Different

**Different** is a story about a rare  black dragon taking refuge in the kingdom capital of  the white dragons, where he's immediately welcomed in by the king and taken under his wing. While he seems like a typical white dragon monarch, the black scholar picks up on many oddities in his behaviour.

It plays off in a world where humanoid dragons of different colours/races inhabit the Earth.

The story was conceived in August of 2020, but it and the characters have made no official appearance.

## Story

> On a random sunny day, two white dragon guards spot a black dragon shuffle towards their restricted capital city and leave to inform the king. The man looks beaten up and unsure if he should knock the gates, which are opened before he can make up his mind.
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> Inside, the city's residents have assembled at the entrance to watch the visitor. Their faces are hard to decipher and makes him wonder if the white dragons' announcement of accepting black dragon refugees is false, but then, the king himself arrives. A gracious figure with an indescribable radiance descends from the skies in a hand-carried carriage and officially welcomes him to his domain. He ask for his name, and is told it to be Arthur.
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> Arthur asks if there's room for him, a silly question that receives no direct response, and the king just exclaims he'll be taken care of at his palace and his days of fear are over. Though his words are reassuring on paper, to be in the presence of the mysterious, self-oriented white dragons and their king makes him uncertain about the quality of his stay.
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> The king offers him his carriage, which he prefers not to take from him, but is told he should as a wounded, valued guest. The guards help him in and fly him to the palace, before he can give another rebuttal.
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> *(Click "Expand" to read more)>*
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> Inside, the king instructs his staff to tend to him. Arthur is carried to the hot spring in the garden to bathe, his wounds are inspected and treated, and he's seated at the dinner table to enjoy food he didn't expect to see in a community that only drinks blood. The king is quick to join him, and not knowing what else to say to the hospitable royalty, he gives his thanks and brings up the latter.
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> He replies his staff was tasked to find food and experiment with cooking the moment his arrival was confirmed. This peaks Arthur's interest and he admits to have never known white dragons were such speedy learners. The king asks if he's not a world historian -since most black dragons are- but he answers that not many people in general got to meet and study his kind. The king asks if he wishes to do so now, but he feels it to be a rude way to spend his time as their guest and argues it'd be better manners if he kept to himself.
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> The king says he's a guest with privileges not unlike his own and he may do whatever he wants. Believing that to be unlikely in such a strict rule-bound community, Arthur only responds with a silent nod and turns to his food. He gives the king a glance, who grants him a non-verbal approval to eat.
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> He's asked to judge the food, and though Arthur doesn't wish to offend, he believes it to be fair to grade it with a meagre "okey". The king's face warps into a scowl. Thinking he wants to hit him, he cowers when he stands up and raises his hand; but instead swipes the food off the table and demands his staff to redo. This happens twice more.
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> Arthur worries to be causing his staff unnecessary trouble and decides to dub their fourth attempt as perfect. His uncomfortable smile doesn't fool the king, who only grows angrier and scolds them again with an eerily calm, threatening tone.
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> Arthur understands that a race of dragons that doesn't cook or eat meat won't be able to succeed in a timely manner, and gives them a tip on what to look out for. The next batch exceeds all expectations and earns an excited compliment. The king says nothing and his static face gives off no emotion, which makes Arthur unsure about his verdict and only worry more about the tiresome back-and-forth he instigated.
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> With Arthur finally served properly, the king drinks his meal from his tall wine glass, while his pale eyes continue to stare a hole in his face. Not knowing how to start a conversation with him, or if he should, Arthur looks at the room and its furniture. The style is nothing like he's ever seen and he's eager to check it out up close, but doesn't dare to get up without permission or touch anything.
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> The following days are much the same; where Arthur tries to be a humble and independent guest, but with the king closely watching his staff and wanting to know his impression of the services provided, there are many instances where staff gets chewed out for "underperforming". The unrest he's causing within the serene palace walls makes him feel even more of an intruder, and as he accidentally keeps breaking rules that other dragons are punished for, he worries about testing the king's patience.
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> One evening at the dinner table, the king comments on his low energy and asks if he's happy. Arthur decides to lie. The king's stone face ever so slightly shows something resembling grief, before it returns to its original state and he takes a sip of his glass like nothing happened. Arthur is baffled to have gotten a glimpse of it and keeps shifting his eyes to his face, hoping to witness another miracle.
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> The king then replies to try better and requests his patience. Like always, Arthur says that no special treatment is needed and he should adapt to their rules and customs, but the king disagrees, and says he's too valuable. To demand him to act like a white dragon will benefit no one.
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> He continues to ask if there are more of him around they should look for, but Arthur doubts it, as he and his fellow dragons where sent out in into the world many years ago and advised not to stick together for the sake of their kind's survival, though he's skeptical there's any hope for the black dragons at all. The king has a more optimistic view and wishes to find and safe-keep every one of them in his city. Arthur asks if his people like the idea of sharing their home with another race, to which he states his word is the law, and the law is what his people adapt as their own will.
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> *<under construction>*
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## Characters

### Arthur

Arthur is a male  black dragon.

Like most of his kind, he seemingly possesses infinite knowledge about the world and its creatures, also thanks to his old age. He's claimed to be over a 1000 years old.

As white dragons were always tricky to find and study, he uses his time in the capital to learn more about them, though becomes conflicted with himself; as he realizes the near-extinction of his kind makes his further endeavours pointless.

He and Differo become friends quickly, also thanks to the coddling generosity the king shows him, though Arthur admits in his diaries to be afraid of him and worries about overstepping his boundaries in reality, since he's witnessed the consequences for disobedience to be very real and severe for other characters.

When he becomes romantic with Differo, he believes to have made a mistake and be the wrongdoer in the situation. Familiar with the basics of white dragon policies and behaviour; he knows it'll mean trouble if he were to allow their king to be his partner, since he's a male dragon of a different race that can't/shouldn't provide the offspring of a prestigious monarch. Despite the uncertainties and fear for the intimidating king that never leaves his chest, he finds him appealing and his kindness addicting.

Arthur has black half-curly hair, grey eyes, black medium-sized wings, and a furry tail.

### Differo

Differo (*pronounced: "Dee-fer-ro"*) is a male white dragon.

He is the relatively young king of white dragons, being slightly over a 100 years old, forced to take on the role after his family perished. He is a born leader and oozes calmness and grace that creates an intimidating air around him at all times. He speaks patiently and with a mesmerizingly low, booming voice.

His name is highly respected within his community, and as is the case with members of the royal family, they're not allowed to be looked in the eye by anyone -though an exception was instantly made for his foreign guest, Arthur.

He's fascinated by black dragons and envious of their wisdom and position as "the first dragon". His goal to marry Arthur was almost instantly decided upon meeting him. Though this is not detectable in his face or tone of voice, he very much enjoys his mannerisms and cares much about his opinions. When he thinks to have done Arthur wrong, he is quick to try and pick up the pieces.

Differo is tall, very pale, slightly muscular, has clear/silver eyes, long white hair going down his ankles, a long double set of white horns with outgrowths, long fully feathered wings, and a long fully feathered tail.

## Trivia

* The name "Differo" means "different" in Latin.

## See also

* God's Colour Palette Dragons
* Flames of Love