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

[personalinterest]

The melody may be unfamiliar, but he knows the song for a lullaby even before Ariane begins to sing. How different it was from the songs of his youth—hymns to give praise to the Fury, dirges to honor the fallen, ballads extolling the heroic deeds of dragon slayers who died a glorious death. Even the lullaby his mother used to sing to him in the cradle was not free from the influence of war, though the message was a yearning for days long past when their people once knew peace.

Even so, it had brought him comfort in those days, when he would sit at his mother's knee while she sewed for him coats and smocks to protect him from the harsh winter air. His eyes drift closed as Ariane's voice evokes memories of those bygone days, when Aymeric had been so small and innocent—when he knew nothing of the rumors surrounding his birth nor the struggles that would await him later in life.

He could almost imagine his head laying against his mother's lap, her fingers smoothing down his unruly curls as she stroked his hair...

Many moments pass in silence once Ariane finishes her song. Aymeric cracks one eye open, peering down at Ariane while the tip of his tail lashes gently back and forth.

"That was a beautiful song, Ariane. Did your mother teach it to you?"

sneaks this in while my student naps

[nophicascounsel]

"Mm-hmm." Ariane draws back just enough to look him in the eye. "She had a fair few of them, but that was always my favorite."

She chuckles. "Why, I think I used to get up in the night on purpose, just so she would put me back to bed!"

Ariane gives his belly a last fond pat before scooting back to her former position at his eye level. There's a faraway, nostalgic quality to her smile, the one that so often comes over her when she speaks of her late mother. "I wish you could have met her. She would have liked you, I think."

(Really, who wouldn't?)

"It was just us, you know?" Yawning, she snuggles up closer, tucking her head beneath his chin. "We paid so few visits to the city proper, I hardly knew Grandmama and Grandpapa and Uncle until I was out on my own. I always used to want a big family when I grew up..."

She grins. "And you certainly gave me that, didn't you?"

[personalinterest]

He can easily imagine a young Ariane in her little nightgown peering furtively through an open doorway, hoping to slip unawares into her mother's bed. The thought brings a fond smile to his face.

As Ariane pulls herself back to her former position, Aymeric lays one arm across her waist, nudging her close. Her verdant eyes have that faraway look to them, and he knows that she must be reminiscing about her mother. It was rare for her to speak at length about her late mother, so Aymeric was always attentive on those occasions when she chose to reveal that part of her past.

"Your mother must have been an incredibly strong woman to have raised you all on her own." He gazes at Ariane through half-lidded eyes. "And I know that she would be proud of all that you have accomplished, and not merely as the Warrior of Light. All the lives you've touched in small yet myriad ways, the stories you've shared... I think any parent would be proud to see what a kind-hearted and radiant woman you've grown to become."

A shadow of melancholy passes across his face as he thinks of his own parents, both of whom passed away before he attained the rank of Lord Commander of the Temple Knights. They were already quite old when he was given into their care, but they loved him dearly, which made their short time together all the more precious. Though he learned early in his youth that he was an adopted child, there was never any doubt in his mind that he was wanted, and his only regret was that he was unable to truly care for his parents in their old age.

"So, you were an only child, too?" He shifts slightly as Ariane tucks herself closer to him. "I confess there were times when I felt envious of my peers who had siblings, such as the Fortemps family. I told myself that if I ever became a father that I wanted to have many children, so that none would ever experience the loneliness I felt growing up... Of course, I put that dream aside once I became Lord Commander of the Temple Knights, but that was before I met you, my love."

He kisses the crown of her head, smiling against her hair. "I know it's not exactly what either of us had imagined, but I can say with absolutely certainty that I wouldn't trade my current lot for anything. Whether human or dragon, those children are our future, and I intend to see that each and every one of them is loved and cherished, as they should be."

He hopes one day to introduce the broodlings to the children of the New Nest, that they might learn from one another, thereby strengthening the bonds between man and dragon, thus paving the way for friendly relations in the future.

[nophicascounsel]

"I was. My father— though that seems too strong a word, really— left before I was born, as you recall, and as far back as I can remember Mother never got involved with another man. I don't know if she didn't want to risk it again, if she hadn't gotten over him. Or if it just wasn't as important to her as other things— like me, and her work." She sort of shrugs one shoulder. "I asked plenty of times and never got the same answer twice. I wouldn't really say I was lonely, since we had each other... but it would have been nice to have more children my age around."

She reaches up to brush his bangs off his face. Her expression is soft, the melting tenderness he brings out in her through hardly more than existing in her presence.

"It may be a little late to have this conversation..." Since he's near giving birth to his third round of broodlings, and no longer the right species to get her pregnant even if they tried. "But I'm glad that we're on the same page. Our children will never want for love. Or playmates!"

Just as she says "playmates," there's a knock at the door and a familiar chorus of kupo!s from outside.

"Delivery for Ser Aymeric, kupo!"

Ariane sighs. "Make the door open itself, darling. It's cozy right here."

"Kupo-po? Is anybody home?"

The door does not, in fact, open itself. Reluctantly, Ariane rolls over, taking her time in pushing up to her feet while the moogles outside chatter amongst themselves. When she finally answers the door, a good half dozen of the flying fuzzballs stream in, each carrying a colorful, clearly handmade basket in their tiny paws.

"You, er, seem to have forgotten the delivery part...?" Ariane asks, nonplussed, looking at the empty baskets.

"Oh, no, kupo. These are the delivery!" one of the moogles chirps, setting theirs down next to Aymeric's head.

"One of the men that's working with us at Barr Lehs was talking to Mogton and he said, 'don't put all your eggs in one basket'—"

"And we heard Ser Aymeric had eggs!"

"So we brought him enough baskets for all of them, kupo!"

Woven by moogle paws to moogle scale, each of the baskets might fit a single dragon egg.

[personalinterest]

The sound of unannounced visitors causes Aymeric to surge into an awkward, half-sitting position, not unlike a cat rudely awakened from a comfortable nap. He turns toward the door, pupils thinned to mere slits as his tail lashes with agitation.

It takes a moment for his draconic instincts to settle after having been startled into "fight-or-flight" mode, but as soon as he registers that it's only a bevy of moogles at their door, he visibly relaxes.

"I wasn't expecting company, certainly not at this hour..." He shrugs helplessly, fixing Ariane with a pleading look. "Would you mind terribly...?"

Ariane is already getting to her feet before he can finish his request. As the moogles flutter in, Aymeric pulls himself into a more comfortable seated position, not wishing to greet their guests lying down.

Old habits die hard.

He blinks owlishly as one of the moogles sets a basket beside him. Upon hearing their explanation, a slow, tired smile spreads across his face. He hasn't the heart to correct their misunderstanding, nor to inform them that the scale of their project is just slightly off.

However, as he gently picks the basket up, he can't help but admire the craftsmanship. From the tightly-woven fibers to the colorful cloth lining and silk ribbons adorning the handle, it's obvious that a lot of time and effort was put into it.

"A lovely gift, and quite thoughtful, as well." Aymeric offers his most diplomatic smile. "I daresay I needn't worry over any of my eggs breaking should they be housed in such exquisite baskets."

"You really think so, kupo?" One of the moogles twirls with delight. "See? I told you all that practice would surely pay off!"

"Okay, you were right, kupo! But my poor little paws have blisters from all that weaving..."

"Kupo-po, me too! If only there was something to take our minds off the pain..."

"Whatever happened to 'hard work is it's own reward'?" Aymeric chuckles at the sudden wave of crestfallen looks. "However, it would be remiss of me to send you all home on an empty stomach, wouldn't it?"

He gestures toward a small barrel near the door. "Pray, help yourself to some kupo nuts. You have more than earned them."

With a chorus of kupo!s and don't mind if I do's, the moogles immediately beeline toward the barrel, pushing and shoving one another as they greedily gather up as many kupo nuts as they can carry in their tiny little arms.

"Pray, give my regards to the Temple Knights upon your return!"

"Oh, we will, kupo!"

"Sorry we can't stay longer, kupo. So much work, so little time, and these kupo nuts won't eat themselves!"

And then, just as quickly as they had arrived, they were gone. Aymeric sighed, carefully setting the basket aside before flopping heavily upon his nest once more. Maybe it was due to his condition, but being in the presence of so many energetic moogles had left him feeling suddenly drained. More so than usual, at any rate.

"Never a dull moment when they're around, hm?" Aymeric smiles tiredly at Ariane. "Do you think we ought to tell them or...?"

Nah, let someone else explain the idiom. Or not. Maybe someone else will get some free baskets out of it, too?

[nophicascounsel]

Does Aymeric, too, ever stop and wonder about the life choices that led to them keeping kupo nuts on hand by the bushel for the purpose of appeasing moogles? Not that Ariane is complaining; for all that the little fuzzballs can be a nuisance at times, they're just irresistibly cute, and:

"They've become quite the artisans," she remarks, examining another one of the baskets. How did they manage such a strong, close weave with those stubby little paws? "I'm rather proud of the little fellows, aren't you?"

She holds the basket up in line with the far windowsill, humming thoughtfully. Perhaps if she lines a few up over there... and those wildflowers growing up by Four Arms would go beautifully with the color of the ribbons... yes, perfect. Ariane gives a satisfied nod.

For now, though, she gathers them up to pile on the dining table. Decorating can wait. Her beloved needs a good long rest, and she has a mind to join him.

(Morning...)

Ariane knows she was dreaming a moment ago, but the details are already faded into cobweb tatters, leaving only a brief and disorienting feeling that she ought to have wings. She blinks blearily, vaguely bemused to find herself with her arms wrapped about his legs, using his belly as an awkward pillow. That wasn't at all where she was when she fell asleep...

Subtle movement beneath her cheek. The eggs shifting again? Ariane's lips curve into a small smile. Her eggs. She turns her head slightly to plant a kiss upon his warm scales.

"Morning, 'm'ric," she mumbles, then something that might be "my love" but blends into a yawn. "You awake?"