|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:04 pm
x x x x x█║ WHO: Aric, Elias Nolan & Tesla
x x x x x█║ WHEN: Early afternoon.
x x x x x█║ WHERE: Amies; Tesla's house.
x x x x x█║ WEATHER: Clear and chilly.
"Nolan! Get back here!"
The wooden door smacked against the wall as the dragon bolted out of the house, wearing nothing but his scowl and scaly appendages. The warmth he held immediately made his breath plume by his nose, though it gave him no pause, bare clawed feet sinking into the soft earth and easily propelling him forward. Nolan could hear Tesla descending the stairs and he'd have a hell of a head start on her, one he would need if he wanted to keep out of her grasp. She was older, but she was fast, something she said came from years of chasing around little sisters. Now she had him and he got the full force of her attention.
It had started with a sweater. The red-headed woman had insisted he try to wear it out on his walk and he had balked entirely. He didn't need it, and more to the point, he absolutely hated excess and baggy clothes -- the sweater fit both those bills. Nolan had tried to simply walk out, but he had underestimated the power of Tesla; not only had she stopped him with a well placed tweak of his ear, she had him pinned and with a sweater on his body before he knew to fight back. This had lasted for approximately five seconds; the two that it took Tesla to get off of him and the three of abject horror that he had for the thing being on his body. It took less than a heartbeat for the dragon's claws to rend the bright red cloth to shreds, and before it all hit the ground, Nolan was already out the door and tossing his pants down the hallway, leaving a stunned Tesla in his wake.
But now she was at the front door and he was halfway between their house and Aric's, naked as a jaybird and fleeing for his freedom. He was tired of clothes and the restriction of movement they gave him, and more over, he was angry that he had to keep hiding in them. Tesla's voice carried to him again, but he did not heed, sprinting with all his childish hope of escape to somewhere that wasn't in ugly sweaters.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:46 pm
Aric craved the outdoors. To bathe, eat, get lessons from Elias, sleep outside--absolutely do everything outside. Elias had finally attributed it to a sort of dependency to the sun and sand, to which he didn't really question the young boy and his special needs. The desert child did not add any reason to it, he felt more comfortable when he could feel the grains of gold on his bare foot, the warmth of the sun that radiated on his golden skin, the feel of water surrounding his skin when he walked into the ocean-- everything in it felt in tune with him. And today was no exception, while his guardian was working away at the back of the house on even more repairs on their house, Aric sat propped up on the wooden fence of their patio, swinging his legs back and forth idly. His guardian didn't like it when the young boy went too far without his knowledge but it was much harder to stay still than Aric could ever imagine.
He lifted his hand, staring at how the stream of golden markings moved gently on his tanned skin, settling now on his knuckles. Turning his hand, grains of sand now trickled against his arm, moving up to his palm--even the dustling was captivated by this sight, he was a child after all, merely starting to discover what exactly made him special.
Abruptly his hand curled into a fist, the sand dropping back into the bed of sand below as the child looked towards his side--feeling something approach so clearly in his veins, something he couldn't explain.
And he was not wrong, for even from a distance he could see the deep red hair against the sea of yellows and browns, the young male standing up on the fence and brilliant eyes squinting as he jumped off and gracefully landed on the soft ground. Finally, it was Nolan! It had felt like such a long time since he had seen the other, even though their previous meeting was merely a brief while ago. It was about time! He was growing so bored without him, perhaps today they could explore the sea again? Maybe the cliffs? To climb those would be so exciting! With his thoughts solely on the other male and the adventures they could have together, he darted off to meet Nolan halfway, rather unaware of his current situation.
It was at this point that Elias had emerged to check up on Aric--a disapproving stare as he realizes the boy wasn't where he had left him. "Aric??" Of course this panicked him, the brunette dropping all the wood he was carrying as it crashed on the floor, turning his heels to run into the open beach. Aric was his responsibility and the boy--was different-- yet naiive and childish, and it would be easy for the blonde to get into trouble. Very much like a worried father he let out a loud sigh of relief as he spotted the blonde from a distance---and his gray eyes had to take a second to realize that he was running towards another certain child.
Isn't that--- What in the world?!
And there he was running towards his little troublemaker and apparently the boy Nolan who was-- completely naked. Only Aevah knows why.
"Aric!!" Elias darted off to catch up to Aric--and the call of his name did surprise him, making the child stop in his tracks as his guardian ran in front of him and successfully intercepting the young nude red head, grabbing him around his waist tightly ---he seemed obviously angered. Nolan! What are you--- doing?? He just hoped this time he was lucky again and wouldn't get burned into ashes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:24 pm
Though he felt the strange tug of something near, he didn't dare deviate from his path, not with an angry red-head hot on his heels. Nolan did hear the name shouted, however, and that did make his eyes lift from the ground in front of him to look in the direction called -- noting Aric not that far from him. For a brief moment, oh so brief, he forgot he was fleeing for his life, taking a few steps towards the blonde. It was short-lived, however, for the extremely fast and able-bodied guardian of his dear friend was suddenly headed straight for him, reminding him why he was running in the first place. It was enough, though; the distraction cost him time, allowing the dark-haired human to grab him around his slim middle.
"Elias!" he cried out in alarm as he scrambled against the hunter, trying to jump over his shoulder or get behind him -- anything but be held so firmly in place that he couldn't get away! "You have to -- let me go -- she's gonna --"
"NOLAN GREY!" Tesla was there within seconds, her bright eyes a dangerously cast green, her wild hair bound in a ponytail for cleaning that day. She wore a modest blouse with work-worn trousers, not quite dressed for the weather but she hadn't been intending to chase her naked ward across the beach, either. With his grey pants in hand, she didn't hesitate to grab him from Elias' grasp and put him in a literal headlock, using her free hand to quickly and neatly dress him within seconds. It was clear she'd had a lot of practice with this type of behavior. "If you EVER shred something like that again, so help me--"
"You'll what?" the dragon countered in anger, pushing himself back from Tesla with mild disorientation once he was put in his trousers, looking embarrassed and fit to be tied. "Force me into these stupid clothes? Hide me?"
That took some of the wind out of Tesla's sails, but her glare was no less infuriated. "You destroyed something that was important to me, and you will not bring that up like it's part of what's going on--"
"BUT IT IS!" Nolan practically exploded with indignity. "I'm not like you! I'm not like ANY of you and you DON'T GET IT!"
"Stop yelling, Nolan!" Tesla looked genuinely alarmed then, glancing to Elias with sudden concern -- was she doing the wrong thing? "It's not about me hiding you--"
With his back turned to Elias and Aric, it was easy for Nolan to hide the fact his eyes were welling with frustrated tears, at his wits end with dealing with all the human imposition. "You don't get it, I'm not like you!" he repeated, his voice tight and threatening to spill over into agony. With a stubborn wipe of his clawed hand over his eyes, he pushed past Tesla and began to run towards the house -- and then beyond it, towards the plains that stretched over the cliffs.
The farmer watched him go, clenching her fists. She didn't know what to do, and it showed on her face, her expression worn between deep sorrow and guilt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 6:13 pm
Aric's sudden burst of happiness at seeing Nolan was cut short when his guardian expertly moved in front of him, blocking him from the dragon child. The young blonde was confused, thinking that he was the one who would be in trouble, unaware for the concern or issue with his friend's nudity. To him it wasn't unusual, to Elias is was something that had to be caged immediately.
"No---I won't--" he replied as the boy fought against him stubbornly, thankful the fiery female arrived in time before Nolan could escape his grip. Even Elias was surprised with how Tesla seemed so used to this, though angry and obviously exasperated, finally covering the youth.
"Nolan--" the blonde said, peeking from behind Elias, rather wincing at all the shouting yet much more concerned with the other dust's distressed words. For a brief second Aric was angry--angry at whatever had caused his friend to burst out like this, taking a step towards the now-covered boy though unable to really grasp what was happening at the moment. That is until-- Nolan's voice exploded even louder, his back to Aric. And before he could get a word in, the red-headed child took off, leaving the blonde baffled. "What did you do!" he cried out, more in anguish for his friend rather than blaming anything on the two humans. Without another word he took off as well, running as fast as his legs could carry him, careful not to lose sight of Nolan.
Through all this, Elias too, was stunned. He understood what Tesla was doing, Nolan was a child after all and running around public naked wasn't something any guardian would want. Although with Nolan's anger--his words were true. They weren't like him. They were different. Yet they were trying to understand them. But at the moment it didn't seem like it was working.
His eyes narrowed to the female, leaving Aric to set off by himself for now, even unable to reply to him or react to his leaving. "Tesla..." he spoke gently, seeing that obvious grief in her face. "You didn't do anything wrong."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 6:40 pm
Sometimes, she forgot she was dealing with a being that wasn't human; she treated him no different than her sisters, and Tesla had hoped that would make a better difference. Unfortunately, it seemed to backfire on her, and her concern and stress of being alone with a farm and now a child was taking its toll on her. Even Aric's outburst made her flinch, her heart sinking.
Shaking her head and briefly pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes, she turned abruptly and began to return to the house, stating, "I didn't do anything right, either."
---
He ran. Beyond the house and the fields, into the grass knoll of the high cliffside that the farmstead was set against, he ran, eyes burning with frustrated tears. Nolan had told her no, it was her own fault the sweater was ruined! And who cared about a stupid sweater anyway?! It wasn't like the farmer didn't have a million more! The dragon finally slowed his pace into an angry stride, arms crossed over his slender bare chest, drinking in great gulps of air as he fought the stinging sensation of wanting to cry. He knew he was a dragon; but he was just a child, after all.
A single hiccup escaped him as he finally came to stand still in the high green reeds, staring moodily off over the cliff's edge to the churning ocean beyond. The waves didn't contain half his crashing ire, but it did make him feel a little better to know he wasn't the only one so filled with upheaval. Nolan heard the footsteps approaching, glancing over his shoulder to make sure it wasn't Tesla coming to chide him again. When his eyes fell upon his friend, he quickly looked away, suddenly feeling like he was burning with shame. "M'sorry you saw that," he murmured thickly, another hiccup escaping him. Nolan was lonely, feeling alienated and misunderstood; he was angry, but he desperately wanted the company just then.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 7:07 pm
It was good that the sand was his friend or Aric would have lost the fleeing boy, the ground giving that extra spring in his step until he got to the high cliff. The desert child was almost in panic, easily feeling the upset that his friend had and being affected by it, and it showed on his face.
He managed to catch up to the red-head, his steps rather loud and with hurried force. And then the sight he saw made his chest feel tight, the boy sitting by himself and glancing back at him briefly, soft sounds of sorrow escaping the dragon's lips. He didn't even hear what his friend had said, simply running towards him and kneeling behind him, opening his arms and wrapping them around Nolan's middle, pressing his bare chest on Nolan's back.
"What did they do, what happened, are you okay?" he said quickly, pressing his cheek against the deep red scales that decorated the dusts pale skin. "Nolan!" he said with loud concern in his voice, still not understanding entirely yet knowing that the dust needed him. "Do you--not like me too?" he added in a quiet voice, referring to what he had said in the last moments they were with the other two. Nevertheless his eyes were lifted at Nolan, watching the side of his face and noting the tears that refused to fall from his dark eyes. "Don't be sad..." Aric was also a child after all, not knowing what to do to get his friend to smile back at him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 12:34 pm
His wings subtly lowered to accommodate the sudden pressure against his back, sniffing back the indignity of such strong emotions. "I'm fine," Nolan replied stubbornly, despite clearly not being so. The rest of the words jarred him, however, making him turn a little in the dark-skinned boy's embrace to regard him with large wet eyes. "What--? I like you!" The words felt strange in his mouth, but he didn't know how else to say what Aric was to him: not just his best friend, but his treasure.
Squirming around in Aric's arms until he facing his sandy friend, he settled squarely on his backside and hugged Aric around his shoulders to awkwardly try and reassure him. Nolan still wasn't used to touch, especially so willing; the brush of warm fingers soothed some of his affection-starved pains. Hiccuping again, he put his chin stubbornly on Aric's golden crown, not wanting his friends to see him struggling with such human emotions. "I'm just...not what everyone wants me to be and I hate it. I hate them."
He didn't, of course, but it felt better to get his frustration out in the cruelest way he could.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:15 pm
It was terribly difficult for him to see his friend this way, the feeling in his chest as if there was a great weight on it. The reply made him pout, he was rather oblivious but he certainly could feel that Nolan wasn't 'fine', pressing his nose against the paler skin in quiet reassurance, the dust child wanting to wrap his whole body around the other in hopes of protecting him from those negative feelings.
He did show a little smile of relief when the dragon child chased away his doubts, the simple three words and the hug back making Aric feel a little more content. "I like you too, Nolan." he said with a cheerful tone as he firmly had his hands around the others bare waist. Though the continued sounds of Nolan's distress made him frown, wanting to lift his head up to look into the other's eyes but decided not to, as the red-head seemed to prefer this way even though all Aric wanted to do was rub his tears away. The blonde was shorter than the other, his head and body fitting comfortable around Nolan's this way, taking steady breaths as Nolan spoke.
He wasn't sure why Nolan was saying this, but knew that he had to be there for his friend. "I don't want you to be anyone but yourself," he started in a calm voice, "I like you how you are."
Aric lifted one hand from around Nolan's waist to reach up to his neck and up to his cheek, feeling the scales gently with his fingers. Just having his head there in place. "You can fly, and you have the shiniest scales on you that I have ever seen! It's special!" The boy got rather carried away, and really confused as of why anyone would want to change him?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 2:41 pm
The dragon's eyes flicked to the side as Aric's fingers sought his skin, but he didn't stop him, a little stiff as the dark digits brushed over his scales. Nolan was only ever touched there when Tesla was wiping something off his face, but the almost stroke-like motion made the child's off-colored eyes begin to lid, closing entirely under the gentle care. The gesture coupled with the kind, encouraging words went a surprisingly far way to soothe his insult.
Relaxing a little, he flicked his tail around his hips, resting the scaled length around Aric. "I don't know if special is good," he replied at length, the word fairly synonymous with 'weird' or 'different' in his stubborn mind, "but I'm glad you like me." Nolan had been fairly in awe of Ziya but he wouldn't call him a friend in their brief meeting; all he had in the world was his neighbor, his treasure.
"...as long as you like me, I'll be happy." It was a childish promise but an honest one, his wings lowering subtly in contentment. Nolan was still nursing his proverbial injury to the entire ordeal, but it felt so good to be accepted for what he was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:21 am
Aric felt the tail curl up around him, earning an even brighter smile on his face, pressing his lips subconsciously on the scaled skin. "It's good." he said confidently, not a trace of doubt in his mind at how they both were--the same, special and together. And it was just a fact of the world, as clear as day, as sure as the waves would crash upon the shores.
"I'm sorry they upset you," he added, rubbing his nose against Nolan's neck before lifting his head up to look at the boy. "But yes, I like you." The word was stressed, holding much more meaning than even Aric would have realized in this time, giving his friend a comforting smile as he put his hands on either of Nolan's face. "So no sad-face anymore." He chuckled, nodding his head in confirmation that they WILL be happy as long as they have each other. The desert child was happy to stay as he was though, settled safely around the Dragon child's comfort, feeling sheltered that way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 1:07 pm
"She always wants to put me in so many clothes," Nolan finally whined a little, thumping his tail on the ground before curving it around Aric again. "I'm not 'cold' and I'm not going to get sick." On one hand, Nolan vaguely understood Tesla was just taking care of him the best way she knew how -- and on the other, he knew he wasn't like her siblings, her parents, or her. He was a different being than the humans and though he wasn't entirely sure what the difference was - Aric against him was proof enough that it wasn't as simple as being a dragon in a strange body.
Exhaling with a petulant sigh, he nestled his face into the blonde's hair, calmed significantly. "I just don't know how to make them understand." The dragon's shoulders sagged in the slightest. "Will it always be this way?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:33 pm
Aric kept that small smile on his face as he listened to Nolan, nodding his head in understanding. Even Elias did that to him (although awkwardly and kind of unsurely) yet not as much as Tesla who had had the experience of younger siblings. "Elias always tells me about boring things, things I 'have' to do..." The blonde started, nuzzling his face against Nolan's deep red locks. He was a child, he did not completely understand the complete meaning behind these lessons yet somehow in his heart he knew that the man was looking out for him in his own way. "I think they just--- care. But we're different." Aric finally said, nodding his head at himself with his answer, he did not know how to put what he felt into words exactly so he squeezed the dragon child affectionately in hopes he knew he was there for him.
"I don't know, I don't think so!" he replied, lifting his head up to try and look at Nolan properly. "But if we live together, that doesn't have to happen!" It was a childish idea but he was sincere, his excitement of this idea apparent in his tone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 5:04 pm
The innocent proposition surprised the dragon. As he sat there with Aric speaking nearly against his ear, Nolan tried to fathom the idea of living with the sand child. It sparked something strange and old in him -- a need, a compulsion, a hunger: he wanted to collection all that was shiny and beautiful and build his home. His lair. He was too young and in a human mindset to understand the sudden urge, but he easily attested it to Aric's query instead.
"We should," he said at length, the words slow and mulled over the notion. "Live together, I mean." Already his off-colored eyes were looking beyond the child against him, down the yawning stretch of meadow and towards the line of trees that marked the forests beyond. He knew they couldn't go there, but he'd need to find some place that wasn't a standard human abode. It had to be unusual -- still a shelter -- but entirely their own. He'd have to approach Tesla about it, when the idea of the red-head didn't spark ire in him.
What could he possibly do...?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:36 pm
He was quiet for a moment, wide-eyed when he heard a response but it wasn't long till a wide grin started to take over his expression. "Okay, I'll live with you!" He said simply and still resting his head on the dragon's shoulder, blue eyes admiring the blood red scales on his skin quietly. He did like Elias enough but --- there were times he did feel that Elias wouldn't understand him, he was strict and limiting, and the desert child was as free as the wide sea. He didn't belong in one place.
"Maybe we can live on the water," he mused, already thinking of this idea that he continued to increasingly wanted to happen soon. "But the sand on the beach feels nice ..."
He rubbed his cheek gently on the boy's shoulder, finding this warmth against him much more comfortable than even the sand. "It will happen." And he would stubbornly see to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:00 pm
"We'll figure it out," the dragon responded with conviction, his dark eyes lowering to watch the tattoos of golden swirls dance on his friend's sun-kissed skin, "we always do."
Already, his mind was turning over where they could call home. Caves seemed like an unfriendly idea to the sandy youth, and until Nolan himself learned how to swim or properly fly, living on the water just wasn't an option. His own childish limitations kept pointing his thoughts back to his caretaker, which meant he'd have to get over his self-righteous rage sooner than later. Focusing on what's important. Damn, but it was hard to be stuck in such an unsuitable body and mind!
Inwardly berating his own short-comings, Nolan seemed content to stay like that for the time being; if anyone could cool his head, it was the boy that had such faith in him, and in turn, there wasn't much the dragon wouldn't do for that sandy youth. He just had to gather his wits about him first.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
