[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180603/be53d9364c99330d19f98edc0d023570.png[/img]
[color=gray][color=#008080][b]Interacting with:[/b][/color] Rylan [@Vertigo], Emil [@vietmyke][/color][/center]
[color=gray]The beast was less than happy, he could tell. Tristan brought the fire closer to the large bird, hoping that the bright light would frighten it just enough so it could calm down. Even he knew his plan was flawed. But the stryx was in no mood to be manipulated by a total stranger. It growled again as it opened its wings partially. Its pupils dilated and constricted as it pinned its gaze on him. For a moment, he faltered. He was in huge trouble. If he fell, what a glorious death it would be! Killed by an oversized turkey. Grounding his teeth, he took a step forward, squaring his shoulders and reaching forward. If he couldn't soothe it, well, he would take it by force.

Someone spoke behind him. Tristan whirled around, his blood running even more cold than it already was. The man was another intruder, for Tristan didn't recognize him as one of the Durand household. No... this was Rylan, a scoundrel from the streets. They'd had a few run-ins here and there, but this was the most... well, apprehensive. In a flourish, he unsheathed the stolen sword from his scabbard, pointing it at Rylan as he glowered at him from under his hood. [color=#008080][b]"And you're going to wake the whole place up with that screech of yours,"[/b][/color] he snarled, attempting to make his voice deeper than it was. Hopefully Rylan wouldn't recognize anything about him. 

He glanced at the pitchfork, then the stryx. It had made a sharp movement. His eyes went wide. It was rearing up now, wings outstretched and muscles terse. Crap. It was ready to charge. If it did, it'd gore them to bits. Tristan wavered the tip of his blade towards the bird, hoping that if it did attack, it would run into his sword before it did any damage. 

But the stryx didn't attack. It slouched begrudgingly at the sound of yet another voice. Tristan felt a trickle of sweat run down the side of his face. Now this had turned into an even larger problem. The new visitor was one of the Durands. He saw him around the manor when his father was purchasing stryx from the aviary. [color=#008080][i]If there is a goddess, she's damned this whole night--[/i][/color]

For a moment, he wondered if he should keep up with the charade. But at this point it was probably going to end up a fight. And he was sure that Rylan would team up with Emil and join against him. He certainly [i]wasn't[/i] in the mood to be stuck with pitchforks and lances. Sighing heavily, he sheathed the black sword before standing straight and lowering his hood. He also lowered the torch, hoping the light wouldn't irritate the bird further. [color=#008080][b]"Hi,"[/b][/color] he said in the most nonchalant way possible. [color=#008080][b]"I'd think that stryx handlers and thieves would be tucked away in bed by now. A shame really... I really didn't want to run into anyone just yet."[/b][/color]

Tristan set his gaze back on Emil. [color=#008080][b]"But seriously. Don't go running for help. I'm not a cold-blooded thief like that guy over there. I only wanted to borrow this stryx for a little bit. I promise I was going to tell you."[/b][/color]

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