<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">Lydia once again waved her hand through the air to dismiss him, barely casting poor Ayaan a glance. "No, pet. Neither of us have a need for you at present. We will call on you if that changes." <br/>
<br/>
Sebastian felt his expression darken at the woman's treatment of Ayaan. He'd never agreed with the practice of slaves but he could usually tolerate it when the masters were more kind and forgiving of their servants. Sebastian's finite patience, however, evaporated under cruel and crass treatments. He almost stood and walked out right then, but a glance in Ayaan's direction stopped him. <br/>
<br/>
He couldn't just...leave him here, alone. <br/>
<br/>
Sebastian shook the thought off. He was not the heroic type. His job was not to save people, not for free. His services always came at a price, not on a whim. <br/>
<br/>
He turned his gaze back to Lydia and tried, once again, not to scowl too hard. "If I am to help you with your block, I will need to know more. I will need to watch you and the boy work together." <br/>
<br/>
Lydia shrugged as though to say that was no big deal, gesturing to Ayaan. "Very well. Ayaan, come here." <br/>
<br/>
Sebastian held up a hand to stop the boy before he could move too far. "Not today. I am too tired from my travels, and I require a bath. In the morning, I will assess what I have to work with and tell you then if I can actually help." <br/>
<br/>
Lydia scruitinized him for a moment, clearly perturbed by the idea of waiting even longer. Sebastian stared back unwaveringly, his expression set in stone. Eventually, Lydia slouched back in her chair, very decidedly pouting. <br/>
<br/>
"Fine, have it your way. Ayaan will show you to your room and attend to your bath. You are dismissed." <br/>
<br/>
Sebastian was not a huge fan of being told what to do, but he rose from his seat in compliance and turned to Ayaan. He felt his lips twitch in his signature half smile and dipped his head to indicate that Ayaan should go first. <br/>
<br/>
"Lead the way," he murmured, his voice once again softening. </span>