You do your giftin’ then!

The steam engine was now completed. They watched it huff, puff and spin.

“What was Vinyl like before the Transfer?” Ixia asked.

The young man paused, and his eyes fell still. The question seemed to take Magenta to a faraway place. A place he seldom visited. A place he avoided.

Ixia felt that this was not a place to be visited right now and quickly changed the topic.

The discussion and the test runs went on.

Magenta glanced at his lover’s tender, delicate face. He smiled for himself. An infinite playground? Why was it just not entirely satisfying? Was it just ego, or something more complex?

“Time to get Grizzel, he’s about to have a big surprise.”

* *

*

“The wyverns are hungry today,” Wing said.

There was a loud cracking sound, and Arcturus looked satisfied.

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“That one just chewed straight through the bone. These two are good ones, growing strong and hungry. This is a great forest patch for them.”

Arcturus was focused on two vigorous wyverns, each the size of triceratops, highly engaged in a tussle to compare each other’s height. “I think these boys will soon mature. Breedin’ season’s comin’. Competition’s on.”

“We should get Vinyl a gift. Something special.” said Wing, not paying attention.

“You ain’t touchin’ the wyverns.”

“Wha...? Fuck’s sake, ‘course not!” said Wing, catching on.

“You do your giftin’ then,” replied the dragon. “I’ll be hunting down the local food places.”

“Alright dude, off to Syracuse.”

Wing jumped on the Dragon’s back, and they flew off towards the city, the giant wings beating the winds into submission.

As they flew, Arcturus turned is head towards his friend.

“Wing,” he said, “Make sure you don’t cause a mess. Leave people be.”

“I know, I know,” he replied. “But these Paradisers are just so irritating.”

“Yeah, and they think we’re a bunch of nutjobs. I’d agree with them after what you did. They ain’t goin’ anywhere so watch your mouth.”

Wing insisted. “But you know, that’s not how we were born, right? And you know that there’s more to life than what they think of it. They’re just full-on escaping.”

“Who cares what you think? We’re just a bunch of geezers who refuse to let go of past struggles to them.” The dragon gave him a very stern glare. “Don’t mess up again.”

“You can stop bringing that up anytime, bitch!” Wing fired back.

“Nah! you ain’t close to havin’ understood anything.”

Wing slapped the Dragon’s back, but the latter barely noticed.

“Just shut up and do your business. You create any drama and I’m chasin’ you back home with hellfire. Let these people be.”

“Fine, fine,” said Wing, begrudgingly as they landed a good distance away from the city.