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Archive 19 / born-in-flames
Triggers: 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘕𝘚𝘍𝘞 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘗𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺, 𝘞𝘢𝘳
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꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. 19-Jan-23 05:03 AM
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘕𝘚𝘍𝘞 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘗𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺, 𝘞𝘢𝘳
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Rue Azure BOT 19-Jan-23 05:05 AM
A dragon is said to feel most comfortable in the flames. Hot coals burned underfoot, searing into soft flesh. Perhaps if she became one with the flames she would be able to connect with the ancient beast. Her eyes clenched closed and she bit past the pain that was digging it’s teeth into her skin. Dragons were a beast that had once ruled the world. Mankind had bowed down to them for centuries, beasts that had both intelligence and strength far more than that of the small creatures called human. The grand dragon was a creature that was of a godly stature, so strong and large that no man would ever be able to stand a chance against them. Or so they thought. While one man alone stood not a chance in comparison to the beast, mankind was adapting underneath their noses. Whereas they unassumingly believed that mankind would never bring harm to them even if they wished to, mankind was adapting. Mankind was growing smarter. With the invention of many tools and weapons, mankind silently plotted the overthrowing of the great dragons. It was a war unlike any other. Fire scorched the lands further than the eye could see. One had said that the entire planet had been overwhelmed by the flames. A planet like no other. Mankind dwindled yet their fight hadn’t been without impact. Dragons became a species endangered. They could no longer live in the peace that they had once known, mankind had found ways to kill them and it made them more vulnerable than they ever had assumed. The war continued to rage on for many years to come. Mankind suffered harshly, starvation growing to an all time high as morale suffered due to the continuous wars. Yet after nearly 50 years of warring only two dragons remained. The Great Cerulean Dragon and the Great Crimson Dragon. Amongst the strongest of dragons, these two had a futile war against one another that had continued for many eras. No matter the war, neither had ever been willing to band together to fight as a team for nearly 50 years. Yet
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the time had come. Pushed to the edge, both dragons forged a plan hotter than the coals that burned in their flames. In order to continue on the great reign of dragons, they each chose loyal followers who had never doubted them to inherit their powers. When their time came, two mortals were imbued with the strength and might of a dragon. These humans were able to fully turn into one with the beast yet due to their humanity, mankind grew fond of them, admired them for having “overcome” or “outsmarted” the beasts. Many years had gone since then and over time the war between the two dragons returned as if it was as natural as the ebbing and flowing of water. Rue had always dreamt of a world where there would not be such senseless violence. A war that they had never known anything other than. She knew not of their opponent or enemies other than the distorted pictures that the elders had painted many years ago. Yet they brought her nation pain. They had taken her mother away. It was high time that she become the dragon she ought to be.
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Or at least that was what she thought. Cursing, she stumbled off of the hot coals. “God Damn it.” She muttered under her breath, her feet red and scorched with harsh wounds. It hadn’t been the first time that she had done such a thing in attempt to force the beast out of her. It had been many years since Rue was meant to manifest. Most manifested around age 10. As a 20 year old, Rue was much past the term “late bloomer” to the point that the elders were not sure how to handle her strange case. While she had the marking of the Imperial Beast as her ancestors always had, it almost seemed as if the Dragons had rejected her. “Rue, it is time. We cannot put it off any longer. You have tried hard enough, perhaps it is not meant to be, young one.” Elder Rossa sighed softly and pushed out of his seat, slowly walking over. With each step, his cane seemed to echo demandingly. She frowned and looked down at her feet, shaking her head. His wrinkled hand paused on her shoulder. “It is the right decision for the nation. The only decision. It is time for this pointless war to come to an end, child. Far too much has been lost.” It was nearly a year ago when the proposal had been drafted. A deal in which the Crimson Dragon and Cerulean Dragons would finally put their pasts behind them and merge to create a greater and stronger nation. A marriage between the crown prince and crown princess of each nation. None knew whether it would be successful, yet the Dragons had invited them to their court. A den of wolves in most terms. Wolves and a dragon. Danger far beyond most of her guard’s ability. Yet it was the Cerulean Nation that needed this. It was beneficial to the Crimson Dragons, they had won in a sense. They had forced the Cerulean nation to beg for a cease war. A week of travel was all it took. The Crimson Palace was beautiful. With ancient architecture and several floors of lavish rooms. The palace had many maids and servants and it seemed like it was always bustling with ma
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ny people wandering throughout. It wasn’t until that night that Rue would meet the prince and yet she wasn’t allowed a moment of rest. After a long tour and welcome, she was guided to a room where she would prepare herself. “You mustn't let him see you frown, Princess. As any young lady, I’m aware that this isn’t ideal for you. It isn’t a love match nor is it someone you’ve known for a lifetime. But for the sake of our nation, smile and put on your best demeanor.” Rue’s handmaid had a shrill voice and an anxious way of speaking. She didn’t seem to be the best motivational speaker and she certainly didn’t make one feel much comfort. Rue let out a sigh and ran her brush through her hair, letting the maid style it and her makeup while she waited. After properly primed and prepped, she would be ready for her first meeting with the crown prince. Would he like her? She paused and looked in the mirror, her gaze softening. What was there to like? She weakened and gave a soft smile to herself, forcing it and shaking her head. Would anyone think she was actually happy? It didn’t matter. Would anyone care if she was actually happy? The elders didn’t. But as Elder Rossa had once said, you catch more bees with honey. Stepping into the lavish room, Rue felt small. She took a deep breath and lifted her gaze as she slowly approached the Queen and the crown prince. She bowed her head politely. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
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@viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 19-Jan-23 07:12 PM
Salinger crossed his arms and tried his best to hide his rage. He gritted his teeth and his eyes burned with fury. This was a terrible idea, the vessel of the Cerulean Dragon was just waltzing around the Crimson Palace, the capital of the Crimson Nation, her presence alone enraged him to no end. Salinger didn’t care what his mother had told him, this woman was his enemy. He could practically see the dangerous aura emanating from her body and his entire being was screaming at him to kill her before she killed him. The Crimson Dragon’s heart was racing and adrenaline was coursing through his body. The war hardened dragon felt as if he were back on the battlefield. But instead of being ordered to kill and destroy the enemy as he had been countless times before, Salinger was ordered to sit like a dog and behave while his enemies got comfortable in his home. Before the arrival of the Ceruleans the Queen had drilled Salinger on how he was to behave in front of the Cerulean princess. “You are to treat her like one of us, give her the respect a lady deserves, and Salinger, I swear to you if you do anything to screw this up I’ll have you locked in the palace until your coronation!” she had said to him. She also said something about “settling down” and “children” but Salinger had tuned her out by then. “Likewise Cerulean Princess.” The queen replied “I hope you and your comrades have settled in comfortably, as our honored guests and soon to be family we welcome you as one of our own.” She said with a smile. The queen was a much older woman, she had an aura of wisdom and beauty which had helped her to rule over the Crimson Nation in the absence of her late husband. She had high expectations of Rue, The Queen had pushed so hard to end the war by means of marriage to not only bring peace to the two warring nations, but also in hope of bringing her son back. She hadn’t told anyone this, and she knew it was a long shot but the Queen was hopeful her last wish would come true.
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@꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 20-Jan-23 02:51 AM
There was a fire that burned in the pits of their stomachs. Yet Rue was not so sure that her fire burned as hot as his. For what she knew of the Crimson dragon was that he was a cruel young man just like his predecessors, one who ran just as hot as the previous dragon who had murdered her mother in cold blood. Marriage. Most girls dreamt of a marriage with someone that they truly loved. It was when Rue had turned 16 that she became aware that she would never have that chance. As the sole heir to the Cerulean clan, Rue was worth a lot. Her name alone carried great power, a name that reminded all of the strength that dragon's held. Marriage was like that for the wealthy. It was all about what your partner could gain from marrying you. It was no longer about love but about power and exchange of wealth. It put a bad taste in her mouth. As she stared in the mirror, Rue glared at the reflection of herself. They had dressed her in a traditional dress much similar to a yukata, her body covered in a beautiful red silk fabric. She looked lovely, though that was an expectation. It was one of the many things that those who visited the Cerulean Islands learned. The Cerulean Princess was known for her beauty and her kindness. Yet outside of that, most never had the opportunity to see her and not one had ever seen her shift. "A smile looks much better on you."
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Rue glanced up and softened as Lukas stepped inside to her room, smiling softly. Lukas was one of the elder's sons. He was not wealthy but he had proven a life long companion of Rue's. She felt comfortable around him, her eyes softening as she took a seat. "Who can smile when they can hardly breathe?" She teased, rolling her eyes. "I suppose that's what he'd want though, don't you think? The prince, that is." "I'm sure that's not true." He paused, shrugging before sitting. "Okay, maybe a little bit. I could have sword I saw depictions of dead dragons earlier... Freaky..." He teased, holding his hands to make spooky motions. "Maybe he'll kill you in your marriage bed." Her smile faded, her gaze shifting to the ceiling. "I wouldn't be surprised. There is no turning back now, is there?" She asked, her head tilted softly. Her handsmaid, Lydia, returned with a scowl. She quickly scolded Rue and reminded her not to sit for she was wrinkling the fabrics. Rue softly pushed to her feet, wishing that perhaps the world would end right this moment and she wouldn't have to continue. "I suppose you'd like me to get on with it." She rolled her eyes at Lydia, her gaze tying forwards. "That way he can make a proper show of my death, don't you think?"
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Rue Azure BOT 20-Jan-23 03:01 AM
After what felt like hours of pep talk after pep talk from each elder, she was meant to enter. It would be private, no one to interrupt their discussion except for a million knights and the guards that followed behind her. Each step was graceful, her beauty immaculate as she slowly approached the rulers of their enemy nation. Rue was a lovely girl, her beauty unmatched. She had long blonde hair that cascaded down her back in a tumble of loose waves and pale blue eyes that resembled that of ice. Her pale skin was that of porcelain and in the beautiful dress it was clear that she had quite a beautiful and feminine figure. He looked intimidating. Yet she wasn't scared, she wouldn't allow herself to be. She was just as much a dragon as he. She lifted her chin and stood up straight once more. She took a deep breath and let her gaze connect with that of the Prince. His dark intimidating eyes seemed to glare daggers at her as she approached yet she paid it no mind, her attention shifting back to the queen. In many ways, the sheer posture of the Crimson Queen much resembled that of her own late mother. They both cared much for the ending of this war and it seemed the Crimson Queen had finally decided to take the step needed to create a true peace treaty despite the unwillingness of her own son. "Thank you for your kind welcome, Your Highness. I have quite enjoyed my travels of your land. Your cities are as incredible as everyone says and the architecture within your lands is truly astonishing." She smiled softly, "It was a wonderful welcome." Behind her, one of the elders stepped up, clearly wanting to get to business and yet not wanting to be rude to the rulers. "My name is Elder Rossa. It is a pleasure to meet you, my Queen." He said politely. Elder Rossa was a short stout man with rosy cheeks and ashy gray hair. "I am here to accompany the Princess in the discussions. I shall work as a place holder for the late king and queen of the Cerulean Empire as we come to a d
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ecision about... our agreement." Elder Rossa was a coarse man. He was using Rue as nothing more than a chess piece, a tool, to gain the power he may have wanted. He clearly saw no problem with putting her both into a dangerous situation nor whether she would end up in a life that she would enjoy. Elder Rossa had always been that way. He was a manipulative man who would do nearly anything ensure his own power. Even Rue's parents had always kept the man at arm's length. He was a fickle man who had come into power due to his family line's history and had always been at the Castle. He had known Rue since she was a child and yet he seemingly saw her as nothing more than an effective pawn. @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 20-Jan-23 05:37 PM
“The pleasure is all mine Elder, we are thankful to have you here to assist in these important negotiations.” The Queen replied and smiled politely at the short old man. Yet next to her the Crown Prince Salinger was barely holding back a scowl, his eyes were burning with rage as his attention turned towards the Elder escorting the princess. The only thing The Crimson Dragon hated more than the Cerulean Dragons were the supposed wise and all knowing Elders they surrounded themselves with. Salinger saw them as treacherous dogs who behaved when they were fed but would turn at a moment’s notice when someone else offered them a bigger bone. Salinger had personally seen what these supposed Elders were capable of in the final battles for the mainland in which poorly trained and ill equipped soldiers and civilians were ordered to stay and fight until the last man while their supposed leaders left them to die and retreated to the safety of their matriarch’s palace, pathetic worms, all of them. Their despicable nature almost made Salinger pity the Cerulean Dragons, almost… Ironically The Crimson Dragon felt the same about his own Elders and Generals, he saw them all as greedy swine who if not kept in line could become more dangerous than any adversary on the battlefield. Salinger turned his attention back to the princess, he only saw two ways of their marriage playing out, either she would stay clear of him and soak up the benefits that came with being the future Queen or she would get greedy and become one of the people who conspired against him, Salinger preferred the former. The Crimson Dragon knew there wasn’t a drop of love in this marriage, no one could love a war hardened monster like him. Especially not his enemy, because that was all Rue was and that was all she ever would be. @꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 21-Jan-23 12:34 AM
Swallow your pride. That was what she was told to do. And surprisingly, it seemed that was what Rue planned on doing anyway. The look in her eyes was willing and while mildly scared of her own situation, she wanted to try and make the most of the situation that she was in. She had a feeling that it wouldn't be easy nor would they get along well, but she wanted to put her energy into finding a way to get along. After all, if she were meant to be married to someone, it was much more beneficial to get along than to be entirely loveless. Rue knew she needed to swallow her pride. It was on her last tour around the Cerulean nation that she realized how important this would be. She couldn't leave her nation in the states that it was and while she was young, she could no longer allow the elders to rule through her as if she was no more than a mere puppet. Yet here she was, playing into their hands again, melding easily to their wishes and following through with hat they thought most beneficial. In the Cerulean Nation, the elders had as much power as the Queen or King in the Crimson Nation. They had been acting as rulers since Rue had turned 11. Since her mother had passed. Her father had passed in one of the many wars prior. Manipulating the child that had been left alone, the Elders had easily taken her for granted. To them, she was a pawn that easy bent at their will, easily manipulated due to her own sadness and naivety. Since then, the war had raged on, battles growing more and more dangerous despite the fact that Cerulean forces were dwindling. They began to ask younger and younger men to participate in the war, drawing on forces that had no men to truly fight, no one capable or emotionally willing to be thrown into a battle where it was clear that you would die. After all, the Cerulean nation hadn't won a war since Rue was but a mere child and the blow of losing Queen Reilani in battle had questioning the true strength of the dragons. The strength of the dra
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gons. The Imperial Dragons had ruled for ages. Without question, the Dragons had always been the strongest in the nation. With the power of the beasts that once roamed the earth on their side, the Imperial Dragons were people in which hosted a beast within their body. Yet these beasts were not always one with them, stirring up emotions too deep and often manipulating their host ruthlessly without question. For the true grudge to bear in this situation was that of the beasts and not one earned by either the Crimson nor Cerulean side. The two beasts had left scars so deep on one another during their own lifetimes that they had bore that scar into each and every one of their hosts. Well... that is to say with one exception. Rue. The princess looked down as Salinger's attention was drawn back to her. His gaze was heavy, she could well recognize it dripped and oozed of anger, resentment and animosity. There was no fact truer than that he did not want to go through with this marriage. She didn't blame him, of course. Even for her, this marriage stung at her chest, pulling at the strings of her heart. She had always wished to marry for love. While many royals did not, she had always listened to the stories her mother had told her of the love and bond between her and her father. It was romantic, the stories of two that were so aligned in mind and heart. Rue had always hoped the same for herself. Yet there was only one who had ever made such attempts to understand her and that was Lukas, whom had been her friend since mere childhood, whom she had followed around like a baby chick until he had turned around and decided that it would be much easier to get along with her than to get rid of her. Yet he was the child of one of the ever cruel elders, these plump old men who dictated the very shape of the Cerulean nation and continued to squabble over plans regarding Rue's life as if it were ever so easy to simply give away. Given away. That was what Rue had been.
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Rue Azure BOT 21-Jan-23 12:45 AM
Yet Rue well understood the importance of her going. For she had walked the streets of her towns and seen the disparities in the lifestyles, she had spoken with her people and listened to their stories. That was the kind of ruler that Rue hoped to be, one who listened to her people and made an honest effort to change based upon their opinions. She wanted to be the kind of ruler that her people looked up to and felt as if they could be honest with. After all, that had been how her parents had been. Yet since her mother's death, the nation had felt anger towards the rule, anger towards the fact that the dragons had been maimed and made useless. In reality, Rue well understood how they felt. Useless. What was a dragon that had no claws? A dragon that could not shift nor accept the shape of the beast that it bore within it. She could not fight by their side nor could she inspire greatness in this form, this weak frail body that refused to do as she wished. That was why she bowed her head. She deemed this to be the only way in which she could respect the wishes of her people, to save them and to bring these pointless wars to an end. They could take the fighting no longer. Rue paused and brought her eyes to Elder Rossa, who began to smile at the Queen's words. In his mind, she had bent far too willingly. Elder Rossa had manipulative tendencies that ran deep within his bloodstream. His father had been the same and for generations his people had been by the side of the dragons. Fickle feeble men that the dragons had trusted solely due to the fact that they were related to the first Rossa who had been a wise elder with a pure heart. "Thank you, my Queen. I would like to present you with the agreement we forged. As noted during our communications, the deal enacts that within the next six months, the war will come to an end. Fighting shall cease and during that time, our dear Princess will remain with you in the Crimson Court." His voice lulled for a moment, dark eyes l
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ifting towards Rue. "During this time, the Princess will obliged your Prince and together our nations will unify to be one." Rue paused and looked down, her gaze soft. "This fighting has gone on too long. Our people grow tired of endless death. Their tears have run dry, they have lost far too much." She softened, well understanding that the Crimson nation had lost much too. After all, a war was not without deaths on both sides. "For centuries we have fought a battle for which we do not belong to... but I do believe that it is time to put the grudge of which these tumultuous dragons once bore. I... truly do wish from the bottom of my heart that we can put this past us..." She explained, her voice cool and gentle as she lifted her gaze to that of Saligner and the kind Queen. "I will put all of my efforts into mending the relationship between our nations. I sincerely promise that." @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 22-Jan-23 02:07 PM
The Queen almost shed a tear from Rue’s words, she was delighted to know that the Princess and the Cerulean people were willing to put so much effort into ending this senseless war. But her glowing expression wouldn’t last when Salinger finally spoke “What’s the catch?” Salinger asked completely unmoved by Rue’s speech. “I find it hard to believe you’re both so willing and eager to surrender your entire country in exchange for housing your princess in my palace. What do the Ceruleans get out of this besides an end to their embarrassing performance on the battlefield?” The Crimson Dragon asked with a heartless tone in his voice. While any normal politician would have asked “What do you gain from this agreement?” Salinger was blunt, uncaring, and never wasted a chance to criticize the Cerulean people. The Queen glared at her son, she wanted to say something but held her tongue, the deed had already been done. She’d hoped her son would at least behave in front of her but it seems Salinger’s hatred for the Cerulean people ran much deeper than his respect for his Mother and Queen. The Crimson Empress nearly shed a tear, this time not from overwhelming happiness, but from the crushing realization that her son was far more damaged than she had originally anticipated. The Crimson Dragon wasn’t always a heartless war hungry automaton, Salinger used to be a happy, kind hearted, and adventurous boy who dreamed of saving his country and bettering mankind. However, after his first few trips to the front his mother began to notice something changing within her son. He smiled less as his ability to show emotion was diminishing, he spent more time inside in paranoid episodes fearing an attempt on his life, and he never spent more time in another person’s company than he absolutely needed to, no longer being able to relate to his fellow man.
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Now Salinger glared down at the Ceruleans below attempting to interrogate them and uncover what he thought was a plot to destroy the Crimson Nation from the inside out. Little did he know he was only helping to destroy himself from the inside out.
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@꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 22-Jan-23 02:22 PM
Something caught in the back of her throat. Her chest tightened as she heard his words blow right through her. Perhaps Lukas had been right. This prince wanted nothing more than to see her crucified on a post. Dead. She well understood the cruelty of his words and quite frankly, she had never been one to back down to a verbal battle. Especially against someone who had a heart so cold. "Their lives." She noted cooly, her tone unshaken as she spoke with a clarity to her that seemed evident. "Their lives are more important to me than any pride or land that we may own. I suppose that sentiment may be hard for you to understand... for perhaps all their efforts seemed to you was a pitiful display. But I will not stand by idly as my people are forced to lie down their lives for a war that I personally do not even stand for." Damage. Rue knew well the damage that war had done. She had watched it tear apart those of her nation and watched the way in which her people were continually broken down to a point so low in which she well understood they never would truly heal. There was no way in which she could ignore that. No way in which she could prioritize her own status as royalty while blindly ignoring that in which ailed them. Rue had never stepped foot on a battle field. Not once had she seen the bodies that piled up or felt the pain of their wounds. She knew not what they had been through and yet she hoped to ease their pain. "You may find it hard to believe." She paused, lowering herself onto her knees to bow politely, her gaze focused on the ground as she let out a soft breath. "But I do not think it so strange that one would wish to put an end to the source of the pain." She closed her eyes as she spoke, "Take me as you may. I cannot heal the pain caused by my ancestors... nor can I change the anger that my nation has welled up within you. What I can do... I can ask that you open your heart to the Cerulean people and embrace the change that we can make should w
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e put an end to this. Take your anger out of me... not on my people any longer. They have no spoils in this war." @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 25-Jan-23 07:28 PM
Salinger just stared at her in response, Rue’s words surprised him, he’d expected her to spit back, call him a scoundrel, tell him he was a monster for questioning the legitimacy of this arrangement, yet she didn’t. “We are grateful for your continued efforts to bring our two nations together.” The Queen finally said after a short period of silence. “And I ask that you excuse my son’s outburst. His time on the battlefield has left him bitter and angry, I ask that you pay his vulgar remarks no mind.” She said giving Salinger a quick side glare before turning her attention back to the two Ceruleans. “As far as the agreement goes is there anything else we need to discuss?” She asked attempting to change the subject and cover up Salinger’s embarrassing display. The Crimson Dragon rolled his eyes and let his gaze wander as boredom set in. Salinger saw no point in this meeting, the Ceruleans couldn’t possibly make this deal any worse for him than it already was. The Great Crimson Dragon Salinger who had established himself as a legendary Military leader, was being reduced to a political pawn, married off to a rival nation’s princess for political gain. Salinger saw nothing but bad things to come from this arrangement so there wasn’t much more they could do to him, he had accepted his fate and would wait to see how this played out. @꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 26-Jan-23 04:06 AM
She could hear them whisper behind her. The elders. Their gazes on her back felt as if they could burn right through her. She was sure that was what they wanted after all. They hated the idea that she would get on her knees to try and appease to these people. After all, the Cerulean Elders were not all in agreement about this marriage. Elder Rossa might have viewed this as the proper way to edge himself to power, but not all of the elders thought that this was a deal that would do them good. Many elders thought that it would bring both them and their kingdom to utter upheaval. It was hard to say. Rue didn't even truly know if the Crimson Nation and people would accept peace as they hoped. She paused, her gaze remaining down as she bowed for several moments before she raised her head. A deep breath pushed through her lips as she looked towards the Prince and Queen with a look of gratitude. It seemed that even Saligner's outburst hadn't been enough to rattle her. She remained as pristine as a lake, water untouched without a singular ripple. It would take more from him than that to shake her. She had spent the past many days preparing herself for any sort of battle that may have arisen. She would steel herself so that she would take anything thrown her way. Rue knew not how many times she had practiced through potential scenarios. She knew not how he would respond but she had assumed it would be worse than this. His pouting didn't worry her. "I entirely understand... I do apologize for the fact that it is partially my fault that he feels that way. I am sure it is rather distasteful for him to even imagine being married to me." She noted softly, her voice soft. She understood well what was going through his mind. It must've been a strong blow to his pride. "I simply hope it won't be as much torture has he might believe it to be." She gave a weak smile, feeling Lukas's gaze on her back. She was sure he thought it silly that she was saying such things. He'd laugh a
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t her later for bowing her head to him. She was sure of it. She could already imagine his teasing. How he's call her a doormat for allowing Salinger to simply glare through her as he wished. She simply hoped that perhaps she had knocked the Prince down a pedestal simply by defying his expectations. Elder Rossa spoke up when the Queen attempted to change the subject, beginning to note the details of the agreement. The agreement was long winded, agreeing that the Cerulean people would be given peace from the war and that the two nations would unify to create one nation under two dragons instead of one. Their discussion would continue for long yet it seemed neither of the young dragons would be given a chance to speak as the two debated the terms of the agreement before finally settling on them. The elders were bow and step back, leaving the Princess and the Prince to speak should they wish. @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 27-Jan-23 05:32 PM
“So princess, now that everything is settled, how does it feel knowing you’re going to be wed to your worst enemy?” Salinger asked the princess still trying to probe her and uncover what he thought was Rue’s real reason for being here. Salinger simply couldn’t except that she truly wanted the war to end and instead the Crimson Dragon was convinced the Ceruleans had found a new way to destroy their enemies and Salinger was dead set on exposing this supposed plot. “Surely you weren’t thinking of a scarred warmongering dragon as your dream husband. I’m sure you’d have preferred to walk down the aisle to a handsome prince charming wrapped in gold, so how does it feel knowing you’ll be spending the rest of your life with me instead?” Salinger asked with a slight smirk staring down at the Cerulean Princess with his strong arms crossed.
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The Crimson Dragon Salinger dressed a bit differently from his predecessors. Instead of covering himself in regal robes that screamed royalty Salinger wore mostly modified military uniforms. Not only did he find them more appealing and practical, but they made him appear to the many men and women in uniform as one of them and less like a stuck up royal brat as other young Crimson Dragons had appeared. Though now Salinger’s uniform only served to add to his already intimidating aura. His shoulder pads made his already broad shoulders stick up even more and the large amount of medals and decorations scattered about his uniform proudly boasted every little detail of his military career. From medals for bravery and valor, to pins and armbands awarded to him for surviving severe injuries, Salinger’s uniform had it all on display telling his story and how he became the man he was today. Unfortunately for him these medals would prove to be useless pieces of steel if he didn’t defeat his greatest enemy, an enemy that had hidden in the shadows waiting for the moment when Salinger was most vulnerable to strike, an enemy that continued to beat him even in his dreams. The enemy Salinger was now faced with was himself
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@꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 29-Jan-23 09:32 AM
"Worst enemy?" A small sigh escaped her lips, her gaze softening as she took a seat tiredly. She seemed drained to say the least, her gaze soft as she let it fall to look down at her long slender feelings. She felt weak against his gaze. The venom felt as if it was seeping into her, making it hard to fight when his words continued to harshly berate her. She was sure that his words came from a place of pain. Pain. She had plenty of her own. Perhaps that was why she was able to summon forth the strength to sit in his presence. Despite the intimidating aura he attempted to put up, she was well aware that he was nothing more than a man in pain. A dragon in pain. But still a man. She swallowed and shook her head, "You are not my worst enemy." She said softly, her lips tugging into a weak smile. Her smile seemed to say a lot, the soft sorrow that graced her lips made it clear that this was not a lie. Not once had she lied to him yet. "You are but a stranger." She noted, her gaze lifting as she felt him walk up to her, his gaze lingering down on her. She was sure she looked tiny in his eyes. Weak. Perhaps she was. In many ways she felt it. She had been trying to summon forth her strength and yet she felt none of it come to her. Perhaps that was why the dragon had rejected her at such a young age. She was not worthy of the dragon. Her body far too weak to host such a creature. The marks that branded her back said otherwise and yet their pale faded marks seemed as if they had been locked behind thick thick ice. Her gaze fell, "I do not wish for some handsome prince. It seems you have me all wrong." She smiled softly, hair slipping in her eyes. "You are no enemy, just a man who was pitted against me from birth... whom I know nothing about, and whom knows nothing of me." She spoke softly, her blue eyes coming to connect with his. "I wish for a husband who is willing to make a change by my side... I know not whether that is you... though I would like to believe tha
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t together we could create a better world together... one where no one knows the pain that you and our people have faced." @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 31-Jan-23 07:50 PM
Salinger raised his eyebrow slightly intrigued staring back at Rue with his dark brown eyes. She seemed genuine and her words uncovered a long lost dream of Salinger’s, a dream of creating a world free of pain and suffering. When Salinger had first joined the Crimson Army he believed with the defeat of the Ceruleans, who had been blamed for the mass poverty and starvation in the Crimson Nation, his dream could become a reality. However, when Salinger began pushing the Ceruleans farther and farther from the mainland he’d noticed that nothing had changed. People were still starving, children were still being orphaned, and crime was still on the rise all over the country. It was then Salinger realized all the hard fought battles, all the blood spilled, all the death and destruction he still saw in his nightmares today, had all been in vain. Because the enemy wasn’t just on the other side of the front lines. They were the mayors hogging grain from their people, the soldiers raping and killing in whatever village they were stationed in, and the judges letting dangerous criminals go for a small bribe. Sadly, by then Salinger was too far gone, war was all he knew and would ever know, and with every battle his dream of creating a heaven on earth would become buried under the bodies of the Crimson Dragon’s enemies, such was the death of Salinger the Heroic Prince and the birth of Salinger the Tyrannical Warlord. But now hearing Rue talk of creating a world without pain made something soften inside of him. Was it really possible to create such a place? The Crimson Dragon immediately derailed his train of thought, Salinger couldn’t trust this woman in front of him let alone bring about this utopia she spoke of, besides how was she supposed to bring peace to the world when she couldn’t even bring peace to her own nation?
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“You’re awfully optimistic princess, I do wonder if these feelings will waver after you learn it takes more than a fancy wedding to bring about the fantasy land you speak of.”
19:50
@꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 02-Feb-23 02:41 AM
Dark. His eyes were dark. And not only in color. Rue's gaze connected with his, her intentions clear as she tried her best to entirely lay herself down with a sense of sincerity. She was a soft spoken girl, her gaze entirely focused on making the future she dreamt of a thing. Just as he did, she hoped that one day they would be able to move so far past the pain and suffering that it would seem like a nightmare from long ago. Forgotten. It seemed impossible at the moment, impossible to wash away the pain that had been weighing down their people, to wash away the effects of war. Yet she knew that they had to try. A sigh escaped her lips as she heard his voice, her gaze falling. "I am not optimistic at all." She noted softly, biting at the inside of her lip. "I... have not seen the extent of what state the Crimson Nation is in, though the Cerulean people... I am very aware of their state." She frowned, fingers fiddling ever so anxiously as she spoke. "Our people are in a crisis... there is a mass poverty and the people are starving..." She paused, her voice wavering as she seemingly tried to continue thinking through something she had thought through many times. "I know it will not be easy... as do you." Rue looked at him, "But... if we do not make an effort, what kind of rulers would we be? Our people are crying out for help... we need reform... And it starts with a redistribution of wealth... those who are at the top are too wealthy and too greedy. At least on the Cerulean side... I believe we need to shift the balance of power, encourage charity. Once our people are no longer starving... we would need to create an influx of jobs. We have plenty of farming lands but no one strong enough to tend to them, I believe that should we be able to encourage both of our people to take these jobs, we will be able to harvest enough food that the famine and starvation issues we are experiencing now will start to fade..." She looked down, "Though, of course, my ideas may s
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ound idealistic, I do hope that together we could work towards change. One step at a time." It may be naive, but Rue wanted to believe in him. And seeing the way that his eyes seemed to soften ever so slightly for a moment reminded her that he too shared the same sentiment. It was time for change. But that change could best be found together. @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 03-Feb-23 01:10 PM
There was a long pause as Salinger thought over what Rue had said, after a few seconds a bold idea began forming in his head and he suddenly spoke up through the silence. “I suppose you’re right, I refuse to stand idly by while my people are suffering.” The Crimson Dragon said with a quieter and less antagonistic tone of voice. “Tell you what Princess, I propose a deal. With your permission I’d like to send troops from my elite unit to the Cerulean Capital. In exchange I will consider cooperating with you.” Salinger knew what he was proposing was completely outlandish. By agreeing to this Rue would essentially be consenting to a Crimson Invasion of the Cerulean Nation. However, Salinger saw this as both an insurance policy and a sort of twisted trust exercise. The Crimson Dragon had no plans to do any harm to the Cerulean people in fact just the opposite, if Rue could prove herself loyal and genuine Salinger would happily use the troops stationed in the capital to distribute goods, help the sick and injured, and anything else he could do to help the Cerulean people. But if she proved to be conspiring against him it would be very easy to turn what was left of the Cerulean Nation into a sea of flames. Salinger hoped he wouldn’t have to resort to that but the extreme paranoia that plagued his mind needed that leverage. @꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 04-Feb-23 02:44 AM
I propose a deal. A deal within their already proposed deal. Something curled in her stomach, twisting as he noted he wanted to send troops to the Cerulean Capital. She swallowed, her gaze falling down as he explained that he would consider cooperating with her. It was a hard deal. Her eyes shifted anxiously, falling down to her fingers as she fiddled with them nervously. "I..." She paused, "You--" She stumbled over her words. An absolutely unprincess-like display. She seemed scared, her eyes giving away the fact that she wanted to trust him but probably couldn't. "You won't hurt them... right?" Her clear blue eyes lifted to look into the dark abyss of his own. "I...I don't want my people to be afraid....they don't deserve that." She muttered, her gaze falling to the side. "I-- I don't know if it'll be productive to stage it like that..." She frowned, "If you send in the Crimson elite guard, it'll put my people in fear... and thus make it harder for our people to unify." She looked at him, standing and walking up to him. "Could... we perhaps compromise?" She looked small in front of him, her body petite and frail in comparison to his own large build. "It's just... well I think that it may be more beneficial to both of our nations if you send them in a more peaceful way..." She bit her lip, knowing that he might well dislike this agreement. "Perhaps, we could do it as act of aid?" She looked at him, eyes hopeful. "I would fully fund it myself if that would help... We could use the money I have left to host the Crimson elite and have them prepare a food bank or something..." She paused, "I'd like to do the same for the Crimson Capital as well... I had prepared the farmers to prepare many bags of rice to be distributed to those in need..." She was seemingly talking about ten topics at once, her mind all over the place as she struggled to communicate for the first time since meeting him. Her ideas were pure of heart but messy at the moment, like strings that ha
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dn't yet been tied into beautiful bows. She still had a lot of thinking to do on them. Yet it also showed the fact that she had been thinking about unifying their nations for a long time. This had been something that had been lingering on her mind for many days and she was still working on creating a solid path and idea that would help unite their people. @viper392
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Rue Azure BOT 09-Feb-23 01:07 PM
@viper392 hopefully you're doing okay?)
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Salinger Crimson BOT 09-Feb-23 01:11 PM
@꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚. Yes I’m fine thank you. I’m just studying for a very hard flight test coming up on the 17th and I don’t think I would be able to generate good responses with this test looming over my head. I plan on jumping right back in when I’ve passed the test.)
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Salinger Crimson BOT 11-Feb-23 06:46 PM
“That is the deal I am offering you and it will not be altered in the slightest. I will give you until sundown to make your decision. Think long and hard about what I am proposing Princess, for the welfare of your people and your future in this palace depend on it.” Salinger replied, his tone softening ever so slightly. “Now if there is nothing further to discuss I would like to take my leave.” The Crimson Dragon said nonchalantly. By giving Rue time to think about her decision but not enough time to uncover what he was doing put Salinger in an advantageous position and would hopefully lead to a favorable outcome, Salinger was already planning on what to send as aid. The Ceruleans hadn’t seen resources from the mainland in years so maybe it would be best to send things like meat and poultry, quality ore and raw materials, and maybe some of the Crimson Nation’s own inventions like fireworks and other gifts. The Queen’s worried look began to fade as she’d seen her son use this tactic before during negotiations with Elders and Generals, he called it the trust fall of fire. The concept was simple, he would make a deal that would seem threatening or one sided at first but if the other person agreed they would earn Salinger’s trust and be rewarded handsomely for doing so, these deals also gave Salinger peace of mind and security, something his damaged mind needed desperately. The Queen hoped this was Salinger’s first step to opening up and enjoying life again, and she prayed Rue would put up with her son’s antics just a little bit longer. @꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 12-Feb-23 11:28 AM
Trust. It was something that Rue had learned often bit her in the back. A backstab wasn't all that surprising when you were royalty after all. Especially not when your court saw you as nothing more as a political figurehead who had no true power. After all, Rue was more than aware of the way in which the elders thought of her. She was easy to manipulate in their eyes, a weak and powerless dragon that could easily be molded to best fit their desires. Did he think the same? Her gaze fell slightly as he told her to think about it, still rigid in his ways but perhaps offering her the smallest smidge of kindness that he knew how to give. It wasn't much, but perhaps this was the only path that lead towards happiness. Her gaze fell to her hands as she listened to the sound of his shoes clicking as he walked away. After several moments, Rue lifted her gaze and looked towards the Queen, bowing her head politely. "I... will take some time to think over such agreements. Thank you." She took a deep breath and rose to her feet, letting power fill her lungs as she walked towards the door and exited the large hall. It was hours later before she would return. Hours that passed slowly as she paced the grounds of the Crimson Dragon's home, letting herself wonder and ponder over the possibilities she had. In all honesty, there wasn't much of a choice that she truly had. She saw two options: Agree with him and risk potential danger OR Disagree and return home to a war and nation that could take no more. The thoughts hounded her mind for hours, her head aching and her heart heavy as she wondered what possibilities she truly had and whether the Prince truly had some kindness in his heart. She had almost heard it in his voice, but she feared that perhaps it had been wrong. Perhaps, she had merely imagined such in her moment of distress. Sitting down at the table, Rue let her gaze fall, her attention only lifting when she heard the sound of shoes behind her. "I agree to your terms...
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" She noted softly, taking a deep breath as she tried to solidify the weak resolve that she could feel wavering. Her heart was pounding, her mind still fretting over the possibilities of what would happen if she misplaced her trust. Yet he didn't want pain and suffering, and she could see that in his eyes. So she had to trust him, even if it was potentially the hardest thing she had ever done. @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 16-Feb-23 05:15 PM
Salinger smirked slightly after hearing that Rue would be accepting his deal. His plan had worked perfectly, he’d gained the leverage and security he so desperately needed therefore the storm of panic and uncertainty inside of him should have cleared, but looking at her now he still felt uneasy, he could almost see the dangerous aura emitting from the Cerulean Princess. The Crimson Dragon’s heart was racing again and he could feel the familiar rush of adrenaline that he felt every time he stepped on the battlefield. However, Salinger held his composure, casually approaching the Princess from behind taking a breath before he finally spoke. “I’m glad to hear that you’re willing to accept my offer. I understand it must have been a difficult decision, perhaps this will put you at ease.” The Crimson Dragon said as he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolding it and setting it in front of the princess. Before her lay a statement that said that a warship carrying a battalion of soldiers from the Elite Crimson Guard would dock at the Cerulean Capital with orders to remain there until called back by none other than the Crown Prince himself. Further along in the statement were orders for the vessel to carry and distribute a variety of items to the Cerulean people that ranged from food and medicine, to gifts and offerings like silk and flowers. “With your approval I will pass these orders along to my Generals. If there is anything you would like to add to the list of items to be sent to the Capital I will happily oblige, consider it a gift.” Salinger said as he sat across from Rue trying his hardest not to give her a thousand yard stare. His episodes had been getting worse as of late, his mind was beginning to play tricks on him making a terrifying black aura appear around the Cerulean Princess that left Salinger on the edge of fight or flight. But Rue had put her trust in him and Salinger was determined to honor his end of the deal. @꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 17-Feb-23 03:22 AM
Trust was one for what they had. Intimidation. Ultimatums. There were quite a few others that Rue personally would consider this before saying that she trusted him. She was trying to trust him, yet the smirk that curled along his lips after she had accepted the offer only made her concern continue to grow. After all, she couldn't help but fear the fact that he was up to no good, fear that perhaps he was going to bring more pain and suffering to her people. She well understood that revenge and anger had a way of warping people's souls and encouraging them to do things they normally wouldn't. She certainly hoped that it was just her fear talking, her gaze falling down to watch as she anxiously rubbed at her hands. "I--" She paused as he brought the paper towards her face, her gaze shifting over to the paper so that she could read it. At first it sounded scary, a warship carrying a battalion of the strongest soldiers would be hosted in the Cerulean Capital until called back. Would he ever order them to attack? To take control of the capital? To do something much worse to their people? Would they be without morals or cares in the world? Would they treat them with hostility unknown to them? She knew not and yet all the worries continued to shift in her mind until she read the next section of the statement. What they were carrying. She paused, her gaze lifting to him. "Y-You..." She glanced away, taking a deep breath in attempt to relax. "You would be willing to bring such goods to my people?" She looked at him, something softer in her eyes evident as she tried her best to believe him. "You...truly are an intimidating man." She admitted to him, her gaze falling as her posture evidently relaxed. There were tears in her eyes whether she was trying to hide them or not, her gaze holding away as she attempted to regain her composure. "You truly do scare me..." She admitted in a soft tone, "I approve..." She nodded, handing him the statement back once she had steeled
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her emotions a tad further. After all, even though she was trusting him with this, she couldn't help but not want him to know that she was so effected by his intimidation tactics. @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 21-Feb-23 06:26 PM
Salinger folded the statement and set it back into his pocket, the deal was sealed. “I will pass this along to my Generals and have the ship ready to leave by tomorrow morning. I apologize for my methods but I have my reasons, I hope the gifts and aid to your people will make up for all the trouble.” The Crimson Dragon said, his voice softening ever so slightly. Salinger felt something twinge in his chest when he’d seen Rue loose her composure, he felt something he hadn’t felt in a very long time, so long that he didn’t even recognize what he was feeling, but whatever it was helped slow his racing heart and made the dark aura around Rue begin to fade. “Hungry?” Salinger blurted out suddenly and signaled for a servant.
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Salinger Crimson BOT 22-Feb-23 01:08 PM
@꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 24-Feb-23 04:05 AM
Strength. Dragons were meant to be strong. Perhaps that was why Rue had always questioned her own lineage, questioned the fact that she was indeed an Imperial Dragon. After all, she wasn't strong physically nor mentally. She was a bright girl with a kind smile and embrace that could welcome anyone, but she certainly didn't seem like the type who could hold her own should she have to go to war. Perhaps that was why she was the first to suggest peace, the first to suggest seeing their fight in a different light than they always had. She was not like other dragons. She paused and looked at him, smiling ever so softly as he apologized for his methods being ever so cruel. She nodded and looked down, "Yes.... my people will very much appreciate it... We truly hope this can be a successful and peaceful partnership." She noted, a sigh escaping her lips as she regained her composure. It was in moments like these that it was clear she was not like the other Imperial Dragons, her voice too soft and her heart too welcoming. All of the previous dragons had been more in control of their hosts until then, instilling them with an anger and distrust that Rue seemed without She paused and looked at him, caught off guard as he asked if she was hungry. She swallowed and looked at him, about to respond when her stomach responded for her. Her cheeks reddened at her stomach growling, her gaze falling as she grew flustered. "I--" She bit her lip, seeming unrefined and girlish for a moment before smiling, "Yes please." She nodded, looking at him with a sheepish smile. @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 01-Mar-23 06:29 PM
Salinger chuckled a bit, something he hadn’t done in a long time, and ordered the servant to prepare some food. After the servant girl scampered away The Crimson Dragon turned his attention back to his fiancée. It still hadn’t fully sunk in that soon he would be a married man, Married to a woman that terrified him and intrigued him, what a strange situation. Salinger leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms making his uniform tighten around his strong arms and broad chest. “Well princess if we’re going to be married I suppose we should at least get to know each other outside of what our propaganda tells us.” Salinger said casually while trying to recompose himself. “So what’s your story?” He asked plainly as if it was the most simple question in the world. @꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 03-Mar-23 06:41 AM
Had he just chuckled? Rue stared, her cheeks reddening as she heard the sound that she least expected to hear from the Crimson Dragon. She swallowed, flustered as he grew amused by the way in which she had made such a silly display. Of course, she hadn't meant to. She couldn't exactly hide the fact that she was hungry, her stomach clearly wouldn't allow her to. She bit her lip and looked away, clearly flustered with herself as he laughed softly at her. It was a girlish expression that she made, one that further reminded him that the Cerulean Dragon was nothing more than a young lady with hopes to bring peace. She shifted in her seat and looked towards the Prince, her eyes curious as he spoke. She blinked several times at his question, her eyebrows furrowing. "My story?" She asked, shifting uncomfortably. She wasn't sure how to answer such a question. Her story. "I... I suppose I'm not sure where to start." She noted softly, her hair slipping in her eyes as she looked down at her hands. "Where I come from... dragons are assumed to be... quite solitary creatures." She started, "Therefore... due to tradition... I had a relatively quiet childhood..." She spoke softly, taking her time as she grasped at what information to share. "It was peaceful... but lonely." She bit her lip, her gaze lifting towards his once more. "I suppose.. I felt as if I would never meet anyone who would see me as myself, and not a dragon." A deep breath. Rue pushed air into her lungs as she attempted to tell her story to him. "My parents were the only ones who would understand... and my father was not a dragon at all." She noted softly, "My mother... she died in war when I was young..." She looked towards him, "And... my father soon after. I believe it was due to despair." She frowned, anxiously rubbing at her wrist as she spoke. "Due to my age and lack of experience, the elders have been in charge of the nation since. I suppose, this was my first act as ruler." @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 03-Mar-23 11:24 AM
Salinger watched Rue closely as he listened to her story with a genuine look of curiosity on his face. Little was known about the Cerulean Princess and now he could see why, she’d been locked away like treasure in a vault while the dogs under her reaped the benefits. “I suppose it’s not just Crimson Dragons that have sad stories to tell.” Salinger said after a long pause. “Strange that we are expected to be like gods among men, emotionless and idle until we are needed, when in reality we are just like everyone else. Only difference is we are blessed and cursed with extraordinary power.” The Crimson Dragon went on, his tone low and serious with a twinge of hidden pain. But as he changed the subject his tone shifted a bit sounding more carefree. “I will say that you won’t have to worry about loneliness in this palace” he said, “You can’t turn a corner without some servant rushing you and asking if you need anything. And you can forget stepping outside for some peace and quiet, The people here will swarm you before you can take a breath of fresh air.” Salinger said with a slight smile. @꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 06-Mar-23 04:03 AM
Opening up. It was hard. Rue wanted to open up to him, to show him that she could trust him so that he would in turn open up to her. And yet, as she spoke, her voice came soft, her hand shaking as she wondered if he would use it against her. If he would remain the cool and cold man that he had shown her to be. She knew very little about the Prince. After all, she had chosen to ignore the rumors that had spread about him prior so that she could make her own judgement. Yet so far, the rumors were proving true, a cold sadistic man with a glare sharper than any blade. She paused as he spoke, her eyes softening. "No... I suppose not." She looked down, forcing a deep breath in through her lungs. "I suppose we have more in common than you would have expected?" She asked, her gaze lifting to connect with his. He had a way of talking that made it seem like he were choosing his words carefully, pausing to think before speaking. It made him seem sincere. Less sincere than calculating as she had assumed earlier. "I'm glad to hear that." She admitted, almost smiling as she looked down, "I've grown rather tired of solitude." She looked at him, chuckling softly. "It's rather lonely to live a life like that...isn't it?" She asked, her clear blue eyes looking into his as she lifted her drink to her lips. Perhaps he was just as human as she. Heavily guarded and jaded, but indeed human with a heart that had grown rather tired of the cold. "What about you?" She asked, biting her lip slightly as she paused. "What is your story?" @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 06-Mar-23 06:43 AM
“My story huh?” Salinger leaned back in his seat and thought about the question for a bit. Everyone has a story to tell but the Crimson Dragon didn’t know how much of his story he should tell. Salinger’s life wasn’t exactly an honorable one and certainly not one he should be bragging about to the Cerulean Princess. “Well, I was born and raised in the palace and for most of my childhood I remained in the Capital City. My father was a General in the Crimson Army and he was declared Missing in Action when I was very young. I’m an only child but my mother always made time for me despite her royal duties. When I became of age I joined the Crimson Army as an Officer and served on the Southern Front until I was promoted to Supreme General.” His “story” sounded more like an excerpt from his Biography, was the Crimson Dragon’s life really this boring? Or was he holding back? By the time Salinger had finished speaking the servants had returned with a feast laying down platters stacked with all kinds of lavish cuisine from all over the country, The smell alone was enough to make one’s mouth water. When the servants finished laying out all the food Salinger casually set some fish and vegetables on his plate and poured himself a glass of wine.
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@꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 13-Mar-23 04:55 AM
The life of a dragon was nothing like one would guess. After all, they were royalty. And everyone assumed the life of the royals to be glorious and beautiful. That their issues and troubles were frivolous and trivial. Rue well understand that it wasn't. While his stories was strictly told without emotion, Rue understood that there was a reason that he was attempting to guard himself. His life must've been just as hard as her own. Most likely harder if she could guess. After all, all whom she had ever seen go to war always came back with a chip on their shoulder and a deeper darker hardened look in their eyes. Salinger had the same look in his eyes. "That's very impressive." She noted softly, "Though... I'm quite sorry for your loss of your father. I do hope one day he may turn up." She smiled softly, though she knew that if he hadn't turned up yet there was a high chance that he had been killed in the war. After all, her own mother had died in midst of war, in the midst of that tumultuous war that Rue hoped to bring an end to. As the food was served, Rue's attention shifted, unable to ignore the watering of her mouth at the scent of the fresh food. She took a deep breath and placed some of the food onto her plate, gently serving herself in a manner that had clearly been taught. Even down to the serving sizes she was careful to protect her reputation, not wanting to be seen in a poor light by him. She looked at him, "May I ask... what are your goals for the people of the Crimson Nation?" She asked softly, "I hope to see my people learn to stand on their feet again... to regrow our agriculture... and refresh the job market so that making money and feeding your families will be easier." She looked at him, wanting to offer her own goal so that he knew she was an open book. @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 13-Mar-23 09:50 AM
Salinger thought about the question as he was chewing on a piece of fish. After a while he realized he didn’t actually know the answer, if he’d been asked that question a month ago he would have said his goal for the Crimson people was to protect them and keep them safe. But now that the war was over and his people were celebrating in the street while their sons, fathers, and husbands were finally coming home, there was nothing to protect them from. Aside from the rare stamp out of corruption the strong arm of the Crimson Nation was no longer needed. “I haven’t put much thought into that. For the longest time all I was concerned about was protecting my people and defeating their enemies. But what happens when there is nothing to protect them from?” The Crimson Dragon’s eyes darkened ever so slightly as he said this and he took a rather large sip of wine from the glass beside him. @꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 19-Mar-23 07:31 AM
It wasn't the answer she expected. Then again. It wasn't a bad one. After all, Rue was quite aware that the Crimson Nation wasn't in as dire of straits as the Cerulean Nation was. They had food and jobs and while there was occasional slipping of power, for the most part, the nation remained strong despite the war. It was clear which nation had been winning the war for the last 50 years, though they never had managed to deal the sealing blow. Rue looked slightly down at her food and paused, slowly letting her hand glide towards her drink. "I suppose that's a good thing though...That's what all rulers wish for, a peaceful nation where you don't need to protect your people... of course, you're there to do so should you need, but a self sufficient and healthy nation." She said softly, almost as if talking to herself before smiling, "I wish I could say the same." While Rue knew the state of the Cerulean nation not entirely her fault, there was a part of her that believed her reign had worsened it. After all, she couldn't do much for the war and she certainly had no way of helping to produce the crops that simply would not grow. While she hoped to boost morale, her presence only angered the resentful people who wondered why the dragons had stopped fighting the war by their side. The only thing she could do was to ask for a peace treaty, which she was doing now. And yet even then she was sure there would be those unhappy with her decision, unhappy with the way that she had given up on the war that they had been fighting for so long. After all, in many eyes, she was admitting defeat. For a moment, Rue looked towards the Prince with a slight frown, her blue eyes lingering as she wondered where she had strayed from the path that her parents had hoped for her. Whether they would have supported her decision or called her a fool. Yet wordlessly, she looked down once more, unsure of what to say to the young man to continue their conversation. @viper392
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Salinger Crimson BOT 21-Mar-23 05:29 PM
Salinger blinked as he noticed Rue’s tone and expression change and sadden. He felt a painful tug in his chest almost like something inside him was urging him to say something. “I believe you will be able to say the same in due time. As much as I dislike this agreement, you made a decision that would end the war without officially surrendering or sacrifice the sovereignty of your nation, not to mention in marriage all debts are forgiven so you saved yourselves from a significant sum of reparations. The Cerulean Nation will be brought to its former glory and beyond in time. Don’t be so hard on yourself, for a new ruler in such a dire situation you played your cards quite well.” The Crimson Dragon said before going back to the cuisine in front of him, though he still didn’t trust Rue fully, Salinger admired her commitment to her people and her ability to make hard decisions despite not being an experienced leader. @꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.
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Rue Azure BOT 23-Mar-23 03:52 AM
A soft chuckle escaped her lips. She paused and looked at him, her gaze shifting over to him, "I'll try to not make this agreement much worse for you." She noted softly, her gaze casting down to the food in front of her. She seemingly had no appetite, her gaze idle as she looked at it, shifting her fork around the plate tiredly before nodding. It was strange to be comforted by one who considered you an enemy. She wasn't sure if he considered her an enemy, of course, but something told her that she hadn't earned trust just yet. After all, she hadn't expected to. She didn't deserve it just yet. He hadn't earned her trust yet either. "Perhaps... one day this agreement can bring us a peace of mind... " She lifted her gaze towards him, "I do not expect...love or anything of the sort.... I know that would be presumptuous and rude of me... but... perhaps we can talk like this from time to time?" She looked at him, blue eyes softening as she finished her sentence, "As friends... and not enemies... one day?" @viper392
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Rue Azure BOT 15-May-23 07:34 AM
@viper392 checking in on you - you doing okay? Should we make this entirely inactive??))
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Salinger Crimson BOT 15-May-23 07:36 AM
@viper392 checking in on you - you doing okay? Should we make this entirely inactive??))
@Rue Azure (@꒰ skyward shae ꒱ ༉‧₊˚.) - jump (Much as I’m really enjoying this RP I just don’t have the time anymore, if you want to archive or make inactive I’m ok with that.)
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Rue Azure BOT 15-May-23 07:38 AM
(Much as I’m really enjoying this RP I just don’t have the time anymore, if you want to archive or make inactive I’m ok with that.)
@Salinger Crimson (@viper392) - jump okay sounds good
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