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Talks with Guppy: Part One

Ryuusei walked over toward where the pretty colored Zora boy was standing, finding that he enjoyed the feeling of the sand under his bare feet as he walked along. It wasn't often that he walked along like this, usually choosing to float instead. He had a rather delighted smile on his lips as he got closer to his where he Guppy was standing, "Hello there!" He chirped the moment that he was close enough to the other boy that he wouldn't have to shout to get his attention.

Guppy turned from what he was doing to look over at the little silver dragon and remained for the longest time rather quiet, not sure what he should think about this boy since he had come here out of no were and was suddenly making such good friends with Leviathan for the mere fact that he was a dragon. The fish boy didn't want to be jealous of him but he had been working so had to impressed the Sea Lord, he felt that if he were a dragon himself perhaps he could do better? Regardless of his desire to make impress Leviathan he wouldn't allow himself to get upset with the silver haired boy, he was an innocent and kind little thing after all from what all Guppy had seen and heard thus far.

"Hello." He murmured, fins giving a slight twitch, "Your name is Ryuusei, right? I heard it from Lord Leviathan." He said, setting down a few shells that he was arranging so that he could face the silver haired dragon more easily.

Ryuusei gave a bright smile and a rapid nod of his head, "Yes, that's my name! And yours is...?" He asked, having heard at least a dozen various nicknames in regardless to the Zora thus far but he couldn't tell if any one of them was his actual name. It was a bit confusing if you asked Ryuusei, maybe he had more then one name? He supposed that it was possible.

"I don't have a real name yet, I go by Guppy though since it was the first thing that Lord Leviathan called me when we met." He murmured, sounding a little embarrassed to be lacking in something as simple as a true name but it was the truth, he had at least a million names where Leviathan was concerned, whatever came to mind for the sea dragon was what the Zora was called. He didn't mind it so much himself but it was something strange to have to explain to others, that he was lacking in a given name.

"Ohh... really?" Ryuusei asked, eyes a bit wide. He hadn't expected to be told that the fish boy didn't have a name at all. It was so... sad in a way. He reached a hand out to pat him on the head gently, almost soothingly, "You could always pick one for yourself you know." He suggested to the other boy, his tail swishing behind him in a rapid manner. It seemed like the best idea if you asked him! He smiled before knelt down, reaching over to pick up a shell, looking it over, "Are you a shell collector?"

Guppy looked down at them before he gave a little laugh, "No, I don't collect them but Lord Leviathan loves when I bring him pretty, perfect shells." He said, motioning to the smaller amount of shells that were considered special and perfect while the rest of them were iffy, little imperfections or chips that he knew would make Leviathan not like him that much, "I have a found a couple of them so far on the beach that he might like but I am going to have to go into the water to find more. Do you swim Ryuusei?" He asked of the dragon as he turned to looking into the water, fins opening up, stretching out, and he looked as though he were getting ready to walk into the water.

"No... well once in a water fountain at the park but never in a place as big as the ocean." He said, following as Guppy headed toward the water though he stopped when he was up to his ankles. He didn't want to go in to deep since he didn't know how deep it was, given the size of the animals that lived in the ocean though he would say that it had to be quite deep.

The Zora turned to look over at Ryuusei before he looked from side to side as though he were looking for something important, looking for his Lord and when he didn't see the sea dragon around he carefully remove one of his brightly colored scales and pressed it against Ryuu's skin where it stuck, "There you go, so long as you have that on you you will be able to go swimming in the ocean and breath under the water." He whispered quietly before he continued forward into the water, splashing as he went. The silver dragon looked down at the gift that he was given, a rather amazing scale that would allow him to breath under water, and he gave a happy sound as he raced into the water after Guppy and the pair seemed to dive in at the same time. It was obvious that Ryuusei was a very trusting creature to believe such a thing without even questioning it.

(( 896 ))

Curios on the Beach: Part Two

(( Done over AIM with Ceres ))

Ryuusei seemed to perk up at the mention of food, fruit wasn't something he'd had for a while since all of what he'd eaten since he had come to the beach had been things that came from the ocean, fish and the like. He gave a smile as he looked over at the basket, tempted to pounce but forced himself to behave. He didn't want to look like a pudgy little glutton as one of his friends had used to say. He gave a smile, "I still think it sounds neat." He murmured, likely because his life lacked any sort of routine he found the routine she had wonderful. Shaking his head the little dragon looked at the shells he had so far, "They are a gift to a nice dragon that saved me from something scary! I heard from his friend that he loves perfect shells."

"My sister, Amelia, spoke of that same dragon," Tori said softly as she sat up so could more easily carry on a conversation with the silver hair boy. "Amelia told me that I had met him previously and that I knew him. But the only dragon fitting the description she gave me was one that I met a very long time ago. His name was Leviathan... And, if we speak of the same dragon then he also likes sharp objects, and princess," she chuckled.

She noticed that he seemed 'shy' about things. She'd offered the basket but it was as if he was waiting for a more personal invite. "Help yourself cutey," she leaned forward and opened up the lid. "Just don't drink the milk..."

He gave a laugh and a nod, "Yes, that's him! Leviathan, he is a Dragon Lord!" He said in an excited manner, it wasn't often that one got to meet a someone like that so he felt quite lucky to have been saved by such a person. He leaned over when the basket was opened, reaching inside to pick up an apple from inside the bag, looking it over, then smiled, "Thank you!" He chirped, taking a bite out of it, chewed, and nearly purred over the taste of it. Far different from fish, not to say that wasn't good but something sweet after so long was a nice change.

After he'd swallowed the bite in his mouth he asked of Tori, "Are babies hard to take care of? A friend of mine talked once about wanting to have lots and lots of them!" Now that he saw what babies were like, tiny little people who seemed not to move or say much, he found himself wondering if it would be hard for Bug to care for her lots and lots of them.

"You're very welcome," Tori grinned. She couldn't help but to notice just how happy that apple made Ryuu. It wasn't often that you found a person that excited and grateful over a piece of fruit. Most others just weren't happy with what nature produced. It was a pleasant surprise. "By the way my name is Victoria," she no longer felt the need to say her full name.

"It is very challenging. I will admit, in honesty, that my support network make this 'journey' a lot easier than it could have been. One baby is easier than two that are the same age. It is twice the supplies and twice the demands all at once... But I wouldn't trade my experience or my little ones for anything," she sighed contently as she reached over to run her fingers through her little girls hair. "They are really something, and like all things they will grow and change..."

"I'm Ryuusei." He said in response to her introduction, tail swishing behind him and seemed to be listening very carefully to what she was saying about experience. Something that was challenging but worth it he thought to himself.. so that was what it was like to be a parent? That actually sounded kind of nice, maybe he would be in such a position one day... though not a day any time soon since he figured it would be best to fix his own situation before bring a child into it. His tail swished, "I hope that they grow up happy and healthy." He told her, hoping that their lives went more smoothly then his had thus far but with a Mommy to help he bet that they would be alright. After that thought he set to munching on the apple once more.

"Ryuusei is a very pretty name, it suits you silver dragon boy." She hadn't ever met a dragon like him before but the tail was unmistakable.

"Thank you. I hope they grow up happy and healthy as well... well mannered and well spoken and not spoiled." Her views on life had changed considerably since she'd brought these two into the world. There was a bigger picture now. It also made her realize just how important parents were. She often times felt silly for her own actions towards hers.

"So after you collect shells where will your travels take you?"

Ryuu gave a little giggle at the extra things that Victoria had added to what he'd said before nodding along with her, those were probably good additions as well he thought to himself, "Where? Once I am done giving the shells to Leviathan I think I will go back on my journey of finding my Daddy. I can't hide with Leviathan forever, its not very nice of me to bring all of my problems to his doorstep... well to the edge of his ocean at least. He was already nice enough to help me out and let me sleep there for a couple days." He didn't want to take advantage after all as much as he enjoyed the safety that came with being under Leviathan's wing.

"Do you know who your parents are? or that you part of your quest?" She couldn't help but to be curious. The boy seemed so young to officially have no one but himself and a handful of friends.

"When you part take the basket with you. All but the milk. I hope it can help you in your travels to at least keep your stomach filled for a little while." She reached in her bag and found her coin purse. "And may this help you for your lodging," she said as she held out some money for him. "I won't take no for an answer," she said with a smile. "I know what it is like to need a helping hand..."

He nodded, "I met him once before but I lost him... I am trying to find him again but his girlfriend isn't helping, she said she won't share." He murmured, giving a little sigh as he thought about it. He wanted to find the man but it was proving to be exceedingly difficult but he was still determined no matter how much time had passed since he'd last seen his Daddy.

His eyes went a bit wide at the offer, "O-Oh... that..." He looked uncertain, it was really nice of her and she told him that she wouldn't take 'no' for an answer which meant he couldn't refuse, "That is so very nice of you Victoria... If there is anything I can help you with just tell me, okay?" He felt bad just taking from her without giving in return since that was the nice way to go about things.

"Just remember my kindness and when another needs a hand and you are in a position do so for them as I have done for you," Tori smiled. "Like I said I know what it is like to need a hand. It would be wrong of me to not offer a hand when one has been given to me by another. What goes around comes around," she winked. She knew all too well about that last statement. She half wondered if that is why her life took a turn, so that it could teach her a lesson.

He listened closely before nodding his head rapidly, "Yes! If I am able to do so I will be certain to help others." He said, it was in fact one of his favorite things to do, to make other people happy by helping to grant any wishes that they might make in his presence. He tucked away the offered money into the pocket of his pants where it would be kept nice and safe, then finished off his apple eating as much as possible leaving behind only the smallest of cores before he set that down next to him, making note to throw it away when he could instead of leaving it laying on the beach.

His tail set to happily wagging, with the money she'd given him would be able to take good care of himself for some time so long as he was frugal with the money, something that would be quite helpful while he returned to searching for his missing parent.

"Do you like violin music?" Tori asked curiously. She loved to play the violin not only for herself but for others. It wasn't just something she did to make a living... It was her passion. She knew she had mentioned playing violin at her uncles her cafe... and she was fairly sure this silver haired boy wouldn't ever wind up there so she wanted to play for him. That is if he was willing to listen.

Ryuusei seemed to grow thoughtful, violin... he was pretty sure he'd heard someone playing that in the park before for money in the same area that he sometime did his 'look at me, I am so cute while I dance badly' show for coins. He nodded, "I do like it!" He said, tail wagging rapidly behind him, it had always been pretty to him, then again all music was quite pretty even the sort that Guppy was learning was quite nice even though the fish boy was new at it.

"Then I shall play for you," Tori said with a smile as she leaned over and grabbed her duffel bag. She was mindful not to smack her twins with her bag. There was more in that bag than just the common 'purse'. It could easily weigh five to ten pounds between diapers, books, her violin, and a lot more... She opened it up wide, but not wide enough that everything would spill out. "You know I really wish this damn thing would stay organized no mater what... You know like being able to reach in and get exactly what your wanting..." she mumbled as she dug around for her violin.

Ryuusei's entire body seemed to jump at those words, a wish! She'd made a wish! He quickly reached into the star cloud and picked one of the silver stars out, looking it over before he held it out to her, "Here, here! This will help." He chirped happily, how long had it been since he'd been able to grant a wish? It felt like far to long since he was the happiest when he was able to give someone the one thing they wanted so much that they would wish to have it.

Tori who had just about had her hand on her violin looked up to see Ryuu's body jump in excitement. Well that certainly was different... then again not. She did have her sister Lucifel who was practically excited all the time, even over the slightest things. Then he held out a star. Abandoning her search, she reached out to except it. She knew it was rude to turn down an offered gift... and just perhaps he was 'repaying' her kindness even though she hadn't asked to be repaid.

The moment her fingers were just barely on the star it sorta exploded, kinda like a party favor. There was a mass of sparkle and glitter. It was very pretty. "That's neat," she giggled. It had been a while since she laughed and it felt really, really good to laugh. Once she calmed a bit she went to reach into her bag to find her violin again. To her surprise it was the first thing she came to, no searching in involved. And she was sure that it had sunk to the bottom when she'd abandoned her search just moments ago. "Wow," she said as she pulled her violin case out.

She looked over at him curious. There was more to this boy. "I think I owe you a thank you."

Ryuusei watched as the star burst into a cloud of glitter as the magic took effect, enhancing the already magical bag that she carried. He waited to see what it was that the wish had really done and gave a happy sound when her bag gave her the very thing that she was looking for. His tail set to wagging behind him, "Your welcome! Its the least I could do after you were so nice to me." He said, quite happy that he had been able to repay all the kindness that she had shown him with something that would help her out. No matter how simple a wish was if it made a person happy then it was well worth it in his mind.

Carefully setting down her violin case she leaned over and hugged Ryuu. "Thank you! It means a lot to me." She was shocked, and awed at the same time. She wondered if her friend was a luck dragon or something of the sort. To know one was lucky in itself. "Thank you again," she sat up and grinned like a giddy school girl. "The least? That was extraordinary."


"Do you have a favorite song?"

Ryuusei couldn't help but to return the hug, happily snuggling her in return, tail now wagging so fast that the star on the end was just a blue blur behind him. He was in a good mood, no a great mood! A mood made even better when Victoria told him that what he'd done was extraordinary, not a compliment he'd ever been given before when it came to his powers and it had him blushing a bit in a happy and somewhat embarrassed manner, "Your very much welcome." He said, grinning away.

At her question he shook his head, "No, no favorites... unless you know anything by Lady Gaga? I don't know to much about the singer but one of my friends sings her songs all the time so they are the only ones I really know by heart." He said with a little giggle, those or the Macarana though he didn't know if that were something that could be played on the violin or not.

She couldn't help but to grin at how excited the boy was. It reminded her a lot of her sister Lucifel, just a lot less all over the place. "I cannot say that I know how to translate Gaga into violin as I've never heard her... so, how about this instead..."

She was careful with her case. This violin was a re craft of the one she had come from and it was one of her most prized possessions. Position the violin, with bow in hand she played a few notes until she was sure things were just right. She closed her eyes as she put everything she had into the song. Sure it came naturally but it meant more when you felt more.

Back to Wandering

It had been a nice few days that he spent on Leviathan's Beach, it was like taking a long vacation, lazing around in the warm sand, eating good food, and he had two people to talk with between Guppy and Lord Leviathan. Not to mention that he had been able to meet with Victoria and her tiny, adorable babies. It had been good for recharging his energy and helping to ready him for going back into the world. A part of him really didn't want to go, a part of him knew that he would be... lonely. He would all alone once more and that wasn't something that he liked but at least he felt ready to deal with it again, ready to deal with a lot of things including the dragon slayer that was still lurking out there.

He wasn't sure where he should go next, he half wanted to go to the park again since it was one of the places that he felt the most comfortable aside from the Shop but he still couldn't go back there... not until he dealt with the slayer. He found himself wondering if he should confront him. He knew that it was dangerous, that he might end up getting himself kill but he couldn't run forever and now he didn't want to. He felt as though spending time with a big, dangerous, and intimidating dragon like Leviathan had given him a boost to his courage but now what he had to do was actually head back to town, find his shadow, and attack! ... Course even just thinking about doing that was laughable... after all he was less then four feel talk, he had no claws, no sharp teeth, he sparkled, and he was very light weight. He was as far from being dangerous as was humanly possible.

At least when he was in his little dragon form he had sharp teeth and claws... there were days that he half wished that, like Roxy, he'd grown in size into a bigger dragon! It wasn't that he completely dislike this new form of his but at times he missed what he used to be. It was strange since he used to want for the exact opposite wishing that he had hands like his friends did so that he could do what they did. How strange the way that things changed with time, everything from who he hung out with, what he looked like, what he wanted for, and where he went. When he was a little dragon he was almost always with Roxy or Mrrh, he'd of never thought to go as far away as the beach! Then again he doubted the beach would have occurred to him recently either if it weren't for the fact that he'd been brought there by Lord Leviathan but still.

"Almost to town." He murmured, started to slow down a bit as he looked over his shoulder again. Nothing was really stopping him from going back... he could just turn around and go back, stay with Lord Leviathan and Guppy but he would never get anywhere if he just kept relying on others, kept looking for people to take care of him. Besides Guppy served Leviathan and Leviathan had a deer princess that he'd mentioned on more then one occasion while Ryuusei was staying on their beach. They were another group that seemed complete and he didn't want to but his way in, he wanted to find his own family, a place he belonged, where he would be welcome, wanted, and needed.

He would find it one day so he had to go forward, not backwards, and he would find it. At least in this was he confident.

Sleepy Dragon is Sleepy

He hadn't seen the Shadow Man for a few days and Ryuusei was starting to think that maybe he'd given up when Ryuusei had been carried off by Leviathan the last time that his stalker had been after him. It was such a nice thought, to finally be free of the guy and without even having to confront him! It all seemed to be quite lucky if you asked the little silver dragon. This was the first good step in the direction that he was heading in life he decided.

It would seem though what he hoped for and what Fate had set up for him were two far different things as he came around the corner and nearly ran into the Dragon Slayer from behind. Ryuu lifted both of his hands up to his mouth to keep any and all sounds that came to him from escaping. Sure he had been thinking of trying to get the jump on the guy and sure he had thought that if he were able to sneak up on him that he would be able to do... something. Now that he was here, starring up at the tall man's back, he didn't think that he could do anything. He heard the man talking though missed the first part of what he was saying, looking a little curious and confused.

"... luck yet. No I haven't been able to get anywhere close to him as he seems to run the moment that I get close." He was saying, listening quietly to the one on the other end of the line, "She did what?" His tone sounded a little startled, as though he'd gotten bad news, somehow Ryuu felt... bad. He wasn't sure why, why should he care that the man was getting bad news?

"You want me to what?" He asked, sounding even more startled, "Well yeah, I don't see why not. Huh, well yeah it makes sense but... don't tell him? That isn't going to be easy, having to not only net the kid but also... yes, kid. I left you a message about it... never mind I'm sure that you never got it."

Ryuusei took a step closer to the man, wanting to know what was being said on the other end of the line, it seemed as though the conversation would be a lot more interesting and informative if he could figure out what it was that was going wrong for the man. He half hoped that Darcy was trying to fire the man, that would mean that he would no longer have to run away from him all day long. One less person to worry about would be rather nice, then he would be back to only having to worry about Darcy again which was more then enough for the dragon boy. He drifted a couple steps closer, floating up a bit.

"Yes... yes... I am sure, I just don't want to rush at him since I am sure that it would scare him." He said then blinked a couples times as he noticed a star that came floating on by him. He starred at it before he reached forward to poke at it before his eyes went rather wide, "Woah..." He murmured, sounding a little surprised as he knew what the star was, had seen them before, he turned slowly to look behind him and found the boy he'd been following for a long, long while and he couldn't help but to stare at him.

"Ahh... hello there." He said, "Your Ryuusei right?"

The moment he said that the one on the other end of the line started to ask what he was saying, what was going on, if he had seen the dragon. It wasn't a female voice, it wasn't her, wasn't Darcy... The dragon boy's eyes went a little wide before he floated back a little as though he wanted to retreat again before the man in the suit suddenly took a quick step forward to catch hold of his wrist, "Wait! Don't go!" He said, giving a sigh when he was able to catch hold of the boy though the moment he did he started to get pelted with little stars that burst into sparkles as they hit him, "Ow... ow... hey! Come on, I'm trying to help!"

"Liar! I know that your a Slayer! You won't make armor out of my scales!" He cried, struggling in the man's hold, for the first time ever using his star ended tail to strike out someone.

The man starred openly at the claim before he was struck in the arm with the tail, causing him to drop his phone, "What? Slayer...? Armor?! No, not that isn't it at all!" He said, trying to catch hold of the boy with his other hand but he couldn't hold onto him very tightly since he didn't want to hurt the boy, he seemed so small and fragile... and another smack in the other arm with the tail and its rather solid star end allowed the boy to break free. Ryuusei turned around quickly and floated of as fast as his power would take him, up, up, up, onto the nearest roof where he collapsed into a heap, shaking with relief. He'd done it! He'd escaped from the Dragon Slayer!

At the same time he knew that he'd spent a lot of his stars in doing so and now he was just... so tired. The boy gave a sighing sound as he plopped down on the roof, watching as his stars started to slowly rebuild themselves in front of his eyes. While he waited he dug into his bag, getting out an apple from among the stash of what Victoria had given him to munch on it.

It was odd... the man seemed so sincere when he said that he wasn't a Slayer and wasn't after his scales for armor but... but Leviathan had said that the man was dangerous and surely he could trust another dragon, right? He thought so... but it was so hard for Ryuusei to mistrust people, he would rather trust them instead, would rather talk instead of fighting or fleeing but with the man in the suit he was just so uncertain of what he should do. He wished he could find Mrrh, he would know what to do... Mrrh was the stronger person he knew aside from maybe Gera, Gera was super strong but he wasn't exactly sure on how smart he was since he rarely talked.

What about Roxy? He wondered if she would know what to do... but he didn't want to risk her since she was a girl. He was a boy and he should be careful, should stand strong, and he shouldn't bring his problems to the doorstep of his friends.

"I should go back to the park." Best to hide out in a place he knew well after all. As he thought this he leaned forward slightly, trying his best to fight off the sleepy feeling that was assaulting him and threatening to end up with him dozing off despite his not wanting to sit still for long...