Bait and Bleed - An AU War RPG

*The wards are coming well--after Grimmauld Place, and then enhancing their own wards on their flat after the sheep head, and finally warding Andromeda's house, he's gotten remarkably good at wards, though sometimes the Arithmancy escapes him. Still, Peter has scribbled out a few cheat-sheets for him, and he manages well enough. He's almost done and is twirling his wand, ready to finish it off.*

Take your time, then, I'm only waiting for you to seal us in.

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Have at it, then!

*Safely inside the campsite, water still following dutifully behind, Fabian looks around approvingly.*

Nicely done, it's a damn sight better than when we took Bill camping a few weeks back! I thought we might use what light we've got left today and get some snooping done, get the lay of things?

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*There's a bit of light, and then a popping sound in everyone's ears.*

--There. That should do it. Only we should be able to go in and out, now, unless we bring someone in ourselves.

And this is your party, Fabian.

*He makes a bow with a flourish.*

Lead us, O glorious leader.

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*Fabian flashes Sirius a grin, setting the buckets down and grabbing his jacket. It's a fair bit cooler here than back home in Bath, and this could take awhile. He leads the way off down the hill, toward the encampment.*

Right. Let's see what there is to see, then, shall we? I don't want any interactions yet, I just want to know the layout, see if anyone's even home. That camp could be deserted for all we know, and then we're just wasting our time.

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Even if they're not there now, they could be during the full moon.

*And they might have more company too, Alice thinks, sliding her cloak back to check her wrist. On her forearm is a little spring-loaded contraption keeping her wand parallel to her arm. She touches the small trigger at her elbow lightly and feels the quick clicking of the mechanisms as they snap her wand into her waiting fingers.

She smiles. It's like no time has past, and it has been a long time since she felt that.*

Ready when you are.

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Born ready, Alice, m'love!

*He calls it back cheekily to her with a quick smile over his shoulder, and keeps walking.*

And ta, point. In which case it's an even better chance to figure out where we need to be to do what, the day after.

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*Marching out of the protective wards like this doesn't actually make Sirius nervous. Sirius doesn't really get nervous about putting himself in danger. It's Alice and Fabian he's keeping an eye out for, particularly Alice. For all her skill and deftness, she's been out and handling more diapers than werewolves for months. Though she performed spectacularly with Barty, that wasn't combat. So Sirius is careful, pointed, and quiet, watching the woods and Alice as they walk into the forest.*

--And what's the plan here, then? "Hi, you're responsible for these dementor attacks, was just hoping to take you on a jaunt to London to talk to a pink nightmare with a bow on top?"

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Personally, I thought I might bake them a cake, then ask.

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Ah, cake, the werewolf's only weakness. Chocolate, I hope?

*He's thinking of Remus, of course, but he wonders if his penchant for chocolate is just a Remus thing or a werewolf thing. He has a sudden image of a filthy, feral human delicately choosing chocolates out of a box.*

So just reconnaissance for now.

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Chocolate and veritaserum, actually.

*Alice smiles at them. In some strange way, she can't help but enjoy this.*

Recon, yes. But do we have any plan for if we run into anyone unexpected?

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We back off, if they haven't seen us. I don't want to tangle with any of them until after the full moon. And tomorrow I want to talk to the villagers - there's a few witches and wizards - see if they've heard anything, if there's been Dementors around.

But - if we have to tangle - aim to disable, not kill. We need information and nobody's any good dead.

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*Sirius has never killed a werewolf and doesn't intend to start now, but that's another reason to watch Alice. He's not sure what she'll do, if push came to shove.*

And if they don't want to talk to us at all?

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*Alice is walking faster now, a little ahead of the men. She looks over her shoulder, eyebrow cocked and smile widening.*

Then let them eat cake.

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*It's a good question, and Fabian's perfectly aware of why Sirius is asking. He's got much the same concerns about Alice - he trusts her with his life, and he's terribly fond of her, but they have some fundamental differences when it comes to methods. He gives him a nod that's just this side of significant.*

Veritaserium. Exactly. I brought some from the office, it's in the tent if we need it.

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*Sirius' head just catches the nod, and he barely acknowledges it, looking further. He could have sworn he heard something rustling, out there, somewhere in the brush, but it's probably just a rabbit. Or a deer.

Or a werewolf.*

--Did you hear that?

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*Going from mildly serious to all business in a heartbeat, Fabian goes very still, looking around at the thickening trees. He shakes his head once but doesn't verbally answer, listening closely.*

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*Alice doesn't stop, she doesn't want to make it look to obvious if there is someone out there. She gets her wand at the ready under the cloak, treading more softly.*

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*Sirius keeps walking, treading carefully, and finally shakes his head.*

It's probably nothing.

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*Fabian catches up, not looking particularly sure.*

Maybe. How sluggish should we be expecting them to be, two days out?

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Not sluggish at all. Snappish. Hyper-aware, kind of, like you are when you're annoyed and hungry but not tired.

*Or, at least, Remus is, and that's why Fabian is asking anyway.*

They get sluggish after the moon, not so much before. But it takes everyone different, so I can't say for sure.

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Oh, good. Grouchy cannibals. This'll be fun.

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Maybe next time we can invite her along to join the party.

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Oooh, can we? She can go in first. Since it's her party anyway.

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Oh, you know she'd just spoil the fun. I would bet five Galleons she was the kid who cried at other children's birthday parties because she wasn't getting all the attention.

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