Erasmus had caught one of the cave deer. Not killed, no, just... Caught. They had pinned the creature using their not inconsiderable might after tripping it with magic. Then, after slicing a scratch into the being's side, they had begun to sip its blood. Their venom was definitely in the creature's bloodstream, for the creature had relaxed considerable.

Then, the vampire backed away, releasing the deer which wobbled to its feet like a fawn than pranced off, euphoria radiating from it. While Erasmus understood the need to kill if with a companion whose diet was purely carnivorous, they did not truly need to kill to feed. It was something they were grateful for.

Erasmus, was, at heart, a peaceful being, for all that they wore a set of armor these days. Even their armor was based around the premise of protection rather than simply harm.

For a moment, the vampire simply gazed in the direction the deer had departed in, gaze distant and thoughtful.

@Bacchus

Bacchus had been walking with Anubis near the entrance of Cassiopeia, when he had seen them. They were different from all beings he had seen, formed in a shape that defied the common gembound, and that alone was enough to catch his attention. His stride passed.

He watched, quietly, as the gembound hunted. Yet... The gembound merely supped on blood and then released the prey which seemed more content than before. There was some kind of magic to this, perhaps. Whatever it was, it was interesting. And Bacchus desired that odd power.

"One moment, Anubis, I have an idea I wish to follow up on," he informed the jackal.

As soon as he entered the area of presence, he relaxed further, which he immediately identified as odd. The more he breathed in, the more comfortable he felt. It was not blissful, per say, but it was... Pleasant. Something in the air, he realized. It was no magic at all, he had seen, he realized. It was biological.

"Greetings, stranger," he offered warmly, with a tint of uncertainty added to his voice. "I... have an odd question for you. You can say no, of course. Yet... I ask that you please consider my proposition."

It was a good way to start.

"My partner and I," he started, nodding to Anubis. "We desire to have children. But our shapes, forms, and physical abilities are not the most outstanding among the cave. You seem quite to possess quite the skillset, a promising one for a child to grow into. If you would be willing, would you part with a piece of your stone, for my partner to revive?"

It was quite the proposition for a stranger, but... He had hopes. There was something to be said for the nature of one who freed prey unharmed and joyful instead of killing. Very... moral, no doubt.

@Anubis

When footsteps approached them, their keen ears heard. The pace seemed even, not slow or fast in a way that might indicate danger, and Erasmus turned in the direction.

A fellow gembound was approaching them. "Greetings... Name, Erasmus," their voice was hoarse. They tilted their head as the gembound said he had a proposition, clearly curious and not opposed to hearing the other out.

The question itself was definitely an unusual one. Behind pale gold hair, viper eyes gave a slow, startled blink.

"...Want my stone?" incredulously rasped the vampire. "Erasmus... only consume blood. Has venom in claws and teeth, makes feel happy, but falsely... Hear, see, feel, taste... Sense too much. Can hurt..." they trailed off.

They were all for helping a couple, really, but... Were their traits that appealing?

"Certain, still?" Erasmus questioned after they had recited their traits.

@Bacchus

It seemed that they were named Erasmus, this gembound, with an odd, stilted way of speech. Interesting and curious, he thought. Even better, they seemed not opposed to Bacchus's words.

Bacchus did not introduce himself, and he was fairly certain his fellow gembound would forget about introductions due to the sheer shock of the question to them. Low self-esteem seemed to be behind this one, judging by certain emphasis in their words. Intriguing, for one with some many strong traits.

"I appreciate you telling me, that will be useful information... If you are inclined to help us," Bacchus genuinely thanked the gembound for the knowledge.

He paused, as if startled by the question that followed. "Of course," he informed Erasmus.

"May I ask what kind of being you are? I have never seen your like," Bacchus honestly inquired. "And, if you are inclined to give stone, I will bring it over to my partner, if that is alright with you?"

@Erasmus

Help... Erasmus would help, they decided. It was only right to help. It felt... good, too, to be acknowledged as good stone-giver for a growing family. Erasmus liked families. So this was a good thing.

"Erasmus.... vampire," they informed the other. Then they lifted their wrist, focusing on the red pearl that was on it.

A piece fell cleanly off. They offered the stone to the leopard, unsure how the other would take it with no hands.

@Bacchus

"Thank you, Erasmus," Bacchus warmly told the other.

He briefly turned his head towards Anubis. "Anubis, I am bringing over a stone for you to give life to, for one of the children." Then, gently, he picked up the red pearl between sharply feline teeth.

With this in his mouth, he could not speak. He walked away from Erasmus, over to Anubis.

@Anubis

Anubis watched from the shadows, yellow eyes wide and staring at the two-legged creature. Bacchus had chosen an interesting one, but he would not protest. It was not his child - it was Bacchus's game and he would only be lending a helping paw.

Still, he could not help but be intrigued by an idea of venom. A poison that made one feel happy seemed counterproductive. He would have to run tests on that particular child.

As Bacchus approached, his gaze shifted to his partner and he nodded, quietly. He touched his nose to the pearl, distinctly aware of Bacchus's warm breath drifting across his face, and then pulled back once the magic had been set within.

He glanced again towards Erasmus, a small tilt of his head to acknoweledge him, and then turned to lead the way back to Cassiopeia, wordlessly.

*exit

@Erasmus

The leopard went back over to the jackal after calling out, and it was a silent exchange of magic. Erasmus looked away, feeling as if they had already seen too much.

Only their stone had been asked for, not any other kind of help. So the vampire decided not to bother the pair, especially as they were likely to next head to a chrysalis site.

Erasmus would go their own way, back to their own family. But they silently wished this other one luck.

[Exit Erasmus]

A hint of noise in his ears marked bipedal footsteps, but not towards the two of them. Away. Once again, Bacchus felt a silent gratitude for Erasmus.

Carrying the pearl now imbued with life, Bacchus would follow the way back to Cassiopeia. And from there, he would go to the prison where this child would be placed.

[Exit Bacchus]