[center][color=92278f][center][h3]Victor Astorio[/h3][/center][/color][/center]

The count found that his seat was set back just a bit farther than the others, clearly Varis didn’t want to include him on this. It was fair, Victor had been trying to play the role of a wild card in these situations. Always trying to be unpredictable to the other nobles was a fun little game he enjoyed playing even if he was the only one playing. From subtle differences in the tone of his voice to giving a false tick to when he was nervous or his emotions where boiling up under his stoic façade by slowly rubbing his thumb against his index and middle fingers. Everything was a game to them when it came to these parties. Victor was not very well versed in these things of subtle insults and shifts of one’s perception but he knew that Varis was. The others he was not too sure of. 

The mages spectacles where interesting to at least pass the time. Lillie’s song was quite fitting for her, he had heard the song before somewhere but didn’t quite care for it. She did certainly look good her muscle tone had definitely improved from when she first started training. The newer girl that replaced Casandra did quite well with her display of fire. Victor could only give out a light sigh thinking about how it would have been if Casandra was the one doing it. If the countess had done that on purpose then it was fitting. Max’s art sculpture was interesting but a bit boring for him. All it did was make him wonder if Eris was going to waste the boy’s talent and make him an artist instead of a combatant. 

Once it was finally Salem’s turn to impress the crowd Victor honestly just sort of zoned out thinking about the phone call. It wasn’t until he was done that he realized what the boy had drawn. Eris seemed pleased with the representation of his portrait but the Astorio could only shoot his mage a subtle glare. The last thing he wanted was to engage in any conversation with Eris again. Then lastly the golden boy played his piece. It honestly wasn’t that bad it just made Victor zone out again thinking of the painting behind him and what lord Perion would do to whoever painted it. Painting the lord was one thing but getting it wrong was on a whole nother level. 

The mages finished their performances and scurried away to where ever it was they were hiding. Blood from the first mage Lillie was poured and passed out. Smelling it was nice and a little comforting definitely not what Salem’s was going to taste like. Fear and adrenaline, it tastes akin to what one would describe as an energy drink just before a fight would taste like. It’s not that the blood Salem had given was going to taste bad, it’s just that the blood was collected after one of their private sparring matches where the count used several punches that landed near the boy that could have killed him. Victor had to apologize after but wasn’t too sure if his mage had gotten over the ordeal or not. Perhaps it was why he drew the picture of Eris and gave it to Varis. If that was so the boy would pay dearly for this betrayal. 

Then came the fighting, a long drawn out fight of words that he did not care for. He opted to stay quiet and observe the others. Crossing his left leg over his right and letting his hands rest in his lap simply holding the glass of blood and occasionally sipping the contents. His index finger tapping slightly on the glass while they spoke. A slight nod at his introduction, another small slight hidden in Varis’s words one that he was not going to correct as he had already introduced himself to the Eve. The topic continued to move onto Lillie and her song choice first then onto something he thought was obvious to the others but by their change of tone and slight facial expressions that it was a surprise. Perhaps the other’s where not as perceptive to the little things as he was.

[color=92278f]“A broken bottle already tells you where it will crack and fall apart. Some may want the glass to break a certain way to make a better weapon.”[/color] He spoke with his usual deep voice matching his stoic expressions. A prod to see how the actor would react. [color=92278f]“I find that I have to agree with Varis and Eris on the topic of style.”[/color] A short pause to swirl his glass, [color=92278f]“However, audience is everything. If your target audience is us younger vampires who’s sense of style is blending in for the mage and standing out for the vampire. Having an Albino mage would do the opposite of this.”[/color] Taking a sip of the blood he continued, [color=92278f]“But if your target audience is let’s say, the older vampires? The elders who are older and have just as much power as our current leaders of our respective houses? Well then that would be a different story. As they have been around long enough to see it all, things that are rare and stand out could be much more interesting to them.”[/color] 

Victor ended his insight on the topic with taking another swig of his glass. Glancing over to the picture of lord Perion again with a smirk and a quiet laugh. Imagining how the Lord would go after Varis for the picture. The image was quiet amusing. 


[@Hero]
[@WeepingLiberty]
[@Bert Macklin]
[@Achronum]