Family Business

[Sebastian Arcturis]

The Warden Inquisitor didn't usually make house calls. But he was in need of a bit of direction and connection and especially as a warden, that meant spending time with the family.

The DeGraffs weren't all wardens, but many were and they were close to the king and many of them had served and did serve. It was still a secret in the family, of course. One didn't casually know about the organization, even with the dedication the DeGraffs put into it. Once you were a warden, you can never not be one. Retired, perhaps, but still a member.

While Jareth DeGraff was no longer an active soldier, he had been once and was still quite a powerful man. One Sebastian respected and had learned from in his own time. Bastian had never had a mother or a father figure, but quite a few had filled that role in his life whether he had wanted it or not. Jareth and Maeve DeGraff were among them.

It had been years since the man retired but the current Warden Inquisitor still liked to talk every now and then and it had been far too long since his last visit. Of course, he was visiting as an old friend, as captain of the royal guard. He'd even brought a bottle of whiskey with him. Nothing too expensive, since a mere guard wouldn't be able to afford the good stuff, but enough of a gift, considering he was a commoner despite his military rank.

He had sent ahead and waited for in the front of the DeGraff home.

[Jareth DeGraff]

Sebastian would probably be able to hear muffled shouts coming from inside the house and the sound of running feet before the door was pulled open. It would look like whoever was opening it however was having a giant struggle. But they managed to get the door open and Sebastion would find who greeted him barely came up to his knee caps as the little boy had to tilt his head way back to look up at him. His mop of dark hair sliding against his forhead as his dark eyes took in the vistor. "Opa!!!! Omaaaa!!!!! Sebby is here!!!" Came the small cry, before he turned and went running down the hallway. "He's here! he's here!"

Hearing M.J's announcement that their guest was here, Jareth came around the corner, just in time to scoop his adopted grandson up before he went crashing into his kneecaps. "So we heard." he said calmly holding the three-year-old out in front on him with an arched eyebrow. "We've also talked about this, Sebastian is here." Jareth really was trying to get the child to use people's proper names, but he still struggled with big names. They'd informed him they'd be having company and that an old friend named Sebastion would be coming, and he and Aaron were to be on their best behavior. "Sebashthon is here." M.J. said kicking his little legs, and beginning to wiggle. "Close enough." He began to chuckle. Holding an arm up under him he held him at his side. "Did you not let him in? You just left him out on the doorstep?" Jareth asked as he began to walk down the hall to the door, his grin got larger as seeing the younger man. "Sowwy..." M.J. began to say. Growing shy as they closer. Jareth wasn't sure if Sebastion would even remember Lacey's son as it had been years since he'd been there last. M.J was probably a baby the last time he'd been here.

"Come in, come in." Jareth motioned for the other man to enter if he hadn't already. Holding his hand out to the other man in greeting. "How've you been Sebastion?" Jareth asked. Clearly happy to see the other man. "I don't know if you remember M.J. here, Lacey's boy. Might have been a baby the last time you were here, also." He leaned in. "Prepare your self. You know what's coming." He began to chuckle as he would close the front door.

[Maeve DeGraff]

Maeve came from the other room with a beaming smile on her face, drawn by her grandson's cries as surely as anyone else in the house. She'd been in the kitchen, making sure there was tea, and little cakes, and savory sandwiches, and everything ready for Bastian's arrival. (She wouldn't call him Bastian to his face, she knew better, but in her mind he was Bastian, and he was certainly part of the family. Anyone who said otherwise was simply wrong, even Bastian himself.)

She barely caught herself before trying to hug the young man after he'd shaken Jareth's hand, and managed to just rub his shoulder affectionately as she beamed up at him. Baby steps. She had to ease him into it every time he showed up, but he had to know by now she was determined to show him affection whether he liked it or not. "Welcome back, Sebastian, honey. We've missed you!" she greeted him cheerfully, then cast her eyes about for the other boy who she knew should be here. "Now where is--oh dear."

Aaron, their youngest adopted son, came barreling down the stairs, shouting at the top of his lungs "CAPTAAAAAAAAIN!!" The downward momentum carried him forward at tremendous speed, and Maeve stepped neatly out of the way just in time for the boy to slam face first into Bastian's stomach and wrap his arms around the captain in a ferocious hug. He let go soon after, brushed his dirty blonde hair back out of his eyes, and looked up at the man with a brilliant grin that was missing one of its front teeth. "You're here! Mam said you have a snake now! Did you bring it? Can I hold it?!"

Maeve laughed as she put her hands on Aaron's shoulders and maneuvered him back a few steps to give Sebastian back his personal space. "Come now, Aaron, do you really think he brought a snake with him on a family visit? The poor thing would be scared out of its wits with you screaming like that." She laughed again and ruffled the boy's hair.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

He knew the DeGraff's had a large family. He had forgetten there would be children. Not that he woukd have changed anything about his presentation but he was a little annoyed with himself.

The captain didn't make any external reaction to the nickname, but he did wince internally. 'Bastian' he didn't mind and honestly liked better than his all too noble sounding full name. He was not a Seb or a Sebby and he would not stand for such demeaning reference to his person. MJ was lucky he was three. He met the boys gaze and when he was left at the door, he allowed a small smile of amusement. He stepped over the threshold as the toddler was scooped up by his grandfather. He gave Jareth a resigned but appreciative look as he corrected his grandson.

He took the older man's arm at the elbow in a firm grasp. He did respect the man and view him as a sort of father figure. Handshakes were a little awkward. But hugs were certainly too close. He was a commoner after all. There was a line there. Sure, he was the warden leader and they were both technically wardens, but that was the fantasy world. This was reality.

"Good enough. Busy as usual." Even busier than usual, honestly. And shockingly that was due to his normal guard duties. "A little. He wasn't such a good door guard then," he said, trying for praise in his tone as he considered the boy.

At Maeve's appearance, Sebastian gave the slightest bow before she rubbed his shoulder. Every time he visited, Maeve was committed to making him feel part of the family. 'Honey?' Okay maybe it was less feeling like family and more adopting him. "Pleasure to see you again too, Lady DeGraff. I apologize it's been so long since my last visit." At least this time, he hadn't been missing for three months beforehand. Just occupied.

He turned to the screaming at the top of the stairs and calmed himself when he saw Aaron. Despite his distance, Bastian did like kids. He prepared himself for the hug and used his free hand to ruffle the boy's hair during the hug. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at Maeve. How did he know that? "I do. I'll bring her next time," Sebastian promised. "Maybe you can ask for your own after?" He had considered it, actually, but he hadn't had time to draw out most of the snake's venom or feed her before he arrived. A snake to a family gathering sounded fine. But a venomous one? Not around the kids.

He finally got a moment to hand Jareth the bottle. "Not that we have to drink it now, but I owe you one." Probably more than one, at this point. And not just whiskey. "How is everyone?" He asked, including the children.

[Jareth DeGraff]

Speak of the devil, and she would appear. Jareth smiled, and nodded in understanding at Bastian saying things were busy. It was a rare when they weren't, and that usually meant something was wrong. At least in his experience. He glanced at his wife as she greeted Sebastion, knowing she was trying to restrain herself from giving him the proper greeting the DeGraff's gave those they considered family.

He turned his attention to MJ as the small boy looked up at strangers in mild curiosity and awe. Jareth's eyes were then rolling to the ceiling, as Aaron made his presence known, sidestepping the boy as he came barreling in. "The welcome committee is all here now." He chuckled. At the mention of a snake, Jareth stilled fixing Maeve with a look that would tell her what he thought about pets. At Bastian's suggestion of Aaron getting his own, he internally groaned, shaking his head at the man to discourage him from encouraging the boy about wanted snakes. First, it was cats, then it was dogs, and he just knew he'd be inquiring about reptiles now after Sebastian's visit.

Jareth reached for the outstretched bottle, his grin widening. "We'll drink it on your next visit, which hopefully will be sooner than your last one." He told him. Jareth liked Bastian, he was a hard worker and dedicated to their cause. Despite how broody and intimidating he appeared to be, he was a good man. Jareth lowered MJ down, and the small boy quickly hid behind his leg, peaking out curiously. "Excited to have you here," Jareth said, feeling he spoke for everyone in the room. "But I think we should move to somewhere a bit more comfortable than the foyer." He grinned, motioning with his arm down the hallway as he turned to lead the way to the sitting room. MJ's little hand instantly grabbed his and he peaked over his shoulder again curiously at the guest.

[Maeve DeGraff]

Maeve nodded her agreement. "Alright boys, off you go!" she told the children, shooing Aaron away, at least. He shot a longing look over his shoulder as he went back up the stairs and waved to Sebastian as he left. She then scooped up MJ in a woosh and pretended to 'bite' his stomach as she walked towards the sitting room, making him giggle wildly. The plan was to get him out of the grownup's hair for a while, so they had time to sit and chat--but even more so that none of the children heard anything they shouldn't.

"Ahhahaha! It's about to be naptime for little monsters. What say we find Nanny and see what she has for a snack for you, hm?"

MJ whined like he was going to cry, looking back at Jareth and Sebastian. Maeve's eyebrows rose. "What, you're not hungry?" The little boy leaned over her shoulder and reached for Sebastian, making little grabby hands at him. "Oh dear..."

Maeve stopped walking away and turned to Sebastian with an apologetic smile. MJ turned with her, leaning even farther out of her arms to get close to the man. "What do you think, dear? Do you mind holding him for a while? Otherwise, I'll send him with Nanny, and he'll calm down soon enough."

She could have just told the little boy no right away, but she couldn't resist giving both him and Sebastian the chance for a little bonding. She was strongly of the mind that the warden inquisitor needed a bit more family in his life, and she was determined to be that family whether it was official or not. And besides, seeing him with a toddler would be cute. She could just imagine the swoons it would garner back at the castle...although maybe it was better not to. She had a suspicion that Sebastian might have enough admirers as it was.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Sebastian winced. Sooner than his last visit. Right. That would dictate he not get himself caught up in any trouble. Which was very unlikely, he knew. He followed Jareth to the sitting room.

MJ's glances didn't get much notice. Oh, he was aware of every moment the boy's eyes lingered on him. He just...didn't make an external or internal recognition. He couldn't.

The boy's father had been one of his wardens. His mother still was. Bastian liked to try to leave that association at that not not get any closer. As Maeve encouraged Aaron out and took MJ in her arms, he returned Aaron's wave with a casual salute.

Oh dear was right. Sebastian stiffened slightly. MJ couldn't want him to hold him. Not after...well, he didn't rrally know any better for it to be awkward now did he? Maeve and Jareth didn't really either. But they had to know some. Enough that the viper kndw what she was doing, encouraging the toddler. Bastian sighed and held put his arms to take the wriggling boy.

"Hey MJ. You are really going to turn down a snack to hang out with me? I am not very exciting," he told the kid. He glanced around the sitting room for somewhere to sit. "I talked to your mother the other day. She told me know know a lot of fancy words." He glanced at Jareth.