"...Oh, have you?" Jeori said, staring down at the top of the kid's head. Well, he had to admit, the kid had willpower. Strength? Nope, he hadn't managed to move Jeori an inch. But what he lacked there, he made up for in sheer determination.
Letting go of the boy's collar, he crossed his arms over his chest and settled in to watch the show. His purse was long gone by now--a shame, but he never kept more in there than he was willing to lose--and at the moment, he was too baffled and amused to have it in him to pursue some starving kid.
He kind of wanted to see where this was going.
With a sigh, he shook his head. "Well, damn. You got me. Clearly, I'm a villain. But before you throw me to the authorities, may I ask one question?"
He bent down a little closer. "What tipped you off?"
Ha! The man was plainly cowed by his raw heroism. This was going too well! When the man leaned close, Sebastian got a look at those wicked teeth and he felt a small shiver go down his spine.
But now wasn't the time to worry. He had him right where he wanted. Still clinging to the man's waist, Sebastian pursed his lips, "Well, you see, you were threatening the boy. And you are large and horned and look generally unsavory."
"Antlers," Jeori corrected, raising a finger. "They're antlers, not horns."
"Oh. Well..." That actually made Sebastian pause a little. Horns were bad, but he wasn't so sure about antlers. But it wasn't good to show weakness to the enemy, "Regardless, I have beaten you foul doer. So come along."
Standing, he wrapped his delicate hand around Jeori's wrist and tugged, "Now if you would please tell me where the proper authorities are, we shall see you properly punished."
It was an effort not to crack a grin, but Jeori schooled his expression into what he hoped was a properly subdued and beaten one. Hard to do when your opponent was, what? Skinny as a girl and came to his elbow?
"Yes, yes, you have beaten me. Clearly you have outmatched my generally unsavory self pound for pound," he began, but then the boy started talking about the authorities and...
That did it. Jeori just about lost it.
He stared down at the kid for a second, still standing in the same place though he'd let the boy pull his arm, and his lips twitched. He made a small sound in his throat that sounded almost like choking as he held in his laughter, biting down on the inside of his cheek. "Oh. Oh dear. I'm afraid I don't know..."
"Oh." Sebastian's expression turned to one of serious concentration, "Well, I suppose I can ask."
He frowned, peering up through his hat at Jeori, "...Why are you making that weird face?"
Jeori cleared his throat and once again smoothed out his features. "It's a fear grimace," he said, shifting his weight. "So. You're really sure I'm evil, huh?"
"Well, yes. I mean, why else would you be attacking innocent villagers?" That was what evil people did. Showed up in villages and hurt people. It was his job as a hero to put a stop to it. Crow would be proud!
"You sure I was attacking that kid?" Jeori asked, arching an eyebrow, lips curving in a slight smile.
Sebastian just snorted, "I have eyes."
"Yeah, you most surely have eyes," Jeori agreed, nodding and still fighting back laughter. "But ever heard the phrase, looks can be deceiving?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well, for instance, what wouldja say if I told you I wasn't attacking that kid, but was trying to get back the coin he pick-pocketed?"
That caused Sebastian to pause, his mouth dropping open, "What? ...But...you...he..."
Jeori grinned, fangs flashing. "But I've got evil antlers?"
"And you were holding him and he looked scared and you have a very unsavory look...."
This was just like with Vulcan all over again. Sebastian's cheeks flushed and he let go of the man's hand, "I...uh...made a mistake...didn't I?"
"Yep." Reaching down, Jeori casually straightened the kid's hat on his head, where it had fallen a little crooked during his freakin' flying tackle. "But that's alright, kid. Think of it as a life lesson. Next time, it might be wise to make sure you're smiting the right person."
Sebastian reached up to adjust his hat, frowning as his brain tried to work all this out, "Wait! But you could just be saying that! How do I know this isn't a lie?"
"Aha, good question. And, well, ya don't." Smiling, Jeori glanced in the direction the boy had run off. "Because it seems the kid split. Funny he didn't stay to thank his rescuer, hmm?"
"Well, I did tell him to flee. You do have very evil teeth you know. And what if our fight had gotten messy? Besides, only girls stick around. Or sidekicks."
"Are teeth really capable of evil?" Jeori asked, then chuckled and shook his head. "Never mind. So, girls and sidekicks. That's how it works, huh? Just like in the stories?"
"Oh...um...yes. I think they can be. I'm sure." Sebastian nodded his head, "Oh yes. I am going to become a hero you see."
"A hero?" Oh man. Everything suddenly made sense. This kid was serious, and he was seriously playing out some scene from an epic tale. Jeori stared down at the boy for a moment, torn between finding that damned adorable and damned amusing. He was just so earnest about it, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"A hero. Well, that's quite a goal you've got."
"Of course. I am going to be the greatest hero ever. I've got two teachers. Sir Crow and Mr. Vulcan. Sir Crow is taking me on a very important mission." Sebastian's expression was very serious as he stared up at Jeori, not finding the situation amusing at all. This was his dream.
"...Sir...Crow?" Jeori blinked. He wasn't sure what to make of this Vulcan fellow, but Crow...was that an actual crow? The kid seemed to live in a rather idealistic world so it seemed possible. But he only smiled and nodded, not wanting to crush him or anything. For all that he'd tackled him (or tried to) and accused him of being an evil monster, he couldn't find it in him to be angry. Anyone else said that to him and it would have probably been hurtful, but this was just far too comical.
And kind of cute.
"So what kinda mission is this...Sir Crow taking you on?"
"Oh, it's a very important one. We were sent by Lord Lucian to go destroy a vampire in the Thunderbacks. Oh...um..." Sebastian frowned, "Well, it's probably okay to tell you because you seem like you are good. This happened before with Mr. Vulcan. Heroes in the stories never have this problem. Maybe because I'm not a full hero yet?"
He stared up at Jeori, expecting him to have an answer for this.
Vampires...in the Thunderblacks...sent by Lord Lucian himself? If he'd ever doubted the boy's creativity--and he hadn't yet--then this erased all doubt. He'd not touch the subject, though. He wasn't sure he could handle it with a straight face.
"By 'this' do you mean this entire case of..." He pursed his lips, looking for the right term. "Mistaken identity? Aw, shoot, kid. That happens all the time in the stories. But usually early on before the hero is fully realized, so...sure. I'll bet that's why it's happening. Just one of the many trials that faces a hero on their journey."
Sebastian gave Jeori a stern look, "Are you mocking me sir?" He kept getting the feeling that Jeori was laughing at him.
"Me? No, no." Jeori raised his hands in a passivising gesture. "I wouldn't dare."
Sebastian didn't seem convinced, but he let it go, "But yes. I am hoping that when I have finished my training, I will be...um...better at telling the villains."
