[IC] Of Blood and Magic

[WeepingLiberty]

Dakota Brookes

Lunch

_{Interacting with: Salem @Trainerblue192, Lilie @Hero, and Aaron @Obscene Symphony}

Dakota found a bit of comfort in Salem’s words of encouragement. He sounded so confident that some sort of affinity would make itself known eventually that it eased a bit of the anxiety the mage had been feeling about it. As the group made its way toward the dining hall, they found themselves roped into some sort of unscheduled tour of the surrounding areas, making what should have only been a few minute trip into what could only be described as an olympic sport. With the woman known as Sariel at the lead, the group was ushered from one location to the next in the most roundabout way Dakota could imagine. Sure the information could be helpful, but when presented so out of order, even they could not keep up with where the group had ended up.

By the time Sariel had deposited them at the dining hall, Dakota had begun to worry that the woman had actually forgotten her way and had used the tour as a way to cover up the mistake. Still, the group was eventually brought to their destination to be set loose to enjoy the seemingly endless amounts of foods. The room was filled with the sounds of competing voices, conversations of varying topics momentarily rising up before once again being drowned out by another group’s shenanigans.

Eyes tracking around the room, Dakota’s immediate interest were the many different kinds of meals set out for their consumption. As each new scent introduced themselves to the mage’s nostrils, the desire to load up a plate intensified. Before Sariel had even finished talking, Dakota’s stomach snarled aggressively. Thankfully, the woman did not stick around too much longer after their arrival, leaving the group to disperse to their own devices. It seemed that Salem and Aaron had private business to attend to, or at least the was the feeling Dakota got from the expression on Aaron’s face. Not wanting to intrude, Dakota grinned and waved them off, turning to see what Lilie had in mind for lunch. The cute girl seemed to be somewhat preoccupied with something on her phone for the moment, so Dakota took the opportunity to slip away and snag a plate to pile food onto.

There were plenty of options laid out on the tables, ranging from the standard comfort food items to custom prepared healthy alternatives. Some of what was seen there was far more expensive than anything the Brookes children would ever hope to see outside of special occasions. Dakota was never really one to eat all that extravagantly in the first place, enjoying a surf and turf platter or some sushi every once in a while. Their family wasn’t poor by any means, but it wasn’t in their budget to spend so thoughtlessly on food. With so many options, Dakota found themselves hesitating somewhat in making a decision.

With a shake of the head, the mage turned away from the fancier options in favor of something a lot more familiar. In all honesty, there had been little expectation to find something along the lines of Dakota’s usual diet but someone must have taken the students’ previous lifestyles into account when designing the lunch menu. With much glee, Dakota piled a cheeseburger, some fries, and two slices of pepperoni pizza onto the plate and waddled back to the table Lilie and the others sat at. The quality of the food might have been much higher than anything Dakota would have consumed at home, it didn’t stop the mage from scarfing it all down and enjoying every bite.

As the last bites were consumed, Dakota took note of the many conversations going on around the table. It seemed that while having found a group to spend some time around, Dakota had failed to really connect with anyone this time around. Perhaps it was to be expected as the group had already been formed before Dakota had barged in. With everyone occupied in their own situations, it didn’t take much for the mage to excuse themselves from the table to return the dirty dish before making for an exit.

The bell signaling the end of the lunch period rang a few minutes after Dakota had left the cafeteria, bringing with it throngs of students returning to whatever classes or activities they had to be at. Dakota did their best to stay out of everyone’s way, finding a quiet corner to take up and watch the crowds walk by. Even now, conversations were still going strong. The topics were as varied as the people, some talking about trips they had taken over the break, others about assignments they had already been given from teachers whose names alone sounded ominous.

Posted around the campus were signs indicating what direction people were heading in, including some near buses that were marked as transportation back to the dorms or into town. For whatever reason, Dakota couldn’t find much pull in either option. For a moment it looked as if a familiar face had climbed aboard one of the buses but due to the distance it was too difficult to tell so the thought was dismissed. Turning away from the crowd, the mage picked a direction and began walking in it with little regard to the destination. They passed by smaller groups chatting away or practicing their crafts, some just showing off while others were trying to help teach. Dakota wasn’t sure what had changed in the last little bit, but a heavy sigh worked its way up and forced its way out as the mage trekked along.

The chosen path had taken the young mage past the building known as the Arena, a rustle in their back pocket a reminder of the application they had picked up back at the orientation. Without an affinity to master, Dakota wondered if there was any point in turning it in to use the space alongside the other competitive mages. The faces of the rest of the group came to mind as Dakota stared at the paper in their hands, a perfect opportunity to try again with the whole ‘bonding experience’. The arena was also bound to have more than just sparring included in its perks, perhaps there would be solo workout opportunities as well. Spotting a forgotten pen on the ground beside the pathway, Dakota snagged it up and used it to fill out the application before stuffing the pen in a pocket and heading straight for the building.

It didn’t take long for Dakota to run into someone who the application could be handed off to, and a question asked about training facilities. The mage was pointed toward one of several off shooting facilities for the building which, upon entry, looked quite similar to a run-of-the-mill gym. The assumption was that this part of the facility was designed around independent workout geared towards the more physical aspect rather than a magical one. For the time being it seemed rather empty, a fact that relieved the mage as it would allow some time to work off some of the nerves that had built up.

Normally, Dakota would have opted to change into something more suited to working out. Knowing Noila Academy, it was always possible that extra clothes would be provided in the case that someone did not bring their own... however, Dakota did not feel the need to go through the effort of trying to track any down. Setting any personal belongings aside, Dakota unbuttoned the soft yellow fabric and carefully set it with the other items. Despite initial assumptions, the youth was not just some lanky kid with a fast metabolism. Hidden underneath the shirt was a fairly toned torso that hinted at years of athletics and physical activities.

“Looks like the sports bra was a good choice for today.” Dakota mused to themselves as they fished an mp3 and some headphones from the pile of things and took up a position before a suspended punching bag.

Playlist

Closing their eyes, Dakota took a few measured breaths as the music began playing in their ears. There was something about the chimes paired with the drums of the first song that had a way of motivating the young mage. It helped to focus the mind in what could be best described as a workout ritual. It was often a couple of minutes before Dakota would begin to actually move outside of some swaying to the voices enriching the track. However, when the mage did finally decide to strike, it was a sight to behold.

As the playlist hit the 5:40 mark, Dakota’s eyes slowly slid open with a renewed vigilance and fiery determination. Completely focused on the bag before them, an ululation in the fourth song served as the trigger sound. From the outside it would have seemed out of nowhere as Dakota slammed their fists into the equipment with a fair amount of power. One after the other fell upon the punching bag as the mage seemed to dance around structure, occasionally ducking and dodging invisible return blows from the shadow opponent. As the trigger song ended and the next piece began, the blows lessened and the music took a slower, more dramatic turn.

Extending a hand out to still the agitated equipment, Dakota took the moment to steady their breathing, waiting for a turn in the pacing to resume the exercise. A swell in the tone prompted the mage back into action, though the feel of the movement was very different from before. Every blow was measured, fewer and farther between to focus more on hand placement than blindly striking the object. This method went on for a couple of hours as Dakota’s style and pacing changed depending on that of the music heard only by their ears. If anyone entered during that time they were paid no mind, as all sense of the world outside of their imaginary battle was completely lost.

By the end of the playlist, Dakota’s skin was dripping with sweat and their breathing was ragged. It had been quite some time since they had gotten so lost in the exercise, realizing a second playlist had played to completion before they reached a stopping place. Walking away from the punching bag, Dakota sunk to the floor beside their things and pulled the earbuds from their ears. Putting the mp3 player away, Dakota drew forth the phone half expecting to see a missed message or something. Despite the late hour, the mage was somewhat disheartened not to see a single message reaching out.

Leaning back against the wall, Dakota set to regulating their breathing before getting up to dress. The bruised knuckles were apparent as the youth buttoned up their shirt, a few even scraped open as a result of the excessive use on the bag. It was not at all unusual to the mage so no thought was put into it as Dakota sought out something to wipe the bag down with for hygiene sake. Once everything was back as it should be, Dakota collected the belongings they had with them and began heading back to the dorms.

Normally Dakota would not have had any problem walking back, but this time they thought it better to take the bus as they had already worked out beyond what was probably recommended for the day. The ride was fairly short and completely uneventful outside of picking up a straggler or two along the way. Before long Dakota was fishing out the dorm key and letting themselves inside the building. Looking around, Dakota could tell that Joryldin had been back at some point but it didn’t appear as if he was there any longer. A drawn out sigh filled the space as the mage made their way back to their room and hopped into the shower.

Cool water felt nice against feverish skin, the daily grime washing away as the mage worked out any lingering soreness from the muscles. When Dakota emerged, they changed into athletic shorts and a loose fitting tank, wrapping the towel around their shoulders so that hair that had been pinned up all day could be freed. Peeking into the shared space, Dakota sensed that for the time being, they were still alone. Unsure of whether to be relieved or disappointed, Dakota set to putting on a movie only to doze off on the couch nearly twenty minutes into it.

Honorable Mention

Joryldin @Jade Blades

[Trainerblue192]

---

---

Now, what to wear?

Interacting with: @AChronum

The Princess chuckled and raised an eyebrow. “Less afraid of my mother than being a guest? I expect there is a story there.”

“I'd say they go hand in hand. To be a bad guest is to disrespect the host and the host is our queen. Who'd wish to disrespect her?” Salem said with a smile and calm voice.

“My mother, a hostess?” The Princess threw her head back and laughed. “Two millennia old beings don’t host. In fact, they do very little other than command. I am your hostess tonight, dear Salem, but I do recommend you dance like that this evening. My mother and Lady Sinnenodel are quite a force together. Now tell me, how has your first day at the Academy been? If I recall properly, you did arrive a bit late.”

“It was much more exciting than I had anticipated. Fights, magic, and the accommodations are quite nice...shame there's hardly any windows but I can understand why.” Salem paused for a moment before carefully asking the next question. “You've mentioned the Sinnenodels a few times now, have they had students at the academy before? If so...mind telling me how they treat their mages?”

“Hm, that is a difficult question indeed. Unfortunately, you have to ask each Sinnenodel individually.” Ryner said thoughtfully. “And it tends to change from mage to mage. Their treatment of mages always falls into generally unpleasant but it really is a case by case basis. Their Lady, for example, practically eliminates their free will through repeatedly thralling them. Plenty of rumors abound about her process but nothing can be proven.” Ryner’s mouth slanted into a disapproving frown at the mention of it. “Her protege, Varis, basically gives his mages free reign once he has finished training them. He values intelligence over docile servitude but his methods still leave much to be desired.”

Salem clenched his fist at the mention of enthralling to the point of servitude. His blood began to boil and he took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly through his mouth. The thought that Varis wouldn't do that was somewhat of a relief. However, that didn't change how much of a snake he is. “I suppose I'll just have to keep a close eye on whomever his mage is then. I'd hate for something to happen to them while at the academy. Onto a hopefully more pleasant topic, why did the queen wish to see us tonight?”

“What a chivalrous thought. I think you’ll get along with Varis’s mage just fine.” Ryner said. “As for Mother and Lady Sinnenodel, they are here for other business but are taking the opportunity to meet the newest members of their household. Since Lucan is your partner, you’ll be formally entering into the Bordeleauxs who serve the Noilas. And Aaron will be leaving ours to join the Sinnenodels.”

Salem was shocked to hear about his new entry into the Queen's household. It was something he'd never thought of, and now was wondering how that would impact his business. “Right...Forgive me for my boldness but...I do hope there won't be many restraints upon entry. I have a clinic to run and would hate to see it taken from me.”

Ryner considered the question for a moment. As long as it was his property, and his property alone, before his service with Lucan, Lucan couldn’t technically touch the clinic or its associated property. “The clinic is yours correct?” Ryner thought a moment more after Salem nodded. “Then, technically your clinic is safe. Under our current laws, any property you purchase with personal funds is your to keep. But, as Varis will tell you, there are several ways around that stipulation although I do not believe Lucan the kind to resort to those methods.”

As Ryner spoke about Varis, Salem tapped his fingers against his chin three times, a long hum escaped him, another two taps as his finger slid off his chin, towards his cuffs, adjusting them with a long tug on one, a gentle tap against the other right before a long tug on it. Finally he popped his lips and said “That's a relief for me, thank you. So tonight will just be a...welcoming and farewell dinner for me and Aaron respectively? Should be a delightful evening then.” He spoke with a grand smile across his face.

Ryner’s eyebrows rose as Salem tapped, a sly smile gracing her lips. “I agree, he is. Just so you know, only three of us understand and our two guests aren’t they.” She sighed and looked down the drive. “And it is sort of a farewell event. Although I work closely with Varis for better insight into the Traditionalist mindset so Aaron and I will have plenty of time with each other.” She narrowed her eyes and cocked her head slightly. “And it seems our dear Count is nearly here.”

[Achronum]

_{Interacting with:@Trainerblue192@Obscene Symphony}

The vampire slammed his bedroom door open right before they had to leave. Varis’s hair matched Aaron’s, stylishly mussed. A ripped long black coat snapped behind him, silver designs along the collar and cuffs. Tight black pants stopped just short of black oxfords. the red v-neck shirt gave him the only splash of color. A silver choker wrapped itself around his neck. His eyes were solid black.

Varis paused next to Aaron’s desk, gesturing for him to move his hands away. He picked up the pages and read them over, sneering. “Handwriting speaks volumes about a person. Yours matches you perfectly. Elegant and composed, superficially. Scratch off the the gilded exterior and you find the dull, brittle core. Uncreative, inflexible, and entirely uninspiring. And unable to even brush my expectations apparently.” Varis ripped the pages and left the shreds on Aaron’s desk. “Tomorrow you’ll strive to complete more in this time frame and be thankful I only started you from the beginning.” Varis turned on his heel and stormed out the door, nearly clipping Aaron with it as he slammed it shut and locked it.

Varis remained silent the entire way across campus. The Princess was hosting the dinner at her mansion, tucked back into the forest. A few students walked the paths, escorted by heavily armed Noilan guards. Most made a brief movement to intercept Varis but, after a quick glance at his face, hurried away. Those who didn’t stepped off the path and bowed to the pair as Varis stormed by. All the while, Varis seethed. ‘My hair is a disaster, these clothes are hideous, and I have to tramp all the way across campus looking like a human tween posting poorly written emo poetry because Ryner didn’t bother to send a car.’ He halted at the edge of the forest abruptly and whirled on Aaron, yanking him close and cupping his hand around Aaron’s ear to shield his lips from sight.

“I will give you one warning despite your abysmal performances this evening. My Lady employs only mages skilled in the art of telepathy. If you do not wish your secrets and insecurities laid bare to her in the easiest fashion, I advise you stay within three steps of me. Outside of that and my presence will not protect you.” Varis released the boy, smoothed out the section of clothing he grabbed, and resumed walking as if nothing happened.

A cobblestone path wound through the forest, twisting into the darkness. Little light filtered down through the canopy, leaving most of the path in deep shadow. Varis walked steadily, unfazed by the lack of light. Periodically, patrols of mages and vampires would slink out of the darkness and back into it, the familiar prickle of magic ghosting over the vampire and mage as they did.

What caught Varis’s attention was the sound, or the lack thereof. Their footsteps made no noise as he set a brisk pace. No insects hummed in the air and no wind rustled the trees. No birds or rodents made their presence known and the air felt heavy and sluggish.

The feeling lifted as the path followed around to the front of the Princess’s mansion. A modernized tudor, the mansion glowed warmly and boasted a long driveway ending in a spectacular water feature. The cobblestone path dropped the pair off at the front gate and they were escorted to the fountain. Salem stood there speaking softly with the Princess already. The group looked up as Varis and Aaron approached.

“Varis, Aaron. Welcome to my home away from home.” She spoke softly, a warm smile on her face as she leaned forward to kiss the Count of the cheek. Anyone who knew her though could see the smirk curling at the edge of her lip and the playful sparkle in her eye at the sight of Varis. The Count turned his head, normally an affront, but the Princess instead whispered in his ear, “Bishop.” She stepped away and Varis audibly ground his teeth, staring past the woman at the fountain.

“And Aaron. It is a pleasure to see you.” She pressed a soft kiss to his cheek as well. “I cannot wait until Mother sees you in that outfit. Though she won’t dare say anything until Lady Sinnenodel departs, she’ll absolutely hate it! We’re matching that way I guess. Oh, you don’t know how much it pleases me to welcome you here as a student rather than a servant. I would love to hear about your first day of life outside of the household when we have a chance.” She sent a warm smile before turning back to the Count.

“I utterly loathe you, old hag. Not even a car and now that?” Varis said bitterly. His eyes lightened slightly however. “We are discussing this later. In length may I add. But first, I must address…” He gestured to Ryner in general, eye brows high and disgust plain on his face. “All of this. I hardly recognized you walking up the drive. I nearly thought you’d sent an Astorio’s second hand concubine to greet us.”

“The nastier you are, the more I know you like it.” Ryner laughed at him. “Maybe if you took the stick out from your ass you could enjoy your life for once, you conceited lickspittle.” Varis’s lip twitched and his eyes lightened further.

“At least I know how to handle it once it's there.” Varis shot back, pulling out a file and touching up a few uneven spots he missed in his rush. She smack him gently on the arm.

“I’m a dedicated woman. I prefer one drink, not a new one each night.” Ryner leveled him with a look. “And I would have found myself a married vampire already if you stopped interfering for a few decades.”

“They were cheating on you before me.” Varis waved the accusation off. “All I did was air out their dirty laundry. Frankly, I did you a favor.”

“Varis, it’s not a favor if you are part of the laundry.” She said dryly but held up a hand, cutting off Varis’s retort. “We’ll have plenty of time to debate the moral implications of your actions, again, after dinner. For now, introductions! Varis, this is Salem Spellman. He is the only son of the CEOs of Modern Tonics and Mystic Teas. His partner, Sir Lucan Bordeleaux, will hopefully be joining us later. Aaron spent the past five years learning swordplay under Sir Bordeleaux.”

“And Salem, this is Count Varis Sinnenodel. He is Lady Sinnenodel’s current protege and I believe he has done some business with your father recently. His partner is Aaron Starag, the youngest member of the Starag line. He is quite skilled after Lucan’s tutelage and excels easily in most areas.” Varis stared thoughtfully at Salem for a few moments.

“Modern Tonics. Ah yes, Salem Spellman. How odd. I don’t recall Salem mentioning a son.” Varis looked the plant mage over a moment more and then dismissed him, turning back to Ryner. “But omission speaks for itself. A pity Sir Bordeleaux isn’t here though. His insight could have proven useful. The boy lacks critical thinking skills and a few ideas from a former mentor could have gone a long way. Just earlier, the boy was trying to find a place to put his cufflinks after I rolled up his sleeves. It was a horrifying display of incompetence, wouldn’t you agree boy?”

[Obscene Symphony]

@Achronum @Trainerblue192

I am my Master's servant and I will endeavour to use my critical thinking skills to his advantage.
I am my Master's servant and I will endeavour to use my critical thinking skills to his advantage.
I am my Master's servant and I will endea—

BANG!

Aaron nearly jumped out of his skin when Varis finally emerged, storming into the study with an outlandish outfit and a look in his eye that could strike fear into the heart of anyone who knew what they were looking at. The mage made haste to get out of his way, standing and moving aside as the Count looked over his work. His comments were scathing, and Aaron could only look helplessly on as Varis tore his papers to shreds. Something like an hour of work and upwards of 60 repetitions of that phrase - which was still bouncing around in his head - gone. And for what, his handwriting?

He bowed his head, defeated, at Varis' command before rushing out after him, having to dodge the front door as Varis slammed it. He could practically feel the vitriol emanating from the vampire as they briskly crossed the campus, a presence which only exacerbated his nerves. An endless stream of questions regarding the Queen's visit still knocked around in his mind, peppered occasionally with repetitions of his lines like the lyrics of a bad song stuck in his head.

Aaron was pulled out of his thoughts suddenly at the edge of the forest when Varis turned on him, grabbing his tie and yanking him sharply down to his level. The words the vampire growled in his ear were laced with contempt, and the warning therein sent a chill up Aaron's spine.

He kept close to the Count as they continued through the forest, wary of straying too far lest the darkened path grow treacherous. All the while in his pocket, he fiddled mercilessly with his ring. He barely noticed the oppressive silence of the forest, so wrapped up was he in his own nerves. He felt imbalanced and utterly defenseless without his sword, he was on his way to see the Queen looking like a streetwalker (not to mention meeting the matriarch of the house less-than-affectionately nicknamed "The Devils") and on top of it all, he had to remain within three steps of Varis just to keep it all to himself. Needless to say, by the time they reached the gate he was wound up like a spring.

Luckily, a lifetime of training had its perks, and Aaron was able to carefully craft his composure by the time they made it up the drive. He was more than a little surprised to see Salem standing there and talking to the Princess alone; it took him a very confusing moment to realize that he was probably accompanying Lucan. But Lucan was nowhere to be found, and for once Aaron had no idea where he might be. Truth be told he hadn't been expecting to see anyone else; apparently he hadn't given it any thought, so consumed had he been in... other matters. But of course Lucan would be invited; the vampire served the crown just as he did.

Well. Just as he used to.

Aaron bowed appropriately when they met the group, deeply to the Princess and inclining his head to Salem, falling back into his usual mannerisms and taking solace in the procedure. Formality had always brought him peace; he didn't have to think, didn't have to worry, he simply had to put on a mask and go through the motions. It was rehearsed, composed, and elegant, a welcome familiarity in an otherwise alien situation.

Still, he grew even more self-conscious when he saw how Salem presented himself; aside from the eccentric colour scheme, he was dressed far more appropriately for the occasion than Aaron was. Pushing his jealousy aside, he offered Salem a smile, hoping that Lucan had relayed his apology. If not, he'd have to make it tomorrow - now was certainly not the time - but hopefully Salem would realize now why he'd had to leave so urgently. Hopefully he would at least understand, if not forgive him.

He was surprised, to say the very least, at the way Varis and the Princess greeted each other. Such familiarity bordered on disrespect, but the Princess was playing along; knowing what little he did of Varis, the thought of the two of them getting along struck him as very odd indeed.

But there was no time to puzzle, for now it was his turn. Aaron's ears burned under his hair when the Princess kissed his cheek, and he smiled, glancing down at the ground. Her comment about his outfit was expected, if not exactly welcome - displeasing the Queen was pretty much his worst nightmare, and he could have gone and thrown up in the bushes right then and there at the very thought - but Princess Ryner had a way of easing his nerves. Ever since childhood, when he had shadowed his mother on her duties, she'd always been a calming presence. Kind and gentle, a glowing example of the family Aaron so dearly loved. Which was why he almost took a heart attack when Varis insulted her.

His eyes flashed to the Count, wide with shock and horror despite himself. How dare he! He looked over to Salem, hoping for some confirmation that he wasn’t hearing things, but his shock only worsened as Ryner shot back good-naturedly, the two swapping insults like pet names. Aaron had only seen such behaviour between servants behind closed doors, and he had no idea what to make of it between a Count and the freaking Princess.

He was distracted from his confusion when Princess Ryner made her introductions. He was interested to hear of Salem’s business origins, but of course what gripped him most was the Princess’ introduction of himself. He thanked the powers that be that his face wasn’t one to flush as he felt the heat in his ears again, heart swelling at her praise. Even to him it seemed a little excessive - if anyone was acutely aware of his shortcomings, it was him - but he was flattered nonetheless, and wasn’t about to argue.

Of course, he could only be proud for so long as Varis struck up conversation. Aaron didn’t miss that little jab at Salem, but obviously the vampire’s much more direct insult grabbed his attention, more than sufficient to knock him down a few pegs. His ears didn’t stop burning, and were accompanied by a tightness of the gut that comes only from embarrassment; he stole a sidelong glance at the Count, happy Lucan wasn’t around to hear that but more than thoroughly mortified that Salem and the Princess were.

Clearing his throat, Aaron straightened and arranged his hands behind his back, posturing up as if to offset his growing discomfort. Was this Varis’ idea of a punishment for his mistake earlier? Humiliating him in front of the Princess? Not to mention the vampire was still refusing to call him by his name. Aaron was more accustomed to a yardstick across the knuckles or a swift smack to the back of the head than public ridicule, but apparently this was how things were going to be.

Smiling, he looked between the others and nodded agreeably, as if the comment had been an astute observation as opposed to an insult. But when it came time to reply, he choked; in an instant he ran through a hundred different ways to phrase an answer, but he could arrange none of them in such a way that he didn’t need to answer with an address to Varis. An address he didn’t know yet.

He combed back through the night and the night before, hoping to remember some form of formal address, but came up blank; he was sure that Varis had only dictated his preferred forms of address for private and casual situations. The usual form of address for a Count was Your Excellency, but Varis’ other preferred titles had already differed from the norm and—Oh.

Deflating further, Aaron’s mind was flooded again by a few repetitions of his lines, already thoroughly memorized. He hoped he was wrong, but he was pretty sure he wasn’t. He knew that phrasing had been intentional. It wasn’t a term, it was a title.

Aaron took a breath, painting his smile back on as if nothing had happened. “Indeed, Master,” he assented, glancing to Varis and then the Princess, “It would seem that I struggle with breaches of routine.”

[Scribe of Thoth]

---

Flower Boy was following him. Great. At least he hadn't opened his mouth and knew to keep a respectable distance between them. Maybe Max would just pretend he wasn't there; it'd work out better for everyone involved. There were too many people around, and given that a couple neckbiters thought their last tame interaction warranted intervention, he couldn't imagine the crowd he'd draw by blowing up on the plant mage now.

"Have a good day! Hopefully I'll see you around more!"

"Good day, my ass. Fuck you." Max grumbled almost inaudibly under his breath after Salem had walked off. That whole fiasco was his fault, and Max got nothing from that interaction but a bad mood. Useless.

At least the crowds were starting to thin out. Hopefully they'd be too busy fawning over the Queen to bother him any more tonight. He hoped there wouldn't be some mandatory assembly to listen to her drone on about the Academy; on the off chance that there were some mind-reading mages wandering about, he couldn't imagine involuntary thoughts of regicide would be particularly welcome. Well, maybe not entirely involuntary. He'd have to occupy his thoughts with something to amuse him while that stupid hag talke-

He was on the ground. There were some loud noises, and then he was on the ground. How did he end up on his knees? He glanced over in the direction he came from. Some lanky idiot was babbling out apologies like a battered wife. Max pointedly ignored any aid offered his way as he got to his feet, glaring coldly all the while.

"Watch it." He muttered tersely through gritted teeth. He shouldn't engage, it would just keep him here longer. If Max punched this clumsy moron, the vampires would swoop in to play mother hen to these poor, misguided mortals who can't get along. Pretentious parasites.

Speaking of the devil, apparently Lanky had friends. Maybe he was a battered wife, some guy dressed up like a deadbeat dad was leading the charge. How do vampires even get fat? They don't eat. Why were those two idiots earlier bothering him and not these losers? He didn't even bother responding.

If Max had known vamps were going to get involved regardless, he would've just decked the guy that bumped into him in the first place. Maybe he still should. Maybe he could send Lanky running off in the other direction and get those six tagalongs to chase after him and beat him up or whatever. Max had magic, right? He could at least make a show of force, right? Retriever did it easily enough. What was the trick? Willpower? He had plenty of that. The fact that he still hadn't thrown a punch was a testament to that. Emotion? Anger surely counts. He glared at Lanky for lack of a better target, willing something, anything horrible to befall him for locking Max in this situation. A fireball, a lightning bolt, a mildly uncomfortable breeze; he wasn't picky. He flexed his fingers at his side until they were trembling. Nothing. Some school this was. He should've headed to the library instead of trying to get invested in arena fights. Surely some dog-earred copy of Spellcraft For Dummies would've served him better than the absolute waste of time that was orientation day.

Max stuffed his hands in his pocket with a grunt as he prepared to walk off, pausing only as he felt a tingle shoot up his arm as his fingers brushed past the metal of his dorm key. Did he do it? What kind of affinity was that? Pocket lint? Was that just how magic always started out? Was it a freak accident? Did that idiot bumping into him result in some crippling nerve damage that he was just now starting to feel the effects of? He pulled his hand in and out of his pocket again, seemingly oblivious to the other people around him. No tingle. Nothing. Useless.

---

@Achronum_{@TrainerBlue192(ish?)}

[Trainerblue192]

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony@AChronum

Salems composure didnt shift at Varis' remark, as a matter of fact, it was to be expected from him. His next sentence was chosen very carefully, it was composed and very matter of factly, ever word was a carefully picked instrument against the vile creature. "I think the one who needs help is you. After all, the Astorios have outmanuvered you repeatedly. Maybe I should refer my father to them." Salem turned to face Aaron and extended a hand out to him "Its a pleasure to meet you Mr.Starag. I hope we can become good acquaintances throughout the course of tonight." Salems face beamed with a smile, one of both friendly warmth with a hint of falseness you'd give for the sake of being polite. Salem slowly moved one leg, gave a slight tap against the concrete, moved the other slowly and then adjusted his cuff with a long tug. He slowly dusted some invisible dust off his jacket front three times, tapped his fingers twice, adjusted the other cuff slowly, with another tap, long tug, then two taps to ensure it seemed fine. He slowly brushed his waistcoat five times, adjusting three buttons quickly and then slowly running his hands down them to ensure their place and a final satisfactory tap.

[Achronum]

_{Interacting with:@Trainerblue192@Obscene Symphony}

Mentioning the Astorio’s made Varis want to tear the mage limb from limb but he maintain his composure, instead watching the mages interact. The paper mill the Astorio’s kept snatching from his fingers was key to a massive market share for all the nobles and his Lady was incredibly displeased after his latest failure. Varis rubbed at his hip absently, almost shivering at the slight bump he felt. He did not appreciate the slap in the face.

Varis turned to the boy, a pleasant smile on his lips and eyes darkening. He took a moment to reevaluate the mage. His initial thoughts suggested him as insignificant but if he was willing to play, then perhaps he warranted further investigation. He made a mental note to start looking into the boy later. For now… Varis watched the boy fidget. Perhaps not as confident without a vampire to hide behind.

“Please, by all means. And when you do, give my regards to your mother as well. I heard from a little birdie she had terrible indigestion one year and I forgot to send a card. Your father and I trying to finish a deal after all. Perhaps I should send her an invitation to something of mine to make up for it.”

[Gisk]

Cassandra

@Hero @MsMorningstar

A vampire approached. Another Eve, though Cassandra realized she wasn't familiar with her, even by name. She seemed nice enough, many of her kind wouldn't have even looked at her without an invitation from her own partner.

Cassandra waited patiently while they introduced, standing back respectfully. If the vampire could extend courtesy, she certainly would too. Gotta show them she was a quality mage.

This was strange, though. First Dom disappears without so much as a note(not to say Cassandra wanted one), and now Lilie's vampire was replaced. Did that even happen? She would ask Lilie if they were alone some other time, but thought better than to mention it in front of Mariette.

"Well, good meeting you, Lilie," she played it safe and addressed the mage, "Guess we'll be seeing each other?"

[Obscene Symphony]

_{Interacting with: @Achronum @Trainerblue192}

Aaron had never been so thrilled to be ignored, interpreting Varis' non-response as an indication that he had finally done something right. And, to the mage's considerable relief, Salem didn't bat an eye at his response; however, that relief was quickly torn away when Salem replied. Aaron could hardly believe that the nervous kid from orientation was now suddenly throwing vitriol at a vampiric Count without breaking a sweat. He didn't even think to be grateful for Salem defending him, so mortified was he by his hubris.

Nonetheless, Aaron returned Salem's smile when he was greeted, accepting his handshake and replying in turn. "Likewise, Mr. Spellman. The pleasure's all mine."

His gaze lingered on Salem for a moment, silence stretching between the four of them as both he and Varis watched the mage fidget around. Maybe he was more nervous than he'd originally let on, though he'd seemed pretty nervous at orientation and hadn't been squirming like that. Just looking at it was making Aaron restless as well; he moved to spin his ring behind his back, only to be reminded that it was missing.

Finally, Varis spoke up again with a vaguely threatening retort, breaking the silence. Content to leave that alone and satisfied that his input was unneeded, Aaron turned to the Princess.

"Your Royal Highness, if I may, do you know who'll be attending Her Majesty tonight?" He asked, once more falling back on practiced mannerisms. The Queen, like any high-ranking noble, had many mages, and since his grandmother's death earlier in the year he knew she'd been alternating between them. He was anxious to learn if anyone else he knew would be around to see him degraded tonight.

[Hero]

---

---

Mariette nearly chuckled at the girl's sad excuse for an introduction. She would have to encourage Lilie to learn how to properly address a noble in the future, otherwise, she'd end up offending someone and skewing both their names. She turned to the other mage, her brow furrowing slightly when she dismissed herself. She hadn't meant to make Lilie's friend leave, but perhaps it was better that way? Maybe this was exactly what they needed, some alone time. She could get a feel for her new mage, and vice versa. Once the lady had left them, Mariette turned towards Lilie and grinned.

"Would you like to accompany me back to our dorm?" She asked, figuring the mage wouldn't deny her. Though, that would be a welcome surprise. She had never truly been denied by someone who was supposed to be lower on the totem pole. "I'd like to get to know you." She added, her grin only widening. She had read some troubling things in the young mage's diary and wanted to understand why she felt the way she did.

Lilie looked between Cassandra and Mariette, slightly anxious. Deja vu all over again, every time she would meet a mage a vampire stumbled into the scene. Mariette’s question didn’t really seem like a question, but Cassandra seemed to want to leave them to their own devices. She supposed the decision was made for her, but at the very least, she met someone new, so hopefully they would cross paths again.

“Um, yeah,” She replied to Cassandra, giving her a slight wave. “I’ll see you around, then.”

Turning to Mariette, she shifted her weight from one foot to another, remembering that Arianna had led the way the first time they went to their dorm together. “After you?” Lilie offered.

"And what is it that makes you want to follow, rather than walk side-by-side?” Mariette asked, her head cocked in a way that was only just noticeable. In the past, when she had asked her servants that question they had always responded quite similarly. It's unbecoming to walk beside a noble, they'd say. She wondered what Lilie would have to add to the topic. She had noticed the way the girl had shifted her weight before asking her to lead, uneasy to say the least. She was such a curious creature already, it was going to be fun learning about her.

The white haired girl didn’t seem to know how to respond, not having been expected to be asked. Wait, this was a trick, right? Or maybe not. As the vampire looked at her expectantly, Lilie felt her inner thoughts screaming at her to respond and say something. Anything. Anything at all!

“Because…” She started slowly, trying to choose her words among the chaos in her mind. “...I don’t know.” Her sentence seemed to lose volume, her uncertainty winning out.

Mariette's eager grin instantly went neutral. She certainly hadn't been expecting that. It was interesting, albeit disappointing. She wanted something she could add to her notes, not uncertainty. "Well, no matter," She replied, beginning to walk back towards their shared dorm. She didn't look behind her to ensure Lilie was following, hoping the girl would begin trailing her. Once they were at their dorm, Mariette opened their door and gestured for Lilie to enter.

Closing the door behind her, Mariette was tempted to lock it, but she didn't want to make her mage even more uncomfortable. She walked into their sitting room, and sat down on the couch, crossing her legs politely. "Did you try the cookie Count Ikelos made you? They smelled heavenly." She commented upon eyeing the platter and glass of milk before her. "Speaking of, did you have any questions about his departure?"

Lilie gave Cassandra an apologetic look, heels clicking the sidewalk as she hurried behind Mariette. Great, two minutes and she had already messed up. Alright, all she had to do was stop being so nervous. This was her third vampire, after all, she needed to get used them, especially since the entire school’s student body would be half mage half vampire.

Once they arrived, Lilie watched Mariette, trying to follow her lead. She couldn’t quite get a read on her just yet, her own curiosity shooting up as she was asked if she had questions. She had a lot of questions, but Allison was of no help when it came to Arianna. Would Mariette be the same for Ike? She didn’t even get to say goodbye.

“I, um, don’t have much of an appetite,” Lilie admitted, placing the cookie with the rest. As for the other question, she figured she had nothing to lose. “Is it typical for Eve vampires to replace one another? Seeing as you’re the third lady--countess--” She corrected herself, remembering Allison’s words. “--that I’ve had.”

"It's not typical, no. Most Eve vampires in the past completed their stay here and took their mage with them upon leaving." Was Mariette's answer. She chose her words carefully, not wanting to mention the sad state of her house. That would only spark more questions, and she wanted to keep her promise. "If all goes well, we'll be following this tradition."

"Now, is there anything you'd like to know about me? I have many questions for you, but those can wait."

Okay, that was an answer. Lilie nodded to show she heard, even if she didn’t completely understand. At least she wasn’t taken away anywhere. But what should she ask? Taking a second to think, she supposed she could start with something basic.

“I guess I’d like to know your expectations,” She replied sincerely. “I don’t really know anything about serving a noble, so some sort of clue or instruction would be appreciated.”

Mariette hadn't taken much time to think of her expectations for Lilie, knowing that her mage was to be treated differently than the average servant. Taking a few moments to gather her thoughts, she eventually opened her mouth to respond. "I want you to be respectful to my house. You don't have to like me, but speaking against my family is something I won't allow, and you will be punished accordingly if you do." She raised a slender finger, "Especially in public."

"I also expect you to always be honest with me, no matter what the situation is. If I ask you a question, I want a truthful answer." She wouldn't allow her experiments to obtain flawed results just because her mage was too shy or scared to respond legitimately. "Most importantly, I want what happens in this dorm to stay in this dorm. I have a role to play, so I may act differently in public than I do when we're in the safety of our home.” She paused for a moment, before adding, "Also, do not enter my room or linger around my desk in the study without my permission."

Once finished, Mariette smiled at Lilie. "Do you have any questions?"

Taking note to remember everything that she was told, Lilie had to admit that she was a little surprised that Mariette didn’t seem to care whether or not she was liked. Her loyalty to her family was admirable, at least, so there was that. Being honest was odd but doable, and everything else...she didn’t know what to think. The idea of getting punished did make her a little nervous. But as long as she did as she was told, things would be fine. Hopefully.

She had to admit she did have another question. “It really doesn’t matter whether or not I like you?” She asked, frowning. “I feel like that’s counter-intuitive to the vampire-mage relationship.”

"I'd enjoy having a happy, well-balanced relationship with you." Mariette unfolded her legs, leaning forwards and resting her hands on her knees. "In fact, we may have one for quite a while. However, one day I will be taking you away from everything and everyone that you know, back to my manor. You'll be allowed to visit your family and friends, but you'll always have to come back to me." She paused, making sure Lilie was absorbing every word. "We will live together, and you will grow old while I stay youthful. Perhaps this will make you spiteful, and you'll resent me. Or maybe there will be another reason why you begin to despise me."

"Even still, I'll care for you and make sure you pass on to the next life comfortably. So no, it does not matter whether or not you like me. Because no matter what, it is my task to look after you, and I take all of my tasks seriously." She leaned back, eyes bright with curiosity. "How does that make you feel, Lilie?"

How was she supposed to respond to that? If it hadn’t been obvious before, then Lilie’s confusion was much more apparent now. She opened her mouth to try to think of something to say, but she was stunned to silence. It would be a lie if she said she hadn’t thought about it, her departure day still holding some bitter thoughts as well as the numerous scenarios that had run through her head as she was brought to the Academy.

Pushing the unpleasant memories aside, Lilie rubbed her arm, choosing to look down at the table between them for a moment. “...I don’t know,” She replied quietly. No, that was a lie. Remembering that Mariette wanted the truth, she shook her head. “...It makes me want to hate everything.”

Mariette clenched her fists when Lilie responded with apprehension yet again. She almost said something but managed to hold on just long enough to hear Lilie's true answer. She grinned wickedly, baring pearly white fangs. Lilie was going to be fun, that much she knew. "Hating is a waste of time. Hating is sitting around, brooding and getting nowhere. Do something, Lilie. Don't be complacent." She knew encouraging rebellion was technically treasonous, so her tone dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Convince me to leave you and take a new mage, rebel against what you've been taught. No matter what, don't just sit there. Be as angry as you want, as long as it motivates you rather than limits you."

Lilie must have been a magnet for strange vampires. That, or the entire Eve house was just crazy.

The girl looked up at Mariette with wide eyes, unable to believe what she was hearing. “Do--Do something?” She was so confused, but rather than get answers, all she was doing was wondering what kind of vampire she was going to serve. After a second, however, she actually found herself laughing. It was a complete one-eighty from just a few seconds ago, but she couldn’t help herself.

“I guess you’ll be the first to know if I decide to lead a rebellion,” She sighed, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, this is just...weird. I feel like you really shouldn’t be telling me these things.”

It was Mariette's turn to laugh. She chuckled airily, waving a hand in the air. "I really shouldn't, but it's too late now, isn't it?" She shifted from side to side merrily, letting her hair swing around. "Remember, whatever occurs in the dorm stays here. So if you let what I told you slip, it won't just be me facing the consequences." She winked at Lilie, pausing mid-shift. "Now that we've had our fun, there are some matters I need to address. Namely, what you wrote about in your journal. What do you think I'm concerned about?"

That was definitely a thinly-veiled threat if she ever saw one. But she had no reason to tell anyone, anyway, and she was sure it was meant in the best way possible. Instead, Lilie would focus on her next words, but once again, found herself stunned. At first, she believed that she had misheard, but there were very few words that could intermix with journal.

“Concerned--how did you--Did--Did you read my diary?” Lilie asked, both mortified and upset as she stumbled through her words.

"Yes, I did...but I just skimmed. If I hadn't, how would I have known that you're afraid of feeding? What if I had gotten hungry and tried to drink from you?" Mariette hurried through her words, trying to explain herself. She could tell that her mage wasn't pleased with her actions, something she had been expecting but wasn't quite ready for. "I can tell you're upset, so I'd like to extend an apology. Do you need space? I've heard that helps."

“I’m not--that’s because--you could ask or--” Lilie’s fluster was obvious, not knowing how to respond to this discovery. Well, maybe she was just curious. And as much as she wanted to disagree, it had been a valid point. Even if it involved invading her privacy. After making yet another mental note to make sure her diary was in a secure location, she took a second to compose herself.

“There really aren’t many vampires in my sleepy hometown,” She would admit. “The Lord in charge usually had his mage oversee the place of farms and human food, so anytime one was seen in town, it was usually treated as a big deal. So my experience with vampires is extremely limited, the past few days being the most I have interacted with them.”

And both her previous counts were gone, but that wasn’t important. Instead, she would explain herself to the best of her ability, hoping Mariette would understand. “And feeding is...the idea itself is just weird, okay?” Not the most elegant of explanations, but it was beyond her understanding. “It’s not like I’m going to object to it. I know it’s needed. But new experiences can make anyone nervous.”

Mariette listened intently, starting to understand Lilie a bit better. She had humble beginnings, and had suddenly been thrown into a world she didn't understand. It made sense that she wouldn't be keen on the idea of feeding, despite it being necessary for mages to give up their blood to their vampires. Mariette took a moment to ponder their predicament. Lilie had said she wouldn't object, but Mariette knew her blood would taste utterly sour if she were upset during the feeding. "I won't compel you or force you into feeding. I can drink from the bottle for the time being, and we'll figure out a compromise."

Despite knowing she meant well, Lilie found herself having to (reluctantly) object. “If I’m being honest--like you want--I’d rather rip the bandaid off sooner than later,” She told Mariette. “Otherwise the anticipation is going to build and I’ll end up hiding under the dinner table anytime the word ‘feed’ comes up in conversation.”

Mariette nodded along. Lilie had been very reasonable so far, adjusting to everything she threw at her. "We could always rip the bandaid off now." She said, more to get a reaction than because she was actually interested in feeding. She currently wasn't very hungry, but there was a part of her that was eager to know what Lilie's blood tasted like. She made a guess that it was refreshing, like splashing one's face with cool water at the end of a long day.

Why didn’t she see that coming? Lilie’s eyes flickered away, the slightest bit of hesitation for just a moment catching her off guard as her hand went to her neck. No, she couldn’t just back away after just saying the sooner the better. Aside from the crippling fear, she couldn’t deny that she did wonder what it felt like. If she was being completely honest, what really sold her was how she felt like she was being challenged. Like Mariette wanted her to decline.

Slowly lowering her hand, her gaze met Mariette’s, the girl pushing aside her nerves for the moment. “If that’s what you want, then sure,” Lilie said.

Mariette's eyes widened somewhat. Lilie was full of surprises. She had been almost certain that her hesitation was going to overtake her. Standing, Mariette's fingers went to her side and began tapping. Up until this point, she had only fed off of her father's current mage. Otherwise, she drank from the bottle. It was an intimate process, and though she usually fed from the wrist she decided that tonight, she would play into Lilie's fantasies.

"Come on then," She reached out a hand for Lilie to take, and pulled the mage to her feet. She didn't release her, instead, pulling her close until their faces were only inches apart. At this distance, Mariette had to look down to see into Lilie's crystal blue eyes. Her nostrils flared, she could smell the lavender and vanilla perfume. Stooping, she tilted her head until her face was buried in the crook of Lilie's neck. Her mouth grazed Lilie's smooth skin. She could probably feel the grin spreading Mariette's lips. "Just so you know, I'm probably never going to feed from your neck again...unless you find that you prefer it."

Without awaiting a response, Mariette began to feed. Opening her mouth further, she latched onto the soft, pale flesh of Lilie's neck. Her fangs pierced the skin gently, sinking in with ease. As warm blood began to fill Mariette's mouth, she found herself making a small, pleased noise at the taste. It was like smelling a warm apple pie, with notes of nutmeg and large amounts of vanilla. Her arms wandered up from her sides, resting on Lilie's shoulders, her fingers interlocking behind Lilie's head. It effectively trapped the girl, though that wasn’t Mariette’s intention.

Her heart raced against her chest, the only thing stopping her from pulling back from Mariette’s hold being frozen by a clash of nerves and the strangest sense of anticipation. The whimper that should have come out got caught in her throat, albeit she was just surprised by Mariette’s forwardness. The taller vampire looked down at her, with Lilie realizing the only time she had ever been so close to anyone was to kiss them. She had heard of vampires taking their mages on as lovers and recalled Mariette's promise to take care of her, suddenly feeling uneasy for a split second.

Mariette’s words seemed to snap Lilie out of her thoughts, her jaw outright dropping. The chance to protest never came, instead the only thing she could think about was that burning sensation. But as quickly as it came, it was replaced by something else. She had no words for it, the closest thing being put completely at ease. If there was another word, she couldn’t come up with it, her thoughts hazy as she felt surprisingly relaxed. There was no pain as she expected, just an odd warmth that made things harder and harder to grasp. If it wasn’t for Mariette holding her in place, she was pretty sure she would have crumpled to the floor at any moment.

Once she began to feel that she was bearing Lilie's weight, Mariette reluctantly unlatched herself. This was the first time she had tasted such rich, decadent blood in what felt like an eternity. She certainly wouldn't be able to take such large amounts on a daily basis. No, Lilie was a treat. Tongue poking out, she licked the two small holes on her neck to collect some of the blood that dribbled out. She slowly moved her arms down to Lilie's waist so she could support the dazed girl a bit better. Removing her face from her mage's neck, she stared into her eyes for just a moment before settling her back down onto the seat she had taken her out of.

Abandoning Lilie, Mariette scampered to her own bedroom, tore the blanket off of her bed and returned to her mage. She gently laid the blanket on top of her, tucking in the sides. She figured there would be a lack of warmth after their shared experience. "Are you alright?"

Lilie knew she should have either apologized for nearly collapsing or thanked Mariette, but it was a little difficult to talk for a moment. After a moment, she managed to nod, the tiniest hint of embarrassment in her expression. Why did she feel like she had just done something intimate? It must have been because of Mariette's lips on her neck, making Lilie feel more like they just made out rather than feeding. Any expectations she had were so wrong it felt outright silly to see how ignorant she was. The blanket was welcomed, albeit it didn't help as much as it should have. She didn't know if it was the lingering warmth or the fact that she was unaccustomed to being up so late, but her body felt a little too comfortable, eyelids feeling heavy.

“Sorry, I'm feeling tired,” She said quietly, shifting slightly as she closed her eyes for a moment. Before she had the chance to explain or say anything more, the girl dozed off.

Mariette simply nodded back at Lilie, not bothering to say anything. She could tell the girl was getting ready for a long, hopefully peaceful rest. She waited until her breathing turned soft and even, before scooping the mage up -blanket and all- and carrying her to Lilie's bedroom. Settling her down softly on the bed, she fluffed up the pillow that rested beneath her head and leaned over her to make sure the blood had stopped dripping out of her neck. Straightening herself, Mariette clucked her tongue. Lilie would have to adjust to larger feeding sessions, but that would come with time.

With everything in order, Mariette found herself leaving the room. She turned off the light and shut the door quietly as she went, before skipping off to her bedroom. She laid down, not bothering to wrap herself in the sheets that remained. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to linger on the taste of Lilie's blood, and their odd conversation. They were going to have a wonderful time together.

---

_{@MsMorningstar@Gisk}

[Trainerblue192]

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony@AChronum

Salem eyed Varis up and down. His gaze burning deep into the worm before him. "As you know full well, we Spellmans no longer accept invitations to others parties, let alone someone who spends their time crawling on their belly. No, I'm quite content with being a guest for the Queen and the Princess, the have this thing called class, perhaps you can find a book on it in the library and educate yourself Count." With that Salem turned to face the Princess and Aaron, acting as if Varis was not even present any longer, a smile on his face. "My sincerest apologies Princess. I do hope to proceed tonight with much great hospitality."

[Achronum]

_{Interacting with:@Trainerblue192@Obscene Symphony}

“Yes, it’ll be-” Ryner’s reply was cut short as a familiar voice, to Aaron at the very least, carried over the yard, “Princess, the Queen and Lady Sinnenodel are ready for you.” Ryner smiled at Aaron.

“Your aunt, Isadora, is attending Mother this evening. Alder can handle himself for a few hours.” Ryner said, winding her arm into Varis’s as the vampire’s smile curled into a smug grin. “Varis and I have Council business to discuss after this. I’m sure we could find some time for you and Isadora to be alone if you wished to talk for awhile.” She steered the group towards the door.

“You briefed Aaron?” Ryner said quietly as they approached. A middle-aged woman stood at the door, golden-blonde hair done up in braids starting to show streaks of silver and covered with a thin blue lace veil adorned with gold beading. She wore a conservative blue dress, high collared and long sleeved, with gold trim and dipped into a curtsy as the party approached.

“The boy has his instructions. I expect you will handle the other?” Varis said, matching her tone. The boy was fun to play with but he expected better from Salem’s son. Rule number one when playing the game, responses must be consistent. And his response to the half hearted threat to his mother was far more revealing than the cool and collected cut about his father’s business. Varis couldn’t wait to see how long the boy would last under his attention.

“Yes. And I expect whatever plan you’re hatching for Salem not to interfere with tonight.” Ryner said sternly before offering Isadora a warm smile. “How is she this evening?”

“As best as can be expected considering the circumstances, your royal highness.” Isadora spoke softly. Ryner sighed and nodded. Varis glared at the Princess with a irritably muttered “Of course” and the Princess shrugged sheepishly. Isadora smiled at her nephew briefly before turning and guiding the group to the dining room. Ryner addressed the mages as they walked through the manor.

“When we reach the dining room, I will enter first, followed by Varis and finally you two. It is incredibly important you stay as close to Varis as possible until you need to separate for the table. Salem, you will be on my right in the seat next to me. Aaron, you will be across from Salem and Varis will be to your left.” Ryner said but paused a moment to turn and address the mages directly. “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of staying close to Varis until the last possible moment.” Ryner held each mage’s gaze for a moment, reinforcing the point rather than enthralling them, before turning back to Varis. They arrived at the double doors and Isadora knocked once, stepping aside and curtsying again.

A few moments passed and the doors opened inwards, two servants bowing to the group as they entered. The room features several paintings of those in the Noila line, including a few mages. Geoffrey Noila, the Queen’s Sire and predecessor, stared solemnly down from behind the Queen as he sat on the throne and Landar Starag stood behind the man, looking down sterny at the assembly. A large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling and a group of musicians played soft music in the corner.

The Queen sat on the right side of the table head, tracking the group’s movements with beady eyes. She wore a gold cotte and a dark blue high collared chemise. A thin white veil covered her translucent hair, just a dash of black standing out under the cloth. She wore little in the way of jewelry, only one ring and a brooch with the Noalia crest. The Queen’s eyes were sunken in and her skin snow white. Deep frown lines stretched around her mouth, deepening as the Princess’s attire caught her eye. It was barely audible but the vampires in the room could hear the faint tsk.

Against the wall behind her, Lady Sinnenodel lounged on a grecian couch with soft green cushions and gold designs on the dark wood trimming. Her skin and eyes were in a similar state as the Queen’s but her eyes were clear and her gaze seemingly vacant. The sides of her head were shaved, leaving a wispy spiked mohawk down the center of her head, and several piercings decorated her nose, ears, and lips. The woman wore spike covered leather, her undershirt and pants torn in several places. Heavy combat boots finished off her look. Two men stood next to her in similar attire scowling. A petite woman sat next to the Queen, where Lady Sinnenodel should sit, in a backless black dress. Black rose piercings followed the shell of her ear. She shifted slightly in her seat, a corset piercing on display as she faced her Lady then turned to face the newcomers once again. A thin black cloth covered her eyes as she settled her hands in her lap. She looked at the mages in the group and tilted head with a faint frown.

Princess Ryner curtsied and took her place. Varis stopped for a moment next to the Princess, bowing for the Queen and then deeper to Lady Sinnenodel before he sat and took his place. The mage woman leaned towards Varis and whispered into his ear, a smile on her lips as Varis smiled fondly with a slightest shake of his head.

[Obscene Symphony]

_{Interacting with: @Achronum @Trainerblue192}

Once again, Aaron was thoroughly shocked by Salem, having a particularly strong urge to grab the man by the ears and shake him out of whatever bout of insanity had clearly gripped him. While his first remark had been foolish enough, he hadn’t said anything that wasn’t at least true; after all, anyone who knew anything about politics knew about the financial border-pushing between the Sinnenodels and Astorios, and the incident Aaron thought he’d been referencing wasn’t exactly a secret. But now he was simply hurling insults, at a Count, and Aaron wasn’t sure what to do about it.

However, Aaron’s fourth heart attack of the evening was interrupted when his head snapped in the direction of a familiar voice, only half-listening to the Princess’ explanation. After a second he composed himself again, bowing his head to the Princess. “How fortunate,” he replied, albeit a little flatly, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Aunt Dora. Thank you, Your Royal Highness.”

It was not fortunate. Not even a little bit. Any other night he would have been thrilled to see his aunt, but tonight, looking like he did and joining a rival household for good, was not how he wanted to see her next. He had been hoping he would have some time to work out how he’d break the news - which reminded him, he did need to speak to Dora about that later - before he would have to face anyone he knew from home; the clothing and the ridicule were another matter entirely, and one he wasn't quite prepared to explain.

Still, he smiled weakly as they approached; as much as he didn’t want her to see him like this, he couldn’t deny he took some measure of comfort in seeing another familiar face. She was dressed in her usual style, showing very little skin with her hair covered, though everything was a notch above the norm in formality, as was proper. His ears burned as he passed her, comparing himself to her almost as a reflex, and his embarrassment only worsened when he remembered that she could probably vicariously feel everything he was feeling.

He halted when the Princess turned on them, straightening further as he listened. He even briefly made eye contact before nodding, to assure her that he understood. When they continued, he obeyed, both the Princess’ advice and Varis’ warning remembered as he kept carefully within a step or two of Varis. When they paused to wait for the dining room door, he took a long breath, steeling himself for what lay beyond it.

The doors opened and they entered, Aaron staying close to Varis as instructed and throwing Salem a look to do the same before he turned his attention to the dining room. Everything was pristine and elegant, as would be expected, and the familiar architecture - if not a touch updated - did help to put the mage just a little more at ease.

However, as they entered, a sound caught his attention, something like a faint tapping on a window. At first Aaron thought it might have been someone tapping a wine glass, or a musician tapping his foot, but the table was bare and the sound was coming from the wrong direction. He wasn’t sure why it caught his attention, but when he turned his head slightly to follow the sound, it simply faded away.

He gave his head the tiniest shake and took another breath, chiding himself inwardly. Clearly his nerves were getting to him more than he’d thought, turning every little noise into some great mystery. Soon he’d be spooking at his own footsteps. Come on, it wasn’t as if this was his first time meeting Council members. He needed to calm down.

Approaching the table, Aaron let his eyes skip over the Queen briefly, that now-familiar nervous spike shooting through him again when he noticed her scowl. Knowing her that could be directed at anything - at the moment, all clues pointed to the Princess' dress - but he also knew her preferences too well to think his condition might slip under her radar. Back home, when he still served her, he’d have probably been caned for presenting himself so poorly in front of the Queen. What would happen to him tonight?

Somehow, though, the Queen hardly compared to Lady Sinnenodel had to offer; he'd heard dozens of rumours about her, regarding everything from her ever-changing tastes to reckless speculation about the treatment of her mages, but Aaron hadn’t been prepared to see her looking so... edgy. Suddenly Varis' clothing choices made a lot more sense, though the thought didn’t do much to quell the quiver in his gut.

While he’d been looking at Lady Sinnenodel through the corner of his eye, he looked more carefully at her mages, particularly the blindfolded woman sitting at the table in her place. Her attire didn’t seem as extreme as the rest until she twisted in her seat; his stomach turned when he saw the state of the poor woman’s back, two grotesque rows of piercings running up either side of her spine and lashed together with a ribbon like some sick mockery of a corset. Aaron reviled at the sight and had to look away, hardly able to stomach looking at her front-on with the image burned in his mind. Good Lord, was that the sort of thing that awaited him?

Doing his best to banish the thought from his mind, Aaron bowed appropriately when it came time to take his seat, first to the Queen and then to the Lady. He looked pointedly away when the mage woman whispered in Varis’ ear, instead sweeping his gaze over the table. Not a single place setting, not even a glass. He might have smirked had he not been wound so tight. Now there was something familiar. The Queen, like anyone, had her eccentricities, one in particular being her insistence to choose place settings only after guests had been seated. Aaron had seen firsthand her collection of dinnerware back at the castle, an impressive stock of over two-hundred full sets. She even insisted on choosing them personally in her own, careful way. No one was quite sure why - rumour had it among the servants that it was something of an inside joke between her and Lady Sinnenodel - but whatever the reason, it seemed that Princess Ryner was playing along.

Once they were seated, nervous anticipation began to grip him, and Aaron looked across the table to offer Salem a reassuring smile; whether it was for Salem’s benefit or his own, he couldn’t say, but he was willing to try anything to save himself from drowning in his own thoughts.

[Achronum]

Collision Course

Interacting with: @Scribe of Thoth

“Just leave me alone Jordan.” The other mage, hurriedly picking up his things, said as he stood.

“But we’re partners. We’re stuck together from now until you die. You should be grateful I’m even willing to put up with you.” Jordan laughed. “Here I hoped you changed over the break but you’re still just as useless as last year.” Jordan snapped in Max’s direction while addressing the terrified mage. His little group sauntered along aside Max before cutting off his escape route all together.

A whisper reached Maxwell, barely even recognizable as more than just a noise. The feeling of a cool breeze swept over him and the rushed away. His own image was sprinting off along with the mage who toppled him moments before. Jordan swore and spinted off after them, his lackeys close behind. They bolted through the housing area and disappeared from sight.

“I could only give you an hour or so.” A voice spoke softly from between them. Fingertips appeared and plucked at the air like pulling at spiderwebs, revealing a mage with deep circles under her eyes and a weary smile. Her hair was cut short and she hefted a bag of equipment with the Arena’s stamp on it. A pin of a gold shield was on her shirt. “Do with it what you will. Just remember, you aren’t actually invisible. People just don’t realize they’ve seen you.”

[Scribe of Thoth]

---

Max planted himself casually as he was unsubtly cornered by the group, hands still in his pockets and legs spread wide. Annoying sycophants. It wasn't enough for leeches to be content with their own pets, they needed to seek out other toys to play with too. He opened his mouth to snap at them when he was cut off by the feeling of a sudden rush of wind.

Did he do that? Maybe that feeling from earlier had done something after all. He pulled his hands from his pockets and flexed his fingers again as he refocused on the group in front of him. And... himself? Was he, like, astrally projecting or something? His body - not his body, but him nonetheless - moved on its own accord. It was running? Why was not-him such a coward? Max looked down, brow furrowed in perplexion. He - real him - was still there. He didn't look like some disembodied spirit. What would that even look like? Would be be transparent? Was this an illusion? Then where did the wind come from? This was obviously magic, but he didn't even know where to begin to classify it.

“I could only give you an hour or so.” Max jumped slightly at the sudden noise, frowning sourly as the female mage became visible. So it wasn't his doing at all. Useless. “Do with it what you will. Just remember, you aren’t actually invisible. People just don’t realize they’ve seen you.”

"Is there a functional difference?" He gruffly asked before waving his hand dismissively, "Whatever, doesn't matter. Thanks, Eyebags." said the pot to the kettle. She did him a favor, he could at least be grateful. Invisibility was probably the greatest boon Max could've been gifted at that moment. No distractions, no vampires, no retrievers. He needed to learn how to do that on his own. Max finally turned his gaze back to the lanky mage from earlier, anger only partially tempered by the thrilling prospect of finally getting some guaranteed peace and quiet for the next hour. "And you - don't drag me into your stupid problems again, or I'll be joining those idiots when they start beating you up."

---

@Achronum

[Trainerblue192]

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony@AChronum

It appeared another familiar face to Aaron had approached them, a woman named Isodora. It quickly donned on Salem that almost anyone in this night would be a familiar face to both Aaron and Varis, he was very much out in deep waters and he hoped he could remember enough to swim. As they began to approach the entrance, Princess Ryner turned to them and gave the pair strict instructions. She had told them to stay near Varis, which Salem found to be particularly odd. What about him could possibly matter enough to warrant such urgent sounding directions. Not one to attempt to test out whyd Salem followed suit and kept in pace, behind Varis and matching Aaron's distance and pace.

As the group walked towards the dining room, Salem had decided to take advantage of the defeating silence to attempt to speak to Princess Ryner. He began to softly tap against the fabric of his pants, gentle enough to avoid Aaron's ears but loud enough for Ryners vampiric senses to pick up. There was a tap and two swipes followed by four taps then a swipe, tap, and two swipes. A brief pause before he continued with three taps and a swipe, a tap and swipe, then a tap swipe tap, two taps and finally three taps to wrap it all up. This felt almost like a second nature to him, being able to interact with the world while his muscles did the talking for him. Salem took in the sights as they moved through the corridor.

Once they reached the dining room, Salem could hear the sound of tapping on glass. Immediately he began to listen to its rhythm and pacing, trying to decipher the code. There, however, didnt seem to be one. He glanced around the room, watching how everyone reacted both to the Queen, the blinded mage, and the rockstar in the back. The mage struck him the most as he couldnt help but wonder what reason shed have for being blindfolded. That thought had to be pinned for later as Ryner began to curtsey to the Queen, then Varis bowed, and Salem didnt want to fall too far from his 'presence' Aaron followed suit and Salem was the last to give the Queen a deep bow. He walked over towards the location Ryner had previously told him to sit, and noticed Aaron smiling at him. Tsk, why bother? He couldnt even be bothered to tell him he had to go before...but was that his fault? Salems eyes glanced over at Varis and then back to Aaron and then down at the table as he looked for an escape from this hell.

[Achronum]

Let the Dance Begin.

_{Interacting with: @trainerblue192@Obscene Symphony}

As everyone settled, Isadora took her place behind the Queen with her hands neatly behind behind her. Another servant came out with a tray of boxes and the Queen inspected each one, opening them and lifting cutlery out one at a time for a while. A tiny smile ghosted over Lady Sinnenodel’s lips.

“While Anastasia selects our dinnerware, why don’t we make introductions?” the blindfolded mage spoke. She looked directly at Salem and considered him a moment. “Salem Spellman, son of Salem Spellman and Alice Spellman, age 21, plant affinity. We spent a few hours looking into you before arrival. Owner and operator of Magi Care, a free clinic offering a variety of magical services. Your family, and its ambition, is commendable for mages. We are curious as to the nature of your income for the clinic.” She looked at Aaron next.

“Aaron Starag of the vaulted line Starag, age 20, light affinity. Close to Landar’s affinity but a touch off, hm? Excels in swordsmanship and etiquette. Little exposure to the outside world until now.” She cocked her head slightly. “And how do you find the outside world, Mr. Starag? We are quite interested in your view so far.”

---

Collision Course

Interacting with: @Scribe of Thoth

The girl watched Maxwell threaten the poor boy, unimpressed. She reached out a plucked in Max’s direction. His skin heated momentarily and then returned to normal. The other mage seemed to vanish away in the middle of stuttering out a hasity apology.

“How about not being a dick next time? It's all the rage these days.” The girl drawled as she adjusted her bag and headed away. “Have a nice night.”

[Obscene Symphony]

_{Interacting with: @Achronum @Trainerblue192}

Aaron deflated slightly. Salem didn’t seem particularly reassured; either that, or the mage was mad at him, as Aaron had feared. Maybe both. Expression falling into more of a composed mask, Aaron turned his attention to other things, eyes eventually falling on the painting of Geoffrey Noila and Landar Starag. That stern expression on his many-great-grandfather’s face was one Aaron was intimately familiar with; he wasn’t sure that there existed a single painting of the man with a look of anything other than vague displeasure. That look of his had been able to make Aaron stand a little straighter ever since he was a child, and tonight was no exception.

The servant bearing dinnerware was a welcome distraction, and soon the blindfolded mage - Lady Sinnenodel’s representative, evidently - spoke up. She spoke with the cadence of a noble, clearly acting as her Lady’s mouthpiece, but Aaron was more surprised by her voice. Given her stature and dress, he had been expecting something confident, smooth and sultry, like a femme fatale from one of those old spy movies. But instead, her voice was quiet and harsh, with a roughness to it he might not have expected from a young woman. From a multi-millennia old vampiress, however…

Oddly enough, he wasn’t too perturbed by the information Lady Sinnenodel possessed about the two of them. Everything she knew about him could have probably been found by anyone with an internet connection, let alone political contacts, and he had no doubt that information like what she had on Salem could easily be provided to someone of her standing. No, what surprised him was the fact that she took any interest in either one of them in the first place. Aaron supposed she might be interested in him seeing as he was joining her house, and perhaps Salem’s father’s business with Varis had interested her to his doings, but Aaron couldn’t shake the feeling that they both should still have been far below her notice.

At the comment about his affinity, though, Aaron smirked. It was something he himself had lamented countless times since his Awakening, though truth be told he no longer resented it. After the relief of having magic had worn off, he’d been disappointed that he didn’t have the same affinity as his mother (and by extension, as Landar himself) but, as he had learned more about it and what it could do, even with his limited skill at the moment he had grown quite attached to his own affinity.

When it came time to reply, he briefly paused, thinking over his answer carefully. “I'm honoured by your interest, Your Excellency. So far I'm finding everything quite engaging.” His speech was paced and steady, every syllable calm and even. Given the gravity of the situation, everything was carefully engineered, right down to the term of address. A gesture of good will, if not an entirely genuine one. He gave the mage his attention, respectfully averting his eyes as if he were interacting with vampire nobility, and kept his expression a contented mask. “I have never been around so many people my own age, and the range of new opportunities open to me is impressive, to say the least. I look forward to taking advantage of it.”

[Trainerblue192]

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony@AChronum

Salems eyes betrayed him as they slowly glanced back at Aaron when he wasnt looking, faintly catching a glimpse of, defeat? No, that's isnt possible. Aaron was too composed to be capable of such things, and sure enough what minuscule emotion Salem may have seen, vanished without a trace as it was replaced by Aaron's usual composed and stoic self. Salem watched for a moment as Aaron stared at portraits of other Noilas, he joined him for a moment and began to wonder what his home life was like. They had mentioned that the Academy was the first time he had been able to interact with other children of his age, what must that have been like? Has he never known love? Heartbreak? Ridicule? Has he never tasted the poison of a rival? Salem shook the ideas out of his head, his eyes now slightly sorrowful for the blonde haired boy.

Salem allowed him to speak first, if he was going to survive the night then it would be in his interest to take care to watch Aaron's movements and responses with a critical eye and mimic as best as he could. "Your family, and its ambition, is commendable for mages. We are curious as to the nature of your income for the clinic.” Why would this mage be taking such an interest in his life? What's more...how to answer the question without sounding rude or spoiled. Salem waited for Aaron to finish speaking and then cleared his throat slightly. "Your Excellency, thank you for your praise on mine and my families ambitions. The income for my clinic is funded in part by my parents for the work I help them with, those who work there and donate their time, as well as any who wish to donate to the cause. We are, as I'm sure you're well informed, a non profit organization."

[Achronum]

Let the Dance Begin.

_{Interacting with: @trainerblue192@Obscene Symphony}

“I look forward to taking advantage of it.” Varis lifted his eyebrow at the phrase. Hopefully, though the Count doubted it, the boy considered how that phrase may draw her attention. Considering the rest of his response perfectly dull, Varis expected a bit more squirming from his mage before the first course was served. Salem’s comment caught his attention however.

“A non-profit still requires funds.” Varis pointed out. “Human blood banks sell blood to hospitals, a necessity to cover operating costs, and are still considered non-profit. Your business model demands dependency on other financial entities, rendering your clinic incapable of independent functions. How do you plan to handle a poor year for your Mother’s company? I imagine a good number of your clients have no other options and turn into regulars quickly, not to mention the number that likely abuse your family’s charity.”

As Varis spoke to Salem, the mage directed her attention back to Aaron once more. “Taking advantage?” She repeated. “How do you intend to take advantage of this experience?”

The Queen nodded her approval at one of the boxes and the servant bowed before flicking his wrist. Cutlery, napkins, plates, and classes went whizzing around the room, all set with a blue and gold tree motif, as the servant set the table. The Queen turned her attention back to the conversations at hand, seeming to particular focus on Aaron.