another hundred miles ● asteri

Quietly leaning into her presence, the dragon exhaled a long and low breath, skin prickling as they finally found a moment of peace, laying here beside another with whom they had shared their concerns. Exhaling a heavy breath, they opened their eyes just a crack, rumbling softly. They both were fighting with their own memories that neither wanted to deal with again. Hearing her response, they couldn't help the wavering smile they wore, "Thank you"

//no template today lol//

Asteri

"The stars listen, so don't say anything you'd regret."

She looked to them, a smile on her face. It was a bittersweet smile, more sweet than bitter, as she closed her eyes. She let out a sigh, leaning into them as well. Inwardly, she thought it funny, that she'd act like this around someone she just met, but the funny of it left as she kept thinking. They were hurting, too. Physically and mentally. It was her empathy that got her here, and she was quite fine with it.

Listening to them, hearing their thanks, she opened her eyes and looked at them, a smile turning into a small grin. "You're welcome, Bai Shi."

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THE KINGPIN

golden lung dragon & black jaguar w/ vitiligo & platinum silver fox. unknown age - ancient. bai shi lynn lingré. proper chinese name is lin bai. prefers lynn if close. they/them. blind. wind element & electric element. firstborn son of jerisidie lingré & current head of family/general. courting delilah evergarden & halo mercer. kingpin of alithís evgenis. demiromantic gray-asexual. parent of veris, arvin, leoku, erian, flos, kekhai, evarhi, and laeglin. elder brother of ramona and hope, uncle of quennel and cosette.

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the wonders that another living being could create just by being near never ceased to amaze the ancient dragon. exhaling quietly yet somehow peacefully they leaned their shoulder to her, seeking for this moment of solace and comfort to not end. nothing felt as good as this moment, sharing grief and pain with another. "for however long this vessel exists, dearest Asteri, know that I will protect you if not only for my selfish needs of defending another, or for making up for where I failed as a mate to mine. i promise to protect you, as your ally and friendly." they vowed.

Asteri

"The stars listen, so don't say anything you'd regret."

She was happy with sharing the solace, her thoughts quieting down as they leaned their shoulder. She smiled, bathing in the only good memory that was brought to light - her mother's comfort. The memory was quick to flee, however, so she focused on Bai Shi's words as they began to speak.

Listening to them, processing their words which caused her own to stop in her throat, she looked to them with a shocked smile. It wasn't that the words themselves shocked her, no. It was the vow - a similar vow was unspoken but demonstrated by her mother. Thoughts spiraled again, but she silenced them.

"I- thank you, Bai Shi."

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THE KINGPIN

golden lung dragon & black jaguar w/ vitiligo & platinum silver fox. unknown age - ancient. bai shi lynn lingré. proper chinese name is lin bai. prefers lynn if close. they/them. blind. wind element & electric element. firstborn son of jerisidie lingré & current head of family/general. courting delilah evergarden & halo mercer. kingpin of alithís evgenis. demiromantic gray-asexual. parent of veris, arvin, leoku, erian, flos, kekhai, evarhi, and laeglin. elder brother of ramona and hope, uncle of quennel and cosette.

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they could only give her a warm and soft smile, "you are welcome, asteri. Vows are not things that I take lightly, I mean them and I will hold up my vows and promises.", they murmured softly, leaning into her slightly, so their weight wouldnt dominate the poor woman. They enjoyed this peaceful exchange of presence and words. Nothing else in the world could be so simple and precious, moments like these were impossible to come by.

//sorry its short//

Asteri

"The stars listen, so don't say anything you'd regret."

She smiled back, eyes closed blissfully as she bathed in their presence. She let out a happy sigh, resting her head on her paws. She adjusted slightly before settling back down, letting them lean on her. There were memories that clinged to her like water on her fur - most bad, some good, few glorious. She found the good and glorious among the murk of the bad, and she was happy, at peace, this entire time. She stared across the water, a soft smile on her face.

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THE KINGPIN

golden lung dragon & black jaguar w/ vitiligo & platinum silver fox. unknown age - ancient. bai shi lynn lingré. proper chinese name is lin bai. prefers lynn if close. they/them. blind. wind element & electric element. firstborn son of jerisidie lingré & current head of family/general. courting delilah evergarden & halo mercer. kingpin of alithís evgenis. demiromantic gray-asexual. parent of veris, arvin, leoku, erian, flos, kekhai, evarhi, and laeglin. elder brother of ramona and hope, uncle of quennel and cosette.

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yawning, the dragon rumbled, tail tip flicking as they settled there, content enough to rest at her side, knowing that they were both in a safe location. "if you don't mind, I'll take a brief nap here." they rumbled, mind focused on the past, the future coming swiftly to envelope both parties in its inescapable tendrils of fate. But here and now? It was simple and peaceful, easy and calm and they intended to keep it that way.

Asteri

"The stars listen, so don't say anything you'd regret."

"I don't mind - rest as long as you wish." She said quietly, stifling her own yawn. With how peaceful the two had been, she almost forgot what was to come. But it never left her mind that the future was coming - a wave that she was waiting for, her body a house on stilts to survive the surge. Whatever the future's current went, it didn't matter now - she was calm, knowing the storm to come. Such was the bliss of knowing something was to happen, and staying in the moments before. Where she would usually panic and fret about the future, she was too at ease to think of it.

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THE KINGPIN

golden lung dragon & black jaguar w/ vitiligo & platinum silver fox. unknown age - ancient. bai shi lynn lingré. proper chinese name is lin bai. prefers lynn if close. they/them. blind. wind element & electric element. firstborn son of jerisidie lingré & current head of family/general. courting delilah evergarden & halo mercer. kingpin of alithís evgenis. demiromantic gray-asexual. parent of veris, arvin, leoku, erian, flos, kekhai, evarhi, and laeglin. elder brother of ramona and hope, uncle of quennel and cosette.

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turning their head slightly, they rumbled warmly in her direction, shuffling closer for the sake of peaceful contact. they did not dare to think of the hell awaiting their group, nor their new friend. huffing out an exhausted breath, they turned their head upwards toward the sky, wishing that they could see once again.

Asteri

"The stars listen, so don't say anything you'd regret."

A soft sigh came from the wolf, her eyes becoming half-lidded. She smiled, a tune coming to her mind that longed to be sang or hummed. She shifted her weight on her hind legs so that she was closer to Bai. Asteri glanced at them, then looked back at the water. Softly, at first, she began to hum the gentle tune. It was hardly loud enough to hear, but after a while it grew louder, like someone trying to whisper repeatedly to a friend. She wasn't really paying attention to her surroundings now, just the gentle tune that drifted into the air and mingled with the sounds of the forest and the river.