Of Friendly Fangs

[Aurelia]

March 3^rd, Year One, Sunset

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There were few places Aurelia felt truly at ease in. One was her quarters. Another was the gardens. In either, she felt far more comfortable, far more warm and sheltered, than she had in centuries. But in her room, one couldn't feel the sun's warming rays.

The blindfolded Gorgon casually perched among the flowers and leaves, head tilted upwards to allow the warmth of the setting sun to stretch across her neck and shoulders. Among her coils, as was rather ritual by now, were a number of serpents, in all sorts of colors, shapes, and sizes. They seemed just as pleased as the executioner to just rest among the foliage, enjoying the peace that came with the solitude. Not many wandered through the garden, as it were.

It was full of dangerous snakes.

[Marius]

Not much time has passed since Marius had joined the Blackblood Legion. He had heard many stories about them which piqued his curiosity to no end. Finally, a place where he had the chance to show his true potential! Ah, but now wasn't the time to show off. No, no. Today Marius would give himself a moment to relax after wandering the world for so long.

Soon enough, he found himself wandering into a garden. If only he had his books with him, it would have been the perfect place to settle down with a bit of reading.

His thoughts were interrupted however, when he caught a glimpse of something moving by his feet. A snake! What a lovely creature.

The redheaded mage knelled down and let the snake slither onto his hand. It seems he wasn't afraid of it.

"My, aren't you quite the specimen, mm?"

He chuckled as he carefully handled the snake in his hand.

[Aurelia]

"My, aren't you quite the specimen, mm?"

Coils of muscle and scales tighten in surprise, and the Gorgon lets out a startled squeak.

"A-ah, pardon???"

Admittedly, it was easy to sneak up on the poor woman, and her nerves certainly didn't help in the situation. That, paired with her distracted mental wanderings, and her solar-powered daze...the mage had startled her.

Hands tuck sharply to her body in something of a nervous habit, coils rolling against one another as she shifts to try and get a better read on whomever that voice had come from. It wasn't someone she knew... It wasn't Mister Tabs. Not Miss Shiloh or Miss Nasira. Not Mister Thomas, certainly not Mister Crow... Someone new, perhaps? Anxiety rolled the serpent's stomach.

Could they be trusted?

[Marius]

"A-ah, pardon???"

The voice made Marius perk his head up. He looked up from the snake in his hands to see... a much larger snake? No, he thought. He had heard of a creature like this before in his travels. A gorgon. Yes, that was it. At first he seemed wary, but upon closer inspection of the golden snake woman before him, he had noticed her wearing what appeared to be a blindfold.

Marius relaxed his shoulders in and smiled. He was far from afraid. Quite the contrary! He was delighted--excited to meet someone like this.

"Ah. My apologies, I'm afraid I didn't notice you, Miss."

He took a few steps forward before gently lowering the snake from his hand back to the foliage.

"Please allow me to introduce myself, I am Marius Malkroft."

[Aurelia]

Wide coils slowly roll as Marius approaches, the sound of his footsteps making her ever so slightly nervous. Oddly enough, it's only when he offers his name does she slowly begin to relax, allowing the serpents along her tail to ease themselves into rest again.


"Ah, Mister... Marius? It's a pleasure to meet you. You may simply call me Aurelia. I'm the local executioner. I-I hope you don't find it too forward of me to say, but I'm not familiar with your name, and you don't smell like the desert sands, like the locals do."


It's here she makes a motion to her mouth, allowing her long, forked tongue to flick ever so slightly. It's only a singular demonstration, however, as she addresses him again.


"You wouldn't happen to be new here, would you? Most avoid this garden, due to the residents."

[Marius]

"Ah, Mister... Marius? It's a pleasure to meet you. You may simply call me Aurelia. I'm the local executioner. I-I hope you don't find it too forward of me to say, but I'm not familiar with your name, and you don't smell like the desert sands, like the locals do."

"Aurelia. I see." He nodded to himself, as if to memorize her name. "Interesting..."

"You wouldn't happen to be new here, would you? Most avoid this garden, due to the residents."

Marius chuckled. "Yes, I am a new arrival. I haven't been here quite so long, and I am still 'learning the ropes,' as they say. As for the 'residents'..." He looked around at the menagerie of snakes in the garden. "I don't mind them. I'm actually rather fond of reptiles."

[Aurelia]

At Marius' admittance to liking reptiles, the Gorgon can't help the slightest giggle, "Oh, if that's the case, Mister Marius, you and I will be fast friends. I believe Miss Nasira will like you, as well, but I'm not positive of my own standing with her...."


That last line seems to draw Aurelia into her thoughts, but she quickly swats them away with her hand.


"So did you come out here to see all the snakes, or are you looking for something in particular?"

[Marius]

"Oh, I'm just looking around, familiarizing myself with this place." He smiled, placing his hand on his chin. "The snakes are just a happy surprise. It makes me feel at home, so to speak." He let out a small chuckle.

"After travelling for so long, the familiar is a breath of fresh air, and quite needed in this desert heat, don't you think?"