Scribe of Thoth

Of Blood and Magic

---

Laughter was decidedly not the response Max had expected. Maybe a chortle, tops. Maybe he was funnier than he thought. Or Eris genuinely thought the idea of him directing was as horrendously awful as the clone had portrayed it to be.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. He pet my fucking head, Eris, it was creepy."

Max almost walked off as Eris devolved into muttering foreign gibberish at the television, only to be addressed again before he could even turn away. Aaron heard quite enough for Max's taste in that damn test, but it didn't sound like it was anything immediately damning. He was more concerned about the damn mind mages blabbing about it to Ryner than anything some whipped dog could do with that knowledge. Since when did Eris care about his magic, though? Did he finally decide on how he wanted to employ Max for real? No connection he could think of between metal and movies sounded very engaging, but neither did assistant secretary. Maybe the leech was just wondering how far along Max was when it came to staking him.

"If you wanted to hear about my magic, you should've asked sooner. I would've ripped all the wires out of the walls and strangled you with them by now," Max responded apathetically. Yet another reason transmutation was more of a pain in the ass than it was worth; when was he ever outside enough to not be near anything metallic? "My affinity's going fine, unless you had something specifically in mind you wanted me to do. I have no idea what I'm doing for my major in the meantime. Half of them sound like too much work for no payoff."

---

@Hero

Of Blood and Magic

---

Eris' logic made no sense to Max sometimes. He didn't see how Cinnamon knowing what he was up to would be advantageous, but if Eris was going to give him a license to act openly and not have to sneak around, he wasn't going to protest. Plus, that meant he was allowed to act suspicious when he was asking under the guise of just being bad at the information gathering game. As for the second question, he really didn't know where to start with that. Clone-Eris didn't give him much, and Max couldn't figure out the significance of the things he did leak anyway. Something about his family? He didn't even know who those people were, Ismene and - fuck, what was the other one's name? Antagonism? - aside.

"I learned you can't direct worth a fuck," The mage replied flatly, "He did bring up little illusions of what I'm assuming was your family, but I had no idea who the fuck those people were. Other than that, your clone was reveling in the attention I was giving it too much to get flustered and start spilling secrets." He wrinkled his nose in distaste, "Except for when he got weird at the end."

He really hoped that was the test talking and not Eris. Sentimental headpatting did not need to become part of their usual routine. Eris wasn't the worst leech to coexist with - a fact he'd never admit out loud - but anything more than that was flagrantly ignoring the fundamental incompatibility between vampires and people.

Max leveled an accusatory scowl at the vampire after a moment. "I think the fake was nicer than you are."

---

@Hero

Scion: Children of Light

Khotanebre Bekenamun

Name: Khotanebre Bekenamun

Age: 16

Appearance: Kho's appearance puts his less than pure Aemeni heritage on full display, with carmine hair and a complexion far more olive than it is tan. He still has a boyish fragility to his features, with feminine eyelashes and baggy clothing only serving to make him look more diminutive despite being around average height for his age. He typically dresses in brightly dyed robes to create less of a jarring contrast with his hair.

Kho & Tekenkhasut

Background: The House of Bekenamun is an established but relatively unimportant facet of the aristocracy from the earliest waves of non-Aemeni tribesmen to Photep, more known for their military contribution to the Red Orders than any political influence or exceptional wealth that other noble families might hold. The family produces magically-inclined children fairly regularly, much to the chagrin of many Bekenamun patriarchs trying to choose their successor, and quite a few of them throughout the lineage's history have had the distinction of serving in the Orders Sekhmet and Khenetai. Khotanebre is the secondborn son of the current Lord Bekenamun and was raised in a comfortable manner befitting a young noble, as he would've been next in line for inheritance should his older brother have ended up presenting an affinity for sorcery. Coincidentally, it was Kho that ended up showing magical talent instead, and his family wasted little time in pushing him into the Pesedjet with every bit of influence they had. He was a diligent and capable student of magic, though he didn't particularly stand out amongst the impressiveness of his peers at such a prestigious institution. Not that it bothered him; Kho had few aspirations aside from a vague familial hope that he'd be selected for one of the Red Orders and a desire to be simply be useful to the Photepi people wherever he was assigned.

Personality: Kho is generally polite and superficially mild-mannered, though there's a restless energeticism bubbling just under the surface, waiting to erupt in animated movements and enthusiasm whenever he finds something that excites him. Politically, his Lion upbringing clearly shows through; as far as Kho is concerned, Photep is the greatest civilization that will ever exist, its prosperity is of the utmost importance, and none are more fit to lead it there than the aristocracy that have led the city this far to begin with. He sees the academics that compose his political opposition as important, but ultimately arrogant. Not because he considers them trying to rise above their station, but because his view on magic is a decently humble one, believing that sorcerers are - and likely always will be - the metaphysical equivalent of children playing with blocks compared to the entities of the Aether. He truly believes in the heaven-sent origin of the Crimson King, and yet even His Majesty must draw his power from that realm; which Kho takes as reason to believe that even stronger entities exist out there somewhere. Nevertheless, he's excited for his role as a sorcerer and to be able to twist the energies of the Aether to Photep's benefit.

Aptitude: Kho's excitability lends itself well to pyromancy, with his magic manifesting just as explosively as his sudden episodes of enthusiasm do. He's a fairly average practitioner of magic in other fields, but he picked up on shooting little flames around remarkably quick.

Tutelary: Recently summoned, Tekenkhasut takes the form of a stern-eyed falcon, typically adorned in a colorful little scarf to match with his master. Despite what his rigid appearance may suggest, Tekenkhasut has a propensity toward acting mischievous, if not outright obnoxious. He exhibits a certain fondness for destruction and mayhem, constantly pushing Kho toward the more combative aspects of pyromancy and magic in general. While this may sound sadistic, the familiar is self-admittedly more interested in the resulting light show than deriving any satisfaction from hurting people, and his suggestions are usually harmless beyond minor property damage.

Aura: Hot water, bubbling yet utterly silent, in a covered pot on the cusp of boiling over, only to be prevented from doing so by the lid.

Scion: Children of Light

Khotanebre Bekenamun

Name: Khotanebre Bekenamun

Age: 16

Appearance: Kho's appearance puts his less than pure Aemeni heritage on full display, with carmine hair and a complexion far more olive than it is tan. He still has a boyish fragility to his features, with feminine eyelashes and baggy clothing only serving to make him look more diminutive despite being around average height for his age. He typically dresses in brightly dyed robes to create less of a jarring contrast with his hair.

Kho & Tekenkhasut

Background: The House of Bekenamun is an established but relatively unimportant facet of the aristocracy from the earliest waves of non-Aemeni tribesmen to Photep, more known for their military contribution to the Red Orders than any political influence or exceptional wealth that other noble families might hold. The family produces magically-inclined children fairly regularly, much to the chagrin of many Bekenamun patriarchs trying to choose their successor, and quite a few of them throughout the lineage's history have had the distinction of serving in the Orders Sekhmet and Khenetai. Khotanebre is the secondborn son of the current Lord Bekenamun and was raised in a comfortable manner befitting a young noble, as he would've been next in line for inheritance should his older brother have ended up presenting an affinity for sorcery. Coincidentally, it was Kho that ended up showing magical talent instead, and his family wasted little time in pushing him into the Pesedjet with every bit of influence they had. He was a diligent and capable student of magic, though he didn't particularly stand out amongst the impressiveness of his peers at such a prestigious institution. Not that it bothered him; Kho had few aspirations aside from a vague familial hope that he'd be selected for one of the Red Orders and a desire to be simply be useful to the Photepi people wherever he was assigned.

Personality: Kho is generally polite and superficially mild-mannered, though there's a restless energeticism bubbling just under the surface, waiting to erupt in animated movements and enthusiasm whenever he finds something that excites him. Politically, his Lion upbringing clearly shows through; as far as Kho is concerned, Photep is the greatest civilization that will ever exist, its prosperity is of the utmost importance, and none are more fit to lead it there than the aristocracy that have led the city this far to begin with. He sees the academics that compose his political opposition as important, but ultimately arrogant. Not because he considers them trying to rise above their station, but because his view on magic is a decently humble one, believing that sorcerers are - and likely always will be - the metaphysical equivalent of children playing with blocks compared to the entities of the Aether. He truly believes in the heaven-sent origin of the Crimson King, and yet even His Majesty must draw his power from that realm; which Kho takes as reason to believe that even stronger entities exist out there somewhere. Nevertheless, he's excited for his role as a sorcerer and to be able to twist the energies of the Aether to Photep's benefit.

Aptitude: Kho's excitability lends itself well to pyromancy, with his magic manifesting just as explosively as his sudden episodes of enthusiasm do. He's a fairly average practitioner of magic in other fields, but he picked up on shooting little flames around remarkably quick.

Tutelary: Recently summoned, Tekenkhasut takes the form of a stern-eyed falcon, typically adorned in a colorful little scarf to match with his master. Despite what his rigid appearance may suggest, Tekenkhasut has a propensity toward acting mischievous, if not outright obnoxious. He exhibits a certain fondness for destruction and mayhem, constantly pushing Kho toward the more combative aspects of pyromancy and magic in general. While this may sound sadistic, the familiar is self-admittedly more interested in the resulting light show than deriving any satisfaction from hurting people, and his suggestions are usually harmless beyond minor property damage.

Just reposting this to make sure everything's good

Scion: Children of Light - Bronze Age Fantasy Magic Academy

Khotanebre Bekenamun

Name: Khotanebre Bekenamun

Age: 16

Appearance: Kho's appearance puts his less than pure Aemeni heritage on full display, with carmine hair and a complexion far more olive than it is tan. He still has a boyish fragility to his features, with feminine eyelashes and baggy clothing only serving to make him look more diminutive despite being around average height for his age. He typically dresses in brightly dyed robes to create less of a jarring contrast with his hair.

Kho & Tekenkhasut

Background: The House of Bekenamun is an established but relatively unimportant facet of the aristocracy from the earliest waves of non-Aemeni tribesmen to Photep, more known for their military contribution to the Red Orders than any political influence or exceptional wealth that other noble families might hold. The family produces magically-inclined children fairly regularly, much to the chagrin of many Bekenamun patriarchs trying to choose their successor, and quite a few of them throughout the lineage's history have had the distinction of serving in the Orders Sekhmet and Khenetai. Khotanebre is the secondborn son of the current Lord Bekenamun and was raised in a comfortable manner befitting a young noble, as he would've been next in line for inheritance should his older brother have ended up presenting an affinity for sorcery. Coincidentally, it was Kho that ended up showing magical talent instead, and his family wasted little time in pushing him into the Pesedjet with every bit of influence they had. He was a diligent and capable student of magic, though he didn't particularly stand out amongst the impressiveness of his peers at such a prestigious institution. Not that it bothered him; Kho had few aspirations aside from a vague familial hope that he'd be selected for one of the Red Orders and a desire to be simply be useful to the Photepi people wherever he was assigned.

Personality: Kho is generally polite and superficially mild-mannered, though there's a restless energeticism bubbling just under the surface, waiting to erupt in animated movements and enthusiasm whenever he finds something that excites him. Politically, his Lion upbringing clearly shows through; as far as Kho is concerned, Photep is the greatest civilization that will ever exist, its prosperity is of the utmost importance, and none are more fit to lead it there than the aristocracy that have led the city this far to begin with. He sees the academics that compose his political opposition as important, but ultimately arrogant. Not because he considers them trying to rise above their station, but because his view on magic is a decently humble one, believing that sorcerers are - and likely always will be - the metaphysical equivalent of children playing with blocks compared to the entities of the Aether. He truly believes in the heaven-sent origin of the Crimson King, and yet even His Majesty must draw his power from that realm; which Kho takes as reason to believe that even stronger entities exist out there somewhere. Nevertheless, he's excited for his role as a sorcerer and to be able to twist the energies of the Aether to Photep's benefit.

Aptitude: Kho's excitability lends itself well to pyromancy, with his magic manifesting just as explosively as his sudden episodes of enthusiasm do. He's a fairly average practitioner of magic in other fields, but he picked up on shooting little flames around remarkably quick.

Tutelary: Recently summoned, Tekenkhasut takes the form of a stern-eyed falcon, typically adorned in a colorful little scarf to match with his master. Despite what his rigid appearance may suggest, Tekenkhasut has a propensity toward acting mischievous, if not outright obnoxious. He exhibits a certain fondness for destruction and mayhem, constantly pushing Kho toward the more combative aspects of pyromancy and magic in general. While this may sound sadistic, the familiar is self-admittedly more interested in the resulting light show than deriving any satisfaction from hurting people, and his suggestions are usually harmless beyond minor property damage.

@Dead Cruiser Yep, I knew I had it saved somewhere.

Scion: Children of Light - Bronze Age Fantasy Magic Academy

Oh shit, it's back.

Of Blood and Magic

---

"Thank you. Was that so hard?" Honestly, half of that was information he genuinely needed to know if he was going to be looking into this. Or did Eris expect him to just drop everything on a whim when he said 'Hey go look up someone named Greta' with no further context? At this point, the mage was convinced vampires lied just for the sake of lying. The leech was awfully confident in this lead, too. From Max's perspective, it seemed like Eris wasted his time over there. Varis being distracted was a draw at best, not a win.

"Couple questions, though. First off, I'm not being forcefully invited to this little tea party with Ryner tomorrow, right?" He doubted Eris would even want him there, but Ryner was eccentric enough that he could see her insisting. Though, given the intent was probably to gossip behind closed doors, Max doubted she'd want a mage present either. "Secondly, do you think it's a bad idea to ask the Retriever about this Greta thing? He's probably the best source for royal family information, but Varis has him so neutered that he might blab about me asking no matter how innocuously I word it."

Taking the risk was less work, but it was better to err on the side of caution when he was working right under Cinnamon's nose. Even if he did ask, he'd have to wait at least a few weeks for Aaron to forget all about the test and not try to put two and two together, not to mention a valid excuse as to why the resident apathetic grump was suddenly interested in an irrelevant dead leech.

---

@Hero

Of Blood and Magic

---

Max rolled his eyes as Eris was halfway through his story. He really was droning on and on. What was this? A threat? A cope? A diversion? All of the above? Apparently everything that occurred today was a calculated plan now, of course. He didn't believe a word of it, but if it was true, he'd prefer it to the alternative. At least Eris was being too... Eris for anything to have gone horribly wrong. Plus, all the creepy nonsense the Retriever was texting him about actually being an act would honestly be a relief.

"Manners are for people I'm lying to, Eric. I'll spare you the patronization of pretending I like being your pet." They were even back to the same song and dance. Maybe Eris was a fucking genius; Max knew exactly what he was doing and yet he was playing along perfectly. What the hell did him talking some security guard into letting him bring something into the exam have to do wit- see, it was working! He was tempted to actually ask what the fuck that had to do with anything and ignore the elephant in the room! "As for watching you, it looks to me like you're dodging my question. Long-winded story we both know I don't care about, thinly-veiled threat I won't heed, a little bit of prodding to get me arguing instead of prying into your business - you're gassed up right now, so clearly something went right over there. Are you gonna tell me what that something is or should I save myself the trouble?"

Unless the vampire wanted to get one last bit of sass out before Aaron rang the doorbell and melted him down into powdered bloodsucker, Max sincerely doubted their little tryst had gone sour in a way that might end up affecting him. Which, quite frankly, was enough for him to wash his hands of the issue for now. If Eris wanted to be some unsolvable puzzle, that was fine by Max; evidently he was too 'hot and cold' for the vampire to have any luck on his end either.

---

@Hero

Of Blood and Magic

---

> Ha, ha. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you I don’t really have that luxury.
> But, fine. Good luck with all that. Let me know if there's anything I can do.

What the hell was Aaron doing that was taking him so long to respond? Hopefully Cinnamon sent him on a chore while he and Eris were embarrassing themselves and this twat wasn't just pretending to be busy so he didn't look needy. Everytime Max thought he was finally done with him, he'd respond again. At least that one had some finality to it. And what the fuck did he mean, he didn't have that luxury? Was he on 'babysit Eris' duty or something? There's no way the count would trust someone he evidently thought was totally incompetent with that. Unless he really did consider Eris such a minor player in this game that he wasn't even worth keeping tabs on.

He was tempted to respond, despite his better judgement, when the door opened. That was suspiciously quick. Even if Eris was a total quickdraw, there's no way he'd have returned by now. More importantly, that didn't seem like enough time to probe Varis into saying something he shouldn't've, so the entire endeavor would've been a pointless risk. The vampire didn't say anything either, which wasn't much of a surprise if he was concerned Max was going to explode again; but he still had a sinking feeling Eris fucked up while he was over there.

He poked his head out of his room briefly, only to see the vampire had retreated to his own room. Still not suspect in itself, but given the circumstances, it wasn't assuaging Max's misgivings. Was he in there crying or something? The mage was tempted to ask Aaron for details, but it was probably better to get them from Eris. Aaron might not've even been there, and as much as Max would prefer a dynamic of Team Mages versus Team Vampires, Team Sinnenodel was probably his more pressing opponent.

He hated politics.

Eris reemerged soon enough, which was a good sign. Sort of. Hearing him slump down in front of the TV like a bored father going through a midlife crisis was a bit concerning, but it wasn't like Max could say his own daily routine was particularly riveting either. Max could probably be rid of him for the rest of the night if he kept up the silent act, but the longer he waited to address this, the less likely he was to get anything out of Eris.

"Alright, spill. The Retriever said you were being a sentimental pussy and now you're back way too soon. D'you fuck up or something?" Max questioned as he paced out of his room and leaned on the doorframe. Hell, did Eris even go over there or did he change his mind and leave at the last minute? Probably his best move, given the circumstances. Though he was more confident that he was going to get a response about how they were both on Cinnamon's hit list now or something.

---

@Hero

Persona ~ The Beholder

---

”You see? He apologized despite having done nothing wrong. That’s an example of being a proper gentleman.”

He was the example of a proper gentleman? He probably bumped into people more than this overzealous preteen did. Then again, Leo did have all those etiquette lessons drilled into him as a kid. Outside the context of a four-course meal, though, he considered himself pretty unrefined. This was awkward. Maybe he shouldn't've stopped. But... the fact that he did made him kinda gentlemanly, right? Why was he even deliberating over this, it didn't matter!

Unfortunately, the kid did his little monologue and scurried off again before Leo had a chance to slip away. What a weirdo; that had to be the most sanctimonious response to bumping into someone he'd ever heard. He followed the boy with his eyes until the redhead had slipped too far into the crowd to see. Which, admittedly, didn't take very long, even with the kid's eyesore of a hairdo.

"Huh. Where are his parents?" Leo pondered aloud, still under the assumption that the redhead was an energetic grade schooler. Since when were kids in a rush to get to school, anyway? Or, no, school would've already started for them. Didn't he mention a library? Eh, whatever, Leo wasn't paying enough attention anyway. He turned back to the blonde girl and stifled a yawn. "You go to Thames' Edge, right? Need a gentleman to escort you there to avoid anymore misbehaved runners?" He grinned cheekily as he reversed her words on her. In retrospect, she really didn't seem like she had a sense of humor. Oh well, no loss if she stormed off.

---

@Crimson Flame@Ryteb Pymeroce