Inside an Otoge: Mister Dragon, Let Me Love You - Chapter 6
Pairing: Dragon!Sylus x Non-MC!Reader
a/n: I know, I know—it's been 800 years and the jellyfish are walking naked—but before you throw rocks at me, I have a very good reason for not updating in so long; two words: Invincible hole. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
edit: I'm also sorry if I haven't replied to your comments/replies in the previous chapters, it's hard navigating Tumblr replies 🤧
CHAPTER 5 | Series Masterlist
<<read the synopsis and trigger warnings first>>
You don’t think you were an envious person. You aren’t completely immune to feelings of inadequacy, but you didn’t spend a lot of time comparing yourself to others. Except for special cases.
“You’re being awfully quiet,” Sylus says.
He brought you to a tavern, in a different city this time, brighter and looking more like a Disney theme park than medieval Gotham. Despite his mild grumpiness when the sun is out, Sylus is quite fond of walking around outside, provided that it was the afternoon or near the evening. Before you arrived, he’d been alone, stuck in that sad cave in the Abyss for over a thousand years. Neither of you understood how you managed to free him, but all that matters to Sylus now is that he can stretch his wings whenever he wants—and that he can drag you along. For this trip, you wore a period-appropriate outfit he bought for you, but he didn’t bother putting on anything, saying that his illusion magic would be enough.
When you don’t reply, he calls out your name again.
“What?” You turn away from the slice of cake in front of you.
He raises an eyebrow. “It has been fifteen minutes since you last spoke, and you’re not eating like it’s your last meal today.”
He’s teasing you but you only grin as you pick up your fork. “I was thinking.”
“I gathered as much.”
“Sylus.”
He hums, pouring himself another cup of tea.
“Tell me, what do you think of a person who gets jealous of someone who is not real?”
“What nonsense are you spouting now?”
“You see, even from a young age I liked to read books, some were fairytales and love stories, others were meant to scare me or take me into a journey beyond the stars. At some point, I developed… affection for certain characters.”
“Affection? Are you speaking of romantic love?”
You smile. “Something like that—rather than outright love love, I think it’d be fairer to call it infatuation. It’s silly. I became obsessed with these figures of imagination to the point that I would get angry when they fell in love with other characters.”
You expect him to say something mocking, but instead, he drops a sugar cube into his cup and says, “I don’t think it’s silly.”
“That’s surprising. Most people would call me crazy, after all, what’s more insane than loving something that doesn’t exist?”
“I’m not most people. Desire is simple, humans make it more complicated than it needs to be. It’s far more foolish to lie to ourselves about what we feel.” He shrugs.
“You’re right, it is simple,” you laugh wryly and poke the strawberry on top of your cake.
He watches you. He then sets down his cup and looks at the street. “Fictional people aside, have you experienced true love?”
“No.”
“Huh.”
“Shocked?”
“Yes.” He meets your gaze. “You struck me as a hopeless romantic.”
You laugh for real this time. “It’s precisely because I am a hopeless romantic that I have never experienced that kind of love.”
“I don’t follow.”
“I told you, I like to read. Love that transcends time and space is a common theme for a lot of books.” You stab the cake. You spent most of your life admiring the stars so now, no earthly gem can ever compare. “One would have a higher chance of meeting a mythological creature than finding true love.”
He chuckles.
“What’s so funny?”
“Well, from what you’ve told me about your reality, don’t I qualify as a mythological creature?”
The cake crumbles and you push the pieces apart. “That’s true.”
Ruby eyes fall over to your sulking form.
Sylus clears his throat and looks at the stores. “It’s truly fascinating how much this place has changed since I last remembered.”
Your ears perk up. Since you’ve met him, Sylus has barely shared anything about his childhood or his life a thousand years ago.
“What was it like?” You ask.
A little girl passes by the street with what looks to be her grandfather; her twintails bob with each step she takes. Her head turns and she sees Sylus. Without missing a beat, she offers a toothy grin and waves her arm in greeting.
Sylus weakly raises his hand, the faintest smile evident on his lips.
Satisfied, the girl continues dragging her grandfather around the town.
“It was a little village, barely big enough to house more than maybe 300 people. There used to be a town square where this very tavern stands.” There’s a far off look in his eyes, mind somewhere you cannot see.
Heart aching, you say playfully: “I bet you were a cute kid.”
He snorts. “I was small.”
“I have a hard time picturing that.” The Sylus you came to know is a big guy, not just physically, his presence has a way of enveloping you. When he’s in a room with you, you can’t help but look at him.
“I was a tiny thing,” he continues, “it was ridiculous, really, even the human children were taller than me. My horns and tail and wings used to be much bigger than my body. They feared me, but because I was smaller they still had the guts to throw rocks.”
You hum, watching him reminisce.
After a while, he exhales and looks at you. “Anyway, is there anything you’d like to do today?”
“I’m going for a job search.”
“...what?”
“You’re already letting me live with you for free, not to mention paying for my meals, I figured it’s about time I earn my own money.” You sip on your tea.
“You don’t have to do that.”
You hated your job back on Earth, and you fantasized about living a carefree life without having to worry about rent or food. But you soon discovered that life as a homebody is no fun and games either. As much as you enjoy annoying—ahem, admiring and praising Sylus, staying alone with him for too long is making you feel things. Things that have no place in your heart.
“You can’t—you don’t have to work,” he insists. “I have more gold than I know what to do with, you can use them all you want.”
“As tempting as the offer is—” who doesn’t want to be a handsome dragon’s sugar baby? “—I’ll have to decline for, let’s say, ethical purposes.”
“But—”
“Sylus,” you cut him off, the soft clinking of your teacup on its saucer sounds sharp, like a warning bell. “I’m doing this.”
He is about to protest, but then he catches sight of the bruising on your wrist, so he purses his lips and folds back on his chair. “I’m sorry.”
The Sylus in-game is the epitome of a perfect man: confident, secure, respectful and devoted. But the Sylus sitting in front of you is basically Rapunzel. Over a thousand years spent alone in his tower with no human contact may not have broken his mind, but the gaps in his emotional development are evident. He’s growing too attached. You knew of the consequences of staying with him and you selfishly let it happen. You don’t know how destiny works, but you know that somewhere in the future, there is a world where Sylus can be happy, truly happy with the woman he loves. And you love him too much to rip that away from him, so you will do the right thing and leave before either of you can make a mistake.
***
Sylus doesn’t understand.
Humans work to make money, so they can buy things. From what you told him, you always worried about money, that’s why, even though you loathed your job, you did not stop until you died.
But his cave is full of treasures already. He has enough money to last him for eternity, enough to last the both of you for as long as you live.
He hates that he does not understand. He hates that small trinket shop that hired you, and he hates that human boy—no, the young man who looks at you like… like you just told him really good news and now he can’t stop smiling.
It’s infuriating.
He would never admit this to you, but sometimes—not all the time—he wishes you were a bird. You would be a very adorable bird, he thinks. A loud and cute thing. If you were a bird, he would build you the biggest, most intricate, most beautiful golden cage. Only the best bird seeds and fruits would be given to you. You would never want for anything.
If you were a bird, you could stay with him.
If you were a bird, you wouldn't have to leave ever again.
***
“Everything’s been running more smoothly since you came along,” says Orson as he carries the newest delivery of antiques inside the store. He’s the grandson of the owner and an incredibly polite eighteen-year-old.
“Well, I’m glad you find me satisfactory.” This place isn’t so bad. Compared to your old nine to five, this is easy money. The people are also nice enough. No one calls you an idiot every second and the only other employee, Orson, knows how to pull his weight.
“You don’t give yourself enough credit. We used to lose a lot of the smaller stuff, but your—what do you call it, inventory? Your inventory makes it easier to keep track of everything.”
You laugh and help him unload the crates. You fish out the usual knicknacks that are sent to this store: silverware, secondhand books, old toys, a kettle—no.
You rub your whole face.
Orson peers over from his crate and teases, “Dust in your eye again?”
You ignore him and look back at the contents of the box. This can’t be.
He calls your name as you reach inside and carefully pull out a lamp, its gold sheen nowhere to be found under layers of dust and dirt. Wrapped around it is a small, black and red dragon.
Sorry if I missed /repeated someone in the tags, Tumblr doesn’t exactly have the best commenting system.
a/n: How’re you guys liking the verb tense change? I know I originally wrote everything in the past tense but since this is set in an otoge I went with the usual present tense used in such games. Or does it feel too awkward?
ALSO PLEASE NO SPOILERS ABOUT THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE MAIN STORY. I have been busy with finals so I still haven't played them.
Inside an Otoge: Mister Dragon, Let Me Love You MASTERLIST
Pairing: Dragon!Sylus x Non-MC!Reader
Synopsis: A depressed, transmigrated fan dedicates their life to worshipping their favorite character.
(Because not everyone can be a badass like MC.)
Do not let the name fool you. This story contains the following trigger warnings: mild depictions of violence, suicide attempts, suicide ideation, detrimental escapism, depression, self-harm, and a Y/N who struggles with mental health.
Your Character Settings: Gender Neutral, Non-MC
Chapter 1: Another Isekai Plot
Chapter 2: Enticing Offers
Chapter 3: Restrained Desires
Chapter 4: This Flower Cannot Bear Fruit
Chapter 5: Irreplaceable
Chapter 6: When Destiny Knocks
Chapter 7: Fingers Crossed
Chapter 8: Coming soon.
[This story is also available on AO3.]
Disclaimer: The image of Sylus used in this post does not belong to me, it is an official image from the game itself.
