Fox-kin territory, Central Tail, inside Teyla's home...
Xian sits on a couch in their den wearing a troubled expression, his nerves shot. Nearby, Teyla watches him from a chair, sipping her morning tea with an amused smile. She speaks, her voice dripping with faux-concern.
"What's the matter, Xian? You look a little stressed." (Teyla)
He glances down at one of his tails, still singed from a fireball one of his more jealous wives launched, then up at the tacky, engraved collar around his neck.
Wife four is my favorite
Finally, his gaze settles on Teyla, his eyes distinctly lacking luster, his expression deadpan.
"It's only been a couple days, and I'm already injured, Teyla. At this rate, I won't survive a full year. I swear, I've learned my lesson. I'll quit asking you to be my wife, no more sexual jokes, I won't even flirt. Just...can we do something about this collar? Please?" (Xian)
Unfortunately, his heartfelt plea doesn't cause her to falter for even a millisecond. Her lips twist into a satisfied grin, and she crosses her legs, studying him with a smug expression. She shrugs dismissively.
"Sorry. I can't trust a pervert's word. Besides, I don't have the power to absolve you of the collar, remember? I only suggested the engraving. Mizuki is the one you made the bet with." (Teyla)
He lets out a depressed sigh, remembering the bastard in question.
'She's right...no way that asshole lets me off the hook.'
Truthfully, he only made that bet because Mizuki promised him a bout of pure physical strength, and he was convinced there was no way he could lose. This isn't the first time he's regretted making such an assumption about that little freak.
'I mean, come on, I didn't even wrong the guy! Why'd he have to damn me like this!? Just because I made a little joke about smelling women on him in front of Teyla? Who cares! Honestly, either shut the girl down fully and stick to his two wives, or grow up and fuck her already, man! Don't take it out on me!'
He scoffs, his voice turning frustrated as he responds to Teyla.
"That's just an excuse, and you know it. Come one, Tey...help me out here, please? At the very least, talk to my wives and help me navigate this nonsense." (Xian)
To his surprise, she just chuckles at him.
"Fufufu...well, you're not wrong, I do enjoy seeing you suffer like this. But, for the record, me talking to your wives won't do a damn thing. Having a second person explain the bet, or another woman tell them to calm down on your behalf...neither will help." (Teyla)
He winces, recognizing the truth in her words.
"Then talk to Mizuki for me, won't you? I bet if you ask him reaalll nicely, he'll let me out of the bet early. I mean, you like him anyway, right? Just make use of that sweet little a-" (Xian)
SWOOSH!
He chokes off his words, throwing himself sideways off the couch, right as a fireball crashes where his head used to be.
HISSSS!
His eyes study the charred fabric on the headrest, still smoking lightly, then turns an incredulous gaze towards Teyla. She stares back at him, crimson eyes burning with fury, leaning forward on her own seat. Yet, her voice is distinctly flustered as she responds.
"Shut up! What the hell are you even talking about!? I don't want anything to do with that pervert!" (Teyla)
She leans back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest as her eyes slide away from him. Her voice quiets slightly, turning frustrated, while her tail flickers awkwardly behind her.
"Besides, he's already got two oh so beautiful wives, while I got dropped off like luggage and left with barely a goodbye..." (Teyla)
He blinks, bewildered.
'Is she seriously denying it? To me of all people, while she sits her sulking about him? What is she, a fucking pup?'
As he sits there, contemplating how to begin unpacking her response, a panicked voice suddenly echoes in his mind.
[Xian, I need your help! My wife, Ilina – you know, the elves' Princess – she wants us to drop in for a date in Central Tail sometime soon. Ilina is perfectly capable of killing you both, so please warn Teyla not to...well, I think you can guess. Thanks, man, I owe you!] (Mizuki)
As soon as Mizuki's words register in his mind, he's torn between a number of thoughts. How is Mizuki remotely communicating with him, and from where? Are his thoughts being read? Can this Ilina girl really kill him if she tries? Most importantly, does Mizuki have a sister-in-law that he can turn into his very own elven princess wife?
"What are you making that face for, Xian? What's going on?" (Teyla)
Shaken from his contemplation, he realizes his lips had twisted into the beginnings of a lewd smile. He glances at Teyla, her disapproving glare reminding him that she's all too familiar with his facial expressions. That's quickly replaced by another thought, though...
'How should I explain Mizuki's request to her?'
For a moment, he sits there in silence, genuinely considering it. That is, until his distracted gaze drifts down to the collar around his neck, and he's reminded of his recent troubles...and the culprit.
An excited grin slowly emerges on his face, and he turns back towards Teyla, who's now wearing a curious, expectant expression. He shrugs dismissively at her.
"Ah...no reason." (Xian)
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Later, inside the Zuki mansion's reception hall...
I look slowly between Alto, Nina, Ilina, and Ciri, eyebrows raised.
"So, Alto's coming with me to help with some...stuff, with the Greater Spirits, and Nina's going to build roads and walls in the demi-human lands for a couple days. Ilina, is your situation with Ciri...arranged, I guess?" (Mizuki)
Ilina glances at Ciri, standing behind her in a ridiculous maid uniform with a passive expression, then turns back to me and nods.
"Yes, she'll just shadow me during my normal duties. In principle, a maid accompanying me everywhere is not so strange. Her human-like appearance would have been a problem, but after yesterday, everyone knows who she actually is. At worst, I have to explain why an Elder Dragon is my maid." (Ilina)
I nod.
"Okay...well, I'll see you tonight then. Best of luck on the first day, and Ciri, contact me immediately if there's trouble." (Mizuki)
Ciri gives me a small smile.
"Of course." (Ciri)
Ilina and I briefly embrace, then Ciri places her hand on Ilina's shoulder, and the two vanish.
I turn to Nina, who I'm sending to Zara's village. Zara is already expecting her arrival this morning.
"Nina, you ready?" (Mizuki)
She smiles wryly.
"As much as I can be for irksome labor." (Nina)
Nina cuts a glance at Alto, who's standing by my side, and smirks knowingly.
"Do not forget our discussion, Alto..." (Nina)
Alto frowns, tensing slightly.
"Your reminder is unnecessary." (Alto)
I furrow my brow, glancing between them as they stare at one another in silence.
"What are you two talking about?" (Mizuki)
They both snap their gazes towards me.
""Nothing."" (Nina, Alto)
I blink. Seriously?
I glance at Nina, intending to press her telepathically, but she steps forward with a dismissive wave.
"Okay, I've procrastinated enough. Send me on my way please, Husband." (Nina)
I raise my eyebrows at the uncharacteristically evasive behavior, my curiosity urging further interrogation, but I ultimately decide to respect their privacy on...well, whatever the hell that was. I sigh in resignation.
"Alright...safe travels." (Mizuki)
Without further ceremony, I teleport her away, then turn to Alto. Her expression has returned to its stoic default, and she's staring at me expectantly. I nod.
"Let's go." (Mizuki)
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
When Alto and I arrive at the forest clearing around Nina's old nest, I'm greeted by a sight pretty similar to the first time I ever visited here. That is to say, a giant earthy-colored dragon curled up for an afternoon nap.
Next to me, Alto balks briefly, before shooting me a curious look.
"Is that the dragon you mentioned?" (Alto)
I nod, sparing an exasperated smile.
"Yup. Nina told me those lunatic spirits named him Mud, if you can believe it." (Mizuki)
Alto tilts her head, studying Mud's slumbering figure thoughtfully.
"That's an appropriate name, I think." (Alto)
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Of course miss 'photon sword' thinks that's a good name.
Noticing that Mud still hasn't noticed us, I raise my hands, cupping them around my mouth.
"MUUUDDDD!" (Mizuki)
Surprisingly, hollering the absurd name actually evokes a response, though it's unclear if the noise alone is to blame. Mud's scaly, reptilian eyes slowly open, his slitted pupils sweeping lazily until they lock on me. Oh right...yeah, I've decided to gender him, because 'it' feels disrespectful.
His eyelids snap open comically, recognition clear in his eyes.
BOOM! RUMBBLLLEEEE!
With surprising grace, Mud jumps to his feet, the force required to lift his massive frame sending a shockwave through the surrounding area. Then, he begins bounding towards us with a gait that I can only describe as that of...well, a puppy.
DA-DUM! DA-DUM! DA-DUM! DA-DUM!
...a very large puppy, whose every step trembles the earth and sends my teeth rattling.
Mud slides to a stop in front of us, sending over dust and wind that would lash us mercilessly if not for the forcefield I just erected. He leans his massive head down, his focus entirely on me, and I'm bombarded with a sensation of nervous excitement that I assume comes from his rudimentary telepathy. In addition, he's projecting a kind of...concept, or sentiment, which I can vaguely understand is his 'name' for me. If I had to translate it...
[DADDY! DADDY! DADDY!] (Mud)
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Mud's tail begins sweeping back and forth destructively behind him, whipping up a small dust storm.
I blink, staring at him with a dumbfounded expression.
"Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me..." (Mizuki)
Alto looks between me and Mud with equal parts curiosity and bewilderment in her gaze.
"Mizuki, what is going on?" (Alto)
I sigh deeply, pinching the bridge of my nose, then give her a deadpan look.
"Mud here seems to think I'm his dad, and he's very happy to see me." (Mizuki)
For a moment, her expression falters, going blank, then she gives me an amused smile, chuckling softly.
"Fufufu...well, technically, aren't you? You made the Dragon Bond with Nina, and Nina created Mud. Actually, this behavior is rather fascinating, since it suggests that he can sense the Bond. Hmm..." (Alto)
As she hums thoughtfully, staring at Mud with an expression that I recognize all too well from watching her study, I turn my attention to trying to communicate with him. Letting him know to calm down, doing my best to gauge if there's been any problems, if his food situation has improved, etcetera. Through a series of trial-and-error mental image exchanges with him, I eventually surmise that...all is good. He's well-fed on the local game, there's been no friction with the Greater Spirits or other denizens of the Delmura Forest, and he's by all accounts happy. Apparently, his only wish is that I and Nina visit more.
Which...I'm not sure how I feel about.
Presumably finished with her thought experiment, Alto suddenly reaches her hand towards Mud, seemingly intending to pet his snout.
GRRRRRRR!
Before she can even touch his scales, Mud's eyes dart towards Alto, a low, threatening rumble emanating from him. She immediately freezes, her face showing the first trace of concern since we arrived.