Atlantis

[Bloodedge]

Miki's retort to his statement was that she couldn't always be naked. She also referenced a series that happened to be in Akashi's memory. It was to a specific character in a series their original forms were familiar with, while also being an interesting bit of insight to the amount of perversion both original entities boasted. Her demand thereafter was spoken in the way he'd expect of another Dragon.

... And yet, Akashi had no verbal response. He enchanted the towel he'd taken from her with his Purgatory Flame, altering its form to that of a cloak not unlike the jacket he wore. He would also use his free hand to tap the very top of Miki's sternum before trailing his claw down, between her cleavage and along her abdomen. This mimicked the movements he'd previously used to disrobe her, but this time, he would manifest a new take on her previous attire, more suited to her potential than even her current abilities portrayed. "Dragons don't wear the clothes of mortals."

[Apollymi]

Whether Akashi knew and understood the reference she made or not, didn't seem to be important in the moment. Instead, Miki was left standing naked as she watched the towel transform in the lad's hands into something entirely different. It was enchanted to take on the form of a cloak which seemed to be rather appealing to her own general fashion sense. But it wouldn't stop there. Akashi reached out towards the lass extending a single finger starting at her sternum and trailing it down the length of her body for a second time. It was quite strange as a feeling considering the last time this very action had occurred the man had been using his magic to disrobe her in a very direction fashion. In fact, thinking back to that moment, she had a twitch deep within her person which she couldn't rightly explain. She bit her lip lightly as her mind wandered away from clothing for just a few seconds...

But then, there were clothes. Akashi's finger had redressed her, giving her a form fitted black mini-dress which didn't have any shoulders and was made a bit like a corset. It was ever so slightly see through and included filigree designs along the top line of her breasts and also along the depth of her rib cage. The skirt was hiked up several inches and pinched together in the front by two golden bands and several golden dangling bits which accented her hips. The height of the skirt should have revealed her nether to the world, but instead this was covered in a decorative pair of panties with high lines and golden filigree as well. In shape it was a thong which also left the lower part of her bottom out just barely invisible in the line of the skirt. She took pause for a moment but didn't want to look away from Akashi initially. He claimed that Dragons didn't wear the clothing created by mortals, which explained how he'd chosen to undress her in the first place. "Sou ka, so yes... full Kurama... but..." she gave a pause and a little turn getting a look at herself from several angles as she removed the towel from her hair and allowed it to fall so perfectly wavy back in place. "It's great!~" she chimed. She drew other articles to herself in particular the Bones of Rathma which she attached to the collar around her neck, bringing together the look of the mini-dress with a minor accessory as an extra. It should have also been noted that Miki didn't choose to argue with him about her status or lack thereof as a Dragon. She approached him a bit more directly in the moment staring into his face. "Sankyuu~" and at the 'kyuu' her lips pursed and she aimed to peck his lips rather directly.

[Bloodedge]

Miki wasn't the only one whose mind wandered from the matter of clothes. Akashi's mind had been taking such a route the entire time. Either way, he was soon done with the process of fitting the girl with an ensemble befitting of Dragonkind, even enchanted with Legendary properties the likes of which could no longer be found in this day and age of the world they inhabited. The black market would crash and/or kill for such quality, and the cloak he offered the lass was something even further beyond. Miki would eventually find herself incapable of being felled by flames of lesser quality than Akashi's own, yet also always blessed by a seasonal warmth the likes of his being nearby. Beyond this, many other traits would make themselves known in due time... Many, many traits. It seemed she was keen on showcasing her thanks by kissing the Dragonoid, an act which he stood motionless for. He didn't seem to even have anything worth saying. He just... continued staring.

[Apollymi]

Miki's eyes shifted slightly after this small kiss if only because she found the lad's reaction to it strange, though admittedly more in line of what she expected from his other self. This staring was rather odd to her, as it almost didn't seem like he knew how to respond. What exactly was the Dragonoid thinking, she wondered as she looked at him. It would only be after a few seconds of such conscious staring that she'd realize, he was still naked and she was now fully dressed and something about that made the girl a bit stunned as her eye twitched and she made a conscious effort not to look down. "Right, you're still really hard to read..." she mentioned fighting with herself about where her eyes would look. Such a situation would be one she'd likely find herself in a lot with this particular Dragonoid but she couldn't really say she minded.

While the Dragonoid Akashi and Miki got to know each other a bit better. Seriri the Atlantean's Queen had been wandering the streets for quite a few hours. Given the problems that had been mentioned to her, she found herself talking to a particular tavern keep. "So you only serve the Merfolk of Atlantis, would you mind coming by the Palace tomorrow. There is someone who'd like to speak to you about some new developments within the Kingdom," the Queen said. This particular Tavern Keep looked a bit stunned. It was amazing that the Queen would be here and would ask him to take part in something so seemingly auspicious. "Anything to help the Kingdom M'Lady." And thus like that Seriri excused herself. As she was walking she headed towards the Library her head down. 'I still don't really know where to look for the outcast though. I feel like making Miki upset would be bad, but not doing what the Dragonoid said would be worse...' she thought absently, seeming just a bit worried.

[Bloodedge]

"Am I?" Akashi questioned in response. Still, his gaze never wavered. He did take note of the movement in Miki's eyes, as if she were keeping herself from shifting her own gaze. He could tell where she intended to look before having obvious second thoughts, but if she was going to keep herself from doing so, it didn't matter. Akashi took the liberty of draping the girl's cloak over her shoulders before golden-accentuated flames spawned from his body to restore his own wardrobe. With that, he ever so casually walked back toward the throne room...

Meanwhile, the streets of Atlantis were busy as usual, but this time with Queen Seriri out and about on her search. As she made her way toward the library, there were a pair of Mermen at the front of a nearby alley, having a discussion that seemed... less than friendly. "They said they saw him go around the back of the marketplace. Some guys are already planning on going to finish him off, if they catch him in time," one of the males said, as the other nodded with excitement. "Finally! That thing's been making problems for all of us for too long now!"

[Apollymi]

Akashi asked a very small question in response to Miki's assertion that he was hard to read. And to her, looking at this lad was like trying to read a foregin language you'd never even heard of before. "You are." And that was all she said in response, the action of her cloak being placed over her body was one she saw happening even as her eyes shifted to the golden flames that restored the lad's clothes. She even managed to catch one more glimpse of his naked body before he turned to walk back towards the the throne room. It was odd that he was still walking about like a normal person, but she supposed there were worse things to think about. Fully dressed and oddly warm Miki would follow along after the lad, her face contorted in deep concentration as she began proper mental work on a problem that was more immediately solvable.

In the meantime, Seriri heard some words being spoken by an alley she passed which caught her attention. The discussion was almost like she'd expect of some murder mystery plot, but they were talking about someone within Atlantis. Such a thing really couldn't be allowed to stand, but the Queen couldn't risk the action not taking place as she needed to know who was being talked about in such a way. 'Hm, it's possible it is someone else. It is also possible it is exactly who I am looking for. I suppose worst case scenario I stop some random person from being murdered...' she mused. There was nothing on her face to show she'd heard anything amiss and she even still seemed to be heading towards the library, but one simple turn would lead her toward the back alleys of Atlantis' Marketplace where she intended to sneak up on whatever activity was taking place there.

[Bloodedge]

The male Merfolk continued their discussion, taking to hushed whispers, but doing so all too late. They weren't privy to the fact that they'd been heard by the queen, of all people. Sadly for them and the others involved in their plan, Queen Seriri made her way to the location they'd just been discussing.

Behind the marketplace of the major section of Atlantis, in the darkest corner hidden by the surrounding buildings, one would find quite a bit of unnecessary rubbish. Scraps, both technological and consumable, littered the immediate area surrounding an accumulation of Atlantean Steel slabs and other bits and baubles that seemed to form a small hut. Inside was a battered and bruised young male with tanned skin and glowing, golden eyes. His long, dark-teal hair was a mess of locks draped over the tattered cloak he wore. He was... filthy, to say the least. Skin barely clung to his bones, given the lack of meat between the two. One look at the lad could make one wonder how blood still reached his extremities, and yet... he clearly had enough fluid in his body to spare, given the stream of saltwater pouring from his eyes onto the ground.

[Apollymi]

Seriri directly approached this small hovel, finding within it, the skinniest boy she'd ever seen. Beyond the fact that he was obviously malnourished, she took in the sights of his dwelling. Scraps and pieces everywhere but still he seemed to have nothing to show for himself. This was sort of shameful, and beyond all of the outward appearances, the lad was crying. Seriri approached him tentatively, he couldn't have been used to people trying to help him. Even someone unfamiliar with new people such as Seriri could see this lad was outside of all normal aspects of society. Even orphaned children and lonely street toughs ran in groups, a person making things in the darkness of a corner could be no one but the lad she was looking for. "I think you may want to stop that... you don't seem to have enough moisture left in your body to waste it on tears..." she said softly. She was approaching the lad very slowly and stopped shy of his person. "Is it something I can help you with?" she asked genuinely wishing to help the lad with what ailed him, and get him something to eat.

[Bloodedge]

The most hushed of whimpers could, just maybe, be heard during the queen's approach. However, the boy within soon became privy to the presence of another. He fell silent then, eyes trembling and colored with fret. Who was this woman? He actually didn't know. What he did know, was that he'd been found. The woman approached slowly, speaking as if she were a kind soul... but he'd been bamboozled far too many times. He began shifting right away, knocking over his own small shelter as the full weight of his body struck a slab.

He was attempting to make a run - or rather, a crawl - for it, and would do exactly that... for all of a few meters before he fully collapsed to the ground. His struggle to even rise from this fall was obvious, almost seeming as if he'd shattered his insides on impact. In fact, he was literally broken long before, as the tendons in all of his limbs had been severed. He still had to try. Whoever this woman was, whatever she really wanted, he wanted no part of. The lad wasn't simply malnourished; what little food he had access to was taken from him. He could no longer distinguish between an honest meal, and the next poison on the list of attempts to eliminate him for merely existing. So, he'd take no food. He'd take no aide. He'd have no associates.

... However, he also had a rather large problem impeding these plans. He'd gone on for too long like this. This most recent fall was his last. He wouldn't rise because he couldn't. Maybe he shouldn't. After all this time, he was probably overdue for giving up even trying to go on living, considering the repeated outcome.

[Apollymi]

Hushed whimpers came from this lad, and as he moved, or rather tried to do so, Seriri was made aware that something was very wrong with his physiology. 'He's broken...' she thought and her heart shattered as she watched the lad try and crawl from her only to collapse. His intention to leave this place was obvious, but his will to survive appeared to be strong until he stopped moving. Seriri looked on for a few seconds walking along behind him only to stop near and kneel. The Queen managed to look outwardly distraught, with tears falling from her eyes as she looked on at this lad. "I don't know what happened to you... but please don't give up now," she managed choking back her own tears. She knew what it was to be unable to do for yourself, and she wouldn't, or rather couldn't allow such a struggle to continue. She had to help if she could, and she fully intended to start now. As a tear fell from her eye, she controlled it, beginning to scan the lad's body for what was keeping him from being able to run. 'His tendons have been cut... he can't really use his arms and legs. I can fix that and contact with my magic should give him at least enough strength to move on his own,' she thought to herself. If there was one thing she knew from being an invalid most of her life, it was wanting to do for herself but lacking the ability.

"Here. Just let me offer this okay... just a hand," she offered. The water she controlled aimed to move around his body patching up his tendons. Right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg... it'd take minutes and the move water moved throughout his body, the more acutely aware of his injuries she became. 'Who could honestly do this to another person? What reason could they possibly have?' She wondered. She didn't know the worst of people. She had been sheltered, an invalid taken care of by kind parents and siblings. She didn't know the evils of individuals, but she was learning them bit by bit as she expended her own Mana to try and give this poor skinny boy a body he could move with. And the entire time, she cried, though she didn't know this boy at all she couldn't imagine his suffering. She was sad for his sake, wondering how he'd ended up so alone and how so much bad had been allowed to happen to him.