[h2][center][b][color=red]Let the Dance Begin.[/color][/b][/center][/h2]
[right][sub]Interacting with: [@trainerblue192][@Obscene Symphony][/sub][/right]

The resulting silence stretched the rest of the course, only the various guests eating and Varis fiddling absently with his glass heard in the room. By the time the servants began collecting empty plates however, Salem suddenly felt it click in his head, the delicate movements Varis made on his wine glass since just after he sat.. [i]stroke, tap, pause, stroke, stroke, stroke, pause, stroke, stroke, stroke, pause, stroke, tap, pause.[/i] Over and over again, Varis repeated the sequence as he listened to Aaron, pausing sometimes to sip at his glass or swirl the blood. 

The concerned inhale was no more than a whisper, if even that. The vampires at the table, and Lady Sinnenodel’s mages, almost snapped their necks turning their collective gaze on Isadora. The poor woman’s face turned sheet white and she trembled, the glasses on the platter in her hand clicking. Her eyes were fixed on the Princess. The Queen’s disapproval shifted to suspicion as she appraised the scene. [color=FA8072]“Go.”[/color] The Queen said. The mage hurried to the Princess’s side and gently laid her hand on her shoulder. [color=FFFF00]“Are you well, Princess?”[/color] The woman whispered.

All the while, Ryner watched Varis’s fingers for far longer than it took him to stop his actions. Her face was blank but her eyes seemed ill at ease. Isadora’s touch seemed to bring her back and she nodded at the woman. [color=bc8dbf]"Yes, thank you. I remembered a rather important piece of paperwork I forgot to submit to the Council on behalf of the school. No need to worry; it is a matter I can handle come tomorrow.”[/color] Isadora hesitated a moment before curtsying, picking up the tray of glasses, and leaving the room once more.

[color=FA8072]“I’ve always said. You need more organization.”[/color] The Queen snapped, breaking the brief lull in conversation. [color=FA8072]“Your sister. Recently started using. A rather colorful. Method of labelling. And scheduling. Perhaps a lesson. From her could. do you well. She never seems. To have these issues.”[/color]

[color=bc8dbf]“I’ll see when our schedules cross, Mother. It has been a few decades since I’ve seen her after all.”[/color] Ryner responded stiffly. She relaxed quickly and a sly smirk, eerily similar to Varis’s. [color=bc8dbf]“Though perhaps now is the time to mention exactly what those papers are about."[/color]

[color=bc8dbf]“Varis has done exceptional work blocking the past few issues I’ve written for the Council. He has quite an eye for technical reading and analysis.”[/color] Princess Ryner said thoughtfully, swirling her glass. “As such, I was considering waving Varis’s treaty law requirement. He knows it better than most here after all. But then I thought to myself, it would be remiss of me not to offer the best for my students here at the Academy and so starting tomorrow Varis, you’ll be Count Alder’s TA.” She sipped at her wine, a smug look on her face peeking over the glass. [color=bc8dbf]“Though it is more a formality than anything else. Several important family issues are pulling at the Count’s attention and I thought it easier to find a substitute for him this year."[/color]

[color=f7976a]“Princess with all due respect, I don’t have the time-”[/color] He stopped talking when she set her glass on the table and the smug look on her face vanished, eyes darkening quickly. 

[color=bc8dbf]“You broke my school’s policy when you [i]convinced[/i] my arena master to waive your self defense credit. Although I expected it, I’m disappointed in your heavy handed approach. I’ve grown to expect a certain degree of finesse from you.”[/color] She arched an eyebrow and sat back, inviting the Count to disagree. Varis stayed quiet. [color=bc8dbf]“Since you won’t be participating in that class, you’ll have plenty of time for your TA duties.”[/color] 

[color=f7976a]“I appreciate the opportunity and the compliment.[/color]” Varis acquiesced, his calm and relaxed manner clashing with his eyes. [color=f7976a]“You have a brief review of Count Alder’s lesson plans prepared for my review?”[/color] 

[color=bc8dbf]“You keep all of the projects you’ve worked on or a copy at the very least?”[/color] Varis’s eyes narrowed as the the smug look crossed Ryner’s face again. [color=bc8dbf]“Then you already have what you need.”[/color] Varis sat in silence, seething again. Just under a year before his invitation to the Academy, the Princess included a request to evaluate and improve a professor’s outdated lesson plans on the treaty law. Varis shredded the papers, disgusted with the Noalian propaganda involved in it, and sent back an entirely new plan. With everything going on, he’d forgotten about that. Apparently, the Princess had had [i]plans[/i].

[color=bc8dbf]“I do have a folder with images and names of everyone you will be teaching. I know you dislike being caught unaware.[/color]” She added, finishing the conversation. “Come to my study after dinner to get it. As a side note, TAs grades are based on both the professor’s and the student’s reviews and pass rate.” Varis remained silent again, fuming. 

[color=MistyRose]“Mr. Starag,”[/color] The mage spoke again as she tied her blindfold back on as a tomato, basil, olive, and mozzarella salad and a small glass of pinot grigio was set in front of the guests. [color=MistyRose]“We are interested in your appraisal of our dear Varis so far. We afford our darling more independence than the rest of our house at the moment and we want to ensure he is as strict as consistent as we taught him.”[/color]