Running Down A New Path [FIN] Open to all.
#1
Posted 06 August 2011 - 01:02 AM
Whenever he feels comfortable, he’ll push his limits and improve his skills. He is the kind of person who honestly enjoys it, so he doesn’t have to worry about slacking off. At the very least, he has a bare minimum that he likes to do. Every day at some point he tries to fit in at least a light work. Every week he likes to run a certain amount.
If it were completely up to him, he would train with his master more often. Unfortunately, the man is the very definition of a loner. Plus, he seems to consider Leonard as a bit of a nuisance. Despite this, Leonard cannot see himself with any other master. The man is an absolute genius with his fists, and to be honest Leonard can’t help but identify with his loner attitude. Still, he wishes he could be closer with him. In fact, at the moment he didn’t know if the man was out trying to save the world or half-passed out in a ditch trying to nurse a hangover. He always seemed to show up at the right moments to help Leo along, though.
What Leonard did know was the lessons that the man had instilled into him. His master had always emphasized the basics. Even if his master wasn’t around to teach him some secret technique, Leo knew how to get stronger, and that is exactly what he was doing right now.
He was out doing road work. He was running at a steady, slow pace over a long distance to train his stamina, build up leg power, and to keep excess fat and water weight low. Most people underestimate the effectiveness of foot work in boxing, but those who practice it are familiar with its importance as common knowledge. Leonard was not wearing his mask today, as he was simply running. His clothes were comfortable and easy to move in, but thick and in many layers. He wore several shirts, with a thick hooded tunic over them. He wore thick traveler’s pants designed for the cold. He also had his stomach, wrists, and ankles wrapped in a cotton wrap. The winter weather was cold, meaning that even with all of this he probably wouldn’t sweat much. Not enough. He would get tired and sore, but his body would retain the water weight making it that much more difficult for him to move. It annoyed him, but he couldn’t do much about the weather.
As he ran, his mind began to wander as it tended to. He looked up to the skies above, to catch a fleeting glimpse of some birds darting across the sky. His keen eyes studied their movements, relating them to his own in his canary form. He always liked to keep an eye out for animals, to give himself more experience as a Therian. He smiled pleasantly as he ran briskly along the city roads, a bit unsure of what awaited him down the path he had chosen.
To he who has strayed, he has simply forged a new path.
#2
Posted 25 August 2011 - 08:33 PM
“I have a dragon! I have a dragon! A dragon, a dragon, a dragon!” Skipping about and doing his victory dance was probably, like, the last thing that said dragon wanted to see, especially when he started wiggling his butt and hip-checking Shane, but this was the first time she'd answered his summons since the ritual and, like, he was kinda eager, okay?
Said dragon yawned mightily, blinking at him from beneath a curled wing. She'd apparently teleported to meet him right out of a nap, and it looked like she'd been nibbling in her sleep, too, 'cause there was a bloody sheep leg sticking out of her mouth. Sheep? Shep? “Whaddaya call a sheep when its not with its buddies, anyhow?”
Pria (her full name was, like, Prianakerani — he'd actually memorised it 'cause dragons didn't bond with people who couldn't get their full names right — but that was wayyyyy too long!) yawned again and smacked her lips (if dragons even had lips), eyeing his weird dance with some semblance of amusement.
“You woke me, Ezekiel.” Her voice in his head was wayyyyy cool.
“Wah! Wah, wah! Don't, don't, like, that's my grandad's name, okay? I'm Kiel, I'm Kiel!” Hopping to a stop right in front of her nose, he reached out to touch her snout. Like, she seemed kinda laid back compared to other dragons he'd met (like, Slythe, mostly. And Nekokerfuffle. And, like, Aelia and Tullia and Ani. And, like, why were so many of his family's dragons named something-ia, anyway? That was, like, totally weird, man!), and during the ritual she'd even messed with him a little bit, like she had a sense of humour, you know, so, like, maybe she wouldn't mind if he petted her a little bit, you know?
“Wahhhhhhhhhh, wahhhhhhh, I'm on fire, I'm on fireeeeeeee!!”
As Kiel rolled around in the grass, only a few feet from the road where he'd summoned Pria in a small park, he yelled and giggled (dude, he was on fire 'cause of a dragon, man!) and swatted away Shane's rough tongue, and giggled even more 'cause Pria was doing this weird dragon laugh-rumble thing that made the ground under him vibrate.
“Serves you right for touching the nose.”
Apparently, Kiel's dragon had a sense of vanity, too...
Doll & dragon by Emma x Doll base by wish04
Piper Kin x Ian Somerhalder x Aethereality
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#3
Posted 25 August 2011 - 08:54 PM
"Uh, ah... Are you ok?" He called out as he came to a stop on the path near where the man was rolling about. Leo's eyes widened when he realized that the creature was nothing less than a dragon, of all things. Maybe it was the Therian in him, but where he had little respect for someone called the Goddess, he had endless reserves of respect for the proud, powerful, and (
His surprise was easily visible, displayed on his bare face. On top of that, he staggered a bit back as well.
"A dragon?! ...Incredible." As if it weren't enough already, for some reason he had to come straight out and ask if it was so, as if he couldn't plainly see. Though, it was his first time seeing a dragon.
To he who has strayed, he has simply forged a new path.
#4
Posted 25 August 2011 - 09:16 PM
Patting the sleeve Pria had set on fire (like, it was only a little bit of fire, he realised, and his shirt wasn't even that damaged), Kiel bobbed up and down on his heels. Shane was practically glued to his side (probably, like, jealous or something 'cause she wasn't his only Chosen any more), and Kiel's hand had automatically dropped to ruffle her fur without him even realising it.
“Dude, you have wings, man.” Master of Obviousness, wahahahaha, and he turned to pester the red dragon who was currently polishing off the sheep leg she'd rediscovered like it wasn't a million kinds of disgusting to eat raw meat. Uck. “Pria, Pria! He's got wings!”
“Hm,” she replied shortly, her telepathic voice unimpressed. Sheep leg gone, she suddenly thrust her head forward to peer at the Anyeli's wings, and gave a great Rrrrumph! like part growl, part dismissive snort. Smoke came out of her nostrils, but Kiel just grinned like an idiot. “Mine are bigger.”
“Wahahahahaha!” Moving to stand beside the Anyelos, completely oblivious to that whole personal-space thing and stuff, Kiel totally propped an arm on the other guy's shoulder and tried to lean. It was kinda hard, though, 'cause the dude was a couple inches taller than him, which totally sucked! “She said your wings are puny!”
Doll & dragon by Emma x Doll base by wish04
Piper Kin x Ian Somerhalder x Aethereality
Please PM me on Xanth
#5
Posted 25 August 2011 - 09:43 PM
"Yeah, they're just for show, mostly. I'm not strong enough to fly yet," He admitted. He felt a bit odd about saying 'yet'. Since he didn't know if he'd ever be able to fly.
"See, I'm actually only a half breed," He didn't mind admitting. When not wearing his mask, or slumming around as 'Knuckles', he was like an open book and didn't speak as formally. It was actually refreshingly freeing.
"Oh, by the way, my name is Leonard," he said with a casual smile. Actually using his real name was a bit of a rare thing for Leo, sadly enough.
He looked up to the dragon again, admiring her beauty for just a moment before looking towards the Shadowkin whom was also with the dragon master.
"You certainly have some beautiful friends," he couldn't help but comment. He was so awestruck that he just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
To he who has strayed, he has simply forged a new path.
#6
Posted 27 August 2011 - 10:30 AM
He wasn't asking for himself, either way. Like, if he said no, Kiel would rummage around in the pockets of his mom-made combat trousers in search of snacks he knew he'd brought with him, and let the guy feed Shane one of those. It was the fastest way to make friends with her, you know? They'd been together a year or something now, so she'd picked up a ton of Kiel's habits — appreciation of food included. Fortunately, she ran with him and was boisterous enough that, like, she was still as slender as when he bonded with her. Otherwise, her mom was totally gonna skin him alive or something the next time they met.
Remembering to introduce himself (finally), he clapped a palm to his chest. “I'm Kiel, Kiel. Dude, you stink, man!” It was a slight exaggeration, and it didn't bother Kiel, anyhow, it was just something that popped into his head and darted out of his mouth. Like, but he worked for Zeph, you know, and that dude spent all day in front of a raging furnace half-naked, then took Kiel training at a busy dojo in Nirim on the weekends (also mostly half-naked). Plus, like, living on a farm for four and a half centuries, he was used to way worse smells than man-sweat, you know? “Ewwwwwww, 'strider poo stinks.”
His tangent over with, he abandoned his leaning post and hopped over to Pria, where the dragon was deliberately ignoring them. Her snout was in the air and her eyes were closed, kinda like she was enjoying the weak sunlight, but he'd seen that look on dragons before and it was so totally a "you're not paying enough attention to me, so I'm going to ignore you until you appreciate me properly" gesture. “Pria, Pria, Pria!”
“Ezekiel, Ezekiel, Ezekiel.”
“Wahahahahaha, you're so mean.” Arm-fire totally forgotten already, he petted her snout. She snorted smoke and eyed him like she was deciding how tasty he'd be, but let him stroke her nose for a few seconds before rearing back to spread her wings, shake them out, and then re-fold them like she was putting on a show.
Doll & dragon by Emma x Doll base by wish04
Piper Kin x Ian Somerhalder x Aethereality
Please PM me on Xanth
#7
Posted 27 August 2011 - 05:05 PM
"Eh heh," he chuckled awkwardly after Kiel introduced himself, and pointed out his odor. "Sorry, if I offend," he felt compelled to reply when he could get a word in edgewise. Although, by then the talkative man had run of to play with his dragon again.
"Sorry, I don't have anything," he said with a gentle tone to the 'kin rather than to the man, though loud enough so he could hear it, too.
Maybe it was his Therian instincts, but Leonard found himself honing I on every little detail, every little movements he was lucky to bare witness to. The 'kin's strides, the way she used her nose so skillfully, the dragon's wings, and every slight muscle shifting around under scale or fur. He probably would not choose to become these forms, or maybe couldn't, but he still couldn't help but study their movements and amazing physiology.
To he who has strayed, he has simply forged a new path.
#8
Posted 28 August 2011 - 11:18 AM
And then tossed said carrot to Lenny. Like, Shane would much prefer a totally raw steak or something, but she'd have to make do. “Don't let her eat it all at once, okay? Like, she's greedy, she's greedy!” In response, she stuck her snout in the air and flicked her tail at him.
“And whose fault is that, I wonder?” Pria slumped onto her forward elbows with a heavy thud that reverberated through the soles of Kiel's boots. He'd totally swear she was inspecting her claws, man, for sers.
“Wah, it's not me, it's not me!” Even though, like, it totally was his fault. He ate so much, of course his Chosen would pick up his habits, you know? But, like, it wasn't his fault, okay?
“Hey, hey, Lenny, Lenny, man, Lenny. So do you run every day? 'Cause, like, that's cool, it's cool! Me too, you know, but, like, I'm usually back home before the sun's up, hahahahaha.” It was totally true. Like, he had an early start every morning, being a slave for Zeph, you know, and then he skipped to his shift at Marty's in the afternoons, so he didn't get much time during the actual day. He had so much energy he didn't need lots of sleep, anyway. “You wanna go with me sometime?” He missed running with Phenny.
“Waha. Lenny. Phenny. Wahahahaha!”
Doll & dragon by Emma x Doll base by wish04
Piper Kin x Ian Somerhalder x Aethereality
Please PM me on Xanth
#9
Posted 28 August 2011 - 06:28 PM
So at the moment he was stuck as Leo, or rather Lenny. It was for the best this way, dwelling on it endlessly wouldn't have solved anything. Rushing ahead left too much room for error. Right now the best thing he could do was smile and feed some of the snack to the 'kin. He held out some of it in the hand that she was smelling. While he did, he held the rest in his other hand, slightly up and away from her.
He listened to the man's energetic words, though he didn't know who or what was was Phenny, he didn't bother asking.
"No, not every day," He admitted. "I don't like to stick to a routine," He explained.
"I do end up running often, though. Enough so that my legs are usually killing on the days I decide to give me a break," he said with a slight laugh. With the way Leonard strictly pushes himself, there are few days when at least part of him is sore.
"If I see you around, then maybe we can run together," he said with a shrug. He would have liked a running buddy, even though he tended to internalize often, especially while exercising, but he didn't keep to schedules and often found himself moving Leonard's business around to accommodate The Lost's agenda.
As he talked, he made sure that the'kin had a steadily supply of the snack, though in small portions.
"Say, would hou mind introducing me to your friend's?" he decided to mention. He didn't quite pick up the name of the creature he was feeding, though he gathered the dragon's name was Pria...or was it Phenny?
To he who has strayed, he has simply forged a new path.
#10
Posted 29 August 2011 - 02:57 PM
First pointing at the shadowkin with a finger that was immediately licked before diving to tickle under her fluffy chin, he giggled and said, “Wahahaha! That's Shane, it's Shane. She's awesome, man, for sers!” Another swipe of her tongue was enough for her to tell him that, like, he was awesome, too, you know? But then she snorted and stuck her nose in the air again when he hopped past her to wave at Pria with both hands, kinda like a troupe leader before the dancing began. “That's Pria.”
“Prianakerani,” she corrected in his mind, flicking his butt with a claw. He jumped a mile with a “Wah!” giggling all the while, and clapped both hands over his butt protectively. “She's Pria, she's Pria!” He had the good sense to skip well out of the way of the next repercussion.
“Say, say, Lenny, man, you wanna go for a ride?” Pria immediately roared her protest, but Kiel had come prepared. Like, not all of his wages had gone on, like, food for himself and Shane, you know? So he brought out the tiny emerald he'd brought along with him, after the requisite pocket-patting in search of it. The gem had been one of the rejects from a stash Zeph brought back from Kyriake, so he'd let Kiel have it for his future dragon. “Buh. He made me pay for it, though,” he sulked.
The stash he had was actually pretty cool now, but he didn't want to show his hand too soon. Like, he'd learned from Zeph's relationship with Slythe that dragons didn't come cheap, and they were pretty heavy negotiators. Kiel was kind of an easy target, too, 'cause he'd just give 'em whatever they wanted if it meant he could play with them some more, but no way he could afford to keep that up so part of his training with Zeph had become "how to not get robbed by a dragon". Plus, like, his folks had been trying to teach him that his whole life, you know, but they'd kinda never really expected him to get this far, so they hadn't taken his training all that seriously.
“I wanna go to Niriiiiiim!”
Doll & dragon by Emma x Doll base by wish04
Piper Kin x Ian Somerhalder x Aethereality
Please PM me on Xanth
#11
Posted 31 August 2011 - 08:18 PM
The roar didn't put a damper on Leonard's spirits. He trusted Kiel (despite Kiel's playful demeanor) would be able to convince her to go through with it. After all, for all of Pria's attitude, she was still with Kiel. He doubted Kiel would offer if he couldn't deliver. Though, Leonard could have been wrong.
Still, he contained his excitement.
"Nice to meet you two," he said with respect to the two he had just been introduced to.
"There's no way I can turn down an offer like that," Leonard admitted. He liked to be as honest as could, while he could. It helped ease the burden of his guilty conscience, since he had to lie to almost everyone he knew about his secret identity.
"As long as it's ok with Pria, of course," he added to be polite.
To he who has strayed, he has simply forged a new path.
#12
Posted 31 August 2011 - 08:30 PM
“What am I meant to do with such a puny offering?” Her disdain was clear, but she was back to talking solely to Kiel again. Not that he really minded if Lenny overheard their conversation, though. Like, you know, he didn't know the meaning of the word embarrassed, hahaha.
“It's not puny, it's not puny! Like, this cost a week's wages, man, for sers! From both my jobs, okay? And Zeph didn't charge nearly as much as he could have for it, so, like, it's not puny, okay?”
The bronze and burgundy dragon shifted her weight just as Shane started sniffing at one of her toes. Kiel couldn't figure out if it was deliberate or not, but the movement sent the 'kin scampering away like a puppy with her tail between her legs. Only to stalk back as if nothing had happened and station herself by Lenny's foot like some kinda guardian. “You mean to tell me I bonded with a poor person?” Oh, horror of horrors, wahahahaha!
“Dude, like. Dude.” He was stumped, though, 'cause, like, how was he supposed to argue when it was true? “Like, yeah. Hahahaha.”
Again with the projecting into Lenny's head, Pria sniffed. “I don't suppose you have anything to offer by way of payment.”
Doll & dragon by Emma x Doll base by wish04
Piper Kin x Ian Somerhalder x Aethereality
Please PM me on Xanth
#13
Posted 31 August 2011 - 09:01 PM
Leonard was startled when he first heard Pria's voice in his head. It was unfamiliar, but he quickly put two and two together. It made all too much sense if that voice was the dragon's voice. He had heard that they could communicate like this.
It was difficult to follow, because he got half of the conversation some of the time. He was beginning to wonder if he had imagined the voice. He offered another piece of the snack to Shane as she came to a stop by him.
Suddenly, he heard Pria again.
"Hmm? Ah... Well, I can..." he stuttered, suddenly put on the spot.
"I can offer... My eternal friendship?" he offered with a shrug. He had to resist the urge to ask if he could pay her after he became rich. Truthfully all of his money was spoken for. Either he ate or drank it away, or used it to pay his landlady.
"hmm, oh yeah... There's this," he said holding up the rest of Shane's snack.
To he who has strayed, he has simply forged a new path.
#14
Posted 31 August 2011 - 09:33 PM
“Wahahahahaha, friends! Wahahahaha!” Friendship meant nothing to dragons. Unless they could touch it, admire it sparkling, and/or trade it for better shinies, they just didn't want to know. But, like, it just showed the differences between the races, you know, 'cause no 'Varian would ever dream of suggesting friendship even as a joke!
“Wahahahaha, Lenny, man, you're so funny.”
Shane wasn't laughing (which was kind of a shame, 'cause she was sooooo cute when she did her version of a laugh); she was too busy taking the guy for every ounce of snackage he'd give her. So, like, when the guy decided that her snack would make a better offering, she totally got in a huff and pounced on his foot with her front claws out at half-mast, totally like a little kitty cat pouncing on a mouse.
“It's cool, man.” Back on his feet, Kiel clapped Lenny on the shoulder again and then shooed the 'kin away. “I got a ” He'd been about to say he had something else up his sleeve so the dude shouldn't worry, especially since, like, the invitation was his idea, but then Shane pounced on his foot instead, and he fell over on his butt with a “Wah!”, his arms in the air and a stupid grin on his face.
“Hey, hey, Pria. Like, if you take us for the emerald, I totally know where to find some reaaaaally juicy sheep, okay?”
“Hmm.” The dragon eyed him, then Lenny, then Shane. “I suppose I have to take that rat with us, too.”
“Wah! She's not a rat, she's a 'kin, a 'kin!”
Unimpressed, Pria ignored his outburst and projected her agreement into both their minds. “Fine. Hop on.”
Doll & dragon by Emma x Doll base by wish04
Piper Kin x Ian Somerhalder x Aethereality
Please PM me on Xanth
#15
Posted 31 August 2011 - 10:02 PM
"Ah, sorry..." he said offering more of the snack to Shane after she was done with her master.
Leonard smiled and let Kiel talk to his dragon again. It was honestly fun to watch someone else be so happy, but he really couldn't help hut feel a bit out of place. All his free time was wrapped up in that mask of his. He didn't really remember when was the last time he had just hung around with friends and smiled like this. He didn't know what to do or what to say. He was honest that Kiel was such a friendly and welcoming guy, or he would have missed out on so much. Including, but nit limited to a dragon ride.
When it was decided that she would let them ride, it was difficult to contain his excitement. He felt like a kid again, but there was a point to this. It was a unique opportunity to study a dragon up close and personal and overcome any unknown anxieties that come a long with interacting with such a legendary and powerful race. If he ever had the misfortune to find himself in battle against a dragon, it wouldn't do to be awestruck by it. This was an opportunity to get used to dragons. It was a bit depressing that he had conditioned himself to the point were he had to justify 'having fun' with some kind of tactical ulterior motive.
"After you, my friend," he said to Kiel, as he wasn't sure of the proper way to mount a dragon. He would watch Kiel closely and follow close after him.
((ooc: You can GM Leonard to mount Pria as needed.))
To he who has strayed, he has simply forged a new path.
#16
Posted 01 September 2011 - 08:13 AM
“Wahahahaha!” Kiel's enthusiasm kinda ricocheted off his surroundings as he bounced up to Pria's side. She got this sort of look that was part surprise and part "Oh, nuts, what have I done?", tensing up as he grabbed at her knee and started climbing up. Then it was her turn to roll around laughing — in the most undignified way a dragon ever could — when he slid straight back off. “Um. But, like. Um.”
Glancing sheepishly at Lenny, Kiel still grinned like he hadn't just embarrassed himself. “Hahaha, I'm still getting the hang of it, you know? Like,” and he launched into a detailed description of just why he wasn't used to it.
After several minutes, he was finally up in the saddle he'd given her when they bonded. Well, like, he couldn't afford a real saddle yet, so it was more like a simple harness just for something to hang on to...
And then Pria projected to Lenny, “Your turn” — and lowered herself so it'd be easier for him!
“Wah! Wah, you meanie, you did it deliberately! Wah!” He soon forgot that he was mad at her when she chuckled and it was kind of like being on a wobbly ride, one fist pumping the air as he shouted with glee. “Shane, Shane, come on, come on!”
The 'kin stared up at him like she was having doubts, but then followed Lenny up the dragon's side. She started out in her 'kin form, leaping up onto the dragon's knee, but by the time she'd scampered forward onto Kiel's shoulder, she was in her weird ball-of-fluff form 'cause she knew it was easier to ride a dragon like that. “Woohoo! Nirim, here we coo-wahhhhhhh!”
She didn't wait for him to finish his sentence before she teleported them out of Elysia. They poofed into Nirim in a misty cloud of smoke — a thousand miles above the city! Well, like, a few thousand feet, at least... They were in free-fall for a few seconds, too, so that was yet another hat Kiel had lost, and the force of the wind in his face made it impossible for even him to complain, although he did manage an “Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” which was three parts excitement, one part fear and, like, another part exhileration.
Pria spread her wings to halt their descent way too close to the ground and twirled them around, pretty much showing off. “Dude, like, dude, don't throw up on me, okay?” It was so awesome though, man, for sers! Slythe did this sometimes when Zeph had pissed him off, but the big guy would have told him to stop by now. Kiel just clung on and giggled.
Doll & dragon by Emma x Doll base by wish04
Piper Kin x Ian Somerhalder x Aethereality
Please PM me on Xanth
#17
Posted 02 September 2011 - 10:45 PM
The fact that he couldn't fly in his human form constantly nagged at the back of his head and he held on tightly for dear life. His wings clung to him and the dragon, to not catch air. As the dragon performed its feats of flight, the air resistance his wings created threatened to rip him from where he was mounted. He tried to move his wings with Pria's, matching her movements so that rather than pull him from her, his wings would move him with her. It was difficult to guess when she would move her wings and in what way, and which way he should move his to match her, but he quickly caught on by reading the air currents. The free fall was easy, he just let himself go, and trusted in Pria. He had just met her, but he doubted she would go through all of this just to kill him like this.
He had kept his mouth shut the whole time, not letting out so much as a peep. He had gotten into the habit as a bird, not wanting to catch insects in his mouth. Even as a bird, he did not have much taste for insects.
Nirim, it was his first time here, but he had heard of it. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to visit here like this. It certainly was among the last things he expected to do today when he left to go on a run in the morning.
Slightly out of breath, for some reason, he felt he had to express his excitement and awe.
"Incredible..." was the best he could manage to articulate.
To he who has strayed, he has simply forged a new path.