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Shepherd and Escher stood on a balcony, overlooking Barovia. The cool breeze washing over them and the sweet scent of blooming flowers made the night even more peaceful, as the two men stood in comfortable silence for a time.
A monster hunter and a vampire.
It had been several years since the two had last seen eachother, years since Strahdanya had fallen and Shepherd had left with his new flock.
And now, shrouded in moonlight, they met once again. Escher was the first to speak, unusually quiet and soft.
“You look… different. Older.”
It was not the observation that Shepherd had been expecting, although it was true. Shepherd certainly had far more grey in his hair and beard than last they’d met while Escher looked like he hadn’t aged a day.
The vampire clearly realized the odd statement and as his face moved towards its more usual expression, a slight fang poking from his lips and his eyes brushing over Shepherd’s form, he quickly added:
“Handsome as ever though.”
Shepherd couldn’t help the slight chuckle that escaped him.
“And you haven’t changed a bit."
Escher’s flirtatious façade disappeared almost immediately, a true smile blooming across his face as he laughed slightly as well, impossibly beautiful even with such a deeply human sound.
“Actually… no, you have changed.”
“How so?”
“You’re happier.”
There was so much more that Shepherd wanted to express to him but those simple words were all he could bring himself to say.
There was no answer, the two slipping back into their silence as they continued to observe the night that was continuing to fall over Barovia. The only movement came from Escher gently placing a hand over Shepherd’s, where it was pressed against the railing.
The night air was cool, fragrant with spring blossoms.
And for a moment that’s all there was to the world.