02-13-2015, 11:54 PM
Dio sat with his arms crossed in the back of the carriage he had been assigned by that damnable demon Mr.Prinolopy, the cushioned velvet seats and gloriously filigreed interior a statement to just how insanely wealthy that demon and his associates were, and normally this would have inspired some measure of respect in Dio. However, he knew what type of men were involved in that group. All of them were deceitful demons who used what little power that they had been born with to brow beat others into doing their work, and while normally Dio was fine with that they had made the mistake of doing it to him. Thus, every single one of their accomplishments was like a slap in the face to Dio, a reminder of how new and comparatively powerless he had been even in the social arena when compared to those damnable monsters.
His mind was impacted far more however by the presence of that arrow from before, he had felt it pierce his heart and drive it's way through his body. He had felt a hand that appear from nothing and work with his own to pull it out, and most shocking of all it hadn't left so much as a scar on his flesh from the very second he had pulled it out. Now, vanishing wounds were something Dio was absolutely no stranger to, when he dined on blood he found that his regenerative abilities were far more effective, but in that moment he had been completely alone aside from that mysterious presence, that same presence that he felt watching him even now. In his blackened, dead, heart he swore that he would figure out the secrets of what had happened then, and he would find the person who would dare torment him this way and ensure that they would endure a torture 10000 times worse than any they had ever imagined for him.
However, Dio knew that this was just the start for him, and that to take that revenge he would need to acquire knowledge and power. He'd spoken to the carriage driver on the issue of primes and of the noted ones in the area, and had even managed to get the skeleton to speak about a man named Shang Tsung, a powerful individual who'd earned notoriety with their enemies in Darkshire, a man who specialized in the manipulation of souls. Such techniques were indeed fearsome when used against the right kind of undead, after all, Dio himself was unsure as to whether he had a soul or not as he was now, but he did know that hearing tales of this man's power and his adventure that Shang Tsung would at the very least be not a single whit weaker than himself. A fact that Dio lamented, in this world he had suffered many a set back, however coming here had brought with it a limitless potential for growth, every day he had felt the Omnilium surge more and more in his veins, in fact the difference between just his arrival and his current self was nearly a half again increase in the Omnilium he had at his disposal.
This introspection on the situation helped him pass the time as the carriage rolled through the country side, the territory and power of the men Dio was now working for quite apparent in how not even the local monsters dared to attempt to come near it, in fact, the only marks on the path at all were a set of wagon wheel ruts that were carved into the road. Even the immediate trees had been cleared from the side of the path and as they would get closer and closer to the manor Dio would see proper paving along this path, the transition from the rough dirt road to a paved road a dramatic one as an audible thump would bounce the carriage nearly a full foot off the ground, the Skeleton Driver only barely managing to reign in the nightmares with a crack of the shimmering whip the man carried at his hip, a crackle of hellfire followed by a deafening crack as he'd reign in the hell horses and direct them down the path towards the Manor.
looked down at the manor he had been so dutifully assigned to, his eyes tracing over the graceful hills that surrounded it on either side, the pale white Casablanca lilies that bloomed under the moonlight truly a wonder to behold. Even Dio had never beheld such an arrangement in all his years, the blood red flowers that occupied each crest on the hill and a single row down either side giving each hill the appearance of a gaping, bleeding, wound. Dio was truly stunned, his face frozen in an expression of admiration that such a powerful statement could be created with nothing but flowers. Something normally so fragile and delicate becoming a warning that would scare off even the likes of a dragon, all while maintaining that all too delicate aurora of art that was necessary to hold events as sophisticated as a masquerade. Yet this wonderment passed as soon as Dio was reminded of why he had been brought to this place.
Yes, in spite of this places beauty it's only practical value was to win the favor of the various nobles who had been invited to the Masquerade, the invitations going as far out as some of the upper tiers of Coruscant, and judging by the splendor that had been prepared for the exterior of the castle Dio knew that many invitees who would normally avoid associating with the likes of Dracula's forces would come here in droves to catch a glimpse of the terrifying splendor that was this manor.
Dio would walk down the path, arms crossed as he'd compose himself. He was about to meet with those insignificant enough to be considered the "Servants" of this place, as a leader he understood that one had to appear indomitable to lead vampires and the undead, but even more than that one had to be a figure that was feared. To be larger than life, to make someone think "Master Dio is a profound being beyond my reasoning", and "To oppose Lord Dio means a fate worse than death!" were the ideal states of leadership even among smaller positions like these. Thus as he'd enter he'd survey the entrance hall taking note of the fact that the banners in the entry hall were faded, that cob webs adorned every corner, and that the floor he was walking on was very unwaxed,
This was absolutely unacceptable! This kind of travesty wasn't even fit for a garden party let alone the kind of Masquerade that Dio would allow his name to be associated with, and at the thought of being so shamed by an inadequate delivery Dio would scream out into the hall, his voice carrying far as he would state loudly, every servant in every corner of The Manor being introduced to their new master with a shout that shook the very foundations of the building.
"ALL SERVANTS TO THE ENTRANCE HALL, COOKS, CHEFS, GUARDS, AND HOUSE ATTENDANTS ARE TO APPEAR BEFORE ME NOW FOR SUMMARY DISCIPLINE!"
The clamor of the servants could be heard even outside the manor, never before had they had a master introduce himself this way. As servants of the normally jolly, dottering, Mr.Prinopoly they had grown quite lax in their management of the estate, the dottering old man only ever punishing them if they didn't do something they had been directly ordered to do by the master himself. However today, in just a blink of an eye they had been ordered to appear for discipline the moment The host had arrived on the scene, just what kind of tyrannical overlord was that guy?!
The ones who came dilligently and reported for duty were treated with a nod from Dio before he'd order them to extend their hands, turning back to the coachman who had been driving his carriage and extending his hand. Dio would wait for a few moments, his gaze commanding, his mere presence enough to make the coachman sweat beads. This was no ordinary man after all, this was a man who had been personally chosen by the estate master, and a servant of Dracula himself. Being a member of Dracula's army he had heard of the terrible fates that awaited those that didn't understand the orders given, examining himself he would look down to see he had the whip still attached to his belt. Now he understood, surely with the context provided here Lord Dio was merely asking for his whip to enact discipline on the servants who had let the estate fall into such a state. The coachman would hand over the shimmering whip with a sigh of relief, knowing that he may have dodged the much more severe bullet of being made an example of.
Dio would smirk as he tested the whip, giving it a firm crack against the ground before he'd look over at each and every one of the servants, many seemed to be dressed in strange attire for undead maids, a mummy with a pair of cat ears in a maid outfit, a vampire who bore the bratty demeanor of a child wearing a chefs apron, and an elderly head butler who displayed the proud aura of nobility without so much as one whit of competence to his name. Seeing them, Dio would scowl he had never seen such an incompetent bunch of vagabonds, each and every one of them a disgrace to the splendor that the grounds were kept in, and absolutely none of them worthy to work under one such as he!
Advancing he'd crack the whip against the ground, the sound causing the maid and the chef to wince painfully. Dio chuckling as he gauged their reactions, this bunch was really far too soft. Perhaps that why he had recruited him? Dio would chuckle at the thought, that monster Mr.Prinopoly was a beast that surpassed even Dio in cunning, so he had no doubt that he knew that he had recruited someone who he knew was completely fine with even torturing those who refused to follow orders so that he wouldn't have to. An effective strategy that kept his position as the dottering old master who's kind to his own intact while handling the issue of their laziness. Even if Dio hated that old man, he understood the thought process behind wanting to restore an old home to glory. This place didn't seem too different from the Joestar mansion he had grown up in himself, a strange feeling of nostalgia washing over Dio as memories of the moment he had killed George Joestar came to mind, how that dottering old fool had caused so much trouble with something as worthless as his life was truly a mystery to Dio, but in the end he had obtained Johnathon's body so in some ways he supposed it was fate that he ended up here, a place so similar to where he had cast off his humanity.
First he would advance towards the cool skeletal butler first, he was the man in charge of the mummy maid that currently shifted nervously beside him, the expression hidden behind her bandages doubtlessly one filled with fear as Dio would stare that regal looking skeleton in the eye, a moment of silence passing between the two. On one side an intimidating vampire who had been assigned the position of host for the upcoming masquerade, and the other a unshaken master of the servants. They both knew what was about to go down, and between the two there was an invisible clash of wills, both daring the other to make the first move.
Unfortunately for the Skeletal Butler he was not dealing with a man who held a single shred of compassion or mercy in his heart, Dio was a man who felt not the tiniest bit of empathy for anyone but himself, a truly self composed being.
A self composed being that raised the shimmering whip and brought it down across the skeletal butlers front, bringing it down across the suit the being wore, a terrifying scream coming from the butler as his bones were seared by the essence of the lash. This was no ordinary whip Dio had taken from the carriage driver, it was a whip that was intended to drive Nightmares, demonic beasts with a hide tougher than steel, and while The Head Butler of the estate was a venerable skeleton who's kind were traditionally resistant to such measures even the hardened bone of his body felt a searing pain when the whip was brought across it, the agony forcing the skeleton to a knee, his teeth grit hard enough that an audible clack could be heard as he did so. All the while Dio would look down remorselessly at the injuired butler, the whip cracking against the ground again as Dio would say.
"Now then, do you understand why I, Dio, have done this to you? Why I have called all of you here for punishment the moment I came to this building after only the briefest of moments?"
He'd say, waiting a moment as he'd turn his gaze on the others present. The vampire girl looking at him as if he were some kind of digusting monster, meanwhile the head maid was busy leaning down to try and repair the suit of the skeleton that had been whipped, swift hands mending the garment before his eyes, telling Dio that while these people were capable this was an issue of motivation. It was likely that this manor hadn't seen any visitors in well over a century, and in their duties they had grown complacent with what their master would merely not complain about. That changed today. Leaning down Dio would grab the Skeleton's head angling it up to look Dio directly in the eyes as he would speak.
"You are incompetent trash, that I have been contracted by your master to handle a group like you means that you have not only fallen gravely behind on your duties but you have forgotten your place as servants. You serve because you are weak, you are weak because you settled for serving in a world where the only merits are strength. Look at this place! The filth that coats the bannisters, the faded tapestries that hang from the walls, and the unwaxed floors all demonstrate the lack luster performance that you are capable of when you are left to your own devices.
Thus it falls to I, DIO, will be whipping you back into shape. Both literally and figuratively. From me there will be no mercy, either the job will be completed to the absolute pinnacle of perfection or you will be punished. The event that will be held here in the coming day will be the most grand Masquerade the Pale Moors have ever seen.
With that out of the way now I will introduce myself. I am Dio Brando. The man hand picked by your Master Mr.Prinoply to host The Masquerade here in a the coming day, however, as I have stated this place is far and beyond in no shape for us to even dream of hosting one worthy of my name. Thus, I will be expecting you all to report in an hour with a list of the following things.
1: A list of our food stocks, we will be entertaining guests from everywhere. This means we must be prepared for everyone. All of them will be nobility, and each and every one of them will be expecting a peerless experience. I will remind you as well that this Masquerade is for the sake of proving that we in The Pale Moors are not just mindless Dogs looking for our next piece of meat, but that The Army of Dracula is a force that can be allied with or served under. I am not content with the reputation of being a starving beast looking for his daily feast. Thus every meal prepared will only use the highest quality ingredients.
2. These floors will be waxed, those tapestries replaced, and the windows will shine! The state of disrepair this place has fallen to is absolutely unforgivable! If I were allowed to I would kill you to save myself the shame of directing such a stupid, useless, crew.
3. We are going to train you all to receive guests in a dignified manner. I have no doubt that you were made aware of my coming yet when I arrived I had to scream for a servant to appear, this is an unacceptable standard. As servants of nobility you are provided with a place to live and tasks you must complete in order to keep this place. Thus, I will be assigning you all 2 hours etiquette re-training under the only one of you who kept their composure through this whole event. Ms.Maid, youy are the new head of the servants staff."
He'd say, turning towards the stairs, confident that he had left quite the impression on the staff, shaping him from the new harsh master into a demon that definitely couldn't be defied, a man of impeccable taste and perfectionist standards. If they knew that they were now working under a master who was this harsh over simple things like cleaning and greeting, then he also knew that they wouldn't be nearly so foolish as to attempt to ruin the main event itself. Dio walking down the hallway as he'd search for the master bedroom before taking his reprieve for the morning as the sun would raise outside.
As Dio would slumber, the supreme enemy of the vampires rising over the horizon, the servants would have a hushed discussion. The vampire chef girl pouting as he'd look at the state of the skeletal butler, the former head of the servants standing as The Mummy Maid would finishing repairing the jacket of his suit, the Skeleton straightening it out as he'd say.
"Well I never! This kind of master is absolutely terrible, a man with no remorse and the heart of a demon. Why would Mr.Prinopoly trust a man like that to host the first Masquerade the house has hosted in a century?! To go so far as to demote me over the faded state of the banners.. we'd only be made aware of his arrival mere minutes before he walked into the door shouting like some kind of banshee."
He'd say, a hand over his chest where his bones still ached from the earlier lashing. Unlike primes or humans skeletons didn't have very good natural healing, so that scar that Dio had left on his bones would likely cause him grief for many days to come, but as a distinguished butler of the House he had no intent of allowing himself anything more than this. Meanwhile, The Vampire girl would yawn, normally this time was when she would sleep as well, but with the black out curtains drawn she was still able to take part in this conversation, a part that would begin with her stating loudly to her fellow servants.
"What an idiot! Getting so upset over something simple like that, he should have known that we wouldn't leave this place like this, we just hadn't had time to prepare! To go so far as to strike even you, The Head Butler of the house that asshole really has a lot of nerve. That Bastard better consider himself lucky that he didn't hit me like that or I would've put him on my chopping block like the last guy who dared to raise a hand to me."
She said, a demonic aura seeming to manifest around her, the darkness seeming to focus around her now gleaming red eyes as a meat cleaver would seemingly appear from no where, but this aura was quelled when The Mummy would speak, a soft voice coming from behind those bandages.
"No! You must not speak ill of one directed by master to prepare this place for The Masquerade here in only a single day. This place has fallen into disrepair, and while I believe he was overly harsh in his use of the holy whip on an undead like Mr.Reaves, I cannot fault him for being angry. While it is true that he is cold, and even I can't seem to find a single good trait about him. He seems to be the kind of man who will invariably obtain the best possible results for any task he takes to, and while I do not agree with his methods I do believe in our master and that he wouldn't send anyone who would prepare anything less than a perfect event for his esteemed guests!
So Ceare I will ask that you ignore our new task master's obvious flaws for the sake of establishing this manor as the finest estate in The Pale Moors. Think of it not as following his orders but as a way to build your own reputation. After all, would there ever be another chance to serve so many prestigious guests?
If we do well here, at this time, then we will undoubtedly ascend the ranks of being mere servants, and attain a prestige that we could never hope to gain merely maintaining the estate!"
She'd say bowing deeply towards her companions, the mummy maid's bandages dangling as beneath them she would sweat beads, praying that she could convince their notoriously ill-behaved Chef Ceare to serve under their new warden without any exceptional incidents of misbehavior, after all, her words were not for the sake of Dio but rather out of a sincere wish to see her comrades and friends gain happiness. A trait that her friends were well aware of, and how could someone who saw a friend telling them so earnestly to do their best do anything but that? It really wasn't fair when someone so sweat asked for such things, it was simply impossible for anyone who had a single shred of empathy or compassion in their heart to refuse.
Thus, it was Ceare who cracked first, looking down her nose at the girl as he'd cross her arms and state with a "hrmph".
"Well I suppose if it's you who's asking then I can do you this favor Nerissa, but you had damn well better remember that I, The esteemed and beautiful vampire gourmet Ceare decided to do this for you, and in return I'm going to require you to make a dress to wear to the Masquerade. If I'm going to work like a dog for the next couple days I want to look my best at the event itself."
This response earned a chuckle from Nerissa, the girl covering her mouth as she realized how simple a request it was, Ceare was really just trying to save face in light of the fact that she was weak to humble people, meanwhile the head butler who had been mulling over the situation finally sighed in a defeated manner, a dry raspy chuckle escaping his skeletal maw as he would say.
"I suppose I can't refuse and save face in light of this kind of opposition, very well. Even though I hate the man I have to admit he had a good eye, he noticed every single aspect of the floor that was in disrepair, taking care to notice things that most masters gloss over does ensure that he will at the very least deliver a spectacular event that even these old bones would like to see."
Thus it was agreed, the trio shook hands before giving a "YES!" as a collective group before they'd leave to attend their various duties, The maid taking to scrubbing the floors with an unforeseen zeal, the head butler heading out to commission new tapestries for the event, and Ceare taking to the task of acquiring the freshest possible ingredients. From the hustle and bustle that now shook the manor as all manner of servants ran about preparing for the event it was clear that Dio's arrival had lit the fire under these formerly under motivated men, their discussion and the brutality with which had greeted their laziness combined with their genuine affection for their master meant that they were propelled by both a genuine desire to deliver an event that would make their demonic lord happy, and fearful of the new task master who had arrived, the drive that now inspired these men and women something far beyond simple loyalty.
In the hours Dio rested, slumbering inside a coffin that had been prepared for him as the event's host by the lord of the manor, the house down stairs was restored to the glory that a true manor should always be presented in, the floors were waxed and treated until they shone, the formerly dingy and faded tapestries were replaced with fresh ones documenting recent triumphs over the forces of Darkshire, and the kitchens were alive with the aromas of roasting meats and stews that were being prepared for the days of decadent feasting, the "Fufufufu!" of a certain chef echoing from within as the most beautiful and delicious dishes were made. All the while carriages rolled in as the servants of this manor strive to prove themselves as something greater than the useless lot the arrival had made them out to be, the fires of determination lit in their hearts.
As Dio would awake from within the velvet lined coffin he'd smirk, he knew that the demonstration had made them hate him, but at the same time the trio had doubtless love for the man who owned this manor. Any master who would let their servants slack off like this would always possess the hearts of his workers, but the results gained from such worthless things as "love", and "compassion" were of no value to one such as he. He demanded perfection, and as he would rise and see a freshly pressed and treated outfit he knew that his display had earned him the one thing the cared to have from the servants. Respect. Donning a freshly cleaned outfit Dio would affix the circlet around his brow, Dio grabbing the blank form fitting tank top from the chair, donning it as well, the form fitting fabric seeming to fit better after the small bit of tailoring that had been done to it. The jacket that followed was equally better fitting, allowing Dio to move more freely. He had been right to place a burden of responsibility on that maid, her natural talent made her a perfect candidate for leadership. Dio was a man who placed merit and skill over petty things like seniority, which only held value to those too old to be of any actual use.
Dio, now fully dressed, would open the door and proceed down the hallway. During his walk he would take immediate note of the improved condition of the rug and wall paper around him, Dio passing a group of skeleton workers who were reapplying the wallpaper to a few areas where it had started to peel, and as he would enter the junction between the upstairs rooms and the grand entrance hall his face would immediately break out into a confident smirk, what had been a dingy, destitute remnant of a manor that would have been more at home in a horror movie than hosting a manor was now a place of true brilliance, the marble floors shone with the light provided by the countless crystal lamps that shone in the chandelier above. The steps that had once been a complete travesty now greeted Dio's steps with a crimson carpet freshly applied this very day, the faded and torn carpet of the past now replaced with the extravagant rug.
As he reached the ground floor he would smile as he saw that the ragged and sun bleached tapestries had been replaced with glorious depictions of Dracula and Diablo's conquests over the lesser races, each a grim reminder that the people who owned this manor and were hosting the masquerade had won this wealth and recognition through a thousand years of conquest and battle, and as Dio would turn to look at the servants quarters he would see the heads of each household ready and there to greet him, the head butler approaching him with a platter that he would open, offering it to Dio with a bow as the butler would say.
"This is the specialty dish that our master chef Caere has prepared for the vampiric guests, a stew prepared using a blood roux, with a cut of delicate filet mignon in a red wine sauce."
Dio would nod and receive the sample of one of the dishes gracefully, swirling the wine to bring out the aroma of the wine, inhaling a bit as he'd take a sip of the fine wine, enjoying the flavor. Ah, the benefits of being a stone mask vampire, one got to enjoy all the benefits of continuing to have taste buds and avoiding petty weaknesses like religious symbols all the while maintaining the same power that the vampires of myth had and more. Dio's bit of narcissism aside he did truly enjoy the wine, and as he'd sample the blood soup that was to be the appetizer for the vampiric guests he found himself immersed in a blend of flavors that made the previous wine seem like ash in his mouth. That followed by the filet mignon was a taste that could only be defined as an experience, a dish truly worthy of being served to royalty, and far in excess of what could be considered sufficient for a masquerade.
Truly, the vampire chef Ceare was a talented individual, though he hadn't sampled the cooking before issuing the orders Dio understood that unless he had motivated them all with the prior display of ruthlessness that they would have never obtained results like these. This passing thought was interrupted by Nerissa advancing towards Dio, a suit and jacket combo being present to him. The maid standing straight up once it was in Dio's hands, the vampire feeling the delicate fabric for a moment and understanding that this was a suit that even The Joestars would have been envious of, carefully woven out of the finest thread and tailored perfectly. To be able to do this just from seeing him was truly an affirmation of the talent he had seen in her, and to call her anything less than a genius tailor would simply be an insult.
"This is an ensemble created with your muscular frame in mind sir, normal untailored suits wouldn't allow you to dance comfortably, so once I was through with today's house chores I took the liberty or preparing an outfit for you to wear to the ball, and as the host of our master's most prestigious masquerade I simply couldn't allow you to have anything other than the finest attire for this occasion!"
She said, standing really stiff, as if she were a soldier at attention the dainty looking Narcissa's voice carrying throughout the hallway, and even the cold hearted Dio had to chuckle at such an earnest display. She would make an excellent servant if he could recruit her, though he couldn't afford to allow her to become as lazy as she was here working under this man it would definitely be in his best interests if he could get her to manage his own estate once he had played the political game long enough to have obtained one.
However, even to the cold and distant Dio the servants had definitely proven themselves, so much in fact that there was only one thing left to do. Dio would smile as he'd finish off the glass of wine that had been presented to him, resting the glass on the platter he had been presented before he'd address the servants properly, his voice filled with the pride of a man who had orchestrated a master piece through the force of his own personality, or well, at the very least thought he did.
"Good, these preparations are indeed up to the standards of even I, Dio. If this were to be served in my own manor I would be proud to welcome the guests of any world into my home. Thus, it is with great pride that I now order you to send messengers to every major kingdom, tonight. The Masquerade begins, and that I, DIO, will be hosting this most prestigious of events!"
He'd say, gesturing with his hand in a slicing motion the universal signal for dismissal among any crew, the servants dispersing to go and carry out the will of their task master, each heading out towards a different section of the manor in order to meet with the skeletal and zombie messengers, couriers running throughout the land to deliver the message that the masquerade was to be held starting tonight, and that the event itself would extend throughout the week with any noble comers welcome from any verse, and that Primes of any verse would be welcomed with the same respect they'd afford the nobility. Dio knew that adding guests to a list this late was likely a completely losing battle, but his goal was not so simple as merely hosting a masquerade, he was here to make allies and accrue power within this realm. The party was merely a pretense for his own goals, because even though he had been brow beaten into hosting this event by a certain demonic bastard he was not one to waste an opportunity.
Watching the servants take their leave Dio would turn towards the room once more, walking up the stairs and down the hallway to his room. There he would change out of his traditional outfit into the tailored suit and jacket combo, the pleated dress pants he wore completing the outfit, and as Dio would look over at the standing mirror and there he would see the powerfully built symbol of nobility, his arrogant demeanor and his statuesque features giving the the appearance of a King looking down on his subjects.
Now properly attired Dio would go down the stairs, and as he would pass the servants he would alert them to be ready for the coming guests. Tonight was indeed the night that the Masquerade was scheduled, and as the servants would align themselves in an arc up the stairs Dio would stand in the center, looking down as the first of the officially invited guests would arrive. Dio chuckling inwardly as he'd see them all received graciously at the door, hearing the first notes of orchestral music fill the hallway, the sound of violins filling his ears as the band would begin it's performance in time with the guests arrival. A perfectly orchestrated event by a perfect being, and as he'd smile and receive the first of the guests he would announce loudly to the incoming guests, his voice as boisterous and full of pride as he can make it.
"I, the esteemed Dio Brando am proud to welcome you all to The Masquerade. If you will don your masks at the door I will be happy to show you all to the dance floor were we have a most prestigious occasion prepared for you all."
He would say as he'd don his own mask, the golden furred wolf mask an indicator of who the predator was tonight, all the masks made available to the mere human guests were that of prey animals and other such herbivorous beasts, a statement that Dio intended to make to those who were not allied with Dracula, that they were simply targets, and an invitation to Primes and allies that they were the powerful, and that it would be they that would control this world. However, this metaphorical statement seemed to be lost on most as the guests took it to be a pairing theme tied into the cycle of life, where a prey would dance with a predator, Dio chuckling as he'd overhear a pair of invited Nobles commenting on the beauty of the theme and how it encouraged people to find dance partners.
As he'd advance down the stairs he would take the hand of a particularly lavishly dressed Noble Zombie lady and guide her over towards the prepared feasting table, Dio laughing and playing the game, all the while smirking devilishly within knowing that every word and bit of praise he earned tonight would put him one step closer to absolute power in The Pale Moors.
His mind was impacted far more however by the presence of that arrow from before, he had felt it pierce his heart and drive it's way through his body. He had felt a hand that appear from nothing and work with his own to pull it out, and most shocking of all it hadn't left so much as a scar on his flesh from the very second he had pulled it out. Now, vanishing wounds were something Dio was absolutely no stranger to, when he dined on blood he found that his regenerative abilities were far more effective, but in that moment he had been completely alone aside from that mysterious presence, that same presence that he felt watching him even now. In his blackened, dead, heart he swore that he would figure out the secrets of what had happened then, and he would find the person who would dare torment him this way and ensure that they would endure a torture 10000 times worse than any they had ever imagined for him.
However, Dio knew that this was just the start for him, and that to take that revenge he would need to acquire knowledge and power. He'd spoken to the carriage driver on the issue of primes and of the noted ones in the area, and had even managed to get the skeleton to speak about a man named Shang Tsung, a powerful individual who'd earned notoriety with their enemies in Darkshire, a man who specialized in the manipulation of souls. Such techniques were indeed fearsome when used against the right kind of undead, after all, Dio himself was unsure as to whether he had a soul or not as he was now, but he did know that hearing tales of this man's power and his adventure that Shang Tsung would at the very least be not a single whit weaker than himself. A fact that Dio lamented, in this world he had suffered many a set back, however coming here had brought with it a limitless potential for growth, every day he had felt the Omnilium surge more and more in his veins, in fact the difference between just his arrival and his current self was nearly a half again increase in the Omnilium he had at his disposal.
This introspection on the situation helped him pass the time as the carriage rolled through the country side, the territory and power of the men Dio was now working for quite apparent in how not even the local monsters dared to attempt to come near it, in fact, the only marks on the path at all were a set of wagon wheel ruts that were carved into the road. Even the immediate trees had been cleared from the side of the path and as they would get closer and closer to the manor Dio would see proper paving along this path, the transition from the rough dirt road to a paved road a dramatic one as an audible thump would bounce the carriage nearly a full foot off the ground, the Skeleton Driver only barely managing to reign in the nightmares with a crack of the shimmering whip the man carried at his hip, a crackle of hellfire followed by a deafening crack as he'd reign in the hell horses and direct them down the path towards the Manor.
looked down at the manor he had been so dutifully assigned to, his eyes tracing over the graceful hills that surrounded it on either side, the pale white Casablanca lilies that bloomed under the moonlight truly a wonder to behold. Even Dio had never beheld such an arrangement in all his years, the blood red flowers that occupied each crest on the hill and a single row down either side giving each hill the appearance of a gaping, bleeding, wound. Dio was truly stunned, his face frozen in an expression of admiration that such a powerful statement could be created with nothing but flowers. Something normally so fragile and delicate becoming a warning that would scare off even the likes of a dragon, all while maintaining that all too delicate aurora of art that was necessary to hold events as sophisticated as a masquerade. Yet this wonderment passed as soon as Dio was reminded of why he had been brought to this place.
Yes, in spite of this places beauty it's only practical value was to win the favor of the various nobles who had been invited to the Masquerade, the invitations going as far out as some of the upper tiers of Coruscant, and judging by the splendor that had been prepared for the exterior of the castle Dio knew that many invitees who would normally avoid associating with the likes of Dracula's forces would come here in droves to catch a glimpse of the terrifying splendor that was this manor.
Dio would walk down the path, arms crossed as he'd compose himself. He was about to meet with those insignificant enough to be considered the "Servants" of this place, as a leader he understood that one had to appear indomitable to lead vampires and the undead, but even more than that one had to be a figure that was feared. To be larger than life, to make someone think "Master Dio is a profound being beyond my reasoning", and "To oppose Lord Dio means a fate worse than death!" were the ideal states of leadership even among smaller positions like these. Thus as he'd enter he'd survey the entrance hall taking note of the fact that the banners in the entry hall were faded, that cob webs adorned every corner, and that the floor he was walking on was very unwaxed,
This was absolutely unacceptable! This kind of travesty wasn't even fit for a garden party let alone the kind of Masquerade that Dio would allow his name to be associated with, and at the thought of being so shamed by an inadequate delivery Dio would scream out into the hall, his voice carrying far as he would state loudly, every servant in every corner of The Manor being introduced to their new master with a shout that shook the very foundations of the building.
"ALL SERVANTS TO THE ENTRANCE HALL, COOKS, CHEFS, GUARDS, AND HOUSE ATTENDANTS ARE TO APPEAR BEFORE ME NOW FOR SUMMARY DISCIPLINE!"
The clamor of the servants could be heard even outside the manor, never before had they had a master introduce himself this way. As servants of the normally jolly, dottering, Mr.Prinopoly they had grown quite lax in their management of the estate, the dottering old man only ever punishing them if they didn't do something they had been directly ordered to do by the master himself. However today, in just a blink of an eye they had been ordered to appear for discipline the moment The host had arrived on the scene, just what kind of tyrannical overlord was that guy?!
The ones who came dilligently and reported for duty were treated with a nod from Dio before he'd order them to extend their hands, turning back to the coachman who had been driving his carriage and extending his hand. Dio would wait for a few moments, his gaze commanding, his mere presence enough to make the coachman sweat beads. This was no ordinary man after all, this was a man who had been personally chosen by the estate master, and a servant of Dracula himself. Being a member of Dracula's army he had heard of the terrible fates that awaited those that didn't understand the orders given, examining himself he would look down to see he had the whip still attached to his belt. Now he understood, surely with the context provided here Lord Dio was merely asking for his whip to enact discipline on the servants who had let the estate fall into such a state. The coachman would hand over the shimmering whip with a sigh of relief, knowing that he may have dodged the much more severe bullet of being made an example of.
Dio would smirk as he tested the whip, giving it a firm crack against the ground before he'd look over at each and every one of the servants, many seemed to be dressed in strange attire for undead maids, a mummy with a pair of cat ears in a maid outfit, a vampire who bore the bratty demeanor of a child wearing a chefs apron, and an elderly head butler who displayed the proud aura of nobility without so much as one whit of competence to his name. Seeing them, Dio would scowl he had never seen such an incompetent bunch of vagabonds, each and every one of them a disgrace to the splendor that the grounds were kept in, and absolutely none of them worthy to work under one such as he!
Advancing he'd crack the whip against the ground, the sound causing the maid and the chef to wince painfully. Dio chuckling as he gauged their reactions, this bunch was really far too soft. Perhaps that why he had recruited him? Dio would chuckle at the thought, that monster Mr.Prinopoly was a beast that surpassed even Dio in cunning, so he had no doubt that he knew that he had recruited someone who he knew was completely fine with even torturing those who refused to follow orders so that he wouldn't have to. An effective strategy that kept his position as the dottering old master who's kind to his own intact while handling the issue of their laziness. Even if Dio hated that old man, he understood the thought process behind wanting to restore an old home to glory. This place didn't seem too different from the Joestar mansion he had grown up in himself, a strange feeling of nostalgia washing over Dio as memories of the moment he had killed George Joestar came to mind, how that dottering old fool had caused so much trouble with something as worthless as his life was truly a mystery to Dio, but in the end he had obtained Johnathon's body so in some ways he supposed it was fate that he ended up here, a place so similar to where he had cast off his humanity.
First he would advance towards the cool skeletal butler first, he was the man in charge of the mummy maid that currently shifted nervously beside him, the expression hidden behind her bandages doubtlessly one filled with fear as Dio would stare that regal looking skeleton in the eye, a moment of silence passing between the two. On one side an intimidating vampire who had been assigned the position of host for the upcoming masquerade, and the other a unshaken master of the servants. They both knew what was about to go down, and between the two there was an invisible clash of wills, both daring the other to make the first move.
Unfortunately for the Skeletal Butler he was not dealing with a man who held a single shred of compassion or mercy in his heart, Dio was a man who felt not the tiniest bit of empathy for anyone but himself, a truly self composed being.
A self composed being that raised the shimmering whip and brought it down across the skeletal butlers front, bringing it down across the suit the being wore, a terrifying scream coming from the butler as his bones were seared by the essence of the lash. This was no ordinary whip Dio had taken from the carriage driver, it was a whip that was intended to drive Nightmares, demonic beasts with a hide tougher than steel, and while The Head Butler of the estate was a venerable skeleton who's kind were traditionally resistant to such measures even the hardened bone of his body felt a searing pain when the whip was brought across it, the agony forcing the skeleton to a knee, his teeth grit hard enough that an audible clack could be heard as he did so. All the while Dio would look down remorselessly at the injuired butler, the whip cracking against the ground again as Dio would say.
"Now then, do you understand why I, Dio, have done this to you? Why I have called all of you here for punishment the moment I came to this building after only the briefest of moments?"
He'd say, waiting a moment as he'd turn his gaze on the others present. The vampire girl looking at him as if he were some kind of digusting monster, meanwhile the head maid was busy leaning down to try and repair the suit of the skeleton that had been whipped, swift hands mending the garment before his eyes, telling Dio that while these people were capable this was an issue of motivation. It was likely that this manor hadn't seen any visitors in well over a century, and in their duties they had grown complacent with what their master would merely not complain about. That changed today. Leaning down Dio would grab the Skeleton's head angling it up to look Dio directly in the eyes as he would speak.
"You are incompetent trash, that I have been contracted by your master to handle a group like you means that you have not only fallen gravely behind on your duties but you have forgotten your place as servants. You serve because you are weak, you are weak because you settled for serving in a world where the only merits are strength. Look at this place! The filth that coats the bannisters, the faded tapestries that hang from the walls, and the unwaxed floors all demonstrate the lack luster performance that you are capable of when you are left to your own devices.
Thus it falls to I, DIO, will be whipping you back into shape. Both literally and figuratively. From me there will be no mercy, either the job will be completed to the absolute pinnacle of perfection or you will be punished. The event that will be held here in the coming day will be the most grand Masquerade the Pale Moors have ever seen.
With that out of the way now I will introduce myself. I am Dio Brando. The man hand picked by your Master Mr.Prinoply to host The Masquerade here in a the coming day, however, as I have stated this place is far and beyond in no shape for us to even dream of hosting one worthy of my name. Thus, I will be expecting you all to report in an hour with a list of the following things.
1: A list of our food stocks, we will be entertaining guests from everywhere. This means we must be prepared for everyone. All of them will be nobility, and each and every one of them will be expecting a peerless experience. I will remind you as well that this Masquerade is for the sake of proving that we in The Pale Moors are not just mindless Dogs looking for our next piece of meat, but that The Army of Dracula is a force that can be allied with or served under. I am not content with the reputation of being a starving beast looking for his daily feast. Thus every meal prepared will only use the highest quality ingredients.
2. These floors will be waxed, those tapestries replaced, and the windows will shine! The state of disrepair this place has fallen to is absolutely unforgivable! If I were allowed to I would kill you to save myself the shame of directing such a stupid, useless, crew.
3. We are going to train you all to receive guests in a dignified manner. I have no doubt that you were made aware of my coming yet when I arrived I had to scream for a servant to appear, this is an unacceptable standard. As servants of nobility you are provided with a place to live and tasks you must complete in order to keep this place. Thus, I will be assigning you all 2 hours etiquette re-training under the only one of you who kept their composure through this whole event. Ms.Maid, youy are the new head of the servants staff."
He'd say, turning towards the stairs, confident that he had left quite the impression on the staff, shaping him from the new harsh master into a demon that definitely couldn't be defied, a man of impeccable taste and perfectionist standards. If they knew that they were now working under a master who was this harsh over simple things like cleaning and greeting, then he also knew that they wouldn't be nearly so foolish as to attempt to ruin the main event itself. Dio walking down the hallway as he'd search for the master bedroom before taking his reprieve for the morning as the sun would raise outside.
As Dio would slumber, the supreme enemy of the vampires rising over the horizon, the servants would have a hushed discussion. The vampire chef girl pouting as he'd look at the state of the skeletal butler, the former head of the servants standing as The Mummy Maid would finishing repairing the jacket of his suit, the Skeleton straightening it out as he'd say.
"Well I never! This kind of master is absolutely terrible, a man with no remorse and the heart of a demon. Why would Mr.Prinopoly trust a man like that to host the first Masquerade the house has hosted in a century?! To go so far as to demote me over the faded state of the banners.. we'd only be made aware of his arrival mere minutes before he walked into the door shouting like some kind of banshee."
He'd say, a hand over his chest where his bones still ached from the earlier lashing. Unlike primes or humans skeletons didn't have very good natural healing, so that scar that Dio had left on his bones would likely cause him grief for many days to come, but as a distinguished butler of the House he had no intent of allowing himself anything more than this. Meanwhile, The Vampire girl would yawn, normally this time was when she would sleep as well, but with the black out curtains drawn she was still able to take part in this conversation, a part that would begin with her stating loudly to her fellow servants.
"What an idiot! Getting so upset over something simple like that, he should have known that we wouldn't leave this place like this, we just hadn't had time to prepare! To go so far as to strike even you, The Head Butler of the house that asshole really has a lot of nerve. That Bastard better consider himself lucky that he didn't hit me like that or I would've put him on my chopping block like the last guy who dared to raise a hand to me."
She said, a demonic aura seeming to manifest around her, the darkness seeming to focus around her now gleaming red eyes as a meat cleaver would seemingly appear from no where, but this aura was quelled when The Mummy would speak, a soft voice coming from behind those bandages.
"No! You must not speak ill of one directed by master to prepare this place for The Masquerade here in only a single day. This place has fallen into disrepair, and while I believe he was overly harsh in his use of the holy whip on an undead like Mr.Reaves, I cannot fault him for being angry. While it is true that he is cold, and even I can't seem to find a single good trait about him. He seems to be the kind of man who will invariably obtain the best possible results for any task he takes to, and while I do not agree with his methods I do believe in our master and that he wouldn't send anyone who would prepare anything less than a perfect event for his esteemed guests!
So Ceare I will ask that you ignore our new task master's obvious flaws for the sake of establishing this manor as the finest estate in The Pale Moors. Think of it not as following his orders but as a way to build your own reputation. After all, would there ever be another chance to serve so many prestigious guests?
If we do well here, at this time, then we will undoubtedly ascend the ranks of being mere servants, and attain a prestige that we could never hope to gain merely maintaining the estate!"
She'd say bowing deeply towards her companions, the mummy maid's bandages dangling as beneath them she would sweat beads, praying that she could convince their notoriously ill-behaved Chef Ceare to serve under their new warden without any exceptional incidents of misbehavior, after all, her words were not for the sake of Dio but rather out of a sincere wish to see her comrades and friends gain happiness. A trait that her friends were well aware of, and how could someone who saw a friend telling them so earnestly to do their best do anything but that? It really wasn't fair when someone so sweat asked for such things, it was simply impossible for anyone who had a single shred of empathy or compassion in their heart to refuse.
Thus, it was Ceare who cracked first, looking down her nose at the girl as he'd cross her arms and state with a "hrmph".
"Well I suppose if it's you who's asking then I can do you this favor Nerissa, but you had damn well better remember that I, The esteemed and beautiful vampire gourmet Ceare decided to do this for you, and in return I'm going to require you to make a dress to wear to the Masquerade. If I'm going to work like a dog for the next couple days I want to look my best at the event itself."
This response earned a chuckle from Nerissa, the girl covering her mouth as she realized how simple a request it was, Ceare was really just trying to save face in light of the fact that she was weak to humble people, meanwhile the head butler who had been mulling over the situation finally sighed in a defeated manner, a dry raspy chuckle escaping his skeletal maw as he would say.
"I suppose I can't refuse and save face in light of this kind of opposition, very well. Even though I hate the man I have to admit he had a good eye, he noticed every single aspect of the floor that was in disrepair, taking care to notice things that most masters gloss over does ensure that he will at the very least deliver a spectacular event that even these old bones would like to see."
Thus it was agreed, the trio shook hands before giving a "YES!" as a collective group before they'd leave to attend their various duties, The maid taking to scrubbing the floors with an unforeseen zeal, the head butler heading out to commission new tapestries for the event, and Ceare taking to the task of acquiring the freshest possible ingredients. From the hustle and bustle that now shook the manor as all manner of servants ran about preparing for the event it was clear that Dio's arrival had lit the fire under these formerly under motivated men, their discussion and the brutality with which had greeted their laziness combined with their genuine affection for their master meant that they were propelled by both a genuine desire to deliver an event that would make their demonic lord happy, and fearful of the new task master who had arrived, the drive that now inspired these men and women something far beyond simple loyalty.
In the hours Dio rested, slumbering inside a coffin that had been prepared for him as the event's host by the lord of the manor, the house down stairs was restored to the glory that a true manor should always be presented in, the floors were waxed and treated until they shone, the formerly dingy and faded tapestries were replaced with fresh ones documenting recent triumphs over the forces of Darkshire, and the kitchens were alive with the aromas of roasting meats and stews that were being prepared for the days of decadent feasting, the "Fufufufu!" of a certain chef echoing from within as the most beautiful and delicious dishes were made. All the while carriages rolled in as the servants of this manor strive to prove themselves as something greater than the useless lot the arrival had made them out to be, the fires of determination lit in their hearts.
As Dio would awake from within the velvet lined coffin he'd smirk, he knew that the demonstration had made them hate him, but at the same time the trio had doubtless love for the man who owned this manor. Any master who would let their servants slack off like this would always possess the hearts of his workers, but the results gained from such worthless things as "love", and "compassion" were of no value to one such as he. He demanded perfection, and as he would rise and see a freshly pressed and treated outfit he knew that his display had earned him the one thing the cared to have from the servants. Respect. Donning a freshly cleaned outfit Dio would affix the circlet around his brow, Dio grabbing the blank form fitting tank top from the chair, donning it as well, the form fitting fabric seeming to fit better after the small bit of tailoring that had been done to it. The jacket that followed was equally better fitting, allowing Dio to move more freely. He had been right to place a burden of responsibility on that maid, her natural talent made her a perfect candidate for leadership. Dio was a man who placed merit and skill over petty things like seniority, which only held value to those too old to be of any actual use.
Dio, now fully dressed, would open the door and proceed down the hallway. During his walk he would take immediate note of the improved condition of the rug and wall paper around him, Dio passing a group of skeleton workers who were reapplying the wallpaper to a few areas where it had started to peel, and as he would enter the junction between the upstairs rooms and the grand entrance hall his face would immediately break out into a confident smirk, what had been a dingy, destitute remnant of a manor that would have been more at home in a horror movie than hosting a manor was now a place of true brilliance, the marble floors shone with the light provided by the countless crystal lamps that shone in the chandelier above. The steps that had once been a complete travesty now greeted Dio's steps with a crimson carpet freshly applied this very day, the faded and torn carpet of the past now replaced with the extravagant rug.
As he reached the ground floor he would smile as he saw that the ragged and sun bleached tapestries had been replaced with glorious depictions of Dracula and Diablo's conquests over the lesser races, each a grim reminder that the people who owned this manor and were hosting the masquerade had won this wealth and recognition through a thousand years of conquest and battle, and as Dio would turn to look at the servants quarters he would see the heads of each household ready and there to greet him, the head butler approaching him with a platter that he would open, offering it to Dio with a bow as the butler would say.
"This is the specialty dish that our master chef Caere has prepared for the vampiric guests, a stew prepared using a blood roux, with a cut of delicate filet mignon in a red wine sauce."
Dio would nod and receive the sample of one of the dishes gracefully, swirling the wine to bring out the aroma of the wine, inhaling a bit as he'd take a sip of the fine wine, enjoying the flavor. Ah, the benefits of being a stone mask vampire, one got to enjoy all the benefits of continuing to have taste buds and avoiding petty weaknesses like religious symbols all the while maintaining the same power that the vampires of myth had and more. Dio's bit of narcissism aside he did truly enjoy the wine, and as he'd sample the blood soup that was to be the appetizer for the vampiric guests he found himself immersed in a blend of flavors that made the previous wine seem like ash in his mouth. That followed by the filet mignon was a taste that could only be defined as an experience, a dish truly worthy of being served to royalty, and far in excess of what could be considered sufficient for a masquerade.
Truly, the vampire chef Ceare was a talented individual, though he hadn't sampled the cooking before issuing the orders Dio understood that unless he had motivated them all with the prior display of ruthlessness that they would have never obtained results like these. This passing thought was interrupted by Nerissa advancing towards Dio, a suit and jacket combo being present to him. The maid standing straight up once it was in Dio's hands, the vampire feeling the delicate fabric for a moment and understanding that this was a suit that even The Joestars would have been envious of, carefully woven out of the finest thread and tailored perfectly. To be able to do this just from seeing him was truly an affirmation of the talent he had seen in her, and to call her anything less than a genius tailor would simply be an insult.
"This is an ensemble created with your muscular frame in mind sir, normal untailored suits wouldn't allow you to dance comfortably, so once I was through with today's house chores I took the liberty or preparing an outfit for you to wear to the ball, and as the host of our master's most prestigious masquerade I simply couldn't allow you to have anything other than the finest attire for this occasion!"
She said, standing really stiff, as if she were a soldier at attention the dainty looking Narcissa's voice carrying throughout the hallway, and even the cold hearted Dio had to chuckle at such an earnest display. She would make an excellent servant if he could recruit her, though he couldn't afford to allow her to become as lazy as she was here working under this man it would definitely be in his best interests if he could get her to manage his own estate once he had played the political game long enough to have obtained one.
However, even to the cold and distant Dio the servants had definitely proven themselves, so much in fact that there was only one thing left to do. Dio would smile as he'd finish off the glass of wine that had been presented to him, resting the glass on the platter he had been presented before he'd address the servants properly, his voice filled with the pride of a man who had orchestrated a master piece through the force of his own personality, or well, at the very least thought he did.
"Good, these preparations are indeed up to the standards of even I, Dio. If this were to be served in my own manor I would be proud to welcome the guests of any world into my home. Thus, it is with great pride that I now order you to send messengers to every major kingdom, tonight. The Masquerade begins, and that I, DIO, will be hosting this most prestigious of events!"
He'd say, gesturing with his hand in a slicing motion the universal signal for dismissal among any crew, the servants dispersing to go and carry out the will of their task master, each heading out towards a different section of the manor in order to meet with the skeletal and zombie messengers, couriers running throughout the land to deliver the message that the masquerade was to be held starting tonight, and that the event itself would extend throughout the week with any noble comers welcome from any verse, and that Primes of any verse would be welcomed with the same respect they'd afford the nobility. Dio knew that adding guests to a list this late was likely a completely losing battle, but his goal was not so simple as merely hosting a masquerade, he was here to make allies and accrue power within this realm. The party was merely a pretense for his own goals, because even though he had been brow beaten into hosting this event by a certain demonic bastard he was not one to waste an opportunity.
Watching the servants take their leave Dio would turn towards the room once more, walking up the stairs and down the hallway to his room. There he would change out of his traditional outfit into the tailored suit and jacket combo, the pleated dress pants he wore completing the outfit, and as Dio would look over at the standing mirror and there he would see the powerfully built symbol of nobility, his arrogant demeanor and his statuesque features giving the the appearance of a King looking down on his subjects.
Now properly attired Dio would go down the stairs, and as he would pass the servants he would alert them to be ready for the coming guests. Tonight was indeed the night that the Masquerade was scheduled, and as the servants would align themselves in an arc up the stairs Dio would stand in the center, looking down as the first of the officially invited guests would arrive. Dio chuckling inwardly as he'd see them all received graciously at the door, hearing the first notes of orchestral music fill the hallway, the sound of violins filling his ears as the band would begin it's performance in time with the guests arrival. A perfectly orchestrated event by a perfect being, and as he'd smile and receive the first of the guests he would announce loudly to the incoming guests, his voice as boisterous and full of pride as he can make it.
"I, the esteemed Dio Brando am proud to welcome you all to The Masquerade. If you will don your masks at the door I will be happy to show you all to the dance floor were we have a most prestigious occasion prepared for you all."
He would say as he'd don his own mask, the golden furred wolf mask an indicator of who the predator was tonight, all the masks made available to the mere human guests were that of prey animals and other such herbivorous beasts, a statement that Dio intended to make to those who were not allied with Dracula, that they were simply targets, and an invitation to Primes and allies that they were the powerful, and that it would be they that would control this world. However, this metaphorical statement seemed to be lost on most as the guests took it to be a pairing theme tied into the cycle of life, where a prey would dance with a predator, Dio chuckling as he'd overhear a pair of invited Nobles commenting on the beauty of the theme and how it encouraged people to find dance partners.
As he'd advance down the stairs he would take the hand of a particularly lavishly dressed Noble Zombie lady and guide her over towards the prepared feasting table, Dio laughing and playing the game, all the while smirking devilishly within knowing that every word and bit of praise he earned tonight would put him one step closer to absolute power in The Pale Moors.