Taking bestmistakeyet to meet the family
It really is a perfect day to wander around. The sun is comfortably high in the sky. Light outlining the faults in the stonework of the castle. The large building doesn't stretch out amazingly far. It quickly peters out into courtyards. The entrance gate looms behind them and the wall continues to encompass the grounds around the castle. A few
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When the familiar knock comes at the door, he brightens immediately. Already grinning as he jumps up and goes to greet his friend. Nothing relieves boredom like a visit from Alistair. The vampire is dressed in his customary way. A dark blue silk shirt, long-sleeved and flowing, tucked into a pair of leather trousers. A black vest over the shirt, casually unbuttoned, his favorite black boots on his feet. He's glad he won't have to ask his friend to wait in the hallway while he makes himself presentable. Sebastien occasionally lounges around his room en deshabille, a habit he hasn't quite been able to break.
He opens the door, expecting to find Alistair alone. His eyes widening with surprise to find the healer has brought a guest.
"Alistair! And..." He stares at her. Did Alistair ever mention her name? He has said so little about her, to anyone. Sebastien steps aside, gesturing toward his small but cozy accomodations. "Forgive me. Please, do come in."
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He looks to his girlfriend and takes her hand in the both of his. "Sebastien, this is my dear Julia." Then he smiles back to the vampire. "Julia, this is my dear friend, Sebastien."
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Julia stares, just for a moment. Wow. "Hi, Sebastien," she says cheerfully. "Should we shake hands or something?"
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"It is a very great honour to make your acquaintance, Mademoiselle Julia."
He pauses just a moment, barely the space of a heartbeat. His lips parted, ostensibly for that polite barely-there kiss, but really he's scenting her. Curious about his closest friend's secret amour. He blinks and releases her hand, his smile firmly fixed in place but a look of faint surprise on his face as he glances at Alistair. The smell of her blood is rich and startling. Different somehow. Human, yes, but not entirely. There's something else. Something he hasn't encountered before.
He takes a mannerly step back, pulls the chair away from the desk.
"Would you like to sit down?"
He looks at Alistair, gestures toward the bed. There's only one chair, so it'll have to do. But the bed is neatly made and Alistair is used to Sebastien's spartan accomodations. The vampire smiles again, unsure what to say next. Notoriously awkward around women, partly because he never really learned to talk to them and partly because they were his primary source of food before he came here.
It doesn't help matters that Julia is precisely the type he would have chosen as a victim.
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Perhaps it's not protectiveness, he tells himself. Perhaps it's just nerves. Which would be completely fitting, he thinks. Though it doesn't stop him from laughing nervously and spouting, "Ah, polite as ever, Sebastien!"
"Thank you, Sebastien," Alistair chirps. Guiding Julia to the offered chair before going over to his seat on the bed. It gives him a short time to try an consider where to go from here. He's not exactly practiced at introducing girlfriends to best friends.
"Julie's a baker-" He stops more abruptly than he means to. Considering that mentioning food to someone who can't eat it is rather cruel. "She... She might cook here sometime," he continues quietly and then suddenly brightens again. "I can rely on you to help her if she should ever find herself lost, can't I?"
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Much. Alistair sometimes brings it out of her.
But if she did know about Sebastien’s dietary needs, it wouldn’t have bothered her. Her best friend Sunshine has the same needs, and she has, on occasion, offered herself up as a snack. She’d do the same for Sebastien. It’s just not an issue back home.
“Thank you. Apparently this is where all the chivalry went,” she says, smiling at first at Sebastien, then at her handsome boyfriend before attempting to sit with what little ladylike grace she can muster. “Where I’m from, it’s a lost cause. Guys will just let a door smack you in the face.”
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He blinks as Alistair speaks, still trying to process this shocking news. A wistful look crossing his face at the mention of food, though he tries his best to hide it.
"Oh?" He smiles. "I daresay you will make fast friends here, especially with the younger ones. There can never be enough sticky buns and cake to keep this place going."
He bows in response to her gracious thank you. Frowning slightly as the thought of food reminds him of something else: drink.
"I am terribly sorry I have no refreshments to offer," he says, embarrassed. He really should get hold of a bottle of wine, perhaps some brandy, for when he has guests. He nods to Alistair, smiling. Touched at the healer's trust in him.
"But of course," he hastens to assure Alistair. "I stand ever ready to assist the young lady in whatever way she may need." He stands a little straighter, hands clasped behind his back. Knowing what she means to Alistair, and what a solemn duty is being placed upon him. "You may rest assured, dear Alistair. You have nothing whatever to fear, for in your absence, she shall be as safe as though you were standing by her side."
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"Don't worry about refreshments," he tells his friend with a warm smile. "I daresay there will be plenty of people offering her beer anyway." He looks to Julia and adds, "Which you must not feel pressured to accept."
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"Oh, I'm a good southern girl. I can say no to alcohol," she says fondly. "Might not, if it's good."
"I appreciate that, Sebastien. It's.. really great to be here, but daunting as well. It's nice to have another friend."
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"But of course," he murmurs. Sharp blue eyes watching her, curious. The vampire proper and polite on the outside, but on the inside, he's still trying to figure out just what she is. Judging her quite dispassionately, though not with any particular malice. She's pretty enough. Lovely, in fact. Has a most peculiar way of speaking. Quite forward, even bold compared to the ladies Sebastien has conversed with. Not that there have been many. Nor were the conversations particularly long.
Well. Best not to think about that.
He tilts his head, wondering what her intentions are. Perhaps she thinks to marry Alistair. Perhaps even take him away from here, back to her own world. The thought makes Sebastien unhappy. Perhaps even a little jealous. Even if they don't marry, will Alistair still have time for him like he did before? Sebastien feels immediately ashamed. What a selfish creature he must be, to worry about himself at a time like this. As though he could begrudge Alistair any happiness!
He silently berates himself, feeling out of place and confused. Happy for Alistair but undeniably awkward in the presence of this stranger. He doesn't know what else to say. He just shifts uncomfortably, his eyes moving away, finally settling on his boots.
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Alistair laughs at Julia's response. Wishing suddenly that he was sitting next to her so as to hug her. His laughter quickly quietens in the face of his quietly uncomfortable friend. Sebastien can be very quiet sometimes. Perhaps this was too much. Too blunt a meeting.
The healer gets to his feet. Smiling in thanks and patting him on the shoulder. "Thank you for being so welcoming to her." He looks to his girlfriend then. "We should move on. I want to show you so much of my home."
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"You don't have to go..." He looks between them, once again at a loss for what to say. "I mean, you don't have to rush off, if you don't want to."
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"What do you think? There's plenty to do.... but you can come back anytime," he adds quickly so she doesn't feel too pressured.
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"Of course," he says, moving around the chair toward the door. "You are welcome anytime. I'm sorry I..." He looks away, one pale hand rising to rub awkwardly at the back of his neck. "I...I am not very good at..." He looks at Alistair helplessly, then back at Julia. "At meeting new people."
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