[ That's the Archdemons blood, Alistair nearly says, because keeping Warden secrets from Kieran is a bit silly when he's the biggest Warden secret in the world—but he doen't know he is, does he. A secret, sure, but not a Warden one. So Alistair holds his tongue, except to hum in a way that's sort of knowing, like yes, that's right, what a strange mystery I could explain but won't, and deliberately not alarmed. He's had years now to practice not being outwardly alarmed.
That's also why he raises his eyebrows at the wall and says, ]
Is she a pretty woman?
[ A growing boy, you know. The dragon is a bit odd, but—
But obviously it isn't that sort of dream. Alistair just wants to make him whine again. And prove that there are absolutely more awkward conversations they could be having than this one. Surely talking about dragon dreams instead will be a complete relief. ]
[Here is a fact: Kieran knows that he's different. Maybe it's the same way that Alistair knew things about himself too, knew the way people looked at him, spoke to him, how the course of his life was laid out but Kieran does know that it's not just being the child of the Witch of the Wilds that has people looking at him. And it doesn't bother him. But. He knows.
It'd be strange not to know. To maybe see half the world instead. Blinking through the caul even now.
He makes a horribly strangled noise, more of a squawk - how old do mage boys learn shapeshifting, maybe this is how they escape awkward conversations with Uncle Dad, poof! I'm a raven now goodbye - but he manages to speak because--]
No! [SCANDALISED. HORRIFIED. This is not the sort of conversation, he would tell you mid-archery lesson if he had a crush and it'd be so much worse because he was living with his crush until he was not because Orlesian nobility is very rude and stupid.] She's old.
[Alistair why did you ask that he wants the ground to swallow him whole.]
Like you might get a bony elbow to somewhere 'accidentally' during training sucker!!!]
She stares. I think it'd be less strange if she said something, people don't like it when I just stare but...then I don't know what she'd say to me. Should I say something? If it happens again?
[ It would be nice if dreams were just dreams. But dreams aren't just dreams—even for boys without old god souls, and especially when they're mages. Even the best case scenario is still a spirit. ]
I—well.
Your mother has talked to you about demons, hasn't she?
Yes. I'm not to trust them and that they try to tempt you and not to think I can just be smarter or better or stronger. They're very old and want out so they'd take me just like that.
[Clumsy fingersnap he does not have all his witchy flourish access yet.]
You'll still take me for lessons, won't you?
[With the secrets and now maybe a demon maybe Alistair won't want to do things with him. And he'd be sad but he'd understand. Eventually. He might be dangerous. People already whisper about his mother.]
[ The day Kieran finally accesses 100% of his witchy flourish might be worse than the day he has to shave, on the scale of Days Alistair Will Considering Crying About How Grown Up He Is But Make Jokes About It Instead. But it'll be a close call.
And speaking of considering crying but joking instead: how dare you. ]
I don't know, [ he says, and maybe his voice is a little funny for those three words, and maybe it has a little something to do with Maric Theirin being burned on a pyre this month in a ceremony Alistair wasn't invited to, but then it evens out to his normal drawl— ] will you still let me, now that you're having mysterious dreams with dragons? I'm still over here dreaming about [ darkspawn ] really big cakes. I'll understand, if you can't be seen with a cake-dreamer in public.
[He's like fourteen Alistair how have you not noticed his peach fuzz that someone will have to take in hand, he's a beautiful boy with an awkward face you're the only man in his life able to do this.
Do you really want Thranduil to be asked to make an attempt? Thranduil the pony-pusher who needs owl beaks?]
Maybe. [There's a Morrigan-esque pause. Dramatic. If not for the relieved little hitched breath.] If we can get real cakes sometimes? Then you have reasons. Because there are cakes.
[And you got to play with his toy dragon and didn't let him win so this is only fair, and he's not pointing that out to you because he's trying to be a good man. You know. Like mother said you were.
I would have reasons. That's genius. You are your mother's son—
[ STOP MAKING ME SAD MHAIRI ]
Don't tell her I said that. [ But. ] But you ought to tell her about your dreams, you know. She's clever. She knows when she should worry and when she shouldn't.
She went away to a dark forest people aren't meant to come out of and won't tell me about it.
Mother tells me all about where she goes but she won't and she keeps staring up at the mountain as if she's waiting for something to darken the horizon. I can't tell her, sometimes it's okay to keep secrets if you want people to be happy.
[Right Darkspawn Fever Dreams Dad?] I can bring her cake, she'd like that better.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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That's also why he raises his eyebrows at the wall and says, ]
Is she a pretty woman?
[ A growing boy, you know. The dragon is a bit odd, but—
But obviously it isn't that sort of dream. Alistair just wants to make him whine again. And prove that there are absolutely more awkward conversations they could be having than this one. Surely talking about dragon dreams instead will be a complete relief. ]
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It'd be strange not to know. To maybe see half the world instead. Blinking through the caul even now.
He makes a horribly strangled noise, more of a squawk - how old do mage boys learn shapeshifting, maybe this is how they escape awkward conversations with Uncle Dad, poof! I'm a raven now goodbye - but he manages to speak because--]
No! [SCANDALISED. HORRIFIED. This is not the sort of conversation, he would tell you mid-archery lesson if he had a crush and it'd be so much worse because he was living with his crush until he was not because Orlesian nobility is very rude and stupid.] She's old.
[Alistair why did you ask that he wants the ground to swallow him whole.]
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[ He's enjoying himself.
That might stop soon. ]
How old? Does she do anything except stare at you?
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[Huffy.
Like you might get a bony elbow to somewhere 'accidentally' during training sucker!!!]
She stares. I think it'd be less strange if she said something, people don't like it when I just stare but...then I don't know what she'd say to me. Should I say something? If it happens again?
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I—well.
Your mother has talked to you about demons, hasn't she?
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[Clumsy fingersnap he does not have all his witchy flourish access yet.]
You'll still take me for lessons, won't you?
[With the secrets and now maybe a demon maybe Alistair won't want to do things with him. And he'd be sad but he'd understand. Eventually. He might be dangerous. People already whisper about his mother.]
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And speaking of considering crying but joking instead: how dare you. ]
I don't know, [ he says, and maybe his voice is a little funny for those three words, and maybe it has a little something to do with Maric Theirin being burned on a pyre this month in a ceremony Alistair wasn't invited to, but then it evens out to his normal drawl— ] will you still let me, now that you're having mysterious dreams with dragons? I'm still over here dreaming about [ darkspawn ] really big cakes. I'll understand, if you can't be seen with a cake-dreamer in public.
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Do you really want Thranduil to be asked to make an attempt? Thranduil the pony-pusher who needs owl beaks?]
Maybe. [There's a Morrigan-esque pause. Dramatic. If not for the relieved little hitched breath.] If we can get real cakes sometimes? Then you have reasons. Because there are cakes.
[And you got to play with his toy dragon and didn't let him win so this is only fair, and he's not pointing that out to you because he's trying to be a good man. You know. Like mother said you were.
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[ STOP MAKING ME SAD MHAIRI ]
Don't tell her I said that. [ But. ] But you ought to tell her about your dreams, you know. She's clever. She knows when she should worry and when she shouldn't.
title of his first EP right here
Mother tells me all about where she goes but she won't and she keeps staring up at the mountain as if she's waiting for something to darken the horizon. I can't tell her, sometimes it's okay to keep secrets if you want people to be happy.
[Right Darkspawn Fever Dreams Dad?] I can bring her cake, she'd like that better.
I'm gonna photoshop an album cover