alpha omega.

[dovahfahdon]

[ He has camped at a field within a grove of trees, a fire softly burning nearby. Alduin is a month dead, and it is still something to take in. Alain has not returned to "civilization" since then--he has kept to earth and flame, power and might, and has only taken in the land, the enemies, the creatures. He has only had thus.

He has expected Niall for a while now, but the dragon agreed to wait for him. Alain does not want to return to the house he built. Instead, upon waking, he uses the amulet given for the first time. Calls the dragon to him.

When he finishes the Dragonborn lays down again. He watches the sky. He waits. ]

Comments

[dovahfahdon]

[ ...What that means. What that means is-- ]

...So my house and my cow are gone.

[nehnahlmey]

[A pause.]

Your house stands, and your cow breathes. They are very fortunate.

[dovahfahdon]

[ Alain smiles again, easily and full of affection. He pets the dragon. ]

Such a merciful creature.

[nehnahlmey]

[The petting is approved. Nehnahlmey closes his eyes.]

Mercy, Alain Ebon, is a quality I do not possess. I have merely...forgotten them.

[dovahfahdon]

So you say.

[ But forgetting from anxiety and pain is not something he wishes to draw attention to. He would rather let themselves slip into each other. ]

...I would ask you if you wish to do something, but night is a sorry excuse.

[ Still. ]

Would you, perhaps, wish to watch the stars with me?

[nehnahlmey]

[Night, however sorry the excuse, is wanted, and to watch the stars is a wonderful request.

The dragon inhales, absorbing the emotion.]

I would.

[dovahfahdon]

[ Living, when one was to die, has a freeing affect on his mind. He speaks where he would have abstained. ]

Would you take me to somewhere with a better view, then?

[nehnahlmey]

[Nehnahlmey thinks on this. This and others.]

Climb.

[dovahfahdon]

[ He wastes no time.

He does so, then touches the base of the dragon's skull, fingers tracing gently. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[The weight against him is no weight at all. The fingers on his head, however, are distracting, and Nehnahlmey thrums. He considers simply dropping to the earth for a nap.

Instead, after some effort, he takes to the night sky with the magic afforded to dragons and rides the wind to their destination.

They come to an ice field. Nehnahlmey circles the area once, seeking out a stable place to land, before dropping elevation. Eventually, he touches the ground, his back legs absorbing most of the impact in an effort to minimize the chance of knocking Alain from his seat.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ It is different, all of this, and Alain knows it. Knows it and does nothing to return to their prior balance and distance. Perhaps he might, perhaps they might, in time. Now he is content for closeness. Intimacy.

He slides downward and brushes himself off at the ground. Then pats the dragon's side. ]

Thank you.

[ For agreeing, for taking him here, for allowing his request. For waiting and keeping and remaining. For returning, just as much as Alain did. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[This closeness exudes suspicion, only Nehnahlmey does not notice. That possibility of loss is too great to see anything else.

Instead, the dragon only watches Alain, pleased at the contact and absorbing the thanks.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ Brevity returns. ]

You are supposed to be watching the stars.

[ Not Alain. The scold is given teasingly, quietly; affectionately. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[He is, but--]

The stars are here.

[dovahfahdon]

[ Another would laugh. The man he was would have looked away with narrowed eyes and a flush. Instead Alain keeps the eye contact through the surprise, even as red blooms on his features. It spreads to his temples and eventually he smiles against his will, a hand coming up to mask the expression.

A habitual gesture of denying any happiness. ]

You missed me, then.

[ Question and statement both. ]