'Studying' (open)

[Valerie]

"Graaah!!!" Valerie threw her text book, sending it crashing into the bench beneath one of the willow trees. "These just don't make sense! How can any creature expect to learn this stuff if it doesn't make sense!" She looked down at her notebook, the one that she'd been trying to write complete her homework in. Academics had always been hard for her, considering she never had any of the tutors the other dragons had when they were younger. She grabbed her other math book and threw it and it landed on top one of the rose bushes near her. "Oh great, now look what I did, I crushed some of the Royal Roses, the others are going to kill me!" She said as she collected her books, noticing how a couple of roses were crushed on the top. "Hmm, maybe this works?" She said as she tried to fluff up one of the crushed roses. "Ow! Damn thorns, why do roses have to have thorns?!" She put her thumb up to her lips, sucking on the wound. "Ah well, that looks decent, I guess. Maybe if I get back to studying, no one will notice." So with her good claw, she collected her two textbooks and returned to her chair beside one of the tea tables. She often liked to study outside, in the wide open air. It was her nature, being an Air Master and all. Still sucking her bleeding thumb, she stared blankly down at the math book, trying to make sense of the strange equations and odd symbols she saw. "Maybe I should start my reading assignment, since this is clearly getting me nowhere." The thought was parent to the action as she piled her math things to the side and took out her book. At least I can complete my reading. Within minutes, she was completely absorbed in her reading to pay any attention to her surroundings.

[Draetrialis]

Draetrialis landed in front of Valerie. "Studying, eh?" He growled, folding his massive wings and blinking. Curling his tail around his legs, he sat down and looked around, as if expecting something to happen. He looked at the roses and seemed to smile when he saw that some of them were crushed. "Seems you have a temper problem..." he said, no emotion in his voice, as he tapped his claws on the ground, leaving some marks on the dirt. "I suppose a dragon should have that problem, so long as they don't let it get ahead of them."

The large dragon looked around again and growled at some birds flying over, causing them to scatter, some smoke emerging from his maw. Snorting, he fired a blast of darkfire at another set of birds, frying them instantly. Smirking, he gulped the falling birds up. He let out a satisfied growl and said, "Works everytime..." He flicked his tail in vague annoyance.

[Valerie]

OCC -- You RP your chara the EXACT same way I used to do a vampire on another forum. She ripped a bird's tongue out and drank the blood of the bird.

IC: Valerie grimaced in disgust at the unmannerly display Draetrialis just showed. She wasn't one for manners but that was just repulsive. She gathered herself quickly and replied to his remark. "No, I don't have an anger problem, I just REALLY hate math." She glanced at the rose bush, knowing he had looked there. "Anyways, you're one to talk, 'Great Shadow of Bitterness'." She smirked, knowing that the heavy sarcasm and mock would put him off. "But either way, why are you here? Well, besides to gloat, and you have gotten that out of the way." She stood up and crossed her arms. "Or have you come to tell me that you found a way to shrink your huge wings." She was in a sour mood; she hadn't figured out any of her math homework and now she had the 'Dragon of Darkness' in her face. Well, at least I can take on him as opposed to taking out the foliage around here, less likely to get in trouble. Hmm, this might be fun. She pushed her reading book back into her sidebag, making sure not to bend any of the pages or the cover. I may hate homework but I actually like this book a little, it's interesting. She then reached into her sidebag, pulling out a small pouch. "You know, you could have just asked if I had any food. I might have given you some of my dried rabbit." She said somewhat sharply, popping a chunk into her muzzle. "You should really try this, its good. Too bad you already had your fried birds." The last two words were full of distaste, even through her second muzzle-full of rabbit.

[Draetrialis]

The Shadow snorted. "You have a short temper, as you just proved. And I perfer to hunt for myself." He sad, unfazed by any of the comments the Air Dragon had said. "I, at least, am not an airhead." He said, some smoke billowing from his mouth as he contained a chuckle. Bringing his face closer to Valerie, he bared his fangs and said, "However, I do think that you should watch it, or you might end up with a shredded wing or worse..." He rose again and looked around, as if he were making sure he wasn't caught. It has been a long time, and Draetrialis seems to have gained a sense of paranoia. Looking back at the 'Princess of Air', he waited for her to mess up and give him a reason to shred an part of her body. The red eyes seemed to burn as he waited, clearly wanting to destroy something. He fired a spark of darkfire and it quickly exploded, 25 feet from the ground, since he had to clear the smoke and only a blast could do that.

(Paranoia ftw! Drae doesn't have a temper problem, but because he's so cold it seems like it. And I'm sliightly paranoid, so I made him gain it here. I meant to put it in his weakness, but oh well.)

[Valerie]

OCC -- I figured we could get them to fight each other, something I'm looking forward to seeing your reaction to and fighting style of your chara.

IC -- "You shouldn't have done that, there are probably tons of castle servants coming to find out what that was. But it shouldn't matter to the 'Great Shadow'. You can just fly away now, you overly large flying lizard. I mean, are you using steroids to grow that large? That would explain your insanely-large wings." Valerie mocked. She figured he would try to turn and run or fly away so she launched into the air and as quick as she took off, she landed on his other side, arms still crossed. "I'm tired of you thinking I'm some juvenile delinquent, steroid-lizard. I want to prove that I'm both smart and well-taught. I'm a Master of Air and have no reason to take this crap from you!" She knew her little nickname would put him off the edge. Good, I'm in the mood for a decent fight. She prepared herself for the onslaught-to-come. And this way, I'll be able to use my powers, something I haven't done in a while. Let's see what happens when a lizard-on-steroids gets hit with a large gust of wind. She thought with a devious smile. I wonder how hard he'll hit the wall, or at least the benches. She pulled her tail in close to her, a tactic that was taught to her by her teachers. Then she used another technique she had learned; to pull her wings close to her body but in a fashion that would render her a quick take-off if she needed.

[Draetrialis]

Draetrialis roared, "That's it, whelp!" He flared his wings and crouched low, leaping at the dragoness in front of him. His claws gleamed as he landed over Valerie, his legs on either side of her body and he attempted to slice the back of her neck open, all while preparing a dark burst. His wings stayed flared, the tips of which were brushing the courtyard walls and his eyes burned as he flashed his mind forward, trying to predict what the near-helpless dragoness with do.

(can you make an exception with the 200 word rule? My dad is rushing me and I can't do anything more than the 85 words above.)

[Valerie]

OCC -- Yeah, sure. Just try not to make a habit of it you know? The word minimum is just there to make sure that we have serious Rpers and substantial posts. But I can definitely work with 85 words this time. No problem.

IC -- Valerie instinctively shielded herself with an Air shield, a thin layer of her power just below her skin, something she had been taught to do when in a battle. So the lizard wants to tango? Well I'll give him something to dance to! She struggled and managed to get her claws unpinned and with a few quick gestures she managed to get a gust strong enough to knock him backwards. With him off, she scrambled up quickly, not taking her eyes off her target. She let the energy flow to her claws, prepared for his next move. When she had gotten up she had felt a burning sensation on her shoulder and now she felt something oozing down her arm. Oh crap! He managed to cut me! She quickly glanced at her cut, keeping Drae in sight with her peripheral sight. "You over-grown lizard! You cut me, now you will definitely pay!" She managed to put the pain to the back of her mind, not easily but she managed. And he worst is I can still see it! Let's just hope for the sake of my life that I can manage to fight all right. She returned her gaze upon him, carefully taking in the detail of any possible weaknesses besides his large, overgrown wings. Hmm, this is going to be hard. But it should still be fun. She quickly shifted her weight to the balls of her hind feet, preparing to take to the sky if necessary. Now, what was that new move? Oh right, Air Slice. Grab the air with my claws and slice. Simple, but I haven't had time to practice, the steroid-lizard in front of me interrupted me before I could try! Well, at least I'll have my practice!

[Draetrialis]

Draetrialis growled, having landed on all fours, and he quickly ran through all the moves he knew and could actively use. Slowly, a plan formed in his mind. He folded his wings, carefully tucking them close to his body, and slowly faded from view.Draetrialis growled, having landed on all fours, and he quickly ran through all the moves he knew and could actively use. Slowly, a plan formed in his mind. He folded his wings, carefully tucking them close to his body, and slowly faded from view. Stealthily, without leaving any identifying marks, he snuck close to the dragoness. Now, little whelp, you will face the fear created by an unseen target... and how can you fight an enemy that you cannot see...? he thought, circling his opponent without leaving a trace of where he is, was, or will be. Unseen, he focused and a small shadow, about the size of an eagle, appeared and struck at Valerie, causing no harm. Another eagle-shadow circled the dragoness, fading after 10 seconds. A number of shadows started circling the 'Air Princess', all fading after 10 seconds, but the large dragon was still circling, still unseen, even as he summoned shadows, slowly depleting his gems that he carefully linked himself to...

[Valerie]

Valerie got hit in the side with another shadow. That was the fourth one in a row. Oh great, the steroid-lizard thinks that little animal shadows will scare me. Not likely, but what does scare me is that I can't see him. What if he can fight hand-to-hand like this? Then I'm in trouble. She gulped fear and adrenaline starting to take over as she glanced around herself nervously. No! I've got to get a hold of myself! Wait, I may not be able to see him but that doesn't mean that he's not here...there's definitely something making those shadows and I'll guarantee that's him. She kept looking around nervously, to give off the false impression that he was the one in control now. I know! maybe if I can create a mini tornado around myself I can spin Air Slices in a circle around me! If he's hiding and not near me, it still should put him off. Then I go in for hand-to-hand combat, the one way to make sure that he can't do any of these fancy tricks. I hope this works, at least the Air Slice is a somewhat simple one. With that she stopped looking around, moved her arms around in front of her and spun. At first she looked like she was just spinning but then she became less visible as wind gathered around her in a mini-tornado shape. Once she had her twister, she stopped moving her arms but kept spinning, a way to keep the tornado going. Now for the Air Slice, and with any luck, I'll know where this overgrown-steroid-lizard is hiding, and I won't puke. She pulled her arms up above her head in the air and brought them down in an X-slicing motion. The effect was immediate, thin razor-sharp portions of air went flying out in every direction, cutting everything to bits, even scattering some of the shadow creatures that were still out there. Exhaustion overcame her and her twister dispersed, leaving her with her head up, sides heaving on one knee. "Take that steroid-lizard. Yes, that name quite suits what you are, just a giant, winged, over-grown lizard. And by the way," she said, pushing her fatigue to the back of her mind and standing up. "You don't scare me." She turned around and walked back to where her bag was still sitting beside the bench she had been siting on earlier. Oh great, the grounds people are going to flay me for cutting everything up. Oh well, I'll deal with that later.

[Draetrialis]

Draetrialis roared with pain and collapsed, sliced up all over. His wings were torn and bloody, and his neck had a few marks. "You... whelp..." he hissed before rising again. "And I grew naturally, for your information!" Collapsing again, he glared at Valerie. He fired a swift blast of darkfire, but he was so tired, it merely fizzled out of existence. "How pathetic!" He growled and rose again, shaking the ground as he walked, and he jumped the wall, knowing he won't fly, and roared again, frustrated as hell. He kept muttering to himself, wings dragging behind him until he forcibly folded them. "That is one smart dragoness..." he said, "but she won't get the better of me next time... not when I get a gem that can power a shadow for several minutes!" He laughed to himself, slowly fading from view as he delved into the lake, prepared to go gem-hunting after he has healed up a little bit. He started planning, knowing there was a gem'd cave nearby. Maybe he could get in there and find a large gem. Large enough to store the energy of fifty shadows, but focus it into one. He laughed as he entered the air pocket in his cave and promptly fell asleep.

(And I am out. That was fun. At least you kicked his tail back to his cave... but it is so hard to meet the 200 word limit when I'm tired...)

[Valerie]

OCC -- This thread has officially had it's break, she is well-rested and this post has been modified to accommodate this fact. The 'next day' post is made in human form.

IC -- Valerie looked up as she noticed Draetrialis leaving. "Okay, bye steroid-lizard!" She said as cheerfully as she could, making sure that he would remember her as not only the Air Master who kicked his butt, but also the only one who dared to insult him with a nickname. Well, that was fun! I should get into fights with him more often! But I am tired, I guess I'll just try to patch up what I've done here, grab my stuff and head to my room. But on the way I think I'll get something to eat, fighting a Shadow Dragon sure makes me hungry. She headed over to the worst-looking willow, and started to pick up the sliced off branches and put them under the bench beside the tree. Well at least I'm not strong enough to slice through stone, yet. Maybe the grounds people won't notice the branches...not likely but at least it will buy me some time. She thought as she turned around, gasping when she saw the two Royal Rose bushes that were nearest to the fight. They are definitely going to flay me for this. Unless I can find an Earth Master to regrow them, and I doubt that too, I am going to probably get suspended from the training grounds at the least. She picked up the fallen bits carefully, remembering what had happened to her thumb and she just as carefully started shoving them between some of the still-attached branches of the bushes. Hopefully this will cover until I can come up with something more permanent. Then she nearly fainted when she saw her math textbooks, they were cut into shreds! Well, looks like I have to go to the market to get new ones, or being suspended from the training grounds will be the lease of my worries! She shoved the remains of her textbooks into her bag, put it on her shoulder and started to walk away, stopping only when she was near the entrance to the Palace to survey her handiwork and if anything else needed attending to. Nope, it all looks fine if you ignore the sliced off willow branches, the broken and crushed Royal Rose bushes and the blood splatters on the ground. Maybe I'll get Lin to have it rain to wash those away... And with that she turned and headed for her room, the thought of a soft bed being the only thing keeping her walking.

~Next Day~

Valerie dreamily opened one eyelid, seeing the light shining in through the curtain that was hanging over one of her windows. "Uhhh. It's already day, great." She said groggily, sitting up and stretching. And midday by the looks of it. She looked around her room with half-open eyes. And the maids already have my clothes lain out, good. She shifted to the side of the bed and stood up, stretching more thoroughly this time. "Oh great, now I'm sore. I should have stretched last night before going to bed, oh well, lesson learned." She walked over to her dresser, where her clothes were, rubbing one eye with the back of her hand. She put on the clothes numbly, for she was still half-asleep. After she'd made her bed (for the maids didn't do everything) she stepped into her private bathroom. "Oh great, I have dried blood on my face and my sleeveless top is showing my scratch. I wonder what everyone is going to make of that. Everything, if I don't wash this off." She grabbed the washcloth and scrubbed her face and arm clean, all the while thinking of an excuse. "Oh, I know! I can say I bumped into something! Maybe a rose bush, or a willow or a bench/wall. Wall wouldn't work and bench wouldn't. Hmm, maybe the rose bush, then that will explain why I have a scratch and why it is slightly crushed on the top! I just hope they don't notice the chopped off branches down below..." After she was finished, she deftly undid her pony tail and braided it, a look better matching her outfit. I just hope they don't suspect me of the blood stains out there. I'll definitely need to find Lin at some point today. She opened the curtains and looked outside, looking down at the garden she'd been in the previous afternoon. Or what's left of it... She though, noticing how late it was already. I'm hungry, I'd better go get breakfast, or rather lunch... She laughed to herself at her little joke as she grabbed her bag, shoved a few things from her room inside and headed out in search of a servant she could question whether or not she was too late for lunch.

[Draetrialis]

Draetrialis growled as he flew over the area. "She's awake..." a small shadow whispered in his ear before fading, leaving the Shadow Dragon with a smile on his face. His wings healed remarkably fast, even for him. They were still torn, but he could still fly. Draetrialis landed in the courtyard again, a small scowl now on his large maw. Earlier, he had placed a massive sapphire, filled with the energy from all of his gems, and placed a small spell around it, leaving it indetectable unless run into. "Where are you, Valerie? I have to talk to you..." he said, not feeling up to intimidating her today. The large dragon laid down, his tail curled around and his wings slightly open. After a quick psionic check that the gem was still hidden, he started to carve runes into the dirt, mostly hidden, and he placed them in strategic positions to get the best shadow he could. After a quick smile, he muttered to himself, "I learn more everyday... so I might be able to use my shadows to harm beings... and not rely on gems as much either..." He knew that nobody, dragon or not, could have heard him...

[Valerie]

Valerie came across a servant walking through the corridors, and asked her if the food was still in the Banquet Hall. "Thank you." She murmured as she walked away, eager to get to her food. Once there, she looked over all the food, deciding if she should be bad and get the apple turnovers or be good and eat the eggs and biscuits. The eggs are better for me but I am in a bad-ish mood and haven't eaten anything in the last two days except for that rabbit jerky. I ugess that solves it, I will have that turnover. Oh, I know! I can also have some fruit so no one can complain! She quickly filled two plates, one of fruit and one of turnovers. This may seem like a lot but those turnovers are huge. She struggled to carry it as she also picked up a glass of orange juice. Anxious to get away from anyone who would bother her, she took her mass of food and drink out to the other side of the garden she'd been in last night. This side was more welcoming to sit down comfortably and where she was less likely to be noticed by someone and therefore connect me to the damage on the other side. At least people know that I frequent this side more than the other side, this might be to my advantage.

[Draetrialis]

Draetrialis growled. "Valerie, I know you're there... just come over here so I can talk to you... I don't want to fight... not today..." he said, rising. The runes were completed and he was ready. He just needed to add one mark and a solid shadow would form, solid enough to harm. She beat me, and yet she's not here to even gloat? the dragon growled to himself before flaring his wings and folding them again, a sign of major frustration. He sighed and shook his head, deciding that he should just give up. He grabbed the sapphire and carved an indecernible spell in the bottom, that nobody could read, and cleaved the spelled section out of the sapphire, leaving a perfect hole in the base. Carefully, he shaped his cloven piece and, with a struggle, teleported the massive sapphire away. He hid the enchanted piece of the gem and growled again, "You should know that I don't just talk to people unless I have to." Drae sighed and sat down, wiping away his drawn runes, and muttered, "Just wait, foolish dragoness..." under his breath. Looking up, he sat proudly, tail wrapped around his legs and wings folded neatly to his sides.

[Valerie]

"Valerie, I know you're there... just come over here so I can talk to you... I don't want to fight... not today..." Valerie heard him just as she was about to take a bite of her first turnover, still starving. Now, what shall I do? make a big deal and go and give this steroid-lizard what he wants or simply ignore him and finish my nice breakfast. She thought sarcastically, making her decision. She simply stuck the fork she was holding into her mouth, savoring her bite before glancing up and seeing him across the garden, near where they had fought the previous day. I would go over and rub it in his face but I have a turnover to finish, and then the one after that. I think I'll taunt him though, this might be interesting after all. She put her fork down and called over to the ragged figure over by the shredded plants. "Over here you Steroid-Lizard!" She took a bite of fruit, preparing to change into her dragon form if Draetrialis were to show any offense. This will be fun again, but I'd rather just enjoy a nice, quiet, large breakfast to myself...oh well, I guess I'll just have to deal with it.