Random 92

"Oh," he said, putting on a deliberately sauced up look of innocence. "I think I can do that. I think?"

"I'm sure you'll manage."

"I'm glad someone believes me in me," he said chipperly, squeezing her closer to him as they walked.

But before long, they were there and -- as luck (that bitch) would have it, it was once again Riya facing them. She was cursing like a sailor as she struggled with the tarpaulin that had been set up next to the walls of Old Ivy. Sebastian again wondered if the girl would not have had a future in making sailors blanch.

"Motherf--!"

Sylvie gave Sebastian a nod - come, let's lend a hand - and walked into the yard Riya had started to uncover. "Here, let me get those knots."

The nod was scarcely needed, but appreciated at the very least. Sebastian was all too happy to help, even though the cursing young harridan twitched upon seeing them. "Yeah, thanks," Riya began. "You, tall guy, mind making sure this thing doesn't fall on us?"

"Certainly. I'll bet you it'll fall on me instead," Sebastian said light-heartedly, face serious. The whole mess just might fall on him, for all he knew. But the entire thing went without a hitch, and the entire set that had been protecting the ground was soon being rolled up and tucked into neat packages. Eventually, Sebastian at least let out a brief sigh of relief.

It didn't last long. "Thanks, Fox."

He turned to stare at Riya, eyes wide.

"How about we stick with 'Sebastian'?" Sylvie said placidly.

Said person only blinked, whereas Riya looked at Sylvie as if she was somewhat ready to pick a fight. "What does he care? Correct me if I'm wrong, but he doesn't really seem to have a name."

Sebastian began to a raise a finger, as if to say something, but again fell short of words. He did look a little angry, though, but sheer politeness and the knowledge that he'd lied enough to the inhabitants of this house tied his tongue. He turned to look at the gate, the way they had come from. It was just too damn true.

Sylvie looked at Riya taken aback and, moreso, confused. "It's what he calls himself most of the time. Are people here born with names?"

"They're given one here. And you're giving me... 'most of the time'," Riya hit back quickly, then turned to look at Sebastian in a way that looked a wee bit too much like Gemma. She even sounded like her mother. "Well?"

"I can't answer that," he said quietly, all the whimsical energy suddenly drained from him. "I can't remember."

Riya smiled cunningly. "Suppose I name you--" Sebastian took this as the perfect moment to suddenly appear as blank and shellshocked as he had back in House Crow when Sylvie had confronted him. Nothing registered. "-- Iolan, hm? Maybe Tomarsz?" Riya finished.

Sylvie did not register how hard that hit him since she was getting between the two, facing Riya. Her voice was calm, quiet, and a little sad. "Leave him be, please, and call him something he chose. If names mean that much to you, call me Yameh. I haven't used that since I was six, but it's what my mother named me." She stressed her next words. "He can't remember his first name."

That, at least, was chastising enough for Riya, whose face had turned a shade toward confusion once she registered that Sebastian was staring blankly over her shoulder. "Uh. Fine... is he alright?"

Sylvie turned around. She muttered "apparently not" as she crossed the short distance. "Sebastian?" She reached for his arm and looked for a reaction in his eyes.

"Is that normal?" Riya chattered on, looking a little nervous. It was spooky, especially since Sebastian didn't react even to touch. He didn't even blink, and his lips were parted a bit. She looked at Sylvie now, looking more than a little concerned. "Really, is that normal?"

"I hope not." A catty comment billowed up but didn't even reach the top of her mind before it went under. "Sebastian?" she repeated louder. She put her free hand on the side of his head, wondering if she should try tweaking his ear, or reaching out with her magic senses in an attempt find some reason for this. But her magic dealt with body, not mind...

Finally, something. The touch on his head caused some sort of recoil in Sebastian, who seemed to twitch backward a step. Oh dear Ladies, had it been anyone else, they might be on the ground with a few broken bones. Sebastian blinked a few times, eyes fleeting from woman to girl to woman. Riya, all pursed lips and owlish eyes, looked around. Sylvie... yes, Sylvie. He stepped back toward her, befuddled but sensible enough to ignore the girl. Hoarsely: "Sorry. Did I...?"

"You went blank. Sebastian, what is that?" Sylvie took his hands lightly, eyes never leaving his face, worried and confused.

Riya was about to say something, but glanced at the door instead. This was getting a little too freaky.

"Again?" Sebastian said, trying to put on a face of confidence -- but then overriding it. No. He was talking to Sylvie, and thus put on his face an expression equivalent of what he felt like. A glance at Riya suggested to him that this ought to be as concise as possible. "Reverie," he said. "Memories, maybe, worrying... I don't know. But this is... a bit awkward, right now?"

"...that's for sure," Riya said, pale and nervous.

"If you don't know..." Sylvie shook her head and turned to Riya. "We just wanted to pick up the books I'd borrowed from Montmore, and take them back. How's Gemma?"

He shook his head to show that he wasn't certain, but even so the half-elf didn't let go of her hands. But as for Riya... "Well, tell you the truth, mother's gone all militia. She's got people watching over this house, some old friend or such from the army, and she's still fucking pissed off about..." the girl squinted at him "...Sebastian here being a liar, to put it mildly."

"Well, I am one," he admitted.

"Right. Anyway, best I go get the books." Pause. "Want the rest of your stuff, er... Yameh?" (At that point Sebastian looked a little confused.) "Just because I'm not sure if mother is going to be all that calm for a while." She added that bit a little apologetically.

"The name is your call," she said, smile fading while she considered that offer. She had been feeling like she was imposing, so, "Yes, everything. It's packed. I hope I'll have time to drop by later and say goodbyes and thankyous, but I'm not sure..."