1044/Ryu meets Bahamut!

Ryu meets Bahamut!
Date of Scene:	28 November 2014
Location:	Spira(AOA)
Synopsis:	A young man who has discovered new powers within himself comes to Bahamut for counsel
Cast of Characters:	Bahamut, 636

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Bahamut has posed:
     The city of Bevelle is quite the spectacle. It has tall buildings, extravagant architecture, and airships floating around the sky. If he asks where the Temple of Bahamut is, he would be directed to the largest building in the city. A huge structure with many, as the name suggests, bevelles around the edges of the various floors. The main entrance is 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide. And standing in front of that entrance is the 15 foot tall Bahamut, the mighty Aeon of Bevelle.

     As he stands there, overlooking the nearby city, waiting for Ryu to appear, he cannot help grinning to himself at the looks people still give him. Though not nearly as much, people still stare when they see him, and children wish to get closer. His stance is one of confidence and power, with his body held up straight and his arms crossed over his chest. And just for added effect, his wings are outstretched at the moment. With the way the grey fades to a vibrant blood red at the ends of the very metallic-looking feathers, it certainly presents an imposing sight.

Ryu (636) has posed:
    Ryu was not expecting this.

    The blue-haired young man was quite overwhelmed by the sheer majesty of the place. He walked through the city, and let himself get lost for a little while before even bothering to ask where to go. Once he did, though, he made his way to the place Bahamut was standing and waiting. The sight of the Dragon certainly made the apparent soldier very nervous... but then his gaze dropped and he saw the surrounding people.

    People who adored him, people who were only curious, people who seemed to just accept the massive, powerful creature.

    Ryu stopped to stare up at Bahamut. He didn't say anything, but it'd be clear just from the look in Ryu's eyes that this is the younger dragon.

    He's not sure what to say.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut almost does not realize Ryu is Ryu. He was expecting a -dragon-! Something rivaling his own stature and appearance. But, when he does notice Ryu, he grins. He allows Ryu to stare a for a few moments before he says anything. But finally, the larger dragon's rumbling deep voice flows forth. "I am rather impressive, aren't I?" he says, his dragon ego striking again. "You appear young both for a dragon and a human." he adds, a good-natured smirk on his face. He crouches down to get a better look at Ryu, then rumbles as he stands up again. "Come along, Ryu. In honor of your visit, my priests have prepared a feast."

     The larger dragon then steps aside and motions inside the doorway. "You may either take the lifts, or I can fly you to my personal chambers." Bahamut says to Ryu. Once Ryu stepped inside the temple, he would find...that much of it is empty space. Floating platforms are connected by flowing energy ribbons which support magical transport pads that carry a person between the various stops. In the middle, barely visible in the dark, is a large dome structure. That is likely where Ryu would be headed, whether carried or riding the transport pads.

Ryu (636) has posed:
    Like he's some sort of god. Ryu's never been the religious sort, but it strikes him as on the extreme side of things. But this dragon hasn't been smacked by some omnipotent deity that wants to give him a lesson in humility, so the blue-haired young man will take this as a contrasting example of how dragons can turn out in other worlds. His face looks almost unreadable, as if he were hiding his reactions from the large dragon.

    He doesn't utter a word when he follows, until he's given a choice. "... if you can fly us there, it would be faster, right?" He gives a big emphatic shrug. He's beginning to get the impression that dragons from /other/ worlds aren't necessarily evil. "I /am/ pretty hungry, wouldn't want all that food to get cold after they went to all of that effort." He smiles somewhat awkwardly at the tremendous dragon.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut nods, then reaches down with his taloned hands and carefully takes hold of Ryu. "Faster...and more fun." the dragon says with a grin. Once he has a grip on Ryu, Bahamut simply..leaps off the entrance platform. They fall for about 50 feet before Bahamut spreads his wings and banks back upward, keeping a firm grip around Ryu, his claws forming a cage around Ryu's body to keep him from falling. Then, Bahamut banks to the side, doing a few barrel rolls as he goes, bringing them toward the center dome. Which turns out to be a sphere, suspended by nothing visible. It is just a giant sphere, floating there in the middle of the vast temple.

     Bahamut flies around it once, both to bleed off altitude without diving down, and to give Ryu a chance to see it all. The sphere is covered in runes and symbols which would be recognizable as religious symbols to anyone from the church of Yevon. Bahamut doesn't expect Ryu to recognize him, but he does like to show off. On their second pass, Bahamut comes around to another landing platform, this time at the entrance to the sphere. He lands hard enough that there is a powerful thud that resounds through the chamber, but still the sphere does not move. Bahamut rumbles before setting Ryu down. "This way." he says, then heads inside.

     Within the main hall of the sphere, there is a banquet table as tall as Bahamut set out, full of what must be hundreds of different foods, drinks, and desserts. And at the end of that table is a throne that is obviously meant for Bahamut. In front of it is a roaring fire, and on a spit above that fire is an entire pig and an entire turkey, both spinning slowly, their juices dripping into the fire. "Take a seat, Ryu, and we will talk of your situation over the scrumptious meal my priests have prepared." he says as he makes his way to his throne.

Ryu (636) has posed:
    It is quite obvious that Ryu might be expecting something bad to happen. When he gets plucked up off his feet, he tenses up, but doesn't freak out or complain. He grabs ahold of the dragon's very large hand and stares out at the expanse that he would fall into if he was dropped... and then the big dragon leaps.

    He screams. It's a hilarious kind of panic that eventually peters off when the King of Dragons starts flying properly. He's almost completely in a state of shock and fear for a minute after that, but the steady descent and the slow nature of it gives the young dragon a taste of something his nature tells him is Normal. He stares at the world as it moves around him.

    When set on the ground, he wobbles like he's going to fall over, his face going red both from embarrassment and the rush of his senses returning. He makes a throat-clearing noise and straightens his posture, which only makes it seem all the more awkward. "Right."

    While following the powerful dragon into the main hall, Ryu's panic is replaced by a feeling of hunger. He steps over to the banquet table, and ... pauses. He makes a look of confusion, and looks for a seat that he can settle himself into, should there be one. Once he's determined where he's going to sit, he picks up a plate for himself and already begins dishing up some food. Lots of it. Looots of food. His appetite as a Dragon is much larger than a normal person's.

    Once he's comfortable and chewing on food, he looks up at Bahamut, wary about the topic he wants to discuss.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut just grins all the more as Ryu screams. He was, after all, expecting (or perhaps hoping) for that reaction. And his grin remains as Ryu's fear gives way to awe at the majesty of flying like this.

     Once they are seated and Bahamut sees the discomfort on Ryu's face, Bahamut raises an eyebrow. Instead of starting with talking about Ryu's condition, Bahamut begins with...small talk! "So, how is the food?" he asks as he reaches to tear a turkey leg off of the spit in front of him. As for food, there is just about any type of food Ryu could want. Various meat dishes, vegetables, fruits, rice dishes. And, there is even a priestess that comes by to ask what sort of drink Ryu would like. "My priests worked very hard on it, so I hope you enjoy it, and..." He chuckles as he sees the amount of food Ryu has taken. Well, his appetite seems dragon sized, if nothing else. "...eat as much as you wish."

     Bahamut waits a minute or two before continuing. "Tell me, Ryu. Why does it seem you hate your new draconic features, or dislike dragons in general? Are dragons killers on your world?"

Ryu (636) has posed:
    He can finally explain it to someone properly... although that someone /is/ a dragon. Ryu, however, is a little confused when the issue isn't addressed immediately. He looks down at his food as he eats it, and then up at Bahamut. He realizes, at that moment, that he's eating food that people made just for him, because he's an honored guest of a dragon. He realizes those people revere Bahamut, and put so much effort into this... making it taste good, and look good.

    Ryu looks at Bahamut with something of a conflicted gaze, the kind that happens when someone's beliefs are being challenged in the strongest way.

    "At the dawn of the world," he begins, reciting the story, "There were the Goddesses, Myria and Deis. Myria, the goddess of Chaos, made Life. She adored her children. Deis, her sister, was the Goddess of Order. She gave the world rules, so that life could flourish without destroying itself. And then there were the Dragons. The Dragons, coveting the power these Goddesses had, begun a war with them. This war, they say, is the reason the Great Desert can support no life. The Dragons lost the war, and were forced into hiding. They did not disappear completely, stories arising about the many actions they took for revenge against the Goddesses. They're like... bogeymen. Monsters. Demons. They're used in metaphors compared to natural disasters. Being called a Dragon means you are vicious, angry, powerful, or evil."

    Then he figures it's time to explain his nickname: "I was a part of a small gang... A gang of Worens. They were criminals, sure, and people were afraid of them, but they ... they just wanted equal rights in Wyndia. They just wanted to be treated like everyone else. They were good people. Then a drug dealer showed up, selling some chrysm-infused sludge that he hyped up as a miracle drug. It would boost someone, but then it would mutate them, it would hurt them. I..." He hesitates, setting down his fork.

    "I had to protect the gang... my friends. I found the drug dealer, and beat him unconscious with my bare hands. I just... I couldn't stop myself. He had to be stopped, and I already knew at that point that the police couldn't do anything about it. So..."

    Ryu shakes his head. He returns to eating. "They were impressed, but they were afraid of me after that. They called me Ryu because they said I was a 'sleeping dragon.' It was close to my first name, and it was catchy, so it stuck. Despite all attempts to prevent that."

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut watches Ryu as he looks over the food, studying Ryu's gaze. As he listens to the story, Bahamut takes out his turkey leg in one bite, then places the bone on a tray being held by a priestess beside his throne. Once the story is finished, Bahamut rumbles in understanding. "I see...then it is as I suspected." Bahamut says before listening to the explanation for the nickname.

     Once that is done, Bahamut hmms. "I can understand why they feared you, but I can also see why you did it. Acting when there is no other option is sometimes hard, but most people, including myself, would not attack an unarmed or unattacking individual. It reveals that one is willing to take drastic actions before such actions are truly necessary. And while that can sometimes lead to an improved lifestyle, it also shows that others may only be able to trust you to a certain extent. It makes people wonder 'If the situation becomes dire, would you also turn on us?'"

     Bahamut pauses there to pick up his spit and take a bite out of the pig. "So, I feel I must ask you, how far can you be pushed before you will take to such actions? How dire was the situation you were in? Were your lives in danger, or was there simply no way you could see that the situation would improve?"

Ryu (636) has posed:
    Bahamut has good points. Ryu knows he does. The fierce dragon boy leers at his food nonetheless.

    "He was peddling something that was hurting, even killing people. He was doing it on that territory, and my friends were being blamed for it. He was a monster. There was no doubt about it. A monster who didn't care about who he hurt as long as he could make a quick zenny or three."

    There was a certain... fire to him. He doesn't feel sorry about it at all. He shakes his head slowly, though, and stuffs more... stuffing into his face, chewing it thoughtfully.

    He looks up at Bahamut, and tells him, "I'm not so shallow that I would turn on my allies. The reason that could make me do that would be enough to make anyone else fairly likely to sympathize with my reaction."

    "So what makes that action necessary? After I try to talk him out of it? When I try to convince him to empathize with his victims?" He grimaces at the very thought of it.

    "I'm not a negotiator."

    He grabs a glass, washing down the food he's been shoveling into his maw.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut, upon hearing more details, nods. "I agree he was a monster, and justice was no doubt done. The heroes of my own world did things that the world thought was blasphemy in order to save this world. Now, they are revered as the heroes they were, and people are no longer sacrificed to a false god." he says. He takes another bite, then rumbles. "I am not sure I would agree that there is any acceptable reason to turn on an ally, but I suppose you are right that I might be sympathetic to someone who did given the circumstances."

     With that done, Bahamut grins. "Now, back to your new draconic features. I can understand why you would be reluctant to explore your new powers? Or...have you gained any new powers at all? Perhaps you have gained only features?"

Ryu (636) has posed:
    "Strength. I can feel it." Ryu looks at his utensil, which he is suddenly conscious he could bend if he gave it enough effort. "And... this." He breathes in... and then blows a flame from his mouth. Steadily. It turns the head of the fork a soft glowing red. He sets it down, carefully, in his glass to cool it down again, making steam blow up into the air. "And this shape, it's..."

    He shakes his head. "I changed into a different shape. It was stronger. Faster. I felt like solid muscle and power. It wasn't /big/... but..."

    He frowned. "This body... it feels like a costume now. Like I'm only pretending to be human." He looks incredibly disgusted by that. His eyes focused on the glass, with the steam still rising from it.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut's eyebrows raise as he watches the display of talents. Then, looks Ryu over as he mentions a different shape. "I see...So, you are able to change form. Is it at will, or was it an accident?" he asks. But, when he sees the disgust on Ryu's face, he frowns. "Regardless of your shape, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You are you. All you must do is be yourself and show people that your new form has not changed who you are. They will come to accept you eventually."

     He takes another bite, then relaxes. "And, denying your new powers will only breed resentment in your own heart for yourself. They are a part of you now. Just like your hands or your eyes. And, they make you more powerful. Imagine, someone closes on you in combat. They manage to pin your sword and gun. You now have a breath weapon that will ruin their day." Bahamut grins at the thought.

Ryu (636) has posed:
    "I don't..." Ryu considers it. He stands up from his seat. He looks at Bahamut carefully. Another dragon, right? And he's only going to be in the form for a second. "I'm only going to see if I can. I'm changing right back. Alright?" He doesn't wait for confirmation. His mentality is less 'i'm getting used to the idea' and more 'time to rip off a band-aid.'

    He closes his eyes. There's a glimmer of light, and then a sensation of surging energy. Then he lets out a startled shout that changes into the squeal of a dragon creature. When he's finished changing, a creature with bright white, shield-like scales is standing there, with horns that sweep backward. His claws glow a faint gold, and one of those hands is propped against the table nearby. He's still roughly the same size, but the way his hand grips the table... his claws dig right into the surface.

    His eyes are wide and vacant, obviously profoundly uncomfortable.

    The form reverts with a crackle of electricity and a shimmer of light, and he's back to human shape, clothing and all. When he pulls his hand away from the table, he looks at the grooves he put into it, brow creased.

    "I..."

    He pauses a beat. "I have to go." He turns to leave, marching off unless he's stopped.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut nods at the conditions of the experiment. And when Ryu changes, Bahamut grins. A white dragon. Not what he expected. He reminds himself that the colors of dragons may not apply in the same way to other worlds. When Ryu changes back, Bahamut seems somewhat impressed. Even he cannot change forms, after all.

     But, Bahamut is not about to let him simply march away. "Stop!" Bahamut says firmly, even as he rises from his throne. He doesn't actually try to force Ryu to stay, but in his experience the boom of his voice is enough to stop most people. He then makes his way over to Ryu slowly. "Why? Why are you fleeing from this?" Bahamut asks as he walks around in front of Ryu, blocking his path just in case Ryu keeps going. "Consider this. The stories you know are legends from the past. Very rarely is an entire race evil or good. It is merely the faction that did the most good or damage that is remembered. I am certain there were dragons who were not evil. Some who tried to stop the others. Some who tried to use their strength for the betterment of both dragon and man. You are now one of those dragons. The noble, reasonable dragon who is not swayed by greed or bloodlust. Rather than rejecting your new strength, you should embrace it. Use it in the proper ways, and people will come to revere you as a protector. Perhaps even a hero or role model."

     Bahamut crosses his arms over his chest and stands tall. "If you do not believe me, then simply look around you. I started life as a shunned individual. Now, I am the most prominent figure in this world."

Ryu (636) has posed:
    Ryu halts. He doesn't turn to face Bahamut, but the man turns his head enough to listen to the Dragon King as he tried to convince of a different perspective. Something ... more convenient, perhaps.

    There's a measured pause. It's unclear if it had an effect on him.

    "I'm sorry," he says to Bahamut, sounding quiet and a little pained, and then he continues his departure.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut lets out a huff through his nose as Ryu continues on his way. Bahamut does not move, so Ryu must step around him. "Consider what I have said. When the time comes, you will see I am right. And, I pray that time is not when you are facing a powerful opponent." he says. He smirks after that. "Thank you for coming. It was enjoyable talking to you. Good luck."

     Bahamut then returns to his throne and resumes his meal.