[clueless1995]

[abysswenn]

kaveh is rich? the world really must be ending

(i thought it would be fun to dori-fy his outfit)

[covaleka]

[Eng] Won't let him sleep >:[

[Rus] Не даёт поспать >:[

[genshin-impact-updates]

Happy Birthday, Gorou!

Tawara, come here. Go on, have a bite! You did wonderfully this morning, so I thought you deserved a little extra~

Haha, not all at once! One bite at a time... Huh? What is it? Why'd you stop?

Ah, you're here. That explains it. Tawara must have spotted you and forgotten all about his food.

If you have no other plans later, shall we take a walk nearby? Tawara has missed you...

[genshin-impact-updates]

Happy Birthday, Sethos!

Come over here. You can see the entire desert sky from this angle.

Sumpter Beasts walk pretty slowly, so don't go dozing off now. You haven't even seen the best part yet.

Here they come, look! Every time around this hour, you can see flocks of birds gather and soar above the desert. They look so free and graceful, don't they?

If I could turn into a bird and look down on the desert from way up there, I bet I'd discover all sorts of wonderful things!

[jomeimei421]

logical fallacies

[bemoaba]

More HEAVYPAINT explorations featuring the wandering samurai, Kazuha

[yoroiis]

"Kinich, wasn't it?"

The slight jingle of distant windchimes soon turned into actual footsteps, Ria's approach of the hunter's back slow but steady. She'd heard enough from Ral and Mydei to know Kinich was a fearsome man who would defend himself the moment he felt threatened, and as much as the Astral wanted to see him in action, this most certainly wasn't the time. Next time, maybe, but not now.

So the silver haired woman would take her time in getting closer to him, hands smoothing out her skirt against her thighs and tugging out wrinkles that weren't actually there. Hopefully the movement would make her seem rather tame and unwilling to hurt him, but... He was perceptive, too. How long until he could sense the Ruin in her?

"It's a pleasure to meet you. You're a hard man to track down - I am Astaria... Ria. Mydeimos and Phainon's wife."

" ...hm? "

Kinich could only stare at the woman for a split second in disbelief from over a shoulder. How did she manage to sneak up on him like that? He'd made sure to do a thorough search of the area before he'd decided to settle in for a break, even feeling so confident he'd stopped listening for passersby. Maybe it'd been a slip on his part to only do a patrol for resident Saurians in the area and not actual people, but in such a remote location on the outskirts of Scion territory-

What were the chances of running into someone here looking for him specifically? Something didn't sit right with him.

" I wasn't exactly expecting company all the way out here. " Kinich replied in a deadpanned tone. " Did Ral send you here? You're someone who knows her, too, aren't you? "

[strifebeholder]

Choosing to completely ignore Ral's little pest of guest and his ramblings this time, Mydei would focus his attention on his companion instead. She seemed...irritated and on edge. Rightfully so, considering how this pancake lizard seemed to treat her, but Ajaw was really getting under his skin somehow, wasn't she? That much seemed to show in the way Ral gripped at her clothes and tried to ground herself with soothing touches.

She definitely had more self control than he did if something so disrespectful and rude were attempting to talk down on him. Why didn't she just snap on him? Mydei knew that Ral could have one of the fiercest tempers when ignited...so why didn't she just beat some manners into this degenerate herself?

" Would a trip to the hot springs help...? " Mydei eventually answered, breaking his own silence.

Whether Ral wanted to assume he meant for her to ease her stress with or a tactic in 'Ajaw's attitude adjustment', he didn't care -- a trip to a hot bath somewhere could probably do all three of them some good. Phainon and Ria were busy, Ral's mate was obviously caught up in some job of his own, and Ajaw could use a good steam cleaning of that mouth of his that Mydei didn't see a problem with his idea. Especially when-

" We could probably find a nice, hot geyser small enough to use him as a stopper for. One with enough pressure that we can even take turns seeing who can launch the lizard the farthest. "

[transientfrost]

It had taken everything Ral had in her to not snap back at Ajaw's remarks like she so desperately wanted to. Why was it so *terrible* to remain friends with a man she'd not seen in a bed like that for... Shit, how many millions of years had it been now since Somnium's rise and fall? How many worlds had there been between the two? Had she lost count and it'd now been billions? The Guardian wasn't sure, but at the very least, she was in that commenting on Ajaw's argument would only lead to her temper utterly snapping and things slipping free Ajaw wasn't allowed to know.

Yet before she could raise a brow and snark on the dragonlord's choice to call her human this time rather and his usual chimera, the sole point she'd give him since his earlier admittal he'd met another of her kind prior to his sealing, Mydei's mention of launching him into, essentially, low orbit drew a sputter and laugh from her lips. Leave it to her best friend to pinpoint exactly what she needed and turn it into a game! "You're a damn godsend, you know that? And brilliant - that sounds like the perfect way to spend an afternoon."

A nice, hot soak, time spent with a longtime friend, Ajaw flung into the sky repeatedly without a way to stop them... The only thing that would've made it better was if Kinich had joined them, but she'd be more than happy to tell him about it all when she got back to the house later in the day! He had his reasons for avoiding Mydei for the time being and she'd not push them to meet until they were both ready, after all, flashing a broad, bright grin in the blonde's direction.

"That mean you're free enough for me to keep for the day? Phainon and Ria won't need you back anytime soon?" The mention of their names made her heart hurt; how long had it been since she'd last seen them, too? A glance spoke the questions she wanted to speak, yet didn't dare with Ajaw nearby; how were they? Were they well? Happy? Was he? All was well in his home... Right?

With those questions silently presented to him, she'd snap a hand out, reaching for Ajaw's tail to grab. If he wanted to waggle it around like it was some kind of bait, she'd just have to make sure it was too fried from the springs to wiggle about again later! "Lead the way then, Mydei - C'mon, flat fuck. We're gonna go for a soak, and you're going to be on your best behavior You hear that? No insulting. No mentions of what I am. And absolutely no making a mess for Mydei, or I'm going to make sure a geyser is the least of your concerns. You hear me, Ajaw?" Not that she expected him to listen to her, but... Was worth a try, right?

[yoroiis]

" H-Hey!! Unhand me you filthy, disgusting-! "

Yank! Ajaw's complaints seemed to fall on deaf ears this time as his small digital tail was snagged in Ral's palm and the tiny dragonlord was pulled away against his will. He'd snap louder, as if a bigger mouth and a more verbal complaint would force the chimera in the lead to release him!

" You-! Rrgh! If you don't stop yanking me around by the tail like this, then it won't matter how many bogus, out-of-line rules you set! I won't follow any of them! Not a single one!! Do you hear me this time!? "

But no matter how much Ajaw snapped and spit, his tail stayed firmly snug in Ral's hand, leaving the 'defeated' dragonlord to deflate himself in a small, annoyed huff.

" Hmph! "

Just wait until he got a chance to tell Kinich how brutish Ral acts when around her ex-boyfriend! As if them going to the hot springs together wouldn't be gossip enough, them ganging up on him to stuff him in a geyser would just be the cherry on top of the quenepa berry pie!

'Oooh, you morons are going to owe me so much by the time we're done here! But go ahead! Keep thinking you've got the upper hand! We'll see who's laughing by the time my side of things comes out later-'

[intense-suggestion]

They did not expect you to fight. They expected you to cower down, bow before them, accept the fate that they had thought out for you. All the more satisfying, then, to smirk up at them through the blood, saying i'm not done yet. You have no idea of the extent of my defiance.

[procrastination-archive]

[yoroiis]

Not one Ral swooping in to peck a quick, supportive, loving kiss to her mate's cheek before he has to leave for a multi-day job- <3

"Good luck, Kin - I'll be right behind you the whole way. Promise."

" Ral, it's just a few days hunting pesky Saurians. You know I don't really need a send off for something like. We'll be right back after. " Especially when he knew Ral wouldn't let herself get left behind anyway, so the sudden show of support seemed a little...out of place to him.

Still, Kinich wasn't ungrateful for it. In fact, he appreciated Ral being so quick to throw her trust behind him like that and he wouldn't seem put off just because she'd wanted to give him a little extra luck. Even more so when-

" And you know you don't have to go on jobs like this with me, but...thanks. " A pause to weigh his words again. " Just remember to keep up, too. "

[ndgmlkh2]

Grabbed the wrong sponge

[strifebeholder]

" ... "

There was something truly grating about the way this creature spoke. His comments weren't sharp enough to force Mydei to act out of turn yet, but the degradation and mockery in his tone were enough to earn Ajaw a pointed, angry stare from the prince. This abomination of Natlan's history didn't have any reason calling himself a 'lord' if his attitude were this self centered and uncaring. It didn't matter whether his people were dragons, warriors, or maggots-

Ajaw didn't deserve to lead anyone at all -- just like Mydei's opinion of the small lizard had already hit rock bottom.

" If no one's entertaining you, then shouldn't that be your clue to stop talking? Your tricks are founded in falsehood, just like your ego is built on pillars of sand. You wouldn't even be a good match in a training contest, let alone someone trustworthy enough to believe anything that comes out of that selfish mouth of yours. "

Mydei would finish his bunt insult with another fiery glare before he'd shift his attention back to Ral. Ajaw wouldn't try anything under his watch -- Mydei would make sure of that -- but he also didn't see much of a reason to escalate things when this creature were such a lowly existence, that even hyenas and vultures were more noble lives than him. Still, that left the question:

" ...What do you want me to do with him? From what I've heard already, he wouldn't be much fun to drag around. His words are as flat and useless as his body is, so I appreciate that mate of yours for not taking his jabs like the truth. "

" He's got a good head. " Not that Mydei had actually met Ral's mate, Kinich, yet for him to solidify that fact -- but out of the pair, he could already tell that Kinich would be ten times more trustworthy than the dragon company he kept.

[transientfrost]

Despite the comfort of having Mydei and his level head with her, Ral couldn't stop the irritated roll of her eyes that followed Ajaw's argument, or the sigh bordering on a faint growl escaping just a second later. "And I've reminded you multiple times, flat fuck, that having friends is not a crime. You claim my being close to Mydei is a horrible, terrible thing to be weaponized against Kin, yet you fail to remember he is equally as close to Kachina and Mualani. Your argument holds about as much weight as air."

There were few that could get under her skin like Ajaw had, enough so she could count them on a single hand... If that had hadn't been busy kneading fingers into her sleeve, that was, easing out the feelings she held into the gesture in a bid to regain her cool. Somehow, he, just like Lunaria, always managed to know right where to poke and prod at the Chimera until she snapped - But luckily for Ajaw, she had one of two people capable of calming her simply by being there with her, making her next sigh a sound far calmer and tired.

"He does," Ral confirmed after a second, turning her full attention up to her friend, stress and irritation washing away with the relaxing of her shoulders. "I have invited him to join us, but I don't... Think he's ready for that just yet. I don't blame him, either. To know your mate has a relationship with another just as ancient as she, never mind one she formerly shared a bed with and still holds in incredibly high regard..."

Slowly, her arms unfurled, a hand sliding up to rub at the crook of her neck. "...Lunaria gave me permission to tell him everything. As much as I don't want Kinich in danger, it was only fair he learn what we came from, you know?" Her words were careful, enough for Mydei to hopefully understand without Ajaw picking up on the truth of them; the last thing she needed was for Ajaw to find something else to nitpick and prod at, especially on a topic so sensitive, but... This was the first time she'd been able to talk about such things with Mydei all the same, casting a quick glance in Ajaw's direction before she'd continue.

"It's not that he's unwilling to meet you, he... Needs time to adjust to the idea. Unfortunately, even he's getting tired of Ajaw's prodding about the matter. The way he prattles off, you'd think you and I just had a steamy meetup last night while Kin slept in the next room over and I could leave him at any moment. I will never deny I love you, you are my closest friend, but Ajaw..."

On that, her hand slid a little higher, fingertips rubbing at her temples. There weren't enough words in any language, spoken or written, to explain the irritation the dragon sparked in her! "The agreement was to bring him to you for a taste of his own medicine, so whatever you want to do to him? Have at it. He's so desperate to be rid of me, and I'd just like him to be silent. I'm sure Kinich would, too. Anything you can do to help with that, we're both all here for. Pretty sure Ajaw's afraid of you already, anyway... Probably the smartest thing he's ever done, admittedly."

Mydei couldn't hold her lowkey insults and taunts of Ajaw against her... Could he? "If it finally shuts him up even for a day, I'll pay you back in any way you could ever ask of me."

[yoroiis]

" Hmph! " Ajaw would quickly turn his back on the two with a huff of his own, all in his attempt to muffle both of them and their useless nitpicking. " All I'm saying is that it's highly suspicious for a useless human to still be such 'close friends' with a guy they've admitted to being with before and absolutely nothing be happening! He might not say it out loud, but even Kinich still has some doubts about this guy- "

Ajaw would pause to wiggle his little digital tail from behind him, trying his best not to turn around just to see what Ral and her 'friend' thought of his retort.

" Why do you think he's not here, hm? Because even he doesn't trust this homewrecker enough to be friends with him! He's just not aggressive or coldhearted enough to assert his dominance and say that much to his face! "

As much as the dragonlord was trying to prove himself right, Ral would probably be able to see through Ajaw's annoying prattling instantly! On the contrary, Kinich hadn't followed Ral on her meetup today because he trusted her and her judgement. He didn't know Mydei and didn't have any interest in meeting him just yet, but Kinich knew Ral wouldn't string him along or keep up with old flames after everything they'd been through and agreed to.

Kinich respected Ral's privacy and trusted her enough to know she could keep up with past lovers as friends while still being loyal to him in the end. He didn't need to micromanage her and her interactions just like she often gave him more than enough space to meet with his own female friends in private, too.

Trust and respect on that level were obviously concepts that Ajaw himself couldn't seem to grasp! Even if his back staying turned to both Ral and Mydei was a small sign that he knew this was an argument he couldn't hope to win-

He was just too stubborn of a being to admit he'd been cornered.

[strifebeholder]

" ...Hmph. What a miserable existence to be stuck with. " The comment had verbally slipped out, but Mydei had meant every syllable of it.

This 'dragonlord' was all bark and no bite; weak like a defanged hyena still trying to hold onto its last scrapes of carrion with what little pride and dignity it had left. Mydei couldn't understand why anyone would want to be associated with a creature so far removed from its former glory such as this one, but he'd trust Ral had her reasons.

At least her grip on Ajaw's tail seemed to be keeping the small, insignificant lizard in check while it ranted away about not wanting to be there. Truth be told, Mydei almost wished Ral would've left the dragon behind, too. How noisy this thing was-

" If it helps with the situation any, scavenger, whatever lies you're trying to spread are completely unfounded. Ral and I might've been beneficial friends long ago, but there's nothing like that in between us now. Of this, you can take my word for. "

Not that Mydei could sense any kind of threat in Ajaw, but just to set rumors straight with his own voice, he'd still keep his replies level headed for now.

[transientfrost]

'Beneficial friends' - She liked the sound of how he'd put the ancient part of their relationhip, agreement loosening her grip on Ajaw's tail for the tiniest of seconds before she'd tighten it back up again. Even so, it wouldn't be that easy, no doubt! Ajaw would do anything to get her away from Kinich despite their bond being life-long, and Ral had a feeling that would include twisting even Mydei's words, lest they put a full stop to it right then and there.

All the same, nobody said she wasn't allowed to have fun with it, either, the Guardian's 'sweet' smile slowly morphing into a broad, amused grin. The whole point of this meeting was to shut the dragonlord up once and for all, but... Kinich wouldn't mind if she treated Ajaw like he treated everyone else for a little while, did he?

"You hear that? Even he says that's over, and has been. For a long time." Giving Ajaw's tail another swift yank, she'd release it; he couldn't go far without her as far as she was aware, and even if she were wrong on that, all it would take was a yank via Kinich's bracelet once she got back home to drag him back, no doubt. He wouldn't be gone long, if he chose to escape - Though something told her his need to argue and insult would keep him in place all the same. The dragonlord was nothing if not a jerk first and foremost, after all!

Crossing her arms over her chest, Ral turned her focus up to Mydei in full. "I've been nothing but honest with my mate. This one has decided, however, he loathes my existence and the fact I make said mate happy so much, I'm an enemy to destroy, along with our bond. Once I told Kinich about writing you, and told him rather honestly who and what you were... You've become a weapon for this flat, molded pancake in his desperate bid to split Kinich and I, ignoring the bond I have with him is life-long - Just like the friendship you and I have."

She'd stressed that one word: Friendship. Not for Mydei's sake, but for Ajaw's, of course. "And for that, I apologize. But while I offer you the challenge of a living piece of Natalnese history in a... We think he's a genuine dragonlord, I also offer him a taste of his own bullshit, too. If he won't believe me that you and I haven't been anywhere close to a bed in damn knows how long, than I'm going to make him hear it from you. One person can be claimed a liar. Someone like you agreeing with me? Not so much."

"Also, I'm giving you full permission to use him as a punching bag if you like, Mydei. I'm tired of him doing it to me, Kin and I agreed it's only fair he learn. Which is also why I brought him along, so... Have at him if you like. Doesn't that ound like fun, Ajaw? Seeing just what Mydei has in store for you?"

[yoroiis]

" I've told you over and over that I don't care about the reasons! Or what this meatbag has in store for me! Just unhand me, you wretched little -! "

Pop.

Ajaw's tail would finally slip out of Ral's grasp with a comedic snap, giving the tiny dragonlord enough time to skitter a few paces away like a bug on the run. Once there, he'd turn around and face the two annoyances with his beady eyes blinking in irritation from behind his digital sunglasses. He couldn't run far from Ral. As the one with access to the bracelet he was normally 'stored' in, disappearing would just mean being dragged back later-

So instead, Ajaw would sit and stare from enough steps away that he could easily see a move for him if Ral or her muscled sidekick decided to make a break for him.

" Hmph! You say that like Kinich has even believed a word I've said so far. I keep trying to tell him that you two still can't deny that you're close, yet every time I do, he tunes me out like I'm just another yowling Yumkasaur. "

Which wasn't unusual. Kinich didn't tend to listen to Ajaw much unless they were out on a job and he had no choice. If anything, the dragonlord would whine that it was Kinich's abuse of him that made his attitude as bad as it was -- even if that was a lie. Ajaw was rotten to core from beginning to end. Still, he really didn't appreciate the glances he was getting from Ral and her 'friend'.

" ...Don't look at me like that, worm. I know you. Just like I know you've probably asked Kinich how he feels about this one yourself. You might be slow, but even you're not THAT stupid. "

[scalpho]

ei responding to the death of her sister by attempting to create a state of eternity vs kazuha responding to the death of his friend by going on to live a life of impermanence. trying to make loss impossible (so you never get hurt again) vs trying to make loss so natural that you don't get attached to anything (and never get hurt again). staying in the same place forever vs running away forever

[seaphine]

funny how you can lose everything and still be expected to show up like nothing’s missing.