OPEN once, never enough, once

[METEOR]

METEOR

The horned lion squinted at the Serpent’s Maw statue in Serpentvale. The choice of two different gemstones—sapphire and tiger's eye—interested him.

When Meteor and Kole had arrived in Serpentvale, the lion had expected to wait. He hated being patient. However, one of the locals had directed the two cannibals to the Serpent’s Maw. No doubt to keep the cannibals occupied and out of trouble. Perhaps even to try showing off the minerals and ores which Emerald Isles would likely want to offer in trade, but Meteor wasn’t interested in metal. The cannibals did just fine with bone and obsidian.

He was intent on studying the statue as a work of art. The indents in the metal to suggest scales. The exaggerated fangs of the serpent. Meteor had to wonder if the artist would have devoted such hours of detail work into the sculpture if the artist had met one of the snake supremacy assholes on Viper Island.

To Kole, he inclined his head with a half-smirk. “Do you think the artist meant to convey one of the serpent’s eyes is blind? Sapphire looks… almost… milky.” Meteor glanced back at the serpent. Dead Eye’s dead eye was actual milky white, but something about the sapphire….

But the lion shrugged. Glanced back at Kole. And the half-smirk grew to flash his left fangs. Meteor thought he’d hate this waiting around diplomacy bullshit. And he probably would—even with the statue—if this didn’t feel so much like a goddamn night out with his boyfriend.

@KOLE.

[kole.]

Kole did not make a habit of visiting the other groups. Not out of a lack of desire to do so; he was no hermit, that was for sure; but, simply put, it was not something that had ever occurred to him to do. As far as he'd been concerned, posturing and politicking was a talent left far behind in his past.

That is, of course, until Meteor invited him along for a visit to Emerald Isles, and then really, who was he to say no to that offer? A romantic walk with his boyfriend, complete with watching Meteor do what Meteor did best? Count him the fuck in!

Kole's head tilted to one side, nose scrunched in thought, as he eyed the statue. Come to think of it, the sapphire stone that the artist had used for one of the eyes did, indeed, look sort of smoggy. It was an appealing little gem, though; the whole statue was pretty, really. Clearly the Isles took more pride in looking fancy than the Descendants did.

"I'm not sure, but it's an interesting thought," he glanced over at Meteor, optics gleaming as they scanned up and down the lion's unique pelt. Blue, like the sapphire. "Sort of makes me want another piercing," he arched his brow, silver piercing gleaming. "Or maybe I'll just swap these out with prettier stones, eh?"

[METEOR]

METEOR

“Hmm.” Meteor listened to Kole’s response. A flick of his left ear—full of gold studs, now that Xanti had assisted him with the preparations to wear all the piercings for his second meeting as Pharaoh—and Meteor squinted at Kole’s silver piercing.

Observations crystalized into understanding. Why Kole had looked at him during the first meeting as he had. Why Kole had his own silver piercing. Kole liked piercings, gemstones. Where Meteor saw “tools for propaganda” Kole saw… beauty, maybe? Meteor didn’t need to understand. He only needed to min/max according to the useful parameters.

Meteor half-smirked. Another flick of his left ear, for emphasis. “If you want more piercings, ask Xanti. If xe gives you an excuse about cosmetic body modifications are a waste of xyr time, tell xem it’s a favor to me.”

Then, Meteor’s gaze swept the coyote’s face. Analytically. Meteor didn’t quite have an eye for beauty. He didn’t really consider beauty important in allies, friends, collaborators, tended to notice aesthetics or fashion choices only to tag narcissists at a glance. But he was excellent at patterns.

“Garnet, citrine, or tiger's eye would suit you.” Meteor’s smirk widened. He’d mellowed out into lawful evil because leadership was more reliable at getting him what he wanted than pure chaos… but he was tempted to pluck out the Serpent’s gemstone eye. However, that was simply an impulse.

He could be patient. Better to arrange for a trade for chickens, establish some rapport… and then get a good deal. Chaotic evil was so inefficient compared to his current methodology.

[Nord]

WITHOUT JUSTICE, THERE IS NO ORDER!

The massive figure of the Sovran lumbered from the entrance of Crystwell, his wingtips pressing marks into the packed soil as his golden eyes narrow. Approaching the duo, the wyvern gave them both a glance up, a glance down before rumbling, "Serpent's Maw, how long it's been since I've been able to properly gaze upon the eyes of Sahkō and Taika. Fresh blood in the Maw was well, someone has recently slain a serpent." His musings warm as Nord suddenly pivoted to being terse, "I assume a villager brought you here as you have dealings you wish to make?" His cool stare bores into Meteor, into Kole, as he analyzes the two cannibals, suspicion swimming in his golden gaze, "Be quick, as we have some...wildlife issues I was busy trying to sort out."

Nord speaking -- crystal wyvern -- Extra Character Speaking

[METEOR]

METEOR

One glance at the wyvern, and Meteor’s posture shifted to mirror the Sovran. His shoulders squared in relaxed yet total confidence. His chin tilted up with a smug, self-assured confidence. What a leader postured often showcased exactly what they thought a leader should look like, and, thus, revealed exactly what they expected to see in a fellow leader.

Nord projected strength, confidence, and caution. Meteor mirrored all three, down to the cold analysis in his narrowed eyes.

“Your assumption is correct.” Meteor’s chin lifted higher. He dropped the suspicion in his own gaze, as if that had been a real question that he’d answered from something he’d gleaned from the wyvern’s body language or voice or words. Ha! As if he’d been suspicious at all.

Meteor’s smug smile flashed with teeth. “I’m looking to barter for chickens. In particular, laying hens.”

“Wildlife issues, you say?” Meteor glanced at Kole, Then looked back to Nord with a raised eyebrow. “Kole is one of the Descendants’ best fighters. And I have a track record of winning my own battles.” A genuine smirk of pride and confidence, too, for slaughtering his own father, devouring the lion as the lava poured into the river, and then crowning himself pharaoh to a crowd of cheering cannibals.

“Perhaps we can help solve each other’s problems, hm?”

[Nord]

WITHOUT JUSTICE, THERE IS NO ORDER!

A deep grumble left the wyvern, his golden eyes exasperated, yet guarded still even as the cannibals have proven to be non-hostile, "Currently, we are have issues with wild boars coming into Clayhorn to ravage the crops, running amok in Amespring causing damage, and injuring those who aren't battle ready." A hefty sigh was blown from his nose as he takes in the question about the chickens. A thought suddenly sprung to him, "Chickens? We have an abundance, especially of egg hens. We are not far from where they're kept."

He swings his massive head south towards Clayhorn, the words rolling around his mind as he offers to outsiders bad enough, even worse cannibals, "You may take some egg hens if you cut down the boar population here. How's that sound?"

Nord speaking -- crystal wyvern -- Extra Character Speaking

[METEOR]

METEOR

“Those wild boar sound like quite the problem. But the Descendants of the Departed hunt boar regularly.” A glance at Kole, then Meteor looked back to Nord with a widening smirk. That had been true before the volcano’s temper tantrum, but the skills persisted… and maybe this was an opportunity to kidnap wild piglets. “We know all the hunting tricks.”

“How about… ten egg hens for every boar we slaughter.” An eyebrow quirked up.

Then Meteor glanced at Kole. His tail swished. Ah, slaughtering boar will be such a fun extension for their date! And this was an excellent business opportunity. This was like earning money for making money! 

[Nord]

WITHOUT JUSTICE, THERE IS NO ORDER!

Nord tips his head, a sneer fighting from crossing his muzzle. With a huff, the wyvern agrees, "I would be remiss to turn away help while we still are recovering from our past...Sovran's actions." Counting in his head, he made sure the mental math allows for the pact be made. "10 hens for every boar. You have a deal, Pharaoh Meteor."

Nord speaking -- crystal wyvern -- Extra Character Speaking