Music blared through the azure walls of the danceclub. Spotlights shined into the air, the light caught and reflected by the night’s clouds. The full moon cast its blue-white light on a charcoal griffon walking towards the entrance, bobbing his head to the upbeat tempo of the song that got louder as he approached. He smiled at the bouncer, a burly chestnut drake, reaching under a wing to pull out a leather purse and handing over forty-five gil for the cover charge.
“Military.” He almost had to shout over the music to be heard, but the sigil on his palm he flashed to the attendant was enough to guarantee his 10% discount and entrance. The bouncer waved him through, and with a smile and nod the griffon entered.
Red lanterns hung from the ceiling, the dim light they cast offering a simultaneously peaceful and energized atmosphere. The club was packed, the open dance floor crowded with moving bodies, the bar full of drinkers and talkers, the walls lined with those too awkward to dance. Some of the gathered crowd of avians looked at him as he passed through, one or two pairs of eyes lingering on him for an extra moment. Even with his back turned, the griffon felt the eyes upon him, relishing in the attention.
Head still bobbing, he smiled. Stopping at the corner of the bar, he raised his head and breathed deeply. The club smelled of sweat, cologne, happiness, and love. He tasted the energy of those around him, finding it infectious, and without aim he wandered out onto the floor.
The music pulsed through him, his head swinging low and his steps matched to the beat. He bounced in time, his tail wrapping around those he passed for but a moment before he continued. Some patrons smiled at him as they made eye contact, their dances unbroken by the silent words they exchanged, and the griffon smiled back at each one.
One of the lone dancers took his lingering look as an invitation. She crept towards him in time with the song, her light gold feathers colored by the lights as she weaved her way through the throng. Her steps were flourished with twirls and shoulder dips, her moves making the charcoal griffon grin. Hard as it was to see under the crimson light, her chest proudly displayed a blood-red katar, and the drake instantly recognized her from it.
As she reached him, the song faded out, replaced by a fast beat with snaps over cymbals and a male voice oohing in the intro.
I’ve looked a long time, to find you...
The two griffons synced their dance, their heads mirrored as they nodded to the beat.
I drifted through the universe, just to lay, beside you...
The white-gold griffon slowly crept passed him, her wing flared slightly to rub against his side as she spun and grinned.
Anywhere you want me to take you, I’ll go... yeah...
The charcoal griffon smirked in return, his tail catching her hind leg as he watched her over his shoulder.
But there’s things about me that you just... don’t... know...
With their eyes locked, the drake faced the other griffon. Their smiles grew as they mouthed the words to the song in unison, their beaks edging closer and closer with every word.
If I, told you, where I’ve been,
Would you still call me baby?
And if I, told you, everything,
Would you call me crazy?
Cause baby I’m a dark star, dark star, oh...
Her eyes sang louder than the deafening music, holding his attention without question. He wrapped his Sphere around her, watching her emotions dance around their heads; he tasted intense, fiery energy befitting her stare, and smiled all the wider knowing her attention was fully upon him.
Cause baby I’m a dark star, dark star, oh...
The beat faded slightly, the drumline kicking quickly. She backed away from him slowly, tensing as the song built into a crescendo. The drake watched as her wings ruffled, her chest puffed out, and when the beat dropped, she laughed. Her body moved like liquid, flowing seamlessly around the other dancers, and her smile was for him only. Her talon beckoned him forward, calling him to her side, and he went without thought. Their bodies moved side-by-side, their feathers touching for fleeting moments, but their eyes never lost each other.
They smiled, and they danced.
Even as the song faded away, their bodies moved together. They were both breathing more heavily than before, but their eyes glowed with the joy of the dance.
“You dance almost as well as you fight.” His words had an immediate effect on her. Her head tilted, eyes narrowed, and her emotions were colored with surprise and the barest hint of confusion.
“Have we met?” He smelled alcohol on her breath and smiled inwardly. Having her drunk would make his night a lot easier.
“No, but I’ve seen you in the courtyard during sparring drills.” He showed her the recruit sigil on his palm, and she nodded. “What’re you drinking?”
The question drew another smirk from her. “We just met and you’re already trying to get me drunk?”
The drake shrugged, starting to pick his way towards the bar. “Free drinks make for a good first impression, no?”
“So do dances,” She followed him, making sure her wing brushed his side as they walked. An electric tingle passed through the drake at the contact, making him draw a deep breath with the pleasant sensation it brought. “Get a couple shots for us.”
“I don’t drink.” Even so, he threw gil on the table, and the bartender slid two shot glasses over a moment later.
“So you are trying to get me drunk.” The accusatory statement had a teasing note in it, but even so the drake tasted suspicion within her. “Are you approaching me with sexual intent, sir?”
The charcoal griffon laughed, making sure he had eye contact before responding. “Would you believe me if I said ‘no’?”
Her head tilted again as a smile played about her beak, and she downed a shot before answering. “No.”
“We’ll have to work on our trust, then.” The drake stood on his hind legs, leaning his elbows against the bar as his partner climbed onto a stool. He could have sat down with her, but giving her eyes easy access to his body would move things forward faster. “If you’d met my father, you’d understand why I don’t drink.”
She nodded understandingly, shifting in her seat to square her shoulders with his. “One of those dads, huh? Mine isn’t the greatest, either.” Her eyes trailed down his body, taking in the black stripe that led from his chin to the center of his chest, the white rings around his hind legs’ ankles, lingering around the jet splotch above his groin. “I feel like I recognize you. Who’s your sergeant?“
“Uther. Big white drake, scars all across his flank.”
Her brows raised, her talons toying around with the second shot glass. “You’re both lucky and not, then. Uther’s one of the best fighters in the military. He could’ve been an officer if he wasn’t such a dick.” Her eyes searched him again, looking for another piece of recognition. “Are you the drake that...” She trailed off, looking away and downing the other drink. “Nevermind, that wasn’t appropriate.”
The drake smiled, moving his head towards her field of vision to catch her eye again. “I’m willing to bet a lot of gil that there’s literally nothing you can say to embarrass or offend me. I recognize my own mistakes.”
She hesitated, her eyes switching between his multiple times before she answered. “Were you the one that fell over during orientation?”
Smiling guiltily, the charcoal griffon nodded as he spoke. “You mean the drake that couldn’t stand on his hind legs for more than five seconds? That’s me.” He turned around, flexing his back leg to show her the scar behind his knee. “Courtesy of my dad. A combination of getting laid off, coming home to get wasted and having me burp at dinner made him put a talon through my knee.” He faced her again, a sad smirk on his lips. “My hind legs can’t really support my weight by themselves. Still, drills get easier every day.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t dropped out. Uther doesn’t make exceptions.”
“He shouldn’t. Handicaps mean you just have to work harder than most. Which I do.”
She watched him for a few moments silently, but her emotions spoke loudly enough to the drake. She was impressed with him, attracted to him, certainly. He had no doubt that he could take her home tonight, but he hadn’t lied earlier. He was hungry, not starving, and one-night stands weren’t his style regardless.
“My name’s Manisha, by the way.”
This raised the drake’s brows. “You’re named after a goddess.”
Manisha rolled her eyes, clearly having heard this before. “Devi has 107 other names besides mine. It’s nothing special.” After this, she waited. The drake waited with her, knowing what she wanted but unable to give it up so easily. “Most people would introduce themselves back, you know.”
“Am I ‘most people’?”
Her head flicked slightly in agreeance. “Most people don’t dance like you, that’s for sure. You’re not gonna tell me your name?”
“Where I’m from, names are earned, not given.” The drake knew she had taken that as a challenge, smiling as his words continued manipulating her precisely as he intended.
She leaned closer to him, ruffling her wings again to make herself more attractive. “So what’re you gonna make me do to earn it?”
The drake smiled. This night was going to be perfect.
___________
“There’s prolly no one up there you know...” Her words were slightly slurred, matching the way her wings drooped limply. Were she not supported by the charcoal drake’s wing, her steps would likely be staggered.
At her very thinly-veiled hint, the drake simply smiled. “Regulations, you know. I’m not allowed in the officers’ quarters.” Though her face hid it surprisingly well, he still felt disappointment radiating from her.
A few moments of silence passed between them as crickets chirped in nearby bushes. She nodded solemnly, forcing a smile for him before shakily starting up the steps to her barracks. After three stairs, she turned back to him. “Next week?”
He nodded. “Seven days.” He smiled at her one last time, letting his eyes linger on hers before turning away. He felt her eyes still upon him as he trekked to his own quarters, yet missed her mumbled thanks for walking her home.
The moon had nearly set behind the waves of the sea. The first tentative rays of dawn crept their fingers over the eastern mountains, painting the spaces between peaks cerulean. The cool morning air lightly breezed through his feathers, and the drake raised his head into the wind. Though he felt physically drained, he felt power in his blood, and all of his being but his flesh was charged with energy. Tonight had been a screaming success, and he doubted he would need to seek food for several days.
White granite walls stood tall on his left as he walked the perimeter of the courtyard. Inside the secure barrier lay archery targets, armored scarecrow dummies and multitudes of weapon racks, laying dormant for the weekend. Behind him was the officers’ quarters, standing proudly above the walls with its two grand watchtowers, and on the opposite end of the yard lay the recruits’ barracks, a modest two-level building of red stone.
The first light of dawn had graced the barracks as he climbed the steps to its door, painting a horizontal line of crimson just below the roof. His knuckle tapped a specific cadence on the door, signalling that a recruit stood outside, and a moment later the portal slid open. A tawny gryphon eyed the drake as he entered, closing the door behind him and leaning back into her chair as he continued to his quarters.
The recruits’ sleeping quarters was a sparse room. Bunk beds lined the walls, creating a wide alley down the center of the room, and two footlockers stood at the base of each bed. But for the chests and beds, the room was empty.
A lone griffon slept in a lower bunk close to the entrance to his communal bedroom. But for her, the room was empty. The charcoal drake checked her emotions, finding them all nearly dormant. She was truly asleep.
Knowing he was safe for the rest of the morning, the drake climbed the ladder to his own bed in the far corner of the room. Reaching under his pillow, he pulled out a perfectly round stone of shocking blue hue. The lapis lazuli stone warmed to his touch, and he passed his thumb gently across the surface several times before pouring a small amount of energy into it.
Log: Saturday, 29th of August, Griffon city of Endurheimta.
His thoughts flowed into the stone, recorded to be played back whenever he wished.
It’s been three months since my integration with the griffon military. No suspicions have been raised, and my training progresses by the day.
He paused, choosing his words with care. His brothers may one day hold this stone in their hooves. They need not know everything about his life.
I was at the Coliseum tonight, a dance club catered mostly to active military members. I met and befriended an officer there. Her name is Manisha. She’s... interesting. We have a date next week. She could prove to be a valuable resource in the future. Relations will be maintained until it is no longer necessary. Log.
His energy waned as his log ended, and the stone cooled as its life died out for the night. Tucking his queen’s blessing back under his pillow, the drake layed on his back, staring at the black ceiling. He replayed the night in his head, smiling when memories of his dance with Manisha surfaced, chuckling to himself when he recalled her loud antics towards the end of the night.
He found he looked forward to next week. Closing his eyes, he let sleep take hold, carrying him closer to next Saturday.