Alek had made a mistake, perhaps. Or perhaps many mistakes, but this one in particular was the most noticeable at the moment.
Erasmus had been staring at the chrysalises, wondering aloud if the children would have enough siblings. And Alek had been joking when he had said that he could probably make one more, but then Erasmus had turned such hopeful eyes upon him...
Thanks to that, Alek was now searching for another greater gembound. Lesser gemstones were a viable option, if not for Erasmus seemed nervous about the idea of taking stones from any being, lesser or greater.
When Alek saw the figure flying overhead, he thought the other must be a relative at first, which had resulted in a variety of mixed reactions. But the other simply did not strike him as a dragon, simply... unusual.
But potentially perfect for what Alek needed, if the other was friendly.
"Hello up there! Might I talk to you?" His musical voice called out. Alek felt incredibly awkward for once, and was more mannered than ever.
@Fulgur
At first, Fulgur was oblivious to the nest below the trees as he passed overhead, sweeping wings causing the branches to rustle. The voice calling out to him causes him to pause a moment, before banking around to peer through the leaves for whatever called to him.
The voice, with its musical qualities, reminds him of Anthem, but its clearly not him. "Hello? Who needs me?" he tries back, struggling to look for whoever spoke. Lights dancing in the trees, is that it?
As he hovers, Fulgur's Flock pulls away from him, darting around with a chorus of chirps. They seem pretty curious too.
@Alek
Alek realized the large flier needed more space, and move to a more open space in the Crags where the other might land.
"Me! I'm Alek, the dragon with the yellow glowspots. You're not a dragon, right?" He double checked briefly.
"I was wondering- My... partner and I are having children. They gave life to a stone from a dead member of my family, as well as two of my gem shards. I can still have one more child, though, and they are thinking that the more siblings the children have the better," Alek explained.
"I don't disagree with them, I grew up with siblings and I loved having them."
"I was hoping another greater gembound would be willing to give life to a shard of my stone. Would you be opposed? I'm not really a good user of magic," Alek inquired.
"You can choose whether you wish to parent with us, or to what degree- Or if you don't wish to give magic, I'll... keep looking I suppose?" Alek, to be honest, is feeling a bit helpless with the situation.
@Fulgur
As Alek shifts to a clearing in the rocks and trees, Fulgur is finally able to get a good look at him. It's funny, how similar in appearance the two of them are, aleast to Fulgur.
But it seems like a decent enough place to land, and he slowly lowers himself, before placing winged talons on the stone with a heavy thump.
He'd never considered family. He was born, for all intents and purposes, alone. Sure, he had his Flock, but they weren't the same as the other Gembound in the caves. Something else to care for, so small and precious, it captivates his mind.
Six eyes blinking, as his companions chitter around him and Alek, Fulgur speaks up, "I... could. Is it hard? I've... never done this before."
@Alek
Alek considered the question the gravity it deserved before he answered.
"Giving life to a stone is easy," He begun.
"But parenting is more than that. It's... nurturing the life you have created. My parents found nothing more rewarding than parenting, but it can be difficult at times even if rewarding as other. You must protect this life that you helped create, if you choose to be a parent in addition to giving life," Alek answered honestly, as far as he knew.
"I will cleave my stone now, if that's alright? We are close enough to the main chrysalis site that we can travel here with ease once the others hatch... I think it would probably hatch a few days later than the others, since it was given life a few days later, but that should not harm it any," Alek explained.
"My partner, Erasmus, they're a bit skittish around others. But I think they would like you," He mentioned. The word partner fell from his mouth more easily now.
Cleaving his stone a third time now hurt a bit. But... It was worth it, he decided.
@Fulgur
Perhaps he was jumping into this too quickly, too suddenly. But the lure of someone he brought into the world was intoxicating, something to care for just like his companions. "Something to protect... someone to teach and guide," he repeats, nodding as he listens.
There's someone else, who has made children with Alek. It would be the three of them raising them, maybe. Fulgur wouldn't be alone.
"Alright," he says, watching the piece of stone drop to the ground. I just have to give it my magic. With that, he pushes a wisp of magic into it, a small charge sparking the air for a moment before the stone takes hold of it.
@Alek
More than just being willing to give magic, this gemstone seemed to have a parental instinct naturally. Before meeting Erasmus, Alek had not really thought positively of the idea of having children. Only with Erasmus had Alek discovered the urge to protect, create, and nurture.
It would be good to have a gembound with natural parental instinct with the two of them. As the spark took hold of the stone, it began to grow into a purple amethyst chrysalis.
"Welcome to the family..." And here Alek paused, surprised.
"I don't think I caught your name? My name is Alek, my partner is Erasmus."
[Exit Alek]
@Fulgur
He watches the stone spark to life eagerly, leaning down to watch it. How curious.
"I suppose we'll be sticking together, from now on," he says, looking back up at the dragon. "I am Fulgur. I look forward to spending time with you."
With that, he'd follow the dragon to the main nest site, curious.
Exit Fulgur
@Alek (for visibility)