♪ second dance (event; stage 3)

[dragonlitany]

[ACTION]

[Ninian can tell there's something strange going on, between the strange calls everyone's been making and her outburst to Terra earlier. So, being an intensely private person, she's going to great lengths to avoid people today. She can feel the urge to spill every single secret that lurks deep in her heart -- and she wants to do

Comments

A

[justdumbluck]

[ Firo hasn't seen much of his not!wife all day, so he's blissfully unaware of her distress when he comes home from work. ]

Hey, Ninian! How are ya?

[dragonlitany]

[Noooooo Firo why are you so nice... She can't bring herself to brush him off, so Ninian smiles weakly at him in greeting.]

Hello... um... I've been better, I think. [BLUSH. Oh, great, she can't even tell little white lies anymore.] H-How are you...?

[justdumbluck]

[ That wasn't the answer he expected and he looks at her with concern. Here he goes making everything worse. ]

What's wrong? Are you feelin' okay?

[dragonlitany]

No. I think the town is up to something again... Everyone's been sharing secrets over the phone, and even though I've never done anything but lie to people... I just want to tell everyone that I'm a dragon.

[Ninian's eyes widen and she claps her hands over her mouth, shaking her head. ffffuuuu...]

[justdumbluck]

[ He blinks and tilts his head to the side, looking closely at her, as if looking for dragony-bits that he somehow missed before. ]

...You don't look like a dragon. I mean, I've never seen one before, but aren't they supposed ta' be... scaly? And huge?

[dragonlitany]

We... have human forms, too. Mayfield took away my dragonstone, though, so... I can't really transform. N-Not that I want to.

I-- I'm sorry, I shouldn't... [She crosses her arms over her chest, trembling a little.] I can't help it.

[justdumbluck]

[ Most of her explanation goes right over his head; he's still too busy trying to come to terms with the fact that- not only is Ninian a dragon- but that dragons are real. It's only when she apologizes that he snaps out of it and at least tries to be helpful. ]

Don't apologize!

[ He reaches out to awkwardly pat her shoulder. ]

I'm sorry I asked all those questions, okay?

[dragonlitany]

I've spent so much time lying to people about what I am... so... this is very strange for me.

[She blinks at him for a moment.]

It's all right, but... Aren't you frightened?

[justdumbluck]

It's not like everybody needs ta' know... But doesn't hidin' it bother you?

[ He laughs ]

...Hate ta' break it to ya, but you're not exactly the scariest person around.

[dragonlitany]

Oh, it bothers me... it bothers me quite a lot, in fact. But... there are people who would take advantage of what I am, and what I can do... so I have to hide it.

[She frowns a bit.]

W-Well, as I am now... no... But humans think we're all monsters, don't they? That's how it was back home...

[justdumbluck]

[ He furrows his brow; if somebody's picking on her or threatening her he wants to do something about it. ]

Who would do that?

[ He shrugs ]

Well, honestly, I've never believed in dragons. But you're nice, so why should I be afraid?

[dragonlitany]

Someone... I knew back home. I believe he's dead now, but... [She shrugs uncomfortably.] For all I know, there could be more like him... more people who desire power.

--O-Oh, you... right. They must not exist, where you're from. [blink] ...Nice? Really?

[justdumbluck]

Oh. There always are more people like that, aren't there? There's nothin' I can do for you back home, but here if somebody messes with you, I'll take care of it.

Uh-huh, you are.

[dragonlitany]

Oh, you... don't trouble yourself on my account, please...

[...staaaaaring]

I don't think I am...

[justdumbluck]

It won't be any trouble.

[ He smiles ]

Well, I think so.

[dragonlitany]

[She shakes her head, frowning.]

I've deceived my friends... I've lied and caused a lot of terrible things to happen... I'm really not worth the effort to protect. R-Really.