[IC] Of Blood and Magic

[Hero]

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The day--actually night, but whatever--had finally arrived to unzip the garment bag. Lilie had definitely thrown some longing glances at it ever since it had arrived in one piece, resisting the temptation to put it on. Now that she thought about it, she really had to resist a lot of things about it. It took a lot of control not to mess with the material or try to spin around to watch it flow around her. But now it was there, now it was time, and now she could wear it and dance and jump around and do whatever she wanted! Well, not really, it wasn't really her dress and she still had to be careful with it, but she promised herself that she'd do one twirl to feel pretty and would behave the rest of the night.

She opted to put her blow dried hair into a bun sitting on her head first, planning to style it later. As she pulled down the zipper, she watched the dress reveal itself to her: a floor length, green and blue tulle dress with beading. Originally her elbows were exposed and Ben found that too 'inappropriate'--seriously, elbows were inappropriate?!--and had requested the tailor add a short, tulle frill to cover them up. Fortunately it remained beautiful, and she was probably way too excited. It sounded conceited but she was fairly confident for her performance tonight. She was getting dressed to the nines to show off her hard work and she'd get to hang out with her friends after? She had absolutely no reason to worry. Ever since she learned that they weren't going to hang out with the vampires any nervousness had practically flown out the window.

And of course she was very much looking forward to freely mingling with a certain light mage that she had found herself missing.

But that was just the cherry on top, and right now she needed to focus on getting dressed. She tried to be as careful as possible as she stepped into it, shimmying her way into it. She swore the tailor had made it too loose on purpose--he kept making dumb comments about her figure while he poked and prodded and measured. It wasn't her fault she was tiny! Fortunately it all came together once she zipped up, though she couldn't resist a single twirl, carefully picking up the dress with her hands and taking a seat at her vanity.

"Hmm...daring, or subtle...?" She asked herself as she considered her makeup choices.

---

[Bert Macklin]

Ben could not for the life of him figure out what he wanted to do with his hair. His attire was along his usual line of boring but practical as he could not get himself to care much about what he actually looked like, however, he was starting to have second thoughts about it and nearly everything else tonight. He was a little nervous, yes, as expected when anyone interacted with any Sinnenodel no matter how high or low they were on the order of inheritance; and he was acutely aware that Varis was the current heir for a reason. Perhaps he should have made some attempt at some pizazz.

It was too late for those thoughts but at the very least he did look different from his usual self. He did appear more sharply dressed so he secretly hoped that the difference alone would make up for the choice in suit. In his defense the suit was more modern than his usual dated choices as his mages loved to point out. At the very least he would only be under one critical eye as he highly doubted Count Astorio cared much about appearance and Countess Marivaldi didn't seem to fret on that.

He decided to leave his hair loose and decided to check on his mage. For just a moment he nearly assumed someone else had taken her place. To his joy she had been transformed and were it not for the absence of color on her head he would very much think her as any other mage. He did wonder when he should broach that topic but he supposed it was too late now. At the very least it could endear Countess Marivaldi to his side further as it would show he accepted mages regardless of their flaws. That would not tide over well with Count Sinnenodel and he was certain he would hear more than one comment on that. The princess' words came to mind and he wondered if his intention to get both heirs on his side was too ambitious.

Lilie's words brought a small smile to his face as he freely walked into her room. He noticed a detail on the back of her dress needed to be taken care of. He lightly pulled the zipper up to its full height and made sure the hook kept it all together. Now it was perfect.

"In this scenario, we are looking to impress as I am the guest of honor. I suggest daring," Ben said. "I'll make quick work of your hair, give me just a moment."

Ben strode into Lilie's bathroom with confidence as he grabbed what was necessary. With tools in hand Ben took care to be gentle. He kept in mind the style he wanted and fortunately the length allowed him to do what he wanted in excess. By the time he finished, her head was aloft with a pair of braids leading up to a tousled bun. He felt it was appropriate enough for the image he had in mind and opened up the box. Within was a small assortment of decorative hair pins in the shape of leaves which he took care to place in various spots along both braid and bun.

"There is beauty in simplicity and that is something I intend to capitalize on tonight. Mages are to be seen and not heard; I assure you, you will be seen," Ben said. "Remember to keep yourself poised as you represent me tonight. It may be tempting to let your guard down around familiar faces but tonight is an exercise in caution. Build upon those relations and do not let your guard down. If at any time you are addressed by any noble you speak only when directly spoken to."

He had sincerely hoped that their practice would come to fruition tonight. It was difficult to predict a Sinnenodel and he would have to make sure his attention was focused on the snake himself; he could not afford to worry much about what happened among the mages. Fortunately the setting would eliminate any chance of any unsavory actions and he didn't think anyone would try anything. Of course one never knew what a Sinnenodel planned so he only hoped any ill intentions would be aimed primarily at him. It would be good practice for him as well for the future.

[WeepingLiberty]

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Madalyn @Achronum}

“Why must these things always be so formal? Would it kill the man to relax every once in a while?” Amaris griped as she finished styling the last strands of her hair. It was unusual for her to bother with such a thing as hair, yet the Countess had gone out of her way to learn how to tease, curl, and slyly pin the mass of hair all to one side of her head. Even she wasn’t entirely sure what drove her to put in such effort into extra details. Perhaps the events of the past month had influenced her in some way, maybe it was the ease of knowing Maddie would be by her side rather than facing the event alone, or maybe she just wanted to feel a little more like an actual Countess for once. Whatever the drive, the result was a beautiful set of raven colored curls cascading down her left shoulder. With the last strands tucked into place, Amaris pushed herself away from her vanity and toward her closet.

Hanging apart from her regular stock of clothing was an opaque protective sleeve that contained the dress she had ordered specifically for Varis’ event. The last of the alterations had been completed ahead of schedule which meant Amaris had been forced to stare at the garment bag for nearly a full week before the party. As annoyed as she had been, however, the Countess figured early was far better than late or not at all and had instead set the piece aside until the day of. Though, now that the day had finally come, Amaris fretted over whether her choice had been the right one or not. Was it formal enough for Varis’, nay Eris’, standards for such an event? It was far too late to change her mind at this stage but that didn’t stop the anxiety from filling her head. Doing her best to shake it off, Amaris reached forward and carefully unzipped the bag to reveal her gown.

Awaiting the Countess within was a single shouldered chiffon dress that had been dyed in such a way so as to create a gradient, ombre-esque effect. The majority of the gown had been kept a deep and dark shade of purple but down toward the hem the fabric had been significantly lightened. Along the left side of the torso, as well as the shoulder on the opposite side, had been embroidered with silver beading to accentuate the waist and add a little flair to an otherwise simple design. Casting aside her robe, Amaris loosened the back and carefully slipped into the gown before expertly tightening the ribbon work that seamlessly camouflaged the zipper. With everything situated to her liking, Amaris stepped lightly into a pair of silver heels and returned to her place at the vanity.

“Well, now that I see it coming together… I suppose it isn’t all that bad. What do you think, Getsuga?” She asked of the snake whose lifted head was the only response she would receive. “You’re right, it’s not quite done yet. Just a few more touches though and then I can go check in on Maddie. We should be getting close to time.” A quick peek at the time confirmed her suspicions as the Countess shuffled around for a few items. Despite Eris’ fervent criticism of her lack of accessory, Amaris had failed to stock up on her own set but she had been able to call home to borrow a few pieces for the evening. She donned a pair of silver dangle earrings and a silver bracelet that consisted of a single charm represent her house crest. “Alright, enough of that. Surely, there is a limit to how far out of my comfort zone I am expected to venture.” The Countess sighed.

With a final mirror check, Amaris plucked a matching clutch and a small gift box from her vanity. Stepping out from her room, the Countess made her way to the common area so that she could gather the rest of the night’s necessities. She set the box and clutch down on the table so that she could head to the kitchen with free hands. “Maddie dear! How is everything coming along?” Amaris called out as she set to work double checking the expected party favor. She pulled the bottle from its designated storage space and gave it a once over, checking for any imperfections that might have served as an unintentional insult to the host. To her eyes, nothing seemed amiss about the gift that contained Maddie’s blood. Even the label that Amaris had commissioned for the object was in perfect condition, something she was determined to guarantee until it had been handed over at the very least. Satisfied with what she saw, the Countess withdrew a long, velvet drawstring bag embroidered with the Marivaldi house crest and carefully slid the bottle inside before tying the satin ribbon into an elegant little bow.

Amaris returned to her belongings with bottle in hand to wait for her partner, working through her mind anything and everything they might need for the evening ahead.

Ref Pics

Dress


Hair

[Hero]

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"Former Duchess Fernidad Alma has been staked."

Eris had never sat up so fast, practically flinging the sheets off him as he kept his phone at his ear. "Are you sure? Can you verify this?"

"Word has spread around quickly enough but I will double check," Ismene replied. "I've also emailed you my findings and Antigone has also forwarded his. I think you'll find it his results interesting...although I do have some concerns. Unlike Duke Horvath, Derek Horvath has a preference to games of chance as opposed to the opulence that his father likes. If you choose to investigate, it has its risks in more ways than one."

The fact that they took his bait at all was both assuring and alarming. He had to be careful, for all her knew they'd start keeping tabs on him. The one good thing about being an active celebrity was that people would know if he went missing, but if they were so extreme that they'd stake the duchess, Eris figured they could come up with a ruse to get to him, too. He had to admit the thought didn't deter him in the slightest, the validation fueling something in him.

"Hang on while I skim your email, I'll instruct Antigone separately on what to do next," He said, checking his phone. While he was only skimming, he tried to see what would stand out. Morgan Le Fey was Landar's opposite and was grateful to vampires? Now that was surprising--why wouldn't vampirekind hold her in esteem the way they did Landar? Everyone knew Landar hated vampires, but Morgan was essentially erased with exception to her establishing summoning magic. That was just...weird. He slowed down to read everything carefully, and his first question came to mind immediately: "She was afraid to pass on her magic, but you didn't detail what that magic was."

"No one asked. It was not a topic anyone dared approach," Ismene told him. "My colleague had already drawn attention asking about the possibility of any descendants and barely got away with dismissing it as curiosity--if we weren't in Marivaldi territory, I couldn't tell you what would have happened. My assumption is that she could have been one of the first blood or bone mages in recorded history, but finding details on that while trying not to get caught has proven unsuccessful."

Eris ran a hand through his hair as he tried to think. It was coming together, but he felt like he was missing something. He was onto something for sure, but without details, he had no idea where to go next. Obviously he needed to find out who the supposed progeny was, but getting to Nelson was impossible now. "...See if you can set up a meeting with Derrek Horvath. If there's anything to find, it will be in either Triblet's museum or home."

"That could draw unneeded attention to you," She warned him.

"If Horvath was as eager to get me to stay, then people will already know that I've been lounging around him, it's too late for that," He pointed out as he tried to think. "In the meantime, I need to find something to gamble away that would catch Derek's attention...if our old manor hadn't burned down that could've been something, but..."

There was a short moment of silence before Ismene let out an uncharacteristic sigh. "I still think it's too risky."

"Have Antigone or Angelique or someone take a tour of the museum, it'll set up my interest in it," He ignored her. "I enjoy history as it is, so it's not that weird that I'd send someone there. Then....then they'll tell me all about it, spark my interest, I'll take a tour, learn about Derek Horvath...okay, yeah. That'll work. And as for gambling..." He had to admit he wasn't entirely happy with leaving things to chance, but as he watched Maxie scuttle away to Max's room, an idea came to mind. "I'm going to have to see what I can do to get more luck on my side."

"...yes, sir," Ismene agreed reluctantly, although she cleared her throat. "You've also received an invitation from Mrs. Nikolette Samael. She would like to see you during your upcoming break."

Eris lit up, nearly jumping for joy at the news. That is exactly what he needed. He'd have to make some arrangements and see how he could schmooze his grandparents, but now all the pieces were falling into place. "I can't very well say no to my grandmother. Make sure you have the night off, we'll spend a day or two over there until I can get what I want," He said, checking the time. "Allons-y, I'll review everything in detail and let you know of any changes, I have a soiree to attend. Keep the intern around for a little longer in case I need more blood."

"Yes, sir. Enjoy your evening."

"Au revoir!" Eris hung up and pressed his phone against his chin. My oh my, he was feeling luckier lately, wasn't he? Still, Ismene's worry definitely had a point. He'd push forward, carefully of course, and make sure to watch his back going forward. He had to admit he understood Derek Horvath's love of gambling--something about going up against the odds was thrilling. But Eris was a winner, and he'd be damned if he lost after getting this far. For now, however, it was time to get ready. At least this evening would hopefully be entertaining.

---

Perfection was such a difficult thing to achieve for most people. Fortunately, he was Eris fucking Samael--perfection was just his usual self. It was a narcissistic thought, but honestly, there were so few vampires that could compare in looks alone that really he couldn't help but admire himself in the full length mirror for a good five minutes. The suit was just a little on the understated side, but he figured the tailcoat would add a little movement to it, the vimeo blue tie adding the perfect touch of color. Sunny was right on his tie choice, it really brought out his eyes.

Tearing himself away from his beautiful reflection, he figured it was high time to tackle his main issue of the evening. Feliks' suits would only take Wells so far, and Eris had already been on something of a losing streak comparing him to the other mages--his blood was as appetizing as licking a wall. Fortunately the second he read the invitation he had already ordered Ismene to snatch a bottle of blood from one of the interns to use as a substitution. Nothing too fancy, he didn't want anyone asking for more, but decent enough to nod at. Aside from Varis, no one would know.

After passing the comb through his own hair, he had to admit he was getting fond of the 'neater' look, but now he needed to concur the mess that was Wells' hair. Why someone with silky locks like his preferred to just leave his hair as it was when he rolled out of bed was beyond him. With comb in hand, he waited outside of the kid's bedroom and honed in on his hearing. Once he heard a pair of footsteps head away, he knew he had his chance.

Bursting into the room and rushing in, Eris made sure to trap the kid in the bathroom. "Hold still," was the only thing he said before assaulting his hair. He was pretty sure he could feel everything metal around him shaking, but for once he was able to completely ignore it as he focused on smoothing out every lock of hair, slicking most of it off to the side.

"And...there!" He stepped back to admire his work, turning Max's face a few times as he passed the comb through the side of his head to get some stray hairs. "Perfect. Not as perfect as me, but y'know, for a little one."

---

Styling up @Scribe of Thoth against his will

[Scribe of Thoth]

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Max paced aimlessly around his room as he resisted the urge to start picking at his outfit before they'd even arrived at the venue. Eris had, thankfully, decided he wanted to look halfway normal this time and thus never tried to force Max into something ridiculous, but even the bare minimum of formal wear was annoying for the mage. Too stiff, his armor didn't fit under it, and it gave him unpleasant memories of his trusty salad fork defense. In a room full of leeches. One of whom he was actively working to undermine.

Turning back toward his bed, he made a move for his charging phone when he heard the door crack behind him and before he knew it, he was a mess of flailing limbs being forcefully corralled into the bathroom. "I will nail you to the fucking fence and piss on your ashes when the sun comes up," The mage threatened uselessly as he aimlessly grabbed for a weapon - a brush, a towel, something - and in his arms' failure, he turned to his magic instead. The mirror rattled against the wall. A razor vibrated off the counter and into the sink. He swore he heard water running for a second, but he had no idea which faucet he'd turned in the confusion.

Eventually he resigned himself to just letting the indignity occur, and when Eris finally relented, Max's posture sunk while he glared daggers at the leech's reflection. He looked like a tool. He fully expected Eris would come in to play stylist at some point, but not with that kind of intensity.

"Yeah, great, I'm sure I'll be the talk of the room. How long do I have to sit there and look pretty again? I'm assuming the good count doesn't serve alcohol at his events and everyone in attendance is annoying." He had one little trick up his sleeve that might make the night more worthwhile, but the odds of pulling it off were slim enough that he wasn't banking on it. Maybe someone'll get murdered behind the building again; always makes for a fun night.

---

@Hero

[Hero]

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Eris chuckled as he fixed up Max's tie, creasing it just right before taking a second to think about how he wanted to respond to his question. Annoying an already agitated Max was fun, but he wanted the kid to at least pretend to be just a notch above 'hating all life' like he usually did, especially since he still needed to fix a few details on the kid: he made sure his dress shirt sleeves weren't seen poking out of his suit's sleeves, he fixed the collar, lightly tugged down on his pants so they hung right, and smoothed out his shoulders.

Inspecting the kid's wardrobe carefully, he had to admit Feliks worked wonders. The kid had a decent body type as it was, but now he looked impeccable--he could almost pass off as a real mage if it wasn't for that scowl. Ugh. But that was as good as it was gonna get for now, and he knew the kid was gonna struggle if he tried to put makeup on him. Maybe he could get away with some eyeliner.

Placing the comb and gel he had brought with him, he pulled out the eyeliner he had, looking the kid in the eye. He'd have to do the same thing he did with Maxie when he had to clip her nails: distract while doing the task and deal with any squirming. Fortunately Eris was definitely stronger than him, but just as Maxie got wild when she just looked at the clippers, he could already feel Max's hostility at the sight of the eyeliner pen.

"This'll be a short affair. All you have to do is pretend to be impressed by your fellow mage's talents, do that thing we talked about in front of everyone, and then you actually won't have to deal with other vampires. You'll just have to suffer through the other mages' boring talk," Eris managed to snatch Max's chin before he could slip past him, forced to pin him against the wall to prevent his escape and apply it without stabbing him in the eye. Focused entirely on being as quick and precise as possible, he muttered, "It's about...two hours long? Do I want to give you a cateye--no, you'll just rub it off out of spite--okay, there."

He backed off, smoothing out any stray hairs that had stubbornly decided to poke back up, and continued. "You could honestly just sit there and see how the others mingle. I don't have any details on the Marivaldi mage, so learning about her could be something," He suggested, though he rolled his eyes. "If there's alcohol, I don't want to catch you making out with the Astorio mage since he'll be there, too. Oh!" His eyes lit up as he pocketed the eyeliner. "Speaking of your boyfriend, you might wanna ask why he's trying to start that illegal fighting ring. Word around the street is he and some white haired girl are trying to start up an illegal fighting ring on campus. Ballsy, but considering he did talk back to the Queen and Lady Sinnenodel of all people, I wouldn't put it past him. I mean, he's been bulking up these past few months so it has to be for something. That'll be a fun topic to bring up."

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Styling up @Scribe of Thoth against his will

[Scribe of Thoth]

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While intellectually Max knew struggling would only make it worse - Eris having to wash off the black smears across his face and then reapply the makeup all over again was double the work - the sight of the eyeliner triggered some primal, innate defense mechanism deep within him. He subconsciously tried to rip the faucet free of its holdings, only to be met with a loud thunk as the sink tenaciously resisted his advances. Hardly even budged, damn it. At least no one could accuse Ryner of cheaping out on the construction.

"There's metal in that stick, y'know," Max commented bitterly after Eris had him sufficiently wrangled and he'd calmed down. "Could snap it like a fucking twig."

After Eris once again released him, Max grimaced at his own reflection, and the implication that he and Flower Boy were a thing only soured his expression more. Eris had some nerve calling him a lust-crazed animal when he was only invited because he was fucking the host. Not to mention he'd just finished pinning Max against the wall of a bathroom. "If the Astorio mage tries making out with me, he'll be hanging from the chandelier well before you have a chance to see, don't you worry. Keep your mind on your own boyfriend, he's plotting something." The illegal fighting ring was news to him. Was that what they talked about when he didn't show up to their study group? For all he knew, that might've been what they talked about while he was present; he tuned them out half the time.

"Wait, why would you set up an illegal fight club in a place where there's already a legal fight club?" As far as Max knew, the arena managers were fairy content to let people beat the shit out of each other on their own time as long as no one died. "And why is his partner in crime one of the least intimidating people on campus? And most importantly - what fucking street are you on that talks about mage fighting rings to a vampire?" Then again, Salem knowing absolutely nothing about subtlety was believable. Maybe the dumbass actually hung up posters.

---

@Hero

[Hero]

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Eris didn't doubt Plant Boy would be pinned to the ceiling with every sharp object in the room if he made a move, but he figured he'd throw out the warning anyway. Ah, Varis must have been getting obvious is even At his question, he gave him a shrug. "The princess' prime rule has always been to interfere once blood is spilled. Some people want to push themselves past what the academy allows...sometimes they want to practice beyond just disabling their opponents. You know, just mortals-trying-to-take-their-anger-at-their-lives sort of thing," He said, shrugging. "I don't really know much about the supposed partner, but who knows. If she's hanging around someone like that, maybe she got roped into it. Those types never really have a backbone, so if she was bullied into it or got a particularly mean look thrown her way, I could see it happening."

Actually, hearing that the Eve mage got roped into the rumor was probably the highlight of his night. He loved gossip. "You'd be surprised how often people throw information and rumors my way for free. Anything to get my attention, I suppose...it comes in handy," He admitted that much.

As for the first comment, he debated on whether or not to respond. Eh, he may as well. "He's definitely plotting something, but you're mistaken if you think it's against me. He's going to show the little Eve his place," He corrected him. "You see, he's taking advantage of the fact that he's gathering the other nobles to flaunt his position as both heir and the holder of the sole male heir of the Starag line. To vampires, it's a double whammy of sorts. The mage-loving Marivaldi is still probably drooling at the fact that a Sinnenodel got a royal mage, the not-so-secret mage sympathizer gets reminded who's on top, and the Astorio...I don't know, he's a nobody as it is, but it's collateral damage, I guess."

---

Styling up @Scribe of Thoth against his will

[Trainerblue192]

The night had finally arrived for Varis's little soirée. Salem had had a suit tailored just for the occasion, the bag hanging in the closet, looming like a shadow. The night before Salem had began to get his hair ready for the event, undoing the braids his hair was typically in and washing it out, applying a deep conditioner. He'd spent the day with a soft night cap to hold his hair up and now the night was here and it was time to get ready and do his hair. Salem undid the cap, his hair tussling down his shoulders in soft curls, applying little product just to ensure it didn't frizz. It was always a hassle with him, opting for braids or a bun more often than not so that he wouldnt have to deal with it.

Salem's record played in the background. A soft melodic tune that went throughout his room and into the bathroom. He didn't exactly care for Varis or his party, but it was an opportunity to help impress Ben and curry favour with him while also being allowed time to relax amongst his peers. Salem reached for his face scrub, washing his face thoroughly before moving onto a moisturizing cream and finally a mist to help keep his face with a healthy sheen. Opening up the cabinet he applied dark eye liner on his lower lid to help accentuate his eye color. Nerves ran through him, sure that Varis may attempt to embarrass him or worse, just like his Lady. The investigation was still a sore in his side and Salem had to prove his etiquette lessons were paying off.

Once he finally finished Salem began to get dressed. A white dress shirt, thick silver tie with ruby encrusted in its center, red double breasted vest, and a black jacket with silver linings. About the only silver lining tonight aside from seeing his friends. Once finished Salem walked out of his room, pulling the needle off the record and straightening his jacket as he called out to Victor. "Im ready as i can be for tonight. Should I carry the bottle or should you? Invitation was a little vague on that."

[Hero]

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Lilie straightened up considerably once Ben entered, though she appreciated him hooking her up. She was a little wary when he said he'd be taking care of her hair--she had a style in mind and she wasn't really sure what he was gonna be doing. TO her surprise, however, not only did he make short work of the length, but he did it beautifully. Since when did nobles know how to style hair?! Even the little pins were stunning, her jaw dropping as she looked at her reflection.

"How did...when did...do you, like, have a salon at your house as a side job or something?" She couldn't help but ask, her hair gently touching a braid. "This is better than anything I was gonna do!"

As she finished looking at herself, she mulled over his words. Well, he had a point, she probably shouldn't completely let her guard down. She wasn't really worried about the mages if she was being honest, but if any of the vampires tried any funny business, she could get in trouble. Nodding, she scooted forward in her seat as she took his advice and went for a more daring look. She combined blue and green to keep up the color scheme she already had going on, though she opted for a pink lipstick that she hoped would pop.

Once done, she frowned as she looked up at Ben. "I'll do my best not to let you down, but...what should I do if I'm in a tight spot?" She asked. "Should I come find you? Or...stay quiet? I don't think we covered what to do in that sort of situation."

---

Gettin' glammed up with @Bert Macklin

[Bert Macklin]

His smile came almost unwillingly; at least there was someone who appreciated his little talent. Putting it to good use was satisfying as well. Ben turned back to the box he had brought in and plucked a pair of chandelier earrings and held Lilie still while he carefully looped them through her ears. He would be the first to admit he was likely going a touch overboard with the accessorizing, but he was treating the small gathering as he would any other gathering. Even if the Sinnenodel thought it wasted on someone like Lilie, Ben was a consistent man if anything. His fingers traced the diamonds as he inspected them carefully, releasing them as he pulled out a ring bearing the Eve House's crest and slipped it around her finger.

"I have a tendency to pick up the odd hobby every other year or so to keep myself busy. I was a rambunctious child in my youth so it stems from there," Ben said. "My father believed if I kept my hands busy it would keep me busy. He was half-right." He lightly mused to himself that that must have been why he was so intent on tea-making. Was it truly that long since his last indulgence?

He gave himself a moment to think as he clasped a thin tennis bracelet around Lilie's wrist. The correct answer was that she should come to him for anything and everything, but that was not the correct answer to something like this. Perhaps a passcode or something of sorts could be set up as he had established previously with mages he had trained. However, he was convinced this was a good exercise for the new mage to test the waters. Pulling out the last of the jewelry set, he watched Lilie's reflection in the mirror as he put together his thoughts.

"If it is the most urgent of emergencies, I bid you find me right away. You needn't say a word as your presence alone is enough to warn me that something has happened and I will excuse us. I urge you use your judgment to do what is best for you," Ben said. "Running from a difficult situation is a statement in and of itself. You must remain confident, sturdy against the tides, and above all else never let anyone take your pride away. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

The necklace he placed on her chest was nearly identical in design to the usual pendant she wore with the exception of said design putting silver on a whole diamond. It glittered beautifully, perhaps too much for his usual taste, but all subtlety was gone for him at this point. He placed both his hands on her shoulders as he glanced at her reflection. There was no more time to build confidence or character but he felt alright about this.

"Absolutely enchanting. Come, my dear, it is time for us to go. I would very much like to be the first to arrive as it is my duty as guest of honor," Ben said. The bottle of blood was ready for them on their way out and there was nothing left to do but to take the few steps needed to the dorm next door.

[Achronum]

Music bounced around the bathroom, lively and spirited, as she finished the finishing touches on her hair. It helped settle some of the anxiety in her. It had been clawing up her throat all night, the very idea of walking into a dorm full of nobles terrifying her, but school had kept it under control. Her affinity instructor had been sympathetic to her plight and worked with her tirelessly on what she wanted to accomplish and it demanded all of her concentration; anything less and her stay at the Sinnenodel dorm would be cut short. That much concentration kept the sense of impending doom at bay until the door of the dorm shut behind her with an ominous thud and she’d rushed to get ready. She clipped the silver ring that would help support the high ponytail she’d made, a careful mix of mousse and hair spray keeping the curls intact despite the length, and turned her attention to the next task.

It was a delicate balance, making sure Amaris was the better dressed of the two and still looking presentable for the event. Amaris wasn’t one to dress up, making it clear she’d prefer something more casual when the invitations came in, and it showed in the simplicity of her choices. The Countess would still look stunning but it meant Maddie had to do some outside research to figure out what would benefit the Countess more. It took her longer than she cared to admit but it was an important event and she wasn’t about to let Amaris walk into the Sinnenodel’s game already behind. After pouring through enough fashion advice to last her a lifetime, Maddie decided a black A-line dress would work. She kept the neck high and the sleeves long with a lace flower design sweeping up from the waist and down the right sleeve. Paired with similarly colored heels and only two other accessories, she’d be a perfect contrast to Amaris’ modern style and should keep eyes on the Countess.

And it served another purpose as well. Maddie had told her about most of it, politely asking her for the money to cover the expenses because there was no way her family would be able to cover that cost on such short notice, but she kept a crucial piece secret. Along with the hair piece, she’d ordered simple silver and emerald earrings to match Amaris’ color scheme. She’d asked Amaris for her recommendations on a jeweler for that. But the third and last piece was probably the most important. It took a little bit of snooping but Maddie finally got all the pieces, or as much as the student body knew, of the Countess’ previous partners. One was supposedly sleeping with Aaron, which she found amusing because Aaron was as traditional as traditional got, but hadn’t been heard from again and the last one was viciously attacked. Both of them were taken from her, one less than loyal and the other leaving Amaris feeling helpless. The conversation about trusting Aaron sparked the idea. Maybe if she felt closer to Maddie, Amaris would be more willing to believe Maddie would consider her safety and privacy before involving herself in things after she saw what hung voluntarily around her neck.

The Marivaldi crest, carved out of delicate emerald and amethyst, rested just beneath the hollow of her throat on a silver chain. It wasn’t a collar but the solid black of her dress ensured the piece stone out against everything out. It was her own way of telling Amaris that she wasn’t just here because she had to be.
She checked herself one last time when Amaris called, smoothing out a non-existent crease, before picking up the small case of supplies she’d need for her display. She smiled when she stepped out of her room and curtsied briefly to the Countess. “You look beautiful, Ari.” Maddie complimented the Countess. The little gift bag caught her eye and she felt an odd pang of unease, knowing her blood was in a bottle inside. She knew that was required from the invitation but it was one thing to know you’d have to offer a bottle of blood and another to actually do it. Amaris preferred to feed directly from her and now looking at something containing the thing that kept her alive, she was certain she preferred it too.

_{Interacting with: @WeepingLiberty}

[Hero]

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So she was on her own? Well, it wasn't like Lilie was expecting anything to really happen. She had to admit as corny as his words sounded, they did squash down any pre-party jitters she had. All she really had to worry about was the one song and then she'd get to watch everyone else. Invigorated by the thought, Lilie nodded in understanding, pausing as the earrings hit her neck. She thought her every day pendant was fancy, but everything Ben was giving her was putting even that to shame.

"I'll do my best, then! I mean, I'm actually feeling really good tonight," She replied. "I thought I'd be nervous but I'm really looking forward to hanging out with my friends." And if her performance wasn't good enough, it wasn't like she'd be offended. It was just a new found hobby, not anything she actually wanted to do for the rest of her life.

All her thoughts went flying out the window as Ben looped what looked like a solid chunk of diamond around her neck. Where in the world did he get all this jewelry? If she was going to be nervous about anything, it was potentially getting mugged in the walk from dorm to dorm. She'd have to take special care of everything, it all looked so expensive! Honestly she was more worried about scratching or losing any of it.

But there wasn't time to dwell on the way-too-pricey things she wore as Ben complimented her and said it was time to go. She only looked nice because of everything he gave her, but she still felt a little giddy. Maybe Aaron would think she looked nice, too? Hopefully it wasn't too flashy for him. She followed Ben out of the room, making sure to grab the bag holding her blood--which still kinda freaked her out and made her queasy if she looked at it for too long--and met him at the entrance. Carefully putting on the white heels, she slipped into her cloak and gave him a thumbs up with her free hand.

"I feel like it's gonna be a good night," Lilie told Ben.

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Gettin' glammed up with @Bert Macklin

[Scribe of Thoth]

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Max turned to actually address Eris himself instead of the asshole in the mirror, having grown tired of looking at himself already. Not that he looked bad - actually, the fact that he didn't made the whole sight worse - it was just an annoying thing to look at. The flat look he turned on the vampire was hardly any better, though. Seriously? All this work just to tell Count Bemdalin or whatever the fuck his name was that he was a loser? Should've spent all the party decoration money on hiring Max to do it for him. Hell, Max would've done it for free.

"And we're invited because...? Don't answer that, I know why. Still, you assert he has a plan for every one of the guests except yourself. He couldn't get away with inviting all the nobles except one, that'd be insulting. But you? You're nobody. You can be excluded." He knew he'd be getting an earful about the 'nobody' comment but the point stood; Varis didn't need Eris to be there, and in light of their recent line of investigation, Max couldn't help but assume this was less a 'keep your friends close' and more an 'and your enemies closer' type of party.

"You may not be the star of the show," Another earful for that one, "but I'd be shocked if he didn't have some plan in mind. I know you lie through your teeth everytime you open your mouth so I'll spare you the 'be careful' spiel, but if Aaron gets too nosy I'll try to let you know something's up anyway." He definitely didn't feel like playing word games tonight, at any rate. No gambling unless the deck was stacked in his favor, otherwise his only job was to put on a show like a trained seal and tell anyone who tried to get him to exert himself beyond that to go fuck themselves.

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@Hero

[Hero]

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Eris thought Max didn't learn as he had already opened his mouth to respond to his first question, shutting it as he moved on. He couldn't really stop himself from rolling his eyes as he went on and on about how he didn't understand the intricacies of court politics and had little idea why Varis did the things he did and had set up the get together as such. Well, those weren't his exact words or what he had said, but he may as well have. Ignorance was such a dreadful thing to suffer from.

"Yeah, the guy whose face is plastered on about a hundred thousand products is really 'nobody'. Sometimes you worry me, Wells," Eris sighed.

He did, however, let out a tiny gasp of offense at one thing. "Do you think I do nothing but lie to you?" He asked. "That's so hurtful, must you think so little of me, Wells? You're practically my right hand man right now, if I do nothing but 'lie through my teeth every time I open my mouth', it would really bite me in the ass when I need you to listen." He shook his head in disappointment, though he paused as he really thought about it. "...not that I don't see why you'd think that, but I'm serious, I avoid lying to you as much as I possibly can."

"Either way, we're going because despite my nouveau riche ways, I run through plenty of noble circles so it's good practice for your future. as...whatever Ismene puts you in, we haven't ironed out those details just yet, but if you're ever attending me at one of those things this'll be your first taste at it," Eris said as he double checked his own reflection. "Also helps that I love watching Varis at work. I hate that stupid Count Benniton and watching him go against all his mage-loving ideals as he tries to gain the favor of a Sinnenodel is better than anything else that's on TV tonight." He had no trouble admitting that much, his disdain for the count way too obvious. "He apparently doesn't understand his place. It isn't enough that the princess threw some scraps from the bottom of the barrel in the form of that horrid-looking mage at him because he still thinks he's somebody, so Cuunt Sinnenodel will be reminding him where he belongs on the bottom of the totem pole."

And tonight he had just the little tidbit to prove it. Taking a glance at his watch, Eris grimaced as he figured they should get going. "Not that you care about anything I've said, I don't know why I bother explaining myself sometimes," He shook his head, taking Max by the shoulders and guiding him out. "Grab the bottle and let's go, we're already running ten minutes early which means we're late in Sinnenodel time."

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Styling up @Scribe of Thoth against his will

[Scribe of Thoth]

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Like clockwork. The only part of that Eris heard was 'nobody'. Yeah, some actor's face on a bottle of cologne was certainly on par with being in line for a seat on the council. And look at that, he opened his mouth and then he lied! The leech definitely didn't 'avoid lying as much as he possibly could'. Hell, he didn't have to lie at all! Vampires must have a hard time understanding that honesty was an option or something.

It brought Max a small degree of petty satisfaction that Eris still had no idea what do with him. Even better, it was apparently delegated to Ismene to decide now - he'd made the right move endearing herself to her. Or... whatever the hell he did back there. Though it was a bit ironic that Eris wanted to him to practice at playing high society when Eris didn't seem to be evaluating the situation himself. He just wanted to watch Benji flop. Not that Max really blamed him, but was anticipating problems in advance really that much of a hassle?

Of course it was, the leech lied everytime he opened his mouth; this party was business as usual, hardly even worth a move on Eris' corny chessboard.

"I listen and care more than you might think, Eric, it's how I know you're a liar," Max offhandedly commented as he brushed past the vampire and picked up a briefcase full of the stupid iron rods Eris wanted him to turn into something pretty from the kitchen counter. Maybe he could shape it into a giant dick and get politely asked to leave the party. With his magic bearing most of the weight, he gripped the neck of the bottle with his free hand and rested the base on the top of his otherwise-occupied hand. Because carrying a bottle with one hand is classless or something, apparently. Vampires just didn't know how to drink, honestly.

"And what happened to fashionably late? I thought that was your whole gimmick."

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@Hero

[Hero]

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Ugh, this kid was really hung up on lying for some reason. And he didn't even believe him! That hurt Eris' pride just a touch, and was precisely why he said what he did. Although he did make a mental note to tone back the lying, he didn't want it getting back to Ismene after he had promised her he'd try to get on Max's good side. If he even had a good side, that is, at this point Eris was convinced that the kid was just a humanized mass of spite that ran off of hatred and was fueled only by anger and sarcasm. Which normally he was fine with, stars knew it was basically dealing with a less important vampire, but really, the kid was going to die of a stroke if he kept it up.

Eris let out something resembling a hollow laugh before following Max, triple checking his appearance. The kid cleaned up very nicely, especially with his hair done in some sort of way instead of rocking the 'I don't care' look. They'd have to work on giving him some tone, though, he was still a little too slim for his liking. Time would fix that, fortunately, so he wouldn't worry too much about that. Instead, he ran over a few conversation points in his head as he made sure to remember everything he needed to.

Snapping out of his thoughts at Max's question, Eris openly rolled his eyes again, although this time he had the perfect little mishap. Walking up to Max from behind, he gave him a little squeeze as he got up on the tips of his toes, placing his chin on the taller kid's shoulder. "Aww, do you really care? I'm so touched," He stepped away as he grabbed his phone off the entrance table, stuffing it in his pocket. "Being fashionably late doesn't apply when it comes to entertainment. By the time we get over there we'll be the last to arrive since the rest live just a few steps from one another."

He paused for a moment, remembering something. "Just remember: eyes down, stay quiet until someone talks to you directly, and try not to fall asleep. Mage manners and all that...Sunny's an expert so when in doubt watch him or just don't say anything," He said, waving the thought away.

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Styling up @Scribe of Thoth against his will

[Achronum]

_{December 7th, 5:00am - The Sinnenodel Dorm}

As the time of the party rolled around, Aaron brought each vampire into the dorm quickly, efficiently, and, most of all, with an air of energy and charm that was reserved for times he felt totally in his element. Vampires were invited to sit in their appropriate seat in the parlor while Aaron directed the mages into the living room. Bottles were stored neatly in the kitchen before Aaron returned once more to the door and repeated the process. While he didn’t blink about it, the other mages would have a clear line of sight into his bedroom considering there wasn’t a door to protect his privacy.

While Aaron organized everyone and everything, Varis entertained in the parlor after the first guest’s arrival. The usual barbs and traps beneath his words were kept neatly tucked away so the early conversation could be light and easy. No need to do battle until the whole court was present after all. He discussed little about the outside world for now, keeping topics firmly on the Academy, the recent Practical exam, and the Academy’s plans for Moon’s Mirror. Apparently, Ryner took the reflection part quite literally; once school was over, Ryner’s ice mages would create massive ice walls that would partially reflect the image of people walking by as some sort of reminder to be considerate of the untold stories those around you bear. Varis wasn’t sure if he loved the artistry or hated the thoughtfulness. Both probably.

Once all the vampires arrived, Aaron would start ushering in the mages in the center of the parlor for them to perform. Lilie (singing a song), Maddie (playing with fire), Max (creating art with metal), Salem (speed sketching), and finally Aaron (performing a cello piece) himself. Afterwards, the other mages were excused back to the living room for the duration of the event while Aaron prepared the blood tasting after cranking the phonograph in the corner. The music was soft and quiet, an orchestrational piece that was perfect for background noise to a conversation.

[ReusableSword]

Victor Astorio

An annoying night for sure, troublesome enough that Varis had to put on something like this on. Victor knew there was a play here somewhere but he was unsure as to how the count would spin it. He didn’t think he would be able to pick up on the Sinnondel’s plans right away if at all. After all, the man was smart and had his contacts so gaining information wouldn’t be hard for him. Gaining favor with his most recent actions however, might be his play. This and other things where encapsulating the large vampires mind while he finished getting dressed.

A black military style jacket with a plate mail pauldron on his left shoulder. Polished black metal sheets adorned with silver in lays layered over each other, a bronze colored chain attached near his left arm pit reached across his chest and over his right shoulder. He was not wearing a tie with his jacket buttoned up toward his neck. That combined with his black pants and neatly short cut hair would be fitting at most Astorio parties. A look that combined elegance with the reminder of power from wars long past. A dated look for sure but it was not one that he has shown off during his stay here so far. The last accent to his look was plain white gloves.

The count was just about to call out to his mage to see how he was doing on his look so far when the quiet beep of his cell phone going off caught his attention. The number glowing on the screen might as well have been burned there as he picked it up and looked at it. The count let it ring while he starred at it for a few more minutes before answering it. He didn’t say much as the voice on the other end spoke, all he did was grit his teeth and grip the phone tighter. “understood.” It was all he had to say to whomever was on the other end before he crushed the phone in his hand.

His mood had changed now, he knew this as he looked at the crushed object in his hand. This was going to be a long night, he was sure of it.

Exiting his room he was surprised to see Salem almost ready to go. “You get to carry it. Now before we head over remember what I said, keep your wits and your tongue about you. They are your friends but there is a reason for him to call all of us there, be sure to let me know if you pick up on anything odd after we get back.” His voice was annoyed but not at Salem. Victor placed the crushed phone on the table, “if you could get another phone up and running when we get back it will be appreciated.” Salem was always better at the newer tech then he was. Replacing a lost or broken phone was a once or twice a week chore for the boy. “Now let’s go.”

Once over at the dorm Victor seemed distant almost like he wasn’t really there. It was definitely something he didn’t do often. It was almost like he wasn’t even paying attention to the displays that the mages put on or the other vampires there. Lost in his own little world, the annoyed look on his face never seemed to slip away.

@Trainerblue192
@Achronum

[Hero]

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tweeting like a canary

There was something weird about standing in front of her classmates and feeling nothing at all. Well, her classmates and their vampires, some that she knew personally, actually. Still, it didn't make her nervous or give her jitters, she felt more like she was doing a presentation. Considering the only person in the room that usually gave her poor marks no matter what she did probably wouldn't like anything she did anyway, it was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders--there really wasn't any reason to be nervous. And that felt kinda weird considering Ben had taken so much time drilling lessons into her head.

Lilie almost forgot she was on her own as she waited for the notes of a piano that never came, standing straight as the vocal coach had instructed. Once she remembered, she started off the song the count had chosen. It was a pleasant song, easy to grasp, with a melody of longing for more that she identified with. It ended up coming out nicer than she thought it would--no shaky voice, no quietness trying to reach the higher notes, no breathless catching up. For once she sounded like she actually knew what she was doing, and she almost believed it, too.

Every eye was on her, watching politely, and she'd never admit hers lingered on a pair of cerulean more than they probably should have. But it all felt wrong. It felt like she was going against something deep within herself as she sang, but even if she was asked, she'd have no idea what it was. Guilt? Humility? Pride? It was just a silly song in front of her friends, how could she be going against her own pride? Maybe it was because it was something she'd never do on her own. But didn't she want to do well? She wanted to impress her friends, yeah, but she would've been more excited if that was the case.

And once the last note rang out and she was greeted with the polite applause that brought her out of her thoughts and reminded her where she was, she gave a proper curtsey. As she lifted her gaze, she forced out a polite smile as she walked back to her seat. Lilie couldn't really shake the weird feeling away, but she put it out of her mind for now. She really didn't want to think too hard on having to live her life trying to impress others.

Lilie was all too glad to be away from the vampires, probably being the first to zip away as fast as she could. It was fun to see everyone's talents and make note of people's abilities--although she was pretty sure she nearly swooned off her seat hearing Aaron play the cello. Not that she'd ever say that out loud, it was too embarrassing, but it brought back a pleasant memory that made her heart race.

For now, she was content to take a seat, ankles crossed properly as her hands smoothed out the fabric of her dress. She was used to accidentally smacking herself with her own earrings every time she turned to look at someone, but she had to resist the temptation to twirl around like a little girl. She'd do that plenty when she got back to her dorm.

"Well, that was fun," Lilie ended up admitting out loud, deciding to strike up a conversation. Ben did mention something about keeping her wits or something, right? Oh well, she didn't really care right now. "I mean, at least we're all together, right? It's been a while since that's happened."

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