dragon au catch-all for nophicascounsel

[personalinterest]

Continued from this thread, just spinning it out into an entire AU now!

Some notes to keep in mind:

• Aymeric drank Vidofnir's blood and is now a member of Hraesvelgr's brood. He spends his time primarily within the confines of Zenith and Asah, though he makes forays to Anyx Trine to visit the dragon colony there. While still considered something of a broodling by his 'sire,' he has every intention of becoming a dedicated guardian of Zenith, just like Vidofnir and Vedrfolnir.
• Has renovated one of the dwellings within Asah for his personal use, which also serves as a secondary residence for Ariane, as well. Is somewhat involved with the local moogles working to restore Zenith to its former glory.
• Due to the nature of the covenant forged between him and Vidofnir, he is incapable of reverting fully to human form (for now). His current form resembles that of a bipedal, gargoyle-esque creature, or perhaps a more draconic version of an Au Ra male. (Art forthcoming.) His entire body is covered in indigo scales, save for his face and ears, and a heart-shaped patch on his chest. Thickness of scales varies depending on placement, but more heavily armored scales are located on back, shoulders, arms, and legs. Smaller, softer scales are in more flexible areas, including his belly. Claws and horns are black, along with his dorsal spines. He is capable of flight but limited to carrying smaller burdens, maximum weight allowance of one (1) adult Elezen.
• He recently gained the ability to shift fully into dragon form, thus increasing his combat capabilities exponentially. Despite the coloration of his scales, he is not ice-aspected. He can breath fire and also has some limited control over Holy spells, similar to other white dragons.
• Is currently in a polyamorous relationship with Ariane and Estinien.
• Is capable of laying eggs and has fathered two broods with Estinien and one with Ariane (technically no genetic material was exchanged, but it counts!).
• Can reproduce asexually like any other dragon through methods similar to real world lizards, most likely parthenogenesis or self-cloning. The process often requires sexual stimulation in order to induce ovulation, though many of the greater wyrms can do so without a partner. Aymeric isn't old enough to do the latter yet.
• More to add as I think of things!

Comments

[nophicascounsel]

"And you're going to be a father." His laughter is contagious, not least because she feels slightly silly when she puts it that way— if he wasn't a father before, then what are the hatchlings? But no, she knows exactly what he means, intimately as she knows the jumble of emotions she hears in his voice.

"Oh, Aymeric..." She can feel her eyes grow hot with the threat of tears and turns, hiding her face in his chest. There's too much raw emotion inside of her right now; it has to get out somehow, but she would hate for him to think she's upset when that couldn't be further from the case.

"'re a dragon," she mumbles against his skin. "Thought it wasn't possible..."

That's why she hadn't had the charm on her ring renewed when it wore off; if anyone had needed contraception at the time it was Aymeric, anyway, as he swelled with eggs time after time. Enough time passed to seemingly prove her right, and with the dragonets and everything else to keep her occupied it had slipped her mind up until she realized she'd missed her cycle.

[personalinterest]

As Ariane buries her face against his chest, Aymeric clings desperately to her, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. His wings lower to fold about her shoulders, as though to shield her from some unknowable threat looming upon the horizon.

This should be a joyous occasion, and yet Aymeric cannot suppress the thread of worry worming through his thoughts. It was an unprecedented situation, after all. As far as he was aware, there had never been any offspring produced between humans and dragons, though that could simply be because there had never been a union between a human and dragon before!

(He still doesn't know whether Hraesvelgr and Shiva ever coupled, and the great wyrm has never once given him a straight answer.)

"I know," he says, endeavoring to keep the tremor of fear from his voice. "I didn't... think it was possible, either. There are no records of humans and dragons producing offspring..."

But Aymeric wasn't a "true" dragon, was he? He was a man, once, and a trace of human blood still flows through his veins, as it flows through the veins of all his broodlings. Would his human half breed true? Or was Ariane carrying some half-formed abomination that would not survive to term?

It was the latter thought which frightened him most of all: that whatever was growing within Ariane would prove too powerful, too unwieldy for her frail human body to contain, and thus neither would survive the ordeal.

But he can't voice those thoughts just yet, not when Ariane is still reeling from the news. He could very well be over-thinking the situation, as is his wont.

Even so, the thought of losing Ariane due to his own selfish choices is one that doesn't bear consideration. Drawing an unsteady breath, he forces those thoughts to the back of his mind, endeavoring to stay present with Ariane in this joyous moment.

"But you know, there's a first time for everything, isn't there?"

[nophicascounsel]

He doesn't have to voice his fears. Knowing him for the worrier he is, Ariane sees the little signs. It's the shaky breath, the catch in his voice that squeezes her heart in an unseen fist. The way he holds her, like he expects she'll be blown away if he lets go, his wings draped about her as a shield.

She can't even say he's wrong to worry about her. Pregnancy is a risky endeavor under normal circumstances, and she has fears and doubts of her own. It's not her own survival she questions as much as whether the baby is destined to make it to term. Is she getting her hopes up now only to be carrying some sad, misshapen creature that won't survive the light of the outside world? Would the fates possibly toy with her and Aymeric so?

No, no, no. She inhales deeply, letting the warm dragonfire-and-incense scent of him steady her nerves. Vidofnir hadn't seemed alarmed, had she? Lightly amused, if anything. Whatever her alien senses showed her, it must not have been amiss. They can do this. They will do this, and at the coming of spring they'll greet a perfect, healthy, beautiful girl or boy. It should be impossible, but when has impossible ever stopped them?

Ariane lifts her head, and though her cheeks are a little damp her smile has scarcely dimmed. "Ever the trailblazers, you and I. So... how long did you say you knew?"

She won't hold his silence against him. She assumes that, like herself, he was reluctant to speak before being absolutely certain. Wholly understandable.

"I confess I underestimated you, my darling." She chuckles, her eyes bashfully downcast. "I went to Vidofnir because she's, well, she's older, she's more experienced... I thought a dragon could tell, and yet it didn't even occur to me to ask you! But that does explain why it seemed as though you had something on your mind lately."

[personalinterest]

She lifts her head, smiling through her tears, and Aymeric brushes one knuckle against her cheek to halt their flow. His expression softens, mirroring the smile Ariane wears for his sake. She's trying so hard to be brave, and here he is worrying over a future that might not come to pass!

He needs to be strong for her, and for their child yet unborn. Ariane has always supported him—as both the Warrior of Light and as his lover. And he intends to support her during what may be the most important ordeal of her life.

His lips part as though he meant to answer her question, but words aren't forthcoming. A look of guilt flits across his features, but eventually he says, "Nearly a moon has passes since I first noticed a change in your aether. Or, rather, the spark of aether growing inside you, similar yet distinct from your own."

He draws her close, resting his chin atop her head. It's difficult for him to look her in the eye now that his subterfuge has been revealed. At least, this way, she can take some comfort in his closeness.

"Insightful as ever," he murmurs against her hair. "I should have known better than to think that I could hide my worries from you forever. Truth be told, I should have said something sooner, and for that I apologize."

He draws back, just enough to that he can look Ariane in the eye once more. "You spoke with Vidofnir? Did she... offer any counsel on the matter?"

The anxiety gripping his heart begins to subside. If Ariane had already spoken to the great wyrm, then surely most of her fears have already been laid to rest!

[nophicascounsel]

This smile is genuine to every ilm, ser! She only hopes it conveys that the tears he brushes away have their origin in joy, not sorrow. As he does, she leans into his hand, almost like a cat (or a Miqo'te) seeking to be pet.

Her eyes widen when he says nearly a moon. She hadn't even suspected it for half that time! Perhaps she ought hold his silence against him after all, just a little— but almost sooner than she can think that, he apologizes, and she simply doesn't have it in her to be cross with him.

(Though Estinien had better not have known and been sitting on it too. Honestly, these men!)

"Not much, but I can hardly fault her for not answering questions I didn't ask," Ariane admits with a somewhat sheepish expression. "I was— rather overset by the news, even though I expected to hear it. I simply didn't know where to begin!"

She gives his hand resting on her belly a gentle pat. "I daresay you know the feeling." That storm of emotions, the everything, all at once she had confessed to Vidofnir.

"But if it makes you feel any better," (it certainly makes her feel better!) "she didn't seem to be concerned. She didn't say it in as many words, but I believe she's happy for us."

She snuggles into his chest with a yawn, her eyes drifting shut. Contented. Hope he wasn't planning to get up anytime soon. "Perhaps we might stop at Anyx Trine first on our way to the city, and barrage her with questions until she shows us out."

[personalinterest]

He huffs a laugh as Ariane leans against him. "A sound plan, yes. I, too, have a few questions of my own, questions which only a dragon as old and wise as Vidofnir might answer."

Already, a plan was forming in his mind. So long as he had an objective to work toward, he could focus his energies toward more productive efforts rather than wallowing uselessly in anxious fretting.

However, it did bring to mind another issue, one he had long since kept buried deep within the darkest recesses of his heart—to petition Vidofnir for a draught of her blood to offer to Ariane. Perhaps, in partaking of dragon blood, her body might be strengthened against the strain of bearing a possible dragon spawn.

But such an endeavor still carries its own host of risks, namely, an insatiable craving for dragon's blood that could drive one to madness. Furthermore, depending on the strength of Ratatoskyr's essence flowing within her veins, Ariane might very well find herself irrevocably altered, much like Aymeric himself.

He would be lying to himself if he didn't admit that a part of him yearned for Ariane to be joined to him thus—to share his long lifespan as a fellow dragon, as his true consort. To see her clad beautifully in scales of purest white, to see her shed the fragility of a soft, human body...

Closing his eyes, he carefully puts that selfish thought away as he leans his chin comfortably against Ariane's head. No, best not to give voice to it, especially now. The choice must lay with Ariane, and if she has yet to broach the topic, well... then surely her heart has not considered it a choice at all.

"Tomorrow, then? That is, if you're feeling well enough for it. I daresay we should also call upon Estinien to give him the good news." He smiles against her hair. "Though, I suspect he may already be apprised of your condition."

And why wouldn't he, given the strength of his connection to Nidhogg? Surely, Estinien had to have known for as long as Aymeric himself!