lumberlady | Prismatica IC Contact

[ They're not supposed to have the orphans in Lunatia, for very good reasons that presently did not convince the young, pearl scaled little dragonling that'd hidden in his sleeves and poked her head out of his collar and refused to leave ever since he announced he was making a day trip to Lunatia for a delivery to friends. She even bit his ear in complaint earlier, met with stern reprimand, keening complaint, and now a dragon that drops them off in the roadway before the farm with the tacit understanding that they'd be both picked up come later that day. Dragonlets faced too much temptation in Lunatia with its Chroma rich environment, and he was not to let her get out of hand.

Still, there she is, a narrow face with long whiskers and bright blue eyes, her mane in greens and silvers and blacks and blues a fluffy, small thing around the back and crown of her head and down along her jaw. She sneezes as they walk forth, seemingly with nothing carried. Shen Qingqiu takes advantage of his sleeve of holding at times like these, and today, ah, today he's brought enough wine to perhaps even allow jinba inebriation.

He even offers a small smile upon catching sight of Konoha, nodding his head toward her. ]

Miss Konoha, I come bearing gifts. Please allow this one to impose on you for a meal today to then ply them on you with no guilt.

[After the chaos of the initial dragon arrival and occasional abductions, Konoha had been hoping not to see any overly large shadows darkening the fields of her farm... Not that she thought the dragons were evil, or anything, but they were "excitable" and that somehow translated to sometimes grabbing Moonblessed in their jaws and flying with them to their land?

No thank you. If jinba were meant to fly they would have born with wings, or cultivators would put them on a gods damned shovel, so Konoha is quick to try and finish up her current task, pulling freshly laundered summer sheets off the line and bundling them into her basket to beat a quick retreat into the farmhouse.

But this shadow brings-]

Master Shen? You're back from Lyestellus already?

[Shocked, she almost drops her laundry, then almost drops it again when she sees- Is that a baby dragon poking out from his sleeve? Look, she's heard from people who decided to go about what was happening there, but-

That's a baby dragon! Right there! In Master Shen's sleeve looking really smuggled!]

Did you kidnap a baby?

[ Smuggled and pleased with herself, given the sounds she's making. Shen Qingqiu gives her a glance, briefly frowning, then looks up toward Konoha with a certain air of helpless resignation. ]

She elected to accompany me. We'll be returning later in the evening, hopefully when she's inclined to sleep for the duration.

[ She cheeps, either a denial or a self-satisfied acknowledgement, for all her awareness was limited to essentially "I got my way." Her next step would be back to "I'm hungry" and coaxing for more cuddles, a steady drain on his Chroma that she absorbed with all the affection of a bullying cat.

He gestures toward the house, asking: ]

Where should this one set the wine and the rest?

[She may have seen pictures of dragon babies and little videos on the network and in her messages, but in person... They really were cute. Not that the big dragons were ugly or anything, she'd seen some very elegant and beautiful members of the species in the initial madness, but... it being madness in general, her fear of being flown through the air helpless in the claws of a dragon (not quite sized or shaped for riding) and their large size a bit too close to triggering her more animalistic instincts...

She definitely found it easier to consider them cute when they were sleeve sized, her general love for children just adding on to it as his explanation for his arrival with the babe in tow consoles her enough that she leans closer to look, expression softening in an approach to an "aww" before-

Oh! Hospitality!]

Wine?

[The rest? Where was it, he didn't seem to be carrying a bag... ???]

Ah, in that case... here, it's nice today we can sit out on the veranda... ?

[Trotting to set her laundry basket down in the house's entranceway, Konoha then gestures to the sunny wooden veranda that lined the front-facing side of the farmhouse, made a bit wider by the fact that in the morning they'd opened all the sliding doors to let the breeze flow through the main room. There's some cushions in reach that can be dragged outside, and there's a new addition... six energetic sunflowers planted along the veranda edge.

Look, as adorable as the dragon baby is, she's also a little unsure about letting it near her more delicate Lunatian knicknacks or her kitchen utensils in the house. It is a baby, after all... but with the mobility maybe even more advanced than a jinba toddler.]

That sounds lovely, thank you.

[ The dragonlet pulls herself back into his sleeve and then wiggles under his overrobe to crawl out onto his shoulders, nestled under the weight of his hair. She sticks her head out and watches everything around her with interest, only to scamper down as he joins Konoha to try and throw herself into the laundry basket.

Shen Qingqiu catches her before she manages, earning him a wiggling armload of baby dragon, and a peeping objection to what seemed to her to be a brilliant idea. Continuing on with his protesting armful, he's pleasantly enjoying the sunlight on the veranda, hooking a cushion with his foot and settling himself and the dragonlet down on it. She sits in his lap to lash out at his sleeve in annoyance as he starts to pull out the wine...

... Jug after jug after jug, followed by cakes seasoned with flowers that grow only on the dragon's mountains, and then... is that sausage? Links and links of sausages. All of this is observed by the dragonlet, who attempts to snatch a sausage, only to have a different one slipped into her mouth and leaving her chewing on it with her tail twitching in satisfaction. ]

There are sausages and flower desserts, too! Enough to save for Gonta and Mikuni as well.

[ The last thing he pulls out are two things of tea: not the kind that inflicts dragon blessings, but blends unique to the mountains nonetheless. ]

[There's something about how cute the dragon is being that almost makes Konoha speak up and say she's allowed to play in the laundry, but- No, she isn't as clean as the freshly washed clothing, that would technically defeat the purpose! She can't spoil a child she's just met like this... !

Oh, wow. The wine had been in his sleeve!

... Two wine bottles in the sleeve!

It takes until the fourth bottle before she realizes this is definitely some sort of magic, thing, finally shaking the dumb shock out of her face to stop staring and grab a few cushions for herself. It's a more difficult maneuver for her to get up on the veranda in a recline, but as awkward as it looks that's all it is, a bit awkward as she carefully aligns her body to press up against the wooden edge with her flank, lifting a foreleg high to position it on the flooring and then throw the body weight of her upper half onto her palms to sort of... lift and roll herself into a recline beside him.

Look, it gets the job done, and now she can arrange the cushions to prop up her lower shoulder and curl one foreleg up to her chest, hands placed on the knee in imitation of human habit while she gawks at the amount.]

Master Shen, you didn't have to bring us this much... I thought the doughnuts was a lot!

[This is way more than that!!! But even as she tells him he didn't need to... there's no denying the flattered and excited expression on her face. It was sweet of him to think of them, and even kinder to bring it all here in his... magic sleeve!]

[ The dragonlet has finished her sausage and taken to staring at Konoha when she's getting herself seated on the veranda, bright blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. She's used to seeing four legged creatures, and six limbed ones, like Konoha: most the dragons with wings also had four limbs. Yet this particular arrangement is strange and fun, partly the animal, partly the human animal, and the same kind of delightful source of Chroma as her chosen-adoptive-father-Chroma-chew-toy.

Now she's practically flowing toward Konoha, bumping up against her folded foreleg first and lifting up her front legs to rest them on that knee, underneath where Konoha's hand falls. Shen Qingqiu keeps an eye on her, offering Konoha a small, warm smile in the meantime. ]

Let this old man indulge himself, and bear with his gift giving. There are so few indulgences you have at my age...

[ He's poking fun at himself, considering he looks like he's in his twenties, and always will. That he's closer to forty than twenty is nothing he mentions, though it remains true nonetheless. ]

Don't allow her to get nippy; the young ones get overexcited easily, and aren't as polite as they should be.

Master Shen, you don't get to say that when you aren't ancient!

[Something which she has definitely told him more than once at this point, she is pretty sure, but she still says it with a teasing laugh as her spine curls to bring her closer to the small dragon, admiring her curiously from up close. Her scales are so beautiful and pearl-like... And she actually is about to reach out to touch before his warning, pausing with a few blinks before she looks up to him, one finger in the air.]

Oh- Does it hurt more than... like a cat or something?

[She might not have heard all the details about how the dragon raising was working out over in the mountains.]

[ He chuckles, since no, he's not ancient, but he sure as hell feels that way most days. The dragonlet gives no clucks one way or another, since she's curious about this jinba (and who knows what gender this one will have some year plus in the future) and is now trying to thrust her head at that floating finger. Touch! Touch! ]

... More like a kitten. Those very sharp, young teeth.

[ In his experience the dragonlet bit, but did not tear, which makes a world of difference in his eyes. ]

Simply don't allow her to be more stubborn than you are.

[Okay, she'd been a bit concerned there that it was some weird magical bite or something like that, but if it was just a matter of sharp kitten teeth, well- She could handle that.]

Well, I'm really stubborn when I need to be, you know, so...

[So she's gonna touch the baby dragon! Carefully, she rubs her fingers over the creature's muzzle and over its brow between the eyes, cooing a bit despite herself as it wriggled its long body in happiness for touch. On guard for nipping, she's able to skillfully pull back when the babe tries, tutting and booping it on its snout in punishment.]

Nope!

[But she can't be mad, both hands now tousling and scratching in its mane-like hair as she looks up at Shen Qingiu, mouthing something that seems to be "it's so cute" with veritable sparkles in her eyes.]

[ He smiles at her mouthed words, inclining his head forward to acknowledge his agreement. The small dragon accepted all the attention with a growling-purr, too rumbling to be the feline noise, but too close to it still to be called anything else. With Konoha proving "weak" to her desires, she tries to climb her forelegs and thoroughly nuzzle into her human-to-equine torso. If she can squirm into her shirt............... she will. Kimono are like other robes, right? For dragonlets to crawl into and snuggle? ]

It's a good trait, and a frustrating one. She's stubborn as well. Like most my disciples.

[ There's a fondness in his tone which is not so often there when he says as much. ]

So now you have a dragon disciple, too? Master Shen really are like one of the sages from the story...

[Indeed, Konoha is far too weak to this cute creature (so far!) to stop her attempts at cuddling, her fingertips and short nails scratching along its wriggling spine as it moves into her kimono, her facial expressions a bit comical with the way her eyebrows raise and her eyes widen as the dragon scrabbles about under her clothes against her skin.]

Hey, settle down...

[She tries to pat the dragon into settling, and as it curls up in the warm pouch of fabric at her belly, half supported by her bear pelt wrap her expression softens again, cradling it with a little coo. Look, she loves babies... Even if they're animal babies? Or- How smart are dragons? She doesn't know-]

Ehe, are you going to behave while Master Shen and I drink weird dragon alcohol... ?

[The chirp was an answer, right?]

[ He's wearing a softer, warm expression as he watches the two of them, and the dragonlet, once achieving her perch of choice, does indeed settle down. There's a clawed paw that pats at Konoha's torso, then a long sigh, and a tailtip that twitches gently as the dragonlet settles in for a nap in the comforting presence of small Chroma loss and absorption. Nothing extra: just the normal shedding of energy that comes linked to the beautiful process of existing and being part of this world. ]

I believe she's in agreement.

[ Draconic tongues aren't easy to mimic, and the youngest ones don't have much that can coherently be understood, but they're certainly intelligent, and learn at an almost frightening rate. To go from hatchling to adult in one year is truly a phenomenal process. ]

As far as a disciple, no, no, nothing of the kind. A ward, yes, but I doubt she'll be inclined to follow the path of cultivation which I instructed my disciples on back home.

[ Not that he'd mind... he misses aspects of teaching he never really thought he'd miss. Including the many times of telling misbehaving disciples to go run laps around the mountain. It's good for character. Also excessive energy levels. ]

[Hnnngh, the dragon baby is being so cute... Konoha can't help but sway just a little bit as if rocking an infant to sleep, weak to the fact that, if she were a human woman... It would kind of look like she were pregnant. Something she'd longed to be ever since her marriage, eagerly looking for signs of belly rounding or tender flesh for months before she'd been able to fully understand the situation of the Moonblessed.]

Good...

[Well. She can pretend for a second.]

I guess dragons can't do... flying shovel magic, huh?

[Petting along the dragon's back through her kimono with a slow rub of her thumb, she reaches over to pull one of the liquor bottles back over, picking it up to inspect it and try and sniff the stopper.]

Mm, with enough time...

[ Truly nothing says anyone native to this world cannot learn how to cultivate, but the reality is the time needed exceeds the time any one singular Moonblessed has been in residence.

Speaking on that, or on how he felt it was unlikely any of them would be here long enough to make it a moot point, wasn't part of his plan today, so he let it go without comment. ]

Who knows what limitations, if any, each of us face as a whole?

[ Meanwhile, his eyes focus on the bottle she's trying to sniff, and he smiles, a little amused. ]

I found the taste proved different from the scent of it, in a complimentary way.

[Konoha has had to stop thinking about how long she might be in Lunatia. It has already been about a year... and it had started getting painful months ago, when she realized that so many were only there for a few months, when it started to seem like she was one of some... small, select group that just couldn't manage to get home for some reason. (Had she done something wrong? Was she being punished?)

Instead, she just tries to take it day by day and not let the terror creep in over the idea of remaining trapped away from her world forever, in a life of mostly comfort but one that meant she would remain childless, remain severed from her home.]

It's different? Really?

[And here he is with a perfect distraction from that anyway, right here smelling of alcohol! ... Well, it is alcohol. Carefully, she opens the bottle in her hand and prepares to- Oops. Looking down at the comfortable dragon child curled in her clothing, she looks back up to Shen Qingqiu with a little laugh.]

Sorry- Could you grab some cups from the kitchen?

[He'd been here enough that she trusted him to be able to find them... And as much as she was willing to try these new drinks and see how strong they were (a part of her was still curious about what it would be like to feel tipsy)... She wasn't going to drink straight from the bottle!]

Edited 2020-07-05 07:16 (UTC)

Truly.

[ He hums a smiling note, rising with elegance, like he does most things. This is more absurd when you realise it's all out of practice in moving with his robes and not managing to be standing on or otherwise trapping them beneath him as he gains his feet, slipping out of boots to trek inside and ferret out a few cups.

As you do.

He does know where they are, yes, and brings more than the two necessary, just in case. By the time he makes his way back out, the dragonlet may now be quietly snoring, manifesting as a twitch of her tail and a louder sound on inhalation every so often. Taking his seat on the veranda again, he hands two of those cups to Konoha, setting the other two aside. ]

I hope these will do.

[Look, she just thinks Master Shen is naturally graceful and elegant, like a beautiful wind spirit... or a court lady! Er, court noble... man! So she thanks him for taking over the duties she ought to be doing as hostess and turns her attention back to his draconic ward in his absence, cradling it close in the pouch of her kimono where it curls against her belly and lower chest.

... Oh no, even her snores are cute. Like a little steamy snuffle!!!]

Those are good, thanks... Here, I can at least do the pouring...

[A liquor bottle stopper is no match for her muscles! And now that she has cups she pours them both a glass, passing him his with a smile before she lifts her own, her now free hand returning to support the dragonling as if gently cradling a human-style pregnant belly, not even aware of how ironic that would be in, oh, say... two weeks.]

Are the mountains in the dragon lands anything like the mountains Master Shen is used to?

[Because... his world sounded kind of like hers, and if they were kind of like hers... She kind of wanted to get a head start on that whole... becoming a woman of the mountain thing.]

[ two weeks in the future might as well be forever! right now, she's getting to cradle a cute sleeping dragon and being cute in the process. everything about this feels wholesome, and he's taking it, not even equating it to pregnancy like behaviours when he's not been around anyone pregnant before. also, they're drinking. aren't pregnant people not supposed to drink?

(he has no idea, he's just saying...) ]

Mm, they're tall. It may be the extent of their similarities.

[ he smiles, taking a sip and thinking further on this. ]

The feel of them is similar, on the other hand. The height, the thinness of the air, the warmth of the sun, the strength of the winds. The scent of air carrying only the scents of water and living trees. All those are there, like the cliffs and the rock and the plant life clinging to impossible places. It may not be the exact same, but it is nostalgic enough.

[What are Cultivators even doing, how have you never been around anyone pregnant before, Master Shen???]

Just tall!

[She can't help but laugh at his first response, sampling her drink now that he's had his first sip. It's an interesting flavor, definitely different from the sort of sake she's used to but not so far away that it was unpalatable. It was intriguing, actually, she takes another drink as he speaks, swirling it on her tongue thoughtfully. Was that... some kind of fruit? No, maybe not...

But her expression changes from curiosity over the taste to soft nostalgia, listening to his description of the mountains.]

Oh... I really want to go. I told Gonta we should just think of this as a detour on our way to Mt. Tsurugi, so if I have a chance to get a start on learning how to be a woman of the mountains... They said they're working on the road, right?

[She might have managed to ride Shen Qingqiu's shovel, but dragons... ?]

[ Cultivators are largely not getting pregnant?! That's what he's doing?! Hanging around with a bunch of not pregnant people! Also primarily male. This leads to all sorts of, you know, lacks of pregnancy. ]

Mm, please do, once the road's open. There should be a train service similar to what runs out to Amegahara once it's complete. The dragons are brilliant engineers, it shouldn't be long.

[ followed by a pause: ]

What precisely makes one a man or woman of the mountains?

[Do you never meet a village woman??? Do you ever leave that mountain??? Honestly, cultivators are getting weirder and weirder the more she learns...]

Mmm, once the road is open. I don't mind walking, though.

[It still sounds crazy to her to hear such things like "the dragons are brilliant engineers", but then again she is laying on her veranda with a baby dragon curled in her kimono, so... surreal. Let her just have another drink. And try not to remember that she still hasn't managed to ride a train without feeling a bit motion sick.

Also... That's a good question.]

Um. I guess... being really good at living in the mountains? Like... knowing which plants are edible, and how to climb steep rocks, and where to find game, and make your own tools... ? Stuff like that?

[If she seems to be blushing a bit awkwardly, well.]

I guess I didn't actually check before I just kind of... said I would learn to do it if Gonta would take me with him...

[ he smiles; her enthusiasm when it comes to her husband is endearing. ]

I'm sure he was gratified, either way. Then consider my home there open to you when you make the journey over, once the skyway opens. I'd be curious what makes one a mountain individual per Gonta's instruction as well, but don't worry. I wouldn't seek to interrupt your time together.

[ still smiling, he takes a sip of his wine, thank you very much. the dragonlet, for her part, continues her soft snoring. it's hard not to tease when she's blushing like this... she's too sweet and wholesome. ]

["Home".... ? Konoha blinks a moment, connecting that word and Shen Qingqiu with the house she's visited before, the one with the charming garden she has fond memories of introducing him to her husband in, but... Wait-]

Master Shen is going to live there all the time now... ?

[It actually made sense, after what she'd heard about his home in his own world, but it somehow shocks her to hear that he would actually be moving there, enough that it takes her a minute to register the next things he says... and potentially misinterpret what he says, mumbling with a blush down towards her new dragon baby belly and into her drink.]

I- It wouldn't be interrupting, we'd go to the mountains to... learn mountain things not... for privacy...

[LOOK way too many people have cracked jokes at her about "interrupting"... JUST BECAUSE it was easier for jinba to do things outside didn't mean she didn't check if they were alone first???]

Mm, myself and my brother will until the young ones have grown. Parents were lost in recent animal attacks... considering the circumstances, it felt most right to us.

[ He blinks at her when she stutters and trails off and blushes while mumbling, Shen Qingqiu watching with fascination. Konoha can be a one woman play sometimes, and he finds it sweet how open her face is, though he's also lagging one step behind.

His brain catches up before he speaks, and he goes, oh. OH. OH COME ON! He wasn't asking after that kind of alone! That kind of privacy! He just meant couples getting to do couple things! Not having to be hosts! Not having to worry about anyone but each other!!! ]

This one, ah, presumed on the learning. Please don't disturb your peace of mind.

[ Where's the alcohol, he wants another cup-- ]

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