For Your Own Good [Illyria]

[Metty 582]

Arashi walked inside the lab, noticing the two looking straight at her directly. She didn't know what to say at that direct moment but to walk over to the young girl in question. 

"Hey, uhm, I hope I didn't scare you...I can't remember what exactly happened but I hope I didn't scare you fully." Arashi said as she looked down at Ana. "That's right, you haven't seen my face, have you? Since I was wearing that armor and all..." 

She then sat down beside Ana.

"Listen kiddo, I know your scared of me, but it isn't your fault. It's my own. I don't want you to think of me of some sort of monster." Arashi then pulled a loose scale off her tail gently and handed it to her.

"Here, have this."

(OOC: I hope this works.)

Edited September 12, 2020 by Metty

[Dolor Aeternum 2748]

Ana peered from behind Heron at Arashi, listening to the draconic teenager apologize. She barely recognized the voice given how muffled it had sounded amidst the chaotic trauma she faced that day but was able to register that this was the armored lady that had saved her from that horrific monster that killed her parents. When Arashi moved to sit beside Ana, Heron shifted a bit to see if the girl would allow it but only found that Ana clung to his robes. The situation was made worse when the scale was presented and the girl buried her face into Heron’s stark white robe.

The Illyrian elder looked at Luz briefly whose stern gaze had never faltered and watched as her head slowly moved in a nod to authorize him to do as he pleased. Heron moved forward with a smile toward Arashi, genuinely curious about the scale and motioned for Arashi to hand it to him while he spoke.

“Ana here is still a bit skittish after all she has been through. I wouldn’t wish it upon any youth…not even you. Here…let me take a look at it alright Ana. She means no harm.”

Heron kneeled down and brought Ana forward a bit so that the girl was facing Arashi which helped the little girl’s confidence just slightly to the point where her fearful gaze stayed focused on Arashi’s tail. With Heron’s arms on either side of her, her muscles tensed as fear was still present. Luz, meanwhile stared hard at Arashi with a scrutiny that suggested she was actually curious how this situation would be handled.

[Metty 582]

Arashi gave a sigh of relief as she saw Ana then immediately look slightly disappointed as she went to go hide again. She then went and gave the scale to Heron, before looking over at Ana, who was behind him. She just wanted Ana to feel safe around her despite her constant fear. 

"I know. You don't happen to have a beefly in your area do you? Those seem to have some sort of calming effect when they are active in the area. It feels very weird but very effective..." Arashi asked the older man specifically. "It might help a little."

As she asked the question, she noticed Ana staring fearfully at her tail. Arashi went to look at it, noticing it was on the floor that she sitting down on. Luckily she wasn't sitting on it. Arashi was curious after all why Ana was staring at it. 

"Is...there something wrong with my tail? It's not scary is it? It's a dragon tail. It's interesting, why don't you come and see, Ana? Don't worry, I won't harm you."

Edited September 12, 2020 by Metty

[Dolor Aeternum 2748]

Ana recognized Arashi undoubtedly as her savior that fateful day but the trauma did not allow her to process the notion that Arashi was good and that her intentions were pure. The little girl only clung now to Heron because he had time and time again displayed empathy and gave her a sense of security she needed. A single eye peered out toward Arashi while small arms hugged Heron’s leg but the stare at the tail never faltered. A child’s curiosity had been triggered.

“Beefly? I have never heard of such a thing. What do they look like?”

Heron looked genuinely intrigued as the prospect of learning more about this world was always on his mind even if Director Yllende would prefer they remain isolated. With Arashi’s plea toward Ana underway, Heron noticed Ana still held tight to him and sighed outwardly before kneeling down which forced Ana to shift.

“Here, let me touch it first and make sure it is safe. That ok with you Ana?”

Ana mulled over the option before slowly nodding and shifting her head toward Arashi to see how she would react.

Heron meanwhile smiled and slowly stretched out an open palm, waiting to feel the draconic tail along it should the ‘dangerous’ girl comply.

[Metty 582]

Arashi just sat there looking confused. Surely, they had heard of a beefly, they were everywhere after all. Here she was, having to explain. Beefly were friendly creatures capable of human interaction, after all, she was hoping she had one to calm down Ana as they have the amazing effect to calm down others.

"Beeflies are cute little insect creatures. They can talk to humans and other sentient creatures. They are really helpful in doing things. Some can grow flowers, some can put small thunderstorms over your head, while others can turn incorporeal. They also help calm others down. I thought I saw a few loitering in the cityspace, bobbing in the water before I got off the boat but that must be my imagination..." 

Arashi explained about the wonderful little creatures.

"I have two myself."

As Heron went over to touch her tail, Arashi didn't care much about him doing that and just watched Ana as she was behind him. Her tail just felt like dragon scale after all, though it wasn't as tough as fully grown dragons.

Edited September 12, 2020 by Metty

[Dolor Aeternum 2748]

“Oh you mean those small round entities flying around affecting the magical saturation in Illyria? Most consider them a nuisance to our work but their sentience might prove useful to us?”

It was clear that Heron now lost himself in thought with all of the possibilities, his hand stroking his grey beard until Arashi offered her tail which jarred him back into focus.

“Not as tough as I expected it to be but it seems harmless nonetheless. Here child….”

He lowered the tail a bit in his hand such that the tail was right infront of Ana. The little girl’s eyes widened as she shifted her head to look between Heron and Ana several times.

“Go on…”

Ana’s hesitation was clear but she closed her eyes and then slowly extended her hand out, the small digits barely grazing the scales until she felt her palm press against the odd texture. Ana had only heard stories of the dragons of old that had resided in Ceyana and their immense power and tough scales. To be able to touch one only made her remember the stories her mom used to tell her about how she should revere these ancient beasts which in term caused her to recollect she’d never hear them again. Tears welled up in the girl’s eyes and she gripped the tail harder in her grief.

Luz, meanwhile, had turned her back to the whole ordeal and seemed deep in conversation with someone over the communications device on her wrist. Nothing could be discerned other than the director was engrossed in whatever was being communicated.

Heron couldn’t tell Ana was now crying as the little girl’s whimpers never became audible but he could tell she was gripping as hard as her little hands could on the tail and only figured that the girl’s curiousity finally got the better of her and she shed her fear to indulge in it.

[Metty 582]

"Beeflies just want friends, first and foremost. If your people let them help then they'd find themselves more relaxed and the beeflies could benefit their people's life too. They are useful. Very useful. Like I said, treating them like any other human being, would increase their morale and make them your friends for life. They are extremely loyal and trust sentient beings. They flock around settlements to help them grow and nurture to prevent people from dying. Even trust beings with their young and prevent monsters from attacking you. I've heard some stay with aggressive dragons." Arashi said as she explained about the beeflies. They were useful creatures, capable of magic and had amazing powers and biology. They loved beings truly, as Arashi had two that loved her alot from the day she raised them. She was getting extremely excited over these little beeflies.

Arashi went to smile, noticing how Ana went to touch her tail. Not wanting to scare her suddenly, Arashi went to go place her hand on Ana's head slowly. 

"It's going to be alright, I promise you. I won't let anything happen, I swear on my life."

Edited September 12, 2020 by Metty

[Dolor Aeternum 2748]

“After some non-invasive screenings and tests I will make that determination for myself young one.”

Heron smiled and looked unperturbed by what was occurring around him, perfectly happy to allow Ana to act upon her curiosity. The elder turned his head toward Luz.

“Is that plausible Director?”

Luz snapped her head at Heron with an intense stare that did not strike fear but amusement in the recipient. Catching herself she sighs and finally speaks up after just silently observing from afar.

“Do what you want Heron. Just don’t let it distract from more important things.”

Chuckling, Heron nodded while turning back to look at Ana as Arashi came closer to her and thus also closed in on him.

“Of course…”

Ana, still crying, received Arashi’s words but the pain of loss didn’t let her really register what the draconic girl was offering. The odd feeling of Arashi’s hand on her head, however, seemed to calm the girl enough to stop the flow of tears running down her plump little cheeks. The girl let go of the tail then and started to wipe the excess fluid from her face. Given Ana’s lack of response to Arashi, Heron decided to anchor the girl in. Kneeling down he let his finger tap the girl’s nose, something the little girl scrunched at before the faintest of smiles came.

“Looks like you have more than just Illyria protecting you now little one. You will see the light amidst all of this darkness soon. We promise.”

Ana nodded softly as she shifted her gaze to and from Arashi and then finally uttered her first word…

“Ok…”

Luz then spoke up soon after.

“Is this little reunion finished? The girl should be taken to her new temporary home until her new residence has been decided by the council.”

[Metty 582]

Arashi sighed and stood up, looking at Luz directly. She didn't want to argue with her but the draconian wanted to say her piece about all of this. Mainly the kid. The kid didn't have any parents after what happened, she'd likely have be adopted after she went to her new home, Arashi wasn't about to let the kid grow up in fear. She stood there with that slight glare in her eyes. 

"I want to adopt her eventually. If that's okay with her. I'm not putting her in any danger by taking her with me in any country outside of here unless it's in a safe place. Too risky. I don't want her to live in fear any longer if her savior somehow leaves for good." Arashi looked over at Ana then back at Luz. "I'll protect her. I refuse to make her live in that darkness she came through again." 

She shook her head. "If I don't get strong enough, then more people like her will suffer again. Not everybody can fend for themselves after all." 

Edited September 12, 2020 by Metty

[Dolor Aeternum 2748]

Luz arched a brow at Arashi’s admission that she wanted to take care of the foreign child. What did this youth know about taking care of a child in such an unforgiving world? The director felt the urge to unleash another rant on how the dragon girl was unfit to be a parent and that she laid no claim to a child that was an Orisian by all counts and therefore not subject to her Light’s laws. Opting to act against herself, Luz turned her gaze toward Heron just to have something else to focus on for a few seconds.

The Illyrian elder let out a small chuckle as he quickly picked up on what Luz was attempting to do and admired her for it. If this dangerous cycle in Illyrian history was going to be broken it would take uncharacteristic decisions like that to do so for the sake of their future. Ana meanwhile didn’t understand the gravity of what Arashi was asking to do, just staring at the conversation for a while before moving to grab a crystal cube nearby that started to shift colors as she touched it.

“It isn’t entirely up to you to save everyone either Arashi….but fine. If adoption is a goal you wish to work toward then I will not be an obstacle. I will leave the assessment of your parenting capabilities to Heron as you progress which will require you to report in from time to time for review. Acceptable?”

[Metty 582]

Arashi sighed and looked directly at Luz as she looked rather annoyed at the dragon in question for asking that question. It was warranted. After all, arashi wasn't of this region or knew it's laws about adoption. She just wanted the kid to be safe. She looked back at Ana for a quick second. 

"Ana, would you want to go out and have some ice cream, the next time I see you?" Arashi asked as she looked back at what Luz said about the plan. She sighed deeply again. 

"Fine. That's acceptable. I can live with that. You have to let me see her though regularly. I don't want to make her sad."

Edited May 23, 2020 by Metty

[Dolor Aeternum 2748]

"Ice....cream???"

Ana looked puzzled at the mention of what that was given it was not a staple of Orisian cuisine. The tropical environment didn't truly lend itself well to many chilled foods after all. The puzzled face triggered Heron to move closer to the child and rest his head atop her head.

"Sounds like some sort of dessert child. You might like it."

Heron smiled, this sort of gesture starting to grow comforting to Ana given it was something constant she could cling to.

"Ok!"

Ana offered a small smile though struggled to maintain it as she looked at Arashi again. As for Arashi's words to Luz, the director arched a brow again before immediately responding.

"I dont have to do anything Arashi but you are free to visit under supervision unless Heron there revokes your authorization."

Heron immediately interjected, an obvious sense of humor.

"I'm looking forward to this 'ice cream' so authorization granted for now!"

Luz rolled her eyes at the elder before addressing Arashi again.

"Lets retrieve the prototype my engineers have been working on for you that should be an improvement upon that doctor's model unless you wish to travel around without it."

There was a hint that Luz was trying to gauge what sort of confidence Arashi had now but it wasn't clear what answer she was looking for. The director was as much an enigma now as she always has been.

[Metty 582]

(Overdue.)

Arashi's thoughts in that exact moment were nothing short of happiness. The kid seemed excited to see her and she was granted permission to take her out for ice cream at some point. After all the drama of today was settled, the only thing that was left on her mind was her father. Marigold had left her here with these unknown scientists, yet she didn't have a choice but to listen to them. Not like that mattered. She get her way one way or another and that was getting out of this mess. What she didn't know that was the mess called Tia was yet to come.

She smiled barely at Ana. She was well known by her peers, family and anybody that knew her for her attitude. She just sighed deeply as she looked over at the child in question. "Ana, I'm sure you'll like it! You'll get different flavors like strawberry, cookie dough and everything like that! I'll take you out to try new things everytime I'm out if you like." She said with that positive speech and expression on her face. Arashi was happy deep down to have a kid to look after. She was indeed a kind person at heart but mostly acted reckless and arrogant to drive people she didn't like off. 

After she was finished talking to Ana as she gave a goodbye wave, she made one look at Luz to tell her she was ready. 

"Fair enough, let's see the cool looking design you guys came up with." She nodded at Luz.

Edited December 28, 2020 by Metty