This is essentially spoiler free. Only people who have been through the game will know what I'm (vaguely) talking about.

I wanted a dragon-free game, and proceeded accordingly from the start. It's been great. Now at 24th level I decided I wanted to play the civil war quest line. After getting shortly into it, I'm being forced to go to Bleak.

My question is this: Can I do that and just avoid Farengar afterward, and then continue on with the civil war questline? Or am I doomed to have unwanted dragons in my game, no matter what?

Unfortunately no.... You know who won't give you a message to return until you take care of the dragon... and once that happens, dragons will take to the skies.

If you're PC I think there's a mod for that though.... if console (like me) it's kinda tough luck