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Varis sat as long as he dare, flipping absently through the names and pictures of those in treaty law. The Noila’s methods successfully stripped the Starags of their independence. The boy’s natural dependance on orders would normally please Varis. Servants like that instinctively followed whatever order they received and could almost always handle their tasks without supervision. But it was the stubborn streak in him that made Varis wonder if they could pull this off without more... direct methods. Five centuries of conditioning wove the two together and Varis would have to break that absurd pride before anything else. Maybe if he looked back far enough, Varis could find something to sully the Starag name. It may not even need be true.  

Varis sighed. But he didn’t have access to his or his Lady’s archives right now so he would have to wait until a break. He would have to keep with his Spellman plan. That would, at the very least, prime the mage to break. Of course, the Spellman’s intensity may well have the opposite effect but Varis hasn’t had the time to find a smaller flame to soften the boy yet. Hopefully, the Spellman would be all he needed but Varis would nose around tomorrow. He never kept all his eggs in one basket and he wasn’t about to start now. He returned his attention to the folder and his brows shot up at one picture. Lilie Dionne. 

He flipped through the rest, looking for another Lilie. It hadn’t occurred to him to find her while the boy was panicking over everything else. Would have been an excellent time to demonstrate how his actions brought others under their gaze. Oh well, missed opportunities. He spent a few moments and committed her name to heart. There would always be another opportunity,

At last he stood, retreating inside before the sun peeked over the horizon. Varis almost went to bed, only to remember the items left on his desk. He went to retrieve them, noting the lack of papers on the boy’s desk. That wouldn't do. Varis pulled out a pad and pen, writing the line the mage was expected to copy on top, and then laid them neatly on the boy’s desk. He would lock them away starting tomorrow. A punishment shouldn’t be rushed after all. 

His phone chirped. A quick glance at the notification told him a branch member’s birthday was approaching and it wasn’t one of those he could ignore. Varis sat at his desk, quickly composing an email to one of his mage’s to send an appropriate gift and one of the stock letters he keeps at home. Another piece of business in his email caught his eye and he moved onto to that and another one after that, catching up on all the responsibilities he put aside that evening. As one thing turned into two, three, four, the hours slipped by and Varis nodded off in his chair, a partially completed event reminder open on his phone. 


[center][h2][u][color=ed145b]The Red Hand[/color][/u][/h2][/center]
[right][sub]Interacting with: [@WeepingLiberty][/sub][/right]

[color=ed145b]“Your concerns are not my responsibility. If you have an issue, submit them through the appropriate channels. I will assume this Getsuga is a creature in your care and for your peace of mind, it will be evaluated immediately by my personal mage. I will make note of your continued refusal to comply with the investigations orders as well. Return to your quarters immediately otherwise you will be charged with obstruction of justice as the mage’s accomplice.”[/color] Nox ended the conversation, turning on her heel and sending guards to escort the Countess to the Astorio dorm. She muttered something to Lucan, who immediately put his phone to his ear, and went inside.