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JEAN VICQUEMARE - “Of fucking course you lost your gun. Classic Harry behavior. I’m not even surprised. Don’t tell me you lost your dragon too?”
INLAND EMPIRE - Shit.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY - We have a dragon?!?!? That’s so cool! We’re like Kim!
LOGIC - Yes, but it seems like we’ve lost it somehow. A whole dragon. How do you lose a dragon?
EMPATHY - You forget to cherish them.
COMPOSURE - Your hand grows sweaty around the radio receiver, and the one hand you have gently braced on Kineema shakes a little.
KINEEMA - Kim’s dragon shifts as if she can feel the change in your emotions, which she probably actually can. All dragons have some base psychic abilities to allow them to communicate with their riders or other dragons. Kim’s told you she has trouble communicating with humans, making her an incredibly difficult dragon to ride, which is why she was assigned to him in the first place.
ESPRIT DE CORPS - They wanted to put him down. Make him admit defeat. Instead, Kim took it as a challenge. Every corkscrew through the sky, every midair inversion, every flawless execution of dragon/rider synergy is a testament to their combined talents. They were made for each other.
SHIVERS - Precinct 57 has never before seen such a compatible dragon rider pair, and they never will again.
YOU - You lie through your teeth, having had enough of the humiliation. Something inside of you is squirming in indignation. “No! Of course I didn’t lose my dragon! Why would you even ask me that?”
JEAN VICQUEMARE - “You’re lying through your teeth,” he sneers.
AUTHORITY - Fuck! How’d he know!! You were so stoic!
YOU - “I’m not! How would that even be possible?” You furrow your eyebrows. “I’ve had enough of this questioning, goodbye!” You resist the urge to slam the receiver back into its holder, knowing it would probably jostle Kineema. She’s a strong beast, her narrow body surprisingly firm, so it’s more of a respect thing that makes you want to not disturb her. You settle the receiver back into the holder carefully, and simply stand there for a moment facing away from Kim.
KIM KITSURAGI - He tried his best to remain silent as you conversed on the radio attached to his dragon, but even he has to say something about this. “Detective… You’re paired with a dragon?” His hand comes to rest on Kineema’s snout, and she rumbles in response. “How could we have missed that?”
YOU - “I-I don’t know, Kim.. It’s so strange, there’s not even any traces of another dragon around here. We’ve scoured the entire district on foot!”
LOGIC - Not entirely true. There was the fence to the Whirling’s back courtyard, which had been smashed open by something big going incredibly fast.
SAVOIR FAIRE - There’s also your funky ass boots, my man. Your beautiful, green, dragon-scale boots.
RHETORIC - Riding boots.
YOU - Shit. Okay, so there is a lot of evidence that you had, at one point, a dragon partner.
KINEEMA -Your smell. Dragon smell. She projects that into both of your heads and the hair on your arms raises in response.
ENCYCLOPEDIA - That static electricity is another indication of Kim and Kineema’s compatibility. Kineema is a Seolite Weather-Coupris dragon. Dragons from Seol have the unique ability to control aspects of the weather, but only if the skill is properly fostered and if the rider paired with the dragon is emotionally compatible enough.
SHIVERS - You blink and see an image of Kim, 10 years younger than he is now, soaking wet and grinning on Kineema’s back. The pair soar through a dark gray cloud, Kineema’s mouth open in a grin of her own. Rain pelts the two of them, Kineema’s hair sticking to her body and Kim’s coat almost red from the rainwater, as they weave through their summoned storm. Kim’s hair sticks up straight on his head as electricity circles around Kineema’s sleek, gray, and crimson body. Kim laughs openly, almost maniac with glee. “Fuck yes!!” He hisses, excited beyond measure, and Kineema roars her response. Kim and Kineema circle a couple of times, before performing a showy inversion wherein Kineema curls her body into a corkscrew shape and flies through it upside down. It’s fucking amazing. Thunder pounds in their ears, and their smiles don’t fade even when they land and Kineema is forced back into the stables.
KINEEMA - Dragon smell. She repeats. Moron. Focus.
KIM KITSURAGI - “Tsk. Kineema. Watch yourself.” He gently swats her snout, and she huffs. “But yes, detective. She’s saying she smells a dragon’s scent on you, and it doesn’t smell that old. Not nearly a 3 day old scent.”
LOGIC - Wow, he got a lot more out of what she said than you did.
YOU - “But how? How is the scent recent? How could an entire dragon go missing? Even if they were hiding from us, wouldn’t Kineema be able to sense them?” These are all good points, and Kim looks to the side as he thinks.
CONCEPTUALIZATION - Maybe your dragon sneaks in while you sleep, and speaks through your unconscious mind! That might be why your dreams are so… surreal.
KIM KITSURAGI - “I don’t know. I admit, it is strange. Kineema, is there anything else to the scent that you can tell us about?”
KINEEMA - She rumbles, Metal.
YOU - “That could mean a lot of things.. Samaran Earth Dragon, Revacholian Steel-Coupris, or Katla Blood Serpent, just to name a few.” You frown. ‘Metal’ doesn’t really narrow it down. There’s thousands of different species of dragons, and hundreds of them have control over metals.
KIM KITSURAGI - “The possibilities truly are endless, detective.” There is a sympathetic tilt to his mouth. He cannot imagine being separated from– or Innocences forbid, losing– his dragon. Him and Kineema are two pieces of one whole.
He removes his hand from Kineema’s snout, and places it on your shoulder. Maybe it’s Kineema’s residual body heat, but his hand feels burning hot as it lands on your body. He looks you in the eye as he speaks.
“I’m sure we’ll find them. It’s just a matter of time. The bond between a dragon and their rider is not one so easily forgotten.” His lips quirk up just slightly, the ghost of a reassuring smile. “It’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.”
ENCYCLOPEDIA - There have been studies in Graad about riders borrowing their dragon’s abilities through rider compatibility and several electric nodes connected to their brains. It is almost all conjecture, bordering on superstition, but there might be some merit to it with the way Kim’s little smile seems to send an electric jolt down your spine.
MORNING, DAY ONE - 8:00AM : WHIRLING IN RAGS HOTEL ROOM
PERCEPTION - You hear the low, screeching roar of a dragon echoing outside. It gets steadily more and more loud, until it begins to hurt your ears. A headache slams into your tender brain, made worse by the dragon’s sound. But.. It’s welcoming. It’s saying…
KINEEMA - Hey! Hey! The 57th precinct’s finests are here! Behold, losers! Behold!
CONCEPTUALIZATION - Her barking laughter sounds like a metronome, and the hiss underneath it that follows her voice like a melody. She’s singing the song of her and Kim’s partnership.
PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT - Either way, you growl under your breath, hissing in pain. But you should really get up now, and greet that wonderful creature. Say hi back. It’s respectful.
PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT - Your heart beats to the metronome of the dragon’s laughter.
YOU - You could never predict how familiar Kineema’s voice would become to you in the next week. As you run around with Kim – her rider– you become fond of her insults and her bluntness. You never hear her as clearly as you did when you were half-awake and hungover, but it barely matters. Her personality is clear even from just a few growled words.
You become even more fond of Kim, trying to make him smile, and feeling like your lungs are glowing in your chest when you succeed. The spark of joy in your chest whenever he indulges your silliness, or when he lets down his walls and forgets to watch his words.
INLAND EMPIRE - You love them both. So much.
AFTERNOON, DAY THREE - RUE DE SAINT-BRUNE, 6:00PM
KINEEMA - My rider. Freezing. Her voice scrapes along the sides of your brain roughly. The distance makes the sound of her voice all the more grating. She’s still back on the roof of the Whirling, watching Klassje as you and Kim explore the coast.
YOU - You look at Kim.
KIM KITSURAGI - As you stand stationary for once, you notice how instead of falling back with his hands clasped behind his back, Kim has stuck his hands into his armpits. His bomber jacket is zipped up beneath his chin as well, and his jaw is clenched shut to prevent his teeth from chattering.
YOU - Oh shit, he really is cold. You should have figured! Just because you don’t really feel the cold (probably because of all the drugs and alcohol), doesn’t mean he doesnt. You take off your Revolutionary’s Hat and unwrap the Pinball Maker’s Jacket from where it’s tied around your waist.
“I know you heard Kineema. Don’t try to trick me, lieutenant. Take these. I don’t need ‘em.”
KIM KITSURAGI - He stares for a moment at the offered clothes, a bit of surprise flickering in his eyes.
“I will take *one* of these.”
He makes a movement for the Revolutionary’s Hat, but you intercept before he can.
REACTION SPEED - Quick! Before he can tell you not to!
SAVOIR FAIRE - You reach up, and put the fluffy hat on his head. He flinches from the sudden movement, and his eyes widen behind his spectacles. His hands come up slightly, as if to push you away, but he stops halfway. You tug the flaps of the hat down with a smile, completely covering his ears.
PERCEPTION - His *red* ears.
LOGIC - He’s so cute.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY - You are almost chest to chest. This is probably the closest you’ve ever been to him. Your hands still remain on the hat flaps, framing his face.
YOU - “Better?” You ask with a lopsided smile, tugging one hat flap down as a tease.
KIM KITSURAGI - He scoffs, “I feel like I must remind you that you’re the reason I’m cold in the first place. Why are we still out on this.. Cryptid stereo-investigation search?” His words say he’s annoyed, but his eyes are so warm and he’s smiling.
YOU - “I.. I don’t really know. I just feel like I have to…” You are aware that this is hardly a satisfactory answer, so you continue. “This phasmid’s just too interesting to ignore! Real or not! I feel a connection to it.”
KIM KITSURAGI - “A connection?” Humour seeps into his voice. “Whatever could you mean?”
YOU - “Well, Lena said that the Phasmid is some sort of prehistoric dragon, right? When she told her story, it felt familiar! Maybe the Phasmid’s my missing dragon!” You let go of his hat flaps to gesture wildly in the air. Kim watches you with endless amusement.
KIM KITSURAGI - “Could be, detective. If we do find it, which I don’t think we will considering it doesn’t exist, we should investigate that idea further. You would know immediately if that was the dragon you are paired with.”
YOU - “Now we *have* to find it! It’s our only lead, Kim! This is of utmost importance!” You grab Kim’s shoulders and shake him slightly, emphasizing your point.
KIM KITSURAGI - He chuckles, batting your hands away and stepping back. “Just don’t keep me out too late, Harry. Kineema will get upset.”
KINEEMA - She rasps, I will. Be upset. Miss Kim. He’s warmer now. Thanks, moron.
INLAND EMPIRE - The word “moron” is beginning to feel like a nickname coming from her. And a fond one, at that.
AFTERNOON, DAY FOUR - 4:00PM, ISOLATED ISLAND
YOU - You and Kim have finally found Dros, surviving alone on this island, slowly losing his mind. But there’s something really, really wrong here. Especially here, where the old man sits. You pull Kim aside after you finish interviewing Dros and receiving his confession.
KIM KITSURAGI - “Detective?” He sees your trembling hands and scared eyes. “Harry?”
YOU - “Kim, there’s something off here. Really off. Can’t you feel it? There’s some sort of force, or energy draped all over this island. But it’s worse here.” Your voice is hushed as you speak.
KIM KITSURAGI - “I don’t feel it, but if it’s making you uncomfortable, detective, we can always go and take another break–”
YOU - You grab his wrist, pulling him closer to you. At this point, he’s so used to your sudden moves that he doesn’t even flinch. “No, no, Kim, just focus. I-I think it’s draconic or something. You should be able to feel it even more than I do.”
SHIVERS - The wind here; it's not blowing the way it should. It staggers, going from strong to frail, from vicious to weak. A dreadful push-pull that disrupts the music of everything around it. It’s a wonder Kineema is even able to fly in these conditions.
KIM KITSURAGI - He hums, considering before saying, “Alright. I’ll try it. I’ll call Kineema down here to help me.”
“Kineema, I could use your help. Please come down here.” His voice echoes in a strange way, quiet as usual but there’s no doubt in your mind that Kineema heard him, even 600 feet in the air as she is.
KINEEMA - No, she hisses. No thanks. I’m good.
KIM KITSURAGI - “Huh?” He’s genuinely confused. “Why not?”
PERCEPTION - You can’t manage to make out what she says in response, but you notice the stiffening of his shoulders and the tense set of his mouth.
He says in the same hushed voice that you began with, “Kineema felt something, too. She says they’re ancient. As old as the land we stand on.”
YOU - “Holy fucking shit, Kim.”
KIM KITSURAGI - “Indeed. Holy fucking shit.”
ENCYCLOPEDIA - The older a dragon is, the more powerful they become. Dragons are like lobsters. They don’t really die naturally, unless caught by a horrible disease or killed directly, their scales simply grow thicker and thicker until they can no longer fly. But a dragon’s scales are where their abilities stem from, and with thicker scales comes stronger magical outputs. The older dragons may be shackled to the ground, but they are far from defenseless.
VISUAL CALCULUS - A dragon as old as this island would hold immeasurable strength.
ESPRIT DE CORPS - Kineema circles loosely overhead, nervous. You didn’t put any stakes into the way she immediately took off after flying you and Kim to the island, but now you realize it wasn’t just because she hated having you on her back. It was a draconic respect thing. This island is another dragon’s territory, and Kineema cannot respectfully roam without first greeting them.
KIM KITSURAGI - “Why don’t you ever tell me these things in advance?” Kim mutters under his breath, voice echoey in the way that signifies he’s talking to Kineema again. “Detective, I think we have a couple more questions to ask Dros.”
YOU - “Do you think he’s partnered with the dragon here?”
KIM KITSURAGI - He looks uncomfortable at the very thought. If Dros was partnered with an extremely old dragon, this situation just went from low-stakes to very, very dangerous in the blink of an eye. He doesn't like being caught off guard like this.
“I would hope not,” he mutters back.
SHIVERS - You feel his heartbeat pattering under the soft skin of his wrist, picking up speed as he speaks. The beat sounds like thunder in your ears, weaving together with the music of the breeze, forming a gorgeous melody.
YOU - Jogging back up to where Dros rots near the campfire, you ask him, “Sir, do you know of any dragons in this area?”
THE DESERTER - “Fucking dragons,” he spits. “Wretched beasts interfering in the wars of humans. They change the tides of war in whichever way suits them personally. I’ve seen an entire troop of men get cut down in action in minutes from a single fascist dragon.”
YOU - “Okay, but is there a dragon sharing this island with you?” You are getting a little frantic.
THE DESERTER - “Fuck no. I would’ve killed it if there were. Why are you asking me?”
KIM KITSURAGI - “My dragon partner sensed an ancient dragon’s presence on the island. It is especially strong here, where you are sitting. We’d like to greet it, respectfully, to show we don’t mean any harm.” His eyes scan the horizon, looking for traces of the dragon. He has no idea how you could have both missed this.
THE DESERTER - “I.. I don’t know about that.” His voice becomes weak for a moment, his eyes glaze over.
YOU - “Hey, are you okay?”
THE DESERTER - “No, no. I don’t know nothin’ about that..” His voice trembles and wanes, and he lists over slightly on the log he sits on.
KIM KITSURAGI - “He’s getting worse. I think this may have something to do with the dragon, detective.” His foot taps nervously on the ground where he stands. To disorient someone’s mind for this long shows that the dragon is indeed as old and powerful as you both assumed.
YOU - “I think so, too. Kim, we should–”
PERCEPTION - A rustle in the reeds.
AFTERNOON, DAY FOUR - ??:??PM, ISOLATED ISLAND
SHIVERS - The phasmid’s golden, wheat-like antennae brush against your face. It’s even older than you had thought.
INLAND EMPIRE - In this moment, as you commune with this unfathomably old beast, it feels like you’ve known it forever. It’s like this endless creature is your best friend.
THE PHASMID - “Silly. You are my best friend. So is your partner, and your partner’s dragon! Even that man who lives there! I’m too old to dislike anyone.”
YOU - You’re amazing. How can I be more like you?
INLAND EMPIRE - Something echoes in your mind, I don’t want to be this type of animal anymore!
THE PHASMID - “You already are like me! You eat and process sugar like me, you talk like me, and you even have eyes like me! I think you can fly though. I can’t do that anymore.”
SHIVERS - YOUR EYES BOTH SEE ME, SPEAK TO ME. THE PHASMID IS MINE AS YOU ARE MINE. I LOVE YOU.
YOU - You’re right, bestie. I can fly. I can close my eyes and let my mind fly far above my head with the winds, I can fly with the city and hear its music.
THE PHASMID - “Yes, that too! I meant it in more of a literal way, though. But okay!”
EVENING, DAY FOUR - 6:30PM, FISHING TOWN
YOU - “We even discovered a new species of dragon! The Insulindian Phasmid! Kim, show them the photo.”
KIM KITSURAGI - Kim obligingly stretches his arm out to present the photo, one hand hovering over it to protect it from the rain.
JEAN VICQUEMARE - “Holy shit.” He is genuinely in awe.
TRANT HEIDELSTAM - “This is amazing! The thinness of the body would probably aid incredibly fast flight without burning many calories, they could be the fastest dragon in the whole of Elysium!”
YOU - “It’s old now, so it can’t fly anymore, which it didn’t seem too upset about. But its magic is definitely something to write home about. Which is why it is relevant to the case, too!”
KIM KITSURAGI - Kim straightens up slightly, still brandishing the photo. “It was using its abilities to warp the mind of Dros into forgetting that it was there. We suspect it has been doing this for years, maybe even centuries.”
JUDIT MINOT - “Centuries..? Incredible.”
YOU - You look over at Kim triumphantly, and Kineema’s hot breath huffs against your back. She’s staying surprisingly close to you right now, closer than paired dragons usually stand to humans of their own volition.
JEAN VICQUEMARE - Something about this short scene set the Satellite Officer off. “Oh, very impressive, Harry. You did your fucking job. For once. Congratulations.”
KINEEMA - Kineema hisses at Jean quietly before Kim places a firm hand on her snout, silencing her. You can feel the little hairs at the nape of your neck rising from her static electricity.
JEAN VICQUEMARE - “Harry, I’m going to ask you a series of very simple questions. Even a baby couldn’t mess this up. Just say yes, or no.” He speaks slowly, patronizing you.
JEAN VICQUEMARE - “Did you lose your gun?”
COMPOSURE - Yes, but you got it back!
YOU - “Yes, but I got–”
JEAN VICQUEMARE - “Ah, ah. Yes or no only, Harry. Can’t you even do that? Did you lose your badge?”
VOLITION - Yeah, but you found that too. And you didn’t even pawn it like you did your gun.
YOU - “Yes, but I found it–”
JEAN VICQUEMARE - “Why am I not surprised, shitkid. Oh, and don’t think I forgot the most important thing. Your fucking dragon. Have you managed to find them, the easiest thing of all to fucking find?”
INLAND EMPIRE - No.. You never did end up finding your dragon. You found a hole in the ice, where something huge had crashed into the coast.
LOGIC - Did you.. Did you crash your dragon into the ice while flying under the influence? It would make sense given your history.
HALF LIGHT - YOU KILLED YOUR DRAGON! FUCK UP! ASSHOLE!
RHETORIC - Or at least you injured them. That ice was hard, and that hole was huge. You didn’t notice any sign of scratches, so there wasn’t any scrabbling to get out of the frigid water.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY - Maybe your partner is an ice dragon! Maybe they’re totally fine, and just chilling under the water.
YOU - “No, I wasn’t able to find my dragon.”
JEAN VICQUEMARE - “I fucking knew it. You even forgot that. Well, shitkid, I knew you would lose your fucking dragon. And you know why?” He walks briskly up to you, getting in your face.
PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT - HOLD YOUR POSITION, SOLDIER!
KIM KITSURAGI - Kim moves, legs shifting as if he wants to do something. But he remains behind you, hand on Kineema.
JEAN VICQUEMARE - “You want to know how I knew you would lose your dragon, Harry?”
YOU - You open your mouth to respond, but he beats you to the punch. Your heart feels like it falls to your stomach, and your clothes stick limply to your wet body.
JEAN VICQUEMARE - He smiles.
EMPATHY - Huh? Wait, what?
JEAN VICQUEMARE - He reaches up and puts a hand on the middle of your chest. He’s looking directly in your eyes. You feel a warmth begin to throb under his hand.
SHIVERS - YOUR LUNGS ARE GLOWING.
JEAN VICQUEMARE - “Because you’re my fucking dragon, idiot.” He pushes something into you, a type of energy pulses through his palm into your chest.
PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT - Oh, right!
VOLITION - What the hell! How did you forget that!
YOU - You grin at him, canines sharp, and transform into your other self with the help of your forgotten partner.
KINEEMA - Took you long enough, moron.
YOU - Kineema!! You chirp, whistles and trills accompanying your speech. You knew this whole time! Why didn’t you tell me?
KINEEMA - Because it’s rude to tell someone something personal about themselves that they don’t know, duh! For example, I didn’t say anything about the smoker on the balcony.
YOU - You tilt your head in confusion and the countless baubles and trinkets in your fur clink together, forming a metallic chorus as you move. Wait, what was that about the smoker on the balcony?
KIM KITSURAGI - “Don’t worry about it, detective.” His voice sounds different now that you stand about 6 feet taller than him.
EMPATHY - He’s trying to act cool, but he’s staring at your new form with wonder.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY - You preen, and puff out your chest, and stomp your feet to create a steady beat. Then you exhale hot air through the numerous organic tube-like openings on your back, causing each tube to create a different musical note. Somehow it all comes together, sounding like a beautiful birdsong, intertwining with the beat of the city’s heart.
JEAN VICQUEMARE - “He calls himself a Revacholian Whistleblower. I think it’s a little on the nose.”
TRANT HEIDELSTAM - “The transformation amazes me every single time I see it! Draconic humans are so rare after the Revolution, it’s truly a gift to work with one!” He is beaming, looking up at you with real joy.
JUDIT MINOT - “I didn’t realize how much I missed your music, Harry.” She smiles softly, eyes closed while swaying slightly to the beat.
KINEEMA - Okay, Moron, now that we can talk clearly to each other, I think we should discuss the way you’ve been treating my partner like he’s the earth, and you’re the moon orbiting him.
YOU - Oh, no! Gotta go, bye!
Reaction Speed - You quickly turn around, tail slapping Kineema in the face as she squawks in outrage, and take off into the air.
INLAND EMPIRE - The phasmid was right. You can fly.