Thank ya. Thank ya.

Sure.

I'll let you start though with the setting and whether you want it as human or deer, since I do not know Esclave.

I did check. I'm very interested in seeing what a vampire would have to say to a demon hunter...

Sounds good to me. I'll let you begin so I can figure out your style of RPing; and I apologize in advance for any delayed replies. I'm currently working a very busy schedule at my job; free time is limited.

The silver rays of the moon seeped through the canopy above him as the clothed-stag trotted through the birch woods. His pocket watch chain rattled faintly with his steps as he continued to search the woods. Cypher had developed a rather unusual sleeping pattern. Generally taking a four or five hour naps whenever he grew tired over sleeping a standard eight hour night like most. As a result, he found himself constantly feeling restless at random times during the day and tonight was unlike any other. With Migisi sound asleep in her nest and his other friends off handling their own lives, it granted him an opportunity to patrol the Forest without distraction or fear of trouble following.

He held his head high as he walked. Ears swiveled beneath the brim of his hat as they searched for unusual sounds. - No banshee cries. No lost spirit wails. No monstrous snarls. - It was going to be an uneventful night. Sighing, slightly in relief and slightly out of boredom, Cypher stepped out into the clearing, gazing up towards the night sky. His blue eyes seemed to glow as moon reflect within them. His gaze returned to ground level after he examined a few constellations. His stare followed the roll of the hill until it settled on the pond nestled below it. The water surface twinkled in the soft glow of the moon, silently tormenting him. Gulping, he went to pull his glare away but his eyes had fixed themselves on a figure near the shoreline. Memorized by the shine of the other stag's antlers in the dim light.

For a moment, he stood still. Staring at the other intently. Questioning to himself if it was worth dealing with the sickening feeling the water brought to him in order to speak to the stag. He shook his head, trying to combat the growing anxiety within himself. Instead, he decided to play it safe and stood his ground. Investigating the stag from afar as he waited for him to step away from the deadly water.

Then he would stalk his prey.

Slowly, Cypher crept towards the silver stag. The opposing stag's alluring antlers beckoned him to investigate closer. As he studied the other, he took mental notes of the unique characteristics and facial features. Unlike many of the deer in the Forest, this one did not have a humanoid face. It gazed out over the moonlit pasture with ruby eyes, glowing in the darkness like two burning coals.

His thin brow rose slightly as he ducked into the shadows. Bewildered as to what had caught the ghostly stag's attention. His eyes followed the others stare, but saw nothing other than the empty night. He attempted to tip-toe closer; a task difficult to do on pointed hooves. Stumbling forward slightly, Cypher fought gravity to keep his balance as tripped over his own feet. A few twigs snapped under his weight as he swayed before finally coming to a stop not far from the stag.

With his legs spread out, he breathed heavily through clenched teeth as he gazed up with wide eyes; he had given away his position and surely, the other would not be happy to discover he was being followed.

"Evening, sir," he mumbled casually, attempting to play off his clumsy misstep as a willed act.

The touches were tender and soft; not threatening in the slightest but the non-hesitant way the shining-silver stag forced himself upon him made Cypher feel uneasy. Despite the sweetness that seemed to linger in the other's examination, the clothed stag was still growing use to the physical contact of strangers. Nervously, he took a half step back with his neck holding his head high, attempting to draw the illusion that he was taller and more sturdy than he truly was as he placed some distance between the two. His blue eyes - paled by the darkness that surrounded them - glared down at him; brows tangled above his skin-tight mask in uneasy bewilderment. A faint puff of warm breath seeped out from his nostrils as he gave a displeased snort before stomping his hoof onto the soft soil; not as a threat, but as a plea of the touching to stop. Had the opposing stag been a doe, maybe he would have not been so reluctant to the stranger's touches, but as a stag, it made him slightly uncomfortable.

Before him, the other seemed to cower slightly. Though the way his body was positioned was perplexing. His head hung loose about his neck and he seemed at ease in the more submissive stance. Only adding to the strangeness that had lured Cypher this close to begin with.

Then the shining-silver stag spoke. His voice as soft spoken as his touch, yet contained distinct features that caused Cypher's heart to skip a beat and his eyes to widen in astonishment. The way the 'R's rolled harshly - yet elegantly - off his tongue...The smooth sound of his 'S's...The sophisticated way he spoke...They were all familiar to him. He had heard such an accent before and even the unfamiliar words did not sound too foreign to him. His speech patterns hinted at a European descent; France if he was not mistake.

His anxious look faded faintly as his smirked. His lips curling into an amused fashion across his face. "Quite alright, sir," he replied; his voice contained similar sounds although slightly harsher. His vowels were short and soft, along with his 'T's. His British accent rolled like silk from his lips. "No offense has been taken and I am quite capable of strolling through the late night, sir." The clothed stag began to pace slowly; circling the other and intently studying him. "Pardon me for asking...But you are not from around here, are you?" He paused as he made his way back in front of the stag. Silence hung for a moment before he spoke again, "I do not believe I caught your name, sir."

His ears twitched beneath the rim of his fedora as he tuned in on the Esclave's gentle whisper. "Ah France. Always been meaning to visit there some day," he lied in attempts to make a smooth transaction with the conversation. He tipped his head forward towards him as he trotted in a line before him. "No, sir, I come straight from the British Isle."

Rolling his shoulders, he cracked his neck while he thought of the next thing to say. Ultimately settling on the need to introduce himself, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Esclave. I am Cypher, or at least, that is what I am called as well." The name left a bitter taste on his tongue; oh how he hated it. It was so distant and disconnected from him, but it was all he had known.

Esclave was now at his side, trotting along side him...in a meaningless line? The clothed stag stopped pacing and glanced over at the submissive buck that clang to him. A brow arced with a confused sparkle in his eye; baffled by the silver stag's eagerness to follow him - despite being a stranger - Cypher did not object to the company. He did, however, make a mental note to keep a close eye on him as a precaution. Something seemed off about him. Perhaps it was his unusually tainted fur; or perhaps his ruby-colored eyes...The eyes that seemed to glisten with glee at the mention of his homeland.

The other was now prancing giddily around the hatted-stag. Swift, graceful movements as he twirled in circles, boasting so lovingly about the country's culture. Cypher took a step back; ears swiveling about his head as they turned in each direction Esclave leaped. Shakespeare. The name stuck out in his mind; he had heard it from somewhere before in the past but where...? He stopped. His mind raced. Vivid and faded images flashed before him as he tried desperately to recall where he had learned about Shakespeare before. An ancient building...? Filled with others his age...? The pile of books and patient teachings of Dr. Heung in his cell...? Shaking his head, he returned to reality. The cool forest air was surrounding him again with Esclave still looking up at him with a wagging tail as if he were a playful puppy waiting for his master to toss him a bone.

Cypher's eyelids closed tightly together as he fought away the painful headache threatening to resurface. Dilated, he opened his eyes. Do you read, sir? The question caused him to tilt his head slightly, trying to think. Sure he read; everyone read to an extent but probably not in the way the silver stag intended. He read field reports, read manuals, read documents, occasionally read the newspaper...A magazine in a waiting room... Read music...Very rarely though did he ever read books for entertainment. His life was too fast; sitting still to read bored him. He did though see plays.

"Not particularly," he simply replied. Shaking his head in attempt to adjust his fedora on his head. "I assume though - with how familiar you are with the works - that you do read, Mr. Esclave. Are my suspicions correct?"

Their footsteps were light on the soil as they wandered aimless through the woods. The silver stag's were elegant and as graceful as a dancing does beside the heavier steps of Cypher's. Esclave seemed delighted to prance beside the clothed-stag. Subconsciously leading him up hill away from the pond, towards the distant rolling hills at the edge of the birch patch. While not objecting to the company, he could not help but feel slightly uneasy; concerned by the willingness the other possessed to just mindlessly "obey".

Then he smiled.

The grin caused Cypher to stop mid-step. His foreleg lifted slight above the other in front of him as his blue eyes narrowed as though they were zooming in to get a closer look at the unusual shape of the silver's teeth. Long thin, sharp points jetted out from his upper jawline. Quickly hidden by the jerk of the other's head. He stood still, paying very close attention to Esclave as he spoke; hoping to catch a glimpse of the fangs a second time for they did need to be analyzed. He could not make assumptions or accusations without proper evidence to support his claim. Rising his head a bit, Cypher nodded to himself. Taking another mental note: fangs.

Now more intrigued than before, he wanted to keep the silver stag close to him for make more observations. His mind began to race while he thought of more earthly topics to bring up. Surely his company was an educated man at some point in his life; there would have not been any other way for him to have known about Shakespeare or be so enthusiastic about reading if he had not been. Cypher easily could have asked more about the stag's past or his schoolings, but those were topics that he personally did not like to bring up. Mainly because he never had an answer for his...

Instead, he decided to explore more about the stag through culture and the arts. "I do not have the patience to read, sir. Your dedication to literature is surely admirable," he spoke as his head tilted in Esclave's direction while he began to slowly walk again. "Tis a strange thing about myself. I do not have the will to read a novel, but I have put much time and effort into music." Smirking, his head lifted high with a small sense of pride. "The piano; I had learned to play it quite sometime ago and spent almost all of my '*free hours' practicing. Twas a nice escape from the hell I lived in..." His voice softened and trailed off near the end of his sentence, fighting away the resurfacing darker memories of the asylum.


* free hour: similar to recess; a name given to the time upon which a patient was not required to be kept in their cell or was not in therapy; the time where they could interact with other patients or work on hobbies

His ears twitched frantically around his head. The brown tips brushed gently against the material of his hat as he listened to Esclave's speech. Looking out from the corner of his eye, he kept a close fixed watch on his movements. Silently studying him; judging him. Unsure of if allowing the silver stag to travel with him was a wise decision or not. Had the fangs been real? Or where they just a figment of the clothed-stag's own wild imagination? Views of reality tainted by the years of chasing down the paranormal for the AoM?

Cypher's train of thought was disturbed by the sudden swift movement of the stag's bow. His nose winkled as if it had been flicked. Legs stiffened as he braced himself - startled. The stag's voice was soft and full of concern as he attempted to change the subject. Jumping from curiously questioning the trouble past of the stag to an interest in music.

"Indeed. It is quite an exquisite sound," he paused and cast his gaze over to his companion. Staring directly into his ruby eyes as if to send a message telepathically to him. "Such an enchanting...and haunting melody can come from such an instrument, do you not agree, Mr. Esclave?" Scratching down at the ground before him, he smirked. His lips twisted upward into a cynical smile as his eyes sparkled coldly. Not threatening the silver stag but surely making it clear that he knew something was different about him.

(I am curious as to what your timezone is. I'd like to one day encounter one of your characters in-game, but I can't seem to figure it out.)

Watching as the other carefully backed away, he felt the corner of his lips rise slightly more - taking pride in the small victory. There was still much he needed to learn first, but it would have appeared that his suspicions might have been right. He pulled his chin in slightly closer to his neck, peering down at the once-again cowering Esclave. He had to confirm more before he would be able to make a rightful decision on how to farther handle the situation. Still needing solid proof that the stag was an unearthly beast. If proven correctly, then he would need to figure out how dangerous he was in order to determine the proper response.

Esclave's voice lost its elegant flow, just as his steps had. Words were jumbled together between long pauses of breath; tone dropping to a whisper as if he were a child expecting a scolding. Cypher continued to stand where he was, examining the silvery-stag. Watching carefully to his the way he moved and what he spoke of. Waiting for the next slip up. Curiosity began to nag at him causing him to take delicate steps to the stag's side. Circling him a few times as he spoke in broken sentences. A wide grin still upon his face while a burning sensation flared within his chest. The thrill of a "hunt" was resurfacing within the stag. Edging him on. Without anyone to impress or protect near him, Cypher was able to do his work without any second thoughts, and he was known to do his job quite well...

"You have good taste, sir. Such lovely pieces indeed but alas, we had very little resources back in the asylum. Music scores were hard to come by you see. Sadly, I never got to sink my teeth into nothing more than childish melodies which always left me hungry for more..." Cypher taunted as he dropped hints, carefully emphasizing selected words.

(It's 6:33pm here in South Carolina, USA. I work a full time job and will probably not be on for most of the weekend, sadly.)

The moonlight seeped through the dead branches of the trees, casting a faint glow on the pair. Like a spot light centering the non-existing audience's attention to the dramatic play that was unfolding before their invisible eyes. Cypher stood with his forelegs crossed slightly at the joints and chest puffed out; the silk tie glistening in the soft light as it ran along his slender neckline before tucking away into the V cut of his ebony vest. Neck stretched with his head held high with pride, peering down at the cowering stag from beneath his hat rim. Almost majestic in stance, he stood still smirking. Teeth slightly exposed with a sinister grin.

Ah yes...His prey knew that he knew the stag was unnatural. Esclave had tried desperately to keep his identity hidden, but years of practice and active duty made it difficult for him to hide even the most subtle signs from the trained 'demon' hunter. Now all Cypher needed to do was figure out what exactly Esclave was. A demon? A ghost? A monster...? No, the silvery stag as far too prim and proper to be something so vile. While he was not "normal", he was not a mindless, blood-thirsty beast like Cypher had encountered countless times before on his missions for the AoM. No, Esclave was something else. Something human at one point...He would need to figure out exactly what he was, reminding himself of the fangs hidden beneath his lips as he began to plot what to do.

What was he going to do...? His current mission was to only observe the wildlife of the Forest and nothing more, but if the stag was posing a threat then shouldn't it be his duty to act? Though he had not heard of any 'vampire-related' attacks in the Forest. So what was he to do...?

Shaking his head, Cypher pushed away his own thoughts. Now was not the time for them; he would react to the situation if and when it changed. For now though, he seemed to be in control. The other was anything but threatening and, of course, Cypher seemed to be the one to fear. Yet, despite the game of cat-and-mouse the pair seemed to have been playing, Esclave showed nothing but sympathy towards his hunter. A realization that caused Cypher's heart to sink almost instantly. He had been the same way towards Jack and now here he was, on the opposite role. The stern expression softened slightly; sadism was not his nature but it was his job to be on guard and aggressive if needed.

Then another word struck a hollow cord within him: past. His ears pulled in closer to his skull, brushing away dark strains of hair. Eyes grew darker - tainted by hidden torment - as his smirked shifted to a more disgusted look. His head hung slightly; how he hated to speak of his past.

"Yes...I suppose so..." Voice lower and deeper than normal as he attempted to hide his face behind the fedora's rim. Trying to hide the growing pain and blank gaze in his eyes. He had nothing to say regarding his past... He did not know anything about it. Within his mind, faint memories and faded visions swirled. As if a thousand photographs were being flashed before his eyes within seconds. Imagines of a lovely woman smiling... A familiar man looking sternly at him... Dr. Hayes' sadistic grin... The black haired girl... Golden dog barking...Dr. Heung's regretful look... Icy water... Snow... Darkness... Loneliness... The smell of death and agonizing cries in the middle of the night as he laid bond in the filthy cell bed...

Wincing, he stumbled back on wobbly legs. His head pounded as the memories flooded his mind; none of which he knew anything about. Just visions of a forgotten time. He turned his back to Esclave, trying to gather himself. A deep sigh seeped through his lips as he stood alone in the darkness.

The gentle nudge was almost unnoticeable beneath the cotton material of his shirt. Had his pupils not been pulled to the corners - still fixed on Esclave - he might not have even known. Cypher closed his eyes as he breathed slowly. Taking in the late-autumn night deeply into his lungs and releasing it as hot snorts through his nostrils. The faint memories of the past as chilling at the air.

Swallowing the saliva that collected around his moulders, he rose his head to normal level again. Ears still pulled against the soft locks of his dark hair as he shook his head. As if he were attempting to readjust the fedora lodged between his antlers while trying to regain a confident look. He turned to face his company once again noticing the sympathy that resided in the red eyes.

"Quite alright, sir," a deep voice rumbled as he stepped away from Esclave. He stepping over a few unearthed roots as he pranced around to the silver-stag's backside. The chain of his pocket watch jingling either each step. "No need to concern yourself over me, Mr. Esclave. Even if we were to speak about such a topic, I have nothing to say regarding the matter." His head tilted loosely on his neck as he gave a half-hearted shrug.

"Easy...Easy! Gently, my dear, you must be gentle. This is Migisi; she is a jackdaw. A bird - a crow. No, she will not eat you and no, you cannot eat her. I am sure she would be absolutely disgusting to chew on and she is a noisy little bugger."

The birds eyes drifted to the fedora on the stags head. she'd originally wanted to check if he was alright after his coughing. but took a moment pondering it, she was trying to be nice not steal the mans hat..though the thought was tempting "You do not seem well Sir." she said two toned eyes resting on him. "...And your actions are confusing to me..I don't understand why one minute you are rude and the next rather cordial with me...Is it sincere or is it just polite..have I done something to offend you?" her eyes narrowed slightly as her feathers ruffled.


( I was ordered to steal a certain hat :l)

her head tilted her talons tapped at the ground in thought. "Well that was polite of you to say hello..seems you do have manners for strangers after-all. tsk, silly stag you should take better care of your self, sir. " her eyes went back to the hat , she smirked as well as she could with a beak. " Hnn you mean no harm this evening. does this mean you you could mean harm others.." her eyes narrowed again as he stepped closer with slight caution. Its not as if she'd leap at him and chase him off. Well at least not tonight, her mood for the evening had taken a turn for the better. She was not as grumpy as always. She stood, shaking her self off as she got closer to the stag. She bent her self in a dipped bow. lowering her head exposing the back of her neck in a submissive and respectful way to show that she was not going to harm him. " Do you have any spares of that hat of yours..by any chance?"

( i have no idea lD. haha)

" Well thats good we don't want a dashing gentlemen like your self becoming incapacitated now do we..?" her eyes narrowed as she watching him circling her .She gave a soft chuckle as he seemed to be examining her, was a hippogryph really that strange of a sight to everyone?. She sighed spreading her wings to let him get a better look at her body's structure before folding them back against her body.

Her head tilted to the side . So he did have an extra. She was in luck " Yes the Fedora" she grinned as she thought of the right answer. What did she need it for?. " Well. I figure that it would be highly rude of me to take the one that is currently on your head...Thus why I asked if you had an extra. " she scratched her chest with her talons, a few rogue feathers falling to the ground. "The reason I want the hat..hmm to spare you from yours being stolen from that silly bird-head again. He seems to have taken a liking to it after all."

She watched the display with the hat, it amused her a bit, making her chuckle before her expression suddenly became rather brooding. What was in it for him? Her eyes narrowed a moment in thought as she sat on her hind. A talon tapping at the side of her beak. What did she have the the stag could possibly be interested in.

" I am not really sure what I could give you in return." her eyes softened a moment. she truly didn't have much to give " What would one such as your self ask of a Hippogryph?" her mismatched eyes settled upon him, as she crossed her forelegs. " I am sure we could come to some sort of agreement" she gave a grin. Resting her head much like a human would on the back of one of her talons.

(i sent you a msn request ^^ btw hehe)

She chuckled at how uneasy he seemed by her. She was trying to be friendly, it was just hard to smile with a beak. " Boy I don't bite very hard..You don't need to be so uneasy" she chuckled and shook her head ruffling her feathers before settling down. She thought a moment, of things that she did have to offer. her eyes narrowed as she looked to the grass,


" How about a pact...In exchange for your hat as a gift to my friend..I will make a binding pact with you. " She tapped her chin. It sounded good enough for her. " I'm no demon so i'll not take you soul in exchange for my services. Just the hat.." she ruffled her feathers " The terms of this contract are all up to you sir. Consider it ...like a blank check.."

She sighed and stood. approaching him as she leaned down taking and end of the hat in her beak gently " You know...I could always simply take it by force if I wish" she tone didn't sound at all threatening as her words were. She let the hat go before gently brushing her side against his own. craning her neck using her beak to straighten out the ruffles in his clothing with much tender care. " Though it would not be polite of me.." she gently fixed his hair also before she nudged the hat again.

" but your right there really isn't any fun in just handing it over.When there's so much that you could put a girl like me through to get it" her smirk grew. as she moved away from him. " what if i told you the hat wasn't going to be given over to that silly bird.. but instead I wanted it.. would you give it to me then"

She giggled, in a way most would probably not have assumed the gryph could do. it sounded more like it belonged to a school girl. She had tried her hardest to keep a straight face while doing this but it just did not seem at all possible" Nothing terrible of course good sir. I was simply implying that you could throw me through the ring a bit. make me beg for the hat, do an odd little dance. or even tell you my deepest most personal secrets" She commented. " things that most here wouldn't even dream of putting me into the same frame with~" her wing stretched. the other still broken and bound to her side.

She shook her head and sat back eyeing him" if you truly do not wish me to have it then I suppose I shall leave you be..I'm probably being a bit of a best aren't I" she gave a gentle grin. " Though it would mean a lot to me if I could have the hat...I wouldn't take it from you if it is your only one. perhaps I can make one my self...or Find another stag that has a hat" she sighed

Kestrel's eyes narrowed. Bird to deer? She had remembered seeing his as a deer but didn't quite know how he had done it truly. She had made some assumptions, knowing what she had seen of this forest and its inhabitants. She tapped her beak a moment " I had seen it yes. and was curious of it my self...I will try and get you the information you seek...but I do not guaranteeing any promising results. that day he was rather out of it.." she said. thinking about transformations. her expression turned a bit melancholy " If I find anything promising on that then I'll return to you with the results...Though" she grimaced. Thinking of one person she could ask. Well she did want the hat so, perhaps it was worth it.

Going back to the transformations thing. she looked to the sky " I now have a question for you..." she looked more concerned then she did serious about this. as if she were worried " How often does the sun go down in this place...Is night very frequent?" she questioned her feathers ruffling uneasily.

She picked up the fedora with her talon and put it on her head. giving him a smile she would fulfill her side to the bargain as well as she could." Sounds like we have our selves a deal...sir" she dipped her head holding the hat with her talon to keep it there. Hearing that night did not come often.

she gave a relieved sigh. as if weight was lifted from her. There was now need to worry about that any longer " There is no need to be sorry for it..Its actually a good thing for me" She gave a nod thinking a moment looking off. no she'd not have to worry about that for a good while.

(It is fine, though I will say that I have lost my train of through regarding the direction I was attempting to take the RP... I shall try to continue it though!)

Esclave's body froze in place while Cypher studied him. Cowering and cringing before his muscles relaxed at the realization that the clothed-stag was not about to strike him. The male's thin brow rose in confusion while watching him. Snorting slightly in offense that his politeness was bring overshadowed by an unknown fear. While not scariness angered at the silver-stag, but just growing frustrated with how the creatures here seemed to lack manners; and that one of the few who had them feared him.

In a way, Esclave's reactions only tore open an old wound. Mental images of his doctor backing away from him and raising his arms in defense as Cypher would rise from his bindings filled his head. Even back then, he was not the aggressive type nor was he forceful. He was no different now than back then and frankly, he did not look intimating - So why was he still acting so terrified?

"No reason to defend yourself, Mr. Esclave," his deep voice bellowed. "I am no wild animal..."

(Sorry to the delayed reply; I'm running out of things to say.)

"No need to apologize," the cloth-stag nodded towards him. Sympathetic eyes fixed on him. "I know all about bad memories."

Silence fell between them as Cypher looked away. Eyes scanning the dark forest line. His body stiff as he stood tall beside Esclave. Ears pulled forward, listening, as his tail twitched behind him. Suspecting to be followed or watched, but relaxing to find them alone. Shaking his head to chase away the growing paranoia.

"Do take care of yourself, Mr. Esclave."