All throughout Dragontown Kumandra, the sounds of raised platforms and dragons milling about filled the air. Every dragon was busy, both young and old. Each of the dragons held an eager face as they went about. This wasn't a normal day as one could tell, for a very special day was about to transpire for the dragons.
"So tell me what Dragonfest is?" Jarek asked, curiously eying the working dragons.
"Only the best time of the year Skippy!" Sisu cheered, "I swear you've had human holidays, but you've never experienced a dragon one!"
Jarek thought back to all the festivals and holidays when he was a boy living in Talon. Those were indeed fun, but he was curious about what dragons would have to celebrate?
"Yeah, there's food, games, and all sorts of events!" Pranee added excitedly, "In fact, I'll be displaying my culinary genius in the baking field!"
Jarek immediately perked up upon hearing that, "By culinary genius, do you mean?"
"I know you too well Jarek, all the sweets you can handle!" Pranee said teasingly.
Jarek's eyes grew wide and he licked his lips.
"Hold it there Skippy! I know that look!" Sisu warned, "If you think you're going to make another food baby you have another thing coming!"
Giving a frown towards his former teacher, Jarek was about to retort when suddenly Jagan's voice cut in.
"Funny you should be chastising Jarek here about food babies," Jagan had slunk into the room without alerting anyone.
Sisu shot her brother a suspicious look, a look Jagan seemed to recognize but he continued talking all the more.
"Because I remember a time when you constructed one of your own."
Jarek's curiosity was piqued, "What are you talking about?"
"Jagan don't!" Sisu warned.
Jagan playfully looked towards his friend and his sister and shrugged as he continued, "Okay, picture this, it's Dragonfest, we're just kids, and our parents are taking us out to enjoy the festivities."
"Jagan don't you dare!" Sisu continued to warn.
"Sisu asks our Ma if she could go get some noodles, and let me tell you, Sisu here loves noodles," Jagan swiftly dodged as Sisu charged toward him.
"Jagan!"
"So we all agree to meet up somewhere but a full hour passes and Sisu is nowhere to be seen, so we go to the noodle stand, and lo and behold, our dear Sisu lying on the ground, nursing a big old food baby, and moaning and groaning "I'll never eat again!"." All the while Jagan maneuvered around the room, dodging Sisu and putting on his best Sisu impression at the last bit of his story.
All the while Sisu did her best to shut up her brother, and Jarek simply stood there dumbfounded.
"Wait? Sisu? Our Sisu? Ms. Datu was nursing a food baby?" Jarek asked.
"Oh yeah, she couldn't even walk anymore, and after our mother scolded her, she had to take this nasty medicine to keep everything down," Jagan laughed.
"Wonderful you just had to tell him that!" Sisu griped.
Now it was Jarek's turn to laugh, "Really? After you gave me so much grief for having my own food baby?"
"So I had a moment of weakness," Sisu said hoping to change the subject. But that did nothing to deter Jarek's laughter, "Okay you can stop laughing now!"
But all Jarek did was subside ever so slightly, "Alright fine, just really funny if you think about it."
Sisu's expression hardly returned the sentiment.
"Well anyway, Jarek my boy! Are you ready for Guy's Night tonight?" The violet dragon said throwing his front leg around Jarek's shoulder.
"Oh, you know it, brother!" Jarek replied excitedly.
Sisu's former annoyance switched over to suspicion, "You know? I'm curious as to what these "guys nights" entail?"
Jagan suddenly grew nervous, "You know sis, just normal guy stuff?"
"Considering I'm not a guy, I don't know what "normal" guy stuff is," Sisu stated, "Besides, I notice after these nights your mane has a particular "perfume" to it."
Jagan let out a groan, "Come on sis I don't smoke all right!"
Sisu studied Jarek's face for any sign of that being a lie but found her former student's face remained firm.
Suspicion still upon her face, Sisu nevertheless relented with a simple, "Okay, but I'll find out if you're lying."
The two boys waited till Sisu left the room before Jagan leaned in towards Jarek, "Think she suspects anything?"
"Probably but that's not going to stop us anyway right?" Jarek chuckled.
Jagan likewise gave a laugh, "Man you are one awesome dragon Jarek, my boy!"
The two dragons gave each other a high five and shouted in unison, "Guys night!"
XXX
Sisu heard the traces of Jarek and Jagan's cheer with faint annoyance. Those boys and their guy's nights. It had been something the pair had established since Jarek had fully integrated into the dragon community. On certain nights the pair would sneak off to do goodness knows what, though Sisu had her suspicions. Jagan had always been somewhat of a hedonist, and Jarek had a hedonistic streak as well, so it wouldn't surprise Sisu if the two boys were dulling their senses with recreational substances or acts.
It wasn't as if Sisu was a prude. She just felt it was not a very "dragon" thing to do. Then again, she wasn't the most exemplary example of a dragon if you asked her.
"You shouldn't be worried about them you know."
Sisu let out a brisk gasp as Amba's voice cut in, her younger sister slinking into sight.
"Ugh, geez! Amba don't do that!"
"Sorry, but I am right," Amba stated.
Sisu had left their home stepping into the outside air of Dragontown. The hustle and bustle of the festival preparation could still be heard. It wasn't enough to block out a conversation between two sisters, however.
"If you're worried these "guys nights" are going to make them end up fat and lazy, don't worry, I could only see that happening to Jarek, at least the fat part," Amba stated as a matter of factually.
Sisu had to silently agree. With Jarek's massive love of sweets, she could see him being quite the round dragon in his later years. The sight of an old Jarek did bring a few inward chuckles to Sisu. She just wondered how long his beard would be by then? His long, luxurious, Sisu snapped herself back to attention with a smack of her head, just as a mental image filled it.
"So Amba...what-what's up?" Sisu stammered a bit as she attempted to banish any thoughts of Jarek from her head, young or old.
"I was heading over to the temple to see Pengu, just to check in on him, you know how busy he's been lately," Said Amba.
Being what qualified as a leader for Dragontown, Pengu had the responsibility of organizing the festival. Born for the job as he was, even Pengu felt the strain of leadership. Frankly, Sisu felt he could use a partner, or a spouse to take the load off of him, yet Pengu didn't show any interest in seeking out a mate. It wasn't as if Pengu wasn't interested, for only Sisu knew why Pengu hadn't gone after any other dragons, male ones to be precise.
But love couldn't be forced or pushed. Not that Jarek seemed to care Pranee was stuffing him full of sweets. She knew her former student was unaware of Pranee's crush on him, even if it was rather blatant. Even though Jarek was a former thief, which technically counted as a criminal, she knew Jarek wasn't the sort to take advantage of someone like that, even if it was tempting.
The two sisters eventually made their way through the busy streets and to the temple where Pengu had made into a sort of a second home. The only thing missing was a bed. There had been a couple of occasions his siblings found him slumped over asleep at a table, book in claw.
When they entered the temple, they found it was just as busy as the streets. It didn't take them long to go through it, finding Pengu in his usual area.
"Hey, Pengu!" Sisu called.
Pengu himself was surrounded by other dragons, more than likely a committee that helped him oversee things. The green dragon broke away and smiled at the sight of his two sisters. He muttered a few words to the other dragons who parted upon doing so.
"Sisu, Amba, what brings you here?" Pengu asked.
"Just checking in on ya bro, have to make sure you don't pass out," Sisu playfully stated.
Pengu smiled at his sister's jest, "There's no need to worry, I'm well hydrated."
"You never know, busy as you get keeping things together, it wouldn't surprise me if you forgot to eat too," Said Sisu, "You did have breakfast right?"
Pengu's face looked deep in thought, a look that showed he was carefully considering what to say.
"Pengu you know you shouldn't skip breakfast!" Amba said concernedly.
That was another part about Pengu, sometimes he forgot to eat as well.
"Relax you two, what I ate qualified as breakfast...technically," Pengu corrected.
"That's it! Meal break!" Sisu stated, grabbing her eldest sibling by the air, just like a naughty child.
"Let go let go!" Pengu said in a somewhat winey tone. Thrusting himself away from his sister's grip, Pengu relented with, "Fine I'll eat!"
The Temple had a small concessionary area. Nothing too grand as a kitchen, but sometimes a quick snack was needed for continued studying.
"You two should know preparations are going smoothly," Pengu assured, "The festival should go off without a hitch."
"That's great! Knew you were the guy for the job bro!" Sisu cheered.
"I just certainly hope cousin Reela makes it in time," Pengu added.
Sisu's smile fell at that very instant, "Reela?"
"Yes, I invited her," Pengu admitted.
Sisu's mouth fell open slightly, "You...invited...Reela?"
Pengu could sense the rising tension in the air, "Yes?"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?" Sisu's voice echoed throughout the temple.
Every dragon stopped what they were doing to stare at the angry blue dragoness.
"Sisu keep your voice down!" Pengu cautioned.
"Sorry but you invited Reela of all dragons?" Sisu dropped her voice down to a raspy whisper.
Pengu seemed slightly taken aback by Sisu's outburst, "She's family,
it wouldn't seem right if I didn't invite her."
"Yes but she's going to grr ugh!" Sisu began pulling upon her mane and hopping up and down like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Sisu, calm down, it's going to be okay," Pengu soothed.
"No, it's not she's going to just drive me crazy!"
Amba placed a comforting claw upon her sister's shoulder, "Sisu it's going to be fine. Just try and hold it together."
Taking a few calming breaths, Sisu composed herself, "Okay...I'm fine…" that was a half lie but Sisu wasn't going to have another outburst like that.
"Besides, she's never met Jarek, it would be nice to introduce them right?" Amba suggested.
Sisu's eyes widened with dread. It was true Jarek had never met Reela in the long months he had been a dragon, but for some reason, she was afraid of it. She didn't know why but the thought of her rich and fancy cousin alongside her recently graduated student didn't sit well with her.
But again, she didn't know why.
XXX
Night had fallen upon Dragontown. Every dragon was settling down to sleep. But far off just on the edges of the town, two dragons lay. A thick cough echoed out, and the source was none other than Jarek.
"Dude, don't breathe it in like that, you have to let it hit the back of your throat," Jagan instructed.
Both Jarek and Jagan lay in the open air of the Dragontown outskirts. In both of their claws, they held cylindrical objects with smoking tips. Jarek did as his fellow dragon instructed, dragging upon the object, letting it hit the back of his throat, and blowing it out. A relieved sigh escaped Jarek as he did so.
"Oh yeah that's the stuff," He said with pleasure.
Jagan followed his fellow's example and breathed out smoke just the same.
"Yeah now you're getting it," Jagan said.
Jarek let out a little cough as he did so, still not used to smoking this way.
"So you made these?" Jarek asked.
"Yeah, just wrapped some leaves together, light em up, and relax," Jagan answered, "Figured it would be better than doing it from a pipe, if Sisu found it she would flip, this way there's no evidence," Jagan cooly breathed.
"Clever man," Jarek complimented, "So what do you call these?"
"Don't have a name yet," Jagan said blowing out a smoke ring.
"He nice," Jarek sigh trying to mimic it, but couldn't even manage a circle, "Dude you should totally market these.
"Eh I dunno, not sure if the world is ready for these," Jagan noted, "I mean we dragons have a more refined taste in tobacco than humans, no offense."
"I'll say, I mean my eyes aren't even bloodshot, "Then again that kind of stuff wasn't even tobacco," Jarek was slightly ashamed that he partook in heavier stuff, at least Rapi was, but whatever Jagan had invented, would fly under the radar.
"Gotta say, really enjoying these guys' night we've been having," Jarek noted.
"You know it brother," Jagan said blowing out more smoke.
"Yeah just a couple of bachelors kicking back and enjoying the fruits of life," Jarek likewise blew out more smoke.
Jagan made himself more comfortable, but a frown etched upon his face, "Yeah the bachelor life is sweet, but I kind of wish I had someone to share it with."
Jarek stopped smoking to look at Jagan curiously, "You mean like a girlfriend?"
"Or a wife," Jagan added.
A soft cough escape Jarek as he choked on the smoke he inhaled, "Excuse me? You want to get married?"
Jagan took a puff and blew again, "It's a dream of mine, finding the lady dragon of my dreams, having a hatchling or two, then growing old with my mate by my side."
Jarek looked at Jagan curiously. For as long as he had known Jagan, Sisu's brother seemed to enjoy the bachelor life. The thought of him settling down was...interesting to say the least.
"Any ideas who this lucky lady would be?" Jarek asked.
Letting out a dreamy sigh, Jagan answered, "Yeah, Reela."
"Wait, isn't Reela your cousin?" Jarek had never met Reela personally, but Sisu had spoken about her, nothing positive though.
"Yeah, and I know what you are going to say, but marrying your cousin is totally cool, I mean humans do it right?" Jagan said defensively.
"All right calm down casanova," Jarek took another puff on his rolled leaf stick, "Surprised though, with how much Sisu gripes about her she doesn't sound like the easiest person to get along with."
"Ah, Sisu's just jealous," Jagan said waving his claw.
Jarek's eyes widened in surprise, "Really? Sisu is jealous of someone?"
Jagan took a puff and blew a puff of smoke, "I know it sounds crazy, but yeah Sisu's always been jealous, ever since we were kids."
The mental image of Sisu being jealous of anyone was foreign and oddly discomforting. With how upbeat and positive Sisu was, she didn't seem the jealous type.
"Well you learn something new every day," Jarek remarked.
"Yeah, Reela is something special, I just explain it, but I know she's the one, I know it in my heart," Jagan said hopefully.
What Jagan said made Jarek think. He had never really thought of romance. Well, there was that one girl from Tail, but he had been a hormone-driven teenager then. True love? Now that was something to think about. But it wasn't as if the right lady would show itself.
As Jarek pondered, he took a drag and managed to finally blow out a smoke ring. And as the blueish ring parted into the sky, part of it sank forming into the tell-tale shape of a heart.
A/N: And Jagan has just invented the cigar. Dragons are way ahead of their time.