dragonkin

hit and fun

          either tension or her own realization brings the girl over, and keen comprehension beyond her years sets into a youthful face, gleaming in eyes like the heart of violet spinel from the southern mountains of the bloodstone belt back home. he doesn’t think much of it at the moment, but turns an equally severe look on the cheating vendor whose disdain grows as he looks from, it seems, one righteous child to another. ❝ return it to…? pff, kids thieving from honest folk now? you don’t like the prize, you ought to run along. first your friend here damaged my goods, then you cheat the rules and accuse me. ❞

          something goes red-blind inside him at the witness, almost unable to believe it. is this man just stupid enough to think he’s not in the wrong, or has he conned so many that he’s perfected his victim act? posture straightens; shoulders broaden as he takes another step forward; though the conman surpasses him in years, he stands shorter and slighter than the boy-king even without his armor. ❝ i saw how you run this game, sir, and it’s anything but honest. you should be ashamed. ❞

          but the man only scorns him with a laugh, showing no sign of remorse or even shame, and leif can’t imagine how someone who knowingly deceives children can look at him with such pitying contempt. ❝ you don’t like the game, don’t play. we adults have a business to run. now, it doesn’t look good to demand compensation from children; kids will be kids, after all. so i’ll let the property damage kindly slide. unless you want me to call the guards? ❞

The obstinate nature of the man causes the dragon to grind her teeth, hands balling up into fists, taking another frustrated step forward. She opens her mouth to say something, but it seemed as if her movement activated some form of fear within the conman. He takes a step back.

“No, wait, I-” Myrrh stumbles over her words, holding up the hand that wasn’t (still) gripping the stick as if to pacify. But there was a sharp call for the guards from him and she stumbled back in surprise. In her surprise, she bumped the other student who had come to try and help her. 

She looks up at him apologetically. “...Sorry... I got you into some trouble with my silliness...” 

Sacred Stones takes place in the Magvel calendar year of 802. Myrrh is older than that, and Morva more than her. What are they exactly and where did they come from? What happened?

Thoughts on dragons, Fomortiis, and the ancient history of Magvel. 

seas the day

“Aid in hand eye coordination? I suppose it would thought there’s likely better alternatives.” Morgan responded. The plank was big and likely not much of a help. If anything having a paddle, ball, and string would be more helpful in just balance and hand eye coordination. Not to mention strength control if she had to learn that. 

“Oh! My father used to give me tactical war scenarios when I was little to help distract me too! I’d take a few hours to devise a plan and bam he’d be able to do a lot more work than if I was bugging him. Honestly a very smart tactic. I completely understand!” Morgan responded with an understanding nod.

“Anyways, I wish you luck with that! I’m sure I’ll see you around the monastery. Oh, name’s Morgan by the by.” 

@darklingdragon

“Yeah, you get it! It’s so funny that that happens so often,” she laughed. 

“Okay, Morgan, names Myrrh. I hope to see you around, alright?”

spice of life || myrrh&ewan

Ewan watched impatiently (albeit not without excitement and anticipation both) as Myrrh weighed their options. T’was a bold strategy she employed then, closing her eyes…!

Except… she’d gone for…

The mage blanched slightly at the sight. This particular spice, he recognized. Gulping, he observed with no small trepidation, wanting to cheer her on and yet half feeling guilty ahead of time, because he also really wanted to see the look on her face…

Her expression was at once both hilarious and yet a punch to the gut. If it were one of the boys from back home in Jehanna’s back alleys, he’d have burst into a fit of laughing, but on timid little Myrrh… It seemed… almost too much.

“Ah! Here,” he reached for the jug conveniently set on the spice table before them, pouring them both a glass - one he handed gently to Myrrh, and the other he kept for himself. Preemptive measures, n’ all. He patted her gently on the shoulder. “I won’t leave you to suffer alone, okay!” Fired up, he turned to face his fate, taking himself a heaping spoonful - he could do this, he could do this, he’d done this before, he could do this…! - and oop, in it went…

“…Gyahhhh!! It’s more terrible than I remember! Wahahaha!” Between his pained wheezes and laughter, it was hard to tell whether he was enjoying himself. Finally, unable to handle it anymore, he downed his own glass. Whew… “Definitely makes you feel alive, huh?” he gasped, catching his breath with a giggle or two. Not one to stay down for long though, he was back to grinning in no time. “Whatcha think so far? Wanna try any more? Or wanna learn about ‘em instead?”

Hands fumble for the glass, tears half blinding her vision. She takes a drink graciously, but seems disappointed that it doesn’t seem to do much. Instead Myrrh balls up her sleeve and wipes her eyes with it. Whoever decided that food could make someone cry like this deserved a disappointed finger wagging.

She cleared her eyes just in time to see her friend fall onto the same fate. She frowned at first, but her shoulders seemed to relax when she realized he was laughing through the pain. If she ate more would she be able to do that too....?

“Umm...” After a pause to take another sip, Myrrh lifted her fists eagerly. “Let’s do one more...! Can’t quit now! Oh, but... you should probably pick this one...”

Battle Theme: aquarian age

Battle Intro: “An aerial battle is a bit of a frightening concept...”

Victory: “You’ve not done anything wrong, I’m sorry...”

Defeat: “...I’m really sorry.”

Taunt: “...Is this all there is to a bond between a rider and steed?”

Reacting to Taunt: “Well that’s not very princess-like of you, is it?”

Tie: “...Please don’t think any lesser of me.”

Perfect Victory: “You deserve so much more...”

Final Finisher: “It can’t be helped.”

⚔ TAG-TEAM QUOTES ⚔

Assist: “You have my full support, Tana!”

Your Muse Down During Assist: “...What a way to treat two ladies.”

Using Item on Your Muse: “I’m not sure if I’m doing this right...”

Healing/Buffing Your Muse: “Please, do your best!”

hit and fun

          this is what the cities and towns of a thriving continent should be. it seems like regardless of history, every place he’s traveled had its own way of celebrating new beginnings. the start of the year here with the fresh winds of spring brought crowds and their bright energy to the streets of garreg mach, color in motion and optimism. this is what things could begin to look like back home, given some time and some hope, as people dared to brave beyond their doorsteps again and bring their smiles under the sunlight. the atmosphere is infectious, enough to make any disturbance to the vivacity seem particularly offensive.

          in hindsight, he might hope to blame the intensity of his reaction on that, and not the struck nerve upon witnessing the exploitation of someone so young.

          festival chaos conceals his approach enough that the conman doesn’t hear, though in his fiery stride, leif hadn’t intended stealth. as the man prepares to yank the pinata out of reach again, without warning the twine snaps and the pinata drops even lower than before, an easy target for the girl’s next swing.

          ❝ you’d sink so low as to prey on a child? ❞

          the startled swindler looks from accusatory stare to the sword in hand that had severed the string, taking an instinctive step back. ❝ are you crazy? that’s damaged property, you know. i’d have you reported for that! ❞

Ears and eyes had grown accustomed to shutting out the world. They do so here, the noises of celebration a whimpering buzz in the background of focus. It isn’t until a stray swing in which her hand grazes past the pinata. It was an inclination that something wasn’t right and she lifts the blindfold in nervous curiosity. 

Realization sets in slow and her grip tightens on the stick in frustration - how could she let herself be so foolish? She’s supposed to know. Myrrh takes takes a few steps towards the other student and the conman, but the moment a sound leaves her mouth he gives her a nasty look and it immediately snaps shut, causing her to take a step back. 

If only Ephraim were here... he would know what to do. But... he wasn’t here. He’d want her to be able to be okay without him (because he wouldn’t be around forever, she knew). 

With another sidelong glance at the other student, Myrrh frowns. He must be so nice to stand up for someone he didn’t even know for no reason.And over a silly game too... Mustering up whatever remained of her confidence, she marched back up to the conman, nervous grip white-knuckled on the stick; any more and it might break.

battle quotes || still accepting \o/

Battle Theme: the man who made a monster

Battle Intro: “Um... I don’t really want to have to do this but I can’t run away now!”

Victory: “Sorry, I can’t be nice to you just ‘cause we’re friends...”

Defeat: “...I’m sorry..”

Taunt: “Heheh... I get it now, this is kinda fun, after all.”

Reacting to Taunt: “...! No hard feelings in combat...”

Tie: “If nobody wins, then...”

Perfect Victory: “...I’m sorry, Ewan. The magic you’re learning is too frightening, I had to do something about it.”

Final Finisher: “...I cannot ask for forgiveness anymore.”

⚔ TAG-TEAM QUOTES ⚔

Assist: “...The Great Dragon is here to help!”

Your Muse Down During Assist: “Eugh... This is unfair...”

Using Item on Your Muse: “I hope this is useful to you!”

Healing/Buffing Your Muse: “Aaaah, you can do it, Ewan!”

seal of approval

          Myrrh’s awe and curiosity was difficult not to grin at. Sumia hoped she didn’t come off patronizing, but the girl was just so… cute! Given that, it went without saying how listening to her speak of a home in the woods all alone was a touch concerning. It would explain why she seemed so sheltered, but… still. She had parents with her, right? Someone to watch out for her? Companionship, at least. Sumia wanted to ask, but the question didn’t seem appropriate. Many of the students had interesting home lives, along with a right to privacy.

          “Mermaid,” Sumia said. Goodness… If only teaching was always this easy. How many times did she freeze in front of her students, the words escaping from her head like dust in the wind? On the other hand, Myrrh was easy to talk to. Sumia must’ve read hundreds of picture books, and if smarts were measured in how much fantasy lore one could recall, she would be a genius. 

          “They’re half human, half fish. The bottom half is the fish part.” She looked out at the seal again. Hm… wasn’t there another story like that? “You know, there’s a legend about seals, too. It has to do with magical beings who live in the ocean named selkie. They take the form of seals, but can shed their skin and come to land…” A dreamy look clouded over Sumia’s eyes. “They say that they’re very beautiful… but once they find their skin again, they return to the ocean, leaving the humans who loved them yearning forever.”

          A glance in Myrrh’s direction. Sumia’s voice lowered and took on the wispy quality of a story-teller speaking of tragic tales and beautiful heartbreak. She could only keep the act up for so long, though. Sumia finally giggled then patted Myrrh on the shoulder.

          “What do you think? Are we in the presence of a selkie right now?”

“Mermaid...” She confirmed, nodding. Myrrh had liked the name quite a bit when she first came across it. When said outloud - it sounded just like her own name! That was cool. She continued listening, eyes sparkling with interest at the stories. She liked listening to Sumia talk... she was so nice!

A selkie... that story struck particularly close. Maybe she would look it if they ever were able to return home. She glanced at Sumia’s hand and then back out to the seal. “Perhaps... maybe our new friend misses the friend they made while on the land. If it were me, I think I would, even if I was in a place I belonged.”

Her hand went up to her cheek as she thought. She herself was a sort of mystical creature of legend, but even then Myrrh couldn’t help but wonder what was based on fact and what was the imaginations of the creators of stories. She liked to recount her own tales in story form but how much of the truth was actually there, she wondered.

“Hey there kiddo, wanna give it a try?”

The voice surprised Myrrh a bit - she wasn’t really used to being addressed as a child still, and her wariness of strangers had yet to wane. And still yet, her curiosity got the better of her. The bright colours of the pinata were enticing to her and she hesitated for a moment.

After listening to the explanation - she’d have to break a certain amount in a set time to get a special prize! - she fished around in her pouch for a coin. The man took it with an empty smile and helped her to tie the blindfold and the stick in her hands felt just as powerful as any sword now that she couldn’t see it. 

But in her withdrawn innocence, she didn’t really understand that not everyone would be doing things out of the goodness of her heart. The man who was running the game pulled the string so the pinata was just out of her reach and she ran around in circles violently and excitedly swinging the stick, waiting for it find impact with the bright colored streamers so she could move on to the next one and win a grand prize.

seas the day

“Is that so?” Morgan asked looking at the board. Was this hockey? No…. volley ball? No…. probably ball surfing? Or did you surf and play volley ball? That would be wild! She couldn’t quite figure out what the dragon woman was practicing in terms of these sports thought. In all honest Morgan barely knew what a sport was, until her father challenged her to use them as strategy practice. Then she selectively remembered.

“Exactly! I should also learn about this board ball sport that you are practicing. I can’t say I know much about sports in general, but I’ve never heard of a ball sport with boards.” Morgan responded curiously.

“Are you playing volley ball while surfing?”

“Oh! Um, it’s nothing like that, really....” She frowned slightly. She didn’t even know what half of those things were, really. Later on, Myrrh would have to find Ewan and ask about it, she was certain he would know. It wasn’t even something that had a point system, she figured.

“My dad taught me to do it so I could get better at concentration and balance...” She took the ball and bounced it a few times before it fell again. “Like that but... less bad. He said it would help with, um.... what was the term... ‘hand and eye coordination’. I guess it’s like training, in a way.”

fruit hcs!

Companionship is the main drive in Myrrh’s life at this stage. But it also is something she is afraid of. Her constant companion was her father for such a long time, so she feels uncomfortable if there isn’t always someone by her side (she will not admit this, you didn’t hear this from me). She’s generally a bit nervous around folks, but it’s because she fears coming off as annoying.

This is why she is so quick to attach herself to people like Ephraim and even Dozla. They expressed interest in talking to and helping her for who she is as a person and clings to that sense of companionship since she fears that she won’t be able to find it elsewhere ever since Morva was murdered. (The trauma of having to kill his corpse has also affected her, and she fears that she may have to do that to someone else she cares about.)

While her aging is a result of being a dragon, I think both things weigh differently on how she seeks friendship from others. Though it isn’t something that has happened, being isolated for a long time, she is very well aware that even the closest of her friends will pass away in something that is only a blink in her lifespan, and it absolutely terrifies her of having to experience more loss than necessary. 

I don’t want to get into the Magvel dragon meta I’ve been cooking up on this too much, but Myrrh mentioning that she is neither fully human nor fully dragon and thus feels as if she doesn’t belong also weighs heavily on her mind while (trying to) befriend others. She isn’t necessarily worried that someone might attack her if they knew, but rather the other person she’s friends with. There isn’t a place she feels she can turn to for what she’s looking for (since the only person she knew she could rely on is dead).

fruit hcs!

She probably could be... a little bit healthier. Her lifestyle was a bit sedentary for a long time, and I have trouble imagining she really ran around and did exercise. So her physical build and care would probably less sturdy or resilient than most of any of her peers, since she didn’t travel a lot or train.

That would be if not for her dragon genes making her stronger and sturdier than she should be (and she doesn’t really realize that either, to her detriment). That helps prevent her from getting sick and keeps her energy and spirits up when doing things. There’s also the fact that she could simply just fly somewhere instead of walking.

fruit hcs!

what kind of diet does my muse have?  do they eat regularly,  or the standard 2-3 meals a day?  do they have to be reminded to eat,  or are they likely to remind others?  do they cook,  or have others cook for them?  do they eat healthily,  or not so much?  

An important thing about Myrrh is that she looks quite slender, but it is not really from a fault of her own. She doesn’t know better that with being a dragon, she should eat more than a normal person, but her perspective of that is warped to what she sees around her. In the woods, she would just eat whenever and whatever Morva told her to, which wasn’t always super often and without a lot of variety.

Upon leaving, that only changed slightly. She would only eat what was in front of her, not having any idea of things like preferences. And she would eat when other people around her would eat. if Eirika and Ephraim were okay with it, why wouldn’t she be? 

If she spent more time in her dragon form she would probably realize something was off, but it otherwise doesn’t affect her human form so she doesn’t really think twice that she should be inhaling things at the speed of a vacuum to grow up big and strong. (Even if she already is very big. And quite strong.)

She doesn’t really know much about cooking properly, besides things like cooking meat to the point that its edible and what she enjoys and doesn’t enjoy. Other than that, it’s mostly a big question mark for her. Although, she really would like to try her hand at it. 

fruit hcs!

I think an important thing to consider about Myrrh is that while she may be more grown as a human, but as a dragon she still is a child. I think that seriously colours how she perceives her childhood, and how other people might see it as well. She would tell someone that it was spent happily with her father while the two of them were practicing their duty to humanity. Internally, she knows just how lonely and sad it felt.

This, I think had instilled a certain mature understanding about the world in her. She still has a sort of childish lack of knowing when it comes to social things, how to read emotions (including her own) and general things about daily life. That awkward balance between the two coupled with the pressure of inheriting Morva’s position, she is stuck at a sort of crossroads.

In a way, she is a bit afraid of embracing the idea of being an adult because her childhood was basically the same thing for 800 years regardless. Similarly, she feels as if she moves on to a new stage in life, it would be like leaving everyone behind.

seal of approval

          “It’s very adorable,” Sumia agreed. “Especially the eyes.” She smiled as she watched the seal float in the water. It was a rare treat to see one so close to the shore. And it wasn’t swimming away or anything! The animals here, wherever “here” was, must’ve been used to people. Her attention was pulled away when Myrrh spoke again. Sumia turned and examined the spiral seashell she held up. 

          “It probably did have something living in it, at one point. The creatures inside use the shells until they get too big for them… Then they move out.” Sumia took the shell and squinted into it with one eye. She couldn’t find any traces of anything inside it now. “Don’t worry, though. Someday something else might find it and make it its new home. It’s not going to waste.” Handing it back to Myrrh, Sumia regarded her thoughtfully. “There are lots of interesting things… Is this your first time at the beach?” 

          It would make a lot of sense. Sumia might’ve not visited the ocean often, but she had vacationed by the seaside once or twice. Plus, there were all those books she read! She wasn’t sure where to begin with showing her around, though she supposed the animals and fish were the most magical parts… As if to debate against being ignored, a loud splash sounded. Sumia glanced back at the water and saw the seal swim closer. It watched them for a moment… then made another splash with its flipper. 

          “…I think it wants attention!” Sumia said with a laugh.

“Whoaaa....” Myrrh clutched the shell once it was given back to her and rattled it slightly, also peeking inside of it, as if something would have appeared in the few seconds between when it left her hands. It was like a backpack, then... But hard. And only available sometimes when needed. So not really like a backpack at all.

“Um...” She tipped her head slightly at the question, frowning slightly. “I lived in the woods for a really, really long time but... one time I g-got to ride on these big ships because my friends and I couldn’t find a way around. Oh, but that isn’t quite the beach is it? ...It’s the ocean.”

There was a small pond in the woods she would sometimes go to, but it didn’t have much in the way for a beach. And nothing worth seeing could actually manage to survive there anyways besides some bugs. There were some seagulls that bothered them when they were on the ship, but they were everywhere, weren’t they? Seemed like it.

“Oh...!” She lifted her head from her very deep thoughts to look back at the seal and couldn’t help but grin at its antics. How cute. Myrrh lifted a hand and waved to it.