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Here shall be a most amusing roleplay between a big mean dragon and a small emotional kitty. We begin our story at the Temple Ruin, where Bri seems to think he will get some peace and quiet to read. It's worked before (non-roleplay), why not now? And what could be more interesting for a dragon to explore and to train at than an abandoned, secluded temple?

Some links for future reference:
Bri's image and profile
Roku's image and profile

It was a rather warm day, something Roku hadn't been expecting during the beginning weeks of autumn. The leaves were just beginning to turn color, and he knew it was only a matter of time before the trees blazed brightly before becoming bare to the harsh cold of winter. It was the time of year most people would prefer to stay inside during, planning the last activities of the year before they locked themselves behind their doors, comfortably around their fireplaces with a hot mug of cocoa.

He snorted at the thought, amused that most people were so simple like that at times. Although he wished things could be that simple for him sometimes, it was almost like a breath of fresh air to be free of such similarity, even if being different came at such a high price.

This area, however... it intrigued the dragon-hybrid. An area such as this was rarely found, the remains of such old structures still standing strong, if abandoned. Usually places like this were long since removed, developed into crowded streets; he wondered what made this place so different as to be untouched like this.

A smile crossed his face briefly; he couldn't help it. Places like this sparked his interest, a sort of mystical feel to a place that couldn't be touched, in a way. It was old, this much was plainly visible, but he wondered how often people came across an area such as this? What kind of things they did here, or if they had just quickly passed through without giving it another thought. It was kind of disappointing, really, but in this day and age a lot of things went by unappreciated.

His finned ears twitched to a very quiet sound, almost unnoticeable and could easily have been looked over. He thought he recognized the sound, but it didn't make much sense to him. If he was right about it... then there was someone else here.

His search didn't take him long, and he soon came across a row of stone stairs, a distinguishable figure at the top. Roku knew he recognized the sound... and as he leaned closer in at the bottom of the stairs, it was apparent he was right; a book was in the feline's hands, and it seemed he hadn't realized Roku was there. However, the dragon couldn't be completely sure of that assumption; he knew how well people could feign ignorance. However, at this point in time, he didn't feel any need to let his guard up. After all, the cat looked rather comfortable, and it was highly unlikely he'd be moving from that spot.

"What're you doing in a place like this?" he called up, amused that someone would be out here just to read. It was a pretty out-of-the-way place from civilization, otherwise Roku wouldn't have bothered to venture out here.

Roku was taken by surprise at such a severe reaction, frozen in place for a brief moment as he watched the book come flying at him. Shaking off the fact his mind wanted to wander and the problems it faced if he stayed rooted to the ground like he was, he folded his wings to his back and swung to the side away from the swiftly-falling book in a single fluid motion, only to catch the binding of it at his shoulder. It was then that he discovered that, even if a book doesn't weigh very much when held, with a strong cover and the right velocity, it can become quite the damaging weapon.

"Gahh! What the hell!?" he blurted out, more anger put behind the words than he truly meant. His mind was still stuck on how unlikely this occurrence was to happen, and the fact that it had. That guy can really throw! he thought as he stared at the book, now resting at his taloned feet.

His face was contorted into a bit of a snarl as he turned to face Bri again, again taken aback by how quick he was. He didn't expect to see him so close already, but who was he to make assumptions on him anymore when he already proved to be so unexpected? The flash of his ice blue eyes was all the indication he gave of being startled, but they quickly returned to their strong glance.

He knew that Bri was truly sorry over the matter, it was obvious at this point in his frantic movements and wide-eyed expression, but Roku was unable to drop his gruff exterior he was so used to using. "What, did you think I was going to attack you or something?" he exclaimed, but refrained from making the situation any worse for him than it already was by keeping himself from slapping the hand away. Contact wasn't something he was used to, and definitely not something that had led to anything good in the past. However... never had it come from another hybrid before, so he didn't know what to expect.

"Another hybrid, huh?" he grunted, voice toned down to a simple observation. "Don't see many of our kind around here. I'm fine, I just wasn't expecting you to react like that." With that, he reached down to grasped ahold of the book, turning it over with a flick of his wrist to examine it. "What are you doing way out here?" He couldn't help it; his curiosity got the better of him, but his guard remained up for now.

Roku blinked at Bri's explanation of his reaction, but after a bit of thought, it make some sense. He knew how absorbed one could be in a book, even if the dragon had tried to not be much of a threat when he spoke to him. But jeez... throwing the book at him? That had never happened before! "You should work on trying not to be so violent about it," he snorted, though it could have been to try to be humorous about it.

He turned his head to look at where Bri had indicated, irritated that the discoloration on his arm was showing so soon. "Bruises are never that noticeable," he replied simply, turning back to the feline. "It's not something to worry over; it's not going to kill me. You can settle down." Bri was a rather nervous boy, though Roku knew it could just have been a result of the circumstance. It was obvious that the cat was still upset over what he had done, but it wasn't as if Roku was very good at making people feel better, not anymore. Being so carefree certainly had its perks, things he missed about his past, but things change. He just wished sometimes he could get back to those roots.

Sighing, he rubbed his head, though the motion was not discernible as to be from irritation or that he was trying to get rid of the tension from the situation. Either way, he didn't have time to really do much else before he handed the book back over to Bri with an outstretched arm, surprisingly careful not to scratch the cover with his claws. "Way out here? Was home life really that distracting?" It really wasn't any of his business to ask, but it wasn't as if the calico boy had to answer. He was about to ask what kind of book it was as well, but caught himself before he could. No need to show his interest in that, now.

There was a slight glint of surprise in Roku's eyes at Bri's annoyance with the dragon's comment, not because it was completely unexpected but because he hadn't expected it to come from the calico himself. He had seemed to be the shy and easily upset, but not in this way. It was obvious there was more to him than Roku had initially suspected, which was a relief in some ways yet could prove to be difficult to handle if he had no idea in what direction his comments may lead to. He sighed inaudibly, wondering if, in the end, he would just drive Bri away. Best not to argue now, especially when he knew Bri to be right in some respects.

Turning his head to glance at the book as Bri looked it over, Roku folded his pale wings to his back and asked, "It okay? I didn't see any damage to it, though I didn't get too good of a look at it." Not to mention he didn't know the condition of the book before it hurtled toward him, but that wasn't the point...

He rocked back, taking a single step backward to be able to do so with his talons tapping slightly on the stone pathway. Even with it being so old and overgrown with the untamed scenery, the weathered blocks were smooth and easy to stand on with his bare feet. "Mmm..," he mumbled slightly, wondering how he was going to answer. He didn't get along with many others, never being one very interested in trying to get along with them, but he didn't know about Bri. Wrong way of wording something could easily put someone off, though he knew he really didn't need to worry about it. After all, if his true personality and preferences drove someone away, he shouldn't be talking to them anyway. No reason to conform to anyone else's ideals...

"I don't like people," he stated flatly, knowing immediately that it was the wrong string of words to start off with. Glancing away for a bit, he tried searching for a better explanation he could use. "Crowds... they annoy me. It's always so busy everywhere else, and I don't like to bother with it. So yes, in a way, it's the same reason." Though I doubt you have that much of a problem with others, he growled to himself when he was done speaking, wishing his memories would stop bugging him. He was going to mention how he never really got along with anyone anyway, but from the look Bri had been giving him he thought that that much was obvious by now.

He blinked at the outstretched hand Bri had offered when he introduced himself, taking a moment before grabbing it and shaking. "I'm K--" he paused a moment, shaking his head slightly before correcting himself, "Roku Kuang. It's nice to meet you." He smiled, a little embarrassed over his mistake even knowing it wasn't a big deal. He wasn't used to introducing himself very often, and as a kid he had learned to say his last name first. He had to remember it wasn't the same here, but with his sudden stopping at first he didn't want Bri to think he was covering his real name, since... well, he wasn't.

Roku seemed to untense a bit as he saw the calico hybrid smile, though it may have only been because Bri had seemed to do the same at that moment. Whether he liked it or not, he had a touch of receptive empathy, though he knew very well it could have just been solely his own feelings. The scenery helped with it, though, being as serene as it was, which helped to calm him down and refrain from any arguing he may have been compelled to counter with. However, with Bri's easy-going outlook on most of the situation, it wasn't difficult.

He caught the reference Bri had referred to when mentioning the book's condition, and it knocked a smirk out of him. "That's good. You must cherish them a lot," he started, but stopped himself from going any further with the subject lest he reveal his own fondness for the subject. Although it wasn't as if it was an embarrassing aspect of his life, nor that he wanted to keep up an intimidating presence around others, but just for the simple fact of self-preservation. It wasn't as if he felt in danger around Bri, but he couldn't be too careful.

Roku felt a little flustered, but at least Bri hadn't been put off from the dragon-hybrid completely. The simple fact that he was willing to stick around was good to hear, but Roku had never been able to quite deplete the need to talk to someone once in a while. It was actually pretty nice to be able to vent in a more subtle way, but then again he didn't want to put that kind of pressure on anyone. Maybe if he just let it be known...

He snorted slightly, his eyes wandering over the crumbling walls of the area before he managed to say anything. "I-It's not that I... I don't mind talking, I just don't like being surrounded. Some people are too overbearing, you know?" he tried to explain further, but felt that once again he was falling short. At times like this he felt it would just be better if he could write out what he wanted to say, for words seemed to always fail him. He didn't know why he should really care, but he usually didn't get many chances like this. He cleared his throat as he turned away again, sounding almost like a growl with his agitation at himself before adding, "Though I'm sure I'm keeping you from your book as well." There wasn't meant to be much meaning behind it, but he knew how engaging books could be and wasn't about to keep him from it selfishly if that's what the feline wanted.

Although it probably shouldn't have been, Roku felt surprised with Bri's answer on how many books he had in his personal library. A smile threatened to creep across his face at the thought, considering asking to borrow a few before realizing it. His tattered ears twitched to gain back his previous senses, though the smile was still faintly present as he turned slightly away. "I see. Then I guess my previous observation was a bit of an understatement," he stated, though it was obvious he was making an attempt at being friendly about it. There was no hint of the snideness there may have been before on his words, which at least was a step in the right direction.

He stiffened suddenly at the unexpected hand on his shoulder, not knowing what to expect from the feline. He hadn't been in close contact with anyone in a while unless he had initiated it, and in those times it wasn't usually a very pleasant thing. He had a habit of freaking out when it happened, but for some reason it was different this time. It was probably being out in the open that helped with reducing the panic he usually felt, and the fact he knew they were alone and he could handle himself out here, as opposed to when he was with more than one. But Bri was also more understanding... and Roku was unsure how to react. He knew he should feel relief over the matter, for someone finally at least partially understood how he felt, and in some respect he probably did, but it had never happened before. Although Bri was a little off on pinpointing it, he was close enough for it not to matter; after all, it was the same panic in the end.

He didn't try to stop Bri from walking away this time, but he felt more respect for him than he had before. It was unlikely upon first glance, but Roku was realizing there was more similarity between them than he would have suspected at all. It was reassuring, but at the same time it brought back memories of what he was trying to forget in the first place. It wasn't Bri's fault for that, he knew it was his own. If he could just let go of the past... but he knew it was virtually impossible, for what happened back then was what he was now. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but always ended up doing so in the past.

He frowned slightly, concluding he just had to try harder. He didn't care if it was impossible or not, he just had to try.

Cocking his head back up to the calico, he flashed an unexpected grin. "Yeah, that's true. The fresh air and open space really help," he replied, shrugging and breathing in the crisp air. Although not necessarily surprised Bri was willing to put his book down, he still didn't know if there was going to be anything Roku could do to earn that kind of attention. After all, he wasn't much of a conversationalist normally, and words didn't flow easily when he tried. "Well... did you have anything in mind? Maybe we can go exploring a bit? I haven't actually been through the whole area before... might be kinda fun." If he was talking to anyone else, the word 'fun' coming from his mouth may have sounded slightly eerie.