"Do you hate me?" Nightmare asked, tilting his skull to one side as he peered at Seraphim and Bird across from him, specifically the taller one. Dream was beside him, worried.
Bird glanced awkwardly to the side as he shook his skull.
Seraphim's wings and Blaster all stared levelly at him, arms crossed.
"Maybe." One of the Souls responded, a voice only a few types could detect.

He was well aware of the resentment emanating from Seraphim, but wanted to hear it in the godling's words.
"I don't trust you." Came the curt reply.
Nightmare shrugged, a tendril rubbing against Dream's leafy wings.
"I don't blame you." He blinked, tentacles shifting. "But you need to stop being so aggressive. Save your enmity for later, when Galbatorix is defeated. Then you can hate us all you want." He leaned forward, hands on his kneecaps. "We need to make Alagaësia safe for the Multiverse, otherwise we're all worse than dead. Do you understand?"

"I thought you'd want this suffering." Seraphim retorted. Nightmare sighed. "I won't lie to you, I thought so too." He paused. "And I was wrong." He admitted slowly.
"Congratulations. Anyone can say that."
He narrowed his sockets at Seraphim in mild irritation before running a hand over his skull. "The imbalance actually sickens me. I never would have thought that it would be so, but it is."
"So you just go buddy-buddy with the brother you disowned and hated for millennia instead? You expect me to buy that?"
"The apples made him insane, he's better now!" Dream protested.
"Yeah, it'd be just like you to believe that. I don't." Seraphim shot back.

Before anyone else could speak, Nightmare was standing, tentacles spread out behind him before one reached forward and pressed into Seraphim's skull, inserting his mind into the other's. The taller gasped, choking as he stumbled backward and fell into the wall, clutching his skull as his wings wrapped around him protectively. Nightmare left his mind alone, simply remaining there as he opened his own vast consciousness to Seraphim.

I apologise for the intrusion, but it's the only way I can think to convince you to trust me for any amount of time. Look at me, Seraphim. Look and see the truth in my words. He explained smoothly, staring at the taller calmly. The Sans froze while the Souls went ahead and investigated curiously. Dream's consciousness was still connected to his own, seated in the back of his mind as the lighter twin encouraged them to see what he did.

Nightmare took notice of the Frisk and Chara, seeing their memories and thinking of Error because of them, how the glitch cared for all the scapegoat Charas back in the Multiverse. The two Determined Souls saw this and were dumbstruck, even more stunned when he wrapped them in gentle folds of consciousness. The Blaster floating above Seraphim now had a flickering reddish purple right eyelight.

Why… The first human whispered. Why are you being so kind to us.
Nightmare regarded the floating skull and replied bluntly. Because I have no need for more misery. There's too much, and I'd prefer you as allies. He blinked as Seraphim coughed. "I get it! Please, get out of my skull." He shook beneath the weight of Nightmare's consciousness, visibly trembling. The dark Guardian retracted quickly, leaving a tendril of thought between himself and the other's Souls so they could satisfy their curiosity. Seraphim eyed him warily, still shielding himself with his wings as his tail twitched in front of him.

"Are you gonna do that to me, too?" Bird questioned tensely, shoulders raised as he covered himself with his wings much like Seraphim was. Nightmare huffed. "I don't need to. You're not aggressive towards me and my team, so I have no reason to do that."
Bird's yellowed eyelights glanced to the side as he shuffled his mahogany wings around him.
"Just go." Seraphim suddenly rasped, coughing as he closed his sockets wearily.

Nightmare blinked, but stood. Dream followed, glancing back in concern before both left.
"I don't want him unduly worried about us." He murmured once they were out of hearing range. "They should be fine. We have what we want, you shouldn't waste your energy when it's more valuable elsewhere."
"Then we shouldn't waste it on Arya by that logic."
Nightmare flinched. "You know that's different."
"Then let's visit her." Dream stepped in front of him, eyelights pleading. The darker cocked his skull to the side. "Dream, that's intrusive."
"I'm not saying we bust down her door." Lighter responded drily. "You shouldn't be afraid of one elf, Brother."
"I'm not afraid of her." He narrowed his sockets but didn't meet the other's gaze. Dream leaned in closer, making sure Nightmare could see his disapproval. It radiated from his mind just as clearly.

"We're visiting Princess Arya." He asserted in the ancient language. "Dream, why." "Because we only have so much time with her, we can't avoid her eternally." "I never said to avoid her forever."
"And it wasn't your intention anyway? Brother, you need to stop being so thick skulled."
"I'm not." He grumbled, letting Dream drag him along. "Sure you're not, and I don't have to drag you to talk to someone." The lighter shot him a look. "Do you have any idea how obstinate you're being?"
"Yes. I just don't care." He huffed.

Dream rolled his eyelights and they kept going, despite Nightmare's irritable mumblings and protests, he never actually tried to stop it.
They passed Eragon on their way, freezing at the sight of the human, the Rider smiling faintly yet shambling like he was half-dead, waving slightly to them.
𝓔𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓸𝓷.. 𝓷𝓸..
Nightmare tugged Dream with him as he reached out suddenly, eyelights flaring. Eragon flinched, but nothing else as the skeleton grabbed his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" The human asked. Nightmare stared hard at him as both twins sent magic into Eragon. He suddenly tensed up, sensing it, but his eyes fluttered as it took affect.
"Thank you." He whispered softly, tears already shining.
"You need it." Nightmare nodded, just as soft. Eragon sighed, dipping his head before wandering off, a little more life in his step.

𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓮, 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓶𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽? Dream queried nervously. The darker shook his skull. ℌ𝔬𝔴 𝔩𝔬𝔫𝔤 𝔡𝔬 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔨 𝔥𝔢 𝔥𝔞𝔰?
Dream had no response. They slowly went on to Arya's door, silent after the encounter. Then the lighter sent out a sort of silent plea, something one might even call a prayer.
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓲𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮, 𝓭𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓸𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻, 𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓹 𝓱𝓲𝓶, 𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓳𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓫𝓮 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓮.
Nightmare glanced at him fretfully. His fears were loud in their minds.
"Brother. It's okay. I trust in things."
"You just begged for help."
"Just for assurance."
He gave his brother a meaningful look, but let it drop.

The door opened just as Dream raised his hand.
Nightmare choked briefly, having momentarily forgotten how he felt about her, hiding it under a throat clearing as Dream froze, eyelights locked on her face. "King. Lord." She addressed them formally. Nightmare jabbed Dream with a tendril out of her sight, and he coughed, pretending he didn't stare.
"Would you like to chat?" Nightmare quested calmly, struggling to keep his composure. Dream flashed a smile, eyelights green.

"I have just ended my talk with Rider Eragon."
"Oh, if it's any trouble we can leave-" Nightmare spoke quickly, ignoring the faint blush creeping up on him as Dream looked hurt. "We understand if you'd rather not."
"Decline a visitation from a king and his brother?" Arya countered smoothly. Her tone was formal, yet stung as though she'd skewered both their Souls at once. Dream flinched a little as Nightmare concealed his pain.
"If it's no trouble." He responded easily, though his tendrils had curled up behind him and Dream, vines twining around them on impulse.

She held the door open, her mind clear and quiet as it noted their subtle reactions mutely. Both entered without a word, Dream ducking his skull as Nightmare inclined his sagely.
𝓘'𝓶 𝓫𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼.
𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖐?! Nightmare roared internally with more anger than necessary. Dream gasped softly before glancing at him, hurt. He looked away quickly, stepping aside as Arya moved to cups to have tea.

ℑ'𝔪 𝔰𝔬𝔯𝔯𝔶, 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔢𝔵𝔱𝔯𝔢𝔪𝔢. Nightmare apologized, sensing Dream's guilt. 𝓝𝓸, 𝓷𝓸, 𝓘 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓭. 𝓘 𝓹𝓾𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼. The lighter argued, rubbing an arm. Nightmare hesitated. 𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔯𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔭𝔲𝔰𝔥 𝔪𝔢.
Dream blinked, looking up as the other glanced to the side. ...𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻.
...𝔚𝔢 𝔢𝔫𝔡𝔲𝔯𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔱𝔬𝔤𝔢𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯.
The lighter half took the darker's hand. 𝓝𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓫𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓫𝓪𝓭 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻.
Nightmare let himself smile. 𝔚𝔥𝔶 𝔡𝔦𝔡 ℑ 𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔥𝔞𝔱𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲?
Dream paused, caught off guard by the question momentarily. Nightmare lifted his hand, already wanting to apologise. 𝓑𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓜𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻'𝓼 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓬𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓸 𝓶𝓪𝓭. Dream spoke before he could say anything. They both stared at each other for a long moment.
Then both twins smiled at the other.

Arya returned, carrying two cups of tea that was boiling already. "You don't want any?" Nightmare asked as she gave both to them. "No, I have had my tea with Eragon." She shook her head, a hint of formality dropping away. "Have you two enjoyed your stay in Ellesméra so far?"
Nightmare regarded his mug, tapping his phalanges on it as Dream cupped his in both hands, sniffing it before responding. "So much. And it's so much better now that we have each other without fighting!" He beamed. Nightmare felt a smile twitch across his face, fondness seeping through. "It is nicer. One of the most pleasant lands I've ever had the joy of encountering. But then, I do love forests." He smiled bashfully.

"I am glad you find our home so enjoyable." She inclined her head. Both twins hummed, a sound produced more from their Souls than mouths. Nightmare then lowered his cup, sighing. "Why don't we skip the formalities? None of us enjoy them, and I'm curious how your time has been since returning to the halls of your home." Dream froze, nervous after he said this. Aya paused, her gaze piercing.

"I have treasured my time in my family's halls, but time cannot be held still. When the elven Blood-Oath celebration has passed, I must return to the Varden."
"So soon?" Dream asked mournfully, visibly distraught. Arya nodded. "I cannot reciprocate your love. It would be abominable to love more than one at once."
"Not among our cultures.." Dream murmured. Nightmare nudged him sharply. "We are aware of the situation. We are from different worlds with almost nothing in common but the laws that govern the physics of all worlds, and not even all of those are the same. But neither of us wish to lose your friendship."
She sighed faintly, considering this. "Eragon made this same argument with me as well."

Nightmare sipped his drink as she thought. "What was your response?" Dream asked quietly before hiding behind his cup.
She smiled at them. "It will endure."
Both twins gave restrained grins in response.

. • °. • °. • °. • °

Blue stared up at the vivid sky above them as they flew above a sea of white, mentally going over spells and tactics to keep himself from getting bored. He kept a wary socket out in case one of the dragons burst out sparring. He had to strap in his arms- as did Eragon- so neither would be thrown off.
They'd been flying since dawn, and it was early afternoon now.

Blue glanced down as GB nipped Draco's tail, which elicited a yelp as the other dove away, flipping upside down to fire a weak blast of light at the skeleblaster, who fell sideways to avoid it, laughing. Their banter was ignored by Glaedr as the great golden dragon kept flying, though Saphira shot a tongue of flame at them in amusement. Draco flew up and nearly set her off balance with the wind his wings generated, jaws clamping shut near her in a coy temptation to get her to chase them. She trumpeted and snapped at him, teeth snicking against each other as she caught his wingtip.

Enough. Glaedr suddenly announced. We are here. Draco levelled out as Blue perked up eagerly. Four mountains stood regally before them, their snowy slopes blown by wind, exposed to the relentless sun that held almost no warmth this high above the ground.
They look so small compared to the Beors. Saphira commented.
Well I don't think there's a single mountain that can really compare to those behemoths. GB countered, studying the cliffs as they circled to land.

When Glaedr had selected a ridge and alighted, Draco swooped in and settled off to the side across from him, Saphira not far behind. GB landed last, sniffing the yellow lichen that covered everything as Blue dismounted.
Towering above them was a black wall so sheer it couldn't be scaled. It was holding back a glacier, the ice cracking and groaning as the frozen wind whistled coldly across it.

This peak is known as Fionula, Glaedr spoke. And her brothers are Ethrundr, Merogoven, and Griminsmal. Each has it's own tale, which I shall recount on the flight back. But for now, I shall address the purpose of this trip, namely the nature of the bond forged between the dragons and elves and, later, humans of Alagaësia. You all know something of it- and I have hinted at its full implications to Istalrfreohr, Dauthíblakka and Saphira- but the time has come to learn the solemn and profound meaning of your partnerships, as partial as Uniter's and Istalrfreohr's may be, so you four may uphold it when Oromis and I are no more.

"Master?" Eragon asked as he tugged his cloak with a shiver. Yes, Eragon. The greater rumbled.
"Why is Oromis not here with us?"
Because, said the giant. It is my duty- as was always the duty of an elder dragon in centuries past- to ensure that the newest generation of Riders understands the true importance of the station they have assumed. And because Oromis is not as well as he appears.
Stones crumbled with loud snaps as the enormous dragon couched himself with the scree and resting his magnificent head lengthwise to the younger dragons and pair of Riders. He studied them with his massive eye as a puff of smoke escaped his nostrils.

Parts of what I am about to reveal were common knowledge among the elves, Riders, and learned humans, but much of it was known only to the leader of the Riders, a mere handful of elves, the humans' current potentate, and, of course, the dragons. He explained.
Listen now, my hatchlings. Draco gave a soft snort at the title, GB blinking. Glaedr continued.

When peace was made between dragons and elves at the end of our war, the Riders were created to ensure such conflict would never again arise between our two races. Queen Tarmunora of the elves and the dragon who had been selected to represent us, whose name- here he hesitated, instead sending a bunch of impressions to the group that were confusing.

Long tooth, white tooth, chipped tooth, fights won, fights lost; countless Shrrg and Nagra consumed, twenty-seven eggs sired and nineteen hatchlings reaching adulthood. He returned to language as soon as the last one faded. -cannot be expressed in any language, decided that a common treaty would not suffice. Signed paper means nothing to a dragon. Our blood runs hot and thick and, given enough time, it was inevitable that we would clash with the elves again, as we had with the dwarves over the millennia. But unlike with the dwarves, neither we nor the elves could afford another war. We were both too powerful, and we would have destroyed each other. The one way to prevent that and to forge a meaningful accord was to link our two races with magic.

Blue was leaning against GB as the skeleblaster laid his skull on the ground, kneading the hard rocks beneath his talons. Glaedr addressed Saphira with humor in his voice. Saphira, if you are wise, you will heat one of these rocks with the fire from your belly so that your Rider does not freeze.
The skeletons all blinked before regarding the shivering human in their midst in surprise. Blue allowed a mental facepalm as he leaned forward, Saphira releasing a blazing blue torrent upon a spot of lichen, unleashing a bitter odor as it crisped, bugs turning to ash under the white-hot rock. She closed off the flames with a heavy clamp of her jaw and Eragon crouched over the glowing red stones.
Remember, use your tongue to direct the stream. Glaedr told her.

You're fine though, right Blue? GB asked in concern. He smiled at his friend. "Forgetting I'm a skeleton like you, are you now?"
GB clapped a talon over his sockets, groaning. I'm surrounded by fleshy people, of course I'd get mixed up! He complained. Draco chortled beside him, skeleblaster smacking him with his tail. Ow.
You asked for it.
YoU aSkEd FoR iT. Skeledragon mocked childishly as he rested his skull on the rocks. GB turned and glared at him as Blue snickered, which Draco responded with a sly grin before noticing Glaedr's gaze piercing into him, shriveling up and studying the lichen. GB glanced at the elder and resumed his former position, huffing.

Now… Glaedr began. It took nine years for the elves' wisest magicians to devise the needed spell. When they had, they and the dragons gathered together at Ilirea. The elves provided the structure of the enchantment, the dragons provided the strength, and together they melded the souls of elves and dragons.

The joining changed us. We dragons gained the use of language and other trappings of civilization, while the elves shared in our longevity, since before that moment, their lives were as short as humans'. In the end, the elves were the most affected. Our magic, dragons' magic- which permeates every fiber of our being- was transmitted to the elves and, in time, gave them their much-vaunted strength and grace. Humans have never been influenced as strongly, since they were added to the spell after it's completion and it has not had as much time to work upon you as with the elves. Still- his great eye glimmered happily- it has already gentled your race from the rough barbarians who first landed in Alagaësia, though you have begun to regress since the Fall.

"Were dwarves ever part of the spell?" Eragon quested. Blue clasped his hands together, eagerly awaiting the response.
No, Glaedr answered. And that is why there has never been a dwarf Rider. They do not care for dragons, nor we for them, and they found the idea of being joined with us repellent. Perhaps it is fortunate they did not enter our pact, for they have escaped the decline of humans and elves.
Decline, Master? Saphira asked with an odd teasing note in her voice.

Aye, decline. If one or another of our three races suffer, so do they all. By killing dragons, Galbatorix harmed his own race as well as the elves. The five of you have not seen this, for you are new to Ellesméra, but the elves are on the same; their power is not what it once was. And humans have lost much of their culture and been consumed by chaos and corruption. Only by righting the imbalance between our three races shall order return to the world.

The elder crushed the stone and rock beneath him to gravel as he kneaded it, settling down further. Layered within the enchantment Queen Tarmunora oversaw was the mechanism that allows a hatchling to be linked with his or her Rider. When a dragon decides to give an egg to the Riders, certain words are said over the egg- which I shall teach you later- that prevent the dragon inside from hatching until it is brought into contact with the person with whom it decides to bond. As dragons can remain in their eggs indefinitely, time is of no concern, nor is the infant harmed. You yourself are an example of this, Saphira.

The bond that forms between a Rider and dragon is but an enhanced version of the bond that already exists between our races. The human or elf becomes stronger and fairer, while some of the dragon's fiercer traits are tempered by a more reasoned outlook…. I see a thought biting at your tongue, Eragon. What is it?
"It's just…" The human articulated. "I have a hard time imagining you or Saphira being any fiercer. Not that that's a bad thing." He spoke quickly in fear of insulting the elder.

The world around trembled as the great dragon chuckled, his eye rolling up under it's lid and returning to gaze upon them. If ever you met an unbonded dragon, you would not say so. A dragon alone answers to no one and no thing, takes whatever pleases it, and bears no thought of kindness for aught it's kith and kin. Fierce and proud were the wild dragons, even arrogant…. The females were so formidable, it was accounted a great accomplishment among the Riders' dragons to mate with one.

The lack of this bond is why Galbatorix's partnership with Shruikan, his second dragon, is such a perverted union. Shruikan did not choose Galbatorix as his partner; he was twisted by certain black magics into serving Galbatorix's madness. Galbatorix has constructed a depraved imitation of the relationship that you, Eragon, and you, Saphira, possess, and that you, Uniter and you, Istalrfreohr, emulate so naturally, a bond that he lost when the Urgals murdered his original dragon.

The golden dragon paused his speech and regarded them, only his eye moving as he studied first Eragon and Saphira, then GB and Blue, landing upon Draco before refocusing on the Riders and their dragons.
That which links you, and you have linked yourselves, he addressed the original Riders before the skeletal pair, exceeds any simple connection between minds. Your very identities, Souls, even, in your case skeletons, have been welded on a primal level.
His eye landed upon Eragon. Do you believe that a fleshly being's soul is separate from their body?

"I don't know." Eragon admitted. "Saphira once took me out of my body and let me see the world through her eyes…. It seemed like I was no longer connected to my body. And if the wraiths that a sorcerer calls upon can exist, and souls from the monster's worlds are possible for ourselves, then maybe our consciousness is independent of flesh as well."

Glaedr reached out lazily with the tip of his foreclaw, flipping a stone to uncover a woodrat shaking with terror in it's nest. His tongue appeared and both were gone in an instant. Blue blinked and averted his gaze as it died.
When the flesh is destroyed, so is the soul. Glaedr informed them. Accounts of monsterkind has proven the same with their own Souls.

"But an animal isn't a person." Eragon argued. After your meditations, do you truly believe that any of us are different from a woodrat? That we are gifted with the miraculous quality that other creatures do not enjoy and that somehow preserves our beings after death?

"No." Eragon mumbled defeatedly.
I thought not. Because we are so closely joined, when a dragon or Rider is injured, they must harden their hearts and sever the connection between them in order to protect each other from unnecessary suffering, even insanity. And since the soul cannot be torn from the flesh, you must resist the temptation to try to take your partner's soul into your own body and shelter it there, as that will result in both your deaths. Even if it were possible, it would be an abomination of our world to have multiple consciousnesses in one body.

"But our worlds have that occurrence happen many times, as unlike monsters, the humans of our worlds have Souls that persist after death, and there are already monsters with multiple consciousnesses in their bodies, like Seraphim for example." Blue argued.

Those consciousness are tied to the Souls and not directly to himself. If they were to be removed, the minds would follow. They may be woven into the monster's flesh or bones, but they are not inherently one with the host. It is a symbiosis. Glaedr explained to him. The minds of those from your worlds are tied to the Souls, which is a form of flesh there. Can you tear a consciousness from the Soul?
"...No." Blue said with some difficulty.

There was a moment of silence as they all contemplated these things.

"How terrible to die alone, separate even from the one who is closest to you." Eragon stated sadly.
Everyone dies alone, Eragon. Whether you are a king on a battlefield or a lowly peasant lying in bed among your family, no one can accompany you into the void…. Now I will have you practice separating your consciousnesses. Start by…

. • °. • °. • °. • °. • °

Blue stared at a scroll while seated in the chair in the study, a bowl of blueberries and strawberries on the desk as he read, loose papers he'd been writing on scattered across it's surface as Eragon ate his meal downstairs… more like battled with GB for who could eat the most, as the other had been eating so much lately it had become a slight competition with whoever didn't reach the meal first and took their share.
But then he heard Eragon give up.
"I can't stand the sight of no meat anymore."
Saphira's voice echoed within Blue's mind, and he swung around in the chair as he listened. I have needed to eat for the past two days. Would you like to join me? You can cook as much meat as you like and the elves will never know.

"GB." Blue called out as he peered at the desk with his work half sprawled, half ordered on top. "Do you plan on joining them?" Claws clicked as the skeleblaster walked up the stairs, wearing shorts and a baggy t-shirt as he held a seed cake and banana bread in his hands, biting into the first. "You okay alone?" He quested aloud in Wingdings. Blue gestured to the ordered chaos that was his mess. "I'm a little busy." He chuckled as he answered. "Kay." He paused, peering at the seed cake. Then he shoved the rest of it in his maw and set the banana bread down on the bowl of berries.
"Mind turning around while I change?" Blue swiveled back to the desk, grabbing a strawberry as he refocused on the school he was currently still reading as cloth hit the floor and bones cracked.

"Hey Blue." GB suddenly asked in a low voice after a minute of quiet. "Hmm?"
"How do I look? I've asked Draco already, but, uh, I'd like a second opinion?"
"You look good and handsome, I don't see why you'd think otherwise." Blue responded easily. He paused when the other's eyelights came close enough to shine on the paper. Warm breath washed over him. "I'm not talking about that."
He felt his own lights go out momentarily as it occurred to him. "You're trusting me enough to show that?" He finally responded in Wingdings, turning around slowly. The skeleblaster nodded shyly.
"It's kinda.. fair, since both our minds are kinda bouncing around in the other's skull a lot. Our Souls are connected, however that actually works. You know what I mean?"

Blue nodded. "But are you okay with it?"
"Yeah. I'm okay.. but can you.. uh.. count them?" He awkwardly asked, a talon rubbing his neck vertebrae with a dull scraping noise. Blue nodded again. "Can you not tell?"
"Draco's too big to see exactly and I can't really look at it either?" Blue reached over and patted his muzzle. "It's okay. As your friend, I am telling you that it's okay."

GB sighed as Saphira leapt out of the tree. I am not waiting for you! She called out to him. I'll catch up anyway. He responded in kind, eyelights flicking over to the window of the study. "So." He stated as she flew off.
Blue dipped his skull. "Let me see." The skeleblaster bobbed his skull and turned to the side timidly, peering back as he revealed his ribs to the smaller. Blue hummed, peering at it as he spotted site lights around the other's Soul flashing through the ribcage. "I think I'm going to have to stand under you to get a better view. But it looks good so far. Really good!"

GB warbled awkwardly and stood up, pressing his spine into the ceiling and squeezing his sockets shut while a blue glow light up his face. "Are you sure you're not too uncomfortable with this?"
"No, I'm just feeling kinda stupid-" The dragonic skeleton choked out.
"Hey, you're not stupid. I'm happy for you! But again, please be careful."
GB groaned, shifting his stance. "How many, Blue?"

The smaller stepped under the skeleblaster and peered inside the ribcage, sockets widening in surprise.
He choked for a second then spoke mentally. If I'm not mistaken, I count four. Four!
GB froze, then slumped over. Blue had to jump out of the way as the skeleblaster collapsed to his kneecaps.
I didn't know that many was even possible.. I thought two was a lot and three too many..
Well, you're not a pure-blood skeleton, maybe it's because you're part dragon?... Speaking of which, what form would you like to carry them full-term with?
Does that change anything?
I imagine it does.

GB thought for a moment, kneading the wood. This one. He finally answered. This is a good world for dragons. I kinda like the idea. I'd have a whole thunder of babybones and my bro's gonna be an uncle. By now his eyelights were gleaming with excitement.
Has Draco experienced anything? Is he..? Blue asked from the chair. GB hesitated.
I've seen how they look at him, it's the same as you. Blue explained.
The skeleblaster nodded slowly.
How many?
We can't tell.

Blue pondered this for a minute, then stood up. GB turned to him, confused. He merely strode up and wrapped his arms around GB's neck vertebrae. We can take a step back from everything if it's what you need, friend.
There was a pause as the skeleblaster sighed. No. I won't rest until Galbatorix is dead. If I'm having kids, it's in this world. But I won't have kids, especially related to dragons, when Galbatorix is looming over them. Never. After what his servant did to me? His voice developed a steely, frightening edge as he continued. I'll rip every human on this continent to shreds and turn the king to ashes myself.
Now Blue giggled softly. That's something a dragon would say.
Good. The skeleblaster growled.

He relaxed, smiling at his friend. Thanks for being there despite everything. We've barely known each other for more than a few months and you've been so kind.
Blue beamed at him. "That's what friends do." He strode back to the desk, sitting back down. "Now go find Saphira or Draco, I have work to do and you still need to feed yourself, you bottomless pit." GB snorted, pushing his muzzle into the back of Blue's skull. Rude.
The smaller grinned, daintily grabbing the loaf of banana bread. "You just cost yourself a delicious treat."
Nnnoooooooo… whatever. He crawled to the hole in the wall with no small amount of bones scraping against wood. You get it this time.
Blue grinned at him, holding the food in hand. "Appreciated."

The skeleblaster chortled, his voice metallic as he spread his wings outside the window, glancing back with joy suffusing his features. He pushed off, shaking the whole tree as he flapped away. Blue smiled to himself, taking a bite out of the food. The gratitude in the other's face left his Soul feeling warm. He returned to his studies with a renewed vigor, satisfied in himself.
There's new life in Alagaësia, now.