GREYBURN - INTO THE LABYRINTH

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

DKender Thy Dungyeon Maestyr A few days later, Anselm had completed his recovery, and was back on his feet again. (Literally.) He had an odd appointment with Ausmiller at the abbey, and after he was free, he wandered the grounds.

Ellen led sword training out in the woods. The combatants stood in front of sprawling blackberry bushes, so as one stepped back to avoid the attacks, they would be pricked by spiky thorns. All the more encouragement to keep up your defense and not fall back. A shadowy Anselm peered between the trees to watch for a couple moments, before Ellen noticed him. As she turned to talk with the newcomer, Chloë and Babette took the opportunity to drop their swords and hop away from the spiky bushes.

Anselm released his shadows and stepped into the clearing.

Anselm (to Ellen)-
"Hi, I don't meet you before?"

((Let's assume Babette hasn't seen this guy since his injuries.))

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

         
       Ellen-
   "...Anselm Eichel, right?"

Anselm-
"Yes. You are Lord Greyburn's child?"
         
       Ellen-
   "Yes... You're in the Circle now.
        Interested to meet him?"

Anselm-
"Yes I do! Do you show me?"
         
       Ellen-
   "I'm afraid not.  He's gone into seclusion and it
     is safest for everyone that he remains there."

Anselm-
"Oh? I can go to zee him, I'm very quiet nice."

Chloë whispered to Babette.

    
     Chloë-
"Whoa, he wants to meet your progenner?
How come? That seems super scary!"

[DKender]

Anselm was such a shy guy around new people, his request surprised Babette, too. Maybe he'd heard all the exciting stories about Aubrey's artistic vision or scary philosophies. She knew one thing, though: it was great to see Anselm in such handsome condition again!

  

"I don't know, but right now, it's less scary than this training session ... You should run while you have the chance. I'll cover for you."

  

Babette waved energetically.

"Hello, hello! Anselm, you look wonderful without sleeves! I can't believe you haven't met Aubrey before. He's very sociable. Are you sure he can't visit just a tiny bit, Ellen? He can tell him about Theodore's wickedness - Aubrey will never come out of hiding then."

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

         
       Ellen-
   "Really Babette?  No.  Definitely not.
    No one sees Aubrey.  Any questions?"

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Anselm-
"Hi Babette! You look zo pretty both,
fighting in an evening dress. It's cute. "

Anselm- (To Ellen)
"Oh, but... I never meet him before.
Vee be in a Circle together but I don't know him..."


Chloë-
"Hi Anselm, you look great! Um, yeah, I'm just gonna...
_yeah..."

She backed up a pace, and a Chlomonkë     
  swung away through the trees!

Anselm- (To Ellen)
"Maybe I just go one time,
I vant to see a cool maze."

[DKender]

((Chloemonkey <333))

  

"Oooh curious wildlife we have out here."

She leaned against her sheathed sword.

"It looks like we've lost Chloë ... can't practice suffering without her. Can I hang out with Anselm instead? He's here already, and his little bow tie matches my dress. Anyway. I think he's right. My outfit is a bit unusual for this activity."

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

         
       Ellen-
   "Don't do this to me, you two.  That
labyrinth has swallowed up... Well I don't
remember anymore.  That's what it does."

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Anselm-
"Aww, but I cann be very careful?"
   
Anselm-
"Oh vell, I cann hang out vith Babette?
I teach her to fly vithout dropping?"

[DKender]

    

"He's very good at that. Hasn't dropped anyone ever, right?"

She wondered: how many people really had vanished in the labyrinth? It was hard to remember sometimes - could the place be a great big vacuum that swallowed body, soul, and memories from existence? The prospect sent a dreadful shiver up her spine. Maybe Ellen had a very good reason to be afraid. Plus, Aubrey was probably a serial killer. Probably. He had gore cauldrons.

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

         
              Ellen-
        "...OK then, just to fly around.  Don't think
     I won't be watching.  As soon as I catch that
       monkey, I'm all over you."

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Anselm-
"It's very true, I never drop.
Vee vill fly, I'm a very good role model.
Don't vorry..."

Anselm-
"Babette..."

He held out his hand, and made all kinds of sheisty faces when his back was to Ellen.

Anselm-
"Are you ready to haff so much fun?
Doing flying?"

[DKender]

Run, monkey. Run through the trees. Don't stop! Don't ever stop!

  

"Am I ever ready!"

Babette dropped her sword and took Anselm's hand. Judging by his secret expressions, she suspected that he wasn't reeeally planning to haff so much fun by flying. Which was a pity, because flying was great. She whispered to him:

"Quickly, let's go! She's a scientist. They're skilled at catching wildlife."

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

   The owl was on the hunt.

         
            Ellen-
             "..."

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Anselm-
"Let's go...!"

His hand was very cold, and he could move swiftly between the trees, but didn't let her arm yank as they moved. He looked over his shoulder.

  
Anselm-
"Maybe vee do a bit of flying first... Good confusion.
You ever jump from cathedral top?"

After they'd cleared a bit of ground, and emerged on to the gravel driveway, he slowed to a normal walk and didn't drop her hand. He was about her same size in height and width and smelled a bit like potting soil.

Anselm-
"You practicing very hard?"

[DKender]

Babette pretended to be winded by the escape - it's what a human would do, after all, and she feared losing her knack for acting human. After taking a few deep breaths, she snapped back to her vampire chill.

  

"Maybe too hard. I know she's just looking out for us, but ... Ellen is intense sometimes. And I become frustrated ... we can learn all the right moves, but we're so young: how can Chloë and I ever hold our own against somebody like Theodore, you know? Or even a halfway decent crowboy?"