Rufio hadn't planned on any other parties reacting to the dragon's presence so soon.<br/><br/>The stoic figure standing just a few feet away from him caught him completely by surprise, and his blustering, almost stuffy manner continued to do so. Stunned, Rufio watched in horrid fascination as the gruff old man bartered and then threatened the glistening blue dragon.<br/><br/>Startled into reaction at the very end, Rufio raised his hands.<br/><br/><strong>"Wait!"</strong><br/><br/>Sasha was tugging excitedly at his sleeve, apparantly ignorant of the man's casual insult to her. Whispering wetly in his ear, the impess seemed more fixated on the black-clad hunter than on the reptilian prize.<br/><br/><em>Him...of the people to watch out for, this guy is one of them?!</em><br/><br/>Sasha concurred with vigorous nods of her head, her dull horns gleaming in the desert sun.<br/><br/>"<strong>Uh...Mister Black, isn't it? The infamous bounty hunter, is that right? I think...I'm Rufio Ecclestatch, from the Brimstone Burger Cartel in Atayo city. You might have heard of us...look, my employer wanted to discuss a...<em>business</em> proposition with you..</strong>"<br/><br/>Rufio's haggling was cut short by an angered cry. The dragon had apparantly recovered from his shock at having been tracked by two mortal man-things, and was responding to the situation in the time-tested manner which had saved his scaly hide for so long. Roaring, the glistening aquamarine reptile slithered out of his lounging position, spreading his claws, leathery membranes on the underside of its neck fanning out into a more threatening position. Not the largest of dragons, the wickedly curved fangs that gleamed within the black-gummed maw still looked as if they'd carve up minotaurs as<em>hors d' ouvres.</em><br/><br/>One thing about the water dragon was still odd, and Rufio noticed it on a low priority (the first being the enraged dragon, the second being the admirable old man who seemed intent on slaying said beast with a metal stick), but noticed it nontheless. When he had come upon the beast, it was reclining in the sun, spouting a shimmering fountain of water into the air, which rained down in a shower of blessed droplets upon a group of other figures. These people now shrieked with indignancy, and tried to cover themselves - for they were<em>nymphs,</em>their alien eyes completely dark blue, their skin luminous even in the daylight, their hair various shades of seaweed green and coral-pink. Sasha was baring her teeth at them and growling - imps, nymphs and fairies did not get along, no matter what plane they were on. Rufio had never established whether it was professional jealousy, or simple racism.<br/><br/>Whatever the reason, the four naked nymphs were shrieking insults at both men and the impess, covering their bountiful (and inspiringly<em>pert</em>) bodies with their hands. Rufio eyed them (the man couldn't help but) and wondered how long it would be before they began to rain magic down upon the aggressors who had apparantly ruined their desert-spa and seemed intent on killing their host.<br/><br/><strong>"...and if you'd like a real challenge, it begins now. We start off by capturing, or perhaps even wooing this great animal here, without injury or death, preferably. What say you?!" </strong>Rufio's voice rose to a shriek over the dragon's bellowing, challenging roar.