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[sub][color=black]Jo Montague[/color]
[color=af593e]Jo Montague[/color][/sub][/center][/sup][/h1]
[right][sub]Mentions/Interactions: [@PatientBean] [@TimelessParagon] [@Lunari][/sub][/right][hr][hr][color=lightgray]
[color=af593e]“Good morning, Lord Poe, and thank you for the welcome,”[/color] Jo smiled politely. When the young Montague spoke, his voice was a smooth counter tenor, a tone he’d had to practice since his natural physiology granted a mezzo-soprano. There was a vague hint of a rasp, an indication of his smoking habit, though no trace of tobacco scent lingered on him – he made it a point to be careful with his clothes.

He entered the headmaster’s office upon his invitation, and was the last one to take a seat in a leather armchair. The material molded to his shape, yet was firm enough to support. His eyes took in the office, comparing it to his father’s. There was history here, as well as quality, which came from a hefty investment over years of assembling favoured pieces. It was refined, yet it had the same lived-in quality he was used to from Montague Senior. There was that chaotic organization only an owner could make sense of which was so common to scholars and businessmen alike. A pleasant woodsy scent could be detected, and the sweet undertone Jo detected made him smile. It reminded him of chocolate, which was an unexpectedly endearing detail. His eyes tracked the entrances and exits: aside from the door they arrived through, there was another door leading to what they assumed was a private room, and window overlooking the school grounds.

Lord Poe began with an introduction, Enlightened ability included. The headmaster’s power was well-known, though Jo had ambivalent feelings. Poe had not been the one to discover him, and while his past-self would have taken any chance, he was glad he’d met his father instead. The lord made it clear all he was looking for was Enlightenment. Edward Montague on the other hand? It had been a lucky chance, part whim, yet he and his father had found somewhat of a kindred spirit in each other, despite their different stations at the time. He knew the lord did not mean it as such, was careful to say that only ‘some’ students benefited from his ability, but a suspicious part of Jo still ruffled by the implication that the headmaster had a hand in [i]their[/i] discovery.

The arrival of treats immediately softened their heart, however. Their countenance brightened, but they restrained themselves, waiting for the other two students to take what they would. Both of them only partook the tea, but the first thing Jo served themselves was a chocolate chip cookie. They put a serviette on their lap, and quietly crunched on the cookie while the other new arrivals introduced themselves. Lady Nightingale was the picture of refinement, and if they were in the guise of a woman, they might have chosen her to mimic her mannerisms. As it was, they returned her nod, though a pleased smile had found its way to their lips – largely because they were in the midst of indulging their sweet tooth. A spark of interest lit their eyes as the lady revealed a part of her ability. She said nothing of what it did, only that chess pieces were her medium. Intriguing.

Edward Blackmore on the other hand…Well, he was clearly very well familiar with his ability, and command over ice certainly suited him. He was standoffish, and didn’t event bother hiding his disdain for Jo. It was a shame; the frowning and arrogance were a waste of his pretty face. He hadn’t a clue why the lord hesitated to take the tea, and noticed only because he’d happened to be paying attention. While he expected the lord would avoid him, and vice versa, Jo figured he could at the very least take a note of the elegant manner with which Blackmore drank tea. The highest echelons of society cared for that kind of a thing, so Jo took special care as he poured himself a cup, adding a dash of milk. Had he not had the cookie, they would have taken a dollop of honey as well, but as it was, he appreciated the bitter herbal contrast to the delightful sweetness of the baked good he had relished. 

Lord Blackmore’s condolences to Lady Nightingale clued Jo in that the ‘formerly of Latimer’ must have a meaning they hadn’t been aware of. If a noble unmarried lady lost her father…Perhaps Selina was considered a fallen lady in society? Blackmore had not called her a lady, nor had she done so herself. Jo supposed the ‘lady’ title might not be applicable to her after all, though they’d prefer to observe a larger sample of how others addressed her before attempting to do so themselves.

Finally, it was his turn to make an introduction. [color=af593e]“Jo Montague,”[/color] he said simply. [color=af593e]“As for my ability…”[/color] A small mischievous grin emerged. He lifted a hand, wiggled his fingers, and a few motes of light blinked into existence. They floated softly above his palm for a brief second, then they disappeared as soon as they’d appeared. [color=af593e]“I have a trick or two up my sleeve,”[/color] he winked. He’d shown just enough to prove that he did have an ability, but had done nothing all too eye-catching. If the two other students underestimated him for it, that would work perfectly in his favour. [color=af593e]“I haven’t any questions at the moment, Lord Poe, but I would request a few minutes of your time after this, if you could spare me a private audience. I hope it is not too presumptuous of me to ask,”[/color] he smiled politely.[/color]