An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Kazyth on 15-02-2012, 19:24:27</h2>
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				Title: <strong>An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>15-02-2012, 19:24:27</strong>
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				This tale started as many have before it, with history and tradition.&nbsp; For over two centuries now the village of Ven-ton-ka, a small farming community and stopover on the Great Trade Road, have paid a yearly tithe to a certain massive and scaled neighbor who lives in the mountains to their northwest.&nbsp; Claiming the nearest and largest mountain in the the chain known rather appropriately as the Dragon's Spine, the grand beast known as Nel'zthaxirandor also declared as his domain everything within a day's flight of his home.&nbsp; Which, unfortunately for Ven-ton-ka and it's inhabitants, their village is at the outer edge of.&nbsp; It is the usual understanding, extortion of the basest sort practiced by thugs and bandits, kings and nobles alike.&nbsp; The dragon is paid, and no extremely flammable villiages end up mysteriously being burned to the ground and eaten.&nbsp; Possibly not in that order.<br><br>This dubious protection has been born with only mild grumbling for as long as anyone in the villiage could remember, in part because trade and fertile land brought in a great deal of wealth, but also because Nel'zthaxirandor did not bother with the running of the villiage itself.&nbsp; Of course, every once in a while some malcontents in the city would hire or beg a hero to save them from the great beast, promising showers of riches for whoever could free them.&nbsp; Their draconian overlord always made it a point to drop the heads of these would-be heroes in the town square afterward.&nbsp; Usually followed by setting fire to a building or two, just to make a point.&nbsp; Most people learned to just live with things as they are, and listen to the Cult of the Dragon, an odd priesthood that had grown around the legend of the Dragon itself, claiming the beast to be a God.&nbsp; And, of course, claiming to speak for the Dragon in secular matters.<br><br>Things would have continued apace, life as usual, were it not for the chain of events that set about to change everything.&nbsp; There is an ancient curse that many cultures share a variation of.&nbsp; "May you live in interesting times."&nbsp; Times, for the villiage of Ven-ton-ka, had become very interesting recently.&nbsp; Several bad harvests had struck the region.&nbsp; Poor soil quality, blights on the crops themselves, pests swarming store rooms, illness among kept animals, all conspired to make food a premium commodity.&nbsp; Much of the horded wealth had been spent bringing in caravans of food.&nbsp; Couple that with the hiked prices of services to cover the shortage, and a rumor that the town was cursed by the Gods (doesn't matter which Gods, just cursed by the Gods in general), even the trade caravans started to avoid the place.&nbsp; Visiting a villiage claimed by a dragon had always made the caravan leaders nervous anyway.<br><br>Now was the time for the Cult of the Dragon to shine, oh yes.&nbsp; "The Dragon is angry," they crowed to an increasingly scared populace.&nbsp; "The Dragon has grown tired of your decadence, has grown weary of your squandering his gifts!&nbsp; He must be appeased!"&nbsp; High Priest Kalvin daily preached and ranted to anyone who would listen, and the ranks of those who would grew by the day.&nbsp; Especially as the Day of Tithe approached.&nbsp; There was no money to give the Dragon this year.&nbsp; Not if those in the city wanted to avoid starving to death, at least.&nbsp; Worry and speculation grew, wondering what the dragon would do, wondering what would become of them all.&nbsp; But Kalvin had a plan, oh yes.&nbsp; "The Dragon will not be appeased with your coins and baubles this time!&nbsp; The Great Wyrm demands a sacrifice of flesh from the village!&nbsp; A maiden pure and young, sweet and innocent.&nbsp; She will be our tithe, and this sacrifice will life our curse!"<br><br>As has long been proven, when survival is at stake people will throw their own to the wolves, though usually they will make an effort to ensure it is someone else's own who is thrown.&nbsp; "How do we decide?" They wonder.&nbsp; Young and pure maidens the town has, certainly, but no one wanted to be the one to choose or offer someone else's daughter, or sister.&nbsp; Kalvin had a plan, however.&nbsp; Oh yes, he had a plan, one to cement his hold over the populace and to gain a measure of revenge on the woman who had dared to spurn his advances.&nbsp; The day before the Tithe, as trepidation and terror grew by leaps and bounds, Kalvin 'communed with the Dragon' to make the choice... the choice.&nbsp; A choice he already had in mind.&nbsp; Pale blue eyes like chips of glacial ice opened onto the waiting crowd, savoring their fear and mounting nervousness until he whispered one name.&nbsp; "Arianna.&nbsp; Arianna is the one the Great Dragon Nel'zthaxirandor wishes.&nbsp; Fetch her, and bind her to the Tithe Stone!"<br><br>And so it was.
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				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>16-02-2012, 02:28:28</strong>
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				Arianna was starting to think she was the only person that wasn't going crazy in this village.&nbsp; Kalvin had been stirring up discord among the villagers and had them believing his nonsense about the dragon.&nbsp; She had listened to his ramblings and simply had dismissed them, just as she had dismissed him the night before when he came to her with his intentions.&nbsp; She was not interesting in a man that had no honor and could do nothing but lie.&nbsp; She had almost wished that the dragon would realize what this "cult" was doing and destroy them as it had any hero that was sent after it.&nbsp; Arianna was a fairly down to earth girl and she had decided to skip Kalvin's most recent preaching to take a bath and prepare what she could for the Tithe.&nbsp; The others might think the dragon wouldn't want gold or gems but she couldn't believe that.&nbsp; <br><br>In all the years that she had lived in this village, not once had Nel'zthaxirandor taken people, livestock or crops.&nbsp; It was always jewels and gems, gold and silver, anything that had been precious or rare had been taken.&nbsp; She had dressed in a simple green cotton dress and pulled out the only thing she had left that was dear to her, and the only thing in her possession that would be worth any money.&nbsp; She held up her mother's necklace and smiled as she was to head to the Tithe stone to place her offering there.&nbsp; She knew it wasn't much, but she hoped that Nel'zthaxirandor could be reasonable.&nbsp; Just as she was heading out her door she found herself grabbed by both arms, her fingers gripping onto the necklace as she had her arms tied behind her back and was forced to the Tithe Stone.&nbsp; "What are you all doing!? Have you lost your minds?"&nbsp; Her emerald green eyes flashed as she looked through the crowd and spotted Kalvin, her eyes filling with hate for the man.<br><br>The stone was warm against her back as it had been basking in the sun all day and her fingers stayed locked around her mother’s pendent as she stared coldly at the crowd, her eyes sharp enough to cut through them as she tried to struggle free from the bonds they had placed around her to keep her to the stone.&nbsp; Her long dark auburn curls falling over her shoulder as she struggled further against the bonds.&nbsp; It was not that she feared death or even the thought of the dragon eating her.&nbsp; She was not afraid, but angry.&nbsp; She knew the time was approaching and that Nel'zthaxirandor would be there any moment.&nbsp; Before that happened however she wanted to get her hands on Kalvin for just a moment to make him pay for what he had done.<br><br>The wind was starting to pick up, blowing Arianna's hair around her face and she knew that the time was near.&nbsp; Soon the dragon would be upon them to collect his Tithe and all they had to offer was her mother’s necklace and herself.&nbsp; She looked around at the frightened villagers and the smug Kalvin and screamed out branding them cowards as the wind seemed to drown out her voice.&nbsp; She looked up to meet her fate with open eyes.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>17-02-2012, 04:18:50</strong>
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				Nel'zthaxirandor was, for a dragon, in a remarkably good mood on this Tithe Day.&nbsp; Maybe it was the clear blue sky that stretched out before him from horizon to horizon.&nbsp; Possibly it was because of the massive mountain crab he had subdued and gorged himself on before heading out today.&nbsp; Or possibly it was simply the knowledge that his trove was going to grow even more, and all without having to lift a single talon.&nbsp; Well, other than to carry it away of course, but that was also part of the fun.&nbsp; The weight of gold, the click of precious gems, the very scent of wealth filling the air was all but an aphrodesiac to the rapacious and greedy Great Wyrm.&nbsp; Of course, he had no idea what was actually going to be waiting for him.<br><br>Eyes the color of molten gold, great orbs with catlike vertical puplis, settled on the Tithe Stone and the crowd gathered nervously around it.&nbsp; Not that the nervousness was anything new.&nbsp; They always feared him, feared that their tribute would not be enough, feared that he would hunger and snack on one of them after his flight.&nbsp; Honestly a repulsive idea, that last part.&nbsp; Humans were not at all tasty as a food source.&nbsp; They were simply easy to catch and their fear was always gratifying.&nbsp; Far better to take down a cow, or a horse, or mountain crabs, dangerous at the giant beasts tended to be.&nbsp; But this time their nervousness seemed born of something else entirely.&nbsp; Something was wrong.<br><br>The crowd milled about, their chattering a dull roar that filled the air until his wingbeats began to overwhelm the ambient noises.&nbsp; His great shadow passed over them as he banked and circled, drawing closer and closer until he landed with a thump felt through the ground as much as heard, kicking up dust and debrise before settling down like a massive scaled cat.&nbsp; Bright emerald scales shimmered like plates of gemstones cut and fastend over his skin, steam curling from his nostrils as he glances down at the approaching Kalvin, self-styled High Priest of the Cult and apparent spokesperson for the town.&nbsp; <br><br>"Oh, great Nel'zthaxirandor, mighty lord and protector, we humbly greet you on this most ho..."&nbsp; Nel'zthaxirandor cut what promised to be a long-winded and flowery speech with a dismissive gesture of one massive paw, flexing claws as long as most swords and twice as sharp.&nbsp; "Yes, yes," he rumbled in a deep, sonorous voice, like a mountain given the power to converse.&nbsp; "You are impressed, awed, humbled, all of that.&nbsp; And I don't care.&nbsp; What I want to know," he growled as he leaned down to look at the girl strapped to a stone.&nbsp; "Is why she is here, and not my treasure?"&nbsp; Kalvin quickly moved to her side along with the dragon and did his best to cover her mouth, stammering, "My lord... my lord the harvests have been bad.&nbsp; Your displeasure, your curse on us, has left us with little.&nbsp; Not enough for the Tithe, but our original agreement allowed us to trade a pure young woman instead of the Tithe.&nbsp; You remember this, yes?"<br><br>Nel'zthaxirandor nodded reluctantly, recalling something of the sort having been mentioned when the original agreement had been struck.&nbsp; A silly thing at the time, but it seemed a good threat to make sure the treasure flowed.&nbsp; And now it was biting him in the tail.&nbsp; "Does she go willingly?&nbsp; Let go of her mouth, let her answer," the great dragon demanded, flicking Kalvin away with a giant claw.&nbsp; "Well, girl?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>17-02-2012, 06:00:00</strong>
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				Arianna had watched as he flew overhead, banking and heading back towards the stone, not in fear but awe.&nbsp; She knew she should fear the dragon but instead found herself admiring his appearance.&nbsp; His scales were close to the same emerald green of her eyes and he reminded her of a cat as he landed and settled himself.&nbsp; She was forced to close her eyes and was coughing as he kicked up dust around her and when it had settled she looked up.&nbsp; She wasn't sure that dragons really had facial expressions, if they did the one on Nel'zthaxirandor's face would have been one of annoyance if she could guess.&nbsp; While the rest of the crowds stayed back and away from the beast, averting their gazes, Arianna studied openly.&nbsp; That was until Kalvin placed his hand over her mouth to keep her quiet.<br><br>Her eyes shifted off of the dragon quickly and she attempted to pull her head away from Kalvin's hand and when that didn't work she bit hard into his hand to make him let go.&nbsp; The ground seemed to rumble beneath her feet as the dragon spoke but she wasn't paying attention, that was until Kalvin was flicked away from her and she took a breath of fresh air, her eyes moving to meet with Nel’zthaxirandor’s.&nbsp; No fear seemed to strike her, as she held his gaze steadily.&nbsp; She knew better than to anger the dragon at least that is what she told herself, however she had never been one to hold her tongue.&nbsp; "If I was to willingly go they would not have had to tie me to this stone.&nbsp; But why don't you ask your great fake High- Priest, oh mighty Nel'zthaxirandor, for he has claimed that you are the one that demanded my sacrifice for the Tithe this year."&nbsp; Her voice never wavered nor did her gaze as she shifted her hands in the ropes as best she could.&nbsp; Arianna knew that she only had one chance to attempt to make things right. "We have had a difficult year, the crops have been poor, but not all here are without things to give to the Tithe, they just don't want to.&nbsp; I have nothing to give but this necklace."&nbsp; She opened her hand letting said necklace shine on her palm.&nbsp; <br><br>Everything seemed to still as she watched the great wyrm.&nbsp; She could smell the fresh cut grass, the smoke coming from his nostrils; hear the birds chirping in the trees.&nbsp; She glanced at the crowds and could see the faces, some covered with fear, others with anger that was directed at her.&nbsp; Even if Nel'zthaxirandor was reasonable and would accept the necklace, she would have to disappear from this town quickly.&nbsp; Arianna debated what might be worse, a death by the dragon or by her towns people, knowing that it would be worse if she stayed. She wondered briefly if the great beast would fly her off before eating or disposing of her or if he would do it right here at the stone for the others to see.&nbsp; She glanced over at Kalvin and was suddenly thankful that this had happened.&nbsp; She could think of nothing worse than having to potentially spend any more time with that man.<br><br>Having let her attention stray for just that moment she looked back to Nel'zthaxirandor.&nbsp; "Will you not accept this as the Tithe?"&nbsp; She knew it would never be enough but she at least had to try.&nbsp; "Or will it only do if I sacrifice myself to you as well Lord Nel'zthaxirandor?"&nbsp; Her eyes sparked slightly as she looked at him realizing something else. "My name is Arianna."<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>20-02-2012, 20:41:57</strong>
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				More smoke and steam curled from his nostrils as Nel considered the situation and found it heartily displeasing.&nbsp; When one happens to be an ancient mass of winged scale and muscle, powerful in magic and able to breathe gouts of flame, well, one tends not to be used to the world doing anything but what you want it to do.&nbsp; And having a human woman foisted off on him instead of the pile of treasure he had been looking forward to all year is most definitely not how he had wanted this day to go.&nbsp; Not even a little.&nbsp; Letting that priesthood flourish had been allowed because it was beneath him, because he swore not to interfer with how the town was run, and because it had been a little amusing.&nbsp; Besides, there was power in faith, albeit only a little, and dragons never turn down power.<br><br>So, here he found himself, with a pretty (by human standards) woman who met all of the criteria set forth in the original agreement, tied to a rock and being offered to him in lieu of the Tithe.&nbsp; One who apparently isn't going willingly, but that was never part of the stipulation.&nbsp; Anger and resentment radiated off of his body in almost palpable waves, and for a moment all he really wanted to do was rage about and shatter the town, scattering to fragile humans like kindling, burn everything left to the ground, and start over.&nbsp; Unfortunately, a dragon's word was his bond, which is why it was so infrequently given, and to do so would cost him more than just riches from the town.&nbsp; It would cost strength in muscle and strength in magic, neither of which he could afford to give up if he wanted to hold onto what was his.<br><br>"Though touching," he rumbled softly after a few moments, his voice thick and oddly accented, as though speaking the tongue of humans was something done infrequently at best, "That bauble would not be nearly enough to be the Tithe, even were you not already offered.&nbsp; As per the Compact, you have been selected as my offering and this I must accept, unless another would willingly take your place."&nbsp; Those molten eyes turned to sweep over those assembled, and not one would dare to meet his gaze save for children too young to be afraid.&nbsp; Unsurprisingly there were no outcries against her sacrifice, nor any offers to trade anything for her life.&nbsp; The pervading feeling appeared to be "Better her than me", and none appeared willing to challenge that.<br><br>"Very well then.&nbsp; The Tithe has been made, the Compact fulfilled for another year."&nbsp; One massive claw snaked out to poke Kalvin in the chest, the point effortlessly slicing through the secular vestment and into the skin beneath.&nbsp; Though not deep.&nbsp; "Next year your 'God' wants his damn treasure, understood?"&nbsp; Kalvin babbled his understanding, praises, glories, and all of the other things that Nel knew was his due as Lord of the Realm and strongest creature around.&nbsp; Claws flashed again, and Arianna's bonds fell away.&nbsp; His smoldering gaze lowered to her once more, his voice soft and certain, as though his words were simply how things would be.&nbsp; Not a possibility, but a certainty.&nbsp; "You have no name but 'Girl' unless I tell you otherwise.&nbsp; Your old life is done."<br><br>And with that he picked her up with one massive paw, cradling her gently and keeping his talons from her tender flesh, then launched himself into the air, the downdrafts from his wings battering and scattering those who had gathered, leaving them to live with what they had done.&nbsp; They were headed back to his cave, soaring high above the land below, though he is kind enough to stay low.&nbsp; Otherwise she would freeze to death, or suffocate because of thin air.&nbsp; Unwanted though she may be, his Tithe is not to be wasted so...
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				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>20-02-2012, 23:38:48</strong>
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				Arianna looked up at the beast, noting the smoke rising from his nostrils, the way his muscles coiled and tensed.&nbsp; He was very clearly annoyed.&nbsp; She had known that her offering would never have been enough, but she told herself that she at least had to try.&nbsp; He seemed to be pondering some things and she wondered if he would be displeased enough to take care of Kalvin before he dispensed with her.&nbsp; When he spoke again, she nearly wanted to laugh at his thick accent.&nbsp; It was almost as if he had difficulty speaking to her, but she wondered if it was simply because he didn’t speak to people on a regular basis.&nbsp; He at first seemed to be kind with his word, but she felt it was more something he was forced to do.<br><br>“I figured that it wouldn’t be.” She sighed and curled her fingers back around the necklace and looked out at the crowd when he spoke.&nbsp; The coldness, the fear and the evasion of meeting her eyes, she knew her fate was sealed.&nbsp; She wasn’t going willing to her death but she would face it.&nbsp; A smirk crossed her face as she watched Kalvin being under the dragon’s claw and found herself wishing that Nel would have just done away with him.&nbsp; She looked at Kalvin and could only manage to get out a few words as she tried to keep an eye son Nel.&nbsp; “Told you he wanted his treasure.”<br><br>Ari forced herself to stay still when she caught the flash of his claws in front of her, expecting a painful death, only to find her bonds severed from her and a slight cut on her dress.&nbsp; She frowned slightly and met his gaze with one of her own.&nbsp; He seemed to be talking softly and she wondered if it was because if he used his full voice it would pop her eardrums and make her go deaf.&nbsp; He called her girl again and while he seemed calm and quiet and almost polite and glared at him.&nbsp; “Even if my old life is done, my name is still Arianna!” She said crossing her arms slightly.&nbsp; “You would find it rude if I called you just dragon all the time.”&nbsp; She tensed as he picked her up in his paw, which seemed to dwarf her size and lifted into the air.&nbsp; She wondered briefly if she was to be crushed to death, but he seemed to be taking great care to not injure her.<br><br>It only took her a moment to enjoy the view, to look out over the fields and lands, the clouds that they flew past.&nbsp; It grew cold and she attempted to shield herself from it as they drew closer to a mountain and she looked down, to see where they were.&nbsp; The landscape was beautiful, the picture she could see now was more amazing than she had ever imagined.&nbsp; But the drop to the ground was one that had her wrapping her arms around his wrist and paw as best she could so that she wouldn’t fall.&nbsp; As they approached what she assumed was his home, her fingers and arms and legs started to go a bit numb just from being so high up a mountain with nothing but her dress on.&nbsp; “A-are w-w-we almost t-t-there?”&nbsp; Her voice was quiet, but she had hoped that he had heard.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>26-02-2012, 23:46:47</strong>
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				Well, she has spirit, Nel had to give her that much.&nbsp; Few people would be willing to yell at a dragon when said dragon took away their name, but there she was doing just that before he scooped her up.&nbsp; Great, a spirited one.&nbsp; Humans were bad enough as it is, but at least the humble shy ones would do as they were told and not make nuisances of themselves.&nbsp; Why oh why did the village have to choose this one to be his Tithe?&nbsp; On second thought, her very spiritedness might just be the reason that she was chosen to go with him after all.&nbsp; To get rid of an opinionated and probably annoying woman, all while providing an object lesson.&nbsp; "See, girls?&nbsp; This is what happens when you don't behave.&nbsp; You don't get a husband, and you're given to the Dragon!"&nbsp; Great.<br><br>Finally they neared his cave, at which point he realized that she was freezing.&nbsp; Probably because of the shivering and the way her voice quavered from within his massive paw.&nbsp; Whoops.&nbsp; Maybe he should have flown lower still?&nbsp; "We are almost there, girl."&nbsp; His voice rumbled softly, but even his softest words carry perfectly in through the air to her, vibrating through his body to be felt as much as heard.&nbsp; Still, they had a bit to go yet and she might end up with frostbite or a cold if something isn't done.&nbsp; Damn frail humans and their oddly pleasantly soft bodies.&nbsp; Wait... pleasant?&nbsp; Must be hungry.&nbsp; Yeah, that's it.<br><br>Flames lick from his mouth a few moments later, jaws parted slightly as little tongues of fire danced around his lips and from the corners of his huge mouth, hot air buoying his wings as it raced along his scaled body, the residual heat of which would hopefully be enough to keep her warm until they landed.&nbsp; Only a few minutes later his mountain went from a speck on the horizon to a rapidly-growing landmark, until finally he circled the ancient and craggy stone giant, searching for any signs of intrusion before landing at the mouth of one massive cave.&nbsp; Heat poured from within, though this far from the heart of his lair it is closer to the heat of a large room with a small fireplace despite the ice and snow that hugged the mountain a little further up.<br><br>"This is my lair, and your new home, girl.&nbsp; Get used to it," he grumbled softly as he lumbered slowly into the cave on three legs, keeping her still quite firmly in his grasp.&nbsp; The tunnel within was smooth walled and a bit of a tight fit for him, the dark mottled stone appearing as though it had been melted into shape and then worn to a glasslike shine by the press of scales and claws over the centuries.&nbsp; Those massive molten eyes turned down to her once more when they emerge into a large cavern, one easily larger than the entire space taken up by the largest storehouse in her village.&nbsp; Spheres glowing with buttery yellow light dangled from the ceiling far above, illuminating the massive pile of gold, silver, artwork, gemstones... centuries of accumulated wealth laid out in massive piles, like precious sand dues, rising and falling in little hills, valleys, and what appears to be one massive concave nest at the heart of the cavern itself.<br><br>"So, girl, what do you think?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>27-02-2012, 06:43:00</strong>
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				Arianna had clearly heard him and she had pressed her form closer against his palm and held onto him a bit tighter.&nbsp; She was thankful that it was almost over.&nbsp; The thought had passed through her mind that maybe if she had been frozen when he ate her she wouldn't have felt it.&nbsp; She heard a small rumbling from him, or at least that is how it seemed and she looked up to see fire streaming slightly from his mouth.&nbsp; She was curious as to what he had been doing but soon found herself washed over in warm air.&nbsp; It felt good against her skin and made her shiver slightly as feeling came back into her limbs. "Thank you." She said clearly as she kept her grip on him tight and she watched as the land seemed to be crossed quickly as he flew.&nbsp; As she watched the approaching mountains she wondered what was in store for her next.<br><br>The sight of the mountain was a magnificent, it appeared ancient yet in a way untouched by time.&nbsp; She feared that she would freeze here, on a cold mountain.&nbsp; She was no dragon, but then again she wasn't even sure that she would live through the next hour.&nbsp; As he landed at a large opening she felt the heat coming from it and looked up at Nel in a bit of shock as he mentioned this being her new home.&nbsp; Surely he couldn't mean that he was keeping her.&nbsp; She was a human not a treasure.&nbsp; And once again he was calling her girl. It infuriated her a bit and she wondered if he had a problem saying her name.&nbsp; He held her still as he entered the cave and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness before she was exposed to the light again.&nbsp; Arianna blinked a few times and looked up at the lights and then around the room.&nbsp; <br><br>The light seemed to only intensify around the room as it reflected off of the treasure in there, the mounds and hills of treasure more than she could have ever imagined.&nbsp; This amount of wealth could have sustained her village for hundreds of thousands of years.&nbsp; She could be lost in here for days and never find her way out to the masses of treasure he had stored in this one large room.&nbsp; She glanced around and took in the surroundings finding that not much else seemed to be in here except for the treasure, which seemed to serve as his bed as well, as far as she could tell from the large indentation that indicated that was where Nel slept.&nbsp; It was thankfully warm in the room, at least enough to the point that she wasn't shivering from the cold.<br><br>As he still held her in his paw she made no move to struggle from it, a small fear that he would crush her in it keeping her still.&nbsp; Arianna looked up and met his gaze with her own and was at a loss for words for only a moment.&nbsp; "You have an impressive collection Dragon."&nbsp; She kept her voice polite and kind, but she wasn't going to use his name if he refused to use hers.&nbsp; "What did you mean by this is my new home?" She was curious about this fact, there appeared to be nothing here to even sustain human life.&nbsp; But she could have been wrong, the cavern was massive and she couldn't tell if maybe a kitchen or bedroom actually existed anywhere else in this place.&nbsp; "Why do Dragons collect treasures?&nbsp; I have always wondered that.&nbsp; Is it just because you like things that shine?"&nbsp; Arianna was not attempting to be rude, but she was a curious girl and after seeing the room she couldn't stop herself from asking. <br><br>She did now move slightly in his grasp, in an attempt to get down and stretch out.&nbsp; She felt like her body was stiff from being cold for so long and she honestly wanted to get a closer look at the treasure that was around the room.&nbsp; She looked up at him after a moment of twisting and turning in his grasps and smiled politely.&nbsp; "Could you please put me down Dragon?&nbsp; It isn't as if I could leave or escape you."
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				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>03-03-2012, 22:06:41</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Well, her reaction to his pride and joy was... underwhelming, to say the least.&nbsp; Even the would-be heroes who had dared to scale his mountain and invade his home had expressed what they thought was private but obvious awe at the collection of riches he had built over the centuries.&nbsp; Just the skimmings of one small treasuredune would be enough to sustain a large family for generations of laze and indolence, and all she would give him was "You have an impressive collection"?&nbsp; That polite little platitude was met with a little snort of irritation, one that came with small curls of flame and smoke from his nostrils.&nbsp; Damned humans, damned Tithe, damned town.&nbsp; Dealing with irritations in any way but destroying them was not something a massive, ancient, scaled engine of destruction was used to.&nbsp; Or liked.<br><br>Just to add insult to injury, as it were, she refused to address him by his name.&nbsp; A name he had earned, a name built by his exploits, his epic battles, his obvious power.&nbsp; Polite though it may have been, her request was tactically denied and ignored as he lumbered further into the cave, heading for a small alcove tucked off in the northwest corner of the room.&nbsp; Within that alcove nestled a pool, one fed by an icy trickle that issued from a crack in the otherwise smooth cave wall.&nbsp; A few feet deep near the wall itself and with a gentle slope, the pool itself was maybe twelve feet across, the edges having been smoothed until it resembled more a giant sink than anything.&nbsp; "My name, girl, is Nel'zthaxirandor.&nbsp; You will address me by this name, because I hold all the power here.&nbsp; You have lost your name because you were given to me.&nbsp; You have no power.&nbsp; If you did, the village would never have been able to make you my Tithe for this year."<br><br>Without ceremony he glanced down at her, irritation and arrogance both plain in his near-hypnotic gaze, before she found herself dunked into the small pool.&nbsp; Fed by melting ice from the mountain peaks and run through layers of mountain stone, the water was as cold as winter's night, though far more wet and clingy.&nbsp; She already seemed to have been freezing from the flight itself, maybe a little dunking and chilling would take the edge off her her illusions that she had any sort of standing in his cave.&nbsp; After a few moments of holding her under the surface he withdrawer her from the water, holding her chill and dripping over the surface of the pool itself.&nbsp; "This is your home because you were given to me, and I never give up what I have taken, or what has been gifted in the Tithe.&nbsp; You will remain here until the end of your days.&nbsp; Whether they are days of punishment or relative ease remains to be seen, understand girl?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>05-03-2012, 05:19:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The snort that came from him clearly showed his irritation with her attitude towards his collection.&nbsp; Arianna couldn’t help but almost sigh.&nbsp; What was she suppose to think about something she never had any hope of possessing or using?&nbsp; She grew up in a small town with little along the lines of treasures such as these.&nbsp; All because of this stupid, arrogant dragon had been the one to capture all the wealth in the area.&nbsp; He probably expected to have her jaw drop and gawk at the large amounts of treasure he had managed to accumulate over the years.&nbsp; She admitted it was impressive, but it didn’t do anything for her. Stupid dragon and his stupid Tithe. <br><br>Arianna didn’t struggle as he kept his grip on her and moved through his cave.&nbsp; She looked at the small pool he had brought her to and thought about how nice a warm bath would have been right about now.&nbsp; She looked up at him as he began to speak, his irritation in his voice was very clear.&nbsp; She had apparently struck a nerve as she called him Dragon. It was exactly what he deserved for being such an ass.&nbsp; She couldn’t argue with him that she didn’t have any power, that she was truly left at his mercy but was it so hard for him to use her name.&nbsp; Just because he said he had stripped her of her name didn’t mean she didn’t still keep it.&nbsp; She looked up and met his gaze steadily, determined to show no fear when she suddenly found herself submerged underwater.<br><br>The water was frigid.&nbsp; Her body could not handle a temperature change as a dragon might have been able to and her body seemed to freeze up as she attempted to hold her breath.&nbsp; Her lungs couldn’t seem to pull in air, but she thought that might be a good thing since she was underwater. She struggled against his grasp, trying to free herself and get air into her lungs, starting to breathe in water when she was pulled from the pool.&nbsp; Ari was gripping onto his paw and gasping for air, coughing up water, now frozen to her core. She was trying to take in everything he was saying and she managed a small nod. “I understand.&nbsp; This is now my home, your name is Nel, because honestly your name is long and a bit hard to pronounce. And I am not allowed to ever leave.” She said back to him trying hard to keep her teeth from chatters. “Does that mean I will never be allowed outside of this cave again?” She asked looking up at him.<br><br>A small thought crossed her mind that he might dunk her again but she had to ask.&nbsp; She was stubborn and while she was getting used to him calling her girl, she still wanted to know. “Nel, why will you not use my name?”&nbsp; She was so cold but she was staying very still in his grasp.&nbsp; She let her thought linger on what he said.&nbsp; What might he do for punishment?&nbsp; She wasn’t sure that next time he wouldn’t drown her in the pool; he didn’t seem to have much knowledge on humans in general.&nbsp; She was not sure that she could live in ease here, but she was starting to think it was a better option.&nbsp; How willing was she to give up herself to this creature to make sure she didn’t receive his punishments was the question she had to ask herself. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>09-03-2012, 00:32:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				When she emerged, teeth chattering, skin pale and lips rather blue, Nel wondered if he might have overdone it just a little.&nbsp; Humans were such frail creatures, after all, and she'd already been nearly frozen from the flight to the cave.&nbsp; Hot breath or no she probably hadn't had enough time to actually bring her body temperature up to an acceptable degree.&nbsp; Silently he made a note to keep such things in mind, even if it seems like something of a bother.&nbsp; Urgh.&nbsp; Why couldn't they have just given him gold and gems as normal?&nbsp; Gold and gems didn't need feeding, or clothing, or to be kept warm.&nbsp; You just piled them up and they glittered so beautifully.<br><br>At least she seemed to figure out that he was serious, if her words were any indication.&nbsp; "Good girl, you have the gist of it down.&nbsp; Nel is a little more... familiar than I am used to, but I will allow it when we are alone."&nbsp; Hmm.&nbsp; She is definitely going to need to warm up, and quickly, or she might get one of those sneezy, coughy things that humans seem to catch in the colder seasons.&nbsp; Nursemaiding a sick human female was definitely NOT high on Nel's list of things he could spend his time on.&nbsp; Which probably comes as no great shock to anyone, really.&nbsp; "You might be allowed outside of the cave from time to time, if I feel up to giving permission for it.&nbsp; Such an outing would have to be accompanied, of course.&nbsp; Can't risk you forgetting to come back, or having someone else make off with what is mine, after all."<br><br>Molten eyes cast around the massive cave before they rest on one of the odder bits of treasure he'd claimed in his time, a large (for humans, at least) bathtub carved from solid black marble, trimmed with gold and ruby cloud-dragons of the far east.&nbsp; One massive paw snaked out to capture it carefully and dip it in the pool, filling it most of the way with freezing cold water.&nbsp; Or at least water that was freezing cold until he dipped a claw into it and murmured a soft word in the tongue of dragons.&nbsp; Within moments the water warmed, steam curling from the surface in little wispy tongues.&nbsp; "I call you girl because you haven't earned a name yet.&nbsp; Whatever name you had, whoever you were before you were given to me is gone now.&nbsp; You start again here, and in time you will earn a name worth having.&nbsp; Until then, you are simply 'girl'."<br><br>One claw pointed at the tub as he set her down on the stone floor carefully and released her, shaking free what little water still clung to his scales with a few quick flicks of his paw.&nbsp; "Now, out of those rags and into the tub there before you freeze to death, girl.&nbsp; That dunking took more out of you than I thought, and I'm not about to nurse you back to health if I can just keep you healthy, understand?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>09-03-2012, 05:47:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Arianna was forcing herself to not shiver as she looked him over.&nbsp; She wondered if he realized that when he was thinking it showed in his features just the slightest bit.&nbsp; Her own thoughts were swirling about as she watched him.&nbsp; He didn't seem completely unkind, but the thought of being nothing more than a possession bothered her.&nbsp; She was slowly&nbsp; shifted in his grasp trying to warm herself up at bit.&nbsp; If only she hadn't scorned Kalvin.&nbsp; she might still be warm and in her own bed. She nearly laughed at herself. No, even being a part of the dragon's treasure was better than that fate.<br><br><em> "Good Girl." </em> She had to grit her teeth at this.&nbsp; What was she a pet to be trained? She glared at him clearly annoyed with this and crossed her arms slightly over her chest, until something else caught her attention. "When we are alone? Do you actually have company?" She couldn't feel the cold anymore and knew that was never a good sign, but brushed it off as she thought about his words.&nbsp; Maybe he wasn't the monster she had made him out to be in her head.&nbsp; That was still to be seen of course, but at the moment he appeared to be acting reasonably.&nbsp; Or at least as reasonably as she could have expected. "Where would I run to?" She nearly muttered on his comment on supervised outside visits.&nbsp; "I will not run and all I ask is to be allowed outside once in a while, even just to the entrance of your cave, just for fresh air."&nbsp; She wasn't going to push her luck and left it at that, hoping that maybe he would not keep her locked in here very long.&nbsp; She knew the place was large, but she knew she didn't do well with no sense of freedom.<br><br>Arianna looked at the ornate and ridiculous looking tub that Nel pulled from his collection and watched carefully as he&nbsp; put the ice cold water in it, hoping she wasn't going to have to take another dip into that and then watched intently and impressed as he heated the water with just a word.&nbsp; She watched the steam curling out of the tub and longed for the heat, but was more curious as to how he had done that.&nbsp; She tried rolling the word over in her head and wondered if she could actually say it and get the same results.&nbsp; She was only half paying attention to his comments on her name when she looked back up at him. "I understand that you seem to want me to start my life over, but my name is important to me.&nbsp; How can I earn a new name?"&nbsp; She thought about the word she had rolling around in her head as he placed her down and pointed to the tub, moving carefully towards it.&nbsp; "Or is it that you have a hard time saying names in our language?"&nbsp; She was curious now as she thought about it. "Do dragons earn their names then? They aren't given to them at birth?"<br><br>She moved to the tub and was about to pull her dress from herself when she looked back at him a bit shyly. "Nel, could you turn around please?"&nbsp; She blushed slightly as she stood near the tub.&nbsp; She hadn't undressed before anyone before, and even knowing he was a dragon and it would mean nothing to him, she was still slightly embarrassed.&nbsp; "I can nurse myself if it bothers you that much." She said waiting for him to turn around.&nbsp; "And I have nothing but these, rags as you call them to wear." Thinking on it slightly she looked up at him again.&nbsp; "Could I have a fire to dry the dress out?"&nbsp; Maybe she was asking to much of him but if he intended to keep her, she knew she would need simple things.&nbsp; Clothes to her her warm, food to keep her healthy and something to pass the time so she didn't go crazy being locked up in this place.&nbsp; She watched him carefully to gauge his reaction to her questions.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>07-04-2012, 05:17:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The great dragon simply watched her and listened as she rambled on and on with her questions and requests.&nbsp; Great Dragon Above, why oh why did she have to talk so much, and be so demanding at the same time?&nbsp; It really didn't make any sense to the elder creature, that something so small, weak, and easily crushed could still have the gall to question things that were not hers to question, while making demands she could not possibly think to enforce, or have any right to.&nbsp; But still there she was, demanding to know why he took her name, where dragon names came from, if he couldn't say her name, if he'd turn around so she could undress, if she could have a fire for her rags... and somehow he just knew that it was not going to end there.<br><br>In what was absolutely a human gesture that some dragons had adopted, Nel reached up with one paw to pinch the bridge of his nose, right near the eyes, though he was careful to keep claw on scale.&nbsp; Metal and gems clattered as his tail lashed behind him, shifting around a small pile of valuables that scattered across the floor.&nbsp; Damnit.&nbsp; After a second of silent counting, he settled down on his forepaws, crossing them in front of his chest and staring directly at her.&nbsp; "Since you asked, and as I have a feeling you won't drop it until you are told... I do sometimes have company.&nbsp; Other dragons, mystic beings that prefer not to involve themselves with humans, that sort of thing."&nbsp; Heat flowed from his mouth and nose, hot air flowing over her like the warmth from an open oven felt across the room while he spoke, though he appeared to not be terribly aware of it.<br><br>"You earn a name if I feel that you have done so.&nbsp; Your old name is gone because the person that you were before you became mine is gone.&nbsp; That life is done, and if you do well you will be rewarded with a name that reflects the person you have become."&nbsp; Molten eyes fixed on her as he rumbled softly and slightly mockingly, "I have no problem saying your name, limited and crude as it might have been, but that name is pointless down, discarded in the past.&nbsp; You will forget it."&nbsp; Scales shifted, whispering against each other as he settled into a more comfortable position on the warm stone floor, appearing to be perfectly comfortable and perfectly at ease.&nbsp; "Also, I will not turn around.&nbsp; You are mine, and privacy is a thing of your past.&nbsp; If you stop asking questions and take your bath now, I might let you have some form of clothing, even if you do not need it.&nbsp; If you persist, or argue again, you will spend your days absolutely bare, even when I have company, understood?"<br><br>A single snort sent a small tongue of flame crackling and hissing to combust on the bare stone floor nearby, hovering and dancing merrily even though it had nothing to consume.&nbsp; "Now, doff the dress, undergarments, shoes... all clothing, and toss them into the fire.&nbsp; I won't have soiled rags on my property, or in my home."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>07-04-2012, 16:13:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ari watched him carefully.&nbsp; Questions obviously irritated him.&nbsp; She was amused by this a bit but it amused her more to see him use such a human gesture and as he pinched the bridge of his nose she couldn’t stop herself from laughing.&nbsp; It was light, airy and almost sweet sounding as she placed a hand over her mouth to stop it.&nbsp; If he expected her to be quiet for the rest of her life he was sadly mistaken.&nbsp; She needed company, someone to talk to, and now all she had was him.&nbsp; That one thought seemed to stop her laughter quite easily and she listened when he spoke.&nbsp; Forgetting her name wasn’t something she wanted to do, but she thought she might not have another choice at the moment.&nbsp; His insult to how her name sounded only had her sighing.&nbsp; “Just because we all don’t have names to complicated to actually pronounce doesn’t mean they are limited or crude.”&nbsp; She sighed now and her hands folded in front of her as he spoke.<br><br>His warm breath that washed over her reminded her that she was cold again and a shiver ran up her spine.&nbsp; He had claimed her as a possession and since she had no freedom and he was only a dragon she began to take off her dress.&nbsp; She knew she needed to get warm soon or she would end up with a cold.&nbsp; She always met his gaze, her eyes never failing to stay with his, but she was about to put all of her clothes in a small pile when his little fireball made her jump slightly, holding her dress tight to her.&nbsp; She had already discarded her shoes, but she remained standing in her underwear.&nbsp; &nbsp;She had to consider his threat a reality and seeing as she didn’t want to be naked even in front of him, she made sure she was quick to reply. “I am getting in the bath now.”&nbsp; She hesitated for moment and looked up at him as he demanded she throw all her clothing into the fire he created.<br><br>She looked down at the bundle of clothes in her hand and held them tight for a moment longer.&nbsp; They were only clothes, just cloth.&nbsp; She tried to tell herself this, but they were also the only thing she would have left of her life before.&nbsp; She lowered her head in thought for just a moment before putting the clothes down and carefully taking her panties off and adding them to the pile.&nbsp; She blushed softly as she was now completely bare before him, her figure curved in all the right places.&nbsp; Her chest was a bit larger than perfect for her form, and her ribs were seen clearly through her skin as she obviously didn’t eat enough, but her skin was soft and smooth and she looked back up at Nel before stepping forward and letting her cloths fall into the fire he had provided.&nbsp; Her heart ached and she turned silently to the bath, thankful for her long hair and the slightly cover it gave her body as she climbed into the ridiculous tub.<br><br>The water was wonderfully hot and her body shivered right away as the water slowly warmed her.&nbsp; She didn’t spare Nel another glance.&nbsp; She had done as he wanted and now she just wanted to warm up, relax and cry.&nbsp; She hated crying in itself, but she was suddenly more alone than she had ever been before and it scared her slightly and broke her heart just a bit.&nbsp; She sighed and dipped completely under the water, pushing her hair back to keep it from her face and when she resurfaced only her head was above the water.&nbsp; She was truly enjoying the hot bath and even though she didn’t wish to speak to him again, she knew she should.&nbsp; “Nel.”&nbsp; She turned and moved to the edge of the tub and propping herself up on it with her arms she gave him a small smile.&nbsp; “Is it too much to ask if you have any soap or shampoo?”&nbsp; She didn’t say another word as she sank back down into the water a bit to keep warm and she watched him with careful and quiet eyes.&nbsp; She didn’t know what he expected of her, but she was sure he would tell her.&nbsp; Maybe it was time for her to forget her old life and move forward.&nbsp; Ari shook her head slightly at herself and was determined, she would not forget her name or who she was, she just didn’t have to tell Nel about it.&nbsp; She looked back up at the massive dragon and waited for his response.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>10-05-2012, 06:10:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Slitted, inhuman eyes watched her every movement as she stripped out of her clothing, gaze sometimes meeting her own, sometimes simply studying the revealed flesh with an interest that disturbed him, when he caught it.&nbsp; Had be been without the company of one of his own kind for so long that even a fleshy, pink, scaleless human female could start to pique certain hungers?&nbsp; Hungers that had absolutely nothing to do with filling his belly, at that.&nbsp; Pondering eating her, that would have been expected, at least as an idly speculation if nothing else.&nbsp; Her hesitation to remove and destroy her undergarments just about caused a soft rumble of warning to build, but she complied before... steps were required to be taken.<br><br>Before she climbed in his great nostrils flared again, taking in the scent of her.&nbsp; Skin and hair and sweat and makeup and sex, even the smaller, more subtle scents left on her body by the now-consumed clothing.&nbsp; With a dismissive flick of his claw the fire winked back out again, leaving only a few tendrils of ash to settle on the floor, and no trace of her old clothing.&nbsp; Her old life.&nbsp; If she were a dragoness she would have viewed such a thing as a new stage in her life.&nbsp; Shedding old scales and scale coverings, then hiding until the new and differently-colored scales grew back in was a right of passage for his kind, a mark of increased power and strength.&nbsp; Not so with her.<br><br>"Well," he murmured with obvious and possibly slightly gloating pleasure even as she moved to slide into the tub.&nbsp; "It seems you were a treasure given unto me indeed.&nbsp; A rare beauty of your species, if I judge such things correctly."&nbsp; As with any treasure, she just needed the right care and cleaning to shine her best, as with every last bit of his horde.&nbsp; It was a pleasing thought in what had otherwise been a vexing and unsatisfying day.<br><br>For a few moments he appeared to not have heard her, as he lost himself in reflection, pondering how best to make her what he needed her to be to fit in.&nbsp; Jewelry, yes.&nbsp; Fine silks and satins?&nbsp; Yes!&nbsp; If she earns them.&nbsp; If she will appreciate th... "What?"&nbsp; Massive eyes blink down at her in confusion for a moment, before he sighs and nods.&nbsp; "Yes, I do actually.&nbsp; Stay in the tub," he orders absently, before turning his back on her and rooting around one of the piles of glittering wealth, muttering under his breath in that hissing, rolling language that humans sometimes called Draketongue.&nbsp; Some of which likely sounded like cursing, which is what it was.<br><br>Finally he emerged with a small chest of some rare-looking dark wood, banded with silver.&nbsp; This he flicked open with a claw, revealing dozens of sealed bottles crafted from rare glass or massive gemstones, and several intricate carvings that gave off wonderous scents, bars of soap carved into works of art.&nbsp; "I don't know what you would find pleasing, so select what you want from this case.&nbsp; Until it runs out, this is all you have available."&nbsp; That said, he squatted down besides the bathtub and watched her clean herself, ignoring any or all attempts to hint or order him away, clearly curious as to how humans go about actually cleaing all the dirt and dust and parasites and goo that they seemed to generate with such ease...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>13-05-2012, 19:18:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ari was oblivious to his thoughts of her, as she now enjoyed the warm bath.&nbsp; Her body finally warming so that a light flush now crossed her cheeks from the heat .&nbsp; She looked over when he extinguished the fire with just a flick of his claw.&nbsp; A deep sadness ran through her as she watched the ashes scatter about the floor and she fell silent for the first time since he had met her.&nbsp; Everything that was left of her life was now gone.&nbsp; Unsure whether she resented Nel for it or not, she was determined about one thing, she wasn’t going to give him everything he wanted.<br><br>She looked up at him when he started to speak, an obvious pride and arrogance in what he was saying.&nbsp; A beauty? Her?&nbsp; Well she would admit she had all her teeth, she was clean, and someone pretty, but she wasn’t one to just agree with him.&nbsp; “I guess it all depends.&nbsp; But have to even seen enough humans to be a decent judge of that?”&nbsp; She remembered to keep her tone polite at least as she saw he was lost in thought again. He probably hadn’t even heard her.&nbsp; &nbsp;She studied him openly as he sat there in thought, it was almost easy to see the wheels turning in his head, but she took in his form.&nbsp; His height, the muscles bunched beneath the scales, the fangs, talons, tail.&nbsp; Everything about him seemed massive to her, but she would be safe.&nbsp; On that she was at least certain.&nbsp; No one could get to her here, she was far away from any other humans and what was she going to do with herself?&nbsp; Stuck in a cave all day long with nothing to do but look at his gold or him.&nbsp; She would lose her mind.<br><br>She heard him order her to stay in the tub , as if she was going to leave the warmth willingly and watched as he rummaged through his treasure.&nbsp; She wondered if people didn’t give him just about anything.&nbsp; When he came back with a banded box she looked up at him.&nbsp; “There would be no reason to curse if your treasure was organized.”&nbsp; She commented idly as she looked in the box, guessing that is what he had been saying because that is what it sounded like.&nbsp; Some of these bottles would be worth more than her village alone, without the contents.&nbsp; She so very carefully pulled them out, one by one and sniffed them gingerly, finally picking out a soup and shampoo that both smelled like jasmine flowers and put the rest very carefully away in the box.&nbsp; “Thank you, Nel.”&nbsp; She said as she smiled up at him sincerely. <br><br>She thought that what he had would last her a long time, but how she was going to get more when the time came…well she would leave that up to Nel.&nbsp; She liked being clean and she doubted that Nel would like how a dirty human would smell.&nbsp; She watches as he settled himself in and watched her intently.&nbsp; Bathing was something she imagined Dragons didn’t do, and brushed it off as his curiosity, knowing that even if she told him to leave he wouldn’t.<br><br>Deciding to do her hair first she poured just enough of the shampoo into her hand, trying not to use to much so that her supply would last longer, and wetting her hair again, she smoothed the shampoo through her hair before she began scrubbing it with her fingertips.&nbsp; She started to hum softly to herself as she washed her hair, massaging her scalp to get off any grime that had gotten there since her last bath and then washing the strands of her hair from root to tip, taking her time to make sure she got it all.&nbsp; She left the suds in her hair as she curled it up against her head so she could wash her body.&nbsp; She very nearly had forgotten that Nel was there and took the soap, one that was so beautifully designed and with almost regret she dipped it into the water and began to lather up her hands.&nbsp; Placing the bar of soup aside she began with washing her neck, her shoulders, arms above and under, stretching them up giving Nel a very good view of her entire body now that she wasn’t hiding it behind her hair or arms.&nbsp; The soap slid down her body as she turned to lather her hands up again, cleaning down her sides, over her stomach and then back up where she cupped her breasts and washed them carefully, her nipples hard from the sudden shock of cold air as she had moved out of the water to wash herself.&nbsp; Her hands, once lathered again trailed over her legs, her rear, down to her feet to scrub and wash every inch of her.&nbsp; Finally she lathered her hands up one last time, gently spreading her legs just slightly and washing her soft folds of her sex, taking care to clean carefully before rinsing her hands off and checking to make sure she had gotten every inch.<br><br>With a small and content sigh at being clean she slipped back into the water, rinsing off the soap and dirt and grime from her body and her hair, making sure she was completely clean before looking for a towel as she readied herself to get out of the tub.&nbsp; She had completely forgotten Nel was sitting right there, though now that she looked at him she wasn’t sure how she had forgotten.&nbsp; She would have blushed, but her face was already flushed from the hot bath so she just covered her breasts with her arm and smiled softly.&nbsp; “Do you have a towel, Nel?”&nbsp; She asked politely.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>22-05-2012, 13:10:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I have seen countless generations of humankind pass, girl.&nbsp; I have seen the rise and fall of empires, the changes in what pass for art and culture among your dirtgrubbing mayfly race," he rumbled softly in answer to her questions, distracted irritation in his deep, rumbling voice.&nbsp; "And given that I am not another human male looking to mate with you, I can stand to be objective and unbiased.&nbsp; So yes, you are a beauty.&nbsp; And don't argue with me, or attempt to 'organize' anything.&nbsp; Everything is right where I want it."&nbsp; That said, he turned his attention to her as she plucked out her choices of soap and set to cleaning.<br><br>It was originally Nel's intention to settle in and was his little human wash herself with curiosity and clinical detachment.&nbsp; After all, how much more complicated or interesting could her cleaning be then watching any animal in the wild give itself a tongue bath or some such? Of course, most base animals did not seem to factor water into their cleaning all that often, and the few that did usually just slipped into the water, then back out again.&nbsp; Admittedly he was already less than clinically interested in the proceedings, given his unexpected reaction to her nudity, something that had never really factored for him before with humans.&nbsp; Then again, most humans were either running from him or giving him tribute so the experience was rather new.<br><br>And it was quite the experience, more enthralling by far than he would have thought.&nbsp; Plate-sized eyes followed the movements of her delicate hands as they lathered up her hair, the scent of jasmine, hot water, and warm skin teasing his nostrils in a rising cloud of interesting olfactory signatures.&nbsp; The neat way that she coiled her hair atop her head to keep it out of the way was noted with a small nod, as though he'd been wondering how she was going to clean effectively with all of that damp fur clinging to her.&nbsp; Lacking actual ears as a dragon, having instead sound-sensative channels alongside his head, that great cranium tilted slowly from one side to the other, a slight smile tugging on leathery lips as he found her idle tune to be pleasing.&nbsp; She would have to sing for him later.<br><br>Thoughts of singing found themselves shoved into the back of his mind though when she lathered up her hands with the carved bit of cleansing artwork and began to caress her soft skin.&nbsp; Nel's gaze took on a rather lazerlike intensity then, or possibly more catlike, interested and unblinking as more and more of her was revealed, was touched and suds were spread around.&nbsp; Giant claws flexed against the stone floor, not quite carving into the rock, as he imagined what it would be like to touch her in such a fashion.&nbsp; How soft would she really feel?&nbsp; How would she react when she found out that he could... urk.&nbsp; That line of thought also found itself shoved aside when she spread her legs and soaped her sex, a process that previously the ancient drake would never have considered somthing he would find enthralling.&nbsp; But he did.&nbsp; Oh he did.<br><br>Small furrows were made in the stone beneath his front claws as his hands gripped convulsively for a moment, then mastered himself and calmed back down.&nbsp; Some.&nbsp; Helped in part by fact that she'd sunk back down under the waterline.&nbsp; And then, of course, she remembered that hew as there and found herself being shy again.&nbsp; Like that would matter.&nbsp; "A towel?&nbsp; No, but then again you have no need of such.&nbsp; Step out of the tub, stand before me, and spread your arms.&nbsp; I'll dry you.&nbsp; And yes, it is safe."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>25-05-2012, 05:37:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She listened to him as he spoke.&nbsp; His assurance that he knew she was beautiful would have flattered her, except for the fact that he had to add the part about a mating male.&nbsp; She had paused at the thought.&nbsp; She would never get a chance to have a family now.&nbsp; It caused her to sigh softly but she pushed the thought from her head fairly quickly.&nbsp; She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes when he told her not to argue with him and just nodded.&nbsp; “Whatever you want, Nel, it is your place.”&nbsp; She said with a small chuckle.&nbsp; She had no real intention of organizing his things and was more curious about what she would be doing with her time.&nbsp; But for the most part she had managed to avoid paying attention to him, that luxury was soon over, just as the bath was. <br><br>She could see now that he had been watching her, and she wondered if it was simple curiosity as she couldn’t see what else would provoke him into watching her bathe, he hadn’t seemed all that interested with humans.&nbsp; She saw where he had dug small trenches into the rock and wondered at it for a moment and then frowned when he said he had no towel.&nbsp; She was about to say something when he instructed her to get out of the tub.&nbsp; The thought of how he might dry her worried her a bit and her forehead creased slightly as she frowned, wondering if he planned to burn her to a crisp after all.&nbsp; But then again, he had apparently deemed her as his treasure, so she doubted he would actually harm her.&nbsp; Climbing from the tub, her now clean hair draped down her body, clinging to some of it wet and damp, her arms still covering her as modestly as she could.<br><br>“You are sure this is safe?”&nbsp; She asked for reassurance.&nbsp; She moved to as he wanted and stood in front of him, looking up at him with slightly worried eyes, but then spread her arms out, her hair covering her mostly.&nbsp; She only hoped that this would work as well as he seemed to think it would.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>11-08-2012, 02:00:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				If he had had a brow capeable of furrowing, the great dragon's would most certainly have been doing so.&nbsp; While he could never be said to envy anything that humanity had, for some reason the expression of a thunderous frown was one he would not have minded being able to express.&nbsp; Like right now, when once more the little human woman who's life was less than that of a mayfly to one of his kind dared to ask him if what he was going to do would be safe.&nbsp; He had told her it would be safe, he's obviously had centuries to perfect pretty much any art he wished to perfect, and yet here again she questioned him.&nbsp; Always questioning.&nbsp; Smoke curled out of his nostrils for a few heartbeats as he worked to quash a legendary draconic temper, one that she seemed to rile and prod without any apparent effort.&nbsp; Maddening.<br><br>"Yes, girl, I am certain that it is safe.&nbsp; And it isn't as though you have any choice in the matter anyway," Nel groused, uknowingly sounding rather like a crotchety old man in his irritation with her.<br><br>All that this trick really took was a little bit of concentration, some inborn magic, and a knowledge of how the primal forces of the world worked.&nbsp; Hatchling play, and she didn't trust him with it.&nbsp; The nerve!<br><br>Massive lungs drew in air, scaled sides expanding slightly as he took a breath and held it for a moment, charging the captured wind with heat and magic from his own monsterous form.&nbsp; And then he exhaled carefully, scaled lips barely parted, sending a blast of warm air directly at her feet.&nbsp; That enchanted airstream curled around her feet, quite warm but not uncomfortably so, capturing and carrying away the water still clinging to her skin, swirling around her body like a slowly building tornado centered directly on her.&nbsp; From toe to crown she was dried, her hair lifting from her body to fluff out as the magic danced through her silken locks, seperating the strands and drying them as well.&nbsp; And if that eldrich wind seemed at times to caress a bit more than was needed, almost like hands and lips on her skin, well magic was an imperfect art.&nbsp; Even for a dragon.<br><br>Two minutes, maybe three had passed before he finished, closing his mouth to shut off the warm flow and allow him a few normal breaths.&nbsp; "There we go, all nice and clean and dry.&nbsp; Much better than those flimsy towel things."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>11-08-2012, 07:31:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her eyes never left him as she stood there waiting.&nbsp; She was certain she had done something to irritate him again as he seemed to pause in thought.&nbsp; She was growing accustomed to his tell tale sign of irritation as she watched the smoke curling up from his nostrils.&nbsp; What could she have done this time to irritate the damn beast?&nbsp; Couldn't he tell that she was just nervous?&nbsp; Why couldn't he understand that her entire world had just changed in the matter of hours?&nbsp; Did he expect her to just forget everything so easily?&nbsp; She sighed in annoyance and just shook her head.&nbsp; Ari knew that she was stuck with the beast for now, so what other choice did she have but to put up with his moods?<br><br>When he spoke she nearly chuckled, the way he spoke reminded her so much of her grandfather when he was in a poor mood.&nbsp; She had forgotten how old dragons were, and could live to be, at least according to the stories.&nbsp; She wanted to ask how long he had already been alive, but the thought of angering him further with another question had her holding her tongue for now.<br><br>If she understood even a fraction of what he did, her nerves would be calmed, there would have been no fear.&nbsp; But like dragons themselves, their magic and most of the knowledge they possessed, was unknown to humans. This very second she was standing in front of him with her arms spread out like he demanded, with nothing but trust in him and faith that he knew what he was doing and wouldn't torch her alive.&nbsp; She wondered if he knew what it took for her to do this.<br><br>She watched him carefully now as he took a breath, held it and she wondered what he was doing.&nbsp; &nbsp;Thankfully she didn't have long to wait to find out, but she managed not to jump out of her skin when the warm air started to circle her feet.&nbsp; The first thought that came into her mind was that it felt good along her cooling skin, smiling as she felt the wind curling up from her feet, pulling the water away from her body, drying her even as the warmth spread through her.&nbsp; She felt the wind growing and surging around her like a small twister and she chuckled softly as it too her hair up and away from her body, making her laugh softly as the hair tickled her skin as it lifted away to be dried, leaving her form completely exposed to Nel, not that she was paying much attention.&nbsp; She nearly was going to ask for a brush, but noticed how the wind dried her hair and she was sure it would be fine.&nbsp; She blushed softly as the feeling of the wind brushed along her body and for a moment her eyes closed and she hummed softly as it felt like hands roamed over her form, but it vanished just as the wind did.&nbsp; It hadn't taken him long, she could admit that, and she did feel warm nearly straight through to her core.<br><br>Her hair settled down and back around her form once the wind died down, and she started running her fingers through it idly to make sure there were no knots or kinks.&nbsp; She smiled up at him brightly this time, a soft chuckle escaping her at his comment, but she nodded in agreement.&nbsp; "Yes, clean and dry and I will admit, it was far faster and more enjoyable than just drying off with a towel.&nbsp; Thank you Nel."&nbsp; She smiled softly and then lightly bit her lower lip, slightly nervous again, but dared to ask.&nbsp; "Nel, will I be allowed some clothes?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>29-11-2012, 20:12:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It was... odd, Nel had to admit when he'd finished drying her.&nbsp; Odd that he actually felt a touch of satisfaction and pride when she admitted that she enjoyed the little trick he'd used to dry her off.&nbsp; Odd because, treasure or no treasure, he was more than a little certain that he shouldn't actually care for the adulation or praise of one of the mayfly races that inhabited this world.&nbsp; It would have been an understandable feeling if she had been a fellow dragon, or maybe one of the Great Sages.&nbsp; After all, they were beings who knew magic and knew the kind of skilled, trained mind it took to manage such an effect.&nbsp; Not to mention making it look effortless.<br><br>Muscles shifted under scaled flesh as he watched her finger-comb her hair, more than a little aware of just how bare she was to him at the moment.&nbsp; Again he was reminded of the old tales and rumors, of dragons driven to take other forms and couple with the lesser races.&nbsp; Once, a horrifying though to a purist like Nel.&nbsp; Now?&nbsp; Disturbingly interesting.&nbsp; Almost tantalizing.<br><br>Whatever line of thought he had started to progress down, it was disturbed when she asked him a question, forcing him to blink and mentally rewind a few moments.&nbsp; "Clothes," he rumbled curiously, head tilting to the side slightly like a curious dog's would.&nbsp; "Why would you ever need clothes?&nbsp; I keep it nice and warm in the cave, after all.&nbsp; That should be more than sufficient to keep you comfortable, without any of that artificial fur and skin."&nbsp; His voice grumbled a bit, obviously a little confused and bemused by such an out-of-the-blue and unnecessary request.&nbsp; "Besides, my treasures need to be displayed properly.&nbsp; Hiding your body would not serve that purpose, now would it?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>30-11-2012, 23:35:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ari was completely oblivious to the old dragon's thoughts, leaving her blissfully unaware of his desires.&nbsp; She was growing accustomed to him taking his time in answering her and she was working on a small knot in her hair as she hummed softly.&nbsp; The cave was warm, comfortable and with a little help it would certainly be cleaner.&nbsp; She could spy little bits of ash here and there along the floor, although none of it seemed to touch his much beloved treasure, and cobwebs could be found in the corners of walls.&nbsp; Uncertain if Nel even noticed these things she shrugged softly to herself as she finished brushing her fingers through her hair and then let it lay around her form, covering most of it from Nel's view.<br><br>She felt him shift, looking up at him curiously as he watched her, wondering how much she had thrown him off by asking that question when he seemed confused.&nbsp; His movements made her smile, and his question made her laugh, softly.<br><br>"Yes, your cave is warm, until a breeze blows in and causes a chill, as you have no door."&nbsp; She smiled at him now, shaking her head softly at how he regarded clothing.&nbsp; "Clothing is meant to keep us warm, shield us from the elements and help us remain clean."&nbsp; It still grated on her nerves for him to refer to her as treasure, but she sighed gently and pushed it aside.&nbsp; "Wouldn't you say then, that clothing would only enhance your treasure and show it's worth?&nbsp; Leaving me without clothes, well it would be the same as taking your most prized possession and leaving it on your doorstep, exposed and vulnerable for any wandering soul to take from you."&nbsp; She smiled at him, hoping that she had gotten the point across be comparing it to something he would value and know, looking up at him in wonder, taking in his form now that she had calmed down a bit.&nbsp; She had other questions, concerns and wonders, but she was starting to wonder if it wouldn't be best for her to take it one step at a time.&nbsp; Nel seemed calm and easy going at the moment, but she remember only a short while ago that numerous questions only irritated him.&nbsp; "Maybe, Nel, you would at least allow me a robe?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>03-12-2012, 00:25:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A soft rumble in his chest and the rubbing of a claw at the underside of his chin heralded a bit of thought about her statement, rather than a knee-jerk grumbling and dismissal of her concerns.&nbsp; Though part of him does rather just want to pin her with his gaze, refuse to give her any coverings, and get on with his day.&nbsp; "Breezes don't really reach that deep in here," he mused quietly to himself.&nbsp; Admittedly, quietly for a greater dragon was still rather loud and obvious for the smaller, squishier races.&nbsp; One of his full-throated bellows was enough to knock down a well-made barn, if he felt like doing so.&nbsp; He'd tested that once, just to see if it would work.&nbsp; Possibly he should have let the animals out of it first, but he was a busy dragon and couldn't be bothered to remember anything.&nbsp; Besides, picking them out of the wreckage had been an enjoyable way to spend a meal.<br><br>And wouldn't it be nice to really display her?&nbsp; To show her off?&nbsp; It would be a shame to cover her up, of course.&nbsp; Something about all that bare skin was whispering to parts of him he hadn't really dealt with in ages, and when he had they'd been with a dragoness.&nbsp; Ahh, Yaxanvialtrannisaxirathra.&nbsp; Now -that- had been a dragoness, all smooth azure scales, delicate curving horns, long and sinuous body... he'd fought half a dozen other males for her, and sent them home to their caves licking their wounds.&nbsp; The mid-flight mating had been so very worth the hurts he'd suffered, the scars he still carried.&nbsp; Those molten eyes went distant as he forgot the girl for a minute, though the feeling of cold coins against his length as it began to emerge from it's leathery sheath snapped him out of it quickly.&nbsp; A rapid blink, his eyes widened in panic, and his bulk suddenly settled a little more, lowering the front of his body to hide what was happening from her.&nbsp; Hopefully in time.<br><br>"Y..yes, hmmm.&nbsp; I think that you could be given a robe.&nbsp; Let me see."&nbsp; That great head lifted, casting about the cave, his neck flexible enough that he could easily face behind himself without looking.&nbsp; Ah, there, that should do!&nbsp; An odd, almost ghostly whistling sound filled the air for a heartbeat, before a diaphanous robe of translucent peach-colored silk, edged at the collar and lower hem with rare white frostvulf fur, floated across the distance to hover before her.&nbsp; "Here, this should give you a bit of covering, warmth from the fur, and still display my treasure as it should be seen!"&nbsp; He smiled down at her, obviously quite pleased with himself.&nbsp; And less obviously grateful that his dragonlance was slipping back out of sight once more.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>04-12-2012, 17:15:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The fact that he hadn't dismissed her right away made Ari smile, at least he was actually considering her request.&nbsp; She listened as his voice rumbled out, to her seemingly as if a raised voice, but she couldn't be sure with him, so she fell silent, waiting.&nbsp; He didn't look like he was yelling at her, so she assumed that he was attempting to control his voice, but if this was his version of a whisper, he would have no secrets from her if he tended to talk to himself.&nbsp; As she thought about this she let her eyes wander over the cave, fully taking it in, examining the treasures he was given and once again wondering why he really needed all of it.&nbsp; "What is a dragon's obsession with treasures?"&nbsp; She whispered to herself as she shook her head in thought.<br><br>She had let her attention wander away from Nel as he had seemed lost in thought and she had turned to study the bath she was just in, the box of soaps that Nel had given her and the bottles and gems that had been used inside of it.&nbsp; All of these things should mean nothing to a dragon, it wasn't as if he could use them.&nbsp; So then why did he want all this treasure?&nbsp; A glance back at Nel, looking up at his face showed her that he was lost in his own thoughts, something she might have taken advantage of to escape if she hadn't been completely naked, knowing that the temperatures outside would kill her shortly after she left the cave.&nbsp; But with him lost in his own thoughts, it gave her time to plan and just look around.&nbsp; She was seated now on the edge of the tub, her hair covering her in a nice curtain so that she wasn't fully exposed in the front, but her back was left bare as she looked at the soaps and shampoos, shaking her head softly as she examined the contents of the box and held up one of the rich red gem bottles that held one of her favorite scents, smiling softly at the skill and talent it had to have taken to carve the gem so beautifully.<br><br>The shift of his body is what brought her out of her thoughts, making her look back to Nel with a smile.&nbsp; He was being reasonable, she was surprised.&nbsp; She nearly sighed in relief that she would be allowed some form of covering and watched as his neck twisted to look where he wanted and as she saw the cloth float towards her...well she wasn't sure what to think.&nbsp; He called this a robe?&nbsp; A glance up at him before she took the robe floating before her and slipped it on.&nbsp; Maybe it would give her more covering that she thought when she put it on.&nbsp; How very wrong she was.&nbsp; It still displayed all of her form to him, although the fur did manage to provide some covering for her breasts as she pulled her long hair out of the collar of the robe and let it fall down around her again, covering parts of her that the robe still left exposed.&nbsp; She spent a moment enjoying the feeling of the rich silk against her skin, the warmth and comfort of the fur, but she sighed and looked up at Nel, shaking her head softly.&nbsp; "This isn't exactly a real robe, you know?&nbsp; This was meant to have something worn beneath it."&nbsp; &nbsp;She looked at his expression and saw his smile, one most might be frightened of, seeing as some teeth could be seen, but she preferred the smile to the smoke curling from his nostril in irritation.&nbsp; "Thank you for the robe Nel...I guess I was hoping for something more...practical."&nbsp; She stood now, fussing with the robe to try and get it to lay right so that she was covered a little more sufficiently, tying the sash tightly around her waist and then rearranging her hair to cover herself where the robe couldn't. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>13-12-2012, 23:33:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"... practical?"&nbsp; Her statement was puzzling, to say the least.&nbsp; Practical.&nbsp; Scales and leather skin shifted in his face as he frowned thoughtfully, head tilted to the side and slightly upward.&nbsp; Claws rasped against the underside of his chin, a little trail of smoke escaping from one nostril.&nbsp; Practical.&nbsp; Of course he knew what the word meant.&nbsp; He knew what every word meant, from languages she had never even heard of.&nbsp; Practical.&nbsp; What wasn't practical about the robe he'd given her?&nbsp; She didn't need it to keep warm, as he'd already pointed out.&nbsp; If it was cold in here, he might have given her something a bit thicker.&nbsp; But it wasn't.&nbsp; Even for a human it should be balmy, the kind of temperature that drove her kind into skimpy coverings and times spent languishing in sand near water.&nbsp; A passtime even Nel could wholeheartedly support.<br><br>"Is this what I get for being reasonable," he finally rumbled, turning his attention back down to her.&nbsp; That she was still trying to hide her body with her hair only served to add to that irritation, though he still refused to admit to himself exactly why that might be.&nbsp; His bulk shifted, coins and priceless gems rattling across drifts of other treasures and artifacts of power.&nbsp; "You ask for a robe, some sort of covering that serves to better display my newest treasure.&nbsp; And this robe does that.&nbsp; There is fur to help keep you warm, not that you should need it.&nbsp; And the material shows off your body."&nbsp; One claw extended toward her, deftly flicking her hair back behind her shoulders before he harrumphed and raked his gaze over her form once more.<br><br>"If I wanted to hide what is mine, I would just put you in a box with a hole for your head, or something.&nbsp; Honestly, one tries to be reasonable with you mayfly races, and this is what happens.&nbsp; Every time."&nbsp; A shake of his head then, a huff strong enough to send her hair and robe fluttering, before he grumbles, "I -could- have just given you a few rings, bracelets, anklets, and necklaces to accentuate your beauty, you know.&nbsp; I still can."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>30-12-2012, 01:56:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				What could have possibly annoyed the dragon this time?&nbsp; She sighed softly as she watched the smoke curl up from his nostrils and nearly gave him a definition of the word, but thinking better of it at the last moment she held her tongue, albeit barely.&nbsp; She wouldn't deny the warmth of the room, that she was nearly completely comfortable in just this thin robe, except for the fact that the material was see through.&nbsp; So she let him think and get annoyed and then looked up at him as he spoke, it taking most of her effort to not roll her eyes.<br><br>She let him talk, to rant and she watched him, the expressions on his face, his reactions.&nbsp; Her nerves were already on edge and her fingers were playing with the tips of her hair, wrapping it around and curling it softly as she listened and shook her head softly.&nbsp; "I did say thank you Nel."&nbsp; She tried to get in and when he shifted, sending his treasures scattering through the piles of silver, gold and gems, trying to hold herself still when his claw extended to her, but unable to keep herself from closing her eyes and flinching slightly as he flicked her hair back, exposing her again and she opened her eyes softly and looked up at him.&nbsp; Resisting the urge to pull her hair back over herself she finished listening to him, gasping softly as he huffed out, pulling the robe back around her and taking the covering the sheer material offered before composing herself, staying silent for a moment as she watched him.&nbsp; She thought carefully about what she wanted to say, hoping that this time, she wouldn't anger him and lose what covering she had now.<br><br>"I am not trying to be unreasonable Nel.&nbsp; And I appreciate that you have given me a robe."&nbsp; She sighed softly as she tried to convey her feelings to him.&nbsp; "Maybe the word I should have used was modest.&nbsp; I know you can leave me with nothing, but I am just asking you to consider giving me actual clothing.&nbsp; With nothing on...I feel vulnerable, exposed...and I know that you want me exposed, at least partially as I am your treasure.&nbsp; But for me...being without clothing that is less revealing...it would be like stripping you of your scales and then sending you out to face knights or dragon slayers."&nbsp; She wasn't sure there was any reasoning with the dragon and she just gave up, falling silent and moving back a few steps, sitting on the edge of the tub and just letting her head lower, looking down at her hands in her lap, waiting to see if he would take away what has he had given her already, her thoughts circling around getting out of this place, away from this life.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>08-02-2013, 22:47:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"That isn't the same at all," he exlaimed in confusion when she spoke of being stripped of scales and sent out to battle dragonslayers or some such.&nbsp; Not that there had been any sucessful dragonslayers in decades now.&nbsp; Hell, there really didn't need to be any at this point, as the draconic race was dying off ever so slowly on their own.&nbsp; Maybe the time of his race was passing, and eventually the world would belong to the lesser races.&nbsp; That was a terrifying thought.&nbsp; The lesser races bred like cockroaches, swarming and covering anywhere they inhabited, stripping the land of resources and destroying even more as they fought one another.<br><br>"You act as though you fear for your safety if you lack heavier coverings... but would they really do you any good against danger?&nbsp; Not that anyone would dare to threaten or harm you while you belong to me, of course."&nbsp; That great head shook slowly as he tried to understand where she was coming from.&nbsp; At best, he knew that when he assumed human or humanoid forms, he generally found it needful to wear such coverings if he was not in his own cave.&nbsp; Human bodies were so very fragile, after all, and could be damaged by things like chips of stone and sharp sticks.&nbsp; But there were no such dangers here in his cave for her.&nbsp; "However, humans do not seem to be terribly rational beings, and you are all such fragile things.<br><br>Those molten eyes swept his treasure room for a few moments, before he heaved a great sigh and rumbled softly, "Also... I have no such coverings as you seem to be wanting.&nbsp; They aren't exactly something that are given to me as tribute.&nbsp; What would I do with them?&nbsp; I will have to see about having such clothings made to your proportions... if you are good over the next few days, that is."&nbsp; Coins rattled and clattered as he shifted a bit, then stalked off of his treasure pile toward what appeared to be some silk-draped alcoves to one side of the cave.&nbsp; "I have already eaten my fill enough for the day, but I know humans seem to eat several small meals a day."&nbsp; Gentle claws twiched aside some silk to reveal what appeared to be a carved stone table and a pair of plushly padded wooden chairs.&nbsp; On the table, served on gold plates and platters, gold cups and silverware, waited a hearty sizzling steak dinner with potatoes, vegetables, and wine.&nbsp; "So... you should eat.&nbsp; This is good, right?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>15-04-2013, 16:09:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ari watched him carefully, his confusion clearly ringing out in his voice and his words, making her doubt that they would ever be able to understand one another.&nbsp; Clearly having thought that she had managed to make him understand and in the end, it turned out otherwise, she frowned softly down at the hands in her lap, trying hard to think of something, anything.&nbsp; Instead what came to her mind was how she missed her home, the fields, the smell of the fresh cut grass and hay, the warm fire at night and even her small and lumpy bed.&nbsp; However, she was stuck here with this beast, and while it was true that there was some amount of luxury, she still wanted home.&nbsp; Ari looked up for a moment when he spoke again, figuring that he question was rhetorical and did not bother to answer.<br><br>Letting him continue his thoughts on his own she wrapped her arms around herself and then having a small chill run up her back, rubbed her arms softly for warmth, the realization that she would no longer be free to do anything starting to finally sink in, it being a terrifying thought to her.&nbsp; She had to get out of this place, she had to get away from this dragon and from the home she once knew so well and loved.&nbsp; How was she going to manage to escape a dragon?&nbsp; Even more so, how was she going to manage to escape him with no clothing on the top of a freezing cold mountain?&nbsp; She sighed softly and then hearing Nel speak again looked up at him curiously.<br><br>"You will give me clothing if I am good?"&nbsp; &nbsp;She gave him a smile, a small plan forming in her head.&nbsp; "Thank you Nel."&nbsp; If he was going to be reasonable, she could use it, she could get what she needed and escape, but for now it seemed she would have to play his game, and attempt to be his good little treasure.&nbsp; How hard could that be?&nbsp; He would probably forget that she was even there half of the time, and that would make it so much easier for her to slip away in the end.&nbsp; She watched as he moved away from her, standing and making sure that the robe was wrapped tightly around her, still uncomfortable with the sheer material, but with him not looking she let her hair fall naturally over her shoulders, obscuring her form slightly.&nbsp; The silk draped alcove was curious to her and when he pulled aside the coverings and revealed the meal to her, Ari couldn't stop her mouth from watering.&nbsp; "You...how did you make food appear?"&nbsp; She asked it as politely as she could muster as she moved over to the table and chairs, looking up at him softly.&nbsp; "Thank you Nel, this is more than good.&nbsp; I don't think I have ever had a meal this rich."&nbsp; She smiled and moved to one of the chairs, her stomach making a small noise and she blushed a bit, tucking her hair behind her ears and then her shoulders, so as not to get food in it, reluctantly exposing herself for his view, but then looking at all the forks and knives and settling on taking a sip of wine first, it not being something she was used to, but she enjoyed the flavor on her tongue, taking another sip before going about picking a knife and fork and starting to cut up the steak and once that was done, eating it slowly and savoring it, a smile on her lips as she hummed pleasantly from the taste, once she had swallowed she smiled brightly at Nel.&nbsp; "I don't think I have ever had a piece of meat so tender.&nbsp; Normally it is jerky by the time I get it, easier to store that way."&nbsp; She fell silent for a moment and thought on what she would need to do and then looked up at Nel again softly.&nbsp; "Thank you, for taking care of me."&nbsp; Giving him a gently smile she went back to eating her meal.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>11-06-2013, 18:57:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It was... oddly warming to find her so pleased with the meal, given her displeasure and despondence with pretty much everything else he had done for her and given her thus far.&nbsp; She was clean, dry, warm, she had some sort of covering... but apparently that wasn't enough, for some reason.&nbsp; And he had been quite honest with her when he had stated that he didn't have any actual clothing of the sort she seemed to favor.&nbsp; He really didn't.&nbsp; It was never given as tribute, and the few articles he had taken by accident in a raid were disposed of as worthless and needless clutter.&nbsp; How was he to know that some village was going to remember an old clause of their ancient pact and foist off this woman on him instead?<br><br>Still, her pleasure in the food gave him pleasure, though he didn't see the appeal in the potatoes.&nbsp; Seared cow meat, ripped right from the bone?&nbsp; Or eaten along with the bone, if he was feeling a craving?&nbsp; Oh yes, he understood that perfectly.&nbsp; But wine and potatoes?&nbsp; They didn't taste anything all like meat, or blood, or any of the good things that sustained a body.&nbsp; But apparently humans loved them, so he had included them in the order.<br><br>"Where did I get them?&nbsp; I have a spell, of course.&nbsp; A connection with a small community of dwarven craftsmen in the city of Nuhlands.&nbsp; I place an order with them, send the payment and they send the order back to me.&nbsp; It only works when I start it up, and only can send inanimate objects, but it is useful every now and then when I need something for a guest."&nbsp; To him, it was just that.&nbsp; A boring little piece of everday magic.&nbsp; One he didn't even bother to use that often.&nbsp; Of course, in the hands of skilled human traders, for example, it could be world changing.&nbsp; Not that humanity had the discipline or power needed to control such a spell.&nbsp; They could barely manage some sparks and smoke most of the time.<br><br>"If you are tired when you have finished eating, I can show you to your bed, or to the library if you are not yet ready to sleep," he rumbled absently, all while watching her eat with fascination.&nbsp; Yes, totally watching her eat, and not at all letting his molten gaze rove over the body exposed by her sweeping back of her hair.<br><br>Which of course he had no interest in.&nbsp; Not as a meal, not anything else.<br><br>Nope.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lixlaria</strong> on <strong>23-06-2013, 02:43:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The food was nothing less than amazing.&nbsp; The meet was tender, the wine crisp and the potatoes perfectly seasoned.&nbsp; Ari had no idea what to do with this kind of food, and in the amount that he gave her, used to far less food and of a less than okay quality.&nbsp; The fact that he thought to provide for her in this way nearly touched her, as it showed that he might at least care.&nbsp; Well, he cared enough to keep her alive and well so that she could be a part of his vast collection...but at least her cared about things he deemed at his.<br><br>Not that she enjoyed that thought at all! But when he was being reasonable, it really didn't seem like such a bad deal.&nbsp; He would provide her with clothing, food and shelter, assuming that she did what he wanted, and while she wasn't so sure he would always be reasonable, she was pretty sure she could convince him to give her some freedoms.&nbsp; She just had to be careful about it.&nbsp; While eating she listened to him carefully, chuckling softly to herself.&nbsp; "You have a spell for everything, don't you?"&nbsp; It was more a rhetorical question, but she asked it anyway.&nbsp; Who knew, he might even surprise her with the answer.<br><br>"Really?&nbsp; That is really impressive."&nbsp; Ari said with a smile, having eaten all her meat, some of the potatoes and shifted so that she could face him a bit while talking, the shift making her hair fall back over her shoulder, partially obscuring her form from his view.&nbsp; "It would be a very useful spell."&nbsp; Having thought it over for a moment.&nbsp; "It could be used to get things I might need, such as food, clothing, soap when that eventually runs out, shoes...or any other little things."&nbsp; Ari watched him carefully, noting the tone of his voice, as if it was something boring to talk about, chuckling softly as she had a guess at his thoughts, but just shaking her head softly and smiling.&nbsp; "Would you be able to teach me this spell?"<br><br>Looking to her plate with the left over potatoes, hating to waste food, but knowing that she really and truly could not eat anymore, sighed softly.&nbsp; "Maybe we could also discuss some type of food storage system...I would really hate for food to go to waste."&nbsp; She stood and let herself be covered from his view by her hair as she started to clean up the table, looking to Nel.&nbsp; "I will have a bed?"&nbsp; She smiled brightly at him.&nbsp; "Thanks you Nel."&nbsp; She picked up everything on the table and turned to look at him.&nbsp; "Where would you like to to bring the dishes to clean them?"&nbsp; Being used to doing her own dishes, laundry and many other things, her hands showed that life style, them being rough and slightly dry and cracked from the lye when she made soaps, splinters from gathering and cutting her own wood, and other various chores that she performed. <br><br>The way he looked at her was curious, with his non-blinking gaze, the soft way his head tilted when she talked.&nbsp; She wondered if he was trying to see through her, or maybe read her mind.&nbsp; He was a dragon after all, there were not many that new much about them, let alone if anything they knew was true.&nbsp; Her eyes lit up a bit at the mention of a library and her smile brightened. <br><br>"You have a library!?&nbsp; I would really like to see that, if you don't mind."&nbsp; Ari was excited with the thought of being able to read something new, anything new.&nbsp; Having been from a poor village, she only had access to so many books, and many she had read over and over again.&nbsp; Knowing how Nel was, she was positive that he had an extensive collection and that there would be no pages missing from the books.&nbsp; "Will I be allowed in the library without you?"&nbsp; She smiled brightly at him and still holding the plate and cup, stepped towards him, ready to follow him, but being careful of where she stepped.&nbsp; "I know that you are going to get annoyed with me, but...there is one more thing I would like to ask you for."&nbsp; She paused and looked up at him gently.&nbsp; "A pair of shoes.&nbsp; And I only ask for it because you have a lot of things here, you are given many treasures, and honestly, a lot of them are sharp and pointy.&nbsp; I wouldn't want to step on something and cut my foot open."&nbsp; Smiling at him brightly she looked to him as he continued to study her.<br><br>She felt, very briefly as if he was undressing her with his eyes, even though the clothing she wore was see through.<br><br>No, he couldn't be.&nbsp; Could he? <br><br>No, No, he was a dragon, if anything, it was only because he was probably annoyed that she was given and not a pile of gold.&nbsp; <br><br>That had to be it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: An Unexpected Jewel.  (Kazyth and Lixlaria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kazyth</strong> on <strong>22-08-2013, 20:24:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It was gratifying, to say that least, to watch her eat so heartily and with such a great enjoyment of the foodstuffs provided to her.&nbsp; While he himself was just fine with a lightly fire-broiled ox eaten skin, bones, hooves, and all he had been lead to understand that humanity did not sure his tastes.&nbsp; At least, not in the main.&nbsp; And it was no wonder, given their sad little teeth and weak little jaws.&nbsp; It was surprising at times that they could even bite through a grape, let alone expect them to be able to handle animal hide or muscle fiber.&nbsp; Still, she managed just fine and with great gusto.&nbsp; Good.<br><br>At her question he had to pause, head tilting to the side again and eyes turned toward the cave ceiling while he considered his response.&nbsp; "I would not say for everything.&nbsp; I cannot change night into day, or drain the sea with magic.&nbsp; But for basic needs and amusements, yes."&nbsp; Well, even that was possibly not quite honest.&nbsp; He had no spell that would bring him a mate, or the intense rush of pleasure and release that sex could bring.&nbsp; No spells that would give him honest conversation, unless he summoned and bound a creature or spirit to the cave.&nbsp; And such things carried with them a price, one he was not willing to pay just to hear another voice.<br><br>Dragons, of course, do not preen.&nbsp; So of course he did not preen or puff up a bit proudly when she mentioned how impressive his magic was.&nbsp; It would be below his dignity to do so.&nbsp; Of course.&nbsp; "It is indeed a very useful spell, for all that I access it only rarely.&nbsp; Thankfully it requires only a trickle of magic to maintain."&nbsp; Not that she would understand what that actually meant, but he was in a good mood at the moment and was willing to offer more than had been asked.&nbsp; When she mentioned gathering things she might need the great wyrm appeared to consider the idea thoughtfully.&nbsp; "Y...yesssss.&nbsp; Yes I suppose it could be used for those things.&nbsp; Hopefully not terribly often.&nbsp; The dwarves are a chiseling bunch of bastards, and they want top dollar for everything."<br><br>Scales scraped on stone as he settled himself a bit, trying to ignore the disappointment of her body being hidden from his view again, even a little.&nbsp; And why shouldn't he admire his new prize, even if she was not what he had wanted or expected?&nbsp; Every new acquisition was a matter of fascination to him, especially works of art and unique items.<br><br>Of course, that had to be the source of his intense study.&nbsp; Good, that's sorted out.<br><br>"Unfortunately, unless you possess an undetected hidden facility for magic, and a strong one at that, I think it unlikely that you would be able to learn the spell in a trio of human lifetimes.&nbsp; The greatest human mages to have lived could not hope to match a fraction of dracomagics.&nbsp; Still, there are ways to test facility, and I cannot imagine that you had access to them in that mud farm of a village."&nbsp; Eventually she appeared to finish up her food and was ready to put it all aside.&nbsp; <br><br>Her mention of washing the plates, however, brought a confused frown to his brow ridges.&nbsp; "What is it with you humans and washing things," he rumbled with amusement, before flicking a finger at the tabled just so and breathing out slowly.&nbsp; Like sand caught in a breeze the food just seemed to fade away in the warm airstream, until the plates and utensils and glasses were clean as the day they had been created.&nbsp; Possibly cleaner.&nbsp; "Storing food up her could be difficult.&nbsp; Possible, but my home is warm, and caves cold enough to keep food from rotting are not connected.&nbsp; I suppose an area could be set up, with the right spells," he mused softly, before she interrupted with her desire to see the library.<br><br>"Yes, yes, the library.&nbsp; Come this way," he stated distractedly, before turning about and stalking toward the correct tunnel.&nbsp; At least until she started to ask more questions, and for more things.&nbsp; "Once I am satisfied that you can treat the books with due reverence and care, you may be allowed into the library without me.&nbsp; As to these... shoes?&nbsp; Hmm.&nbsp; Human foot coverings.&nbsp; You are frail and easily damaged little things."&nbsp; Molten eyes turned back to her and down to her feet for a few moments before his gaze went distant, scaled lips moving soundlessly.&nbsp; "You'll have to do without for a day or two, until the order is filled.&nbsp; Now this way to the library."<br><br>Down a smooth tunnel, free of sharp bits to hurt her dainty feet, with offshoot tunnels going deeper into the mountains.&nbsp; The way the stone was smooth and worn it was clear that he came this way often.&nbsp; Which was good, because it was true.&nbsp; After roughly five minutes of walking towards a steadily-increasing illumination they emerged into a treasure-trove of bookshelves and books.&nbsp; Rows upon rows of ancient tomes and manuscripts, newly bound leather folios, scrolls and tablets, all of them carefully stored and displayed in shelving that run up wards of thirty feet in height.&nbsp; Hovering globes gave a warm, buttery glow to the room, a glow that was increased and reflected by brightly polished brasswork on every shelf and book case.<br><br>"My library," he rumbled softly with obvious pride in his voice, watching her out of the corner of his eye to gauge her reactions.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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