#gembond

Valuable skin.

Painted one of my Fae dragons with the gembond gene. Do you think these dragons are sought after because they can grow pretty jewels on their bodies? Do the gems regrow? I imagine it would be a stressful life if the gene was rare and the kind you grew was very profitable. Anyway, it's a good thing these babies live in large families.

It was too much yesterday, as well.

She stared up at the ceiling. Dim morning light cast the long, thin shadow of her window frame across it.

She could tell already, she wouldn't be able to rise for more than a moment. She wouldn't be able to do her duties again.

She gingerly shifted her arm from her side to her chest, inspecting the virulent crystal that snaked down it, and covered the back of her hand. Carefully, she tried to close it into a fist.

Immediately, she felt her skin begin to shatter - the frail seams of flesh in between the gems was too inflamed and too dry to move. She stopped, let her hand drop, and choked back a sob.

It's just a flare-up, she told herself, over and over. And it will calm, and I will manage again.

It was an ineffective mantra, but all she could do to try and keep herself calm. The crystals were present on her face and neck, as well, and if she were to let herself so much as grimace, she was certain something would split open.

The priestess took slow, deep breaths, and managed to stay still. If only she could do the same to her own thoughts; prevent them from wandering down a dark path.

But she could not. Lying there with nothing else to focus on, she found herself taking stock of each and every noxious, painful gem marring her skin and burrowed deep in her veins.

She was quietly, fearfully aware that her affliction was spreading. That next it could be her joints or - gods forbid - her eyes. It was only a matter of time.

Tears snaked down over her gems and down her cheeks, and she grit her teeth.

"Meeeew!"

Thupp.

A gentle weight upon the bed. Little paws meandered their way to her pillow, and a very fluffy - and very insistent - head rubbed against hers.

She couldn't do anything to respond, but soon enough her companion had moved again, slipping under her arm and lying on her chest.

She carefully stroked her cat's fur with a single finger as it purred, completely still and calm there with her.

It was easier, then, to believe she might feel better again. At the very least, there was someone else who wanted her to be.

arthur sometimes feels he doesn't deserve gawain- after all, gawain is such an elegant beauty, and arthur's... just arthur. luckily, gawain is more than happy to remind his husband just how loved he is.

Gembond Appreciation Post!