[reaction]flightandfireNovember 16 2010, 12:24:55 UTC
[This is the first dream that's actually affected Iskierka deeply. Other dreams have always been just like a movie: something she could see and comment on but still keep herself detached from. Humans were different from dragons: they had different morals, different beliefs, and they just thought differently. Which was mostly because dragons in England were raised to be different, but that was just life for her. She had always just accepted that it would be different, and she would just have to be patient with humans and let them believe what they wanted to.
But this dream was about a battle. Battle was the same for dragons and humans, and it was one of the few things she did understand. She was bred for battle, and she loved every moment of a good fight.
So why did this battle feel bad instead of good?
As usual, she tried to rationalize it by comparing it to things she did understand. That came dangerously close to memories she had been trying to write off as nothing, though, and she realized that this felt the same as that time.
'Take no prisoners' had been a new order in that fight: they had always taken prisoners before, that's what you did when people surrendered. Living humans could be traded for reward money, and those fights felt good. And if people died, it was because they were too stupid to give up the fight. But when they had descended on the surrendering French men, who were reluctant but willing to become prisoners, only for them to scream in terror as their pleas for mercy were met with a hot jet off fire-
No, it was best to stop there. That was stirring up feelings Iskierka wasn't ready to deal with.]
[Finally she turns on her Hitomi, to leave Roy a message.]
Your dream was recorded.
[Because he should know that everyone in this world could possibly see it. For once, Iskierka thinks that people deserve their privacy about their dreams.
Then, as an afterthought, she adds a second comment.]
[It takes a while for Roy to erase the remainders of that dream. He doesn't even consider that it might have been recorded, but at this message, it's quite clear. He should have expected it. Not in the mood to let one slide, huh?]
It was bound to happen sooner or later. [Why not be a dream about something he's dreamed before?
That cocky Colonel isn't quite there, despite his attempts to maintain it, to hide those things he doesn't want anyone to know.
And his fire. Those flames that jumped from his hand and destroyed. An alchemy only good for killing. For ruining lives. For destroying the people he was supposed to be protecting. A sign of pride for him. A sign of pain. A sign of regret. It was a sign of many things and none of them were things he intended to speak about because there's someone that fire hurts more than she'll ever say...]
It isn't nearly as impressive as a dragon. I didn't think you'd be interested in it. [This is forced with a smirk, convinced, himself, that he's amused by it.]
That is a gross miscalculation. I have fought fire-breathers, I am friends with acid-spitters, and I have heard of water-spouters. They are certainly uncommon, yes, but it is fairly easy to at least meet one at some point.
Humans, on the other hand, have no extraordinary abilities at all. It is far more interesting to meet a human who can create fire than a dragon who can.
[She says that now, of course. If she had to compete with Roy for someone else's attention, she would be singing a very different tune.]
[More dragons. He can't be skeptic any longer about beasts that he's never seen before. After all, haven't the past few days proven that this is actually possible? Still hearing someone talk about it makes it seem more like a fairy tale.]
That fire is unique. But I suppose you could say there are others capable of some... extraordinary things.
[It's not every day a kid can attach a soul to armor, build walls, take on the fuhrer recklessly and live to tell about it. He'd say a few of those he fought with were out of the ordinary too.]
Extraordinary is the spice of life, though. I doubt I could stand living a boring, normal life.
[Not that a life for a dragon could ever be 'normal,' but she has heard humans talk about the kind of peaceful lives they want and she wants no part in it. She might be just a little too hot-blooded for her own good.]
Are there humans who can spit acid as well? It might be more dangerous for them, I know humans enjoy biting at each other's mouths on occasion, and acid would be troublesome for that.
[That question does throw him off a little. He hadn't expected anything like that. Though, it did make him wonder.]
I've never heard of a human who could do that, but I know a fair few who could probably make it if they wanted. [After all, Alchemy is quite powerful. It can do just about anything with the right knowledge.]
[She is imagining a group of humans sitting around a bubbling pot, throwing stuff in until it turns green and toxic-looking. She has never seen anyone make acid like that, but she imagines that's what the proccess is like.]
Well anyone can make acid outside their body, but how many can make it inside?
I don't know if anyone's tried it. You dragons are a bit more sturdy than these humans bodies. [But he's actually a little curious, even if he doesn't actually care to test it out.]
It's something to think about. I'll have to ask around when I get home.
Oh yes, that is true: it is impossible to have council with others from your world if they are not already here.
[Though she wonders if anyone else from Roy's world is here. Sometimes multiple people from the same world are brought here, and if that were the case then Roy would have someone to talk to.]
Though you might ask the strange device if others from your world are here, I am sure they would speak up if they recognized you.
[Unfortunately, Roy has stumbled on something of a sore spot with her. She thinks that nobody has come to look for her, since she has been here for several weeks and she hasn't seen anyone she knows from home.]
No, I have not. Not even my captain, and I was sure he would be the first that I would find.
There is a war back home, one that nearly starved out my homeland this past winter, and my Granby is lost somewhere in the chaos without me. It is not very lucky that he should have to make his way there without me by his side.
[There's something very possessive about the way she says 'my Granby,' too. Which makes sense, since he's her captain, and is essentially like a father to her.]
Do you really think they would bring him here in one piece? Why, just look at what they have done over the last few days. I would not trust them with my captain's safety.
But this dream was about a battle. Battle was the same for dragons and humans, and it was one of the few things she did understand. She was bred for battle, and she loved every moment of a good fight.
So why did this battle feel bad instead of good?
As usual, she tried to rationalize it by comparing it to things she did understand. That came dangerously close to memories she had been trying to write off as nothing, though, and she realized that this felt the same as that time.
'Take no prisoners' had been a new order in that fight: they had always taken prisoners before, that's what you did when people surrendered. Living humans could be traded for reward money, and those fights felt good. And if people died, it was because they were too stupid to give up the fight. But when they had descended on the surrendering French men, who were reluctant but willing to become prisoners, only for them to scream in terror as their pleas for mercy were met with a hot jet off fire-
No, it was best to stop there. That was stirring up feelings Iskierka wasn't ready to deal with.]
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Your dream was recorded.
[Because he should know that everyone in this world could possibly see it. For once, Iskierka thinks that people deserve their privacy about their dreams.
Then, as an afterthought, she adds a second comment.]
You never told me you had fire.
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It was bound to happen sooner or later. [Why not be a dream about something he's dreamed before?
That cocky Colonel isn't quite there, despite his attempts to maintain it, to hide those things he doesn't want anyone to know.
And his fire. Those flames that jumped from his hand and destroyed. An alchemy only good for killing. For ruining lives. For destroying the people he was supposed to be protecting. A sign of pride for him. A sign of pain. A sign of regret. It was a sign of many things and none of them were things he intended to speak about because there's someone that fire hurts more than she'll ever say...]
It isn't nearly as impressive as a dragon. I didn't think you'd be interested in it. [This is forced with a smirk, convinced, himself, that he's amused by it.]
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Humans, on the other hand, have no extraordinary abilities at all. It is far more interesting to meet a human who can create fire than a dragon who can.
[She says that now, of course. If she had to compete with Roy for someone else's attention, she would be singing a very different tune.]
I imagine it is the opposite in your world, then?
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That fire is unique. But I suppose you could say there are others capable of some... extraordinary things.
[It's not every day a kid can attach a soul to armor, build walls, take on the fuhrer recklessly and live to tell about it. He'd say a few of those he fought with were out of the ordinary too.]
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[Not that a life for a dragon could ever be 'normal,' but she has heard humans talk about the kind of peaceful lives they want and she wants no part in it. She might be just a little too hot-blooded for her own good.]
Are there humans who can spit acid as well? It might be more dangerous for them, I know humans enjoy biting at each other's mouths on occasion, and acid would be troublesome for that.
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I've never heard of a human who could do that, but I know a fair few who could probably make it if they wanted. [After all, Alchemy is quite powerful. It can do just about anything with the right knowledge.]
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Well anyone can make acid outside their body, but how many can make it inside?
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It's something to think about. I'll have to ask around when I get home.
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[Though she wonders if anyone else from Roy's world is here. Sometimes multiple people from the same world are brought here, and if that were the case then Roy would have someone to talk to.]
Though you might ask the strange device if others from your world are here, I am sure they would speak up if they recognized you.
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[He doesn't look the least bit put-out though. Friendly teasing, really.]
Have you?
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No, I have not. Not even my captain, and I was sure he would be the first that I would find.
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If you're lucky, they don't have to endure this. And maybe you won't have to for too long either.
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[There's something very possessive about the way she says 'my Granby,' too. Which makes sense, since he's her captain, and is essentially like a father to her.]
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You could always ask these so-called 'gods' to bring him to you. Who knows? It might just work.
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Do you really think they would bring him here in one piece? Why, just look at what they have done over the last few days. I would not trust them with my captain's safety.
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