Aedelian lay stretched out on his stomach in the sunlight-- the artificial sunlight, of course, but if he kept his eyes shut and pretended the even more obviously artificial carpeting underneath him was some new kind of grass, he could almost forget that it wasn't real-- letting the heat warm up his chilled wing membranes and made his bronzed-yellow fur glow pleasantly. He wasn't exactly metallic, but when he was clean, he did have nice, shiny highlights.

Sunning, even sunning under artificial light, was one of his favorite passtimes back home, and even though he had to pay for the privilege here on this space station, he made good use of it. Meren' had always called him lazy, but she had never begrudged him a good basking if she could lay there with him in the sun. Sometimes being lazy was a good thing, after all, and even Meren' had learned that after a while of spending the bulk of her time with her easy-going mate.

It was quiet, in this out-of-the-way sun-spa, and the tiniest big of magic on his part stirred the air and scented it of grass and mountains, so that it almost felt like home. If he kept his eyes shut, anyway. He didn't have a private room, but there weren't any others in this, the farther back of the two main rooms, and there were only two others in the front main room and one person in the small business' only private room. Even if there had been, he didn't think anyone would complain of a comfortable breeze. As it was, he just enjoyed the quiet and the sense that he was actually alone, for once in this large and crowded place.

It wasn't as if he didn't mind company. In fact, he enjoyed talking with people he didn't know, coming to know them, learning about them through chatting and sifting through their memories. Right now, though, it did feel nice to be alone. He rolled over into his back, exposing his belly to the warm, treated light, and sighed comfortably, thinking again of home. At least at home, no one thought he was old except for little children who thought anyone older than they was old.

Hello... what was this? A new mind entered the sunspa, and, oddly enough, it-- no, she, that was definitely a feminine mind-- was thinking about him. Aedelian didn't open his eyes, but he tracked the young female as she made her stealthy way past the cashier and attendant at the door, without paying and without being stopped-- invisible, apparently-- paused to soak up the heat a moment in the front room, then continued towards his own room. Amused, Aedelian listened in on her thoughts, sensing her surprise when she felt the breeze he'd created, and gratifyingly soaking up the unspoken compliment that he looked charming, even sprawled out on his back, looking, in his own mind, rather silly. He hadn't been complimented in a while, and after being referred to as "old and boring" one too many times, it was quite buoying to the ego.

I wonder how long it will take him to notice me, he heard her think as she approached him and sat herself down a few feet away.

::You're invisible, dear,:: he answered with amusement. ::Most people wouldn't notice you, at all.::

The other dragon-- he recognized her now, though he had never actually seen her before, just felt her eyes and mind on him from a distance; this was the closest she had ever come to him-- had a very charming jolt of surprise at his mind-voice, and he chuckled. ::I figured you might be reading my mind,:: she said, trying to sound composed even though, since he was reading her mind, he knew that she hadn't been thinking any such thing. He didn't bother calling her on the fib. ::But you're right,:: she continued, sounding a bit smug, ::most people wouldn't. Most people haven't!:: He chuckled again, not bothering to open his eyes, since she was still invisible. ::So, are you going to chase me out now?::

::Why on earth would I do that?:: he asked lightly. ::You don't seem to be bad company, and perhaps you can explain why you've been following me around from time to time. I've been ever so curious, you know.::

::Oh,:: the other dragon said, disappointed that she hadn't been careful enough not to be noticed. She couldn't possibly have known, after all, just how powerful her quarry's psionic ability was. It would take a lot of power to shield a watcher from his curious mind, power that either this newcomer didn't have or didn't care to use.

::Well,:: she began again, perking up some, ::you're weird-- Not in a bad sense.:: He chuckled again at her hasty clarification. ::I'm just curious about what you're doing here. You're not like the other dragons.::

Not like the other dragons, he thought, amused. At least for her that's a good thing. To her, he said, ::I rather like being weird, myself. At the very least, it gets me the attention of pretty ladies.:: Not that he knew if she was pretty or not, but from her confidence and generally proud mindset, he guessed that she would be. ::As to what I'm doing here, it started off as research. I've been an explorer of sorts all my life. This place is fascinating, and its customs even more so. If not for its lack of natural nature, instead of manufactured sunlight and magical breezes--:: he waved a foreclaw lightly, and the light wind stopped, then reversed, blowing towards the back of the room rather than the doorway; he was allowed to show off a little, after all, right? ::--I could even consider settling here for a while. I've already been here almost a year and a half.::

The other dragon's response to his little tease-- oh, just say it, you were making a rather pathetic attempt at flirting-- was to snort and ignore it. ::That's longer than I can say I've been here for,:: she said instead. ::But I can see why you'd care to stay. There are so many interesting people:: to spy on, her thoughts added, to which Aedelian grinned. ::Where are you exploring from?::

::Oh, I'm from a world called Avengaea. Much different from here. I'm afraid I'm not particularly remarkable, there, not in appearance, anyway,:: he admitted, a little reluctantly. ::All Air dragons look about like I do, only the color can vary some.:: He was rather proud of his color, at least.

::Aven... gaea.:: For a moment, Vyly mulled over the word with a mental metaphor that Aedelian appreciated: tasting the idea like it was some kind of exotic new drink. She was definitely good for his ego, at least so far. He just had to remember not to flirt.

::An Air dragon, huh?:: she continued after a moment. ::Where I come from, there aren't any such dragons, and certanily not in colors like yours.:: Though she was tempted to drop her invisibility-- and Aedelian was terribly curious as to what she looked like, by now-- he didn't make a comment or even a mental suggestion to do so. He had that much respect for others, at least. If she wanted him to see her, she would let him-- it just might take a while. Sigh.

With the mental equivalent of a smirk, and a rustling sound that said she'd gotten to her feet again, Vyly said, ::Say, Aedelian, I've got an idea... why don't you meet me at that little lounge you seem to like?:: Though that might have been vague-- he liked several little lounges, after all-- she had pictured the place perfectly in her mind with the statement, so he at least knew what she was talking about. When, though, was another matter entirely. And she was already leaving, without having given him that vital bit of information, thinking not about whens but more about hows, planning how she would sneak up on him again, or attempt to. Which didn't help him in the slightest.

"Well, damn," he murmured to himself, staring pensively after her retreating mental presence. He'd just have to show up and wait, he supposed-- and hope they picked the same time!

Chapter Two

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