(TS did not mean to drop this thread, but here's a wrap up for it. So sorry!)
"Oh, no, no, no need, but that... would be des... delightful," Sebastian chuckled at Rachel's offer, but he returned her expression with a warm one of his own. What a pleasant thought! While he was quick to wave off accolades, he did very much appreciate them. If someone were to take it upon themselves to put together a social function in his honor, he would truly be delighted. He'd have to play at being humble, of course, in the wake of compliments. Possibly even full toasts in his name! Perhaps it would be appropriate to let his birth date slip at the next Sunday meeting, just in case anyone wanted to start making plans. How nice would it be to have his own birthday party! Would the guest list have to be open, then? Or could he just invite those whom he'd want to interact with? He wouldn't want to exclude anyone and have them feel slighted, so he supposed he'd have to leave it an open door policy. Still, how flattering would it be if people he disliked were to come to an event dedicated entirely to him?
He shook himself out of his reverie when Bryant returned with their drinks.
"Ha! To my party!" Sebastian agreed, accepting the glass and stretching his arm to click it against those belonging to both of his friends. "And a Happy Halloween!"
He sipped his drink, scanning the room a bit and noticing a particular blond incubus perusing the snacks. His irises narrowed to vertical slits in the light, just briefly, and a forked tongue darted for a split-second over his bottom lip. It wasn't intended to be a predatory look, but he couldn't help it. It was as close as Sebastian could get to blushing. "Mmm-hmm. If you'll both be... kind enough to execu... to excuse me, I'm about to become distracted. Thank you so much for coming! And in costume, too!"
He knew that it meant a lot for both Rachel and Bryant to make appearances like that. A room potentially full of strangers, all kinds of judgments passed... and he was proud of them both, and genuinely touched that they'd both come. Sebastian fully intended to make up for the abandonment at a later time, and did feel a passing moment of guilt for walking away from his friends so abruptly... but Avery was a difficult presence to ignore. The boy was just too beautiful. Too welcoming and warm. Not quite an ifrit, but almost. Almost. Sebastian was sure they'd understand and forgive him. After all, he wasn't without his own frailties. That was largely why he'd established the group meetings to begin with. There was no such thing as perfection.
Although he suspected that incubi did a very good job of mimicking it, if there was.