Standing in the doorway, Nate dangled the wine that he'd collected, waiting to see if the Dragonborn would take him up on his offer. Instead, the Dragonborn didn't look up or move as he answered in a dead tone of voice. "Just leave me alone. I'm waiting for-" Nate tried to be gentle when he cut him off to finish off lightly. "To trap a dragon. Ya. I heard. But I know pain when I see it. Trust me. You won't get to sleep that way." When the Dragonborn didn't reply, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Holding up the bottle to the Dragonborn's back, he tried to tempt him with a hopeful tone to his voice as he said. "I stole the good stuff. Come on. Just a sip or two. Don't make me drink alone." Again, the Dragonborn didn't move or answer. So, he popped the cork from the bottle and picked up a set of horn cups off the nearby table to fill it only halfway. He didn't want to fill it too far incase he smacked it away. Casually walking over to him, he bent over to lower the cup down in front of him. Giving it a little wiggle in the hopes that he'd take it from him if he coaxed him enough. However, Nate wasn't prepared for the Dragonborn to suddenly snatch his wrist in a death grip.

Nathan froze, his whole body tensing for a fight, until he saw the Dragonborn look at his hand with a strange hopeful look. The look ended shortly after he looked over his shoulder and looked upon him. The hope draining from his features like melting snow. Nathan tried not to let the look bother him. The guy was in enough pain, and he could guess why he'd reacted that way. Nords did have similar skin tones and bone structures. Giving him a smile that was a bit grim and empathetic, he sat down behind him. The Dragonborn released his wrist, uttering out in a numb voice. "What are you doing here? I thought you were on your way to Markarth." Setting the wine cup on the ground, Nathan began to pour himself a much fuller cup of wine as he regaled to him sweetly. "I was... Until Sanguine told me to come here." The Dragonborn slowly sat up, his face red from crying but his curiosity was peaked with traces of worry when he asked. "What...? Who's Sanguine?" Nathan scolded himself internally for letting that slip. Was he allowed to talk about him? The details hadn't been clear. Taking a long swig of his drink, he gave it some thought. Then upon lowering it, he flashed him a warm smile and casually relied. "Doesn't matter. The point is that I know what you are planning to do. If you think you can just get in and out of Niflheim... You're in for a cruel surprise. You're going to need my help."

The Dragonborn quickly rubbed his red and teary eyes, defensively sniffling out. "How do you know about that? Who are you?" Nathan finished off his drink, before pouring himself another. He could tell this was going to be a long night. Staring into his cup as he filled it to the brim, he told the Dragonborn casually. "Let's just say that I got into a drinking contest with Sanguine... and we had so much fun that every now and then, he keeps life interesting for me. And as for who I am... You know who I am." Nathan was pretty satisfied with his answer. It wasn't a lie, and it wasn't entirely the truth. There was no purpose in telling him the truth right now. It would only scare him off. He needed to come off as nonthreatening as he could, or he'd get nowhere with him. Narrowing his watery blue eyes on him, the Dragonborn mumbled out under his breath. "I know you're a Bard with magical talents..." Nathan couldn't help snorting into his cup. Lowering his cup, he tilted his head a little and charmingly retorted. "You don't remember me, do you?" The timid and blank look on the Dragonborn's face was both adorable and funny. Chuckling a little, he gestured to the Dragonborn's cup in the hopes of coaxing him to drink it.

Nathan waited until the Dragonborn picked up the cup with some reluctance, before regaling to him casually. "That's ok. I didn't recognize you at first either. It seems like forever since I was in the Imperial City. I don't regret leaving the Arcane University though. Best thing I did for myself." Nathan couldn't help smirking behind his cup as the Dragonborn took a small sip from his cup with a thoughtful expression. The Dragonborn did look so different from the timid guy he'd met in the University. He was more confident behind those blue eyes. Had seen things since then. The Dragonborn licked his lips like he liked the wine, then questioned him softly. "Why did you leave?" Resting an arm on his raised knee, Nathan let his smile fade a bit as he answered honestly. "We had artistic differences. I didn't want to use my magic and wisdom to empower some Noble asshole. Forced to keep my magic hidden and work in some dusty dungeon room or tower. I enjoy showing people the beauty and wonder of magic." The Dragonborn started to take another tiny sip and it was torture for Nathan to watch. Prompting him to reach out and tilt the cup more to force him to drink a bit more.

He'd never feel better if he kept sipping drops like a milk drinker. If he was going to drink with him, he was going to have to drink like a Nord to keep up with him. The Dragonborn coughed upon lowering his cup with a blushing smile, causing Nathan to chuckle to himself before excitedly regaling. "You ever just do something with your magic to make people gasp with shock and awe? Why does being a Mage mean we can't have a little fun? Why can't we spread some joy to the common people?" Nathan stared into his drink after hearing his own words. Did he still believe in that? It was so much harder with his current situation. The Dragonborn shrugged, mumbling out grimly as he swirled his cup a bit. "I guess, I just don't know what you mean... I'm not really at my best right now." Looking up from his cup, Nathan felt a spark flare up within him. It had been a long time since he showed off a little to prove a point. Nodding, he set down his cup and climbed to his feet. Hopping in place to loosen himself up, he grinned as the idea of doing something just for the fun of it spurred him on. Shrugging off his travel bag, he began rummaging through it to try and find some of his old bag of tricks that he usually saved for kid shows or the rarer street performance.

He hadn't done the route much since the Bard College had him playing gigs more regularly at taverns. These tricks he usually saved for street side performances to draw attention to himself. He kind of missed doing them. He hoped that he could still do them. Removing two metal rods from his bag, he flipped them in his hands like a pair of drum sticks and informed the Dragonborn with a bright grin. "I'll show you what I mean." He imagined this wouldn't be as impressive to a Mage, since he'd know how he was doing it... but he hoped his performance would sell the fun of it. Putting the two rods into one hand, he showed the Dragonborn that he had nothing in his hands or up his sleeves as he pulled them back. Then bringing his hand up one of the rods slowly, he casted a silent flame to ignite the tip with the flick of his hand. To his shock, the Dragonborn actually smirked a little. Grinning, Nathan separated the rods to hold one in each hand. Bringing the flame closer to his lips, he blew it out but casted a flame to ignite the other rod. Jumping back in playfully shock, Nathan quickly tilted his head back and lowered the flaming rod into his mouth to eat the flame dramatically, extinguishing the flaming rod.

Coughing up a bit of smoke as he removed the rod from his mouth, he quickly turned to the other rod and made a show of blowing flames out of his mouth to ignite the other rod. Then holding out the rods from himself, he gave the Dragonborn a bow as the other rod playfully ignited. Seeing the Dragonborn cross his legs to watch him like a small child was rewarding. He still had it in him to preform and make people happy. He wasn't turning into the monster that he thought he was. At least, not just yet. There was still hope that he could control this. He was going to stop, when he caught the soft whispers and giggling by the door. Turning his attention to the door, he saw a small group of Nord children trying to peek inside the keyhole and around the slightly ajar door. He could hear a young boy, whispering to another. "See? I told you that was him! It's Paultin. I saw him when my dad was in Solitude." Nathan smirked, raising his hand to beckon them inside and at the same time giving the Dragonborn a wink. This was perfect. This would help him prove his point even more since the kids wouldn't know how he was manipulating his magic. They'd see the pure wonder of it. Yet, at the same time he was thankful that they hadn't caught him doing something else with a customer.

Waiting for the kids to rush in, he waited for them to get settled. Blowing out one of his rods, he set it aside and kept the other at the ready. When the kids were seated, Nathan kneeled to show them the flame on the rod. Telling them to watch closely, he slid his hand up the rod and plucked the flame off the end, causing the kids to gasp. Dropping the unlit rod, he pretended that the flame was hot to touch and moved it from palm to palm. Every time he shifted it across his palms; he manipulated the flame to form a little more into a tiny dancing fairy made of red flames. Carefully putting her onto the floor like she was getting too hot to hold onto. While on the floor, the tiny fairy of flame began to sway and dance gracefully across the floor. The kids all closed in more to get a better look at her, while Nathan sat down on the hope chest at the end of the large bed. Picking up his mandolin, he exhaled and tried to play it gently. He cut the strings so many times that he was nervous but managed to play a sweet lively tune that the fairy could dance too. After a little bit, Nate reluctantly picked up his cup and took a small sip before pouring the wine out across the floor.

Casting over it, the purple wine formed up into a little purple dragon made of liquid. The kids loved it and Nathan liked their reactions to it. They'd probably heard so much about dragons by this point that seeing a tiny one was... less scary. The tiny dragon sprang around after the fire fairy like a lovesick puppy for a while, making the children laugh and giggle at its antics while the fairy danced around without pause or notice of him. By the end of the song, the fire fairy finally twirled around and kissed the liquid dragon's nose. The contact between them causing a soft hiss of steam to come from the dragon's nose, before it turned away and sneezed on the carpet. The sneeze sent a tiny flame out that began to burn the fibers of the carpet and wasn't apart of his performance. The kids giggled and laughed, but Nathan quickly stepped on the flame to snuff it out before he got in trouble. The rug looked like it cost more than he'd make in a lifetime. They wouldn't notice the small purple wine stain or the tiny singed fibers with the all the colors on it... right? The kids continued to giggle like it had been planned, but internally Nathan was sweating. Seeing the Dragonborn chuckle relaxed him though. He'd gotten him to cheer up a little. That made it worth it. He liked when he could help people with his talents.

Nathan played his music a bit longer, until he heard a woman approaching. The woman called out the names of the kids and reluctantly Nathan stopped his performance. It was getting late, and he knew from experience that the kids would never leave if he kept playing. Setting down his mandolin, he lowed his palms down for the tiny dragon and fairy to hop onto. The kids moved in closer to wave to the little figures and Nathan brought his hands closer and let the figures wave back. When the moment was right, Nate closed his hands and the figures vanished in a puff of purple and red smoke. Upon opening his hands back up, he showed them that the figures were gone and then waved to them himself as they left the room. When the last kid left, closing the door behind himself, Nathan wiped his hands on the sides of his pants to remove the wine and ash from his palms. Smirking to himself, he told the Dragonborn with a shrug. "Kids... They follow me everywhere." As much as it used to bother him, he kind of missed it now. Kids were so much easier to please than adults. Grabbing his empty cup, Nathan moved to sit back with the Dragonborn by the fire, pouring himself a new cup as he finished off openly. "Anyway, the Mages weren't impressed. They practically sent me to the Bard College as their way of insulting me... Guess I got the last laugh. I turned the Bard College upside down with wild parties and made a decent name for myself. Not bad for a Mage reject."

Nathan finished filling his cup and began to refill the Dragonborn's with a heavy heart. While he wasn't lying, he didn't mention how lonely it had been. Or the things he had to lower himself to do. He couldn't bring himself to mention Escher. He was still so worried about him and after what the Dragonborn had lost... it seemed stupid to bring up his relationship problems. Filling the Dragonborn's cup up to the brim this time, he tried to think of a way to change the subject, until the Dragonborn asked him very gently. "Would you go to the Mage College if you were invited?" Nate laid back across the floor to rest on his elbow, chuckling out curtly. "HA! Even if they did invite me. What's the point now?" Nathan rolled his eyes, taking a sip from his cup. The very idea was silly. He was a vampire now. It was too late. Besides, he doubted that they would have let him in even if he was just a Mage reject from Cyrodiil. He just wasn't their type of Mage. He was tons of fun and they were no fun at all. The Dragonborn avoided his eyes now, staring only into his cup as he raised it and uttered out seriously to him. "Maybe you can help them pull the sticks of tradition from their arses. Teach them to have a little fun every once in a while."

Letting out a hearty laugh, Nathan blurted out as he raised his cup. "I'll drink to that!" The Dragonborn clinked his cup with his and Nathan grinned to himself. He was starting to like this guy. He was a little rough around the edges like himself and clearly understood how pathetic the Mages in charge were. He was just about to talk shit about the Master Wizards after taking a sip from his cup... Until the Dragonborn coolly stated out. "Good. You help me get back from Niflheim and you can be my Master Wizard at the College." His words hit Nathan so hard that he sprayed his mouthful of wine across the floor away from the Dragonborn. Then jerking his head to stare at him like this was a joke, he saw the bastard casually down his drink before telling him calmly. "What? Did you not know that I was the Arch-Mage of the College?" Nathan gawked at him with wide eyes, mumbling out in shock. "No... You failed to mention that." His mind started racing as he thought of everything that he'd done around him. It was frightening to think that he'd been talking shit to a guy that could arrest him or chase him from Skyrim for the misuse of magic.

To his shock, the Dragonborn lifted his cup and tapped a finger against it as he smirked and told him casually. "We're gonna need more of this." Nathan raised his cup to that and poured more wine into the Dragonborn's cup with a chuckle. Throughout the night, they talked about themselves. Nate told him about some of his adventures as a Bard and the troubles he got into with Sanguine during their drunk bender. He left out all details of the Dawnguard and the Vampires. He wanted to save that for when Jack wasn't so tipsy. In return, Nathan listened to Jack tell him all about his adventuring with Mark and the chaotic whirl that his life had taken on. When Nate ran out of things that he wanted to tell him, he took up his mandolin and began to play a soft melody for Jack as he sat as far from him on the bed as he could. He only stopped playing when he saw Jack finally fall asleep before the fireplace. Setting his mandolin aside, Nathan clenched his jaw. Despite not being drunk off the alcohol, he learned something important... it still dehydrated him. Rising from the bed without a sound, Nathan tried to stop himself, but his thirst had waited dormant long enough.

Like a predator, he crept toward Jack and kneeled behind him. His instincts told him that just a taste was all he needed, but he didn't trust himself. His fangs slid down and he wrapped an arm around Jack's shoulder to bare his neck better. His primal need to hunt and feed was so strong that Nathan's body shook trying to resist it. Leaning in slowly, his nose filled with Jack's powerful and alluring scent. He could practically taste his blood already. Bringing his fangs to Jack's neck, the tips of his fangs touched his soft skin over the vein of his throat and began to push down. To Be Continued...