you're what happens when two substances collide :: OPEN

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

Who: Sebastian LeMat and YOU.
What & Where: Various places about town: Nazca's boat, Hellsing's infirmary, etc.
When: Throughout the third week of Velldaren
Notes: If you want to set something up, let me know!

For the sake of safety and common sense Sebastian has been relatively quiet on the network, preferring to communicate via voice or text only, but that hasn't stopped him from making a few general appointments for others in his cohort and throughout the city. Most of his work for strangers has been in and around Sobek Croix, doing his part to keep Hellsing in the canton's good graces during the current blood shortage. At the guildhall itself, he's been working on getting the building ready for winter -- finishing windows, checking the roof for leaks (again), and making sure there will be enough room to dry their crop of tobacco.

Comments

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

As he accepts the book, Sebastian's laugh is short and not entirely unpleasant, "I can't imagine what his face would look like if you called him a war hero; although I suspect Mrs Malfoy would clip the ear of any man who tried."

"And, yes, I did. I would have him go back to his own time well-armed with all the knowledge that was kept hidden from him and others." There's a quiet, steady confidence to his voice that has taken years to develop. For a moment, it is easy to see how he could inspire and lead an untrained group of children in war. "Gateshead should never, ever be allowed to happen."

[amourpropre]

Not exactly what Lucius meant, but while his younger self may be inclined to make corrections, the older one is more intent on sipping his whiskey and scanning a look about the tavern in-- misplaced social anxiety. This would never happen, obviously, but more than that, the opportunity to socialise without it being a foolhardy thing to do is a few years expired, and new habits can die as hard as the old ones.

"You would never once suspect that they would use this knowledge to ensure the victory of the side he is already Marked with? Or has no one expressed to you the promises the Dark Lord liked to colour to the edges?"

He rolls the whiskey around in its container, idly clicking ice as he meets LeMat's less assuming stare with a harder one in return. "Presuming, of course, that it is even possible to affect change in that manner. But I don't know what you mean by Gateshead -- you're older than I know you to be." He assumes, naturally, that this is reference to some other terribleness that has not yet come to pass for him.

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

"Not even the Sundering of Gateshead then? You are young." Having expected a man from further down the timeline, Sebastian had been considerably more candid with this Malfoy. "With the war barely started and you're here."

"He may go to Voldemort with what I've told him, he may choose to say nothing and hide the knowledge, but you can move the world if you've the right size lever, well..." He trails off for a moment, looking down to Velcro before readdressing Malfoy. "Well, it serves both our purposes: a shorter war, with fewer dead and Draco, relieved of a great deal of suffering, given the chance to have a voice in the rebuilding of wizarding society."

[amourpropre]

There's a divide, here. Another one. And he gets the privilege of seeing it first.

Not that he is desperately wishing for a conversation with the Harry bloody Potter from his own world, but the vastness at which the universe can apparently stretch is enough to put anyone in a mood. There's that old flinch, slow and subtle, at the mention of that name, no matter how dead he may be, and a defensive sink to his posture as he listens.

He finishes his whiskey, and sets it down, not looking at LeMat. His words come simple and curt. "The war is ended. I don't die in it. I defect."

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

As Sebastian pales and goes silent and still, Velcro wuffs once and leans against his owner's legs. During periods of high stress, PTSD dogs are trained to provide constant, subtle physical pressure against their companions to help keep them centred in the moment.

"I was right. It does hinge on your choice." There's no pleasure to be had from this knowledge and it shows in the hollow tone of his voice. "You didn't defect in my world and war went on and on until there was no one left to fight it."

[amourpropre]

It was hardly his choice. Mostly swept up in the white water current that is Narcissa Malfoy taking the lead. And that isn't something he'd say out loud to her, let alone Potter.

So.

Lucius glances down dogwards, but. He doesn't mind dogs. Rapturously obedient animals are quite good to have around, he's always thought -- if Muggles were the same way, there would be a lot less trouble for them all. "It isn't quite so simple," he states, voice rough, although mostly from his drink of choice. "Likely one of many differences, don't you agree?"

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

"Yes," he says almost absently before shaking off whatever ideas were crowding him and fully returning his attention to the conversation at hand. Rationally, Sebastian knows he ought to be relieved that there are worlds out there where the war doesn't go as poorly as it did in his own; however, he's often found that rationality provides only cold comfort. "Yes, you're quite right."

[amourpropre]

Lucius can probably sympathise -- he should hope that his younger self can rectify his own mistakes a damn sight sooner than he ever did, but it's a bleak acknowledgment of a thing that pertains to him not at all. Sympathy isn't exactly compassion, however, and the half-smile that comes of it has that curve of a sneer that is just a natural part of his face after long years of being something of a bastard.

"Interesting, that the Boy Who Lived should really well be called the Boy Who Merely Survived. And look, you're still fighting, in your way."

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

There is a whip-quick instant where Sebastian is tempted to tell him that he didn't survive the war at all and that he's only here and able to talk through darkest necromancy or some such nonsense. It's a terrible idea, but one that does cheer him up a little.

"What else could I do? Painting walls and fixing windows doesn't fill all my hours and, well, with a marble knee I didn't think to take up jogging."

[amourpropre]

"Quite the hobby you've chosen for yourself, then. Do as you like, LeMat."

Grey eyes flick on over towards LeMat's own more pragmatic cane, and doesn't ask -- he hardly need to. There are weirder ailments, in the wizarding world. "I approve more of the books." Lucius has yet to find much else to do, but attempting to redirect a timeline in which he is no longer a part is low on his list of priorities. Becoming acquainted with his newest universe is enough, for the time being.

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

"And you as well." Odd as it is, he seems genuinely pleased by Malfoy's approval of his reading material. He stops again, weighing his words before continuing, "I'll tell you what I've told your alternate: for me, the war is over and I will not let that horror taint us more than it already does. In the last world we went to, there were other British wizards, and the Malfoys were the only sane, kind people among them. I don't expect us to become allies, but in this place I have no complaint or issue with you."

Sebastian wrinkles his nose and briefly looks as young as he really is, "That was a bit rubbish and speechy, but I thought I ought to make sure you know."

[amourpropre]

He'd accused Malfoy Jr. of being reticent of these details, but really, Lucius hadn't asked, not wishing to seem overly interested or really give much ground at all to the younger man where he did not need to. But that interest is here, in a sharp stare across the table and only blunting when the conversation circulates back to the two men at this here table, studying the empty glass in front of him.

"We're strangers," he says-- decides-- after a reasonably lengthy pause bordering on socially awkward. "And this is an acceptable compromise."

As in, there is no way he can really pin his feelings of ill-will against Harry Potter to a man who has lived a different life, in the important ways, and barely resembles the child and the schoolyard rival of his son he'd menaced on occasion. The chair scrapes beneath him as he rises -- would that he could go and get a second drink, but as with all things Baedal, Lucius never quite feels welcome to, no matter kind words and invitations.

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

"I'm pleased you think so," he says simply as Velcro settles back down to doze under the table.

Sebastian is honestly pleased that this Malfoy has no desire to continue the war; after all, with Bellatrix in town, he could use all the indifference he can get. "Good evening and be well, Malfoy."