DRAGON AU

[steppechild]

Prometheus hibernated a lot.

There wasn't much else to do, as a hermit-dragon. He couldn't venture out into the world in case some intrepid 'adventurer' wanted to slay him for bragging rights or his hide, he couldn't mingle with other dragons because he was one of Nidhogg's brood (a fact which was why he couldn't socialise with any Ishgardians because spears inevitably got involved in those conversations, he knew, he still had the scar on his hindquarters from his last naive attempt), and he knew absolutely no one else, knew nothing about the world or its new continents or civilisations, so hibernating it was.

But even then, sleeping got dull.

Prometheus sighed deeply, drawing his wings tighter about himself. Perhaps it was because he spent so much time sleeping, but his draconic body evolved to have furred wings - which was nice, it was very warm, even if they did shed some strange, fluffy black motes from time to time (he soon learned that these motes were highly toxic to mortals, probably from his subconscious desire to be left alone slipping into this body's maturing evolution). The downy undercoat of his wings was shed often and thickly enough that he even had a little nest, in a cave warmed by geothermic means, in the high mountains of Coethas. It was cosy, safe, and isolated.

It was also boring and devoid of anything. Prometheus came here... fuck, centuries? Or millennia? He couldn't remember. A long while, just after the war between Ishgard and the dragons kicked off in earnest. He flew here as a dragonnet, and slept and slept and slept, with miserable waking moments in between where he went to stretch his wings, eat a bear or something, and crawled back in his warm, soft cave to sleep some more.

He was avoiding reality, he knew. He didn't understand why he woke up in the form of a dragon - an alien species, not native to their star, how the hell did the reincarnation cycle mess up that badly!? - what happened to Amaurot, why the geography was completely different and... where Hades and Hythlodaeus were. He remembered, in the early days of his life, he would cry out through the Lifestream to hear nothing back, and was slowly accepting that, maybe, it was just him. Alone.

No Hades. No Hythlodaeus. Just him and his cave.

He exhaled heavily, flexing his claws as his body sluggishly roused from its latest bout of hibernation. His stomach was an empty pit of starvation, so he had to eat something calorie dense before dozing back off again. The only thing was, it took ages for his body to fully 'wake up'. Spending centuries practically in a coma made his limbs lock up, and it took a while for the aether flowing through his body to regain strength and feeling in them again. Not that he was in any rush...

Comments

[hellufacade]

Hades placed a quick hand over Prometheus’. “It will not. Please don’t tell the natives that we’ll tongue their balls for supper.”

Hades watched the hand movements. They hadn’t changed much since he’d been here last, but he owed that to the absolute crawl their technology and culture made. Hades dropped his soul walls to Prometheus, entangling them quickly so he could understand what would happen next.

Instead, Hades launched into rapid Xaelan explaining that they were lost and without weapons, but they could pay their way with coin or goods. Hades had cleverly put saddle bags on the horse, though empty, allowing him to covertly create anything he wanted.

[steppechild]

Prometheus 'aw'd quietly at not being able to be useful, and sat back and listened to Hades talk. Thanks to their souls entangling, he understood what was going on, gently prised the language from Hades to copy into his own knowledge, and watched as the two Xaelas seemed to consider Hades's story.

After some silent conversation between them done entirely by their eyes and movements of their brows, they turned back and nodded, and their spears were hitched back onto their saddles. It seemed they were welcome.

"Oh, your sweet talking worked!" Prometheus said in Amaurotine. He was acting like a tourist in a petting zoo, cooing over every interaction his partner had with the penned animals, "I wonder what their hosting customs are like...?"

[hellufacade]

“The Qestir are particularly peaceful...for a warring tribe. We will find out together, I’m sure,”Hades did like the praise given to him, though. Hades dismounted, leading the horse to tie it up with the others.

The hunter signed that there was a dangerous pack of beasts moving through the area and that they would need to wait for them to pass before heading back. In the meantime, they had enough food to share.

“Hmm... Prometheus, check them over for injuries, see if there’s anything they might need. I could chase away the pack, but that might be a little over the top. I can use a simple piece of wood as a staff if they want me to have a prop.”

He asked if they would sleep there, and they guessed that it would be likely.

[steppechild]

Prometheus perked up and eagerly went to make himself useful. After some stilted Xaelan (just because he copied the knowledge didn't mean it had properly sunk in) the Qestir consented to him looking over some of their wounded. There were only a few, shallow wounds that were already tended to, except one had clearly a broken arm. Judging by their glum demeanor, they didn't have healers strong enough to mend broken bones within minutes. When they returned to the main encampment, they could only hasten the healing by a week at most.

So fragile, always in a rush, yet so slow in other things, Prometheus mused. If he was still an Amaurotine, he could've healed that with barely a thought. Now... well, dragons weren't very well versed in healing magic.

"One person with a broken arm, Hades," Prometheus reported, clearly in high spirits. He was thoroughly enjoying their little adventure, "You can heal that easily, right?"

[hellufacade]

“Hm? Sure, easy,” he said, looking up from where he was pretending to sort through his bags. He walked over towards the injured man, picking up someone’s walking staff on the way causing some alarm. It didn’t last long as he stopped short before the injured and cast a potent little healing spell.

The alarm faded quickly into quiet elation. Hades set the walking stick aside and placed his hands on the man’s arm, gently turning it over to test it, he also didn’t heal often, but he could stick things back together for sure. The man sat up, grasping his hands. He had never seen such healing magic before clearly.

“Have you been sent by Azim, mysterious travelers?” He asked, and Hades had to bite his lip. Now that was an idea.

He gave Prom an “I’ll do the talking,” sort of look.

“Not merely sent. We travel incognito for now, however.” It helped that Hades spoke like he was from their great-grandparents generation despite looking as young as he did.

[steppechild]

Prometheus smiled at the interaction, tho he was mildly puzzled by the content. Who was Azim? Oh, was the steppe named after a deity of sorts? Oh, hm, that's interesting. Then the religion must predate them settling here? Unless the steppe was renamed after aggressive religious conversion...

He mulled over this, as Hades did the sweet talking, utterly unaware of the direction Hades was taking it.

[hellufacade]

The others looked shocked, but were leery of those who spoke aloud. Lies, they could tell, and lies they often did.

“Prove it,” one of the men signed.

“Hmm,” Hades tapped his jaw before stepping back a bit. He began to morph into a dragon, though this one was a clever golden color adorned with locally styled jewelry, fur, and fine cloth.

The man who questioned him dropped his weapon, then dropped to his knees.

[steppechild]

Prometheus tuned back in when Hades transformed into a dragon, and looked about wildly wondering what he had missed. No weapons being waved about so this wasn't for intimidation...

Well... if Hades transformed into a dragon, then Prometheus can too, right? Right! Of course! So, after making sure he wouldn't accidentally squash anyone with a stray limb, he shook off Hades's glamour and transformed too. In stark contrast to Hades's golden scales, his black scales, shimmering with a purplish pink sheen, stood out.

"Hades," Prometheus said in Amaurotine, as the gathered Xaela gasped anew. One looked like they were going to have a heart attack, which worried him, "Uh, what're we doing?"

[hellufacade]

“We’re their gods now,” Hades said, conjuring flower vestments for Prometheus. Hades flexed and fluttered his enormous wings as the gathered tried to just believe their eyes.

“Azim, of the sun. And Nhaama, of the moon. That’s you,” he said back in Amaurotine, fixing Prometheus’ flower crown with a wing claw. “Anyway, you shouldn’t need to stay cooped up in a Xaela form too many more times.”

“Our Gods, what can we do, how may we please you?” one asked.

Hades looked to Prometheus. “Well?”

[steppechild]

"Uh, oh, stars, you've put me on the spot now," Prometheus flustered, unsure on what to do with all this focused attention. There was some fear there, the fear of someone more powerful than you existing in your midst, but there was also excitement and awe and fascination. These tiny little humans, Xaela, whoever... they reminded Prometheus of little children, gasping in delight at simple Creation magic...

"Well... I'm kinda hungry..." he muttered under his breath, then told Hades in Amaurotine, since he seemed to be their spokesperson, "I want, like, a food offering, a big one. The size of a cow at least. I'm starving."

[hellufacade]

“Bring us a dzo for my Nhaama, and I will clear away the pack so that you can return home safely.”

The hunting party was reinvigorated by this, including the one how had broken his arm was up and ready. They signed fervently that it would be done, and they would not be kept waiting. They then added that Prometheus was beautiful, and they were graced to do this for her. They rushed off towards the herd of dzo in the distance.

“Don’t way too much too fast again,” he warned. “So...Shall we?” Hades asked, tilting his head in the direction of the vicious beasts.

[steppechild]

"Sure!" Prometheus chirped, spreading his wings out wide. He took flight, his powerful wings launching him up. Luckily, this pack wasn't far, so it only took a few wing beats before he paused to hover over them, eyeing the large cat-like creatures roaming the ground.

"They look like sabre-toothed tigers," he mused, "Well, easy pickings, I suppose. Let's go, Hades!"

With that, Prometheus tucked his wings in close and dived. He crashed into the midst of the pack with enough force it kicked up dirt, grass, and one unfortunate sabre-toothed tiger. Prometheus's happy roar of delight swiftly followed.

[hellufacade]

“They essentially are,” he replied, watching Prometheus zoom off.

Hades took off, circling overhead like the harbinger of death that he was. He supposed they could bring these baras back to the tribe. May as well be benevolent Gods. Hades could annihilate all of them with a single spell, but that would ruin Prometheus’ fun. He would just obliterate anything that dared to bite him.

“Don’t ruin your appetite!” Hades called from above.

[steppechild]

"I won't!"

The baras were too lean for Prometheus's tastes anyways, and he had manners! No point eating when the Qestir were going to give him dinner in a bit, so he had his fun batting about the baras until he got bored, whereupon he swiftly killed any survivors. By the end there were ten dead baras, Prometheus feeling buzzed with adrenaline and excitement, and Hades still lazily circling above.

"I'm done!" he called up, "You lazy asshole! I did all the work for you!"

[hellufacade]

“Oh please, you needed the exercise. I carried you here, in case you forgot!” He called this down as he circled lower, gliding until he landed into a trot. Hades couldn’t help himself; he sidled up to Prometheus and placed his head on top of Prometheus’ gently.

“I have an idea,” Hades said, his voice gentle on his throat. “What if we...make a nest here. For our child. Far away from Ishgard, from the evils of this world. We’ll just be surrounded by the nomads living in harmony with the lifestream.”

Hades had never thought of it like that... but the concept of a chance at a peaceful life was gripping, addicting. Why would he let his first chance at happiness slip through his fingers? Ever since he son, no. After... Solus’ son died. He shook off that dusty heap of sadness as he nuzzled Prometheus. Even if he was slicked with baras blood.

[steppechild]

What a surprising suggestion from Hades! Prometheus would've expected him to insist on nesting in his private island for ultimate protection, but... it was kind of dull there, and lonely. Here, their child wouldn't be cooped up in a gilded cage! They could go out, explore the world, talk to the younger races and learn to get along with them! The Steppe tribes, at least, seemed reluctant to hurt them, and were a lot kinder than the Ishgardians.

The more Prometheus thought about it, the more he warmed up to it.

"That's a wonderful idea," he crooned, nuzzling Hades back. Oh, how he loved this fussy old fool, "But... what about Hythlodaeus? I mean, I know he's a shade but... I dunno, I'd feel bad if we left him at your loner island."

[hellufacade]

“I can bring him here with little more than a thought,” Hades said sweetly. “I’m sure I would be interrupting him, but he would get over it.”

Hades trotted out in front of Prometheus, concentrating, hoping, wishing... In this area so lush with rejuvenated aether. Hades expected that his simulacrum would be simply brought to him... instead, his eyes widened as sound, sweet like bells and oscillating like waves came forth. Hythlodaeus, in his own flesh, was summoned from the lifestream. Hades was too stunned to act before the man fell limp into the grass, unconscious yet whole.

The man groaned a bit, indicating life.

[steppechild]

"Uh," Prometheus stepped up next to Hades, staring at the (naked) form of their very alive friend. His feelers were flicked up, letting him see- yup. Oh, yeah, that was Hythlodaeus, definitely. His soul and everything. Back from the dead.

Like me, Prometheus thought a tad hysterically.

"Hades. You... brought him back from the dead," he said dumbly, tentatively reaching out with his wing and nudging him like he was roadkill, "Hyth? Hythlodaeus? You, uh, you alive there, buddy?"

[hellufacade]

Hythlodaeus groaned as he rolled onto his side. Hades assumed his Auri glamour and rushed over.

“That’s, I didn’t mean to— I didn’t know I could,” he said pulling him into his arms. Hythlodaeus’ face scrunched up like someone was trying to wake him before his alarm. His eyes slowly opened, batting against the hazy light of the steppe.

“Hades,” he said, voice hoarse before looking Prometheus’ way. He squinted and blinked; he must have been swapping his sight on before he recognized— “Prometheus?”

He held his head in one hand, breathing out slowly. “What happened? There’s... such strange memories in my head.”

[steppechild]

Prometheus sat on his haunches, giving Hades a look as he said, "Uh, I dunno. Hades brought you back to life somehow, and... I reincarnated with my memories as a dragon after dying too."

But this was good, right? Hythlodaeus was back! It didn't feel real, though, Prometheus too numb with shock to really react. It'll sink in later, no doubt.

[hellufacade]

Hades looked at his hands in bewilderment for a moment, then seeming to remember everything, snapped his fingers, dressing Hythlodaeus.

“Except I seem to be... a shard, hm?” Hythlodaeus pinched the bridge of his nose as he gazed at his own pallid soul. He looked to Hades and bit his lip. “You didn’t shatter,” Hythlodaeus said with confusion. “Why do you have horns?”

“...A lot has happened,” Hades said, still trying to believe it himself.

[steppechild]

"Yeah," Prometheus said faintly, "Oh, we should probably tell him about the baby too," he told Hades, before realising Hythlodaeus was right there and guiltily looked at him for a moment before saying, "Uh, there's a potential baby, by the way. Um."

[hellufacade]

Hythlodaeus just blinked up at the two of them before turning to Hades. “Fucked a dragon, huh?”

“Yes. Where are we going to put him? We have to meet back with the natives...”

“Congratulations, by the way,” he said to Prometheus, half ignoring Hades because this was all too surreal. “You aren’t fighting, right? That’s not why I’m here... right?”

[steppechild]

"Uh, no..." Prometheus said, "We're not fighting."

Not yet, anyways, he thought wryly, already anticipating for sparks to fly when Hades finally told him what the hell was happening in this world. But, that wouldn't be for a few decades, maybe centuries at most, so there's no need to talk about that elephant in the room just yet.

"Let's say he's our, uh, spokesperson?" Prometheus paused, "Oracle? Is that the word..."

[hellufacade]

"We're here ourselves. We don't need an Oracle or a Prophet unless we were leaving him behind or planning to gate everyone away from us. Which may be ideal..." Hades said, trailing off.

Hades looked down to Hythlodaeus in his arms.

"I haven't been back five minutes... " Hades helped him sit up, then stand. "And you already want to put me to work! Prometheus!" Hythlodaeus approached him to look closer at him. "Well aren't you pretty?"