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The park would naturally be one of Serpentine's hunting grounds. Spring in Destiny City was his favorite time of year. New flowers blossoming and leaves stretchiing towards the not-yet-scorchingly-hot sun or at night, as it was now, pearling with humidity plucked from the air. He could enjoy himself as he worked. Not to mention the tactical advantages of hiding places from which to grab unsuspecting victims or pounce his enemies.

He felt the aura sooner than he saw its bearer, and he stood waiting for her to approach. Pink and gold... much like the first he had ever fought, though clearly not her. Likely a Knight, then. The lieutenant sneered, his arms folded across his chest. The latest orders had been to treat these as potential allies. The rainbow-haired man thought it a waste of time--at least, for himself. Let Infiltration woo and convert.

Still, he was willing to do as he was commanded. If she refused--as he truly expected--then there was still time to fight. His voice was cold and crisp, a contrast to the warm humidity around them, "You are?"

Lady-like charm would not have served Aventine well in any case. Calculating gold eyes took her in as her opponent listened. Squire. A rank with which he was not overly familiar, but Serpentine had enough of a basic education to know of its connection to Knighthood. He had enough experience, now, to know that his opponent was stronger than the pink-haired page he had fought long ago.

The lieutenant did not give his name or his rank. Instead, he presented an ultimatum. "If you surrender, you will be spared." He did not waste words on what the alternative would be. He felt fairly certain she would know. One hand moved to rest at his hip, near the rubber snake that rested in his sash.

This was the problem with talking... it only ever led to more talking! Serpentine rubbed the ridge of his nose with his free hand, as though trying to fight back a headache. He had the patience to listen to Aventine and to answer her questions... but what was the point? Surely he would just end up having to fight her all the same? Where was Buddingtonite when you needed him? All the same, it seemed he would have to indulge her a bit longer.

"If you surrender, you may join our ranks." The statement was as concise and precise as the lieutenant could make the words. Removing the hand from his face, he simultaneously used the other to pull the snake from his sash. "If you refuse, you will fall. The choice is yours."

Some part of him truly hoped that she would not have to be convinced to engage in a fight. Having to track down a member of Infiltration Branch to help with the corruption would mean having to admit to a type of failure to which Serpentine was not ready to admit.

Serpentine listened to the squire's words with a sneer. He had not expected her to listen, and if she expected to be wooed fruther, she would just have to wait for a member of Infiltration to find hier. Her refusal meant he did not need to further engage her with chatter. Finally, he was cleared to strike.

Her insult to his weapon only flared his aggression. While the lieutenant still felt he deserved something more effective than this...trinket, he took great pride in how he had adapted to using it. Perhaps Aventine would have a different opinion if the rubber tightened around her throat... but for now, he threw it at her in hopes of creating a distraction.

The tactic had worked well enough in the past. Weapon thrown, the rainbow-haired man followed up with a kick.

Aventine was not the only one who would need to catch her breath. Serpentine was content with the nice, solid feel of his kick, and he tensed at first when he saw her pull a weapon. Then he was merely amused. The first Knight he had fought had a mere hair pin, and the initial appearance of the perfume bottle had made him scoff. What was it with these pink clad women and their froo-froo, useless weapons?

Then the glass tumbler had aimed with unerring accuracy to crash into the ground right in front of him. Shards of glass nicked his hands as he immediately went to protect his face, and his hisses of pain soon dissolved into coughing. The rose perfume surrounded him, the scent clogging his nose, his throat, burning his eyes.

Through the tears, he glared at Aventine... and shook his head when he felt a strange emotion curling in his belly. Had she always been this... dazzling? Had her eyes always been leaves speckled with dew, her hair gleaming amber? Had he been the type to want a woman on his arm, at this moment he felt he would have the perfect one before him. Buddingtonite's constant wolf whistles, cat calls, and all around sexual harassment of both sexes must of have been rubbing off on him. If only she were a man...

Then at least the choking might be worth while.

Serpentine was acutely aware that she was speaking to him. While he would normally brush off her words as unimportant, currently they seemed as important as a doctor explaining a life-saving procedure. His gaze fixated on the perfect curve of her lips, and as was his wont, he observed in silence.

It was only when Aventine began to fan away those thick fumes that some form of clarity began to occur. Some of her luster dimmed immediately. His hand shot out quickly, attempting to catch hold of one of the slim wrists he could still not help but admire.

When he spoke, the words were rougher than normally emerged from his throat, "What... is it?"

"THIS," Serpentine all but snarled his grip never loosening. Did he truly have to explain? Could she not feel it? Maybe she could, else why was her face as red as it was now? The candy-cotten clouds of pearl pink were all the looser now, and clarity began to take hold. Her beauty was... fair. But she was an enemy. His enemy.

And she had made a fool out of him. He finally released her wrist, but it was only to engaged in battle. Wounded pride caused him to close the space between them with a head butt.