RP:Nature's Elf and Dragon's Crash?

Alariel the elf, is mind her own business in Kelay only to have scandal show up. What shall happen pray tell?

The RP

Alariel the elf lay sprawled out in the grass, feeling connected with the quiet beauty of the earth that required no words to speak of its beauty at all. Her long dark locks laid in a pile next to her as she laid in the shade of a willow tree, looking up through its leaves at the blue sky. Her eyes refocused again on the branches and saw clearly the pattern on the bark, unadulterated by man. It seemed like a place she could get used to, this place where the plants grew so freely, though she had been elsewhere. But this place was but a small trove to explore around Kelay. She pulled a hand up to her hair and ran her fingers through her long locks. "What a shame the drunken fools from the tavern pass through here, but ah. Who cares...they probably don't even take a moment to rest here before they're off in search for more liquid bravery." she says out loud, as if she were talking to someone, but really only to herself.

Scandal's presence as he moved through Kelay was very much different to the form he had been seen in two days prior. The dragon was an upright, bipedal anthro in his nature over 12 feet tall, his broad scaled shoulders were bare and thick with muscle. Waist down he wore a pair light blue pants, his chest and stomach above were dark red in color, and as he stepped forward his bare four toed dragon like claws carried him six feet forward with every step. Behind him his large tail moved with a rhythm akin to his walk, his snout and draconian facial features ever more so drew from the beastly nature and his wings filled with a dark red membrane set in an ebony black frame. He dominated the road but he didn’t do so without caution, especially to the elf nearby.

Alariel saw a passing shadow in her peripheral vision and barely turned her head to see, more focusing on her thoughts than anything else. A drunken fool took one look at Scandal and ran off shouting madly, and she chalked it up to his stupor. And yet the ground seemed to move a little more than it had been when the road had been occupied. At seeing a large towering figure nearby, she instinctively stood up, ready to draw her sword before fully spotting the black and red dragon. Rather than drawing her weapon she backed up against the willow tree, which would have been a dumb choice had it been anyone but Scandal. But she didn't recognize him and her emerald eyes searched his appearance while her face held a small look of fear. In speaking to him she started with "If this is about the gold..."

Scandal‘s eyes turned skyward as he stopped by the woman. A barely audible “why” was asked into the air via a rich deep voice. Then his fiery red eyes turned towards her, and he turned his body to face her, “Yes, yes the gold, right.” He said reaching behind his wing and dropped a massive sack of gold before her. “Here.” He said and then took a step back.

Alariel’s eyes followed his every movement in fear, from the way he looks up to the sky to the movement of his hands. She looked left and right for the sight of colorful angry merchants, but there were none. There was something familiar about his voice and she furrowed her brow. "I've done nothing to earn that, sir..." she said, eyeing the gold suspiciously while looking back at the human-like dragon. In seeing that he wasn't about to attack her, she dusted her dress off, gathering it over to one hip as she brushed the nature off. "And I certainly don't need pity shown to me. Take what's yours and keep it." Alariel stood upright and smacked her palms together to free the soil before sliding the boots over her slender calves that had been hidden beneath her dress.

Scandal sighed. Reaching a hand up to scratch the spines on the back of his neck. “Fine,” He said picking up the bag, “maybe I’ll just go buy some new slippers.” he said turning to go, but of course half hoping she would catch on.

Alariel draped her dress back over her legs and at the mention of slippers she cocked her head towards the creature. When her hair shifted to the side it exposed a little bit of her tapered ear, and the voice was more recognizable with his comment about slippers. Why did he need slippers anyway? She looked down at his feet which looked much larger...that must be a big pair of slippers. What a sight that was to see. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she slightly blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, it's you." she said with a gentle voice and a slight smile as she placed her hands back at her side.

Scandal turned back, it was difficult to smile in this form. Most smiles could off as the typical hungry or angry dragon, so one had to watch the eyes and not the dark blue maw full of sharp white teeth. “I hoped you’d catch on.” He said taking a seat on the grass so to not look nearly so intimidating. “You seem well, are you?”

You cast her eyes downward for a moment in thought and faintly mused to herself over the memory of when last they saw one another. "I am well." she said as she returned her emerald gaze upon Scandal's own. "Certainly not up to trouble. I just hope that doesn't come to pay me back later...But you, you look so different. You seem to be doing well, at least I'd hope so." The more she spoke, the more her elven accent showed. A few strange men appeared to be out wandering, appraising the sight of Alariel after having been made aware of her presence beside the tall dragon. One nudged the other and whispered into his friend's ear.

Scandal nodded taking note of her Eldridge accent. “I managed to change form, it wasn’t easy but at least I am more recognizable among friends.” He added, “I am well in a sense, dragon.” He offered the smile again, then of course turning his head to see what the those other people were talking about. “Oy, take your gossip elsewhere.” He said waving them off. He turned back to her, “Probably thought I was proposing, or getting ready to eat.” He said with a comical annoyance in his voice.

Alariel let out a high pitched chuckle that suddenly overtook her previous demeanor. The prying eyes and discourse of the men ceased with the possibility of having their world crash down on them due to the threat of a dragon. Alariel feels their eyes upon her and turns her face away to hide it from them. "They've been following me for a while, unceasingly. The only time I've shaken them off is when I head into the forest..." She sighs. "I think I know why. Actually, that's probably why but that's not anything you I need to concern you with. Maybe a tale for another time. Say, how about we get out of here?" she rambles, trying to throw off potential curiosity at her words. "Anywhere is better than here."

Scandal followed her gaze to the men and then listened to her words. “Of course.” He said standing back up, “Do you believe they intend you harm?” He said once they were walking down the road.

Alariel walked beside Scandal, ignoring their unwanted attention and whispers. The men made themselves known simply by being there and it was unsettling. She wondered if her suspicions were correct, but she wasn't about to ask them about it. "Do we ever truly know anyone's intent?" she said, finally looking behind them at their looming figures shrinking as more distance was put between them. "I've heard mention of slavers in the land...and perhaps they've taken a liking to Kelay." Alariel said in a quieter tone, eyeing people they passed by to survey the company they were in. It seemed no one around had any ill intent as they bustled on their way going about their business.

Scandal glanced back at them, then to her. “No we can’t always but slavers here in Lithrydel can be a bit of show men. They certainly like dressing the part.” He said. “Best way to get them to stop is to fake your own death, or simply be to big and scary so they never have the confidence to asail you.” He added. Walking with her and guiding her towards the road to Xalious. “How comfortable are you at flying?”

Alariel :: “True, an added perk of faking your own death is to throw people off. That’s if they believe you. I’ve considered that before, but decided to run away instead. ” Alariel’s words hinted at something more going on. “I don’t think *you* know anything about being big and scary.” she said with a little bit of humor in her tone. “I’ve ridden on a dragon’s back before, but that was...quite a while ago...”

Scandal took the mention of his lack of being big and scary only with a mild feeling of insult. “Hop on the big and scary dragon, or you’ll be riding within the big scary dragon.” He said with calmness than broke into a cheerful laughter, “But seriously though, let me fly you out somewhere where you’ll feel safer.”

Alariel raised an eyebrow at him, not sure whether to laugh or not. It had been a long time indeed since she had been around his kind, though he was by far the only human-like one she had seen. For the first time, Scandal could witness her rolling her eyes. "I'm not very scared of you, Slippers." Alariel said, instinctively offering him a hand to shake, as awkward as it may seem. Usually keeping contact to a bare minimum with most, she doesn't mind at all with him in this moment. "You see, I've been around dragons long before I met you. And if there's one thing I know it is that you should be approached with cautious respect." she nodded her head toward him. "I did think you were quite frightening when I didn't recognize you." Alariel added. "But I don't know that I'm about to climb on the back of a nameless dragon."

Scandal slowly nodded. “Well, I am happy you don’t think me scary, not everyone can say that.” He took her hand which could easily have held picked her up. He found himself kneeling again. Taking her in a hug. What could be said he was a hugger. “Sorry.” He said realizing maybe that was too quick. “I am not nameless. I am Scandal, but I am also called Ashiouz, but that’s not a name I use. It doesn’t fit me.” He offers again to take her. “I can take you to the meadow in Xalious, it’s a lot quieter there, and the Mage’s school is there."

Alariel felt the dragon's embrace which felt strange for the moment, but it was just what she didn't know she needed. So comforting it was, and she didn't know why it hadn't bothered her. There must have been something friendly enough in his demeanor that broke through her guard, which usually was a fault of hers. She ran a hand along the scales covering his arm, remembering her time spent in the past around the more creature-like dragons. She unwittingly found herself embracing him back, barely thinking about what she was doing. Then in a snap she was brought back into reality upon hearing him speak and pulled away. "Well then, Scandal...sounds pleasant there. Perhaps making our way in that direction would be better than standing in Kelay Way all day."

Scandal smiled feeling content in the moment he held her and then, when they withdrew he smiled. "Yes it is, a good place for a dragon to grow full size and lie back. Course I would never grow full size out there, only safe place is the sea." He said. Standing back up he said, "We could walk, if you wish, or i could fly you there your choice."

Alariel :: "Ah, I don't see why we couldn't fly...legs are overrated."

Scandal acknowledged her. "Yes legs can be a pain to use." He smiled at his own joke. But kept mostly silent. Arching his back and placing his hands on the ground his body contorted the pants melting away as the dragon took form his body expanding like a balloon, and then his physique changing becoming similar to the beast dragons, with the long neck and and tail, (like a powerfully built western dragon). As soon as he finished he was almost 70' long and 25' high. His wings opened and closed. His head turned to look at her, his voice deeper but no less rich. "Hop aboard." He said lowering his wing like a gangplank. "Hello everyone this is your pilot speaking, I would ask you to keep your arms, tails and legs inside the sweet spot on the dragon at all times. In the event of a passenger falling from the sweet spot while in flight the dragon is ensured to swallow the person whole, and will let them out as soon as they land, we apologize for any saliva stained clothing this trip." He said with a smirk as he muttered his own commentary.

Alariel stood wide-eyed in the shadow of the towering dragon, looked at him with a smirk, and shook her head. What a big strong beast he was, and she approached him with the same cautious respect she had shown others before, giving him a polite bow of her head before climbing onto her new friend.

Scandal wasn't used to the bowing, it made him a tad uncomfortable, just like all the slaves at his house in Venturil whom he told they were free and could leave, but they knew not what freedom was. If anything it was impossible for them to understand it. When he felt her settle in the sweet spot and area just beneath the area where his neck connected to his chest, and leapt into the air. As he flapped his wings, he forced one of his mana reservoirs to try to steady the air around her so that it was harder to fall. He might travel fast but it was only as it seemed as this was normal. The ground would fall away and soon they would be over the plains and then approaching the mountains. "This your captain speaking, special magic is now in place to allow the passenger to move around the dragon, please be mindful to that falling from this dragon can lead to two possible outcomes, but for your safety we advise you stay safe. for children if and when aboard please do not use the tail as a slide,."

Alariel :: It had indeed been a while since she had ridden the back of such a great creature, but the last time she had it wasn’t on her own. It had been her and another who had sat behind her, ensuring her safety. She hated the slavery that befell their race all too often. She had once protested the poor creature’s freedom, but nothing ever became of it. But she could see how free that dragon could have been as she witnessed how freely he flied. The air whipped around her, sending her hair around wildly as he took off. The breeze was cool and slightly chilled her but she didn’t let go of her grasp. She remembered his warning and did not desire to figure out what it was like to be swallowed by a dragon, and gulped at the thought. The height they gained made her grasp on tighter, and she leaned into him to not be the wind’s play toy to toss around.

Scandal turned a bit to the side causing his left wing to plummet and it his right wing to rise. As he turned towards a large green meadow nestled in the mountains. "Attention passengers, we are now coming in for a..." *Bonk* Scandal was surprised as the duck flew straight into his face. "Now where in the world did..." *Bonk bonk bonk bonk* Four more them hit scandal in the face and he realized that he had flown into their flight path. "As much as I am a fan of roast duck, this hardly the time for a fly by meal." The ground was coming up rather quickly. "Passenger, the dragon has decided that he will be coming to a landing on his back please make your way on the to the dragon's stomach as this is the safest place at the moment." As he turned over so she could move to his front. When he hit the earth his stomach would act as a cushion, and his body would slide across the meadow leaving a large trough from his impact. In almost six second he slid to a stop. "Ow, not my best of landings."

You became worried when she saw the birds approach, and instinctively threw an arm into the air to bat it away. It had connected with her shoulder and made her loosened her grip on Scandal. She had heard Scandal's warning but the wind picked up too soon before she found herself loosely dangling from him before hitting him with her legs which had flown out from beneath her. She winced as she dug her fingers into his scales and looked down. The earth was so very far away from the great height he had climbed. "I c-can't...get...over...th...ere." she said through her clenched teeth. She lost her grip and her hair whipping around wildly had gotten into her face. Taking a chance, she lunged herself in the general direction of his stomach and let out a fearful shriek. She thought for sure that she would hit the earth, but she had managed to land on Scandal's stomach just in time before nearing the earth. As they skidded, she braced herself but unfortunately she was thrown from the dragon. She laid on the ground with her limbs splayed out before she rolled over onto her side wincing.

Scandal groaned, "Ow." He turned towards her, moving towards her with his head. "Sorry about that, at least we didn't go splat." He said. "Need a hand?" He said moving his tail to pick her up so long as she didn't break anything. If she didn't he would place her on his belly. "Here I bring you to a meadow, and well I make a new pigs trough. and worse I nearly get you killed, so very sorry."

Alariel felt like the air had been knocked out of her and she gasped for air while clumsily rising to her knees, attempting to stand before falling down. "That." she started as she felt his tail wrap around her. "I never want to go for a ride like that again. That was terrifying." She looked at him seriously for a moment before bursting out into laughter. Hopefully her laughter had assured him she was fine. As he set her down on his stomach she had calmed down, now feeling much safer. Alariel straightened out her hair and tucked the wild strands behind her ear on one side as she looked back at Scandal. His eyes were so huge up close.

Scandal firstly aware that she was determined to never fly again, her laughter made so much more at ease. "Heh, well I'll try hard to avoid them birds next time." He leaned against the hill side. His eyes were huge, but only because he was watching her. His mouth was big too. She might have been able to lay inside of it. But he pressed that thought from his mind. He wasn't hungry or anything, it was simply well, no he was weird. "I can recommend that next time, pants might be better than a dress, not saying that a dress isn't attrac... he chose to cut himself off." Best to stop while he was ahead. His tongue flicked out all cyan blue and long, "At least I didn't bite my tongue this time, otherwise it would be all limp and hanging out of my mouth, like some poor mutt."

Alariel‘s cheeks flushed with a slight pink as she caught his words. She threw her hands over her cheeks before dropping them back at her side. “Look, I wasn’t exactly planning on having such a wild ride otherwise I’d have dressed reasonably.” Alariel scoffed at him before pointing at him. Some words were said, none rude, but they were interrupted by his tongue flicking out from his mouth. She slid herself from his stomach where she felt she had sat too long as it had become awkward. “Ew, put that thing back in your mouth you goof.”

Scandal's eyelids sank. "Right then, giant dragon form becoming beast, off of me then." He said and sucked his tongue back in his mouth. He tried shapeshifting but soon found himself unable. "Oh come on!" He growled and turned over pulled himself out of the trough and curled up. Rambling on about, Stupid dragon instincts and elves unable to take compliments much of which was uttered so lowly under his breath they could not be heard. Finally when he had curled up he put his head down on his tail. He eyed her, if she was still watching. "I am sorry." Then he drew his face into a fine line and closed his eyes. But he didn't sleep yet, and he would crack one open to see if she was still there. He was a frumpy dragon now.

She had never left his side but her eyes turned sad as she approched Scandal. Alariel's hand slid across his tail in an attempt at comforting him. "I am sorry as well. Though perhaps it was me." Alariel said with a soft voice. "I did not mean to make you feel that way. Humor is sometimes...lost on me." She shrugged before dumping herself on the ground, pulling a leg up at an angle to put her elbow on it and then laid her head on her hand. Her fingers rested on her cheek. She knew she was more serious than some, and she felt it was better to quiet herself for the time being. Alariel aimlessly peered up at the stars overhead wondering what the she was going to do about other things on her mind. But perhaps it was better to forget and just go to sleep. She didn't know any more, but she knew that it was better to stay quiet.

Scandal's heart got the better of him, again it would seem. Moving his body just a tad he then placed his tail around Alariel like wall, as if protecting her against the night. The other dragons were right, Scandal was as much as a fluffscale as fluffscales came, all heart and none of it dragon.