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[center][sub]December 7th, 5:00am - The Sinnenodel Dorm[/sub][/center]

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The night before Varis’ soiree was a hectic nightmare. He swore that everything that could go wrong did. Art he was having delivered specifically for the event was delayed, the crystal blood glasses he demanded come from his personal collection were the wrong ones, the Academy still hadn’t delivered the extra chair and side table (he blamed Ryner through and through), the boy’s clothes had to have been sent back because they were slightly off and they were supposed to come in literally hours before the party now, and he couldn’t find the damn ring he wanted to wear for the evening. He’d already written the school and excused Aaron and himself from Friday’s courses―excluding Treaty Law because that blind Noila wasn’t undoing all the hard work he’d done so far―so they could spend the entire night and early morning getting everything set up as they rolled in. 

And he was glad he did because of course the Academy’s hired idiots almost ran the boy’s bathroom door through one of his original Nianarh paintings. He’d never been so close to killing someone in his life. Then, because Malek was indisposed handling another order of business, the shipping company that overnighted the proper crystal blood glasses was two seconds away from tossing his package on the doorstep but thankfully, he moved faster than a butterfingered mortal and he’d sent the moron back to his truck in tears. Getting the boy to look presentable was an ordeal in and of itself. It wasn’t the clothes. No, black made him almost look like a proper show mage but it was the accessories and the hair and the make up. He thought the boy could handle it himself but after a quick look at the end, Varis had to redo everything. Fixing the tie clip, fixing the watch on the boy’s wrist, completely redoing his face, the tie was sloppy, etc. It was never ending and it resulted in a session just like the night of his Lady’s visit: fully involved in every step. 

But finally, [i]finally[/i], everything was done. Each chair had a portrait of a notable member of their house behind them from his own collection: Tennra Eve caught in the passion of her writing, Perion Astorio decapitating the traitor Donovan on the battlefield, Ralmevik Marivaldi dictating to a mage at a desk, Lady Sinnenodel because that was the only Sinnenodel worth of display in his presence, and Eris walking through the gates of Varis’ castle from a picture he liked on the security cameras Malek insisted they install. The Eve, Astorio, and Marivaldi pictures were selected just to irritate his guests. Tennra writing Varis’ favorite book on the natural inferiority of mages and humans, Perion to remind Victor what his Lord does to fake Astorios, and Ralmevik for the obvious sadistic fun. Eris’portriat had been made as a present to the actor several years ago but Varis had liked it enough that he kept it himself. And of course, Lady Sinnenodel above the seat of honor as the most important of the lot. Not that it would stay that way but he’d let her enjoy her ivory tower for now. 

The sitting room was outfitted with dark leather chairs and rich cloth draped over the side tables with gold embroidery along the edges. He decided to keep with a simpler, older look, adding in an antique record player in the corner with an pleasant orchestration on the record, perfect for adding just a touch of background noise. Modern sound quality was fantastic and usually preferred for formal gathering when live music wasn’t an option but every one of these vampires were about his age. He specifically chose music from their childhood years, wanting to add just a touch of warm nostalgia to the room. The boy would have to crank it every record but that was the price you paid for ambiance. 

And it would be good practice. Depending on how things worked out, Varis may well be destined to suffer through the boy’s presence as a show mage for the rest of his pathetically short life. He’d need to learn how to balance when to be seen and when to fade into the background. It would probably take a decade of work before he was capable of being able to do that without magic but Varis was very much a proponent of using whatever tool necessary to get the job done so he couldn’t fault the boy for that. Yet.

He’d figure out a way. 

By the time Varis was satisfied with all his fussing, it was just about time for guests to arrive. He gave himself and Aaron one last look over. Both of them were dressed in matching suits, monochrome black for the most part and a rougher shirt to depth to the outfit. Aaron had a few gold accessories―a gold stud and chain ear cuff in place of the usual Sinnenodel crest, a gold ring, and a tie clip―but his hair offset the outfit well enough. Which he managed to tame into purposefully disheveled and left the ear with the earring visible. Not that it would help with his cardboard personality but every little bit helped, he supposed. 

[color=f7976a]“Listen closely, boy. Tonight is your chance to prove that you aren’t as incompitent as I believe. It’s your first run as a proper, mostly proper, show mage and I will be taking notes.”[/color]Varis explained as he adjusted Aaron’s tie for the fifth time that night. [color=f7976a]“You know your job. Answer the door, invite vampires into the parlor, show the mages to the living room, and then retire for two minutes to organize the mages for their performances. Eve, Marivaldi, Eris, Astorio, you―that’s the order. Then, crank the phonograph and ready the blood. The colored crystal is for the cleanser, the clear for the tastings, and do not forget the tags I had you write out. I haven’t thought of a punishment yet but I can guarantee you, it’ll make everything else seem down right pleasant.”[/color] Varis went over the night for the millionth time this week as he fiddled with this and that on the boy. While Varis was, begrudgingly, sure he wouldn’t mess up on the technical details, Varis was more concerned about the role he needed the boy to play.

[color=f7976a]“And for the love of our Lady, do not put on that damn cut out smile you wear when you’re uncomfortable. A court mask is all fine and dandy but tonight your job is to be sweet. Charming. Interesting. Give them a real smile, figure out what they want to see, and be that. I want them head over heels for you in those brief moments.”[/color] Varis demanded, finally satisfied with Aaron’s appearance. It would be a touch of overkill, he knew, but he needed that sympathy for the boy at its height. He had a goal tonight and he needed as much ill will as he could get to make it all fall together. Flaunting the boy in the mage sympathists face would go a long way. 

Which is exactly why they matched. Varis wore the same style suit, the same style tie, the same style shirt, but he boasted less gold. The only accessory they shared was the tie clip, a break for the eye, but Varis had even worn an earring on the same ear as Aaron: a diamond shaped onyx teardrop instead. If everything worked out, the big bad Sinnenodel would be exactly where he needed to be. He pulled out his pocket watch, the only silver on his person, and popped it open. Five minutes. 

[color=f7976a] “Questions now or keep your tongue in your head.”[/color] Varis snapped the watch shut and tucked it away again.