004✖; (audio @ hot.damn | August 2nd; during Sanguis Moon)

[circumitus]

[...Well, it looks like there's supposed to be video, but the screen is black.

[Audio-wise, you're privy to just a bunch of thrashing for a few seconds, catching a frantic and frustrated "god-DAMMIT" and "fuck fuck fuck" and "just move, you useless piece of shit!" It's a voice and string of expletives that should be familiar to some who know Rey. In general it sounds disconcerting, with an identifiable amount of metal clanging and other hefty objects hurling about (cue stock cat scream) -- before a heavy thud shakes the screen. The feed drags across what looks to be pavement and some scattered rubbish.]

Got you! Fucking finally...

[The video moves, but the feed remains a blur as Rey hadn't intended to select facetime before things got out of control -- by "things" meaning... her own body. Only a few details can be made out in the bleary visual quality, and that's a patch of red-orange scales and some sharp, gritting teeth.]

Need... help. [Despite her exhaustion made clear in the fraught audio and her labored breaths, it's speaking those words in particular that strains her the most.]

Have to come here. Level Three.

Legs're gone. Can't walk.

[Both the audio and visual then cuts abruptly. As you can tell, Rey is having a bad time this Sanguis cycle.]

Comments

[circumitus]

[It's a lifestyle that Rey's made do with when she's had full control over her own mobility. She can fend for herself out in the wilds or sneak into places unsuspected on a normal day.

[Like this? How the hell is she supposed to even go up a simple set of stairs?]

Market's nearby. Haven't had anything to eat in a while, so...

[Her usual sleight of hand isn't much of an option if she can't even prepare a proper exit strategy like this yet.]

[blackscales]

The market should work. Do you have a particular fear of heights?

[ Don't worry about this question, Rey, it's fine. It's all fine. ]

[circumitus]

[When you've nearly died free-falling from near space and yet survived, Rey would almost laugh at such a question. Instead, she just pauses, studies him, and blinks.]

Er, no, not particularly...? [Cautiously:] Why?

[blackscales]

Since I believe flight would be the most expedient way to move you.

[ What?

Before she can question that he takes a few steps back, begins to disappear in a swirl of gold-flecked shadow.

The statement likely makes more sense when he reappears, not the largest dragon to ever be seen but certainly large enough to carry her. When he speaks again, his voice has taken on a deep, resonant quality. ]

We may need to loop up your tail.

[ It's long. ]

[circumitus]

[W h a t.

[While a guy turning into a dragon wasn't the first thing Rey expected to see happen, she can only react in what one would call "dull surprise" in response at this juncture. After all, she has lived in Furry City for almost a year now and she is a giant snake woman. Who is she to judge?]

Ah. Yes. That should be... more than sufficient. [She says this mostly to herself at first, before processing his observation.]

...

Right. [Her tail. Is very long. It even unconsciously curls at his comment, ready to grip around its next target however a snake does.] That... should be doable.

[blackscales]

I believe so. Are you strong enough to lift it, or will you require assistance?

[ The tail. Can she hoist it up herself or should he be prepared to help her hoist it up? It looks as if she has some control over it, but that doesn't mean a lot. Wrathion's tail lashes as he thinks, studying her, his bright red eyes scanning the length of the tail then up to her face. ]

[circumitus]

[If it's one thing that she can do well in this form, it's extending her tail so that her human half rises farther from the ground. She can balance well enough if she keeps her arms out, anyway.

[With her tail curled to provide additional support to her upper half, she reaches towards the dragon.]

No no... got this.

[She doesn't want to be total deadweight needing to rely on others.]

[blackscales]

[ Wrathion turns to her, head tilted a little, then slowly lowers his front half down closer to the ground to allow her to climb up more easily. ]

I am not normally in the habit of giving lifts.

[ Just, you know, to be clear. He doesn't really like playing steed. This is a moment of weakness, clearly. ]

[circumitus]

[A moment of weakness that he's clearly extending to a complete stranger. Rey would almost be impressed -- inspired, even, if she wasn't busy hating her life right now.]

Oh good. Don't normally make a habit of asking for them, either. [As interesting as it'd be to find out what riding a dragon feels like on the regular, Rey's reached her limit for the day.

[That said, she accepts his generosity for now, fumbling over as best she can without landing on her face. Instead, she's crawling up his side, using anything she can to hold onto. Luckily, Sanguis hasn't affected her upper body strength in any way.]