Information

Dragon Rouge has a minion!

Draco the Zodiac Dragon Spirit

Dragon Rouge
Legacy Name: Dragon Rouge

The

Reborn Paralix
Owner:

Lion_Crab

Age: 14 years, 6 months, 1 week

Born: October 22nd, 2009

Adopted: 14 years, 6 months, 1 week ago (Legacy)

Adopted: October 22nd, 2009 (Legacy)

Statistics

Level: 74
Strength: 185
Defense: 186
Speed: 132
Health: 151
HP: 151/151
Intelligence: 133
Books Read: 128
Food Eaten: 217
Job: Pawnbroker

Nickname: Dragon

Age: 24 (18 in profile story)

Gender: Male

Occupation: Musician/Band Member

Significant other: "Denying He likes" Nila-Bay

Theme Song: The Flame of Youth

Story

The corner of Kanis Street and Phoenix Drive was not one of his usual choices for a gig. He much preferred the kinder crowds of Veta Lake to the snobs of Centropolis but he could not let old biases trap him. If he ever wanted to see his name featured in the Peka-Boo lineup, he would need to attract a sponsor with some connections at Kumos Records.

At least he could not smell the grease used at Quick Bites from here. Twelve years of living behind the store in a cardboard box made the scent of fries and onion rings repulsive.

He had no audience to speak of despite the noon hour. Working Subetans were too busy ordering their tacos to go and trying to get a cup of real coffee to make up for the sludge in the office pots. He started in with Back in Blacklight and played through Devonti in a Blue Dress, throwing in a few stanzas of his own creation. His close companion Draco took flight, sinuous body twisting and flexing in time to the tunes. By the time Dragon was ready to try an original, he had a few coins in the hat.

"In my day, performing musicians played real music, not this rock & roll riff-raff."

Dragon finished the last bar of "Flame of my Soul" before raising his eyes to view the critic. She was an old lain with a knit shopping bag draped over one wing. She sniffed at Dragon's glowering gaze.

"Back in your day, huh? Wasn't that like an hour after the wheel was invented?"

She huffed and puffed to make the Big Bad Telenine proud. Dragon launched into one of his favorite numbers, a challenging piece heavy on electric guitar and lyrics dripping with acid. Though it made his fingers ache, he hit every note perfectly. A trio of ruffies in miniskirts coming fresh from the Grooming Parlour tipped him a day's worth of meals, their tongues lolling as they danced to the tune. The lain stormed off, muttering under her breath.

Dragon ended with a column of flames shot from his mouth, one formed just right for Draco to weave his way between the flickering tongues. His ruffie fans howled with delight. Their joy was replaced with doubt as a montre in a business suit made his approach. He pointed a paw at one of the girls.

"Your father will not be pleased with this, Gina. As for you, you will cease and desist at once. You are causing a public nuisance. They can hear you through the very walls of Subeta Bank."

Dragon rolled his eyes. "Last time I checked there was no law against having a good time, old man. Maybe you should stop by the Food Market and pick up a jar of Eco-Friendly Prunes. Sounds like you could use some."

Mr. No Fun narrowed his eyes. "Would you like me to call the Kumos Patrol?"

Dragon had spent more youthful days in a cell than he cared to remember. Music was his out. Besides, those crummy blue uniforms would confiscate his precious Flaming Hot Guitar. Nobody but Dragon touched Flame.

"Whatever, Pops. This place is too tame for my jams." With a petulant flick of the tail he moved on, guitar case on one arm and shoulder bag on the other. Draco perched on his shoulder, swiveling his neck to offer a funny face as a parting shot.

They did not even bother to try the park. Too many wannabes screeching half-remembered lyrics to "Irion Eyes". The open sidewalk on Baker's Way was filled by a bumbus doing a mime show. She was not very good. Dragon slipped into Bake Stop with a snort. He may as well indulge himself. That bumbus was determined to leave no lame trick untried.

He bought a maple doughnut and a cherry scone, ignoring Draco's growl of annoyance as coins changed hands. One could only live on soup for so long, even if he did give up half the day's earnings. He smeared a little cherry sauce on Draco's nose. That would keep the miniature dragon busy for quite some time. Draco loved all things cherry.

His second performance of the day proved less than overwhelming. The crowd was there but they were mostly youths getting out of school just looking for a good time. He shot a glare at a ragged young tigrean who snatched back her paw from the brim of his jar.

The alley he currently resided in was thin and dirty but at least it had no garbage cans to stink up the air. A much-abused sofa with white and purple stripes rested beneath a tall brick wall, springs poking through threadbare cushions. Dragon set his case aside and flopped down, barely noticing the dampness. He pulled loose the red folder that contained his music sheets, his encounters of the day giving him ideas for a piece he planned to call "Generation Gaps".

Hours passed without him noticing. It was Draco's hiss that finally brought him back from the sweet land of Muse to cold, cruel reality. His own growl was equally impressive. Dragon absolutely hated to be interrupted when he was creating the sounds of tomorrow.

What?!

"Your egg must've cracked before your hatch date. Some good those flimsy sheets will do when that storm breaks."

Dragon packed with haste as the first rumble of thunder sounded. The steel door of the factory had a little canopy that was fine for the lighter showers but the clouds moving in promised a real drenching. "Maybe we'd better see if Angel's home."

The terracoon's apartment was nothing fancy but at least she had a proper roof. She answered the door on the first knock, her smile falling to a frown. "What do you want this time, Dragon."

"What kind of greeting is that for your best friend? I just need a place to crash until this storm blows over. Besides, I've got the one that's going to get us both out of the gutters."

She sighed but stood aside. She had ceased to complain about his bare feet on the coffee table months ago. They both knew Dragon could talk his way into anything. He raised his head and gave an appreciative sniff to the smell coming from the kitchen. "You sure can cook, Angel. I know you wouldn't let me go sleep in the cold without something to eat."

She split her small pot of wild rice soup into two smaller bowls. She never had been able to deny anything to Dragon. "Let's hear it then. What is this latest song that's going to have me swimming in diamonds?"

By the time he'd finished singing, he had her in tears. It was no challenge to send her off to Get Mugged for some of Jade's limited edition Rosemary Bread. Dragon relaxed on Angel's couch, picturing how the crowds would gather in the stands and scream his name as he walked onstage. The lights would dim, the chatter would reduce to hushed anticipation and he would strike the first note with claws illuminated in glorious flame.

Story by Pureflower

(Turned Reborne on 8/2/2015 Thanks to Imp)