Lacking Modesty

A Year of Unwatched Stars

Trevor Belmont is looking around the town of Gresit from atop the wall, watching people mill about the town center. With the night creatures asleep so early in the morning, the people had no fear wandering the streets.

His eyes catch something golden.

She's a short thing with a full chest, her curves barely held in by the robe she was wearing. It had to be foreign, all red silk with golden trim, gold flowers lining the bell sleeves. It came down to her ankles, her thick winter clock with a fur hood, dyed black with gold lining, matching her black boots was the same length.

A pretty little thing.

She turned and looked up from the apple she was eyeing, meeting his gaze. Golden eyes widened before she smiled, waved, and turned, pulling her hood over her head without buying her apple. A haunting melody started, seeming to feed right into his ears. No one else seemed to notice the woman's voice, so he hopped off the wall and followed the blonde woman.

"Oh-oh, close your weary eyes. I promise you that soon the autumn comes to darken fading summer skies. Breathe, breathe... breathe," she sang, her form drifting through the crowd easily. No one seemed to notice her, either used to her presence or simply not noticing her.

He was pulled to the edge of the walls, far from the people of the town, and the song seemed to bounce through the trees.

"Days pull you down just like a sinking ship, floating is getting harder, but tread the water, child, and know that meanwhile... Rises the moon." She giggled, the noise making the trees sway.

"What are you?" he asked, widening his stance and putting a hand on his whip.

'Wouldn't you like to know?' she hummed, amused. 'How long it's been since I've smelled Belmont blood.'

"You should know there's not many of us," Trevor huffed. This entity was malicious. The air was light, playful. This wasn't going to be a fight, but he stayed ready.

'No, I supposed not,' she agreed tiredly. 'How fickle humans can be about what is evil and righteous. Did you know healing people also gets you killed nowadays? Madness.'

"I'm sorry for your loss." She appeared again, delicate hands removing her hood. Red dots decorated her cheekbones and her pupils were only slits, but her face was soft with grief. Now that he's had a good look at her, she was surely foreign. Eastern? "Your song?"

"Something I sing to my children to get them to sleep. They've been restless with all this mess going on." She smiled, a weak thing. "I'm Milo."

"Isn't Milo a man's name?" he asked, getting a laugh.

"Yes it is. How astute of you, Belmont," she giggled. "This isn't my normal form, but I find humans are more pliable when they're looking at a young, pretty face." She shifted, a man taking her place with a lean build and long limbs, though not much taller.

"Neat trick," Trevor complemented.

"Your name, stranger?"

"How do I know you aren't fae?"

"Too true," Milo chuckled. "I already know your name, Trevor Belmont, but if withholding your name makes you feel better, I suppose that is up to you. So, Stranger, what brings you to Gresit?"

"Not the scenery," he grouched. "Beer and a bed, mostly." Milo hummed, taking in the Belmont, before nodding.

"Come along then, Stranger. I think I've got what you need." He shifted again, moving to take his arm and lead him back into the town. People stared, jealousy so thick in the air that you could cut it. She simply kept walking.