{"sf1_id":null,"sf2_id":"ek5DgPWn","title":"Behind the Names","author":"TylboDergun","words":953,"posted_at":"2026-01-21T20:15:13.000Z","tags":["Dhairthel Fai","Suthan","anthro","coda","corruption","dragon","fantasy politics","feral","former criminal","herm","hermaphrodite","judgment","male","moral conflict","naga","parliament","political drama","politician","power dynamics","public perception","quadruped","quadrupedal","serpentine","short story","sleazan","story","tattoo","tension","western dragon"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/ek5DgPWn-behind-the-names","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/ek5DgPWn","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/1b/89/1b890697-349a-437e-92cd-a4c6dd84394d","description":"In this short story (coda), we gain insight into a scene in Dhairthel's political life, following the events of my work, titled _There is Always a Story to be Told_. Happy reading!  \n  \nStory ©\n\n[\n\n](/u/TylboDergun)[@TylboDergun](/u/TylboDergun)\n  \n  \nDhairthel, Suth'an © \n[\n\n](/u/TylboDergun)[@TylboDergun](/u/TylboDergun)","content":"The parliament of the city of Kriston. It had always been a beautiful place. The politicians who came here, far less so. Most of them had been corrupt from the very beginning. The rest? Well… let's just say they chose to blend in rather than risk falling out of a fourth-floor window.  \nThe assembly hall was already filling up. In the antechamber, however, two figures were still talking. A green naga and a purple dragon. The serpent was adjusting the quadruped's suit with practiced care.  \nDhairthel: - I still feel really damn stupid in this suit…  \nDhairthel's sigh only made his lover smile.  \nSuth'an: - The best tailors in our city made it for you. And besides… this is hardly the first time you've worn it.  \nDhairthel: - I know. Still feels strange.  \nThe naga's smile did not fade. After brushing a bit of dust from Dhairthel's suit, he placed his right hand gently against the dragon's face.  \nSuth'an: - My handsome… mayor.  \nHe added Dhairthel's official title with playful intent.  \nDhairthel: - That's enough. Those fuckers are already waiting for me.  \nSuth'an slid back to give the dragon space.  \nSuth'an: - Show them that you're more than what they want to paint you as, my love.  \nDhairthel nodded, then stepped up to the doors of the assembly hall.  \n“Just don't lose your head…” he thought after taking a deeper breath. Then, he opened the door and entered the chamber.  \nAs he stepped inside, the room fell into a graveyard silence. The reinforced security watched the dragon with tense attention.  \nTo some, only the gang leader stood before them. Others saw the one who had saved the world. And there were those who saw both at once.  \nClidnack: - Well now… the crime itself has arrived…  \nA gnome spoke from the far end of the room, noticeably surrounded by more guards than usual.  \nDhairthel let out a low growl and made his way to his seat.  \nClidnack: - You know damn well you don't belong here, dragon.  \nDhairthel said nothing. He simply took his seat. Right beside him.  \nClidnack: - A criminal will never become a real politician. Never become mayor. Never become… a hero.  \nAfter the last word, silence settled for a moment. Not the awkward kind. A tense one.  \nDhairthel's chest rose slowly, then fell.  \nOne deep breath.  \nHe felt something old and familiar stir within him. But it was given no room.  \nBarely after sitting down among the politicians, he stood up again. He did not look at Clidnack. He did not look at the guards. He simply turned and walked toward the exit.  \nBefore leaving the chamber, he stopped for a brief moment by the door and spoke quietly.  \nDhairthel: - Then no one here would be one either.  \nNo one in the room spoke again as the door closed behind the names.The parliament of the city of Kriston. It had always been a beautiful place. The politicians who came here, far less so. Most of them had been corrupt from the very beginning. The rest? Well… let's just say they chose to blend in rather than risk falling out of a fourth-floor window.  \nThe assembly hall was already filling up. In the antechamber, however, two figures were still talking. A green naga and a purple dragon. The serpent was adjusting the quadruped's suit with practiced care.  \nDhairthel: - I still feel really damn stupid in this suit…  \nDhairthel's sigh only made his lover smile.  \nSuth'an: - The best tailors in our city made it for you. And besides… this is hardly the first time you've worn it.  \nDhairthel: - I know. Still feels strange.  \nThe naga's smile did not fade. After brushing a bit of dust from Dhairthel's suit, he placed his right hand gently against the dragon's face.  \nSuth'an: - My handsome… mayor.  \nHe added Dhairthel's official title with playful intent.  \nDhairthel: - That's enough. Those fuckers are already waiting for me.  \nSuth'an slid back to give the dragon space.  \nSuth'an: - Show them that you're more than what they want to paint you as, my love.  \nDhairthel nodded, then stepped up to the doors of the assembly hall.  \n“Just don't lose your head…” he thought after taking a deeper breath. Then, he opened the door and entered the chamber.  \nAs he stepped inside, the room fell into a graveyard silence. The reinforced security watched the dragon with tense attention.  \nTo some, only the gang leader stood before them. Others saw the one who had saved the world. And there were those who saw both at once.  \nClidnack: - Well now… the crime itself has arrived…  \nA gnome spoke from the far end of the room, noticeably surrounded by more guards than usual.  \nDhairthel let out a low growl and made his way to his seat.  \nClidnack: - You know damn well you don't belong here, dragon.  \nDhairthel said nothing. He simply took his seat. Right beside him.  \nClidnack: - A criminal will never become a real politician. Never become mayor. Never become… a hero.  \nAfter the last word, silence settled for a moment. Not the awkward kind. A tense one.  \nDhairthel's chest rose slowly, then fell.  \nOne deep breath.  \nHe felt something old and familiar stir within him. But it was given no room.  \nBarely after sitting down among the politicians, he stood up again. He did not look at Clidnack. He did not look at the guards. He simply turned and walked toward the exit.  \nBefore leaving the chamber, he stopped for a brief moment by the door and spoke quietly.  \nDhairthel: - Then no one here would be one either.  \nNo one in the room spoke again as the door closed behind the names.","series":{"name":"Sleazan - Stories","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2238183-there-is-always-a-story-to-be-told.json"}}