<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td> Tria the 21st, 81379 All welcome. :P I got carried away with mah first post.</td></tr></table> A colorful bundle of fur, feather and scale sat dejectedly on a barstool, leaning heavily against the counter in front of her while sipping absently at the cheery red straw that poked out of her drink. The plastic on the cushion beneath her posterior was old; cracking in some places and picked away in others by previous customers. Here and there, a rogue bit of piss-yellow foam protruded from the orange cover, collecting dust and thread until it resembled a tiny mouse clinging for life on top of a great sunburned mushroom. Dyslexia sighed softly, teal-plumed ears drooping atop her cranium as she boredly scanned the area. The bar wasn't the finest in town, but the price was right and both the food and clientel were decent. Over in the corner a group of males around her own age were standing under a small screen suspended from the ceiling, both cheering and jeering as they watched what was apparently the Jemdrull sub-championship. Everytime a goal was scored there was either a loud uproar of excited yelling or a flurry of words that would have surpassed the saltiest sailor. The pendragoness briefly considered wandering over to join the group, and perhaps find some conversation, but quickly dismissed the idea. They were far too roudy, even for her. Swivelling around on her stool, Dys turned to look out the large front windows of the bar. Outside the dome that held precious oxygen for those unlucky enough to have gills shimmered with the fronima protecting it, combining with the light that filtered down from the surface to create a surreal, haunting beauty that ensnared the gaze. It was beautiful from the inside, but even more so from the outside. Even as she starred out at the barrier she could make out the vague shapes of bulky tour ships and the smaller, more steamlined shadows of transports as they made their rounds. Another sigh escaped the females lips. <span style='color:seagreen'>"I am so vokcing bored."</span>
Out of Character: I'm a bit new here and haven't role-played in awhile, I hope that's okay. I'm not much of an essay writer either, so this post is actually quite lenghty compared to my average replies. :) In Character: The entrance of the bar suddenly exploded with the sounds of at least several pendragons, both males and females carrying deep husky voices. Their chatter overlapped each other dreadfully, but with each new voice and a chuckle here and there it seemed that they clearly understood what was being said. The prattle didn’t cease as 5 pendragons filed into the bar, each with their short, glossy pelts marked with rich natural coloured hues beading water off effortlessly to the floor. One male dipped his head briskly to the others with a muffled purr and dismissed himself from the procession. The now lone male was large, thick limbed and had developed a dense, wild beard of black fur all along his jaw and chin that gave him a deceptively older appearance. He strode confidently to the bar counter, his fur shedding tiny droplets with each step, and leaned both elbows on its smudged surface. Almost immediately a luscious bodied chocolate coloured waitress approached him wagging a claw disaprovingly in his direction. “CHAR! If yer gonna clean that counter, y’ don’t just stan’ there flittin’ yer eyes, grab a towel an’ do ‘er right, eh?" she scolded him, but with a playful smile on her full features. Char backed off the counter with a mockingly guilty chortle, but craned over the counter in one quick swoop to smack the female’s behind with a cupped palm. She simply giggled and tossed him a long black coat which he threw on over his bare body. “Now, now, don’t fuss over me. Looks like a busy night…" Char let his eyes meander over the room, identifying easily the same old crowd, and one or two customers he had never taken notice to before, one of them rather hard to be missed with her brightly coloured coat. Their casual gossip lasted a few minutes, with Char casting an ever increasing number of sideways glances to the colourful femme. He finally leaned in, whispered to the waitress, and a moment later she was preparing two syrupy drinks while Char boldly slid onto the barstool next to the bored looking female. “Weeellll, hey there little lady, haven’t seen your face around these parts before. What brings you here?"
Dyslexia's ears twitched as the doors flew open rather loudly, setting off the small bell suspended over the doorway. The racket of the latest group to enter drowned out the pleasant tinkle of the ornament, and she couldn't help but frown inwardly. It was nothing personal -Dys wasn't pissed with them- she just happened to enjoy the more musical sounds. That much was evident from the multitude of earrings studding her auditories, set up so they sang out like wind-chimes when she moved. By this point her drink was empty, only ice remaining in the bottom of the crystalline vessel. The straw was at home in her mouth, hanging precariously off her lower lip like some obscenely long cigarette. She absently nibbled at the end, eyes half lidded as the plastic was crushed between her teeth. One extended claw was busy writing her name in the condenstation on the glass, while an ice chunk melted at the back of her throat. A yawn stretched her maw, rainbow tongue wrapping around the straw to keep it from falling in an oddly lizardlike manner. She stretched her arms in front of her, simultainiously extending her wings to their full extent behind. The result was the loud pops and cracks of both her knuckles and flight joints. Tucking her wings back up against her spine, she was jolted out of her own little world by the creak of the stool beside her as it accepted it's occupant. For a moment Dys paid no heed to the newcomer, assuming it was simply one of the Jemdrull enthusiasts coming to grab another beer during half-time. Personally, Dys couldn't stand to watch it. Playing it was far more enjoyable. When she was addressed, however, her head turned to the side slowly, eyeing the male with an air of curiousity. <span style='color:seagreen'>"Summer vacation. Ah got relatives tha live 'ere. Out in tha waters, nearer ta tha shore. Wastin' time b'tween chasin' fish 'n eatin' em."</span> she had to laugh mentally. That seemed to be all her cousins did. Swim and eat. But what else could she expect? They lived underwater for Gods' sakes.
Char extended a forearm across the bar and lightly rapped his stout black claws on the countertop twice. Not more then an eyeblink later, the two drinks that he had ordered were delivered, one glass for him and the other for her. The amber liquid swirled like small ribons against a stronger crimson one as the mixture homogenized over the ice. “Lucky me, looks like you like it on the rocks!" He smiled at her, glancing down at her retired glass. He pulled his arm back in, cradling the drink in his palm. Char was delighted that the femme was putting up a conversation and so far didn’t seem too disgusted with his presence. He sat for a moment, contemplating the best window of oppurtunity to take, to ensure that the sailing stayed smooth ahead. “Summer vacation? You’re a student or somethin’ at the Acadamy?" He questioned enthusiastically, the grin on his face growing quite broad. “I just enrolled there, you know. I’m on my way to moving in and whatnot…" Char shifted excitedly in his seat and it squaked in protest to his heavy mass. This didn’t seem to phase him though as he continued cheerfully. He was dying to ask her about her relatives and especially have her embellish more on the subject of fish, which she mentioned briefly, until he realized that he hadn’t even asked her name yet. “Oh yeah," Char confessed somewhat sheepishly, flicking his right ear as though there might be a drop or two of water left even though there was none. “I’m Char. And what can I call…" such a pretty face, “er, you?"
<span style='color:seagreen'> “Student fer almost a year now. Attended Honnemdrejp ‘til then."</span> She inspected the drinks curiously, watching the two different liquids slowly combine in slow, centrivacle movements. She reached for the other glass, alabaster fingers wrapping around it carefully before sliding it closer. <span style='color:seagreen'> “Me name’s- bugger! Just a tick."</span> She swore softly, jolted by the sudden uproar that had just come from the view screen in the corner. Apparently the home team was winning. Whooptie-friggin-do. That didn’t mean they could disrupt civilized conversation with their rather barbaric chants and hoots. She disappeared momentarily under the bar, resurfacing with a large backpack, of the type usually reserved for divers and marine biologists (she found the waterproofing a necessity these days), clutched in one hand. A white vinyl rectangle was protruded from it’s bowels and promptly chucked in the direction of the jersey-sporting arden. There was a satisfying dull thunk as it ricocheted off of one of the ingrates skulls then fell to the floor, Dys immediately adopting a look of innocence as the chagrined pendragon whipped about to find his attacker. Ignoring the confused rabble, Dys turned back to the male- wait… he’d said his name was… Char. Right. Now it was her turn. <span style='color:seagreen'>“Dyslexia. From tha Rymapumkaj clan off tha south-east coast’a Swaraj."</span> She nodded politely, resting her chin atop the back of her hand, watching the colors play off the water outside.
Char watched Dyslexia haul out her bag and the events that proceeded curiously until she made airborne the white rectangle. As the object made a thudding impact with the target’s skull, Char cringed slightly, pinning his thin oval ears to the back of his skull. His tail, which had previously swayed back and fourth in a smooth rhythmic manner, now slung still behind him with its obsidian flame flickering alertly. The female was certainly not to be toyed with, and she somewhat reminded him of the brightest fish in the seas- the more colourful usually meant the deadlier. He shook the thought from his mind and kept a careful observation on the stricken pendragon while continuing, “You sure don’t kid around, huh Dyslexia? Well, I couldn’t help noticing earlier that you mentioned your relatives are of the fishing type and that your bag there," He nodded in the direction of the fine vinyl sack, “looks mighty serious in keepin’ out the water." He left out the fact that he noticed her gazing into the shimmering aqua outside, “You fancy the water any yourself? Char quirked an eyebrow, and had begun to pluck at the transparent green webbing between his fingers optimistically, still keeping a keen eye on the livid dragon behind them. He hoped that she wouldn’t need the projectile back anytime soon.
Drumming her claws against her thigh absently as she watched the unruley group slowly settle back into it's usual habits(although they were far quieter now), Dyslexia;s ears swivelled about to listen to the male speak. A roguish grin split her lips, and she dropped her bag back down with an air of finality. <span style='color:seagreen'>"Nah... Ah jist happen ta know that particular group, a coupl'a em are friends with me brother. Ah'll prolly go apologize a'fore they leave."</span> She couldn't suppress a tiny laugh as Char commented on her earlier statements as well as her bag. Snickering to herself, she shook out her rainbow locks with a small, good-natured sigh. She smiled, raising one hand and extending her arm. Tendons hidden under her pelage twitched invisibly, the fine pink skin that spanned between her spread fingers becoming taut and the fin that lay along her forearm/elbow unfurling and standing erect with a swift snap. Almost simultaniously the fin's twin opened up on her other arm, and a much larger version along her spine snapped to attention. A third eyelid slipped up over her oculars, giving her pupils a misted over glaze. <span style='color:seagreen'>"Fancy et? Hun, ah was born en et."</span>
Char finally took his drink to his mouth and took a sip, holding the firey liquid on top of his tongue for a few seconds while he mentally breathed a sigh of relief that the males were settling back down, and better yet that they were not utter strangers to her. He swallowed smoothly, relishing in the tingling feeling that channeled down his throat into his stomach and before setting the glass down he drew a short breath through his teeth to calm his palate. What came next was completely unexpected. Dyslexia revealed her aquatic accessories, some of which Char did not have. Her pectoral extensions were extremely impressive to him, as he had always fashioned attachable fins to mimic what she had naturally. What tipped him off wrongly in the beginning were her wings- as he had never seen such on diving dragons before. His eyes lit up in surprise as he reached for her arm to inspect it more closely. “Mmmh! I can’t believe it! You know, I never would have thought!" His tail flame began flicker an oily red colour at the tips as he could hardly contain his enthusiasm. “You uh, wouldn’t happen to know the sites around this heap wouldja?" He pretended innocently not to know the area. “I’m sure with a top notch set of fins like that you’ve probably seen a thing or two that would spark jealousy into the hearts of even the fastest fish!"
The thill hummed amibly, downing the fiery liquid in one long gulp. A rasping sigh was released as the alcohol burned it's way down her throat, leaving behind it the fumey after taste in the back of her mouth and the warmth in her belly. Dyslexia grunted appreciateively as her eyes watered, smiling at the taste on her tongue. Hm. The arden had pretty good taste in liquor. Lavender eyes danced playfully as they took in Char's reaction to her heritage, reflected in the way the bioluminence of her fins flashed through the spectrum in a heady swirling pattern like oil on water. Gently relaxing her muscles, she allowed the fins to half-way furl against her body, wings shifting against her back to move the soft quills of her spine out of the way. <span style='color:seagreen'>"Y'know, ah've actually neva' had tha chance ta explore much'a tha place. S'mostly jellyfish and squid where ah hang out. That and tha occasional fish w' teeth bigga' than most 'dragons."</span> She responded non-chalantly, shoulders rolling in a loose shrug. <span style='color:seagreen'>"Ma' relative's tend ta hang 'round tha same area all tha time. Canna get a moment ta meself unless ah'm comin' inta tha city 'ere."</span>
Char rolled his shoulders slowly, emitting a succession of muffled clicks as the combination of bones and cartilage buried beneath winding muscles shifted into position. He curled his lips back ever so slightly as he then sat up straight and refreshed. His line of sight traveled from Dyslexia’s forearms, very slowly, up to her face where he cast her a steady gaze. His blood had already readily accepted the alcohol on his two-day-famished stomach and Char felt as though he had all the courage in the world. “Well then," He paused to take a generous swig of his beverage with an unfaltering watch, “I suppose it’d be awfully damn rude of me not to show you the sunken reef! You’re too nice of a catch t’be… I mean, it’d be a shame that you came all this way only t’ be anchored up in a shady old bar all day long." Char reached for her hand awkwardly. “Common, I won’t letcha down!"
A sunken reef, eh? Well that certainly sparked her curiousity. She only been to a reef once, a remote little coral island just off one of the smaller islands off of the famed east coast fishing piers of Mansuhk.The colors and sheer quantity of life had entranced her at the time, and she still had pictures from the day pinned up in her dorm back at the Janardan. Her stomach rolled slightly at the sudden assault of liquor it had just underwent, grumbling quietly to it's neighbouring organs. Dyslexia listened attentively, although her gaze was still drawn to the window of the rather dim bar. It would be nice to get out and do something fun for a change. <span style='color:seagreen'>'sides,</span> she reasoned to herself,<span style='color:seagreen'>he knows the area...</span> Nodding her head in agreement, she took the pro-offered hand firmly with a small grin. <span style='color:seagreen'>"Lead tha way, Char m'mate."</span> she chirped.
