Old dragon has decided his mun needs taking in hand/wing/whatever

[elderspeaksfirst]

True. You have faced much change of late, for one so small. But I know something of change, mal wunduniik. Perhaps you cannot ride the currents of time as I do. But you must do more than endure change if you want to grow strong. Wuldsetiid du sahlo: let the tide swallow you, and it is likely you will drown.

Meditate a short while. Then... staadnau viinggi. Time that you learn something new, I think.

Comments

[bigdaddydragon]

...You are quite kind to your mun. It is rare to see such a thing.

[elderspeaksfirst]

They are still young, these joorre... mortals. To bring growth demands patience. Ni evenaar zii. There is a skill in knowing when to feed the flame, and when to challenge it.

[bigdaddydragon]

I suppose this is true. My mun...has far more experience than I am sure what to do with. It can be quite foreboding at times.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Does it make you uncertain of them, or of yourself?

[bigdaddydragon]

I..am not completely certain...

[elderspeaksfirst]

[The grey-white head sways closer a moment, questing. Tasting. Chancing a guess.]

You are young yourself, dwiin gein?

[bigdaddydragon]

[Lifting his head a bit, Predaking peers at the other, optics dimming.]

..I am a clone of the being I once was. I suppose that does make me young, yes.

[elderspeaksfirst]

A 'clone'. [Unfamiliar word. He repeats it slowly, as if tasting the feel of it, the way it shapes the air.] You speak as one who does not know himself. Thu'um vohon. What, then, were you before?

[bigdaddydragon]

[He tilts his head a bit.]

I was as I am not. But I am not the original of myself. That being died and I was created from a fragment of his remains.

[elderspeaksfirst]

A fragment of the body, or of the nahl zii... hm, the force which gives you life?

[A strange creature, this one, reminding him of the Dwemer's living machines. Yet obviously more than those automatons ever were.]

[bigdaddydragon]

I...it was a fragment of his body; a fossil is what they called it. But I know I am that being.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Osos alok-dilon...? Hmm. I do not know the means they used. But not all beings are easily bound by death. Perhaps your kind are among them.

[Something to contemplate, though the surest key to any puzzle is simply to learn more.]

I am Paarthurnax. Who... and what, are you?

[bigdaddydragon]

[He'd never thought about it that way before and it shows in the surprised jerk of his head before he nods slowly.]

I..will keep that in mind.

[And then he's bowing his head a bit.]

I am Predaking. My kind..we are known as Predacons where we come from.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Well met. I have not had the pleasure of tinvaak with one of your people before. Pogaas vomindok. Is the form you wear typical among them?

[bigdaddydragon]

This is a first for us both, as I have never spoken with an organic creature such as yourself.

Among Predacons, it is quite common, though none are as large as I. Among other Cybertronians, it is not. They tend to stick to more..vehicular modes rather than that of a beast.

[elderspeaksfirst]

No. Wuldesetiid unslaad. The currents of Time are endless. And we have been very few in number, these ages past.

[Many questions are raised, and his head lifts curiously, searching out the feel of these new words.]

Other Cybertronians?

[bigdaddydragon]

I..see.

[This one may be organic but there is definitely an age to him that Predaking has never encountered with an organic being before.]

My planet--it is called Cybertron. The beings that live there now are referred to as Cybertronians. Within this race there are different factions.

[elderspeaksfirst]

[He chuckles, a deep, hearty sound.] Ah, alun vahzen. There is never a race wholly united, is there? Though I wonder, what divides your peoples?

[bigdaddydragon]

Unfortunately, there is not.

[Predaking shakes his head a bit.]

Politics, from what I understand. I have never truly understood what started the initial conflict.

[elderspeaksfirst]

[He gives a low thrum from his chest, an understanding sort of sound.]

And yet, you are its inheritor. One lately reborn. Pah miraadde kriist bex. What path do you choose, in this?

[bigdaddydragon]

My path was forced, at first. Those that revived me saw me as nothing more than a weapon. But as I became more self aware, I realized things--my potential. My purpose.

Now I fight for myself, not for anyone else.

[elderspeaksfirst]

So. Krent zaamhus. Your will is your own. Most pleasing. [He seems reserved, but there is a quiet hint of satisfaction in his tone.] And what have you decided to be your purpose?

[bigdaddydragon]

...Protecting those that have no one else to help them; no one else to aid them and guide them. I do not wish to see any others, especially those like, suffer like my kind have.

[elderspeaksfirst]

[Paarthurnax listens intently, keen eyes upon him.]

Bahlaan paar... a worthy ambition. The role of vahlok, the protector is not always a simple one.

[bigdaddydragon]

[Lifting his head a bit, Predaking rumbles softly.]

I hope to prove myself worthy of such a title. I do not wish to let anyone down again.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Onikaan bonaar. You are wise to be humble. But how great is your fear of failure? The path is longer than you can see yet. You understand, there will be... tiidsemahl. Moments of faltering. Errors as you strive to learn. What will you do then?

[bigdaddydragon]

I understand. And I will do my best to understand and learn. I..have much to learn as it is but I will find my path. I will not give up; I cannot give up.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Pruzah. Good. [His voice holds the thrum of deep satisfaction, as if some small test has been passed. He has great sympathy for anyone who tries to turn themselves to a better path, and perhaps even moreso for one who seeks to rise above being a tool of others.]

You have bahlok fah mindoraan... a willingness to listen. That is a powerful gift. It may prove your greatest ally, if you can hone it.

[bigdaddydragon]

[That sound of satisfaction isn't lost on Predaking and it makes him lift his head just a bit higher, wings shifting against his sides as his own pleased rumbling growl escapes him.]

It is my hope that I will be able to hone it; be able to listen and understand before I make a rash judgement.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Focus your efforts on that, and you will likely fare better than most.

[Quiet approval, still, but tinged with... regret? A touch of melancholy? Would that his own kind were so ready to learn. But better not sink into such thoughts. His head cants a little, peering thoughtfully at Predaking.]

Tell me, does a steel dovah also possess the... hmm, gift of fire?

[bigdaddydragon]

I hope you are right.

[Because he didn't want to turn into another Megatron; didn't want to turn into something that was wholly evil.

A pleased rumble escapes the predacon and a bright glow peeks through the breaks in the armor covering his chest.]

Fire? Indeed. I have the gift of fire, as you say.

[elderspeaksfirst]

So I strive to be.

[Said wryly. He's not going to offer an opinion on how often he succeeds.]

[Besides, more interesting questions are afoot, and he in pursuit.]

Voslen ni med joorre. [He's all but musing to himself.] You are most unlike a creature of flesh. The words that serve for them may mean little to you. But you are a living spirit. That much is clear. Perhaps it would not be amiss to greet you as one dovah to another.

[bigdaddydragon]

I want nothing more than to be considered a living creature with the ability to find his own path.

[Alright, while he understands the majority of what the other is saying...]

The words you use..what are they? I have not heard anything of their sort before.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Are you not recognised as such?

[One might suspect Paarthurnax slips between languages deliberately: perhaps a teaching method used so long it's become ingrained habit. There are, in fact, a few reasons, but he has no qualms about taking advantage of the results.]

You would not. Rotte vodahmaan. It is the tongue of the dov - the dragonkind. Long forgotten even among the mortals who once knew it.

[bigdaddydragon]

Not by all, no.

[Most see him as a mindless beast. Or a weapon.]

..I see. It is..interesting.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Hmm. Paak. Disappointing. There is no worthy debate with those who will not even hear the Voice before them.

[He should know. He's spent so much of a long life learning how to overcome that very difficulty. From both ends.]

Interesting, perhaps. It is certainly powerful. To one of our kind the Thu'um, the Voice is our truest strength. Mindoraan kreh lein. Through our words, our will shapes the world around us.

[bigdaddydragon]

...I wish I was more like you and your kind. You have..a power and strength that I cannot dream of. A wisdom that outshines any I have ever met before.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Ah. You are young yet. ['Teasing' is a difficult tone for a dragon's voice, but there's something of that good-natured humour there. He does appreciate the intent of Predaking's words.]

But already you are learning truths my zeymahhe have yet to grasp. Suleyk kron mindoraan. Do not be so ready to envy others, before you know your own strength.

[bigdaddydragon]

[Predaking snorts a bit, tail flicking though he doesn't truly seem exasperated by the age comment.

The teasing nature wasn't lost on him.]

In this state, I am. But I have been around much longer than what this body has been.

..But I will heed your words.

[butwearenotmen]

Their wants are a fickle thing, but in the end, they are like to get what they desire.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Nust frin nir. They readily pursue, if the chase is not too long. Some must still learn to hold the quarry once caught.

[butwearenotmen]

So you plan to hold out?

[elderspeaksfirst]

Only to hold this one to the goals she chooses. Zu'u vofaas. I have no cause to deny them.

[butwearenotmen]

Are you in favor of them?

[elderspeaksfirst]

Hmm. Well enough. I see no ill in them. Though perhaps I think this because so few concern me.

[He's far from unbiased, but at least he's aware and honest.]

[butwearenotmen]

But you wish to advise your writer nonetheless. [Wise dragon at least.]

[elderspeaksfirst]

Ofan mindoraan se bok. I offer counsel according to my understanding... as is my purpose. Do you question my understanding, mal monah, or my right to speak of it?

[Whatever the answer, he seems calmly curious rather than offended.]