♰ Before the Next Sacrifice

[immortalrose]

WHO: Augustine G. Rosethrawn & others (Open To All)
WHERE: Stygia (mainly Serene)
WHEN: Throughout all of October
WHAT: October Event + General Catch-all
WARNINGS: Possible violence, swearing, and mentions of death.

[ I'll be adding more prompts throughout the week featuring the event stuff in question. If you would like to plot with me, feel free to drop me a DM or hit me up on devillady. I'm always more than happy to make a starter or two. So don't be shy. Also, you're welcome to make your own starters as well. ]


PLOTTING 🌹 EVENT🌹 WILDCARD

Comments

♰ A CHAOTIC RESPITE

[immortalrose]

KNOCK ON WOOD (Closed to Cedrik)

[This is the perfect chance for him to explore beyond what he knows of Stygia.

Augustine quickly grew bored of her after venturing here from the Shadowlands. It was a perilous venture, one that nearly claimed his “life” but thankfully, the gods felt merciful. Life within this city was less than desirable thanks to having little to no income but thankfully, this may change.

The frantic message he received on his cellphone wasn’t just a prelude to peril but also an opportunity dressed in danger. He knows nothing about the Oakwoods or the beasts hiding there but this opportunity to explore the innermost parts of Serene couldn't have come at a better time. It’s with the promise of reward that the red-haired dampir sets off deeper into the city. The twilight sky is still edged with the faintest hues of pinks and orange giving the landscape before him an almost summer-ish haze. However, the climate here is anything but warm since Stygia itself is devoid of anything akin to warmth.

Even though Serene is a part of Stygia, most of this district feels oddly foreign to him. There’s more trees than people here, that much is apparent judging from the lush woodland backdrop. It’s the smallest of all the districts and yet it holds the most charm in the form of its colorful gardens, expansive ponds, and narrow streams. It’s a little piece of paradise within the cold shell of Stygia proper, an oasis built by the sacrifices of its founders. However, the tranquility of this man-made heaven is now being put to the test now that a magical lantern has gone missing.

A frustrated sigh escapes Augustine as he wanders along the outskirts of the woods in search of anyone or anything that could assist in his venture. Between the gentle crunch of dead leaves beneath his heel and the dark murmuring of something within, the dhampir doesn’t know what to expect. It’s deathly silent here, still like a morgue. It’s clear that something malevolent is afoot here, especially with those awful harpies crooning from the canopy above.]

I can go without the cackling buzzards.

[He grumbles under his breath as he pushes through the reed and bush. His temper is going to be his bane.]

(ooc: this will be two separate threads! one for cedrik and one of D)

THE SINNER’S FESTIVAL (OTA)

[Forever playing the role of the winsome wallflower content by watching others celebrate, Augustine lingers not too far from the celebration with a faint smile upon his lips. The Frightful Harvest has begun, an age old tradition of the Restless here that marks the beginning of Respite. If any semblance of peace is meant to be had here in Stygia it would be now during this moment of tranquility.

The people of this realm celebrate the coming of such peace even though their numbers have suddenly swelled to new heights. An unspoken question lingers in the air under all this charming merriment, one that questions the very stability of Stygia itself. While Augustine still doubts he’s “dead”, he’s starting to warm to the idea that this realm is nothing more than a self-made purgatory for uncleaned souls. That certainly makes more sense than anything else, especially as he watches the debauchery that takes foot. While he’s not against enjoying a drink or two, he’s certainly against the idea of gorging himself on endless delectables when there’s a possible faminine looming overhead.

Nevertheless, Augustine finds some enjoyment in watching others celebrate. However, he does give a shaky smile when a random person asks him to join them. He quickly shakes his head as he politely declines with an uneasy smile. The dhampir isn’t the dancing type. Well, not in public at the very least. He’s quite prudish despite being a creature of the night. Always has and always will be but with careful pestering, he just might comply.

Unlike some others of his kind, Augustine isn’t as stern as he seems.]

WAYWARD SUN (OTA)

[The moment he catches a whiff of blood in the air, Augustine realized something was wrong. He figured that this lovely jubilee would turn south but he didn’t expect such upheaval. The blood curdling shriek is like a punch in the gut, a cold reminder of the horrors this realm plans to inflict upon him. He was one of the many party-goers to excuse themselves to investigate the matter. Just when Augustine was about to inquire about the noise, a stampede of fleeing onlookers rushed from the direction of the screams. Bewildered, a horrific sense of dread over claims him as something lurches towards him. He’s frozen in place momentarily, his heart racing as the headless silhouette of a creature shrouded in a black veil of cloth approaches.

He’s seen his fair share of fantastical beasts but nothing quite as gruesome as the headless horseman before him. The pungent smell of death engulfs him, snapping him out of his frightful trance as the horseman swings his blade. If it wasn’t for his fast reflexes, Augustine would’ve died right then and there. The blade narrowly misses his head, drawing first blood upon the dhampir’s pale neck. Augustine lets out a pained hiss as he quickly scurries out of the way. However, the two fellows he was conversing with earlier weren’t too fortunate.

Blood paints the town red as heads rolled down the hay covered streets. Pure chaos ensues. Suddenly there’s hundreds and hundreds of people rushing past him. The stampede is almost as deadly as the monster who caused it. People are being trampled alive trying to escape the horseman, some of them of which will never rise again at this rate. Quickly processing the carnage before him, Augustine springs into action.

While the bloodshed certainly ruined his finely made suit, he uses his blood to his advantage and forms a translucent crimson blade within his right hand. It’s obvious what he plans to do but can the dhampir hold his own against the headless horseman, alone? Probably not.]

Knock On Wood

[heavenstorn]

[ His first (and last) visit to Serene was a much more soothing affair. It had been decades since he last made his home in the wood and while Serene was not the foothill forests that he once knew, it stirred at his memories all the same. Or maybe it’s because he’s dead that he felt so nostalgic. Gridania never made him feel this way...

Nor is he feeling much now, long ears picking up the distant hissing whispers of something lurking deeper through the trees, well out of sight but still far too close for comfort. So of course he presses on, grip tight on the one weapon he'd found: a rusted fisherman's knife, discarded by its last owner. Actually getting into a fight with the thing would be asking for more trouble, one wrong twist would snap the blade like a twig. But it’s what he has to work with, and he’s not about to let the locals' cry for help go unanswered. ]

...should have joined the pugilists'...

[ The unsettling atmosphere is made more so by a sudden shrill cackle from up ahead. ]

Dead! Deaaaaad! Khehehehe!

[ Harpies, the same ones jeering down at Augustine, grab Cedrik's attention. Without another thought he rushes forward, ducking beneath branches and clearing the undergrowth that would slow him down. Bursting onto the scene startles the harpies, causing them to squawk and flutter, a few greasy feathers drifting down. But they do not move to attack, nor do they retreat, instead bursting into another fit of laughter. They’re safe up where they are and they know it. And now they’ll have double the meat. As far as they’re concerned, this is a fantastic day.

Cedrik scowls up at the creatures and slowly eases his stance when no attack comes. Only then does he turn his attention to the other Restless, brow lifting as he recognizes the face as a familiar one. ]

…Augustine?

[ The picture Soulidarity showed him was small but Cedrik’s able to put a name to the face. He also notices that…Augustine is actually purple.

Huh. ]

[immortalrose]

[Distracted by the harpies, Augustine almost didn’t notice the approach of another. He quickly turns towards the direction of the rustling leaves and presses his makeshift knife against his palm. Blood sorcery is a messy affair but it’s the only way he can defend himself momentarily. Until he’s able to renew his contract with the archfiend, he won’t be able to call upon the shadows. This is why he brought that knife with him. While he could easily split open his palm using his fangs, he much rather not. After all, Augustine cannot stand the taste of his own blood.]

Who are you? [He asks as the silhouette draws nearer. Those pesky buzzards are still heckling him but he chooses to ignore them for now.] You best be on your–

[He trails off suddenly the second he recognizes that familiar face. That’s none other than Cedrik, that adventurer he spoke with on the network. While their image upon Soulidarity was a bit blurry at best, there’s no mistaking this fellow for him. That’s Cedrik alright and apparently…he has rather tall ears.]

Oh.

[He’s left speechless once he sees those peculiar rabbit-like ears. Augustine was vaguely aware that Cedrik wasn’t quite human thanks to his odd features alone but he didn’t notice the rabbit ears until now. Much like how Cedrik probably didn’t notice that Augustine here is indeed purple with leathery red webbed wings. While he's still dressed to the nines in his Sunday's best, Augustine's bat-like wings stand out against the red of his suit. They're medium sized in length, almost touching his thighs. The inside of the wings are a dusky blue that almost looks as purple as his complexion. It's an odd feature, one that cannot be mistaken for anything "normal".

Well, this is awkward.]

Ah, greetings! You must be Cedrik, yes?

[He lowers the knife from his hand and places it somewhere on his person. Cedrik is no threat, right? He certainly hopes so.]

[heavenstorn]

[ The trouble with viera ears is they're a bit difficult to fit into a camera's frame without losing more important details. Much like Augustine's wings were decidedly not in any of the man's pictures from what Cedrik could tell at the time. The darker skin and pointed ears first reminded Cedrik of a duskwight elezen--even if he's never seen that particular shade of skin on one before. But there's no getting around the wings. For a moment the harpies are forgotten entirely as both men take a moment to boggle at the other.

The moment Augustine calls him by name, however, the viera snaps out of it. ]

Aye...well met, Augustine.

[ Shaking the last of his surprise off, Cedrik tucks his own weapon back into his belt and steps forward, offering an open hand. He's dressed far more modestly and more suited to rough terrain, though it's far from the armor he wishes he still had. ]

I'd meant to send word that the happenings here might keep me from our planned meeting, but it seems there was naught to worry over. You're here for the lantern as well, I assume?

[immortalrose]

[A hesitant smile forms upon his lips. It seems the two of them are both a bit baffled right now. Augustine has seen his fair share of fantastical creatures before but never has he met a man donning rabbit ears. This is the first for him but somehow he manages to tear his gaze away from the fluffy black ears long enough to acknowledge Cedrik properly.]

Well met, indeed.

[The dhampir chuckles as he takes Cedrik's hand for a firm shake. He's a little cool to the touch but not frigidly so. More lukewarm than anything else but far cooler than the average person. His long fingers are slightly calloused at the tips, obvious from hard labor of some sort. Cedrik probably won't believe that this frightening fellow has a passion for gardening.]

Yes, my curiosity led me for better or for worse.

[He briefly turns his attention back towards the harpies again with a look of disdain.]

Nevertheless, I deduce that these chatty pigeons don't possess the lantern.

[heavenstorn]

[ The handshake gives Cedrik another couple of hints, the lower temperature and the rougher fingers--nothing on his own well-worn hands, but noticeable. Strange but still nothing that strikes him as threatening. Whatever the truth of Augustine's nature may be, it's a mystery that's better left for another time. At this point, even if he turned out to be voidsent, Cedrik would honestly overlook it.

His lips tug into a wry smile, following Augustine's gaze up to the canopy. ]

I have to agree. It's doubtful they have the wits.

[ One of the 'pigeons' nearly takes the bait, puffing up for an angry shriek before her sister reaches out a steadying wing. ]

Patience! Patience--kheeee! Dead soon, dead by dawn...

[ Cedrik clicks his tongue and takes a few steps forward, glancing back at Augustine and nodding an invitation for him to follow. ]

We'll have to keep up the search. Come this way, I've a good feeling about it.

[immortalrose]

['Dead by dawn?' A slight scoff escapes the dhampir as he glances briefly at the harpies again. If they think he'll be an easy meal, then they're sadly mistaken. Augustine is much more versatile than he seems. While he doubts those overgrown buzzards would taste good, he's tempted to sink his fangs into them. However, that's a thought he will not act upon for the time being.

Instead, he gives Cedrik a slight nod before following into step with him. As they discussed earlier, Augustine will do his best to avoid using his brand sorcery here. The adventurer expressed great concern over his usage of blood magic, especially after his little explanation. Nevertheless, Augustine won't hesitate to use it if they're in jeopardy but he allows for Cedrik to lead the venture for now.]

A good feeling? How so?

[He questions curiously after climbing over a few errant stones in their path. The path that leads away from the beaten road is a little rocky, to say the least. The terrain here is rather uneven with sloping hills and scattered stone. There's plenty grass and greenery here too but be careful of the shrubbery. Many of these bushes have sharp little thorns that easily bite into flesh.]

I know you're a seasoned adventurer but how do you know where to go?

[heavenstorn]

[ It's slow going, especially over the rougher terrain, but the company helps to make it bearable. The harpies are following at a safer distance, Cedrik can hear the occasional beating of wings as they move from one branch to the next, but they thankfully don't have any more commentary. ]

How? Well...

[ It's a good question. He would contribute it to luck, he's always been some sort of lucky when it came to searching for things, whether in the wilds or in a city. But one could easily ask if he has any good fortune left now that he's dead and all. It's a point that his Shadow's ever keen to give.

One of Cedrik's ears gives a brief twist. ]

The ground here keeps moving upward. [ It's a slow incline, but it's there among the trees. ] There's nothing to be done about the trees, but we can at least get above the mist.

[immortalrose]

[That's a solid plan if anything. Getting above the thick mist is bound to give them some sort of advantage. It's already difficult to see anything within this oppressive darkness, that is unless you're a creature of the night. Augustine can peer through the darkness just fine but it's the thick fog that really hinders his sight. That could also explain why Augustine nearly tripped just now. He was skipping from stone to stone when he nearly fell. Thankfully, he manages to keep himself upright by beating his wings.]

Y-yes, getting past this mist would be the best idea.

[He grumbles under his breath as he matches Cedrik's pace once more. The two of them eventually make it up the slope of this tall hill. It took a few a moments but once they reach the top, they're rewarded with a breathtaking view of Serene. Most of the forest itself is devoid of light expect from the shine of the moons and stars above. However, there seems to be a flicker of orange within the distance, accompanied by the telltale scent of smoke.]

Hm? [A thoughtful hum escapes Augustine as he points towards the direction of the smoke.] See that over there? Looks like someone set up camp.

sinner's festival

[seaboard]

[ Gilia has had no such qualms, apparently. Perhaps in the beginning, she would insist that this was a younger woman's game, and she has quite serious reservations, on the whole matter.

The last time she had danced, someone had stabbed her in the throat, after all.

But a bite of this, a sip of that, and the pull of the changing weather? She has forgotten those concerns. Why had she not wanted to dance? She had always loved it. She sang, too, until the same reason had stopped her, and now her voice is a rasp in forcing herself too long, her veil pushed back from her hair and the great length of her hair exposed, her cheeks flushed from exertion. Swung from the arms of one dancer to another as gladly as she passes others along. The way she dances best, when prompted is a feat more than simply moving. Jumping, turning, spinning herself like a top with long kicks of her legs that sends her hair flying in an arc as she goes and goes and goes.

Which is the manner which she finds him, stopping to catch her breath. Spying him tucked against the wall, hidden away. ]

Master Augustine! [ She is in her cups, though holding it well, there is that pleasant languidness to her smile, the relaxed crinkle in the corner of her eye. That too bold way she lifts her head and does not seem to care for the bruise on her cheek or the scar that never leave her that can just be seen over the high collar of her dress. ] Roses should not hide so sweetly in corners! Have you found no one to dance with?

[immortalrose]

[The second he heard his name, Augustine knew he was in trouble.]

Ah, greetings Lady Gilia. [He greets her with something akin to a cautious smile.] It seems you’ve been enjoying yourself.

[His crimson gaze lingers upon the cup within her hand. It’s clearly alcohol judging from the scent. Even in this crowd of hundreds, his senses are as sharp as ever before. That’s why he cannot help but look a bit concerned once he recognizes that playful gleam within Gilia’s eyes. He knows that look all too well.]

Not quite! It seems all the lovely dancers are taken.

[A nervous chuckle escapes him as he tries to sink further into the shadows. Alas, he cannot since his powers are still not what they should be. Any other time, he would’ve escaped by now.]

I take it you’ve been dancing the night away.

[Judging from the exertion on her face and the faint dusting of red across her cheeks, that’s a yes. He spotted her in the crowd a few times earlier but lost track of her within all this merrymaking. Vampire or not, it’s difficult for him to keep track of everything happening here.]

[seaboard]

[ Her smile grows, wider for the little dimple that pulls in the corner. ]

Well, you shall need to suffice yourself with something less lovely, then, but a dancer nonetheless.

[ Palm open, she lifts her hand in invitation. No, he shall not find an easy means to escape, not this time anyway. ]

[immortalrose]

[Even though he knew this was coming, Augustine cannot help but look surprised nonetheless. While he's not against watching other enjoy themselves, he never was one for dancing--at least not in public. He gives Gilia awkward smile as he mentally resigns to his fate. While he could easily decline, Augustine doesn't want the happiness within the woman's eyes to fade. Gilia looks at peace here, a far cry of how they met. It does him some good to see her jovial, hence his reason for going through with this farce.]

You do yourself a great disservice by dancing with someone as ghoulish as I.

[He jokes before reaching to take her hand. Augustine can stomach a dance or two, right? Right. He's an aristocrat who grew up within the royal courts. Of course, he can dance but whether or not he can keep up with a tipsy water nymph has yet to be determined.]

Let us catch the beat under our feet before others try to out dance us.

[seaboard]

[ Her fingers curl slowly over his hand, one, two, three, and with it a smile blossoms, like this is all the world to her, and all the world should be glad in this easy contentment. When was she last this happy? So free? She could not remember. So long ago, before ruling, and assassins, and children, and war. ]

Ghoulish to some, but not to me, my lord.

[ For if he is ghoulish, she is nightmarish, she knows. It bears not thinking about, so she doesn't, right this moment. He is dancing with her, and she draws that arm to her hip, anchoring it firm against her lower back. ]

You must hold tight. The dance is quick.

[ She places her own upon him, one to find his other hand, and the other to his shoulder. The murmur is quick, impish - ready? The beat is so loud to the very corners of her soul, that she needs only brace for the next count, and she sweeps them back into the fray of the dozens of dances and the heart of where that music churned so loud against the senses. ]

[immortalrose]

[Happiness is such a fickle thing. It comes and goes like the wind, always fleeting and always sparse. It never seems to overstay its welcome and is always the first to leave whenever cloudy days are ahead. However, Augustine cannot help but share in Gilia’s happiness as she takes his hand. He can feel it within her smile and see it as broad as day within her eyes. Happiness is truly infectious and he’s been unwillingly infected by it.

For someone who typically shies away from dancing, Augustine willingly supports Gilia as they dance in unison to the drumming beat. The Restless truly live up to their names as they spin about like little tops. Gilia is no different in this regard, quick to lead the charge onto the dancefloor with him in tow. Augustine manages to keep up with her once they enter the fray, the two of them the new additions to this maddening dance.]

Any faster and you’ll trip.

[He warns while taking care to ensure his lovely dance partner doesn’t trip upon his feet. The dhampir is a bit faster than her, just a bit. He manages to avoid her toes perfectly while dancing to this foreign beat.]

[seaboard]

Then it is a good thing I have you to catch me.

[ Save her again, is the tease, her smile bright and sharp, as she whirls around with him. Her grip firm, yet quick to move away, with each step. ]

Are you ready? You need to catch me, next.

[ A warning, brief as it is, to let him brace for it. Though after the strength and speed in combat she saw him display, she is not so worried he is capable of it, even if she is a tall woman. </small. ]

[immortalrose]

[The warning is appreciated but mostly unnecessary. Augustine is more than capable of supporting her weight. Gilia weighs almost nothing in his opinion. She’s quite tall but also rather willowy. When she’s tossed upward, Augustine is quick to brace her fall. He catches her effortlessly with a laugh, careful to keep Gilia from smacking into a nearby couple. They’re not the only ones dancing to this chaotic beat, after all.

He swings her around with glee before tossing her upward towards the stars again. In all due truth, he shouldn’t be having such fun here. He’s still quite ignorant of the norms here in Stygia and very much so disturbed about his death. However, Augustine is having fun nonetheless all thanks to this impish water nymph.]

You dance beautifully like a ballerina, my dear siren.

[The dhampir teases once he catches her once more within his arms. He twirls her around again but doesn’t toss her up again unless requested. After all, he doesn’t want the poor dear to get dizzy. Augustine is quite aware of his strength and it would honestly grieve him to harm Gilia.]

♰ WILDCARD

[immortalrose]

(ooc: feel free to make your own prompt here!)

Knock Knock Also, but On Different Wood

[damnpire]

[If D sneaks up on Augustine in the Oakwoods, it isn't intentional. He didn't take the torch the old woman, Myrtille, offered because he can see in the dark. (Though he did consider it as a means of weaponry; there are plenty of things on the Frontier who dislike fire.)

Even wrapped from head to foot in the most ridiculous amount of cloth, even with spurs on the backs of his boots, he somehow manages to walk without making a whole lot of sound. To Augustine, it's light but still there. The plush crunch of moss underfoot, the way the ground shifts to accommodate him. The harpies, too, lingering above in the distance, chanting. And the dark, catastrophic aura following him where he goes, an inner gravity dampened by the way this place takes from them the height of their abilities.

He's not there, and then he is just there, spit out of the shadows as a silhouette and nearly invisible against the dark. His pale face is the only bright thing, floating in the nothing. But he stops a yard or so away, giving Augustine room to recognize him.]

Are you here for the lantern?

<3

[immortalrose]

[Augustine didn’t even bother with the torch either. His unnatural eyes are better suited for the dark anyways. His sclera is completely black and the irises glow like rubies in the dark. He looks every bit like a demon right now, webbed wings and all, but his love for extravagance makes him appear less severe. While the long red coat he wears is getting a bit frayed at the edges, Augustine still looks like an aristocrat. He doesn’t really belong out here among the reeds and bushes. Not at all but Augustine already volunteered himself to the cause.

It’s difficult to sneak up on him, especially since his hearing is so acute. However, the constant heckling of harpies above distracts him. They’re too noisy for his liking, every grotesque chuckle causing him to frown in discomfort. Those pointed ears aren’t for decoration, you know? Nevertheless, the hunter manages to sneak up upon the purple dhampir fairly too easily for his liking.

That's why when D speaks, Augustine nearly draws his blade.]

Ah, I should’ve known you would come.

[He all but grumbles as he pockets the knife within his hand. It’s not much in means of defense but perfect for him to tap into his dark arts. All he needs is a meager drop of his blood to perform his special brand of sorcery.]

Yes, I am but unfortunately I find myself being accosted by vultures.

[He turns his frustration towards the harpies.]

[damnpire]

[The twitch to draw a blade is expected and valid, so it doesn't bother D at all. He doesn't budge. There's an understanding that Augustine wouldn't attack him unnecessarily, and an understanding he can protect himself.]

Don't pay them any mind.

[Once the blade is gone, once Augustine has realized it's him, he closes the distance between them to come stand an arm's stretch away on Augustine's side. The harpies don't get a second glance from him. Though, strangely, their chattering has become more annoying to him than he thinks it usually would. This makes him a little suspicious.]

They don't have it.

[The lantern, he means. He starts walking on ahead, pace slow.]

[immortalrose]

They don't?

[He quickly falls into step with D, his gaze lingering upon the canopy above. While he's almost certain the harpies won't attack them, Augustine is hesitant to leave that to chance. He's quite aware of how dangerous they are thanks to past experience, most of which transpired in his realm. His dislike for these fiends is why the city of Hawthorne was always harpy-free.]

Well, of course not. These overgrown pigeons would've said so by now.

[A sigh escapes him as he glances towards the hunter. D is an enigma to him, a daunting one at that. Yet in the same breath, oddly familiar. Nevertheless, he's grateful for the hunter's presence. Venturing out here into the unknowns was a foolish idea but then again, Augustine honestly wanted an excuse to visit Serene. After all, it's the only part of Stygia that reminds him of home.]

That begs the question then, who stole it?

[damnpire]

[Sometimes even on the Frontier, mutants do not attack. Monsters will, but genetically altered mutants who are sentient have their own morals, and loyalties, and desires like everyone else.

When the harpies did little more than obnoxiously call to him, he figured they did not have the lantern. They hadn't been brandishing it either.]

I don't know.

[But regardless, he keeps walking through the woods with Augustine in tow. The dark is not something he's wary of most of the time; however, here it seems to be riling up the new voice inside him. This may not bode well. It's fine...

All at once, he comes to a stop. He turns his head ever so slightly, silent, like he's listening. Faintly, a melody. His eyes shift to Augustine as if he's trying to see whether the other man hears it as well.]

[immortalrose]

[Augustine pauses briefly once he hears something in the distance. It's quiet little hum, one that would easily go unnoticed by mortal ears. He stands there for a moment in complete silence, his crimson gaze focused upon what seems to be a small clear up ahead. He nods towards the hunter before daring to find the source of that melody. Now inching behind the shadows of a nearby tree, Augustine cannot help but squint once he sees a silhouette within the darkness.]

Well, well, well... [Lets out an humored chuckle once he sees the youth seated within the clearing. It's a boy, a young man judging from the shape and scent. While they're a little too far off for him to make out their features, he can see the faint orange glow beside them.]

It seems that we have our culprit.

[He murmurs as he glances towards D again. It goes without saying that this is a little too convenient to be plausible. While Augustine wouldn't dare call himself paranoid, he does possess a healthy dose of skepticism. That's why instead of simply barging out there into the clearing, he lingers within the shadows for now.]

[damnpire]

[POOR AUGUSTINE. The man is valid, but D, for all this worldly ten thousand years of wisdom, is as straight-forward and somewhat wily as ever. He's really dressed for stealth, but prefers to face things head-on.

His feet lead him after Augustine in the same slow, careful way, but when Augustine moves over to take cautious cover... D continues walking. Without any hesitation, he steps right by Augustine and into the clearing. Look, he's dead. What's this punk going to do, kill him again?

But the Puck seems more amused than anything else. D has at least stopped several yards away, closer to Augustine than the young man.]

Return the lantern.