Land of Misfit Muses

     🔥——     Before Brii could say any more the already   lingering   words were   stolen   right off her already prepared, separated lips. As   vague   it was, Draykan said the things she herself was about to say next, although somewhat differently… Worthy of   healing   &   forgiveness   ? No, not   worthy   , that she couldn’t see deserving, but she didn’t have much of a choice… Of all the people & creatures around her, Draykan was the   only   one   that was trust-worthy & understanding enough to fill this need a dragon’s soul required.

     Her gaze   strayed   , fingers twisting & turning around each other nervously. “… You   do   see right through me,” she whispered, voice   shivering   . & in a way, it was   terrifying   . But would she ever be open for healing if she didn’t open herself up in the first place… “What you knew before me, was that I need someone… & there is no one else than   you   ,” Brii’s uncertain gaze glanced back at Draykan’s heterochromic. His presence was always so   calming   — even when Brii thought there was no such thing as calm left in her.

     “You are…   Different   . Only you can   save   me.”

“Brii...” He didn’t know what to say to all that. Save her? He guessed it could be worded like that, to be there to help keep her safe from her inner demons, but it wouldn’t have been how he’d put it. Still though... How could he say no to that request? He saw the need for _someone_ in her eyes, and he liked her, she was someone who he wanted to call a friend, if she would open up enough to him.

And here was her asking to do just that.

Commission: Universe on Fire

     🔥——     Through her uncertainty, Brii felt a   gust   of warmth blow through her. In a way, this situation was ridiculous — something she had never before   dared   to consider. “Should you not know already… Cryptic behaviour seems to be   embedded   in me by now,” she could not help but feel an amused twirl in at the bottom of her belly.

     But this was not time for laughter. Brii glanced up to Draykan, her eyes were   glossy   . “I… I have considered your offer. & I finally acknowledge the   truth   . Truth you already saw way before me.” Well, it hadn’t really been a clear offer, but a request for Draykan to gain Brii’s trust. She still didn’t trust him… But he was the best chance she got, & maybe from their cohesion, trust would be   birthed   .

“The truth I... That you are worthy of healing, or forgiveness?” He met her eyes with his, and gave a small smile. “You really are a cryptic being, aren’t you? But I suppose that is understandable. You need someone, to help you through this... and I’m glad you are finally able to admit that. And I’m honored, that you’re letting me be the one to help.”

He didn’t realize just how right that was. Though he knew little about how dragons here worked, he knew that nobody could handle everything on their own... But he didn’t realize how true that was. That every dragon required a consort eventually, a life long friend, be that a mate, or just someone they could rely on and trust with their life.

“Zu'u Unslaad” //  “Su'um Ahrk Morah”

“Motivation is temporary. Sometimes it’s there, sometimes it is not. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

     🔥——      The closer Draykan came, the more Brii felt her heart   racing  , she kept noticing she every now & then even forgot to   breathe   . Brii knew what she was going to inquire about, she knew it would likely be something that either destroyed their   fragile   friendship, or maybe it would strengthen it. Unless she asked, she wouldn’t know, would she… One thing was certain though — her question would contain something that she’d   never   be able to take back, her admission so   deep   Draykan’s view about her would change   forever   .

     Even though the arm was still extended, Brii would not take it, but instead she slouched even more, anxiety running   wild   . His shadow loomed over her, although his actions were kind, he was so much taller than her, thus more intimidating. He was half naked too, by the gods, & he spoke way too much…

     “No…” Brii shortly responded to all Draykan had asked or suggested. She gathered all the little courage she had, gaze   darting   up to finally face him.   Staring   under her eyebrows she shook her head slightly, the said action accompanied with a deep sigh. “… Look. I returned here for a reason.”

He pulled the proferred arm away when she refused to take it, looking down and away, thinking he’d upset her. Her statement though... “You returned here? What for? You’re being very... Cryptic about all of this, it makes me concerned about your well being.” He worried easily about people he considered his friends, and she was certainly one who he considered a friend, despite her very closed off nature. He knew she’d been hurt, so it was something he was willing to work with and help her get through.

     🔥——      N e r v o u s   the dragoness was upon Draykan’s arrival, very understandably so, muscle after another   t e n s i n g   up every single step Draykan took further towards her — despite his body showing no signs of hostility, like every time before, Brii couldn’t help the reaction. Arm crossed in front of her belly, clasping to the other that was dangling next to her side — an old   p r o t e c  t i v e   mannerism she had adopted during all those years in the abyss of isolation. A heartbeat a tremble instead of a solid beat, its rhythm skipping.

     The question by Draykan sent a   c h i l l   down Brii’s spine, the dragoness slouching ever so slightly from the force of it, spikes of her tail erecting. Her inner voice   s c r e a m e d   for her to say an another lie, though it was obvious she indeed had been crying for days on end. The fear of being true to herself & others stemmed from the distrust she had seen humans have towards dragons — & void-kin alike. Was being   t r u t h f u l   so bad after all ? If she never tried, would she ever know ?

     Brii stayed mortally silent & still until Draykan was right before her, arm stretched out — an offer of support. Slim eyebrows furrowed to a insecure lines, golden optics avoiding Draykan’s heterochromic’s. “… I have,” she finally mumbled out, so quietly it was almost a whisper.

She looked to be in so much pain, as he got closer, her body alighting up with pure tenseness. It made him worried, a look of concern passing through his features as she looked like she was fighting the urge to just run from him. Did he scare her that much, since she’d seen his magic, what he could do? He didn’t know, but he was always honest, always open about most things, so he couldn’t help the questions from escaping his lips.

     🔥——     No one said it would be easy… No one said it would even be   p o s s i b l e  . Having just realized what was needed for redemption of her sanity wasn’t drying her tears any faster — just when Brii thought she had none to spare any longer, they just kept coming, day after day, night after an another, a wave of confused   g r i e f   washed over her already weary being.

     But Brii, despite her impatience & internal pain, waited. There she had stayed for several days, barely sitting down nor shifting position — until the familiar blue figure contrasting her bright red one appeared from the distance, unsurprisingly half dressed once again.

     Eyes   b l o o d s h o t   from the salt of the tears, cheeks   b l u s h e d   — whether from seeing his robust figure or from days long weeping, one couldn’t tell —, regardless Brii greeted her  ‘ f r i e n d ‘  with an slightly uneasy smile. Externally seemingly unshaken by the sight before her eyes, with a simple “yes,” she responded,   m y s t e r i o u s   , that smile on her face showing no sign of wearing off. Then, shyly a hand arose to the corner of her mouth — was it a display of   a l l u r e m e n t   or an attempt to hide behind its comfort, like she was used to ? It was up to debate & oneself’s judgement of the said gesture.

Not knowing what she’d discovered, what she’d decided, he took it as her usual shy comforts. Upon her answering of his question with yes, he tilted his head slightly to the side, and moved closer to her. As he got closer, he could see the red tinging her eyes, could see her cheeks still damp, and he frowned compassionately. “Were you crying?” He asked, reaching a hand out tentatively as he got close enough that they were little more than arms reach away.

@draykan

     🔥——     So, it had taken a realization & an acceptance to move on, an invitation for healing & Brii had finally accepted it with an   o p e n   h e a r t   . The snow had fallen, sun rising & peeking ever so slightly behind the thick blanket of cotton candy clouds. Brii breathed heavily in preparation for leaving. Her was mind somewhat blank from the influx of information, but at least it was open. Now, it was time for decisions.   B i g   decisions.

     It had taken a while but now it was clear to her, clearer than this crisp morning’s weather. If she was to stay in solitude she’d eventually  go   m a d   . She would be more broken than she would ever be — she could not heal alone. “A consort… & if not a consort, then a friend,” she thought, over & over again, like a mantra.   D r a y k a n   . He was her best choice… & in fact, the one that, even after so many mishaps, had become the closest she knew in whole of Eorzea.

     So she left the First Dicasterial Observatorium of Aetherial & Astrological Phenomena & the book alike behind, & returned after a tedious walk back to the falls of Snowcloak, hoping he would come as well. If it would take days, she would stay, it didn’t matter — she had time. Draykan & her, after all, had had one freak accident already — their fates were   e n t w i n e d   .

It would be several days, before she’d catch sight of the familiar blue Au Ra. It was almost a perfect mirror of last time, but the difference this time, was that he wasn’t fully naked, only partially, and he hadn’t yet caught site of her.

It was as if that fate or destiny was conspiring to make their meetings as awkward as possible. Thankfully, he had on undergarments this time, and as he bent over to begin taking them off, he saw her, and snapped back up, his horns reddening.

“Brii! Wha-” She was clothed, as... He’d come to expect to see her, she never seemed to take that outfit off. It was as if that was part of her skin, and it couldn’t be removed... Something he would ask her, once the embarrassment faded. She didn’t seem to be washing up, or drying off, so... She must have been waiting there, but why?