"Thank you, Tony," Charlotte said, smiling a bit more. Glancing over as Glenn leaned in close, she nodded. "A little, yeah... Thanks," she said. "Just... bad experiences in the past can lead to things like this." She would welcome the quiet of her tank, and the river, if they ever got to go down there. Maybe a night swim?
She looked up at the minotaur, her eyes tracking the mixed drink as it slid smoothly across the counter. Adonis. He seemed quiet, but maybe that was just his mood at the moment. She had calmed down now, more relaxed as the buzz of activity resumed around them.
She let out a small laugh as Glenn whispered, glancing over at Jenny. At the designation of #2, the dragoness sat up a little taller, looking around for the plesiosaur. "Speaking of which, where's the other?" She asked. "Morgane, right?"
She looked up at the minotaur, her eyes tracking the mixed drink as it slid smoothly across the counter. Adonis. He seemed quiet, but maybe that was just his mood at the moment. She had calmed down now, more relaxed as the buzz of activity resumed around them.
She let out a small laugh as Glenn whispered, glancing over at Jenny. At the designation of #2, the dragoness sat up a little taller, looking around for the plesiosaur. "Speaking of which, where's the other?" She asked. "Morgane, right?"
Turning back to the two others present at the bar, Charlotte gives a soft smile in Glenn's direction, the look soon turning to partial concern as Jenny speaks. Her eyes widened as Glenn's own heated up, glowing red and causing the liquor to start boiling. She could feel the heat even from behind them, thin wisps of steam starting to rise from her own scales as Glenn's anger grew.
"Glenn, please," she whispers, her head lowering down slightly, something akin to fear creeping into her gaze as she stared, wide-eyed, as the glass shattered. The fragments bounced off her scales, scattering around the counter and the floor to either side of it. This could be bad, and she knew it. She was faced with the choice to either run, and try to escape the hybrid's wrath, or stick around, possibly facing what consequences came along with it.
She watched as Jenny stumbled out of the bar, the dragoness's tail twitching and swaying, eventually curling through the seat, entwining around the various bars and supports. She stayed like that for a moment, almost not hearing as Tony came around with the meal. Closing her eyes for a moment, she took a breath, a slow sigh escaping her as her shoulders relaxed.
Turning toward Tony, she offered a small smile, nodding as the items were presented. "T-thank you," she said. "I'd like to come back here... under better circumstances, perhaps." Taking the box, she set the napkins on top of it, her tail uncurling from around the stool. "I do think we should go, though... It was nice meeting you, Tony." She would have to come back here, maybe without the others. Maybe once she got to now them better, though, things would be different. Quite a thing to witness on her first day.
"Glenn, please," she whispers, her head lowering down slightly, something akin to fear creeping into her gaze as she stared, wide-eyed, as the glass shattered. The fragments bounced off her scales, scattering around the counter and the floor to either side of it. This could be bad, and she knew it. She was faced with the choice to either run, and try to escape the hybrid's wrath, or stick around, possibly facing what consequences came along with it.
She watched as Jenny stumbled out of the bar, the dragoness's tail twitching and swaying, eventually curling through the seat, entwining around the various bars and supports. She stayed like that for a moment, almost not hearing as Tony came around with the meal. Closing her eyes for a moment, she took a breath, a slow sigh escaping her as her shoulders relaxed.
Turning toward Tony, she offered a small smile, nodding as the items were presented. "T-thank you," she said. "I'd like to come back here... under better circumstances, perhaps." Taking the box, she set the napkins on top of it, her tail uncurling from around the stool. "I do think we should go, though... It was nice meeting you, Tony." She would have to come back here, maybe without the others. Maybe once she got to now them better, though, things would be different. Quite a thing to witness on her first day.
Waving back at Tony as the two exited, Charlotte took a deep breath of the cooling air outside air, her scales finally starting to lose their heat. As she listened to Glenn speak, her scales seemed to pulse in time with her steps. Not like the shimmering from before, but slow, rhythmic waves of faint discoloration, seeming to flow down her body, ringing her tail as they faded near the end.
Glancing over as she was offered the vape, she shook her head, turning her eyes back to the path ahead of them. "It did seem a little harsh," she said after a moment. "Both her attitude... and maybe how you reacted." She suspected that, from the almost bored look on Jenny's face, that this had happened before. Or maybe it was just from her intoxicated state, she wasn't as perceptive to what Charlotte would call unnatural.
"People change... it's just something that we all have to accept." Her tone wasn't accusatory, she wasn't trying to blame either Glenn or Jenny for acting out. Letting out a small sigh, she looked down at the box of food that she carried. "I can't say I've ever seen anything like what you did back there, though... To be completely honest, I was a little impressed." She looked at Glenn, a small smile trying to push its way onto her face. "It was frightening, yes, but we all have our moments..." She returned her gaze forward again.
Glancing over as she was offered the vape, she shook her head, turning her eyes back to the path ahead of them. "It did seem a little harsh," she said after a moment. "Both her attitude... and maybe how you reacted." She suspected that, from the almost bored look on Jenny's face, that this had happened before. Or maybe it was just from her intoxicated state, she wasn't as perceptive to what Charlotte would call unnatural.
"People change... it's just something that we all have to accept." Her tone wasn't accusatory, she wasn't trying to blame either Glenn or Jenny for acting out. Letting out a small sigh, she looked down at the box of food that she carried. "I can't say I've ever seen anything like what you did back there, though... To be completely honest, I was a little impressed." She looked at Glenn, a small smile trying to push its way onto her face. "It was frightening, yes, but we all have our moments..." She returned her gaze forward again.
Charlotte nodded, listening to the boiling tears as they evaporated. "Any other person would have left... I think. You're the first people I've met here, and I'd like to stick with you guys, even if there are some disagreements." The dragoness let out a small laugh. "You're right on that one... it is a little strange experiencing all this, especially on the first day. Where am I from?" She paused, thinking.
"Well, off the coast of a lot of places. I was born and raised in the water, only let out onto the land when I was old enough to take care of myself..." She shrugged. "I guess different species come from different places, and just adapt to new environments."
She looked back at her tail, raising it up a bit as the end simmered quickly, almost looking softer than before.
"Well, off the coast of a lot of places. I was born and raised in the water, only let out onto the land when I was old enough to take care of myself..." She shrugged. "I guess different species come from different places, and just adapt to new environments."
She looked back at her tail, raising it up a bit as the end simmered quickly, almost looking softer than before.
"Oh, I know what you mean with the shipping lanes. I've had a few close calls with boats more times than I fancy." She craned her neck backwards, and then the middle part seemed to shimmer and disappear, her head twisting completely backwards for a moment. She had stopped walking, but quickly pivoted her head forwards again, her neck solidifying as she jogged to catch up with Glenn. "I do know a thing or two about going tank-crazy. It's not the most pleasant experience."
Slowing to a stop at the bank of the river, Charlotte looked around, observing the scattered debris. "Wonder where all this came from?" She wondered aloud. Her attention quickly focused on the large shape rising from the water, and she recognized it as Morgane. Smiling, the dragoness waved, glancing over at Glenn as the plesiosaur came back up with the hat. She flattened her ears as the hybrid showed their excitement, the yell not affecting her quite as bad.
"It's alright," she said. "Let's take a swim, shall we?" She said, taking a couple steps toward the water.
Slowing to a stop at the bank of the river, Charlotte looked around, observing the scattered debris. "Wonder where all this came from?" She wondered aloud. Her attention quickly focused on the large shape rising from the water, and she recognized it as Morgane. Smiling, the dragoness waved, glancing over at Glenn as the plesiosaur came back up with the hat. She flattened her ears as the hybrid showed their excitement, the yell not affecting her quite as bad.
"It's alright," she said. "Let's take a swim, shall we?" She said, taking a couple steps toward the water.
Watching the hybrid take off their coat, diving into the river, the dragoness saw the shimmering scales not unlike her own, but a new sight for her to behold. Watching until they disappeared under the surface, she stepped to the edge, closing her eyes for a moment as her fins lengthened, and took a deep breath, her gills slicing open just before she dove in, making hardly a splash as she slipped under the surface. Looking around, she spotted the two, and lashed her tail to propel herself down to them.
Swimming down to them, Char spotted the scene, and drifted down for a closer look, tuning into the conversation. She agreed with Glenn; whoever these people were, it sounded like others had been here before, taking what they could off of sunken treasures like this, and either selling them or keeping them for themselves, as it seemed the hybrid had done in the past.
The dragoness lashed her tail, propelling herself down to the sunken canoe. Taking one of the jewelry pieces, she turned it over, examining it. It was intricate, crafted by someone who clearly knew what they were doing. She looked up when Glenn mentioned her name.
"I hope I'm not," she replied with a grin. "Let's go check it out." Carefully replacing the jewelry piece, she gently pushed herself away from the canoe so that she wouldn't cover it with a layer of silt.
The dragoness lashed her tail, propelling herself down to the sunken canoe. Taking one of the jewelry pieces, she turned it over, examining it. It was intricate, crafted by someone who clearly knew what they were doing. She looked up when Glenn mentioned her name.
"I hope I'm not," she replied with a grin. "Let's go check it out." Carefully replacing the jewelry piece, she gently pushed herself away from the canoe so that she wouldn't cover it with a layer of silt.
Following the two, the dragoness's eyes widened as she saw the figure. Drifting closer, she examined the large amount of bullet holes, the lengthened teeth, both things that should point to support Glenn's observation of the woman being a vampire.
"So, she was just thrown in like this? How long do you think she's been here?" Charlotte had a rough idea, but she wanted to know what the others thought. The book looked like it was in relatively good condition. The pages weren't too damaged, probably because the river wasn't used as much as other bodies of water where wear and tear would be greater against the remains.
She had heard about the Knights, the stories about what they had done to 'clear out' those that they caught and deemed unworthy. She accepted the advice to stay away from the human-occupied parts of town, not wanting to get mixed up with anyone that didn't like her kind. She shuddered just thinking about it, and pushed it to the back of her head.
She swam around the skeleton after Glenn and Morgane, pushing against their current. "It seems like there's a lot of old stuff down here. Why is that?" She asked.
"So, she was just thrown in like this? How long do you think she's been here?" Charlotte had a rough idea, but she wanted to know what the others thought. The book looked like it was in relatively good condition. The pages weren't too damaged, probably because the river wasn't used as much as other bodies of water where wear and tear would be greater against the remains.
She had heard about the Knights, the stories about what they had done to 'clear out' those that they caught and deemed unworthy. She accepted the advice to stay away from the human-occupied parts of town, not wanting to get mixed up with anyone that didn't like her kind. She shuddered just thinking about it, and pushed it to the back of her head.
She swam around the skeleton after Glenn and Morgane, pushing against their current. "It seems like there's a lot of old stuff down here. Why is that?" She asked.
"Oh, really?" Charlotte asked. "That explains a lot of things about this place." She stayed quiet as Glenn and Morgane explained the lines, the intersections, and what they meant for supernatural occurrences. She wondered what other magical items had been found here.
She looked over at the plesiosaurus when she mentioned that Loch Ness and Stonehenge shared a line, and that they were both intersections. "Do you know how many lines there are?" She asked. There must have been quite a few, or maybe there weren't all that many, because they crossed over each other as they circled the globe. The tilted ones, at least. "And more than two lines can cross at an intersection?"
She looked over at the plesiosaurus when she mentioned that Loch Ness and Stonehenge shared a line, and that they were both intersections. "Do you know how many lines there are?" She asked. There must have been quite a few, or maybe there weren't all that many, because they crossed over each other as they circled the globe. The tilted ones, at least. "And more than two lines can cross at an intersection?"
Charlotte's eyes widened a little at the large number. She definitely hadn't expected there to be that many. Heeding Glenn's advice, she decided that she should see about some of the others inhabiting this place. They were as good a source of knowledge as anyone, and the dragoness didn't think that they would be too difficult to find.
"20 lines? And a Mother Line?" Swimming away for a moment, Charlotte quickly turned and swam back, keeping her attention on the conversation. "So, that means mythical creatures, right? Like unicorns, fairies, things like that." It would be interesting to meet a unicorn. She had never seen one in person, but she heard that they were fairly rare, and becoming more so.
She didn't recognize the Crossroads by name, but it sounded like a powerful place, if it was being mentioned with the others. She would have to do some reading on it.
She had heard of Arcadia, hence the previous inquiry. The Astral Plane was something that she recognized, and of course, Heaven and Hell were naturally woven through everything.
For now, though, Charlotte was content with the current plane, the one that she had lived her whole life in, the one she considered normal. Glancing behind her to make sure that neither of her two aquatic companions were too close, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and started swimming the other way. Undulating her body, her pace increased, beginning now to stir up a funnel of silt from the river bottom.
"20 lines? And a Mother Line?" Swimming away for a moment, Charlotte quickly turned and swam back, keeping her attention on the conversation. "So, that means mythical creatures, right? Like unicorns, fairies, things like that." It would be interesting to meet a unicorn. She had never seen one in person, but she heard that they were fairly rare, and becoming more so.
She didn't recognize the Crossroads by name, but it sounded like a powerful place, if it was being mentioned with the others. She would have to do some reading on it.
She had heard of Arcadia, hence the previous inquiry. The Astral Plane was something that she recognized, and of course, Heaven and Hell were naturally woven through everything.
For now, though, Charlotte was content with the current plane, the one that she had lived her whole life in, the one she considered normal. Glancing behind her to make sure that neither of her two aquatic companions were too close, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and started swimming the other way. Undulating her body, her pace increased, beginning now to stir up a funnel of silt from the river bottom.
Charlotte nodded. "That would be fun, I agree," she said. "If we could go tomorrow, I would gladly hop along for the ride." She smiled as she envisioned what the place might look like.
Glancing upwards at the mention of the time, she saw that the sun's rays were filtering at an angle through the water, and looking at the river bottom, she saw that there were multiple glints of reflecting light embedded in the silt. Slowing her swimming, she stared at them for a moment, almost becoming entranced.
Glancing upwards at the mention of the time, she saw that the sun's rays were filtering at an angle through the water, and looking at the river bottom, she saw that there were multiple glints of reflecting light embedded in the silt. Slowing her swimming, she stared at them for a moment, almost becoming entranced.
The dragoness's attention was pulled back when her name was spoken, and she blinked, shaking her head. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, a small laugh escaping her. Watching as Glenn swam down, she gave the hybrid enough room to spin and wave their arms in the river bottom.
Charlotte's eyes widened as hundreds of little sparkles were thrown up into the water, all glittering and flashing about in the cloud. Grinning, she darted through it, emerging from the other side and taking a fair amount of the cloud with her, the particles being pulled away in a cone shape behind her.
Looking down, she swam towards the fossils, using her webbed hands to wave away some of the silt that was covering them. There were surprises around every corner in this place.
Charlotte's eyes widened as hundreds of little sparkles were thrown up into the water, all glittering and flashing about in the cloud. Grinning, she darted through it, emerging from the other side and taking a fair amount of the cloud with her, the particles being pulled away in a cone shape behind her.
Looking down, she swam towards the fossils, using her webbed hands to wave away some of the silt that was covering them. There were surprises around every corner in this place.
Carefully lifting the skull of one of the creatures, Charlotte pulls it from the sand, holding it at arm's length. It's quite large, about forearm length. She turned to look at Morgane when she requested it be named after her.
"Sure, why not?" She said. "How about... Morganosaur?" She set the skull back, and slowly strafed sideways, examining the rest of the sharp bones. "It looks like this thing would have been great at defense when it was alive. Wonder if there's any others like it around."
"Sure, why not?" She said. "How about... Morganosaur?" She set the skull back, and slowly strafed sideways, examining the rest of the sharp bones. "It looks like this thing would have been great at defense when it was alive. Wonder if there's any others like it around."