[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/60169326-d55e-4adf-8f6d-dfd795abf6f2.png[/img][/center][hr][center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjU0LmYwMTcwYS5RbkpsWVdzZ1UydHBjQSwsLjIAAAAA/shlop.regular.png[/img][/center]
[center][sub]Dates: December 22nd - January 5[/sub][/center]

[hider=12/14 - Salem & Max - Maxwell Alderman is a Virtuous Soul][right][sub]Collab with [@Trainerblue192][/sub][/right]
It had been a few nights since the blood tasting they had all attended. Salem laid on his bed, listening to his music as he thought about what had transpired between the teleporting clock, the tension from Max and Aaron, and the general feel of the night. He pulled out his phone, glaring at his messages as he debated on texting Aaron to ask what it was all about. He scrolled aimlessly through their previous messages, not reading anything in particular as the words glided past his screen in a blur. Salem didn’t have to recount their conversations to know how Aaron would react. It was clear that he would dodge and avoid the issue as much as he could until convenient enough to state that the matter was at rest and handled. Much like the nightmares they had shared before. Salem tossed his head against his pillow with a large sigh, certain it would do nothing to solve this issue and only annoy Victors as he attempted to concentrate on something or another. As he took another look at his phone, the answer hit him in the face. Quite literally, the phone had slipped out of his grasp and fallen onto him, changing the page and moving onto a new messaging tab with Max’s name on it.

Salem couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it sooner, seven days of thinking on how to make Aaron speak up when the answer was to speak to Max all along. Sure he was grating at times but his mannerisms seemed simple. If you offered him something of interest then he might bite and hand over what is being asked. So Salem set off to do just that, though not offering anything immediately so that there was more room to play in later. 
[color=82ca9d]> Hey Max, its Salem. I was wondering if you were free to talk tonight. Had a few things on my mind about that disaster of a party and was wanting to pick your brain about it.[/color]

Two short replies in rapid succession came back a few short moments later.

[color=8585ad]> Yeah w/e, Eric’s gone so stop by whenever
> I reserve the right to kick you out if I don’t like your questions tho[/color]

Salem half expected for him not to get a reply back, instead he received two and it caused him to pause and re-read them. Did, did Alderman just invite him over while Eris was away? Salem wasn’t going to question it,and he sure as hell wasn’t going to toss the opportunity away. So he waited a few moments, long enough to not seem like he was an eager texter before finally replying.
[color=82ca9d]> Cool. See you in a bit[/color]

He got off his bed, changed into some casual wear and left for Eris’s dorm. Knocking at Max’s door after texting him another message as he waited outside.
[color=82ca9d]> Hey, I’m outside waiting[/color]

The door swung open and Maxie burst out immediately, the overeager dog making it all of two steps outside before her neck jerked awkwardly and the metallic clasp of her collar stretched against her movements back toward the dorm. She fought the pull in vain for a few moments, losing ground with every second before she suddenly spun around and slid back inside.

Max stepped up to the door a few moments later with a subtle grin at his handiwork written across his face. The dog barked in indignance before the mage shushed her with a nudge from his foot. [color=8585ad]“If you brought tea, I don’t want it,”[/color] he greeted with an inviting gesture toward the room behind him.

Salem watched the poor dog struggle before Max arrived. If he didn’t know any better he was trying to make an entrance, and that just meant Eris was rubbing off on him. But he decided not to think too much on it as he gave Max an equal grin. [color=82ca9d]”No I'm actually here to tell you about the great and wonderful Andel Starag, do you have time to hear about our saviour?”[/color] Salem's face fell flat with the hint of a smile before continuing. [color=82ca9d]”I figured you wouldn’t which is why I didn’t bring any. I’d debated on alcohol but it seemed inappropriate given…”[/color] He didn’t say much more before pressing in before Max had the opportunity to slam the door on him. Making his way towards the door he was gestured to but not yet entering it until Max did.

Max snorted in mild amusement, [color=8585ad]“People are really out here named [i]Andel[/i].”[/color] He followed the other mage inside and stepped into his room, making a vague gesture toward his desk chair before taking a seat on the bed himself. [color=8585ad]“If you really think we need to be drunk for this conversation, I’m not looking forward to whatever you need to ask. You’re lucky your vampire doesn’t come off as the blackmailing type.”[/color]

Salem followed his motion and sat at the desk chair, nervous yet still smiling as he thought of how best to approach this subject. [color=82ca9d]”Luckily he’s not. We actually had a conversation about that a few nights ago. So I'll be blunt and honest instead. I wanted to ask what the fuck was up between you and Aaron that night. There was some serious tension and it didn’t seem like you two were having a lovers quarrel so what is it? Oh and this is not in any sense to the betterment of Starag. Whatever is said here won't leave the room if you don't want it to.’[/color]

Oh great, it was everyone’s business now. Still, Max didn’t have anything to lose from this conversation; Aaron was the one that wanted it under wraps. Unfortunately, Max had no idea what the point of that conversation even was anymore. Eris was back to his usual sick puppy act, as far as Max could tell. Either he was really good at hiding his motives or he’d bought some load of bullcrap because he was thinking with his penis.

[color=8585ad]“Oh, yeah, I was just fucking with him. You know how I said Ryner fucked up on that test? It gets weirder,”[/color] Max explained, [color=8585ad]“We all got a mental magic clone of one of the other people there. Eric got Varis and he spilled a bunch of weird secrets - well, not so much secrets as nonsensical historical references - but Varis denies any knowledge. From what I was told, it looked like Eris could see the mage in charge losing control of the spell in real time. All of the other clones were faithful duplicates, if a bit exaggerated in their emotional extremes, but this was out of left field.”[/color]

Max raised a finger dramatically, as if he were just getting to his point, [color=8585ad]“Eris had me follow up with the mage in charge, and her story didn’t add up in the slightest. All I know is the spell definitely went wrong somehow, and instead of an apology I got a shoddy cover-up. Anyway, Aaron knows and I wanted to piss him off because I [i]thought[/i] our vampires were at odds over this. Apparently not.”[/color] Whatever the fuck Eris’ endgame was, it sucked.

Salem leaned forward in his seat as Max began to explain it all. It was a lot to take in, and it explained quite a few things about the exam that he hadn’t realized before. [color=82ca9d]”How exactly didn’t the stories add up? Also can i just say how tired I am of all these mind mages around here. Between the dinner with the Queen, The Revel, and now this, it seems like they need to either get a handle on what’s happening here or just fess up that they have no real control. Honestly I'm beginning to wonder if Ryner actually runs this school or if it's just a mind mage posing as her while Nox gets her kicks off or something. Hell I almost died during my exam.”[/color] He accentuated his last point by quicking leaning back into the seat and throwing his arms up in frustration. 

Max raised his hand as if he were holding a wine glass, pretending to propose a toast, [color=8585ad]“I say again, fuck the mental magic program.”[/color] He dropped his arm with a huff, [color=8585ad]“Eric talked to Ryner beforehand and the coverup she gave him and the coverup her lackey gave me differed [i]just[/i] enough that it sounded like a lie they’d been briefed on rather than actual events. Clone Varis started talking about Greta Bordeleaux and Ralmalamadingdong Marivaldi - where would that even come from? That had nothing to do with the exam. Either Ryner’s covering for her ally or she intended to fuck him over and play off her involvement as an unfortunate spell failure.”[/color]

He leaned back to lay on his bed briefly and checked his phone. [color=8585ad]“Worst part about it is, I thought Eric would capitalize on this and actually hit Count Cinnamon where it hurts, but instead he’s over at the Sinnenodel dorm right now lodged firmly in both his pocket and his ass. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. Aaron doesn’t have to know that though - so I keep bringing it up to get him nervous.”[/color] The mage raised his head up to look squarely at Salem, [color=8585ad]“Now spill, how’d you almost die? Another convenient ‘spell failure’?”[/color]

Salem was beginning to wonder if the nightmares were also Ryner or his mages trying to fuck him and Aaron over with the intention of playing it all off as either a mistake or a Red Hand involvement. If he was being honest he would have thought he was the main target given the dinner and that Aaron was simply an accidental casualty just based off of proximity or something. But he didn’t have the time to think on it, not with Max asking him a question finally, and Salem wasn’t sure yet if he wanted to bring Max into the fold of the dreams. Salem had placed his hands behind his head as he was leaning back onto the chair and quirked an eyebrow up at the question. It wasn’t something he had thought about but it was a potential explanation.

 [color=82ca9d]”Honestly i can’t say if it was a failure or not it was just...out of place almost. There was some riddle that another mage or vampire had fucked with. Broke off the ending so that we couldn’t get the full picture. Next thing I know I'm at the Astorio lodge fighting off a vampire and mage thinking I'm doing decently well until I find out that the mage had pumped me with spores and was killing me from the inside out. I was literally coughing up root systems on the ground while Victor made his way to the cabin thinking I had the fight handled. I knew the exam was meant to be difficult but to pit me against someone that can just kill me like that. It was more than a little concerning.”[/color] Salem leaned forward slightly so that his feet would hit the ground. Looking at Max and thinking about what to say next. [color=82ca9d]”Like i said, if you ask me there’s definitely something going on around here and it seems to be surrounding those mind mage freaks.”[/color]

That sounded… gross. If it was just an illusion, Max couldn’t say it was quite as troubling as Salem was making it out to be, as shitty as the situation probably was in the moment. [color=8585ad]“I don’t think that’s too far out of the ordinary - when Aaron and my clone got locked together apparently I sliced his arm to ribbons or something. It was perfectly intact when he was done, though. I assume all of the danger was simulated by some smug mind mage fuck with a chip on his shoulder because he got ignored at lunch.”[/color]

The point about mind mages was a good one - while he doubted the students were actually in on it, the professors were definitely one of Ryner’s weapons and not just educational professionals. [color=8585ad]“Ryner has the mental program staff under some kind of obedience spell. I don’t know how far it runs, but the one I talked to had to do some creepy ritual before she could even talk about that test, and only about Eris’ experience specifically. Not a stretch to think there’s even more influence at work there than forbidding them to tell secrets.”[/color]

His arms dropped down and were propped up on his knees as Salem’s smile faltered into a more serious frown. [color=82ca9d]”Well that could further explain why none of the nobility were willing to even hear me on the issue i had brought up to dinner. It seemed simple, even if they viewed it as naive, to allow mages onto their council as equals to help decide future mage rights, and how it is we are treated. But then that would mean that Ryner might lose her lackeys and that this strange...cult would have to be broken. I won't lie and pretend i know much about mental magic and the program but it just gives off real bad vibes and no one has spoken about them in a positive light. I'm sure that's for good reason too.``[/color] Salem tried to put on a smile again, or at the very least a more pleasant face so that the mood didn’t stay too harsh. [color=82ca9d]”Well here’s hoping that it was all an illusion and that they didn’t actually try to kill off one of their students who just happened to be under investigation. Cuz that would solve their issues fairly nicely. Especially given that the test right before that one had me basically relive the day my mother and I almost died by subterfuge so it seemed like a very pointed threat.”[/color]

Max sat up to stare incredulously at the plant mage as he elaborated on the infamous dinner conversation. He picked [i]that[/i] as a topic? Might as well discuss the merits of veganism with a pack of wolves. [color=8585ad]“No wonder you’re getting called a terrorist, they probably think you’re insane,”[/color] He scoffed, then took on a more stern expression, [color=8585ad]“I know I make the same judgment about most people’s character, but those mental magic kids came off [i]very[/i] unpleasant when I talked to them. They deserve every bit of that reputation they have if you ask me. Still, I doubt Ryner’s quite that bold to off you in the middle of her test. She can’t afford the negative press after that fucking fiasco of a Revel, and she had ample opportunity to just kill you there anyway. Probably meant to fuck with you rather than seriously hurt you.”[/color]

As much as he hated to give Ryner credit for being ‘nice’, he doubted she’d sabotage her own institution so overtly. Especially if she had a network of mind readers that could keep the place under her thumb. It just made Salem’s assumption all the more confusing. Why [i]didn’t[/i] Ryner have anything about this place under control? Either this was all according to plan or she was being seriously fucked with, and Max couldn’t even begin to fathom who had the ability to pull this level of bullshit off.

He hated politicking with these elder vampires - he wanted to stick to the few-centuries old upstarts who were still arrogant enough to slip up, not contend with some smug bitch that’s wrapping him in webs she’d tangled half a millennia ago. And his vampire seemed content to dip his toes into the conspiracy just enough to endanger himself - and more importantly, Max - but not enough to just finish the job. Fucking actors.

Salem couldn’t help but chuckle at Max’s reaction to the news of what had actually transpired that night. Though he felt he should correct him on one thing before pressing forward. [color=82ca9d]”Actually, I was accused of terrorism because some mind mage invaded my privacy at the table and i accused Lady Sinnenondel’s mage of having done so. They had then agreed that perhaps the events I was describing as mind magic was more so an implanted spell done before I reached the grounds and thus the work of this mysterious Red Hand. Granted I wasn’t the only one who was messed with but I was the only one with the gal to call them out. So i suppose that makes me a terrorist for now”[/color] He offered the mage a shrug as if this was just another notch on his belt now given that there was no way to change what had already happened.

He was a bit surprised to hear Max almost compliment Ryner, or anyone for that matter. But he was right in thinking that it was too bold of a move for her to do. Salem figured she could easily blame it on the wildlife, or simply say that he had resonated from attempting to do an improper spell and caused himself to grow from the inside out. Really she could spin most any tale and have the faithful followers gobble it all up like she seemed to do. However for now he would defer to Max’s judgement and assume it was more of a reminder than an immediate threat to his life. [color=82ca9d]”I [i]guess[/i] I'm glad to hear that they deserve the talk about them? Honestly I'm not sure why anyone even wants to join the course. You give up your free will to what? Read someone's mind? I'm sure it's going to get them far being someone's pet at a party as they play their games of espionage without any self worth to their name.”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“Ask our mutual friend. Apparently your experience with Lady Cinnamon’s mages scared him shitless enough to risk it,”[/color] Max remarked dismissively. He wasn’t even going to dignify the Red Hand theory with acknowledgement; he wasn’t even there and he could see Sybil was just lazily covering her own ass with that. [color=8585ad]“If he turns into even more of an insufferable jackass, I guess we’ll know he got mind controlled by their weird hive mind. Oh yeah, that rumor’s real too - they have a weird psychic group chat where they talk shit all day.”[/color]

Okay, he didn’t know for sure they talked shit, but what else does one do with an entire class of networked social outcasts? Wasn’t like they had any hobbies beyond prying into shit that wasn’t their business. [color=8585ad]“Besides, he’s already a pet at a party, might as well gain some usable information for a change instead of selling his body.”[/color]

Ofcourse Aaron was going to become a mind mage. He already gave up his sense of self a while ago so why not give up a bit more to gain some magic? Salem couldn’t help but feel like Max’s assumption about Lady Sinnenodel lighting that fire under Aarons ass, but if he had to guess given Varis and Salem’s fathers likeness, they may of done that on purpose as a ploy to get him to follow the dog treats as he tended to do. Salem simply let out a sigh of disbelief at the news as he shook his head. [color=82ca9d]”I suppose we’ll have to see then. If he can become more of an insufferable ass i mean. Honestly i feel as if i'm talking to a wall half the time, and to think i had a crush on him when i first started here. Speaking of Varis’s pets where [i]Eris[/i] at the moment?”[/color] 

The metal mage grimaced distastefully in response. Salem had given him so much to be disgusted with there, too. Crushing on the Retriever was pretty low, but he supposed it was excusable if it was before they’d properly met. Then again, this same bozo had tried shoving his tongue down Max’s throat, so it wasn’t exactly a surprise. The situation with Eris being disgusting went without saying, especially when they were making such good progress on unmasking Varis’ weird history lesson conspiracy.

[color=8585ad]“The Sinnenodel bedroom, if I had to guess. He never learns,”[/color] Max grumbled.

[color=82ca9d]”Oh. [i]Oh[/i]. Right you had mentioned something about his ass but i had assumed it was a weird figure of speech.’[/color] Salem let the silence cling in the air as he could practically feel the awkwardness filling the room. This was the appropriate time to have a drink, to help get over this feeling. Instead he gave a short cough. [color=82ca9d]”Well then i suppose at the very least [i]those[/i] rumours were true. I heard about it a while ago at one of my mothers tea parties. People tend to gossip and the things I've heard about Varis were...interesting.”[/color] He straightened up a bit, adjusting himself on the chair as he had thought about how to move the conversation forward but in all honesty he may have gotten all he could from Max’s point of view about the tension between those two. [color=82ca9d]”So, you mentioned that Victor hadn’t seemed like the kind for blackmailing, is Eris the type? Should i be worried?’[/color] It came out halfway as a joke, but one that had truth within it.

[color=8585ad]“Eris is [i]absolutely[/i] the blackmailing type,”[/color] The metal mage warned nonchalantly, [color=8585ad]“But we don’t exactly collaborate on things that don’t concern both of us and I’m pretty sure he thinks Victor is just some dumb ogre that’s not worth his time. So, I wouldn’t be concerned.”[/color] Not for Max’s lack of trying - which was saying something, because if [i]he[/i] had to be the one to reach out, there was clearly a trust issue involved. [color=8585ad]“Until he decides you look fun enough to mess with, he’ll probably forget you exist, and even then he’s only worth [i]worrying[/i] about if your failure benefits him. By the way, don’t go posting that sex thing online, it’s supposed to be a poorly hidden secret.”[/color]

Max paused a moment, as if considering something. [color=8585ad]“If that question was more aimed at [i]me[/i], I can keep a secret if you need me to. I’m sure half the campus knows where my loyalties lie by now, and it’s not with some D-list actor. Just don’t do anything that’ll force me into spilling the beans.”[/color] It sounded like more of a threat than he’d intended it to, but the point needed to be made anyway. If the choice was between him or someone else, he’d always pick himself, but barring circumstances like that, it wasn’t like he had anyone to gossip to in the first place.

When Max said not to post the sex scandal online Salem pulled out his phone, unlocked it, then gave Max a look. [color=82ca9d]”I'm sorry what did you say? I was posting the sex scandal on twitter. Joking, I’m joking. No worries, I can keep my mouth shut if needed as well. Though i guess that makes at least two sex scandals in this school. Aarons, and now Eris. Granted only one was actually true.”[/color] He wasn’t exactly sure how to take the news about Eris’s blackmailing. What considered him fun enough to mess with? What kept him out of the actor's gaze? Honestly he was surprised that Eris could see past his own nose long enough to notice anybody. [color=82ca9d]”While i'm not exactly fond of the [i]idea[/i] that you could blackmail me,I do actually enjoy talking with you and wouldn’t put it past making you someone i could confide with if only because i know most people are either too afraid to speak to you or you wont give them the time of day to do so. Granted most anything i know does go to Lilie given some past instances that i had accidentally made her worry.”[/color]

Max managed a flat glare for a few seconds before he ruined it with a snicker at Salem’s mention of Aaron’s sex scandal. If only he knew how right he was. Max was tempted to spill the beans right there, but this was a juicy piece of information and the brunette didn’t want to spend it carelessly.

[color=8585ad]“Oh, relax,”[/color] He said with a dismissive wave of his hand, [color=8585ad]“I’m not blackmailing anyone. But if you tell me to keep a secret and Eris tells me to do something I know is detrimental because of said secret, I guess I’m no longer keeping it secret.”[/color] Being someone’s confidant was good, even if it was sappy cute shit that he wanted no part of on a sentimental level. Information was more than currency here, it was strength. While he might not be able to spend anything he learned without a serious breach of trust, the more he knew, the better he’d be able to react if something came up. Even if it was just [i]Salem[/i]. Lilie seemed like she’d fold if she was asked a question in an assertive voice, let alone actually interrogated - Flower Boy clearly didn’t have secrecy weighing too heavily on his mind here anyway.

Salem offered the metal mage a simple shrug. As much as he didn’t like it, that was essentially how things worked around here. Regardless of how close someone was they always had to weigh their relationships with that of what their vampires wishes are. He wasn’t sure if Victor would ever do something like that, and he hoped it never came to light. [color=82ca9d]”I can’t exactly fault you there. I’d just hate to think that you or anyone else was just around me to farm for information and play games. The vampires might have time for that but my life spans too short to give a damn. I'm simply trying to do what I can with the time I have.”[/color] He leaned back once again in the chair, giving Max a quizzical look. [color=82ca9d]”So, did you have anything you wanted to speak of or was this simply just to answer what i had in mind?’[/color]

Fair enough. Max figured Astorio mages had that kind of privilege, given how… intellectual that fine House of vampiric scholars was. Given Eris’ weird Sinnenodel connection, though, he doubted he possessed that luxury himself. Still, he wasn’t exactly acting maliciously. Here he was, holding back on ruining Aaron’s reputation for at least a few weeks out of nothing but… yeah, nothing. Aaron’s integrity had no value to him. Truly, Max was a virtuous soul for this.

[color=8585ad]“You wanted to talk, I had nothing better to do, here we are,”[/color] He said unenthusiastically. Quite frankly, he had no idea what Flower Boy would even [i]want[/i] to talk about. Tea and gardening weren’t fields Max intended to take an interest in, and if Salem was expecting some weird love confession here, he was shit out of luck. 

Salem wasn’t going to be the one to say that Max most likely had nothing better to do. Figured they could either leave it unsaid or have Max be the one to bring it up. However now came the most awkward time of all, when they ran out of what to talk about and it was either Max kicked him out , Salem bows out, or they found a way to actually hang out together. Question was...what the hell did Max even like? [color=82ca9d]”So...do you like video games or movies?”[/color] Geeze what grade were they in? 

Landar’s dick, did Flower Boy really just ask him that? He really was reaching. He definitely wasn’t talking about movies - the conversation would loop back to Eris and Max would end up having to watch some of his crap. Probably one of the corny romance dramas, if he had Salem’s tastes pegged right. That left… video games? Were they twelve?

[color=8585ad]“Eric ruined movies for me,”[/color] Max flatly announced, [color=8585ad]“And I’m pretty sure he’d smell it on me somehow if I watched something one of his ‘rivals’ starred in. Out of gossip so soon you gotta resort to playing skirmishers with me?”[/color]

Salem moved a strand of hair behind his ear as he realised just how idiotic that sounded. Sure he wasn’t the best at making friends but at least he was trying. [color=82ca9d]”Figured you had nothing else going on may as well hang out. I haven’t actually seen any of his films, and I doubt you're the type to want to just make out or hook up. Least of all with me, so that left the only two options you seemed like you would enjoy like watching movies with lots of pyrotechnics and death or some games with well basically the same things just that you'd be controlling them.”[/color]

Would he be out of line to just break Salem’s nose? No, that wouldn’t end well and he was trying to be friendly here. The fact that he mentioned hooking up at all was troubling, but at least he’d phrased it as something he recognized Max [i]wouldn’t[/i] want to do.

[color=8585AD]“Eric doesn’t do pyrotechnics. He does fights with the love interest’s mother.”[/color] Actually, Blood War could very well have had Eris-Landar torching vampires by the hundreds for all he knew, but that hardly made for a decent propaganda piece. [color=8585ad]“Put on whatever you want, if you’re bored. As long as it’s not Julius Monraine; he will break down the wall to turn it off.”[/color]

The one time Max’s empty schedule was a detriment - he had no excuse to kick people the fuck out of his dorm. Not that he particularly wanted to watch a movie, but he definitely wasn’t crawling back to the Astorio dorm to humor Salem with video games. Plus he was half-convinced Victor would make them do push-ups if he caught them playing. 

[color=8585ad]“Unrelated question, but does Count Astronomy start regaling you with war stories when he catches you playing games? He strikes me as the type to see you swing a sword and start ranting.”[/color]

[color=82ca9d]”He has a whole workout regimen for me as is. Aside from that I can do what I wish with my time without his bothering me usually. I think he’s too...traumatized by the war stories or he thinks I don't care. Either way I haven't heard much if any and he refuses to let me use a weapon yet. I don't know if he thinks i'll hurt myself or Lilie, or both.”[/color] Salem stood up from the chair and gave a small stretch. He didn’t want to invade Max’s space and take a seat on his bed, but man he wasn’t a huge fan of just sitting in chairs. [color=82ca9d]”Pick whatever movie you think would suck the least. No offense but if his acting is anything like him i assume it's over the top so i suppose you’ll be the best judge on what to watch.”[/color]

Max simply shrugged and stood up. [color=8585ad]“I haven’t watched any of them, I’ll be honest. How ‘bout I list off titles and you pick the one that sounds the easiest to make fun of?”[/color]
[/hider]

[hider=12/28 - Max & Eris (& Ismene) - I Came Here To Laugh At You][right][sub]Collab with [@Hero][/sub][/right]
Max stared at the TV with a lopsided grin. His mother was saying something - he wasn’t listening; it didn’t matter anyway. Probably asking why hearing ‘Count Varis Sinnenodel’ sent him running out of his room. He thought he’d misheard, honestly, but there was old Sybie looking like a wet sock on camera while the banner along the bottom of the screen scrolled through some made up crap about the Red Hand.

[color=8585ad]“No fucking way,”[/color] He murmured, trying to contain his glee. That was sick, he needed to go back in his room before someone called him a sociopath. He pulled his phone out as he slunk back into the bedroom from which he’d emerged wordlessly. First text went to Aaron, that was a no brainer. Eris needed a text too - no, a phone call. He needed to say it out loud to really get the full effect. Besides, sadistic joy aside, this had the potential to be a big issue. 

Red Hand was code for dishonest news story, as far as Max was concerned - he was sure a prick like Varis had a lot of enemies, but Ryner knew that Eris found out… whatever the fuck they found out about Cinnamon and the timing was certainly convenient. She could’ve realized her coverup operation sucked and decided to just have him killed. Or worse, he faked his own death to coax his enemies into acting, possibly with Ryner’s help, if they were truly both in on this conspiracy. A conspiracy which, of course, he still had no clues on beyond two names and an old Marivaldi crest. Hell, Eris might already be staked. Or… he could just be overspeculating and Varis really did just get the fiery solar reckoning he deserved.

Ugh, Max was too good at ruining his own fun. That initial rush of giddy excitement was the best he’d felt in weeks and his heart was still pounding somewhere in between thrill and fear. Gloat first, plan later. His heel leaned back to nudge the door closed as he hit the call button under ‘Eric’.

After three rings, the call connected. [color=90EE90]“Good evening, Maxwell,”[/color] Ismene’s voice came out, a touch of annoyance on her end as a male voice could be heard in the background. [color=90EE90]“May I ask the reason for your call tonight?” [/color]

Nope, he was already losing it. Max clenched his teeth to suppress a giggle while Ismene was talking. His first thought was that Eris might not’ve heard yet, but this wasn’t some business number; if Ismene was answering the phone, Eris was probably busy having a breakdown. Or entertaining guests, judging by the noise, but that just made the whole scenario funnier.

[color=8585ad]“You know why,”[/color] The metal mage responded jovially, [color=8585ad]“Put him on and don’t tell him it’s me if he didn’t hear you already.”[/color]

Letting out a weary sigh, there was a minor shuffle heard. A few seconds later, the sound of her heels clicking could be heard followed by another pair of voices. One was noticeably Eris’ while the other was Antigone’s, though despite the volume it was hard to make out what they were saying.

[color=90EE90]“You have a call,”[/color] Ismene said.

[color=CCFF99]“I’m not taking any calls right now,”[/color] Eris replied.

[color=90EE90]“You should take this one--”[/color] A low growl came through and interrupted her, though Ismene shooed it away. [color=90EE90]5“Take it, I need to feed Sasha.”[/color]

Another scuffle, and then footsteps followed by a closed door--Eris was likely alone. [color=CCFF99]“Eris Samael speaking.”[/color] He said professionally. 

Max had to practically hold his breath to not make any noticeable noise while Ismene was wrangling Eris into taking the call, but the moment he heard the vampire’s voice properly on the other line, he burst out into raucous, explosive laughter. It was probably hard to tell it was even Max at that point, given the rarity in which he ever manifested positive emotional extremes. If one could call laughing at a dead man ‘positive’, anyway. He kept going until he sounded out of breath, making a noise somewhere between a horny donkey and a dying seal before he managed to form words.

[color=8585ad]“Oh fuck… I think I’m gonna throw up,”[/color] He panted out before returning to his earlier cackling. 

Eris waited in silence until Max finished, letting out something that was either a groan or an exasperated sigh. [color=CCFF99]“That could’ve been a voicemail,”[/color] He told him, annoyed. [color=CCFF99]“If that’s all you’re calling me for, I’m hanging up.”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“Hang on, I’m not done yet,”[/color] Max snapped in reply before he let out his final laughs, [color=8585ad]“And no, that couldn’t have been a voicemail - you wouldn’t have listened to the whole thing.”[/color] He took a moment to catch his breath - his abs hurt, holy shit that was great. [color=8585ad]“And I needed to make sure you weren’t staked in a ditch somewhere anyway. If this is about you-know-what you’re probably next on the list.”[/color]

And here was the part where Eris calls him paranoid and underinformed. Still, Max probably would’ve gotten at least a heads-up if Eris was in on the whole death faking scheme. Or not, the actor was so fickle with information sometimes.

[color=CCFF99]“Aww, you care about me, that’s so sweet,”[/color] Eris’ voice couldn’t have been dryer if he tried. [color=CCFF99]“Unfortunately you’re not that lucky, you’ll be stuck with me for the rest of the forty-something years left in your life before you’re either stabbed or dead due to a stroke from trying to feel something that isn’t perpetual disdain.”[/color]

There was a brief pause before he continued, [color=CCFF99]“And even if I was dead, don’t you think you’d see it on TV, too? You keep joking that I’m a nobody but I can’t even step out of my condo without the gossip magazines writing six pages on the fact that I chose to wear [i]sneakers[/i] instead of whatever shoe they’re trying to push sales on.”[/color]

He decided to soothe Max, however, with his next words, [color=CCFF99]“I know it’s your first time getting tangled up in nefarious affairs by proxy, but you need to relax,”[/color] There was the sound of papers being flipped through. [color=CCFF99]“If you jump at every little thing, your blood pressure will pop your head off your body.”[/color]

Here Max was having a good time and Eris still accused him of being crabby. The nerve of some people. Honestly, Eris dying would garner media attention but he seemed like one of those deaths that Max would learn about from a meme rather than an actual news story. He made it a point to avoid Eris-related news if at all possible, if only because he might see himself included by proxy.

[color=8585ad]“Don’t get too comfortable, I just needed to make sure no Noila death squads were gonna knock on my door later,”[/color] Max huffed, [color=8585ad]“As far as I’m concerned, the only one with red hands around here is Ryner, and she knows we’re on to something weird. Either she offed him or [i]Varis[/i] knows we’re onto something weird so he’s playing opossum. Is that an unreasonable assumption? You know the people he rubbed the wrong way - I don’t need to hear it, it’ll probably take all night - can you think of anyone else on that list with the balls to try this stunt?”[/color]

Chuckling to himself, Eris waited until Max finished. [color=CCFF99]“I love the way your mind works. Really, you’d give some of my own mages a run for their money,”[/color] He took a second to think. [color=CCFF99]“All plausible concerns you should carry in the back of your mind, but I wouldn’t worry too much about anyone showing up at your door just yet. Whoever decided to off Varis played their card too soon, and while you and I agree that the Red Hand is synonymous for vampiric activity, we disagree that it’s Ryner this time around.”[/color]

His phone took a picture of something and he took some time to scroll through another phone, the sounds coming through on the call. [color=CCFF99]“Do you know how the merry-go-round of heirship works in noble houses? Aside from the Marivaldi house, Eve, Sinnenodel, and Astorio have their own way of determining their lines of power. The Eves are essentially a massive popularity contest, but if one has enough pull and enough vampires rallying behind them, they can successfully put their family at the head. The latter two operate under the same principle: anyone can get anything at any time provided they outmaneuver their fellow brethren. The Astorios, for instance, are all about physically dominating one another, constantly challenging their superiors for their seats of power in duels to the death. The Sinnenodels differ in how their Lady chooses their heir, but the same principle applies: all they need to do is either kill the heir off or prove themselves in some other way to gain the Lady’s favor.”[/color]

[color=CCFF99]“Now, if you listened and haven’t dozed off yet, I’ll get to my point. Assassination attempts are common not just in noble houses but in vampire life. While it’s less likely that I’ll find anyone coming after my life, all it really takes is a business deal going wrong before another vampire decides that I need to be taken out as an obstacle. Considering we’re immortal beings, it’s just a way of life,”[/color] He continued. [color=CCFF99]“With that information in mind, you tell me: do you really believe what we’re seeing right now?”[/color]

So much for that Sinnenodel crap about them being too haughty and civilized for violence. That wreck looked about as brutish as it gets. Eris’ point made sense too, unfortunately. Especially since Nox was leading the investigation - maybe a red herring to veil Ryner’s involvement, but if they really did dislike each other, he couldn’t imagine Nox would be [i]too[/i] complicit in the scandal when Ryner could’ve assigned one of her own loyalists instead. 

[color=8585ad]“Hardly. No confirmed body, which means our assassin either did sloppy work or this is all a big hoax,”[/color] Max responded as he paced in circles around his room, [color=8585ad]“Political assassination sounds entirely reasonable, but again, wouldn’t they have made [i]sure[/i] he died? You mess up once and Varis is gonna be on his guard for-”[/color] A knock on the door cut the mage off, eliciting an annoyed groan. [color=8585ad]“I’m on the phone!”[/color]


[color=cc00ff]“Is this about Count Sinnenodel?”[/color] His mother asked from the other side.

[color=8585ad]“Yeah, I’m playing leech politics, go away.”[/color]

The door opened, much to his dismay, and he was greeted with a fully grown woman grinning like a teenage girl, [color=cc00ff]“Is that Eris?”[/color]

Tactless. Max sighed and rudely inched the door closed right in her face. [color=8585ad]“Yes, and no, you can’t talk to him,”[/color] He turned his attention fully back to the phone call, [color=8585ad]“Where was I?”[/color]

There was a much more genuine laugh before Eris cleared his throat. [color=CCFF99]“Anyone who has a target on their backs would already have their guards up, but otherwise you’re correct,”[/color] He replied, light taps clueing Max in on Eris typing up something on a keyboard. [color=CCFF99]“You could argue that they’re trying to save face, but with someone on that scale it wouldn’t be nearly as vague. I’m a little surprised at the amount of detail that went into it, hearing that Varis died some distance away would be accurate considering how little the Sinnenodels value physical exertion. But I digress.”[/color]

[color=CCFF99]“The only reason I believe this isn’t Ryner’s work is because she still needs him for something. I don’t know what, exactly, but he’s too valuable an asset to lose just yet,”[/color] He sighed, clicking his tongue. [color=CCFF99]“So Varis has his own security detail, plus whatever the princess can afford him, so the thought of him getting offed isn’t likely. Of course, there is the very real possibility that I’m entirely wrong and he is dead, but...I doubt it.”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“Unless she decided whatever you found was more of a risk than whatever she’s gaining is. Then again, she was playing coy with you so she evidently wasn’t [i]too[/i] worried. Not to mention, if she’s assigning him extra security, she could’ve just had one of them off him quickly and quietly.”[/color] Fuck, there goes Max’s best lead. Maybe it was a bit too egotistic to assume everything revolved around him and whatever weird conspiracy he was involved in, but he still wasn’t keen on counting it out entirely. 

[color=8585ad]“So this hypothetical assassin would’ve had to outplay two groups of security personnel, leave no survivors, and still somehow be incompetent enough to let the actual target get away. Not likely. Could be a kidnapping, but then why fake the death, that’s free ransom money. So the only question left is; what’s Cinnamon’s endgame here?”[/color]

[color=CCFF99]“Sinnenodel. You’re on the right track, at least, I’ll give you that much,” Eris told him. [color=CCFF99]“I’ll tell you this much, I don’t believe Ryner has given me [i]that[/i] much thought yet. Maybe soon, but…”[/color] He trailed off for a moment, though he changed his mind as he continued with, “Whatever the case, really take a second and think. If we know it isn’t Ryner, why do you think Varis would fake his own death?”[/color]

Oh good, Eris was about to do something stupid. Max expected as much but the confirmation didn’t give him any comfort. Whatever, messing with Ryner beat mundane mage activities by far. As for Varis, fuck, he had no idea what that guy wanted. Money, power; he had those and pretending to die wasn’t doing him any favors unless he was committing insurance fraud.

[color=8585ad]“Well, with him out of the way, I’d assume all the other potential heirs will promptly rip each other’s throats out, so that’d be a win for him. There’s certainly more efficient ways of getting [i]you[/i] out of his business, so I think we can rule us out as the culprit unless we really opened a pot of shit in that exam.”[/color] Max clicked his tongue as he thought for a moment, [color=8585ad]“Maybe get Ryner to slip while she tries to adjust her plans around losing him as an asset, but again, I think there’s easier ways to do that.”[/color]

[color=CCFF99]“All good answers. Well done--not that you care about my praise, but it’s there,”[/color] Eris paused. [color=CCFF99]“...actually, since I have you here, before you either burst into hysterics again or decide to hang up, there’s something I’ve been meaning to discuss with you.”[/color]

Max would hear more paper getting moved around before Eris would get to it. [color=CCFF99]“I was going to wait until the break was over, but I need to bring this up sooner than later. I’m not sure you’re aware of this, but your physical revealed that you’re a Taldrin model mage. Do you know what that means for you from a vampire’s point of view?”[/color]

Ugh, Professor Hot Wheels blabbed. Why was that on his medical records? Did they have to start screening for dementia or something because of that? 

[color=8585ad]“That I wasn’t kidding when I told you I would rip the wires out of the walls and strangle you with them?”[/color] He fake-hedged a guess. Max knew it was apparently rare but was it a novelty or something? As far as he knew, vampires didn’t seem to know or care about magic beyond immediate utility for themselves, let alone obscure models of magical theory for old people.

[color=CCFF99]“Aside from that. Taldrin model mages are exceedingly rare and well sought after by collectionists. The Academy’s staff are sworn to secrecy but I didn’t know what the extent of your knowledge was,”[/color] Eris explained. [color=CCFF99]“This leads me to one of two things: that little joke about vampires coming to knock at your door is a real possibility. If I were you, I would keep that information under tight wraps. If you get kidnapped I’m going to have to chase you down and then you’d have to live with the embarrassment that is me saving you.”[/color]

What the fuck, there were mage collectors? Of course there were, who was Max kidding, those insane fucks will make a collection of anything if they think it has enough value. Would’ve been nice for him to get that memo from someone other than Eris of all people, though. The Crown’s official stance was probably that this event never happened and thus the staff wasn’t allowed to bring it up.

[color=8585ad]“I’m touched, really,”[/color] He responded flatly, [color=8585ad]“What’s so special about it? For all you bloodsucking fucks know, the mage being shown off to you could be a traditional mage faking it.”[/color] Just what he needed, more fucking magic trouble. Being a mage [i]sucked[/i] and he was going to stand by that point for at least the next hour until some lowly human irked him and he was back to savoring a place in the magical elite.

Fuck, he was turning into Aaron.

[color=CCFF99]“Vampires value genetics in mages, and if it’s rare and special and something they can brag about, then it’s something worth having,”[/color] Eris explained. [color=CCFF99]“It’s why vampires tend to pick one or two to bring with them to parties and the reason showmages exist. It’s honestly just one giant dick measuring contest.”[/color]

Which would bring him to his next point. [color=CCFF99]“With that in mind, this leads me to the other thing. I think once I settle on your breeding schedule, I’ll be looking into you getting proper defensive training,”[/color] He informed Max. [color=CCFF99]“Without giving too much away, certain things have changed for the future and I think properly molding you into that bodyguard idea Ismene had would work out better for everyone.”[/color]

Oh good, Max had pricy sperm. Just what he needed to hear. Now he really was turning into Aaron. Breeding [i]schedule[/i]? There were only so many bribes Eris could offer equal in value to an unenthusiastic night in bed with a woman he’d never met. And he certainly had no desire to be the start of some weird line of stagehands.

[color=8585ad]“Can’t say I blame you. I almost feel bad for your incensed business partner that tries to stab you, or however these assassination attempts go,”[/color] He responded casually to deflect away from his next point, [color=8585ad]“Oh yeah, and my breeding [i]what now[/i]? You find out I have unorthodox magic and I’m your new prize bull?”[/color] Speaking of which, Eris had a whole staff of mages - was he a weirdo collector too or was a retinue of that size standard for uppity celebrities? 

[color=CCFF99]“Your breeding schedule. I know you’re human-born, but you have parents. They bred to make you,”[/color] Eris said as if it was the most obvious thing.

[color=8585ad]“Yeah, dumbass, but unless you’re asking me to go find out the date my parents fucked so you can look up the exact alignment of Sagittarius and the moon at the time I don’t see what that has to do with schedules - or me.”[/color] Schedule didn’t mean once or twice either, it meant regular occurrence. Nasty.

[color=CCFF99]“Anastasia’s tits--that’s [i]not[/i] what that means,”[/color] Eris groaned. [color=CCFF99]“When I say ‘schedule’ I mean the time period where you stick your dick in a female to produce a child. Originally, I thought the window between the age of twenty one to twenty four was alright, but I figure if I push it to your graduation, I could have a few little Maxwell pups to keep for myself and then sell whatever for profit. I’ve been looking for someone to mate with Ismene, too, so there’s that to consider.”[/color]

Ooh, somebody had been paying attention in Mortal Biology. Apparently not in Mortal Psychology though because [i]who the fuck says that[/i]?! What, was he supposed to babysit a bunch of brats like foster kittens until Eris found someone to buy them? That was disturbing at best. Having kids with [i]Ismene[/i] wasn’t any better. Hell, it was worse; he’d have to look at her afterward.

[color=8585ad]“I know charming socialite Eris Samael doesn’t understand this, but that’s gross and creepy,”[/color] Max responded after a short delay, [color=8585ad]“I might blow off your little rewards most of the time, but trust me when I say my body isn’t free.”[/color]

[color=CCFF99]“The miracle of creating life isn’t gross, that’s so mean,”[/color] Eris disagreed, clicking his tongue. [color=CCFF99]“Are you telling me you never planned on having children? It’s basically the same thing, except I pick out your bride. If you have any preferences I’ll try to keep them in mind, but ultimately it’ll be someone advantageous to your newfound status. What’s wrong with that?”[/color]

Max approached the wall and thumped his head against it with a sigh. He really didn’t get it, huh? Of course not, Eris probably thought of his mother like another one of the servants and his father as some nebulous authority figure. He didn’t imagine family ties were particularly tight among leeches.

[color=8585ad]“Eris, do I sound like the nurturing type?”[/color] He asked rhetorically. Yeah, Maxwell Alderman, the guy who could barely put up with half the mages at this school was looking forward to changing diapers. Either the vampire wasn’t giving this much thought or he’d been reading inaccurate books about human behavior written by some equally out of touch vampire.

[color=CCFF99]“You’re really telling me you’ve never even considered settling down?”[/color] Eris sounded more surprised than anything. [color=CCFF99]“Getting married, starting a family, those are all common human goals. What were your goals before you found out you were a mage?”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“Sure, maybe, absolutely not. In that order,”[/color] He grumbled wearily. Yep, it was probably the book. As for plans… fuck, did looking smart from a distance while doing as little work as possible count? Because he was pretty sure he was still going with that plan, albeit in a more… hectic work environment than some menial day job.

[color=8585ad]“And no, ‘getting married’ and ‘getting married to a complete stranger that Eris thinks will make nice babies’ are not the same thing,”[/color] Max tacked on quickly. Maybe he could get away with jerking off in a cup and keeping his dignity.

[color=CCFF99]“Why aren’t they the same thing? It takes all the trouble of having to meet anyone. I actually figured this was the one thing you wouldn’t grumble about,”[/color] Eris commented, confused. [color=CCFF99]“You get married, get all dressed up and pretty, then spread your legs to pump out two or three kids, then you lounge around doing whatever while the nanny takes care of everything. Easy life for minimal effort, I really don’t understand you sometimes.”[/color]

[color=CCFF99]“But don’t think I didn’t notice you not answering my question,”[/color] He added. [color=CCFF99]“You’re too smart to not have [i]something[/i] in mind.”[/color]

For a guy who catches feelings over arguably the most offputting vampire on campus, Eris sure was missing the point. Max figured the argument was more about breeding animals than marrying people, but still - how could the face of cinematic sex appeal be this bad at cheesy romance concepts?

[color=8585ad]“People tend to marry people they like, I know this is probably news in your ivory tower.”[/color] Ugh, why was he even arguing this? It was sappy and dumb. [color=8585ad]“Anyway, I hate to break it to you but I really didn’t have much planned. Hard to be enthusiastic about spending the next forty-something years toiling for people you hate.”[/color] Fuck, that was too honest. Max couldn’t catch a break here; he should’ve just hung up when sex came into the conversation.

Eris was quiet on the other end, thinking to himself. The only thing that broke the silence was the sound of a door opening. [color=CCFF99]“And now you’re stuck toiling away for a vampire you hate. Funny how that works out,”[/color] He stated wistfully. [color=CCFF99]“Still, you’re under my care now, and that includes everything from finding you the mother of your future children to completing my trifecta of mages. And as much as you hate it, you’re in capable hands.”[/color]

Eris getting quiet wasn’t a good sign; either Max said something too heavy - fuck, let’s face it, he kinda did - or the leech was genuinely taken aback by his lack of… optimism? Motivation? Evidently he wasn’t too taken aback given he jumped right back into the conversation without skipping a beat.

[color=8585ad]“Mhmm,”[/color] He hummed affirmatively,[color=8585ad] “Did you need anything else or do you need to go bride shopping for Taldrin ladies?”[/color]

[color=CCFF99]“Nothing that comes to mind that can’t wait until we return. Though I now have a tiger chewing on my leg that wants attention as well as a few irrelevant items to tackle on today’s to-do list, so I’ll take the opportunity to end the call now,”[/color] Eris replied cheerfully. [color=CCFF99]“Keep yourself busy until then. [i]Bonne nuit[/i].”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“Yeah, bone nut to you too buddy,”[/color] Max replied lazily before ending the call. It took him a few moments to register what Eris had even said. A [i]tiger[/i] was chewing on his leg? Was that, like, a euphemism? Was Ismene the tiger? Was that code for call on hold? Knowing Eris it could very well have been a whole ass tiger. No, that was ridiculous, even for him.

About a minute later, Max’s phone rang again. Once he answered, the caller got right to it: [color=90EE90]“I meant to call you earlier but I had to wrap my head around things,”[/color] Ismene’s voice came out hastily and quietly. [color=90EE90]“Since you didn’t call me and I just found this out, I have every reason to believe this development was recent. For whatever reason Eris is [i]very[/i] certain that once you and he leave the academy, we will be moving to the Sinnenodel estate.”[/color]

When Ismene called, Max was expecting either an impromptu French lesson on Eris’ orders for the ‘bone nut’ comment or she just really wanted to be filled in on what they spoke about. Instead, he got the craziest thing he’d heard all night.

[color=8585ad]“Uh, no the fuck we’re not. He can lounge around there all he wants, but [i]I’m[/i] certainly not coming.”[/color] As if he had any control over that. What the fuck was Eris thinking? If a noble family is housing somebody in their estate, that usually means said person is totally under the thumb of the presiding noble. Eris surely wasn’t stupid enough to sell his soul to House Sinnenodel - maybe horny enough, but that was beside the point - so what could he possibly stand to gain from that?

[color=8585ad]“And yeah, I called Eris first thing after it got publicly announced. How long has he been going on about this Sinnenodel angle? Seems like career suicide, honestly.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]“I don’t know, I was blindsided with the information after receiving a call from a...Mr. Malek, I believe his name was,”[/color] Ismene sounded a little desperate, a tiny groan escaping her. [color=90EE90]“Never mind that Count Sinnenodel is currently ash, but I suppose it would explain Eris’ lack of melodramatics. I asked about it earlier and it resulted in an argument, so I’m unable to get any specifics.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]“That said, the only logical conclusion that comes to mind is that somehow they’re ‘together’ or Eris has something on the count or it’s the other way around or--I don’t know. I actually don’t know,”[/color] She sighed. [color=90EE90]“I don’t know how or when this happened. I did notice a Sinnenodel pendant around his neck, but I just thought it was another gift. He seemed mighty pleased with himself, too, but…” [/color]

[color=8585ad]“[i]Allegedly[/i] ash,”[/color] Max corrected, [color=8585ad]“Eris doesn’t think he’s dead. Honestly, I don’t either.”[/color] He flopped back on his bed with a sigh; if he was as stressed out as Ismene everytime he didn’t know something, he’d probably have that stroke Eris kept alluding to for real. [color=8585ad]“I’ll ask him about it. I recognize the name Malek, I think, but that doesn’t do us much good.”[/color]

What the fuck was Eris thinking? If Varis was blackmailing him, Max should’ve been the first person to be informed; he was the boots on the ground, as it were. Otherwise, he could see no reason to want anything to do with House Cinnamon, let alone wanting to live with them.

[color=8585ad]“Does he ever take the pendant off? That’s a pretty ballsy symbol to be displaying even if you are being leveraged into doing it.”[/color] If he only wore it in public, Max reckoned it was for show, but if he was wearing it everywhere, he was serious and that was a big issue.

[color=90EE90]“No. He hasn’t had any appointments to go to, so he’s been wearing it here, but I fear the worst,”[/color] Ismene replied. [color=90EE90]“I was so convinced that the hapless lover thing was an act and I don’t know what the next step would even be if it isn’t. Part of our argument involved that, but he seems serious about it. Unfortunately, I lost my temper so the trust between us is...damaged for the moment. My brother thinks it’s not all bad, but he’s an idiot.”[/color]

Act, probably not. But Max definitely thought whatever the fuck happened in that stupid vision got rid of whatever weird thing Eris had going on with the Count. If he refused to explain his reasoning, the mage could only assume the reason sucked and Eris would be rightfully ridiculed for it.

[color=8585ad]“Is the necklace magic? Maybe he’s a hostage,”[/color] Max blurted out in confusion, [color=8585ad]“Y’know, say you love House Sinnenodel or it sets off a fireball.”[/color] Who would even bother enchanting something like that? Horrible way to ensure cooperation in the long term. [color=8585ad]“And he had the audacity to grill me on my romance situation.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]“Romance situation? What--Never mind, I’ll assume it’s none of my business,”[/color] Ismene tried not to get distracted. [color=90EE90]“I could try to get to it in the morning to see if your theory holds merit. Otherwise, we have to assume the worst and prepare accordingly. Sinnenodel mages are notorious for their inability to trust and constant usage of blackmail and backstabbing, it’s a terrible environment.”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“Yeah, I go on regular play dates with one,”[/color] Max mumbled drearily in response, [color=8585ad]“And for the record - ‘romance situation’ meant he wanted to sell me off for babymaking. And he brought you up, which was beyond creepy.”[/color] He had a reputation, damn it. Not that Ismene’s opinion really mattered, but still; it was about principles. [color=8585ad]“Uh, no offense.”[/color]

He doubted there was any magic on the pendant, honestly, but it wouldn’t hurt to check. He was tempted to call Eris up right now, but he wouldn’t have the full force of personality he’d need to get the leech to confess over the phone, and it’d just give him time to come up with a lie for when they got back to school anyway. If Malek knew, then Aaron… might know? They both worked for Varis, but that didn’t mean much given Aaron seemed only a step above the carpet. Literally - Varis had to step up from the carpet to stand on him. Either way, it probably wouldn’t hurt to approach the issue, but there was absolutely zero chance of Aaron spilling anyone’s master plans, even if it was the plans of a supposedly dead man.

[color=90EE90]“None taken,”[/color] Ismene muttered back, taking a second to compose herself. [color=90EE90]“I think for now, it’s best to play things by ear. There could very well be a chance that you’re right and it’s a situation needing to be resolved as opposed to a change for the future, in which case it’s best to reconvene for a resolution. I don’t think you should confirm it just yet, at least one of us should stay in his good graces, but I can’t stop you if you choose to. Otherwise, there isn’t much left to discuss, unfortunately. I do apologize for my own lack of grace, I didn’t take the news well and...didn’t know who else to call.”[/color]

Max grunted at Ismene’s idea. He already hated this plan - why was he the suckup? Antagonism actually liked the idea, why wasn’t he the patsy? [color=8585ad]“Don’t worry about it, I like being informed. Feels like I’m a nearsighted manatee smacking my head into the aquarium wall instead of a completely blind one. I’ll hold off, but if I see a good opportunity to bring it up, I’m taking it, with or without your approval.” [/color]

There were only so many ways Eris could answer an on-the-spot question of ‘why are you so dumb’, anyway.

[color=90EE90]“Fair enough. In the meantime I’ll be in contact with Malek and relay anything relevant,”[/color] Ismene sighed, clicking her tongue as a low purr was heard. [color=90EE90]“I’d like to think that this is a stopgap measure and that [i]maybe[/i] my position will exempt me from Sinnenodel practices, but all it takes is the wrong mage to have an interest and things go sour from there.”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“I’m certainly not playing along. Those guys are very unpleasant to interact with,”[/color] Max grumbled. Not that he had much room to stand on, but if Aaron was considered a failure by Sinnenodel standards, he didn’t want to meet the successes. [color=8585ad]“Plus I’m about as subtle as a brick through a window, so I can’t imagine I’ll be anyone’s favorite pet. See if you can get anything out of Malek without raising too many alarms. Play dumb or something and maybe he’ll deign to correct you.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]“Playing dumb doesn’t work when dealing with true Sinnenodel mages, but I think I can get what I need by being direct. Once I’m back in the master’s good graces I can navigate this properly,”[/color] Ismene thought out loud, punctuating it with a sigh. [color=90EE90]“Don’t worry too much about yourself for now, while you’re attending the academy you’ll need to focus more on your battle prowess. Your affinity makes you the perfect right hand mage, and while I understand your relationship is tumultuous, I hope I can count on you to protect him if need be. I can understand if you choose not to, of course, and at minimum you can learn to skewer any who would seek to harm you in any way, so that’s a positive.”[/color]

The purr rose into a growl, followed by Ismene shushing it. [color=90EE90]“I was on the phone before you got here, you silly animal,”[/color] She scolded something before returning to the conversation. [color=90EE90]“Either way, I’ll be counting on you.”[/color]

What the fuck was that noise? It sounded like a really shitty engine. Was… was Eris serious about the tiger? Eris had a fucking [i]tiger[/i] and Max was supposed to be the security detail? He got the wrong guy. 

[color=8585ad]“Yeah, yeah, nobody gets to spear Eris except me, whatever,”[/color] He grumbled. She got one thing right; he needed to learn to defend himself. Especially with Eris’ ominous comment about pissing Ryner off - for an actor he sure was intent on making his life dangerous. At this rate Max should just petition to be reassigned to an Astorio and cut the pretense out entirely. [color=8585ad]“Being direct usually works for me - they’re not used to people saying what they mean without fifty double meanings. But I’ve never talked to this dude, so I’ll defer to your judgement.”[/color]

He paused a moment, then continued, [color=8585ad]“Okay, I have to ask - does he really own a fucking tiger?”[/color]

[color=90EE90]“Technically, he owns multiple tigers. They’re rescues purchased from neglectful caretakers; his grandfather owns an animal sanctuary where they spent most of their time. This one’s gotten particularly attached to him for some reason so I’ve arranged it to be here anytime he returns from the academy,”[/color] Ismene replied. [color=90EE90]“Not that there’s any room for a tiger to be roaming around in a condo, but she seems to put up with it to see him and annoy me. I’ll introduce you whenever you come visit again.”[/color]

What the fuck, Eris. Max couldn’t even be surprised - it was so on key for the vampire that he probably wouldn’t have thought anything of it if he’d heard it casually mentioned anywhere else. Why the fuck did he buy that little rat of a dog then, did he plan to feed it to - what’d he call her earlier, Sasha? He really did collect pets. Max was a new exotic animal for his stable. Unbelievable.

[color=8585ad]“Mmm, I might pass on that one. She might bite me or something.”[/color] Couldn’t animals smell when you didn’t like them or something? Apparently not, given how Maxie followed him around, but that was probably just because he feeds her.

[color=90EE90]“True, we did have to replace our last chef due to mauling,”[/color] She mused. [color=90EE90]“It’s a joke. We did have to replace the chef but it wasn’t tiger related. There’s a reason I don’t allow the lion here anymore.”[/color]

The lion. Eris had a whole fucking zoo of predators somewhere, didn’t he?

[color=8585ad]“Good thing I’m so valuable apparently, maybe he won’t put me on poop scooping duty…”[/color] Max sighed into the phone. He was surprised Eris even had a chef, he seemed like the type to forget people had food preferences at all. In fact, he was pretty sure the leech had mentioned he thought lettuce was a treat at one point. 

[color=8585ad]“Does he have any other weird hobbies I should know about? Because I don’t know how someone could forget to mention they own a fucking [i]tiger[/i].”[/color]

[color=90EE90]“It depends on what you define as ‘weird’. Vampires live for a long time, they have a tendency to pick up a variety of skills and hobbies,”[/color] Ismene replied. [color=90EE90]“Animal conservation has been a staple of the Avaline family for centuries with the former duchess Nikolette Avaline--that would be Eris’ grandmother--having one of the largest sanctuaries to date. It’s a lesser known fact considering the Samael family’s fame has largely eclipsed Eris’ efforts.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]“As for his hobbies, they range from swordplay to studying history to menial tasks such as folding laundry to...a lot of things that wouldn’t normally interest anyone,”[/color] She thought to herself for a second.[color=90EE90] “I’m sure there’s a few hobbies he picked up before I was born that I don’t know about.”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“What the fuck kind of hobby is folding laundry?”[/color] Max asked, choosing that to hone in on specifically in the sea of oddities. He probably thought it was quaint and cute or something. Little mortal chores. The long life angle explained why every vampire he seemed to meet was a fucking weirdo, at least; being normal must’ve gotten boring several centuries ago.

Still, mage collecting made no sense to him. None of the arbitrary status symbol crap did, honestly, but maybe that was his pragmatism talking. Having a tiger was… cool, he guessed, but not having a whole sanctuary of them. Well, he did have the excuse of it being the family trade or whatever, so Max could let that slide.

[color=90EE90]“He finds it therapeutic. His words, not mine,”[/color] Ismene said. [color=90EE90]"In my experience vampires tend to latch onto the oddest hobbies. There is a cousin of mine who serves a Samael who has dedicated their eternal life to cultivating peanut plants in an effort to make the perfect peanut butter. Never mind that vampires don't eat…"[/color]

Clearing her throat, she continued. [color=90EE90]"A majority of quirks and hobbies can be attributed to immortal curiosity and a lack of understanding of the way we mortals live. I don’t know why it fascinates some while the rest couldn't care less, but there you have it."[/color]

Damn, now Max wanted some perfect peanut butter. Eris could arrange that, right? No, that was probably a bad move; he might latch onto that and start trying to give him peanuts when he was good or something equally degrading.

[color=8585ad]“They could try, I dunno, asking. All the eccentrics just come off as getting their information from poorly researched Mortals For Dummies books written by other out of touch vampires.”[/color] He shuddered slightly as Katya popped into his head. Doing weird things to understand mortals seemed like her schtick - up to and including weird marriages, apparently. Then again, she didn’t exactly come off uninformed, just kind of creepy. [color=8585ad]“One time I used ‘shit yourself’ as an expression and I think he took me seriously.”[/color]

Ismene barely held back a laugh. [color=90EE90]"They think themselves superior, I don't know if they'd take kindly to taking instruction from mortals,"[/color] She pointed out. [color=90EE90]"Though that does explain a few texts. Their bodies also function differently from ours so their inability to understand certain expressions comes naturally. I did, however, confirm that it wasn’t a literal expression at the time since he was so concerned.”[/color]

Max snorted in vague amusement. The image of Eris worriedly typing out ‘why does my mage have to poop?’ shouldn’t have been as funny as it was. It had to have been one hell of an ego thing if leeches didn’t want to ask people about other people, though. He was pretty sure zoologists would kill to be able to ask an animal why the fuck it was doing some idiotic behavior. Hell, he felt like that with the dog half the time. Her fascination with windows was beyond him.

[color=8585ad]“How sweet to know he worries about my bathroom habits like that,”[/color] He muttered unenthusiastically, [color=8585ad]“Not that I really blame him - he probably assumed I’d make fun of him for asking.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]“Are you saying that because you wouldn’t?”[/color] Ismene asked slyly.

[color=8585ad]“Depends on the question,”[/color] Max huffed in response, [color=8585ad]“And he’d get the information regardless of whether I called him stupid first anyway.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]“How considerate,”[/color] Ismene mused. [color=90EE90]“It’s good to see you’re reliable regardless of how many insults you sling. Usually you just get the insult and no response.”[/color]

After thinking about that for a second, she let out a sigh. [color=90EE90]“Well, back to work, then. Thank you, I feel a lot better now,”[/color] She told him sincerely. [color=90EE90]“If any other information comes to light, I’ll make sure to keep you in the loop and hope you’ll do the same. I’d like to stay optimistic but it just makes things easier if I walk in with my usual neutrality and take things as they come.”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“Uh-huh. Keep me posted. If anything new on the Varis angle comes up I’ll let you know. I can only imagine he’ll have me digging into that as soon as we get back.”[/color] Probably send him to harass Aaron, like that would do him any good. Well, he did have a bit of blackmail to play with, but Max couldn’t be entirely certain he’d pick Lilie’s opinion of him over loyalty to Varis, especially since he’d weathered the rumor about him getting a girl sent to the mines by being a whore.

Max paused a moment to let out a long-suffering sigh before continuing, [color=8585ad]“Also, I can already tell my mom is gonna want an autograph so what’s the easiest thing to get him to sign? A Blood War copy or something? A napkin?” [/color]

[color=90EE90]“Blood War copy? Hm, I could arrange that or the napkin if you so wish, though since it’s for your family I’ll make sure to send something a little more personal--Sasha, do [i]not[/i] chew on my pillow!”[/color] Ismene scolded the tiger, clearing her throat afterwards. [color=90EE90]“I’ll get on it right away, did you want more memorabilia or will the autographed copy of the DVD do?”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“I want her to stop bringing Eris up, but I don’t think I’m gonna get that so I’ll settle for whatever you think is best,”[/color] Max responded. With any luck he could milk this for every gift-giving holiday of the year, but he’d have to deal with a sappy display of gratitude and he definitely was [i]not[/i] looking forward to that. Whatever, he’d cross that bridge when he got to it. [color=8585ad]“Just pretend she’s thirty years younger than she is and make sure he doesn’t write anything inappropriate because I’ll probably vomit.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]"I'm sure the shine will fade eventually and only spark up anytime a new film is released,"[/color] Ismene assured him. [color=90EE90]"I'll put something that'll tide her over but not too personal to keep it interesting. Text me her name and I'll have it sent over as soon as it can get there."[/color]

She paused for a moment, letting out a quiet sigh. [color=90EE90]"It goes without saying, but be careful. Things are changing at a pace that begets caution,"[/color] She decided to throw it out there. [color=90EE90]"I'd watch who you choose to trust going forward. Not just in the Sinnenodel matter, but in general. That being said, I do hope you can count on me as one of them."[/color]

Well, at least that was handled. Probably better to let Ismene do all the thinking anyway, he had no idea what women wanted out of their Eris obsession - aside from the obvious, but that was gross. That shine couldn’t fade fast enough, to be quite honest. Everytime he even alluded to Eris while he was home she’d perk up like a dog that heard the word ‘walk’.

[color=8585ad]“See, when you say stuff like that, it makes me think you’re not someone I can trust,”[/color] He mumbled, then waved off the complaint despite her not being present in the room, [color=8585ad]“But it’s fine. We’re collaborators, right? It’s no secret I have entirely self-serving interests but they align nicely with Eris’ interests, so… Unless you start fucking me over behind the scenes, I don’t see why we can’t scratch each other’s backs. I don’t like any of this any more than you probably do, don’t worry about me.” [/color]

[color=90EE90]“I say it because I worry. Shocking, I know,”[/color] She told him, trying not to laugh. [color=90EE90]“As my understudy I do feel obligated to look over your transition into magehood and the world that is Eris Samael, it wouldn’t do to have you stumble around the dark all by your lonesome. I don’t have any particular thing that I can say to have you trust me, but it would make things convenient. And if Eris decides to go through his hackneyed plan of…[i]that thing[/i], then it’d make things less awkward if we were to trust each other. Or make things even more awkward, who knows.”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“Gee, thanks. And I hate that I meant that genuinely.”[/color] Ismene hadn’t given him any reason to [i]distrust[/i] her, but it wasn’t lost on him that she could be playing him somehow and he’d never know. It seemed like an Eris thing to do, sort of. Either way, she was certainly a better source than the leech himself; he was so loathe to give Max any tidbit of information beyond the bare minimum sometimes he had to wonder if he actually wanted the mage to fuck up whatever task he was assigned to.

Of course, he couldn’t really disparage vampiric paranoia when he was considering this in the first place. Ismene puppeting him around under the guise of helpfully tattling on Eris would be some bullshit, but not completely unthinkable. She was just a little too subservient for him to feel entirely comfortable, but he’d made worse deals with the Retriever. Plus Ismene was, y’know, pleasant company. Aaron just hit him with a stick and degraded his manners.

[color=8585ad]“You’re a step or twelve above Sinnenodels, whatever happens. Don’t beat yourself up too much,”[/color] He continued, then took on a clearly facetious tone, [color=8585ad]“I’m just grumpy with people. You know how it is.”[/color]

[color=90EE90]“I’m flattered and relieved you think so. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Max.”[/color]

[color=8585ad]“Yep, take care of yourself. Don’t get eaten by the tiger,”[/color] He lilted before promptly hanging up.[/hider]
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