<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">Sebastian watched Ayaan retreat from the room with a feeling akin to mourning. He nearly rolled his eyes at his own dramatics, only barely managing to refrain. <br/>
<br/>
"Please, Mr. Pedrosa," Lydia purred when he'd been loitering by the door in silence too long, "have a seat. We have much to discuss." <br/>
<br/>
Sebastian reluctantly moved to the seat across from her, unbuckling his belt so that he could set his sword and it's sheath to the side. He collapsed into the seat, sprawling in it with no thought for good posture or decorum. The two of them regarded each other with reproachful gazes, Lydia tapping her nails rhythmically on the arm of her chair and Sebastian sitting as unmoving as a statue. <br/>
<br/>
He was not exactly known for his patience, however, and so was the first to break the silence. "Was everything in your letter a ploy to get me here quickly?" <br/>
<br/>
Lydia laughed a little, clearly amused with her own trickery. "No, no. Just the alias. I really do need help with my training and I really had heard you were the best to ask." <br/>
<br/>
Sebastian was not as amused as she appeared to be, but he tried not to scowl at her. At least not too fiercely. <br/>
<br/>
"I don't know if what you heard on the rumour mill is exactly reliable," he groused. <br/>
<br/>
Lydia's smirk didn't waver. "Oh, but I didn't hear it on the rumour mill. I heard it from Xander Grayce." <br/>
<br/>
Sebastian felt his eyebrows raises minutely towards his hairline despite himself. Xander was a dear friend of his from many years ago. They hadn't spoken in gods knew how long, so he had no idea if he could trust what Lady La Row was saying. But, then again, how else would she have known the name? <br/>
<br/>
Before he could say anything more, the door swung open and Ayaan came scurrying back in. Sebastian sat up a little straighter, watching him for a moment of reprieve from the Lady's smug face. <br/>
<br/>
"Thank you, Ayaan," Lydia purred sweetly. Sebastian did not trust it for a second. "Oh, and cheese too. You must think you're so clever....well, I'm sure Sebastian will appreciate it after his long travels." <br/>
<br/>
Sebastian glanced back at her, barely managing to suppress the glare building up inside him. He maintained eye contact for a moment before slowly turning his gaze back to meet Ayaan's. <br/>
<br/>
"I do," he agreed, lower and softer than he had yet spoken to the lady but similarly to how he'd been addressing the boy from the start. </span>