shifting
shining scales, flapping of undulating and impossible flesh -
strength beyond reason
strength within beauty
....DRAGON
She wakes up very slowly - rather than with a start, which most people would have once the realization of the god-thing in their dreams came clear. She, however, has been dreaming of dragons all her life, and the concept no longer bothers her, if it ever did. She supposes, in some way, that this kind of dream was really par for the course; after all, she WAS Chinese.
Rising and taking her toiletries in hand, she walks down the hall to see if the single bathroom this safe house sported is empty. Being the only female in the building certainly guarantees her privacy in the bathroom; but this means that said privacy needed to take place when the men under her do not require the bathroom's services. It is for this reason - among others - that she always rises at least two hours before anybody else.
Only a few of her men are up at this hour; she nods and smiles at those she sees, heart swelling with pride at the strong and noble way they smile back. She has striven to teach them pride, to give them a sense of clarity in WHO they were so that they would not fear to fight the system which took their freedom. It was a constant and unforgiving struggle.
Fortunately, no one is in the bathroom; so, in she goes.
Once the door is locked and her clothing is off, it's easier for her to relax; to forget herself as captain of this rag-tag rebellion and remember being a woman. A very alone woman; but nevertheless, a strong one. One did not have to be "with" to be "strong."
Water sluices down her body, whispering around curves that have known no other touch - and likely will not - for a long time, both past and to come. She tilts her head back, allowing the water's warm fingers to touch her blonde hair, turning it dark and heavy. Her eyes - their angle the only indication of her Asian heritage - close in the wake of that warmth. There is so much yet to do - so much yet to be done. Her strength and conviction - unshakeable yes, but human - combine with her self-laden duties to produce weight; the heaviness of responsibility, knee-weakening, asthmatic. She holds herself, arms wrapping around her betraying curves as she concentrates on deep breaths.
It can be done
The sounds of her breathing twine with those of water splashing against tile, a contrast of slow and even with sharp and impersonal. There were so many things yet to do in her life. Things she dreamed - like Peace.
It will be done
She towels off now, having taken her morning routine to compose herself and her goals, fixing in her mind those things which drive her forward: peace, freedom, equity. They are at heart every common man's dream, and she believes this; it is why she inspires men to follow her, to fight with her, and even - sometimes - to die.
Peace. Freedom. Equity.
A few hours more and she is gone; left with her men to break down some of the burden of the politic which oppressed the people, both here and in space. She leads them boldy and quietly, earning their respect and love by mere stint of BEING who she is - even as she teaches them to BE who they are, as well.
And in the end, she will succeed. There is no question in her mind that she will, even if she herself does not survive; dreams such as these are very contagious. And her survival, really, mattered little in the scheme of things, after all.
In the end, being a dreamer was nice - but being a doer was much, much better.