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[color=f7976a]“If you did, you did it poorly. Sullen silences are not indicative of proper conversation. Another weakness in the Starag line apparently.”[/color] Varis rolled his eyes. Did Ryner not teach them how to carry a conversation for longer than five seconds without irritating their conversation partner? That’s what he gets for picking up this caged lapdog. INo experience in anything other than polishing boots of those who treat him as a pet rather than the resource he is. Irritating but if the boy couldn’t do better on his own, Varis would enroll him in some sort of socialization program. If there was one. 

[color=f7976a]“If you don’t improve, I’ll have to dedicate more time to your training and that would displease me greatly. I expect a fruitful conversation the next time I see you two together.”[/color] Varis demanded. He tapped his fingers on the desk. He couldn’t shake the concern that Ryner found a loophole and the gnawing uncertainty in his chest grew at the thought. [color=f7976a]“What did you discuss while Eris and I were occupied?”[/color]


[color=f0d705]“We traded theories on the methodology of the skull challenge, discussed the probable use of mental mages for the exam.”[/color] Aaron answered simply. It seemed a little odd for Varis to arrange a new training schedule for him if such a thing bothered him, but maybe he meant specifically [i]social[/i] training, though Aaron wasn’t sure why one would be more irritating than the other. Did Varis just expect every mage to come ready-made and prepared for subterfuge, and was frustrated that he didn’t? Actually, that probably wasn’t far from the truth. Mages raised by the Sinnenodels were probably taught to socialize with the same enthusiasm as Starags were taught the Treaty. [color=f0d705]“Mr. Alderman was also interested in the various uses of each of our affinities after I told him about what his clone was capable of, although he wasn’t fond of having to wait the few years it would take to reach that level.”[/color]

He mentally ran through the full challenge again, and suddenly remembered something. [color=f0d705]“Oh, pardon me Master,”[/color] he added abruptly, [color=f0d705]“before we stray too far, you wanted me to contact Malek for something from your vault.”[/color]

Varis nodded along absently as the boy spoke. So despite his general abrasiveness, Eris’ mage wanted to progress. Manners he may not have but at least Eris’ mage had ambition. It was so much more entertaining to manipulate people with actual passions rather than bland loyalty. Loyalty that, it seemed, had reason to be questioned after tonight. Maybe he’d make the boy detail his days from start to finish in addition to his normal chores. It would add another thing to his list and keep him out of trouble since apparently his punishments weren’t enough to dissuade the boy from keeping secrets from him. 

[color=f7976a]“Oh yes. I do need Malek to have quite a bit sent to me. I recommend you write it down; maybe then you’d remember how to serve your master.”[/color] Varis said, pulling out his phone and tapping on it for a bit, scrolling as he spoke [color=f7976a]“I need the files from Events 12 through 27, History 266 and 345, and all of Training. Training and History can be mailed but I expect Events in my hand when I walk out of my room tomorrow.”[/color] Varis locked his phone and put it away when he had a most interesting idea. Maybe adding things to his list wasn’t punishment enough. No. He knew an excellent idea. One he fully expected to make the boy think twice.

[color=f7976a]“Now, I’ve been considering how to augment your punishment. Lines are important. I think 1500 repetitions of “I will not lie to my Master” will pound it into your abnormally thick skull but after our last session, I’m not sure it will be enough. Especially since this time, it was lying and not just being an idiot.”[/color] Varis shook his head in disappointment. [color=f7976a]“So, I was thinking then maybe I’d have you write a full report everyday about your activities with as much detail as you can on top of it all. Make you so busy you wouldn’t even have the time to do anything that you could lie about. But by the crown, I don’t want to read that on top of all my work. At that point, it’s my own punishment and I haven’t done anything wrong.”[/color] Varis waved the very concept of his wrongdoings away. He acted as perfectly as ever and no one could say otherwise. Plus, reading the boy’s work every day meant seeing him for longer and frankly, that idea exhausted Varis even more than the reading would. 

[color=f7976a]“Since you like to keep secrets, I clearly don’t know you as well as you do so I’ve come up with a better idea. In addition to your lines, I want a two page minimum apology for lying to your better [i]and[/i] a paper on punishments you believe would be far more corrective to your behavior. And if I don’t think they’re suitable enough, well let’s just hope you don’t mess this up like everything else. What do you think?”[/color]

Kneeling on the floor as he was, Aaron obviously couldn't write anything down, instead listening carefully as Varis rattled off everything he needed from his vault. At least he had a good memory for this sort of thing, a list locking itself away in the back of his mind until he could contact Malek. 

It was just as well, as Varis’ next order of business got very overwhelming very fast. Aaron’s chest filled with dread imagining the sheer volume of busywork in store for him as Varis spoke, only for him to long for that very tedium when the Count changed his mind. Dammit, it was Dawn all over again! Varis had a talent for tormenting people, that much was clear. Hell, he made a sport out of it. Being forced to arrange his own punishment was about as potent a deterrent as Aaron could think of - not that it stopped him before, [i]apparently[/i] - and lightened Varis’ workload besides. The efficiency was impressive, and he hated everything about it. 

Not that he'd voice as much. Besides, Varis could probably guess that anyway. Instead, he bowed his head, resigning himself to the worst, as always. [color=f0d705]“An elegant solution, Master,”[/color] he agreed appropriately, [color=f0d705]“I will begin tonight as soon as I'm able.”[/color] 

[color=f7976a]“Considering I expect you to start thinking about your assignments immediately, you should have started as soon as you heard it.”[/color] Varis replied, an unamused look directed the boy’s way. [color=f7976a]“You’re dismissed. And while you’re leaning on yet another person to cover your ineptitude, ask how to develop some degree of resistance. Blemishes on a Sinnenodel’s property are so unbecoming and I expect you to avoid them in the future.”[/color]

[color=f0d705]“Yes, Master,”[/color] Aaron replied dutifully, standing with letter in hand and offering a proper bow before he took his leave. He tarried only long enough to grab his phone from his room before promptly quitting the place, knowing Varis would want him gone for some time. Just as well; maybe the infirmary had painkillers.