“Aaaaalllllllll….” Cepheus drew out his friend and colleague’s nickname in a long exaggerated vowel, inclining towards him at the bar. “Come on, when are you coming back to work? It’s been fooooreverrrrrr.”

Alphonse Zephyr was a missed face about Level Four. A dragon handler and dragonologist, he might have spent a good deal of time out in the field with those insanely large beasts, but his complete absence from the Department was conspicuous. Although Ceph had made a point of visiting Al’s bedside in St Mungo’s after the accident last May[1] when a hebridean black had clobbered his brother’s former classmate. He’d kept visiting right through to July, though his colleague’s condition had not always been up to very long visits he still made the effort, lending interesting papers.

The query posed with merriment at Death & Co.’s bar that Saturday evening was meant with affection to the other wizard rather than any malice or suggestion that Alphonse was taking an inordinately long time to recover from what had been a very serious affliction. With taking on his new role at the turn of the year, Cepheus had become more acutely aware of his allies on the fourth floor, and felt inclined to keep them closer.

“I mean, I have to come and meet you at the pub. Which is, tremendous, especially here, but…” Ceph softened his features and lifted a hand towards his companion, “… you’re really missed mate. We need an Al in our lives. Not only because you’re a blessing to look at.” He patted Alphonse on the cheek with good humour and winked, snatching up his pint again. “I need reinforcements to poke petty humour at Balfour.”

1.	20 May, 2010 Dragons, epidemics, letters, oh my!

"Ceeeeeephhh...." Al replied, imitating the cadence of Cepheus' voice. He welcomed his prescence. Truly, he missed most of his friends on Level Four. He missed being on the field even more. He had done some paperwork from home while he was still recovering. The paperwork was boring. Soon, he would be back in the office-- doing the same paperwork. Margo had done the same for a long time. She was done with dragons now, taking care of this bar. Margo owning it was the whole reason it had become his favorite place to drink.

He would have rather been with dragons than behind a desk, pushing papers. Yes, it was necessary work. But to have it be your only work was flat-out depressing.

Zephyr took a long-suffering breath, following it up with a good-natured smile."Ah, I could stand to be around everybody, too." With a sip of his whiskey, he turned his body to face Cepheus. He felt the deeper scars tugging against his muscle. "I hope you haven't been going too easy on Balfour? He needs some rough treatment.

"I hope you haven't been going too easy on Balfour? He needs some rough treatment.” Ceph snorted into his pint and put it down prematurely, quickly wiping the foam head off the end of his nose and top lip before he looked back to Alphonse.
“Of course not. Mrs L does keep him in line, but well, we have to suffer his doe-eyeing of Storm not to mention the rest. Subtlety is not in their vocabulary.” Ceph shook his head and ran a hand through his thick dark hair.

“He has to put up with me in Departmental meetings now. I think in honesty it is Hollow[1] who suffers for the two of us, not to mention Spirit Division. I take it Spectre has been keeping you a little busy with the paperwork at least. Mrs L oft tells me her Division has an aversion to writing things down, so I’m not surprised the moment one of you is immobilised you get assigned an everlasting quill.” The pint made a more assured return journey to Ceph’s lips for a thirsty gulp before Al could make a suggestive comment and bring a blush to his fellow drinker’s face.

“How long do they say it’ll be before you’re back in the saddle, anyhow? Do you feel like you’ve knitted yourself back together? Leave it too long and there won’t be any dragons left now the epidemic has blown through.” He shrugged and shook his head, thinking back to the end of October[2] and the news of an ending.

1.	Elias Hollow, Dept Head
2.	28 October 2010 Like Real Dragons Do

If Mrs. L wasn't around, Alphonse was certain that the entirety of level four would fall apart. Someone had to keep the division head in check. He cringed at the mention of Johann and Balfour. Subtle was not in their nature. He wished it was. Al had never been a fan of public displays of affection, apart from the occasional hug or a kiss on the cheek.

Al nodded in agreement to the paperwork. Merlin, he had too much. It only made him wish he could be on the field again.

But at the same time, he wasn't sure if he should. Getting dangerously injured instilled in him a new fear of his work, as much as he tried to suppress it. It was a reality of the job-- most people who worked with dragons got hurt, or they got killed. It was different when you were faced with life-threatening injuries. Margo had left the job. Jillian Radley (and countless others) had become meals. Balfour himself, had been injured once.

Time, it would take time to heal. Alcohol helped speed it along.

He gave Cepheus a noncommittal shrug, "Soon. I hope." He replied. "We're going to have to start dragon breeding programs soon if we want to save the species that are still left."

"Well, all I say is, I hope it goes better than the giants one is." Ceph shook his head and rolled his eyes. "They do equal parts reproducing as they do caving in each other's heads." He glanced back to Alphonse, "it would be a great travesty if we have our native breeds on the at-risk list of extinction because of this illness. Not on our watch, eh, Al? Or your sister's."

Cepheus smiled kindly to Alphonse. He didn't ordinarily bring up Persepolis and her role, because it implied that Alphonse was somehow in her shadow when really he wasn't at all.
"You should put together a proposal, see if you can land the job of leading a breeding programme when you get back."

A breeding program.

This... This was a good idea. A breeding program to preserve the endangered local breeds of dragons. Something inside of him clicked. Yes. This made sense. This was the only thing that made sense, going on from here. He could write a proposal, easy. He was also certain that he could get Spectre's approval and support. Hell, Balfour probably would've liked to see Al putting effort into something other than pouring whiskey into a cup.

"I just might do that." Al replied, raising his glass to Cepheus,  "It's not like I have a choice here, do I?" He managed a wry smile.

“Always a choice, Al, but whether the alternative is a suitable or good one, is another thing.” Cepheus assured him with a kind smile. “I think you’d be perfect to lead such a programme. Better to come back in with a bang - and besides, the rest of them have been dealing with it in your absence and are probably feeling the lethargy. Your energy and fresh eye on the situation to date will invigorate them.” Ceph gave a little shrug, “I told myself much the same when I took over in January, but I feel more sure about it for you, because for you it’s true.”

His gaze momentarily flickered past Alphonse to figures going in and out of the main entrance of Death & Co. There were so many faces they all knew who drank here, every second person was worthy of a nod. Margo and her brothers had done a damned good job of establishing it as a regular place within a few weeks of opening.

“And if all goes wrong, well, you could always do as Margo has.” He teased Al gently. “Beats the continual disgruntled letters from goblins over their lack of wand status, which is how I spent a good hour or two yesterday responding to. I need to find myself a secretary, and a very cheap one.” He shook his head, Aloysius from the portkey office has a daughter who is looking for work, thinking of interviewing her next week. Won’t be a patch on Lanningham, clearly, but at least someone can curb my post when the goblins send a bag of letters.”

Alphonse gave Ceph a brief nod. "You're probably right."He could feel the ideas forming. A dragon breeding program. His best chances, honestly was through the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary. It was the largest preservation area for dragons-- and the most funded. To take up the job, he would likely have to live there, at least temporarily. He'd have to find a staff-- a capable staff of dragon behaviorists as well as handlers. A daunting task, but not impossible.

Already, he was absent from the conversation. He was in no position to listen-- he had proposals to draft, research to do.
"Thanks, mate." Al finished his drink and paid the bartender, "Better to start sooner rather than later." It wasn't like the dragons could really help themselves at this point. He shrugged into his jacket and clapped Cepheus on the shoulder. "I'll see you at the office."


End