[ mentally pinching the bridge of his nose,

not that ahito would be able to tell, since all he's getting surfacewise is a dry, sarcastic: ]

Do you realize how much whiplash one gets going from 'the evil dragon that heralds the world's ruin will end it or die trying' to whatever it is you're suggesting.

[ nowhere in his plans did he slot in a line item for 'accidentally??? get people attached to him somehow??? make friends (???????)' ]