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Dragon Harem Quest - Or: Saying You Were Gay Wasn't The Conversation-Ender You Hoped For

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ZerbanDaGreat said:
A young woman with rabbit ears is painting something on the canvas, her face is a mask of pure concentration, such that you suspect she doesn't even notice the pair of you come in.

"Ahhhhh, Eldingar," Mother says at last, turning only her gaze to meet you. "So wonderful of you to join us. I hope you'll forgive me, you caught dear Camellia and I in the final stages. So tell me, how have things been progressing?"
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Oh my god Zerban. You nearly killed me. As I read this the bus took a turn and I almost fell over. Well, at least it's a Thursday so I'll be able to work without any interruptions.

[X] Take responsibility for the entertainment. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons amused for a whole day.

I want to see more of Lyrros! More specifically, I want to see how he works a crowd.

This job is also good.
[ ] Take responsibility for the menu. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons fed and happy for a whole day.

We've got barrels of wine and can ask Malkram and Issachar for advice on how to order food an ensure quality.
 
[X] Take responsibility for the security. You'll figure out how to keep the party free of riffraff, onlookers, hangers-on, opportunistic thieves with deathwishes and rogue dragonslayers for a whole day.

@Wade Garrett makes a persuasive argument. Let's give Mother dearest a reason to sweat. :drevil:
 
ZerbanDaGreat said:
"Mm. Ah." Recognition dawns on his face. "Yes, the Lady Frida. However I was instructed to let no one by the name of 'Lord Elding' into the premises under any circumstances as she will only be seen by someone by the name of 'Eldingar'."
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:rolleyes:
Yes, mother, we get it, you don't think trying to avoid panicking the locals about dragons in their midst actually matters.


[X] Take responsibility for the menu. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons fed and happy for a whole day.

Put Makram in charge of the menu - he's boasted about his culinary skills before, and this party will have people old enough to really enjoy his classic flavors. Everyone else in our home also enjoys food, and can help with other small dishes if they like. No using wishes; I want to see what Makram can really do.

Also, commission literal wheelbarrows of Issachar's banana bread.
 
Camellia said:
Oh my god Zerban. You nearly killed me. As I read this the bus took a turn and I almost fell over. Well, at least it's a Thursday so I'll be able to work without any interruptions.
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Ima keep it real with u chief

Eldingar was meant to discover original Camellia paintings in the vault while he and Takara were heisting it but... I just straight-up forgot. So as compensation you get to be onscreen and everything.
 
ZerbanDaGreat said:
"Mm. Ah." Recognition dawns on his face. "Yes, the Lady Frida. However I was instructed to let no one by the name of 'Lord Elding' into the premises under any circumstances as she will only be seen by someone by the name of 'Eldingar'."
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Bloody hell. This dragon is the (almost literal) mother of all power-tripping assholes.

ZerbanDaGreat said:
"Why did you go along with it?" you finally ask, half-turning to get a better look at Jun-ho's face. He tips his head in a silent 'well what can you do?' gesture.

"She was scary and I didn't want to turn her down?" he replies. Shrugging, emerald eyes darting down for a few moments. "And I was curious to meet another dragon, anyway."
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This ties in with a hypothesis I have had brewing in my head for some time now.

Question: Why did Mother dearest choose Jun-ho as Eldingar's arranged date?

Answer: Because he was as close as she could find to a mirror image of Eldingar.


The impression I've gotten of Jun-ho is that of rather lonely individual, who did not have much - if any - oppurtunity for social interaction with peers. He just outright admitted that he never meaningfully interacted with another dragon before Eldingar.

What's more, he...hasn't really shown much in the way of hobbies, interests. Makram likes messing with people, Abzu is a wizard who wants to explore the world, vampire boy is obsessed with elaborate obstacle courses and theatrical presentation, Belial beds handsome young men as a job, and so on. But Jun-ho? We haven't heard of anything of the like from him. Heck, Jun-ho doesn't even like gold! That could point to severe lack of socializion among other dragons, which would otherwise have taught him to value the hoarding of precious items.

Much like Eldingar, he seems surprisingly shy and non-assholeish as far as dragons go. Eldingar/Jun-ho are apparently strange for dragons - the other two examples we have seen (Mother Dearest and the guy who got beheaded) are varying degrees of power-tripping goons.

Oh, and he didn't know that mortals generally wear clothes in public. That's yet another indicator of a solitary life and lack of socialization.

Overall, the (potentially incorrect) impression I get of Jun-ho is that he was coasting along, living a solitary life until Mother Dearest showed up at his dwelling. Essentially, a more severe version of Eldingar (who was also living by himself, though he did at least take occasional trips into Söfnun to strut around). Just...look how happy he was be having basic social interaction with the others back at the cave, even if was just playing Bejeweled with Makram.


We really, really need to take Jun-ho on that date in Söfnun. We've sidelined him for almost the entire quest (aside from a bit of grocery shopping in the ocean) and are only now spending time with him when it becomes important to make a good impression on Mother Dearest. That could give the (rather heartbreaking) impression that Eldingar cares about him less than the others.

Perhaps we can even do it the moment we get the meeting with Mother Dearest over and done with, since they are already in the middle of the city.
 
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[X] Ask for more time. Mother will undoubtedly think less of you and will almost certainly give up one of the previously advertised job to some cousin or another while you try to decide, but maybe the others back at the spire can help you pick from what's left?

Not really feeling the desire for more responsibility.
 
ZerbanDaGreat said:
Oh good Aži no
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Wade Garrett said:
My reasoning is twofold.
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Excuse you, his name is Tenfold. :V


Location is key. Also venue seems like it could be a fun trip or something.

[X] Take responsibility for the venue. You'll figure out what place could contain a single elder wyrm and an entire extended family of blue dragons (albeit the latter will only be in bipedal form for a number of reasons) for a whole day without anyone killing each other.
 
[X] Take responsibility for the menu. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons fed and happy for a whole day.

Banana

Bread
 
[x] Flake out and promise a gold donation in lieu of helping with the party. It has to be substantial enough to be worthy of note to a dragon who's had a thousand years to assemble her own hoard but... you can make that work, right?

The less we actually have to do with the family, the happier I'll be.
 
[X] Take responsibility for the venue. You'll figure out what place could contain a single elder wyrm and an entire extended family of blue dragons (albeit the latter will only be in bipedal form for a number of reasons) for a whole day without anyone killing each other.
 
[X] Take responsibility for the entertainment. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons amused for a whole day.

Look, if nothing else happens, we'll at least be able to keep them distracted by reciting tales of the complete fucking mess our life has been lately.
 
oh right I should actually vote oops

EDIT: vote changed double oops

[X] Take responsibility for the entertainment. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons amused for a whole day.
 
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[X] Take responsibility for the entertainment. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons amused for a whole day.

We've got lots of friends to draw talent from. If we can't manage it with all our varied personalities we're in trouble.
 
[X] Take responsibility for the menu. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons fed and happy for a whole day.

If nothinge else works, we could have Issachar cook Stuff and ask Abzu for something to copy the finished Food until we have enough.
Also, after this little Talk I think we should help Abzu with the Exploring past the "Border" Thing and then relocate our Home there.
Maybe Mother won't follow us?
 
[X] Take responsibility for the menu. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons fed and happy for a whole day.

So she just found a dragon and intimidated them into traveling across the world to be some stranger's husband just so she can look good at a party?

Alright, now I'm angry. Do we even know if Jun-ho is even interested in guys, or did she just grab someone pretty?
 
[X] Take responsibility for the entertainment. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons amused for a whole day.

We have an entire harem full of husbandos who are especially qualified for this.
 
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[X] Take responsibility for the venue. You'll figure out what place could contain a single elder wyrm and an entire extended family of blue dragons (albeit the latter will only be in bipedal form for a number of reasons) for a whole day without anyone killing each other.
 
Guys, I know the homecooked meals presumeably made by husbandos in fashionable aprons are tempting, but consider this:

Dragon. Vampire. Rock concert. As written by Zerban.

How could anyone not want this?

Archeo Lumiere said:
Aži Dahāka is not good by any description, mother.
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I dunno, I thought that time she forgave a hated enemy and let them be united with their lover in an eternal dream was a pretty nice move.

It helps that I shipped it
 
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[X] Take responsibility for the entertainment. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons amused for a whole day.
 
ZerbanDaGreat said:
"Fair enough." Ilyana pauses, clearly considering making some attempt at consolation, despite her extremely removal from the affairs of dragons. You throw the twisted-up ball of paper into your jaws and chomp and chomp and chomp until not a trace of Mother's message is left. The champing fangs seem to give her cause to reconsider, and instead she politely takes her leave. You throw an irritable 'see you at the lodge' at her retreating back out of obligation, then spit out what sad little remnants there are of the note.
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"Aw crap, lookit the poor thing, should, should I offer a hu-"
CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP
"... No."
ZerbanDaGreat said:
The sooner you get this over and done with the sooner you can come back and reward yourself by flopping down on top of your even bigger treasure pile. And fantasise about how much even bigger-er it'll be once that expedition you sent out through the Guild comes back. That's what you tell yourself, over and over and over again, as you set off for the city with Jun-ho in tow. He wiggles along through the air behind you, unwilling to break the silence
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So glad we took some actions to pick up all the new treasure. It gives Eldingar some much-needed assurance in life.

(also, critical lack of admiring Jun-ho's wiggles continues)
ZerbanDaGreat said:
He follows your command a little more immediately than you expected, shrinking down to a more conventional height with a sudden schworp of air rushing in to replace all the space he just vacated. Standing in his place is an aquean of a little over average height, lean and athletic and bordering on what you might call 'gangly'. He's kept the same basic colouration as his true form, flame-orange on the back and flanks and shoulders, cream-white on the chest and belly, under the arms and inside thighs. He awkwardly scratches at the edges of his gills with one webbed claw, long shark-tail swinging back and forth in the dirt behind him. You heard from someone once that sharkskin is actually made up of incredibly tiny abrasive scales, which makes Jun-ho's choice extremely valid in your book.

"Good try," you say. "But maybe some clothes. Söfnun's not that permissive."
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oh no he's a sharkpuppy
ZerbanDaGreat said:
You stare, not at the man but through him, a thousand miles away and into the afterlife which you so desperately long to be a part of.
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Hello Darkness My Old Friend playing in the distance.
ZerbanDaGreat said:
"Nothing," you reply, still staring at the floor number indicator as it steadily ticks over. "Let me do all the talking. She won't care what you have to say anyway."

The lift rises with a muffled mechanical hum, ratcheting higher and higher on arm-thick cables.

"... that came out wrong what I meant was-" you start

"No no, I got it," he cuts you off. "Trust me, it was pretty much her idea and her show from the start. I just went along with it."
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Understanding longboi is best longboi. I concur with @Mechasaurian; we should set aside some time specifically, rather than opportunistically, for deliberately spending with Jun-ho after we're done here. At first I wanted to leave him so that when we did go out with him it wouldn't come across as just doing so to fulfil an obligation, but I think that point has passed now. Or, hm, it might still be a concern if we immediately spend time with him after visiting mom, but I think at this point that risk is outweighed by the risk of making him feel ignored.
ZerbanDaGreat said:
A young woman with rabbit ears is painting something on the canvas, her face is a mask of pure concentration, such that you suspect she doesn't even notice the pair of you come in.

"Ahhhhh, Eldingar," Mother says at last, turning only her gaze to meet you. "So wonderful of you to join us. I hope you'll forgive me, you caught dear Camellia and I in the final stages. So tell me, how have things been progressing?"
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Oho that's a nice touch.

Hey @Camellia you should sketch a portrait of yourself drawing a portrait!

Now, votes... Crap. I dunno, actually. Entertainment or menu would both fit Eldingar and his hoard of boyfriends but it's hard to choose between them. Venue could also be fun. Hmm...
 
Guessmyname said:
After Paxton I'm worried that 'virgin snack bar' comment might not be joking. I'd rather not.
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That's an argument to take control of the menu.

Eldingar won't be offering up sapients as food.

Whoever gets the job if he doesn't take it, might.

[X] Take responsibility for the menu. You'll figure out how to keep an entire extended family of blue dragons fed and happy for a whole day.
 
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