ARGEMONE

image made with Portrait Workshop

STATS
Name: Argemone
Age: 21
Gender: Female (non binary)

Looks: Argemone has long black hair, high cheekbones, a long, straight nose and red lips. She usually dresses in wide, masculine clothes that hide her curves and make people wonder. She can usually be found smoking something. 
Personality: Argemone doesn't want to be defined by her gender. In fact she doesn't want to be defined by anything and tends to do the exact opposite of what you'd expect her to do. She feels she should be able to act and do everything both a man and a woman can do. She has a couple of close friends but some villagers don't know quite how to act around her. She likes to be outdoors and wander. Smoking her pipe or cigarettes she is prone to thinking about whatever enters her mind. 
Family & Upbringing: Argemone was born to a shopkeeper couple. Her father was often on the road looking for produce to sell while her mother kept the store running. Her mother is her role model and the one that both inspired and allowed Argemone to act the way she wants. 
Clan: Papaveraceae
Flower Symbolism: Sleep and Peace

Pets: Kit Gryphon Dahlia (f) from Dragon Tears - Flower Symbolism: Elegance, creativity and Dignity
Bond: Brown Udraku Thleki (f) from the Refugium

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THE REFUGIUM
Argemone looked around and felt rather nauseous as her mind and body tried to adjust. There was artificial gravity and the air quality was good, but her mind and body just got confused about the view of stars from the spaceship. And then there were the people. They were everywhere. Argemone knew she came from a decent-sized town, but judging by the size of the buildings and the amount of people rushing by, decent-sized suddenly seemed tiny in comparison. But, even as her mind was overcome by all the sensations, sights, sounds and smells, she still noticed the amazing variety of people. Some were dressed all in black, others sported bright colours. Some had feathers instead of hair or had tails, large ears, multiple eyes, one single eye, small, large, fat, skeletal, with more legs than she could count or floating around... And the list went on.
"I know it's a lot to take in when you first get here." Tao, the searchrider that had brought her here on his bonded dragon Vekpoiedae, said.
"hmm." Argemone uttered, still pretty much speechless and trying to take it all in.
"Don't worry. Before you know it you won't be able to live without." he said and pushed Argemone into the line of people waiting to be admitted at the visitor's center.
And then he was off, having left just a note with a route description that told her to ask for the Udraku clutch and the series of trials it would take to get her to be allowed to stand for the eggs. Tests didn't much worry Argemone. She had been brought here to bond a dragon so her chances were good. She managed to get registered without a problem and the friendly people at the desk had even shown her where she needed to go to be judged.
And now she was here, sitting in front of an imposing dragon with a mouth full of teeth and a body built for dominance. And the creature was asking about her medical history. Asked whether or not there were conditions in her family that they should know about while looking like they would be able to tell if she were lying. Though they shut up about that after she mentioned that her great-grandparents were alive and well and around 95 years of age. Then came a multitude of questions that tested her mind, logical thinking, morality and a whole lot of other things she could barely fathom. But at the end she was given a curt nod by the Udraku female that was guarding the eggs and was told that she'd passed.  

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HATCHING
Many had come to see her eggs, people from worlds beyond Atefes' imagination. Each of them had been inspected with patience and deliberation, scrutinized until they squirmed and sweat beneath the mighty shadow of the female udraku. Many of them passed. Many others didn't, and she drove them from the egg mounds with billows of fiery smoke. The other udraku kept watch outside the ring of egg mounds, hidden in the deep swamps until only their bright eyes peered out of the gloom.
Her eggs were safe. They were protected. There would be no thieving here. 
And so they remained waiting until the eggs were ready and the great shapes of other udraku rose out of the muck and encircled the mounds, crooning back to the chirps of the hatchlings. The young would still have to dig their way free, a testament to their strength, but they were surrounded by the encouraging song of adults. Stragglers would be helped, but for now, the children muscles their own way into the world. Atefes scanned the swamp in search of one of those alien figures and urged them to contact the authorities. 
Moments later the swamp swarmed with aliens, keeping a cautious distance from the egg mounds encircled by the udraku. 
Atefes stood above the peat mound, her massive wings spread to shield the sight of her children digging free. Crackling yellow smoke billowed from her mouth as she rumbled the arrival of her brood.
A surprisingly colourful brown squirmed free of the nest, flapping dirt and muck from her bright wings. She swiped clumsily at the dirt clinging to her face, chirping a thrill of noises until Atefes bend down and - with surprising gentleness and dexterity - licked away the sand crusted over her eyes. She squeaked her thanks, bumping her nose against Atefes' massive snout, then darted off toward the ring of candidates. Her decision was swift as her hatching.
She was striking and a few of the loitering candidates seemed to agree with the sentiment, crouching down and stretching out hands in attempt to entice her. She bristled, twisted, and snapped at their outstretched fingers.
:: No! :: she squeaked, clacking her teeth. She whipped her head toward Argemone and brightened. :: None of those people will do. I'm Thleki and I'm only yours. ::
Thleki closed the distance between them, her squeaks turning into a contended churring as she nuzzled against Aremone's leg.
:: I'm too small to fight monsters right now, but I think the real monsters are the people that won't let you be who you are. ::
Argemone smiled softly and crouched to stroke Thleki's eye ridges. "I think the two of us are going to get along just fine." She paused. "But there are monsters that I need to help defend my home from."
Thleki clacked her teeth and grinned. :: I'll be able to help soon, don't worry! ::

Name: Thleki
Gender: Female
Colour: Brown
Species: Udraku
Hatchling Length: 1'4"
Adult Height: 10' at shoulder
Abilities: Telepathy, Verbal Speech, Breath Weapon: Light, Breath Weapon: Smoke
Personality: Thleki is nothing if not vociferously headstrong. Once she has a goal in mind she pursues it to the end, no matter what anyone else tells her to do. Argemone is likely to have her hands full with Thleki, but in turn, Thleki's loyalty is second to none and she always back her bond up in her pursuits. She can be defensive and ill-tempered when she feels Argemone is being belittled, but in most circumstances Thleki is affectionate and kind. She loves exploring different cultures and is tolerant to differing opinions, if not easily swayed by them.

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ADULT
Argemone yelled as they entered Khylarian airspace. Some helpful staff member of the Refugium had sent them on their way home. They materialised a few feet above the ground, Thleki flapping her wings to go for a graceful landing. Nobody who'd see them would call Thleki graceful, but she actually was. Her strong jaws, sharp teeth and powerful build intimidated others, especially those who'd never seen an udraku. Argemone grinned at the thought of the villagers seeing Thleki. But she wasn't headed for her village, she was headed for Tithonia's hut. 
Two years had passed for Argemone, but she knew they would reappear only a few weeks after she'd left. As Thleki barrelled on, Argemone saw the older woman rushing to ward of the area with her herbs. The flock of Chentuu was nowhere in sight, presumably they were grazing closer to the village where they could be guarded better. 
"Tithonia!" Argemone called, "It's me."
:: She is frightened. :: Thleki said, not without pride.
"As she should be, the last time she met a dragon they weren't as nice as you." Argemone pointed out.
:: Will she want to meet me? ::
"Of course. Tithonia is not scared of anything." Argemone chuckled, in fact most of the people in the village were scared of the wise woman.  
And sure enough, Tithonia left her home and came toward them. She eyes the udraku, cocked her head and asked: 
"So is this one of the dragons to keep us safe?"
:: I am strong. :: Thleki boasted.
"I can see that. But are you smart and cunning?"
Thleki narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to show off her teeth :: I can catch anything. ::
Argemone nodded and said: "That is true, I have yet to meet one who can get away from Thleki. Maybe a flying dragon could best her, but anything touching the ground might as well say a prayer if she's hunting."
Tithonia smiled her approval: "It's good to see you again. You're the first to return. I'll fix you some food."
:: Meat! :: Thleki called.
"I'll see what I can cook up." Tithonia said. 

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Lantessama Isle