video; after the move

[lemontree]

[ Well, this is certainly a change. The sun is a welcome sight, after so long... though, it's unforgiving, scorching. Familiar.

That may be why Dany is dressed differently than normal, addressing the network with a quiet sort of resolve. ]

I have not met many of you, but I hope that you all avoided as much of the suffering from the Null as possible. I know it hasn't been easy, not for anyone.

[ And, judging by the weather, it'll only get more difficult. ]

I am Daenerys. I am Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, and this new land is not unfamiliar to me. I have never been here, but I have spent much of my time in these past few years, before Hadriel, in a similar place. Whether in the lands of the Dothraki or in the unforgiving Red Waste, I have endured, and that is why I want to help.

[ Girl knows her deserts. Dany draws herself up, working toward a presentation with as much credibility as possible. ]

I intend to travel and to explore the area. If there are any others who would join me, then I welcome the company... and, frankly, the protection. Despite my practice, I am not a warrior by any means. [ Ahem. ] Until our party leaves, I am available to aid those who are struggling with the climate. Please, call on me and I will be there.

[ There's a pause, and a tiny smile as she dips her chin. ]

Be well.

Comments

[lemontree]

[ What he shows her takes her breath away. Time slows to a stop as she watches through the tiny, moving picture... sees what is obviously a dragon on the other side.

Her heart lurches painfully as she remembers her own dragons, as she, again, keenly feels their absence. ]

A dragon. [ Dany breathes, awed and stunned. ] ... Can I see him?

[kindrake]

[That inward slight panic that someone might take Ladon away from him one day comes back at her question, so much that Ladon stops fishing and looks over at Jordan questioningly before the dragon comes lumbering over to make sure he's alright.

His answer is once again hesitant.] Alright but... you have to prove you're not going to hurt him first. You just have to let me hold your hand and I'll be able to tell.

[lemontree]

I would never hurt a dragon. [ She's only met the three, of course, and they were hers, but the idea of doing anything harmful to another's is - unthinkable. This will be the second dragon she's met in Hadriel, though the other... was someone who could transform between dragon and human. ]

I will let you test me, if you like. [ beat ] Is he a true dragon?

[kindrake]

[Jordan blinks in mild confusion at the question, looking up at Ladon and reaching up to rub a hand against the side of his face soothingly to reassure the dragon he's okay, just a little nervous.] I... don't know what else he'd be besides a true dragon?

[He decides to be a little trusting and explain more about where Ladon's from.] He's from a parallel Earth to mine. Dragons used to be all over the place there but there was this sickness... It wiped almost all of them out. There's four kinds of dragons - fire, water, earth, and air - and the people who lived on that Earth were able to get one egg of each kind. They brought them to my Earth for safe keeping and, well... Long story short, I kind of found them, and Ladon chose to... soul bond, I guess you would say, with me. He's the only one who's hatched so far and as far as my... friend and teacher [He supposes that's what Chara is now to him.] knows, they're the last of the dragons. She hasn't been able to get back to her world to see if the sickness has been cured yet. So I just... worry about something happening to him. He's really important, to a whole entire planet but to me too.

[lemontree]

There is a person in Hadriel whose kind can change between dragon and human form. [ She explains patiently, even as her heart continues to race. ] That is what I mean.

[ Jordan speaks more about his own dragon, then, and Dany listens attentively. Dragons related to elements, a sickness that wiped them out. A human bonded to a dragon.

It isn't exactly what she knows, but it isn't entirely unfamiliar, either. ]

I understand. [ Dany offers gently. ] I promise that no harm will come to him, or to you.

[kindrake]

... Really? That'd be cool to see. [Sounds like something from Dungeons and Dragons.]

Okay. Did you want to come see him now or later...?

[lemontree]

It is. [ She insists, having seen it once for herself. ]

Now, if you don't mind. This is - important to me. Very important.

[kindrake]

Okay. We're by one of the pools by one of the temples so... [They're not too hard to find, since it's hard to miss a dragon out in the open.] We'll wait here for you. [Being out in the open is good because then Ladon can fly away quick if need be.]

action;

[lemontree]

[ It isn't long before Dany is there, too, having hurried from where she'd previously been. The young queen stops a distance away, folding her hands in front of herself and waiting (impatiently) for the boy and his dragon to approve. ]

Do what you must. [ She says, eyes on the dragon alone. ]

[kindrake]

[Jordan waits there, just content to watch Ladon wander around and explore, but when he hears someone approaching, he tenses up a little. It draws Ladon's attention and the dragon begins to lumber over to see who this new person is, feeling a bit on edge because he senses Jordan is uneasy, but Jordan sends the emotional equivalent command of stay, so the dragon lies down some feet away with an unhappy sound, still watching Daenerys closely though.

Jordan sits in his wheelchair, pulling off one of the gloves he's almost always wearing and holding a hand out to her.] Just take my hand for a moment. That's all you need to do. [He'll be able to sense her feelings that way and discern if she wants to get close to Ladon for any reason like greed or the intent to harm or take.]

[lemontree]

[ Her attention is drawn immediately to the dragon, of course, and her heart thuds painfully as she longs for her own children. Dany keeps still, though, so as not to startle, and then turns her attention to Jordan.

The wheelchair does not go unnoticed. ]

You're injured. [ She points out, a touch of sympathy in her tone. Still, she goes on to follow his instructions, extending her own hand for him to take as he pleases.

The ability to sense others' intentions with just a touch would be useful, indeed. ]

[kindrake]

[Jordan doesn't reply at first, just takes her hand and holds it, closing his eyes and letting himself feel. He picks up on excitement and awe but also some longing mixed in with jealousy and sadness. It's not quite what he expected to feel but at least he doesn't sense any sort of greed or malicious intentions, so he lets her hand go and gives a little nod and a wry smile.] Yeah. Permanently. I would have died if not for Ladon here.

[He reaches an arm up to wrap it around the dragon's neck in a loose hug, resting his head against the reptile's for a moment while sending waves of encouragement that this person isn't a threat to them.

With that done, Ladon is very curious about this newcomer, and once Jordan puts his arm back down, the dragon puts his face right up next to Daenerys's and sniffs at her with intrigue.]

[lemontree]

I know the feeling. [ Her own dragons have saved her life more than once.

Jordan seems to approve of her, or so she guesses, by the way the creature approaches. She holds her breath instinctively, letting the dragon do what it will... and eventually raises a hand to gingerly lay on its back, taking action very carefully. ]

He's gorgeous. [ She murmurs, voice full of longing. ]

[kindrake]

[Ladon happily bumps his snout against her hand, not minding being touched at all.

Jordan smiles fondly at the interaction.] He likes being scratched in the spot right between his eyes. [He supplies that information helpfully and then his tone turns curious.] You don't... really seem as shocked as other people might be at seeing a dragon.

[lemontree]

[ Dany is happy to scratch Ladon between his eyes as Jordan indicates, smiling softly. Almost wistfully. ]

I am the Mother of Dragons. I have three of my own, though they are not here with me.

[ To her great regret. The young queen sighs, continuing to pay attention to the only dragon that has been in her presence since her arrival. ]

I wish that they could be.

[kindrake]

Mother of Dragons... Is that just a title or are you some kind of person that can shapeshift between a dragon and a human?

[lemontree]

A title. [ She admits, though she thinks of the dragon she'd met in Hadriel who could shift between the two. ] My family has long since been connected to dragons.

[ Even after they vanished from the world. ]