Was Sebastian unhappy about this turn of events? Yes. Was he surprised? Not at all. The release of the pamphlet only confirmed what any astute Gifted already ought to suspect: that the crown had once again decided to persecute and punish every individual for the mere crime of being born with a Gift. With one such as his, it didn’t take much to procure and secret away one of the many paper copies that the crown had tried to recall, and he had brought both it and many rumors home to Severine at the end of his shift.

Discussion - with a capital D - ensued. Wild fury eventually coalesced into something determined and dangerous, held under a fragile control as his thoughts turned toward how they could twist such a decree to their advantage. In a way, he decided, it worked in their favor that so many irrefutable paper copies had been pulled from the public’s eye, for it meant that knowledge relied far more heavily on the more easily manipulated word of mouth - and Sebastian and Severine had plenty of experience making those around them hear what they wanted them to hear. The Scorzas were nothing if not opportunists, and when the Rainecourts handed out such neatly wrapped lemons, the only proper response was to make lemonade. So that was what the Snow twins would do.

Once they finished their dinner with the Morands and Barlowe, of course. Figure out where their new friends stood on such matters, visit long enough for propriety’s sake, and then find a more suitable outlet for their rage. In this, Severine and Sebastian were of the same mind. They would no doubt rely heavily on their Gifts tonight.

As the carriage rolled to a stop, he was the first out the door. After turning and offering a hand to his sister, he bowed to their hosts with a smile and gracious, “Good evening, my lord and lady.” It wasn’t, not really. But, as his thoughts turned longingly toward the myriad ways he wanted to make them all suffer for what they dared attempt to do, he considered that perhaps it could be.

Tallis opened the door to see each of her guests arriving, one right after the other. The strange prickle of deja vu she’d felt at the tea party persisted as the three came forward. For a moment, it clouded her features, as if she were lost somewhere quite far away before the malevolent joy returned.

“Come, come,” Tallis stepped away, ushering her guests inside, “We’re so glad to have you with us, aren’t we darling?” She turned brushing her fingers along Cezar’s arm, “So good of you still to come with all this rumpus in Loren.”

She’d immediately start to lead them into the sitting room, manic in both movement and demeanor.

Sebastian had, of course, been most excited to have a chance to socialize with Tallis Scorza . Just as he had seen the literal spring in her step and the light in her eyes when they had met after the tea party, what he saw now only reinforced his hunch that they were kindred spirits - in that regard, at least. Like his sister, Sebastian wasn’t quite sure where their new friends stood in regards to the pamphlet, but he thought it would be rather unfortunate if they were anti-Gifted. After all, people who knew how to have fun were in short supply these days.

When Severine greeted Acacia Scorza , the baron offered his own greeting before following the Morands into their home. Cezar Scorza caught his attention. “So soon?” Newly freed to drift over to the other man, Sebastian smiled and plucked the offered cigar from the bunch. “What a pleasant surprise, Lord Morand. Don’t mind if I do.” Turning it over in his fingers, he examined the cigar. “Very impressive. Perhaps you’ll join me after dinner for a smoke?”