Jagan let out a sigh as he flung the ball at the target.
"Jagan you're not even trying!" Amba declared.
Once more, Jagan sighed, "I know it's just I can't concentrate."
Amba had noticed Jagan's demeanor hadn't changed since Reela had gone off with Jarek and Sisu. It wasn't hard to see why he was upset.
"You need to stop thinking about Reela for five minutes!" Amba urged.
"I can't help it, sis! I love her!" Jagan protested.
"Then why don't you just tell her!?"
It was no secret to everyone (besides Reela herself) that Jagan had a crush on their cousin. Nay, he was in love with her. Amba knew Jagan was feeling love, not just physical attraction. But he never seemed to move forward with admitting his feelings. She understood how it had been a blow to him to see her walk off with Jarek. Amba knew her cousin well, and it was apparent Reela was taken with Jarek, or at least intrigued by him. It wasn't every day a human turned into a dragon.
Nonetheless, Jagan had taken a blow to his heart. Sympathetic as it was though, Amba would be lying if she said it wasn't draining.
"Love isn't just some rush into it sort of deal! It takes time! Crafting! Finding the proper moment!" Jagan declared.
"Or you just tell the girl you love her and get it over with, sure there's a chance she'll reject you, but it's better than sitting around waiting," Amba cautioned, "If you don't make your move someone else might swoop in!"
Jagan paused before he threw the next ball. In his heart, he knew his sister was right, but there was always the risk of doing it wrong, or of Reela not returning his affections. The risk couldn't be his excuse forever, but the sheer act of doing it scared him.
But those thoughts were put on hold as he heard a far-off voice gradually growing closer.
"Hey, nice dragon people! How y'all doing HIC!"
The coarseness of the voice was familiar, and Jagan had heard it so many times he was able to figure out who it was.
"Sisu?" Amba's voice beat him to it.
Turning around, Jagan watched as he saw his elder sister staggering around as if she were intoxicated. After wobbling around for a good bit, she collapsed. On instinct, both Jagan and Amba rushed over to Sisu's side and both gaped at what they saw: Before them was Sisu's belly which had now transformed into a bulbous monstrosity.
"Sisu! What happened to you?" Amba exclaimed.
Suddenly Sisu released a resounding burp. A thick stench wafted upward hitting Amba in the nose. The minute she did she recoiled with a gag.
"Ugh smells like hot spices!" Amba complained.
Jagan observed Sisu's mouth noticing it had various stains upon it. The brother thought back to his childhood, recalling moments from Dragonfest past. There was one memory that stood out, one from when they were mere children. He recalled his blue-furred sister laying on the ground with an orb-like gut, moaning with indigestion while their mother chastised and scolded from the sheer gluttony of the situation.
"Looks like Sisu had another noodle binge," Jagan declared.
"Again!?" Amba said in disbelief, "Oh Sisu."
Sisu merely smiled up at her name being called, "You rang?" She replied with a stupid grin.
"Ugh looks like you went on another bender didn't you sis?" Jagan noted.
"A bender fender!" Sisu boasted, "But ya know? URP! I showed that tart Reela whose boss!"
Jagan sighed whilst shaking his head. Of course, this had to do with Reela. Their cousin brought out a competitive side to their all-loving sibling.
"Sisu!"
Jagan and Amba looked to their left to see the black shape of Jarek running towards them, "Sisu are you okay?"
Sisu merely grinned at Jarek and hummed some tune from their childhood.
"She's completely blazed out of her gourd," Jarek said, "Come on, let's get her back home."
"I'll help," Amba offered.
"Thanks," Jarek said with a smile, "Jagan, would you mind heading back and keeping Reela company I-"
Jarek didn't get time to finish for the minute he heard "keeping Reela company", Jagan was off like a bolt of lightning.
Steadily Jarek and Amba helped Sisu to her feet, the dragoness herself oblivious to what was going on around her. As they walked, Sisu mumbled out various unintelligible things. Eventually, they made it to the house, and setting Sisu down in the back rooms, they made certain she was comfortable.
"Sisu," Amba sighed as she took in the full exposure of her sister's condition.
A great churning and bubbling echoed forth from Sisu's belly, her digestive tract working hard to break down the large load she had ingested.
"Let's hope you never get in a position to have all the noodles you want," Amba hoped, "Otherwise you'll be one fat dragon."
"Are you sure she'll be fine like this?" Jarek asked.
"She'll be out like a light in a minute, she's safe," Amba assured.
That much brought Jarek some comfort. At least Sisu was comfortable. But before Jarek and Amba left to enjoy what was left of Dragon Fest, an utterance passed Sisu's lips.
"Thanks, Skippy, you're as caring as you are handsome," Sisu then lapsed into slumber.
Jarek paused for a moment, not believing what he had heard. Right before he left, he took one final glance at Sisu.
Even he had to admit, she looked lovely, a true sleeping beauty, even in her food-drunk state.
XXX
The rest of Dragonfest went off without a hitch. There may have been another day of the festival left, the patrons wanted to get in as much fun as possible until the next day. The entire family Datu family minus Sisu had gathered, and when Pengu and Pranee were told of Sisu's gluttonous escapades, they could only shake their heads, either in shame or sympathy. Jagan was the only sibling who wasn't thinking about Sisu's condition. Instead, he had a dreamy smile plastered upon his face. The family headed home all save for Reela. The cousin of the Datus had retired to a small tent near the house. The tent itself was a crimson color with gold trimming. The sight had caught Jarek's eye, and he found himself compelled to head inside.
Slowly he poked his head inside and the minute he did a strange scent reached his nose. It was sweet smelling but held a hint of spice. Jarek spied the source. There near the edge of the tent was Reela. The golden dragoness lay upon a bed of pillows, two dragons at each side fanning her. In Reela's claws, she held a long ornate pipe, burgundy with the same gold theme that accompanied her. Reela took a puff upon it, blowing out a cloud of smoke into the air. Her eyes closed briefly, opening just as she exhaled.
"Oh, Sir Jarek! What a pleasant surprise! Do come sit!" Reela offered, patting a spot rather close to her.
Jarek hesitantly took a step inside. As he did he found the comfort of the place filling him. Reela had certainly made it homely, a tent fitting for nobility. Jarek didn't understand the higher aspects of dragon society, but Reela was close enough to nobility.
"I have to say this is a nice setup," Jarek noted as he took a spot near Reela.
Reela took another dragon upon her pipe, blowing out more smoke, "Why of course, a dragon of my lineage and stature deserves the finer things in life."
Her tone held a somewhat arrogant tenor to it, but Jarek had to admit to himself if he were ever in such a position, he would certainly spoil himself. As she finished her next puff, Reela held out her pipe to Jarek. Jarek's eyes rose slightly in confusion, but it was soon clear she was offering.
"Go on, Jagan told me of your private get-togethers and I think you are a man who knows how to enjoy himself."
Jarek admittedly was curious.
"And don't worry, I don't have cooties," Reela laughed.
Though Jarek was well past the age of worrying about cooties, he was apprehensive. Still, a good smoke was a good smoke. Taking the pipe he lightly dragged upon it then blew out a cloud to the air before handing it back to Reela.
"Well? What do you think?" Reela asked.
Smacking his lips, Jarek replied, "Wow! Got a kick to it!"
Reela laughed again, "What did I say? High quality."
"I'll say, a guy could get used to this," Jarek noted.
"Being born with it is even greater," Reela said pleased with herself.
Jarek observed how relaxed Reela was. This wasn't the relaxation of one who had gained something they didn't have, but someone who was used to it but enjoyed it all the same.
"So? Why aren't your cousins living like this?" Jarek asked.
"Because they aren't nobility," Reela answered.
"That's what I don't understand. Pengu seems to be the one in charge and the Datu name seems to hold some clout."
"Pengu is too modest for such things, but while the Datu name is respected, it isn't nobility. My uncle, Katsu Datu was respected, but the Datu name was more akin to what you humans would call a "knight", while my aunt's family name was the dragon equivalent of what you would call "nobility".
Jarek supposed that made sense. Sisu had never spoken much about her parents. She hadn't even stated whether they were still alive or dead.
"So what's up with the personal help?" Jarek referred to the two fanning dragons.
Reela took another puff on her pipe and blew, "They have pledged themselves to my family."
"Pledged?"
"We dragons are creatures of honor, and if another pledges us to our service they obtain privilege and status as our representatives. True they may cater to me, but as my attendants, they serve me with pride."
The two dragons gave obedient nods. Jarek watched the way their heads moved and right away he knew they were doing this of their own free will.
"Wow, guess dragons really are different from humans," Jarek said.
There was indeed a level of difference between humans and dragons.
"Though sadly I do wish I had someone to share this life with," Reela sighed with lament, "Having this splendor is well in good, but a loving husband and family would make it all the more enjoyable."
Jarek had heard something similar to this, so he felt it would be wrong for him not to divulge, "You know? Jagan might enjoy some alone time with you, I mean outside Dragonfest that is."
Reela's face widened in surprise, "Jagan," She blinked, "I never considered that," Her face sank into a smile, "I do admit he showed such a gentlemanly air tonight."
Jarek likewise grinned. He had hoped he had thrown Jagan a bone and nudged it in the right direction. Jagan deserved it.
"Have you ever considered finding a mate Sir Jarek?" Reela asked.
There it was again, "Not really? But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't open to it."
Reela slyly grinned showing off her shining molars, "I think you would make a fantastic mate if you don't mind me saying?"
Jarek hadn't thought about how competent he would be as a husband. Marriage was a commitment that bonded two creatures together; Such a bond was not undertaken as easy as deciding on what type of fruit one wanted to eat.
As a dragon, his lifespan had been extended tenfold. With those added years he would not have to worry about growing too old to take a wife. As for finding the right wife that was a difficult question to answer. Pranee was nice but Jarek felt no attraction towards her, and Amba didn't seem interested in relationships, to begin with, but if Jarek could be perfectly honest with himself he didn't feel any form of connection with the two sisters.
Yet there was Sisu; The minute Sisu entered his mind his heart skipped a beat which made him question why.
"It's such a shame Sisu isn't more confident in herself, otherwise I'm certain she would snap up a mate in no time flat," Reela stated relaxing once more with her pipe.
A lack of confidence was indeed something Jarek noticed when it came to Sisu, but he didn't know why.
He wasn't sure if it was his place to ask.
"It's so sad truly," Reela said as more of the spicy sweet smoke escaped her maw, "Ever since she was a small hatchling she has such an abominably low opinion of herself; I honestly don't know where it comes from."
The words Reela uttered were questions best reserved for Sisu herself, but tonight Jarek could feel slumber overtaking him. Falling asleep within Reela's grasp was something Jagan would strive for, yet Jarek found the comfort of the Datu home far more suitable.
"Excuse me but I should be going," Jarek excused himself.
"Very well. Fare thee well Sir Jarek, it was an extreme honor to meet you on this fine Dragonfest night," Reela said as she kissed the air.
Jarek didn't bother catching the invisible kiss; He knew it wasn't his kiss to take.
And quite frankly he didn't want it. Something inside told him there was one out there whose kiss he truly decided, yet he didn't know from whom.