It wasn't long before the summoned crewmembers were brought down to the planet's surface - a peculiar place, where the ground seemed to be constructed from bolted metal sheets and strange plants made of cogs and clockwork parts grew from cracks in the metal, their parts whirring away. And up ahead a large, metallic mountain rose towards the rust-coloured sky. There, at the base of that mountain, they would find four caves - the homes of the Time Dragons they had come to meet.
[[ooc: The guys can just mingle here, discuss possible tactics, look at the clock-flowers, whatever]]
"So how much do we know about these guys?" Sakura asked, focusing on the caves in the distance. "Four caves, four new dragons." At least four chances to set this thing right.
The largest cave belonged to Analog - an elderly female dragon. She was resting just inside the entrance of her cave, watching the newcomers with practiced disinterest as she sipped from what appeared to be a teacup filled with motor oil.
When they were close enough, Sakura turned toward the impressive masterpiece of a clockwork and metal creature that was a time dragon. Amazing, she found herself thinking, before the overriding need to try and find a way to convince them to help break the clock drove her into a deep bow. "Thank you for seeing us, Lord Time Dragon." She had no idea if the address was correct, and didn't exactly have anyone to ask. "My name is Haruno Sakura." She straightened, hands clasping behind her back. "I hope we're not interrupting your tea."
She looked around, trying to hide her disquiet. Sakura wasn't the sort of person sent in on diplomatic missions, if everyone was taking a chance on these dragons. She had to do her best.
Sakura not so politely dodged the flying oil. It was luckily not too much effort, a quick shift to the left followed by another bow to disguise the fact she was fighting off an urge to roll her eyes. It wasn't the time or the place to be bothered by the manners of their current hope for the lives of fellow crewmates.
Besides, how would she ever explain that one to Tsunade? I acted like Naruto does when he gets irritated, you know the way.
Hell no.
"As you prefer, Great Time Dragon Analog. Are you an equally great taster of teas?" What an odd sound her mouth made. Sakura wondered if that was natural for all Time Dragons, or something unique to Analog herself.
In a medium sized cave sat Metronome, a large middle aged male dragon. He appeared to be lounging as if his cave floor was made of cushions. He yawned at the newcomers arrival.
After a few moments of careful consideration, Kang decided to approach Metronome, giving the dragon a short, respectful bow from several feet away. "I am Councilor Kang, sir, and well met. I ask to be granted an audience; I am in need of a favor, to help several under my care."
He hoped the title was appropriate to use; he was one of the few sent that could tell the sex of the dragons, but this one could prefer some other title besides 'sir'.
For all intents and purposes, Metronome hadn't heard Kang's address. He took things at his leisure, more than content to make obvious the point that time wasn't a mere consideration of his. He was a creature of Time, and a master of Time.
Slowly, ponderously, he turned to regard Kang with one eye. Then he looked beyond him, hmphing somewhere in the back of his metal throat. Creaking, he stretched his wings, then better settled himself on his rather lovely floor. It was so properly hard, just like he preferred. "Councilor Kang," he mused, trying out the name. "Councilor, councilor, councilor... Ah, yes. Early French, thirteenth century. From conseillier, from Latin consilator, agent noun from consiliare, from consilium. Councilor."
His eyes came to focus on Kang, staring down his long snout at the Draconian. "I am Metronome."
He didn't bother addressing the rest of Kang's statement, instead regarding him with a bored, unimpressed air.
Kang carefully kept his face neutral, despite the annoyance he felt at the pointless etymology lesson he'd just been given. He wasn't sure if he actually had been granted an audience, but he chanced it, and took one step forward.
"Some of those aboard our ship, the Transmigration Nine, have been afflicted with a spell of some sort, coming from a strange clock. It is making them... lose time. They are regressing, and if it isn't stopped soon, they will cease to exist."
Another medium sized cave housed Chime, an adult female dragon, and her two children - Tick and Tock. She appeared to pay no attention to the newcomers, instead watching the young dragons closely as they raced around the cave.
A dragon, female by the looks of it. Although she was no expert on judging the gender of a dragon. The two younglings definitely caught and held her attention. They were a bit of a distraction. For a long time, she said nothing, but after awhile her impatience got the best of her and she spoke up to gain the larger dragon's attention.
"Hello there, my name is Doctor River Song." An introduction is always a good way to start a conversation.
She knew very well that the visitors were standing there, she had all the time in the world after all though and would get to them in due time. She appeared for a moment not to have heard River's introduction as Tick and Tock continued to race about the room, it was only when they took interest briefly in the comparatively small woman, running circles around them before rapidly loosing interest once more to run off, did she actually turn her attention to the lesser beings.
"Yes, hello, River Song, I am Chime and these are my children, Tick and Tock," Raising her head haughtily as she introduced herself and her children as if they were far more important than she and the crew members, after all they were Time Dragons.
River spares the young Time Dragons a curious glance or two as they run circles around her. As swiftly as she gains their interest, she loses it. Like human children, their attention span appears to be brief and practically non-existent.
"They're lovely. I just adore children." She puts on her best smile. It wasn't a lie either. River, despite being so tough and ruthless, had a soft spot for kids and cute creatures. Take the otter for example, she'd become quite attached to it before the Doctor took it away to look for Marco.
The smallest cave was home to a young male dragon, Sundial. He paced around the cave restlessly, stretching his wings and shooting the occasional look at the new arrivals.
Daniel wasn't exactly brushed up on dragon genders and if there was a physical difference at this point, especially considering these were going to be the very first dragons he was meeting. Ever. Daniel thought he could just prepare himself to meet a new species. It wasn't like he'd never encountered a new race ever, so he thought he was reasonably prepared. The fact was that he wasn't, not really. The dragon was bigger than he had expected, and far more impressive looking. All those tapestries and drawings of them back home didn't come close to doing one justice. Daniel tried his hardest not to stare in fascination.
Suddenly he felt so small compared to one. Not just physically, but just in terms of overall existence. Humans liked to think of themselves as intelligent, top of the food chain. Even though he got a chance to see more of the universe than most people, he'd never felt so insignificant and fleeting before.
"Hi. I'm Doctor Daniel Jackson. Would you grant me an audience?"
You know, that was a good question. Why would a dragon, a Time Dragon, want to talk to a human? Daniel thought back to how this dragon had been behaving just seconds earlier. He almost seemed restless, and unlike the other dragons, actually seemed (mildly?) interested in the newcomers. He hoped he was on the right track.
If he wasn't, he just hoped to God that he didn't offend him by assuming.
"Because you look bored and we're small, new, and strange. We're a good distraction."
Comments 231
[[ooc: The guys can just mingle here, discuss possible tactics, look at the clock-flowers, whatever]]
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She looked around, trying to hide her disquiet. Sakura wasn't the sort of person sent in on diplomatic missions, if everyone was taking a chance on these dragons. She had to do her best.
No excuses.
"You have a lovely home."
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( ... )
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Besides, how would she ever explain that one to Tsunade? I acted like Naruto does when he gets irritated, you know the way.
Hell no.
"As you prefer, Great Time Dragon Analog. Are you an equally great taster of teas?" What an odd sound her mouth made. Sakura wondered if that was natural for all Time Dragons, or something unique to Analog herself.
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He hoped the title was appropriate to use; he was one of the few sent that could tell the sex of the dragons, but this one could prefer some other title besides 'sir'.
Reply
Slowly, ponderously, he turned to regard Kang with one eye. Then he looked beyond him, hmphing somewhere in the back of his metal throat. Creaking, he stretched his wings, then better settled himself on his rather lovely floor. It was so properly hard, just like he preferred. "Councilor Kang," he mused, trying out the name. "Councilor, councilor, councilor... Ah, yes. Early French, thirteenth century. From conseillier, from Latin consilator, agent noun from consiliare, from consilium. Councilor."
His eyes came to focus on Kang, staring down his long snout at the Draconian. "I am Metronome."
He didn't bother addressing the rest of Kang's statement, instead regarding him with a bored, unimpressed air.
Reply
"Some of those aboard our ship, the Transmigration Nine, have been afflicted with a spell of some sort, coming from a strange clock. It is making them... lose time. They are regressing, and if it isn't stopped soon, they will cease to exist."
Reply
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"Hello there, my name is Doctor River Song." An introduction is always a good way to start a conversation.
Reply
"Yes, hello, River Song, I am Chime and these are my children, Tick and Tock," Raising her head haughtily as she introduced herself and her children as if they were far more important than she and the crew members, after all they were Time Dragons.
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"They're lovely. I just adore children." She puts on her best smile. It wasn't a lie either. River, despite being so tough and ruthless, had a soft spot for kids and cute creatures. Take the otter for example, she'd become quite attached to it before the Doctor took it away to look for Marco.
"They must run you ragged, right?"
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Daniel wasn't exactly brushed up on dragon genders and if there was a physical difference at this point, especially considering these were going to be the very first dragons he was meeting. Ever. Daniel thought he could just prepare himself to meet a new species. It wasn't like he'd never encountered a new race ever, so he thought he was reasonably prepared. The fact was that he wasn't, not really. The dragon was bigger than he had expected, and far more impressive looking. All those tapestries and drawings of them back home didn't come close to doing one justice. Daniel tried his hardest not to stare in fascination.
Suddenly he felt so small compared to one. Not just physically, but just in terms of overall existence. Humans liked to think of themselves as intelligent, top of the food chain. Even though he got a chance to see more of the universe than most people, he'd never felt so insignificant and fleeting before.
"Hi. I'm Doctor Daniel Jackson. Would you grant me an audience?"
Reply
"Why would I want to talk to you?"
Reply
If he wasn't, he just hoped to God that he didn't offend him by assuming.
"Because you look bored and we're small, new, and strange. We're a good distraction."
Reply
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