Work Text:
The last person Lucanis expected to darken the doorway of his little pantry space was Emmrich. The assassin was reading a serial Bellara had given him that she absolutely loved, papers in one hand and coffee in the other, perched up on his cot. It was a much needed respite, one that the veilguard didn't get very often. The identity of the killer was about to be revealed {which Lucanis had very much guessed already} when he sat the paper down before Emmrich was able to speak. “Emmrich, to what do I owe the pleasure?” he hummed.
Emmrich's eyes scanned the small space Lucanis occupied, the necromancer didn't appear surprised by what he saw when he seemingly nodded his approval. “Lucanis, I was wondering if you would be able to do me a favour, well actually two favours.” He pulled some parchment from his breast pocket to give to the assassin and waited for him to read it.
Lucanis scanned the small list and nodded. “I have heard the torte is a labour of love. Is this for Sebastian?” he teased, slightly enjoying the way Emmrich's face went red.
“Indeed it is,” Emmrich nodded. “Their founding day is next week. I wanted to do something special for them since Vorgoth tells me Sebastian never celebrates it.”
“Their founding day?” Was this some kind of Nevarran custom he'd never heard of before? Did Emmrich have a founding day?
Emmrich nodded. “Yes. Their founding day. Sebastian has told you all how they were found in the Necropolis as a baby. Since we don't know their date of birth, Myrna calls it their founding day instead. Coincidentally that day is also All Souls Day. I wanted to have a small dinner for them.”
It was going to be a team effort, Neve was already on board to help as she and Davrin were going to take Sebastian out to Treviso with Manfred. Bellara, Harding and Taash were going to be dealing with decorations and Emmrich was going to be helping Lucanis if the assassin was willing of course.
“That's very sweet of you.” Lucanis took a second look at the parchment, “the paccheri is easy enough. The torte will take time but if Sebastian is out of the Lighthouse for the day it can be done.”
“Neve and Davrin have that handled,” Emmrich assured him. “They're going to take them and Manfred to Treviso for the day. Frame it as a lesson in markets and bartering for Manfred. I've ordered everything that we will need for ingredients, Taash and Bellara will be picking them up the day before.”
Lucanis smiled. “Of course you have it all planned out.” He folded the list up and slipped it into his notebook “anything else?”
Emmrich shook his head. “No, nothing. But if Sebastian is looking for me, I need to slip back to the Necropolis for something. I will be back later.” And with that, Emmrich turned around to leave the assassin to his devices.
Sitting the brush down on their nightstand, Sebastian finished by twisting their hair up in a makeshift bun to get the strands out of their face. They'd had an intense day in Treviso, at first it started out as exploring the markets but ended up with the group having to leave Manfred with Jacobus at the Diamond to deal with some antaam slavers and damned venatori.
They groaned at the thought of having to move their ass to dinner but knew they had to. Sebastian had promised Emmrich they wouldn't hide away in their quarters away from the team. The mage threw on one of Emmrich's shirts and their favorite pair of leggings, quickly smelling the collar as they exited their bedroom.
When the group got back to the Lighthouse, they went their separate ways. Each of them were in dire need of a bath and a fresh change of clothes. Sebastian was lucky enough to have their own chamber, otherwise there was the bathhouse even if the stone baths were separated by walls and a curtain for privacy. Sometimes they'd join them but today wasn't one of those days. A quick dinner and some missives were on the agenda followed by much needed sleep.
“Hey Assan,” Sebastian grinned, kneeling to pat the griffin on the head. “Such a pretty boy aren't you?”
Assan loved the attention, squawking happily as he accepted the pats.
Slipping him a quick treat from their pocket, Sebastian dusted their pants off and headed into the dining hall only to stop dead in their tracks. “Emm?!” they gaped, eyes never leaving the green and purple decorations expertly draped all over the place. “Emm what's this?”
Emmrich crossed over from where he'd been sitting with Bellara. “This is for you darling.”
Green eyes read the hanging banner on the wall above the fireplace; it read Happy Founding Day . “This is for me?” Sebastian asked. “You're throwing a party for me? Why?” they blushed, face bright red.
“Because I can,” Emmrich replied. “It's what partners do.”
“Oh Emmrich,” Sebastian blushed. They pushed up on their toes, hand curling around the back of their necromancer's neck to kiss him. There was nothing soft and chaste about this despite there being people around.
Neve coughed awkwardly. “Do you think they’re coming up for air any time soon?”
“Not likely,” Taash snorted. “They're an inch away from fucking on the floor.” They picked up a couple of metal cups to beat them together. “Hey! Knock it off!” they yelled.
Sebastian and Emmrich sprang apart, both red faced. “Sorry,” they apologised.
The elf looked around a second time, completely in awe of what their friends had done for them. “You guys, you really didn't need to do this for me…” they smiled.
“Of course we did!” Harding argued. “Sebastian, you're our friend, not just our leader. You've never celebrated your founding day because you've never had friends to celebrate with. Well we're celebrating it with you from now on!”
“Harding…” Sebastian crossed over the mess hall to hug the scout. “Thank you Harding. This means a lot.”
It was awkward having anyone throw a party for them, their founding day wasn't something they celebrated because it was pointless to them. They didn't know when they were born, only when they were discovered, they told people it was their name day and left it at that. Sebastian had never had their day celebrated so it felt weird to start now. Other foundlings into the orphanage got to have their days celebrated and they usually just disappeared when that happened.
Eventually they just forgot about it. Sebastian only remembered it when Myrna became their handler and they had to complete paperwork together.
“What's for dinner?” Sebastian asked happily, taking their normal seat at the table.
“Paccheri,” Lucanis answered, taking his time in putting the serving platters on the table. “Baked with mushrooms, eggplant and tomatoes.”
Sebastian's eyes lit up. “Maker, Lucanis! You guys really threw me a party behind my back and I didn't notice? How did I not notice?”
Davrin chuckled. “That's why Neve and I were on distraction duty today.”
Emmrich pressed a soft kiss against Sebastian's forehead, “darling you go above and beyond for everyone else. It's our turn to do something nice for you for once.” He sat down and waved his hand, a finely wrapped box appearing on the table just behind their plate. “Don't be mad but I did get you something.”
“We all did,” Bellara grinned. “But you can do our gifts after we eat.”
Sebastian felt incredibly awkward with the idea of them getting gifts from everyone. “You didn't need to get me anything. Our coin Is better-”
“It's our coin to spend,” Taash cut them off. “Open your damn gift so we can eat. I'm starving.”
They picked up the box off the table, untying the ribbon carefully before opening the wooden box to look inside. Sebastian gasped, their eyes growing wide and tears threatening to spill when they saw what was inside. “Emmrich Volkarin you beautiful, beautiful bastard!”
It was jewellery. Gold jewellery to be precise.
Sitting nestled in the fine silken insert sat three gold bracelets and several gold rings of various shapes and types along with some other small pieces. Sebastian picked up a golden bangle with what appeared to be fine veins of emerald lightning etched into the metal. The second bracelet was plain except for the skulls that repeated along the surface. The third was a thin golden snake with the occasional amethyst scale and emeralds for eyes.
Sebastian slipped each bracelet on with shaky hands. They’d never had enough coin for their own grave gold before and Emmrich giving them such a gift meant the world to them. They brushed away the tears that managed to slip away before picking up one of the rings to look at it.
“None of them are enchanted,” Emmrich explained. “I thought it could be something we could work on together.”
“Thank you,” Sebastian breathed. “Emmrich, thank you for this…I've never had my own grave gold before. This means so much to me.” They sat the ring back in the box, jumping up to kiss the older watcher on the lips.
“I don't get the idea of grave gold,” Taash spoke up. “Seems weird.”
“To an outsider sure,” Sebastian spoke, sitting back in their seat. “But it's a Nevarran thing. We bury our dead with their gold because gold is eternal. Gold can also be used to pay for our burials. Normally for a watcher or a Mortalitasi we get gold as a gift for major achievements. Since I never had the family or the coin to get my own grave gold I never had any.”
“I think we should eat before we start getting all sentimental,” Neve spoke up. She winked at Sebastian when the attention shifted off them, the mage in question mouthed their thanks to her.
Reaching over to take his hand, Sebastian smiled softly at Emmrich, lifting it to press a kiss against the skin. “Just when I think I have you figured out Emm, you surprise me all over again.”
“Anything for you my love.”
Taash groaned and threw a napkin at Emmrich, hitting him in the face. “You two have got to stop being all gross and romantic. I can’t take the smell.”
“My apologies Taash,” Emmrich replied. He said it but Sebastian doubted that he meant it given that the man’s lips curled in a small smile.
“Make sure you stay away from our side of the Lighthouse tonight then,” Sebastian warned them.
“I hate you.”
Sebastian grinned wildly. “No you don’t.”
Later, if someone ever asked them what their favorite day ever was, Sebastian would admit that it was today. For them, before, their founding day was just another day in the year, sure the story surrounding their discovery was incredibly unusual but that was where the interest ended. Having friends now that actively wanted to celebrate the day as something special meant more than they’d ever thought possible.
There were many times that night where Sebastian found themself crying happy tears even if they were only a few at a time. For desert they had a hazelnut torte Lucanis made, they’d never had something so sweet yet light before. Hearing that the recipe came from Emmrich’s mother threw Sebastian given their necromancer had pulled the recipe out just for them. Emmrich had spoken about it before but claimed there was never an occasion to make it.
After dinner and dessert, Sebastian helped clean up despite Lucanis trying to forbid them from doing so. Many hands made things go quicker so Sebastian was happy to help until Taash manhandled them like a sack of potatoes that they dumped in a corner. By that point, Sebastian was proudly wearing all of the gold that Emmrich had given them; all three bracelets and all four rings along with the one they already owned. Currently the earrings weren’t much good but the idea bore fruit in their mind. Sebastian liked the idea of getting their ear pierced, but maybe after they’d finished the task at hand.
They were trying to picture what they’d look like with an ear pierced when Taash shoved their present right under their nose. When they opened the box, Sebastian found several jars of ointments, salves and bath salts for aching muscles they could use after coming back from a mission.
From Bellara they got a blank journal and a set of quills and ink to take when they went travelling. She told Sebastian with excitement that she’d chosen green ink because it matched their eyes and the marks on their skin.
Davrin gave Sebastian a chess set he’d carved himself. Sebastian loved that all the little rooks were tiny versions of Manfred and the knights were actually Assan. The griffin in question gave them several of his shed feathers which Sebastian was ever so thankful for.
{It was actually Davrin but Assan got all the hugs for it}
Harding got Sebastian several different blends of tea from their favorite fruity blends to types that were supposed to help with sleep and others meant to heal wounds. Along with the teas, she also got them several different kinds of healing potions and lyrium potions to help when they needed them.
Neve had worked on getting Sebastian some new mage armour which bore the purple and green of the Mourn Watch along with the scarab symbol of their order. The spells and enchantments laced into the material and metal were impressive, showing signs of both Myrna and Vorgoth as well as Neve having worked on it.
Manfred’s gift was certainly a surprise, Neve happily explained how she’d helped Manfred barter with the market vendor over the silver and purple bracelet that looked like crows wings. The wisp fumbled when he tried to put it on Sebastian’s wrist, refusing to allow anyone to help until they managed to get it on. The bracelet was gorgeous but the hug that they got afterwards was better.
Lucanis gave Sebastian a new mage knife, along with the grave gold and Manfred’s gift, the knife was definitely their favorite. The blade was black with runes etched into the metal, spells had been woven into the handle grip in among the silver and blue fabric weave. It was sharper than their current mage knife, it cut through the paper the box was wrapped before anyone could blink.
They loved it. Every single thing they’d been given clearly came from the heart and meant more to Sebastian than anything ever had before.
After presents and several more bottles of wine, everyone eventually drifted off to their own respective haunts of the Lighthouse. Sebastian carried their stuff back to their quarters in a crate that Lucanis gave them, the mage immediately setting out their new armour and mage knife to replace the ones they already had. By the time they’d put the chess set and journal on their own section of shelving, Emmrich joined them with a tray with tea on it.
“Emmrich, thank you for tonight,” Sebastian grinned happily. The watcher waited for Emmrich to put the tray down before they kissed him. “I never knew how much I needed this until I had it. Name days and the like were just another day to me. It feels good to be celebrated.”
Emmrich lightly touched Sebastian’s cheek, his thumb brushing the mark beneath their eye. “Seeing you wear such a happy smile tonight for your friends was worth it. I didn’t mean to intrude on such a personal affair but when Vorgoth let slip that it was your founding day last month, I wanted to do something for you.”
Sebastian chuckled. “Of course it was Vorgoth. For an eldritch entity made of smoke, he gossips worse than the nobility.” The elf gave Emmrich a soft kiss and stepped back to finish putting the rest of their stuff away. “Is that tea for us?”
“It is!” Emmrich exclaimed. “It’s orange, jasmine and apple blossom, I found it in Minrathous a few weeks ago. I’d almost forgotten about it until now.” He poured them both a cup, handing Sebastian’s theirs as they sat the crate out of the way. “What do you think?”
Carefully they took a sip, noting the burst of bitter orange before the sweet taste of jasmine sat on the tongue. “I can’t really taste the apple blossom but it is good,” Sebastian assured them. They sat the cup down, “I’m going to get ready for bed, probably read a little. Coming?” Sebastian was bone tired and really, really needed to sleep.
“In a moment dearest.” Emmrich took Sebastian’s hand and pulled them over to his desk so he could sit down. “Humour me a moment darling,” the mage pleaded, patting his thigh.
“You don’t even need to ask,” Sebastian blushed.
They sat on his lap, eagerly kissing the older man before he was able to say another word. Emmrich’s fingers dug into Sebastian’s waist, drawing them closer as he bit at their lip. A low moan escaped them, one that Emmrich swallowed, fire pooling in his stomach when Sebastian ground down against his growing erection. “Darling,” Emmrich groaned. “I have one more thing for you before we continue this.”
Reluctantly they pulled away, their own length hard pressed against the leggings they foolishly wore. “More gifts?” Sebastian asked, face red.
“Just one more darling,” Emmrich replied. The necromancer shuffled and drew something from his pocket, “I had hope to give this to you when next we had a moment alone outside the Lighthouse but…seeing you tonight, I was inspired to change things.”
Sebastian cocked an eyebrow. “Okay?”
He opened his hand to show Sebastian the ring that was sitting in the middle of his palm. “I had plans, I was going to take you to dinner and then a lovely walk in the memorial gardens. Whilst you were with Neve and Davrin today I was able to retrieve this from the jewelers-”
“It’s your mothers ring,” Sebastian whispered. Their heart was practically pounding in their chest right now, they were surprised that Emmrich couldn’t hear how loud it was. “Emmrich-are you-I-what?” they managed to stammer out. Suddenly they were nervous, really nervous and at the same time it felt like everything they'd eaten that night was going to come back up. Can someone throw up out of excitement?
Emmrich was trying his hardest not to do this too quickly, he wanted to savor the moment. Given the glow that his love had about them all night, Emmrich knew that there wouldn’t be a better, more perfect moment than this. “My dearest Sebastian, would you marry me?”