[center][h2][color=f7976a]Varis[/color][/h2][/center]
[center][sub]Interacting with: [@Crusader Lord][@WeepingLiberty][/sub][/center]

“[color=f49ac2]Count Varis, a pleasure indeed. I can’t say that I know what you’re talking about though. The Lord Marivaldi and I have been on excellent terms. You must have mistaken the grief for conflict, an easy mistake when you are only familiar with one.[/color]”

[color=f7976a]“Conflict precipitates change. Grief paralyzes it.”[/color] Varis dismissed the insult but his smile grew wider, savoring the look in the Marivaldi’s eyes and the cloaked jabs. [color=f7976a]“Though I am glad the actions of Lord Marvialdi find themselves in your good graces. My cynicism, a flaw I’ll admit, found his origins and his recent promotion curiously connected but he is neither a pure blood nor a Sinnenodel so I’m sure mischievous machinations are not his intent.”[/color] 

Varis watched as Amaris’s eyes flickered away from the conversation to a woman gliding her way towards them. She held herself regally, confident and poised, in full control of the space around her as she made her way through the thinning crowd. Varis enjoyed the theatrics of his position as much as anyone but the Eves ran with them. Varis may have been impressed with the vampiress if her entire house didn’t still exist at the whimsy of the others. Perhaps if the family spent as much time on keeping their house together as they did with their cultivating their dignity, the Eves would be more than a shadow play.

[color=f7976a]“We haven’t had an opportunity to see one another in the recent decades so I took the opportunity.”[/color] Varis responded to the Eve’s inquiry as he bowed. [color=f7976a]“I am embarrassed to admit but I don’t believe I know your name. Count Varis, student to my Lady Sinnenodel. As for your mages, I would be delighted if you would bring them. My mage seems a tad skittish with his assignment so hopefully a play date will help soothe his nerves.”[/color] 

[color=ed145b]“Well, well, well. If it isn’t little Varis.”[/color] The Count, for a split second, tensed and his eyes widened at the voice. He regained his composure just a moment later and schooled his expression back into polite indifference. His eyes darkened significantly as he turned to face the woman standing at his side. The vampire stood barely two inches beneath Varis’s 5’10”, long red hair cascading artfully down one shoulder and amusement glinted in her amber eyes. She reached up with thin fingers to tuck a loose strand back into place. [color=ed145b]“When did we last have a moment to meet? A few decades shy of a century if I recall correctly. Are you still making those absurd pillow forts whenever you want some privacy?”[/color] A chorus of expletives exploded in Varis’s head as the woman spoke but he kept his mask firmly in place.

[color=f7976a]“Exactly seventy seven exquisite years, dear cousin. Though it seems they’ve met an ill fated end.”[/color] Varis practically sighed. Of all the people to run into, Ailsalia was the last one he wanted here. How she managed to escape his notice was beyond him but he would have more than choice words for the person who emailed him the school roster. But the earlier mistake set him farther behind than he was comfortable with. The woman surprised him and, from the smugness plastered all over her face, she noticed. Even when they were younger, Ailsalia possessed a special talent to find all the right buttons to press and he didn’t need her pressing his. Ailsalia presenting herself unexpectedly in this situation bode poorly for the Count and he bit at his lip while contemplating how to handle her. He needed to deal with this quickly and disengage from this moronic event. He had one piece of business he couldn’t put off until tomorrow but then he could bolt back to his residence and adjust for the vampire’s eventually meddling until the boy’s return. But how to get her away from him? His polite smile warped into a sneer as an old memory resurfaced. He hadn’t thought about it in decades but it’d be the perfect knife to the gut. He couldn’t wait to wipe that grin off her face. And if he had a little fun twisting the knife? Well...oops. [color=f7976a]“I have found most of my childish habits have thankfully stayed in my childhood, much like your parents in yours. Now, was there something you wanted or did you come just to interrupt me?”[/color] At the mention of her parents, Ailsalia’s eyes darkened and her smile turned frigid and sharp but otherwise kept her composure.  

[color=ed145b]“I thought I’d come over and reconnect but it seems you are as unpleasant as ever.”[/color] Ailsalia scoffed at the look of disbelief that Varis blatantly sent her after her reasoning. [color=ed145b]“Unlike you cousin, I’m neither a snake nor a Sinnenodel. Your father made that distinction quite clear after my parents’ passing.”[/color] Ailsalia turned away from Varis and faced the other nobles. [color=ed145b]“And since my cousin obviously forgot his manners, my name is Ailsalia Margaux, cousin to this arrogant worm through our mage mothers.”[/color] She curtsied and smiled at the vampire, eyes still dark. Varis pulled out his pocket watch, checked it, and snapped it shut sharply.

[color=f7976a]“Well, this was fun but I believe it’s time for me to leave. I have a bit of business before our soiree this morning and what kind of host would I be if I were late to my own party?”[/color] Varis bowed to Amaris and Arianna before saying to Ailsalia sweety, [color=f7976a]“It was a displeasure as always, [i]Lia[/i]. I do hope we don’t cross paths again.”[/color] Ailsalia’s face went blank at the name and Varis turned sharply on his heel as he left, his usual confidence replacing the tension Ailsalia’s presence brought, humming absently. Varying emotions played across Ailsalia’s face-grief, anger, sadness, fury- before it settled back into a pleasant smile.

[color=ed145b]“My, my. Never a dull moment when that worm is around.”[/color]