Video | 1

[dulcet_cellist]

[Deciding a mass introduction would less painful and awkward the video begins a little unfocused and shaky at first. Yes. He's really that nervous.]

"Um....hi-Hello. My name is Sebastian Carter Hokori-Anderson."

[He really shouldn't have shared his full name he decides suddenly, covering the video image with his hand for a moment. Deep breath and a bit of an adjustment before the video stabilizes again.]

"I'm sort of n-new here. I've been here for a short while. I mean before the Bambi Squad...But I didn't really... I mean I was there. In Yosemite. And here in the Library before...."

[He's not even face to face with anyone so why is this so difficult? Sebastian can feel the signs of an anxiety attack building and tries one last time before cutting off the video.]

"I thought I would introduce myself."

[He can't imagine what else he could possibly say so he immediately ends the video.]

Comments

[Video]

[give_me_a_museum]

[Barry comes into shot with a snap and a crackle. He waves.]

Hey dude...good to meet you. I'm Barry Allen nice to meet you. Sorry you game right into some craziness.

Re: [Video]

[dulcet_cellist]

[The sudden appearance of Barry Allen sort of stuns Sebastian for a moment. He's not sure how to respond. He hadn't been expecting a response to his completely ridiculous introduction.]

"I..."

[Quick. Think of something to say in response. Most people say 'it's a pleasure' or 'it's nice to meet you', etc. But, honestly, is it really a pleasure when you know absolutely nothing about a person?

Sebastian shakes his head a bit. He can end the video and pretend this never happened and hope that no one else noticed and maybe Barry Allen will never run into him and ask him about the time he abruptly ran away. Or he can finish what he started.]

"I'm Sebastian."

Re: [Video]

[give_me_a_museum]

[Barry beams his smile warm and open. He waves again.]

Hi Sebastian. Nice to meet you. Where do you come from?

Re: [Video]

[dulcet_cellist]

[Barry Allen reminds him a little of Jack. Only...more? He's not quite sure exactly, but whatever it is eases his anxiety a little.

How does he answer a question like this one? Back home it would be a simple answer. But here it's not as simple. Alec was a demon hunter from New York.]

"I lived in Berkeley before I came here."

[There. Simple. Earth seemed too vague of an answer.]

Re: [Video]

[give_me_a_museum]

[Barry considers this and decides he isn't going to push the guy even though he senses there is more to the story]

Really? I always wanted to go to California, just to see what it was like. You know anyone here at the Library?

Re: [Video]

[dulcet_cellist]

"No."

[That's not completely true, but it's not a lie. He doesn't really know anyone here well enough. He's starting to want to which had led him to making this video.]

"I've met some who were already here, but I was...I am...I don't know anyone. May I ask where you're from?"

Re: [Video]

[give_me_a_museum]

Me...well I'm from a place called Central City you've probably never heard of it. It's somewhere in Minnesota..I worked as a forensic scientist there.

Re: [Video]

[dulcet_cellist]

[Honestly, Barry was right. Sebastian didn't know anything about Minnesota.]

"Do you know anyone here, Mr. Allen?"

Re: [Video]

[give_me_a_museum]

[Barry lights up and nods like a puppy.}

I do. Felicity Smoak she's from my home universe. She's amazing. Smart, funny, smart. Did I mention that?

Re: [Video]

[dulcet_cellist]

[Okay. That got a bit of a smile out of him.]

"She's funny and smart. And amazing."

Re: [Video]

[give_me_a_museum]

[Barry blushes and smiles.]

Sorry...we are trying a thing and it new and I just can't stop taking about how great she is.

Re: [Video]

[dulcet_cellist]

[Sebastian remembered that feeling. But he hadn't had anyone to talk to about Jack. No one he trusted. Not then. Now...maybe now?]

"No. Don't apologize. I...I understand. May I ask her name?"

Re: [Video]

[give_me_a_museum]

Felicity...Felicity Smoak. You'll notice her pretty quick. She likes to babble as much as I do if not more.

[alec_lightwood]

[Alec watches the video, surprised when it abruptly ends. Shaking his head, he contacts Sebastian. Sometimes he really does remind Alec of how he'd been before.]

You did more than you think for the Bambi Squad.

[dulcet_cellist]

[Alec!

First, there is a bit of happy relief. Recognition of someone he sort of knows. And then there is the realization. Alec saw his failed attempt at socializing.

It takes him a moment to breathe through the anxiety before he can respond.]

"You're only saying that because I have a bag full of shampoo and soap that won't dry out your skin."

[alec_lightwood]

[Yes, Alec saw and no he didn't care. He's not exactly the most socially graceful person so it doesn't matter to him.]

I'm saying that because it's true. I don't know how to be tactful or to flatter people.

[One of Alec's many failings. Not that he really cares about that anymore.]

Magnus is the one who'll try to sweet talk you for shampoo.

We should both worry if you managed to get some hair gel with that glitter stuff in it.

[dulcet_cellist]

[Okay. That got a bit of a smile and a slight look of disapproval.]

"No amount of sweet talking will convince me that hair gel with glitter is a good idea."

[Talking about Magnus and hair gel is easier than other things.]

[alec_lightwood]

I don't mind how it looks but the glitter gets everywhere.

[Yes, he knows what he just implied.]

Maybe the glitter focuses his magic so his hair can stay up in spikes no matter what happens on a hunt.

[dulcet_cellist]

[Alec may not be tactful or the type to flatter people, but he certainly had a talent for making someone smile. It's such a foreign feeling after so long, but familiar at the same time. His smile both hurts and feels good, is confusing and disorienting, but is definitely genuine.]

"I retract my previous statement. I might reconsider bringing back one container of glitter hair gel from my next shopping trip."

[alec_lightwood]

[Alec recognizes that the smile is probably the first real one that Sebastian has given anyone in a long time. It almost startles him since it's unexpected but he grins, relieved that talking about Magnus hadn't indirectly hurt Sebastian.]

You'll be Magnus' new best friend if you do. I think he almost misses the hair gel more than his magic.

[dulcet_cellist]

[Maybe it was odd to think so, but Sebastian had to agree with Magnus. It was the simple things he missed. His clothes, his shampoo, his soaps, his socks. His cello. Music. So many little things.]

"May I ask...how did he lose his magic?"

[Not being able to charge is phone or iPod or his laptop, but in a magical library it didn't make sense that magic itself would be affected.]

[alec_lightwood]

He lost some of his magic when he arrived here. Back home he's...

[Pausing, he tried to think of the best way to explain it but the first thing that comes to mind is his boyfriend's 'Better than Gandalf' coffee mug or the debates over Dumbledore vs. Magnus he's heard.]

He's one of the most powerful warlocks in the world.

[His expression falters slightly. Some of the light that always brightens his eyes when he speaks of Magnus dims.]

He gave up a large part of himself to be here with me.

[dulcet_cellist]

[That alone made Magnus pretty amazing. There weren't many people, not those he'd met in his lifetime, who would be willing to make those kinds of sacrifices.There was only person he knew of who would.]

"When I told my father...that I was...I am...My father decided I wouldn't return to the private school I had been attending for three years." [Deep breath. He could do this. He could share this with Alec. Because it was Alec.] "I didn't tell him that my best friend was also..."

[Regret. Guilt. So much he would change if he had the chance.]

"I didn't tell J-Jack why I couldn't come back. And I thought I would never see him again. Jack was smart, really smart. But he asked his parents to buy a house near my family so he could finish high school with me. He moved across the country and changed his plans for university...for me."

[One of these days they were going to have conversation that didn't involve tears.]

"Magnus chose to be here with you."

[alec_lightwood]

[Sadness turned to understanding as he realized how similar things had been for him. His father hadn't been that bad but then Alec had almost run away after coming out and then he'd been trying to save the world. There hadn't been time for Robert to try to keep him away from Magnus.]

My father didn't want to accept I was gay. He kept asking me what he did wrong to make me gay. He still gets that way sometimes. There's nothing wrong with it, Sebastian, or with what you did. I don't know if I would've been able to tell Magnus the truth of Robert had done something like that.

[But he didn't doubt that Magnus would have let him go if Robert had separated them.]

He sounds like he was an amazing person. He cared about you if he did all that so he could stay with you. That's not something to feel guilty of or ashamed of. Love is not something to regret no matter how it ends. I don't think he'd regret being with you if he did so much so that you two could be together.

[Letting out a sigh, Alec ran a hand through his hair, not noticing that it was now standing on end.]

He did but sometimes I wonder...

[dulcet_cellist]

[Sebastian pushed those memories back again. There were too many things he hadn't been capable of dealing with. But somehow being here in this place, with people like Alec, he felt like he was being unraveled piece by piece. And he honestly wasn't sure it was a bad thing.]

"Sometimes you wonder?"

[Wiping away the tears he added quickly so there wouldn't be any misunderstanding:] "It's...You don't have to talk about it. I just...I'm...I want you to feel like you can talk to me, too, and not...I don't want to be a burden."