The Fifth Council of Neonates

[Dorian M. Black]

'Dorian!' Cassiopeia would declare, with a glimmer of delight in her eyes. 'You have been a Very (pause) Bad (pause) Brother.'

His youngest sister always said this loudly. She was a Very Bad Girl herself. What their father hated above all was weakness. Especially in his children. He'd rather pure evil. He was pure evil, Dorian thought privately, as a boy. Then there was their mother, who only acknowledged an elite: their family, a handful of friends, certain royals. The rest of the world was made up of idiots and mediocrities. The Humans she called them.
(God being dead, irony still rockingly alive...)

Early in life, courtesy of his psycho-terrorist Catholic Aunt, Dorian discovered he was all sorts of dirty things that the rich world disapproved of. He couldn't say he was sorry when she died in childbirth. Her daughter was everything she was not, however dark the loss was to the family. He never knew why his uncle married her.

Dorian was by the bay window in the lounge, Obfuscated.

Outside, the north was flaunting its phantasmagoria of ordinariness, the dull city throb and endless architecture that belonged to the rich. Every so often there came the artful smile of an aristocrat in his life; the only frowns you see are the smile-frowns of those trying to choose between pleasures. Even here in Bath and away from the Oxford elite, people’s edges are sharp, as if they’ve come irrevocably into focus. Their nails are strong and meticulously tended, their hair glows, their teeth are pale. They travel through the city unopposed by contingency, because they have the universal contingency antidote: money.

Viktor's voice floats back at him from the wells of shadow and memory. 'A lie consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving.' Yes. Well. There were no lies tonight, he supposed wryly, gazing out at the windows into the street. Gaslamps hung in the gloom like pale moons.

Only omitted facts.

[LittleBird]

Kira sits on the sofa, one leg swinging as her eyes devour the material of the book she gently holds. Rather eager for such meetings to be out of the way, why can't people be early as opposed to fashionably late for once, she ponders, the swinging of her leg a metronome and counteract to the gentle pfffft of pages being turned.

[Eric Lunaris]

Skipping was frowned upon in public. Let alone by a good man that looks twice as brawny as the rest. Eric therefor had to find another way to allow his excitment out. A merry wistle and a quick step would do. Some tune from high lands and bagpipes. The song accompanying it was a tale of a joyous pig roast and a fine woman. A great laugh came when the next words through his head made the punchline.

It is with this he came to the house.

A heavy knock two knocks on the door and a beaming smile.

The door simply swung open. Eric's instincts kicked in. His eyes widened as he looked around swiftly, his hand by his side where a scabbard should be. It was only second he donned his own invisibilty and stalked inside. On seeing Kira just lounging he suddenly appeared. "Well that was the worst fright I coulda gotten considerin'. Ya well? Ain't Black in?"

[Violet Clyntahn]

Violet leaves her carriage a slight way from her destination, allowing herself the chance to walk and enjoy the clear night air. She briefly looks in her bag to double check the address and smiles to herself, excited for tonight’s council. Not wanting to be late this time she quickly walks to the door and knocks sharply upon it.

[Dorian M. Black]

It becomes clear that Dorian is unwilling to stand as service, even in his own venue; the aristocrat doesn't make one move towards the door, knocking or no. In fact, he reasons that given the damn thing is ajar his input should be unnecessary. If they're stupid enough to wait indefinitely outside, he's given this group too much credit. And he'd selected them personally. The shame.

Dorian draws the curtains shut and shucks his Obfuscate. "Of course he's in. Glad you could make it."

There's an unusual undercurrent to Dorian tonight, too. It could be anticipation.

"Get Violet in, she's stood outside. In fact, Lunaris: how would you like to be a doorman for a few minutes? It's an exciting career opportunity."

[LittleBird]

Kira barely looks up at the knock, "Tis open-" she barely has time to call before Eric appears, she jumps, impulsive speed bringing her up before that fact sinks in. She sighs, brushing her skirts down she swiftly gathers the book that flew from her, passing him a look, "Way to make an entrance Mr.Lunaris!" she sinks back to the sofa, ensuring the binding of the book is intact, "come, come make yourself at home, might as well since those who have yet to arrive must be doing so at leisurely pace," she crosses her legs, one elbow bent at ease.
She smiles as Dorian makes himself known and continues to call out "Violet, tis open! There, I stole your job, sorry." she flashes a beam to Lunaris.

[Eric Lunaris]

Eric is eager for the confrontation, still too excited, "I can see menay exciting career's in ma future. Ya doormat ain't one of 'em."

The laughter at the whole thing last a second too long. It ends in a wink to Kira, "Thanks. A much betta job than I'd do indeed. Sorry for the jump, a door ajar ain't never a good sign, had to sharpen. Speakin' of..."

Eric's eyes opened wide as he looked at the two of them, and then at Violet should she enter. The eery stare is juxtaposed by the dashing smile.

[Christine Daye]

"There were two sisters side by side, sing I dum and sing I day
There were two sisters side by side, the boys are born for me
There were two sisters side by side, the eldest for young Johnny cried
I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me"

As always, Christine is announced by her voice, softly, happily singing, coming from nowhere. Then she rounds the corner, approaches the front door.

"Good evening, Miss Clyntahn. Are you well? Shall we go in? I think I hear Miss Kira calling that the door is open..."

She smiles at Violet, and walks into the house, to the lounge, still singing softly:

"Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring, sing I dum and sing I day
Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring, the boys are born for me
Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring, he never bought the eldest a single thing
I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me"

She curtseys a greeting to those present.

"Mr Black, Miss Kira, Mr Lunaris. Good evening to you all. I hope that you are all well."

[LittleBird]

Kira rises to grant a curtsy too, "Good Evening Miss Daye, and Miss Clyntahn, pleasure to see you again," she smiles warmly, finally there's enough her to truly call them a group or company.

[Dorian M. Black]

"You're a fool if you think a door is going to stop anyone," Dorian grouses to the blacksmith. "Let alone someone with meagre skill. Everyone should leave their doors ajar. Think of this as an open house, welcoming in the masses." Dorian manages to deliver the sentence without a hint of sarcasm. "Perhaps if you gave that dreary old castle a colourful sign, you'd labour under the same enjoyment as I."

Speaking of, he thinks, glancing to where Christine has just entered in.

"Miss Daye," he murmurs, expression shuttered. "We are splendid."