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[center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjU0LmYwMTcwYS5VMk5vYjI5c0lGTnJhWEEsLjIAAAAA/shlop.regular.png[/img][/center]
[center][sub]Dates: December 7th - December 21st[/sub][/center]

[hider=December 17th: Ben and Aaron]
[center]Assistance[/center]
Quaint, private, informative. Libraries should have been one of Ben’s favorite places were it not for how utterly boring he found studying. Aesthetically they were pleasing and had atmospheres of introspection and knowledge, two things he sincerely hoped would help. In truth he did wish the knowledge here would help him and perhaps it was his own sense of pride that held him back. However, he needed a fresh perspective, one that would hopefully give him insight to the enigma that was Lilie Dionne.

Their talk went poorly and that was an understatement. He had no choice but to call for help. To ask for such a thing to be kept under wraps meant he needed someone that was both familiar with magehood and could communicate to him how to properly address that with his own mage. And so he waited in what he thought was a private table in a part of the library that did not draw too many people. He hoped Aaron would arrive sooner than later as his own nerves were giving him a myriad of different ways he could handle Lilie going forward.

Aaron pushed into the library a few minutes late, a harsh, snowy wind trailing him inside as he looked around to catch his bearings. The Count had asked to meet him in a part of the library he didn’t usually visit, so it took him a moment to find his way through the labyrinth of shelves, not helped by the fact he was reluctant to ask anyone for help—the last thing he wanted was anyone remembering him coming here. He really shouldn’t even have come—Varis would have his head if he found out he was doing rival nobles favours—but the Count had never asked for anything more than friendly conversation in the past, and with mention of a “delicate situation”, Aaron could guess what said conversation would be about. 

At long last he got where he was going, a small study area near the back of the library that students often overlooked. Aaron made sure no one was looking before slipping inside, and sure enough, there was Count Benjamin, looking characteristically pensive. 

[color=f0d705]“Good evening, Count,”[/color] Aaron murmured as he neared, offering a shallow bow before taking a seat. It was a little more casual than he’d usually like with nobles, but Count Benjamin had made it pretty clear in the past that he’d prefer to keep the formality to a minimum. 

[color=f0d705]“Pardon my lateness, I had a few things to attend to for my master before I could make my way over.”[/color] It was probably unnecessary, but he hoped the Count would pick up on the hint: Aaron didn’t personally mind helping him out, but it wasn’t something he could safely make a habit of. 

[color=C0C0C0]“My sincerest apologies for taking any of your time, I would have preferred to resolve this on my own,”[/color] Ben said. It wouldn’t do for any vampire to pick up a habit of asking a mage that wasn’t of his house for anything and he could understand what Aaron was getting at. [color=C0C0C0]“I can assure you I would have rather asked for your time for something more jovial. I thank you for coming.”[/color]

[color=C0C0C0]“To avoid wasting your time, I will be direct. I have not dedicated myself to training my mage as much as I should have. There aren’t any reasons that don’t sound like excuses as the truth of the matter is I greatly overestimated her capacity for adapting to change. It’s apt to describe it as Lilie drowning. The irony is not lost on me,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“The crux came the other day; as I am sure you are aware, any schedules that go against the norm required approval. Lilie’s request was denied and it led to a conversation that ended poorly.”[/color]

Poorly was an understatement truth be told.

Aaron couldn’t claim to be surprised; by what both parties in the Eve partnership had told him, they tended to butt heads over the subject of Lilie’s transition to mage life. He’d done his best to counsel them both—Lilie on the sad reality that things were different in vampiric society than she was used to, and the Count on how he might accomplish his goals with a gentle hand—but he was hardly an expert. In fact, he could only hope his advice hadn’t been the cause of any issues between them. 

Similarly, that Lilie’s intended course load was a point of contention between the two came as no surprise either. Aaron had tried his best to be encouraging, but the combination of classes she wanted to take rivaled his own schedule in intensity; it wasn’t far-fetched to think the Princess thought it might be a little much, or that her Count would want her to pace herself. Aaron partially blamed himself for letting it get that far—he should have been firmer when he hinted that her plan was pretty taxing—but to be fair, it wasn’t his job to police what Lilie did with her time. It was Benjamin’s. 

He nodded slowly when the Count finished, taking a moment to unwind his scarf from around his throat and drape it on the chair next to him before he replied. [color=f0d705]“Would I be right to guess that that decision didn’t fall solely to Her Highness?”[/color] he asked. 

If the situation was so transparent that Aaron could already guess then Ben felt he had little in the ways of keeping the conversation vague. Being direct truly was the best course of action, he decided that he would speak plainly going forward.

[color=C0C0C0]“While it was a mutual agreement you are correct,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“I can assure you, however, that I did nothing to sabotage Lilie’s chances outside expressing my own concerns. She is convinced otherwise. It seems anytime we make one or two steps of progress we lose five going backwards.”[/color]

And if he was to be direct, he also needed to be honest. [color=C0C0C0]“I don’t believe Lilie understands that while her enthusiasm and eagerness for magic are admirable, her priorities aren’t where they need to be,”[/color] He said. [color=C0C0C0]“I do fear that I was too harsh with our last conversation. I thought it best to bring her down and make things clear. It resulted in tears and we haven’t held a conversation since.”[/color] 

Aaron raised his eyebrows. Tears? Lilie wasn’t the pinnacle of emotional fortitude, and she’d cried to him about her issues with her Count in the past, but it was somehow a shock to hear she’d break down in front of a vampire. Maybe it was his upbringing making it seem strange; he came from a world where you hid everything away until you could let it out behind closed doors. But Lilie came from a different world entirely, and, well, that was really the problem. 

[color=f0d705]“I see…”[/color] He twined his fingers together on the table, spinning his ring for a moment in thought. [color=f0d705]“Do you know what specifically got her so upset?”[/color] he asked, [color=f0d705]“Or was it the issue of having her plans denied in general?”[/color]

The risk of losing Aaron’s positive opinion of him nearly caused Ben to hesitate. He wondered for a moment if his honesty was going to end up making things worse for him but he supposed there wasn’t much he could do without coming completely clean. He couldn’t very well hide what he did if Lilie did decide to tell him, after all.

[color=C0C0C0]“As much as it pains me to admit, I was the cause,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“We spoke of her intentions for dueling and her desire for magic. It all came to a point when she mentioned that she had been fencing for years to which my response was to point out that even with that behind her, she still lost her first duel here. After that, she asked if I thought she was weak. I said yes.”[/color]

Oh yeah, that wasn’t great. Aaron visibly cringed at the admission, although he was glad the Count opted for honesty; this would be a lot harder if Count Benjamin tried to sugar-coat the situation. He could certainly see why that would have upset Lilie, but he had a feeling it wasn’t the comment alone, but a lot of previous buildup, that led to such a dramatic fallout. 

[color=f0d705]“I see,”[/color] he repeated, searching for the right way to put his thoughts without coming off like he was scolding a noble. [color=f0d705]“Well, for starters, I wouldn’t hold that duel against her; truth be told, it wasn’t a fair fight,”[/color] he admitted. [color=f0d705]“She trained in fencing as a hobby—a dedicated hobby, mind you, but still—whereas my training has been considerably more intense. Add in a significant difference in size and strength and it would have taken a miracle for her to have won that night.”[/color] 

He sighed, starting to feel a bit like one of those tired couple’s counselors on sitcoms. [color=f0d705]“That said, I can see why you’d disapprove of her proposed class schedule,”[/color] he continued. [color=f0d705]“For reference, I’m joining one of the most demanding major programs this school has to offer, and her schedule would have resembled mine in intensity. My counselor described it as spending six straight hours in the gym with minimal breaks—it would have been a considerable drain on her, and while I’m on the fence over whether she could handle it, it would make anything extracurricular impossible. I’m taken to assume the two of you are still working on mage etiquette together?”[/color]

Everything Aaron said made sense and Ben was relieved to know that the core of his message was still in the right. He wouldn’t say it, but he was well aware one of the reasons Lilie wanted to do her schedule the way she had chosen was because Aaron was also doing so. The difference between the two was a gap so wide it was concerning why she would make any attempts at following his lead. 

[color=C0C0C0]“One of her slots will be taken with an Introduction to Showmageship. We no longer need to take time out after classes with that, fortunately,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“While I have no issue teaching her myself, I felt she would take it more seriously in a classroom setting. Her grades alone show that she takes her studies to heart.”[/color]

Aaron couldn’t help but smirk, despite the somber tone of the conversation. [color=f0d705]“I’m sure she wasn’t a fan of that idea either.”[/color] 

[color=C0C0C0]“She was not. She claimed she had no such interest in the subject,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“She is under the belief her desires trump mine.”[/color]

Aaron nodded. That was a pretty critical misunderstanding that he’d tried to help straighten out when Lilie came to him before, upset that Count Benjamin had replaced her belongings. Apparently, his reasoning didn’t stick. 

[color=f0d705]“Yeah, that sounds about right,”[/color] he said absently. But what more advice could he offer? Count Benjamin had the right of it: his word was final, that was how this all worked. Of course Aaron felt for Lilie, he could only imagine how hard it must be for her to have many of her freedoms taken away, but what could he do? Lying to her would only make the eventual fall of the hammer hurt even more. 

[color=f0d705]“I can sympathize with your difficulties in dealing with Lilie,”[/color] he voiced as much, spinning his ring. [color=f0d705]“And as much as I’d like to tell you she needs a soft hand, I agree that it’s better for her to learn her place sooner rather than later.”[/color]

He studied the table for a moment, trying his best to put his words in the right order. [color=f0d705]“Still, I can see why this is hard for her. She’ll never be comparable to a mage raised around vampires: she lived her whole life in almost total freedom. She had dreams and plans for her future, one where her life would be her own making. With all due respect, Count, it may seem trivial to you, but we mortals hold those plans very close to our hearts.”[/color] 

He didn’t want to lecture a Count, but he wanted to make sure Benjamin had a full understanding of what he was dealing with—or at least, as full an understanding as Aaron had. [color=f0d705]“Obviously I can’t relate to transitioning from human life to magehood, but I [i]do[/i] know that having what you thought was your future taken away can be devastating. I’m not surprised she doesn’t want to give up whatever control she was used to before.”[/color] 

Aaron sighed, leaning back in his chair. This was getting a little too personal for comfort—maybe he should have just stuck to the tried and true ‘don’t worry Count, you’re totally right, Lilie’s difficult is all’, but it was a little late for that. Still, there was something to be said for Benjamin’s side of the situation too, and the fact that he cared enough for his mage to ask advice on dealing with her in the first place was something rare among nobility. [color=f0d705]“Of course, I don’t think you’re wrong to lay down the law. Some gentler wording might have been a good idea, but in my opinion it’s better to be honest and brutal than to lie and set her up for failure later on. It’s… a hard situation, and I admire that you’re concerned enough for her well-being that you’d consult me.”[/color] 

[color=f0d705]“But at the risk of missing the obvious: what exactly do you want my help in doing?”[/color] Aaron finally asked. [color=f0d705]“Do you want my help convincing her to speak to you again?”[/color]

Aaron’s words were something Ben seemed to drink in; the perspective of a mage that had his own voice was something sorely needed. There wasn’t anything he disagreed with but the conclusion he arrived at was grim. Eris’ offer suddenly made sense as much as it pained him to admit. Of course, taking up said actor’s offer was an entirely different story and not one he should approach lightly.

[color=C0C0C0]“I wanted understanding,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“It could be that I am expecting too much in too little time, but that’s exactly the point I tried to make. In almost three and a half years she will be entering my house and then what? My father wouldn’t have it; she’s likely to either get relegated to a scullery maid or sold elsewhere.”[/color]

Ben paused. [color=C0C0C0]“Perhaps I could ask Her Highness for a switch. A noble setting is harsh even on mages that have trained their entire lives. She would still serve a vampire but she could end up with one with less responsibilities. I was also informed of a charity that may be able to take her in.”[/color]

[color=f0d705]“What?”[/color] Aaron blurted out, too shocked by the Count’s words to temper his own in the moment. Benjamin was considering just, getting rid of Lilie? [i]What?[/i] He knew as well as any other vampire-raised mage that many, many mages met similar fates, but something about that happening to [i]Lilie[/i], especially after all she’d already been through, got Aaron more heated than he’d prefer to admit. 

[color=f0d705]“Count Benjamin, I…”[/color] he was speechless was what he was. Good Lord, it was a good thing he took this meeting—Lilie’s situation was far more precarious than he thought. But of course it was, why wouldn’t it be? She’d been given so many chances already, and she was entering a harsh world. Maybe the reason it hadn’t sprung to mind sooner was the very fact that Varis still kept [i]him[/i] around; there was no way Lilie could be more of a disappointment than he was, so it hadn’t even crossed his mind that she was at risk of being discarded. It seemed that was yet another example of Aaron being blind to what was right in front of him. 

[color=f0d705]“Forgive my boldness, Count, but if you care about Lilie at all—and it seems that you do—then you [i]cannot[/i] send her away.”[/color] It was ludicrous to speak to a noble that way, but the Count came looking for advice, and he’d get it. Firmly. [color=f0d705]“She’s already been passed around three other masters before you. [i]Three.[/i] I don’t think she could bear being discarded a fourth time.”[/color]

He hadn’t noticed till then, but Aaron was leaning out of his chair. He took a second to settle himself back down before continuing. [color=f0d705]“Not to mention that there’s no telling what would become of her under someone else’s care. A charity is a fine thought in theory, but I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that things are rarely what they seem.”[/color] 

He sighed, a deep-seated weariness apparent on his face. [color=f0d705]“I understand that you feel pressured to mold her into an Eve mage by the time she enters your household. I do. And I agree that that’s imperative; it’s no mercy to protect her here only for her new life to eat her alive. But I implore you, don’t give up on her yet.”[/color] He met Count Benjamin’s eye, something he seemed to be doing a lot more of lately than he’d prefer. [color=f0d705]“Lilie is not a lost cause. She’s only a late bloomer. I was, too; I’m three years older than her and not much more advanced in my magic. Remember that she started with [i]nothing:[/i] in four short months she’s made incredible strides. Hell, I know someone who grew up with vampires and still didn’t know to hold his tongue in the Queen’s presence, and already you have Lilie singing for an audience and conducting herself respectably at formal functions. She has great promise, in that I am confident.”[/color]

[color=f0d705]“I’m sure it seems like mere moments until she’ll have to reckon with the real world, but consider this,”[/color] Aaron added, [color=f0d705]“she’s only halfway through her first year here, with three more to go after that. To a vampire, that’s a blink; to a mage, that can be a lifetime.”[/color] He held the Count’s gaze a moment longer before finally sitting back. [color=f0d705]“There’s still time to shape her the way you want her to be. More time than you might think.”[/color] 

While it was the last thing he wanted to think about, Aaron reminded Ben greatly of the first time he had met Countess Marivaldi; she had asked him what it was that he wished he could inherit from a mortal. He wished he could take mortal passion to see what it was like to see it blossom and rage, to be at the height of emotion without regard. Seeing it in Aaron had put Ben to shame, if only for a moment. 

He did take Aaron’s words to heart—the boy may have lunged himself across the table if he didn't!—and considered his next words carefully. Nothing Aaron said was inaccurate but it still left him with a conundrum. He did not leave Aaron’s gaze as he thought to himself and the many possibilities before him. It would look poor on him if he made such grand claims in front of Count Sinnenodel and then turned around to ship the girl off the first chance he got.

[color=C0C0C0]“I apologize for upsetting you in any way. It was not my intention,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“I would like to believe you, truly. Perhaps the problem doesn’t lie in the mage, but instead the master, then.”[/color]

Even so he needed to make a decision. [color=C0C0C0]“I suppose I should try harder, then,”[/color] He said. [color=C0C0C0]“How do you think I should go about apologizing?”[/color]

Aaron carefully avoided heaving the massive sigh of relief he wanted, instead relaxing a little more in his chair. Thank fate, he seemed to have gotten through to him. Of course, now he’d dug himself into a hole that might be harder to get out of: he wasn’t exactly the most practiced at making amends. 

[color=f0d705]“Your patience is admirable, Count Benjamin,”[/color] Aaron told him. He spun his ring for another moment, thinking of what Lilie might want to hear from the man who was poised to control her life’s trajectory. [color=f0d705]“... I think making it clear that you want to understand what she’s struggling with will go a long way. That said, she has a pretty deep distrust of vampires. I don’t know if she’ll believe you.”[/color] 

Hm, it was difficult indeed. Count Ben would have to reconcile the necessity of laying down the law with his clear desire to be on Lilie’s side. He shrugged, a little out of his depth. [color=f0d705]“Well, you know what they say: actions do speak louder than words. I know it’s important that she knows where her boundaries lie, but maybe you could help build some trust by compromising on something trivial? I’m not sure; I’ll be honest, the idea of a Count capitulating to a mage is extremely foreign to me. But this is a unique situation.”[/color] 

Ben couldn’t help but laugh at Aaron’s words. Unique was not his first choice in describing the situation but it was apt! He would need to think hard on what course of action he could take to earn Lilie’s forgiveness, albeit he was interested in the idea of compromise. For all his talk of sympathizing with mages, he had yet to do so for his current partner. He would have to take strides to amend that. However, something else Aaron said struck Ben.

[color=C0C0C0]“I do earnestly believe I could come back with the moon itself and be refused simply because I’m a vampire. However, I was recently enlightened to the truth behind that, perhaps if I were to confront the vampire from her past, it could lead to something?”[/color] Ben asked. [color=C0C0C0]“It seems when Lilie was a child, her mother had caught the attention of a vampire. It’s a tale as old as time but the result bore a scar that wouldn’t be forgotten.”[/color]

[color=C0C0C0]“From what I have been told, Lilie’s mother was an accomplished fencer. So much so that she defeated a vampire in a one-hit match. Unfortunately said vampire dealt with it the same way most do, by ensuring she would never fence again. Seeing that as a child would traumatize most, I feel. But had I the method to find that vampire, I wonder if bringing him to justice would make her happy.”[/color]

Aaron raised his eyebrows, not bothering to hide the look of astonishment on his face. The Count was willing to go to such lengths just to try and earn Lilie’s trust? He’d heard about the infamous mage sympathizer Count Benjamin Eve, but it was interesting to see those ideals put to practice—not to mention interesting to learn something so personal about Lilie’s past. He wasn’t sure how he felt about learning it from a third party, but it shed some light on Lilie’s discomfort with vampires at least. 

[color=f0d705]“I must admit, I didn’t think you’d be willing to go so far,”[/color] Aaron said. [color=f0d705]“I suppose I should have had more faith. Your reputation does precede you.”[/color] He nodded. [color=f0d705]“I don’t know if it will fix everything, but if it were possible to bring something that harmed [i]my[/i] mother to justice, I know it would bring me a measure of peace. Maybe that could help her begin to move past her trauma.”[/color] 

Of course, there was one pretty important hurdle he’d have to jump first. [color=f0d705]“But do you think such a thing is even possible?”[/color] 

[color=C0C0C0]“At the end of the day, regardless of my actions, it is clear that no matter what I do there will always be doubt,”[/color] Ben explained. [color=C0C0C0]“If I could ease that burden, we could make real progress. My actions would be taken at face value and wouldn’t have ulterior motives painted in her mind.”[/color]

When it came down to it, however, Aaron had a point. In light of the conversation and honesty, he had one idea in mind. [color=C0C0C0]“I sent a letter to Lilie’s family recently requesting to meet with them. I had been planning on asking about something else while I was there. I could add this question as well, and there is no better place than the source,”[/color] He said. [color=C0C0C0]“I would ask for your discretion on this, of course. I don’t believe a vampire trespassing on what must be a ‘safe haven’ for Lilie would go down well.”[/color]

Aaron nodded once more, still bewildered at the lengths the Count was willing to go to help Lilie find some peace. [color=f0d705]“Of course. It’s not my business to be a liaison between the two of you anyway. But if I may, thank you for coming to me.”[/color] He caught the Count’s eye once more, completely sincere. [color=f0d705]“I’m by no means an expert, but it’s a testament to your character that you’d seek another mage’s input on this rather than another noble’s. It’s… reassuring to know that Lilie is in empathetic hands.”[/color] 

Ben was truly humbled by the mage’s words. As much as he disagreed, it was nice to see his efforts recognized. He genuinely hoped he would reach a similar conclusion with his own mage sooner than later. He had looked too broadly at the situation, hadn’t seen the forest for the trees, and there was another approach he reached that he never would have found without his help. With that in mind he did decide he had taken up much of Aaron’s time and chose to stand.

[color=C0C0C0]“No, thank you. Your insight and your passion reminded me of why I have my reputation,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“Though if I may be so bold, I will remind you that my empathy is not solely in my house. While there may not be much I can do without incurring judgment, I would still like you to see me as a safe place. If it’s to entertain yourself or even just a talk about nothing in particular, I implore you to seek me out if you’d like. I understand and respect your duty to your count, of course. I would simply find myself at ease if you knew you had a space to unwind or even found it a place of peace.”[/color]

Aaron stood as the Count did, wrapping his scarf back around his neck. But where he expected a cordial ‘good evening’, instead he received an offer of solace. Goodness, this was from the party, wasn’t it? The Count had been good enough to ignore him after Varis’ scathing review, but it must have prompted some sympathy from him. Aaron offered a cordial smile, nodding along with Benjamin’s words, but really, he was just embarrassed; nothing Varis said was exactly undeserved, and the last thing he needed was a vampire—a [i]noble[/i] especially—pitying him. 

Still, he supposed the thought came from a good place; he shouldn’t rebuff it outright. [color=f0d705]“That’s very kind of you, Count. Consider it noted.”[/color] He moved to bow, but stopped himself, hesitating for a moment before holding his hand out for a handshake instead. It felt weird, but the Count clearly wanted him to feel like he was on equal footing, and Aaron supposed he deserved that comfort after all he promised to do for Lilie. [color=f0d705]“Have a good night.”[/color] 

Ben gave what he hoped was a warm smile—he didn’t want to come off as too overjoyed lest he scare the mage off. He did, however, take the handshake with much enthusiasm. Now that he had a plan in mind he supposed he should get to work on it. For now he would allow Lilie the distance as it was warranted.

[color=C0C0C0]“Thank you, Aaron,”[/color] He said. [color=C0C0C0]“Have a good night.”[/color]


[/hider]



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[center][sub]Dates: December 22nd - January 5[/sub][/center]

[hider=December 28th: Solo]
[center]Intrigue[/center]
[color=gray]“It would seem Count Sinnenodel is deceased.”[/color]

The quill stopped in place as Ben contemplated what he was just told. It would seem the information he had gathered was correct; with that in mind, however, he could not ignore the grim implications that followed suit. He put down his quill for the moment as Noah brought in his laptop, replaying the live clip for him to watch. An emergency broadcast with a statement from Lady Sybil Sinnenodel herself bode ill indeed.

Ben waited until the video finished before looking at his young mage. Noah didn’t seem too surprised, albeit he was deep in thought as well. Once he noticed Ben looking at him, he cleared his throat and straightened up as he closed the laptop and took it back in hand.

[color=C0C0C0]“You look troubled,”[/color] Ben said.

Noah stayed quiet for a moment before he would shake his head. It was admirable to see the boy so concerned. [color=gray]“I think this is the first time I’ve seen something like this publicised,”[/color] He said. [color=gray]“Father said it was inevitable, but was it really? It seems...violent to kill someone in that manner even if they are a Sinnenodel. It’s outright cruel.”[/color]

[color=C0C0C0]“I would say it’s practical. Flames are one of the few surefire ways to kill a vampire as brute force can only get you so far,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“Whoever was responsible for this planned accordingly. It’s no secret that the noble House Sinnenodel relies on intelligence rather than physical prowess. Count Sinnenodel didn’t stand a chance against his pursuers.”[/color]

The Red Hand was used as the executioner but Lady Sinnenodel’s words indicated that said treachery meant someone who knew of the count’s schedule had informed the terrorist group of their chance. Was the group truly reliant on leaks to do their work? He supposed it would have been one way for them to make their mark on the world. Disturbing as it was he guessed that if the opportunity arose then there was no real reason not to take it. Varis Sinnenodel likely had many personal and public enemies that would benefit from his death.

Callous as it may sound, however, Ben had his own problems to address. He looked over the medical records in his hands as he placed them down and picked his quill up once again. He continued his notes until something else came to mind and decided to address Noah.

[color=C0C0C0]“With your Awakening around the corner, I believe it’s time to put you to work,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“Someone aside from my father has planned to take over the seat, which in turn means that I have competition. I’d like you to find out who and report it to me as soon as you can. I may need to adjust my own plans depending on who it is.”[/color]

Noah lit up at his words and drank them in. He took the order well and without question as he only gave Ben a bow before turning around and exiting the office. Ben chuckled; he didn’t mean for him to do so right this second, but he appreciated his enthusiasm. For far too long had Noah constantly wanted to prove himself but anything Ben needed was too delicate of a task to be left to a newcomer. At least that much Noah could look into without there being any risks. He would learn from his father soon and be just as effective.

Speaking of Geoffrey, Ben wondered why he hadn’t shown up yet. The results of his own task had been a mixed bag. The obsidian shipments were delivered by a company called Emerald Sun, a subsidiary of Green Vision Inc. and the very same one Varis Sinnenodel was a board member of. He was young, but not too young to naively assume the two weren’t connected somehow. Not that he could ask the count anymore, but he did find it interesting how things were connected.

And speaking of connections, he was willing to bet his mines that the high profile celebrity was also up to something. He had nothing conclusive to point to Eris Samael being the one to stick his nose into the arrest that had taken place in Duke Horvath’s territory aside from a hunch, although it didn’t match the confirmation of the rumor he had heard about his mage trying to find out more about Morgan Le Fey. Was everything more intertwined than he expected or was it his own paranoia whispering untrue things? What [i]was[/i] a celebrity doing involving himself in such affairs? Eris and Varis had been close enough that Ben didn’t doubt the two had some business ventures together, but would Eris really involve himself that much? Anything he did was on the public radar and Varis seemed more the secretive type. What [i]did[/i] those two even see in one another? There were too many questions and not enough answers, but at this point he had to seriously consider looking into the actor as well. 

Ben stood from his seat and decided to search for his mage. He needed to focus on the obsidian for the moment. If any attempts to follow the trucks are thwarted it meant he was onto something. Perhaps he was approaching this from the wrong angle. This meant that he was onto something but he wasn’t entirely sure what. He should try to see who the board member replacing Varis was, that way he could try to get an in and see about the shipments. It wasn’t the best plan but he wasn’t too sure how to go forward at this point.

There were many things on his mind now and Ben had to take a moment of pause. Green Vision Inc., obsidian, Algeria...and of course there was Lilie. It would be prudent to look into her ancestry but he doubted he would get very far. There wasn’t any real reason to do so, either. Instead of the past, he needed to start thinking about the future. He had nothing in mind for any role to fill as she was now. It was sad to say but getting saddled with a genetic failure was more of a burden than a boon. Still, the conversation he had with Aaron was still fresh in his mind; the way he defended her so meant she had value that he himself could not see. Tomorrow he would be paying a visit to Glendale and see where the white thread would lead him. 

There was much for Ben to think about and little time to do it. 

[/hider]

[hider=December 30th: Ben and Felicia]
[center]Seeking a Truth[/center]
Every once in a while Ben was reminded how much his viewpoint differed from others. This impromptu trip of his was no exception; he distinctly remembered Glendale being described as a small town, but his definition of small had left him flabbergasted at the reality. He would have used ‘tiny’ or ‘miniscule’ instead, the few streets and houses nearly swallowed up by acres of farmland. Quaint indeed, the serene and quiet air of the night marked the end of any activity. Very few people were out at this time, the lights of the houses indicating that most of the townsfolk were home. 

The vampire remained in his car for some time as he watched the small house for any activity. It wasn’t often that he was instructed by those below his station, but he felt it was best in this case. After taking a look at his watch the door to the house opened and a very familiar face stepped out. One could see that shock of white hair from a mile away as the young lady carefully went down the stairs accompanied by another woman. He did not recognize her but she very much looked like Lilie; it was safe to assume they were related. 

The two women linked their arms and left together.  Only when they were out of sight did Ben inform the chauffeur that he was stepping out. The chill of the air was refreshing and it wasn’t long until he reached the front door. He knocked without hesitation and waited.

The front door opened right after, a tall, dark haired man standing in the doorway. He looked a little startled as he saw the vampire in front of him, straightening up considerably. [color=1E90FF]“You must be Count Eve,”[/color] He said, giving the count a smile as he backed away from the door to give him room to walk through. [color=1E90FF]“I’m Will. Please, come in.”[/color]

[color=C0C0C0]“Thank you very much,”[/color] Ben said. He offered the man a bow before stepping into his home. It wasn’t often that he interacted with humans, but Will was very polite, reminding him of his servants at home. He could see where Lilie got her manners and soft spoken voice, his smile genuine and infectious. 

[color=C0C0C0]“Excuse the intrusion, I won’t be long,”[/color] He said. [color=C0C0C0]“Where can I find your wife?”[/color]

Will looked towards the back of the house. [color=1E90FF]“She’s having a smoke at the moment, but I’m sure she’ll come in at any second,”[/color] He told him. [color=1E90FF]“I can show you to the kitchen. Unless the dining room is better?” [/color]He caught himself, realizing that seemed inappropriate.

[color=C0C0C0]“That won’t be necessary, I’ve bothered you enough as it is,”[/color] Ben declined. [color=C0C0C0]“I’ll go outside and be out of your way.”[/color]

After a brief nod, Ben made his way to the other door and back into the cold. A woman had perched her elbows on the railing, a cigarette in hand as she stared out into the distance. For a second Ben was stunned at the family resemblance—no, resemblance was too weak, Lilie was the spitting image of her mother. Felicia’s features were a touch sharper and obviously older but she looked young for her age and it was like he was looking at his mage’s future self. In the back of his mind this only served to confirm his suspicions although he would not make assumptions without her input.

[color=C0C0C0]“Good evening.”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“I thank you for meeting with me. I hope you do not mind speaking out here.”[/color]

Felicia hadn’t looked at the vampire just yet, focusing more on getting in another smoke. After a few seconds, she took another drag, exhaling as she straightened up. Crossing her arms, she twirled her cigarette between her fingers, blue eyes sharp. [color=1E90FF]“Good evening,”[/color] She returned his greeting warily. [color=1E90FF]“What do you want?”[/color]

Ben was not surprised by her directness but it was humorous somehow to him to hear such a harsh tone from a face he has grown to know. He couldn’t even imagine Lilie speaking to him like that even at her harshest. But Felicia Dionne had all the bite of mortals and more. She was relaxed as she spoke, tense yes but not in the way most mortals were. She was anticipating something from him. An attack perhaps but he wasn’t so crass to lay hands on anyone. It was best to get directly to the point.

[color=C0C0C0]“I recently received medical records pertaining to your daughter and something didn’t seem right,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“A mage’s lineage is valued to most vampires for a multitude of reasons ranging from appearance to pristine health. Lilie is somehow not an exception to this rule even with her albinism and frailty in childhood. Were I a betting man, I would think Lilie was descended from a mage.”[/color]

Felicia listened to the count, expressionless. Even at the end she didn’t react much, only looking back out towards the backyard. She was quiet for a moment, thinking of what to say, but nothing seemed right. Finally, she shook her head. [color=1E90FF]“I think you’re right. I found out shortly after the...incident,”[/color] She admitted, raising her cigarette to her lips. [color=1E90FF]“There always is that small chance of magehood every couple of decades, as rare as they are. But I didn’t think...I never considered that such a big clue was in my face this whole time.”[/color]

She only thought he was right—she had no confirmation. With the situation at hand, however, that was good enough for Ben all things considered. As it was he was sure there would be no concrete evidence at this point in time. 

[color=C0C0C0]“I thought it was strange, I’ll admit,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“The Dionne family has existed in this town for generations. It’s comparable to some vampire dynasties how expansive it is between this town and the next. Many families here were the same and those that weren’t never came from too far away. I could find plenty for your father’s family—the Douglas family—but I couldn’t find anything of your mother. The only thing for certain is that Liliane Diggory lived here. I hope you can enlighten me on this.”[/color]

Taking in a breath, Felicia slowly exhaled. [color=1E90FF]“You sound like you have it all figured out,”[/color] She muttered, letting out a sigh. [color=1E90FF]“I never questioned the lack of family from my mother’s side since my father had six siblings and they all pumped out four kids minimum. She told me once that her family was much too far to communicate with--unlike these days where we have cellphones and the like, once you got far away enough from certain places you could basically disappear without a trace. One time, I think, she admitted that she had never met her father. And...she said something about a sister. But other than that, no one knew where she came from, and she died relatively young. It was...eight years ago. She was only fifty-seven.”[/color]

As she spoke, her tone became melancholy, even as she knit her eyebrows together. [color=1E90FF]“Why are you asking me about this?”[/color] She suddenly asked, looking directly at Ben with cold eyes. 

Recent years have made it harder for mages to escape but it wasn’t unheard of some decades ago. Depending on the family it would have caused a quiet yet hasty retrieval. Perhaps Liliane belonged to a small family. Or perhaps she was not missed. Fleeing to the countryside was wise but Ben was surprised nonetheless. It must have taken some courage to leave everything she knew behind.

Felicia’s hostility was warranted but Ben was not done. [color=C0C0C0]“Knowing my mage’s lineage is important,”[/color] Ben said.

[color=1E90FF]“It’s easier to sell a flawed mage when you can swear this is a one time anomaly,”[/color] Felicia’s response was sharp and to the point, and she made sure she was standing straight as she gave Ben a glare. [color=1E90FF]“I’ve spent years doing my damndest to make sure my daughter never saw herself as different, but your kind loves to pick apart mortals for a hair out of place and every abnormality they have just because we have the misfortune of being imperfect.”[/color]

Ben could also see where Lilie got her defensiveness from. Yet once again Felicia was much harsher, much more threatening. It wouldn’t do to simply make an attempt to calm her down; she would just as easily verbally rip him apart. Hearing her speak however gave Ben a sudden understanding.

[color=C0C0C0]“Yes, the immortal have always looked down on mortals for their flaws. But do not misunderstand my intentions,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“I have come here to look for answers to questions I have. Nothing more, nothing less.”[/color]

Felicia couldn’t help but scoff, fully turning back to the yard. [color=1E90FF]“I don’t believe you. But there’s not much I can do about it,”[/color] She replied. [color=1E90FF]“Unfortunately I’m going to have to disappoint you if you want to know anything else. My mother appeared one day suddenly, lived her life here, then died. I haven’t been able to find out where she came from or who her family is--I’m willing to bet her name was something she came up with herself, too. The only thing I do know is that she isn’t from this territory and she was probably a mage.”[/color]

Disappointing but Ben had an inkling Felicia would not be convinced. Fortunately her words gave him plenty to think about; the circumstances of Liliane Diggory’s appearance yielded mystery even from her own flesh and blood. They had come to the same conclusion as well. Still, she sounded so sure of what she said. 

[color=C0C0C0]“If I may ask, what makes you so sure she was a mage?”[/color] Ben asked. [color=C0C0C0]“People run away for multiple reasons ranging from abusive homes to wanting to start a new life.”[/color]

[color=1E90FF]“True. I could be wrong, just grasping at straws for some justification for everything that’s happened,”[/color] Felicia admitted that much. [color=1E90FF]“Honestly, it’s just...a feeling I have.”[/color]

Going with your gut was usually the way to go. Ben could honestly agree with Felicia solely on that as he had a familiar feeling. The mystery came to a cold ending and he supposed he would never truly know. He would lay the issue to rest and decided he would ask one more thing.

[color=C0C0C0]“I understand,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“If it is at all possible, can you tell me about Lilie’s Awakening?”[/color]

[color=1E90FF]“I’ll tell you now, I’m not going to elaborate on what happened at the dam,”[/color] The woman warned him. [color=1E90FF]“For one, I still don’t know exactly what happened. I can tell you the aftermath and that’s pretty much it,”[/color] She told him. [color=1E90FF]“Anything more you’re going to have to get out of her.”[/color]

After waiting for some inclination of agreement, Felicia let out a sigh, shaking her head. [color=1E90FF]“Truth is, I only have bits and pieces and guesses to what went on. The only reason I found out what happened is because an old colleague of mine let me know something was going on in the first place--the less humans know, the better they’re ‘protected’. I was told that the dam’s destruction was Lilie’s doing. To his credit, he was able to explain that mages without control had the capability to cause things like that to happen. There was no need to worry about costs as the vampire owning the territory would receive funding, and Lilie would be taken to another town for training. I remember hearing all that and conveying it to my husband, but as soon as I finished talking, he burst into tears. I think at that point I didn’t understand what was happening, even as I comforted him.”[/color]

That much was a surprise to Ben for some reason. Perhaps it was because he was used to having mages but he had been under the assumption that even a mage from a human family would be informed of what happened to the mage. However, what she said did make sense from his perspective as he was aware young mages’ abilities did have a chance at manifesting before their Awakening. He was also surprised to hear that Lilie had managed to destroy a dam of all things. There was some irony in hearing that after having previously discussed his weak mage but there was no point in bringing that up.

[color=C0C0C0]“After the incident, there was a record stating that a prescription for buspirone and benzodiazepines was handed out,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“I understand that using such power could be shocking, but I don’t see why those were given.”[/color]

For a moment, Felicia fell quiet, but her expression changed completely. She struggled with something at first, trying to find the words. [color=1E90FF]“I don’t suppose you...looked up any news articles, did you?”[/color] She asked slowly. [color=1E90FF]“Even though the mages did their best to cover it up, the destruction was pretty obvious. Thing is, around here, that area was a common place for people to hang out. Specifically, teenagers. That night was no exception.”[/color]

Ben could not fight the sinking feeling in his chest as Felicia spoke as he understood her hestiance—and Lilie’s—in revealing what had happened. Suddenly he remembered the practical and their last challenge where Lilie had nearly drowned. She had been exceptionally shaken by seeing her friends ‘floating’ in the water. He had initially assumed that it had been her current friends that had drowned but he did not consider that it had been friends from her previous life.

[color=C0C0C0]“With that said, they…”[/color] Ben couldn’t finish the sentence. But he would go on. [color=C0C0C0]“And Lilie believed their blood was on her hands. I see. I didn’t consider it would be so personal.”[/color]

Raising a hand to her forehead, Felicia let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. [color=1E90FF]“For a century old being, you’re not as smart as I thought you would be. Or maybe you’re just naive,”[/color] She couldn’t help herself, giving Ben an incredulous look. [color=1E90FF]“What did you think I was going to tell you?”[/color]

Ben did not have a response to that. He initially believed that he was not told solely because it was a source of shame. What [i]did[/i] he think Lilie was hiding? The truth was he didn’t care what it was so long as he learned about it. As he looked at Felicia, who waited for an answer to her question, it was he who was ashamed of himself. Never in a hundred years did he expect this, either. He never expected Lilie to have killed even by accident.

[color=C0C0C0]“I don’t know,”[/color] He said in earnest.

Shaking her head, Felicia finished off her cigarette, extinguishing it as she let out one last huff. Rubbing her hands together, she was at a loss as to what to say. [color=1E90FF]“Well, unfortunately I don’t have much else to say. She was medicated for a while due to recommendation from a psychologist, and she only came back when she had the princess’ invitation. I don’t think she’s been the same since, but…”[/color] She trailed off, pinching the bridge of her nose. [color=1E90FF]“That’s all I have for you. I won’t bore you with the details of what happened in between.”[/color]

[color=C0C0C0]“I see.”[/color]

Ben wished he had more to say but it was difficult to follow up at this point. He did want to know more but if Felicia could not provide any more answers then this was where it ended. Even so, he was glad he asked; he had gained valuable insight into who Felicia was as well. The transparency was refreshing and he knew she did the best that she could.

[color=C0C0C0]“Thank you. I will be sure to compensate you for your time,”[/color] Ben said.

Felicia scowled at him, openly rolling her eyes. [color=1E90FF]“Gee, thanks,”[/color] She looked Ben up and down, eyeing him warily. [color=1E90FF]“In return I’m going to give you some free advice from a lowly human: generally speaking, going behind someone’s back to learn their secrets is seen as a bad thing.”[/color]

Ben was once again surprised but he supposed he had this coming. He didn’t make it as secret as he should have; asking the family to make sure Lilie was away when he visited, going out of his way to make sure the circumstances were in his favor, all of it spilled multiple flags. If anything the fact that Felicia had already seen through it made Ben wonder why Lilie was so naive.

[color=C0C0C0]“It is for the better,”[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]“I am surprised at your temperament. You daughter is very kind and soft, and you are…”[/color]

[color=1E90FF]“Bitchy and direct?”[/color] She asked, raising an eyebrow as a grin formed. [color=1E90FF]“Yeah. Most people thought Lilie was my sister’s kid--they’re a lot alike in that way. But like I said, even a nice girl like Lilie wouldn’t be happy to learn her vampire is trying to sniff out the truth.”[/color]

And how perceptive! She would certainly even give some of his own servants a lesson. Ben could not stop his smile but he would nod graciously. It still amused him to no end to see how different this woman was. No wonder she was allowed to work alongside mages in her past. That thought was enough to remind him of one last thing.

[color=C0C0C0]"One more question and I will leave you be,"[/color] Ben said. [color=C0C0C0]"I have heard much of your skill. Who was the vampire that you won against?"[/color]

Felicia kept her grin, extinguishing her cigarette as she shook her head at him. [color=1E90FF]“Don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m human, I don’t stand a chance against your kind. You must have heard wrong,”[/color] She chuckled.

Disappointing but it could not be helped. Now, however, he truly would take his leave as he felt sticking around was not needed. [color=C0C0C0]“I understand. As I mentioned before, I have the best intentions,”[/color] Ben said.

[color=1E90FF]“Altruism is only noteworthy if your actions match them,”[/color] Felicia replied, patting Ben’s shoulder as she walked past him. 

Ben would not argue with that. However, he had imposed on them for far too long. He followed Felicia in and gave her a short bow before walking back to the living room though he did stop before a wall filled with pictures. The streaks of white were noticeable even from several photographs albeit the times were different. A much young Felicia holding a toddler Lilie, for instance, had caught his attention. The photo next to him, however, shocked him. The older woman in the photo could have been Felicia, though the brunette sat next to her, holding Lilie as a child. This must have been Liliane with her daughter and granddaughter.

Ben would not linger and instead chose to see himself out. 

[/hider]