_____
M-21’s nose twitched, smelling something as Frankenstein’s den lit up, glowing purple. They leaned more on Frankenstein’s tail, watching the human’s shadow wave its arms.
“Ahaha, okay, that’s enough! That’s enough!”
M-21 cringed back at the loud voice but they huffed at Frankenstein’s warm reassuring mental touch.
[The human isn’t part of the organisation that hurt you.]
? There were more humans than that?
“Damn, did I say a minute or two? That was a second.”
[A particular scent clings to those humans and this one doesn’t have it.]
M-21 wasn’t sure what Frankenstein meant by that and sent confusion.
“Of course. Dragon fire burns far brighter than regular fire.”
[Not all humans are as greedy and have such disregard for life as the ones you’ve encountered before.]
[But all of them were like that.] Especially the ones that wore white.
A soft growl. [Like attracts like, unfortunately.]
“These do taste better! Wanna try one?”
“They do?” Frankenstein’s wings rustled. “Are you certain, or do you only think so because it’s good after climbing the mountain?”
There was a pause. "Weeell, when you put it that way… But I won’t be able to grab any dry wood in that weather. Not unless you like, hoard wood or books.”
M-21 blinked, glancing further into Frankenstein’s den. Frankenstein did collect books. A lot of them. There were so many, if they were knocked over, M-21 would be buried under them all.
“Are you suggesting you would burn my hoard in front of me?”
There was a very long pause and M-21 strained to listen to this different human, Frankenstein’s amusement thrumming through their connection.
“That...was the worst thing to say to you, huh…?” The human’s voice was higher again, like when Frankenstein had first landed on them.
“For a large number of dragons, you would have been devoured already for suggesting such a thing, yes.”
M-21 cocked their head at Frankenstein. Dragons did that?
“Haha… Um.” A shaky breath. “Shit.” That was barely heard over the rain.
“However,” Frankenstein said, “I find human flesh to be rather tasteless, so you are safe from me.”
M-21 blinked, Frankenstein’s amusement growing. [You don’t eat.] Frankenstein brought them food but never joined in the meal.
As M-21 puzzled that over, the human laughed. It was weak at first, but it grew louder until it became breathless.
“Hokay, that’s good to know! I can’t do a comparison now, but we can still roast marshmallows if ya want.”
The next time the den lit up purple, the human said, “Here ya - ah, all of them? Sure!”
M-21 lifted their head, feeling Frankenstein move and sniffed at the small white things clasped between his jaws. They took the stick from him, which was thin and smooth, Frankenstein showing them how the human had eaten it. …The human did dress differently from what M-21 was used to.
M-21 nibbled one of the marshmallows as Frankenstein exhaled over their head. It was crisp - the marshmallow dissolved once they got through the thin outer shell and it was the sweetest thing M-21 had ever tasted.
They opened the closed their jaw over and over again, getting used to the taste and consistency.
M-21 devoured the rest, their throat chirping as Frankenstein chuckled.
Once M-21 was done, Frankenstein retrieved the stick and turned around again.
“Thanks! Do ya want more?”
Frankenstein sent a query at M-21 and they nodded, their throat still chirping.
“All riiight! More roasted marshmallows, coming right up!”
They…could like this human. Especially if they continued to bring marshmallows.
