Post by Lone Dancer on Jan 6, 2022 3:16:08 GMT
"Brother, what you're doing; it isn't right."
These were the words that followed immediately after the dragon shoved the locked door open. The dragon hunched over a desk dug their long, spindly claws into the wood in response, the desk splintering slightly.
"Brother... your entrance is a surprise. But not an unwelcome one." Slowly he turned to face the dragon at the broken door, movement sinewy.
"What do you mean? Minnow, don't come any closer!"
"Am I know undeserving to be called your brother? Have you finally let go of me, the one you said considered to be the sole stain, the only blight upon your good name? I'm surprised it took you so long." Finally the dragon was fully turned around. Scarring and melted scale caused their face to appear more like a mask than anything living. Sunken eyes, the left half blind stared through this 'mask' of damaged tissue.
"Stop twisting my words! I've had enough!"
"Shhh, dear brother. Do you hear that? That sound? The sound of progress." He couldn't help it, he fell silent for a second, not even breathing. The constant ticking in the background finally joined the forefront in the consuming quiet.
"Minnow what have you done? What have you done..." Horror stretched his voice as his eyes traced upwards.
"I've created something beautiful. And now I get to show it to you." The dragon hunched over into a rasping laugh as his dearest brother tried to dart out of the room once realization sunk in.
"Isn't it beautiful brother? Isn't it?!" His mocking cries followed his brother. The ticking was so loud now, the whirring of gears and clanking of metal parts. The heavy impact, and a meaty thud as something nonliving slammed into something alive.
But not for long.
***
"The body of a dragon is a curious thing. Hardy, durable, yet capable flight. Some tribes possess the ability of flaming breathing, or an icy chill. Some can breathe water like it was air. However, once a dragon's body was broken, there was little one could do to fix it." The voice that spoke was static, mildly distorted. It seemed to originate from a grate in the wall, the owner hidden.
"But due to progress, I was able to take what was broken, and put it back together again. This time, better than what it once was." There was a short pause, before the voice continued.
"Now, some fear my methods, and their results. Their fear is... unfounded. Baseless. For they are blind, not in sight, but in scope of mind. They fear that which they do not understand. Can not understand. They are limited, constricted by their own thoughts and confusions. I've tried to help them, to open their eyes beyond their follies. But you cannot help a dragon who is unwilling." A coarse chuckle ran out in the rusted, metallic room of which the listening dragon was trapped.
*"Did you know that the head, when removed from the body, still contains consciousness for but a few moments? A fascinating fact, yes? If one was swift enough, they could prolong those few moments. Stretch them out. Long enough to perhaps craft a new body."* The locked gate behind the dragon began click and clank as it unlocked and began retracting upwards with a screech.
"I see you are concerned. I am not here to lop off your head. No, I have other purposes for you. I know you came here for answers. What you seek is deeper yet within this facility. It's a rather interesting place; even I don't know who originally built it, or what its initial purpose was. Though that is an inconsequential matter. It had the tools and knowledge that I sought for."
The dragon held the strange light they found closer to themselves, the flickering glow tossing shadows about.
"I should warn you however; you aren't alone here. Well, I wish you the best of luck." The voice left with a crackle and a hissing pop. Something far off in the indiscernible darkness clunked as the now very lost dragon clutched their light even tighter. The original way they came in was still closed, so they really only had option, which was none.
To delve deeper into the facility.
These were the words that followed immediately after the dragon shoved the locked door open. The dragon hunched over a desk dug their long, spindly claws into the wood in response, the desk splintering slightly.
"Brother... your entrance is a surprise. But not an unwelcome one." Slowly he turned to face the dragon at the broken door, movement sinewy.
"What do you mean? Minnow, don't come any closer!"
"Am I know undeserving to be called your brother? Have you finally let go of me, the one you said considered to be the sole stain, the only blight upon your good name? I'm surprised it took you so long." Finally the dragon was fully turned around. Scarring and melted scale caused their face to appear more like a mask than anything living. Sunken eyes, the left half blind stared through this 'mask' of damaged tissue.
"Stop twisting my words! I've had enough!"
"Shhh, dear brother. Do you hear that? That sound? The sound of progress." He couldn't help it, he fell silent for a second, not even breathing. The constant ticking in the background finally joined the forefront in the consuming quiet.
"Minnow what have you done? What have you done..." Horror stretched his voice as his eyes traced upwards.
"I've created something beautiful. And now I get to show it to you." The dragon hunched over into a rasping laugh as his dearest brother tried to dart out of the room once realization sunk in.
"Isn't it beautiful brother? Isn't it?!" His mocking cries followed his brother. The ticking was so loud now, the whirring of gears and clanking of metal parts. The heavy impact, and a meaty thud as something nonliving slammed into something alive.
But not for long.
***
"The body of a dragon is a curious thing. Hardy, durable, yet capable flight. Some tribes possess the ability of flaming breathing, or an icy chill. Some can breathe water like it was air. However, once a dragon's body was broken, there was little one could do to fix it." The voice that spoke was static, mildly distorted. It seemed to originate from a grate in the wall, the owner hidden.
"But due to progress, I was able to take what was broken, and put it back together again. This time, better than what it once was." There was a short pause, before the voice continued.
"Now, some fear my methods, and their results. Their fear is... unfounded. Baseless. For they are blind, not in sight, but in scope of mind. They fear that which they do not understand. Can not understand. They are limited, constricted by their own thoughts and confusions. I've tried to help them, to open their eyes beyond their follies. But you cannot help a dragon who is unwilling." A coarse chuckle ran out in the rusted, metallic room of which the listening dragon was trapped.
*"Did you know that the head, when removed from the body, still contains consciousness for but a few moments? A fascinating fact, yes? If one was swift enough, they could prolong those few moments. Stretch them out. Long enough to perhaps craft a new body."* The locked gate behind the dragon began click and clank as it unlocked and began retracting upwards with a screech.
"I see you are concerned. I am not here to lop off your head. No, I have other purposes for you. I know you came here for answers. What you seek is deeper yet within this facility. It's a rather interesting place; even I don't know who originally built it, or what its initial purpose was. Though that is an inconsequential matter. It had the tools and knowledge that I sought for."
The dragon held the strange light they found closer to themselves, the flickering glow tossing shadows about.
"I should warn you however; you aren't alone here. Well, I wish you the best of luck." The voice left with a crackle and a hissing pop. Something far off in the indiscernible darkness clunked as the now very lost dragon clutched their light even tighter. The original way they came in was still closed, so they really only had option, which was none.
To delve deeper into the facility.