At least then he can't hurt anyone...

It's...

To be cliche, it's complicated.

Lending an ear may ease the burden, but it won't do anything to change what is in place.

It's an inevitability.

Either that, or it's something that is out of the dragon's control. Either way, it's almost certainly best to keep him alone. +

An aerial view of a dry, canyon landscape, hues of red and tan and gray with the landscape extending throughout most of the photo, with a blue sky in the distance.

"We don't think much of ants, 'til they're the size of houses and burnin' down the forests. The desert is our home... and we're losin' that, too."

Everyone.

He's a ticking bomb, and the further away he is from civilization, the better.

It's safer this way.

Probably for the best. The dragonborn is similarly thinking of other things, burning the time away in the nearby woods.

A solitary walk to the nearest town, to top up on supplies and essentials.

Then it'll be back to the wilds, to stay away...

A long, cold night in the woods.

a close up of a cartoon character with yellow hair and green ears ALT: a close up of a cartoon character with yellow hair and green ears

"This flower is for you! I hope it makes you happy!"
#WutheringWavesRP #WuWaRP #MVRP

I'm like a haunted house but I'm a girl

"Stick by my side and I know we can make it through anything."
#OCRP / #MVRP
An original character written by SUNDER.

Not me. And I didn't take it.

...That sounds a lot like stereotyping. Typical coming from them.

A new village, a fresh set of clothes, and a mug of something strong to quiet his anxieties.

Perhaps he'll pick up a quest or two, begin the quiet cycle of atoning once more.

A deep breath, the stench of charcoal filling his lungs.

Slowly, Udorakas stood on shaky legs, walking away from the ashes of what was once a village. No soul to say who had burned it to the ground, no finger to blame the old hero.

...Maybe it's better that way.

A sharp gasp.

Eyes open once again. Pink scale covered in smoldering tattered clothes, aching back on the firm ground.

It happened again.

Months of time lost, a body not his own moving with string pulled by another. It had been years, almost a decade since the last time, and not nearly as long. +

Seeing the extra protein on his plate made him smile widely.

"Thank you, miss.~" he hummed, taking the food eagerly. He waited until she had her own food, savoring his meal with her.

"Man... I'm itching to get back to it." he admitted, chuckling.

Udo had helped with the breakfast a bit, but ended up breaking down the tent in record time instead. He felt better, having energy to spend, and was eager to get back on the road with his friend.

He was taking a breather when Inrin handed him breakfast. +

"...Thank you, friend."

The dragon offered a full smile, only marred by the redness of his eyes that slowly went away.

A few moments later and he'd start the flames, ready to cook.

"Hm. No wonder I could smell dirt on you."

Udo grinned, a soft chuckle on his lips.

As they stepped out of the tent, he began to pile some wood into the fire pit, waiting until Inrin had pulled out the cookware. Before he lit the fire, his hand moved to rest on her shoulder. Firm, but gentle. +

The dragon smiled, his face still a bit red. It looked like that weight on him had lessened some, thanks to the efforts of his friend. He'd be cheery soon enough, probably moreso since they were on more equal ground.

Another moment to compose himself, before gently slipping from her embrace to stand.

"Sounds good to me." Udo replied, some life returning to his voice. "I think we both deserve some relaxing in a river or something. We must reek by now." he chuckled. +

Time for a lazy day.

The dragon found a spot at the beach, just floating along on the waves to cool off and enjoy himself.

Head empty.

#OpenRP

Her touch comforted him, more than he realized. It was something to ground him, to know that he found someone who could relate.

"...I feel a little better. Thank you." he muttered. "I'd like to help... Gives me something to do."

It took a long while, but the embrace and gentle words helped him. His breathing slowed, his sobs nothing more than sniffles, his head oh so gently pressing against her chest.

Listening to her heartbeat.

It was words he needed to hear, words he had to know were true. And although he couldn't fully accept that fact in the moment, a part of it had begun to erode away. Decades of holding it in, ever so slowly beginning to crumble.

Udorakas tried to focus as he cried, to compose himself. +

Heavy sobs, hands clutching Inrin to find a foundation. To share his sorrow for once, to feel an impossible weight on his shoulders shift.

"B-but... This thing is still inside me..." he wept. "I know it is... It's waiting to hurt again... It's hurt others... Not just my friends..."

Another tight embrace, another wave of tears. He had told himself things like this before, tried to move past it by himself. But just hearing someone tell him it wasn't his fault, that he was not that monster that took the lives of those closest to him...

Udorakas broke down. +

He swallowed.

"Somehow... I was attacked in victory. Controlled. Overtaken by those twisted virtues." His torso turned a bit, to show that webbed scar on his back. "In killing the success, I became the next best thing.

"...I killed my friends." he said, barely audible.

"A greedy, arrogant, hateful, vain and spiteful pawn for a being who wishes to take and take until there's nothing left. My... my friends and I realized this, realized I was an unsuccessful attempt, tried to stop the one who would succeed. In the end, we defeated him, but... +"