Of dragons and windows

– Nav?
Nothing
– Nav?
Nothing
– Nav,
— Jesus christ!
– Sorry,
— For fuck’s sake!
– I’m sorry.
— Don’t creep up on me like that.
– I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.
— No no, no problem. Just make some noise or something when you move.
– Sorry.
— Fuck.
Pause
— How does a dragon like you move without making a sound anyway?
– You know the answer to that.
— I suppose I do. Anyway, use your human form.
– Is that a command?
— Christ’s sake, of-course it isn’t. Do me a favour will you?
– Just this once.
— This once my arse.
– I’ve lost track of how many favours you owe me.
Eyebrows
— You want to talk about owing favours?
Pause
– I get your point.
Pause
— How are you?
– About the same, you?
— Bouncing off the fucking walls.
– That good?
— Absolutely.
– Being at the windows can’t be helping you.
— I have to be here.
– Sorry?
— The paranoia keeps me here.
– Right, and jumpiness ensues.
Pause
– What are you looking for anyway?
— I don’t know.
Pause
— Something. Anything.
– Hey you know it’s getting pretty hairy in there.
— You’re telling me.
– And um, well, I was talking to a few people and you know, they thought you should know.
— I’m fully aware of it, thanks.
– Yeah but you know, I mean, they haven’t seen you in a while.
— If anyone wants me I’m here.
– Yeah OK. And that’s fine. A few people know that. Well, it’s just that,
— Will you talk straight?
– Look, people are afraid of the windows.
— And well they should be too.
– So you understand right? No-one knows what to do.
— And you think I do? You think I should come back up there and organise everyone?
– Well… with Access gone and all,
— She isn’t gone, you just can’t reach her the same way you’re used to.
– OK no-one’s really explained that to, well, anyone really.
— You have to figure it out for yourself. I had to figure it out. Vroenis,
– On the matter of Vroenis…
Pause
— Yes?
Pause
– Sorry. It seems all we ever do is ask you questions.
— Well, most of the time I like talking.
Pause
— Right now, with things the way they are, you’re all just going to have to cope as best you can. Out there,
Gesturing
— they call this Verbal Communication.
– … you mean Manual Communication?
— You guys call it what you want. I’m not hip with all of the abbreviations and acronyms you all seem to be in love with.
– … so this… talking, we’ve been doing – we have to keep doing it?
Turning to look
— Yes. Yes indeed you will all have to keep doing it.
Turning back
The two figures stare out of the windows
– This has to be about the scariest place I can think of.
Exhale
— You’ve got great courage in coming here, I appreciate it.
– No thanks for talking to me.
Watching
– I can’t take much more of this.
— You’re right, take off,
Exhale
— I’ll come back up at some point, talk to I don’t know, whoever I can find.
– Thanks. We appreciate it, I appreciate it.
— No problem.
Pause
– You sure you’re going to be alright down here?
— No.
Pause
– I could stay?
— Don’t damage yourself any more than you have to.
Pause
— I’ll come up later, I promise.
Pause
— What?
Pause
– Where is Vroenis?
Inhale
Exhale
— If I knew that, young dragon, I wouldn’t be sitting here staring at the Externals all day.