how long has it been?

[small_magics]

Isibel's beloveds are home. And they are with her. And they are quite undisturbed.

Anyone who could not guess the ensuing events would not know them very well.

She has spent over a sennight, now, with them, entangled and sleepless and so very, very glad to have them again.

It is during a lull in the proceedings - if it can really be called that, when they are sandwiched around her, Ansharil in one of his humanoid shapes, Aianon with his wings wrapping them all up in a bundle - when it occurs to her that Lycaelon was promised a kiss, once, years ago.

Comments

[small_magics]

"You are gazing at my dragon. You may wish to stop and think." She puts her hand between his eyes and Ansharil.

[wildlymagical]

"Oh. Oh," says Lycaelon. "He's - not a dragon right now, does that...? I guess it doesn't."

He shuts his eyes.

"I should ask Liselen what's going on," he concludes.

And he conference-calls them all on brainphone.

[Liselen, why am I about to bond with Ansharil?]

[pythbox]

[Fate, I guess,] says Liselen. [I don't have anything specific to tell you about it.]

[small_magics]

[So presumably you do not have to do it to save the world.]

[pythbox]

[Absolutely no world-saving involved,] Liselen confirms. [It's all up to you.]

[wildlymagical]

[Okay...] says Lycaelon. [That's... good? I guess?]

[small_magics]

[If you share my initial discomfort with the idea but would otherwise like to, it can, of course, be patched by magic.]

[wildlymagical]

"Right," he murmurs. [Thanks, Lise.] "Are - what do you think, I'm not just deciding this for me, am I?"

[endragoned]

"We are all deciding it," says Ansharil. "For all of us."

Aianon causes the floor of the tree to grow a comfortable chair for Lycaelon to sit in, and stands up to guide him into it. His wings arch around the chair, shielding Lycaelon from stray glimpses of his dragon even if he were to open his eyes.

[small_magics]

Isibel flops onto Ansharil. (She is already Bonded with him and can look at him as much as she likes.) "It would be different. Perhaps in a good way, though."

[endragoned]

"I would not mind," says Aianon, running his fingers through Lycaelon's hair (and being careful with his talons) as Ansharil hugs Isibel. "I could love you happily."

[wildlymagical]

"Apparently I could love you too," says Lycaelon. "But - sharing each other's minds, that's optional? Right? You fixed that?"

[small_magics]

"...I do not know how the wish will hold, with another mind added to the Bond. I will be safe; my aura will do it - you might have to wait a short while for Lazarus to have another look at us all and make a replacement wish."

[wildlymagical]

"It's not the mind-reading that I can't stand so much as the closeness," he says, "and I can live with that in small doses. And... I want to. I think I want to."

[endragoned]

Aianon hugs him.

[small_magics]

"If these are small enough doses, then if you continue staring at my beloved now, we might have to become presentable for Lazarus sooner than I would prefer," remarks Isibel.

[endragoned]

"You could collect your kiss now and come back later," Aianon suggests.

[wildlymagical]

Lycaelon laughs, reaching up without opening his eyes to locate Aianon's face and pull it down for a kiss.

Mmmm. Kiss.

[endragoned]

Mmmm.

[wildlymagical]

"I don't know how small," he says, when there has been enough kiss. "I've never bonded with a dragon before."

[small_magics]

"It is like falling," murmurs Isibel.

[wildlymagical]

He shivers, leaning his face against Aianon's chest.

"What else is it like?"

[endragoned]

"Like always knowing the person you love is there, even when they are far away," says Aianon.

[wildlymagical]

He shivers again.

[small_magics]

"I was afraid. I'm sure it's different if you aren't afraid."