kaberett: Yellow gingko leaf against teal background (gingko)
kaberett ([personal profile] kaberett) wrote2013-12-13 12:55 am

A story with dragons in

This may, at first, appear to be a story about elephants; pray do not be alarmed.

The reason for this is that my aunt is a spinner and a knitter. In my grandparents' house upon a hill in Bath, on the tiny single bed in the tiny room overlooking the garden, that used to be my aunt's and is now my grandfather's study; from which one can see the blackcurrant bushes and hot air balloons; is a knitted elephant, about the size of a child's torso, all in yellow.

This elephant is named Custard, and as is the way with elephants, he is much, much older than I.

My favourite thing about him was not that he was just right to hug, nor even his ears, but the stories my father would tell me (or tell us): about Custard and his friend the yellow dragon Ogwurt: ogwurt being, of course, our childish mispronunciation of yoghurt.

Or, rather, the stories he would tell us about Ogwurt And Custard, because that is how we referred to them and that is how we would ask for them.

They involved jungles and snakes and Ogwurt flying above the trees following Custard's passage by the trembling of the leaves. They were adventure and communication and more-or-less the only time my father ever told us bedtime stories.

This perhaps goes some way towards explaining my abiding conviction that dragons - especially if they are yellow - are friendly and kind and a little bit inept; and why stories with dragons in feel rather like an unexpected and bittersweet homecoming.
cadenzamuse: Fantasy. What more do you want? Adventure, excitement, exotic locations, interesting creatures, even true love. (fantasy: all my favorite things)

[personal profile] cadenzamuse 2013-12-13 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
DRAGONS!!!

My dragons are kind and competent, if a little stern, and green. A few are mottled sandy colors and are enormous desert selkies, and the mages among them turn into humans and fall in love with mortals, but will always, eventually return to their wings and their caves.

Partner's are the Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher type, and red.
silveradept: A kodama with a trombone. The trombone is playing music, even though it is held in a rest position (Default)

[personal profile] silveradept 2013-12-13 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
A lovely story about dragons, and we love someone who sees dragons as the more friendly types rather than what most artists and sculptors see them as. Perhaps sold day, we'll be able to meet Ogwurt.
untonuggan: close up of a spinning wheel's fly wheel (spinning wheel 2)

[personal profile] untonuggan 2013-12-13 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
YOUR AUNT IS A SPINNER AND A KNITTER

and here there be dragons

<3 <3 <3

this is perhaps the best story ever.
untonuggan: hands offering chocolate surrounded by golden light - offered to you! (chocolate for you)

[personal profile] untonuggan 2013-12-13 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
awesome clearly runs in your family.
worlds_of_smoke: A picture of a brilliantly colored waterfall cascading into a river (Oleander: Default)

[personal profile] worlds_of_smoke 2013-12-13 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
this is just adorable. <3
wisdomeagle: Original Cindy and Max from Dark Angel getting in each other's personal space (Default)

[personal profile] wisdomeagle 2013-12-13 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
:D