Dragon's Bride

[adisastergay]

The Dragon's Bride

Flames, then ash. Your village will be left with little else should the dragon that plagues the countryside not get his demanded sacrifice...if you're lucky. Your good fortune turns south, the bones of your neighbors (or whatever else remains of them) litter a new charred graveyard that was once a town. So, the necessary offers must be made. At least that's the hope. The alternative would be too awful to contemplate. In a last-ditch effort to save those you love — or against your will, as these things tend to go with forcibly created martyrs — you have been hoisted onto the pyre, waiting for the dragon to fly off with you. What terrors race through your mind as your doom impends? How you'll end up in a beast's belly, no doubt. Except, you must consider this: there are worst fates than being a dragon's next meal. A monster that covets you as its treasure...a new type of danger unfurls its wings. You've become a dragon's bride. But could such an infernal creature ever learn to know honest, unselfish affection? Is it possible to be more than a "spouse?" A mere treasure? Perhaps, you could learn to be a dragon's love. HOW TO PLAY ✗ Comment with your character, roles ("dragon" or "bride") prefs, etc. ✗ Y'all know how this goes. Approach "dragon" as a stand-in. The monster mash could be elves, orcs, goblins, werewolves, demons, dwarves, fey, purple people eaters, what have you. Of course, actual dragon and shifters folks are welcome, too! And don't think that you have to make your boring human a boring ol' human. Consider this the monster/supernatural being/cryptid/creature AU of your dreams! ✗ Second verse, same as the first, "bride" registers as gender-neutral 'round these parts. That word choice just sounds a touch more poetic. ✗ Reply to others.

Comments

[heavens_nails]

Oh it’s just deserts for others he had poisoned. It wouldn’t be a pleasant death, but there were worse. Zhou Zishu had seen many lives snuffed out in various ways. Sometimes poison is the kindest.

At least the man is cutting him free. Those ropes did chafe. Though he raised a brow at the man in black’s comments.

“If you are someone I should know, then I am afraid I do not,” he admitted. “I am sorry if whoever has dumped me here disturbed your cultivation or offended you. Is there a need to face you?”

This man clearly doesn’t know who Zhou Zishu is either, but it’s hard to take offense when that’s kind of the point. He doesn’t go around broadcasting that he is the former leader of one of the most infamous assassin groups in the jianghu. He doesn’t wish to ever see his dear cousin again. Not in this life if he can help it.

He let out a derisive sound, almost a chuckle. “Who is ‘little’ at my age? Of course I can.”

It’s wobbly, but he manages it. This time he openly analyzes this man’s face. But he doesn’t recognize him. Not even from jianghu gossip which means nothing. Heroes and villains crop up all the time in their world.

[yunmeng_patriarch]

"You." He answered plainly, his weight shifting a bit on his feet. He wasn't preparing for a fight but it seemed like he was just making himself more comfortable while he was standing. "If you don't prefer little, then young."

Was he immortal? Who knew? He continued to watch the other man as he stood, wavering a bit and causing him to frown, wondering if he will need to assist the man. He waited until Zishou was mostly stable before he started moving. "I am called Wanyin by most people in this area. They leave me alone, usually, until they choose to have an agenda."

And today's agenda appeared to be Zhou Zishou being presented to Wanyin was the agenda.

[heavens_nails]

Young? Him? Did this Wangyin somehow see through his disguise? That was the only way anyone would call him ‘young.’ Now he was more guarded. But he kept his tone and body language casual.

“What agenda could involve dressing me up and dumping me in your territory?” he asked, genuinely confused.

A second later he remembered his manners. He gave the customary bow and said, “Zhou Zishu is my name.”

Most people wouldn’t recognize it now anyway. Betting to defer to courtesy when dealing with strange cultivators.

[yunmeng_patriarch]

Oh, this one had no clue.  Was that a good thing or not?  Wanyin studied the man a moment more and then chose to go through the usual route:  Honesty.  

“They decided that offering you to me would safeguard their people, livestock, and homes.”  He shifted his shoulder in what looked like an awkward attempt at a shrug.  “Or you caused enough trouble that they feel they’re in a win-win situation.”  Turning away from the drunken/drugged/sickly human, he showed no concern for his own welfare.  Either he was already certain that Zishou was no threat or he was more than confident in his own skills.

The man’s home was sparse in a way.  The walls looked more like a cave, with only the front area lit with torches in braziers.  There was the impression of depth in the cavernous area as shadow swallowed what was in the back.  The front held rich furnishings even if it was minimalistic, including a cot and low table and cushions. He poured out a measure of water into a shallow bowl and then returned, stepping forward to offer it to Zishou. "So now we come to the point in this conversation to determine what your next steps should be."

[heavens_nails]

“Do you usually threaten people, livestock and homes?”

The way Zhou Zishu asked that question one might think he was merely curious. After all, he had not left behind the life in the emperor’s court just to be the world’s peace keeper. Still, it was a strange hobby. But the man had not made any threatening moves on him.

He watched as Wagyin poured water into a bowl. He took it, but didn’t drink just yet. Whatever he’d been drugged with the evening before was not poison or he would have caught it. He was too good at detecting poisons. But the experience did make him hesitant about accepting something to drink from a stranger so soon, especially a cultivator.

He merely raised his brows in question at the remark.

“Won’t my next steps just be away from here?”

[yunmeng_patriarch]

He saw the hesitation and couldn't help but roll his eyes. "If I wanted you dead, I would have done it already. If I wanted you drugged, you wouldn't be talking to me. So drink the water."

His exterior was still calm and collected, but Wanyin started pacing back and forth in slow, measured steps. "You could. You could leave right now. How far will you get? Won't people recognize you? And should they do so, what will happen to you then?"

He wasn't forbidding the other to leave, though. Clearly, Zishou was still a little addled and wasn't thinking about the situation thoroughly. And yes, he avoided answering the first question on purpose.

[heavens_nails]

Zhou Zishu couldn’t help chuckle. “I assure you I am much more formidable when lucid.”

And even when not lucid in some cases. He was going to die anyway eventually. Couldn’t people be decent enough not to rush him along?

“Whatever will happen to me they can try.”

Deciding that Wangyin likely wasn’t a villain, he sipped from the bowl.

“Besides, crafting a new disguise is nothing for me.”

Truer words could not be spoken from a man who was once Four Season’s first disciple.

[yunmeng_patriarch]

Wanyin didn't look impressed by what the other was saying. "And yet, here you are, dressed for your wedding night. And I had to untie you." He had learned early on that many humans were all bluster. Sometimes it was to cover the insecurity one felt.

"So if you are ready to go without the need of assistance, you're free to go at any time. If anyone asks, I'll simply say I ate you."

[heavens_nails]

For the first time in months Zhou Zishu was mildly irked. Yes, he’d made a careless error. But he had not survived to the age he did in his cousin’s court by being helpless.

But his thoughts on that were derailed at the absurd cover story the cultivator made up. He blinked.

“You’ll say you ate me?” he echoed. “Isn’t that far fetched?”

Putting it mildly. That or the man was in to some cultivation methods that had earned him the fear of the common citizen.

[yunmeng_patriarch]

"No." Wanyin was amused by the whole affair and it only showed in the twinkle of his eyes. His mouth didn't smile. Smirk, perhaps, but did not smile.

"Where do you think you are, little one? In all your life-altering travels, you have never been host to a dragon's lair?"

Wanyin would never find this old. One of the few pleasures in his long life was messing with the mortals like this.

[heavens_nails]

Zhou Zishu had heard tales of animals and even plants cultivating a human form if their spirit built the sufficient qi. But, that’s all they were: fairy tales.

He looked down at his cup of water as though reevaluating what he had just drank.

“I thought I was suppose to be the one who was intoxicated so why does it sound like you’ve been drinking?” he asked mildly.

Ghost valley played at being ghosts to terrify their victims and rivals alike. Now it was dragons? He inwardly sighed. One day people would learn that the most dangerous beings in this world were their fellow humans. Until then, he supposed even low level assassins would always have a job.

[yunmeng_patriarch]

Wanyin didn't respond to that question as he turned towards the table. Zishou didn't believe him and that was fine. The story was farfetched enough as it was. He didn't expect people to believe him unless there was proof and Wanyin wasn't about to offer proof. Instead, he set up a plate of fruits and cheese, then looked over to the other.

"I suppose you should sober up, then."

And so there wasn't any pondering about the food, he took a piece of cheese and popped it into his mouth, staring at Zishou the entire time.

[heavens_nails]

Zishou raised his brow at the comment. He figured that either meant one of two things. One was that Wangyin knew he was not buying it but didn't care. The second was that something else was going on. Maybe it was a something he would not want to discuss. Zishou did not take it personally. There were things he'd rather not discuss as well. It was a boundary that he could respect.

Besides, he was not one to turn down a free meal. So long as he was away before nightfall. The nails embedded into his skin usually acted up at night and he would not enjoy having to explain that.

"Then I thank you for the meal," he said, graciously. "I'll eat and be on my way."

He could choose to be a lot more obnoxious, but he reserved the troublesome old bum act for those who got too overly invested in his business. Though it was unusual to find truly sincere people in the world these days and he chewed carefully just in case he detected something that should not be there.