The one not wearing the head scarf--whose head was shaved except for the very top, where their dark red hair had grown very long and was knotted up in a thick braid--finally spoke up. "Ah, you must be Teige, yes? I was told, 'watch out for that fool pooka who won't stay indoors at night.'"

Teige quite casually wrung some water out of his forelock. "Oh aye? That's me, that fool pooka."

"What are you doing out here by yourself, hon?" the scarf-wearing one wanted to know.

Teige winked at them. "What's it look like, eh? Practicing my dance routine, aren't I?" This elicited a giggle from the one wearing the scarf, and a sort of impatient silence from the other. "Nah, I'm here on R.I.T. visa. I'm practicing for auditions, like."

The one with the shaved head perked up somewhat. "Ei? Have you considered joining us while you wait?"

"Er," said Teige, balking, "I'm not much of a fighter, really."

"No? How do you expect to join R.I.T. then?"

"Well...that's--"

"Shapeshifting trickery will not be enough, you know," the du Cuppra continued critically, leaning forward. Teige gritted his sharp teeth at them.

"Yea, I'm painfully aware, pal."

"I'm curious what you plan to do about it."

What interrupted them both was the other du Cuppra, the one with the head scarf, who was now removing their mask.

"Okay, put the brakes on it, Luu."