Your fingers grip the map harshly as the wind threatens to rip it out of your hands, rain drops from the grey sky above soaking the paper and the crowded sidewalk beneath your shoes as another rushing stranger bumps into your shoulder from behind.

The last time you were here you recall that people didn't have those glowing rectangles in their faces wherever they went, and with a curse under your breath you declare in your head that they'd be watching where they're going quite a bit better if they didn't have them now either.

You'd been pointed in the direction of the nearest park by an old lady when asking about him, she'd spoken of some sort of festival as well.

As you approach the park the sky has turned even darker, and a crowd has started to form amidst the trees and little pathways. You shove the now destroyed map into a nearby garbage disposal and shove your way into the crowd.

Astarion looks out over the crowd filling the park from the top of a set of cobblestone stairs, his arms rested languidly on the iron railing. His crimson gaze trails up to the exploding fireworks in the sky as he twirls the golden gem on his ring finger idly.

His eyes trail back down to the crowd lazily, uninterested in the people really. Well, until he sees a familiar mop of hair. His chest tightens for just a second, until he scoffs to himself. How many times had his brain fed him that false hope? The vampire doesn't dare count.

He pushes himself off the railing and trails down into the crowd, checking his phone before making his way towards where the countdown is about to take place.

He grunts as someone bumps into his side- hard. He huffs and looks up.

"Watch where—" His eyes widen and a gentle, empty ache fills his chest as his eyes settle on the one whom he hasn't seen in nearly 450 years. "... you're going..." He trails off, before bitterness wells in his heart. Because how dare you?

Astarion huffs and puffs out his chest, sharply turning around and rushing away.