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[inanhour]

The boy -- man? who walks into Milliways is mostly stable on his feet, but doesn't look very well.

His brow furrows, and he unconsciously reaches up to touch it. It is not damp with fever-sweat, at least.

"... There were not so few steps between my bed and an inn." Unless he forgot them?

Maybe he forgot them.

[ooc: closed to new threads until I get IRL back in shipshape! :) I'll try to have him back in soon]

Comments

[astrangebell]

Arabella isn't a mother, but she plainly has all the necessary instincts, if one judges by the expression on her face and the speed with which she swoops to the boy's side.

"Good day, sir," she says gently. Her early 19th century dress surely looks almost ridiculously plain to 17th century eyes, but it's certainly within the bounds of modesty, and not entirely outlandish. "You'll forgive my bad manners, I hope, but you'll soon find none in this place stand on ceremony-- and young man, you do not look well."

[inanhour]

"I am glad of it, madam," Sebastian says, with some humor, glancing down at his own clothing. Well-covered, yes, but not with the intent to leave for so public a place.

He starts to dip an unsteady bow -- no matter how she dresses, it does not hurt a gentleman's pride to be polite to a woman, especially one offering aid -- and catches himself against the Bar.

"That I stand is a miracle," he adds, leaning his weight against the Bar, "be it on ceremony or not. I am but a month gone from shipwreck."

He looks from her to the room around her, shaking his head slightly, not entirely sure he trusts what he sees.

[astrangebell]

"A month!"

Well, that's that. Hang manners: she takes hold of his arm and begins to steer him gently towards a chair. "Please, do sit, you look ready to swoon. I know no gentleman can stand to hear such a thing, and once you are seated you may protest as you please that you are in perfect health-- but first sit, sit."

[inanhour]

"I shall protest," Sebastian promises, but lets himself be led with the air of long experience.

He'll start crying if he thinks too hard on that.

"My thanks for your kindness," he says, instead, as he sits, voice thick for a moment before clearing. "I am named Roderigo -- and surely, I do recover. And do not swoon," he adds, straightening his shoulders in a display of health. He smiles at her.

[astrangebell]

Arabella laughs. "It is a pleasure, Master Roderigo. I am Arabella Strange, and really, I cannot think such a small kindness is worth much thanks. Let me do you a greater one first, to really earn them. Please, would you like some tea? Perhaps a touch of brandy?"

[inanhour]

"A restorative," Sebastian says, on catching the 'brandy' part. He's not heard of this 'tea'. "Madam Strange," he hesitates slightly, brow furrowing, but it is her name, "I will try it."

[heatherandsteel]

Quentin is worried about Toby and frowns when he sees Cesario stumbling, "Cesario, what's wrong?"

He's in jeans and a t-shirt with his human disguise down as he reaches out to try and steady Cesario.

[inanhour]

Sebastian straightens before Quentin can steady him, then falls back a little to be caught by the Bar.

He endeavors to look at home. "My thanks, but nothing is wrong -- in fact, I improve!" he says, and smiles. "Second by second, as you can surely see."

[heatherandsteel]

"You don't look to be improving but falling. There's a stool under you, sit on that. What happened to you?"

If he didn't know better, he'd think Cesario had iron poisoning or some kind of poisoning.

[inanhour]

"I have said I am well," Sebastian repeats, somewhat dry, "though perchance I meant for someone who has met face to face with the sea, and been dragged near-under."

He takes the mentioned seat.

"It steals all life, even that which it does not take entire."

[heatherandsteel]

"Oh Maeve's teeth, you were shipwrecked? When? You need some tea and food, that will help,"

He orders tea and some soup with toast for Cesario.

[inanhour]

"Near unto a month," he says. "You are most generous," he adds, tone trailing off slightly into something not entirely suspicious.

It's rude to be suspicious of generosity, but on now observing Quentin, he does appear strange.

And the drink and toast and soup -- well, maybe he just missed them being served, but from what he can tell they have just appeared.

[the_lioness]

Another boy -- most likely not a man, if his smooth cheeks are anything to go by -- comes in the back door and starts to clomp up the stairs, only to come back down when a cursory sweep of the room reveals... Cesario!

Alanna, pleased to see him, maneuvers herself toward him and grins.

"Good evening!"

The grin widens.

[inanhour]

It is hard to resist grinning at someone so clearly pleased to see you.

"And you, as well! How goes the day?"

[the_lioness]

"I can not complain."

After all, here is her new friend!

"And yours?" Her brow furrows slightly. "You look tired."

Beat.

"And a bit sallow. Have you been eating well?"

[inanhour]

"I was ill," Sebastian admits, easily, given the lack of strong concern, "though I think myself near-recovered. If you care to break bread," he adds, "I shall gladly do so, though I need take the smaller portion."

[the_lioness]

Alanna frowns. "I'm sorry you've been ill."

She wishes she had known, so she could have helped when it would have mattered most.

"Of course! Have a seat and rest. I'll get the food and drink."

Though she doesn't think a smaller portion will suit. He needs to eat!

[inanhour]

"I trust your choices," Sebastian says, smiling at him.

Sebastian glances around, and takes a seat at an abandoned table that's nearby, pulling a seat for his new friend out as he sits. He tries not to look as relieved as he feels to have a chair under him, resting his elbows on the table as he observes the patrons, and the strange lights out the window.

Truthfully, he could easily find his appetite, if given something with more taste than the weak broth and ale he has been being fed. That he can barely find it in himself to stomach, though when he was sicker anything richer was far too much.

[runningred]

"Cesario?" Jay looks up from his work, "You okay? You don't look so good."

[inanhour]

[ooc: Hi! I'm totally up for this thread, but I just want to make sure you've caught this post because I know Jay's super observant]

[inanhour]

"Every man here plays nurse," Sebastian says, though it's friendly, as he straightens from where he'd been resting his head against his arms (against the bar). "My fever is gone, and I have supped three times this night, so by any man's measure I am well. Though soon, perchance, to my room.

"And how fare you, sir?"

[runningred]

"I'm sure the bar will give you a key if you need one." Jay nods, not crowding his friend if she doesn't want company. "Go and get some sleep. You know where to find me if you need anything."

[inanhour]

"Yes," he says, raising his key, and smiles at Jay. He lets himself off the barstool, carefully. "Though I not how to spell your name, if a note I must leave or a messenger must send."

Hey, friends who offer help are useful. And this has helped him out so many times in the past, when people in bars seem to know him and he recognizes them not.

[runningred]

"J.A.Y." Jay offers with a shrug, "The rats usually know how to find me. Get some sleep, you look like you need it."

[inanhour]

"As you speak it," he says, and precariously tips the shallowest bow. "I wish you well, in your day."

He then wanders off to find his new bed, doggedly focused both on the steps before him -- hand gripping the rail -- and associating the new man's face with his name.