[color=a187be][center][h1]A R S E N I O[/h1][/center][/color]
[hr][hr]

"To the esteemed Mister Hermes Lennard-Jones:
 
You are cordially invited to Supreme Commander Phillip Osborne's estate for a masquerade ball being held in honor of his daughter's twentieth birthday, to be hosted on the twenty-fifth of March, in the year eighteen-hundred and ninety-two. 
 
You have been invited because your 'son' is being 'requested' to serve on 'official business' on 'behalf' of the city with some of the city's most talented individuals. We humbly request that you confirm your 'son's' 'commitment' by attending the ball. The library should be of particular interest.
 
Sincerely,
Supreme Commander Phillip Osborne
Minister of the Legionnaire Guild"

[hr]

Arsenio read the letter, noticing the thinly veiled draft notice poorly hidden behind obvious apostrophes. Was it even proper grammar to use three apostrophes like that in the word 'son's'? Arsenio looked up at his father, who seemed a nervous wreck, covering his eyes with his hands as if he were suffering from a migraine.

[color=a187be]"This was the deal,"[/color] Arsenio said flatly.

"I know," Hermes replied shakily, though knowledge of the matter did not make it any easier to swallow.

[color=a187be]"I was trained by the best,"[/color] Arsenio continued, trying to ease his father's fears.

"I know."

[color=a187be]"I love you, Father."[/color]

"...I know..."

[hr]
Hermes and Arsenio walked through the lackluster event. As a craftsman without nobility, fallen from grace, the different in status between Hermes and the other party-attendees was palatable, as pleasantries were exchanged in a more one-sided fashion. Hermes essentailly rushed Arsenio through the hall to get this over with, greeting the Supreme Commander and his daughter at the end of it. There was no showing emotion here as they had already said there goodbyes before coming. "Arsenio, why don't you go run along now, the Supreme Commander and I have important matters to discuss," Hermes said.

"Yes, Father," Arsenio replied, giving a small bow and heading off. Arsenio headed straight to the library, avoiding other children (though there weren't many) so as not to get dragged into some banal playtime. When he reached the doors, he slowed down and wandered in, as if her were just exploring the house, feigning amusement and wonder at the well-kept library. Though he was, in truth, rather impressed by the collection, a certain degree of his amazement was forced to seem more child-like. Before revealing himself completely to these people, who were almost undoubtedly his future comrades, he wanted to first see how much of their true natures he could get them to divulge. Taking a few staggered steps over to a bookshelf, he looked up at a book that had a tittle that seemed appropriate to what a child of his appearance might be interested in reading, one that was just too far out of his reach. Looking over at the tall man with long golden hair, Arsenio pleaded, [color=a187be]"Please, kind sir, this book has caught my eye, and I would so love to peruse it, but I unfortunately cannot reach it. If it pleases you, would you mind helping me to attain it?"[/color] While step-stools and sliding ladders abounded, Arsenio wanted to see how these people reacted to a child in need. Would they tell him to just get the book himself? Would they just get it for him? Or would they playfully lift him up to grab the book himself (a difficult affair, considering Arsenio's deceptive weight)? Or would they see right through his act?