[ closed & open ] when you smile, you knock me out, i fall apart

[thunderproof]

WHO: Adalia (candlekeep), Daenerys (motherofdragons), and anyone in the Nevarran caravan!
WHAT: A dragon finally hatches!
WHEN: Backdated to the night after the Rifter arrival
WHERE: On the way to Nevarra
NOTES: None! Will update if necessary.

i. someday, someday, you'll blow us all away (closed to daenerys)

❰ it's the middle of the night when it happens. adalia had known the egg was close to hatching — she could feel little movements from inside it even when she'd picked it up in the ruins, and alacruun had been so angry when she'd taken it — but she had thought... well, she hadn't really. she knows next to nothing about dragons, despite speaking their language, and she's not at candlekeep any longer with ready access to all the research she could ever want. "how long does it take for a dragon's egg to hatch" is not a question she's had cause to ask before, so she's stayed up all night just in case, watching it, going over her notes from her talks with all the people she'd accosted for information once she got here —

at midnight, the first crack appears. at first adalia isn't sure it's really there, but the hair-thin fracture spreads further down the shell and widens just the slightest bit, and that lights a fire under her ass. it's not a particularly productive fire at first — she spends a full minute silently screaming into her hands and running around her tent like a chicken with its head cut off — but quickly enough she comes to her sense and rushes to collect daenerys. leaving the egg feels sort of like torture, but she doesn't dare move it, and anyway it hasn't changed too much by the time she gets back, dany in tow. it's been nearly an hour since then, and the cracks have continued to spread, but there is none yet wide enough for the creature within to poke its head through. ❱

I have no idea what to do for it, ❰ she says, wringing her hands nervously. she's going to have to raise a dragon. a dragon. this is... going to be a challenge. ❱ I think you're not supposed to help shelled things hatch, but it's been so long... I just want to help it out.

ii. pride is not the word i'm looking for (open)

❰ in the morning, hours since charis has hatched and daenerys has gone back to sleep, adalia is wide awake, sitting in front of her tent with the baby dragon in her lap. he's so shockingly small... adalia hadn't ever seen a baby dragon — a wyrmling — before, only adults and ancients, and those are massive. charis will grow to that size, but she'd expected him to be big, even now — and yet, he's small enough to perch atop her shoulders or fit in her lap, freezing her with his chilled scales.

a silver dragon is so much better than a black one — black dragons are evil by their very nature, and even if adalia doesn't believe in evil by nature, she'd considered that it might be difficult to raise a black dragon to be able to be around other creatures without wanting to subjugate or eat them. silver dragons, on the other hand, love people. that is one of the only things she remembers learning about dragons, and the idea that she gets to raise one — her heart is overfull already and just keeps getting bigger, stuffed to the brim with pride and love and a protective fervor she's never felt before. she is not a mother, not really, and she would never call herself charis' parent... but she is responsible for him, and she will do her best to keep him safe.

when approached, adalia immediately tenses, but stays sitting — charis is asleep, and she doesn't want to wake him if she doesn't have to. ❱

If you wake my dragon I'll kick your ass, ❰ she warns, wary, but otherwise leaving him on display. ❱

Comments

II

[serannas]

Ellana had only meant to pass by the tent, but she stops to do a double take at the sleeping creature that very much looks like a dragon to her. It's an incredible and unique sight, as she's never been a part of a dragon hunting party before. Maybe she stares for too long, or something in her stance makes it look as though she means to rush towards it, because suddenly she's being called out and she looks up sharply at the owner of the voice, trying to collect her wits.

"I think you're more likely to wake it than I," she finally says quietly, staying put. She hasn't trained as a stealth mage for nothing, after all. "Where did you find it?"

[thunderproof]

Adalia is, it must be said, extremely paranoid about anyone paying attention to Charis. Even just prolonged staring makes her nervous — she'd had to quite literally wrest his egg from the grip of someone who had been smashing the eggs of his brothers and sisters just moments before, and she has heard enough now about this Nevarra that she is extremely wary of anyone who pays him too much attention. She is not about to let that wariness means he never sees the outside of a tent, however, so here she sits, available for all the world to come gawk, all too ready with a threat and a lightning bolt.

The elf in front of her is quiet, at least, and Charis gives a little snuffle but remains asleep, so Adalia isn't all that upset, all things considered. She's keeping her distance as well, which is appreciated.

"On my own plane. I rescued his egg from my infanticide-happy companions, and when I came through the rift it came with me. He hatched during the night."

[serannas]

That makes Ellana's eyes widen. Not only is this elf from another world, but her dragon too! But then she thinks of something and her head tilts a little in thought.

"You wouldn't happen to be from Middle-earth, would you? The elves from there are so tall, but you look about my height." Granted, Ellana is tall for an elf in Thedas. She's taller than some of the male elves, or at their height. Plus this elf is sitting, but those Middle-earth elves have torsos and legs for miles.

[thunderproof]

"Middle-earth? No, I'm from Faerûn. It's a continent on Toril, which is in the Prime Material Plane. And I'm only half an elf, so..."

Or at least, everyone has assumed she is. Her ear tips are rather blunted to be a full elf, anyway, and humans can't see in the dark like she can, so she's definitely not one or the other. Too tall to be halfling, not infernal enough to be a tiefling... There's no knowing for sure, but half-elf certainly seems to be the best answer.

[serannas]

"Oh, I'm sorry," she says immediately. "I wouldn't have assumed, but here in Thedas, though who are half-elf and half-human always look human. It's nice to know there are places where it's not always the case." Especially since -- unlike others -- she happens to have a thing for humans as opposed to her own people. Bad elf ex-boyfriend.

"Could I ask you more about your world? It's always so interesting to learn about these far off places."

II

[circleprodigy]

"Maker's breath...."

Inessa's voice is hushed and she stares at the newly-hatched dragon with wide eyes. Garahel, at her side, looks as though he very much wants to sniff at the dragonling, but Adalia's words of warning have make him stop short, and pout.

Ignoring him, his mistress crouches down for a better look. "It's beautiful, Adalia." There's a lot she should say, or ask, that would be entirely relevant to the subject of a sudden dragon in their midst. But she puts that on hold to admire the silver sheen of the hatchling.

[thunderproof]

The invectives on this plane are so interesting, Adalia thinks as Inessa reacts to Charis, smiling at her and Garahel — it's still difficult to accept the idea of Circles and of mages who approve of them, but they don't have to talk about that now. Why mar this moment with an argument?

"He is, isn't he?" The pride in Adalia's voice is only overshadowed by the awe, and she runs her fingers gently over the ridge of Charis' browbone, careful not to wake him but also in need of reassurance that he's real. Everything about the past few days — the past few months, even — has felt unreal, and this is no different. Adalia is half sure she'll wake up to find that she dreamt all of it, honestly.

"He won't be a danger," she says eventually, looking up at Inessa, slightly nervous. "I know people hunt dragons here, but he's not that kind of dragon. He's silver, he'll love people."

[circleprodigy]

That might be less of an argument than Adalia would think, but Inessa's content to let the little one be their focus. Its arrival certainly merits attention and discussion.

As Garahel plops down, still staring intently at the dragon he's not allowed to wake, Inessa looks over the hatchling in fascination. She's never seen a hatchling so young, after all. At Adalia's words, she pauses. "You know your own dragons better than any of us, of course. However, you should be aware that dragonlings -the spawn of high dragons- are hardly well-loved. They are by and large hostile, and people will assume the same of this one, until given reason to believe otherwise. As long as it's no danger to anyone else, though, I will gladly assist in its defense."

The mabari grunts in agreement at that, tail-wagging.

[thunderproof]

Truthfully, Adalia barely knows her own world's dragons at all. All she has is the commonly accepted wisdom that chromatics are evil and metallics are good, and the slightly more specific knowledge that silver dragons love people. That may be more than anyone in Thedas can claim to know about dragons from Toril, but it's woefully inadequate for Adalia's own liking. She grew up in a library, with all the collected knowledge of Toril's most intelligent scholars and philosophers at her fingertips, and not knowing something or even having the relevant book available is absolutely terrible.

Garahel's unwavering interest in Charis makes Adalia laugh, and she shifts her legs, trying to see how tired the dragon really is and if he'll wake up to say hello. The movement causes him to give a little whuff, blinking his eyes slowly open as he smacks his lips. It takes a moment for the world to come into focus around him, it seems, but when Charis notices Garahel he gives a squeaky chirrup and steps forward, curious and friendly. Adalia watches this with a bright smile near splitting her face, though her shoulders are tense — Garahel is a war dog, and doubtless has a high prey drive. He seems an obedient dog, and Inessa a good owner, but the anxiety of introducing your new child to a creature that could cause it serious injury if it so chose doesn't really listen to sense.

"I'll use the crystals to tell everyone in the Inquisition not to worry about him. Even if they don't believe me, I imagine there will be enough people like you who are willing to give him a chance that he'll be relatively safe, especially if I stay nearby until people can see that he's really no danger."

[circleprodigy]

For a moment, Inessa's reaction mirrors Garahel's as they peer at the waking hatchling with great interest. The squeaky chirrup prompts a smile from Inessa, and she hangs back while nudging Garahel, giving permissions for him to move forward. Since no one's holding him back now, the mabari approaches and sniffs at the hatchling. He'll go after prey, sure, but he can tell the difference between them and an intelligent creature. So after his sniffing extravaganza, he nuzzles Charis with a contented rumble.

"That would be a good idea, at least alert others so that the surprise of meeting him won't cause incidents. Not everyone is so skittish, but still. Preparing others in advance can only help, I would think."

II

[tar_minyatur]

[ Elros had spotted her and was on his way across - he's only seen dragons of his own world as adolescents and their terrifying adult kin, so he doesn't register the silver around her neck until she says that, and then he freezes.

Even in battle he's been cheerful, if a little bitter at times, but there' no denying the look in his eyes right now is something like fear and hate and carefully leashed fury (fear for her, so, so much fear for her. He knows his family history) ]

I must be mishearing as I thought you said 'dragon'.

[ His hand in on his sword and he stands very straight and still ]

[thunderproof]

❰ ...ah. yes, that was bound to happen sooner or later. adalia raises a hand toward elros — no sparks, not yet, but she's ready for him if he comes toward her — and the other goes to charis' head where it lays on her shoulder, half-hidden in the wild curls of her hair. ❱

Hand off your sword, jumpy, he's fine. He's silver.

❰ belatedly, aware that that might not mean anything to elros — ❱

Dragons come in different colors where I'm from that determine their character. I think it's a bullshit, restrictive system that fails to account for personal choice but the important thing is, silver dragons are good. They like people. He won't hurt anybody.

[tar_minyatur]

[ He's very, very still, but it's a predator's stillness, watching the dragon, not her, with wary eyes ]

You'll have to forgive me for being suspicious. [ He says lightly ]

In my world, the dragons had great powers of the mind, and dragonspell is not lightly shrugged aside. They were particularly fond of enslaving people it could turn on each other, but anyone would do, if it suited them. I am quite fond of you, Adalia. I would rather not find out you and I had been mind-wiped and entranced to do it's will.

[thunderproof]

❰ ...excuse her while her brain makes a little record skipping noise at "quite fond". no one's "quite fond" of her. she's annoying and prone to unilateral decision-making, people don't like her.

she must get to the bottom of this. ❱

You've known me for less than a day, how can you be "quite fond" of me?

❰ show her your receipts, elros, then she'll explain all the ways in which you are Wrong About Dragons. ❱

[tar_minyatur]

[ He blinks at her, temporarily diverted, although he never relaxes out of his wary stance ]

Why should I not be? You are brave and kind, a boon companion in a fight and so far, a good friend.

[ Also, he thinks she is pretty, but he's not about to say that when they, as she says, don't know each other that well yet ]

II

[justice_is_blond]

[So that, indeed, is another dragon. It doesn't look quite like the ones he's seen (and fought) previously, but he can't deny that he's not nervous knowing that there's a second in the area.]

I prefer them asleep, honestly. Then they're not trying to eat me.

[He looks at the woman now, as his attention had been more focused on the animal. She has to be a Rifter, right? Then again, Beleth isn't, and Beleth has a small dragon.]

Why a dragon?

[thunderproof]

❰ adalia raises her eyebrow, looking pointedly from the wyrmling who fits in her lap up to the full-grown man who really definitely could not. ❱

Yes, you're in a lot of danger of being eaten, here. I don't know how you'll get away from this vicious animal.

❰ as if to punctuate her point, charis hiccups in his sleep. the very picture of draconic ferocity, he.

the question makes adalia's eyebrow raise even higher, and she opens and closes her mouth a few times, like a goldfish, trying to figure out how to respond. eventually, flabbergasted, she just shrugs. ❱

Why not a dragon?

[justice_is_blond]

[Anders rolls his eyes, but not in an angry way.]

They do grow, in answer to all of that. I've only met one dragon that didn't want to eat me, and she was a person most of the time, dragon only on special occasions. How do you plan on feeding... it, [she hasn't indicated if it's male or female, so he'll go with that,] when it's large enough to think people would be good snacks?

[thunderproof]

Well I plan to raise him not to think of people as snacks, for starters, ❰ adalia replies testily, thumbing at the tiny tips of charis' horns. he coos in his sleep and shifts his head, but doesn't wake up. ❱

He's not that kind of dragon, okay? Not by nature, and with me raising him, not by nurture either. The worst he's likely to do is...

❰ sell his soul to necromantic evil to save lives? not really a ringing endorsement, that. ❱

I don't actually know what silver dragons do that's bad. He'll be too curious, or protective, I don't know. Point is: he's not going to eat people. I'll feed him until he can fend for himself and teach him livestock isn't to be touched.

[justice_is_blond]

[He eyes the little thing. It's definitely different from the dragons he's used to seeing, he'll give her that, so maybe it can be trained? He's a little wary, but at least it's outnumbered if it decides to not be trained.]

I've never known a dragon that wasn't that kind. Is it... usual, where you're from? Or is this an experiment?

i

[motherofdragons]

[ Dany woke up quickly enough from Adalia's panic, but when she sees the dragon's egg she relaxes a little, reaching out to gently take one of the young woman's hands in her own. ]

It knows what to do. The best we can do right now is sit and wait.

[thunderproof]

I'm not good at sitting and waiting, ❰ adalia admits, squeezing dany's hand tight as she stares at the egg. a moment passes, and then she tenses up again and drops daenerys' hand, turning to dany with her lips pressed tight together and an extremely apologetic look on her face. ❱

I can't believe I just woke you up without even asking if it was alright, I'm sorry, I just wanted someone here who would know what to do better than me!

❰ unseen by adalia, whose focus is now on daenerys, a talon has begun to poke out of the crack in the egg. ❱

[motherofdragons]

[ Dany's brow furrows as she smiles, shaking her head quickly at Adalia's hysterics. ]

I would have been disappointed if you hadn't come to find me. Dragons are all but extinct in my world, I never thought I'd see another besides my own born. But here we are!

[ Dany inclines her head, indicating the egg that Adalia is not focused on but she still has a clear view of. ] The little one is in a hurry. Drogon was much the same, he was the first of my boys to break free of his egg.

[thunderproof]

❰ that's another world in which dragons were thought extinct — adalia is both boggled and distressed by the idea. dragons make toril dangerous, to be sure, but so do so many other things. hunting them down just for being dangerous, driving them to extinction... it's an idea that leaves her cold.

she doesn't have much time to focus on it. daenerys draws her attention to the egg and adalia yelps, then immediately slaps her hands over her mouth. ❱

Oh gods this is really happening, ❰ she says, muffled through her hands, then she goes to sit next to the egg, unable to take her eyes off of it. ❱

How long did it take for your um... Drogon? How long did it take for Drogon to make it all the way out of his egg, after he'd made the first crack?

[motherofdragons]

[ Dany keeps her distance, though she does move a little closer, before kneeling on the ground. At Adalia's question she presses her lips together, thinking for a moment. ]

Not long. Several minutes, perhaps, though he had the fire to help him. The others took much longer.