Late Night Conversations

The house was quiet as Duelek slipped out of their room, closing the door behind them with a careful silence to keep the chill of the night out of the warm room to avoid disturbing the figure left sleeping within. 

It was just a bit of restlessness, normal when the nights wouldn’t take the nervous, buzzing energy from their insides, when it felt like an oncoming storm rising in the core of themself they couldn’t find a way to expel. They’d thought, hoped really, that letting themself be distracted and convinced into something like rest would lead to them sleeping but that hadn’t been the case and enough time had passed for them to need to get up and do something else with themself.

Evander hadn’t stirred overly much as they’d slipped from warm blankets and soft pillow, something they were thankful for as they hadn’t wanted to disturb the other. The Robber had only just gotten back from Sagev the previous afternoon, travelling halfway across the world to the desert and back again was bound to be exhausting and Duelek didn’t want to keep him from the rest he needed after making his way back up the mountain.

It left them with little to do with themself though, the night was too dark for them to work on anything they needed to, even with their inherited dark-sight, and Duelek wasn’t willing to risk lighting the fireplace just to give themself a bit of light to work by else it drawn one of the others to come check on them. 

They’d figure out something to do with the time, first though, a bit of tea would do them some good, help settle their nerves and bristling fur a bit.

They pushed off of their door lightly, steps silent and soft on the wooden floorboard beneath their claws, making their way carefully down the small corridor until they reached the opening to the kitchen, eyes just able to make out the firm, steady shape of the walls around them and the sudden drops into darkness that was the doorway into the main room and kitchen, the rest of the rooms further down the hall from their own room. 

They paused at the opening into the kitchen, eyes catching on something just a bit further down the corridor. The front door was open just the tiniest bit, breaking the darkness of the house with the brighter dark of the night outside.

They blinked at the doorway a moment before continuing into the kitchen, they’d need a second mug.

A few minutes and two steaming mugs of tea later, Duelek picked up two of the larger knitted blankets kept by the fireplace before heading outside, folded fabric tucked between their elbow and ribs and mugs in hand as they slipped out of the door onto the verandah and the large, imposing figure sitting at the top of the small set of stairs that connected the house to the ground of the clearing it sat in the middle of.

Orrin was always an odd sight in his more casual sleeping wear, still dark and plain with little to no excess skin and fur visible to anyone but softer in a way, less form fitting and baggier around his figure, making him seem both larger and softer in appearance. Add in the fact that his hair was falling loose and free around his face and Orrin looked different from how he usually did. He was still wearing his glasses though, the large singular one that he admitted didn’t help him like he wanted them to, gaze pointed up towards the endless expanse of stars overhead, the elevation of the mountain making them a wondrous sight to behold.

“Yo,” Duelek called, as soft as they could make their voice but still causing the Dashrt to jump in surprise, head snapping to the Weaver as he tensed all over. “Ya gonna be all up an’ catchin’ ya death a cold out here without anything ta keep warm with.”

“Ah,” Orrin breathed, tension bleeding from his shoulders he reached out to take the mug Duelek was offering him. “I was not expecting to be out here too long, I must have simply lost track of time.” He drew the mug back towards himself, brow furrowing in concern. “I did not wake you, did I?”

“Nah, ya didn’t do a thing ta being wakin’ me,” Duelek hummed, lowering himself to sit next to Orrin, setting their own mug down so they could spread out the blankets they’d brought with them. “Imma give ya the green one.”

“That colour is awful,” Orrin still accepted the fabric Duelek offered to him, wrapping it around his shoulders and curling himself into it. “Thank you.”

“Ya being welcome,” Duelek wrapped themself in their own blanket, picking up their mug of tea and taking a deep sip. 

A few long moments of silence follow with the two of them sitting next to each other, Orrin’s eyes focused up to the heavens above while Duelek sat with their back to his side.

“What’s got you up?” Duelek asked, turning his head upwards and back to meet Orrin’s eyes. 

“Nightmares.”

Duelek’s brow furrowed, his ears twitching up to focus on the Dasher better. “The fearin’ kind or the uncomfortable kind?”

Orrin opened his mouth as if to answer but hesitated, biting his tusks into his bottom lip and flicking his gaze away from Duelek. “A bit of both I would say.”

“Sorry ta be hearin’ that bro.” They lapsed into quiet for a moment before Duelek turned so that their side was resting against Orrin’s own. “Ya wanna… talk ‘bout it any?”

Two sets of blue turned to look at them before shaking his head. “I do not really wish to, no.”

“Thanks being understanding.”

“What about you?”

“Hmm?” Duelek blinked, whiskers twitching and ear quirking in a questioning tilt. “What ‘bout me?”

“Why are you awake at this time of night?”

“Just can’t be fallin’ asleep tonight.” They shrugged a shoulder, the event a common enough occurrence that Orrin’s heard it before. “One a them days.”

“You have not been sleeping well the past few nights either though.”

Duelek huffed an amused breath at the concern in Orrin’s voice, dropping their head and snuggling deeper into their blanket. “One a them weeks, I guess.”

Orrin shifts next to them, setting his mug of tea down to his free side before drawing his blanket tighter around himself, turning his gaze back to the stars above them. “Is Evander awake?”

“Nah,” a shake of their head against Orrin’s arm as they rested heavier against his side. “He’s getting his sleep on, didn’t wanna disturb him with this none.”

“I see.”

“Mihal?”

“Sleeping as well. I… did not want to wake them.”

Duelek’s whiskers lifted at the hesitation in Orrin’s voice. “Ya didn’t wanna or ya didn’t think ya was allowed to?”

Orrin took a deep breath, lifting Duelek with the lift of his shoulders. “I did not want to.”

“Ya know ya can though,, right?” Duelek asked, tone serious and steady, nothing in it to suggest that he was joking. “They ain’t gonna be minding none iffin ya woke ‘em up because ya need ta talk something important at ‘em. They got all their care on at you.”

“I am aware,” Orrin kept his gaze pointed skyward, avoiding Duelek’s eyes as much as he could. “I simply do not want to wake them over something I could simply wait to discuss with them in the morning.”

“Whatever ya being ta say bro,” Duelek shrugged, finally finishing their own cooling tea. 

“What about you? Why did you not wake up Evander?”

“I don’t think I’m being allowed to. Don’t wanna bother him none with silly things like ain’t being able to being settled anyways.”

Orrin blinked, turned to stare at the Weaver. “Do you wish to be the pot or kettle in this situation?”

“Shut yaself.” Duelek snorted, shoving at Orrin’s side to absolutely no result whatsoever.

“It is true and you know it.” Orrin returned, a smile in his voice as he looked skywards again.

“Mayhaps. A little bit.” Or a lot. “Whatya lookin’ at anyways? Don’t think I’ve ever seen ya interested in the stars.”

“Oh! It is…” he dithered a moment, hesitating before continuing in a small, dismissive voice. “It is silly, nothing really worth focusing on.”

“Go on,” Duelek nudged, ducking a bit so he could look up to Orrin’s face. “Ya think my stuff’s silly but ya still let me chat ‘bout it. I wanna be hearin’ what ya thinking.”

“...” Orrin’s brow furrowed down at the Weaver before swallowing heavily. “I was wondering if my… if he was up there.” Duelek feels their gaze softening, ears and whiskers drooping at the answer, but Orrin continued to speak before they could say anything. “You said that the stars are just the spirits of the dead, remember? Though it is not that I think he is… I just do not have a way of knowing for certain and if he was then I would hope that he is…”

Orrin trails off, unable to put his thoughts into the words he wanted.

Duelek watched him for a minute before reaching out to rest his claws on the Dasher’s arm. “I’m being all kinds a sure he’s being proud a ya, wherever the world’s being keep him; up there watching ya or out and living like ya are now. Can’t be anything else with how hard ya trying ta be who you wanna be now, yeah?”

“I… would like that to be true.”

“Then it’s gonna be true ‘til ya bein’ ta findin’ him ta ask.” Duelek nodded, firm and leaving nothing to argue. “It’s all kinda a simple.”

“... I do not think that is how this works.” There’s a smile on Orrin’s face, small and shaking. “But I would like it to be.”

“Then let it be,” a dismissive shrug. “It’s that simple.”

“You should take your own advice sometimes,” Orrin hummed, startling Duelek enough for them to snap their head up to his face, the Dasher already looking back at the stars. “It is good.”

“... Alright,” they said after a moment, turning to look at the heavens above as well. “Ya want me ta point out some a the constellations?”

“I would, yes.”