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I would mourn them, yet it isn't my place to argue with the choice they have made.

[ It pained him to learn that he'd bought Joshua mere minutes. He'd wanted to hope for more and better for him, despite everything.

Yet Joshua was every bit as committed as he had been, and chose to see their time here as time they wouldn't have otherwise. ]

[she scoffs, ducking some branches; dragon may need to smoosh to duck as well, given she's not accounting for the lizard hat.]

Not worth fighting for, huh. Got it. Right-- [she crouches near some bushes, picking at the leaves.] Lookin' for leaf-shapes like these? But with berries. So not these, but...looks like 'em.

[ He huffs, his flexible spines bristling at the comment... Only for that very thing to be what scrapes against low-hanging twigs.

There follows a small hiss of repressed discomfort. ]

What power have I to change what has passed, and what right to deny their agency?

[ But even as he expresses the thought, he's cautiously lifting his little dragon head to peer around. ]

Might those bushes to the northeast be what you seek?

[she doesn't speak to the agency ask, because as much as she likes to have the last word, she doesn't want to keep harping on it and show too much of her real feelings about it; he knows too much as it is, goddammit!

instead, she pivots her focus to the direction he's pointed out, meandering over to investigate. she squats, squinting. kinda hard to figure the details in the dimming light; darkvision doesn't retain color.]

Nnnnno, not these. Next. [she sighs, getting back on her feet and wobbling a bit. after a few rapid blinks, she starts off again, forgetting to check for traps along the way. this will in no way yield a problem.]

[ Alas, he tried. The quest continues.

But it is getting dark, so— ]

Are we far enough in your estimation to avoid unwanted attention?

Eh? [fancy words, always fancy...she has to process that a few paces.] Oh, I mean--shit, man, how should I know? Some of the trees might be snitches orrrRRRAAAAAAAAA-?!

[yoink.

everything goes upside-down as Scarlet's ankle gets hooked in a snare, throwing her up into the air to swing wildly.]

[ Her small dragon companion takes to the air when the air takes her, his ridiculous wings-to-body ratio very apparent as he flits close by but not quite in her face.

His little dragon body makes a small keening noise of concern. ]

It seems you've found a trap. [ A statement of the obvious, but before she can snark at him, he adds: ] I can get you down.

[ What is rope to a laser dragon? ]

[she's too busy flailing and trying to lift herself up to reach for her ankle without having to stretch her limbs, grunting, cussing.

at the offer, she wraps her arms behind her head to brace.] Hurry! Up!

[ All he needed was for her to be still. Now that she is, nothing's to stop him.

This means the odd, flexible spines along the bottom of his wings bend, light blazing to life at their points. A moment later these become beams, which intersect and form one concentrated little laser that cuts clean through the rope on contact.

Laser dragon. ]

DAH-!!

[whumph.

Knife knows how to take a fall, so no damage is done. even so, Scarlet opts to just lay there on her back, scowling skyward.]

...Hate this fuckin' place...

[ Dion's small Bahamut form lands lightly atop a nearby tree stump, wings folding primly so he can lean on them. They are his forelimbs after all. ]

Are you hurt?

No. No, I'm...fine.

[...

but she's not really moving, either. fuck. she's tired. this is the opposite of what she wants to be.]

Then why do you remain on the ground?

[ Asking the real questions. ]

[HUFF.]

Because...! Because...

I dunno.

But no injuries, for certain?

[ He can't help worrying. ]

[she twitches an arm, considering the appeal of just laying there and turning into mold over a long period of time.

she'd probably have to piss before then and move anyway.

sigh.

slowly, she sits up on her elbows, looking around before focusing on the little dragon.]

...You really are a twiggy little thing, huh.

In this compact form, yes.

[ Bahamut is typically what people call "kaiju". ]

The typical size of my Eikonic form is far too large to be manageable in densely forested areas.

Bet it'd put all those hoity-toity fae in line, huh?

Or terrify them, if they've good sense.

[she sits upright...then slouches forward, arms in her lap for a beat before she sluggishly bends to reach for and untie the rope around her ankles.]

I'd have done it by now. Fuck this place.

My court makes patience extremely challenging... Yet that is one thing I would not risk.

[ Twinside was not something that happened by his choice or will, and accordingly he doesn't remember it, but its aftermath haunts him still. ]

That's why you're a better person than whatever the fuck I am. Lucky fae. [she kicks one foot free with a huff, drawing her knee up to prop an arm on.]

I wouldn't say it makes me better, only that I have enough on my conscience.

[ The weight of the lives lost due to his own weakness assures him he's not better. ]

[she rolls onto her knees, then gets to her feet, swaying in place once before settling.]

Stick with me, and your conscience will be crystal-clean. C'mon. [she starts to trudge again, eyes on the ground.]

[ His little dragon body straightens as he sits up on his haunches, spreading his wings. Before he moves from the stump, severall small spheres of light appear around him and fan out over the path ahead.

Then he takes to the air. ]

It should be easier to see this way.