middaeg | [Open] Fledgling Form Times

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[Open] Fledgling Form Times

Who: Vex'ahlia and YOU!
When: Full moon period at the start of Septeril
Where: Around Aefenglom
What: Dragon form change shenanigans!
Warnings: None to start, will update later!

She'd been lucky. The first full moon within the city upon her extended stay had not heralded any changes. Indeed, she'd experienced very few overt ones, the only tangible change she'd noticed being her eyes - gold, instead of brown.

But inevitably, a monster's time to shift rolls around with the next full moon, and finally, Vex's turn had arrived.

This is not the dragon form she'd had in Maiuril. Indeed, bulky form and scarlet scales are nowhere in sight! Instead, she is sleek and silver, with blue wings -- wings that were part feather, part webbed membrane. Feathers crest head and tail, while scales, hide, and downy fur cover a creature somewhat larger than a lion.

In this form she stays for the full moon period, and wastes no time making herself more comfortable. She does not go feral, but she does go wandering, and Vex'ahlia can be encountered in one of two places:

• Outside of the cottage home she shares with Sheva Alomar in Haven.
A small matter of not yet knowing how to open doors in this new form means she might be spotted climbing it via the external stair - all the better to reach the rooftop garden for sun. And for practicing falling with style. By which we mean jumping off with wings outstretched, much to the concern of a very bewildered bear below!

• Out at the Forge.
Known for two resident dragons (and recent bear arrival), regulars to the Forge may be confused by the sudden presence of an unfamiliar third! who is either relaxed outside, sprawled across the grassy lawn, or lurking atop the building proper as she gets used to navigating life with wings and a tail, as well as surprising arrivals with friendly (if unexpected) conversation.

Vex won't be venturing far beyond the city, and will avoid causing trouble in the Slums. However, wildcard encounters are also welcome!

(Feel free to hit me up via plurk at

farlichu or on discord at Farli#5239 if you want to plot something beforehand! :)

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[ There's a knock on the door to Maria's room midway into the second week of her stay at the hospital, and one of the healer trainees sticks their head in to see if the patient is awake. ]

Um. You've a visitor, ma'am.

[ If they seem a little nervous about it, they don't waste much time on explaining why - once permission to show said visitor in is given, they retreat, leaving the door open wide.

And rather than something human shaped, a dragon steps lightly into the room, albeit with care to mind where its feathered tail whips and wings kept tight against its body. About the size of an adult lion, the blue feathers (feathers?) about its head rise, fanning out as it takes in the state of Maria, before gold eyes glimmer, and the narrow head dips politely. ]

You look like each level of the Nine Hells had a go at you. [a familiar female voice speaks; a little deeper than normal, but not by much] Did you give as good as you got?

[She's been letting in everyone that comes to visit her, because she figures anyone that doesn't know her wouldn't bother. So there's a momentary surprise when a dragon walks into the room. A dragon Maria doesn't immediately recognize. As always, unfamiliar Monsters put her on edge, and given her state, the sudden tension does her absolutely no favors.

Then, the dragon speaks, and Maria's one visible eye squints a little, uncomprehending, before she seems to put two and two together.] ... Vex.

[Her tone seems to imply she's pretty surprised, actually, at the sight. She forgot how fast Monster changes can come on sometimes and... it must be the full moon, then. She can't really see out the window easily, but this all but confirms it.

Relaxing brings about as many pinches and aches as tensing up suddenly, and she takes a moment to try to calm herself before she answers the question.] Both of my opponents met a terrible, fiery end, and I nearly started a forest fire, I'm sure. I think I could have defeated a third.

[Is she just bragging, given her state, or is it true? No way to tell, but honestly that fireball probably would've taken out a third if it was there; and possibly killed her in the process, but she'd consider that a success, either way.] Mm... a dragon, though? Interesting, what this world decides to assign people.

Rather dramatic, isn't it?

[ Her change, that is. She does not extend her wings out, yet, but she does shake her head slightly and fans out the feathers again as she approaches, then sits beside the bed with care. She has no need of the chair. ]

Last month spoiled me without any changes. Were it not for my housemate, I would have been caught off-guard entirely.

I'd heard they were quite fiesty. I helped fend off a few that attempted to venture into the city, but nothing so dramatic as that. Would that I had been there to see it. [and not just see the battering you took - though at least the sunrise has set on Maria's face, the bruising losing its colours slowly but surely.]

It's ironic, certainly. [she's past any point of panic, and she's had a couple of days to adapt to coordinating 6 limbs and a tail] I know of no species of dragons back home that bear feathers. I expected to be red again, honestly, not silver. And blue.

Such is the life of Monsters on the full moon. Turnskins seem to get it the worst during the full moon, so I suppose you can look on that bright side; you won't be waking up in a bush somewhere. [Still, Mirrorbound Witches are at their weakest on the full moon, and she certainly feels the pull of that, as well. It's actually something of a relief from the way the mana usually pounds in her head and makes the corner of her vision swim with shadows and shapes.]

I've known a couple dragons here... you're the first silver and blue one I've seen, as well as the first I can say that has feathers. [Pause.] But red... again? Were you red before? [She's pretty sure... she's never seen Vex here. ]

Oh really? My housemate is one. [a turnskin, that is] I think the only issue we've realised we need to address once we're regular shaped again is to make access to our home easier when in possession of paws and claws.

Hmm. I've heard one looks almost like an undead dragon, though I don't know that I've encountered that unfortunate soul myself. Otherwise, I know of only 2 others in a more direct fashion. [she curls her tail around her feet, letting the feather flumes at the end rest across her claws] And yes. When the mirror mishaps were occurring in Maiuril. The changes were inconsistent and rapid, and my colouring was a deep red.

[The long muzzle helps make the frown that forms more expressive] If I must be a monster, and must be a dragon, silver is by far preferable.

Individuals are different, but as a whole, the consensus seems to be that turnskins are hit the hardest. Particularly those new to it... or Unbonded. But I am not one, and I only know... oh, a couple of them as Mirrorbound. Neither of which are particularly close to me. [Maria doesn't particularly care for Turnskins, especially the wolves. Then again, where she comes from... maybe that's not a surprise, if Vex ever learns about the horrors of Yharnam.]

There is one that has skeleton-shaped tattoos, if that's what you're talking about. [Eren, Maria knows pretty well. She hums thoughtfully, at the continued explanation, though, and doesn't elaborate on him.] ... I see, so you were caught up in that. [The May mirror mishaps were... something she does remember, albeit at the time, she was still reeling from... a different sort of dream.] It is curious that you were changed again when you came back... [She shakes her head.] I can't say I've known anyone personally who has had that happen to them. Though I'm not sure why it matters the color... do you not like red?

[Maria loves red, but it's a Cainhurst color.]

I see.. [that's an important detail, one to keep in mind] We'll have to talk about it once we're both changed back. I know Sheva is bonded, so that helps her somewhat, though I've not yet met them. She's the only turnskin I know at the moment. That I know of.

Really? How interesting.. I don't know if they're the one the fae-mirrorbound I spoke to was referring to, but I'll have to keep my eyes open for that. If the tattoos carry over onto his dragon form, that must be quite the sight. [then, a nod] I mostly have full recollection of it, though I really shouldn't have been surprised that the Coven still aren't entirely sure what caused it. Or, if they are, aren't prepared to share the details.

Red is a lovely colour. [her tail twitches up, then thumps the floor lightly, a steady beat of feathers with each flick] Red dragons, not so much. Where I'm from, reds are incredibly cunning and cruel. They have little regard for life, or the needs of anyone but themselves. Silver dragons are their natural rivals, and enemies.

[ And so am I, goes unspoken. ]

[then, in a far less somber tone:] I think I'd look better in gold, mind you. But silver is nice enough in colour. The blue feathers, I can't explain though.

Edited 2020-09-14 21:02 (UTC)

Bonds seem to make all the difference with regards to... just about everything about our position here. [Would that Maria hadn't recently lost her own. She's not going to talk too much about that, though.]

Though, as for the dragon... yes. I believe they do carry into his dragon form, so if you need to find him, he stands out quite well. They're heat spells, for the most part, if you're curious. [She's had to recharge a couple of them for him.] I can't say much about the dreams, however. I don't know that anyone knows much about them; what causes them, when they come on, all those sorts of things. The Coven is as lost as we are about a lot of our circumstances. [Sort of a fact of life that Maria has come to accept. She's never heard of dragons being... different based on color, though.]

Hm. Yet, you were a red dragon and seemed fine, I assume? The dragons here don't really seem to be influenced by things like coloration. They're just all separately elementally aligned... and otherwise just whomever they were before they became... scaled. I understand how the association may be a bit... unpleasant though. It's- [Why she doesn't trust Monsters in general, and especially not certain ones like merrow and wolf turnskins.] --... An adjustment to get used to. Though perhaps not more than you having to have feathers. And a tail. I think I'm fortunate I just bleed fire. [Was that a joke? Maaaybe.]

[Hiccup spends his time at the forge more often than not, leaving the running of the Phoenix Tear to a handful of Dorchacht refugees who had wanted to continue Newt's work. It's hard to spend much time there, in a place that had been wholly his Bonded's, without said Bonded, so the forge it is.

With the weather cooling off, he's out here even more, more at home the colder it gets than he's ever been during an Aefenglom summer. He's heading outside to cool off, shedding his leather apron, soot-stained and rolling up his sleeves to catch a breeze. He happens to glance up and catches sight of another dragon - a Dragon, no doubt, since it isn't one of his.]

Morning. [He says with a cheery enough smile. Less cheery is Sharpshot, who flutters onto the roof and squawks at Vex. It'd be more intimidating if he wasn't the size of a small dog and too well-trained to be harmful.]

[ Flying is still a trial, but walking, running and jumping? Those she's been getting the hang of quite quickly. And with a bit of work, she's managed to climb her way to the roof while Trinket and Percy watched on. (There may have been jokes at her expense, but given they were the only two to see the earliest attempts, she allowed it.)

She's sprawled across one of the planes of the roof, tail flicking occasionally and wings relaxed at her sides when a flapping whirlwind of sass comes to yell at her. A gold eye opens, watching Sharpshot, before she lifts her head, feathers fanning out wide.

Then she looks down, mouth curving her long muzzle into a smile for Hiccup. ]

Good morning. [her voice is a little deeper, if accompanied by a faint trill. Coherent, too - feralness hasn't plagued this change, thank the Everlight.] You're here early today, Hiccup.

[Sharpshot hops up and down on all four feet like a yapping dog, squawking again and flaring his wings out like that will make him more intimidating. It does not. Toothless comes around the corner and blinks slowly at the proceedings, then continues into the forge, unbothered.

He laughs a little sheepishly at that, rubbing the back of his head with one hand. It gets soot in his hair. He's always a bit of a mess, though. Vikings.]

Ah, I'm here all the time. I can't tell if it's early or late anymore. [He spends more time at the forge than he does his own home; well, this used to be his home before he gave the house across the yard to Percy, when he moved in with Newt. It's still home out here in a lot of ways.] You're, uh. How is it being a dragon? [Is that rude to ask? He never knows how to ask how people are getting along with their changes in Aefenglom.]

[ The smaller dragon is certainly doing his best to assert dominance. It...really isn't very impressive, and Vex certainly notices how little attention Toothless gives it. Still, she does extend a wing out towards him, the wing claw moving to lightly stroke across his head and down his back. Or get bitten, depending.

She's fairly certain she can handle that. Probably. ]

I hope that's not Percival's bad habits rubbing off on you. [her tone is dry, but very fond] He's never been very good at taking breaks and minding meal times back home unless someone reminds him. Am I going to have to remind you, too?

[how is it? Honestly, that's a very good question, and she doesn't seem offended. She sits up a bit, letting him see more of the mix of scale, hide and--fine fur? furry down? that runs along her throat.] It's...odd. Getting used to the body becomes more natural to me the more I keep moving, but coordinating 6 limbs and a tail is a challenge.

[Sharpshot jolts, squawking loudly as if to protest his dominance display being thwarted, but he's really a tame little guy. All bark and no bite most of the time. He squints and seems to consider, and then scuttles to try and hide beneath one of her wings.

Hiccup snorts and shakes his head.] Oh, no, Percy had nothing to do with- with all of this. [And then he gestures to all of himself, the sooty work clothes and stained apron, the muss and the sweat.] I've been working in a forge since I was young- [As if 22 isn't young.] -and I've always- uh, had a tendency to get wrapped up. We just happened to have that in common. [He wisely says nothing about how Newt did used to remind him to take breaks and meals at times.]

Ahh, I can imagine, that's- That has to really throw you. It was enough to take into account when I was learning to fly with Toothless, learning how he moves- but if it were actually me, I don't know if I would have gotten the hang of it very well.

[ There's a pleased look as Sharpshot's displays give way to trying to shelter under her wing, and she carefully adjusts how it rests against both her and the roof. Just room enough for him to fit snugly against wing membrane and feathers, if he so chooses. ]

Oh. So you just enable each other's bad habits. [he can't likely see her wink from up here, but she does extend her neck down off the side so she can get a better look at him.] Tinkerers do so seem to get wrapped up in work once the inspiration seizes them, I shouldn't be surprised that happens for other craftsmen too.

It does. A bit. I haven't quite worked up to flying yet. [it's not even falling with style: it's a straight up plummet.]

Well, you know! Like minds and everything. [Hiccup laughs, watching the scene on the roof, how Sharpshot burrows in to hide, making a crooning noise now. Apparently he'll accept not being Top Dragon. (He has to, he's never been top dragon, on Berk that title went to Toothless.)] We've done a lot of neat things. It's hard not to get wrapped up, I guess.

[His smile as he tilts his face up is earnest.] You might need to build your wing muscles up first. You could come flying with me and Toothless sometime, see how he does it. Nobody's more agile in the air than he is!

[ Vex may yet claim that top spot. Or, perhaps not. She doesn't seem to mind at all that Sharpshot is burrowing against her, the action earning a chuckle, before attention rests back on Hiccup. ]

I do. I think it's been good for him, to have others who share a similar creative bend. [there's a brief pause, before she tips her head to one side.] What sort of neat things have you made together?

I knoooow. [she sighs] That's going to involve a lot of flapping and looking ridiculous, but it'll have to be done, I suppose. [then she brightens] But I would be delighted to fly with you both, once I know how.

[ It's a shame she's not quite big enough to carry Percy along with them, but then dragons do have greater strength than humans.. Maybe someday? ]

A lot of the time we have our own projects and consult with each other sometimes, but- Have you seen the ballista on top of the Bright Wall? We used that to shoot down Shades during a blizzard in December! We built one for the Northern Outpost too. [He sounds childishly proud of the ballistas that he and Percy built and honestly he kind of is. It was something he did with someone who is important to him.

But he laughs, his smile sympathetic.] Well, there aren't a lot of witnesses out here. Or out at the lake, that's empty most days. But- the offer extends to you in your uh, normal form too, if you want to just observe and get a feeling for being in the air. It'd give me a chance to test my flight suit enchantments also.

I have seen it. Percy told me about the one at the outpost, the first time I was here. I hadn't realised you'd made two of them together! [her tail swishes back and forth eagerly across the roof tiles] He was especially proud of the finished work. You should be too!

That's true. There's a particularly long field with only a few trees that I might use as well. And a lake...well, I suppose I'll get wet feathers eventually, it might as well be under my own terms.

[there's a gentle nudge for Sharpshot; a warning, before she rises to her feet and minces along the edge of the roof, before jumping down. Her wings snap open instinctively, but its a flapping mess of a plummeting novice. At least she lands on all four feet and not face first. ]

I would love that. [she means that most sincerely] Did Percy every tell you about my b---suit? A flying suit? [her face feathers fan wide] It lets you fly without wings?

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[Open] Fledgling Form Times

[CLOSED] @ Maria

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