Re: This is Not a Date

[Odqura]

The surprised look was not missed, and as he was followed into the cavern, Od decided to take the silence as a good sign. It probably meant Rendaz was thinking. And if he was thinking, he was probably trying to figure it all out, which meant he was at least intrigued and hopefully not terribly regretting coming despite the tedious journey.

Tucked behind a nearby rock was a small knapsack Od had dropped off earlier when he could simply fly here so that he would not be burdened with it now. The bag was slung over one shoulder right over where his coat still draped, while one hand remained twisted around the strap. His other hand snuck out as he stepped closer to his colleague to try and swipe the clawed hand. It was dark after all! Not that he suspected either of them would really be hindered by the heavy shadows. Whether or not the hold was permitted, he then pressed on wards.

Very soon all of the foliage ceased, the utter lack of sunlight disallowing any growth in. The pace Od set was steady but careful. He could manage in the dark, but not that well, and he was determined not to do something stupid like stumble. It was entirely quiet in the caves, the way leading twisted but generally downwards, deeper into the mountain. At length, they would come to a break. In one direction, the tunnel disappeared into continued darkness, looking to thin until it eventually tapered off into a narrow dead-end. The other way actually entertained some small spots of sunlight, just barely filtering down through a couple narrow gaps in the otherwise solid surface overhead, and promising some much-needed ventilation. This is the path that Od led them down, and it traveled some distance before banking around a sharp corner which hid the rest of the tunnel from view.

In the dim-lighting, Od's steps slowed subconsciously, and he glanced back at his colleague with curiosity. Had he figured it out yet, he wondered? The tunnel, this far in, had suddenly risen a few degrees. It was barely noticeable and could be blamed on the warm sunlight that, despite being sparse, could maybe help to warm this section a touch more than those basked in darkness alone. But Od knew better, and he suspected Rendaz would as well.

Just around the sharp corner ahead which they had yet to reach, the narrow tunnel they traversed suddenly swelled into a roughly pear-shaped tavern. The tell-tale red glow warmed the rocks, the source of which sat thickly at the back of the natural room, heating the small area considerably. It would be stifling to someone like Od were it not for the few cracks in the very high ceiling that filtered a couple streams of fresh air from the world outside. The light that pierced through as well illuminated particles of yellow and red rock dust that floated enchantingly about the space, making the room seem to glitter warmly. And the pool itself, nestled in the back, was a molten red inferno only about seven feet in diameter. And Od suspected it was at least as deep if not more. It wasn't very large, but the calmly exposed surface was a rare occurrence, and the dean had recognized the gem for what it was.

As their destination was finally approaching, Od tried to keep a vague eye on Rendaz, determined not to miss any visual reaction when they finally turned the corner.

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

As Od made a reach for his hand, Rendaz frowned, but made no attempt to bat it away. It would make their little trip the slightest bit easier, at least.

Carefully maneuvering himself through the cavern, the change in temperature didn't go unnoticed by the ruckarl. His head whipped around, trying to detect the source of this sudden warmth. Again, his suspicions only rose. It couldn't be... but the sensation was familiar. Too familiar.

As they turned around a corner, Rendaz noticed Od was glancing towards him, and an expectant sort of look was returned. What was he waiting for? Then his gaze shifted to the rest of the cave. He froze. His reddish eyes widened at the sight he saw on the opposite end of the room. Without even realising it, his jaw began to drop, his arms tensing, his heart pounding inside his chest. No. It couldn't be.

But it was.

Peering back once at Od, he took a step forward. His watch, boa and hat were abandoned on the cavern floor. To Od, the heat may have been uncomfortable, but to Rendaz, it was bliss. Saliva dripped unceremoniously from his jaw. Sweet, familiar bliss.

Another step. Another. And another, until he was looking straight down at the molten pool. The heat billowing into his face was almost overwhelming as he inhaled the scorching hot air. There was a 'thud' as the ruckarl fell to his knees, claws tentatively wavering over the magma.

Then he dipped it within. The intense heat immediately stung his fingertips, and he almost reeled his hand back. But after a moment of persistance, the initial pain died down to something so much more... wonderful. Smoke flooded from his nostrils and his wide open jaw at the sensational warmth. How long... How long had it been?

His hand stirred around in the thick, boiling liquid, raising it up to watch the lava seep between the gaps of his claws. He blinked a moment, before turning his head to gaze at Od - a bewildered, astonished sort of expression. "You... You kept your promise," he murmured.

[Odqura]

He could nearly see the cogs turning in Rendaz's head, and Od did his utmost to suppress an anticipating grin. He saw the moment of confusion when the ruckarl's gaze met his own, then watched understanding bloom. A hand was pressed delicately over his own mouth to help deny the relieved and happy laughter from bubbling up. He did not wish to ruin the moment by laughing at the other's reaction, adorable as it was. When Rendaz glanced back one more time, Od nodded his head as if to urge the other to explore, but he obviously didn't need the encouragement because he was already walking away. Od remained close by the corner that led back into the tunnels, just watching Rendaz for now and giving his colleague a moment without interruption. The lava seemed to have the other professor entranced and Odqura wondered if it was a better gift than he had managed to anticipate. At least in this moment, it was certainly worth the risk that the information had cost him.

When he felt Rendaz's gaze finally return to him, Od lowered his gaze from where it had been following the rising tendrils of smoke that rose from the ruckarl and immediately renewed his earnest smile. It was persistent even as he lifted his chin and tried to shrug modestly.

At Rendaz's undertone revelation, Odqura tried to look affronted. But the look was transparent over the brilliantly delighted grin beneath. "I always do."

The grin finally slipped into a gratified simper and the dean ventured a little closer. Nearly two yards remained between him and the pool when he drew to a stop to give himself a minute to grow more accustomed to the heat. The air this close was stifling and the waves of heat were reminiscent to standing directly in front of an open oven. He tried not to look too uncomfortable, of course.

"I assume there is a lava tube traveling just beneath us." He began the explanation quietly and motioned in the direction he thought the underground tube traveled. "Of course, it is moving much too slowly to maintain any sort of current." This was apparently true, as the pool seemed to be still. The dean huffed quietly, betraying some of his discomfort, but then pressed on with his explanation. "I expect this pool was created simply because the tube traveled too close to this cavern, and ate through this bit of rock. I'm not sure how long such a phenomenon will remain before the air cools the surface enough to reseal the floor, but given the size.." He shrugged uncertainly. "I think it will be a while. Could be years."

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

Listening to Od speak, Rendaz followed his words carefully, unable to resist dragging his eyes back at the lava pool to steal another glance. Years. Years. It felt almost too good to be true - maybe it was. Perhaps this was some cruel dream - as he'd often had - that convinced him that he was still living in the way of a volcanic ruckarl. But he knew it wasn't. This felt too real.

"How did you..." he started, trailing off. He hadn't even bothered finishing the question nor waiting for a response before he turned back to the lava pool fully, unable to resist the temptation any longer. Both hands sunk in in a cup shape, before tipping his head back to pour the molten rock within. Some of it missed - dribbling down his torso to meet with the ground below, but he would hardly notice for the raging, burning sensation within the mouth. It was overwhelming - he found himself choking before he could stop it - and he found himself keeling over from the sheer intensity of it. But it didn't deter him - not once.

He tried again, scooping the lava into his wide open jaw before clamming it shut to contain it all. This time, he could withstand it, forcing the substance down his throat. The sensation was beyond anything he'd felt before.

The ferocious heat surged into his system was instantaneously revitalising. It was like a caged bird that had burst free, like a soul cleansed of impurities. It was particularly powerful within his chest - an inferno that had been reignited. The inferno rose - travelling up his throat and eventually returning to his mouth. He could contain the feeling no longer.

Mouth splitting open, he could not stop the tirade of flames that billowed from his jaw. The fire licked the air before his widened eyes, flecks of embers leaving brief imprints in the sky. Eventually, the flames ceased their brief burst, and Rendaz was left staring at what had just occurred.

They don't call 'im Flammy for nothing, y'know!

He blinked, breathing heavily, before bowing his head and bursting into small, light chuckles. It grew - until he was keeling over, his shoulders shaking with every breath. Hands raised up to his head in a mere half hearted attempt to hide his reaction. From merely observing, it would be difficult to tell whether he had cracked up in insane laughter or sobbing his heart out - it could have been some combination of the two. He remained like this until the moment it had died down, and he resumed gazing into the glowing magma with awestruck eyes. The smoke had ceased.

[Odqura]

The unfinished question wasn't offered an answer, even thought it was obvious what it would have been. Odqura craned his neck a little to watch as Rendaz dipped his hands into the lava. He's never seen such a thing done, and found himself to be terribly impressed and intrigued, especially when the filled hands carried that molten liquid to Rendaz's jaw. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but choking and coughing probably weren't in. Though in retrospect, it probably should have been. The dean took one hasty step towards his colleague before forcing himself to pull up short and grip his arm across his torso with worry knitting on his forehead. Surely Rendaz knew what he was doing. The second attempt at pouring lava down his throat had Od waiting with baited breath, though he didn't realize it.

It took a surprising amount off determination to not undo that step and move backwards again. But Od managed to maintain his position, with a quick hand that had risen to above his brow, casting a shadow to battle the sudden brilliance of the flames that erupted from Rendaz's mouth. Both of Od's eyes widened in an expression of shock he would have been embarrassed to have donned--he even jumped minutely in surprise--and he did not blink until it was over.

He didn't have a chance to settle his undignified reaction before his colleague's shoulders began shaking and he took another step forwards. He really wasn't sure if Rendaz was loosing himself to laughter or sobs. At least, if it were the later, he felt it was probably safe to assume it wasn't from pain. Somehow he didn't get the impression that could possibly be the case. Happiness then? Relief? If Od had been paying attention to himself, he might have noticed the way he worried his bottom lip--another action he've tried to suppress.

Finally, after lingering near-restlessly some ways behind Rendaz, Od moved forwards. As an afterthought as he passed, the abandoned boa was claimed from the rocks and draped casually over the back of his own neck. Sure, it was entirely illogical to wear the thing in this heat, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity. With either end of the boa clutched loosely in each hand, he dropped into a crouch beside and a touch behind his colleague, both wrists coming to rest on his kneecaps and sliding a still slightly concerned and fond gaze towards the ruckarl.

He didn't really want to ask the question, worried the other might take some sort of offense. Not that it really mattered of course since he would certainly be quickly forgiven. But it was probably the easiest way to break the stillness that had fallen. So in a gentle voice he wasn't certain would have come out any louder if he wanted it to, he breathed, "Are you alright?"

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

Rendaz continued to stare onwards as if in a daze, unaware of any movement Od had made. Oh, this was perfect, too perfect. The lava was just what he'd needed after all these years. He exhaled deeply: for the first time he could feel the air pass his throat rather than smoke. Ah, what a comfort it was.

When the tentative question sounded nearby him, he snapped his head around to face him. "I'm fine," he practically barked, before his expression softened a little. "I didn't expect this at all." A grin sparked on his lips. "You never cease to amaze me."

Of course, the thought soon arrived that he would have to repay the dean somehow. The trouble was, he had next to no idea what he would desire at all. while Rendaz usually would've been okay with cheating him out of things like this, he was far too grateful to let it slip by. Od himself probably had no idea just how much the lava affected him.

He lingered for a moment more, before shifting his position to dip both of his feet into the pool of lava, giving a long, contented sigh as he did so. "How did you even find this...?" he mused out loud, mostly to himself. "Awfully out of reach... pretty well hidden." And this was not a bad thing either. He feared what damage might be caused if anyone else discovered it. His eyes closed as if in a brief moment of peace, a smile working its way onto his face. That is, before they snapped open with realisation and aimed a sharp look at the professor next to him.

"Are you wearing my boa."

[Odqura]

The corner's of Od's mouth rose up in a smile when Rendaz barked at him. Really, if he had responded in any other way, Od might have been concerned. Then he laughed lightly at his success and the words that flattered him. "I do try, of course."

Od watched with some interest as his colleague slipped his feet into the lava, and his eyebrows rose a degree in surprise. Somehow, even after seeing the other dean put the substance in his mouth and swallow it, it still impressed him to use the pool casually like they were merely sitting on the edge of a lake in the summertime.

The question gave him pause, since he hadn't really decided how to answer. He could be completely honest of course, but he wasn't certain Rendaz would approve of the deal he'd made or the person he'd made it with. But he also didn't seem terribly expectant of a thorough answer, so Od just shrugged. "I just traded for some information, I can't claim to have found it all on my own." He decided to leave it at that.

The sharp look Od suddenly found himself under the scrutiny of coaxed an impish smirk out of him. "Oh, this old thing?" He asked cheerily, as if Rendaz had just complimented a new accessory instead of pointing it out accusingly. He shot the ruckarl a sly look. Obviously assuming he'd be allowed to keep wearing the boa, Od pulled the white coat from his shoulder and spread it on the ground beneath his feet so that he could sit without having to dirty his pants on the stone. The coat might not be salvageable after, but it was last season's anyway.

His gaze sidled from Rendaz to the lava and he pet the boa's feathers absently. "I didn't know you could breath fire," he admitted with some echo of wonder in his voice, then a pause. "That was probably the sexiest thing I've ever seen."

His tail curled behind him and began to bat steadily up and down, leisurely fanning his shoulders and any skin on the back of his neck that wasn't buried in pink feathers.

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

Traded for information? Well, that sounded downright fishy, but right now, Rendaz didn't want to take the time to care at all. Lava was lava, whatever the means to obtain it. And maybe, if he had the will to, he'd pry into it later. His assertive stare lasted no longer than a few seconds.

Again, his sharp gaze returned to the boa - his boa - an impatient 'give that back' sort of look. Except he knew he couldn't. The boa was notorious for being flammable - so introducing it to a pool of lava was a distinctly stupid idea. "Yes, that old thing." His eye twitched in just slight annoyance as he groomed the feathers like it were his own. "You dare ruin that thing..." he muttered lowly, shaking his head. To say the least, it was pretty irreplaceable.

A vague look of disbelief crossed his face at his... was it a compliment? It was some form of one, anyway. Heck, he seemed pretty impressed. Most people often were with his fires. He took a breath, allowing a flicker to escape through his nostrils and vanish into the air. "Damn straight it was," he smirked. He seemed to pause for a moment. "Actually, it's just a temporary thing. I need to come back here.. lessee... Every week. And it better be here every time I do."

He gave him a warning stare. "You don't want to see my withdrawal symptoms."

[Odqura]

Rendaz's unnecessary concern over the boa was met with a discreet eye-roll from the other dean. Od wouldn't ruin it, the suggestion he would was preposterous. He shot Rendaz a raised-brow 'as if I ever would' look. He didn't know if the item was special to the ruckarl or if it was merely a thing to keep him warm, but of course he realized his colleague was rarely seen without it, if ever. Such a thing might as well be treasure to any adamant Rendaz-fan.

The flickering drew his eyes up to the air, eager to not miss even the small display. It made him smile because it was his efforts that made it possible. That much he understood without it having to be explained for him. Rendaz drank the lava and now he can breathe fire. Then the ruckarl confirmed this suspicion himself. So it was something that had to be maintained, otherwise he lost this ability, which was why Od hadn't known about it until now. It made sense, and he would keep that information to himself of course. No one needed any students out on dangerous lava-hunts.

Od laughed lightly at the warning, as if it were a friendly joke. He knew it wasn't, and could even begin to imagine just how disagreeable a Rendaz-in-withdrawal would be. Od could just imagine the rampaging.

"You would be a right dragon." His eyes unfocused for a moment, distracted briefly by some scene unfurling in his head which brought another smile to his face. Then he snapped back and hunched his shoulders up in a worry-free shrug and accompanying smirk. "Fear not. I would simply find you another one."

After the confident matter-of-fact statement, Od's eyes fell back on the lava and he toed a small rock towards the edge. It rolled away from the nudge and dropped into the pool with a deep plunk, settled into the thick surface, then slowly slipped beneath.

"Hungry?" He asked cheerfully.

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

Rendaz didn't buy Od's look for one moment. While he didn't believe Od would actually be as careless as to completely wreck the boa, the ruckarl anticipated some ruthless teasing. But he reminded himself that as long as he got it back in one piece, than he'd be okay with it. As tolerable as he could manage, anyway.

It came as no surprise that the dean was amused by his warning, and he found himself squinting at his distant little smile. Did he want to know at all what he was imagining? Hopefully not some crafty plan to rob him of his lava - Rendaz had been completely serious about the withdrawal.

"You'd better," he snorted with an air of disdain. Although he didn't count on him really running out any time soon - if this pool cooled, then it wasn't completely unimaginable that there might be more lava deeper within the mountain. Heck, he always had the instruments to dig deeper anyway.

Eyes tracked the rock as it tumbled into the pool, before they slid back towards the raptor. And finally, a slight chuckle escaped. "Ah. This is- this is the picnic?" He nodded in approval swirling his foot around slightly in the lava. "Very clever."

A hand dipped within, bringing up again a handful of the lava, before tipping his head back to take another drink. Again, the fiery, intense heat flooded into his system, and a large, contented grin formed on his face. "Heh... I don't suppose you wanted a drink?" He raised another handful of the lava, gesturing towards Od in an inviting manner.

[Odqura]

The look Od wore couldn't have been much more smug. "I've been known to be clever on occasion," he quipped amiably. Of course it was clever, was more along the lines of what he was thinking; he'd thought of it.

The dean turned to the bag he'd retrieved when they had entered this cavern and flipped open the top. His movements slowed to watch Rendaz take another drink from the pool, and he took a moment to look impressed before twisting his expression and shooting Rendaz a pouting look with a slightly furrowed brow. The look was mockingly regretful. "Thank you for the offer, Flammy, but I'll pass. Perhaps later," he offered. The tone was hopeful and polite, but obviously he had no intention of drinking any lava today or any day.

A hand withdrew from the bag then with a carefully wrapped package in tow. "We have sausage--Italian, very spicy, of course--goat cheese, cucumber, fresh bread, grapes." He looked down into the bag again as if to check, even though he knew perfectly well all that was inside. He turned back to his colleague and smirked. "Wine and marshmallows." Od had no idea whether or not Rendaz liked marshmallows, but he certainly did. Feeding Rendaz was something he found to frequently obsess over. Spicy seemed to be approved of for the most part. He assumed bread was safe, maybe cheese. The cucumber and grapes were more for himself, though he hoped, somewhat doubtingly, that Rendaz liked them as well. He had to find out what else he could prepare for the other that would be approved of.

Apparently, there was more in the bag than just food because Od was then withdrawing a wine glass. He set it carefully on a flat spot of ground between them. The wine bottle soon followed. He'd brought a glass for Rendaz too, of course, but he wasn't certain that the ruckarl would be wanting to use it. He felt confident it wasn't up to snuff with containing any lava.

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

Known to be clever-- Pah. An indiscreet way of stroking his ego for sure. Not like Rendaz cared at all - he did the same thing himself often-times. He only snorted at his 'maybe later' response, because he knew for a fact 'later' meant 'never'. Not like it had been an actual invitation to drink it though. He allowed the molten liquid to seep between his claws and plunk back into the pool.

He soon turned his attention to his bag as he pulled out an assortment of different foods. A brow was raised with interest at his little list - many of the foods were that Rendaz hadn't really considered ever having, the cheese and marshmallows especially. Usually, a boiling hot broth was enough to satisfy him. And the idea of wine was laughable - Rendaz knew the glass was likely to melt in his hand before he'd even raised it to his mouth.

"How generous," he coolly remarked, twisting around to face him, leaning with an elbow resting on some rock behind him, with his hand supporting his chin. His feet were still drowned in the magma - he wasn't willing to remove them just yet.

"Sounds like a fine dinner to me," he nodded. "I'll look forward to trying the--" He stopped himself. Oh, sausages, the plight of innuendos. He was pretty sure there was no way of mentioning the word without it being taken as such - he'd have to be careful with his speech around Od. He simply waved his free hand in dismissal at the gap his speech made.

"I'd love to toast, but I'd hate to burn you." His grin was almost apologetic. Almost. "Such a shame."

[Odqura]

If Od thought he knew why Rendaz's sentiment about the food trailed off incompletely, he didn't display it. One eyebrow was raised either in question of amusement, but he didn't ask or comment, allowing it to drop with Rendaz's dismissal. Attention was turned instead to the food that had been set out between them, and the wine was first to be taken up. A corkscrew worked the bottle open before it was set aside, and a smile had returned at the prospect of a toast.

"Luckily for you I've been known to be masochistic on occasion as well," His tone was quietly level and the sentence not followed up by any coquettish glance, as if it might have been a common fact instead of a tease. Maybe it was. "But for now, I don't see why we can't toast without clinking. Did you have something in mind?"

One hand lifted his glass and steadied the base between his fingers. A splash of wine fell in and continued pouring until the glass was generously full.

And expectant gaze settled on Rendaz after the bottle found its way safely back to the hard ground.

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

Although he tried not to, Rendaz just really couldn't stop himself from allowing a few small flares to blow from his mouth, before twirling it around in the air with the fingers 'til they faded. It was almost addictive, seeing the fires - his own fires - before him, flickering in the air. The cheered, overjoyed feeling within him was almost foreign, yet he welcomed it with increasing glee. In fact, it took bundles of effort to keep calm and cool in front of the dean - aware that the happiness would be uncharacteristic of him.

His mind skimmed over the various choices of toasting though. He could have selected something remarkably good natured, say, 'for Lillegard', but it was a reluctant thought. No, he didn't really care about Lillegard that much at all. He wanted something a bit more... humoured. "How about a toast to all the crap we put up with here because there's nothing else to entertain us?" He suggested with a smirk. "Come on now. We have murders, mysteries, rioting students and annoying twits like you roaming around. I don't think my life's been this exciting in so long." An event around every corner, as it were. And then there was the lava to complete the picture.

A hand dipped into the pool, bringing up another handful, before he aimed an expectant glance at Od.

[Odqura]

The returned smirk on Od's face approved of the suggested toast. "Nor mine," he affirmed. It had certainly been a while since so much excitement had found him. He nodded in agreement and raised his glass towards Rendaz. "To all the crap. And to us annoying twits and prideful beasts." The glass was brought to his lips and he took a small sip that instantly did wonders to sooth the growing dryness he felt.

Od stretched one arm while the other hand cradled his glass of wine mindfully, and then ventured a tentative touch at the skin below his eyes. A glance at the pad of his finger proved his indigo mascara hadn't begun running from sweat or anything similarly vile.

"Goodness! Between you and the lava, the hotness in this place is grueling. I suppose this is what the lobsters must feel like." The distantly regretful frown on his face was brought on perhaps by the memory of a time previous when the dean had prepared such a meal of boiling live lobsters. He decided it was a good thing he wasn't a lobster, and the guilt had passed.

He proped himself on one arm, hunching up that shoulder and leaning a hair closer to Rendaz. Then he hummed a little whimsically, "The persistant toil of this place... It certainly brings back memories--Some good, some less so." A sidelong glance wandered towards the ruckarl. "You have an exciting history, I'm sure of it." Despite not being posed as a question, the curiosity was hovering, fishing discreetly for information.

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

He chuckled lowly, before raising his own hand to his lips, allowing the searing hot magma to run down his throat. He blinked as he felt the burning hot sensation within him once again. Oh, it would take him a while to get used to that. Not that he minded at all.

He angled his head towards Od, aiming something of an incredulous look at his remark. "You know what they say, 'if ya can't stand the heat'..." He didn't bother finishing the well-known phrase, but he did gesture sharply with his thumb at where they'd entered. He didn't expect him to actually leave of course - it was merely light-hearted taunting.

He did look mildly interested as Od began to talk, wondering what he was leading into. What he couldn't stop was the slight grin that appeared at his last words. Oh, so he wanted to know? The ruckarl certainly found no harm in giving him a slight teaser perhaps. It seemed appropriate, after all.

"Oh please, it's only exciting if you've never lived in the dark, endless caverns of a volcano before." The attempt at dismissing Od's claim wasn't a serious one, and he continued. "Nights spent guzzling lava like boozers at a pub. Days digging deeper just to find more of it. And in Summer, if you were lucky, you could climb to the surface and just relax in the sun, perhaps hunting a few unlucky lizards and whatnot." His shoulders raised in a shrug. "You could say it was a life of luxury. But it's pretty boring, truth to be told." Snickering, his finger slipped into the pool again, making circular motions in the lava.

[Odqura]

Od certainly could stand the heat, and he would prove it by remaining. Rendaz's companionable taunt earned him a smirk, but the raptor didn't even glance back at the entrance.

When Rendaz seemed willing to give up information, Od was admittedly a little surprised. It wasn't any big secret tale, of course, but it seemed earnest. And for the first time, Od felt like he could begin painting some sort of mental picture of the sort of place his colleague had once called home. His mind supplied something a lot like the cavern they were currently sitting in, but.. hotter. Probably deeper. And much more crowded. He tried to imagine a race of Ruckarls in a place like this one and wondered if any of them were at all like Rendaz.

"I can't say I've had the pleasure of living in such a place." Of course, it didn't all sound particularly pleasurable to him at all, but that was no reason to abandon niceties. But the bit about lying in sun did sound enjoyable. Maybe for their next date--yes he would be planning something already, wouldn't he?--he could choose a very sunny day of leisure.

"Are all of you orange?" He tilted his head to smile at Rendaz and let his eyes trail over his orange form with no effort to make the appraisal less noticeable.

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

"That's a pity" he murmured beneath his breath, not sounding at all sympathetic. "I'm sure you would've enjoyed it." As far as anyone enjoyed being burnt to crisp, that was.

Rendaz couldn't help but give Od a questioning look at his enquiry, however. The reptile could have asked any question about his apparently exciting past. Chances were, Rendaz probably could've answered it with little a care, he was particularly cheered right now. But using that chance to ask if they were orange... Well, Od did seem particularly interested in the colour of his skin, but it didn't stop the ruckarl from finding it entirely laughable.

"More or less, yes," he shrugged. "Some more red, some more yellow..." He waved it off with a dismissive flick of his claw, before angling his head towards Od to give him a sort of incredulous look. "But why, of all things, do you wanna know that?"

While his other claw still stirred idly in the pool of lava, Rendaz leaned on his opposite hand against the rocky floor, the tapping of his claws echoing slightly in the cavern.

[Odqura]

Od hummed noncommittally around the rim of his glass as he took a small sip. He put up the impression of pondering for a moment, then rolled one shoulder in shrug.

"It would be a wonderful sight... A room full of gorgeous ruckarls. I'm trying to imagine it." A far-away look settled over his face as if to demonstrate 'imagining'. But he twitched the end of his nose in fleeting disappointment and abandoned the fantasy. "But if they're not all this shade, it might not be as wonderful as I would have liked."

The dean wasn't oblivious. I was clear that Rendaz was at least more at ease than he ever normally was. It was sort of nice, but there was relief in the knowledge that he would eventually be his irritable self again. It was part of his charm, after all.

Struck with another question, Od flipped a longer wayward feather over his shoulder and turned his face back to Rendaz. "Are they all very disagreeable as well?"

Another sip of his glass was taken by Od wasn't particularly enjoying it. He preferred his wine a little chilled, and that was hardly possible here. So he set the glass aside and tossed a grape into his mouth instead.

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

Rendaz could not prevent the exasperated 'uuugh' from escaping his jaws at Od's comment. Frankly, he didn't really want to know what sort of disturbing images his mind was conjuring, though he could hazard a guess. Should he be flattered or concerned? His lip curled in visible disgust, yet the sort of half-amused grin didn't leave his face. He didn't want to be amused about it either, and it annoyed him.

"When you're locked in complete darkness, it's hard to tell anyway," he informed. Well, the glow from the lava did help. But there wasn't always lava, and even then, sight was limited. Though he certainly didn't want to begin to describe the other ways in which they saw each other.

He could've been offended at Od's latter question, but again, he only cracked up a little. He hadn't even found it humorous - only ridiculous that he had the nerve to ask. Only Od could get away with it...

"Do all of your species happen to be brainless chickens?" he drawled in return, but the question was rhetorical, and he continued to speak. "Though I'd hardly say disagreeable... more like getting on with our lives, and not taking any crap." He idly looked to his claws to casually inspect them. "Even then, they all have the intelligence of the common dog anyway. I'd be the exception to that feature." Just a slight exaggeration.

[Odqura]

Rendaz's reactions seemed to please Od well enough, and he laughed a little to himself as well. Then he sighed and patted his forehead and cheek with the back of his hand, and felt some relief when it came back dry. The heat of the place made his skin tingle unhappily and he couldn't bear the thought of perspiring.

"You know what." Od took a moment to furrow his eyebrows just slightly and pout agreeably, then continued with some air of exasperation. "We really are. We live in flimsy tents in little valleys between mountains, stubbornly refusing to associate with the world of civilization teeming out here." One hand rose to bat mildly in the air in front of him, demonstrating his perhaps exaggerated account of the inadequate housing. "It's positively drab. I suppose you and I are both estranged from our own in that respect."

Turning his eyes on the lava below them, his thoughts were brought round again to Rendaz's much more interesting origins.

"I see there is still hope then. But do you mean to say you haven't got wonderful vision? It's curious, living in the dark without being able to see. Perhaps you're all like badgers with extraordinary schnozes." Rendaz's face was regarded with a sidelong tilt of the head, no doubt eyeing his unfortunate snout.

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

Unlike his mildly suffering companion, the ruckarl seemed completely at ease. More at ease than he could ever claim to have felt at the academy, where the ever-present danger of unwelcome company seemed to plague his stay. But here, it certainly didn't feel like any intruder would be waddling along, sticking their noses where they ought not to be. But how he managed to maintain this state of ease with the other dean in such close proximity to him was another question entirely.

"Ignorance is bliss, ey?" he drawled, carelessly toying with small wisps of flame. "They have no idea of all the fun they're missing. Humans are so kind and accepting to outsiders y'know. And certainly not any crimes, violence and a sickening decline of common sense." He rolled his eyes at this.

His red eyes did leer briefly over his companion for a moment though. "I hardly think that you leapt from a miserable little existence in the wilderness to some sort of bizarre clubbing diva... with an awful sense of fashion." His expression seemed to show little other than genuine interest. "There had to be a step inbetween, don't you think? What brought about such a..." He gestured oddly with a claw. "...transformation?"Od seemed insistent enough on digging around his past, so by all means, he could return the favour.

Despite his earnest interest, Rendaz simply could not display his race in a light that seemed at all respectable - they were all lousy, worthless, hedonistic creatures. Every single one of them. "When you live in the same place for years on end, you know your way around without havin' to see. It ain't anything special, disappointingly. Just a matter of habit and rememberin' where things are."

[Odqura]

A smile curved over Od's lips at the sarcasm. The errs of humans were frequent and many, for certain. This he knew, but also had to acknowledge the benefits of a flawed society. Balance demanded flaws, after all, and despite the downsides, it would be entirely too pessimistic to ignore that some cheerlessness made the pleasant times that much more enjoyable. These thoughts he kept to himself behind his smile though, since he knew Rendaz likely desired no such preaching.

"It was hardly a leap," he confirmed airly, fingering the borrowed boa like it was proof of his impressive style even if the item was not actually his. "My fabulous sense of fashion took many years to mature. It depended largely on securing a reliable source of income, of course. True fashion is not an.. economical conquest, after all. It requires a great many deep and generous pockets." He batted his eyelashes leisurely as if there might be some diverting suggestion between those words. "So of course there were many steps. One doesn't simply become me over-night," he drawled with amusement.

Rendaz was regarded from the corner of Od's eye as he tilted his head in a second-natured superior fashion. He was certain a life story would likely bore his present company, but the other Dean was obviously digging, if only a little, and he could feel a mildly unfamiliar confidence in baring some of his less-glamorous past for him in return. Rendaz's curiosity did seem earnest.

"You have to give before you can take; an idiom I'm sure you've heard before." He turned a subdued stare on his nails. They were flawless of course, but the action gave him something tactile and immediate to indulge his frown upon. "I donated my share of years to giving, even when I had little else other than my company to offer. I spent years under bridges before my first tennement, and many more there before my first penthouse." He flashed Rendaz a smirk that was only marginally less complacent than was typical for him, shrugged nonchalantly-- "It helps to be gorgeous and exotic.." --and then shifted the subject back to his companion happily enough.

"I suppose I can understand. You're all familiar and unimpressed with each other." He shrugged temperately as if Rendaz had been talking about the Ruckarls themselves and not the tunnels they lived in. "I for one, would lament the darkness. I think you're fascinating to look at."

[Rendaz "Flammy"]

Rendaz couldn't predict what thoughts lingered behind the smile, nor did he think that he ever would. Was he agreeing, or did he find his ideals so humorously pitiable? Not that Od's opinion would ever affect his own, he decided. The lizard sat, still idly drawing circles in lava with a clawed foot as he listened.

From what he could gather, Od seemed to have his own sort of mountain to scale, like most people, but with the climb more reminiscent of a lengthy stroll. He could have been withholding it, but his story seemed to lack the pitfalls and avalanches often encountered in such journeys. Just patience, luck, and playing the right cards. He'd been through his own successes before - for reasons that Rendaz could not conceive - he chose to stay here at the academy. A penthouse sounded more appealing than what one might find here.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself there," he remarked coolly. "Pride comes before fall, y'know. You can strut around thinkin' you're all that, but don't be surprised when somethin' drags you back into place."

A smirk slid onto his face again at his words, but he merely tittered and shook his head. "Eh. I would be to anyone who hasn't seen a walkin' talkin' lizard before." With a pause, he turned his head to aim an incredulous look at his colleague. "What do you hope to achieve with this flattery? Not tryin' to woo me, are ya?" His smirk transformed into a light-hearted sneer. "I'll have you know, you're not my type."

[Odqura]

He knew he was prideful and he never tried to hide it, so Rendaz's warning was taken with a grain of salt. Od felt like long ago he'd reached a tier and if he were to fall back to that point, it would never be as bad again as it had been in the beginning. Besides, it was attributes like pride that encouraged a person to challenge and stretch their resources farther than they could comfortably go - and that had always only gotten him ahead, like procuring this location.

"You don't have to worry about me, darling, I'm clever as well as conceited," he teased, even though he knew Rendaz's comment was very unlikely voiced out of concern. He was mulling over some new way to take this topic and tease the ruckarl further when Rendaz's final comment washed over him.

Both of Od's palms were lowered to the warm stone beneath him, and he leaned into one shoulder while turning his head deliberately to look at Rendaz straight-on. The position acknowledged the entirety of his attention now to be irrevocably on his companion, and his eyes danced over Rendaz quickly and humorously before he drew in a slow breath, narrowed his eyes a fraction and paused to try and settle his challenging smirk. ...Not his type? He almost purred as that same prideful part of him clung to the phrase like a challenge.

His far hand crossed to settled beside the one closer to Rendaz and Od shifted his hips so he was almost-crawling. The motion moved him a couple inches closer, and his tail whisked in the air behind him like a cat with its eyes on a moth. "And what is your type?"

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