Diogenes had been in motion nonstop for what felt like weeks, the preparations for the party consuming him as they did every year. Now though, he had made his rounds to every table, to every vendor, triple checked every element of the evening and all of the decorations. He and Aesop had kept their heads together over long hours ensuring that they had what they needed, fretting back and forth about how much wine to order and which flowers to make the centerpiece, how many candles and what color the drapings should be. But now, everything was prepared, and now all he had to do was prepare himself, and greet the guests. Leaving Aesop to flutter about and do what he did best, he would be lost without the man who had risen to his attention and been the event planner for the family for almost seven years now, the baron retreated to his room to prepare.

Bathed and perfumed, he was cleanshaven and could hear the sounds of approaching carriages and horses as the first of their guests arrived. With a smile that could not fade, he dressed in an intricately embroidered blue chiton, silver and gold threads shooting through the material. A necklace showing the emblem of the house, its bejeweled wings set with sapphires and emeralds, matched the cuffs of gold on his wrists and the set that he had bestowed upon Ioanna as gifts for the new year. His mistress looked radiant as always, her dark hair artfully arranged and her gown shimmering as if the goddess of the night skies had descended to walk among them.

With Ioanna on his arm, Diogenes made his way to the upper level foyer, waiting for Orion so they could make their entrance together. He could not have done half of what they had achieved without his younger brother, would not be anywhere near as successful without the other man's cleverness and eye for numbers. As such while the rest of their family was free to roam about the party as they wished, the eldest among them only planned to join in the festivities with Orion by his side.

"Ah, brother dear. Are we not all resplendent this evening? Let us greet our guests, and then I shall let you slip off and do as you wish while we continue entertaining."