::Hey, Charm....::

::I'm Chanta, today....::

::Okay, Chanta. Sorry.::

::It's all right. What did you want?::

::Chanta, do you think I'm going to grow anymore?::

::I sure hope not! You're big enough, as it is.::

One ojee and two dragons-- the former completely dwarfed by the latter-- lay on the comfortably chilly metal floor of their apartment. No one had bothered to tile or carpet the floor. Even if they had enough money to do so, there was nothing wrong with the metal floor. It was hard, but it was cool, especially since none of them could work the air conditioner-- the ojee didn't have fingers to operate the controls with, and neither dragon could fit into the hall where it was located-- and the apartment sometimes got rather warm.

The ojee, Charm-- and Chanta, counting her second head; currently, the right head was going by the name Chanta, while Charm was the left head-- lay on her back with her paws in the air and dragonfly wings at rest on the floor to either side of her. Her tail, spiked on the end, twitched restlessly. The large, red dragon on her right, Doppelth, was on his dark blue belly and watching her with all of his soul poured into his golden eyes. The expression was wasted on his bond and her second head, because Charm and Chanta both had her eyes closed.

::I don't think you're going to grow anymore.::

That was Charm, the left head, the one not bonded to the big red. She was shier than the right head, and spoke up quietly.

::Why's that?::

::Well, we graduated from the new dragoner program, right? Surely they wouldn't do that until you were grown up.::

:: ... That makes sense.::

There was a moment of silence. Then Doppelth turned that soulful gaze on the second dragon, only an inch shorter and both vididly green and, along her stomach, an earthy, mottled brown.

::Ertstens....::

::What, Doppelth?::

::Can I use your cyborware token?::

The green dragoness, his twin in everything but color and activity, looked up from the metallic twine she'd been twisting idly into artistic shapes, eying him. ::Why?::

::Because... I want a modification, but I can only get it with a moderate token-- yours plus mine.::

::Why do you want to get modified, at all?::

::Because I do.::

Erstens snorted disbelief. ::You never actually do anything, Doppelth. Why should I give you my token, if you're probably never going to use it?::

::That's not fair,:: Chanta interrupted. ::He does stuff sometimes! Remember when he took that job down at the butcher's--::

::That he didn't stay at for more than a week.::

::Well, true, but there was that time when he was going to--::

::Write a book? That didn't happen.::

::He has lots of good ideas, Erstens,:: Charm suggested quietly.

::He just doesn't do anything with them! Besides, what if I wanted a modification?::

::You don't, though,:: Doppelth pointed out irritably. ::You're always saying they look stupid. Come on... this once, I promise I'll actually go through with my idea.::

::What is your idea, anyway?:: Charm asked.

::I... just want a modification.::

::What kind?:: Chanta chirped, opening her eyes to look at him.

::And what for?:: Erstens added grumpily, eyes back on her wire sculpture.

::Ears. And what for is my own business.::

::Oh, gods above, ears?? Brother, you'll look ridiculous!::

::I will not!::

::Of course you will. You look ridiculous enough, now!::

::As if you don't-- you look just like me!::

Chanta stared at him, ignoring the mental bickering, then quite suddenly burst into chittering giggles. ::What?:: her left head asked, surprised.

::He wants his ears so he'll look more interesting-- heehee, and less like a dinosaur-- to a lady dragon!:: Chanta answered merrily, interrupting the mental sparring match.

::And what if I do?:: Doppelth grumbled. ::What's it to you?::

::Nothing but a good giggle, really.::

::So can I use your token, or not, Erstens?::

The green dragoness thought about it.

::Erstens, I know you don't sit and think about things; you're just not answering to be annoying!::

::All right, all right. You know me too well. Sure, get yourself ears, what do I care if you're a laughing-stock?::

::You'd just laugh, right along with them.::

::Of course. Better go now, brother dear, before you loose interest and hare off on some other great plan.::

::Shut up. I'm going.::

::Good luck!:: Chanta grinned. ::If you want me, just call.::

::Hopefully he won't want you,:: Charm murmured as Doppelth trotted to their launching ledge. ::I don't really want to move.::

::Well, I just hope this lady-dragon doesn't take too long,:: Chanta commented. ::I'm about ready to go home, I think.::

::It won't,:: Doppelth said just before taking off. ::It's just a flight, after all.::

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