xp_logs | Nathan and Askani, the middle of Monday night

Nathan's been sleeping enough during the day lately that sleeping through the night is even more of a challenge than usual. He and Askani watch the moonlight and talk Shakespeare.

The large amounts of sleep were probably good for him, but they were certainly messing with his internal clock, Nathan thought, lying there and staring up at the ceiling of the bedroom. Beside him, Moira was soundly asleep, breathing quietly. The thought of waking her up didn't even occur to him as he sat up, sliding out of bed and moving soundlessly over to the chair next to the window.

Their new window had a good view of the lake, right now reflecting the half-moon almost perfectly. Not much wind out there, Nathan thought, settling himself in the chair. He was almost tempted to go for a walk, but... no, he didn't want to chance disturbing Moira. It had been a very long day for her, too.

His head was throbbing dully - he'd taken a couple of painkillers less than four hours ago, so the headache was still at a relatively low ebb. Tolerable. Leaning back into the chair, he stared out the window, letting the relative silence all around him sink in. Oh, there were a few insomniacs and other assorted people not asleep - there always were around here - but that didn't make much difference on the telepathic level. The stillness was almost palpable.

#You love this time of night, don't you?# Askani asked softly.

He smiled slightly. #Don't you?# he murmured back to that hovering presence at the back of his mind. Glowing softly tonight, its usual fiery light subdued.

#Hard not to. Peaceful moments are rare.# No heat, no regret in the words. Just acceptance.

Nathan's smile lingered. #So we should savor them while we have them? Is that what you're saying?#

#Did I need to say it?#

#No. Not really.# He closed his eyes then, breathing out on a deep sigh as he felt the firebird-shape shift, wrapping warm wings around his mind. #Askani?# he sent back almost sleepily, oddly lulled by the sensation. Comforted, feeling almost... safe?

#You need to rest, little brother,# she murmured. #To heal.#

#Ravelled sleeve and all that crap...?#

#Mmm. Don't denigrate your Shakespeare. I'm finding him very interesting.# She'd had him reading Shakespeare one day last week. Not that he'd resisted too hard. He liked reading for them. Liked doing a lot of things for them, really. Seeing familiar things through their eyes was one of the more remarkable parts of this whole experience.

#I find it very amusing that you liked Henry V so much,# he sent teasingly.

#How could we not?# She paused. #'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...'#

Of course. The Crispin's Day speech. #Romantic,# he chided her gently.

She chuckled softly. #I try.#

Nathan took another deep breath. #You haven't heard this one,# he sent, the quotation coming back to him all at once. Appropriate in a strange way, although he hoped he wasn't going to start an argument by sharing it with her.

#If we shadows have offended,# he sent,
#Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream.
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend.#

She was silent, as if mulling it over. Not angry; he could tell that much. There was a sad edge to her presence, and he almost regretted sharing that particular quote. But then she sent another back to him, and what she chose to counter with surprised him.

#And now my charms are all o'erthrown,# she murmured,
#And what strength I have's mine own
Which is most faint; now t'is true
I must here be released by you
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself and frees all faults
As you from your crimes would pardon'd be
Let your indulgence set me free.#

Nathan was silent himself then, for a good long while. #Prospero's speech,# he finally sent back. #The Tempest.#

#I was taken by it.# The sensation of being enfolded in warmth, of floating weightless, sheltered and protected, grew stronger. #Close your eyes, little brother,# she whispered to him.

And he did.