Welcoming returning heroes with lapetitmauvais

[lambwolfandman]

It's several hours past dusk when Alistair comes running. Predicting arrival times had never been a precise art. There's always the risk that the hero will come earlier or later than expected

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[lapetitmauvais]

Sebastien has been ready for hours, and that's after changing his shirt three times and his trousers twice. He springs to open the door nearly the moment Alistair knocks.

"Is it time?" he blurts, looking excited and panicked and terrified all at once. It's a silly question, really. The look on Alistair's face is all the answer he needs. Sebastien steps back, running his fingers nervously through his hair. "How do I look? Is it alright?"

He's wearing his second-best clothes, because his very best are far nicer than anything anyone else in the castle has, especially Alistair. And Sebastien's not out to steal attention from the guest of honour, nor make his friend feel shabby and inadequate. His trousers are soft black leather, expensive at the time (if he were actually paying for them, that is) but now a few years old. His boots are his second best as well, polished as best he can given that he hasn't attempted such a thing since he was a small boy at school. His shirt is sapphire blue, tucked in at the waist, with a V-collar and loose, flowing sleeves. He brushes an invisible speck of dust from its front, looking anxiously at Alistair for approval.

"I'm so nervous," he confesses, a trifle embarrassed to admit it out loud. "What if I say something stupid or...or spill something? What if..." Suddenly his eyes grow wide and he looks truly terrified. Oh no. Oh no. Why hadn't any of them thought of this before? He grabs Alistair's arm and pulls him into the room, closing the door securely behind him. "What if he knows?" Sebastien whispers, ashen-faced with fear. "What if he takes one look at me and knows?"

[lambwolfandman]

Alistair laughs at the excited young vampire. Sebastien seems to barely wait a second between his questions. Truly the essence of excitement.

"You look great, Sebastien," the healer assures him.

His grinning is short lived though. Sebastien's sudden movement making him panic for a moment. The healer rubs his arm a little as he thinks about the question. Then he shakes his head. "No. They won't. You're here and every hero trusts that this is home. That this place is safe and free from vampires. Besides, Selik would know what to do if that happened."

[lapetitmauvais]

Sebastien nods. Already feeling guilty at the healer's worried look. He'd arrived at Sebastien's door excited and overjoyed and it took the vampire all of about two seconds to reduce him to a state of anxiety and doubt.

"It's just that...he'll have seen my kind, you know? Really seen us. Not just in books. And...and what if he wants to shake my hand? He'll feel my skin is cold and..."

Sebastien is wringing his hands. He realizes it and forces himself to stop.

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm just..." He looks away, swallowing hard. "Perhaps I shouldn't go after all. I'll only ruin it for you."

[lambwolfandman]

"He might not have," Alistair tells him with an encouraging smile. He puts a hand on Sebastien's shoulder to try and calm him. "Don't worry so much. We can say you were out riding most of the day. It's chilly out. We'll deal with each hurdle as we come to it."

"Besides..." He takes Sebastien by the shoulders then and laughs. "I need you to come. Who else will restrain me from embarrassing myself with my giddy ways in front of the students?"

[lapetitmauvais]

Who else but Alistair could make Sebastien smile at a time like this? The vampire laughs, grateful for his friend's seemingly endless patience and good cheer.

"Of course I will come," he says. He ducks his head. "Forgive me, dear Alistair. I'm being silly. It'll be alright, like you said. Of course it'll be alright. We're in the castle and you'll be there and the Professor..." He takes a deep breath. Saying everything Alistair said out loud again helps, as does that reassuring hand on his shoulder. Sebastien sighs, a little embarrassed. "I shouldn't let myself get so carried away. Especially not when there's a celebration to attend." He smiles. "I know how much you've been looking forward to it." He opens the door. Still a bit nervous, but feeling better for having confided his fears.

"Come. Let's go and meet this hero of yours."

[lambwolfandman]

Alistair jumps up excitedly then. All too happy to proceed to the festivities. The thought that Sebastien is still dreadfully nervous about this concerns him for but a moment. Surely once he meets the hero, everything will turn out to be brilliant! This is exactly what Sebastien needs. A distraction. A good time.

"Yes! Everything will be great!" He claps Sebastien's arm and skips out to the corridor. "It will be a lovely evening! Just you wait and see!" The healer's eagerness is clear as he skips onward and then back to Sebastien. Continuously flitting between a position in front of the vampire, and Sebastien's side. "Hopefully they won't be wounded either... I'm sure they won't be! It will be great!"

[lapetitmauvais]

Sebastien laughs in spite of himself. How can he be anxious in the face of such high spirits? Alistair is fairly glowing, so excited he can't stand still. Bouncing back and forth from front to side like a sprite, his face split by a giant beaming grin.

"I hope they won't be wounded either. Though even if he were, surely the professor will have healed him by now." Sebastien jogs along, trying to keep up with the excited young man. "Do you know who it is yet? What's his name? Is he your friend?"

[lambwolfandman]

"I don't know," Alistair chirps. Still skipping to and fro. He suddenly stops bouncing about to walk sideways. Looking at Sebastien as he continues onwards. "Some heroes don't mind how they come home. But some have a flair for the dramatic. So this one they're probably one of the younger heroes. Or at least an energetic one!"

[lapetitmauvais]

Sebastien nods.

"Seems only right to give them a celebration when they come back. It's the least that we can do, yes? It honours them and inspires the students, too."

He walks along, grinning as he reaches out a hand to gently tug Alistair to one side as they pass through a narrow doorway. The healer cheerfully oblivious as he keeps walking sideways, practically bouncing with anticipation as they get closer and closer to the festivities.

"What will it be like?" Sebastien asks. Partly because his curiosity won't wait another few minutes and partly because he doesn't like surprises. They're all fine and good when you're a human, but when you're a vampire, it pays to be prepared. Though it does make him feel a great deal better to know that Alistair and Lichtenstein are aware of the details. The professor would never allow Sebastien to attend if there were any doubts about his safety, nor would Alistair ever willingly lead him into danger. "Is it like Christmas?"

[lambwolfandman]

"Exactly, Sebastien! Exactly!" Alistair laughs and skips on a bit before he remembers Sebastien is behind him. Barely noticing as the vampire quickly prevents him from slamming into the wall.

The question is immediately met with enthusiasm. "Not quite like Christmas, but very close! Christmas was big and great and we can't afford too much of that. But there will be plenty of food for the hero. They'll get pampered. And in return they'll tell stories and bring us news from where ever they've been. Sometimes they have gifts for people and we'll watch them deliver those. Or sometimes they'll put on a display. Show us new equipment they've bought..." He grins at Sebastien. "It's nice. It's fun. Sometimes the students put on a display for them too... It's just an opportunity to have a little party."

[lapetitmauvais]

Sebastien nods, beginning to feel a little more excited himself. Especially about the stories and the news from other places. There is still so much he doesn't know about this world. And the new equipment and the gifts...he really hopes one of them is for Alistair. The healer won't say anything, of course, but Sebastien has a feeling he'll be terribly disappointed to have been forgotten.

"It sounds wonderful. I am quite looking forward to the displays, if they do those. And hearing all the stories. I do wish the professor was going to be there, though. I'm quite sure he told me he wasn't coming." He looks up at Alistair. "You don't think there's any chance he might change his mind, do you?"

[lambwolfandman]

Alistair's skipping slows down. But not by much. He shrugs. "He might. Though I doubt it. He goes to political events, not social ones," Alistair tells him with a fond smile.

Then he picks up the pace again. Spinning on his heels as they come to a corner. "Not far now. I can't wait for you to meet them!"

[lapetitmauvais]

Sebastien can already hear the sounds of the celebration. His sensitive ears picking up the sound before a human would, the hum of many voices reaching him even around corners.

He shrugs and smiles, not wanting Alistair to feel slighted.

"It's alright. You're wonderful company, Alistair. I love spending time with you. Oh but, you mustn't let me keep you from mingling and enjoying yourself, nor spending time with the hero. You won't have any fun at all if you're stuck babysitting me all night."

Alistair's excitement is contagious. Though that nervous flutter still remains in Sebastien's stomach.

"Yes. I'm looking forward to it, too." It's not really a lie. He is very curious. But, as always when he's meeting someone new, there's that nagging doubt. That lingering worry that they'll see something, sense something, ask the one question he hasn't prepared himself for. He sighs. He hopes not. He's not ready to leave this place yet.

[lambwolfandman]

"It's not babysitting, Sebastien! It's having fun with a good friend!" Alistair tells him. His smile not even flinching.

And then he can't help but beam. He can hear the hustle and bustle. Younger students excited to be at the celebrations to see their first fully fledged hero. Apart from the teachers of course. Older students curious to see if it's someone they know.

A young woman skitters past and then stops to wave Alistair on. "Come on, sir! They said he was at the gate a minute ago!"

As she runs off, Alistair turns to grin at Sebastien. Eyes alight. Then, in the manner of an excited schoolboy, he starts jogging off after the girl.

[lapetitmauvais]

Sebastien blinks. Watching in astonishment as Alistair takes off, grinning like a little boy as he jogs after the girl. Leaving the vampire no choice but to start jogging himself if he wants to keep up.

Down the corridor and around the corner they go, until finally they reach the top of the great staircase. There's quite a crowd milling about below. Students, teachers all bustling about, fairly buzzing with excitement. Some of the younger students shout out to one another, while the older ones stand about chatting, occasionally craning their necks to see if they can spot the guest of honour approaching.

Sebastien smells them before he sees them. He's fed to the point of queasiness, his usual precaution when he knows he's going to be around a lot of humans at once. But the fire of his hunger can never truly be drowned, no matter how much blood he drinks, and he can't help his mouth watering at the rich, heavily-scented air. He stands at the railing, his lips slightly parted. Tilting his head a little as he tastes. Then brutally shoving the thought far into the back of his mind.

Remember, Sebastien. Remember why you're here.

He shakes himself from his reverie, looks around the great hall. So much excitement, so much jubilation! Imagine what it's like. Imagine what it is to come home to this. There's no sign of the conquering hero yet, though, he notes with disappointment. As curious as anyone else to see just who he is. He sighs, then shoves his hands in his pockets, turning to give Alistair a questioning look.

[lambwolfandman]

Alistair is also straining his neck to help him try and spot the hero. Eyes skimming the happy faces of excited students. Some merely about to watch the chaos. Though the opportunity to show off is seized with vigour. A group of assassins perch on the banister. A few mages flaunt their skills. Fiery displays and electric explosions every once in a while.

Sebastien's look catches Alistair's eye and the healer jumps from his craning. Eager to get Sebastien to be at the heart of this event. He puts his hand on Sebastien's back and steers him to the center of the hall with some difficulty.

"Let's make room for the hero," he suggests loudly to the bustling crowd. A few more teachers get the idea and set about clearing the middle of the floor. The healer grins at Sebastien then and pulls him to the side. "Should be any moment now."

Several moments pass. The assassins stop balancing so dangerously. The mages stop starting fires. The unmistakable choke of anticipation fills the hall as everyone watches the front door.

It doesn't open.

Finally an oblivious voice pipes up, "Who are you waiting for?"

There's only time to glance up at the speaker. A young middle eastern man standing with a bag over his shoulder at the top of the stairs. How he manages to keep a straight face, Alistair isn't sure. But it's a face he's all too happy to see. One heartbeat later and the hall erupts in a sudden explosion of sound. The group of assassins once on the banisters suddenly jump over to pat the stranger on the back. Everyone cheering and yelling and laughing all at once. Maybe because he has no scars on his face. Maybe because he's home. Maybe just because they can.

Even Alistair cheers loudly and punches the air in a strangely boisterous movement. Then, as suddenly as he does this, he stops to grab Sebastien's hand. The swell of people filling the floor again. The healer smiles at the vampire. Eyes alight with joy as well as excitement. "This is going to be a great night!"