Valka & the Knight of Neraka
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Gypsy on 14-10-2011, 01:53:05</h2>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>14-10-2011, 01:53:05</strong>
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				Valka soared just below the clouds, letting the mountain updrafts bear her almost effortlessly upon the currents, augmenting that bit of magic that transformed her kind from lumbering beasts to deadly hunters with an occasional flap of her wings just to feel the caress of cool air over her scale-covered body.<br><br>War was coming, and her kindred from near and far were being drawn into it, recruited for the armies of the Dragonqueen.&nbsp; Valka herself expected the call any day, and she planned to be well away from her territories when it came.&nbsp; She had spent long weeks mastering the magic necessary to shift her draconian form into that of a human, and if necessary she would use that power to disappear into the chaos created by the coming conflicts.<br><br>Valka had seen enough of war not to wish any part of it.&nbsp; Killing was necessary for the hunt, and to protect the territory one had gained.&nbsp; She saw no particular glory in serving Takhisis, and despite her own adroit cleverness and multiple skills, she would no doubt be overpowered in sheer physical bulk by the reds and blacks that served the queen.&nbsp; It was time to use that wit to let them kill themselves for glory -- when the battles were done, she could reclaim her territory and more from the broken battlefields.<br><br>It was hard for her to contemplate leaving.&nbsp; She loved her mountains, loved the secure lair she had carefully prepared and concealed and all the precious things within ... but she would not be mastered by any, be they human or the dark goddess herself -- not when there was any other choice.<br><br>She lazily circled her territory, burning the visage into her brain and promising mental vengeance to any that laid waste to it in her absence.&nbsp; Only when the sun dipped below the peaks did she turn homeward, stopping at one of the small lakes just west of her lair for a drink from its cold, clear water.&nbsp; She had seen or sensed no threat, and as she saw the skies in the mirror of the still water, she thought to call upon the magic and shift into her new form here, where the water would show her reflection.<br><br>The change was painful, but much less so than it had been the first few times.&nbsp; Strangely, she rather liked the human form, despite its puny strength.&nbsp; The air upon the soft skin of the borrowed form was bliss, as was the sensation of the cold water upon her feet as she took several hesitant steps into the lake.&nbsp; In her natural form, her extremeties were not so sensitive - and while this too was a danger, it provided intriguing possibilities.&nbsp; &nbsp;In the waning light, as she gazed down at her reflection, she could see that her skin was somewhat the color of sand.&nbsp; Her hair was black as a raven's wing, but as the light fell upon it, Valka was pleased to note that the tresses seemed to take upon a glow nearly the color of her scales.&nbsp; She had fashioned her form from her own will and magic, and she had chosen a form larger than the human species that she had seen.&nbsp; In dragons, her smaller size was perceived as a weakness, and she did not wish to be perceived as weak.&nbsp; Her human form seemed pleasing to her eyes - a height not much less than most human males she had seen, but rather than thin and weak, she had chosen a more muscular frame enhanced by a layer of soft flesh, curves instead of sleek lines and angles.<br><br>She ran her human hands down over her form, pulling the fabric of the loose shift tight over the still-foreign seeming flesh, watching her reflection and marveling at how ... different ... it seemed.&nbsp; This human body had poor vision, her scenting capabilities were so hampered that she almost wondered whether she'd gotten something wrong with the nose, but her skin seemed to be aware of every little motion around her,&nbsp; from the hairs ruffled by the breeze coming off the mountain to the sand and stone and water tickling her feet, to the scrape of her long nails ...<br><br>Distracted, she allowed herself to kneel in the shallow water ...<br><br>The glancing pain and shattering impact from behind took her completely by surprise, and she had only a moment for anger mixed with fear as she slumped sideways into the cold embrace of the water, and the arms of unconsciousness.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>14-10-2011, 03:34:05</strong>
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				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Althair had received his mission with both bright eyes and a heavy heart.&nbsp; While the goal was simple, track down a rogue dragon that had not reported in at their Mistress’s call, it was never easy to accomplish.&nbsp; The magnificent creatures stood for all that he held dear;&nbsp; freedom, power, independence..&nbsp; And so it was with this mixture of emotions that the Knight of Neraka set about gathering up his items.&nbsp; Scrolls, weapons, armor…all of them enchanted to make his job all the easier.&nbsp; Most importantly though, is his traveling book of spells.&nbsp; Enchanted to have more pages on the inside than out, it holds nearly all of the spells that he believes will be needed to capture and persuade the dragon to answer the call to arms.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Having traveled for many days, the mountains gave way to rolling hills and then finally areas of scrub plains.&nbsp; Little copses of trees dot the landscape, and soon his eyes spot a dragon flying high in the air.&nbsp; Fortunately he is near one of the small spots of trees, that he may lead his horse into and remain out of sight.&nbsp; Waiting a few minutes there, he nudges his animal towards the edge of the trees to watch the dragon dip down and land.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Carefully approaching, Althair manages to sneak in towards the small lake.&nbsp; Catching just the tail end of her transformation, his lips part into a wide smile as his thoughts flash through his mind.&nbsp; This is it!&nbsp; My chance.&nbsp; Hopping down off of the back of his horse, he takes a small step forward as his lips murmur out the arcane words.&nbsp; Thankful that he had designed the spell to work within his armor, it also helps that he is not of any of the Robed wizards, but instead the Order of the Thorn.&nbsp; Clenching his fingers towards his palm, he makes a tight fist as the energies gather there.&nbsp; Tossing his arm out, he extends his fingers to direct the force towards the lady at the edge of the water.&nbsp; Thankful that it strikes true, he watches her slump down into the water.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Moving quickly so as not to allow her to drown, Althair strides quickly out of his cover and to the dragon’s side.&nbsp; Stricken for a moment at just how beautiful she is in this form, his thoughts move to wondering how she looks in her other form as he hefts her back to the shore.&nbsp; Pulling the enchanted pair of manacles from his waist, he trusts that their enchantment will hold her within this form long enough for him to deliver her back to Neraka.&nbsp; Only once had they not done so before, and he barely had survived the encounter…or the return..&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Placing one side on each of her wrists, he binds her arms behind her back and waits for this beautiful lady to regain consciousness.<br><br><br>((http://www.mmoabc.com/picture/1179851928390 (http://www.mmoabc.com/picture/1179851928390).&nbsp; It is an idea for how I envision him.))
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>14-10-2011, 05:14:36</strong>
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				Valka awoke, groggily, and for a moment she thought she was dreaming of the time when she was first learning to fly and had fallen when a strong downdraft caught her unaware.&nbsp; She had badly wrenched her wings and plummeted earthward, to fall with a splash into the water.&nbsp; Had it not been for her mother's watchful eye, she would have drowned, and it had been weeks of bravado and fear while she waited for her mother's judgement of health or death.<br><br>"No!" she cried, her body contorting as she tried to force her wings upward.&nbsp; In a rush, vision returned, and she gasped for breath while she realized that she was not, in fact, cast down into the waves.&nbsp; She was, in fact, not in her dragon form, and her human arms were behind her, bound in some manner that tingled and burned when she struggled against them.<br><br>Her mind took over, forcing a veneer of calm though she raged with anger inside.&nbsp; She sniffed the air, forgetting for a moment, but was rewarded only by the mineral scent of the water that soaked a good half her skin and saturated her long hair.&nbsp; Instead, she looked, turning her head and focusing with the weak human vision that this form allowed.<br><br>It was a human, a male, dressed in the metal skin that their warriors favored.&nbsp; His hair was half as long as hers and dark, and he had a rugged face and demeanor that reminded her somewhat of the rocks of her mountain.&nbsp; Though he bore weapons, none were drawn, though beneath the smell of the water and earth upon which she lay, she thought she detected the faint scent of fear, and another scent that was both familiar and strange.&nbsp; Upon his metal skin, she recognized the markings as one she had seen on humans serving Takhisis in one form or another.<br><br>"Soooo ..." she whispered.&nbsp; "You have come for me, servant of the dragonqueen ... and bested me in a moment of weakness."&nbsp; Her voice rasped out in a broken hiss that turned silken as she worked out how this form spoke.&nbsp; "What would you have of me?"<br><br>She did not, for a moment, consider this a moment of happenstance.&nbsp; The dragonqueen did not suffer disobedience lightly -- Valka could only hope that the Queen would not be quick to waste any of her children, even the ... reluctant ones.<br><br>She righted herself as much as she could, raising her human form on knees bent beneath her, hands secured behind her back.&nbsp; The wet shift clung to her form like a second skin,&nbsp; and the cool breeze she had enjoyed a short time earlier felt chill, and she shivered as she shifted, shrugging her shoulders as she tried to determine whether she could break free.&nbsp; This form was stronger than it looked ... but she did not put it to the test just yet.&nbsp; She needed to know what she faced before she acted.<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>14-10-2011, 21:51:04</strong>
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				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sitting back upon his heels, the Knight before her remains quiet as she first regains consciousness and then begins to speak.&nbsp; Just watching her carefully, she can almost feel his eyes scanning over this human form of his.&nbsp; Judging the quality of her form, her clothing, everything it seems…his eyes never quite meet hers.&nbsp; Though, she can see that his eyes are the grey of an overcast sky, with dark pupils set there.&nbsp; Not giving the appearance of one who is inexperienced in this, the Knight merely remains sitting there as if waiting for the worst to happen.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, after a few minutes of visual examination, the Knight’s voice comes out softly.&nbsp; Close to that of rocks pressing together and grinding, even his voice resembles that of her mountain as the sound rumbles from his chest and out of his mouth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“The Mistress we both serve, inquires as to why you have not answered her call.&nbsp; The time comes for all to join in the armies.&nbsp; No matter their station.”&nbsp; Stopping there, she can just barely make out the bit he says next, under his breath.&nbsp; “Or their beauty.”<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pushing himself up to his feet, he just tops six feet tall, with broad shoulders that are only accentuated by the armor he wears.&nbsp; The feel of magic radiates off of him, both from his armor as well as a few protective spells that are always there.&nbsp; Looking down towards her then, his eyes take on a momentary flash of indecision, but the look quickly passes as he then leans down towards her.&nbsp; Remaining cautious the entire time, he still reaches out for her and slips his gloved hands under her arms.&nbsp; While she may be expecting a rough yank to her feet, he is instead quite gentle as he offers her assistance up to stand.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I am here, to persuade you to see the proper course of action.&nbsp; If not, then I will be forced to use other methods.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>14-10-2011, 23:52:59</strong>
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				Valka instinctively stiffened her spine under his scrutiny, bringing her upper body up into a taut curve that strained even more against the confines of her inexpert, sagging shift.&nbsp; &nbsp;Anger simmered, but below it lay worry.&nbsp; Any sign of weakness was worth than a death sentence to her kind, and to have imperfectly crafted the form of her shifting would be taken as one.&nbsp; She glared at this human servant of the goddess who demanded her fealty, her eyes following the sweep of his.&nbsp; For another dragon, the more lengths that one went toward to meet a gaze, the more accepting one was of a subordinant position, and yet too direct a gaze was a challenge, and potential death to the one who dared too much.<br><br>Yet, she sensed no capitulation from the metal-clad human, and even to the weak human nose of this form, she could scent the magic on him.&nbsp; It was a smell of spice, of gold warmed in the sun, and the mists rising from the sea all swirled together.&nbsp; Her eyes narrowed and a rumbling sort of growl issued from her throat as he confirmed her fears, and if her hearing were not so keen in this form, still she heard his softly spoken words.&nbsp; Despite her predicament, she felt a thrill at his spoken admiration, all the more valued for the fact that he had not uttered it plainly.<br><br>She did not have the experience to know the picture she presented, kneeling before him on the lake's shore, yet the momentary flicker in his eyes as he came closer and reached out to her was clear enough in its way.&nbsp; Any creature who had not yet decided upon a course of action could be persuaded, influenced.&nbsp; Valka was both dragon enough, and woman enough, to both recognize and appreciate the opportunity -- and it seemed he did as well.<br><br>She did indeed expect to be pulled to her feet at force, and braced for it.&nbsp; When force did not come, only a gentle pressure that worked with her body rather than against it, she was left off guard, almost vulnerable, and she cast her own eyes down to the tops of his boots for a moment before forcing them back up to his face.&nbsp; It was rather disconcerting to realize that she must tilt her head up to attempt to meet his gaze.<br><br>"Has our Mistress not enough dragons winging to her call with eager abandon, hungry to display their might and fearlessness in her name?&nbsp; &nbsp; It will be many a season before I can hope to compete with the likes of those who have answered.&nbsp; Surely one less makes little difference to one so powerful?"<br><br>She cocked her head to the side, in a motion common to dragons and felines, though it did not appreciably alter her perspective.&nbsp; "Your methods of ... persuasion ... thus far seem more worthy of a dragon than what I have sen of humans."&nbsp; &nbsp;She shrugged as best she could with her arms secured.&nbsp; In the back of her mind, she noted that she could probably break through them if she shifted into her dragon form once more, but that was a tactic best save for when others failed.<br><br><br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>15-10-2011, 00:40:06</strong>
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				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When her spine curved, and pressed her lovely breasts against the simple material of the cloth covering her, she can feel his eyes drawn towards her chest.&nbsp; Certainly, this is what it must be like for humans, as his eyes on her feel the exact same as when another dragon would stare at her flank or tail in appreciation.&nbsp; Having been around enough dragons in his day, especially watching them when he may, the Knight before her actually seems to have a glimmer of understanding about her gaze.&nbsp; Not forcing the meeting of their eyes, he allows her to look to him when she feels comfortable.&nbsp; Anything else could be seen as him trying to press the matter, and that is certainly the last thing he wants.&nbsp; Not when the wrong move could end up with him pinned and soon to be eaten.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With her up on her feet and steady, his arms move away from hers as he takes a step back.&nbsp; Realizing that she would have to look up to him if he stands too close, he actually shows a bit of courtesy in stepping back to where only her eyes have to flick upwards to his face.&nbsp; A few days’ worth of stubble is there, with a tiny hint of silver towards his chin.&nbsp; Perhaps this Knight had just a couple of years on him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“If my methods seem odd, it is because I have done this before.&nbsp; I hold a great deal of pride in my work as one who has managed to help persuade a total of six dragons back to the cause.&nbsp; Including the mighty red Xylnthaes.”&nbsp; Setting his shoulders back as he speaks, she can see that while he might have a couple of years over other humans, his physical prowess has not diminished in the slightest.&nbsp; “Our Mistress directs her commanders to send me, when there is a dragon who we cannot deal without…&nbsp; You are obviously such a powerful and magnificent being, so they send me.“ His words carry the flattery well, with his tone never changing to give indication that he does not have anything but the utmost conviction of the truth in his words.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is then that a crack is heard above them.&nbsp; Having hoped the storm he passed through a few days ago would have broken up over the mountains, it seems that the ever changing winds and weather of those peaks had done nothing but amplify it.&nbsp; Looking his head to the darkening sky, the Knight before her narrows his eyes slowly and lets out a long sigh.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“The weather will not allow us to travel much, in any direction.&nbsp; So I believe that we must make a small camp here.&nbsp; It will give us time to speak, and hopefully you will see the merit of my words.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>15-10-2011, 07:11:26</strong>
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				The short burst of breath that Valka exhaled through her nostrils to indicate scorn did not work so well, but like most females of any species she was pleased to hear words of praise, even if she did not totally believe them.&nbsp; Still, she could not suppress a faint bit of preening, turning and stretching her new body much as she would have her natural form, displaying those areas where the male's eyes had lingered.<br><br>She recognized the name Xylnthaes - a nearly legendary red who had ruled an area to the south that stretched several hundred miles.&nbsp; She had heard that he had joined Takhisis' armies, and she felt somewhat more respectful of the human who stood before her, speaking of his interaction with such a creature as if it had been barely more than commonplace.&nbsp; Of course, he could be lying ... but she could detect no lie in his words.<br><br>The crack of thunder above them startled her, and gave her new cause for concern.&nbsp; Such storms called to her nature, and she had barely been aware of this one's approach.&nbsp; A gust of chill wind further stole the heat from her body, so woefully unprotected and damp, and she shivered as she regarded the human male with steady gaze before turning to take better stock of her surroundings.&nbsp; As she twisted, her shift rode high in the back, exposing a dusky expanse of plush thigh and a scant inch or so of a generous, curved buttock, bare of any underclothes.<br><br>"There," she finally said, indicating an area near the lake where the trees began to thicken.&nbsp; "There is a shelter not far from here, just beneath the treeline.&nbsp; I have seen it when the leaves fall from the trees.&nbsp; &nbsp;I have no desire to remain in the open when the rains come, while wearing this form."<br><br>Of course, her lair would be more secure still, but she had no thought of mentioning that to him -- or complying even if he demanded it.&nbsp; In any event, it would be no easy task to reach it save in dragon form, and the storm would be upon them before they had traveled half the distance.<br><br>"You are courteous for a human.&nbsp; I suppose I cannot fault you for seizing the opportunity to attack whilst I allowed myself to be distracted.&nbsp; One would almost wonder if some small portion of our blood runs through your veins."&nbsp; <br><br>She was impervious to the charms of flattery, and she could not think of a higher compliment to pay him given their current situation.&nbsp; In the back of her mind, she could not help but see him as a dragon, given the limitations of her shifting.&nbsp; He was larger than she, and she had felt the controlled strength of his limbs when he had lifted her.&nbsp; Too, there was a touch of silver in his hair, denoting age and power that had not yet begun the slow descent that accompanied the march of time.&nbsp; By dragon standards, were she faced with such a male, it would be&nbsp; likely that she would regard him favorably.&nbsp; &nbsp;Her eyes widened at the subconscious thought brushed against her consciousness ... but she did not recoil.<br><br>"You have not told me what you are called, human.&nbsp; It would please me if you would do so ... and you may call me Valka."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>15-10-2011, 10:41:13</strong>
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				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thinking back over his dealings with the massive red Xylnthaes, she can see a little look of distance in his eyes for a moment.&nbsp; The discussion he had with the red had been heated at times, with moments of borderline violence.&nbsp; If it was not for a simple miss-step in his words, he would have never have managed to persuade the dragon to join into the fight against the armies of good, let alone escape with his life.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Coming back to the reality at present, his eyes shift from that distant look to lock onto her face.&nbsp; With the growing clouds above, a large dark cloud has formed in the middle of several grey clouds, now spreading its anger to them as well.&nbsp; It seems that these have been sent by the Dark Queen herself, by the speed of its forming and sudden intensity.&nbsp; As a large bolt of lightning rends the sky apart, it is soon followed by a crack of thunder that is more felt than heard.&nbsp; Moments after the crack of thunder and that smell of ozone hits them, the sound of a horse whinnying in terror is heard.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“We should make our way to this shelter you speak of shortly, before my horse runs off and leaves us stranded.”&nbsp; Speaking bluntly, it seems that he is all business when the time calls for action.&nbsp; As he speaks, his footsteps find him closer to her.&nbsp; Once the gap is closed, his hand reaches out to touch the small of her back as if to escort her towards the line of trees.&nbsp; “I am Althair, m’lady.&nbsp; But we can speak more after I have seen to your safety.&nbsp; As well as mine.”<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>15-10-2011, 18:08:33</strong>
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				"The storm poses little more than an inconvenience to me, even in this form," Valka stated softly, a hint of amusement curling her lips as some assurance returned.&nbsp; She lifted her head and inhaled deep breath of air, filling her chest with it.&nbsp; "I have not mastered intricacies of conjuring ... clothing ... and without scales to hold my heat, the chill of water would become uncomfortable.&nbsp; The bolts from the sky are drawn to things of metal, such as that which protects you from claw and edge. Perhaps I should have suggested we remain here?"&nbsp; The last was said almost teasingly, without threat.<br><br>Despite the comment, it would be foolish of her to harm the human.&nbsp; If the Queen knew of her disobedience, a second rash showing of it would be foolhardy in the extreme.&nbsp; This man represented knowledge, both of the Queens aims and of the humans who both served and opposed Her.&nbsp; Such knowledge was not to be squandered in fit of pique over her own stupidity.&nbsp; &nbsp;Too, the man seemed a prime example of the humans, holding magic and might, puny as it was against a dragon who had come into its own power.&nbsp; <br><br>She felt the touch of his hand upon the small of her back as he guided her.&nbsp; A gesture of courtesy, she seemed to recall, and ... of protection.&nbsp; &nbsp; The warmth of it radiated like a rock pleasantly heated by the sun, reminding her of the thrill of sensations she had been enjoying before her capture, and she leaned back against it even as she walked.&nbsp; Beside them, the man's horse followed, more nervous at the coming weather than it was of the strange-smelling woman.<br><br>Her feet, unprotected, protested as they left the smooth rock and sand of the lakeshore behind.&nbsp; A flash of lightning from the sky illuminated the surroundings, and she pointed to the shadow of the shelter ahead.&nbsp; From its size, it was little more than one room with a lean-to where the ranger had kept his own mount.&nbsp; She stepped upon a sharp rock, stumbling, and hissed in annoyance.&nbsp; There was much about this form that she did not know.<br><br>"I do not suppose you would consider releasing me from these bindings?&nbsp; A truce of sorts between us for a time ... unless your definition of 'persuasion' is akin to that of the blacks?"&nbsp; &nbsp;If the man did indeed recruit recalcitrant dragons for the Queen, she thought it safe to assume he knew of her kind, enough to know that blues such as herself were creatures of their word.&nbsp; She had never given her word to the dragonqueen -- such a thing had not been asked, even though she had been ... technically ... skirting the obligations of her kind. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>16-10-2011, 03:45:20</strong>
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				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Managing to sound a bit amused by the situation, the Knight continues to lead her on with his hand never straying from the small of her back.&nbsp; Touching her fingers at times, it seems by accident since her hands are bound there for the moment.&nbsp; Able to feel his hands through the leather of his gloves, his hands and fingers carry a certain strength to them, but there is none of the ridges and bumps along him that give rise to her thinking that he has callouses from harsh labor.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Your clothes are certainly enough to draw attention, but thankfully I have a blanket you may use.”&nbsp; Speaking softly, his eyes are scanning the clouds overhead he then follows where she motions to, to where the little shelter is.&nbsp; Seeming as if he was going to say a thing, his gaze comes back to her as the little sound of annoyance comes from her.&nbsp; Not realizing that she was barefoot before, it would certainly be difficult for her to walk to the shelter without anything upon her feet.&nbsp; Pausing then, his feet come to a halt as he stands still.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Your word, you will not try to leave before I have spoken with you, and tried to persuade you to the Queen’s service.&nbsp; In return, I offer you my word that I will not harm you without undue need.&nbsp; I extend an offer of peace to you, in that I will carry you to the shelter and save this form of yours any discomfort.”&nbsp; Staring at her as he speaks, his eyes seem to pierce into hers.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>16-10-2011, 04:54:50</strong>
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				The lightning flickered overhead, and the following rumble of thunder was loud enough that Valka could sense it beneath the soles of her feet in the faint tremor of the ground.&nbsp; She cast her gaze skyward, and again inhaled deeply of the chill air borne on the front of the storm.&nbsp; It had the scent of ozone and magic to it -- and though normally she loved the fierce strength of the storm, this one was not natural.&nbsp; Of this she was certain, though she could not have said whether it was some device of Takhisis, those who were set to oppose her, or some other less ominous source working toward aims she could not possibly begin to guess.<br><br>In any event, even were she to revert to her natural form, it was not a night to race the lightning bolts.&nbsp; <br><br><br>As well, she had noted a curious thing.&nbsp; The man's hand seemed never to stray far from her, yet he did not clasp her in the manner of a captive or prisoner.&nbsp; His hand had brushed over her spine to her bound hands with a curious gentleness.&nbsp; It had been, she thought absently, quite pleasant.<br><br>She turned toward him and stared up into his eyes, taking the measure of him in the steadiness of his regard.&nbsp; "A truce then, Althair ... until morning, or until the storm passes if it outlasts the dawn.&nbsp; I will listen to your words, and offer you no harm save in response to treachery -- if you hear me in return."<br><br>Valka knew what carrying was, of course.&nbsp; When she had been very, very young, her mother and her sire had occasionally resorted to carrying herself or her sibling by the simple expedient of grasping them by the front haunch at the base of the neck with their mouth.&nbsp; She remembered it only faintly.&nbsp; In a more relevant context, she had observed humans from afar, and seen them carry each other.&nbsp; Generally, it had been because one of their number had been injured, and it seemed an uncomfortable process in and of itself when they had reached full growth, and she had seen them carry their children much as dragons carry their young (even if done with the limbs instead of jaws).&nbsp; However, she had also once seen a human male carry off one of the human females in what she had taken to be part of their curious mating rituals -- a process that humans devoted a lot of time to, which probably helped explain their fecundity.<br><br>Her eyes took on a speculative, even daring, gleam as she gazed up into his weathered face as she waited to see what he would do next.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>16-10-2011, 07:08:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hearing her words, his mouth then moves as a huge crack of thunder rips through the air.&nbsp; The two of them can easily feel the shockwave roll through their body as another bolt of lightning goes from one cloud to another.&nbsp; Speaking louder now, he waits for the next crack of thunder to pass so that his voice will not be drowned out.&nbsp; Thinking about the nature of the storm as he speaks, he cannot determine if it is a true boon or bane at the moment, given the deal that has just been struck.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“You have my word as a Knight and a man of honor, I will let no harm come to you unless it is needed to fulfill my task.&nbsp; And even then, it is of a last resort to me.”&nbsp; Sound the words out, his voice has the cadence and tempo of a man speaking an oath.&nbsp; If he was like any of the other Knights that rumors and tales spoke of, she would know that he would rather forfeit his life than break those words.&nbsp; While his hand upon her back never pulled or was ever rough, it also made certain to never slip lower and brush along the beautiful rear of hers. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I will unlock you, and then carry you to the shelter.&nbsp; I as well, will try to keep our contact chaste.”&nbsp; As he speaks, he takes a step towards her back, and soon the feeling of being restrained fades away from her body.&nbsp; The manacles only take a small mental command to release, which he catches them in his outstretched hand.&nbsp; Tucking the cold chains onto a hook jutting out from his belt, he makes certain that they will not dislodge before he turns to her.&nbsp; Giving a small nod, his chest leans in closer as he bends at the waist.&nbsp; His powerful arms move, with one going under the back of her thighs and the other to behind her upper shoulders.&nbsp; Sweeping her off of the ground in one easy movement, he only makes the smallest sound of effort as her weight is felt in his arms.&nbsp; Surprisingly tender, this is not how she had seen others picked up, and it was far more intimate that might have been expected.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>16-10-2011, 17:09:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				In her dealings with other beings, Valka had noted that most ... but not all ... tended to avoid eye contact when lying.&nbsp; Of course, most tended to avoid eye contact with dragons for any reason, had they not been conditioned to it or seasoned by battle to ignore their fear.&nbsp; Still, she herself was a being who had little use for lies.&nbsp; Words were lovely, useful things and she could occasionally get lost in the mazes woven of them, but she was content to appreciate such sophistry from afar.<br><br>There seemed to be no deception in the human knight's words. She waited in silence, only cocking her head and raising one eyebrow when he promised to keep their contact chaste.&nbsp; <br><br>The freeing of her hands was a distinct relief.&nbsp; She had not been used to having them in such a way, and it had felt somewhat like having her wings folded for a long period with no opportunity to stretch and cool them.&nbsp; Being lifted was a curious experience, somewhat like being cradled upon an updraft but more curiously solid.&nbsp; The cloth of her shift caught upon his armor and bared most of her upper thighs, though he had taken care to keep it tucked in back so that her posterior was snugly covered.&nbsp; Because it seemed natural to do so, she twined her arms about his neck and shoulders, but otherwise remained as still as she had when she had been but a fledgling in her sire's jaws.<br><br>It was not far to the shelter, but still they did not reach it before the threatening deluge arrived.&nbsp; In his arms, she curled in closer to his body, tucking her head in against his neck above the metal of his armor.&nbsp; &nbsp;So close, she could take his scent, a curious thing of woodsmoke and wet steel, equine and a deeper musk.&nbsp; When they reached the threshold and he opened the door, she spoke again.<br><br>"Put me down and see to your horseflesh, if you wish.&nbsp; You need have no fear that I will break my word."<br><br>The shelter was small and neat, though it had been some time since it had been inhabited.&nbsp; There was a crude but effective stone fireplace, mortared with clay from the lake shore, a rough-hewn table and bench and a frame for a bed built into the wall closest to the fireplace.&nbsp; &nbsp;There were other things left there as well - a lantern, small iron pot, a carved bowl upon the table, a fur draped over the bed frame ... as if whoever had lived there had not left by choice.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>16-10-2011, 23:47:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Carrying her within his arms, Althair seems a bit surprised as her arms come up to slip around his neck.&nbsp; Pulling her closer against his chest as she does so, he is cradling her there in a protective embrace as his footsteps move them closer towards the line of trees.&nbsp; When the rain breaks from the clouds and starts to come down upon them both in sheets, he hunches his shoulders forward to try and cover her a bit more from the rain.&nbsp; Unable to completely shelter her, he still is able to prevent a little bit of water from falling down on her.&nbsp; As she buries her face into his neck, there are the scents that she picks up immediately, but after a moment she can begin to detect another little aroma coming from him.&nbsp; Oddly enough, it is the fragrance from a flower that grows upon sides of cliffs upon mountains that are within the range where she keeps her lair.&nbsp; Perhaps, this Knight had done some research into their meeting afterall.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once inside the shelter, he takes a moment to shake out a bit of the water that is rolling down his head and soaking his hair.&nbsp; Moving to the bed, he carefully sets her down upon it before standing up straight again.&nbsp; With a quick movement, his hands go to the clasps on his shoulders and unfasten the thick cloak that was hanging from his back.&nbsp; With a little flourish, he drapes the warm material over her like a blanket, so that she may warm up and dry off.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Thank you for your word, and reassurance.&nbsp; I will return when my horse is safe.”&nbsp; Looking past her to the fireplace in the small shelter, he then points towards it.&nbsp; “If you have the knowledge to do so, once you are dry a fire would be nice.”&nbsp; Not really waiting for her to respond, he spins upon his heels and stalks out into the storm.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>17-10-2011, 20:01:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Something about the knight's scent lingered, disturbingly, and&nbsp; Valka's eyes narrowed as he sat her down upon the bed.&nbsp; Her head followed his arm as he pointed toward the fire,&nbsp; and when they returned to his face, her body stiffened and she regarded his retreating form with suspicion and more hostility than she had shown even when she had recognized that he held her captive.<br><br>He had been at her lair!&nbsp; &nbsp;He had been there when she was not!&nbsp; The flowers that this weak-nosed form had scented grew nowhere else in the area.&nbsp; She had brought lengths of the vine in full seed and used her own claws to rake them into the rocky soil of the mountain's face when first she had claimed the cavern as her own.&nbsp; Despite the fact that she had concealed and protected her precious treasures in preparation for leaving, the thought was an anathema to her very soul.&nbsp; Representative of Takhisis or no, she would rend his flesh from his bones if he had disturbed so much as a lowly freshwater pearl!<br><br>It took several minutes for her to calm herself.&nbsp; She had given her word.&nbsp; There would be time enough to discover if he were truly a knight as he claimed, or a thief.&nbsp; If the latter ... well, she had given her word to a knight, not to a thief.&nbsp; &nbsp;The thought reassured her, and allowed her to turn her attention to her sodden condition, though anger had worked as well to heat her through and through as so small a fire as the tiny fireplace would allow could.<br><br>On bare feet, she rose and walked over to the fireplace.&nbsp; Though her element was not flame, she could still call forth the energy to create it.&nbsp; She had even practiced fixing and lighting fires -- as a dragon, she had had little need for them, but she had discovered the heat was pleasant and the flames themselves held a fascinating allure.&nbsp; &nbsp; In moments, red and orange tongues of flames licked up from the wood already laid in the fireplace.<br><br>She removed the sodden shift, and held it up to the blaze where she studied it disapprovingly.&nbsp; It had been simple enough, but it was obviously inadequate.&nbsp; Perhaps she could acquire new clothing, either from Althair (whether or not she decided he needed eating) or perhaps from this dwelling itself.<br><br>She drew the bench over to the fire, and draped the wet shift over it to dry.&nbsp; After another pause for consideration, she returned to the crude bed and retrieved the cloak she had been offered.&nbsp; Lack of clothing caused her no personal sense of embarrassment, but the 'chaste' contact Althair had spoke of hinted that he shared the human obsession with keeping oneself covered.&nbsp; The heavy cloak was surprisingly dry on the inside, but she did not care for the idea of hindering her movements by wrapping it around herself, though it sufficed well enough to take some of the moisture from her long tresses.<br><br>Instead, naked, she began to investigate the cabin.&nbsp; Beneath the wooden frame of the bed, she found a battered leather pack, abandoned just as the rest of the shelter had been.&nbsp; Inside, she found a book, a tin containing strong-smelling dried leaves and a second one containing a sticky, granular substance that had the smell of honey about it, and a rolled up shirt that laced up the front, as well as the things that humans wore upon their legs ... pants, she thought it was called.&nbsp; &nbsp;Also, she found a chain of silver that held a curiously shaped thing of silver.&nbsp; From her throat came a peculiar sound that she did not recognize -- a squeal of delight -- as she determined that she held a piece of silver jewelry.&nbsp; It was not of high quality, but still it was silver and precious - and dragons such as herself understood precious metals and the curious but ever so desirable forms the humans, elves, and dwarves hammered and melted them into.&nbsp; She slipped the necklace around her neck and admired for a moment how it looked lying between the rounded globes of her human breasts ...<br><br>and then hearing a rattle at the door, she shook out the shirt she had found and pulled it over her head.<br><br>When Althair came in, she was hesitantly doing up the shirt's simple lacing.&nbsp; &nbsp;It covered her from neck to thigh well enough, though she was shaped differently from its previous wearer, and the lacings strained over her breasts and did not close fully, exposing the valley where her new acquisition lay,&nbsp; and her nether regions would likely only remain modestly covered if she took care how she moved.<br><br>Her hair, still wet, cascaded over her shoulders, dampening the fabric on which it lay.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>17-10-2011, 21:42:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;While the Knight certainly had been to her lair, the only thing he had taken was a small bit of those flowers.&nbsp; Thinking that the scent was rather nice, he had picked a few of the flowers for himself.&nbsp; As well, he had tucked a few into the pack of his horse, just in case the dragon he had been sent to find enjoyed them.&nbsp; It never hurts to bring a lady flowers, he thought to himself.&nbsp; &nbsp;Trudging through the rain, Althair let out a rather vile curse towards the weather that was hampering both movement and vision now.&nbsp; Sheets of rain buffeted him, as the wind sent the rain into his face like little needles hitting his skin.&nbsp; Finally coming across his horse, the poor creature is nearly white-eyed in terror from the obviously supernatural storm overhead.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It takes Althair a few minutes to calm his horse Shadow, but soon enough Shadow has stopped bucking and rearing, to follow him back towards that shelter.&nbsp; Walking Shadow under one of the long eaves, it is clearly a spot meant for a horse to be sheltered through a storm.&nbsp; Unstrapping the saddle and bags from his horse’s back, he sets the saddle at an incline so the water will not pool or gather to ruin the leather.&nbsp; Then pulling out a blanket from one pack, he starts the process of rubbing the horse down.&nbsp; Only when Shadow is warmed, dry and brushed does he walk back into the shelter.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Carrying a set of saddlebags over one shoulder, Althair walks into the hut as a large crack of thunder is heard outside.&nbsp; Thankfully he doesn’t jump, but still it is enough to make him shut the door quickly and turn around to her.&nbsp; Stopping directly before the door, the Knight clearl is a bit stunned from her change in clothing.&nbsp; His eyes dip from her face to those wonderful breasts, following the chain of silver around her neck to look in between them and eye the small locket there.&nbsp; As his eyes continue to linger upon her, they dip lower to eye her legs and she can almost feel the thoughts coming off of him, wondering if she has anything underneath.&nbsp; Finally though, he snaps from his reverie and steps further into the shelter.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Thank you for making a fire.&nbsp; It will grow a bit colder tonight, and I do not wish you to catch ill.”&nbsp; Speaking softly, it is obvious that he is trying to force his mind away from the thoughts of her body there.&nbsp; Again he whispers to himself without realizing, and it is just loud enough for her to catch.&nbsp; “This beautiful in this form, how gorgeous will the other be…”&nbsp; Settling the saddle bags upon the back of a chair, he slowly reaches into it.&nbsp; When his hands emerge from it, she can see him holding a slightly crushed flower.&nbsp; One of the flowers that are from near the entrance to her lair.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“It is little consolation, but perhaps this will remind you of your home.&nbsp; I took nothing but this from it, from when I investigated to see if you were there.&nbsp; But, I hope this will at least make your current captivity a bit more pleasant.”&nbsp; As the words come from him, his eyes meet hers as he holds the small flower out to her.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>18-10-2011, 03:35:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"It was but a small thing," Valka answered, "and as much for my comfort as for yours.&nbsp; Most of our gratitude should be directed at the hut's builder.&nbsp; Despite this form I wear, I am still a dragon.&nbsp; It will take more than rain and chill to bring me low."<br><br>His softly spoken words surprised her, but she did not reveal it.&nbsp; She had thought that he must have seen her fly into the lake and had tracked her there -- if he had not seen her in her true form, then he had found her and known her some other way.&nbsp; That did not bode well for her plans to escape, but she was somewhat confounded that her absence would have evoked such troubles.&nbsp; She was yet young, and both her powers and might were yet slight in comparison with the others who had answered the Queen's Call.&nbsp; Still, his words tickled her vanity and pleased her, despite her resolve to remain on her guard.<br><br>When the flower was offered, she looked long into his face before reaching out to take the small blossom.&nbsp; "A word of caution, Knight ... a dragon's lair is a thing&nbsp; much like I believe this 'chastity' and 'chaste' is to a human.&nbsp; &nbsp;I have heard tales of those who possess a form such as yours who stole into the lair of an absent or sleeping dragon to take that which is not theirs ... it leads to rash thoughts that are ... undeserved.&nbsp; You have dealt honorably with me ... save perhaps for the way in which you captured me, though I can hardly fault you for taking the advantage ..."<br><br>Valka smiled slightly, and absently tucked the blossom into the hollow between her breasts where she could keep the scent until the morn, when the flower would close.<br><br>"And so I shall deal with you.&nbsp; I thank you for ... the thought.&nbsp; I do not know the proper response - you have me at a disadvantage as I have nothing with which to respond."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>18-10-2011, 09:43:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“A small thing it may be, but it still shows that you have enough respect for me to listen to my words.&nbsp; That is the honor that I was thanking you for.”&nbsp; Offering a small smile to her as he speaks, his eyes do dip a little towards where she places the flower.&nbsp; Letting her speak, it is clear that he is listening to her as his fingers fidget for just a moment.&nbsp; Turning away slowly, he only moves after she is done speaking to him.&nbsp; Moving towards the saddlebags once again, he starts to carefully withdraw a few key items.&nbsp; A bit of food, some water skins, and most importantly his spellbook.&nbsp; Still looking away, his voice is soft then.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I offer my apologies for going near your lair.&nbsp; I hope you can understand the reason for me doing so.”&nbsp; Turning around slowly once he had inspected his spellbook to make certain that no water had damaged it, he actually keeps his head bowed to her.&nbsp; “I give you my word that the flower was the only memento that I took.&nbsp; However, you have my permission to look through anything of mine, as well as examine myself to ease your mind.”&nbsp; With his head rising a bit to once again look her in the eyes, his arms spread a little as if inviting her to look.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“As for any present in return, all I ask you stay near so that I may continue to try for my mission.”&nbsp; Speaking earnestly, there seems to be just a little bit more to his words.&nbsp; As if perhaps he might wish her close for other reasons.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>18-10-2011, 20:07:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Valka watched Althair's movements carefully, gauging his words and intent as best she could by his body language.&nbsp; Dragons picked up on cues quickly amongst themselves.&nbsp; It was a survival technique, given how costly battles could be between powerful adults.&nbsp; Unlike humans, they did not produce so quickly nor wear out their spans so rapidly that they cared to throw their life away unless territory or wealth was involved.&nbsp; She was relatively inexperienced, however, in the ways of humans - but not so inexperienced that she did not suspect his regard.<br><br>It was ... an intriguing thought.&nbsp; She had heard that shifted dragons played at mating but before shifting she had not quite understood the appeal.&nbsp; He wasn't a dragon, but something in the way he looked at her or even avoided looking at her was ... flattering, and perhaps something more.<br><br>"No.&nbsp; There is no need.&nbsp; I will trust, unless you give me reason ..."&nbsp; She smiled, a small enigmatic lifting of her lips, and moved to stand beside the fire, though she continued to study him as he stood with arms open in invitation to her scrutiny.<br><br>"Yet, if you intend to persuade me with words rather than might, perhaps you might also divest yourselves of your metal shell and wet cloth.&nbsp; I have recently learned from personal experience that cold, wet clothing is unpleasant against human skin.&nbsp; In that bag, from whence came this that I wear, there is cloth for your legs - pants, I believe they are called."<br><br>The steadily burning fire behind her put off a steady glow of warmth, and she stretched against it, almost catlike.&nbsp; THe light from the fire formed a nimbus glow behind her, creating shadows along her front that drew the eye.&nbsp; Her hands, as if seeking something to occupy themselves, played with the laces of the tightened tunic, and the shirt's hem.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>20-10-2011, 08:28:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lowering his arms back down towards his sides as she moves over to stand near the fire, his own look lips tug upwards into a smile as she spoke of him losing his armor.&nbsp; While it would not leave him defenseless, it certainly would take away a few of his protections from her if she did choose to break her word.&nbsp; Thankful though that she was not one of the greens, he thinks for a moment before giving a small nod of his head.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I only ask that you avert your eyes as I remove the under padding of the armor, please.&nbsp; While dragons may not have much use for modesty, we humans still do.”&nbsp; Moving his hands up to his shoulders then, he first unclasps and removes the coif from his head.&nbsp; Slipping the chain off, the metal had done nothing to keep his hair from being soaked in the rain, as it falls limply past his shoulders.&nbsp; Setting the metal coif upon the back of the chair, his fingers set about removing the armor from around his shoulders.&nbsp; Having just a bit of a difficult time, as the leather buckles and straps have swollen with water, his eyes glance over to her again.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I must ask your assistance with this, if I may.&nbsp; The leather has swollen from becoming wet, and I am unfortunately not able to find a proper grip.&nbsp; Perhaps you may?”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>20-10-2011, 23:18:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"As you wish," she answered, looking away with an expression transforming her face into something resembling a pout, though she would not have recognized it herself.&nbsp; Perversely, she had not considered looking or not looking before he asked her to look away, but now that he had, she could feel the itch of curiosity.&nbsp; <br><br>Though he had not asked that she not watch him remove his outer layers, she turned to face the fire instead.&nbsp; She could hear his movements as he removed some of the metal encasing him.&nbsp; At first his movements were sure and without hesitation, but they slowed and were accompanied by the small sounds of frustration above the fire's crackle and the sound of rain upon the roof and wind.&nbsp; The sounds reminded her of those she sometimes made -- there was a spot just beyond the curve of her spine that would itch maddeningly at times, and it was just short of reachable no matter which way she stretched and twisted.<br><br>At his request, she gave a small smile, and turned around once again.&nbsp; "Certainly.&nbsp; &nbsp;You have been both courteous and generous.&nbsp; It would be rude of me to refuse such a small request, not to mention improvident."&nbsp; She moved forward gracefully across the uneven floor until she stood in front of him, and studied the clasps of his armor with interest.&nbsp; Dragons did not, as a rule, wear clothing, and her own knowledge of such things was limited mostly to details she had seen or heard regarding magical finery.&nbsp; &nbsp;Yet she was clever, and it did not take her long to see how the clasps must be undone.<br><br>She glanced from the armor to his face, smiled,&nbsp; and lifted her hands to his shoulder where she began working at the clasp.&nbsp; Her nails were long and hard, which eased the task, but the weight of his armor pulled against the swollen leather.&nbsp; "Perhaps if you lift while I release the catch?" <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>24-10-2011, 06:22:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Swollen to the point of almost seeming to merge together, the leather buckle takes a bit of prying and tugging upon to even start to loosen.&nbsp; Moving his hand upwards to his shoulders, the metal of his small shoulder guard does impede his motions a tiny bit, but not enough to where he is unable to help press the guard up.&nbsp; Letting her work for a moment, he breathes out a sigh of relief as she is finally able to get the clasp undone.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Ahh, that is better.&nbsp; Now, shall we work upon the other shoulder?”&nbsp; Smiling to her, the gesture seems a bit odd, considering his task, but it does give a bit more handsome look to his face.&nbsp; Waiting for her to start upon the other part of his armor, it certainly would not take as long for the piece to be removed as they were now working in concert together.&nbsp; With it removed now, he sets the piece upon the table near him before arranging both shoulder guards so that they may dry properly.&nbsp; Stepping slowly away from her, his chest guard is thankfully not completely soaked through, and the buckles holding it down only take a moment’s of work for him to remove.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the breastplate comes off of him, so does a bit of the under-armor padding, revealing that he has on a simple shirt of grey cotton under it all.&nbsp; Clinging a bit to his chest, the muscles there are easily seen.&nbsp; “There is a bit of food, within my saddlebags.&nbsp; While it may not last for too very long, I am still offering to share it with you.”&nbsp; Giving a soft chuckle, his hands move down to the belt that holds his weapons upon it.&nbsp; “I cannot have my guest going hungry, as it would possibly put me upon the menu.”&nbsp; Tugging open his other belt then, he looks back to her with an expression of ‘please turn away now.’<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>24-10-2011, 19:42:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I can see why you wear these metal scales upon your skin.&nbsp; Perhaps I should consider adapting something similar to this form," Valka mused, running her hands over the part he had discarded onto the table.&nbsp; In fact, she had a rather glittery set that she had taken from the corpse of a Qalinesti elf a few years back.&nbsp; It hadn't done the elf much good, but it was quite pretty after she washed the blood and bits of cooked skin from it in the lake.&nbsp; "Yet it seems rather more ... restrictive ... than scales.&nbsp; Hmm ... I wonder if ...."<br><br>She noted his expression, and mimicked it as best she could, raising an eyebrow as if to ask if she was doing it correctly.&nbsp; It was a ... smile, if she remembered correctly.&nbsp; It did show more teeth, which wasn't exactly provident in the dragon world -- but with such flat things as these humans possessed, perhaps it wasn't that threatening after all.&nbsp; In humans, it was a thing denoting pleasure, enjoyment, or possibly conciliatory agreement -- that much she had read, but still it felt somewhat unnatural on her face.<br><br>He mentioned food, and she considered a long moment.&nbsp; She had experimented eating in human form - an apple, berries, things that she had noted humans seemed to like and found them tasty if lacking in a certain texture and robustness.&nbsp; Yet, she had fed in her own form only yesterday, and would not normally require food for several days at best.&nbsp; She did not seem to hunger.<br><br>While she pondered, she noted that he was staring at her with a peculiar expression on his face - somewhat between entreaty and demand, perhaps - and she recalled his earlier request of modesty.&nbsp; She chuckled, then turned to regard the wall while she spoke further.&nbsp; "You need have no fear of my dining upon you, Sir Knight.&nbsp; Humans are amongst my least favorite food - too much bone for too little meat, and stringy beside.&nbsp; Perhaps it would be best if we do not kill each other, then, as 'twould be wasteful to hunt something else were this the case."<br><br>"Your form is bigger than this one," she commented, gesturing toward his still-covered chest and then to her own, assuming that he would be watching her to ensure she did not watch what he wished her not to see.&nbsp; "Aside from these ... which is the mark of the female, among humans?&nbsp; Yet, I wonder ... do I err in fashioning this form?&nbsp; Among dragons, size denotes rank - and I have observed this is the case amongst human males, yet I am somewhat confused as to how the female of the species is ranked."<br><br>She wondered, perhaps, if it had something to do with those parts of the body humans normally kept covered.&nbsp; Did they denote some form of status that she was heretofore unaware?&nbsp; Though curious, she did not attempt to sate her curiosity.&nbsp; It would be rude.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>31-10-2011, 05:14:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chuckling softly at her words, his smile never fades.&nbsp; Filling his face with a warmth and light, it clearly is not a gesture of aggression as it would be with dragons.&nbsp; While there may be a lack of understanding between the cultures, the expression was easy enough to read.&nbsp; “Well, perhaps we may find something fine for you to wear, hmm?”&nbsp; As he speaks, he turns just a little to offer himself a tad bit of privacy in case she were to peek at him.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bending at the waist, a thunk is heard as he takes off one boot and then the next.&nbsp; Enjoying the sensation of both the release of his feet as well as stretching out his lower back, a low little groan of pleasure escapes his lips before he catches himself and goes quite again.&nbsp; Stripping off the greaves that cover his shins next, soon the chain leggings he has on hit the floor.&nbsp; Standing there only in the padding that runs under his armor, he looks upon himself for a long moment before shaking his head to himself.&nbsp; This will just not do, he thinks.&nbsp; Not only do these bits of padding stink of metal, they are a bit damp from the rain soaking through his armor.&nbsp; Removing them next, he reveals a muscular chest that has a dusting of black hair along him, with a little trail heading towards his nethers.&nbsp; Spreading the padding out over the table, he gives a little look to her before pulling down his leggings.&nbsp; Decently endowed, he is thicker than average even when soft.&nbsp; Carefully removing the padding, he then reaches out to take the leather leggings she had found within the shelter, left over from its previous occupant.&nbsp; Slipping them up his legs, they fit a bit snugly, and end up clinging to parts of him as if he was trying to show off.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“There, dry and changed.&nbsp; Now, while you may not require any food at the moment, I would care for some.”&nbsp; Moving to his backpack, he starts to pull out a few provisions as she asks questions about her form.&nbsp; Going still, he blinks slowly.&nbsp; “Those, yes…are the mark of being female.&nbsp; Along with the…between the legs.&nbsp; But what you have is more than ample…”&nbsp; Murmuring under his breath, she would still be able to hear him.&nbsp; “And quite exquisite…”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>02-11-2011, 03:19:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				There was, she decided, nothing of aesthetics in this constructed shelter.&nbsp; The flaps of cured leather and wood that kept the rain out also hid all but the faintest flash of lightning from the storm, and she could hear the thunder's rumble overhead.&nbsp; Her human hair crackled as the moisture and ionization affected it, and she ran her fingers through it while she honored the human's wish for modesty.&nbsp; It did give her some pleasure to see the faint sparks that tingled her fingertips as she applied the impromptu brushing, and she amused herself further by guessing what he was doing as her back was turned.<br><br>When he announced that he was done, she allowed herself to face him once more, curious to see what the lack of metal might reveal.&nbsp; She chuckled softly as he struggled a bit with the words.&nbsp; Humans ranged, or so she had heard, from quite open and matter of fact about matters of nature while others were reticent and shy.&nbsp; Somehow, she had not thought to see a follower of Takhisis among the latter.&nbsp; She also found it quite interesting that her own thoughts seemed somehow more disorganized on the subject than they had been as a dragon.&nbsp; Mating was something that happened when all the right circumstances were met (at least amongst the blues), and she had anticipated the day in an abstract sort of way but had given little thought to it.<br><br>It was both disconcerting and oddly pleasing to contemplate how the form might affect her in ways she had not anticipated.<br><br>"I'm glad you approve," she said, rather archly.&nbsp; As the room warmed, she felt more comfortable moving about the small shack, and moved away from the fire to sit on the bench near the table while she watched him retrieve his food.&nbsp; She fidgeted a bit, seeking the most comfortable position, finally opting to bring one leg underneath her while the other hung over the bench with her foot resting on the floor.&nbsp; "The wizard who taught me the spell did not seem to understand the particulars of female anatomy very well.&nbsp; I'm not even sure the fool realized that I wasn't a male until after the spell was cast."<br><br>She chuckled again at the memory, idly wondering whether she might not have insisted on some further recompense for the wand she had traded to obtain the spell.&nbsp; A silver brush, perhaps.&nbsp; There was such a brush in her treasure, she thought ... beneath the pouch of Ergothian coins and beside the shield with the Solamnian rose.&nbsp; However, if she was pressed into service of the Dragonqueen, it might well be ages before she could sate her curiosity about what could be done with this form.<br><br>"If you would indulge my curiosity as you eat, perhaps you could explain the reason for this 'modesty'.&nbsp; I see nothing about your form to suggest that it is inferior in any way to other humans.&nbsp; I am not, perhaps, a good judge - but you are much more pleasing to the eye than the scrawny wizard with whom I dealt, or the woodsman who built this hut certainly.&nbsp; When I see a thing I like ... be it a flower or a gem or some other trifle, it brings me pleasure to gaze upon it.&nbsp; Is it not the same with humans?"<br><br>There was true curiosity in her words, if also a bit of teasing.&nbsp; Even amongst their own kind they did such, though often with more cruelty.&nbsp; Valka had not yet sharpened her teeth upon cruelty, but she was young yet.&nbsp; She had only the beginnings of understanding of how to wield words as if they were claw, teeth or breath.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>02-11-2011, 05:18:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Listening to her play with her hair, and the static electricity that was snapping and popping, a little smile comes to his face.&nbsp; Many times he had done the same, save for he would do so in a darkened room so he could watch the sparks.&nbsp; Apparently, even dragons and humans were amused by simple things at times.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Standing before her, his hair still hangs around his shoulders from the rain, but the rest of his body has dried off well enough.&nbsp; With the pants tight upon his legs, even the crotch is a bit tighter than really should be.&nbsp; But it does give an idea to just how the man is equipped, in addition to the differences between the male and female human bodies.&nbsp; As she sits and moves into a more comfortable position, she can feel the Knight’s eyes trail along her and dip to look between her legs at times.&nbsp; Not lingering there, the looks are fleeting little glimpses as he moves about gathering up a few dried rations.&nbsp; Unfortunately for him though, her movements were showing herself off rather nicely and causing his pants to grow even tighter as a noticeable bulge is growing there.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“My modesty simply stems from my parents, to be truthful.”&nbsp; Shaking his head a little, she can hear tones of regret along with anger in his voice.&nbsp; “My past, is not what you would think of as typical for a Knight of Neraka.&nbsp; While I serve our Queen and the cause, I do so in my own ways.”&nbsp; Taking a bit of the dried meat from a waxed piece of paper, he moves to where the fire is contently burning in the hearth.&nbsp; Looking around for a pan, he finds one, only to have to clean out a couple layers of dust from it.&nbsp; Sluicing it down with a bit of water, he finally sets it upon the heated stones with the meat in the pan to warm.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I still retain a few of my parent’s…morals, if you would think of it as that.&nbsp; In truth, they have made my job easier at times.&nbsp; Since I am able to approach tasks with a different view than some of the more cruel and harsh Knights.”&nbsp; Chuckling softly, he keeps an eye upon the hearth as he waits for the meat to cook.&nbsp; “You catch more with honey, than you do vinegar.&nbsp; But still, the most flies will come to blood.” <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>02-11-2011, 13:55:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Morals.&nbsp; Strange.&nbsp; I had not thought of modesty as a moral, but perhaps it is less needful amongst dragons.&nbsp; Those who have grown big and strong brag to show their strength and discourage challenge.&nbsp; Those who are foolish and weak also brag, and they are challenged and defeated.&nbsp; &nbsp;Those like I, who have not yet come -- dare I say it? -- into their full potential do well to adopt a more humble demeanor when encountering one of my brethren.&nbsp; I have ... avoided it whenever possible since leaving my sire and dam.&nbsp; 'Twas my sire who taught me much of what I know of humans, though I am not certain how much of it he learned from practical experience."&nbsp; Vaska's eyes traveled with him as he prepared his food, noting the way he moved with interest.&nbsp; The front of his borrowed pants seemed to be causing him some difficulties, but since he had shown discomfort when mentioning the area between the legs, it seemed rude to comment.&nbsp; That it was rude to stare did not seem to occur to her, save for avoiding challenge by not gazing too long into his eyes.<br><br>She shied away from his mention of serving the Queen.&nbsp; That was a topic best left untested given their current circumstances.&nbsp; She, herself, still wanted no part of this war, even if she was beginning to question the wisdom of believing herself ready to masquerade with any real success as a human.<br><br>The part about flies confused her, however, and she settled upon it as a less contentious topic of conversation. "Why would you wish to catch flies? "&nbsp; Flies were attracted to blood, she knew, from her own injuries - and she had found them annoying and bothersome.&nbsp; They were also attracted to ... other things ... that she preferred not to think about.&nbsp; &nbsp;Her lips quirked in a smile as she realized that she might be more 'modest' than she had thought, at least about certain things.&nbsp; <br><br>Watching him was interesting.&nbsp; &nbsp; It was strangely exciting to feel his eyes on her human form, challenging and piercing, before they slid away.&nbsp; It called to her in a primal way, invoking her own instincts and almost making her forget that she was in an altered form.&nbsp; Perhaps it was not so surprising that he had some draconic mannerisms, given whom he served.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>05-11-2011, 08:39:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With him being able to focus upon the pan in front of him, along with their seemingly idle chatter, she would notice that the bulge that had been growing at the front of his pants was slowly starting to subside.&nbsp; Flipping the meat with his fingers, the smell of warming beef fills the little shelter with its aroma.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Morals are…interesting, to be honest.&nbsp; Some would consider modesty one, while others would not.&nbsp; I am interested to hear more of what your sire taught you, to be honest.&nbsp; If nothing else, I could perhaps see about offering a human’s perspective to his words?”&nbsp; With the meat now warming through nicely, he stands up to glance around the shelter.&nbsp; Pursing his lips together slightly, he finally finds what he is looking for in the form of a small metal plate.&nbsp; Stepping over to take the plate off of a shelf near the hearth, she is able to get a better look at his lower body now.&nbsp; Muscular calves move into thick thighs that are just highlighted by the snug fitting breeches that he has borrowed.&nbsp; Turning back to the hearth then, he quickly snatches the meat out and onto the plate.&nbsp; Blowing on his fingers for a moment, he nudges the skillet out of the direct flames with the metal edge of his plate before stepping away again.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Are you certain you would not care for some?&nbsp; I do not wish you to go without.”&nbsp; Settling himself down upon the bed, he waits for the meat to cool just a tiny bit as he looks over to her again.&nbsp; “Flies…it is a metaphor, for dealing with others.&nbsp; You find most are willing to help if you are sweet to them, like honey.&nbsp; And from that, I believe a lady of your obvious intellect can easily piece together the rest of the implications of that particular phrase.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>06-11-2011, 02:49:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Valka leaned toward the rough table, propping her torso on folded arms as a cushion.&nbsp; It was not terribly unlike the more familiar resting posture she used in her natural form, if somewhat backwards.&nbsp; She turned her attention toward the knight, her eyes following him with interest.&nbsp; "It was his thought that humans and dragons had things in common - a love for things that shine and glitter, an appreciation for power and intellect.&nbsp; He also said that the differences amongst them was not unlike that of dragons, but you wear your colors on the inside where they are much harder to see."<br><br>The food he warmed in the fire had a good smell, and she inhaled the aroma with appreciation.&nbsp; Had she been hungry ... but it would be a wasteful thing to eat when she was not, especially of his food.&nbsp; "Perhaps ... just a taste, once you have eaten your fill.&nbsp; I should not refuse a new experience, especially one that seems ... delightful."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>07-11-2011, 09:18:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Moving across the small shelter takes Althair only a couple of steps, and within a moment he is at the small table where she sits.&nbsp; Placing the small plate upon the table, he pushes a bit of his drying armor out of the way so that he may have a little place to eat.&nbsp; The leather belt that he had placed over the back of a chair has a little sheath upon it, containing a little knife for cutting meat and other foods.&nbsp; Withdrawing it, he cuts off a good sized piece of meat from his own.&nbsp; Looking at it for a moment, the then cuts a bite sized piece off and places it within his mouth.&nbsp; Chewing it slowly, he swallows clearly as if almost he was demonstrating that the meat was indeed safe to be eaten.&nbsp; Then cutting off another bite sized piece, he makes certain this one is just a tiny bit smaller than the first before taking it within his fingers.&nbsp; Reaching out to her, he holds the piece of meat out to her.&nbsp; Almost seeming as if he was meaning to feed her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Please, do have a taste.&nbsp; There is more than enough for us both, for a few days at the least.&nbsp; If we are trapped here for longer, then I will work upon some magics to protect myself from the storm so that I may forage.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>08-11-2011, 02:02:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				For a moment, there was an odd juxtaposition in Valka's mind, as if she had forgotten the shape she wore, and her eyes brightened to a jewel-toned blue before she took a sharp breath and tipped her head upward as if to deny the vision.&nbsp; Not many creatures were brave enough to near a dragon's mouth, but in this form teeth were not such a consideration.<br><br>She smiled faintly, and leaned forward toward his outstretched hand in a slow and careful motion that demonstrated her grace, no matter the form.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Her hands remained folded upon the table, in a relaxed posture.&nbsp; Her eyes compensated for the motion, staying locked on his face as she took the offered bite.&nbsp; In this form, her teeth were small and white, with only a faint hint of pointed canines, and they closed delicately over the warmed meat.&nbsp; Her warm breath wafted over his fingers for a second, and then another, before she straightened, chewing slowly.<br><br>"It is ... not bad," she said after a moment.&nbsp; The taste and scent was pleasant, but the texture was not like any meat she had ever eaten, requiring more chewing than she was used to, and something warned her against swallowing too quickly.&nbsp; "What animal?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>09-11-2011, 21:47:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not having fully realized the implications of his actions until he saw her slowly start to move towards his fingers, he quickly debated upon pulling his hand back.&nbsp; Realizing though, such an action would be a clear sign of weakness to her, he keeps his hand and arm outstretched for her to take the meat from his fingers.&nbsp; As her teeth took the piece of meat, he dared a little more.&nbsp; Touching his finger to her soft lips, he smears a bit of the juices from it on her so that she may have even more of a taste.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“If you wish, there is certainly enough for you to dine as well.”&nbsp; A bit of mirth comes to his eyes then.&nbsp; With her pulling back to sit, his own hand moves back at a relaxed pace to cut off another bite sized piece of meat.&nbsp; Taking it within his own mouth, there seems to be something of a deliberate meaning to his motions.&nbsp; He is the superior here, and will eat first.&nbsp; And when she eats, it would be at his discretion.&nbsp; Lifting a small piece again, he offers it slowly out to her, with his eyes meeting hers again.&nbsp; Clearly leaving his hand out, there is no hesitance as he looks to feed her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“This is beef, though preserved in a means for travel.&nbsp; Salted heavily, so that it will not spoil.&nbsp; It has been cooked before, so all I have to do is warm it.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>10-11-2011, 03:00:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The brush of his fingers against her lips brought an interesting sensation.&nbsp; Usually the only things that touched the sensitive lining to a dragon's mouth was struggling to get away, or perhaps twitching while the body had not quite adjusted to being dead.&nbsp; The meat, however, was something that she would not choose to eat simply for the way it resisted the flat, human teeth.&nbsp; &nbsp;As he held out another piece of meat toward her, she debated accepting it out of politeness, or possibly to explore the sensation of touch, but there was something in his eyes -- a glimmer that was not entirely unfamiliar -- that evoked something of a challenge response in her despite the truce between them.<br><br>"Thank you for your courtesy ... but my curiosity has been satisfied as to the taste.&nbsp; Beef - that is the herd creatures that humans keep for food and the <i>lac</i>.&nbsp; Cattle?&nbsp; I have eaten those creatures before.&nbsp; They do not run as fast as deer, nor are they as deft in seeking cover."&nbsp; Valka had heard of milk and knew that humans made things from it, but it was out of her experience.&nbsp; Young dragons were fed on partially digested meat rather than mother's milk, and she found the idea exceedingly strange.<br><br>Her eyes strayed down to her cleavage, and without giving it much thought, pushed at the rounded globes that the borrowed shirt strained to fully conceal.&nbsp; If she understood it correctly, the breasts of the female provided <i>lac</i> to human young, but they were also the subject of much fascination to human males.&nbsp; Perhaps there was some pheromone involved that she had not yet experienced.<br><br>She looked back toward the knight, wondering if it would be impolite to inquire.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>10-11-2011, 08:59:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Catching that little glimmer of a challenge within her eyes as well, his hand remains outstretched for a moment longer.&nbsp; Simply watching her, his eyes trail down towards her full breasts as he follows her gaze.&nbsp; Enjoying the view for a moment, his arm remains outstretched as he speaks.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Indeed, they are the beasts that many raise for both milk and meat.&nbsp; In addition, their hides make wonderful leather when treated properly.&nbsp; I also remember talk of glue being made from them.”&nbsp; Rambling for a moment his voice stops as he offers a small smile.&nbsp; “Please, have another bite.&nbsp; For my sake, if nothing else?”&nbsp; Speaking in an open manner now, his gaze falls back upon her face for a moment.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>11-11-2011, 02:07:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The mention of glue caused Valka to raise an eyebrow, but she did not ask.&nbsp; &nbsp;Likely there were many words that she had yet to learn, even though she had considered her command of the human tongue to be quite good.&nbsp; 'A conceit of the young," she murmured, thinking of her Sire, who had said similar things many times.&nbsp; &nbsp;After her Dam's death, he had gone to serve the Dark Queen and she had moved on to find her own territory soon after.&nbsp; Perhaps that was one bright spot if she were to be conscripted.<br><br>She regarded his offer with eyes grown bright with the momentary weakness of memory, and leaned forward once more to take the piece of warmed meat from his hand.&nbsp; It did not escape her attention that his eyes often strayed downward to the portion of her body that was covered.&nbsp; It seemed a bold thing, but not disrespectful, and it caused interesting reactions in this unpracticed form - reactions of warmth and increased sensitivity in areas that already seemed overly disposed to tactile stimulation.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>With the storm raging overhead and buffeting the shelter with rain and the occasional burst of wind, it did not seem terribly ill advised to seize the opportunity to experiment and learn.&nbsp; Rather than leaning forward as she had previously, she rose with serpentine grace and skirted the edge of the crude table.&nbsp; Her eyes followed his with interest, gauging his reaction.&nbsp; Slowly, she moved until she was at his side, and bent her knees outward as her body folded until her mouth was level with his hand, with perhaps half a foot separating them.&nbsp; Her eyes sought his as she opened her mouth and waited.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>11-11-2011, 05:02:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Giving her a sidelong glance as she murmurs those words, it seems that he hears what she says but chooses to not comment about it.&nbsp; As she takes the meat from his fingers, once again he touches her lips with a small brush of the tips of them.&nbsp; This time however, it is less of a means to offer her the juices of the meat, and more seeming as if he enjoys the feeling of her.&nbsp; Letting his finger linger upon her lips for a moment longer than is absolutely necessary, he pulls his hand back before the touch would prove awkward.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Turning his attention back towards his plate, he cuts off another piece of the meat to bring it up to his lips.&nbsp; Savoring the flavor of the meat, he gives a little surprised look as she moves closer towards him.&nbsp; As she opens her mouth, giving him thoughts of her wanting more of the food, there is a little chuckle.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“A little meat, and the beautiful dragon is as content as a lap cat?&nbsp; I will have to keep this in mind for any future meetings…&nbsp; Though, mayhaps I might not wish to have them as close as this particular lady.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Speaking with a little mirth at first, he carves off another bite sized piece to offer out to her.&nbsp; Teasing her lips with it this time, his motions and tone have definitely taken on that of being a bit more relaxed.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>14-11-2011, 22:08:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Lap cat?" Valka asked, raising an eyebrow as she accepted a final piece and moved back toward the fire.&nbsp; "I have no idea what the creature you describe might be, but I am hardly content, though this is preferable to being hauled away in chains to meet my queen's chastisement.&nbsp; Since it has not been decided that this will not happen anyway, perhaps it is only delaying the inevitable.&nbsp; Yet even one such as I would not care to be aloft in such a storm as this."<br><br>She gave the bit in her mouth a few token chews before swallowing it as she soaked in the heat from the fire, and she blew out a small breath of frustration.&nbsp; The small shelter suddenly seemed too small, and the cloth that preserved human modesty even tighter than it had before.<br><br>Still, there was little use in dwelling upon it, so long as the truce held.&nbsp; She turned her head to gaze over her shoulder at the knight.&nbsp; "I thank you for sharing your food, and your courtesy.&nbsp; It is pleasant not to be regarded with fear, as I have come to expect from most of your kind, or threat, which I would likely receive from mine."<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>16-11-2011, 05:24:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shaking his head slowly as she bristles at being referred to as content, he watches her move towards the fire.&nbsp; Taking another bit, he chews upon it slowly before speaking.&nbsp; “No, I was not meaning that you should be pleased with this…arrangement.&nbsp; But more, I was trying my hand at jesting with you.”&nbsp; Letting forth a tiny sigh, if she were to look, she would see that his shoulders move just a tiny bit downwards and towards his chest.&nbsp; “I shall be certain to refrain from doing so again.”<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At her comment of thanking him though, his head turns to regard her with a curious look within his eyes.&nbsp; Pausing for a long moment, he shakes his head again as a hand comes up slowly.&nbsp; “You have nothing to thank me for.&nbsp; This is only the job that I am tasked, not something that I relish doing.&nbsp; Perhaps in time, they may see fit to grant me a companion to ride of my own, instead of this work.&nbsp; It certainly would be less of a danger at times.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>16-11-2011, 22:29:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Scant less, should it come to war as the Queen wishes, I should think.&nbsp; The dragons and those who ride them will be no more spared than her footsoldiers - and less likely to slip away from misfortune.&nbsp; Why do you do this?&nbsp; We dragons - at least those who have not yet come into their full growth - have little choice, even though we stand to gain little and lose all.&nbsp; Some relish battle, cutting a swath through any that stand before them with breath, magic and claw -- are you one such as those?"<br><br>She continued to look to the flames, though she turned her head slightly to look at him out of the corners of her eyes.&nbsp; She found, to her surprise, that she felt some regret for rebuffing his attempt at humor - but it simply was not in her to jest about freedom.&nbsp; Humor she understood, in part, but she shared her kins' trait of finding nothing to joke about regarding loss of treasure, territory or freedom.<br><br>She also did not think him one such as she had described.&nbsp; She didn't understand his motives yet, but she didn't think him consumed by the need to overcome any perceived challenge.&nbsp; He seemed ... measured, disciplined.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>17-11-2011, 09:46:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I would gladly meet battle with an enemy, head on, rather than rely upon the grace and amusement of other beings.&nbsp; I prefer to stand upon my own merits….rather than the ones I return to the fold, if the meaning of my words comes through clearly?”&nbsp; Speaking in a low tone, there does seem to be a slight note of regret to his voice, almost as if he does not wish to be judged upon what others do.&nbsp; But his own efforts instead.&nbsp; After his words cease, he looks to the little bit of meat left upon his plate.&nbsp; The sound of his chair scraping along the wooden floor of the shelter is heard as he pushes himself away from the table to stand.&nbsp; Taking the plate in his hand, he covers the small distance between them so that he may stand beside her.&nbsp; Holding the plate out to her, he gaze meets hers, with an honest and open expression.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I have a proposal for you, if you would care.&nbsp; For the length of this storm, we shall be companions and not speak of returning to anywhere.&nbsp; But instead, simply see what can be done to enjoy the time here, along with our freedom.&nbsp; Be it short or long lived, we treat each other as equals till the time comes for us to part ways.”&nbsp; Holding out the plate of meat to her, it seems that he means it as something of a peace offering between the two of them.&nbsp; Or at the very least, a little way for him to show that there is honesty to his words.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I do not relish battle, and would rather be left to my studies.&nbsp; But battle, along with my speaking to your kind is something I find myself talented in.&nbsp; I serve the Queen without hesitation, as if she were to rule…there could finally be order to the lands.”&nbsp; Of course, he does not speak of how the order would by utter tyranny.&nbsp; But, it still would be an improvement to the chaos that covers the lands in his mind.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>21-11-2011, 02:30:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Valka nodded once as he spoke.&nbsp; She had no experience with being judged upon the merits of others, but it did not seem a worthy endeavor to her.&nbsp; She had heard, or perhaps read, that a man might be judged upon the quality of his enemies.&nbsp; Valka had thought it profound at the time, but when she repeated it to to her Sire, he had laughed. He had said that it was no hard feat to have powerful enemies -- only those that had been defeated were of note.<br><br>It was something that she did not quite understand, but she did know that she did not consider this man an enemy.&nbsp; &nbsp;Dragons were under an obligation to the DragonQueen, through agreements made longer than her Sire's Sire, and his Grandsire had been alive.&nbsp; There was an obligation - but Valka questioned whether dragons had the right to set obligations for their offspring's offspring's offspring. <br><br>"I will admit to liking some form of order, myself ... but I cannot help but notice that life does not always attend itself to order.&nbsp; &nbsp; I see no harm in honoring your proposal.&nbsp; What happens after shall happen."<br><br>She looked down toward the plate, and smiled, placing her hand over his.&nbsp; "Thank you, but I have satisfied my curiosity as to the taste.&nbsp; I have not had much of human food, but when it comes to meat, I prefer ... fresh."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>27-11-2011, 01:50:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Life is not always orderly, but I am not looking to have all life controlled…that would be somewhat less than ideal, if you think about it.&nbsp; But just to have the wars of men stop, all of us united under the glory of our Queen?”&nbsp; When she places her hand over his, his thoughts turn inwards for a moment there.&nbsp; Suddenly realizing how close she is to his side, along with her soft skin along his slightly more weathered skin, that tightness of his pants is starting to reappear once again.&nbsp; While he had never actually thought of it before, the idea of perhaps laying with one of the mighty dragons suddenly had an appeal in his mind.&nbsp; What if, not only one could be his mount, but a companion in all of the sense of the word?&nbsp; Moving his free hand up to take away the plate from his one hand, he lets her hand remain upon his as he stands there in thought.&nbsp; While doing so, his own hand turns under hers so that their fingers can slip in between each others.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Fresh, of course.&nbsp; When the storm passes, would you be opposed to some hunting?&nbsp; I would trouble you for a bit of the kill, if you do not mind sharing your meal with me.”&nbsp; Pausing just a tiny bit, his head turns to look over towards her.&nbsp; “As well, might you tell me some of yourself?&nbsp; I am finding myself interested in knowing more about you, as well as your kind.” <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>29-11-2011, 02:22:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Conflict is part of living, and wars will never stop.&nbsp; The queen's command of my kind can only forge temporary truce and even that imperfectly," Valka answered, her lips curving in a smile.&nbsp; Rather than emphasizing her dragon blood, the expression softened her face.&nbsp; "And I do not see our Queen presiding upon peace, any more than I would gladly feast upon grass and tubers."<br><br>The feeling of his fingers intertwining with hers was a novel sensation, and she raised their joined hands to gain a closer look.&nbsp; She had not truly appreciated how human fingers and hands communicated sensation.&nbsp; It had not surprised her to experience pain, but there was something to be said for the pleasures of touch.&nbsp; His hand was warm and soft, though roughened in places, and there was no sense of softness or weakness in the gentle grip.<br><br>Almost absently, she found herself agreeing to a hunt, without considering the implications of trust or how such a thing would be be managed.&nbsp; &nbsp;She rather liked the thought of demonstrating her skills.&nbsp; &nbsp;"The hunting is good here still, though the storm will have made the prey wary unless it lasts so long that hunger drives them more than fear -- I would be pleased to hunt."<br><br>Being caught was not so unpleasant as she had imagined, though she rather doubted that most of the Queen's soldiers would have been so understanding -- no more than she really hoped the Queen would understand her rebellion.&nbsp; However, the Queen relied on her servants for much ... and Valka did not deceive herself that her defection would be important enough to deal with directly.<br><br>"What is it you wish to know?" she asked, her head snapping up as she shook away the thoughts of tomorrow and what might be.&nbsp; She felt ... flattered ... that he had asked.&nbsp; Dragons loved to speak of themselves, but it was a privilege generally reserved to the larger and more powerful wyrms.&nbsp; "I am from the second hatching of my sire and dam, and the second to hatch.&nbsp; My sire feared that my egg was damaged, as I emerged so much later than my brother.&nbsp; My dam says that my hatching has set my pattern for life, as I am almost invariably late for any appointment.&nbsp; I daresay that she is not mistaken."<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>29-11-2011, 22:42:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Conflict is inevitable, yes.&nbsp; But it is also our nature to try and rally against it…”&nbsp; Letting his words trail off into a soft chuckle, his fingers that are slipped in between hers give a tiny squeeze.&nbsp; Seeming to be perhaps a gesture of friendship or something else, she can feel the power of his grip, but he manages to restrain it without even thinking.&nbsp; “I know, it is that fighting against conflict that perpetuates the cycle…and keeps conflict from ever really ending.”&nbsp; Shaking his head slowly, he grows quiet for a long moment as they remain close to each other’s side.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eventually, his hand slips out from hers, with his fingertips lingering upon her hand for longer that might be thought absolutely necessary.&nbsp; Not moving from her side though, the hand that had been within her absently moves up to rest upon the small of her back.&nbsp; Just inches above the curve of her rear, his fingers are placed there with a light touch.&nbsp; “I will trust you to hunt, if you would like to.&nbsp; I only ask, that you do return and not simply use the chance to escape?&nbsp; I understand this must be distasteful, but…”&nbsp; Shaking his head slowly, he lets his words trail off a bit.&nbsp; “It must be less than enjoyable to be trapped here so.&nbsp; Even with the storm making flying difficult, I am certain that you could find a way to travel on.”<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shaking his head once again after speaking that, he looks over to her while forcing a smile upon his face.&nbsp; “But let’s not dwell on that.&nbsp; Instead, I am more interested in learning about the beautiful lady that happens to stand beside me.&nbsp; What is it that you enjoy?&nbsp; What of your sire and dam?&nbsp; I believe they must have been of a great lineage, to produce you.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>30-11-2011, 23:55:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“To escape now would only further invite the Queen’s wrath.&nbsp; &nbsp;I will not chance that ...” she left unspoken the qualifier ‘yet’.&nbsp; In time, the Queen’s attention would be on the wars she fought – and the dragons that rallied to her cause would grow restless and territorial at the thought of their hordes and matings so that their passion for conquest dimmed.&nbsp; When that happened, there would be opportunities for a quick, nimble youngster such as herself to slip away.<br><br>“I see you have learned much of my kind …” she said softly, her lips curving into an amused smile that was, despite herself, pleased.&nbsp; &nbsp;She had not learned enough of humans to know quite how to preen in this form,&nbsp; but she lifted her hand to run down her mane of curls and to smooth down the borrowed shirt that strained to cover as much of her body as it did.&nbsp; “My sire is Cobaltagos Blackwing, my dam Twilleastra …” and she continued on, the names flowing from her lips with the ease of long practice.&nbsp; In some cases she gave the names of her ancestors including their elven names or names given to them by humans of the lands they occupied, but she stopped herself before reaching more than five generations back.&nbsp; <br><br>“And what of you … humans … mothers and fathers?&nbsp; stay together to raise their young, as we blues do, is that so?&nbsp; From whom do you spring?”<br><br>There was something oddly exciting about the conversation that brought a flush to her neck and chest and sensitized already heightened senses, which caused her to tug absently at the cloth of her shirt.&nbsp; Her eyes widened and her head tilted up to gaze at him as a slightly speculative gleam entered her eyes with the realization that such things were discussed by those of her kind considering … mating.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>04-12-2011, 05:36:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Picking up on that little unsaid ‘yet’ in her words, he spares her a little glance as she lets her words trail off.&nbsp; There is a little knowing smile upon his face, as if he knows just what she is thinking.&nbsp; Once the battles were to begin in earnest, it would not be hard for a younger and smaller dragon to slip away.&nbsp; Perhaps she could even go so far as to fake their own death, in one of the battles, to then slip away when the forces regrouped.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Still watching her as she starts to list off her lineage, it seems that he chose a proper topic to speak of, he thinks to himself.&nbsp; Actually recognizing one of the names she rattles off, his eyes go a bit wide.&nbsp; Not wishing to interrupt her though, he waits until she has finished before speaking in a soft tone.&nbsp; “Sunnulaeth?”&nbsp; Using the elven name for one of her ancestors, his voice has a little incredulous tone to it, as if he could not believe what he heard.&nbsp; “I have heard tales of him, about how he managed to carve a large swatch of land for himself many years ago.&nbsp; Even managing to claim territory that the minotaurs.”&nbsp; Giving her a look of clear admiration, the hand that still is upon her back gives a little movement of appreciation and encouragement by running a bit higher on her back.&nbsp; “I am now, even more honored to be in your presence.&nbsp; I did not know who I had been sent to speak with.&nbsp; To find that she is both lovely, and of a very prestigious lineage.”<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When she asks of his own parents though, he shakes his head slowly.&nbsp; “I am of very common stock, so to speak.&nbsp; My father a simple mage of the Red Robes, and my mother a maid who he fathered a child with.&nbsp; I was born out of wedlock, with hampered any progression that I would have had with the other order of Knights.&nbsp; And my less than orthodox means of approaching magic, found me outside the Tower’s care.&nbsp; Still though, I enjoy my life and my service to the Queen.”&nbsp; Turning to look at the fire, he lets out a slow sigh as his hand falls once again to rest just above the curve of her rear.&nbsp; Speaking softly, he does not turn his face to look at her, though his eyes are glancing over to judge her reaction.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“If circumstances were different, this is where I would ask if you were looking for a companion or rider for yourself…”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>04-12-2011, 23:23:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"My ancestors were, and are, distinguished.&nbsp; I have yet to prove myself, though I hope to be worthy of their examples."&nbsp; She felt absurdly flattered, and only her strong desire to appear dignified kept her from twisting her body to indicate the pleasure of his regard.&nbsp; Though it was likely foolishness in the extreme to be so taken in by a human who was essentially her captor at best. <br><br>"Any human gifted with the ability to do magic is hardly common.&nbsp; Magic is a thing of value among both humans and dragons, is it not -- and a mark of distinction as well?&nbsp; Or is this another example of 'modesty'?"<br><br>She did not believe his protestations of coming from common stock.&nbsp; The Queen did not suffer ordinary, or so her Sire had said and so it must be.&nbsp; Besides, to consider him anything less than exemplary would have further damaged her ego, which had been bruised enough by her careless errors.<br><br>At his tentative query, and the sidelong look that accompanied it, she almost bridled, but simply did not find it in herself to take offense.&nbsp; "Few blues willingly seek riders - it is a thing to be tolerated when the Queen demands or when such a joining offers rare advantage, or so I have been taught.&nbsp; A companion ... is a rare thing as well, outside our own species.&nbsp; Had it not been for the Queen's call, I would have begun my search for a mate ..."<br><br>Though blue dragons stayed together when matings produced eggs until the hatchlings were old enough to hunt for themselves, and the mated pairs often became monogamous unless death claimed one, young blues were given more leeway to experiment -- something she had been looking forward to experiencing.<br><br>"What of you ... have you a companion?&nbsp; A mate?"<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>07-12-2011, 03:41:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Curling his fingers towards the palm of his hand, it would cause his fingernails to drag along her soft skin through the slight bit of cloth that is keeping them from skin to skin contact.&nbsp; Not really thinking about the motion, of just how it might make her feel, his thoughts are more intent upon the lady beside him.&nbsp; Speaking softly, his voice has dropped to just a bit above a whisper now and is decidedly deeper in pitch.&nbsp; “My grandfather, on my mother’s side, did distinguish himself a bit.&nbsp; Though his actions were great, they are not in ways that I choose to see as proper, as he was a cleric of Kiri-Jolith.&nbsp; He was a great and honorable man, they say.”&nbsp; Shrugging his shoulders just a small bit, his words trail off into obvious thought.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Going quiet for a long moment, his gaze turns away from her to look to the fire again.&nbsp; Realizing that it was growing a bit low, from their time spent talking, he moves away from her side.&nbsp; Stepping to the pile of wood with a bit of reluctance, he gathers a couple of logs within his arms to bring them back to the hearth.&nbsp; Banking one log to the side, he draws some of the coals along it so that they will smolder and continue to produce heat for some time.&nbsp; The other piece of wood is a bit smaller, which he places on top of the coals so that it will ignite immediately and provide light and heat for the moment.&nbsp; Once he is done though, Althair slips back alongside her.&nbsp; Smiling as the light of the coals wash across his skin, the arm that had been along her back now moves around her waist slowly.&nbsp; “I do not have a mate, nor even any companions other than the horse that I ride.&nbsp; An agreeable animal, yes.&nbsp; He still is no match for your company.”&nbsp; Sighing a little wistfully, his eyes do glance over to her again.&nbsp; “Whoever you grace with your presence, will be a lucky individual indeed.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>10-12-2011, 22:49:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Valka was surprised to find thoughts were jumbled and unclear.&nbsp; She was very aware of the movement of his hand across the clothing she wore.&nbsp; It provoked a pleasant sensation not unlike the sun heating her scales while she basked upon the warming rocks, though it was much more localized.&nbsp; Perhaps a better comparison would have been scraping at loosening scales upon the surface of that same sun-warmed rock, which scratched an itch that nonetheless continued to spread so that the thought of stopping the pleasant torture became increasingly difficult.<br><br>She was definitely not certain that she was pleased, a disturbing thought in and of itself, when he stopped and moved to the fire.&nbsp; &nbsp;Her eyes followed him, noting that he moved with a certain serpentine certainty that was familiar.&nbsp; &nbsp;Her own thoughts were jumbled and unclear, almost as if she was not quite awake.&nbsp; "Horses seem well enough to carry you, with their long legs, certainly.&nbsp; &nbsp;As food, they are stringy and less flavorful than deer or even sheep.&nbsp; I had not noticed that they provide much in the way of companionship, though yours seem more ... sensible than most."<br><br>She was foolishly pleased to have his arm circle around her once more, and the force of her own pleasure aroused a sudden suspicion.&nbsp; &nbsp;Her eyes narrowed&nbsp; and her head tipped back to look at him.&nbsp; "Is this some magic you have worked upon me?&nbsp; You are truly gifted, for I sensed not even a whisper of power -- but it is not necessary.&nbsp; I have given my word."<br><br>Though it was meant to be an accusation, what emerged sounded more like a simple question, and the heat in her gaze might have contained anger, but it was overshadowed by other conflicting emotions that he could read easily on her unschooled human face -- longing that was akin to his own, and a slowly awakening hunger, and her own growing frustration with her own confusion.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>11-12-2011, 01:10:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Keeping his arm around her as they stand there near the flames, he pivots just a tiny bit upon his heels to end up facing her.&nbsp; As she speaks of horses, and how they taste, she can see a little look of disgust overtaking his face.&nbsp; He had eaten horse before, but only under the direst of circumstances.&nbsp; And even then, it had nearly made him sick to even do so.&nbsp; But, one will do what is needed to survive he thinks, and that she is a dragon.&nbsp; To her, a horse really is just another animal to be eaten.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“We tend to think of horses as more companions, rather than food.&nbsp; So I will take your word upon how they are in regards to sheep.”&nbsp; As she makes a comment about his own mount being sensible, there is a little chuckle companied by a smile.&nbsp; “She is a nice mare, and a little older.&nbsp; So that does make things easier, as she is a bit more compliant.”&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;However, when she looks to him and asks the question if he has worked any magic on her, she can see the answer in his face before he even speaks.&nbsp; His face drops a bit, looking completely baffled at first and then seeming a bit hurt by the semi-accusation.&nbsp; Shaking his head as he speaks, he turns to fully face her now.&nbsp; “I have worked no magic at all.&nbsp; I have given my word as well, and will stay to it.”&nbsp; Pausing as both of his hands move to rest on her hips, he then speaks in a soft tone as his eyes meet hers.&nbsp; “I offer you my word, that I have worked nothing on you.&nbsp; Save for whatever effect my words have had.&nbsp; If they do speak to you, then…”&nbsp; Letting his voice trail off for a moment, he lowers his gaze slowly as he speaks in a very soft tone.&nbsp; “If they have, then you are not the only one who is feeling…a pull to the other.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>11-12-2011, 23:02:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"This human form ..." Valka whispered softly, her eyes dropping, "is very strange.&nbsp; I did not expect to be other than what I am, no matter my appearance.&nbsp; I am me, and yet I am ... changed.&nbsp; Would this confusion disappear if I took back my own form?"<br><br>Even as she spoke, however, she knew that it would not.&nbsp; She had had a taste of knowledge, and there was no unknowing unless one allowed oneself to be driven away from it by fear, and a dragon who felt fear a disgrace, worse ... an abomination.<br><br>"Humans are vulnerable to many things, with their pale and soft skin&nbsp; ... and yet ...."&nbsp; she swallowed once, hard.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Strengths bring their own weaknesses.&nbsp; I never realized."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>11-12-2011, 23:38:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Keeping his hands upon her hips, the Knight before her watches her speak with curious and intense eyes.&nbsp; Listening to her, it is with a slow nod of his head that he responds.&nbsp; “We both have strengths and weaknesses, inherent to each form.”&nbsp; His words are soft, and as he lets them escape his lips, his head is moving down just a bit towards her.&nbsp; “However, there are…&nbsp; Some advantages to being in this form.&nbsp; Such as this.”&nbsp; Without thinking about the ramifications of what he is about to do, his head tilts just a bit to the side as it comes closer towards her.&nbsp; Moving in, he touches his lips to hers softly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>12-12-2011, 01:40:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Valka shivered slightly, much as she had when she had come to her senses after being hit with the mage's spell and found herself on the shore of the lake, soaked to the skin.&nbsp; This time, however, it was not from the cold -- the only part of her body that didn't feel flushed with heat from the fire and from the nearness of Althair were her feet, upon the rough flooring of the shelter.<br><br>Sensations were almost overwhelming, from the rough dig of splinters pressing against her toes, to the heat of the fire which she could feel on her legs, and the slightly abrasive feel of the fabric from her borrowed shirt and the constriction of the material across her breasts.&nbsp; To feel another's touch was both shocking and familiar -- echoes of her early life when contact with her hatch-ling, her brother, and her sire and dam had been a comforting and frequent presence. <br><br>Yet the touch of scales rubbing against scales was was a pale comparison to what this human form experienced as flesh met flesh.&nbsp; Unthinking, she leaned into it much as she had in those early days.&nbsp; Her hands mimicked his motion, hesitantly, as they made contact with first his waist and then his hips, and she nudged her head against his in a movement more dragonish than human.&nbsp; Had her hands not given lie to it, it might have been mistaken for a rebuff.&nbsp; <br><br>She could feel her heart beating rapidly within her rib cage, an exhilaration that was much like the first time she had lept from the ledge of her dam's lair.&nbsp; Her body had known what to do then, more than her head.&nbsp; &nbsp;Her body certainly seemed to be adjusting better to its new circumstances than her head.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>14-12-2011, 04:23:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Feeling an almost tingle spread from where his lips touch hers, his hands remain pressed tightly to her hips.&nbsp; Not moving any at the moment, he allows her to make the next move.&nbsp; And as she leans into him, a smile forms upon his face.&nbsp; Pulling his lips back from hers very slowly, he does not turn away that little bump of her head.&nbsp; Instead, he returns the gesture, to press his cheek along hers in a soft nuzzle.&nbsp; Acting like a drake would to a dam, it is apparent that he has observed and studied the actions of dragons a fair bit.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Running his cheek along hers, he ends up letting his face press towards her neck to where he lets his lips touch her soft skin.&nbsp; Kissing right at the base of her ear, she can feel his lips move against her skin as he whispers softly to her.&nbsp; “Thank you, for gracing me with being so close…&nbsp; Dragons are such beautiful beings, but I never thought that one might be within my arms.”&nbsp; After speaking, he turns his head so that his cheek may run down the side of her neck again.&nbsp; As they stand there, she can feel the small motions of his hands as they move to slip underneath that loose shirt she is wearing.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gypsy</strong> on <strong>17-12-2011, 22:30:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The sensation of being so close was overwhelming in some respects, and it brought forth a wave of longing for the time of companionship she had known before leaving the lair of her dam and her siblings behind.&nbsp; Her sibling had been the first to leave, eager to be on his own and explore.&nbsp; Valka had been sad at his leaving,&nbsp; and that sadness had led her to linger longer than had been usual, and longer than her dam had liked.&nbsp; She had survived well enough on her own,&nbsp; but she was always the first of her family to seek out one of the others from time to time.&nbsp; Her sire had been the most understanding, possibly because she too possessed the gift for magic.<br><br>This human male was not a dragon, but he had proper respect for her kind and showed no fear.&nbsp; &nbsp;His body was strong and his mind quick, and the touch of his hands on this human form was pleasant, even exciting, and the tiny hairs upon the unprotected skin felt keenly the warm stir of his breath.&nbsp; &nbsp;She turned her head and lifted her neck to allow him greater access, the gesture very similar to what she might have used to accept the courtship of a drake.<br><br>Was she considering ... mating .... with a human?&nbsp; Human he was, and yet dragonish as well - she was nearing her first season, and without experience save for what she had read, been told, or observed, but her instincts told her that his interests were aroused.<br><br>Acknowledging the thought was not as shocking as she might have once regarded it.&nbsp; She pulled away from him slowly, but firmly, enough so that she could look up into his eyes.&nbsp; "My sire told me somewhat of living with humans, of your customs and habits.&nbsp; &nbsp; Much of it I did not understand, and still do not.&nbsp; &nbsp; He said that this form, this skin without scales, made one vulnerable to many things, to pain and pleasure that dragons rarely experienced.&nbsp; He said such things have a pull as strong as the call of the open sky, and that I should be mindful of my nature.&nbsp; &nbsp;Was this the thing of which he spoke?"<br><br>Yet she did not pull away enough that his hands would lose their grip.&nbsp; The heat of his palms upon her hips, the faint pressure of his fingertips urging their bodies closer, was indeed pleasurable and woke in her a strange longing not completely dissimilar from the feel of spreading her wings and leaping out into the open air.<br><br>Her sire had not warned her away from such things, only that she could not escape her nature -- a reminder, perhaps, that such experiences were fleeting.&nbsp; All the more reason, then, to experience them when one had the opportunity.<br><br>"Teach me ....?" she said softly, only the barest uplifting of the final word making as much a question as a demand.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Valka &amp; the Knight of Neraka</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>06-01-2012, 02:44:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Touching a small kiss to the base of her ear, it is a soft and lingering touch of his lips to her as his face remains near hers.&nbsp; With her head turning and more of that lovely neck being offered to him, a deep rumble of approval mixed with pleasure escapes his broad chest.&nbsp; Unable to withhold himself from the urge to do so, his mouth parts and she can feel his teeth press against the tender skin of her neck.&nbsp; Nipping her for just a moment, his hand continues its motion underneath her shirt.&nbsp; While his hand has a bit of a rough edge to it, there is a supple strength within his digits as the trail up the curve of her rear.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“There are many things to be wary of, especially within this form of yours…”&nbsp; Speaking softly, his lips continue to press against her ear until she moves just those few inches away from him.&nbsp; Lifting his head a tiny bit, he keeps his eyes affixed to hers as she speaks that soft demand…that almost question.&nbsp; “I will teach you…&nbsp; But I want more than just this; I do not wish to have you for only physical means.&nbsp; Looking into her eyes, there is a soft note of something else here.&nbsp; “I want to know you, to see what may become of our companionship.”<br>
			</dd>
		</dl>
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