#dranthium

"Damnit, she shouldn't be doing that!" Dran scowls down at the crane as it peers at him with one eye, staying by Luce's side. Luce strokes the bird's neck softly, watching Dranthium before speaking in an amused voice. 

"You seem to have failed in training her properly." Her eyes may not have been as humored as her voice, but that was still enough to drive Dran up the wall.

Dranthium once again points to his side and gives an authoritative command whistle. The dark-feathered crane lowers her head and takes a step toward Dranthium, then lowers her head further to peck at the ground. 

Dran tries again to give the command to the bird, but she only responds by tilting her head up and watching him with one eye. 

Luce steps away and raises her hand at Dranthium, asking him silently to wait a moment. Going silent, the red-face huntsman crosses his arms and watches. Luce places her hand on her hip and gives a few small clicking noises. The beautiful crane lifts her head and trots over to Luce, looking at her curiously. 

Frowning slightly, Niara buries her face into the pillow. Why was Luce waiting for her? She hadn't asked for protection for the night, and hardly had anything to fear from her frolics with Dranthium. He had been amused to hear that Luce was waiting for her, and even suggested that they invite her to join in. 

"She is waiting? Outside? Let's bring her in for some fun! I doubt she's enjoying herself just standing around out there, waiting."

Niara gives him a firm look. "No. She is here to protect me; Probably thinks you are of questionable morals." Grinning, she tosses a ripe grape at him. His teeth snap as he catches it in his mouth, smiling as he lounges back and chews. His fit, nude body stretches out in his normal self-confident demeanor. 

"Well, she could probably use some sort of jolt of fun to her system. Not really sure if she knows how to have fun for herself, you know?" 

Niara shakes her head with a small smile as she picks up her clothing, dressing herself again. "That be as it may, jumping into bed with the both of us will hardly break open her up more." She sits to pull on her stockings, but pauses thoughtfully. "It's strange, she seems so completely normal when sitting and chatting with her, but then when you look at her, it is as if.... Oh I don't now..." 

Dranthium scoots closer, picking up a stray jade haircomb that was half-hidden in the sheets. Holding it out towards Niara, he gives a wry smile as he speaks. 

"It's her eyes. She is very focused when she is using her bow, but otherwise they don't really show much of how she's feeling." 

Taking the comb slowly, Niara nods faintly as she frowns with slight concern. "That is almost exactly it." Shaking her head, she continues to dress. "In any case, I have no idea what possessed her to come out here to watch over me like this." 

Dranthium rolls to his back, resting his hands on his chest. with a teasing grin. "Perhaps she fancies you." 

That couldn't be it... Luce didn't seem to fancy anyone. She was simply protective in nature. But why was she protective of her so... often? 

He wasn't a hateful person by any stretch of the imagination. Quite the opposite, really; despite his sarcasm streak, Dominick didn't irritate easily, and was mostly content with witty nonchalance or roguish charm most of the time. But Reeve had had time to build up in his system as someone he disliked, and there was a limit to even his patience.

In that moment, as he watched Ausra drift out of reach and over the water, he hated Reeve with everything he had.

Follow her.

He knew it wasn't the sensible plan. He knew Reeve couldn't send her far from wherever he was; his magic was formidable, but even he had his limits, and he can't take her where he can't see her. He knew the intelligent plan was to try and catch Reeve following her to wherever he'd leave her off at.

But Dominick wasn't in a sensible mood, and he knew that the sensible plan would involve Reeve remaining alive. He knew Dranthium and Quentin wouldn't let him do what he wanted to him, knew they would try to restrain the wrath he wanted to unleash. And he was not in the mood for restraints right now.

Follow her.

What in the mists has been going on? What did that pompous idiot do to drive her that mad? She wouldn't hurt her own father unless she's gone insane or something.

Cursing Reeve repeatedly over in his mind, Dranthium hurried to pack his gear, ready to search for his apprentice and stop a possible murder. 

...a man examines his thoughts to try and determine how to move forward.

Either give it all you've got or give it up.

He had lived by his father's words for so long now that it had become his mantra. Not giving up, or at least not giving up easily, had always been a point of pride for him. But now, in the face of both options potentially ending in disaster, he could only wonder what to do. It was as Dranthium said: if he gave it all he had, he'd hurt her more for sure, and probably himself too. But by the same token, if he gave it up, he'd just be reversing their chances, with him getting hurt for sure, and her probably suffering as well.

Dominick exhaled heavily into the air, leaning forward to watch people come and go through the streets.

Just...be patient. Give it time. Find out what's going on first.

He took a moment to consider his thoughts, then sighed again.

...I suck at being patient.

Well, do it anyway.

I don't want to.

Well, too bad. Suck it up, idiot.

What if I have to give her up?

What if I do? I'll live.

How can I? I can't even let go of the places we used to meet.

Doesn't matter until I figure out what's going on.

She's never clear about what's really going on though.

...hmm, that is a problem. She's been kind of back and forth on this.

Exactly. So if I can't let go until I know it's what she wants, and I'm never able to determine whether it's really what she wants or not...

...son of a bitch, this really does suck.

Dominick shook his head quickly. With another exasperated sigh, he went back to people-watching.

Around a campfire sits a human with his sylvari dog and an asura with a golem.

Dranthium: No, I don't have anything to tell about that.

Asura: You most certainly do. One can ascertain just by simple observation that you do indeed have something and wish to forget it!

Dranthium: Don't be stupid! *grins wide* Why don't you tell me about yours?

Asura: Misdirection is not a viable solution for you.

Dranthium: What, do you expect me to answer such a personal question without hearing anything from you? Unfair!

Asura: I will tell you whatever you wish in response to my original inquiry to you.

Dranthium: I think you made a few words up there.

Asura: Do not pretend to be the fool! I am certain you understood exactly what I meant.

Dranthium: Fine, fine... No. I've never been in love. Nor do I want to, and that is fine by me. I'm working on stepping away from a situation right now that I already have become too close to.

Asura: If this is not a situation involving love, then what is it in particular you wish to distance yourself from?

Dranthium: ... People. Caring about people. Just opens you up to being hurt and betrayed by them, or from you to them.

Asura: How strange you are, human. Is there no other experience that would give you a positive experience with people?

Dranthium: Family changes things, you know? But mine died when I was a kid. Probably poisoned, too.

Asura: ...

Long moments pass

Asura: You could start-

Dranthium: *cutting off the asura* No. Not in this world, not ever. I'm heading out.

Asura: Forgive me, you do not need to leave the fire's side. I will not ask any more from you.

Dranthium: There's meat in that sack there, and my bear is nearby in case anything comes in to get it, but you go ahead and cook yourself up whatever you want. I'm just going to clear my head a bit.