ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ What a strange manner of procuring food . . ❞ ᅟ ᅟThe dragon spoke, bewildered as usual. ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ I shall show you the territory I intend to capture. ❞ ᅟFrom his tone, it was clear that he was leaving something out. ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ Not if it can be avoided— I would like to avoid culling my future populace. ❞ ᅟ ᅟthe dragon looks up at her blankly. ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ I will not hesitate against those that 𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄 me, however. ❞ ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ Faith in any beside 𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅 has long since left my mind, so-called 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬. ❞ ᅟ ᅟEyes narrow at her snarling, his gaze growing more grave. ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ You wish to have my fealty? You have done naught to 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐢𝐭. ❞ ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟbrushing his fingers through 𝙎𝙪𝙯𝙪𝙠𝙖 𝙃𝙖𝙟𝙞's hair, doing his best to be gentle. ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ Do not take this as reason to think of me as 𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃. ❞ ᅟhis stern voice speaks begrudgingly. ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟHis hands certainly had blood on them— but they treat her with reverence. ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ I have improved at detecting your so-called 𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐦. It shall decieve me no longer. ❞ ᅟStaring a hole into the back of her head as he twirls a lock around his index finger. ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ 𝐌𝐦— ❞ ᅟ ᅟThe heat radiating from his synthetic features was almost as comical as his sudden interest in gazing at the ceiling— away from her heart-melting features. ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 . . I still have no safeguard against . .💧❞ ᅟA little grumble. ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ I . . Your— 𝒉𝒎𝒎. ❞ ᅟ ᅟProud draconic chin tilts upwards indignantly, a puff of white smoke eminating from his nostrils. The heat intensifies. ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ . . your feminine wiles . . ❞ ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ Must you cling to me so tightly? I have no plans to vacate. ❞ ᅟ(he likes it.) ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟsigh— ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ᅟresting his chin atop her crown. ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ❝ I needn't specify. You are well aware of the effect you have on me by now . . ❞ ᅟ ᅟAfter a moment of apprehension, he finally peers down at her grasp, before lifting his gaze to meet hers. ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ❝ Why must I tolerate such 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.ᐣ ❞ (♨️*) ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟchancing getting a stern talking-to, the dragon risks tranquility by pulling her in to sit sideways atop his lap. ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ᅟanother thing he saw in a movie, no doubt. ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟoptics search her features observantly, as if scanning for disturbances. ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ Your face has increased in temperature— is this a sign of 'fever' .ᐣ ❞ ᅟhe learned what a fever was only yesterday, courtesy of her. ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀Hiding a pilfered bag of coins and scrap from 𝙎𝙪𝙯𝙪𝙠𝙖 𝙃𝙖𝙟𝙞. ᅟ ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟOptics narrow dangerously at her. ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ Do you wish for my winnings to be stolen.ᐣ Reconsider your demand. ❞ ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ My other territories are still . . . 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝. ❞ ᅟ ᅟHe picks a piece of battle debris from his hair and disposes of it. ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ My things are safe here. With 𝒚𝒐𝒖. ❞ ᅟ

ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ . . . fine. ❞ ᅟ ᅟa little huff. ᅟ ᅟ⠀ ⠀ ⠀❝ I will do so later. I am fatigued. ❞ ᅟthe dragon plops onto the couch. ᅟ