crowspace | Dragon's Bride Meme

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Dragon's Bride Meme

The Dragon's Bride

Flames, then ash. Your village will be left with little else should the dragon that plagues the countryside not get his demanded sacrifice...if you're lucky. Your good fortune turns south, the bones of your neighbors (or whatever else remains of them) litter a new charred graveyard that was once a town. So, the necessary offers must be made.

At least that's the hope. The alternative would be too awful to contemplate.

In a last-ditch effort to save those you love — or against your will, as these things tend to go with forcibly created martyrs — you have been hoisted onto the pyre, waiting for the dragon to fly off with you. What terrors race through your mind as your doom impends?

How you'll end up in a beast's belly, no doubt. Except, you must consider this: there are worst fates than being a dragon's next meal. A monster that covets you as its treasure...a new type of danger unfurls its wings. You've become a dragon's bride.

But could such an infernal creature ever learn to know honest, unselfish affection? Is it possible to be more than a "spouse?" A mere treasure?

Perhaps, you could learn to be a dragon's love.

HOW TO PLAY
✗ Comment with your character, roles ("dragon" or "bride") prefs, etc.
✗ Y'all know how this goes. Approach "dragon" as a stand-in. The monster mash could be elves, orcs, goblins, werewolves, demons, dwarves, fey, purple people eaters, what have you. Of course, actual dragon and shifters folks are welcome, too! And don't think that you have to make your boring human a boring ol' human. Consider this the monster/supernatural being/cryptid/creature AU of your dreams!
✗ Second verse, same as the first, "bride" registers as gender-neutral 'round these parts. That word choice just sounds a touch more poetic.
✗ Reply to others.

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The tributes before you have. Sometimes it makes them less afraid.

[Not that they really should be afraid in the first place, it's not like he was planning to hurt them or anything.]

[Nanami scolds him pretty often, about speaking without any filter.

And he's about to wish that she was here now.]

I don't get what the point is of us being less scared when we're just going to get eaten anywa- [Hinata's mouth snap shuts, breaking off what he was saying as his face goes very pale.] Oh- oh crap, I-

[He feels stupid... but it's probably better to get it over with, right?]

I...

[It does make the tiger scowl, but...]

I can catch my own prey if I wanted that, I don't need my food delivered to me. Any predator would be insulted hearing you say that.

You're not for eating.

[He's on the verge of saying- something. An apology? Expression of fear?

But those words... give him pause. Disbelief paints his face, hits him in a wave that makes him grips onto his shirt where it rests over his heart. He needs the anchor.]

What... do you mean I'm "not for eating"? They said we were being sent here as a sacrifice. That I'd never go back to the village one way or another... So if I'm not here to die, what am I here for?

[...Well. The tiger huffs, looking pointedly away from Hinata.]

...You're for company.

[He sounds... almost a little embarrassed about it.]

...Eh?

[Give his brain a second to recalibrate because that's. That's???

Hinata doesn't know what to feel, but the embarrassed-sounding note in the tiger's voice is almost... cute........... and that's a lot more dangerous a line of thinking than anything else.]

You're saying I actually went through all of this just because you wanted a friend...

[That'd be endearing if he wasn't currently full of mixed emotions.]

I... still don't get it, though... What do you need somebody good-looking for if it's just for company...?

[......................................]

You're the only person I'm looking at, so you should be good to look at. It's not that complicated.

[Embarrassed huff.]

There aren't any other tigers in this jungle. It's just me.

It still makes it complicated if you're asking for something that specific...!

[It's as much of a realization as he says it, and Hinata's whole face flushes again as he gets the words out.]

But...

[Hinata settles just a little, but the feeling in his chest... He shouldn't feel sad about the tiger, right...?

But if he isn't going to be killed, then...]

I guess I could see why. It sounds kind of lonely. Although- [His guard doesn't quite lower all the way.] "Haven't invented much of worth," you said earlier? That sounds like you don't care for us too much, so... Why ask for one to spend your time with?

You're not all bad. As a species, you wage war for pointless reasons and obsess over pointless things... But individual humans can be fine.

I... can't really argue with that at all. Wouldn't even want to, honestly. We seem to cause more problems than not.

[Hinata thinks about himself and his own situation, just how poorly he's been treated up until this very moment by anyone but the tiger himself.]

What did you think of the tributes that came before me?

I liked them. They were good company,

[A small, but genuine smile.]

[Something about that puts Hinata at ease, just a little. And yet...

...]

You... don't have to answer if you'd rather not, but... [He only adverts his gaze for a brief moment.] ...can I ask what happened to them?

[If he isn't meant to give up his life... what awaits him at the end of this road?]

After a year I let them leave if they want. I'm not surprised that they've never come back to the village that sacrificed them.

[Even if he doesn't actually eat them, everyone thinks he does. No sacrifice takes it particularly well.]

None of us would be welcome back, I don't think, even if we wanted to try.

[Hinata knows he'll never risk it, even if a pang goes through him at the friends he was forced to leave behind.]

...All of them left, then. [He says it softly, almost to himself.] I haven't seen anyone else here, so I can only assume...

[Something about it seems...

Lonely.

It makes Hinata's hands tighten into fists. Part of him still wants to guard himself, be cautious, and the current of symapthy that runs through him is a dangerous, dangerous thing.

But... is it really such a bad thing? Does he really need to be so wary? The tiger has been kinder to him than any of the village leaders that tossed him out here.

His hands loosen.]

...I don't see much point in it, really. In leaving.

[All of them left. It's what the tiger expects - no one willingly spending their time with him a second longer than they have to.

But Hinata says that, and the tiger blinks at him before managing the tiniest smile.]

You're welcome to stay as long as you want.

It's not like there's anywhere else for me. [He leans back against the pelts finally, looking more relaxed than he has in this whole time since they arrived at this spot.] And you... at least you want me here.

[For company, huh...

Maybe that's something he can find a way to understand.]

I do.

[That much he can admit without getting too embarrassed about it.]

So, Hinata. Tell me about yourself.

That's- [He darts his gaze away immediately, embarrassed again.] You're able to say something so direct so easily...

[He huffs out a breath though, starting to speak quietly but still too flustered to meet the tiger's eyes.]

There isn't really much to say about me. I've been in that village my whole life, grew up around friends I care about a lot and apparently a bunch of adults that don't care about me one damn bit... A regular village boy that's too high-strung for no good reason, and has a burning desire to make something of himself with no idea what he really wants.

[It feels depressing when he lays it out like that, but none of it is untrue.]

I'd be high-strung if I lived in that village too.

[Even if you're not a tiger, it seems like it Sucks.]

Well, you have a lot of time to think about what you want now, at least.

[It gets a laugh out of Hinata, makes him relax a little again.]

Can't argue with that, really.

[Maybe there's something to that, really. Growing up like that... Maybe it did have an effect on him.]

What I want... [Hinata closes his eyes and instantly recognizes that as a mistake - he instantly feels drowsiness creeping up on him, the excitement of encountering the tiger catching up to him.] I don't have even one thing I'm good at, that I could count as my specialty... I wanted to find a skill that I could call my own... But I guess that doesn't really matter anymore.

[Now that he's here, it doesn't matter what he chooses for the future, does it? A talent or a profession, do either of those really matter if he'll be here with the tiger...?

The tiger...]

...Hey. [Hinata manages to get his eyes open, but his voice is still quiet.] You never told me if you have a name.

It's Atsushi.

[Some of the sacrifices before had expressed surprise that his name was so 'normal'. But what kind of a name should a tiger have, really?]

Go to sleep. You've had a long day.

Atsushi...

[He lets it roll off his tongue, getting used to the feel of it. Some of the possible meaning flit through his head as he lets his body relax. He can't know for sure without seeing how it's written, but it's something that occupies Hinata's mind right on the edge of sleep.

Kind. Compassionate. Sincerely thinking.]

It's... a good name.

[It's the last thing he says before drifting off, finding himself in a warm and untroubled sleep.]

[The next few days are peaceful, in a way. Atsushi has more questions about Hinata, about his life, and Hinata has questions about life in the forest. Atsushi hunts them game and brings it back to Hinata to cook over a fire. (He's learned over the years that humans don't like to eat raw meat.)

Today is less peaceful, for reasons that will soon become apparent.]

We're going to the river today. You need to wash.

[A bright red flush climbs across his cheekbones, over and across, spreads to make its way down his neck.]

Hey, you don't have to say that so directly, you know...?! You can't just blurt something out like that to somebody so suddenly, you know, my feelings are in danger here!

[His embarrassment, mostly, but even Hinata can't deny that he probably doesn't smell the best. He's a young man, after all.]

[He's cute when he blushes... wait.]

Everyone needs to wash, it's a normal thing that tigers and humans both do. I think you smell fine.

[He also likes the dirt and sweat smell, so he's maybe not the best person to ask.]

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Dragon's Bride Meme

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i'm sorry i was lazy and didn't get up to get my wallet so i've cursed us with sameicon

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i finally freed some of my icons out of dreamwidth jail

your power

:muscle:

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