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Sebastian got his first piercings on his sixteenth birthday. His mom had been against it. But legally, she couldn't stop him. He’d settled on two for both of his earlobes, as well as one through his right helix. The piercer had warned him that getting multiple piercings for his first time would hurt more, and take longer to heal. Sebastian had just assured her that he’d take care of them.
He got the other helix and a daith piercing a few months later, once the first round of piercings healed well. After he turned eighteen, Sebastian got snake bites, and for his nineteenth he got double vertical studs in his left eyebrow.
By that point, his mom didn’t even let her eye twitch when he came home with a new hole in his skin.
Her eyes did blink rather rapidly when he was twenty and showed her his first tattoo: etched in dark ink along his forearm was the longitude and latitude coordinates for their ranch in the mountains. That way, he’d always be able to find his way home.
His mom’s lips had twitched ever so slightly, as she suppressed both a frown of disapproval and something close to a smile.
Sebastian’s second tattoo had been of a raven, its coloring and feathers a magnificent coal black that almost shimmered under the light, and its wings spread across Sebastian’s shoulder blade. His mom had been less touched by that one.
His third tattoo, a dancing skeleton he got while just a little bit too drunk with Sam and Abby, had been met with a stern lecture on what he was permanently putting on his body.
Sebastian got his tongue pierced when he turned twenty-one. It had made eating a bit difficult, but it was worth it to see the look on Sam’s face when he showed him. It was a mixture between awe and want.
Him, Sam, and Abby got, not quite matching tattoos, but adjacent ones. Sebastian got a replica of the constellation Lyra, which was dotted across his left collarbone, connecting the moles there. Abby got Cygnus, hovering over her left hip bone. Sam had Aquila etched across his far left rib.
The summer triangle constellation; Vega in Lyra, Altair in Aquila, and Deneb in Cygnus.
Maru had quite liked it, being into astronomy, and had even helped the three of them design the tattoos and placement.
When Sebastian had shown his mom that tattoo, she had just raised her eyebrow at him, before turning back to chopping wood.
Sebastian had waited until the winter of his twenty-second birthday to get his nipples pierced; that way they were fully healed by the time summer rolled around. That way he could watch in real time the way Sam’s eyes went wide as he saw the two silver studs glinting under the July sun.
“Dude, are those…” Sam had approached him, blond hair still damp with sea water from when he and Abby had raced each other into the ocean before Sebastian had even gotten his shirt off.
Sebastian resisted the urge to smirk.
“Oh, yah. Got them a while ago.” Sebastian said nonchalantly, even as he eyed the look in Sam’s baby blue eyes.
“Awesome!” Sam breathed, and Sebastian hid his grin behind his bottle of Smirnoff Ice.
“What’s Sam gawking at?” Abby had asked as she came over, tracking wet sand all of Sebastian’s carefully laid out beach towel.
Her grin widened when she noticed Sebastian’s new piercings.
“Dude, those are hella sick!” She complimented him, and Sebastian grinned back.
“Thanks, Abs.” He replied, watching in the corner of his eye the way Sam’s mouth opened and closed slightly, reminding Sebastian a bit of a gaping fish.
“Do you think I'd look good with a septum ring?” Abby asked, rubbing at her nose as if already imagining the itch.
“You’d have to stop doing so much cocaine.” Sebastian said dryly, and Abby smacked him with her purple mesh cover-up.
“Aw man, but then she’ll be way less cool to hang out with.” Sam added, a grin spreading across his face as Abby chucked a bottle of suntan oil at him.
“God, you two are the worst!” She said, even as she laughed.
“Oh come on, you love us!” Sam crowed. Sebastian chuckled from under his umbrella.
“Are you guys bullying Abby?” Alex called out, as he approached the group with Penny, Maru, and Haley in tow.
“Us!?” Sam shot Alex a scandalized grin, “Never! Right, Seb?” Sam winked, and Sebastian just picked up his book again.
“Of course not.” He said smoothly, “We would never bully our dear friend Abigail.”
Abby shot Sam a withering glare, which made Sebastian think she no longer regretted giving Sam that stick n poke tattoo of a smiley face on his ass last September.
The three of them had done a couple shots of tequila too many, and Abby had pulled out the stick n poke kit she’d ordered online last time she was high.
Sebastian had told her that under no circumstance was she coming near him with something that sharp.
Sam had volunteered/been sacrificed instead. He had whined like a baby, but Abby assured him that the ass was the least painful place because it ‘had the most meat.’
Sebastian had to bite his lip hard to stop from laughing.
“How’s the water?” Maru asked, as she set up her beach towel next to Sebastian’s. Sebastian hadn’t known if Maru would come today; she had some project she wanted to work on first. Penny probably broke into her room and dragged her outside.
“The water’s great!” Sam grinned, and Alex immediately challenged him to a race, which sent the two off running, kicking up sand everywhere.
“Ugh, boys.” Haley said with disdain, even as her pink lips curled into a slight smile.
“Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em…” Penny chirped up from under her large sunhat.
Haley hummed, checking her nails, “Actually, I could probably live without them.” She laughed lightly.
Abby grinned, her dark sunglasses reflecting the shine of Haley’s pink lipgloss.
“Tell me about it.” She said, even as Sebastian rolled his eyes and went back to his book.
“Whatcha reading?” Penny asked him, pulling out her own copy of some werewolf-vampire smut novel.
“Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” Sebastian replied, showing her the cover.
“Oh, I loved that series!” Maru said, as she started lathering sunscreen onto her arms. Sebastian glanced at her.
“Yah, you lent me this copy, remember?” He said, and Maru blinked.
“I did?” She questioned, tapping her finger against her cheek, “Oh right! That was like, 2 years ago, though.” She said, then she frowned.
“You’re just reading it now?” she asked, looking almost hurt. Sebastian just kept his eyes on the page.
“At least I’m reading it.” He said, and Maru just sighed.
“Whatever, see if I let you borrow anything of mine, again!” She grumped. Sebastian turned his page.
“Abby, can you get my back?” Haley asked, pulling her long blonde hair away to give Abby full access to her shoulders. Sebastian swore he saw Abby blush slightly.
“Uh, yah. Sure. No problemo!” she said, taking the bottle of sunscreen from Haley’s manicured hands.
Sebastian eyed her, but decided it wasn’t his business and turned back to his book. Before long, Alex and Sam came racing back to the group, much wetter and out of breath than they’d left it.
“Oh man, I totally beat you!” Alex said in between huffs, as Sam panted beside him.
“No, you totally cheated, dude!” Sam said, as he flopped down onto Sebastian’s towel, half-covering him and getting Sebastian soaking wet. Sebastian just pushed Sam slightly to the side so he could keep reading.
Sam shook out his blond hair like a dog, flecks of water going everywhere. Sebastian just wiped the droplets of water off his book.
“Go shake off over there.” Sebastian instructed him, and Sam pouted.
“Yes, Dad.” Sam said, and Sebastian rolled his eyes. Still putting sunscreen on Haley’s back with reverence, Abby snorted.
“Already calling Seb, Daddy, huh Sammy?” Abby teased. Sam just tossed an empty water bottle at her.
“Jealous no one’s calling you ‘Daddy?’” Sebastian snarked. Haley turned her head slightly so her sapphire blue eyes were on Abby.
“I can call you Daddy if you want, Abigail.” Haley grinned almost flirtily, and Abby nearly dropped the bottle of sunscreen.
“Kidding,” Haley smirked, turning back around, “Don’t forget my lower back.” she added bossily. Abby just shot Sebastian a helpless look, which Sebastian met with amused indifference.
“Does anyone want a PB&J sandwich?” Penny asked, pulling out her lunchbox.
“What kind of jam?” Maru asked, having always been a bit picky, even when she and Sebastian were kids. She had thrown a tantrum when Demetrius tried switching their breakfast cereal from Honey-Nut Cheerios to just plain Cheerios.
“Strawberry jelly.” Penny replied, “A classic.” Maru nodded in agreement.
“Cut into triangles or squares?” She asked, and Penny shook her head fondly.
“Triangles. Crusts cut off, just the way you like them.” Penny assured her. Maru smiled.
“Then I'll take one please.” Maru said, and Penny handed her a sandwich triangle wrapped in a plaid gingham napkin.
“Got any egg salad sandwiches?” Alex asked, eyeing Penny’s lunchbox. Penny sighed.
“No, only ham and cheese, or PB&J.” She said sadly, like her not having Alex’s egg sandwich was a personal failure on her front. Alex frowned at her, like he agreed.
“Fine. Ham and cheese, please.” He said, “Gotta get my protein in!” He said with a grin. With a flex of his arm, Alex turned towards Haley.
“See these gains? You don’t get biceps like these by skipping your protein intake.” He said cheekily.
Haley just rolled her eyes, flipping through her fashion magazine.
“Sebastian, what’s your sign?” She asked, and Sebastian glanced up from his book.
“My sign?” He asked, confused. Haley huffed, like he should immediately know what she meant.
“Yes, your star sign. I'm Aries.” She said this like it explained everything. Sebastian just blinked at her.
“Uhhh… bless you?” Sebastian said. Haley rolled her eyes.
“Ugh, just… When’s your birthday?” She asked, and Sebastian furrowed his brow.
“January 10th.” He said, and Haley nodded, flipping through her magazine.
“Hmm… that makes you a Capricorn.” She said, “According to your horoscope, you need to work on protecting your boundaries, focussing your energy inwards and don’t let old disappointments slow any new momentum or opportunities.” She explained. Sebastian blinked.
“Uh… okay. Thanks?” He said, turning back to his book. He’d re-read the same page about six times.
“Do me, do me!” Sam said, munching on some carrot sticks from Penny’s lunchbox. Haley flipped the page.
“Birthday?” she asked. Abigail was still putting on her sunscreen, though by now the sunscreen was all rubbed in and at this point Abby was just massaging Haley’s shoulders. Not that Haley seemed to mind. Or Abigail, for that matter.
“July 17.” Sam replied. It was Sam’s birthday coming up in a few weeks. Sebastian wondered if he should get him another gift besides the engraved guitar-pick necklace he’d gotten him. Something less… revealing.
“Hm, ok…” Haley said, “That means you’re Cancer.”
Sam frowned, offended.
“Rude!” He said, and Haley just waved him away as Alex snorted. Beside him, Maru grabbed a celery stick from the veggie container. Penny was still fully engrossed in her vampire smut book.
“Okay, Sam… you need to take time to prioritize your own comfort. Wasting your time on maintaining meaningless relationships is just going to drain your energy.” She explained, and Sam nodded like Haley had just explained to him the secrets of the universe.
“Right… I don’t wanna waste my energy.” Sam murmured, and Sebastian could have sworn his baby blue eyes seemed to dart towards Sebastian.
“Wanna hear who you’re compatible with?” Haley asked, seeming to have sensed blood in the water. Sam nodded eagerly.
“Yeah, why not?” Sam said, and Maru leaned forward, taking the carrot stick straight from Sam’s fingers. Sam didn’t seem to notice, too engrossed with Haley’s chakra voodoo shit.
“Okay… let’s see…” Haley hummed, landing on the correct page as her manicured finger pointed out the colourful lines.
“Cancer… You are most compatible with your fellow water signs for emotional safety and trust, or a grounded Earth sign like Virgo or… Capricorn.” As she spoke, Haley eyed Sebastian who quickly looked down at his book, hoping he hadn’t been caught listening in.
Based on the smirk Haley shot him, it seemed like he hadn’t succeeded.
“What’s my sign? My birthday’s June 13!” Alex asked, having already scarfed down two ham and cheese sandwiches and was reaching for a third when Penny slapped his hand away.
“Save some for everyone else.” She scolded him, and Alex pouted like a disobedient puppy.
“June 13…” Haley murmured, “You’re a Gemini.” She wrinkled her nose. Alex frowned, cocking his head to the side.
“What’s wrong with that?” He asked, and Haley scoffed.
“Emily would say there are no bad star signs, but she’s a Taurus, so of course she thinks that.” Haley explained. Sebastian just shook his head. Maru muffled her laughter behind another crunch of her celery.
“But Gemini… yeah, I’m not touching that.” Haley said, as if even saying the word contaminated her somehow. Alex pouted.
“Awh, c’mon Hal!” He pleaded, and Haley sighed as Abigail seemed to massage a particularly stress-filled knot in her shoulder.
“Nope. Abigail, when’s your birthday?” Haley asked, completely glossing over Alex’s whines.
“Uh, it’s November 13.” Abby said, still concentrating on working that one tense knot, and Haley hummed again.
“That means you’re a Scorpio. Huh, I would’ve pegged you for a Sagittarius."
Under her breath, Sebastian heard Penny mutter that she’s sure Haley would peg Abby either way.
Both Haley and Abby ignored her.
Sebastian glanced at Sam, who was sipping his Joja Cola and staring out at the ocean. His light blue eyes seemed to reflect the water, and he looked deep in thought.
Sebastian nudged him with his sandal-clad foot.
“I’d ask for a penny for your thoughts, but no one uses pennies anymore.” Sebastian said, and this earned him a low chuckle.
“Y’know, my Dad used to collect vintage coins. They’re probably all worthless though.” Sam said, and Sebastian frowned at him.
Sam shook his head slightly.
“Nevermind.” He flashed Sebastian a cheeky grin, “Hey, how badly did it hurt to get your nipples pierced?” Sam said, changing the subject so abruptly Sebastian almost got whiplash.
Sebastian just blinked, then he smirked at him.
“Why, you thinking of getting some yourself?” He asked, and Sam just laughed.
“Nah, I'm good, dude. Besides, they look better on you.” He said, then paused, as if just realizing what he’d said. Sebastian paused too.
He tilted his head to the side, eyeing Sam. Then he smirked.
“Are you flirting with me?” He asked, thinking Sam would stutter and blush, denying it immediately.
Instead, Sam just stared at him. Then, in a deadpan voice, he said,
“Have been for the past two years, but thanks for noticing.”
Sebastian looked at him. By now, the rest of the group had gone quiet and been watching the two of them. None of them seemed particularly abashed about blatantly staring. Maru crunched her celery stick.
Sebastian let his brain crash and reboot like a particularly fucked up hard drive.
“You what?”