BLEED

He wasn't sure if it was the right thing to get a gratitude from a man like this. Felt wrong in many ways as if he were the prey and already got caught in their web.

"I suppose," he says, amused. Truth be told he wasn't wrong.every day was a funeral. A golden day for creature like himself.

A healer? Now, no one has called him that in quite a while, one might even say, that was multiple lifetimes ago. It flattered him nonetheless. “Why so? Aren’t healers supposed to appear when they are needed the most?” The Doctor looked down at the corpse, gently tapping it with the tip of his boot, “although, maybe a little too late for this poor fellow.”

"Ah, so you're familiar with this?" Sebastian chuckles. "I tend to leave the corpse once I am done with them, yes." Vanth was the one that made sure to eat every bit of what belonged to someone, and very rarely did Sebastian. He kept sustained pretty well, without fresh meat.

”Unfortunately so,” the Doctor mused, tilting his head gently to the side as he stared at the spot the corpse lay bare moments ago. Something about death in this place was highly odd and unusual. It carried no meaning, and yet people were still afraid of its prospect. The populace feared what it did not understand, maybe it was the same as this? And he was itching to understand the machinations. Studying a deceased person in this world was bound to bring forth valuable data. But alas, he was not granted that luxury.

Sebastian grunts in approval of the other's answer. He's now looking around. Not needed. He knows where a perfect victim is, just waiting. "Normally, it does not end with my victims surviving the night," He answers with a chuckle. "However, for you, I will make an exception for your research."

While eating, he looked at Sebastian with full cheeks and curious eyes. "How long....have you lived here?" His words were a little muffled by all of the food he was stuffing into his face. A habit of his seemed to be talking with his mouth full.

"I do not remember," he answers in a humming tone. "Perhaps two years? Longer? Time seems to blend in while here, with nothing truly to do."

“Of course it surprises me. It seems far too convenient, especially coming from you. No offense” - Lyney shoots back immediately, his tone clearly uncomfortable. There was nothing about Sebastian that put him at ease, and the longer he let him lead the way, the more tense he seemed to become.

"Hm, I cannot fault you for having suspicions toward me." Sebastian knew that he was an unpredictable sort. He could switch with just a snap of his fingers.

❝ I'm telling you, Adolin, something's wrong! ❞ Since getting back to the prince's home, Vanth has done nothing but plead with him that he has to go out there again. As bad as he looks and as weak as he is, Vanth simply can't shake the sense of danger that had bolted through his and Sebastian's bond. To his credit, Adolin tries his best to wrap his mind around it, but he refuses—understandably so—to let Vanth take so much as a single step toward that door again. One scare was enough. His ring finger dully throbs beneath his wedding band and its blood jewel as Vanth's soul searches desperately for a sign of his lover. Restlessly, his touch falls over it, brought briefly to his chest as he pleads some more. ❝ You gotta let me find him! It's been too long, he's still not back, and— ❞ Just then, the front door carefully opens. Vanth's attention snaps to it, his mouth still parted to protest as his eyes fall, thankfully, at last upon his lover. His bloodied, wounded lover. ❝ Sebastian! ❞ Vanth instantly climbs to his feet, crossing the living room with the most strength he's displayed since arriving in the backup city. At first, his hands reach for Sebastian's own, but they pause, unsure if the stains of blood are another's or from injury. Then, one reaches to cup Sebastian's face, as the other helps support him upright. Pushing into his hair, Vanth distantly notes his blunt, chopped locks while he gently yet somewhat frantically examines him.

Both of them rush to his side the moment he steps through the door. Between their worry, Sebastian hands Adolin the fruits and other food he's found. "It is not my own," he answers regarding the blood.

Perhaps things would be easier if it were the case. Targeted simply because he was king. Who knew what Aurelius would do to Sam knowing he had demon blood running through his veins. And the very kind he loathed with his entire being.

He could see how those regale fangs form around the foreign phrase and he can't help a chuckle as he leans back into his chair. He hasn't had much opportunity to really let loose on someone who wants to fight and who wasn't a spunky teenager.

"Wonderful. I have been itching for a friendly duel." It was certainly different from all the fights he had had with Aurelius, as fun as it was to push the angel's buttons.

The way his heart beats quickly. He wonders what is making him feel the worry he feels. Sebastian looks at the boy. He's quiet, contemplating how he wants to answer Sam's question.

Sam was confused now, and it was evident from the expression on his face. He put his fork and spoon down on the table gently, then set his hands in his lap politely.

"Like a guardian angel," he echoes in question with a huff of a laugh. "I suppose, yes. I will not lie to you, child. You will already be a target where ever you go now, because of your affiliation with me.

Sam slowed down his eating and chewing when he was handed that question. Somehow, it brought up a bad feeling. 'You can live with me ya know! I need someone stron-' 'WHAT'RE YOU DOING YOU IDIOT! I TOLD YOU TO-'

The way his heart beats quickly. He wonders what is making him feel the worry he feels. Sebastian looks at the boy. He's quiet, contemplating how he wants to answer Sam's question.

Sebastian turns his head the moment the child begins praying. Hm. He waits for the young boy to finish his godforsaken prayers.

A healer? Now, no one has called him that in quite a while, one might even say, that was multiple lifetimes ago. It flattered him nonetheless. “Why so? Aren’t healers supposed to appear when they are needed the most?” The Doctor looked down at the corpse, gently tapping it with the tip of his boot, “although, maybe a little too late for this poor fellow.”

"Ah, so you're familiar with this?" Sebastian chuckles. "I tend to leave the corpse once I am done with them, yes." Vanth was the one that made sure to eat every bit of what belonged to someone, and very rarely did Sebastian. He kept sustained pretty well, without fresh meat.

"You judge me for just saying I am not close to him." Sebastian laughs, amused. It's true that he didn't have Sam grow up around him. True that his other children suffered because of his torment, but this man didn't need to know that.

this man, clearly some sort of demon, looks at mael like he was still back in the days of the first holy war. with hatred, with some sort of worry for someone else's safety. the looks that he was given when they called him the angel of death- the looks he was given before gowther altered his fate and condemned him to a tragedy just like the ones he had brought to others.

Not an angel, he says. So, it prompts Sebastian to look in a little deeper. It was true that this being's presence was stronger than your typical angel. Sebastian scoffs quietly to himself and nods. "It would seem that you are not."

exploring the capgras delusion in close family relations - a case study @occultacarne @ishegayorfontanian

"Do you, now?" Sebastian asks, amused. His tea remains untouched, but he can appreciate the aroma coming from his cup. His attention remains on the Doctor with an intrigued smile.

❝ Oh, like... a ghost town. ❞ Vanth looks out toward their eerie surroundings. 'Abandoned' certainly fit the description here, too. ❝ I wonder what happened to it... At least this, we know it's just—more work of the bastards in charge. ❞ The question receives an immediate answer out of Vanth, who doesn't even need to think twice about it.

Between the two of them, Vanth was the one who knew the whole game. Sebastian didn't understand it, but he could use the context of it. This place was empty. Just down the street from here was a vendor who enjoyed seeing Morpheus.

“Maybe. But I’m going to insist that this is even more unfair” - he comments. Seeing Vanth like that, simply because he had chosen to do the right thing and play by the rules of the game, hardly seemed fair. If he could, Adolin would choose to share the burden of it with him. And he was certain Sebastian would do the same without a second thought. But apparently, that wasn’t how the Stars liked to play.

Sebastian places a hand on the man's shoulder and sighs softly. There's relief behind that sigh, albeit not too noticeable. "I know," he says quietly. He knows that Vanth is in great hands with Adolin.