when called via our link in a wordless manner...
Dragons are a complicated sort. I don't suppose they're peaches in your world?
[He gestured to the sofa, inviting his guest to sit.]
I see. Perhaps, you just have not come across the proper one. It's a shame I do not have my abilities here. If I did, I could ask him what he wishes to be called.
[He followed into the living room, settling onto the sofa and folding his hands in his lap.]
The are wonderful creatures but they can be rather temperamental. Honlon was in danger of leveling the city when her three heads got into an argument. [Thankfully, Chris had been able to calm her.]
I had wondered if multiple heads could get into an argument, and here your story solves that mystery! I should be glad my familiar has just one. Isn't that right?
[The reptile crooned and bounced off his shoulder, opening his wings as he floated to the floor. He liked sleeping on the lioness - she was nice and warm - and he would get to that once he realized what that wonderful sweet smell was coming from...!]
Ah, so what would you suggest I do for lack of being able to directly communicate? I've had him for years and yet not a single name sticks.
She can also take on the appearance of a young girl with three personalities. Unfortunately, they do not always get along.
[So, it's probably for the best that Lezard's familiar only has one head and that he's a small dragon!]
Even if he cannot speak to you directly, surely you've learned his habits and ways of expressing himself over the years. The way animals behave can tell you a lot even if they cannot speak to you with words.
[And he's watching as the dragon descends to the floor, his attention now caught by the fact that there's more than one animal in this household.]
Ah, I did not realize you also had a lion. Does she have a name or is she similar to your familiar in that regard?
Oh, no. She's a family member; the sibling of a lion in human form that's gone home. Lily and I have been contemplating a name for her, and we do wonder sometimes if she already has a name and we simply have no means of communicating.
[He shrugged helplessly.]
So many creatures under this roof, and none with names. Truly, it must be embarrassing for you to hear such things when you seem to have such a passion for animals!
I see. I'm sorry I did not have a chance to meet her sibling then. Did they never share her name with you?
[But even if the lioness doesn't have a way to communicate with them, she's not shy about seeking out more people to pet her. She approaches, nudging the visitor's silk-covered knees and D obliges by stroking her head.]
Perhaps, it will come in time. But she appears very friendly and I suppose a name is less of a concern than her being well and content.
Not that I recall. The boy was simply called Lion, which I suppose tells me much of naming conventions or a lack thereof.
[Ah, and there she was now. Ever the affectionate one... odd that nobody thought to ponder why this lioness wasn't acting very much like a queen of the jungle and more like a very large housecat!]
Yes, of course. She was listless when her brother left, but she has since calmed back to normal. I'm sure she'll miss the ample sunshine once fall begins...
Which makes me wonder how lions handle winter. I ought think of preparations.
Lion? Might he have been acquainted with a boy named Eagle? [D had met him during the egg hunt.] But if her brother was simply Lion, perhaps she is Lioness.
[And D's quite used to all kinds of animals so the idea of petting a lion isn't strange to him at all.]
That is a good point. A lion's natural habitat is typically in the tropical regions of the world. We can likely presume she wouldn't be used to cold temperatures. Was she here during last winter?
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lezard_valeth) wrote2025-01-01 06:07 pm
[Voice]
My apologies for the abrupt message. I was told to send a random picture or question to a stranger and your name simply caught my interest. I am known as Count D and I ran a pet shop in my own world, selling all types of exotic animals.
[Voice]
I am Lezard Valeth, an alchemist. Where did you find the subject of your picture, if I may ask?
[Voice] And I forgot that there's no internet in game so he'd have to have found it elsewhere...
[He already knows of others from the past though so it's not as if he's fazed much.]
It's part of the decoration at a Chinese restaurant in the Pleasure Gate. A pair of dragons. Aren't they lovely? They remind me of the ones in my own world... [Although he means real dragons rather than wall decorations!]
[Voice]
-Ah, I thought I'd seen it somewhere! And what a treat to hear of another who speaks of dragons as if a natural occurrence in their home world. It took me my familiar appearing in town to convince quite a few others of their existence, though I suppose speaking of dragons could be considered bragging in some regard.
[Voice]
[So, it seems the Landlord's reach across time extends into the centuries...]
Your familiar? You own a dragon? [There's a bit of excitement in his voice now. Oh, he would love to meet it even if he couldn't talk to it the way he could back home!] Many in my world did not believe dragons to be more than myth but I've spoken to such creatures and even kept one in my shop.
[Voice]
Elusive, but fierce. I've always been fond of them. It was a great surprise when one bonded to me.
[Voice]
They are marvelous creatures, aren't they? I would love to meet yours.
[Voice]
We can arrange such a thing if you'd like. I'm one of the high school instructors, so I've business that brings me out and about on weekdays.
[Voice]
[Voice]
It seems we sync on the evenings. Would tomorrow evening be suitable?
[Voice] Hmm... Do we jump ahead and switch to action or handwave the visit?
Tomorrow evening would be splendid. Perhaps, eight o'clock? I shall bring dessert. And where may I find you?
[Voice] We can do action if you'd like!
I reside in #1421!
[Voice] Okay, let's do action then!
[And he made a mental note of the house number.]
That's closer than I expected. I am living in house 1416 at the moment.
[Really, how had he gone so long without knowing there was a dragon so close?!]
[Voice - > Action]
[Action]
[Action]
Good evening. Do come in and make yourself at home, my friend.
[He backed aside to invite him in. What an odd individual... intriguing.]
[Action]
What an adorable little dragon! What is his name?
[And offering the sugar and the pastry box containing an assortment of little cakes and miniature tarts...]
As promised, I brought treats for your dragon as well as for ourselves.
[Action]
But all told, a name for him hardly exists. He simply doesn't seem to like any that I've attempted to grant him. Instead he simply comes when called via our link in a wordless manner...
Dragons are a complicated sort. I don't suppose they're peaches in your world?
[He gestured to the sofa, inviting his guest to sit.]
[Action]
[He followed into the living room, settling onto the sofa and folding his hands in his lap.]
The are wonderful creatures but they can be rather temperamental. Honlon was in danger of leveling the city when her three heads got into an argument. [Thankfully, Chris had been able to calm her.]
[Action]
I had wondered if multiple heads could get into an argument, and here your story solves that mystery! I should be glad my familiar has just one. Isn't that right?
[The reptile crooned and bounced off his shoulder, opening his wings as he floated to the floor. He liked sleeping on the lioness - she was nice and warm - and he would get to that once he realized what that wonderful sweet smell was coming from...!]
Ah, so what would you suggest I do for lack of being able to directly communicate? I've had him for years and yet not a single name sticks.
[Action]
[So, it's probably for the best that Lezard's familiar only has one head and that he's a small dragon!]
Even if he cannot speak to you directly, surely you've learned his habits and ways of expressing himself over the years. The way animals behave can tell you a lot even if they cannot speak to you with words.
[And he's watching as the dragon descends to the floor, his attention now caught by the fact that there's more than one animal in this household.]
Ah, I did not realize you also had a lion. Does she have a name or is she similar to your familiar in that regard?
[Action]
[He shrugged helplessly.]
So many creatures under this roof, and none with names. Truly, it must be embarrassing for you to hear such things when you seem to have such a passion for animals!
[Action]
[But even if the lioness doesn't have a way to communicate with them, she's not shy about seeking out more people to pet her. She approaches, nudging the visitor's silk-covered knees and D obliges by stroking her head.]
Perhaps, it will come in time. But she appears very friendly and I suppose a name is less of a concern than her being well and content.
[Action]
[Ah, and there she was now. Ever the affectionate one... odd that nobody thought to ponder why this lioness wasn't acting very much like a queen of the jungle and more like a very large housecat!]
Yes, of course. She was listless when her brother left, but she has since calmed back to normal. I'm sure she'll miss the ample sunshine once fall begins...
Which makes me wonder how lions handle winter. I ought think of preparations.
[Action]
[And D's quite used to all kinds of animals so the idea of petting a lion isn't strange to him at all.]
That is a good point. A lion's natural habitat is typically in the tropical regions of the world. We can likely presume she wouldn't be used to cold temperatures. Was she here during last winter?
[Action]
[Action]
[Action]
[Action]