[AMUSEMENT is very difficult to transmit via text, but it is there. She has a suspicion who was included in there, in that half. She asks a villager for directions, the one young man who doesn't cross the road when he sees her coming, and a few minutes later she is there.]
[Anduin doesn't bother texting her back, coming instead to meet her at the door with the flick of a smile.]
Hello. I hope it wasn't too difficult to find your way over?
[He casts a wary glance out the door, just in case there are any villagers waiting outside, ready to jump out of the bushes to ambush him now that he's opened the door.]
[Anduin glances around warily, before gesturing her inside the door.]
Come with me.
[This is not a conversation to be having here. Hopefully she won't mind the fact that he proceeds to lead her in through the house then up the stairs towards his bedroom. Because that's exactly what he's doing, waiting until he can shut the door behind her before he deflates slightly.]
I can explain. That is -- assuming he has not done so already.
He's done some explaining. [Kind of a lie. He mostly just dropped the bombshell, and then proceeded to talk to her about enchantments. And worst of all, she'd falled right into that debate, without stopping to question how a dragon living in a human body was even possible.
She could chalk it up to different world mechanics, or she could grill his close friend for information.
Once in Anduin's room (she keeps finding herself in rooms alone with men, huh?), she blurts it out:] I just wanted to let you know that I know now.
[Anduin raises an eyebrow questioningly, as if to say has he really?
He gestures for her to take a seat at the small, low table with him, on the cushions on the floor. If it seems like an effort for him to lower himself to the ground, that's because it is. Once upon a time, he broke almost every bone in his body. This is not doing him any favors in combination with the ancestors' curse that is being forced upon him.
He reaches forward to pour out two mugs of tea, sliding one across the table towards her.]
I'm sorry. It must have come as quite a surprise. We do not mean to keep secrets from you, but it's difficult to know how people might react, all things considered.
[There is nothing polite and formal about the way Hermione takes her seat. She plops herself down onto the cushion, and crosses her legs, gladly taking the mug of tea and holding onto it for dear comfort.]
No, no, completely understandable. I'd always assumed he was not altogether human, but I kept thinking vampire or something similar...[She shakes her head, and decides against telling Anduin that the dragons in her world do not speak, or perform magic, or act the way Wrathion can.] It was such a stupid way to learn about it... [She lets out a huff, kind of a laugh if she weren't so tired.] We were discussing wand cores, and it turned into a conversation about the dragons in my world, and suddenly he's saying he's disappointed in me, because I didn't single-handedly change the whole fabric of the magical world, and then he drops the fact that he won't be caged again and I...
[That's okay, Hermione, just because Anduin has had manners bred into him doesn't mean that he's gonna judge.
He raises his eyebrows again slightly at the tumble of words that follows. There are a number of things there. Dragons, existing in her world. Wrathion, disappointed he assumes by the treatment of dragons in her world. Wrathion, telling her that he won't be caged again...
Anduin understands that he must tread carefully here, not knowing what Wrathion has said and what he has not. This is not his story to tell.]
I am sorry to say that, even in our own world, there is a long history of... Mistreatment and distrust of Wrathion's kind.
[Anduin's gaze falls down to the mug of tea, cupped between his hands.]
It is often the practice, in Stormwind, when.... A dragon is slain, to mount their head upon the gates of the city. It is not a habit that I am particularly proud of.
[She doesn't set the mug down so much as brings it down to blurt out:] That's awful!
[It explains some of the rage that had been simmering in Wrathion at the time of their conversation. Hermione telling him about the dragon reservations in Eastern Europe must've indeed sounded like an overgrown cage for the dragons, where eventually they could be hunted. She shakes her head, in distaste and a little bit of agony.]
I'm not - I'm not like that. I don't like the mistreatment of any magical creature. I know, it sounds pretty terrible to begin with that we call them creatures, but I don't really have another term.
[Anduin plays his fingers along the mug of tea in his hands, holding it as much for something to do with his hands as for the relief it gives the ache in them.]
It's alright, Hermione. He isn't human, I don't think that he'd really mind. Dragons are... Well.
[He quirks his lips slightly as he tries to think of how best to describe it.]
They like to think very highly of themselves. I think it has something to do with their immortality, even if they aren't strictly immortal anymore. They still live very, very long lives as I understand it, and what with, you know. Their size and their strength and their powers in their natural forms. It's difficult to stand up to all of that, as a mere human.
[He sobers slightly.]
But... There is mistrust as well. Between human and dragonkind. Especially Wrathion's line. I don't suppose you can blame him for wanting to guard himself, given how vulnerable we all are here in this new world.
[How old is Wrathion, then, she wants to ask. The human form he inhabits, for she hasn't seen any other besides, looks reasonably young. Close to her age maybe, though this might be influenced by the fact that: 1. Anduin has known him for a while, placing him perhaps in the same age range and 2. Anduin is definitely in her age range.
Because befriending a dragon is something only a dumbass eighteen-year-old would do.
(One of us.)]
Of couse, I don't blame him. I still to this day hesitate to share with spellcasters and magic users that I don't come from a long line of magic users myself, and that my parents were dentists. Plus some other details, besides...
[A moment to remember that the last time they had a moment, she cried and had a minor breakdown. Hopefully, not this time.]
I'm glad he was brought in later than me. When I woke up in Taravast, the tower where I was held prisoner also had a dragon emprisoned. The witches were...[She purses her lips in anger and distaste, shaking her head. After a beat:] Well, there are plenty of people here who worked to free that dragon, so I don't think Wrathion is in danger.
[It is exactly the sort of thing a dumbass rebellious teenager would do... And did. Unfortunately using this logic does not quite work, when you try to reason out Wrathion's age, considering that Anduin technically met him when the dragon had been 2...
He'd probably be mad at him if he shared that on his behalf though, so it's probably best that she hasn't asked.
His smile is soft in response to her words of reassurance, but a little bit sad as well.]
It does give me hope, to know the decision was made to free the poor beast. The fact remains, however, that the dragon would not have imprisoned itself there in that tower.
There are those people in this world that would harm him, or use him for their own means. It is for that reason that we must be cautious of who we trust with the truth of Wrathion's nature. I promised him I will do everything in my power not to allow such a thing happen to him, and I do not make promises I do not intend to keep.
[Anduin hesitates for a long moment, forcing himself to take a sip of tea so it does not go entirely cold in his hands -- and also to fortify himself before he continues.]
Were you in Taravast, during the siege of the citadel? The undead lords...
[The Huntress, with all her creatures, would've loved to have one she imagines. The creatures that captured Lily, turned her into some sort of - something. She knows these things; it doesn't take much to put two and two together.]
I won't share this information with anyone else. [Quiet, solemn.] Nobody will know from me, not unless he chooses to reveal himself to them and - for what it's worth...[A small, tentative smile.] You have a friend and help in me, Anduin, so you needn't protect him on your own.
[Anduin's lips curl up in his own soft smile in return.]
Thank you, Hermione. I do appreciate that.
[He glances down to the tea in his hands. It is good to have a friend in Hermione. Someone outside of Wrathion, who he can come to, to talk to. To trust with his secrets. He... May not have opened to her with all of them. But there are some, which he knows she will take kindly to. In fact...]
He -- told me that you broke the news to him. Of your engagement.
[Ah yes, the farce that they both have in common, funny about that. She blushes a little bit, inevitably, because she remembers again how mortifying telling Wrathion had been to begin with. Nevermind the later revelation of his true nature as a dragon (again: !!!!), that had been a more humbling experience for some reason.
Of all things to happen in this world to her, she never expected to care about the opinion of a man in this way.
Definitely didn't expect she'd find herself not being the only one.]
Ah - god. I did. [She buries her face in her hands, muffling a laugh there, pretty tired.] I didn't want him to find out through other means, you know? Plus I owed him an apology, for having used his...erm... [Imposing physique? No. Not that.] Reputation. To my advantage.
[Anduin can't help but smile wider at this reaction.]
I, ah. May have admitted to him that you were not the only one to have done so.
[He ducks his head, dropping his eyes to the mug of tea in his hands once more as he feels, embarrassingly, a flush of color spread across his cheeks.]
As you said. It would be ill luck for him to find out through other means. And since I had identified him by name...
[Anduin swallows, attempting to gather his courage as he continues,] I may have... Admitted more than that as well.
[That smile is unacceptable! Don't just go around finding joy in her discomfort!
Except that she goes from indignation to surprised amusement as soon as Anduin admits that he also told Wrathion, because:]
And he hasn't even brought that up? I thought for sure he'd tease about it.
[Not entirely true, he did make some remark about Hermione being in his room after midnight being very forward.
Then the Facts definitely sink in, and she leans forward. Gone is the girl haunted by her ancestral curses, the one who's lost sleep over nightmares of her incompetence and scratches and plans. In her place, Hermione Granger, who has been a confident to only too many Chosen Ones with zero skills at asking people out. A young woman who gets to be just that, for a little while.]
And? What did you say? Did you tell him about your feelings?
[Anduin can feel his face flushing hot with embarrassment, although he is happy to tell her about this. He's happy to have someone to talk to about this, someone who... Is happy for him. For them.
He keeps his eyes lowered, focused on the tea in his hands, a soft, self-conscious smile spreading itself across his face as he considers his reply.]
If I had a coin for every time I have told Wrathion I care for him, I could probably fill the treasury of Stormwind twice over. I cannot tell you precisely what made the difference this time, but... [He flicks his eyes up to meet hers, his blush deepening.]
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Yes, of course. It's the former village wise man's house.
My apologies for assuming you knew, half the village seems to be in and out these days.
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[AMUSEMENT is very difficult to transmit via text, but it is there. She has a suspicion who was included in there, in that half. She asks a villager for directions, the one young man who doesn't cross the road when he sees her coming, and a few minutes later she is there.]
I'm outside.
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Hello. I hope it wasn't too difficult to find your way over?
[He casts a wary glance out the door, just in case there are any villagers waiting outside, ready to jump out of the bushes to ambush him now that he's opened the door.]
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A dragon?!
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Come with me.
[This is not a conversation to be having here. Hopefully she won't mind the fact that he proceeds to lead her in through the house then up the stairs towards his bedroom. Because that's exactly what he's doing, waiting until he can shut the door behind her before he deflates slightly.]
I can explain. That is -- assuming he has not done so already.
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She could chalk it up to different world mechanics, or she could grill his close friend for information.
Once in Anduin's room (she keeps finding herself in rooms alone with men, huh?), she blurts it out:] I just wanted to let you know that I know now.
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He gestures for her to take a seat at the small, low table with him, on the cushions on the floor. If it seems like an effort for him to lower himself to the ground, that's because it is. Once upon a time, he broke almost every bone in his body. This is not doing him any favors in combination with the ancestors' curse that is being forced upon him.
He reaches forward to pour out two mugs of tea, sliding one across the table towards her.]
I'm sorry. It must have come as quite a surprise. We do not mean to keep secrets from you, but it's difficult to know how people might react, all things considered.
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No, no, completely understandable. I'd always assumed he was not altogether human, but I kept thinking vampire or something similar...[She shakes her head, and decides against telling Anduin that the dragons in her world do not speak, or perform magic, or act the way Wrathion can.] It was such a stupid way to learn about it... [She lets out a huff, kind of a laugh if she weren't so tired.] We were discussing wand cores, and it turned into a conversation about the dragons in my world, and suddenly he's saying he's disappointed in me, because I didn't single-handedly change the whole fabric of the magical world, and then he drops the fact that he won't be caged again and I...
[She takes a long sip of tea. The tea is hot.]
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He raises his eyebrows again slightly at the tumble of words that follows. There are a number of things there. Dragons, existing in her world. Wrathion, disappointed he assumes by the treatment of dragons in her world. Wrathion, telling her that he won't be caged again...
Anduin understands that he must tread carefully here, not knowing what Wrathion has said and what he has not. This is not his story to tell.]
I am sorry to say that, even in our own world, there is a long history of... Mistreatment and distrust of Wrathion's kind.
[Anduin's gaze falls down to the mug of tea, cupped between his hands.]
It is often the practice, in Stormwind, when.... A dragon is slain, to mount their head upon the gates of the city. It is not a habit that I am particularly proud of.
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[It explains some of the rage that had been simmering in Wrathion at the time of their conversation. Hermione telling him about the dragon reservations in Eastern Europe must've indeed sounded like an overgrown cage for the dragons, where eventually they could be hunted. She shakes her head, in distaste and a little bit of agony.]
I'm not - I'm not like that. I don't like the mistreatment of any magical creature. I know, it sounds pretty terrible to begin with that we call them creatures, but I don't really have another term.
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[Anduin plays his fingers along the mug of tea in his hands, holding it as much for something to do with his hands as for the relief it gives the ache in them.]
It's alright, Hermione. He isn't human, I don't think that he'd really mind. Dragons are... Well.
[He quirks his lips slightly as he tries to think of how best to describe it.]
They like to think very highly of themselves. I think it has something to do with their immortality, even if they aren't strictly immortal anymore. They still live very, very long lives as I understand it, and what with, you know. Their size and their strength and their powers in their natural forms. It's difficult to stand up to all of that, as a mere human.
[He sobers slightly.]
But... There is mistrust as well. Between human and dragonkind. Especially Wrathion's line. I don't suppose you can blame him for wanting to guard himself, given how vulnerable we all are here in this new world.
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Because befriending a dragon is something only a dumbass eighteen-year-old would do.
(One of us.)]
Of couse, I don't blame him. I still to this day hesitate to share with spellcasters and magic users that I don't come from a long line of magic users myself, and that my parents were dentists. Plus some other details, besides...
[A moment to remember that the last time they had a moment, she cried and had a minor breakdown. Hopefully, not this time.]
I'm glad he was brought in later than me. When I woke up in Taravast, the tower where I was held prisoner also had a dragon emprisoned. The witches were...[She purses her lips in anger and distaste, shaking her head. After a beat:] Well, there are plenty of people here who worked to free that dragon, so I don't think Wrathion is in danger.
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He'd probably be mad at him if he shared that on his behalf though, so it's probably best that she hasn't asked.
His smile is soft in response to her words of reassurance, but a little bit sad as well.]
It does give me hope, to know the decision was made to free the poor beast. The fact remains, however, that the dragon would not have imprisoned itself there in that tower.
There are those people in this world that would harm him, or use him for their own means. It is for that reason that we must be cautious of who we trust with the truth of Wrathion's nature. I promised him I will do everything in my power not to allow such a thing happen to him, and I do not make promises I do not intend to keep.
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Who would harm him? I would want to help.
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Were you in Taravast, during the siege of the citadel? The undead lords...
[Anduin was not himself, but. Technicalities.]
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[She shakes her head, and looks back at him a little more kindly.] Anyway. The undead lords what?
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For now... He takes another breath, doing his best to tread lightly as explains:]
There are those among them who would take an interest, in a dragon.
[He pauses a beat.]
Who have.
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I won't share this information with anyone else. [Quiet, solemn.] Nobody will know from me, not unless he chooses to reveal himself to them and - for what it's worth...[A small, tentative smile.] You have a friend and help in me, Anduin, so you needn't protect him on your own.
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Thank you, Hermione. I do appreciate that.
[He glances down to the tea in his hands. It is good to have a friend in Hermione. Someone outside of Wrathion, who he can come to, to talk to. To trust with his secrets. He... May not have opened to her with all of them. But there are some, which he knows she will take kindly to. In fact...]
He -- told me that you broke the news to him. Of your engagement.
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Of all things to happen in this world to her, she never expected to care about the opinion of a man in this way.
Definitely didn't expect she'd find herself not being the only one.]
Ah - god. I did. [She buries her face in her hands, muffling a laugh there, pretty tired.] I didn't want him to find out through other means, you know? Plus I owed him an apology, for having used his...erm... [Imposing physique? No. Not that.] Reputation. To my advantage.
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I, ah. May have admitted to him that you were not the only one to have done so.
[He ducks his head, dropping his eyes to the mug of tea in his hands once more as he feels, embarrassingly, a flush of color spread across his cheeks.]
As you said. It would be ill luck for him to find out through other means. And since I had identified him by name...
[Anduin swallows, attempting to gather his courage as he continues,] I may have... Admitted more than that as well.
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Except that she goes from indignation to surprised amusement as soon as Anduin admits that he also told Wrathion, because:]
And he hasn't even brought that up? I thought for sure he'd tease about it.
[Not entirely true, he did make some remark about Hermione being in his room after midnight being very forward.
Then the Facts definitely sink in, and she leans forward. Gone is the girl haunted by her ancestral curses, the one who's lost sleep over nightmares of her incompetence and scratches and plans. In her place, Hermione Granger, who has been a confident to only too many Chosen Ones with zero skills at asking people out. A young woman who gets to be just that, for a little while.]
And? What did you say? Did you tell him about your feelings?
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He keeps his eyes lowered, focused on the tea in his hands, a soft, self-conscious smile spreading itself across his face as he considers his reply.]
If I had a coin for every time I have told Wrathion I care for him, I could probably fill the treasury of Stormwind twice over. I cannot tell you precisely what made the difference this time, but... [He flicks his eyes up to meet hers, his blush deepening.]
It did.
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No matter where she is, apparently, there will always be boys who have no idea how to handle their own crushes and emotions.]
And it went well?
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princeking, this romance stuff is still sort of new to him. They never let him out much...This is equal parts embarrassing and thrilling to talk about, but it is nice to have someone to talk about it with.]
It -- did, yes. That is, I think it did. He...
[Light, he really does want to share this. He also wants to hide under the table.]
It doesn't feel like he's going to bolt the next time I come close to him, which. Is an improvement, all things considered.
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