Greatwater Lake ain't my fault

@Miraak

Hadraniel had always been a fan of traveling, he found it intoxicating how he could meet someone one day, fuck up their life and never have to see them again. It was amusing, exhilarating, gave him a certain kind of high he couldn't get anywhere else. Besides, it was so much more fun to be the bad guy than it was to play prince charming or the hero for a damsel in distress. 

He was a miscreant, delinquent, a rebellious teenager trapped in a body that expected him to grow up and mature. Truth be told Hadraniel could have shaped up to be a charming young chap if only he had a father in his life, or at least someone to teach him boundaries that he needed respecting. Unfortunately the man didn't have that luxury growing up and eventually at some point just stopped caring about what people thought of him. 

And so here he was, sitting along the edge of a lake waiting for his next victim he would terrorize. The next body he could take his anger and loneliness out on and then leave broken and bloodied for someone else to come find and clean up. All he had to do was wait, someone would show up...they always did.

After a few weeks spent prowling the dark Woods where his sister had established the Dark Brotherhood, he decided to set out, scouting the area around the isle of dark-leaved trees. Northwest to him was a lake, large and majestic, essentially dividing the flatlands in half. He travelled there first, following the creek that skirted the northern border.

He figured that in summer the lake was a hotspot for animals of all kinds, but as the world around them cooled, creatures found refuge elsewhere. But there were animals still here, such as the young boy who sat, expectant, along the shore. Miraak snorted; what was he waiting for? Whatever it was, it did not concern him. Miraak walked right past the wolf, his eyes set on the water. He dipped his head, lapping the lake's surface, wondering how the boy would respond.

It didn't take long for someone to show, as predicted, but rather than talk or approach him the elder man complete ignored the sandy male. Hadraniel gave a huff, fur puffed out in annoyance. How rude. Didn't grandpa know it was good manners to say hello to someone when you walked by? The truth was Hadraniel usually couldn't care less if someone greeted him, but in this instant by not striking up a conversation the older male had complete foiled the unruly man's scheme. 

Without the brains to come up with something on the spot, Hadraniel accepted the fact that any ideas he had for causing trouble were gone. "Careful gramps, wouldn't want ya to fall in and drown" he called out unexpectedly, hoping to stir up any type of reaction.

He ignored the male, waiting to see how he would respond. It seemed the child wasn't content with being ignored. He spoke up, and through the warning words, Miraak sensed instigation. He chuckled mentally, pausing for a moment. I doubt I would suddenly fall in, but thank you for the caution and concern, He said before returning to the lake's water.

When the old male finished speaking Hadraniel's jaws gave an annoyed click and the sandy man turned away from the inky brute with a swish of his tail. He was flustered, unsure what to do or say and for an unusual moment the man was quiet. He bit his tongue while trying to come up with some snappy comment that would cause the elder to stand in shock but sadly nothing came to mind. He gave a huff before taking a few steps to stand near the water's edge mimicking the older man's movements.

The young man was left stuck, while Miraak was left to finish his drink. But as his head lifted, and his tongue swiped his muzzle, the child began to mimic him, his head down. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery,

He continued to mock the inky male, a smirk crawling upon his maw when grandpa decided to speak. "You wish" was all that came slithering from his vile mouth before pulling away from the water's edge. He plopped his rump on the ground and waited for some smart comment to come spilling from the elder's mouth. The sandy man was defeated, but would never admit it.

The elder shook himself briefly, spraying what water droplets remained on his body, preferably to the upstart. He didn't know what the child's deal was, aggravating strangers. Didn't he know that was rather...deadly? Miraak turned to the younger man, waiting for some other smart comment to come retching out of his mouth.

The comment he was waiting for never came, and Hadraniel gave a humpf when the elder turned to him. What was he waiting for? "Can I help you with something or do you just like staring at me?" Sarcasm laced every word as he turned away from the darker man's gaze. There was something about those indigo eyes that made the sandy male shift uncomfortably under the elder's stare.

He was quiet for a moment, observing the boy levelly. The child was obviously unnerved by the quiet, the lack of sound; a clear marker of his immaturity. Miraak smirked at his outburst, his attempt at filling the silence. And what if I said I did? He asked. The boy's personality was an obvious taint on his overall attractiveness, but if he kept his mouth shut and stop being such a jackass, perhaps he might have been treated differently by the elder assassin. But for now, he enjoyed toying with him, seeing how far he could go before the boy exploded and left. Or something else.

His eyes widened a bit from surprise when the elder possibly said he enjoyed looking at him, but Hadraniel quickly regained control and raised his brow at the man. "Then I'd suggest you get your fill before all your eye candy is gone." It was clear by the way he moved when he spoke that Hadraniel was obviously hinting that he was indeed this oh so irresistible eye candy. 

His gaze flickered to the strange man for only a moment before returning to the rock he had been staring off at previously, and the sandy male couldn't but wonder what grandpa would say next.

He wasn't very good at hiding his emotions; they passed vividly on his face, an almost laughable display. Miraak smirked, his two paws crossing as he spoke again. As it turns out, He rumbled, flicking an ear as the boy looked away, though not quite, given its constant flickering. This candy is a little spoiled, to my disappointment, but it can't be helped, He shook his head disapprovingly.

Spoiled candy huh? Hadraniel wasn't the only spoiled one here. The sandy man turned away again, not bothering to come up with some remark to spit back at the elder. A rock shifted from under him and Hadraniel sent it tumbling towards the stranger with a swish of his paw. He had no intentions of moving until the older man left first. He was fine not being able to get the last word would in but he was determined to make the last move, no matter the cost.

Silence took over once more. Miraak was content to leave it like that, wondering how long he could wait the younger male out. He had all day, having spent a lifetime rushing and rushing. The shade laid his head on his paws, watching the boy's back. A rock tumbled towards him. Miraak's eyes followed it, twitching as it hit his side. It would take more than that to get rid of him.

He kept his eyes forward despite wanting to turn around and throw the stranger a dirty look. He had never been taught to respect elders, or really anyone for that matter. But Hadraniel had his beliefs and while he thought children to be the purest beings in the world he found those in their later years to be the most vile and dishonorable. 

He scrunched nose at the thought and swatted another rock away with his paw. The young man had never been good with entertaining himself and so he only hoped that the elder would be on his way soon before he lost his damn mind trying to keep himself amused.

Another rock followed. Miraak chuckled at the tiny pebbles rolled towards him. They stung upon impact, but they would not push him away. He rolled his eyes once more. Running out of ideas, I see? He asked, wondering how much longer they would have to wait each other out.

His ears pressed against his skull at the annoying words shot at him by the inky stranger and Hadraniel wondered why he hadn't left yet. He had met stubborn assholes before but this guy was one of the few that had worked his way to the top of the list. The sandy man let out a grumble but refused to turn around and face his instigator. He felt nervous not being able to see the elder man, but Hadraniel figured if he was going to attack he would have done so already.