Sebastian cursed and slammed the door to his music room. He'd often seek refuge down here in the basement; in his soundproofed melodious haven. Padded, crushed blue velvet lined the walls from ceiling to floor, the ground blanketed in plush maroon coloured carpet and the ceiling muted with draped linens. Bookcases lined the far wall, filled with all of Sebastian's books and trinkets. On the right was a small gas fireplace his setting chair and a side table; a bottle of Pinot Chardonnay and a glass were atop the table. A desk littered with sheets of music was pushed up against the left wall and propped beside it was an acoustic guitar. Beside that, on their stands, were his most prized possessions: His Baroque violin passed down from de Vernon to de Vernon and also the electric violin he got for his 18th birthday.
Sebastian cursed again and stalked over to the desk, shoving his sheet music to the floor while searching various drawers and compartments. After a considerable amount of frustrated sifting, he pulled a box of cigarettes from underneath some junk and brought it to his lips. Oddly enough, even though he'd quit, Sebastian had not gotten rid of the habit of carrying around a lighter. Now he was glad. Several drags later, Sebastian plucked the cigarette from his mouth and stared at it in disgust.
What was he doing? Why was he acting like a jerk? Why was she? Muttering to himself softly, Sebastian cast the half-smoked stick into the fireplace. Upon realizing that it wasn't lit, he knelt and adjusted the knob, bringing the flames to an appropriate height. Settling himself in his chair, Sebastian rubbed his hands over his face and expelled his breath slowly. Could his night get any worse? Erin had crossed the line, in his mind, for nothing. Why evaluate their marriage because he had made a mistake - one he'd admitted to and apologized for? Surely making one mistake wasn't enough to warrant that!
Reaching to his left, Sebastian blindly poured himself a glass of Pinot Chardonnay - a skill so well performed that it would be obvious to see he'd done it many times. The glass was brought to his lips an sipped from as he gazed intently into the flames. His mind...it wandered. The events of the night flashed before his eyes, mingled with other memories of fights and arguments...alot with declarations of love, first kisses, and sheets twisted in the heat of passion. An array of emotions was displayed across his face as the night took it's course.
He sipped again, only to find that his glass was empty. A slight shake of his head brought back to the here and now to stare into the bottom of the empty tumbler and then to the bottle of Pinot Chardonnay. "What am I doing," he mumbled questioningly. "Going to get drunk, Bastian?" questioning himself again. Frowning, the glass was set back on the side table. "Bad idea." He moved to stand, but halted his movements quickly when a soft mew sounded. Somehow, Erin's damn cat had gotten in his lap without him knowing. She must've been in here before he had gotten home. Reaching out with a calloused hand, Sebastian scratched the cat gently, surprisingly finding himself soothed by the rhythmic purring that came shortly after.
But soon, Sebastian began to fidget. Can't sit too long, you know. The kitten was taken into his arms as he stood and then settled back onto the chair he'd just vacated. Blue eyes were then cast around the room; first to his desk. No, don't want to write. Then to the violin's. Eh, don't really want to play, either. Lastly, his gaze settled on his books. There was a stack about knee high on the floor. "I guess I can put those back..." This time he was talking to the cat. No, really!
He fingered the leather binding on each of his books as they were slotted back into their prospective places on the bookshelf. One by one he continued to shelf them until one of the titles happened to catch his eye. Communist Manifesto. Smiling, Sebastian abandoned the other books and returned to the chair, scooping the cat back into his lap before he sat. This sent him for another trip down memory lane...
"You don't put your shirt on, I'm not going to be able to control myself..."
"I like it when you tell me about things. You always seem so excited... and, I want to know more. About everything."
?As long as I?m not too tipsy, love, then let?s drink away!?
"So, what was that about Karl Marx?"
?You?re far more interesting than anything I have to say.?
"She's an amazing woman," Sebastian breathed softly, still fingering the book. "You know that, snowflake? Er...whatever your name is?" The kitten just pawed at Sebastian's hand, begging to be pet. He ignored her. "We were so innocent back then...so free. So in love."
"What changed your mind?"
The voice caused Sebastian to start. "Jon?" He stood, sending poor kitty to the floor.
"Of course it's me, brother. Who else would visit you at a time like this?"
Sebastian's mind reeled. A hand rose to rake through his hair, not really knowing what to say. He stared at his brother and then at the door. How had he gotten in? Hell, how had he even gotten -here-?
"Don't worry about how I got here, just answer me this." Ok, so Jonathan had beat Sebastian to the punch. Weird. "Why are you still with Erin?"
Sebastian gawked at his brother. Out of everyone he knew back home, Jonathan had seemed to be the most supportive. Why would he ask something like that, especially when he knew how swimmingly things had gone in London during their private meetings. "What?"
"You heard me. She lies and abuses you." Jonathan laughed and clasped his hands behind his back, taking a few steps towards his brother. "She overreacts and puts your marriage on the line just because you made a choice without her."
"How did you-"
"Don't dwell on that, Sebastian. Answer my questions."
"I'm trying! If you'll jus-"
"Bastian!"
"WHAT?!" he practically screamed, chest rising and fallign rapidly from the adrenaline that had started surging through his body.
"There...now I've gotten through to you. Tell me why you don't love her."
"I do love her!" Sebastian was infuriated, hands balling into fists at his sides. Sebastian's blue gaze followed Jonathan as he strolled around the room, touching various things as he listened to Sebastian. "How could you even think that I don't? Who are you to accuse me of such a dastardly idea?"
Jonathan plucked one of the strings on the electric violin; lips curling into a smile as the twang of tension being released filled the room. "You left her tonight, didn't you?" He scoffed. "Big, bad Sebastian put his foot down, didn't he."
"How do you know that? W-....how...what are you saying? I...I didn't leave her! I came home, dammit." Cords of veins stuck out in his neck as Sebastian struggled to stay calm and keep from decking his younger brother. Erin was his world! Sure, they got into fights, but...every relationship is going to eb rocky from time to time.
"No, no. You hate her, Bastian." Jonathan remained impassive, turning to face Sebastian.
Bastian lunged for his brother. "Shut up! I love her!"
Jonathan met Sebastian's fist as it came barreling towards his face, surprisingly able to stop it without much effort. "There..." he stated softly. "You've admitted it to yourself out loud."
"I've always loved her, Jon." Sebastian sounded defeated; exhausted. "Why are you doing this? Why...why....why?" He hund his head and dropped both hands to his sides.
"Because. I've known that you've loved her for a long time, Bastian. Remember when you came to visit me; at the university?"
"Yeah. That was right after Erin had been....." he trailed off, still unable to talk about that incident easily.
"Yes, and what did you tell me?"
"I...I don't remember specifics."
"Think!"
Sebastian's brows furrowed in thought, eyes closing as he tried to remember what it was that Jon was trying to remind him. Then it came to him...plain and simple. "That I loved her."
"Mm. Yes, that you loved her. Even then...after what happened. You'd only known her for a couple weeks." Jonathan breathed in slowly, watching his brother. "And what did I tell you?" Sebastian's head stayed bowed. "I said You have nothing to worry about. Just love her. I?ll bet that?s all she needs; love and some reassurance."
Sebastian lifted his left hand and stared at his wedding ring. "For better or for worse..." he whispered softly.
"You said yourself, brother, that she was worth anything. You need to work this out, Sebastian."
"I know...I know." A sound was heard upstairs. Sebastian glanced up. "Maybe that's her?"
"Maybe, Bastian."
Sebastian nearly turned to leave the room when he looked up at his brother. "How'd you get in here?"
"Well, you see, I-"
Thud. Sebastian awoke with a start. It was quiet. All that could be heard was the fire crackling and the cat purring softly on his lap. Blinking a few time, Sebastian leaned forward and rubbed a hand over his face. What had just happened? Looking more than confused, Sebastian glanced to the door, which was still shut, and then around the room. No Jon. "Weird," he muttered softly.
Thud. Rattle. Thunk.
Noises...upstairs. Sebastian looked around in alarm once more and scooped up the cat into his arms. He pause briefly to note that his empty tumbler was on the side table - he had, at least, not dreamed that. However, the books were still stack over by the bookcase.
Step. Shuffleshuffle. Thud.
The noises were getting a bit louder, but Sebastian had to be sure. Carrying the kitten along with him, he went over to the books and knelt beside them; shoving them around until he found it. And there it was: the Communist Menifesto. This book would forever remind him of his love for Erin.
Erin. She was upstairs! He threw the book back down and hurried towards the door, vaguely noting the time on the clock on his desk. 11:42am .....long nights sleep, eh?
"Come on, kitty," Sebastian held the kitten against his chest. "I have to go tell Erin I love her."
Sebastian cursed again and stalked over to the desk, shoving his sheet music to the floor while searching various drawers and compartments. After a considerable amount of frustrated sifting, he pulled a box of cigarettes from underneath some junk and brought it to his lips. Oddly enough, even though he'd quit, Sebastian had not gotten rid of the habit of carrying around a lighter. Now he was glad. Several drags later, Sebastian plucked the cigarette from his mouth and stared at it in disgust.
What was he doing? Why was he acting like a jerk? Why was she? Muttering to himself softly, Sebastian cast the half-smoked stick into the fireplace. Upon realizing that it wasn't lit, he knelt and adjusted the knob, bringing the flames to an appropriate height. Settling himself in his chair, Sebastian rubbed his hands over his face and expelled his breath slowly. Could his night get any worse? Erin had crossed the line, in his mind, for nothing. Why evaluate their marriage because he had made a mistake - one he'd admitted to and apologized for? Surely making one mistake wasn't enough to warrant that!
Reaching to his left, Sebastian blindly poured himself a glass of Pinot Chardonnay - a skill so well performed that it would be obvious to see he'd done it many times. The glass was brought to his lips an sipped from as he gazed intently into the flames. His mind...it wandered. The events of the night flashed before his eyes, mingled with other memories of fights and arguments...alot with declarations of love, first kisses, and sheets twisted in the heat of passion. An array of emotions was displayed across his face as the night took it's course.
He sipped again, only to find that his glass was empty. A slight shake of his head brought back to the here and now to stare into the bottom of the empty tumbler and then to the bottle of Pinot Chardonnay. "What am I doing," he mumbled questioningly. "Going to get drunk, Bastian?" questioning himself again. Frowning, the glass was set back on the side table. "Bad idea." He moved to stand, but halted his movements quickly when a soft mew sounded. Somehow, Erin's damn cat had gotten in his lap without him knowing. She must've been in here before he had gotten home. Reaching out with a calloused hand, Sebastian scratched the cat gently, surprisingly finding himself soothed by the rhythmic purring that came shortly after.
But soon, Sebastian began to fidget. Can't sit too long, you know. The kitten was taken into his arms as he stood and then settled back onto the chair he'd just vacated. Blue eyes were then cast around the room; first to his desk. No, don't want to write. Then to the violin's. Eh, don't really want to play, either. Lastly, his gaze settled on his books. There was a stack about knee high on the floor. "I guess I can put those back..." This time he was talking to the cat. No, really!
He fingered the leather binding on each of his books as they were slotted back into their prospective places on the bookshelf. One by one he continued to shelf them until one of the titles happened to catch his eye. Communist Manifesto. Smiling, Sebastian abandoned the other books and returned to the chair, scooping the cat back into his lap before he sat. This sent him for another trip down memory lane...
"You don't put your shirt on, I'm not going to be able to control myself..."
"I like it when you tell me about things. You always seem so excited... and, I want to know more. About everything."
?As long as I?m not too tipsy, love, then let?s drink away!?
"So, what was that about Karl Marx?"
?You?re far more interesting than anything I have to say.?
"She's an amazing woman," Sebastian breathed softly, still fingering the book. "You know that, snowflake? Er...whatever your name is?" The kitten just pawed at Sebastian's hand, begging to be pet. He ignored her. "We were so innocent back then...so free. So in love."
"What changed your mind?"
The voice caused Sebastian to start. "Jon?" He stood, sending poor kitty to the floor.
"Of course it's me, brother. Who else would visit you at a time like this?"
Sebastian's mind reeled. A hand rose to rake through his hair, not really knowing what to say. He stared at his brother and then at the door. How had he gotten in? Hell, how had he even gotten -here-?
"Don't worry about how I got here, just answer me this." Ok, so Jonathan had beat Sebastian to the punch. Weird. "Why are you still with Erin?"
Sebastian gawked at his brother. Out of everyone he knew back home, Jonathan had seemed to be the most supportive. Why would he ask something like that, especially when he knew how swimmingly things had gone in London during their private meetings. "What?"
"You heard me. She lies and abuses you." Jonathan laughed and clasped his hands behind his back, taking a few steps towards his brother. "She overreacts and puts your marriage on the line just because you made a choice without her."
"How did you-"
"Don't dwell on that, Sebastian. Answer my questions."
"I'm trying! If you'll jus-"
"Bastian!"
"WHAT?!" he practically screamed, chest rising and fallign rapidly from the adrenaline that had started surging through his body.
"There...now I've gotten through to you. Tell me why you don't love her."
"I do love her!" Sebastian was infuriated, hands balling into fists at his sides. Sebastian's blue gaze followed Jonathan as he strolled around the room, touching various things as he listened to Sebastian. "How could you even think that I don't? Who are you to accuse me of such a dastardly idea?"
Jonathan plucked one of the strings on the electric violin; lips curling into a smile as the twang of tension being released filled the room. "You left her tonight, didn't you?" He scoffed. "Big, bad Sebastian put his foot down, didn't he."
"How do you know that? W-....how...what are you saying? I...I didn't leave her! I came home, dammit." Cords of veins stuck out in his neck as Sebastian struggled to stay calm and keep from decking his younger brother. Erin was his world! Sure, they got into fights, but...every relationship is going to eb rocky from time to time.
"No, no. You hate her, Bastian." Jonathan remained impassive, turning to face Sebastian.
Bastian lunged for his brother. "Shut up! I love her!"
Jonathan met Sebastian's fist as it came barreling towards his face, surprisingly able to stop it without much effort. "There..." he stated softly. "You've admitted it to yourself out loud."
"I've always loved her, Jon." Sebastian sounded defeated; exhausted. "Why are you doing this? Why...why....why?" He hund his head and dropped both hands to his sides.
"Because. I've known that you've loved her for a long time, Bastian. Remember when you came to visit me; at the university?"
"Yeah. That was right after Erin had been....." he trailed off, still unable to talk about that incident easily.
"Yes, and what did you tell me?"
"I...I don't remember specifics."
"Think!"
Sebastian's brows furrowed in thought, eyes closing as he tried to remember what it was that Jon was trying to remind him. Then it came to him...plain and simple. "That I loved her."
"Mm. Yes, that you loved her. Even then...after what happened. You'd only known her for a couple weeks." Jonathan breathed in slowly, watching his brother. "And what did I tell you?" Sebastian's head stayed bowed. "I said You have nothing to worry about. Just love her. I?ll bet that?s all she needs; love and some reassurance."
Sebastian lifted his left hand and stared at his wedding ring. "For better or for worse..." he whispered softly.
"You said yourself, brother, that she was worth anything. You need to work this out, Sebastian."
"I know...I know." A sound was heard upstairs. Sebastian glanced up. "Maybe that's her?"
"Maybe, Bastian."
Sebastian nearly turned to leave the room when he looked up at his brother. "How'd you get in here?"
"Well, you see, I-"
Thud. Sebastian awoke with a start. It was quiet. All that could be heard was the fire crackling and the cat purring softly on his lap. Blinking a few time, Sebastian leaned forward and rubbed a hand over his face. What had just happened? Looking more than confused, Sebastian glanced to the door, which was still shut, and then around the room. No Jon. "Weird," he muttered softly.
Thud. Rattle. Thunk.
Noises...upstairs. Sebastian looked around in alarm once more and scooped up the cat into his arms. He pause briefly to note that his empty tumbler was on the side table - he had, at least, not dreamed that. However, the books were still stack over by the bookcase.
Step. Shuffleshuffle. Thud.
The noises were getting a bit louder, but Sebastian had to be sure. Carrying the kitten along with him, he went over to the books and knelt beside them; shoving them around until he found it. And there it was: the Communist Menifesto. This book would forever remind him of his love for Erin.
Erin. She was upstairs! He threw the book back down and hurried towards the door, vaguely noting the time on the clock on his desk. 11:42am .....long nights sleep, eh?
"Come on, kitty," Sebastian held the kitten against his chest. "I have to go tell Erin I love her."