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childrenofbajablast2025-04-01 04:09 pm
diceofthegods) wrote in childrenofbajablast2025-04-01 04:09 pm
Test Drive Meme #3
GOLDEN GREENERY
Bloom by The Paper Kites
1:24 / 3:33
▶︎
The Paper Kites are an Australian indie rock/folk rock band from Melbourne. The band was formed in 2009 by lead vocalist/guitarist Sam Bentley and keyboardist/guitarist Christina Lacy. Their 2010 single "Bloom" has been certified Platinum in the United States.
Recently, Town was decorated by locals and Fae folk both. Things are a bit more colorful and the sun is shining more and more instead of the continuous winter gloom from before. The world finally feels like it's coming alive again.
Sorry about your possible allergies as trees blossom and spit excess pollen.
There also seems to be an emphasis on both green and gold. Crowns or other accessories of clovers are being made for luck. Whether or not they're actually lucky, who knows! Dragon-bonded are also being enlisted in helping with post-winter (and post Mind Flayer) repairs. Those creatures did quite a number skittering around some homes so why not lend a hand - clawed or otherwise - now that you're here? It'll help with offworlders reputation if nothing else!
Meanwhile, the Fae appear to have taken to the opposite of helping as they are wont to do. They are instead trying to trick locals and offworlders both with glittering chests of gold that most would know are too good to be true.
These are mimics who will attempt to devour someone that falls for the temptation of quick riches. Not to worry though, they're relatively harmless and all just for a good bit of fun. You might need some help though getting unstuck since they can be pretty persistent once their trap has been sprung.
Sorry about your possible allergies as trees blossom and spit excess pollen.
There also seems to be an emphasis on both green and gold. Crowns or other accessories of clovers are being made for luck. Whether or not they're actually lucky, who knows! Dragon-bonded are also being enlisted in helping with post-winter (and post Mind Flayer) repairs. Those creatures did quite a number skittering around some homes so why not lend a hand - clawed or otherwise - now that you're here? It'll help with offworlders reputation if nothing else!
Meanwhile, the Fae appear to have taken to the opposite of helping as they are wont to do. They are instead trying to trick locals and offworlders both with glittering chests of gold that most would know are too good to be true.
These are mimics who will attempt to devour someone that falls for the temptation of quick riches. Not to worry though, they're relatively harmless and all just for a good bit of fun. You might need some help though getting unstuck since they can be pretty persistent once their trap has been sprung.
CH-CH-CHANGES
There comes a time in every young dragon's life where they begin to experience some changes. That might be nothing new to those established in Town by now, of course, as the majority of their changes have come and gone. Nothing can surprise them anymore about their dragon-bonds.
...Or so they thought!
Whether established characters or ones just pulled through the summoning circle, springtime is a season that throws almost all dragons for a little bit of a loop. It is a common rutting season and those hormone fluctuations can strike when least expected.
Even if outside of your specific dragon's season or newly arrived, they'll be swept up by the rest being in so close proximity and likely be at least mildly affected as well. Some handle this season better than others, but there are still specific things to watch out for as more 'universal' experiences.
...Or so they thought!
Whether established characters or ones just pulled through the summoning circle, springtime is a season that throws almost all dragons for a little bit of a loop. It is a common rutting season and those hormone fluctuations can strike when least expected.
Even if outside of your specific dragon's season or newly arrived, they'll be swept up by the rest being in so close proximity and likely be at least mildly affected as well. Some handle this season better than others, but there are still specific things to watch out for as more 'universal' experiences.
- ⁂ Heightened aggression - The ways that this can manifest varies wildly! Perhaps you're more easily irritated or frustrated. It's also possible that this presents as an increased competitive drive with someone else or just in general.
⁂ Brooding - While usually described as an instinctual behavior of sitting on eggs to incubate them, for most dragon-bonded this will instead appear as a compulsion to cuddle up with someone dear. You have the instinct to keep them safe, warm, and where better than right here with you?
⁂ Nesting - That stick is really neat. It'd look great in your home, wouldn't it? Dragon-bonded will feel the desire to create a safe and comfortable environment for themselves and friends. This often involves cleaning, organizing, and preparing a space. For what? Maybe your character doesn't know, but will feel the urge to do it anyway!
⁂ Increased Libido (The NSFW Option) - For those of age, there will be a distinct increase in sexual desire that can be noted as well. While not everyone will experience it, it is something that can be present as an undercurrent either on its own or coupled with other instincts. (For example, the compulsion to cuddle isn't just that or nesting will be a result of attempting to breed.)
PLAYTIME
To help dragon-bonded with their seasonal and instinctual urges, Charlie and others have put together some games. They understand this might be a bit overwhelming and strange to those unfamiliar. So, why not make it as fun and enjoyable as they can?
- ⁂ Horn Locking - All dragon-bonded will find that due to the season 1) if they have horns then they aren't going away no matter their attempts to shift and 2) they're extremely itchy. Even the newest among them will have small stubs of horns pre-maturely! To help combat this and channel some unexpected aggression, dragon-bonded are encouraged to lock horns with one another. It hopefully scratches both the literal and metaphorical itches they're dealing with.
⁂ Scavenger Hunt(s) - To help with the nesting urges, a list of miscellaneous items has been given to dragon-bonded to search for. The reward for completing this list* is five (5) bond points. Charlie trusts that you'll find what has been asked for... but doesn't need to see it. Yes, that is a nice rock. It can stay in your home though, really.
⁂ Baseball - Even if called something else here, people will realize quickly enough: this is just baseball. Dragon-bonded will be encouraged though to hit the ball with one of their draconic extremities rather than a bat. They can use their tail, their hands, or even their horns to whack a small ball as far as possible. This game is set-up to help release some of that pent-up energy as well as indulge in that competitive instinct.
Rocky Talky
One of the things that was given to you in your welcome pack from Charlie was a summoning-stone. Although it looks like, well, an ordinary stone- It's actually magic! You can look through it and see someone else's face too if you're both viewing your stones at the same time. It can also record your speech and deliver that to someone else in a snap.
One of the other features is that you can scrawl on it. It will turn your writing into legible text that you can send others to read on their stones. Of course, you need to attune yourself to your stone first. To that end, it prompts you to set up a Rockstar Profile:
One of the other features is that you can scrawl on it. It will turn your writing into legible text that you can send others to read on their stones. Of course, you need to attune yourself to your stone first. To that end, it prompts you to set up a Rockstar Profile:
COMMENT CODE TEMPLATE
Notes
⁂ Hello and happy Spring! Welcome to Children of Bahamut's third drive meme! If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback then feel free to ask here.
⁂ We have a top-level directory drive for ease of finding new players to tag! After some feedback, we ask that only new players link their top-levels though current players are allowed to top-level and enjoy the TDM if they so wish as well!
⁂ The list provided by Charlie will have approximately ten (10) miscellaneous items on it to find and collect. You can decide what they are and we're operating on the honor system here of your characters going out and finding everything if you so wish. (Just let us know when you turn in your bonds that's what your character did and provide a link if possible, but know that one isn't necessary!)
⁂ You can customize the the Rockstar Profile however you wish! So long as its readable, have fun. The profile image appears best when a 250 by 250 square image. Anything too tall might stretch it strangely or cause issues. If you need to edit or crop a picture to suit, we recommend using Pixlr as a free option for up to three images! We're not sponsored or anything, it's just neat and convenient.
⁂ Full Navigation ⁂
⁂ We have a top-level directory drive for ease of finding new players to tag! After some feedback, we ask that only new players link their top-levels though current players are allowed to top-level and enjoy the TDM if they so wish as well!
- (Example header: character name | canon )
⁂ The list provided by Charlie will have approximately ten (10) miscellaneous items on it to find and collect. You can decide what they are and we're operating on the honor system here of your characters going out and finding everything if you so wish. (Just let us know when you turn in your bonds that's what your character did and provide a link if possible, but know that one isn't necessary!)
⁂ You can customize the the Rockstar Profile however you wish! So long as its readable, have fun. The profile image appears best when a 250 by 250 square image. Anything too tall might stretch it strangely or cause issues. If you need to edit or crop a picture to suit, we recommend using Pixlr as a free option for up to three images! We're not sponsored or anything, it's just neat and convenient.
Nephenee | Fire Emblem: PoR/RD | OTA
**
Spring is a special time for the country girl from Crimea. As much as she loves the chill of winter, spring has always signified the return of plants and crops and new life, as well as the chance to feel the warm sun on her skin again. Her plants all come outside her abode, and even more than usual, the Sentinel yearns to run and climb and now soar.
And that's just what she does. Garbed in what might be best called strategic wrappings, Nephenee steps into the early morning quiet, the extra cloth secured at her waist rustling softly in the breeze. The world is still, and she lets the calm of the dawn wrap around her, steadying her nerves, before she transforms. It's a fluid process that begins deep within, a steady pulse of strength and change that courses through her. Muscles and bones reshape and realign with ease into the form of something that feels both alien and natural all at once.
Her scales come first, covering her light skin in a layer of mist-silver that shifts between light silver and pale blue in the early dawn's light. Next, powerful wings unfurl, the leaf-shaped feathers on the membranes seemingly edged in frost. Claws are next, sharp and focused, and then gracefully curling antlers, their silvery-white surface reflecting the first warmth of spring as they take root, their delicate appearance belying their natural strength, like the earth beneath her feet. Her tail is last, unfurling like a banner in the wind, long and sinuous and tipped with strong ridges whose shapes are reminiscent of a willow's leaves.
The transformation complete, she exhales a white plume of icy breath, the energy inside her building into something she can't quite contain. The need to feel the wind against her wings and her claws digging into the earth she loves is too much to bear, and with a joyful laugh that thrums with the new power in her, she takes off into the air.
**
[OOC: Feel free to contact me through this journal, Discord, or Plurk if nothing here strikes your fancy! I'm really open to ideas!
2)
So he decided to find a nice spot on the beach, take up his good old Ranger Blade, and run through the basic attack forms he learned in training. Vertical, lunge, side sweep, basic defenses, defense-opening techniques, on up to more complex, less practical forms meant for conditioning and building muscle more than raw effect.
Not that he didn't find a use for even those, once in a blue moon.
He is, sadly, as yet unaware of the Pouncening about to be enacted upon him. Not that he has any traps available right now.
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As much as the idea of pouncing towards him does appeal to the playful side of her that secretly likes trolling people, it's held back by the knowledge that having a large dragon pouncing at you is scary and could end up in him getting hurt. Well, maybe her too, but she's incredibly tough, so she doesn't think about that.
So when she does decide to pop up, Ryu at least gets the warning of a few quiet wingbeats before she lands in the sand some distance away. It's close enough so she doesn't have to shout, but hopefully far enough that he doesn't feel threatened. Although, she has no idea how much the sun is shining off her scales and the subtle mist surrounding her, so Ryu might be getting blinded...
In a warm feminine voice thick with a country accent, like if warm apple pie could speak, the dragon observes, "That's an interestin' form, there."
no subject
Still, this one was a cut above. Stunning to see, a grace in motion.
Odjn's chuckle in the back of his mind only made things worse, causing him to hesitate before stumbling out, "Standard Ranger training with the broadsword, miss. I used to hunt rogue genics down in EndSector. I... Never really got out of the habit once Shelter started coming up top."
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After a moment to process all of that, she rubs the back of her head, similar to how a person might rub their neck. "Ah'm...not sure what a lotta that is," She confesses after a moment, "but it's always good to keep up your trainin' an' work hard to get stronger. Ya want a partner or anythin'?"
no subject
Could they even Dive, right now? We can. Claim the skies! Is-- You are not at risk.
He really wished he could trust Odjn fully right now. "I... Can give it a shot, but I'll have to do something a little risky."
(no subject)
(no subject)
1
"Careful there, friend, this is heavy! You don't want it dropped on your head!" He took a moment to watch the obviously happy creature bounding around, smiling at the obvious joy they exuded before continuing on his path, keeping an eye out for them to try and avoid stepping in their way again.
Vaaaaash <3
Shoot...forgot this body's got so much more weight behind it... The thought wasn't in her head for long before the spiky haired guy yelled out to her, and the dragon visibly perked up. "Ah, sorry!"
The voice that called back to Vash was what best could be described as feminine and country. It's a welcoming sound, though, like the aural equivalent of warm apple pie, with a quiet hum of power reminiscent of a gathering storm in the distance. With that, the subtle shimmer around her from the sunlight hitting her scales and the cold in them, and how large creature was, she could probably be described as a fairly majestic creature.
Before she'd been hopping around as she had, that is, and certainly not after she came over to him, her waist pack bouncing along and hitting the weapon holster on her back, and smiled apologetically. "Ah'm sorry, sir, Ah wasn't lookin' where Ah was goin'. Would ya like some help? Least Ah can do for almost runnin' ya over."
<3!
He came to a stop and turned to watch her, amused by the shimmer of her scales and vaguely reminded of the way the twin suns would hit the desert sands, and smiled as she bounded up.
"No harm done, I promise, though a little help would be nice! Do you know how to put up a fence? I've done it a few times, but a second pair of hands is always appreciated!"
no subject
The dragon beams, green eyes seeming to sparkle. "Oh, yeah, Ah've done that plenty back home. Ah'll jus' hafta change back to my normal form for that part. Ah, uh, don't think these claws are good for hammering."
Well, maybe they are, but she hasn't tried, and doesn't want to test it out on someone's new fence.
"Ya can strap the wood to my back first, though, an' make it easier to carry once Ah get off my lance an' shield, if ya'd like." Who knows, maybe he's also using this to strength train. She's done similar.
no subject
"There's no need for that, honestly, I can carry it the rest of the way. It's just up the road, it'd take more time to secure it to you than just me carrying it, and it's really not heavy." There were benefits to being inhuman, sometimes, even if he downplayed it as much as he possibly could. He would never admit openly to being able to carry things that most humans couldn't, and the number of people back home who had been augmented artificially to be able to do similarly had made it easier to hide, but he wasn't going to make someone else carry the load just so he could be a little lazy.
He nodded his head toward a little cottage down the path and shifted on his feet to forecast that he was ready to begin walking that way again.
"It's really more just that having two people to hold the planks while they get nailed up makes things easier. It's just this way, come on, I'll show you."
(no subject)
2
Something of a dragon quirk, really. Certainly he's never had an issue with the cold before. But save for some circumstances such as when they had been invited to another town or when brains had to be slaughtered, Ignis has been loathe to go out into the cold too much. Even the use of heavy fur cloaks, which always accompanied him when he went out to do grocery runs, never seemed to help. Not as much as he'd like, anyway.
...So that's meant they've probably not seen each other as much over the winter season save those rare events. Which means it's up to Nephenee if she can tell that an age difference has occurred over the winter more than just those couple of months.
After all, the change between 18 years and twenty five isn't that severe. And Ignis is still wearing his hair mostly the same way, if only for lack of hair product.
And he's still diligently practicing with a long spear out by the creek! So that's something.
Just because he's been taken away from his home is no reason for him to get sloppy or ill-practiced, after all. So he's hard at work, stripped down to some lighter layers and with a double set of pale shimmering green horns on display. Granted, not by choice, but he's no longer quite as vexed by them as he might have been at a younger age.
Nor is he bothered by the idea of being watched... although Nephenee might think otherwise when, in mid-stab of his spear, it suddenly dissipates into a burst of light (put away into the Armiger) and is instead replaced by a knife that goes right towards a tree Nephenee is near.
Ignis just smiles. "Good day, Nephenee. You really should have knocked and I could have greeted you properly with some tea. We're getting some good ones now that spring is coming."
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What? She's merely admiring a fellow fighter's technique, that's all!
Before she can dwell too deeply on that, the immediate instinct of her training kick in with that knife coming nearby, and she dives away from it. It doesn't matter that it's off to the side; it's in her vicinity. That's enough for wings to unfurl, charging her forward out of the brush, the better to get into position...
But then he speaks, and she stops dead in her tracks. Hearing his voice, and being caught and called out like that, both make the blush deepen, albeit for rather different reasons. She hurriedly looks away, flustered.
"H-Hi, Ignis...S-sorry, Ah didn't wanna interrupt ya, so was...jus' waitin' for a moment to say anythin'." Right, and arrows don't fell Pegasus Knights easily.
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He has more experience with the Armiger at this age than as a younger man... and he also has more experience with unpleasant situations now where he might not have access to it. Always good to have a knife on hand.
"Well, I was nearing the end of my little exercise as it was. Simply going for a walk, or were you dropping by for something?"
He might be a touch tetchy due to some... possessive and territorial instincts from this month, but he can rein himself in well enough for a visit.
no subject
Someone's pheromones might be a bit kicked up.
But it clearly can't be her. That would be silly, just like her watching him a bit too hard would be.
...Denial isn't just a river on some far off world, alright?
The Sentinel rubs the back of her neck, the ribbon on her sunhat shifting from the motion.
"W-Well, Ah was jus' walkin', yeah, but then Ah heard someone trainin'...so reckoned Ah'd check it out." That, at least, is the truth. "Ya, uh...got better at fightin', huh? An'...uh...did ya get older? Or am Ah missin' somethin'?" See, nothing odd here!
(no subject)
3
But he still feels the powerful urge to create a nest for his little clan, and so he's out on the hunt. His stubby tail swishes impatiently as he squints at the paper. This bright and energetic one...definitely not the kind of energy he usually gravitates to, but maybe she can help? He looks at her with a small nod.
"...It'd be easier if I could fly yet, but my wingspan's still too small," he groused. "Did you happen to see an orange flower?"
no subject
The woman he approaches—clad in blue wrap pants, a matching wrap over a white tank top, and a sunhat—turns to get a better look, since she'd only caught him in the corner of her vision...
...before her cheeks go crimson.
W-Wait, why ain't he got on a shirt?! Why's he wearin' somethin' that lowcut?!
For a moment, Kaiba just gets a flustered stammer out of her. Then she blinks and looks away to actually process that question. It's hard to think in the face of nice muscles!
"A-Ah, if ya...need an orange...flower...Ah've got some...at my place. Ya can have one."
Her eyes flick back to him for a second, then dart over to a tree behind him.
"Uh...lemme guess...you're havin'...trouble with clothes fittin'?" Please let her clothe you, Kaiba—if not for your sake, then for hers!
no subject
Kaiba blinks as he watches her reaction. Huh...? He's seen so many other dragons around here looking like him. He's not weird, is he?
"Mmm. I'm still in the middle of my changes, so it's impossible to know what to adjust for. But I'm fine. I don't feel the cold so much as an ice dragon."
no subject
"A-Ah can make it where...it's easy to adjust...'Swhat Ah did with mine."
The soldier gestures down to her clothing, which does indeed seem made to be quickly adjusted, and well-made to boot. While she's still flushed in the cheeks, talking about this at least helps her calm down. Plus she's not looking at him...but that doesn't stop him from getting hit by some warm mixture of scents: The steady strength of cedar, a delicate scent like the first blossoms of spring, an exotic heady amber, and some vivid, passionate scent cutting through it, demanding to be noticed, almost floral or citrus.
She seems to have no idea it's happening, if the way she keeps talking about the potential wardrobe fix is any indication.
"...Least if Ah do it right, should be able to figure for e'en if ya get real big..." The secret is inner pleats and layers. Well, that's one of the secrets, anyway. "Ya deal with ice too, huh?" She seems to carefully look him over. "White?"
(no subject)
3/4
She isn't anything but perfectly pleasant as always but there is an undercurrent of aggravation there that can't be denied. "What are you looking for?" she asks Nephenee, who she presumes is here for a scavenger hunt item like some of the other offworlders. She leans over the bar - giving a generous view that she doesn't actually intend for once of her cleavage - as she tries to peer at the list the other woman has been provided.
"Mm, I might have that in the back. You can help me look, if you want? I can probably step away for a minute or two."
no subject
The pheromones trailing in off the green-haired girl are thick this close—warm, steady cedar, smoky amber, a teasing of delicate apple blossom, and vivid, passionate marigolds. Whether they have anything to do with what Rosie's putting off, intentionally or not, is hard to tell. Emerald eyes politely flick away from that area, focusing on the list for a moment, before shifting back up to the proprietress' face. She notes a few items, and when Rosie says she might have something, she nods brightly.
"Ah'd be happy to help, miss. Ah'm the one askin', after all... sure appreciate it."
no subject
It's easier to think so though when she catches Nephenee's scent. Floral, earthy, and reminds her of frolicking in her youth with kitsune in the springtime. Of course, that frolicking often turned to rough fucking in the dirt and that's more the part she's recalling with fondness but! Details. Like before, she doesn't give anything away since she's practiced in keeping her emotions to herself.
"Hey, no worries," she says, talking as she walks and gesturing for Nephenee to follow. "We all gotta' help each other here where we can, right? Especially now, seems like."
3
Still, he is not so focused on his own list as to ignore the question when it is asked.
"I would not have any objections."
2
...Honestly, though, his basic drills haven't quite felt like enough recently. He's restless in a way he isn't quite used to, constantly seeking out more movement. Some of it, he burns off sparring with his housemates, working on getting the hang of his draconic form - but there's always more.
So, when he notices another of the dragon bonded watching him as he practices (most recently, seeing if he can use bursts of teleportation to shore up his admittedly weak flight), he lands. He tilts his head slightly, his flat gaze landing on her. "What is it?"
One
Okay, so he doesn't look completely dumb, she just looks... a lot better? The combined state of adolescent dragon and adolescent human boy comes to a solid conclusion: he has to look cool. A girl is watching. Puffing up his chest, he struts with slow and deliberate purpose. So majestic. Is she looking at him? Is she impressed?! He calls out as she gets closer.
"Pretty good, but I bet I'm faster!"
This is a great way to get attention. Nailed it. Ten out of ten for Popp.