A Dragon's Blessing (Private)

[ZX-MetalMonster]

At the start of the twenty first century, after cameras have become common place, the world connected and the privacy of near every person traded in favor of gaining recognition and conforming to society, there are still phenomena that defy explanation and beings who successfully hide their existence from the word, aided by centuries of secrecy. Magic is real and has an influence on the every-day life that most are unaware of or deny and it is because of this that not many even believe it is real, or more than a party trick. However, a broad and amazing reality awaits those who dare to look deeper and are willing to approach with an open mind the creatures who secretly live side by side with humans.

 

Character:

 

 

Conrad Bray

 

Being what is popularly known as a dragon, Conrad Bray is a representative of an ancient species of intelligent beings who have existed alongside humans from the founding of their civilization and individually have a lifespan long enough to allow them to experience the rise and fall of nations. With eighteen years of age Conrad is viewed as little more than a child by his own kind while simultaneously having developed equally as any human of his age.

 

When in his inherent, humanoid form Conrad appears as an excessively muscled young man with a sturdy but lithe build. His eyes are like that of any reptile, characterized by a large iris and a spindle shaped pupil and are the same yellowish-white color as desert sand. His skin is naturally a dark shade but it is additionally tanned and so made even darker. The short mess of wavy hair that falls over his forehead is black and from how it is normally tangled it is evident that he doesn't give it much attention.

More than a few sharp teeth from both his jaws are visible even when his lips are not parted and a mosaic of gray, green and occasional ivory scales covers his arms and legs. A number of the miniature tiles can also be found arranged symmetrically on his face, above his cheek bones and lower jaw, as well as along his abdomen and center of his back.

 

For many of his brethren assimilating with humans is as simple as permanently keeping parts of their body covered in clothing. This is not possible for Conrad due to how pronounced the features of the species are in his appearance but even despite this unfortunate reality he prefers existing in his human like form and is as accustomed to dressing up and using human inventions as any other person.

 

He often wears either a short sleeved button up shirt or a plain sleeves one to show off what little human skin he has on his shoulders and biceps. Whatever shoes he has on are largely covered by jeans which he needs to fold so he doesn't trip on them. An object he rarely ever takes off is a simple dog tag and he can often be seen wearing wireless headphones that are a similar metallic color.

 

When Conrad does change his shape, either out of necessity, to make certain actions such as travel easier and less time consuming or simply to stretch his wings, he takes on the appearance of a reptilian creature that is as tall as a two story building when standing on its hind legs. He becomes fully covered in off-while scales, and while all of his anatomy changes to a degree the shift is most pronounced in his skull that deforms to create longer jaws with a greater number of sharp teeth. Along with this his eyes become repositioned so that they are on either side of his head and not at the front, resulting in an increased field of vision. A long tail that provides him with more control during flight grows from the end of his spine and a pair of large wings like those of a bat sprout from his upper back. His fingers shape shift as well to become more like large claws and a tough layer of skin grows between each of them.

 

Conrad is an eccentric and rather over the top person with a hair-trigger temper and hardly anyone can keep count of everything that can set him off especially since the list of such things is ceaselessly growing. He is most often only rude when annoyed but can also begin to yell and scream, sometimes loudly enough that he is left breathless and with a painful throat afterwards. This is also why his voice is occasionally weak and hoarse for a few days. However when he is relaxed and for most of the morning while he is still sleepy he is not as easy to tick off and is much more pleasant and tolerant.

He is rather rebellious and won't keep quiet for long if he disagrees with someone's actions, even if they do not affect him directly, and though there are ways to silence and persuade him not to revolt one must be his friend and win his loyalty to accomplish this.

Despite his temper and many other flaws Conrad strives for justice and is fair and kind to people who he knows are good hearted. He is careful to never fall into his extremes or be harsh with such persons and is especially gentle when he believed someone is fragile and in need of protection.

Partially because he is not a mere human and partially thanks to his own nature, he greatly relies on his instincts and 'gut feeling' and despite appearing to be an obnoxious nitwit for most of the time he is very clever.

 

While his dual nature grants advantages such as extraordinary strength and sensitivity, Conrad must also put up with traits that are not beneficial. Like any cold blooded creature he often feels either cold or too warm and has multiple methods for fixing this problem, still he never succeeds in not seeming strange while executing them. Integrated in the scaly skin that can be found on a portion of his body are integumentary sense organs. These aid him in stabilizing his temperature as well. They also provide him a superior sensitivity to touch and chemicals in his surroundings.

 

The most important trait of the dragon species, besides their ability to take on a more beastly shape once they've grown and matured enough, is their power to make themselves invisible to humans. There is a flaw in this great method of concealment however, that being the inability to hide themselves from the human who they develop feelings towards.

 

 

 

[Guest Eornostlice]

Character:

 

Casta Rees

 

Casta is a 21 year old male with a skinny build, average height and pale skin. He has a rather frail appearance, his whiteish blonde hair falling only a little over his shoulders. More often than not, he is seen wearing loose long shirts in cheerful or calming colors such as orange, hot/pale pink or baby blue which slightly expose more of his shoulders than intended due to them being oversized. The boy's eyes are of a warm green, the most appearent feature he inherited from his mother.

 

Casta's mother had a very strong impact on him: she was one of the nearly-extinct magic users, her power having the minor effect of taking away small amounts of pain. She loved life and enjoyed the beauty of the world, being an optimistic person right until the end of her life. She taught Casta magic: how to love the world and how to see the beauty in everything, just like she did. She died due illness when her son was 10, leaving him with only his father and grandmother, who despite being loving and attentive were complete failures when it came to chores and basic daily functions.

 

Casta takes care of the household chores, having grown into a dependable yet rather peculiar young man, using the time he has left after college to immerse himself in his studies in peaceful environments. He treasures peace and quiet as much as he treasures human company, seemingly able to balance the two out. His major of choice turned out to be a reflection of his habits, ethnopharmacology, a major that deals with the medical effects plants have and how they affect people.

 

Casta's most valued possession is a pendant he always wears; a silver chain with a tiny transparent tear-shaped gem, pendant that belonged to his mother. He considers it his good luck charm and refuses to take it off, hiding it under his clothing.

 

He is perceived as a mysterious airhead by most, having the tendency of going at his own pace. His brightness and cheerfulness seems etched into his very bones attracting everyone around him, gaining him some sort of popularity amongst his aquiriances (especially girls) but his innocent demeanour urging most to keep their distance. Casta's strength lays in his ability to make others feel like sheltering him, his compassion playing a key role. He is stubborn yet surprisingly mature, his sensitivity to other people's feelings often holding him back from anything he deems selfish.

 

 

 

[ZX-MetalMonster]

Additional Material

 

-reserved space-

[Guest Eornostlice]

Additional Material 2

 

-reserved space-

[ZX-MetalMonster]

This evening as he moved through the forest Conrad was unconcerned with his size and didn't bother to keep track of how his massive wings and the long tail trailing behind him disrupted the plant life and produced sounds that were fortunately drowned out by the subtle noise that naturally existed in the area. He silently disputed with himself, and not for the first time, how perhaps he'd become too accustomed to the light haired man he'd stumble upon months ago and was no longer careful enough in his presence. The human would of course have no hint that what was following him was a dragon however it was possible he would take note of the rustling leaves and branches bending in the trees without any visible reason and understand that there was something unusual close by.

 

When he'd first laid eyes on him, the reptilian was only curious to see what a creature that seemed so delicate was doing alone in the wilderness. Following the human with the assumption that he would be doing so only one time, Conrad had taken on the smaller of his two forms and had even then been careful with each step and kept his distance. This caution that he'd believed was engraved in him faded much more quickly than he'd expected after the human kept returning however and he found himself curious about more than only his reason for being in the forest. The young man never did much when he appeared, despite it Conrad quickly realized he enjoyed spending endless hours in observing him from the shadows, oddly at ease in the peaceful atmosphere the human seemed to bring with him.

 

During this visit though the light haired man seemed busy and with arrogant confidence that he could get away with it Conrad moved nearly beside him to watch him work. Still taking on the shape of a large winged beast, no more than a deep breath or sight was necessary for him to make his existence known but he didn't concern himself with the risk he was taking and in stead allowed his eyes to drift between the human's features and the small plant he was placing in the ground.

[Guest Eornostlice]

Casta made his way deeper into the forest, his breath slightly uneven as he carried both a heavy backpack and the seedling of an alder tree, now too big to be kept in a pot without harming its future growth. The frail looking man had sweat beads formed on his forehead, obviously not accustomed to carrying heavy things.

 

He finally heaved a sigh as he placed his "weigths" down, glancing around as if to convince himself once again that the place he has picked was suitable: a sunny patch by the river, able to provide the needed humidity along with the much craved light, giving the little seedling a better chance at surviving in the wild.

 

Of course, Casta was completely aware of the changes that seemed to occure over the past months in the forest. Rusting leaves, bended branches with no apparent cause - it was all clear, but it did not alarm him in the slightest. If anything were to harm him, it would have done so long ago - this was his firm belief. As to what that something was, he felt that he should not question it. The nature has its secrets, as his mother used to say.

 

"Now this is done with." He flashed a brig bright smile as he stared down at the now firmly planted seedling and his own muddy hands. "Grow well little guy alright?"

 

Casta next traced his eyes over his body, seemingly trying to decide on something, then glancing towards the river. He felt that he would get scolded if his father realized what he had been up to lately. This thought made his eyes flash with decisiveness. He swiftly stripped himself of his shirt, placing it on top of his backpack and carefully stepped into the river.

 

He took a deep breath.

 

Splish! A wet sound that did not fall into the river's pattern could be heard as he submerged himself completely, followed by a second when he stood back up, getting back to the surface. The water was not truly all that deep, reaching only the young man's waist.

 

Now he was no longer dirty nor was he sweaty. A few strands of hair were stuck on his face. He was simply drenched. He burst into a quiet giggle by himself, obviously enjoying the refreshing feeling of the sudden bath as he swiped his bangs backwards with his hand, away from his eyes.

[ZX-MetalMonster]

This evening Conrad had nothing else to busy himself with other than observing the young man and he wasn't concerned with how long he would be left standing beside him. In fact he was hopeful it would take the other male a long time to place the tiny tree into the ground simply because he liked his company. It didn't matter to Conrad that when with the blond he was equal to a ghost or that he couldn't interact with him without revealing a great secret.

 

However not a long while passed before the seedling was plated and Conrad frowned inwardly but noticed how the human glanced down to study his appearance. His eyes followed the other male's gaze and so moved along his body, causing the dragon to momentarily feel he'd done something inappropriate, though knowing he was concealed he didn't divert his gaze.

 

As the human approached the river he followed him but then noticed how the soil underneath was different closer to the water and his claws sunk into the ground under his great weight. He paused, expecting the blond to only wash his hands and planed to wait for him to return but then realized his assumption was incorrect when seeing the other remove his shirt. As though suddenly unaware of the mud and the large tracks left behind him with every step, he drew closer and didn't stop until he was at the edge of the water.

 

Conrad was deathly still and watched as though mesmerized as the human submerged himself in the water and then resurfaced. He was close enough to hear the young man despite the soft sound the water produced as it streamed by and when the blond's quiet giggle reached his ears the dragon felt something begin to brew at the center of his being. With his eyes still focused on the other male and his thoughts occupied with the new sensation he was late to realize how he was loosing control of his power and after no more than a short second was no longer transparent. What caught his full attention however was the familiar, instinctive motion of his wings as they folded up tightly and sunk into his back. His entire body grew smaller, reptilian scales were partially dissipating in favor of dark skin and soon enough he was left on his knees, having been knocked off balance by the unexpected transformation.

Clueless as to how this had been set into motion without his conscious wish, he quickly glanced down at his now humanoid form and became additionally frustrated upon being reminded how he was now left bare in front of the human with no clothes to cover his body. However his primary issue was that he had little idea how to escape or react now that he'd been seen and for now froze in place and stared at the blond man.

[Guest Eornostlice]

The blonde became alert as he heard an unfamiliar sound, seemingly much closer than the distant odd sounds that he could not explain but grew accustomed to, making him turn back towards the river bank abruptly.

 

His eyes went wide, he froze.

 

He saw that. It was for an instant only but he surely saw that. The big creature seemed to shrink under his gaze, changing its shape, along with the entire bone structure, its appearance becoming human-like... no... completely human even, save for a few scales and inhumane teeth. Its eyes.. no. His eyes. His sandy eyes were looking straight at the bare-chested young man, seemingly frozen as well.

 

Casta could hear his own heartbeat, having been startled. Without making any sudden movements he directed his gaze downwards, at the soil the young man was standing on, his suspicion being confirmed at the sight of the marks left behind.

 

"A dragon..." He finally blurted out, the initial shock vanishing away only to reveal not fear but pure excitement decorating his emerald eyes. "A real dragon! Waah..." Casta's cheeks went rosy, his smile so big it looked like it was about to split his face in two. He did not seem to take notice of the fact that the person standing in front of him was stark naked.

 

"Ah wait." His smile faded again and his face turned serious as suddenly as the earlier smile appeared. He looked at the water yet again, then back to the dragon.

 

"Did I get you hungry? I might look like soup when bathing here. But I promise I have healthier food to offer." He was not even done with his sentence as his body moved with no hesistation or fear. He got out of the water, circled around the dragon for a moment as if afraid not to get him scared, then sprinted to his backpack. He pulled out a medium-sized container, not wasting any time opening it only to reveal three big sandwiches.

 

"Try this. This is more nutritious than meat alone. I promise." The rosy-cheeks smile was back and even brighter.

[ZX-MetalMonster]

Now with the human having taken note of him and focused fully on his presence Conrad felt uncomfortable under the young man's gaze and in an attempt to at least partially cover himself but without showing how embarrassed he really was, he awkwardly brought his arms up and folded them over his chest. He was still for the most part stuck in his own thoughts, recalling the events he'd been warned might take place now that a human had discovered his existence and his nature. It wasn't only himself he was putting in danger but all of his kind now that it was revealed to someone that a creature as beastly as a dragon could take on the shape of a human. What added to Conrad's frustration, though it should had been a minor detail in a situation such as this, was that he'd been caught watching the blond man bathing.

 

-"W-What...?" Conrad worded out quietly and his expression contorted into a puzzled grimace. He couldn't make sense of the other male's reaction, how he seemed overjoyed to have come across what must had for a moment looked like a monster and especially the mention on soup.

 

The human drifted closer as he got out of the water and despite his effort not to alarm Conrad or cause him to run off the dragon tried to move away too suddenly and ended up sitting down in the mud rather than standing up. For a moment rightfully comparing himself to a wild animal clumsily covering itself in filth he grit his teeth and made a sound to make his frustration apparent. He ran both hands through his hair and then pressed his forehead against his knees, having brought his legs closer to his body to conceal himself at least partially. Strands of his now additionally disheveled hair fell over his face and hid his expression allowing him to slowly sort out his thoughts and thinks of a better reaction than the one he'd given so far.

 

Eventually though he had to acknowledge the human once again but he did so only with a slight turn of his head and a quick glance towards the man and the food he was now offering him.

-"I know it is... I've eaten a sandwich before..." Conrad muttered with most of his face still hidden though it was easy to conclude from the tone of his voice that he was still frustrated with the situation or perhaps even angry with the human.

[Guest Eornostlice]

"Oh. You can talk." Was the only sentence the blonde could come up with as he stared at the humanized dragon. "Then let's eat them together." He practically beamed, his pace remaining unaffected. "They are rather good. The bread is whole grain and the sandwich has tuna, red onion, celery, plain yogurt, tomato and lettuce. It's yummier than it sounds. I promise!"

 

But Casta ended up pausing again, his lips pushed together as if he was deep in thought. He did not even try to make sense or even question the fact that the person in front of him that was basically a dragon but actually like a human had basically no clothes on. Instead he seemed more bothered by the fact that the said person seemed completely uncomfortable as he was stared at.

 

Perhaps... he does not like humans to see his scales?

 

He placed the container down on the grass to go back to rummaging through the backpack, pulling out a small bag that contained his gym clothes. Both the pants and Shirt were rather oversized but as he almost always ended up skipping the physical education period to sneak into the labs, they were not something that would bother him.

 

"You can have these. Return them to me some other time alright? I probably startled you afterall."

[ZX-MetalMonster]

The human's demeanor didn't change and it seemed to Conrad that he was genuinely attempting to be friendly and didn't intend to cause him any harm and while this assured him there would be no severe consequence to their meeting it annoyed him to no end that the other man seemed oblivious to his embarrassment. He couldn't begin to understand why the blonde considered it a good idea to offer him food and insist they eat together when he was so apparently upset.

Suspicious that the other man was intentionally adding to his anger, the dragon growled loudly, both in frustration and as warning but then only hid his face again and folded his arms over his head. This time he refused to look up and give the human any attention, that is not until the man finally acknowledged how the situation was uncomfortable though even then he misinterpreted the exact reason why Conrad was so unhappy.

 

Finally looking up again, Conrad first glanced at the blond male's face and then the items he held in his outstretched hand. Standing up, he shifted from being nearly motionless on the ground to moving swiftly and snatched the clothes from the human in the blink of an eye before rushing into the water. The dragon was both hoping to stay partially concealed by submerging himself in the river but also needed to clean the filth he'd accumulated on his body while sitting in the mud. It didn't matter to him that like this the clothes would be soaked but before he'd placed them in the water and started to dress himself something occurred to him and he paused.

 

-"...Aren't the clothes you have on wet though?" Conrad yelled, though that was unnecessary for him to be heard, and turned to look back at the human who he'd left by the edge of the river some distance away. Though he was still frustrated and would be embarrassed to have to come out of the water with his body still revealed he preferred that to being responsible for the blond becoming sick. Things were unfolding differently than how he'd hoped in case he'd ever gathered the courage to reveal himself to the human, however that didn't change how he felt for the blond who he'd watched so many times.

[Guest Eornostlice]

The blonde watched as the human-like dragon snatched the offered pieces of clothing then dashed for the water. Ah. So his assumption was correct? He felt rather bad for startling the youth, but truly he had no idea how he even did it. Perhaps he trespassed into the dragon's territory? The young man's head was basically filled with such thoughts, imagining what waking up with a stranger in his house would be like.

 

Yet he was awoken by the sudden yell of the dragon, causing him to blink twice, in an attempt to focus and understand the question better before his lips curled themselves up in an even brighter smile.

 

"It's alright. The weather is nice so I was not planning to change either way. The sun will dry us so feel free to wear them." Casta's impression on the younger man was obviously a positive one, even more so now. He was exactly as his mother used to describe the magical creatures. Majestic beings that held beauty both inside and outside.

 

The blonde reached out into his backpack again, pulling out the last two items he had stuffed into his backpack. The heavier thing he had there would be the large book he had borrowed from the library describing the different trees and their possible uses. The other item was a blanket that he spread on the grass in the sun, laying himself down on it, his eyes closed.

 

"See? it's just the best!"

[ZX-MetalMonster]

With a quick nod at the human, Conrad slipped on the clothes he'd been given unshaped by how the fabric became drenched by the water and stuck to his skin once he returned to the river bank. Having made himself decent he could now begin to calm down and with more clarity consider the other male and become curious again like he'd been all the while before he was exposed. Months had passed in him watching the young man without exchanging as much as a word with him and now that his secret had already been revealed he was excited to as least finally be able to speak to the human who'd captivated him.

 

At first reluctant as he walked to where the human had spread a blanket on the ground and was now laying, Conrad stepped close by the blond and lowered himself on his knees so not to be towering over him. For a long moment he watched him with an unclear expression though apparently indecisive and then glanced up at the sky, squinting as sunlight poured into his eyes.

-"It's alright..." He agreed quietly as now his gaze drifted to the side and he carefully moved down to lay beside the human, basking in the sun together with him. The close proximity to the blond was not something new to him as he'd come closer to him than had been safe numerous times, however it changed thing that now he was visible and could be observed in return.

 

Resting on his stomach the dragon folded his arms under his head and closed his eyes, considering the issue that most troubled him, that being why he'd become visible and changed form without having wished to. It was something that had never happened before even when he'd been younger and had only just learned how to change and take on the shape of anything but an odd human. The longer he considered this though the more apparent it became to him that it was a question he could not find and answer to without assistance.

 

Turning his head to the human, his eyes opening slowly, Conrad blinked at the blonde and spoke quietly, dismissing the issues he couldn't come to understand.

-"Can I still have one of those sandwiches?"

[Guest Eornostlice]

The blanket was basically getting soaked as well from the two bodies above, however it did not seem the matter at all for Casta who looked more than happy to be sharing the blanket with someone. The blonde rolled to his side to lazily stretch his hand in order to grab the container that was still in the grass and roll over once again, this time onto his tummy as he placed the box in between them.

 

"Help yourself to them." His smile seemed to having grown as a permanent feature onto his face, his eyes nearly sparkling. "Ah." The young man seemed to have realized something sudden, lowering his head on top of his arms, his eyes basically burning a hole as he stared at the dragon.

 

"Your name... May I know it? Mr. Dragon sounds awkward. I am Casta. Casta Rees."

 

Casta picked up one of the sandwiches himself, bringing it to his mouth and biting it happily. His mind was full of questions and thoughts, this kind of magical encounter leaving him slightly hyperactive, his excitement a little too obvious to anyone that would lay their eyes on him. However he stiffled his curiosity, like most of the times, not willing to make the other feel uncomfortable. Perhaps they would just get up and leave. Well of course, questioning someone you just met is just rude right? Even if that someone is a magical dragon.

 

This sort of logic seemed natural for the blonde, his pace not getting disturbed in the slightest. If anything, he regretted not packing anything sweet along with the sandwiches in the morning and perhaps tea. They would have been able to enjoy them together.

[ZX-MetalMonster]

Despite having been very upset with the human for watching him moments before, now that they were on more even terms Conrad didn't mind the long moments that passed in the young man observing him or how their eyes would occasionally meet.

-"It's Conrad..." He introduced himself, unhappy with the though of the other male calling him 'Mr. Dragon'. Having now found out the blonds name after months of having waited and followed him each time he appeared in the forest, Conrad smiled softly though not without blushing as well.

 

With a moment of delay he spent in waiting for another instance of their eyes meeting he pushed himself up from the blanket but only so he could sit up. He made himself comfortable and folded his legs before picking up one of the sandwiches and then in stead of taking a bite, sniffed the food to try recalling what the young man had said it contained. After having seen how friendly the human is he wasn't afraid he would be tricked into eating something he shouldn't however he was curious and hoped to predict the taste. Conrad remembered how difficult things tend to become due to his irregular teeth though, and rather than making a mess as he normally would he tore a small piece of the sandwich and placed it in his mouth.

 

-"Why aren't you afraid of me...?" Conrad came around to asking the question between chewing two pieces of the sandwich he decided he liked very much. While he was glad the human reacted so calmly to his presence and seemed to be nothing but excited to have met him it made him wonder if there was something unusual about the blond that he hadn't noticed.

[Guest Eornostlice]

The blonde was nearly grinning the entire time as he was trying to properly chew his food as he finally found out the young man's name. Somehow it put him in a good mood, it meant he was trusted? He clearly remembered his mother telling him that they do not trust humans easily, since the human race has done a lot of awful things...

 

Conrad. That felt like a really good name. He did not voice it but surely thought it.

 

Casta blinked a few times after hearing the question, taking a few moments before sitting up himself, facing the dragon. The blonde's eyes radiated warmth as he tilted his head sweetly, only a little but enough for his bangs to move into his eyes.

 

"Why you ask... Because... you are not scary." He chuckled out of the blue, looking like he was stating something very obvious. "If you wanted to harm me... you would have stayed as a big dragon... sprint to me and..." He no longer spoke, biting viciously into his sandwich and tearing it with his teeth.

 

"Right?" He continued with a full mouth happily, munching the piece until it was finally good to be swallowed. "Instead it looked like I was the one startling you. So you couldn't be harmful right? If anything I thought you were hungry but not malicious."

 

Casta took another bite. "Plus mother used to tell me all the time that the magic creatures of the forest are only harmful towards those that have dark hearts and they are actually majestic."

[ZX-MetalMonster]

Conrad would have been unconvinced by the human's answer if he hadn't explained his reasoning more carefully simply because he found it hard to believe a human who'd never seen anything alike a dragon would grin like this one had at the sight of him. Though he continued to rip little peaces of the sandwich and chew them as neatly as he could, seemingly carefree, inwardly Conrad debated with himself whether to reveal what really startled him or not. There was no way for the other male to know something about his power he himself was unfamiliar with and it was possible he would question if he'd followed him before while invisible, however he also wished to voice his concern with how little control he had over his ability to someone, even if they can't help him or provide him with an explanation.

 

-"You didn't startle me... and I wanted to stay a... 'big dragon', I changed without meaning to and that's what made me so worked up..." Conrad explained in a tone more quiet than his natural voice and placed the last of the sandwich into his mouth before resting his hands on his lap. He intentionally left out how the thing that upset him the most was being naked in front of the small male, though from how unaffected the human was by this it perhaps would have been necessary to point out the situation had been awkward for the dragon.

 

-"I've never even thought of eating someone though... I wasn't planing to harm you." Conrad explained quickly upon realizing how it might have seemed he was trying to say he would eat the human if he could. "You don't plan to do anything to hurt me either..." He added though it was an observation rather than a question.

[Guest Eornostlice]

Casta silently listened everything that the young dragon had to say, without interrupting him, considering it to be a very rude thing to do when someone was talking.

 

"So that is how it was." He said blandly, without much of a change except for increased curiosity, finishing his sandwich himself. "I am sorry for mistunderstanding."

 

The blonde was sincere. He was aware of his own ignorance, this being the first time when he met an actual magical being. It was pretty much like meeting someone of a different nationality of which you know nothing but myths about. Despite it not being nice, the human nature was so that they would assume a few things which they have unknowingly accepted as truths without being able to verify the information.

 

"And you are right. I do not intend any harm. Uh actually..."

 

The young man's green orbs were again completely focused on the other youth's face, looking as if he had something more to say.

 

"Uhm. This will sound strange but... your scales... are really pretty. " He suddenly blurted out, pushing a strand of hair behind his ear. "Could I... touch them?"

 

Casta's pace was truly something else, his eyes basically radiating innocence and pure excited curiosity.

[ZX-MetalMonster]

Conrad hadn't been hoping for an apology when assuring the human he wasn't in danger, by then he'd lost hope that the young man would have much understanding for his discomfort, A soft smile appeared on his face when he was proven wrong, however it faltered at the blond's following request as the dragons cheeks grew red. Though knowing the human was unaware the compliment he'd given him was a considerable one among his kind, Conrad found himself flustered. Having placed himself close by the blond countless times he'd come to know how beautiful he was and he felt a warmth in his chest at even this slight hint that the human thought the same of him.

 

-"Yes... if that's what you want." Conrad muttered quietly after he recollected his thoughts but quickly afterwards grew tense, unsure if it was expected of him to stay still now while the other man analyses his scales more closely. He'd intended to reach out his hand and so display the reptilian skin that could be found along his arm, however he took note of how the human's eyes were on the small tiles that partially covered his cheeks. Only the though of the blond placing his hands on his face and tracing with his fingers the inhuman marks that existed there caused his heart to race and he met the other man's gaze while he waited for this touch.

[Guest Eornostlice]

As he received the youth's permission to touch, the blonde's entire being seemed to be filled with simple happiness. Casta always found pleasure in simple things, such as managing to satisfy his curiosity or just observing something that caught his eye, it was something like an unconditioned response to simple stimuli.

 

The young man actually found the dragon's red cheeks to be rather cute, but he did not voice it, instead reaching out gently.

 

Casta's slender fingers caressed Conrad's cheek so very softly, as if afraid that if he came on too strong the dragon would shatter and disappear, making everything into nothing but a dream.

 

"So pretty." The feel of the scales was rather... distinct. It was not like touching a snake nor was it like touching a lizard. They were also slightly colder than the skin, fact that the blonde found to be very interesting.

 

He finally took his hand back, realizing he's been touching a little too much, enough to make anyone feel just a little bit awkward.

 

"Oh right. If you want to, you can have the other sandwich too. I do not tend to each much but always end up overpacking." The blonde changed the topic just as quickly as he started the previous one.

[ZX-MetalMonster]

Once he'd given the human permission to touch his scales it was impossible for the dragon not to take note of how the human seemed even more happy than he'd been since meeting him. Conrad hadn't even considered it possible for the other man to become more excited, however what broadened his own smile was remembering how the other male wasn't always this cheerful but was like this because of his presence and because he could now touch him. An intense feeling seemed to be developing in him and he knew it was all due to the human, he felt this way only when he was beside him or thinking of him.

 

With the young man having finally reached out to move his fingers over the small tiles that partially covered his face Conrad was only disappointed that the touch was so gentle. On the other hand, with how carefully the other male caressed his cheek it seemed almost like he was being tickled and shivered slightly, the blush that covered his cheeks worsening afterwards. He looked to the side, feeling shy for a moment but then became aware of how long had passed without the human moving his hand away and found the resolve to lean into the touch.

 

-"A-Are you sure... we can share it?" Conrad offered and was taken off guard when his voice initially sounded weak and insecure, it seemed he simply wouldn't be given even a moment for his blush to fade. However he was less flustered after the young man's hands left his skin but that was not something he was very happy with.

[Guest Eornostlice]

The blonde honestly had to pause and ask himself wether all dragons are supposed to be this cute and seemingly shy around humans, but again, he did not voice it. Perhaps it would come out weirdly and if anything make the dragon uncomfortable?

 

"Don't worry. You can have it. I will bring more tomorrow. I could make some tea with it. Maybe some sweets too. Do you like them too?"

 

Casta was often a little like an overexcited puppy, cautious yet appearing that he'd start shaking from the excitement in any moment, the only brief pauses he got being the times when his slightly backwards way of thinking interruped him.

 

"Oh wait." The smile seemed to die down, his lips pressing together in uncertainity, the hair he had previously tucked behind his ear getting in his eyes again.

 

"Conrad. Will we meet again? Or are you going to vanish?" The young man voiced his question as if ot was only now that the realization dawned upon him, his eyes turning sad. It was not like he could not understand that such encounters were usually brief and a one time only kind of deal, but he was simply left wishing for more.

 

Afterall... It seemed to him like he had just met someone that could become a friend.

[ZX-MetalMonster]

Having been reassured that his the human preferred he have the entire sandwich rather than share it, Conrad proceeded to break away bite sizes pieces and chew them neatly. "Yes, I like those as well..." As he hadn't yet recovered from having been caressed by the young man his voice still seemed more timid than it naturally was and remnants of a blush were still noticeable on his cheeks. Just as Conrad was about to try correcting his tone and questioning the small male more carefully about what he planned to bring he noticed how his bright smile had suddenly faded.

 

-"I'll come to see you again..." Conrad assured the human quickly but then realized he might be giving away how he'd watched him many times before and had made a habit of it. "...if that's what you want?" He added more carefully and paired the words with a soft smile to help banish the sadness he could now see in the young man's eyes.

 

Taking into consideration how the other male had asked for his permission before touching him, Conrad was unsure if what he was about to do was too forward but with hope that he would help the human become more cheerful he went through with the though. Shifting closer to the small man he carefully reached out and rather than trace his fingers along his skin as had been done to him, lightly pressed the palm of his hand to the blond male's cheek. "You don't have to seem so down..." He whispered as he gently moved his thumb to caress the human.

[Guest Eornostlice]

The dragon's action was quite unexpected, but gentle. Such gentleness did not seem out of place in Casta's eyes but somewhat natural, safe. The blonde let himself be caressed without having second thoughts, perhaps because he has done something similar to the young man, even if the gesture seemed rather... different.

 

Different how? He could not answer it for the life of him. Despite the fact that his smile was not instantly back, his big green orbs seemed a bit clearer already, having been assured that their meeting was not something of the legends, sightings of magical beings that ended within a day without a chance at friendship, the two different species remaining somewhat surrounded in mystery with no chance of standing on common grounds.

 

No matter what kind of person you meet... if they are nice, isn't it natural to want to befriend them?

 

Casta leaned in to the touch almost like a spoiled kitten, his lips still pressed into what looked like a pout. "Promise? I will get mad if you break the promise."

 

The blonde's hand found its way to press onto the dragon youth's, a gesture that he did not think much about -something that can be actually said about most of his actions. "Plus they say if you break a promise you will suffer misfortune you see? Promises really shouldn't be broken." His voice was quiet with only a hint of innocent playfullness.

[ZX-MetalMonster]

Despite his courageous gesture and freedom to caress the human, Conrad was caught off guard and grew flustered at having the young man enforce the touch by placing a hand over his own, ensuring the contact wouldn't be short lived. The faint smile didn't fade from the dragons lips however, not even at the other male's warning of what would happen to him if he was to break his promise. It was an unnecessary threat, as innocent as it was, because Conrad would never even think of missing an opportunity to spend another evening with the blond.

 

-"I promise... of course I'll come to see you again." He assured and his smile broadened though now a faint blush developed on his cheeks as well. "If I'd wanted to make sure you don't see me again wouldn't have I already left?" The dragon pointed out, though he began to wonder then if he was even capable of making himself invisible again though he knew it wasn't a good moment to test this while he was trying to convince the human how he wouldn't disappear forever.

 

-"You... it would mean a lot to you to see me again?" Conrad asked after a moment, his hand still steady on the young man's skin. It hadn't become apparent to him up to that point how this request to meet again was perhaps a sign that the human felt the same as he had when he'd first started to follow him during his visits to the forest.