By The Bootstraps [Ageno]

[Ezra]

Nielle had not missed the fact that Dorian had been so.. absent lately. She had noted his lack of presence for a while and the agitation it was causing her brother E'tin. She was no fool, she knew how much her brother seemed to care for the other man and she was actually worried. Deciding, unlike her brother, to take matters into her own hands, she was moving with a purpose toward Dorian's weyr. In her bag was a number of personal care supplies and a tray of food and some hot klah. She was determined to pull Dorian out of this downward spiral, whether he liked it or not.

Perhaps it was time for a bit of tough love. She loved Dorian like another brother and close friend and it hurt her to see him withdrawing like this. Using her foot to bop on his door, she called out. " Dorian, its Nielle...and no I will not go away. Not till you open this door and talk to me. Don't think I won't pick this forsking lock if I have to." She replied, swearing one of the rare times in her life. She was serious and even though she had no means to actually do what she threatened.. he didn't have to know that.

[Agenothree]

Dorian was trying, fruitlessly, to rest. Every day, it took more and more effort to mask those dark circles under his eyes, to find it in him to look like a man he was proud to be. So he didn't. Hiding was easier. Meguyakuth was worried sick, her presents of dead wherries and small beasts increasing in frequency to near daily appearance. It hadn't worked to rouse him. Though he was aware of her, how his inability to be strong hurt her, how she was losing what certainty she had found and growing withdrawn again, it was too hard to get up from where he'd fallen. What she needed was him as he was, who she chose to be hers two Turns ago, not...what he was today.

As something bopped against his door, Dorian groaned and put his head under his pillow, a headache that had left him earlier beginning to trouble him again. Hearing Nielle's voice call through to him, he sighed heavily and dragged his blanket above his head too. Listening wearily to her tirade, he growled to himself and flung them off, sitting up and rubbing his temples. "And what army do you command that will get me to open my door, pray tell?" he tartly quipped in reply, glowering at his door like it was Nielle herself and not innocent wood.

Nielle doesn't deserve your ire, Meguyakuth whispered. Hearing her speak so softly to him hurt Dorian more than he cared to admit, but she soon went on as she realized he wasn't going to answer. Dorian, you love Nielle like your own blood...so don't fight her. Dorian put his face in his hands, deciding he didn't feel like seeing sense. Meguyakuth let her mind touch Nielle's, as much as she didn't want to, as much as she wanted to keep to herself and not engage. But Dorian wasn't going to do what he needed to do for himself, which meant he needed her to do it. Nielle, do not let Dorian discourage you, she said quietly. My efforts are ineffective. Do something.

[Ezra]

Nielle glowered at the door, as if she could see the man behind it. His response irritated her but she was far too determined and focused to let that get to her. Especially when she heard the pain in Meguyakuth's mindvoice. Oh hell no, this was too far. " I don't need a forsking army. I got thick thighs and meaty hands and so help me Faranth, I will kick your forsking door in. Now are you gonna be an adult and open the door or continue to piss about like an entitled toddler with a tantrum and make me use literal force?" She growled and then focused her thoughts to his dragon alone to respond to her. " Don't worry Meguyakuth, I will help you get your rider back in the saddle. However, it may take some harsh words and a bit of physical interaction. Do not be alarmed, I wont hurt him badly. You WILL get him back, I promise you that." She projected, still slightly jarred by the mindvoice in her head, just was a sensation she was not that used to yet, having still been a candidate and all.

[Agenothree]

Dorian sighed harshly. Part of him was glad to know Nielle was ever her usual determined self. But that adamant young woman was at his door and wasn't letting him be miserable in peace. And while he didn't think she was being reasonable in calling him "an entitled toddler in a tantrum" and suggesting she'd ruin his perfectly sound door, she was causing a scene where he didn't want one. Dorian was a master of dramatics, but to be front and center of drama not of his creation and not in his control was utterly mortifying. Imagine one of his wingmates hearing her commotion and coming to see what was happening; he'd transfer elsewhere for sheer embarrassment.

So though it took him a long few minutes to gather his wits and his courage, Dorian stood. Pulling onto his shoulders something that wasn't too wrinkled, seeing as he still had some semblance of an appearance to keep, no matter how he'd tried to tarnish it as of late, he padded to his door and opened it enough to see Nielle standing before him, holding a variety of items he didn't care to look at long enough to identify. "Nielle, you're practically a twig," Dorian quipped in witty, but fond, retort to her statement about her ability to get through his door. "I don't need you to end up confined to a bed hurting yourself trying to prove a point. I'd need to drag you to find a healer and no one needs that, I assure you."

At getting such a strong response to her entreaty, Meguyakuth practically fled Nielle's mind, though she was inwardly glad someone Dorian trusted was here to help him find his way again. Though she was aware Nielle was here to do exactly as she said, to remind Dorian how to be himself again, it was clear Meguyakuth was hesitant to allow Nielle to proceed once she understood that he might not like what she had in store for him, given how her uneasy yellow eyes stared at her through that small gap in Dorian's door. I will not allow you to harm Dorian, she warned, gingerly touching Nielle's mind again. Dorian didn't open his door further than absolutely necessary and didn't invite Nielle inside, resting a shoulder against his doorframe to affect a casual air. "So Nielle, what is it you'd like to talk about?" he asked innocently, as though he had no idea why she was here.