#pyre003

Joining this mission was his attempt to get away, so for Augustus to find himself in Harbor yet again was surprising. Old, familiar faces were mixed in with his new crew (his new family?), and he still wasn’t sure how to balance the two worlds he found himself stuck between. Even if he became used to the grandeur that encased the Harbor while growing up, the months away had shown him just how disgustingly opulent the entire city was. There was no need for a ball, no need to celebrate whatever the Benefactor was doing behind closed doors. He just knew he needed to play along in order to stay alive. It was easy for him to fit in, to make polite conversation and keep his fellow attendees content.

With a champagne flute in hand, Augustus made his way out onto the balcony. He needed to get away from the crowds, away from the ghosts of his past. If anyone recognized him, they would know him as Dee’s son. It was an image he wanted to shed, an image he had tried running across the galaxy to leave behind. There was one other person on the balcony, one he could recognize even from behind. “Hey, Pyre,” he said as he approached, hoping he wouldn’t startle the man. “How have you been? How is, uh, Eretreia?” he asked, letting himself lean against the rail of the balcony.