Drageria
Ch.7: The Dinner
When Izuku finally woke up, he really didn't want to. He was more comfortable and relaxed than he had ever felt in years. The bed and pillows were the softest things he had ever felt. Eventually his brain woke up enough for him to remember the dinner he was supposed to attend. He finally got up and rubbed his eyes while pulling up the covers and putting his legs over the side.
Once his eyes worked well enough to see, he noticed he was wearing blue pajamas that weren't his and wondered why and how? He decided to push it out of his mind and finally stood to his feet. Which he nearly fell over! He managed to quickly grab a part of the bed and keep himself from falling on his face. He sat back on the bed and noticed that he didn't just feel relaxed and rested, but so was his body. Apparently his muscles were as awake as his brain.
After a brief moment of reteaching himself to stand and walk he moved over to the covered window and tore it open. When he looked out he was shocked to see it was evening. He must've only been asleep for a few hours at best. He hoped to catch the tail end of it.
He then looked around the room for a closet to change, but then immediately realized that this wasn't his room. He was probably just there while he slept.
He really wished that Cherry was here to help him, but then he noticed something on the nightstand. He walked over and saw it was a note for him. He opened it and read it aloud.
Dear Izuku,
I hope you slept well. By the time you read this it'll be dinner time. This room you found yourself in is your room. Please decorate it as you please and make yourself as comfortable as possible. There's an outfit that I, Arete, picked out for you. Your other outfit I had the liberty of disposing of. Please be down as fast as you physically can. See you soon.
Tachibana
Izuku put the note down and looked around at the room….his room. His new room that wasn't related to his past…..his past…..it was gone. He had something new. A new start, a new him, a new everything. He tightened his fists and knew he had to make the most of this newness. He had to become a better version of him with this fresh start, and he was!
Just as he was about to march to the closet he saw that his notebook was sitting on the nightstand next to his note. He looked at the thing and wanted nothing more than to tear it to shreds, especially the autograph from All Might! To him it was nothing but a reminder of his past! A past he wanted nothing more with and wanted to forget!...but he couldn't. Tachibana's words still lingered in his head, his praises, his first praise or compliment for that matter. Maybe his old obsession did have value where others couldn't see it. Maybe his love for something could end up making a hero in another way…... maybe he really could be a hero.
He sighed contently as he marched over to the closet and saw the first article of clothing as a suit similar to Tachibana's other higher ups, though it appeared to be for someone of much lower stature sure of the simplicity of it.
It was mostly black with golden designs around it, a white under shirt, a red bow tie, and…..red shoes? This shocked Izuku the most. He really did miss his red shoes, they were the one thing he liked the most. And he also realized he had been going around almost completely bare foot for the entire time. He briefly wondered how, then he remembered Tachibana and his plot convenience all knowingness. He sighed and then immediately threw the outfit on.
He walked to a mirror and examined himself. He sure looked…. dashing, even if the shoes did clash with it a bit. Though overall….he never looked better. Trying to comb his hair would be a waste, so he forgoes it, grabs his notebook, and makes his way out of his room into a long hallway with identical doors lining up and down.
The doors are all tall and made of mahogany with golden designs edged into them. From there it was the same stone walls and ceiling with gold designed edging, small light fixtures above and many different paintings, other works of art, and potted plants decorated the halls. Izuku didn't know which way to go, so he went down one way and stuck to it.
For some odd reason he could find any servant to ask for directions. Maybe they were all busy? But soon the seemingly never-ending hallway felt like it was beginning to loop. Until he finally found a doorway opening with no door and stairs that led downward. He followed it until he found himself back in the foyer.
He briskly walked down the stairs of the ominously quiet foyer, and looked around for anyone once he reached the bottom. There weren't even any guards like before. He looked over the Gates of Drakes and saw that they had been locked up once more. Tachibana's kids were no doubt back in their "room".
He looked over to one side and thought he saw a guard standing in position, but when he got there it was nothing but an armor stand holding up some beautiful polished silver armor. As he admitted the pristine glint and reflective properties of it, he noticed something moving behind him.
He squinted his eyes to focus on it, but then he saw what looked like a sword being raised over his head! By sheer instinct alone he jumped out of the way just as a sword came crashing down on the armor and destroyed it! He quickly looked back and saw a person clad in black armor and a blood red cape wielding a huge sword that looked like something out of some anime! (Its the Dragon Slayer sword from Berserk)
The "Dark Knight" as Izuku mentally referred to him as, brought the sword up from the rubble, that used to be beautifully polished silver armor, and shook it clean before taking another swing at Izuku! The teen had just enough time to hold up his notebook as a shield and ended up having it slashed in half! The green boy took the opportunity of the Dark Knight repositioning his sword to try and escape! But the Dark Knight was quick and ended up slashing just below Izuku's head at a pillar!
He pulled it out with ease and managed to out maneuver the panicked teen. He slashed at the floor and Izuku jumped back while falling over. He tried to scramble away but the Knight was on him in a second with his swords raised over his head! Izuku gasped and shielded himself while bracing for the inevitable! He heard the knight grunt and slash the sword through the air! However, he didn't feel the rush of refined steel cutting through his fleshy body like soft butter. Instead he heard a clanging sound, like the sword hit into something hard.
He opened his eyes, looked up from his cocoon, and saw Tachibana holding back the sword too between his index and middle finger. And judging by the look on his face and the aura he was exerting; he was not happy. He easily threw the sword far off into the foyer by his fingers alone and stood in back of Izuku while staring down the Dark Knight, who seemed to submit.
The tension was thick, but was cut when Tachibana asked, "Are you serious right now, Crna Straža?! Here? In my foyer! Look at the mess you made! Now I have to clean literally everything, again!", He shouted while motioning to all the gashes and destroyed objects in the room. "And attacking a guest on top of it?! I assumed you had more self control over the years, but I guess I was wrong.", He scolded him.
"But sire, I thought he was an intruder. A spy.", The Dark Knight, Crna Straža, said with a deep booming voice that held no emotion or sign of regret.
Tachibana pinched the bridge of his nose and asked, "You saw a literary child, and your first instinct was to hack his head off?"
"Never underestimate any opponent.", He replied back bluntly.
Tachibana shook his head while slapping his face as he moaned, "Sometimes I really wonder about you."
"T-T-Tachib-b-b-bana.", Izuku fearfully stammered out on the verge of tears.
Tachibana looked down at Izuku with an expression of apology and pity and helped him up while brushing him off and said, "Sorry about that, Izuku. My bodyguard takes his job a bit too seriously."
"B-B-Body G-G-Guard?", Izuku stammered.
Tachibana rolled his eyes in amusement while saying, "I know I know. Strange for a literal God to have a need for a bodyguard.", He then turned from Izuku and called out to his bodyguard. "Crna Straža! Come here and apologize to Izuku!", He commanded forcefully, his voice echoing through the foyer!
The Dark Knight came forward in front of Izuku, making him shudder and back up to Tachibana's comforting hands. He knelt down with one hand on his knee while bowing his head as he spoke in his deep and foreboding tone.
"Forgive me young master. I had no prior knowledge of your residence in my Lord's Castle. I am Crna Straža, loyal bodyguard to Lord Tachibana.", Crna Straža introduced himself, before getting back up to retrieve his sword.
Tachibana rolls his eyes and says once he out of ear shot, "He does this every time I hire a new staff member. It's almost an initiation.", Panic immediately set into Izuku as his mind wandered into a very terrible thought.
Tachibana knew what he was thinking and quickly reassured him, saying, "No, he didn't try to kill Eri. I would've whipped him good if he tried that on a baby.", At this time the knight returns but Tachibana stares him down while commanding, "Now begone with you, Crna Straža! I'll figure a proper punishment for you after dinner."
The knight bows and turns on his heels while walking through a doorway with nothing but the sound of his armor clicking into the darkness before fading out to nothing.
"How'd you get him?", Izuku finally spoke up once the sounds of his armor fully faded.
Tachibana waved off the question while saying, "A different story for a different time. More importantly, how did you sleep?"
Izuku thought for a moment and then replied with a smile, "Better than I ever had before."
"I would think so. You've been asleep for a whole day.", Tachibana giggled.
Izuku's eyes nearly shot out of his head as he shouted in shock, "What?!"
Tachibana, against realizing his wording, caught himself and stated, "Woah woah woah! Calm down there! Everything is fine. You just needed some rest."
"But! But! ERI!", Izuku began to panic.
Tachibana cut him off and waved his hands while stating, "Is fine. She was a bit worried about you, but you were hard asleep when we let him visit you. I was honestly starting to get a bit worried about you myself.", After seeing Izuku visibly relax, Tachibana changed the subject saying, "Well come on. Let's get to dinner."
The two walked down the hallway with Izuku stepping in cadence with the man. It was obvious that Tachibana knew this castle as an extension of him. Ducking into one doorway opening, crossing over this hallway, turning this fork in the road, ect ect. Good thing too, Izuku had no idea where to go. Just looking down the hallways of this place gives him vertigo. As they walked in silence, a thought crossed his mind, and so he stopped. Tachibana, being in tune with his walking partner, turned around and saw him bowing deeply.
"Thank you for the room.", Izuku said to him.
Tachibana smiled at him and placed a hand on his shoulder, making him look up. He waved his hand and said back, "Consider it nothing. While you're a guest in my home you'll be treated with the best I have to offer.", Izuku smiled at his kindness. Only for him to ruin the moment, making his expression drop to deadpans neutrality, as he followed up, "And besides that I have so many I end up using some as storage."
They both continued their walk until they came to a new set of large Birch wood doors with gold trim and designs engraved on it. Tachibana easily swung the doors open to a large dining area with several people sitting around a half oval shaped table. On both sides of the table, further back, were all 6 of Tachibana's dragon children. All of the people were engaged in murmuring small talk, but all stopped as Tachibana appeared before them. The Dark God elegantly opened the door, entered the room stroking a pose between the two half opened doors and stood their posing between the open doors with wings spread and expression full of ham.
"So sorry we're late everyone! Crna Straža gave Izuku the "welcoming initiation", again.", Tachibana apologized and explained their tardiness.
Cherry waved it off and said back to him, "It's no problem Lord Tachibana, we were just about to start."
"What did he break this time?", Arete asked with a deep sigh while taking out her clipboard.
"A pillar, the floor, part of the carpet, my favorite decorative silver armor, and Izuku's fabulous notebook.", Tachibana listed off, like this wasn't the first time it happened, while Arete jotted everything down.
"Who?", Deskin asked while looking at a book. He looked up and saw Izuku before saying with a sarcastically mocking tone, "Oh him. I thought he was dead."
Arete, who was sitting next to him, smacked him, and exclaimed, "He was just sleeping you idiot!"
Deskin growled while holding the back of his head, snapped at her while yelling, with eyes glowing bright blue, "I told you not to hit me, harlot!"
"There they go again.", A black man at the table rolled his eyes.
"I ship it.", A woman with short blond hair giggled.
"Just one quiet dinner. Is that really too much to ask?", A man in a hooded cloak put forth with a sigh.
"Hi Izuku!", Eri called out from the table with a wave, sitting on a high chair.
"Hi Eri!", Izuku called back with a wave.
Some of the dragons even seemed to greet Izuku's entry, or maybe just Tachibana. But still, Ladon looked ready to bounce off his spot and tackle the two of them. While some of the other dragons looked on at Arete and Deskin's fight with amusement, two of them even seemed to chant.
Seeing as the two of them were still fighting, much to Tachibana's exhaustion, an older man in a military uniform stood up abruptly and shouted, "Alright alright, enough you two! We're having dinner right now, and there is no fighting! Understand?"
Arete and Deskin gave each other one last nasty glare before begrudgingly sitting down and turning away from one another. Even some of the dragons stopped chanting or getting excited by their squabble.
"Thank you, general.", Tachibana thanked the man with a sigh, as he saluted the Dark God.
"Who's the boy, Lord Tachibana? He's cute.", The woman asked with a seductive tone while fluttering insect wings on her back.
Deciding to ignore her, Tachibana pushed Izuku forward and told him, "Izuku, I'm sure a few faces at this table seem familiar, so let me introduce the ones you don't know."
"The man with the hyena sprouting from the back of his head is my Treasury advisor and accountant, Bultungin.", He introduced the first man.
Bultungin was a dark skinned man who appeared of African heritage. He was tall, yet thin, with no hair, green eyes, and small tribal tattoos on his head, face, and neck. He wore a similar outfit to Deskin, and his most outstanding feature was the spotted hyena head sprouted from the back of his head.
Bultungin gave a slight bow and said, "A pleasure."
He pointed to the woman next to him and introduced her, "The woman who looks like a fairy is my Admissions and Forestry Chief, Fay."
Fay was a shorter woman with thin, yet defined feminine curves, short frizzy blond hair with red flowers growing from it, and blue eyes with long pointed ears like Tachibana. She wore no shoes, her finger and toe nails were painted different colors, and her outfit was far different from everyone else. It was like what a fairy would wear: pieces of natural leaves and flowers stitched together like a long one piece corset that revealed much of her most defined features were two small horns sprouting from her forehead, a set of butterfly-like wings on her back, and here face was like that of a cats. Always making this face: *w*
"I have two jobs because only one requires part time work. It's nice to meet you kid.", She briefly explained her two different titles with a wink.
"The man in the hooded cloak is Crinaxx, my Alchemist and Medical healer.", Tachibana introduced the next man at the opposite end of the table.
The man, Crinaxx, was hard to distinguish since he kept his….. everything covered. He wore a deep purple hooded cloak with gold designs that appeared to unbutton to a full cape. His hands were covered in black gloves and black boots. The only physical features he could see was his hair, which peaked out over his hood and appeared to be a mix of gold and black. And his eyes which were heterochronic purple and yellow, and glowed under his dark hood. He also seemed to make a strange noise from his throat.
"Hello.", He greeted Izuku very simply.
"The older gentleman in the soldier uniform is the general of my army, General Douglas MacArthur.", Tachibana introduced the last man next to Crinaxx.
MacArthur was an older man in his 60's, stout, somewhat plump, with black hair beginning grey with hard green eyes. He was clean shaven apart from his prominent sideburns. A large gash came over his face and down his neck as his most defining feature. He wore an outfit made for a man of the military, with different medals on his chests, and ropes around his arms, and other insignias that Izuku didn't know.
MacArthur saluted Izuku and greeted him saying, "Nice to meet you young man. Lord Tachibana speaks praises of your vast intellect and analytical skills."
"And last we have…..we have…..", Tachibana trailed off at an empty seat. His wings fell to the floor as did his expression with exhausted irritation and he asked, "Aw dammit. Where is Hilton Heim?"
"Same place he always is when you need more land to expand.", Deskin told him.
Tachibana wiped down his face with an annoyed groan and stomped over to what looked like a radio device sticking out of the wall. He turned it on and an unseen speaker system clicked to life with his voice ringing out over the whole castle, as he shouted, "Hilton Heim! Get your ass down here, it's dinner time!"
Within a few minutes the sound of something rushing to could be heard from a set of stairs in the dining area. Then the sound of panic, something crashing, something breaking, and finally something falling down the stairs. Or rather someone, as the sounds of a person screaming and saying ouch over and over. Another minute later and someone emerged from the stairs bringing a trail of papers and scrolling with him in a jet breezeway. He tripped over his own papers and finally managed to catch himself before fixing his glasses and running over to Tachibana in a bow.
"So sorry Lord Tachibana! I've just been so in tuned with this newest project you've put me on! I have so many ideas I want to try and I-!", The man, no doubt Hilton Heim, apologized profusely and anxiously before getting cut off by Deskin.
"Yeah yeah yeah, we get it. You're overflowing with dopamine at the prospect of blah blah blah. Just get over here and sit down! If you miss another meal, Lord Tachibana is gonna hypnotize you into taking care of yourself…...again or kick your ass…..again.", Deskin rolls his eyes at his antics with an aggravated tone.
No doubt this was a regular occurrence.
Just before he left, Tachibana introduced him. "And this is Hilton Heim, my Cartographer and Topographical creator."
Hilton Heim raised his head and locked eyes with Izuku. He was tall, very thin, had long nimble fingers, sunken eyes with black rings like he hadn't slept in days, and a face that didn't hold much meat, appearing very skeletal. He wore large glasses and a strange hat that seemed to slope off to the side. His eyes were blue, his hair was short and brown, and he had surprisingly white teeth. He was dressed in a thick multi layered leather outfit with body cape, shoulder guards, boots, gloves, and a satchel flung over his shoulder overflowing with scrolls and papers. He even had over a dozen smaller pouches All over his body with paper pencils, and a tool belt with tools he didn't recognize.
Hilton Heim immediately stood up and scrambled to introduce himself in the most nervous and scatterbrained brain possible way, "Hey! Nice to meet you, I'm Hilton Heim. But you already knew that. That was stupid! Um, come on Hilton Heim, save yourself! I'm the head Cartographer and Topographical creator, but you knew that too, damn! I'm an idiot! Um...I basically map out Drageria and help create geological areas with the help of Prince Nidhogg. I um, yeah that's it, um it's nice meeting you….but where gonna see each other at dinner….which is now….and why am I saying all this-?", He rambled on.
"Hilton Heim!", Deskin yelled!
Hilton Heim shrieked with surprise and ran over to his seat, leaving a trail of papers behind. Leaving Izuku with a very confused and yet nostalgic feeling in his gut.
Tachibana laughed, catching the green boy's attention and quickly said to him, "I have a feeling you two will get along.", And Izuku realized how much this guy was like him.
Tachibana clapped his hands and stated, "And together with me they form my own personal Council of Nine! Helping run and make sure the country stays in top shape.", Izuku looked around and was now amazed by this. Seeing all the people who helped make this country the place it is and seeing such people of power, no, being with such people of power was something else!
Tachibana rubbed his hand eagerly and stated, "Well let's not waste any longer, I can see some of us are getting impatient.", He looked over to three of his children who were already drooling or biting the pillars. "Let's begin!", He exclaimed while quickly taking his seat with Izuku.
Izuku was seated right on Tachibana's left side with Cherry on his right and Deskin next to Cherry. Next to Izuku was Eri in her highchair, and next to her was Arete. Izuku thought the two of them were separated during the introduction. He looked down at his place and saw a large empty plate with gold designs, what Izuku could assume was literal 'silver'ware, and a folded napkin. He looked over to Eri, who was looking up at him with the biggest smile and was taken back by just how much she changed. She was no longer dirty and covered in rags. She was clean and smelled much better with hair that looked like fresh snow, and made up into many little braids with a pink bow. She was even wearing an adorable pink puffy dress with a large bow tie in it.
"You look so pretty, Eri.", Izuku complimented her.
Eri seemed to smile bigger as she told him happily, "Arete-chan dressed me up."
Izuku looked over and saw the woman fawning over the sight of the two of them, her hands on her cheeks, her eyes closed whimsically, and literal hearts floating off her.
"In about a million different outfits.", Fay commented from the side.
This snapped Arete out of her state and defensively shot back, "Hey! I've never had a younger sister to dress up! Let me have this!"
Before any more talking or arguing could occur, the same chef that brought Tachibana his 3:00 cake came through what Izuku thought of as the Kitchen door, and announced with a bow, "Dinner is served."
A moment later four different trolley carts came out from the double doors with bowls, pots of steaming soup, pictures of a colored drink, and fresh bread. The smell alone was out of this world, and Izuku realized just how hungry he was. The cooks came around and set out the bowls in front of them filled to the brim with soup, a whole loaf of bread, and the largest glass of the colored drink he had ever seen.
The head chef then listed off the many things being served as they were served, "For today's starter we have Tomato soup in a Basil balsamic with fresh Italian wheat bread. And for the drink we have fresh grapefruit juice mixed with apple and raspberries."
Tachibana licked his lips and stated excitedly, "Oh this looks amazing as always chef!"
The head chef bowed and replied, "Many thanks my Lord. Enjoy."
And with that he left with only the cooks and their trolleys behind to refill what needed to be. Izuku placed his own napkin on himself before helping Eri, who had no idea how to use it and was trying to wear it. After she was in, he grabbed his spoon and took a spoon full of the red soup. He blew on it and took his first sip. Now he wasn't much of a soup person, but this was the most amazing thing he had tasted in a while! It almost brought him to tears. But he held back and continued to eat between sips of soup and juice, and bites of delicious bread.
Meanwhile on the far side of the room, Izuku saw the 6 dragons get served their food, which was a lot! But all in all they were each served huge piles of meat that had been prepared in different ways for each of them. Ladon had a mixture of meat and giant dead bugs and live grubs that he swiped up with his long tongue. Nidhogg got a combination of meat and rocks. Apalala had exclusively fish meat. Fafnir and Quetzalcoatlus we're the only two with just straight meat. And Tanit also appeared to have straight meat at first glance, but another look revealed that each one had been rubbed with some kind of strong spice.
As they all ate in silence with the occasional yum sound. Someone broke the silence by addressing Tachibana.
"My Lord, please don't eat like that.", Izuku heard Deskin's voice meekly say to him.
Izuku looked over to the man with mouth half filled with soup, and nearly spat it out while dropping his spoon into his bowl! Sitting next to him was the Dark God himself, elbows on the table and holding up his head, which now had an insect-like proboscis coming out of his mouth and into the soup, sucking it up.
Tachibana looked at the blue haired man and asked innocently, "Like what?", The he began to purposely make loud sucking noises as he ate while saying animatedly, "I'm offended you would say such a thing! I mean, just how should I be eating like what way?!", He ranted off while slurping even louder, causing a huge roar of laughter to carry around the table to the point even Izuku couldn't help but laugh!
Arete, who was one of the few not laughing or actively trying not to laugh, said, "You're so childish. Even Eri is…. really?", She asked rhetorically as Eri was trying to suck her soup up from her tongue.
"Don't eat like that, Eri. It's not polite.", Izuku gently placed her head back up.
"But Tachibana-kun is, and he's a god.", Eri innocently argued back.
"No no no, she's got a point.", Fay agreed with her, with a mischievous giggle.
"Don't encourage her!", Arete yelled at the fairy woman.
"My Lord.", Bultungin addressed him, to which he worked his ears up at him. "What exactly is so special about young Izuku's 'notebook', and young Eri?", The hyena man asked him inquisitively.
Tachibana retracted the proboscis back into his mouth, wiped his face and explained, "Well Eri here has a quirk that is similar to mine in terms of casualty. She's able to revert any living organism to a previous state, though she can't control it at this time, which is why I've taken her in."
At this Eri detracted from her previously happy personality, like a turtle huddling into its shell, lowering her head and wishing she was invisible. Izuku wanted to help but didn't know what to say or do. Luckily Arete stepped in and took control of the situation, saying, "There's nothing to be ashamed of Eri, dear. Not everyone has a quirk that they're able to immediately control. Some of us just need time. You'll be a master in no time with Lord Tachibana's guidance!", She told her with a bubbly smile, which seemed to bring Eri back from her shell of shame a bit.
Seeing the situation handled, he moved to Izuku and explained, "As for Izuku, he and Eri have a very strong bond, so it made no sense to just separate them. As for his wonderful notebook, it's…..I forgot it in the foyer.", He trailed off as his shoulders slumped and ears fell.
This caused another round of laughter at the table and seemed to bring Eri back out some more as she giggled at Tachibana's embarrassed expression.
"Really Lord Tachibana?", Bultungin rhetorically asked through tears of laughter.
Tachibana's face grew even hotter as he defensive shouted back, "Hey I was pissed off at Crna Straža! Whatever, lemme just.", He trailed off as he stretched out his hand and a moment later Izuku's notebook flew in the many pieces it was cut into. Once it was in his hands, the notebook was immediately restored like before and he handed it off to Bultungin while stating, "Their. See for yourself."
Bultungin took the notebook and began to skim it much like Tachibana did. As Izuku watched the man look over his work, he felt an anxiety attack rising up through his gut and causing a cold sweat, which made him want to hurl!
Bultungin finished his skimming, closing the book and looking at the nervous looking boy he said with a flat yet sincere tone, "Young sir, this is just as amazing as Lord Tachibana says. I'm speechless at your analytical skills."
Yet again Izuku felt conflicted surprise replacing his anxiety and asked back, "You...really think it's good?"
Tachibana slammed his hand on the table, making everyone jump, as he shouted like the ham he was, "Hey! Did my praises mean nothing to you? Now it takes someone else to convince you!? I'm offended!", He crossed his arms all animated, getting a few chuckles.
Bultungin let out a slight chuckle as he told him, "Ah don't take it so hard Lord Tachibana. You have a naturally bubbly and kind personality. Some people who aren't used to that might think you're just saying that to make them feel better."
Tachibana whipped his head at him, which actually came off his shoulders and flew towards him while defensively announcing, "I never lie!", This got a lot of laughter around the table as he body continued to animatedly move while his face got red as he exclaimed, "And I'm not vain either!"
Before they could continue, the head chef walked in and announced, "So sorry to interrupt your revelry, but the main course is ready."
Tachibana's head returned to his body as he sat down excitedly and asked, "Ooo! What's on the menu today chef? I'm super excited."
The chef smile proudly and stayed with clasped hands, "Today I cooked up something special on request of Master Cherry for the arrival of Master Izuku and Lady Eri.", Izuku and Eri both looked over at the red haired man with surprise on his face. He smiled and gave a small bow as the chest continued, "Today I have cooked a special Drageria delicacy. Slow roasted, honey glazed, garlic rubbed Goosehog with collard greens and butter baked potatoes with a spicy rub."
At every single word the chef said, the stream of drool coming from Tachibana's mouth got longer and flowed more heavily. "Oh Chef, you have no idea what you're doing to me.", He said as the drool came out like a river.
"Lord Tachibana, you're drooling all over the table and on the floor.", Cherry stated as his saliva began to spread and the man lifted up his shoes from the wet ground.
"Oh, the floor isn't me.", Tachibana told him nonchalantly.
At first everyone was confused where this new source of liquid was coming from, then they heard some very heavy breath. They all looked behind Tachibana's much larger chair and saw Ladon standing there and drooling even harder than his dad, while breathing with excited, hungry breaths.
"Prince Ladon! Show some dignity!", Hilton Heim scolded the dragon who didn't listen.
Tachibana wiped his own face while causing the drool on the floor and table to miraculously evaporate, as he told the purple dragon, "This isn't for you baby boy. This is our food. You got your food.", Ladon immediately dropped his head on the ground so hard it made the floor quake a bit, and he made a high pitched sound like a toddler complaining. Tachibana rolled his eyes and said back more firmly, "Don't wine.", Ladon made the same sound again, this time longer, and Tachibana mimicked him while telling him like a dad, "See, I can do it too. Now go back with your brothers and sisters!"
Ladon, like a child, dragged himself across the ground back to his spot and begrudged his own plie if meat. With this the chef bows as the soup trolleys roll out and a new, much larger one, is pushed out with the main course. The Goosehog was like some kind of pig mixed with several bird parts. Izuku could tell this since the head was still attached.
It was sat on a silver platter surrounded by decorative greens and fruits. Two smaller trolleys came in with the side dishes: one held the mixed collard greens, and the other had the butter baked potatoes. Just like the soup, it all smelled out of this world, and Izuku felt like he was hungry all over again. The two smaller trolleys came around and quickly served everyone their side dishes, while the larger one stopped at each individual person to cut off and serve them the meat of their choice.
Oddly enough, Tachibana was served last, which didn't seem to insult anyone, especially Deskin who was usually quick to defend his honor. Izuku thought that Tachibana had it this way on purpose. He didn't even seem bothered by it, even when the trolley had the backtrack to give someone more meat. Once they were all served they ate in silence with the only sounds coming from people who were complementing the main course.
"This. Was. Amazing!", Fay exaggerated.
"This is the best.", Bultungin sighed with content
"I wish my stomach was bigger.", Hilton Heim licked his lips happily.
"I wish we could eat Goosehog more often.", The normally quiet Crinaxx chimed in quietly.
"Yummy!", Eri exclaimed with food all over her mouth.
As they ate, Tachibana looked over and addressed one of his cabinet members, saying, "So general. When are you taking new recruits?"
General McArthur quickly swallowed his food while wiping his face and answered, "Not for another month, at least. I just finished up the last batch and have to prepare. Why do you ask my Lord?"
He placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder, almost making him choke, and said, "Izuku here would like to join, become a 'hero', if you would."
The general stared at Izuku, making him nervous with his half filled mouth, and said with a slight smile, "Well, consider yourself accepted, young man. The royal guard needs more bright minds like you. I only wish more Silvarians would join as opposed to Tealgalians."
"You know we're not made for combated, general.", Arete butter in firmly.
McArthur sighed with a nod and continued saying, "Right right. But just note that even though you are getting in my recommendation by Lord Tachibana, I won't treat you with any sort of pleasantries. You'll be treated like everyone else."
"I wouldn't have it any other way.", Tachibana agreed with him.
Izuku quickly swallowed his food and asked, "Um excuse me sir, but what were those words you said before? Silvarians and Tealgalians."
Tachibana's ears perked up at the question, while Deskin and Cherry smiled in recognition at one another, as the Dark God replied happily, "Ah! Well that is a very interesting tale involving Deskin, Arete, and even Cherry. And it goes back. All the way back to where me and my kids first formed Drageria from the open sea."
