abstracts | countdown to the end.

[ It has been only two passings of the sun since Alain and Odahviing's battle at Skuldafn. Two days since Alain has destroyed the remnants of Nahkriin, the last Dragon Priest, and two days since he set eyes on the portal gracing that temple's peak.

That portal to Sovngarde, to the dead; to Alduin.

Alain has not lived this long to die foolishly. Cruelly injured in the slew of battles, Alain sealed the temple, and made his way back to his house-- Odahviing questioning the Dragonborn's next moves before the red dragon flew off.

His moves? As they ever were, since Niall convinced him of his choice of fate. He would slay Alduin, he would rend the World-Eater, and then he would-- ]

"You're a fool, Alain Ebon."

[ The vampire next to him states flatly as she presses a poltrice into his side. Alain hisses, resigns himself to silence. ]

"You have the backing of many who would follow you, and yet you take these kind of moves on your own? Are you my mother now? If you get stuck in the land of the dead, I won't come after you."

...I don't expect you to.

[ It's a quick reply, and holds more than he meant. Because it's not to her that he's speaking suddenly.

Ignorant of much of the world, Serana might be, but she is nothing close to naive. The vampire rolls her eyes, and finishes dressing his wound.

Alain stills. He wonders at his choices. ]

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[ When he's back on the bed, supported by straw and skins, Alain tries to breathe easier. The dragon's gentleness is not unknown, but with the blatant reminder, the fact that he's pained the creature by his actions causes remorse to bloom where Alain had declared that it wouldn't.

He slowly swings his legs up onto the bed, and leans back against the headboard. ]

...I had wanted to drive you away.

[ By his rising and ignoring. By Odahviing, in a way, if only after. ]

[Alain is a fool, more so than the one who bears the name. The dragon looks on with his eight eyes.]

You would have done better to kill me.

[Than leave him alive with the pain of rejection.]

[ His throat closes suddenly. The Dragonborn can't name the emotion. ]

...I know that!... Now. I just wanted you out of harm's way.

[ His face contorts, pain crossing it. ]

I didn't want anything to happen to you. You've become something so precious to me.

[There is a stretch of silence as Nehnahlmey absorbs the emotions.

Then:]

Cast your eyes on yourself, Alain. There is little gain in protecting an immortal existence to your own ruin.

[But those words are something. Something that agitates beneath his pebbled skin.]

I have no desire for a wretched end. I have lived long enough to prove that, have I not?

[ There are faults within Niall's reasoning.

It is not that Alain thinks Niall desires it, but that it's possible, and whether immortal or not, dragons can be killed. Alain wants none of those risks, that edge of separation, because a soulless dragon would not come back to him, and that is what Alduin will do, consume Niall utterly if he kills him, and Alain knows this, because--!

Because the last Dragonborn and the World-Eater are similar. More than either would like. Two opposite sides of a coin, and so Alain knows what Alduin would do to declare supremacy. There's no forgiveness for sins too repulsive, and everything Niall does with Alain is another of those sins.

Alain will kill Alduin, yes--but there's no guarantee that Niall would not be destroyed in the process.

In a show of emotion unseen and unchecked, Alain lets out a sound of sorrow, dropping his head into his hands. ]

[There are cracks along another's soul, and Nehnahlmey drops his head to the bed at the sound, to nudge the arm closest to him.]

Tell me, then.

[He knows he is missing something.]

[ The arm nudged against instantly reaches to touch the dragon instead. To press against as if to allow understanding. ]

...I'm no different. I wouldn't want to live without you either.

[A tail twitches at the concept, at the pressure, the agitation beneath his cool skin threatening to burst.]

But you can continue without me. You have...

[Much and many. Facets to nourish, to watch to bloom. Titles and friends to keep one occupied. Nehnahlmey can count the methods, the ways.]

[ It's not titles or people that Alain thinks of. He thinks of the simple aspect of survival, what has gotten him this far. ]

...I would continue.

[ An agreement. However-- ]

But I would not longer be whole.

[Perhaps. The man would be missing parts and pieces to call to significance, but Nehnahlmey believes he has seen enough to understand something about mortals.]

You can heal. You can change.

[And fill in the parts gone.]

[ There are facts. Details. Aspects. Alain knows them all. ]

No.

[This is frustrating. And the impatient dragon would show it.]

Why not?

[ And here the Dragonborn would stare, with a gaze more akin to other creatures. ]

Zu'u hin fron.

[ I'm your kin. ]

[In his tongue, in the intent behind the gaze, Nehnahlmey understands. He falls to stillness.]

Hin vahzah sos.

[Your true blood.]

[ Alain's hand moves against Niall's skin; the man gives a murmur of agreement before leaning forward to press his head to Niall's. ]

[The contact breaks him.]

If you come back, if I wait for you, there will be nothing missing.

[ There is a sound like amusement, it is likely nothing of the sort. ]

I will come back, and you will wait for me.

[ He raises his head to stare into eight eyes. ]

There is nothing else.

[It is enough. Enough for a dragon to gain faith.

He releases a whimper before falling to silence.]

[ The sound echoes inside of him, his soul responding in turn, but it's allowed. For vows were given, in their way, and Alain needs only to hold to them.

He lowers his head back to the dragon, and holds faith like silence in the air. ]

countdown to the end.

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