❧ ninth stanza [action]: mother of monsters

[histrionic]

[Having regained her own body, Kuja feels--not content, but herself again. For good or ill. Part of her loathes herself, but she is an egotist at heart. A self-hating narcissist.

That, however, is not as important as what she's been busy doing. While kidnapped by the pirates, Kuja had found an egg on board their ship. A familiar egg. The egg of a Silver Dragon, from her world. Since her discovery, she has been largely keeping to herself and keeping the egg warm, and her constant companion Tropius has taken over the duties whenever she is otherwise occupied.

Now, Kuja is out and about. She feels a sense of excitement. She can sense the egg will be hatching soon. Her egg. Her dragon.

She floats from place to place, accompanied by Tropius and the egg: she sits for a while outside her miniature replica Iifa Treehouse near the lake, then makes an appearance in the Orchard and at her own personal library. She's usually not so prone to make "public appearances", but she's in a good mood, for once. Sometimes the egg rests in her lap; sometimes it's cradled with care by Tropius, and sometimes it floats beside her, levitated by her magic. Wherever it is, it sparkles with blue light, warmed by Kuja's magic. She sings softly to the egg at times, and at times she reads it poetry, or excerpts from her favorite plays.

Kuja keeps an ear out for stirring inside, or the cracking of the shell. For once, preoccupied, she's not as likely to notice someone else's approach.]

Comments

[cobbledtogether]

[It helps that Lambda's movements are quiet to begin with. She has come to Kuja's library at Chihiro's suggestion, and after spending some time browsing through the books there, she is drawn to the voice.]

[She might not be immediately recognizable now, clad in her armor, but her long braid and voice are both distinctive enough. She certainly won't recognize Kuja, though...]

What are you reading?

[Her delivery is a little stilted, but her curiosity seems genuine enough.]

[histrionic]

[Kuja hadn't expected company, although of course she's pleased others are using her library, as they should. She turns toward Lambda at the sound of her voice. It's a familiar sound. She studies her, curiously, taking in the armor.

Armor for a weapon...]

A play. I Want to Be Your Canary is its name.

[She's seated comfortably near her egg, with Tropius lying down nearby, also listening to the reading.]

[cobbledtogether]

[She recognizes that name. Chihiro mentioned it. Tucking that bit of data away for later, she gazes at Tropius for a moment, and then the egg. The former is similar enough to Hoppip to go uncommented on, but the latter...]

Analyzing... Analyzing... Analysis inconclusive. Subject belongs to an unknown species.

[histrionic]

What a talent for analysis you have.

[Kuja smirks.

In any case, that's correct. You wouldn't be familiar with it.

[Lambda's way of speaking is familiar enough to Kuja that she's well aware now that this is that young woman again. The "experiment".]

It's a species from my world, not this one. A Silver Dragon. It should be hatching soon.

[cobbledtogether]

"A dragon"...

[Her brow furrows a little at that information, not that it's visible with her visor in the way. If it isn't something that can be found here, then...]

...Where did you obtain it?

[histrionic]

On the pirate ship.

[She doesn't like to admit to having been abducted, so she glosses over it.]

I stayed there for a short while, and while exploring the ship, I discovered this egg in their hold. They must have traveled to other worlds.

[cobbledtogether]

[...That's interesting. Then—]

That ship is capable of traveling through dimensional barriers?

[Maybe everyone should have tried to commandeer it for themselves.]

[mother_of_god]

[The girl's approach is quiet- her hesitant footsteps can be heard, but there's less of the usual ambient noise expected from a human. She hovers at a safe distance, gazing curiously at the glimmering egg.]

[histrionic]

[Kuja hears the quiet approach, once Alessa is close. She notes it, but says nothing at first. When the girl hovers, she waits--but only temporarily.]

Yes, you may approach. There's nothing to fear.

[Well, there might be, but Kuja doesn't intend to harm anyone.]

[mother_of_god]

[There's plenty to fear, but the part of her that's not terrified by people is strong enough for her to inch forward, then kneel.]

is it a bird?

[histrionic]

[It's easy for Kuja to talk of not being afraid. The only thing she fears is death, but she craves it, too. And she knows she can't die here. She won't die until she disappears, returning to her rightful fate at last.

She turns toward the egg with a smile, with an expansive hand gesture.]

Not at all. It's a dragon.

[mother_of_god]

[Holy shit holy shit holy shit! She edges back a little.]

Is it gonna eat people?

[That is what dragons do. Eat people. And burn things.]

[histrionic]

Not unless I tell it to.

[Though this is Kuja's idea of a joke.]

But no, they don't eat people. They'd find their taste very poor, I'm sure.

[spacejumping]

[For better or worse, Samus knows a thing or two about Motherhood. The egg itself is a curious sight, and when combined with the other's good mood, she can't help but ask.]

Expecting a new addition soon?

[histrionic]

[Kuja turns toward her sharply at the question, but there seems to be no mockery in it. She has been feeling happier than usual, so she answers simply.]

Yes, the egg will be hatching soon.

[spacejumping]

What exactly will hatch from it?

[histrionic]

Ah, isn't it obvious?

[But of course, it isn't, not to anyone but Kuja.]

A dragon.

[spacejumping]

And you're going to take care of it?

[skepticism, go!]

[histrionic]

Quite right.

I commanded a fleet of Silver Dragons in my world. They're highly intelligent, not to mention beautiful.

[cleaningstop]

[Just doing some outdoors training until...]

Eh? What's that? Are you taking care of it for someone?

[histrionic]

[She stops in her reading to look up at the question.]

I am taking care of it for someone: for myself. The egg is my charge and mine alone.

[cleaningstop]

The egg is... yours?!

Wait, does that mean that you're going to be a mother?

[histrionic]

Yes, it's mine--

[Kuja frowns.]

Not in that way. I will not be its mother. I didn't create it. It's a dragon's egg. I will be its guardian.

[cleaningstop]

Oh... A dragon's egg.

[Hold up.]

W-Wait a minute! A dragon? Really?!

[histrionic]

Yes, really a dragon. Do I have some reason to be untruthful?