[center][h2][color=f7976a]Varis[/color][/h2][/center]
[center][sub]Interacting with: [@Obscene Symphony][@WeepingLiberty][/sub][/center]

[hider=Morning]Varis left his new servant alone to complete his tasks. The vampire hummed softly under his breath as he considered the new addition to his life, walking slowly towards his room. The mage performed better than expected, despite the shakey start. The boy accepted responsibility for his failures, providing explanations without leaning on them as excuses. The mage used his questions effectively, determining the depth of his situations and the width of Varis’ expectations for the servant. And his final question. A smile twitched at the thought of it. At least it showed the boy’s brain wasn’t entirely useless. It was an excellent use of an unexpected resource.

[i]‘Perhaps I can train the boy into more than a measly pawn.’[/i] Varis mused as he shut his bedroom door and locked it behind himself. The boy seem to lack the necessary nuances for subterfuge so he wouldn’t be as useful as Varis wanted but more so than the vampire’s initial assessment. The boy would likely be useful as bait. The boy was easy on the eyes, extremely so. Varis doubted the mage would be unpopular. Royal training, outstanding pedigree, stunning looks, what seemed like an overall pleasant personality-Varis chuckled. The perfect person to lure unsuspecting people into his trap. Perhaps he should start spinning his web earlier than planned. Varis felt the familiar giddy feeling welling up inside as he plotted, a blend of sinister excitement and cautious expectation. It would be fun playing on the Noilas’ personal ground.

The vampire made his way to his belongings and quickly put them away neatly. A small trunk, made of lacquered wood and soft leather, he pulled out of a bag gingerly. He was tempted to open it and get lost in the contents but with a heavy sigh, he gently stored in in the bottom of his closet, shoved against the back wall beneath the now empty travel bags. He fiddled with the key he kept beneath his clothes and around his neck absently. Perhaps tomorrow.

He placed his violin safely on its stand on top of the chest of drawers for easy access. The last of his belongs were placed into the bathroom, covering the counter and filing cabinets quickly. Varis would be the first to admit he was a touch vain but his routines were relaxing and damn if he wasn’t going to relax at some point of his day. Varis organized his things by frequency of use, lotions and creams and shampoos and conditioners and, of course, he favorite face masks. He knelt in front of another smaller wooden chest with a combination lock and opened it, revealing a small hoard of bath bombs. He discovered the mortal creations just shy of three decades ago and absolutely loved them. After the first time hid Lady discovered them, he also purchased a way to hide them. He turned on the tub and took his time considering his options. He turned them over one by one as the bath filled before picking a soft pink one in the shape of a flower. Lavender was his typical go to but he didn’t have any lavender gel bombs and he wanted gel tonight. He popped the bomb under the stream, swirling it in the water to help it dissolve, and turned off the water flow. Varis pulled out a long cloth he kept in the bottom of the chest, neatly folded away, and draped it over his mirror until it was completely covered.

He tied his hair up and pinned a few rogue pieces back after he stripped and left his clothes folded on the toilet seat. He paused a moment, glanced back into the box, and pulled out several lotus LED lights and floated them on the water after turning them on. They mimicked candle light, casting a slow flickering glow over the tub as he slid into it. A pleased sigh left his lips as the mixture wrapped around him. 

As he relaxed, absently pushing the small lights around, he considered next course of action. Tonight went well but tomorrow was a new night with plenty of things to do. Further assess the boy, evaluate the other nobles, contact his idiot sibling about the money he owed, peruse the campus and town, determine the social ladder of the students and reconstruct it. All in addition to the silly orientation. So much to do, so little time. And hopefully his Lady wouldn’t complicate everything further, though he felt sure she would. 

An hour later, he stood and showered off while the tub drained, returning the lights to their appropriate spot. He toweled off and stood in front of the sink, considering his options. His morning routine when done in full took almost an hour and honestly, he just wanted sleep at this point. So he brush his teeth and used only his favorite face wash and an overnight face mask. The smell of mint filled the room as he applied, experienced in doing so without a mirror at this point. He hung the towel in the bathroom after double checking to make sure he was fully dried and padded into his room. He plopped into his bed, carefully enough to not muss his face mask, and slipped under the covers. He ruefully admitted the sheet quality was better than his own but appearances were important and he would be losing them within the week. He decided to enjoy them for now and let himself slip into sleep.[/hider]


[hider=Evening]Varis woke the next morning as the smell of warm strawberries and fresh coffee wound its way beneath his door. He stretched, laying there for a few minutes as the fog of sleep cleared. The clock on his wall read five past eight. With a slight bit of effort, he forced himself out of the comfort of his bed and onto his feet to grab the clothes he left on his bedside and padded back into the bathroom to wash off his mask. 

Varis reconsidered the clothes he had laid out. Nothing as fancy as the night before but still good quality. A grey double breasted waistcoat, a white shirt, red tie, and grey slacks.Varis slipped into them, carefully adjusting each one, before turning to the mirror and pulling off the cover. He hummed as he styled his hair, letting it cascade down over one ear but keeping it pulled up above the other. He opened a small jewelry box and picked out a silver ear cuff in the shape of a snake, fitting it tightly over the shell of his exposed ear. He applied another lotion to his face and slipped a small bottle into his pocket, decided he was ready for the day. He grabbed one of his pocket watches and slipped it into his coat pocket.

[color=f7976a]“Once orientation is over, you do not need to accompany me around the campus. Feel free to use the evening as you wish so long as you complete your task. I expect you back here at three.”[/color] Varis checked his pocket watch, shutting it with a loud snap. [color=f7976a]“We are leaving now. On time is late and early is on time.”[/color] Varis took his leave, waiting until Aaron left to lock the dorm.[/hider] 
Varis struck up a conversation with the child of a vampire family living in Sinnenodel territory as they walked to orientation but dismissed them quickly once it became apparent they had no interest in the family business. Instead, he took the time to scan the orientations group. Not many of the Embraced, thankfully they had been spared from too many of the wretched creatures, and mostly pureblood filled their ranks. Even if they were commoners. Easier to manipulate at least. More importantly…

His eyes flitted briefly over a familiar figure, Amaris Marivaldi, and a smirk crossed his face before he settled his expression back into something more polite. They had the opportunity to meet briefly in the past at a few social functions their respective families held. The Marivaldi respected their mages as equals rather than things to be used. Maybe that's why an Embraced mage snatched her inheritance out from under her. Either way, he made a note to keep Aaron around for entertainment when he thought the Marivaldi would be present. Watching her lose her temper would be amusing at the very least.

His eyes picked out two other figures, none he recognized immediately, but the make of their clothes were far nicer than what most could afford and the nobility always had an air about them, trained into them since birth. The woman was confident and sure of herself but the man, oh the man was withdrawn, sullen, irritable. All the markings of an easy target. He didn’t know who he was yet but Varis would have that one under his thumb first. A little research and a few harmless questions and hopefully it’ll be as easy as the sullen vampire looks.

Through Alder’s speech, Varis fought hard not to roll his eyes. Mages were tools to be used for their short, insignificant lives. Why waste so much effort personally ensuring their success when other resources existed for that exact purpose? After all, that's what the Academy was for. He glanced down at his pocket watch and put it back with a soft click. He nearly sighed with relief when the man ceased his irritating prattle but instead he cocked his head. A Bordeleaux strode past, full family regalia on display, and Varis watched as he spoke to a counselor for a brief moment. First a Starag and now a Bordeleaux. What game requires two pieces of such magnitude in play so early on. Varis would have to reconsider a few things but his initial strategy hadn’t changed. He turned his attention away from the Bordeleaux and instead focused on Amaris Marivaldi. When he approached the other vampire, he bowed appropriately.

[color=f7976a]“It is a pleasure, Countess.” [/color]He said with a smile. [color=f7976a]“We haven’t had the opportunity to meet in recent decades. How are you and Lord Marivaldi doing? Last I heard you were still rather at odds with the man.”[/color]