Not the Most Enthusiastic of Starts [Sebastian]

[Aidan d'Amory]

Normally Aidan d'Amory was not one for feasting and mixing with other nobles but his elder brother Struan had forced him to the castle that night. Camelot had a visitor, a rather important one, and apparantly that was something Aidan should be interested in. The kingdom always had visitors, ones that didn't require Aidan to be sociable but for some reason Struan thought this particular one was an exception to that rule. All that had been accomplished was Aidan now feeling rather uncomfortable and even more self-conscious about his leg. He didn't want to be here but he was having to pretend he did.

"Are you going to be miserable all evening?" Struan was looking at him with raised eyebrows. "You should be grateful I brought you here tonight.

"Oh yes, very grateful." Aidan muttered, finding himself another goblet of wine from a passing servant. "People keep staring."

"Well that's because they haven't seen you in months. They probably all thought you had died or something." Struan shrugged, he wasn't the most sympathetic of people.

"At least then I wouldn't have to come to these stupid events."

Struan just sighed. His brother had never been enthusiastic about court life and always used his leg as an excuse for this. How was he going to make anything of himself if he just buried himself in his studies and refused to go anywhere? "Well you're not and you do so stop pulling a face. I'm going to introduce you to Lord Sebastian and you're going to be on your best behaviour."

Aidan sighed. This was not going to be fun.

Tagged: Sebastian
Timeline: During the series four-five gap
Notes: I thought it would be easier for an introduction if Struan had already been introduced, let me know if you want this edited.

[Sebastian]

The feast was not the first instance Sebastian would have chosen for his introduction to Camelot, but he had not resisisted, knowing it might be considered as rude to the King and his Queen. Besides, such a feast would often reveal that by watching and learning one could learn much from people. Nobles and Kings and Princes alike.

The Prince stood by the nearest door, just in case, a goblet of warm cider in his hand as he stared about at the mingle of people. As of yet they had not been seated, and he only prayed that he would not end up sitting next to someone who hated his kingdom, or his father. As he saw two men nearing, the Albrethian turned a little, holding back a sigh, praying for at least civil conversation. However, as he recogised one of the men, he managed a small smile, grateful for early introductions.

Note: It's fine!! I love the way your characters are so reluctant!

[Aidan d'Amory]

Struan was having to physically make his brother cooperate. He hand his hand on the younger man's back and was pushing him forwards. Aidan had never been a stranger to a sulk and now seemed to be to exception. To Struan it was just childish and irritating. He was about to be introduced to a prince and yet he was still dragging his feet across the floor and looking like a sullen child. "Are you going to behave?"

Aidan resisted to stick his tongue out. As he had been told a thousand times they were in public and there were people and expectations and he would do well to remember that, especially if he wanted a roof over his head that night. So instead of doing as he had initially wanted he just nodded and rolled his eyes. Honestly, Struan was treating him like a child. Unfortunately the only way to prevent this was by following the stupid charade.

Before Aidan had answered he'd been pushed towards a man he'd never met before and so presumed it was the Lord Sebastian his brother had mentioned. He just stood there and waited to be introduced because apparantly you couldn't possibly talk to someone without someone else telling you who they were. It was the height of bad manners to ask them personally.

"Sire," Struan dropped into a bow, "I would like to introduce my brother, Lord Aidan."

When Aidan didn't immediately bow Struan stood on his foot. Unsurpringly the younger d'Amory then complied. "An honour to meet you, sire." He said as cordially as possible before shooting Struan a "happy now?" look. Struan wasn't but it was probably the best he was going to get, he just had to hope Sebastian hadn't noticed and if he was, he hadn't been offended.

[Sebastian]

The unknown man's obvious reluctance to converse made Sebastian sympathise with the noble - he wanted to be at this dinner as little as this man apparently did, and thus when the man was eventually named to him by his brother, the Prince gave him a slight smile, and nodded softly, giving a slight bow in return. "Please, I would be honoured if you were to call me Sebastian," he stated softly, though he knew it was not terribly politically correct.

As the other man - Aiden - stated he was honoured to meet him, and then glanced at Straun, with a look that Sebastian could not quite understand, the noble surpressed a slight smile. "The honour is mine," he stated softly.

[Aidan d'Amory]

Aidan was almost suspicious of the man. In his experience royalty didn’t like to go around being called only by their first name, especially by people of a lesser rank. Maybe this “Sebastian” was up to something, or maybe he just preferred to be called by his first name and Aidan was trying to find something wrong with him in order to justify his reluctance to converse with him. It could be either one. He wasn’t quite sure how to reply though – was a reply even expected or was it just something to take on board? Aidan didn’t know so he just remained quiet. If there was a reply to be had he was sure Struan would provide it.

“I am afraid I must leave you both,” Struan said suddenly, part of his plan was to leave Aidan so he’d be forced to have an actual conversation with someone. “I have very urgent business to discuss with another lord.”

Aidan, not being an idiot, was well aware that his brother didn’t have any business to attend to. He shot him a definite look that practically shouted at him to stay there. The younger d’Amory was not good in social situations at all. But Struan just ignored him. “I do apologise, Sebastian and hope we see each other again before your visit is over.”

Aidan watched him go in a not-terribly subtle way before turning back to Sebastian. Right then...what exactly was he supposed to do now? Make awkward small talk, obviously. “So...being a prince...enjoying that?”

[Sebastian]

Curse the Gods for leaving him with a man who looked as though he wanted to shove a spike through the Prince. Sebastian sighed softly, nodding toward Struan. "Of course, please do not delay on my behalf," he promised, awtching the other man leave, forcing back a sigh as he turned to Aidan, resisting the urge to shift from foot to foot, feeling more awkward than he wanted to admit.

As the man... Lord Aidan... spoke, the Albrethian frowned, not liking the obvious disdaine in the man's voice. Nevertheless, he turned to the man, trying to search for an answer that was not snappish or unpolitical or would make him sound rude. "It is not the title that I enjoy," he eventually said, wincing a little at how... arrogant... the words came off. Quickly, he spoke, to amend his words. "Why should a man be penned by his title, when in reality, such things mean so little?"

[Aidan d'Amory]

Aidan seemed to have offended the man with his question when he hadn't been meaning to at all. He wasn't very good at making conversation, especially with someone he's only met about thirty seconds prior and so had just thought of anything to say. Obviously it had been the wrong thing, but then that wasn't very surprising. This was just like when he'd first met Lady Elenora. No sooner had he made a comment about not liking dancing she had abandoned him to find someone who did. Maybe Sebastian was already trying to find an excuse to make his own exist. Aidan wouldn't blame him - it seemed neither of them particularly wanted to be in this conversation.

He considered Sebastian's question carefully - was this some kind of test? He'd never met a royal who seemed to think so little of their own title. Normally those with them were far too busy throwing them around to care about how important they actually were. To Aidan, his title was just about the only thing he had going for him, and even that managed to restrict him even more. Without a title he wouldn't be forced into awkward situations like this, and Struan wouldn't be trying to find him some nice, equally titled but richer wife. But he didn't want to offend Sebastian further, and had a feeling that the man was expecting an answer of agreement. "Well I, I wouldn't know much about how...how little titles mean...but I would not hold it against a man to value it. It is part of who they are, after all."

[Sebastian]

There was something about this man that made the brunette... nervous. It was as though he was trying to create an argument with Sebastian without actually doing so, although of course that might be partially to do with Sebastian's own reluctance of such things like these ridiculous banquets. He sighed softly, shifting from foot to foot, grateful when a nearby servant refilled his cup with water, using the drink to take a moment to consider this conversation.

Sebastian took a slow breath, considering Aiden's thoughts, taking the time to sip his drink as he considered his words. He bit his lip - had he somehow, unintentionally offended Aiden? This man was so difficult to read, and obviously did not want to be here, from his very manners. Not that Sebastian could blame him. Such meetings were always politically challanging, and it was so easy to offend someone accidently. "Forgive me, I should not have spoken of such things," he hesitated, deciding to be honest with the man. "I am not particuarly... good... at such discussion. I prefer frank conversation,"

[Aidan d'Amory]

It seemed like a rather long time before Sebastian answered and with each passing second Aidan was becoming convinced that he'd said the wrong thing. If he had offended the prince his brother was definitely not going to be happy about it. In Aidan's defence, Sebastian's words had struck a particular chord. Perhaps if he had attended more feasts and public gatherings he would have learn to hold his tongue, or at least how to argue his case without the danger of offending anyone. But Aidan had spent far too long on his own, studying the world through dusty pages that never got upset no matter what he did. He was quite unused to having to think about how other people may perceive what he said and did, and was a little unsure on his feet in such situations.

Struan had managed to throw him into this situation, one that he was entirely unprepared for. He wasn't a diplomat, he was the youngest son of a lord, and a crippled one at that. His highest expectation in life was trying to find some woman to provide him financial security. As such, he was rather at a loss when it came to conversing with royals, even more so when said royal was proving to be equally unenthusiastic about their conversation. "I apologise if my words offended, sire." His words came out rather quickly, he really didn't want to make an enemy out of the man. "I spoke only from my own perspective. I'm afraid I'm not much good at such discussions either." He paused, not quite sure what to say, before finally asking, "What your your highness prefer to talk about?"