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Except, sometimes you weren't learning how to throw knives, or fly, or what your dragons favorite food was. Sometimes, sometimes D-corp was just school, and you sat in class, and you took notes.

And you got bored.

And so it was. Earako sat in her math class, swinging her legs and quietly doodling on the edges of her paper instead of listening to what the teachers were saying. These sort of classes, the ones full of students, so that you never got to really talk to anyone were good in their way.

She didn't get singled out. She didn't get scared. It helped, of course, that the teacher was female.

But she didn't know the names of most the students in the class, and she didn't want to know about division.

So she doodled, and absently, smoothed the lace on the sleeves of her dress. As the class allowed it, she was dressed to the extreme today, in one of her better attempts. Dark red satin to match the dragon at her side, layered over with lovely black lace in a skirt that slid against her skin, sleek and soft down to her toes. The top was of similar make, the lace extending out over her hands, hiding the pale things from view. She'd even woven a pair of ribbons together, and tied that in her hair.

Earako was quite subtle about accepting the note, her deft fingers quickly unfolding it and smoothing it flat on top of her notes. She read it quickly, and glancing over, flashed the other girl a quick smile. And since it was a girl, and not a brightly colored, intimidating one, Earako quickly wrote back.

But... what was she wearing? Earako eyed her thoughtfully. Now, if she was a gymnist or a ballerina, it made sense for her to have a leotard. But shouldn't it be sparkly? The batling could think of some wonderful things that might be done with glitter, or contrasting fabrics.



She wrote the words quickly, then drew a picture of Emi in the corner, in a blue leotard with swirls of silver. She added silver ribbons trailing down from Emi's bun, for good measure. Of course... she didn't have her proper design pencils, so the colors were labeled with arrows instead. The picture wasn't half bad, considering. Earako spent a lot of the time she wasn't sewing doodling her plans.

Another note sneakily unfolded and scanned, and Earako glowed a bit at the compliment. It was a nice dress. She'd worked really hard on it. It'd taken a long time, but she was pleased with the result.

In the corner she did another quick sketch of Emi, but this time in the sort of outfit one might imagine on a fairy princess, long and ruffled with notations of 'blue' and 'silver' in the corners.



Folding the note into a small square, she passed it back across.

Taking the note, Earako read it quickly. She looked over at the girl again, considering. Everything she'd made so far had been for family. Herself, Tansi, Jer'ain (when the other girl allowed it) so she wasn't exactly accustom to working without measurements either. In fact, she'd never made something for a friend, as much as she might have wanted to.

It'd be a new challenge. She was getting ahead of herself.



At the prospect of actually working with someone, insecurity bubbled, and in the least expected area. Earako was usually pretty confident about her designs.

Folding the note neatly, she handed it back, her smile taking on a slightly nervous edge.

The girl was sweet, wasn't she? Yes, she was. Earako glittered a bit, buoyed up by the kind words, preening under praise, though it was praise yet unearned.

Yes, she would make Emi a dress! And it would be the best dress, and Emi would look beautiful in it, and everyone would think she was the most lovely ballerina ever.

Oh sure, Emi was like her, white and pale, simple and plain. But she could make beautiful things, and if Emi could wear them while doing something beautiful like dancing...

well...

maybe that meant something.



Hopefully, she wasn't being too bold she thought, as she slipped the note back over to Emi.

The class was coming to an end, and now all the students were shuffling their notebooks into their backpacks and having little whispered conversations as the teacher wrapped up the lesson. Earako followed suit, tucking away her pencil and stretching her wings.

As she did, Vimber made her way over, a slender long line of red that wrapped around Earako's legs and looked appraisingly, though not disapprovingly at Emi.

"I'll call you." The batling promised. Her voice was a soft, gentle whisper, low and quiet. Her smile was careful, but seemingly genuine.

Patting her dragon lightly, she pushed away Vimber's head and neck, and moved to give Emi a hug before they parted.

"It'll be fun." She murmured. "I'm excited."