RP:Well, That Was Easier Than Expected

Part of the Do You Believe In Magic? Arc

Summary:Intent on finding Raiez, Dominic just so happens to have luck on his side, finding her rather quickly. But then he...wait...he just gave up? What the hell does this human have planned?! If he even does have a plan at all, that is. Sheesh. No wonder Khitti and him are a perfect match. They're both full of crazy!

Raiez could be found rummaging in her satchel, a jar with -something- in it in one of her hands. There was an obviously self-satisfied grin on the woman's face as the jar was placed into the larger-on-the-inside depths of that satchel, and a tiny, high-pitched scream could be heard just before it disappeared from sight. The dragon cooed soft words at whatever was in the jar, sounding almost as if she were trying to comfort the thing before the jar was released and the satchel fastened. "A fine haul, today," she congratulated herself as she paused to stretch, various points of her spine popping from tensed muscles. "Oh, that feels so good. This form relieves joint pain so much more easily than my other one." Well, that's certainly one way to go about a day. Kidnap some mages, pop a few joints, and melt into a puddle of happy. You've got issues, Raiez.

Dominic hadn’t slept right in a week or more, but that wasn’t going to stop him from his self-appointed mission. Stubbornly, he still stalked paths through Frostmaw and Xalious. He would find her. He -would- find her, or he’d eventually collapse from exhaustion trying. No. Even then, he’d just have to force himself up and onward. He couldn’t let down that ghost, or… whatever she’d been. Couldn’t let down himself, or Khitti. The scream in the distance sparked him into action, and he ran towards the sound, stopping just within view of Raiez. -Her-. His heart leapt to his throat. It was one thing to have a plan, and another thing entirely to carry it out. Whatever eloquent words he’d planned for when and if he ever managed this encounter failed him, and instead he just… stood there staring, breathing hard from his sprint, fists clenched. “You.” Not exactly the rousing, heroic speech he might have liked.

Raiez perked at the sound of a voice, and turned towards its source. It was a man, an exhausted man, a tired man, a man that was dead on his feet (really, how many more ways can I say he's about to collapse?). She stared at him, a quizzical expression on her face as she noted his posture. The dragon recognized him. He was the one from Frostmaw, the one that Khitti was sitting with when she heard them talking about the missing mages. She couldn't recall his name, though. He didn't appear to be anything special, however. Not at first glance. She almost dismissed him out of hand, but as she started to turn away, a nagging feeling started to tug at her instincts. It was something similar to when she first sensed Amarrah, but different. She looked back at the man, her eyes narrowed, and a single eyebrow raised. "You are...different." Her curiosity started to rise. It was, perhaps, not the best of things for Dominic.

Dominic || Of all the things she could have said, -that- was perhaps the one that threw Dominic the most off balance. He’d imagined this -- confronting Raiez -- perhaps thousands of times in hundreds of different ways, and somehow this was already going off script. Raiez had said that almost like she’d been surprised. Sure, he didn’t appear to be the most immediately intimidating of folks, but… “Y-yeah.” He swallowed back the fear that was rising within and took a step forward. “I know it’s you. I -know- it is.” Another step forward. “It must be.” Step. “You took those mages.” Step. “And Khitti.” Step.

Raiez stood her ground without a single flinch as Dominic crept closer as he spoke. He admitted he was different, but he did not clarify how. That was disappointing, but not surprising. And then the accusations, true though they may be. There were always accusations. At least this guy wasn't calling her a faerie. "And so you think to confront someone that has waylaid multiple mages...with your bare hands?" She scoffed at the notion, even rolled her eyes. Different, yes. Smart...maybe not. "Oh, well. I can examine you back at the cave, I suppose." Once more Raiez dug through her satchel, in search of an empty jar. Maybe one like she had put that one vampire fellow in. But then, that jar did recently get broken. Why couldn't jars be made out of metal instead of glass?

Dominic stopped his slow march forward and laughed. He frakkin’ -laughed-, of all things. It grew in intensity from a chuckle all the way to deranged, hooting guffaws until tears formed in the corners of his eyes. The man outright looked like he’d lost his mind. And, well, maybe he’d had. All he could do was hold one finger up while he gasped for air between each successive cackle. “I’m sorry -- I don’t -- just a moment.” Yes, Raiez, please don’t capture the crazy person until he can pull himself back together. He’s not totally vulnerable right now or anything. But it wasn’t much longer before he managed to get himself under control long enough to talk properly, anyway. “...I thought you’d take more convincing, that’s all.” He pulled himself back upright and held his arms outstretched, waiting for her. Was he implying he -wanted- to get captured? Yep, all that insomnia and desperation’s made you a wee bit cuckoo, Dominic.

Raiez was confused. This man -wanted- to be taken? She wasn't sure how to proceed. Everyone else tried to flee, or to fight. She knew how to deal with those situations. But really, what do you do with a man that wants to go with the crazy mage lady? She felt like she should be playing hard to get at this point, but...just, seriously, what in the world was going on? Was the world going to end if she took the willing soul? She wasn't worried about people scrying him once she had him. There were too many conflicting magics in her cave for anyone to get an accurate read. But something felt fishy. Oh. Wait. That was the fish in her hand. Whoops, wrong pouch. "What's your game?" she questioned, as she went about actually retrieving a jar this time.

Dominic dropped his arms a bit as she questioned him; they hovered in an awkward space between hanging at his sides and stretching parallel to the ground. He’d tensed, but he still meant to go through with this… right? “N-no game. Just… Khitti is important to me, and you took her.” From his right trouser pocket he pulled an ornate runed stone in swirls and coils of blues and greens. He gripped it aloft and a nearly opaque illusion of Brand appeared to his side and behind him, looking on with a detached sort of mild discontent, arms folded over his chest. “I figure… I can’t beat a dragon. I can’t lure you somewhere where you -can- be beaten in case no one ever finds where you’re hiding her. I’d ask you to take me instead of her, but -- you’d just take me and keep her anyway, wouldn’t you?” He bit at his lower lip and blinked over at Shadow-Brand, who returned the glance with an irritated squint. “But I’m a mage too, so… take me. At least let me be with her. I don’t care what else you do.” Brand certainly looked like he cared; he’d have a few choice words to say if he actually had a body with which to speak right now.

Raiez watched the apparition appear with great interest. Now that was the sort of thing she loved to see. He needn't have even given the heart-touching speech at that point, but it certainly helped her decide where to put the man. And so she settled into spellcasting without another word of preamble to shrink the fellow, snatched out quick enough to put the fellow in a jar, and then turned into a dragon and flew off. She was sure Khitti would be happy to have yet another roommate, especially with who the new roommate would be.