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Post by Silver on Feb 5, 2021 5:19:40 GMT -6
Ten x GiselleOnly the users participating in the breeding may post in this thread. The room can look however you like, within reason.
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Post by Noa on Feb 6, 2021 17:48:07 GMT -6
Ten had been Zelkova's shadow for almost as long as he could remember. He didn't mind. He liked Zelkova. He didn't know what familial favor or obligation had compelled the clan to take him in when he was a hatchling, but he had always been aware that his position in the household was precarious, even before he had the means to understand why. He was neither a member of the family proper, nor quite one of the workers or other hangers-on; and Arianza, who was the clan matriarch now in all but name, cared little for him. Most of the others in the family didn't share her disdain, but they were largely indifferent to his plight. As for the others... They had their work to occupy them, and the rough camaraderie that held them together didn't extend to a hatchling who, for all his status as an outsider, was given the same lessons and material boons as a scion of the clan proper.
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Post by Linyü on Feb 7, 2021 3:43:21 GMT -6
Giselle examined herself in the mirror and sighed. "Happiness escapes with every sigh, my dear," said Aunt Rhea. Aunt Rhea wasn't a real blood relation, but she had been the one to look after Giselle since Giselle's hatchling days. Now she gave Giselle's scales one last buff with a cloth, then stepped back to admire her handiwork. "What have you to sigh over? You're shining fit to blind all the boys. Chin up, there's a good pip." Giselle certainly did feel... made over. Aunt Rhea was right; her scales were polished to a fine shine, but studying her reflection, she felt as though she didn't recognize herself. Did she look the part of an eligible maiden? Would she attract the eye of some handsome bachelor from a well-off family? It was her duty to her family, as the prettiest and best turned out of the lot. She had known this ever since she was small.
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Post by Noa on Feb 7, 2021 21:10:11 GMT -6
The only exception had been Zelkova. Ten couldn't account for it, and even when he had found the courage to ask, Zelkova couldn't either. But he had been an imperious, precocious hatchling, and the two of them had been of an age; and when Ten had arrived at the Riverhold, Zelkova had claimed Ten as his playmate, censure be damned.
He hadn't taken no for an answer. Zelkova had simply inserted himself into Ten's life - or maybe it was the other way around - as if they had both always been there.
But Zelkova was a bright creature, clever and sociable, and as they grew older, his gregariousness had settled into something more tempered and kind. People liked him, flocked to him; he stood out without seeming to make any conscious effort to do so. Ten, dark-feathered and quiet, naturally faded into the background, existing more as an afterthought than anything else.
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Post by Linyü on Feb 7, 2021 21:15:37 GMT -6
Giselle's parents were not well off. It had not been a love match, exactly, but it had certainly not been for an economic purpose either. But the raising of hatchlings, and the funding of research for that matter, was not something that could be managed on earnest feelings alone. And so it had been decided, early on in the lives of the clutch, that whichever was the most winsome amongst them would endeavor to find a moneyed match, to better support the rest.
At the time, it hadn't seemed like such a terrible arrangement. The prospect of romance was an appealing one to a hatchling who loved stories, and Giselle had coincidentally had the bad luck of being the least magically gifted in a household of magically inclined academics. But as the time approached for Giselle to begin her efforts in earnest, she began to worry over the outcome more and more.
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Post by Noa on Feb 7, 2021 21:23:35 GMT -6
But the curious thing was, Zelkova didn't seem to mind. And if Zelkova didn't mind, then Ten didn't either. Mostly.
He did wish Zelkova wouldn't drag him to so many parties.
"So?" said Zelkova, butting his shoulder against Ten's as the two of them stood on the edge of the cavern. Zelkova was flushed with the effort of dancing, while Ten solemnly handed him a glass of cold cordial. Zelkova accepted it with a grateful noise. "Do you see anyone you like?"
"I should be asking you," Ten replied, sipping at his own drink.
"Oh, come now, there must be someone who caught your eye. You're not made of stone, Ten. Isn't this a fine crowd?" Zelkova turned to look back at the other Draconics still on the dance floor, then glanced back sidelong at Ten once more, inviting him to look with a slight toss of the head.
Ten sighed.
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Post by Linyü on Feb 11, 2021 14:16:15 GMT -6
It had, in retrospect, been naive of her to think that it would be a romantic undertaking. Her primary purpose was to find a well-off mate, and therefore questions of love were likely to be secondary. And as for the issue of earning their interest...
Giselle knew herself to be pretty; it had been remarked upon ever since she was very young. But at times she doubted whether it would be enough to secure her in her assigned goal, and at times she merely dreaded the process. She knew little enough about real courtship, having only just come of age.
"It is only dancing," said Aunt Rhea, laying a gentle claw on Giselle's shoulder. "Go and have fun, see the boys. There will be someone handsome, surely."
Giselle gave Aunt Rhea a weak smile. She meant well, and the words were comforting to a degree, but...
... Well, there was nothing for it, she supposed. She had to go.
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Post by Noa on Feb 20, 2021 21:48:05 GMT -6
The matter of Ten's attachment had been a topic of contention between them for some time. Zelkova, for whatever reason, had gotten it into his head that he ought to play matchmaker for Ten, even as his own family did the same for him. Perhaps he simply wanted company in his misery - though for the most part, he had laughed off their elders' overtures about the matter. Or perhaps he genuinely thought he was doing some service for Ten. Ten could even half imagine that Zelkova thought it a slight, that his family went to such pains for himself but not for Ten.
But Zelkova didn't understand that Ten had nothing to offer.
He was not a true ward of the family, and had no expectations of support; nor did he have any independent fortune, be it from his blood relations or his own endeavors. Indeed, by all rights he should not have been attending these functions at all.
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Post by Linyü on Feb 20, 2021 21:53:16 GMT -6
Aunt Rhea was her escort, so at least Giselle needed not fear the prospect of journeying to the engagement alone, or with a stranger. But she was not equal to the conversation that her aunt offered. Though not considered to be particularly loud, Giselle was not naturally so taciturn; and yet on this occasion, the prospect of the night ahead occupied her too thoroughly to spare much effort for anything else.
The hall at which the dance took place was a grand one. The carvings that marked out the entrance alone were worth some small fortune. Giselle gazed upon them and wondered what her family must have done to throw her in the way of such an invitation, but she knew that they would not answer if she asked.
Still, it was not so much a kindness as it was an investment. And they would be disappointed, she knew, if she did not make the best of it.
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Post by Noa on Feb 20, 2021 21:57:40 GMT -6
And so Ten never noticed any girl, if he could help it. He spent these dances standing at the edge of the floor, occupying himself with refreshments, or watching Zelkova if there was nothing better to do. On occasion a few other Draconics ventured an attempt at conversation with him, but inevitably found him wanting; and his lack of status kept them from the pains of making any further efforts.
It did not matter the quality of the crowds, or of the girls, though he was certain that some of them must have been very fine indeed. They were, after all, the best that Canyon society had to offer. It was not his place to do so, and to allow himself to hope for more would only be cause for pain on all fronts.
"There," said Zelkova, nudging Ten once more. "See that one who just walked in. Isn't she a beauty?"
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Post by Linyü on Feb 20, 2021 22:03:05 GMT -6
"Right," said Giselle. How bad could it be? As her aunt had said, it was only dancing. She steadied herself with a breath, then strode forward and gave the attendants her name.
They escorted her through, and as she descended onto the main floor, a Kitava with a bell-toned voice announced her to the crowd.
A few turned to look, and then a few more, though some of them left off when her clan lineage was named. Still, even this much attention in so formal a setting was enough to make her heart quicken, and she kept her gaze fixed on the far wall, where the figures were smaller and less distinct.
For a moment, she was insensate of any individual Draconic in the room, and they existed merely as suggestions of presences, figures in the crowd. But then her eyes alighted on a particular pair standing at the other end of the hall, engaged in conversation.
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Post by Noa on Feb 20, 2021 22:10:20 GMT -6
Ten turned, half to humor Zelkova and half out of curiosity as to what manner of girl had caught his eye. He had no pressing desire to see his friend settled the way Zelkova's family did, but if Zelkova himself fancied a girl, then Ten wanted to support him, inasmuch as he was capable.
The Draconic in question was just descending onto the floor, and it was clear that Zelkova wasn't alone in noting her beauty. Around them, Ten could see other heads turning, other Draconics murmuring among themselves. She was not a tall girl, but finely built, her pale scales tinted with a faint blush of pink, and a silky golden mane spilling down the long arch of her neck. She seemed, he thought, a little uneasy, but perhaps he only imagined it.
And then their eyes met, and Ten blinked - but the moment was over just as quickly as it had begun.
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Post by Linyü on Feb 20, 2021 22:13:59 GMT -6
Even in a crowd of Draconics of high society, the two of them caught the eye, for the contrast of their colorations if nothing else. One was pale, as Giselle was, though the pearlescent sheen of his scales was a cooler tone, and more nuanced. His companion was jet dark, and his eyes, when they rose to meet hers, were a startling, vibrant red.
She was surprised to see her own startled reaction mirrored in his; and then he looked away. The pale Makiyan seemed to be laughing at him, though at such a distance Giselle couldn't be sure of the details.
But there were other, more immediate concerns. Having made her way to the floor, she had no idea where to go. It had been a poor idea, she thought, to have staged her debut in such a manner. It was her first dance, and she had no idea how to conduct herself, and was certain of making a fool of herself in the worst possible way.
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Post by Noa on Feb 20, 2021 22:44:51 GMT -6
Zelkova was certainly enjoying himself. "Feeling shy, are we?" he said, laughing, as Ten averted his gaze. For a moment a spark of irritation lit in Ten's chest, but it was gone as soon as it had come, replaced by the same weariness that he always felt in its place.
Ten was waiting for Zelkova to say something else, and Zelkova might have, but something else had caught his attention. "Ah," said Zelkova, the merriment leaving his features, "looks like there's trouble brewing."
Following his gaze, Ten saw a trio of males closing in on the new arrival. An older Draconic who must have been her chaperone was hurrying over, but she was even smaller than the pale Eideon, and her unease showed plain on her grey-scaled visage. For a moment, Ten watched, hoping that the anxiety of the chaperone would not be answered; but then he saw the way the males were crowding in, and knew the hope was for naught.
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Post by Linyü on Feb 21, 2021 0:53:55 GMT -6
It wasn't the first time that Giselle had had to deal with the unpleasantness of too forward a male - or even a trio of them, as the case was here. She had hoped, in vain, as she now saw, that in the presence of finer society, she might avoid such unpleasantness.
"My my," said a lean, whippish-looking Devaros. "I don't believe we've seen you around before. What did they say your clain was, sweetheart?"
"If you'll excuse me," said Giselle. She had little doubt that however she answered, it would not be to her own advantage, and she was not familiar enough with the environment to deflect more gracefully. The best that occurred to her was to pretend as though she had some other engagement with some other creature here. Perhaps the two that she had spotted earlier - though her hopes on that front were dashed when she looked in their direction, and found that they were no longer there.
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