BLEED

Throughout the entire hour they spent there, his eyes remained fixed on the stage, but his attention was entirely on Sebastian. Any unusual movement, anything even slightly out of place, and Lyney was ready to react - even if it meant causing a scene in the middle of the theater.

But one piece gave way to the next, each with its own rhythm and intention, and Sebastian did nothing but sit there and enjoy the performance. What a strange man, really.

Applauding along with the rest of the audience as though he'd been paying attention to every note, Lyney was quick to rise to his feet, relieved to finally be able to leave and breathe a little easier - and, preferably, put some distance between himself and Sebastian.

Sebastian just knew that Lyney could do better than give the most generic compliment to the play.

"I will walk you home."

Andrale leans over to get another look at the castle. She could refuse, but something about the hound and the owner have her curious. Her weight shifts as she adjusts on her feet.

Morpheus walks into the castle and steps up the stairs. Sebastian doesn't follow up the stairs and instead leads Andrale toward the area where guests would spend their time.

Knowing that the two of them had spent all that time looking for him, and hearing Freminet apologize when he had done absolutely nothing wrong, only tightened that strange knot in Lyney's throat. He should have been happy. They deserved for him to be happy.

And yet, when Lynette's familiar arms wrapped around him, followed closely by Freminet's, what escaped Lyney's lips was a shaky breath, the sound of someone trying very, very hard not to cry.

"Finally… I—I can't believe it" - he murmured, at last lifting his arms to pull both of his siblings into a tighter embrace. They were really there. And somehow, that was what finally made a smile break through Lyney's tearful expression.

"I'm sorry. I'm supposed to be the big brother, and here I am…" - he wiped at his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt before finally looking at Lynette and Freminet, right there beside him.

Lynette has her arms around them in this loving group hug. While she does not shed a tear, it's evident that she has missed her brother. Releasing her hold on them, she grabs both Freminet's hand and Lyney's and shakes her head.

"It must have been hard. Being out here on your own." She looks at Freminet, then back at her brother.

Her hand squeezes Lyney's. Almost in worry. Just what kind of danger lurked here? Was her brother safe from the beasts hidden in the shadows?

"You are a strange one," he says with a scoff. "However, I enjoy a challenge. I believe you, and I will have a lot of fun, Dottore." Sebastian's golden hues do not waver when looking at the masked man. His own smile shows eagerness, anticipation, and excitement.

You're hardly normal, and you don't cherish life.

"Likewise, is there anything more exciting than stimulating one's brain?" Ah, and it appeared his new friend shared this excitement with him, how wonderful to encounter a likeminded spirit!

And the way he phrased it - willingly - made him think and suspect all kinds of things. He did not say never, he only alluded to rarely, meaning this has happened before. An enticing thought. Just what company did this man keep?

"I take offense in being seen as a toy or puppet, my dear. But I am not above being seen as a subject of research. You may try to control my brain and see if you are truly up for the challenge you claim to enjoy."

It was how Sebastian saw those who'd fall: victims. It'll be a challenge. That much is absolutely certain, but a challenge is something Sebastian always enjoyed having!

"The night is still young," he begins with a smile, "Let us continue our little fun elsewhere."

"Well, I suppose we'll see if they live up to your standards and expectations."

True to his word, Sebastian doesn't attack or anything throughout the entirety of the performance.

After about an hour or so, the performance is done, and Sebastian is leading them out of the building.

Sam's face lowers, and it goes a bit dark. His voice also lowers to a whisper. "I'm evil." Despite the shadows on his face, his brows were still tinted, and he looked scared. "I don't feel like I am, but they all said it. Over and over again. I've m-made mistakes....there was an accident...but I didn't mean it..." And he'd be making up for it for the rest of his immortal life.

How the world worked in such a way. It was as if they knew who his children were. To already point their fingers and deem them evil. It's almost laughable.

"Coming from me, I will tell you that you are not evil." And this was coming from someone who did evil things for fun.

“I must warn you, I do consider my mind to be quite unbreakable, but I am not above to give it a try.” With his eerie smirk persisting, Dottore leaned in closer, red eyes narrowing behind the beaked mask as he looked up to meet the other man’s gaze. “I would like nothing more than to find out, my dear friend - on one condition.”

"You are a strange one," he says with a scoff. "However, I enjoy a challenge. I believe you, and I will have a lot of fun, Dottore." Sebastian's golden hues do not waver when looking at the masked man. His own smile shows eagerness, anticipation, and excitement.

"Vanth is right. You will more than likely need your energy."

Who knows what this world could bring their way. On top of that, Monkey King attacking made him feel a little uneasy. Who else would come seeking him out? THEM out?

Sebastian rises to his feet, places a hand on Vanth's shoulder, but looks at Adolin.

"If you do not mind, I will excuse myself."

He gives Vanth one final kiss on the top of his head. "Please be sure to get your rest. Both of you."

As uncomfortable as he was with everything that was happening, he still hesitated when he realized Sebastian intended to leave again. “Are you sure?” - he asked, but when Sebastian confirmed, he simply nodded. He was tired. Honestly, he was tired of all of this, and he wasn’t about to pick another fight right now.

Somehow, despite the comfort of Adolin's presence, Vanth likes the idea even less, as it means Sebastian will be alone. But he puts aside his anxiety, instead placing trust in his partner. They made a promise, and it doesn't end until they make it out of the backup city together. Of course. So then, why does Vanth still feel such unusual dread? ❝ ... Don't be long, okay? ❞ And with that, Sebastian makes his exit, leaving him and Adolin alone. For a few beats, a silence stretches, and then Vanth turns his attention to Adolin. He gives the prince an apologetic look—not just for the trouble, but also for the mess he's been put in the middle of—before he picks up his spoon and stirs some of the steam out of his stew.

Sebastian had no reason to suspect the child. With that, he headed out the door and closed it behind him with a soft click.

And when they finally reached the theater, Lyney found himself torn once again. He took a deep breath before stepping inside, his steps faltering for a moment before he followed the other man to the seats he had chosen. Once there, he crossed his legs elegantly, folding his arms as well.

"Vanth is right. You will more than likely need your energy."

Who knows what this world could bring their way. On top of that, Monkey King attacking made him feel a little uneasy. Who else would come seeking him out? THEM out?

Sebastian rises to his feet, places a hand on Vanth's shoulder, but looks at Adolin.

"If you do not mind, I will excuse myself."

He gives Vanth one final kiss on the top of his head. "Please be sure to get your rest. Both of you."

Her gaze flickers back to the hound and castle's owner when he asks for her name. For a moment, she considered giving him a false one.

"Arlessa Andrale Mahariel," Andrale says instead. If she is in the presence of nobility, then her own noble title should be used. At least, that's what she believed her seneschal would say to her if he were here.

Oh, if he’d known he would’ve packed his surgical kit with him!

Then he moved on to examine the incision wound, precise and delicate, standing in direct contrast to what it was used for. If he could ask the man to let him peek inside his mouth, he wondered.

“I will gladly take them back to the clinic and conduct a proper examination. But I must say that is quite an odd method of hunting. How does it work exactly?” He had heard of a technique that allows two persons to join their consciousnesses together temporarily and communicate by thought alone, not to mention the Akasha system that had everyone’s consciousness plugged together (a wonderful way to practice the method of mind control!). And then looking at him with a crooked smirk, he added, “would this method work on me too? Or is it targeted only at certain individuals?”

His attention is back on Vanth. The silence between them is thick with tension, but finally Vanth speaks.

"I'd rather you remained living." Truly, if Vanth hadn't known anything, he wouldn't have gotten in the way to die alongside him.

"It is not a matter of if this makes me happy or not....Vanth, you know there is more to this than what is on the surface." He places a hand on his beloveds cheek and caresses.

"You, of all people, must understand." He plants a kiss on Vanth's cheek, then gently on his lips. Lets it linger there for a moment.

Upon the question, does Edward let out a snort, "Nope. Never did. Not my own, but adopted ones, yes..." There's a pause there. Many of those he did adopt were dead now due to old age. It's what he gets for being immortal.

"I already explained to you, Adolin, that a demon cannot be changed." It was in his nature to do these things.

....

Though he had wished that Vanth hadn't gotten in the way. Wished that he had no clue.

When he looks at Vanth, he can see the inner turmoil. "... I needed him to see. I needed him to see the kind of angel he is."