Short Story: Meeting Parents [Sebastien]

This is the short story that should have been up in August. It's written by Nic Wooden and edited by me. Sorry for the delay so far :( I'll definitely catch up on the short stories by the end of next month! 

This short story is a flash forward to after the endings of the game in Sebastien's route. No real spoilers for the story plot; it's just a sneak peek at how Sebastien's first meeting with Raenelle's father as her boyfriend would go in the future! The next few stories should be the same premise but for each of the love interests. 

I hope you guys like it!

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Sebastien eyes himself critically in the golden mirror before him, smoothing out his robe for the tenth time. Finally satisfied, he nods to himself and strides across the room. But before he can clasp his hand around the knob of his door, it abruptly opens from the other side. It reveals the impatient form of his girlfriend, Raenelle, standing with one hand on her hip and a smirk prominent on her face.

"Finally done preening, Bash?"

Sebastien takes a small step backwards at her unexpected entrance. He quickly schools his features into one of nonchalance as he lets his hand fall and raises one eyebrow in disapproval.

"You're supposed to knock and wait for me to answer the door, not just let yourself in. Anyway, I haven't the slightest idea of what you're talking about. That kind of behavior is more up your alley."

Raenelle snorts and flips her hair gracefully. "Oh please, this beauty comes naturally to me."

Sebastien rolls his eyes, but the sight of a nearby clock drives the retort ready on his tongue away. A curse escapes his lips instead. "By the Twelve, it's nearly seven! We were supposed to leave half an hour ago! When did it get this late? Quick, we must hurry!"

Raenelle shrugs, looking largely unconcerned as Sebastien takes her by the hand and begins dragging her out of the room. "Eh, half an hour is nothing. It’s fine. He’ll get over it."

Her words do nothing to deter the man on a mission, who proceeds to cover the length of the entire house in record time.

“Really, Bash, you’re taking this far too seriously. It’s really not that important.” Raenelle mutters a complaint, but she humors him as he grabs their belongings — and her hand again to tow her out of the house and down the streets.

“Come to think of it,” Raenelle suddenly begins casually as they draw near the Teleportation Square, “you have been making preparations for this dinner since last week." Her smile grows a little, and Sebastien fights back an annoyed cluck of his tongue, recognizing where she is going with this. "Are you perhaps… nervous about meeting with my father now that the two of us are dating?"

Sebastien adamantly shakes his head in denial. "Of course not. Have you forgotten that I lived with and mentored Quinley myself for close to three years? So why would I possibly be nervous about seeing him again?"

To his dismay, Raenelle doesn't seem to buy his explanation. "Of course I knew that," she says, one side of her lips curled upwards in amusement. "But seeing as how that was such a long time ago and, of course, I wasn't in the picture yet, I can understand a little anxiety on your part." Her smirk grows fuller. "I'm sure you're just dying to prove that you're worthy of me."

Sebastien doesn't get the chance to respond. With a nod at the nearby mage, they step into the teleportation sigil. In a brief flash of light and the echo of Raenelle's laugh, the two find themselves in the Capital square.

Sebastien is quiet the rest of the way to Quinley’s house — as is Raenelle, though he knows it's not because she desires to give him any sort of peace. Sebastien knows that this night is important to her as well, even if she'd never say it. The tentative olive branch her father has given her has been accepted, and now the two of them are slowly working to rebuild their relationship, but it's still in a fragile state.

Unbidden, Sebastien smiles slightly, pleased to see the father and daughter’s efforts to reconnect after all this time. It had been clear, in every secret letter and mirror communication that Quinley made to him during his time as Raenelle’s familiar, that the man missed Raenelle terribly and cared deeply. And as much as Raenelle tries to hide it, he could feel her wistful longing for her father’s love in every childhood memory she retold and her weakening resolve with every reachout Quinley makes.

A quiet curse from Raenelle brings Sebastien back to the present. It seems like she’s having trouble finding her footing on the tall steps in those absurdly high heels of hers that he had studied with morbid curiosity as the darkness of night falls.

Sebastien instinctively reaches out with a gentle hand to steady her. A hint of pink graces his cheeks as he does so, and he prepares himself for a testy or teasing remark from Raenelle. Instead, she briefly leans into his touch before letting go, but not before gently brushing her hand down his arm in thanks.

Head held high, Raenelle strides forward and briskly brings her hand to knock upon the door. For a moment, nothing happens, the sound echoing into silence. Then, all at once, the heavy oak door in front of them opens to the sight of a slightly breathless and tousled but undeniably happy Quinley Talisko before them.

"You're here!" He exclaims, his eyes focusing immediately on his daughter. It’s clear to Sebastien that Quinley wants nothing more than to envelop her in a hug, but he restrains himself, offering her only a nod and a soft smile. Raenelle returns his nod, and though her expression is slightly stiff, Sebastien can spot the cautious warmth in her eyes at her father's affection.

Not wanting to leave Sebastien out, Quinley then turns to him and offers him a hand. Sebastien blinks in surprise but doesn't hesitate to return the polite handshake.

The delicious smells of dinner waft over Sebastien and Raenelle as they follow Quinley into the Talisko mansion. Soon, the three of them are seated at a rich dark wood dining table, every inch of the surface filled with all sorts of incredible-looking dishes. Sebastien’s eyes are instantly drawn to the plate of beautifully cooked salmon. He swallows but opts to ignore it for now, wanting to spare himself from Raenelle’s snarky comments if he reaches for the fish first thing.

Raenelle takes no time to start digging in with much gusto, and the remaining party follow suit. While the atmosphere is clearly strained, Sebastien finds it not as awkward as he expected.

Well, if one can ignore the fact that Quinley keeps flicking his gaze from Sebastien and his daughter and back again.

Sebastien waits for him to say something, anything about their relationship. Some sort of interrogation about how he treats Raenelle or what his intentions towards her are. Sebastien’s eyes drop to his plate as he brings a fork full of beef to his mouth, only to pause midway as a sudden, horrible thought occurs to him.

What if Quinley questions his immortality? What they’ll do about the fact that they literally can’t grow old together, and what he’ll do when she's… gone.

Sebastien swallows, lowering the fork to his plate, suddenly much less hungry. That topic is a conversation he and Raenelle have been avoiding, but if her father pushed for answers here, which ones could he give?

"Sebastien," Quinley's concerned voice cuts through his increasingly anxious and morose thoughts. Next to him, even Raenelle has torn her attention away from her dinner to look at him with worry. Sebastien straightens his shoulders.

"I apologize. I was merely lost in thought. The food is lovely, Quinley." He manages a smile, and the other man smiles back, looking relieved.

"I'm glad you like it." Quinley’s expression dips into a bit of a frown. "Though I noticed that you haven't taken any of the salmon." His eyes dart towards his daughter. "She told me it was your favorite."

Sebastien feels his face warm, a more genuine smile growing as he glances between his girlfriend and Quinley. They'd worked together to choose something he likes?

"It is," he admits. "Thank you for including it."

Quinley looks delighted as Sebastien finally caves into the desire to help himself to the salmon. "Well, I'm glad. Since you two are dating, I'd be happy to have you both over more often in the future." His gaze once again slides between Raenelle and Sebastien. "I want both of you to feel comfortable and welcome here."

Sebastien warms further at the man's obvious effort and concern, but he looks towards his girlfriend without responding, silently indicating he’d follow her lead.

Raenelle carefully wipes her mouth with a nearby napkin. A tiny but genuine smile lights up her face as she lifts her head to meet her father’s eyes. "I think we're really starting to."

"Yes," Sebastien clears his throat. "I think you'll be seeing more of us for sure."