Dragons' Positions [Fickle Positions Chronicle # 1]

Chapter 9 : To Be Convinced In A Dressing Room

The day started just like the previous one, excluding the point that Adrian had knocked on her door and entered when she didn't reply, shaking her 'til she woke up. Then, as if to add insult to injury, he sent her to the bathroom and told her he was waiting. Grabbing her clothes, she headed down to take her shower and do anything else she needed.

Coming out, she gave her brother a scathing look, temper alight. "What did you want enough that you'd wake me up?"

He seemed to take a moment to himself, murmuring that their father had warned him. "I'm here to wake you up."

"Yes, you did that, so why are you waiting?"

"Oh, I didn't mention how I'm here to bond with my dear sister before she leaves?"

"No," her expression not changing, she made her way to the door and paused, looking back at him, "well? What are you waiting for, dear brother o' mine?"

Adrian stood up, hurrying after her, even as she began to walk out into the halls. Alala calmed down, thinking about how she was going to leave soon and couldn't fault her brother for wanting to spend time with her. "So, tell me Adrian, what did you want to do to bond with me?"

Adrian seemed to not know what to say for a moment and started panicking before he answered. "Just talk and walk, not much else other than that."

"Alright then," being woken up and forced out of her room, she didn't really know what to talk about, so she settled on having him steer the conversation, "so talk."

He seemed to start scrambling for a topic and having pity on him, she thought a topic up. "So, are you going to tell me what you want to be?"

The question seemed to just make him flustered and he seemed to get more nervous as time passed by before he answered. "I-I want to be a squire and own lands from different kingdoms."

"Ah, so you wish for a lavish lifestyle? Is that why you didn't want to be supreme commander?" Alala asked, remembering that yes, as supreme commander you'd have lots of land and be filthy rich, but you'd also have to camp out quite a lot when needed and you may not be able to use your wealth to get the things you want at some points in time.

"No, I-I'm afraid of what war does. Afraid that if I go there and I command people to do something someone will die. I'm a coward, Alala, I'm afraid of the consequences of my actions if I go out there."

She contemplated his words, thinking about what to say to that before she got the perfect thing to tell him. "That's not being a coward, brother, that's being human."

Adrian laughed at that. "But, Alala, we're dragons, we aren't human."

Firm in her belief that she used the right words, she continued. "No, we aren't, but the things that humans have and do, we have and do them too. We aren't very different from them in that respect."

A contemplative silence passed before her brother suddenly stopped in front of a door and knocked. "I suppose we aren't."

"Why did you-" Right before she could say anything else the door burst open, revealing her step-mother and several other women. "Alala, you're finally here! Come," she beckoned her inside," come, let's get you ready for the celebration."

Alala looked at her brother and all he gave her was a shrug. "She's my mother," he spoke, as if that explained everything and gave a smile, waving to her before he pushed her into the room, " you're right, Alala, I'm human in some respects." The door closed behind her before she could say anything to him and she was faced with a room full of women who seemed to be preparing for the celebration.

Suddenly, one of the women turned around, only for the woman's face to be seen and revealing her to be Eloise holding a red dress. "Come along, Alala, let's get you into a dress already." Eloise stepped forward, holding the dress in front of Alala and handing it to her. "There, now, " lifting a hand, Eloise pointed to a restroom at the end of the room, "change there."

"But, Eloise, I don't want to-" Alala started, not really wanting to change and be stared at again. The looks people gave, as if they would want to keep her or sell her off, made her want to hide under the floorboards and that wasn't what a supreme commander needed to be like. Neither did supreme commanders need to dress up and she wanted to milk that factor for all it was worth right now.

Eloise's facial expression became reluctant. "I know you do not want to be paraded around, but please, Alala, just this once, change and show them that the Xythan bloodline has strong women."

Alala was a sucker for family and she wasn't sure if Eloise knew that, but the way Eloise spoke made her change, however reluctant she was. Once she was done, Eloise brought her over to a long table, while she held her clothes, and took pins, pinching Alala's dress, putting pins here and there to make sure it would fit her. Then, she'd hide the pins in the dress itself.

A woman clapped her hands in the doorway. "It's time!" In response, several people exclaimed in dismay.

"Gosh!"

"Ah!"

"Wait!"

"No!"

"Time's up!" The woman repeated.

"Alright, I suppose this will have to do." Eloise spoke, holding a pin between her teeth, looking Alala over. "Well then, let's head out, shall we?" She said, before putting the pin down on the table and beckoning Alala to follow her.

Alala paused for a moment, looking at the table and down at her clothes in her arms. Noticing this, Eloise waited for her even as Alala had an inner debate whether to bring everything, attempt to escape and change back or not. Deciding against the idea, no matter how much she didn't want to, she placed the clothes and instead brought her cap and sunglasses with her before going to Eloise, who had an amused look on her face, but didn't say anything.

Walking with Eloise, Alala began to worry about being in a room she didn't know about and seeing people she hadn't met yet. Before the worry could consume her, she turned to Eloise. "Where is the celebration being held?"

Eloise must've noticed how worried she was because her amusement only seemed to have grown. "The throne room, but you know, you don't have to worry your father, Adrian and I will be there."

Alala had to smile at that. "I know, but I can't help myself. Things like meeting people for the first time and seeing new places have always worried me. I-"

"Well, we'll be there and if you want, I won't leave your side for the whole celebration. Though I'm pretty sure that Adrian and your father won't either."

"Th-"

"Alright, here we are, so are you ready?"

"No, I'm hardly ready. Actually, can I have a moment to-" Eloise pushed her forward before she could continue and tumbling, she went straight through the doors.