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]

[ He is quiet. His gaze touches where stone and earth meet. ]

...I do not call you my brother on a whim, Niall.

[ Comprehend his meaning: He is calling attention to a bond. ]

I wish to understand you.

[ The ways the dragon's mind works. Alain would give a final piece, glance upward with pale eyes. ]

...Please. Explain it to me.

[nehnahlmey]

[The plea proves enough to draw Nehnahlmey's attention, to place it upon the Dragonborn as if he had just transformed into a torchbug.

There is a stretch of silence before the dragon thinks to speak.]

Is this the same brother you wanted nothing to do with earlier in the day?

[But Alain pleaded. That is something to consider, and Nehnahlmey gives up the original intent.]

I am...concerned.

[dovahfahdon]

[ Let him give truth, in exchange for the rest that Alain had received. ]

I have no want to be weak in front of you.

[nehnahlmey]

Weak?

[The dragon sniffs in mild derision.]

One only desires to feign strength in front of those who might harm them.

[dovahfahdon]

More perhaps...

[ Something else is his fear. ]

It is more that I may not have value to you weakened. Your interest lies in my abilities and irregularities, and a weakened mortal man is hardly entertaining.

[nehnahlmey]

[A moment passes.]

I would have left you weeks prior if I considered you as mere entertainment.

[dovahfahdon]

[ Alain's point still holds, and he stares at Niall to convey that. A weakened mortal is hardly a Dovah's zeymah. The awareness of that had the possibility of causing a fissure.

For what value would Alain have otherwise? ]

[nehnahlmey]

[He knows the meaning that look holds. The creature could sigh--Alain's worth to Nehnahlmey is not the part that is under question.

Rather--]

You must take greater care in preserving your life.

[dovahfahdon]

[ The non sequitur is off-putting. Alain frowns upward. ]

I have never had any problem with that.

[ Risking it at a daily basis, yes, but to Alain, he was perfectly adept at survival. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[The dismissal stings. It is not something Nehnahlmey swallows easily.]

...The Soul Cairn is hardly a demonstration in the preservation of life, Dovahkiin.

[dovahfahdon]

[ He frowns again, narrows his eyes in suspicion at the dragon. ]

It is just another place. You have not sought to restrain me before.

[nehnahlmey]

[Anger fills the spaces left behind by pain, and it is discretion that is left behind.]

I do not wish to lose you!

[To another place. To death. To anything.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ Silence keeps in the spaces between. In the aftermath, the Dragonborn begins to pick himself up, to settle himself onto his feet.

He mulls over the words shouted in utter stillness, in silence. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[His tail twitches, leaps once from its position on the floor in an obvious show of heightened emotion. For a brief moment, as Alain rises, Nehnahlmey quietly wonders if he should not just kill the man and be done with it.

He never gets beyond his thoughts.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ The quick, sharp strike of scales against stone do nothing for Alain; the man does not twitch or show any sign of distress. Niall is something known, something accepted, something trusted in the dark of Alain's heart, and Alain would never look at him in fear.

Instead. Instead.

Another man would question why. Alain spares them both the unnecessary. ]

...In what way have you become attached to me?

[nehnahlmey]

[The fury has yet to take its leave, and Nehnahlmey strikes his tail once more.]

There are ways?

[dovahfahdon]

[ The motion continues, and Alain keeps his attention on balance. Rest has done wonders, but Alain is bereft of nourishment and is not fully himself. Cheeks whitened from the effort, still he stares at the other, pulling from Niall's words. ]

You have become concerned over my continued existence. For a mortal mey. Attached to the very same.

[ Why--

Why would you trap yourself like that? ]

Why would you do such a thing?

[nehnahlmey]

[The dragon finds himself unable to move, to speak, to otherwise demonstrate signs of life at the meaning behind Alain's words. The tail stills, and Nehnahlmey watches the man looking back.

Why, indeed, would a dovah commit such a grievous sin? Why would he damn himself in this particular hell? He--]

I-- You-- Have no--

[Proof that is the creature he has become.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ Niall verbally stumbles, and Alain's attention is drawn; riveted. He blinks quickly, wondering if any have seen a dragon misstep in its speech.

Alain wishes to rest against the dragon and stop standing for no reason he can fathom. Touching the other may provoke panic, Alain thinks carefully, and considers withholding that want.

This dragon that has attached himself to the Dragonborn. Who has committed the worst of sins for Dov. Why would Niall do it, cross over that line?

A repeated theme: Another man would again question why, and how, but in the moment Alain first asked, it was clear Niall had not known. Not in full. Questioning further would lead to turmoil. And it was not as if Alain was burdened by the thought. The opposite really. Niall attached to him meant that the dragon would not so easily go away.

That he would not abandon Alain for the man's weaknesses.

He sighs outward, and steps carefully forward to press his palms to the dragon's hide. To speak with no small amount of affection in his quiet tones. ]

...You strange creature. Two fools truly do fit together.

[nehnahlmey]

[An ineloquent moment can mean death to a dovah, whose power is drawn from speech, and indeed, Alain might kill Nehnahlmey. He might reach to tear apart the creature from his more delicate parts.

Instead, the man reaches to rest both hands upon Nehnahlmey. To speak words too premature for the dragon's formerly unfettered mind.

He shudders from the weight, masking its presence with childish anger.]

I've yet to be the fool who has traversed to the realm of captured souls.

[dovahfahdon]

[ Something childish as well, makes its way to the Dragonborn's lips. He smiles, with a child's glee and pride. ]

It was for a reason.

[ His own, is the unsaid, not simply Serana's. ]

...Do you want to see?

[nehnahlmey]

[Suspicious. Highly suspicious. The dragon eyes the man carefully, displeasure warring with his rising curiosity.]

...Your words, Dovahkiin, will be better left unsaid if you intend to show me a soul gem.

[dovahfahdon]

[ His pack is five steps to the side. He sees it, and notes the dragon's consideration, despite the fact that bringing light to that now might be unwanted. He removes his hands from the dragon, then, attempting to not sway and failing, tottering over to the pack.

He sits down hard in front of it, then begins to undo the fastenings. ]

Nothing so trite. There was a Reaper that offered black soul gems for its demise, but this is far more interesting than that.

[nehnahlmey]

[Cold compound eyes move with the man, absorbing every detail a dragon could possibly take in from another. Alain works on opening his pack, and Nehnahlmey finds he cannot fully quell his curiosity.

Even as he snarls at the mention of a Reaper--a gesture of disgust that Alain would risk himself entirely.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ He doesn't look up from his shifting. ]

I won't show you if you remain in such a mood.