Scene #1032:

Owner	Pose
Ryu	Ryu has had a long day. Now it's night time, and he's out in a clearing in a forest. He's out here because it's away from people and civilization, where he feels he can be alone without interruption. It's unlikely to be the case, though. This brand new dragon draws his signature sword, Bonebreaker, from its scabbard. He hefts and swings it, trying to slice through some of the spare patches of chest-high grass efficiently enough to leave a clean line on top of them. The vicious chops leave more messy, machete-like damage, which makes him grunt in frustration now and again. It's not any kind of training, more like a mindless activity that lets him drift off into his agitated, depressive state. A way to cool his screaming nerves. A way to cope, without thinking about how complex, and how difficult his life is going to be now. Chop. Chop. Chop. Ryu pauses for a moment, letting out a puffing sigh, when a bunch of fireflies disperse off a patch of grass.
Fang	Up from a tree near the clearing someone watches. Those sapphire blue, almost draconic eyes staring down at the youth below chopping away at the grass. He takes a bite the apple he has in his hand as he watches the the continued mindless chopping. After another bite, he decides to speak up, "Man, that grass must have really offended you." The other male's voice calls out from the shadows of the trees of where he sits. His long braid easily hanging down off the branch, swaying slightly in the wind. "But I am sure once your done. It will have learned its lesson."
Ryu	Ryu looks up from what he's doing, slitted pupils narrowing when they focus on Fang. A bit of smoke puffs from one of the corners of the blue-haired young man's mouth. His brows climbed up in obvious surprise, and the weapon was held up almost defensively. But then what the odd person was saying registered... he blinked once or twice in the direction of the darkness in the trees. He stares almost cluelessly at the mysterious figure. "Who the hell are you?" he asks, quite bluntly and grumpily. Everything about him is bristling. He doesn't, however, seem surly. He seems paranoid. Like someone who is in a very bad mood.
Fang	Fang notes the smoke from the mouth, the slit eyes which almost match his own. As Ryu may notice with Fang as well, including the slight pointed ears like that of a half elf, though when the proper light hits his eyes, it easy to the see the sapphire like glow, almost become more teal in color. "Hey now, no reason to be so testy there," He points his index finger at him, the one holding the apple. "Your the one cutting the grass." He then goes to take another bite of the apple, before standing up on the branch and then jumping down with ease. His figure moves with a great deal of pride and sureness. He then pulls out another apple from his pouch, which shouldn't be able to hold it-- at least it would seem that way-- before he tosses it to Ryu. "Also looks like you could use some food. Swinging a sword around like that tend to kick up the appetite.. and don't worry, sniff if you like-- but its fresh."
Ryu	The apple is snatched out of the air with a certain ease that even surprises Ryu for a second. He examines the apple, looking up at Fang, the general agitation and the remark Fang makes quelling the simmering temper. Without an excuse to get into a fight and with someone being pretty easygoing at him, it seems he starts to mellow out. The food sure helped. "Thanks," he says, before taking a bite out of it and again hesitating when he realizes he just bite a bigger chunk out of the apple than he planned. His extra sharp teeth are something he's gonna have to get used to. "Do you always show up to pester people who are having really bad days?" he wonders, again with that bluntness, but now he's more relaxed about it. Not accusing, just curious. "I'm Ryan," he introduces, using his real name.
Fang	Fang twirls the apple he has on the edge of his finger before catching it in his hand, while watching the young man. "Only when they breath out smoke and have eyes of a predator." He says with a remarkable calmness before he takes a bite of his own apple. "Though I am pretty sure your /not/ one of my own, cause Clunea-- haha-- she /never/ make it that easy on me now, that I am pretty damn sure." He then kicks one foot in front of the other, "..and who am I? My name is Fang, Dragon Emperor from another world entirely." He says before looking at the apple. "..and looking for two things, that so far-- I have had zero success in finding." He then goes to take another bite of the apple. "And though you have the signs-- I already know you wouldn't be able to help me either, Ryan-- but I had to get a closer look and you know.. watch a young whelp swing his sword like it was a stick instead of a proper weapon."
Ryu	Not one of his own. 'Dragon Emperor.' This is the second leader-type dragon he's heard of recently. Ryu feels a bit of distaste at the idea of being, somehow, lesser than other Dragons, somehow. Just a product of not liking what he is at all. He finishes off the apple silently, considering the smug remarks of the Dragon Emperor. He walks over to set the apple core down on top of a rock. As he walks away from the apple core, he sheathes the sword, looking up at Fang. "You seem pretty sure I can't help you, for someone that's just met me," he remarks, skeptically. "You didn't even bother asking." He then draws the handgun from its holster -- good lord, it's a hand cannon -- and then he shoots the apple core, sniping it from a good fifty feet away. The apple core explodes in a shower of fire, leaving only a smear of ash on top of the rock. He puts the weapon back in its holster. "So do you want help, mister 'Dragon Emperor'?" Not a whole lot of respect for Fang, but absolutely zero hostility. The sad smile that has showed up on Ryu's face shows that he does, genuinely, want to help. "You don't seem like a monster to me, so what have I got to lose, right?"
Fang	Fang watches the shot and then looks at his remainder of the apple. "Nice shooting, but you need to be as good with your sword as your aim. After all, not all battles can be one with a bullet." The former Dragon Emperor points out. "And as much has I /love/ some new followers-- there is not much you can honestly do to help me. So far, no one in this Multiverse can-- and I'll explain to you why if.." He holds the left over apple between his index and thumb, "..you can cut this in half-- in mid air-- before it hits the ground-- with the grass whacker of yours." Then there is a pause in his voice, "But.. I do know someone who /might/ use your help.. but first.." "Ready?" Fang says with a mild smirk on his face. What kind of test was this? Why was he so interested in his swordsmanship skill anyways? It would seem the only way to find out was to play the game. "Go!" He barely gives Ryan much time and if the youth didn't want to 'play along', then more then likely the apple will hit the ground. However, Fang will see what Ryan chooses. To attempt to slash the apple with very little warning or let it fall...
Ryu	Ryu frowns at the idea that he can't help a dragon. Being judged so easily made him, well... it made him quite unhappy. That Fang would continue to rub it in didn't help. For a second, frustration welled up in Ryu's head, like being competitive about this, or aggressive about it didn't help. The flash of emotions across Ryu's face suggest that he's tired, perhaps a little more incredulous toward the Emperor now. Fang will explain if he just cuts the apple, right? Ryu fixates on it. All the lethargy faded in favor of focus, like a dog snapping to attention at the idea of catching a ball... or a wolf spotting a rabbit. The moment he saw the apple drop, the sword was brought out of its scabbard. Darting across the clearing, the dragon boy made a vicious overhead chop for the apple. His sword is hardly, well, the Grasscutter, but he seems to be able to focus enough to hit a moving target if he can spot it. Afterwards, Ryu crouches down and picks up one of the mangled pieces of apple with two fingers. "Huh." "I didn't think I'd actually hit it," he remarks, all that menace and focus gone, faster than one could snap their fingers. "It's... more than a half though, I count five pieces." He nudges them about with a boot. "Sword's not really the sharper-than-hell kind," he admits.
Fang	Fang watches as Ryan cuts the very apple, though a bit messy at it. He watches with what seems like mild interest, but it was a bit more then that. His arms are crossed once Ryan is done. Fang only simply raises an eye brow. "Well-- five pieces or not.. its cut." Fang then gives a mild shrug, "You probably should take it to a grinding wheel and have it sharpened. You should treat your sword as well has you do your talons. Keep it clean.. keep it sharp. Serve you well." The Dragon Emperor then goes to sit down on a log as he rests his arms over his knees. "As for /why/ you can't help me. Its pretty easy. My world.. /isn't/.. here. Clunea-- the goddess of my world decided to get her feathers all in a bind and got all up in my face when I asked her where I could find the strongest ever in our world. That way I could prove once and all that I was the strongest!" Fang then spits off to the side. "Damn Harpee apparently didn't take kindly to the fact I also was going to walk out when she couldn't give me a straight answer then decided to /curse/ me." He places out his hands out to the side in the air. "She turned me back to form before I fledged and booted me out here to the Multiverse." He then slides his fingers through his hair as he rubs the back of his neck. "So, I've been struggling to find out how to break the curse, get home, and get revenge on Clunea." He then looks at Ryan as he lowers his hand, "So unless you know someone who can break goddess curses and open portals to other worlds.. there isn't much anyone can-- not that I have found." Fang then shrugs his shoulders. "Now-- I haven't given up. I am damn sure I'll find away somehow, just got to keep looking. Thankfully someone dropped some money in my lap-- so I'm not broke ass poor and I have a place I can hang out in the worse of it.. however.. /he/.. is the one who needs help.. however there is a catch." The Dragon Emperor then crosses his leg over his other, his boot of his foot gently swaying as his arms cross. "He has an anti-dragon kick cause of some reason or another and cause of my situation.. he is completely unaware I /am/ a dragon.. and besides.. I've been in his shoes.. it isn't easy leading a people and when you don't have the strength to show the world who is number one. Other races tend to walk over you."
Ryu	Ryu has a simple mind, and simple priorities, but he is not dense. As he hears Fang recount this story, he understands almost immediately what the moral of this story is supposed to be. He also understands that it's not a lesson that Fang will learn easily. The dragonling looks down at Bonebreaker, briefly contemplating the importance of sharpening the weapon. Like maintaining his handgun, perhaps. He pulls a cloth out of a pocket, normally used for cleaning his face or his handgun, and uses it to wipe the bits of apple and its juice off the blade. He looks up at Fang as he does this, regarding the Dragon Emperor with a more mellow, ordinary gaze. "What if the curse only lifts when you discover what she is trying to teach you? You talk like it's some sort of punishment... punishments are meant to teach people a lesson. So if that's what it is, have you thought about why it made her angry? What she wanted you to learn, about your question, and your actions on that day?" He shrugged at Fang after that. "And I can help this friend of yours?" Ryan says, moving on before Fang can protest about the unsolicited advice. The blue-haired young man remarks, "If you haven't noticed, I'm ... also a dragon." He quirks a corner of his mouth, hesitating before calling himself a dragon, still not comfortable with it. "Does he mean that much to you, that you want help for him, even if he doesn't like dragons?" This situation makes this heroic soul pretty interested. Like he just stumbled over a storybook dilemma that he could solve with a little earnest effort.
Fang	Fang tsks at Ryan's observation of what Clunea was up too. "Like hell if I know. I think all her time up on her all mighty tower, granting moron wishes probably made her a bit dumb and a little dense." He says tapping his own head. "Doesn't matter, cause if I can get back, I'll just make her undo it all anyways." Yep-- one track minded. This could take awhile... Fang then crosses his arms over his chest once more, though he does give a nod to how Ryan handled cleaning the sword, "..and yeah-- clean your blade a bit like that. Also with a proper side swing, if the blade is kept polished it can easily swing whatever junk is on it." Yep, the Dragon Emperor knows his swords it seems. Though when it comes to this 'friend' of Fang's, the young man can only bring his hand up to his chin in idle thought, while his other hand supports his elbow. His foot stops moving and those teal eyes close gently. "Yeah. I know your a dragon. Pretty sure I covered that, didn't I?" He then opens one eye to look at Ryan, "So-- that is the deal, Ryan. You waltz in there going-- look at me I'm a dragon-- you may find your scale hide becoming a pin cushion." He then looks at him with both eyes then. "I can vouch for you, but you have to prove your trust worthy to him. He has giant spiders in his forests.. Orcs that don't get the message and a possible encroaching war coming to his doorstep." Fang then sighs, "..and last I remember-- he isn't fond of the Union.. for.. whatever they did to him to piss him off." He then shrugs, "None of my business to know really." The Dragon Emperor then goes to stand up with ease, "You think you can prove yourself to help and show that your willing to aid him if war comes knocking at his forest? Maybe even defend the gate near his lands from unwelcome outsiders that mean his home harm?"
Ryu	That seems to be a complex situation, but it's so much better than being reminded of being a dragon. Ryan will happily accept the idea of helping whoever that is. "I'll do that for you... and for that ally of yours, but there's a catch." He looks down at the sword, turning it over in his hand, and then looking up at Fang... "I'll only do it if you help me hone my swordsmanship." He smiles brightly, the most positive emotion he's displayed since the two of them stumbled across each other. "Deal?"
Fang	Fang looks at the sword as Ryu asks if he will mentor him. The Dragon Emperor stands there for a moment in silence, looking at the weapon, before looking at the young man before him-- a dragon free to shift perhaps between forms-- asking him for help with the sword to aid the Elf King. The Dragon Emperor inhales deeply, closing his eyes. Then with an exhale as he opens them. "Fine. I'll train you, but get that damn weed-whacker of yours cleaned up and sharpened. I want to see that thing cut a single strain of hair before I teach you." "Got it?"
Ryu	An odd dichotomy occurs to Ryu. This is a dragon, and he's asking for tutelage from the dragon. Maybe he's lost his mind. The smile seems wary, for a second. And then the deal's terms are determined, and put out for acceptance. He would help this ally... he probably should've put more thought into it. But he knows that he should assist where he can. He would learn how to use a sword more easily. "Got it." He then asks, all too cheerfully, "So who is this person I will be helping? I need to be sure I can actually go through with this, you know." He has his doubts, after he was told some Union folks caused problems.
Fang	Fang tilts his head ever so faintly, "His name is Thranduil. The Elf King of Mirkwood. Long as he doesn't know your Union or-- whatever. He could care-a-less."