Tales of Hex

Making arrangements

Ezra was sitting on a bench on the playground. Flora was sitting next to him and leaning against his shoulder. She was checking her make-up in het phone camera. Ezra was looking over the field of concrete while drinking from a metal flask.

The flask was filled with a substance called "Draconic Fireball". It's a drink that dragons brew using magic and the fruits that grow in the spring forests (springfruit). The drink can only be consumed by dragons. This is because dragon magic can be quite aggressive towards other species. Consuming something that's enchanted with dragon magic can be potentially harmful or even fatal for other humanals.

It was created because dragons often have a hard time controlling their emotions. They are naturally passionate and easily aggravated. The drink can calm down their emotions and have a sort of numbing effect. If it's consumed in large quantities it will (almost) completely numb your emotions and even your nerves. That's why some people take it as a pain suppressant. But there's a limit of course. If you drink it too much it could possibly cause permanent nerve damage.

Ezra was practically addicted to the stuff. His sister had shown him how to make it so he could numb the pain after he got in trouble with his dad again. He has been hooked in it ever since. When he was thirteen he started drinking it without even getting beat up beforehand. It helped calm his head down when he was in a particularly loud or busy situation.

Now he couldn't live without. The only reason why his flask hadn't been confiscated yet is because the substance has no colour or odour. It simply looked like water. Only once it made contact with dragon DNA did it get it's signature purple colour and vanilla-coke taste.

He slowly brought the flask up to his lips again. At the moment he was only looking at one thing, or one person should I say. He was sitting across the playground from Ezra perfectly in his line of sight. He watched his every move. The way his eyes lit up when he smiled, the way his curls bounced when he walked, he remembered it all.

"Do you know him?" Flora asked when she noticed Ezra's starring. "I used to" Ezra said without looking away. "Wow so dramatic" Flora chuckled and went back to typing on her phone. "We used to be friends" Ezra said after a short moment of silence. "That guy?" Flora asked in disbelief. "Yeah, when we were nine".

"Tsk, looks like a fag".
"Is there anything wrong with that?"
"Not necessarily, I was just making an observation".
"Don't say those kinds of things. He's nice",
Ezra said. He looked at Marcus and a soft smile spread on his face.

"Are you...smiling?" Flora asked once she noticed Ezra's expression. Ezra quickly whipped the smile off his face.
"If you like him that much just go talk to him"
Ezra scoffed. "Like that's possible".
"You're literally the king of this school, you can do whatever you want"
"That's just it. I mean look at him. He's like an innocent golden retriever puppy, and I'm like a giant dragon monster".
"Don't be so dramatic"

Flora took a moment to take in the people surrounding Marcus. Her eyes landed on the colourful unicorn girl.
"That girl, Maggie Inoue I believe. She's quite popular. I'll befriend her so you can get closer to your loverboy".
Ezra took a moment to look at Maggie. She was wearing a pink dress and a fluffy white coat. Her hair was tied up in space-buns and her white sneakers had rainbow coloured shoelaces. He then looked at Flora who was wearing a slutty all black leather outfit as usual. "You...and her? Are you kidding? Also he's not my loverboy!"

"Whatever man", Flora said as she playfully rolled her eyes. "Fine then, do your thing". Ezra finally agreed. "Ok then!" Flora said. And she joyfully hopped off of her place on the bench. Ezra quickly took a hold of her arm to stop her.
"Not right now!?" Ezra whisper yelled. "Why not? Better sooner then later right?" Flora smiled. She knew she was getting on the boys nerves. Ezra sighed and took a sip from his flask. "Do what you want", he said defeated.

Flora strutted her way over to the small group of friends. "Hey Maggs", she said as if she was greeting an old friend. "Uhm hi", Maggie responded with a confused smile. "You seem fun, wanna go out for a drink sometime?"
Maggie looked even more confused now. "We're 15, we can't drink".
"I meant like Starbucks or something. Gimme your number". Flora pulled out her phone. Maggie hesitated but eventually gave in and dictated her number.

"I'll text you my address, come to my house on Saturday. Bring whoever you'd like", she added while looking at the four boys that were listening to their conversation. "Especially you". She nodded at Marcus. "My friend over there seems to have an interest in you", she pointed over her shoulder at Ezra.

Marcus' eyes lit up. He finally got the chance to talk to Ezra again, and he sure as hell wasn't gonna turn it down. He knew that his friend was different now and that he hung around with some bad people, but he couldn't help but be exited by the thought of talking to him again. "Is he coming too?" Marcus asked with a slight glimmer in his eyes. "I could probably convince him, will you be there if he is?" Marcus took a second to think but eventually nodded in excitement.

"It's settled then". Marcus smiled widely. "Are you insane?!" Tommy whisper yelled. "You just invited Ezra fucking Wyvern to a fucking tea party!" Tommy stared at Marcus in disbelief. "It's not a tea party", Flora corrected. "I hate to admit it but... you're dead man", Oran said. "Alright then, I'm coming with you", Tommy said suddenly. "To protect you of course". Flora and Maggie giggled.

Tommy was 5,3 and Marcus 5,4 that combined with their colourful clothing style and puppy like demeanour made them the least threatening duo you'll probably ever see. Especially Tommy who often wore make-up and girly blouses, they suited him though. "Sure do whatever you like", Flora said after she was done giggling.

"You coming too onisan?"
"If Tommy is the only one there to protect Marcus I kind of feel like I have to come", Oran answered half-joking. Tommy gave him an offended look but knew that it was kind of true. Despite almost their entire group being under 5,5 (Maggie being the tallest and  Alan being 5,3 like Tommy)  Oran on the other hand was 6,1. He definitely stood out among his short friends.

"I c-can't come I need to babysit", Alan said shyly. "Alright then", Flora said and she clapped her hands which made both Marcus and Alan flinch. "I've sent you the address. Come to my house between 13:00 and 14:00. Ezra will be there". That last sentence was more so directed at Marcus who nodded slightly in response. In just two days he'd get to talk to Ezra again.