It had been a busy, busy morning at DeVernon Dockside and Sebastian was relatively happy that he was working in the office today instead of out on the dock. The temperature stifling, Sebastian had the window next to his desk propped open with a book. This allowed a steady flow of sea breeze into the room, but also all the noise and ruckus that comes with dock working. He looked a bit undone, shirt unbuttoned down to the middle of his chest, long sleeves rolled up to his elbows and tie abandoned at some point during the course of the morning.
Opting to skip lunch today to catch up on some work that needed to be done, Sebastian remained at his desk....miserable.
Erin knocked on the office door. Knock. Knock. Knock. It was three gentle raps as she waited, leaning on it. Her eyes were sunken in with the not sleeping, and her face was paler than usual, painted with more makeup than perhaps she often wore. She was dressed as usual though, a simple sundress, hair pinned up but falling about her face.
"Heeeeeellllllo and welcome to DeVernon Dockside, where all of your dreams can come true." A redhead had opened the door to greet Erin. Her name was Renee' and looked to be a little younger than Erin herself. The young girl looked like she belonged at sea, dressed as a pirate lady should.
Sebastian chuckled, lifting his head to see who Renee' was tormenting now. Office help...pfft. Renee' did nothing but goof around, but he loved the girl and so kept her on the payroll. "Ren, I thought I told you to not say that shotty line again?" A shake of his head had him leaning back in his chair. "Just let them in, yeah?"
"Right-o, bossman!" The redhead saluted Sebastian in a mocking manner before swinging the door wide open. "'Ere ye go, missy. The Cap'n awaits, ye." The girl was a goofball, that's for sure.
Erin laughed out loud at the woman, her eyes going wide. It was not above her to be jealous, and she was— a little. She was younger, prettier, perkier and sillier. All things Erin wished for herself. She slid past the woman without a word and stopped before Sebastian's desk.
"Hire anyone, eh"' A wink and a tilt of her head as she looked around for a chair, hovering for the moment. "I came to ask your help. If you'll give it."
Sebastian's eyes widened when he saw who it was, immediately straightening in his seat to look a bit more presentable. When the initial shock of Erin's appearance wore off, he noted how sickly she looked, or was it simply that she was tired" He couldn't tell anymore these days.
"Renee', before you leave, bring Miss DeVernon a chair, yes?" The redhead made a face at Sebastian...and he made one back. My, these two behaved as siblings. A few moments later, a chair was placed beside Erin and then Renee' excused herself.
Sebastian looked slightly contrite as he sat back down, motioning for Erin to do the same. "Or have you gone back to your old surname?" He'd talk about business with her after a little chat.
"I vacillate, to be honest." she said with a shrug as she lowered herself into her chair. "Dunbridge, deVernon— don't really belong to any of them anyway." She was too tired to pretend or to put on a show for him, and so he got Erin raw. Something he probably hadn't seen in a long long time. "Ms rather than Miss, though. Makes me seem a little older." Plus she had been used to Mrs, at least for awhile.
"You don't mind, do you? That I use it?" She settled in fully, her legs crossed and the hem of her skirt pulled over the knee. "I just...I'm used to it." She shrugged, pushing hair from her face. "Sorry to come unannounced...I wasn't sure if that was..." and she trailed off.
"Erin, we may not be married, but you're still a part of this family. Meaning, you know....everyone. I don't mind that you use DeVernon still, I rather kind of like it." He quirked a smile and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. A long moment was taken to look her over, trying to figure out what exactly was wrong.
"Don't worry, most of my patrons show up unannounced, so I'm used to it. Wouldn't be much of a business if people couldn't stop by." He thought about fixing his shirt, then decided against it. It was silly of him to feel modest around her. She knew him better than anyone in the world - at least in that way. "What's up, love?"
"Well..." Erin took a deep breath. It was comforting that he didn't mind she kept his name. It was even more comforting that they could finally sit down and have a conversation without one of them killing the other. She slid to the edge of the seat, propping her head on her elbows. "I need to ask you a favor. I need to stow away...or whatever...on one of your ships."
"Why?" Sebastian's head canted to the side a little, moderately concerned with how Erin was behaving.
"Can I tell you something" It's not a secret, but it's not really my story to tell....I just...I guess I have to tell you." She paused, rubbing her eyes for a moment. "And you can't freak out or try and stop me. Promise me that."
"I guess I don't have that right anymore, huh." Sebastian mulled this over for a minute or two, running a hand through his hair. "I tell you what," he finally stated. "I won't freak out, but I can't promise that I won't try to stop you if I think you're in danger. Granted, you obviously don't have to listen to me, but I still care about you and don't want you getting hurt." He nodded, satisfied with his answer. "That said, please continue..."
"Lydia and Ivy and I were attacked." She let that sit in a moment. "Last week." And then she sat bacck in the chair and went on with her story. "Someone from her past....and he has magic, and he got away....I've been doing some snooping and I found out that a man with his description got on a boat to Cape Coral..." She shuddered at the name. It brought bad memories for them both. "And I want to go and see if I can find him. Find out what?s going on...maybe stop him...I don't know. I haven't got that part worked out yet...but if he can go there and hire someone...or...I just..." And she trailed off for a moment, sighting. "I just can't lose her Sebastian. I can't sit by and do nothing." Her voice was pained, desperate. Erin had given this much thought.
Obviously not alot of good thought, because she was talking about chasing after a man who had tried to HARM her. Sebastian sat in stoic silence during her entire speech, miraculously managing to keep any and all emotions from showing on his face. Below the desk, though, knuckles were white from his hands being balled into tight fists. "Let me get this straight," he said quietly. "You want me to enable you to go chase after some bastard who tried to hurt Lydia and- wait, is she even ok"! Are you...and Ivy' What the bloody hell, Erin" Why didn't you say anything before this" Does Grem know....can't someone else go after this prick?"
"Grem knows." She nodded. "I didn't tell anyone....it's Lydia's business and I didn't want to...' She trailed off, shaking her head. "I just...I need to do something. I'll be careful, I'm always careful.." Only once had Erin been close to death. Well, twice now, but the second one was really never danger. "What do you think I should do' Sit back and just let her be in danger" Do nothing?"
"No, but..." he sighed in exasperation. Grawr! Same old Erin. Admirable, but she hadn't changed one bit. "Wait, you're never careful." That was slightly amusing and despite the seriousness of the conversation, Sebastian smirked.
Pushing away from the chair, Sebastian stood and began to pace behind the desk. The added stress of the situation combined with his current appearance made Sebastian look positively out of his mind. He had to stay calm, though - he promised Erin he wouldn't freak out. "I think that it would be better if you let someone else handle this. Lydia knows you love her....I don't think she'd want you traipsing after this guy."
"Okay." Erin was reasonable. She knew that perhaps it wasn't her place...nevermind that it was eating her up inside that it wasn't. "Then who?" She stood and came around the desk, she was about to physically stop his pacing, hold him even. Just an automatic response to his worry. But she stopped herself and was just standing there, shoulders slumped a little. "I'm open to anything....I just....I thought maybe I could help." The last part added quietly.
As Erin joined him behind the desk, his gaze softened and his pacing ceased. He, too, stood there....wanting to do so much, yet holding back. He knew she must be worried out of her mind; it was obvious in the way she carried herself. "You wouldn't want me to go with you, I'm sure..." he trailed off, knowing that answer and turned to look out the window.
This was one of those moments where he wanted to just ignore everything he'd been working towards to gather her into his arms and just hold her. To keep from doing so, he continued to face the window. "If I agreed to let you go, could you promise me that you'd listen to whomever I put in charge" They'd go with you everywhere in Cape Coral..."
"Anything you say." Erin was out of fight. Out of it, and knowing that it was useless. They were all right about what was and was not possible for the small mad englishwoman. See, she had changed. "You could come, or someone else, or....whatever you think is best." Her voice was soft, but still urgent.
Sebastian turned to face her, gaze searching her face for any lie in her statement. She had meant it and that in and of itself made Sebastian feel on top of the world. Two steps carried the longshoresman over to the mad englishwoman, hands coming up to rest on her shoulders. "I want to come, but I'm afraid that if I do, we'll ruin how far we've come already." Stormy blue gaze dropped to the floor. "I don't want that....but....I'll let you go. I'll have Jent keep an eye on you."
Dammit, he couldn't take it anymore. This would be fine, he assumed. She needed a hug and he hated to see her so distressed. Carefully, Sebastian pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against her chest. He was careful to make sure she knew he meant nothing by it. "I'm so sorry, Erin. For you and Lydia....if there's anything else I can do, please tell me" I'm worried for you..."
Oh. Thank. God. Though she couldn't pour everything out to him— presumably he would be happier not knowing about most of her issues at the moment— she was so happy to have someone to lay a little of it on. Her arms came up and she held on, it was clear it wasn't romantic as much as for support. A support she much needed. "It's okay. We're all okay. It's just....thank you, thank you so much for this." And she meant it. This tenious friendship they were building is something she wished they had attempted months and months ago— pre wedding.
That feeling was welling up inside of his chest....he had to let her go. A long sigh was expelled, not able to meet her gaze for a few moments. "The Traveler Joshua leaves on the Twenty-sixth. Make sure you're ready....they won't wait if you're late."
They'd laugh if they knew that they were both thinking the same thing. This friendship should have happened before they jumped headfirst into a marriage. Things might have worked out. A smile spread across Bastian's face as he realized that he'd be happy with a friendship with her, even if nothing else ever came of it.
Erin stepped back and onto the other side of the desk, backing slowly for the door. He had shut down the conversation and she was now able to respect boundaries and wants. "Thank you. So much. Anything you ever need from me..." Her hands were held out in front as if she were proving she werent armed. "Anything at all..."
Bast just took his seat and nodded in thanks. There wasn't much he could say right now. "I'll see you later, Erin. Do me a favor, send Renee' in when you leave?"
A small, almost in perceptible nod and Erin slipped out the door, sending Renee in with a simple "Sebastian asked for you? before dissapearing into Dockside.
Opting to skip lunch today to catch up on some work that needed to be done, Sebastian remained at his desk....miserable.
Erin knocked on the office door. Knock. Knock. Knock. It was three gentle raps as she waited, leaning on it. Her eyes were sunken in with the not sleeping, and her face was paler than usual, painted with more makeup than perhaps she often wore. She was dressed as usual though, a simple sundress, hair pinned up but falling about her face.
"Heeeeeellllllo and welcome to DeVernon Dockside, where all of your dreams can come true." A redhead had opened the door to greet Erin. Her name was Renee' and looked to be a little younger than Erin herself. The young girl looked like she belonged at sea, dressed as a pirate lady should.
Sebastian chuckled, lifting his head to see who Renee' was tormenting now. Office help...pfft. Renee' did nothing but goof around, but he loved the girl and so kept her on the payroll. "Ren, I thought I told you to not say that shotty line again?" A shake of his head had him leaning back in his chair. "Just let them in, yeah?"
"Right-o, bossman!" The redhead saluted Sebastian in a mocking manner before swinging the door wide open. "'Ere ye go, missy. The Cap'n awaits, ye." The girl was a goofball, that's for sure.
Erin laughed out loud at the woman, her eyes going wide. It was not above her to be jealous, and she was— a little. She was younger, prettier, perkier and sillier. All things Erin wished for herself. She slid past the woman without a word and stopped before Sebastian's desk.
"Hire anyone, eh"' A wink and a tilt of her head as she looked around for a chair, hovering for the moment. "I came to ask your help. If you'll give it."
Sebastian's eyes widened when he saw who it was, immediately straightening in his seat to look a bit more presentable. When the initial shock of Erin's appearance wore off, he noted how sickly she looked, or was it simply that she was tired" He couldn't tell anymore these days.
"Renee', before you leave, bring Miss DeVernon a chair, yes?" The redhead made a face at Sebastian...and he made one back. My, these two behaved as siblings. A few moments later, a chair was placed beside Erin and then Renee' excused herself.
Sebastian looked slightly contrite as he sat back down, motioning for Erin to do the same. "Or have you gone back to your old surname?" He'd talk about business with her after a little chat.
"I vacillate, to be honest." she said with a shrug as she lowered herself into her chair. "Dunbridge, deVernon— don't really belong to any of them anyway." She was too tired to pretend or to put on a show for him, and so he got Erin raw. Something he probably hadn't seen in a long long time. "Ms rather than Miss, though. Makes me seem a little older." Plus she had been used to Mrs, at least for awhile.
"You don't mind, do you? That I use it?" She settled in fully, her legs crossed and the hem of her skirt pulled over the knee. "I just...I'm used to it." She shrugged, pushing hair from her face. "Sorry to come unannounced...I wasn't sure if that was..." and she trailed off.
"Erin, we may not be married, but you're still a part of this family. Meaning, you know....everyone. I don't mind that you use DeVernon still, I rather kind of like it." He quirked a smile and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. A long moment was taken to look her over, trying to figure out what exactly was wrong.
"Don't worry, most of my patrons show up unannounced, so I'm used to it. Wouldn't be much of a business if people couldn't stop by." He thought about fixing his shirt, then decided against it. It was silly of him to feel modest around her. She knew him better than anyone in the world - at least in that way. "What's up, love?"
"Well..." Erin took a deep breath. It was comforting that he didn't mind she kept his name. It was even more comforting that they could finally sit down and have a conversation without one of them killing the other. She slid to the edge of the seat, propping her head on her elbows. "I need to ask you a favor. I need to stow away...or whatever...on one of your ships."
"Why?" Sebastian's head canted to the side a little, moderately concerned with how Erin was behaving.
"Can I tell you something" It's not a secret, but it's not really my story to tell....I just...I guess I have to tell you." She paused, rubbing her eyes for a moment. "And you can't freak out or try and stop me. Promise me that."
"I guess I don't have that right anymore, huh." Sebastian mulled this over for a minute or two, running a hand through his hair. "I tell you what," he finally stated. "I won't freak out, but I can't promise that I won't try to stop you if I think you're in danger. Granted, you obviously don't have to listen to me, but I still care about you and don't want you getting hurt." He nodded, satisfied with his answer. "That said, please continue..."
"Lydia and Ivy and I were attacked." She let that sit in a moment. "Last week." And then she sat bacck in the chair and went on with her story. "Someone from her past....and he has magic, and he got away....I've been doing some snooping and I found out that a man with his description got on a boat to Cape Coral..." She shuddered at the name. It brought bad memories for them both. "And I want to go and see if I can find him. Find out what?s going on...maybe stop him...I don't know. I haven't got that part worked out yet...but if he can go there and hire someone...or...I just..." And she trailed off for a moment, sighting. "I just can't lose her Sebastian. I can't sit by and do nothing." Her voice was pained, desperate. Erin had given this much thought.
Obviously not alot of good thought, because she was talking about chasing after a man who had tried to HARM her. Sebastian sat in stoic silence during her entire speech, miraculously managing to keep any and all emotions from showing on his face. Below the desk, though, knuckles were white from his hands being balled into tight fists. "Let me get this straight," he said quietly. "You want me to enable you to go chase after some bastard who tried to hurt Lydia and- wait, is she even ok"! Are you...and Ivy' What the bloody hell, Erin" Why didn't you say anything before this" Does Grem know....can't someone else go after this prick?"
"Grem knows." She nodded. "I didn't tell anyone....it's Lydia's business and I didn't want to...' She trailed off, shaking her head. "I just...I need to do something. I'll be careful, I'm always careful.." Only once had Erin been close to death. Well, twice now, but the second one was really never danger. "What do you think I should do' Sit back and just let her be in danger" Do nothing?"
"No, but..." he sighed in exasperation. Grawr! Same old Erin. Admirable, but she hadn't changed one bit. "Wait, you're never careful." That was slightly amusing and despite the seriousness of the conversation, Sebastian smirked.
Pushing away from the chair, Sebastian stood and began to pace behind the desk. The added stress of the situation combined with his current appearance made Sebastian look positively out of his mind. He had to stay calm, though - he promised Erin he wouldn't freak out. "I think that it would be better if you let someone else handle this. Lydia knows you love her....I don't think she'd want you traipsing after this guy."
"Okay." Erin was reasonable. She knew that perhaps it wasn't her place...nevermind that it was eating her up inside that it wasn't. "Then who?" She stood and came around the desk, she was about to physically stop his pacing, hold him even. Just an automatic response to his worry. But she stopped herself and was just standing there, shoulders slumped a little. "I'm open to anything....I just....I thought maybe I could help." The last part added quietly.
As Erin joined him behind the desk, his gaze softened and his pacing ceased. He, too, stood there....wanting to do so much, yet holding back. He knew she must be worried out of her mind; it was obvious in the way she carried herself. "You wouldn't want me to go with you, I'm sure..." he trailed off, knowing that answer and turned to look out the window.
This was one of those moments where he wanted to just ignore everything he'd been working towards to gather her into his arms and just hold her. To keep from doing so, he continued to face the window. "If I agreed to let you go, could you promise me that you'd listen to whomever I put in charge" They'd go with you everywhere in Cape Coral..."
"Anything you say." Erin was out of fight. Out of it, and knowing that it was useless. They were all right about what was and was not possible for the small mad englishwoman. See, she had changed. "You could come, or someone else, or....whatever you think is best." Her voice was soft, but still urgent.
Sebastian turned to face her, gaze searching her face for any lie in her statement. She had meant it and that in and of itself made Sebastian feel on top of the world. Two steps carried the longshoresman over to the mad englishwoman, hands coming up to rest on her shoulders. "I want to come, but I'm afraid that if I do, we'll ruin how far we've come already." Stormy blue gaze dropped to the floor. "I don't want that....but....I'll let you go. I'll have Jent keep an eye on you."
Dammit, he couldn't take it anymore. This would be fine, he assumed. She needed a hug and he hated to see her so distressed. Carefully, Sebastian pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against her chest. He was careful to make sure she knew he meant nothing by it. "I'm so sorry, Erin. For you and Lydia....if there's anything else I can do, please tell me" I'm worried for you..."
Oh. Thank. God. Though she couldn't pour everything out to him— presumably he would be happier not knowing about most of her issues at the moment— she was so happy to have someone to lay a little of it on. Her arms came up and she held on, it was clear it wasn't romantic as much as for support. A support she much needed. "It's okay. We're all okay. It's just....thank you, thank you so much for this." And she meant it. This tenious friendship they were building is something she wished they had attempted months and months ago— pre wedding.
That feeling was welling up inside of his chest....he had to let her go. A long sigh was expelled, not able to meet her gaze for a few moments. "The Traveler Joshua leaves on the Twenty-sixth. Make sure you're ready....they won't wait if you're late."
They'd laugh if they knew that they were both thinking the same thing. This friendship should have happened before they jumped headfirst into a marriage. Things might have worked out. A smile spread across Bastian's face as he realized that he'd be happy with a friendship with her, even if nothing else ever came of it.
Erin stepped back and onto the other side of the desk, backing slowly for the door. He had shut down the conversation and she was now able to respect boundaries and wants. "Thank you. So much. Anything you ever need from me..." Her hands were held out in front as if she were proving she werent armed. "Anything at all..."
Bast just took his seat and nodded in thanks. There wasn't much he could say right now. "I'll see you later, Erin. Do me a favor, send Renee' in when you leave?"
A small, almost in perceptible nod and Erin slipped out the door, sending Renee in with a simple "Sebastian asked for you? before dissapearing into Dockside.