eleventh ;

[queensconsort]

[There's someone haunting the library today. It's a figure familiar to some and terrifying to others: lanky, robed from head to toe in dark crimson, with two long ears and silvery hair leaking out of the hood. Krasus drifts from aisle to aisle until he finds what he's searching for. One may spot him, then, either reading at a table or perusing the black magic section. Notably, he is missing the last two fingers of his left hand, though it doesn't bother him at all.

Judge his reading choices if you want. He gives absolutely zero fucks since he's not planning to use it.]

[ooc: OPEN OPEN OPEN.]

Comments

[radiantwingedone]

[ So they secretly had color ideas that matched!

In anycase, Duke's hoping something in the magic section is in braille. Its highly unlikely. He'll probably just have to figure out how to highlight ink so he can make out the shape of words.

Although he pauses when notices the steps of someone else, listening. ]

.... Think have talked with before. [ Yes, talking to you. You smell somewhat familiar. If... bigger. And feel somewhat fascinating to that mana he keeps swirling about him. ]

[queensconsort]

[Krasus lifts his gaze from the tome he's inspecting and looks at Duke. He doesn't /look/ familiar, but that halting tone reminds him of the dragon he assisted once. Yes, he's sure that's who it was. Krasus does not forget who he meets, though he has met thousands of people in his lifetime.

And it was such an unusual circumstance...

Krasus smells like ancient magic, pressed flowers, and gunpowder-- for the record. It's hard to scrub the dragon off when he's in this form so that's about as good as it gets.]

Hmm. It is possible... Were you a dragon recently?

[radiantwingedone]

Correct. [ He couldn't feel that magic, as a dragon. But he smells more or less the same.

Although. ]

You.. are the one who demolished the doorway. [ And part of his wall. But the castle fixed that. ]

[queensconsort]

[That brings a small quirk to his lips, though Duke can't see it.]

It was necessary to free you. Is it still damaged? I could easily repair it, if the castle has not done so already.

[radiantwingedone]

... Fairly certain it has, although .. think have a large window now. [ It feels like he might have one. It lets his Altaria out easily, so he doesn't mind. ]

[queensconsort]

Renovation certainly was not on the list, but if it does not bother you, then I suppose it is acceptable.

In the confusion of your transformation, I do not believe I learned your name. I am Krasus.

[radiantwingedone]

... Duke. [ Yup, he's just awkwardly that talkative.

Although he's going to give a little bit of a grumpy exhale and stop feeling those bookspines. Nothing is going to be something he can read here. ]

[queensconsort]

That is usually a title rather than a name. How very curious.

[Krasus watches him grope the books with a slight frown.]

... I could heal your sight, but an injury is not the cause.

[radiantwingedone]

.... Something few are noticing, even here.

[ Not expanding further. Deal with it, its both for him. ]

... Second to offer; but castle caused. ... apreciate, the offer.

[queensconsort]

Stranger names exist.

[He nods, though Duke can't really see it.]

Think nothing of it. Shall I leave you to your search?

can I assume she's met him in person at least once... dragonsworn and all?

[payback]

[Rin is just kicking in the library, reading idly when she catches a glimpse of Krasus swishing by on his search for whatever.

She waffles between following him and staying where she is for a moment, but it has been a while, so in short order she's on her feet, leaving her books and scampering after him.]

Hey!

duh. probably more than once, too.

[queensconsort]

[He hears someone shuffling in his direction and stops, lifting his head and seeing-- oh.]

Rin. [A slight cant of his head.] Is something the matter?

:]b

[payback]

No... not really. [She tilts her head.] It's just been a while, I guess. Ah... what're you up to?

[queensconsort]

It has, I suppose. [Mortal time passes so quickly. He hardly noticed.] I am poring over old spellbooks. I do not know as much about leeching spells as I would like, save that they are connected to death and dark magic; the discoveries from the other world have made me reconsider my position.

[payback]

Oh... oh! [The mirror world, that's right...]

Do you think it's really eating souls? Some people here say that they don't have souls at all.

oops i lost this tag.

[queensconsort]

If it is not souls, perhaps it is suffering. I once considered that idea to be entirely unfounded, but now...

[He closes the book.]

We may never know the truth.

no sweat I'm the slowest.

[payback]

... I think maybe the people outside know. But they don't want to tell us anything. [She shakes her head.] I hate it!

[huffythedragon]

[Hey dragon bro, hey. There's a Spike, suddenly, appearing from behind one of the shelves]

Oh hey Krasus! What's that you're reading?

can i just take a moment to appreciate how CUTE that icon is?

[queensconsort]

[Krasus does not startle easily. Even when tiny purple dragons pop out of the woodwork.]

Greetings. I am researching dark magic, specifically the kind that drains energy. I think it may shed some light on our situation.

[He gives Spike a once-over.]

Have you shed any scales recently? One would think you would be overdue for a growth spurt.

[Maybe things really are as sterile as he thought...]

yes yes you can

[huffythedragon]

Oh, you mean the same sort of thing the castle's supposed to be doing to us?

[Sob forever he is trapped as a child. He shakes his head]

Uh uh, no growth spurt here.

...Not since the...uh... incident.

[queensconsort]

[His voice lowers a notch.] Yes, if the findings are to be trusted.

[He has reservations, simply because it's impossible to tell if the castle itself wanted that information to be found. Krasus thinks it may go much, much deeper than that-- but if it does, how can they alleviate the problem?

There's always something else to ponder in this place.

-- Spike's guilty look makes him arch an eyebrow beneath the hood.]

... It must have been quite the incident.

[huffythedragon]

Paradisa does sometimes...hide the really important books. Like the old journals, they...move. I keep trying to put them in one place, but they never stay there.

I...yeah. In my world when dragons are overcome with greed, they grow, and keep growing until they're adult size. I didn't know it would happen and...I can't wrecked a bit of the castle.

[queensconsort]

Like the rest of this castle, the books are enchanted. Your persistence is something to be admired. [Poor Spike. This is the worst library to be librarian of.

However, that's an interesting way for dragons to grow. He blinks a few times...]

You are bound to make a few mistakes, however, especially while living apart from your own kind. There is only so much another world's knowledge can do for those situations.

[huffythedragon]

I guess I'm kinda used to it. It keeps me on my toes. [Nope, Twilight even beats the magical Paradisa library. She reshelves EVERYTHING]

Yeah, and there's not a lot about dragons that Euqestria knows. They almost never come into the country, so it's all kinda guesswork.

[queensconsort]

[Oh damn. HAHA.]

Most would find that to be very trying, but you have done remarkably well.

[Why are you so tiny and cute and make me miss my own kids ;_;]

[huffythedragon]

Thank you. I'm pretty good at taking things in my stride.

[Because it;s what he does best]

[queensconsort]

And what a stride it is.

[Krasus reaches out as if to pet Spike on the head, but hesitates. After a second or two of indecision, he settles for scritching his finny ears instead.

He sighs.] ... She cared for you so. [Shouldn't be hard to guess who he's talking about.]

[huffythedragon]

[Awww that's nice, he snuggles in closer]

Yeah, and I cared for her. She's a really nice person. It's not the same here without her.

[queensconsort]

[It is nice, though a bit strange. He's used to being a dragon when this happens. Still, he drapes part of his cloak around Spike, sort of like a mother shielding her young with her wings.]

Part of her essence remains within the tree. You are never truly separated; so long as this world lives on, it will remember her... and your time together.

[huffythedragon]

[It's a comforting sort of feeling, reminds him of Alexstrasza greatly. Oh mammadragon, he misses you :(]

Really? ...That's pretty nice, I should spend some more time there. It's always so peaceful.

...I just wish I could remember her and everypony else here when I eventually go home.

[queensconsort]

Very few things can fool the heart, as I've found.

[He kneels before Spike, the spellbook disappearing within his robes.]

Once, due to an accident of time, I found myself in the past... My past, to be specific. Though I kept this unnatural form and my true identity was a secret, the queen knew who I was immediately.

My point is this, young one: though you may not always remember each other, you will surely meet again, and your heart will know. And what a joyous reunion it will be.

[huffythedragon]

[Awww, that makes him smile]

That's a really nice thought. And with Alexstrazia, I could really believe it was the case.