As Varis responded to Aaron’s question and went about restoring some order in the room, Eris would grab his bag, figuring it was just about time he started looking for his own little one. The classroom’s inhabitants got more and more interesting: a Starag, a Spellman, an Astorio headhunter. Watching the little grouping for a moment, he eyed the mage with those blue eyes of his, a face he wouldn’t be forgetting anytime soon. Maxwell Alderman, a nice name at least, though Eris made a mental note to work on that scowl and lack of social awareness. Alongside him were the hobo (
ugh), the Astorio (he'd have to keep an eye out for that one), and a streak of white (no exaggeration, she looked like a drawing that had yet to be colored in) with an adorable face. For a second, Eris thought he recognized the last one, but after coming up empty on an identity, he shrugged it off as a coincidence.
Speaking of working, the Sinnenodel noble confirmed that the Starag would be no good in his hands; disappointing, but a fact. The blond was too stunning not to get to know, but he wouldn’t mind visiting him once in a while. For now, it looked like there was some catching up to do. Eris checked his watch, still blinking with a horde of notifications despite clearing it out earlier.
Giving Varis his full attention, Eris put on a slightly coy smile.
“A bit, a while...I don’t mind,” He couldn’t quite stop himself from teasing as he twirled a long lock of his own hair between his fingers before following Varis’ lead.
“I expected to miss the initial night, but Viscountess Vasiliev encountered some unexpected pushback on some business we had going, and when she asked for help I couldn’t say no. I knew it would take more time, but it made my arrival more unexpected, so it worked out,” Eris explained himself, free hand gesturing about as he spoke.
“You do know how to take advantage of a situation.” Varis said dryly.
“It was an eventful few days you missed. The Royal Guard arrested the Marivaldi’s original partner, my Lady and the Queen invited a few of us to dinner that quickly turned into an absolute debacle, the Eves and the Astorios both replaced their original student representatives here on campus, and apparently the Knight of the Evening is attending as well. The Princess seems to be losing her hold over this madhouse. A pity. I’ve always respected the institution.” Varis stepped away from the podium and started up the stairs. Despite his irritation at the celebrity’s entrance, Eris' presence made things more...bearable. The next few years would be absolute murder on his routines and some sense of familiarity was much appreciated. Not that he’d ever tell Eris that. Easily, at least. He’d save that for when he upset the other too much.
“Five years I think is the last time we managed to cross paths. Between deflecting Lord Marivaldi and Princess Ryner’s moronic amendment concepts, putting down a few dissident voices in the family, and clashing with the Astorios, there’s been little time for more than the necessary social engagements.” Varis grumbled as he pulled open the doors and swept through them.
“I’ll have to make time for you to visit the castle though. Eloise has been asking after you and I’m sure her family would like another face to bother. And I think I’ve finally found a few bottles of blood that’ll make you change your horrendous eating habits.” Some of the blood flavors Eris described made Varis shudder in disgust. He’d assigned himself the job of finding something to stop that awful habit and after twenty seven- or was it twenty eight?- years of knowing him, Varis found it incredibly frustrating that nothing was good enough to ruin the taste of anything else. The noble had to commend the actor for his versatility but developing a need for a specific taste would help put Eris further under his thumb, after controlling the primary production method of course, and he could wield the vampire’s influence with little need to reciprocate.
“I’ll admit, I’m surprised you didn’t mention you were attending the Academy as soon as you received the invitation. With how busy you must be dominating businesses and breaking hearts, what brought you here? Nobles don’t have the freedom to refute it but you aren’t a noble.” Varis glanced over the vampire, expecting him to keep pace.
Eris couldn't quite hide his surprise at the list of events Varis informed him of, mulling over possible causes. Well, one he had an idea of why, but the rest seemed too coincidental to clutter the first few days one after the other. A madhouse was an accurate term, though the thought gave him more excitement than he would admit. And here he thought he'd have to suffer through boring classes while trying to find his own fun. He nodded in understanding, though he chose to keep his comments to himself for the moment, as he was well aware of their surroundings and any possible unwanted company.
At the mention of the mage, Eris let out a polite laugh. He had forgotten how time seemed to work differently for mortals; five years didn't seem like much of a stretch, but most little mages often found it a sizable gap.
“Bother away, I believe I'm in for some reprimanding on how I haven't shown my face in some time,” He seemed more amused than anything, though at the mention of blood he gave Varis a genuine grin. It probably didn't seem like much to most, but Eris liked to think he knew Varis well enough to know what that comment meant. Reaching over to the redhead he tucked back some of Varis’ hair, his fingers brushing against his jawline.
“Nice to know you've been thinking of me,” Eris told him, somewhat elated at the idea. As for his other question, there was an array of answers he could have given, but he chose the simplest one.
“Why wouldn't I take the chance to spend four years alongside you?”Varis gave Eris a raised eyebrow and a mildly exasperated look at the comment. Not even fifteen minutes into their first discussion in a brief while and Eris was already being… well, Eris. The vampire’s disposition set Varis on edge far too frequently but Varis couldn’t ignore underneath his frivolous exterior hid an oddly kindred spirit. Their methods varied drastically but Eris’s carefully calculated maneuvers were a sight to behold when they fell together perfectly. When he’d shown up uninvited to Eris’s family’s party, he’d known exactly who he wanted and how to get him. Though sometimes he had the nagging feeling he fell into Eris’s trap, he dismissed the idea just as quickly.
“I’m taking the boy for his first ear tag once he’s completed self defense. Bring your mage along so they can start getting acclimated.” Varis checked his watch as they walked, glad the clouds were letting up. After last night, he wanted to do some work outside.
“Did they tell you who your mage is or are they having you meet them later?”Booo, just a sigh?! Oh well, better than getting ignored. Though it was Eris’ turn to raise an eyebrow as he was invited to go along with his mage, the vampire scratching his chin.
“Ah...looks like the mage that stood up to the Astorio is my little one,” He said as he fished the envelope out of his pocket, pulling out the photo of Maxwell Alderman and admiring it for a few seconds.
“Good to see he has a spine, makes things more fun if you ask me,” He grinned before placing the photo back in his jacket.
Pausing for a moment, he figured now was as good a time as any to ask. Lowering his voice slightly, he figured he'd try to satisfy his curiosity.
“Speaking of which...who'd you have to fuck over in order to get an actual Starag?” Despite the less than savory way of asking, the question was a legitimate one. It was no secret that the Starag line was exclusively for the Noila lineage of vampires.
“Convenient. That’ll save us the introductions. Perhaps their little lunch playdate will go well.” Varis commented as he considered how to answer Eris. In truth, Varis knew less than he cared for of Ryner’s little game. Despite working towards a similar goal, the Princess seemed to have a few other objectives and unknowns that made Varis nervous. A fact he took the liberty of reminding her every opportunity he had. Though it had been a while. Perhaps he ought to send her a gift basket with an illuminated lettering plaque reading “Why are you like this?” He made a mental note to do just that.
“Not me. Ryner. Between their lack of public appearance and the discussion at the Queen’s table last night, it seems the rumors suggesting a rift between the Princesses have more weight than the royals admit. I think Ryner is setting up to consolidate her power and earn her mother’s favor again.” Varis murmured just loud enough for Eris to hear, his eyes darting around the campus. He didn’t need the wrong person muttering behind his back; he needed the right person.
“How exactly the Starag trade works into this is unclear to me yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a favor exchange between my Lady and Ryner.” “But for such a vaulted linage, the boy is completely incompetent.” Varis’s voice returned to normal volume as he grimaced.
“An excellent distraction but I have little time for that now. I have an entire event to organize and I’ve barely even considered a theme, not to mention the artists. I can’t even assign the boy letter duty because his handwriting is atrocious. I have to write them myself and still develop his critical thinking skills. Plus, the Noilas apparently encourage modesty in their mages. What an unnecessary complex. He had the audacity to hesitate the first time he knelt and dressing him was nightmare. His closet is basically the same shirt and slacks combination in different shades of grey and black.” A rift between royalty? Eris furrowed his brow as he mulled over Varis’ words, though he supposed it made sense considering how long it had been since the two princesses had appeared in public with one another, let alone any other social gatherings. He clicked his tongue at the mention of Lady Sinnenodel--no other being in the world matched
that living nightmare--though he supposed he wouldn't think too hard on what sort of favor could have been exchanged. Too many questions and he'd end up irritating the redhead more than usual, though any proper guesswork would need more facts.
Once the topic returned to something more lighthearted, Eris’ expression followed suit, barely suppressing a bemused chuckle. Between teaching and organizing a holiday in little time, Varis was going to get busy very quickly, it seemed. Tapping his chin for a second, he decided to throw in a line for the vampire.
“It's a bit last minute, but...considering how I've just saved the Viscountess, I can get Feliks Vasiliev for Chaend, if you'd like,” He offered, bringing out his phone as it buzzed. Grimacing at a message from his sister, he tucked it back into his pocket.
“You need only say the word.”On the topic of the Starag, Eris found himself interested, the slightest pang of pity for both mage and vampire. Varis wasn't an easy person to deal with; he hoped the boy with sun-kissed hair would understand that sooner than later.
“Modesty has always been one of my favorite things to break; mortals are just so damn cute when they try to cover up, the reactions and excuses they come up with gratify me to no end,” He replied airily, waving his hand around freely.
“It's almost like a puzzle to solve, eventually they either give up or expose it all willingly. They're not bright, but they can learn.”“This puzzle ought to solve itself so I can use it to its full potential.” Varis sighed but waved it away.
“Like you said, he’ll learn or I’ll break him. Either way, I fully intend to use him for the time being. I know more than one person would pay nicely for his genes and he'll advance my status nicely while I have him.” Varis shrugged.
“Mr. Vasiliev would be a feather in the event’s cap if he attended. Ryner swoons over that dress he made her still despite his arrogance and unnatural arrangement with the Viscountess.” Varis clicked his tongue disapprovingly at the thought. Marriage between a vampire and a mage ought to have a singular purpose and that particular combination did nothing to further the interest of that purpose. The mage was skilled but the Sinnenodel wouldn’t indulge him; Varis preferred timeless designs, ones that would stay classic through the ages, and no mage could truly comprehend the full scale of eternity. Magic or no, they were still bound to their mortal coils.
“Still, I suppose my opinion doesn’t much matter here. Would Mr. Vasiliev respond better to an invitation from you with my seal or should I send one personally? He seems the type of man to work with referrals only, if just to leverage some power.” Despite his relationship with the Viscountess, Eris knew better than to reach out himself; no doubt the mage would jump down his throat and never let him hear the end of it, especially after he had just helped out his wife. Granted, he intended to use that to push him towards a response in Varis’ favor, but he would rather not deal with the ensuing comments on a lack of professionalism. Detrimenting the Sinnenodel would only end badly. He had no actual opinion on the marriage between the two, finding it more odd than anything. However, he had known Katya for decades, so he might have been harsher had it been a third party.
Of course, his actual words came out less eloquently than his line of thinking.
“Send him an invitation at your earliest convenience. I'll...talk to the Viscountess again, see if she can't persuade him,” And then have to wheedle the mage down. But that was his problem, not Varis’, so he would take it in stride.
He did, however, throw Varis a slightly cheeky look, unable to resist.
“The arrangement was made from love, mon beau,” He flourished his words, attempting to wave away the Count's negative opinion.
“The one force neither mortal nor immortal stands a chance against--but I daresay the former is much more susceptible, clinging onto it as fleeting as their lives are. I’d go so far as to argue that they're like that with every emotion: love, hate, joy, fear...you already saw that Spellman ‘hero’ defending the weak despite the consequences. It would be admirable if it wasn't so stupid.”“Sentiment develops weakness and weakness makes one vulnerable. Age will strip us of our empathy but for now, we cannot afford such a mistake in our echelons.” Varis countered Eris's frivolous obsession. Emotion was the purview of the lesser, of those who lived for a moment and then disappeared among the annals of history. Varis would be damned if he would allow such a moronic value unravel all his work so far.
“I'll have a letter sent to him later in the evening. I should have the event's theme finalized during the boy's last class.” Varis sighed as he thought about this. Frankly, Varis wasn't sure he could pull this off. Most vampires spent decades gathering and commissioning for their year to host. Varis had managed to shrug off the responsibility thus far and now he was left scrambling since his Lady decided this was his year and she was one of the few people he wasn't confident he could out maneuver. If he organized it properly, he could fill more space with less as part of the theme of the event.
“That reminds me. You won't happen to know anything about the Eves attracting necromancers would you?” Varis asked, the faintest hint of amusement at the corner of his mouth.
The redhead's answer was predictable enough, though it still tickled Eris nonetheless. Just getting acknowledgment was enough to satisfy him for the moment, instead using his energy not to laugh at Varis’ next question.
“I think it holds some merit, didn't you see that ghost of a girl among the other mages? Nearly gave me a fright!” He joked.
“Targeting a crumbling house with vicious lies.” Varis deadpanned, shaking his head.
“The Marivaldis infiltrated the lower court of the the house and it's been absolute mayhem since then. I should tell you I'm disappointed but it's been amusing watching the two claw at each other.”Eris gave him a half-hearted shrug, a rare look of nonchalance on his face for just a moment.
“That house is on its last legs. At some point, you have to put the dying animal out of its misery,” He lowered his voice as it took on a tone of clear distaste.
“The Marivaldis had already known of the Eves’ waning power and influence. They just needed the slightest nudge in the right direction before jumping at the next opportunity...it's been a long time coming. I'm genuinely surprised no one else thought to do it.”“As much a failure as they are, they fulfil a critical role at the table. The ensuing chaos of losing a house would cripple our society for centuries either as the Houses fell into outright war or stalled out until the Council collapsed.” Varis explained as they approached the main administrative building.
“All of our Houses are funneling money into them so when it comes time to pick a new Lord or Lady, they are indebted to someone. The Eve House will rise again. I just need to ensure they're under my thumb.” He stopped them in front of the building, clearly heading instead to the library.
“We're dealing with the boy immediately after his last class. I'll feed and then we'll be off so meet us at my dorm.” Varis instructed.
He was right, of course, but it didn't sway Eris’ opinion. If anything, it almost justified his reasoning--it was easier to swoop in and take advantage so long as you knew what you were doing. The idea of the houses going to war did entertain him to no end, but it just wouldn't do to plunge society into such a terrible thing.
Instead he would concede with a slight nod of acknowledgement, perking himself up as they came to a stop.
“Then I will see you later, Excellency. Au revoir,” He bid him farewell as the redhead continued into the library.
Now, onto his other business. He figured it was about time he had a proper introduction to his new little mage. Glancing at his watch, he figured the thing was either in the cafeteria or on route. Either way, he was on the prowl, making his way there and keeping his eyes peeled.
Neziul
MaeB
Lemons
Altered Tundra
Raijinslayer
Xiro Zean
WXer
Taka
Achronum
