shellphones | video; what's up with those dragons?

Entry tags:

video; what's up with those dragons?

Type: Video
Sender ID: pinksidekicking (Nimona)
To: General Public
Subject: Dragons
Warnings: Only maybe spoilers for Nimona movie

[ Please do not adjust your screens, there is, in fact, a pink gorilla appearing on the network. One who opens their mouth and a somewhat feminine voice comes out of. ]

You know, there are a lot of awesome things about this place. You can have a crew, no one's trying to kill you just because of being different, all the new foods, getting to explore the world, having ample opportunity to use fish and sea puns... breaking things sometimes. [ The gorilla is counting on their fingers. ]

Really, I could go on and on about why I love this world. [ It sounds like there's a- ]

But! You know what really gets me? We can't adopt dragons! Sure, they say "dragons can't be tamed", or "they're just too wild". [ Cue the quotation marks and the eye roll. ] But all I want in this life is a tiny pink mini-me dragon. Who better to try and be a dragon parent than someone who's also a dragon? At least a dragon on occasion.

Come on, you can't keep placing dragons in front of me and expect me to not want to adopt one of my very own! I am literally made to be a dragon parent, watch this!

[ The gorilla is setting up the phone to stand on its own, then steps back several feet before... with a little sparkle of pink magic - turns into a semi-large, equally pink dragon. It's holding out front arms like "ta-dah"! ]

Dragon parent Nimona!

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So you're saying that if I did it, I'd be leading the way into dragon parenthood for the rest of the world.

[ The dragon strokes their chin. ]

I like that idea. [ Nimona no, that's not what he was saying. ]

You can definitely count me as number three. But I'm all that and more.

[ More than a gorilla or a dragon. ]

If that's your takeaway from what I said, then sure. Go for it. Be the dragon parent you dream to be.

[RANMA NO DON'T ENCOURAGE HER]

Really now? So it isn't just the dragon or the gorilla?

[People changing into animals is no longer an interesting sight to him. But people who can turn into multiple animals? That's new, unless you count Taro. Considering his cursed form was a chimera of different creatures stuck together however, it really doesn't.]

Now to find a dragon that wants a dragon parent.

[ SOMEONE HERE IS ENABLING HER CRAZY IDEAS. As if Ranma's life isn't crazy. ]

Nope, it's any animal. Including human! I could look like you if I wanted.

[ So Nimona has the whole bag of tricks, except a chimera. And she hasn't tried changing into an animal that's not already native to her own world. ]

Start with finding one that doesn't have parents. Unless you want a pissed off dragon burning down places trying to find its child.

[This is pretty much the norm for him now. Besides, if this whole surprise adoption thing bites Nimona in her pink tail, that's her problem.]

... Cool to know. [Said in the least enthused tone possible. He's dealt with too many copycats in a lifetime. They're normally not a good thing for him.] So how do you do the whole... [Gesturing at the screen.] changing deal. Magic? Artifact? Curse?

Hey, I might cause a lot of trouble sometimes, but I'm not going to get into dragonapping.

[ And by causing trouble, she means not really much at all since arriving here. There's no reason for her to really rage against the system too much. ]

Wow. I think that's the flattest response I've ever gotten when I sprung that on anyone. [ Just how crazy is his world where that's not surprising. The dragon holds up a claw to its mouth. ] How I do it is my little secret. It's like, the one of two things I'd rather keep to myself.

[ No one knows how Nimona does it. Not even the mun. ]

Good to know you've got standards.

[Surprising. The moment he got here, he's been half-making friends, and half getting into arguments with people. So it's been a dull month or so for him.]

After you've been impersonated... [He paused, looking up in recollection, before continuing.] Three-ish times, it sort of loses the impact any future copycat's impersonations of me. [Long as she doesn't go around masquerading as him and get him into trouble, it's no problem with him outside of some slight gripes.] Can't argue with that, everyone's got their secrets. So fair.

[He knows he has a lot of things he'd rather not spread around like wildfire.]

Dragons here clearly feel strongly about their offspring. Even if I found a tiny pink dragon all on its lonesome.

[ Why it was alone, she doesn't know. She wanted to give it a home, though. If he wants excitement, there is probably plenty if he goes looking for it. ]

Wow, three-ish times? I want to hear the story on that. [ She has, surprisingly, only turned into one person that's here - otherwise, Nimona has plenty of other faces from back home to pick from when needing to go under the radar. ] Things that are not secrets. I'm a thousand years old, and I can be any animal or person that I've seen with my own two eyes.

Most animals do, unless they're the ones that eat their own young or abandon them. So basically like most parents in general.

[The amount of times his old man'd throw him to the wolves and run, then come back and claim it was for the best has become white noise to him at this point.]

Eh, there's not much to tell. They're honestly a bit boring. One was a hack who cheated into learning people's moves, one was a regular creep who wanted to ruin my reputation, and the last wanted vengeance on my old man and fooled my mom into thinking he was me. Only one of those guys was actually a decent challenge. [He does occasionally wonder whatever happened to Ryu, since he gave him a run for his money. He'd like to challenge him again some day without the use of cheap and dishonorable techniques.

Hopefully Nimona's not offended by the sound of Ranma letting out an impressed whistle.] Wouldn't have guessed that. I've seen people who could turn into animals too, but theirs were cause of a curse, and most of the time they changed unwillingly and could only do one. So you win there.

I've seen all kinds of animal parents, I pretty much grew up in the wild.

[ Nimona actually spent more time around animals than humans, with no parents to speak of in sight. If she learned about Ranma's situation, she's not sure which would be better.

While he's telling the story, the dragon is changing into... her semi-familiar face. ]

Sounds like you have a pretty interesting and chaotic life. I like it. When I change into someone, I only get their appearance and voice. Everything else is all me. [ Though she can make her own voice come out of someone else's appearance.

Please, she is the hardest to offend individual ever. ] Since coming here, I've heard there are others that can change into a different appearance, but not anyone how has a bunch like I do.

Hear, hear. Same situation for me for the most part. Wasn't around a lotta people apart from Pop growing up.

[It all boils down to a matter of opinion of whether being alone or with a parent blows more or less. Though the benefit of animals is that they don't throw you in pits to scar you for life, or make marriage proposals to sell your hand.

He isn't shocked much by Nimona reverting back to her human-shape. It wasn't like she did a different voice for the different voice, and the pink coloration being shared from fur to scales to hair basically sealed the deal. He shrugged and scoffed, throwing his arms behind his head.]

That's putting it mildly. [At this point, he's basically a walking weirdness magnet. Wherever he goes, there's bound to be something odd or cursed or just plain weird that's about to come out to say hi.] So you can't steal their techniques or abilities? Good to know. [He could've said that with less relief in his voice, but now he knows if she goes around disguised as him, it wouldn't be like fighting himself for the nth time.

She's talking to Ranma. He has a habit of getting people ticked at him. It's only a matter of time.] Just how many people can change their shapes here? [It's more of a wondering thought than an actual question to be answered. Because why would he need to know if it's weird here? It's not like he can change his appearance ha ha ha.] Oh yeah? What do ya want, a reward of being unique in that you change to other things more than people change socks?

Animals are a lot nicer.

[ At least the animals just ran away from her, none of them tried to kill her unless they mistook her for food. Ranma's dad doesn't sound like the greatest parent around.

She's getting used to people just accepting her shape-shifting around here. Some might be surprised, but no one has freaked out. Considering, Nimona feels that Ranma has some sort of ability... ]

Nah, I might get their physical strength, but nothing supernatural. So far, I've mostly taken on the appearance of people that aren't here. [ Except for one person, which she did directly to his face. He was irritating.

Pot meet kettle, there's one thing that gets her seriously angry - everything else rolls off her like water off a goose's feathers. ] No idea. I didn't take a count. [ She figures if they want to keep a secret, then no sense asking about it. ] I would accept a cookie or a sharp, pointy object as a reward!

Sometimes they can be.

[One could make the argument that animals are mostly mindless, non-sapient creatures who don't understand concepts such as morality. People do, and yet there's those that are heartless bastards who exist only to make others' lives a living hell. Some men just want to watch the world burn.]

Ah. Okay, gotcha. [So she might get his strength to smash stuff like boulders. Perfect. Cause that's what a little gorilla-dragon-gremlin needs in her arsenal.]

... Yeah, I'm gonna go with the cookie. [Something in his gut tells him that she should not be trusted with any sharp objects of any kind. For everyone's sake.] What flavor? [... Is he seriously actually going to go through with baking something he meant as a joke?]

Sometimes.

[ That one would not be Nimona. There's plenty she can say on people, though. ]

Yep. [ As if her dragon or gorilla form aren't also incredibly strong enough that she would pick a human to smash stuff like boulders. ]

Surprise me! I love a good surprise. [ She should definitely not be trusted with any weapon, and yet... Nimona hardly actually uses them when she can just be any animal with teeth and claws and fire-breathing. ]

[The same could be said about Ranma and weapons. Sure, he doesn't technically need to know how to use them. His fists, feet and ki are weapons enough, and he can smash or cut things with his bare hands if need be. That being said, between the possibility of losing his hands and losing the blade off the hilt, he'd much prefer the latter.]

M'kay. [With a thumbs up, he turned off his phone to go do just that.

About 30ish minutes later, he messaged back, holding a basket of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. He was actually serious about it.] Where do you want me to drop these off?

[ She was not actually expecting him to make cookies and deliver them. So Nimona blinks when he comes back with the basket. ]

Wow... people don't usually actually make me cookies. [ Good job on making her a little speechless. It was already so surprising to get gifts for the holiday. ]

I could just fly to you and we could eat them together.

Hey, you asked. And it isn't like I'm doing anything better right now, so I could kill some time.

[Yes! He'll take that victory. Though now it's his turn to get all topsy-turvy by the offer.]

That works, but I'll have to pass. Not very manly to eat sugary stuff, ya' know. [And it isn't like he could just use his curse to bypass the embarrassment, cause she totally doesn't already know that.]

Yeah, but... this is not normal for me.

[ There's people giving her gifts for a holiday, or letting her get away with something small. Then there's this - baking her cookies just because. ]

That is so... sad. Probably the saddest thing I've ever heard. Who told you that it's not manly to eat sugary stuff? Food is food, it does not have anything to do with genders. And you could always "work it off" afterward with exercise, if having one or two would ruin your figure. Plus, I would absolutely stuff my face full of cookies, even when posing as a man - so no judgement from me.

[ Also, those dragon wings are appearing at her back. Time to fly. ]

I get ya'. But hey, there's been stranger things that's happened, right?

[He really does get what she means. Back home, whenever people gave him stuff, there was always something attached to it. Something they wanted in return, or they had an ulterior motive behind. Nimona seemed alright so far, and helped him find his stuff, so he had to do something to return the favor. That, and he was bored.

The pigtailed boy scratched the back of his head with a murmur.]

That's just what Pop told me. There's things men can't or shouldn't do like liking sugar. Not that that's ever stopped him from stuffing his gullet with confections and cakes the first chance he gets... [He's seen his old man unhinge his jaw like a snake to fit an entire cake in his mouth. It currently sits in the top five events that keep him up at night every time he recalls it.] Gaining weight isn't an issue for me. I've got a high metabolism, plus I'm a martial artist. I could eat a lot and not gain a single pound from it. [Which is good since not only does he burn off a lot of calories to keep his body in healthy shape, he also cares so much about his looks.] And that's different! You're a girl, so it isn't as weird than if a guy does it... [At least he thinks? He's not entirely sure with the whole shapeshifter deal going on.]

People did give me gifts for that winter holiday, that was pretty strange.

[ Ni-had never been given a gift at all-mona, everyone. Anytime someone wanted to give her something, it was a stab to the heart. In different ways, even.

Her face wrinkles. ]

Your dad told you that, then he turns around and does it. Sounds like maybe he just wants it all to himself. And it's not like you have to scarf it down the way you make it sound, but every once in a while wouldn't hurt. [ Portion control helps! ] For now. But you don't have to completely cut yourself off from all the good foods. Just do it in moderation and have a good work-out routine. Not slap it with something your dad said but isn't following.

[ A huff, and she would cross her arms over her chest, but one is holding the phone. ]

What gender I see myself as is always changing. I might feel like a girl one day, and the next I'll feel like I'm a boy. Sometimes, I might even feel like I don't have a gender at all. My shapeshifting allows me to express whatever gender or non-gender that I'm feeling.

That's usually what people do for these kinds of holidays. It's not that weird. It just means people care about you.

[Spending most of his life on the road meant Ranma didn't really celebrate many holidays. Christmas, birthdays, anything of the sort was secondhanded knowledge to him. It wasn't until the last few years of coming to Nerima that he got to experience these sort of special occasions.]

Sounds like something Pop would do... [Greedy old fool.] ... I guess? You might have a point... [Even then, it still feels weird saying that aloud.]

[He gave a nod listening in, slightly understanding what Nimona was getting at.] Ah. I see, gotcha. [Crossing his arms, Ranma looked over his shoulders, checking and see if no one was around.] ... Maybe I can have a few cookies, if you don't tell no one.

[It's still embarrassing for his masculine pride, but it's a start.]

It's more like; I knew gifts could be exchanged on holidays, but I've never been given one before in all my thousand years of living. So it's strange to me.

[ The one time someone gave something to her, it was a rock to play a "game" and then that someone betrayed her. So actually having people who care is very new. ]

Everyone should get to enjoy the good things in life. Unless you're like deathly allergic. [ Still sad, but being alive balances that out.

Nimona raises a hand with a few fingers raised. ] I swear not to tell anyone.

[ Though anyone can listen in so... ]

Hey, I getcha. Growing up, I never got gifts or presents. I didn't even know that that was something people actually do until late in my life.

[It wasn't until Nerima that he's started being giving gifts. Sure, sometimes those gifts are cause they want something from him in return. But when it's something nice with no strings attached, that's the best gift of all. Which sounds cheesy and sappy but shut up.

He shook his head, crossing his arms behind his head.] I'm good on allergies and stuff. [He's healthy as a horse!

A smile crept on his face to Nimona's decree, to which he simply sat down and waited for her arrival.]

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video; what's up with those dragons?

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Small CW for small mention of animal death, just to be safe

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