𝐢. 𝐕𝐘𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐓.

“It is indeed.” She tried not to think back to her own struggles with learning to read, but focused on how it had become a gift. A solace and escape from a world in which she could claim so little. “Do you have someone helping you? It’s always easier with a tutor.” And though she knew she ought to weigh the idea for a few days, Ruby could at least ask if they needed the help.

And they were polite, whether they knew manners or not. A little shy, maybe, but certainly respectful. She couldn’t easily dismiss someone who was so polite. “Ruby, darling. And yours?”

RUBY, LIKE THE GEMSTONE ? lee had seen a picture of one before, in a book-----they were pretty, but they were told once that they thought everything was pretty. everything about ruby the person seemed grand  &  pretty, so the name seemed well suited. ❝ i am lee. ❞ they answered somewhat absentmindedly, eyes scanning ruby’s mask to see if there were rubies on it, somehow.

          ——— she is CERTAIN she saw one. small but still imposing. juvenile but still dangerous. reina shoves through some of the overgrowth, twigs tinking off her armor before she finds her way to a clearing. eyes glance around only briefly before landing on the object of her pursuit - seeing them so close makes her flinch, taking half a step back. despite this being what she wanted, it does not erase the sense of fear that holds her.

          the dragon is there, the two staring back at one another. they both have labored breathing and a twinkle of fear in their eyes. but reina does her best to swallow that, her hand reaching forward slowly, as if to reach out and touch the beast, ❝ i’m not here to hurt you, ❞ she says in a soft and steady voice, ❝ let me help you. ❞

@dragyn plotted and i wrote a starter

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐑, the opposite of what a dragon should be, they stare ahead at the figure before them, wings slowly outstretching in preparation for a swift escape. people always attack. its a fact they’ve come to understand closely ; even if you hide, they’ll hunt. people want to HURT them, but they don’t want to hurt people. only, this one ... she’s not hurt them yet------in fact, a hand outstretches,  &  she speaks to them ; familiar words they only vaguely remember.

There was such a childlike excitement in their demeanor, and she hated how it tugged at her chest, made her wonder how Jane was doing. If she was learning to read with the other children, if she was being treated fairly and had warm clothes during the winter. Still, she set it aside and smiled throughout, not letting anything show through. She even laughed at Lee’s confession and shook her head.

“Doubtful anyone can read quite like me, darling,” she crooned. Ruby devoured books like a starving woman at a feast. Even when she wasn’t researching for the Inquisition or to play a part for a new client, her curiosity burned about everything – history, astrology, even fiction. It was a struggle to remember everything, but it didn’t stop her from looking for more. “But your enthusiasm is more than admirable. How long have you been learning?”

NOW SHE’D CALLED LEE ‘DARLING.’ so, not intimidating, but kind. that was a good word for her. the kind, smart, not-queen. though they weren’t exactly sure they believed she wasn’t a queen, yet. it occurred to lee suddenly that they didn’t know the not-queen’s name,  &  made a mental note to ASK her for it in a moment, after answering her question.

once in the room, their eyes were caught by some sort of picture, the person painting it all but invisible in comparison to the pretty colors he worked with. lee stepped in closer, gawking------it was paint ! they knew paint, they used to mash things together to make it when they were a child,  &  paint on trees  &  rocks ! their pictures weren’t NEARLY as pretty, though.

❝ pretty ... ❞ the word was breathed, the young dragon elf starry-eyed as they looked over the painting, trying to remember the right words to form a proper sentence. ❝ did---did you make ? alone ? ❞