Obscene Symphony

Question about Marked Romance RP

I'm not convinced you can point to any one source and go "that's where this comes from and they're all inspired by that." From where I'm standing it just seems like the most conducive way to format a soulmate situation. Just seems to be one of those pervasive things, kinda like those dystopian stories where a dome covers an area and everyone inside turn against each other, anything set in an academy of any kind or anything featuring a "chosen one." Broad concepts and tropes kinda become public domain after they make the rounds a few times, if that makes sense.

From a practical standpoint, it would be difficult to have some kind of soulmate-style, fated-to-be-together type setting without some kind of identifying feature such as a mark. Obviously you could work something out without it, but what can I say? People like the trope!

Of Blood and Magic

_{Trying not to piss off @Achronum, @Hero and @Scribe of Thoth}

Aaron chuckled. He’d never exactly seen magical combat in his future either - even if he had spent a good chunk of his free time in his teen years watching TCL fights online - and was about to say as much when they were interrupted by a suddenly urgent Varis sweeping them out the door. Said door almost caught him on the way out - again - but he was more preoccupied with the stone that dropped into his stomach at the mention of an “appointment.” He didn’t know this little excursion was for him! He wanted to tell himself the Count was having him examined by one of his own doctors or something, but all that talk of “adornments” before made him less than hopeful. Sun and stars, he was going to come home looking like one of his new Lady’s mages wasn’t he?!

Luckily there wasn’t much time to start spiraling into dread, as for some reason the mailbox indicator was up. A quick look on the way past revealed a small envelope, apparently the painkillers that life mage had promised earlier. Aaron was content to follow the group quietly; he hadn’t been with Varis for long, but he was already starting to value any chance he got to fade into the background. Odd that Varis hadn’t called for a car, though; then again, they also had to walk to the Princess’ manor the night before. Aaron didn’t exactly see Varis as the “mingling with the common crowd” type, so he must have forgotten. If he wasn’t already sure it would further foul Varis’ mood, Aaron would have smirked at the oversight.

The arrival at the bus stop perked him up a bit, first from surprise, and then from intrigue. He’d never actually seen a bus before - not in person, anyway - and had certainly never ridden one. An almost childlike curiosity struck him when it pulled up, the thing holding his gaze a little longer than it probably should have; he caught a few people looking in his direction, but Aaron was pretty sure they were looking at Eris. At least, that was what he told himself as they moved toward the bus, brushing off their gazes. He got a chance to scope out the interior when Varis carved their way on board, and it reminded him of a much larger and more spacious limousine. The lack of privacy was a little unnerving, but he didn’t find it as objectionable as Varis seemed to.

He almost laughed; he had almost forgotten that privacy apparently wasn’t a luxury he was afforded anyway.

Aaron sat where he was indicated - more easily than he expected with his scabbard - and Max slid in next to him, looking decidedly done with talking. Aaron would have liked a little conversation to get his mind off of their little trip, but he wouldn’t pry. As if on cue, his phone and watch buzzed in tandem, showing a notification that one of the races he had his eye on just completed. Glancing down, he found the tablet in his armrest and pulled it up, navigating to the race website and scrolling through the results as he opened the calculator app on his phone. A few calculations and double-checks later and a grin tugged at his lip; he’d chosen the right horse and tripled his bet, bringing his total winnings to a record high at this point in the season. The odds had been a bit long for his taste, but he’d taken the gamble knowing his usual favourite had been going through a rough patch outside of races, and he was pleased to see his educated guess pay off.

Of Blood and Magic

_{Tiptoeing around @Hero, @Achronum and making small talk with @Scribe of Thoth}

Aaron nearly smirked at Max’s answer. Prior engagement? The man had probably just been yanked away from everything he ever knew and thrown into an unfamiliar world, it wasn’t as if he was meeting with a business partner or something. Had he just skipped? Seemed unenthusiastic enough for it to be a possibility. Aaron briefly wondered if there were consequences for doing so, beyond getting raked across the coals by his vampire, assuming he cared. In any case, even Aaron knew that dodging subjects was pretty much Mage 101. Rough edges aside, Max might fit into his new life better than Aaron expected.

Making a mental note to explore that later, Aaron would oblige, following Max’s lead. “Not so much important as… eventful,” he replied airily, though he did sneak a glance toward Varis’ room. He had no idea what Varis’ opinion of that Astorio Count was — beyond apparent indifference and his disapproval of violence, anyway — so he wouldn’t risk the harsh language he was tempted to use for the Count’s treatment of Lilie, nor the satisfied tone he felt bubbling up at the mental image of the vampire getting buried.

“Apparently the Arena Master doesn’t take kindly to rule breakers. I think the one who got on his bad side tonight is still underground.” He kept his tone decidedly neutral, but offered a grin. “I can tell you more later if you want. Otherwise it was pretty standard, mostly a skill evaluation. Do you have any combat experience?”

Obscene's Scratchpad

dhdhdhdhd

hdhdhdhdhdhdhdhd

skskskskskss

lalalalalala

ksksksksss

dkdkdkdkdkd

gghghghghgg

Of Blood and Magic

_{Tiptoeing around @Hero, @Achronum and @Scribe of Thoth}

“Don’t dote on him.”

Yes please don’t, thank you V—

“Competent mages deserve praise and the child is anything but.”

Nevermind.

Aaron weathered the Count’s barrage of insults with a dipped head; partly for humility, but partly to avoid Eris’ gaze. His “doting” felt distinctly more like patronizing, and Aaron still couldn’t shake that invasive feeling when the vampire looked at him. But luckily - or perhaps not - Varis’ reprimands had his attention. Ditching Max in the entryway, sure, he would wear that, but flinching during feeding? He’d been practically catatonic — as had Varis, he might add. He was sure he hadn’t moved a muscle. Was that the Count’s excuse for such a sloppy feeding?

Neatly shelving away his indignation, Aaron departed wordlessly when he was dismissed, bowing to Varis and stepping quickly out of the room and into his own. He caught the end of an ominous insult towards Max as he made his way into his bathroom, setting the washcloth to soak with the rest, but it was Varis’ words in the hallway that caught his attention. Adornments? What was that supposed to mean? Of course he immediately feared the worst, mind going back to that poor mutilated girl; she and the rest of Lady Sinnenodel’s mages had all been poked full of grotesque piercings. Was that going to happen to him?!

He paused in what he was doing to take a breath, gripping the edge of the counter. There was more talk in the living room; another jab at Max. Right, he couldn’t very well start working himself up into a panic now, with company around to see him squirm. He couldn’t exactly tell himself everything would be alright, but he could at least push his worries into the back of his mind to be fretted over in semi-privacy later.

It only took a moment for Aaron to collect himself, mustering up a lifetime of court manners behind a polite expression, and soon he was straightening his tie and returning to the living room. He heard Varis still talking through the open bedroom door - apparently his clothes were being replaced, lovely - but disregarded it for now, taking a seat across from Max.

“I didn’t see you in Self Defence tonight,” he offered after a long pause. He would have preferred to ask why on earth Max was here with Eris, but that could wait until said vampire wasn’t in the next room. “What held you up? I thought we all had that class at the same time.”

Famous Quotes You Shouldn't Say During Sex

Once more into the fray.
Into the last good fight I'll ever know.
Live and die on this day.
Live and die on this day.

Obscene's Scratchpad

---

---

---

---

Salem nodded in approval to Lilie’s suggestion. Sure he could go alone to the administration office and speak to them, but there was some form of comfort in having someone else come with you, just knowing there was someone there having your back. ”That would be nice thank you. Speaking of which...” Salem shot a sideways glance to his partner, Lucan, who was standing not too far off from the group, getting reprimanded it seemed, by professor Dracion. I suppose even a knight as high as him is still capable of being treated in such a way in a school setting. Surely it was an odd site to see. As Salem began to straighten out his shirt a bit, his glance moved over to Dracion who was now yelling at the lot of them to leave. [color-82ca9d]”Right, I suppose we shouldn’t actually be here huh? Cassandra was it? Don’t wander off too far, that sucker punch was more than you bargained for since you weren’t preparing to take it. I’ll have to check you out too to make sure there isn’t too much damage.”[/color] He gave the fire mage a wink and a smile, offering her an out in case she didn’t feel like sticking around her partner all day, after all who would? They lead separate lives and need not have to mingle.

With that Salem made his way over to Lucan. Nervousness began to well up inside of him with every step that he took. What if Lucan was the one responsible for taking all of his belongings? Some harsh punishment for getting into trouble on the night he missed, or perhaps its some sort of training Schtick, like with what Varis mentioned doing to Aaron at dinner. Or maybe it had nothing to do with the man, simply the school not allowing any foliage besides their own? That one made no sense as there was no mention of it before. Salem halted in his steps for a moment, thinking to himself in dread, What if this was all part of the investigation? Would they go so far as to take ALL of his supplies? It makes no sense His scents began to swirl up again, nerves kicking in and taking over as his steps were now more hurried, each one booming in his ears. ”Pardon me Dracion...mind if i speak to my partner in private? I’ll try to do so as we are leaving.” With that he went up to Lucan, gaze down as he softly said ”Do you have any idea why our dorm has been cleared out? All of my possessions have been lifted and there is nothing in my room...” His voice was soft, yet loud enough for a vampire to pick up and hear.

Obscene's Scratchpad

Obscene's Scratchpad

Of Blood and Magic

_{Tiptoeing around @Hero, @Achronum and @Scribe of Thoth}

With the last haze of feeding clearing away and the realization that he’d answered the door looking like a stabbing victim setting in, Aaron hastily returned to his bathroom, peering into the vanity mirror to assess the damage. Sure enough, blood was dripped and smeared from his puncture site down his neck to his shirt, the collar soaked through to his collarbone. It was indeed a grisly display, but what interested Aaron more was that strict and proper Varis had been the one to make this mess. He couldn’t help a bit of a smirk; go figure, the heir to House Sinnenodel was a messy eater. Black had been a wise choice, then, though this shirt would be allocated to feeding duty only from now on, he decided. Maybe he could work up the courage to do it shirtless if Varis would allow, to cut down on some laundry damage.

He pulled the shirt off, careful not to smear his face and hair with blood in the process, and dropped it into the sink, turning the faucet on cold. He let the water run as he cleaned himself up, luckily a quick job, and he was back into his room in no time, pulling on his shirt and tie. He paused before returning to the study, though, and went back to his bathroom for a clean washcloth, wetting it in hot water and carefully wringing it out before bringing it back to the study with him.

As he crossed the hall, he noticed Max still standing in the foyer and mentally slapped himself. Damn, he’d been so preoccupied with getting out of sight he’d forgotten to give him any kind of direction. Either that or the feeding had thrown him out of whack; he’d have to get a handle on that.

More out of habit than anything, Aaron painted on a polite smile. “Sorry about that. I think we’re leaving soon, but in the meantime please feel free to take a seat in the living room.” His voice took on a practiced cordial tone and he gestured down the hall with his free hand, falling back into old habits. He had more than one question for Max, but now was hardly the time.

Max made some noncommittal sound in response, but followed where Aaron indicated; Aaron assumed that was just about the best he’d get out of the other mage. But that was fine by him, and once Max had seen himself settled, Aaron continued into the study, doing his best to take up as little space as possible as he handed Varis the washcloth with a bow and waited to see if anything else was asked of him.