Cross Species Communication - Monday

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

Mary stands in front of the students' desks as usuall as the children file in. The less usual thing about today is that the whiteboard, and much of the front of the classroom is blocked by very large, and very sad looking, dragon. Aside from being curled up and on the verge of tears, it looks like your classic Welsh Dragon. Except that he has two tails, and, instead of being red, is a deep twilight blue with sparkling dots and lines over various parts of his body. The pattern of these dots and lines might be familiar.

"Good afternoon. I trust you've all been over your handwavey delivered packets with vocabulary and information on Draconis noblis. Despite the obvious differences the physiology of most varieties of dragons are very similar to that of serpents, which we have already covered. So I will not repeat myself. I trust you all took good notes the first time." Mary explained. "Draconis noblis are found all over the world... Or rather not found but certainly known. There are many different varieties of dragon and they all communicate in an equally rich variety of ways. However, there is a common language known to all dragons, as dragons are common to all cultures. And that's what we'll be learning today."

"Traditionally, in the formal use of the language, Draconic is spoken in rhyming couplets. If you don't know what a 'couplet' is, please check your packet. It would be best to practice the formal structure, however, our guest speaker will not be insulted if you do not." Mary said, gesturing to the dragon behind her. At which point the creature gave a small sob.

Mary tilted her head at the Dragon. "Is there something wrong?"

//Alas and alack,
Boo-hoo, boo-hoo!

I wanted a Maiden
Served in a stew,
A succulent, seasoned, tasty Girl.
With star for her eye
And comet for curl.
And I wouldn't have minded if there'd been two.
For I'm awfully hungry.

Boo-hoo!
Boo-hoo!//

"Perhaps I shouldn't have asked."

[[ooc: please wait for OCD OPEN! Dragon's dialogue is from Chapter 7, "The Evening Out", of "Mary Poppins Comes Back" by P.L. Travers.]]

Comments

GUEST SPEAKER

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

Still crying.

Mary won't let him eat any of y'all... Probably.

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River didn't appreciate being seen as potential food.

//If you'd consider eating a carrot
or even a feathered headstrong parrot
the maidens you're now hungering for
would possibly help you to find some more.//

More carrots that is. Not maidens.//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

//But maidens are the most tasty!
Particularly wrapped in pastry!//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

//Most maidens object to being turned into food
That really puts them in a terrible mood.
They might decide that what they most desire
is dragon's leg marinated and grilled on a fire.//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[willbedone.livejournal.com]

Willow looked thoughtful, then said:

//Eating humans causes problems you will rue
Have you tried instead switching to hufu?//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

//I did and found it quite bland.
Even more so then maidens that are canned.//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[willbedone.livejournal.com]

Willow made a face at the idea of canned maidens.

//It can be hard to find a diet-appropriate dish
I have the same problem with gefilte fish.//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[stykera]

Stark nodded politely to the dragon, but stayed a good distance back.

//I'm// "Stark"
//You it is good to meet
Is it really people that you eat?//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

//Thank you for saying so
I'll tell you my name it is Draco.

I eat maidens, yes for real
When the Sun doesn't deny me a meal.//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[notajar]

//Good afternoon and welcome to our class -
I hope that soon your sadness will have passed.// Door says.

//Is it only maidens in the literal way
That make for tasty dinner, would you say?// she asks curiously.

Not that she's, er. Thinking that one way to escape being eaten by dragons who aren't classroom guests would be to make sure one doesn't fit that criteria.

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

//I am not sure to tell the truth.
To ask such a thing would be uncouth.//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[notajar]

Door nods.

//I wasn't sure if you could tell -
if maidens had a different smell.//

Which sounds a bit uncouth as well.
And she's still rhyming, bloody hell.

Door frowns. There, that's better.

Re: DURING THE LECTURE

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana looked even worse than the dragon.

//I'm sorry you feel bad,
I can tell you're very sad.

Perhaps if you are very good
Someone will find you other food.//

Re: DURING THE LECTURE

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

//I am sad it is true
The Sun didn't give me any stew.

What else I can eat I have not guessed
Is there anything you suggest?//

Re: DURING THE LECTURE

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

//Perhaps some chicken soup you see
Would be quite tasty. It works for me.

Or maybe a yummy piece of roast
Or even peanut butter toast.//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[lovelymissbrown.livejournal.com]

Lavender hated trying to rhyme. She bit her lip and looked at the dragon cautiously.
//Why don't you try another treat
One that doesn't require maiden meat?//
Lavender asked, not unkindly.

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

//I don't know what else would be good.
Can you tell me about some other food?//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[lovelymissbrown.livejournal.com]

//You might try you luck
With roast chicken or maybe duck?//

Lavender paused.

//Why is it maidens you want devour
Do other kinds of people taste sour?//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

//What's wrong with you, you crying brat.
C'mon talk to me, I'm your friend, a cat!//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

//When it is time to eat
The Sun calls everybody to meet.

The Sun gives a riddle to each of us
Which must be answered without fuss.

And if you don't get an answer right
You get no food for that night.//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

//So you got your riddle wrong.
What should I do, sound a gong?

What was your riddle, say?
Tell me, tell me, tell me, I pray.//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[2-twin-devils-2.livejournal.com]

Kaoru has to think a little before going up to the dragon, quite happy he isn't a young girl...

//Girls don't sound much fun to eat,
perhaps you should try some meat,
of another kind, something like fish,
sushi makes a very satisfying dish.//

Kaoru rocked a little nervously, pretty sure that his ryhming was going to sound lame.

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

//I've never heard before of sushi.
Could please explain it to me?//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[narglette.livejournal.com]

Still slightly and handwave-ily purple due to her recent illness, Luna began with,

//Should I seem impertinent or rude, I beg your pardon
but I find conversations most easily done with abandon
Perhaps my question will be lost, a solo within a choir
I am most curious to know, how are you at breathing fire?//

Re: GUEST SPEAKER

[spit-spot.livejournal.com]

//At breathing fire I am fine
It keeps the unruly well in line.

It also makes bathwater hot and steamy.
But it's hard if The Sun doesn't feed me.//