The Art Of Acting (ORP)

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((the answer is burning hair but ha ha i make good joke, yes))

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((donna's talking about the dead body. Agatha doesn't need to see someone's husband murdered by vampires can't imagine why))

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The three of them stood aloofly in the middle of the clearing, Agatha still tried to swipe some twigs and leaves that stuck to her robes. There was a faint smell of ashes and smoke in the air, but no light source was visible. Maybe Father Gottfried used a torch to chase away whatever monstrosity was still lurking in the shadows. He did, though, insisted of giving her a handgun. Like she needed that with her trusty, blessed blade. And he himself was carrying around a ridiculously big sword...



Donna said something - warned her maybe? She always did. Agatha knew she was the weaker of the two, but she'd seen things during their time together. What could possibly-





Cold sweat began forming at the back of her neck, her eyes widening in shock and disgust. The rangy woman could feel the blood rushing down her body to pool at her stomach, nausea and dread filling her being. On a rock, in the middle of said clearing, laid the cold, dead body of a man.

With bite marks on his neck.

His clothes... They were of common men. His hair was dark. And if she blinked her eyes she could see a face of another flash before her eyes.

Instead of this man was...



Agatha divert her gaze, eyes squeezing shut, trying to block images from her mind.

It's not him... It's not him... It's not him...



Her left palm clutched at the dagger in it, her knuckles turning white, arms shaking slightly. Agatha managed to crack open her lids, piercing brown orbs examining the dead man.

"Where is it....? The creature...?"

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((donna doesn't know christian very well. she doesn't know his characteristics or personalities. she just wants to make sure someone hasn't killed him or body snatched him or is playing a trick. maybe it's a fae trick. one never knows. She's not gonna shoot him...yet....but it never hurts to be prepared. Better start saying that lord's prayer, buddy.))



((Toni, christian's a good smart military man, right? he's definitely going to hear that rifle cartridge and bolt.))

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The handgun was placed in her hand briefly, forcing her to hold onto the firearm awkwardly in her weak hand. It's not that she disliked guns - she simply trusted her knifes skills more. And while it was probably unwise to bring just her dagger - she still had Donna with a rifle, at her side.



Father Gottfried lost track of the vampire... That was bad. Very bad.



Even for three, strong members of the church - it was always bad.

Agatha looked from the gun, back at Christian turning to leave, and turned her head again to stare at the bloody body. Donna loaded her own arm though, suspicious as always. Not that she could blame her - Donna, nor did Agatha, knew Gottfried very well. Not more than what little information they managed to get from the other priests, and the man himself. He couldn't stop talking, after all...



Agatha placed the gun in her utility belt uncomfortably, as well as sheathing back her own weapon.

"Donna, stop." her hand placed meekly over the barrel, slowly lowering it's aim from Christian. "There is no reason for Father Gottfried to let it escape. He's here for the same reason we are..." pattering her way towards the dead figure, her stomach still knotted and her shoulders tensed. But she couldn't just leave him like that.



One of her belt pockets held her folded handkerchief, and she pulled it swiftly, kneeling in front of the lifeless man. His eyes were still open, mouth slightly agape and body slack.

With furrowed brows, her hand shook lightly as it advanced towards the man's face, effectively closing his eyes gently and lifting his chin. The tender cloth was put softly over his features, covering them. The blood seeped through the fibers, tinting them quickly, but covering him brought a certain sense of peace to her.

"We should focus on tracking it, instead of turning our weapons at each other..." Agatha rose, adjusting her robes and reaching for the handgun at the back of her belt. Easily checking the bullets were loaded, she spun the revolver and clicked it into place.

"Give us a brief description, as well as what little knowledge you have of it's power level. This will help us avoid any more injured and causalities..."

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((<Mutters furiously in Italian>))

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Christian stopped in his tracks as he heard the sound of a rifle being loaded. That together with Sister Sposito's accusations let a sharp cold dread rush through him. He turned back around halfway, ready to defend himself, when Sister Kaiser already intervened. He could tell the taller one was talking lowly to herself, but couldn't make out quite the words but clearly she was mad.



Mad she couldn't just shoot him? Mad at him letting the vampire escape? Mad he tried to find a solution, other than track it down, spill it's guts? Something that focused more on giving the victim his deserved rest in the ground of his home town? While Christian's mind tried to calculate Sister Sposito's intentions he couldn't help but feel mad as well. At her for not trusting him with this.



However this was not the situation to fight back, to defend his already hurt pride from being tricked by the creature just earlier. He hadn't exactly given them a reason to trust him yet anyway.

Instead he showed he meant now harm. The clergy man had his hands up in the air when he faced the two women completely now.

Sister Kaiser left to inspect the body and Christian looked at the other nun with a hard expression. Without breaking eye contact he prayed in a clear and stern voice:



"In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen."



then put the sign of the cross over himself and let his hands slowly sink to his sides. It was the most basic of prayers. He didn't feel like going in length here. This would have to do. They only had so much time since more creatures would come and Christian was not willing to give up the dead body to them. He didn't know what Sister Sposito expected to happen but he hoped that since nothing did it would suffice. Sister Kaiser joined them back after the both of them stood there, both hot-headed and on guard.

Weirdly enough the presence of the shorter nun even as she was arming herself put Christian more at ease. Maybe because she already had shown that she wasn't keen of spilling more blood. Not his at least.



"Yes, of course.", Christian answered before carrying on.

"The vampire is around 1,70 tall and lean in human form. The clothes it was wearing was very outdated and exorbitant. Lace, Satin and embroidery. Not trying to blend in at all. I managed to injure it but given the fact it just had...fed.",he had to take a small break there. It didn't feel right to call it that but it was how they described it in the books as well.

"I would assume it doesn't take it long to recover. I only saw it change into smoke. I haven't seen it doing anything else. Oh and as silly as it may sound, apparently it likes so sing and have an audience. That's all information I could gather from my encounter.",he concluded looking at the nuns, waiting for either of them to ask more questions.

He really needed to get his horse. This way they could get the body out of the woods quicker. He also couldn't say he was shouting in joy at the thought that the vampire who had escaped might come back with reinforcements. He should have ended it back then. A quick clean cut and off with it's head.

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What little information she received was immediately stored in her mind, Agatha nodding understandingly at every small detail and description Father Gottfried shared with them. She also blocked out her Sister's muttering - as much as she agreed with... some of her complaints, they can give Father Gottlos* a piece of their mind later.

When the departed man is brought back to a proper burial, the vampire is fully taken care of, and they had a nice meal to top it all.



Yes - a good plan.



"Very well." was her simple answer when Christian was done talking. Her gaze wandered, analyzing her surroundings, considering possible escape routes and plausible strategies. There were only the three of them - and Gottfried has opinionated his intentions get his horse back. Well, it's better for him to do the carrying anyway...

Which left the two nuns as major executors of whichever proposition she might have.

"I think it would be best if we split." Agatha finally said, after a few moments of silent evaluation. "Father Gottfried, please get your horse so we can move the poor man as soon as possible back to town. The smell of blood will attract more creatures and we don't want to let them follow us." her body turned towards Donna, who was busy fiddling with her rifle. "Donna - I think you should be on the hunt for the escaped vampire. If anyone has a chance against it, it's most likely you." a faint smile rose on her lips when she said the last part, she knew a bit of encouragement will get her friend giddy and ready for anything. "Try not to move too far in, stay in the perimeter around this area - just in case back up will arrive." taking a few steps towards the limp body, Agatha put her foot down and straightened her stance.

"I'll stay here and keep watch, in case anything approaches. This is why we have to move fast - the quicker we take care of this situation the better."

Though her staying by herself wasn't that great of an idea, it was better than any of the other ones she had, shoved to the back of her mind. Donna would be close by, and Gottfried shouldn't take that long to find his horse.



An excellent plan - given the circumstances.



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Gottlos = Godless (thank you Toni for good puns)

As she failed to stand, Agatha resorted to leaning against the tree truck, clutching her side pitifully and holding back tears of pain.
How did she let this get so far? An easy kill - that's what it should have been! But it seems everything she thought of this place is not what it seems. Things are different in this town. This forest. They are not in Italy anymore, and they are surrounded by hostile territory and fiends everywhere they turn. No wonder the priests were acting so hopeless...
Father Gottfried handed her the soaked cloth, in hopes to ease her aching wound. It was beginning to burn with a familiar sting, Agatha snatched the offered handkerchief from his palms without saying a word. She only threw a hasted stare at him before pressing the fabric firmly at the gash. Her other hand shot to her mouth, muffling her scream. They didn't need any more company. Not in this mess.
They need to leave, and they need to leave now.

((actually, she's in a lot of pain but tries to keep it cool - very professional Agatha))