The clouds of mist floated around in eerie silence, obscuring the scenery in a cold, icy cloak as William took a few steps forward and made it to the bridge. He studied the person standing there for a second then shook his head. There was no mistaking who it was. "My, Hugue," he said, smiling. "You can sure be a bother sometimes."

The cloaked man turned around and gave the Professor a slight nod. "Master," he said as he raised his hand to remove his hood. William raised an eyebrow as the swordsman pulled his hair free from under the cloak in a manner that could have almost been considered seductive. "You received my message," Hugue continued as he turned to look at the river.

"That much is obvious, why else would I be here?" William replied in a scolding tone of voice. "And what kind of a greeting is that anyway, Hugue? We haven't heard a word from you in weeks and now you suddenly choose to get in contact." He gave the younger man a firm stare then sighed. "Oh fine, could be worse, could be that you'd been gone for months again. And what's with that," he rambled on in his usual style. "You could at least say that you appreciate the fact that I showed up, dear boy, I had the option of staying in the seminar and could have just ignored this! But it was you, so I came here. Well?"

For a second, William could've sworn there was a smirk on the swordsman's face. "Apologies, Master," Hugue replied while he studied the river's surface. The mist obscured the view but the water was still and dark, the general coldness of the surroundings making it appear hostile. The blond was unaffected, though, and he glanced at the older man. "Would you prefer it if I had kissed you as a greeting?"

That earned a laugh from the Professor. "Some sense of humor you have, but perhaps I would!" He shook his head again and looked around the area. It was dark except for the few street lamps some distance away, and while the clouds of fog reflected the light a little, the effect also strengthened the eerie feeling. "Well then," he continued. "You might just as well explain this little mission of yours since I made it all the way here."

A moment passed in silence, and as Hugue said nothing, William looked at his direction with a disapproving frown. "Kate's report was rather short, you should know, so you better start explaining. What is this about again? Why this place, and what do you need me for?" He dug around his pockets and picked up his pipe then worked with the thing for a moment. "I've somehow got this feeling there's a lot more to this than reporting to me about a random vampire hunt. Not your style, Hugue, usually you won't even bother contacting the HQ."

The blond smiled just a little, enough to give it away to the older man that Hugue indeed had some personal motives. "No, Master," the swordsman replied. "I needed you because the target is someone you've met before."

"Someone I've met before? Uh huh," William appeared thoughtful although not very convinced. He patted his pockets for a moment before he managed to find some matches and lit his pipe. "Well," he continued. "I suppose I have met a couple of vampires in the past. I have participated in a couple of AX field missions and whatnot, after all. Dear boy, this isn't helping at all. Is this a specific one, perhaps?"

"Reinhold von Reckendorf," Hugue specified, although he wasn't sure if his scatterbrained Master remembered the names of any of the vampires he might have ran into on AX missions. This meant the case required further explanation. "You and Leon fought him in Germanicus a couple of years ago. Filed under the case name 'Blue Tiger' I believe. The mission was to track down a vampire who had attacked some villagers and had killed the village's priest."

The older man tapped his pipe, deep in thought. He then shrugged and shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't remember that particular mission too well. Must be something special there, but, hmm. A mission with Leon? I've done a few of those. You don't happen to have any additional information?"

Considering Hugue knew the name of the case, additional information felt unnecessary, but this was William Walter Wordsworth, who could probably remember the contents of a particular lecture he had given at the university, but not when he had given the lecture or what class it had been. "He attacked you, and you cut his left arm off," Hugue explained. "From what I know of the mission record, he fled afterwards."

The Professor looked even more thoughtful for a moment but then his expression turned cheerful. "Wait a minute, I think I remember that now! And for the record it was a mere accident, I should say, as he just happened to walk into my sword. That's how it went, really!" He stopped to raise the pipe to his lips then rubbed his chin. "Although I'm thinking Leon got a shot or two in as well somewhere along the way. It's been years and the details escape me. You're after this vampire then, but since I can't remember the case well enough to give you any useful details, what does this have to do with me?"

"I tracked him down to this area," the swordsman replied. "You should know what he's wanted for, although your case was years ago. His crime record has gotten several more entries."

"That still doesn't explain why I'm needed here," William complained. "It's not like you out of all people needed a backup, and I was never a good one outside my sharp wits. Hmh..." He frowned as he turned to look at the water. He found the stillness of the river's surface interesting, although the way the mist floated over the freezing cold water made him shiver.

It took a moment of standing there smoking before it dawned to him. "Just wait a minute here, dearest boy," William said, not very pleased with his realization. "You did not just get me all the way out here to be the bait, because you think that the stupid old vampire might have something against me and..." He turned to look at Hugue, who appeared calm as usual, but with a hint of a smile. "Oh bloody hell with you! Think you'll get away with this?"

Hugue shrugged. "He'll come. Then I will kill him."

"That's not what I asked, for goodness' sake, Hugue!" The older man looked around for signs of anyone in the vicinity of the bridge. "And what makes you think I'll stick around for this little scheme you have planned here anyway?"

The swordsman didn't say anything for a moment and just studied the staff in his hands, running his fingers over the metal. He turned to look at the older man after William started to appear impatient. "Do you have anything better to do tonight, Master?"

"Hmmph," William muttered. "I sure do, I had plans for dinner. Right now, remember I'm only here because you are." There was that, and the fact that he couldn't afford the trip back to his seminar residence, but he wasn't about to admit that to Hugue. "So you just get on with your vampire killing business and then we can go home. How's that?" He lifted the pipe to his lips again and gave Hugue a meaningful glare. "No involving me in any fights and the old bugger better show up soon because I'm freezing my behind off here. I'll just be somewhere over there," he nodded towards the building on the other side of the bridge. "Looks like it would be possible to find some cover from there."

The younger man appeared to be amused over something William had said, but he couldn't bother to figure out what. He crossed the bridge and headed towards the large building on the other side while mumbling something rather nasty under his breath at Hugue's direction.

He didn't make it all the way there though, he stopped and found himself staring at something at the side of the building. Whatever it was, it vanished not a second after he had noticed it - but whatever it was, it made him stop and take a step back.

"Well, dear boy," William said aloud as he turned around. He couldn't help but to feel a little silly for reacting in such a way to something that wasn't even there anymore, but he was feeling nervous all of a sudden. "Seeing there was something over there, I think I'll go to that side instead. You just keep watch on the bridge and make sure whatever vampires don't lurk around."

Hugue shook his head and was about to comment, but a voice from somewhere the side of the bridge called to them abruptly. "Are you going somewhere, Professor Wordsworth?"