In a moment that might shock everyone, as he took a sip of blood from his wine glass, he also took a sip of tea afterwards. While a wine glass might not fit someone of his appearance, it was pure blood so as a vampire it fit. But Akio had never been seen drinking tea before, so anyone who witnessed it might be a bit surprised. But what might be more surprising is that his expression changed.
Normally, Akio held an expression that was child like. Even when fighting, working, or talking about matters, he often looked innocent and child like. But this expression, even when worn by a child, was different. It was an expression someone with a child's face could only make if they had undergone quite a few trials, had years or decades of experience, or both. It was something most if not all at this table had never seen from one of their newest members.
"Aside from the ball, the situation is getting serious. I do not want to get involved with the wars of mortals, certainly not with their governments who would only seek to exploit us, but we do have to communicate with them on some level or they will try to claim us as their own. And I am in no mood to get drawn into that sort of conflict. I might like a good fight, but there is a realm of distance between a fight and a war. That means, we have to flex our influence as well as our power, without antagonizing anyone, to not become prisoners and to expand our freedom. And this ball is the best way to do it. That is my opinion anyways".
Akio spoke a lot more then usual, in a voice he had never used in this company before. Truly, it was not the voice of a child, but an old man who normally had a child's personality. His form of vampirism made him preserve his personality, but that did not mean he could not grow as a person. It just meant he kept his childish vigor, curiosity, and fun loving attitude. He could still grow as a person and make use of his experience.
"That is why, we should go all out for this Chaos. Let us not serve just normal meat, but meat from the rarest and most dangerous of beasts that only exemplary individuals can hunt. Let us procure the best wine, and make them marvel at it. But let us also display some of our capabilities. The ability to manipulate gravity for something as trivial as a dance, the ability to engulf a room in fireworks without anyone getting harmed because we choose to, the ability to have the best of the best tailors create red carpet clothing, that can also act as armor stronger then platemail. Let us show them that we are not afraid, we will not submit, and we will stand up for ourselves, without giving them an excuse by antagonizing them".
Somewhere in his words, Akio, one of the newest members of the group, had stood up and taken a tone he had never used with them before. He did not talk down to them, nor did he talk up to them. He spoke to them from his honest opinion, respectfully but with a bit of willpower in there. From experience and wisdom, mixed with his own opinion.
The newest member had just taken a step forward, and officially established his presence. Akio sat back down, and took another sip of blood, with a calm smile on his face. And if one paid attention, he had even responded to Dermot's question of food, provided his words had been accepted and agreed with in that section at least.