This is actually a story one of my characters is developing in their head where they've been cursed for their faults. He's actually a pretty nice guy, but he's a people person and he gets really irritable when he only has a few people to talk to. So this isn't all that out of character for him. XD
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"You are a selfish, arrogant pig, and you deserve no pity. From this day forth, you may be the strongest of all creatures, but you will also be the most hated. The most feared. You will find refuge nowhere but in solitude, and it will stay that way for the rest of your now-elongated life."
"Don't worry about it. You'll be okay. You've got an amazing immune system, and-"
"Just stop, Laura. You aren't making me feel any better."
The brunette glared at him. "Really. Would you prefer I leave, then?"
"I'd prefer you focus on work while you're doing it."
Laura frowned and started rubbing the damp cloth against the dragon's underside harder.
"What does that have on it, anyway? Venom?"
"It cleans the area so that it doesn't get infected. It isn't venom."
"It stings like it." He snorted, rolling onto his side.
"Well of course it's going to sting. It fights off the stuff that causes disease. This would be much easier if you weren't so difficult about everything."
"This wouldn't have happened at all if you hadn't brought that girl here."
"This wouldn't have happened at all if you had just stopped bragging about how great you were and taking everything for yourself."
"I know that!" the dragon snapped. "I know I got myself into this mess as a whole. I meant the... recent ordeal- who is that."
"Don't worry about it."
"Laura! I asked you a question! I'll roast you if you don't answer!"
Laura winced. "His name is Jacob. He's experienced with healing somewhat, so he'll be able to finish up after me."
The blonde before them looked quite intimidated by the green beast, however injured he was. "S-so this is the guy you were talking about."
"This is Gerard, yes."
"He's rather large."
"Jack, you don't have to pretend he isn't a dragon. He just... used to be a human. And yes, when he was, he was rather large then."
"I've never met a dragon before."
"There's a first time for everything."
"Laura," Gerard hissed, "this was an awful idea. He's clearly too afraid of me to even get close, unlike all the girls who were all over me because they thought kissing me would turn me into a prince... I never understood that. I wasn't a prince to begin with. Why would I turn into one if-"
"They associate the fantastic with happy endings. They think they're all princesses at heart, I suppose."
"But kisses don't undo it."
"You don't know that."
"I've had too many to count."
"But you didn't love any of them. Hell. You didn't even like any of them. And it's always supposed to be a kiss of true love that undoes everything."
"I guess I'll be stuck like this a while, then."
"If you give Jack a chance, maybe not."
"Jack is male."
"And you're a goddamn DRAGON, Gerard. It doesn't matter anymore."
"You honestly think-?"
"Just give him a chance, okay? You'll never find out if you don't."
"I'm not going to let him near my stomach."
"You don't have to right away."
"I- I can just work on your back, if you'd like," Jack offered. "That's the most armored place on you, I've heard." He walked over to Gerard's back.
"That's fine, but it'll be difficult to heal anything there if that's your intention, since it is so armored. I don't think..." he started, but was interrupted by a slight prickling on his back. He winced, preparing for the worst, but was surprised to find a growing warmth where all his pain and tensed muscles were.
"I... wow, that feels really nice." The dragon smiled. "What are you doing? It's like all the knotted muscles in my back are just... dissolving. It's like... a backrub from my human days, only better."
"Oh, I'm j-just using light spells to warm up and relax some of the muscles here. Luckily your scales aren't resistant to light magic."
"I feel like I could actually fall asleep like this." He paused. "That... that's kind of a big deal. I guess you wouldn't know that."
"Why?"
"Nightmares," Laura replied, packing up her medical kit. "He refuses to sleep because of them. And because he's a dragon, he can get away with it. But his mind, which is still human, suffers from it."
"Why does he have-"
"It was an untold side effect of the curse that turned him this way. So it would eventually drive him totally insane."
"But... there must be some way to remove it?"
"It's just that true love crap. She said he had to find someone who loved him for who he was, and what he was, despite his appearance. Someone that could make him less high-and-mighty, and more giving. Someone that could get him to love someone other than himself."
"Laura." Gerald glared at her.
"She got cursed you because you were cocky and selfish to the point where it hurt everyone around you. She just turned you into a creature where your nature would be apparent. Dragons hoard and they're very proud creatures. And you were strong as a human, too."
The dragon rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say. At any rate, I actually feel tired. I'm going to go to sleep."
"Are you willing to consider Jack as an ally at the least?"
"He still hasn't earned my trust." Gerald snorted. "But he has gotten on my good side. He'll have to prove himself more than just a little comfort, but if he's as good as he seems right now..." The dragon paused.
"Maybe breaking this curse isn't as far off as I thought."
