Roleplay

"You may-" Aries was about to say 'not', but he was elbowed quickly so that it sounded like he was giving Jaxen permission, though he glared at them all. The boy waved off the concerns easily. "No, don't be concerned. My father has faith in your integrity. It's a shame he wasn't here to meet you." The otherwise bland tone of his shaking voice portrayed no emotion; the boy was trying to put his cards back by his chest.

As Zadkiel was mentioned, the boy moved his gaze to watch him with a sense of wariness. "Yes, I'm sure it's a great compliment." The way he said it showed that it was taken more as a warning. "I'd give you Aries, but I'm worried your brother would kill him, and he makes me laugh sometimes," he offered. He was beginning to move aimlessly, tapping his feet against the floor without a set rhythm, and didn't even seem to notice that Jaxen had left.

In fact, he was completely shut off from the world until Zadkiel's shadow was cast over him. When he looked up, his dark blue eyes flicked over the taller man. "Well, that's an interesting question." He considered it for a few moments, before going to move towards the door. "This way, please."

At least he was politer than Aries, who stayed behind the pair with a glare, keeping his distance.

The mansion was beautifully decorated, with artworks decorating the panelled walls. There were, however, remnants of evidence that it was a family home, with pencil marks on door frames to mark a growing child's height, and areas where the paint had been redone to get rid of doodles on the wall.

"The estate is our home, we have to secure its upkeep. Father has gone to ask mother for more money," the boy said bluntly. "And Aries has some secret funds I'm going to squeeze out of him eventually..." He glanced back at the man behind them. "Looking after a lot of people is expensive, but the most efficient workers are always the happiest. It isn't foolish to ensure that they have what they need." There was something defensive in his tone.

"Are you calling me a liar?" he suddenly accused.

"We don't work on a 'need to know' basis here. Anything you've got to say, say it now." The bluntness of his tone contrasted with his obvious youth. He wasn't a fool, even if he was inexperienced, and he didn't like not knowing. His steps were uneven, one foot favoured over the other for no apparent reason, his cold gaze making him appear older even though he had to look up at Zadkiel. He had to treat him as an equal, which wouldn't bother him, but it was so much easier to demand information as a superior.

Aries glared at the pair, holding the corners of his cloak tightly, his smile fading as quickly as it had earlier arrived. He refused to trust this new arrival, knowing there was something off about him, and when he started talking about loyalties, he sped up his pace. Somehow, the suggestion that not all of the gang deserved their leader's patronage seemed very personal. "And what would you know of loyalty?"

"Don't be offended," the boy dismissed before Zadkiel had the chance to answer. "I'm sure there are. Those people suffer. They act as deterrents for people who get that idea." Once again, he lacked emotion in his tone. Any care he had for his underlings clearly died once they betrayed him. "If you act out again I won't invite you to these events," the boy continued to Aries, as he opened a door. "You'll be staying in this room. It was my brother's." There was nothing more said. "Aries is next door, perhaps you should be friends."

He'd only added the 'perhaps' in for politeness, since he certainly intended for Aries to be a diplomat of sorts, if only he could control his impulses. The boy knew his father had employed him for a reason, but he wasn't entirely sure why. "Please, let me know if it is unsatisfactory."

There were many words to describe the room, but that wasn't one of them. High ceilings and a bay window defined the architecture and allowed for a picturesque view of the grounds below. The four-poster bed seemed small with the large size of the room itself, which was, although sparsely decorated, as if the personal belongings inside it had been quickly removed, was certainly suitable for a short term stay. The wardrobe was walk in, and there was an en-suite, a clearly new addition to the old house. "If it gets too cold tonight there's a heater. Old windows don't do any good."

The boy narrowed his eyes. He didn't blame Zadkiel for keeping his mouth shut, but he was still annoyed about it. He decided to try to distract himself by discussing interiors. "I don't know how long your brother intends for you to stay here, but you can feel free to decorate. Except, leave the wallpaper. Father's fond of it." The way he instinctively pressed his hand against it suggested he was sentimental, too. "And you're welcome to explore most of the manor, just stay out of the tower. There's not much there but our physician gets a bit peeved about her personal space. So just go there if you hurt yourself," he ordered.

Aries' hand went to his own hair, pulling it in annoyance at the smirk he was given. "I have plenty," he snapped, and no glare from his companion would stop him. "The most important one is what the hell you are."

The boy seemed to notice, but rather than offend him, it amused him. He sat down on the bed to watch the drama unfold, ready to intervene if required. Zeno's answer hadn't been accepted well by Aries, who had responded by tightening his grip on his hair with his hand. "Why does your brother want you here?" he demanded next.

Aries rarely trusted, since he knew better. People didn't just leave their brothers as a gift of goodwill, even if their brother was also a warning. Aries assumed there was an interior motive, a plot to somehow gained control. "And what is he planning?" Even though just moments earlier they had established next steps, Aries doubted the other gang would stick to them.