run of the mill.

[nehnahlmey]

[He's come from a prolonged "constitutional", undertaken when the dragon finally lost patience and parts of his mind. Alain had been following that vampire around for quite some time, and one day, he had simply vanished from Nehnahlmey's watch. From Skyrim altogether, in truth--a detail that eventually forced the creature to seek the man out in quiet desperation.

After several days, the dragon lands in front of the travesty Alain calls a house in a last attempt to wait out the man's return. It is here Nehnahlmey finds Alain, sitting against the building in what looks to be fatigue.

The dragon slips out of his transparency to peer at the figure.]

...Dovahkiin.

Comments

[dovahfahdon]

[ A dragon is not truly what Alain wishes for at the moment. He is focusing on consciousness and breathing. ]

...Yes.

[nehnahlmey]

[Compound eyes narrow in displeasure.]

Where were you?

[dovahfahdon]

I don't see how--

[ He pauses for breath. ]

It's any of your....

[ And trails off, leaning a hand on the ground to maintain his sitting position. ]

...Concern.

[nehnahlmey]

...

[Nehnahlmey snaps his jaws close to the man in an attempt to draw his attention to the very angry dragon snapping his jaws.]

[dovahfahdon]

Niall.

[ He makes the effort to look upward, showing a visage fatigued by exhaustion. ]

Not right now.

[nehnahlmey]

[He only shakes his head and meets the eyes looking back.]

Your current condition is anomalous. What have you done to yourself?

[dovahfahdon]

[ The Dragonborn shakes his head and drops his gaze back to the ground. ]

Nothing. I'm fine.

[nehnahlmey]

[Unamused.]

You cannot hold your gaze. You are fatigued in ways unknown to the physical body. Again, fahdon, where have you gone?

[dovahfahdon]

[ A lecture. From one of Skyrim's Dov. Unamused himself, Alain attempts to shakily clamor to his feet, leaning against the house heavily. ]

The Soul Cairn. And again, I am fine.

[nehnahlmey]

[There is weighted silence for a moment.]

Then stand, Dovahkiin. On your own two feet.

[dovahfahdon]

[ He glared hatefully at the dragon, decidedly out of character. ]

I don't have to do anything.

[nehnahlmey]

[The so-called Hero of Skyrim proves his worth through unruly behavior. The dragon continues to stare.]

Then I cannot trust your assessment.

[dovahfahdon]

I don't need your trust.

[dovahfahdon]

[ There is darkness, warmth and security. There is breathing and heat against him and something arched above his head. The unknowns should likely press him into alertness, set him into a fighting stance on his feet.

His weariness tells him otherwise. The inherent comfort he has at his location only adds to that.

He murmurs in part-waking, shifting against the warmth he is near. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[A cave is perhaps not the most ideal place to shelter a soul-fatigued Dragonborn. This Dragonborn, however, has a strange (and irritating) affinity with hollow spaces within stone, and Nehnahlmey thinks the locale might evoke a sense of calm when Alain finally wakes.

And wake he does, after a time. The body against Nehnahlmey minutely shifts, murmuring incomprehensible sounds, and the dragon thinks it is strange. Odd how his attention is fixed on the sleeping mortal beneath his wing.

He stays curled around Alain, watching with an inhuman patience.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ Despite his body's comfort, his mind insists on asking questions. The ground you're on is hard, Alain Ebon. It reminds one of stone and rock, of caves and mountain earth. There is a breeze of open air, as if one was near to a cave entrance on the mountainside. But wouldn't the wind be stronger then? And where is the light that should be pressing against his eyes?

And the heat--the warmth near to him, close against him--what is its source? The movements, the breathing, it is like...

Against scales, Alain's eyes slip open. A trace of fear slips through him before it turns to something more complicated. ]

...Niall?

[ A question, a confirmation. A request for explanation. All given quietly in a single tone. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[The sleeping sleeps no longer, and the creature finds himself surprised. Finds he had expected explosive resistance--at least heat and aggression. Not a query spoken softly. Not eyes lacking the complete panic known to lesser beings.

Nehnahlmey blinks.]

I have brought you to a cave.

[dovahfahdon]

[ That... is already determined. Alain's eyes drop down. ]

...I know that.

[nehnahlmey]

[Nehnahlmey blinks a second time, as if assessing the reaction given.]

I have brought you to this cave so that you may rest undisturbed.

[dovahfahdon]

I could have...

[ Rested. Alone. ]

...Within that house.

[nehnahlmey]

[Alain claims a falsehood, for--]

I would not have permitted it. Until you have recovered in full, you require another to watch over you.

[dovahfahdon]

[ He flushes darkly. ]

As if I am that weak.

[nehnahlmey]

[Here, the dragon lifts his head, eyes narrowing to consider the man before him.]

The souls who reach the Soul Cairn have little hope of escape. You've returned from that realm as more or less yourself. Weakness, Dovahkiin, is not the reason you require care.

[dovahfahdon]

[ Niall withdraws his head but keep his wing tucked over Alain's form. It causes mixed feelings. It makes his words hard to come, thick and choppy. ]

...Your reason?

[nehnahlmey]

[There is silence for a prolonged beat of time. Finally, Nehnahlmey slowly folds back his wing from above Alain's form.]

...You cannot be left alone.