[center][h2][color=#b3ccff]Esben Matthiassen[/color][/h2][/center]
[hr]

As they settled in within the viscount's sitting room, Esben glanced over at Rudolf while servants came by with tea and snacks. [color=#b3ccff]"Just remember, you've been here the whole time,"[/color] he reminded, as unnecessary as it likely was. That they were served pea flower tea wasn't terribly surprising to him, even if it left Éliane noticeably disappointed. Viscount Breien's struggles with stimulants were a bit of an open secret amongst those of the Skaeller upper class that even knew of him; that he would avoid having anything with simple caffeine in it to avoid a possible relapse was expected.

At least the hot drink was nice. Unlike Éliane, however, he couldn't possibly just relax and snack while waiting, with no clue [i]why[/i] they were even there beyond some nebulous promise of benefit from the earl Demet north across the border and the need to assuage the viscount's frayed nerves. He settled in as well as he could next to Éliane, one eyebrow raised as he peered over the rim of his cup as she intercepted the tossed cushion before it might have made him spill.

Halvor fiddled with the doorknob for a moment, before pushing through into the room, though they'd heard him just before. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"Been telling Lambert he's here, been telling her that [i]Demet[/i] keeps telling [i]me[/i] he's here, nobody's questioned a thing but she's been on my case for the last two [i]months[/i] now..."[/color][/b] Esben had to withhold a sigh. Halvor stepped through, choppy yellow hair looking [i]especially[/i] messy compared to how he'd been used to seeing the man before. Rudolf greeted him, and Esben gave a polite nod as well.

[b][color=#8fbc8f]"..."[/color][/b]

[color=#b3ccff][i]"Hej, Halvor."[/i][/color]

Cool blue eyes met his own. Still the same bags under his eyes as ever, although Esben had to wonder if he didn't match, now. [b][color=#8fbc8f][i]"Esben? Hva gjør du her?"[/i][/color][/b]

[color=#b3ccff][i]"Bare på besøk,"[/i][/color] he replied with a shrug, while the momentarily-dumbfounded viscount stared down at him. [color=#b3ccff][i]"Sammen med vennene mine!"[/i][/color] Halvor continued to stare. Esben was already acutely aware of just how [i]stiffly[/i] he was sitting, nearly the same as the viscount, who stood like a board had been strapped along his spine. Éliane was no better, owing to everything they'd just been through. Rudolf was the only one managing to look properly relaxed, playing up the part of one who'd just spent the last few years in this same manor.

[b][color=#8fbc8f][i]"...Ja. B-besøk."[/i][/color][/b] Halvor exhaled at last, turning to face Rudolf. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"Of course, of course, it's good you didn't freeze, yes, yes, thank you for the..."[/color][/b] He cut off as suddenly as he'd begun, looking at his young charge's face.

With the faintest tremor, he took a spare cup of tea, downing it in a single pull. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"W-what [i]happened[/i] to you, kid?"[/color][/b] he choked out, eyes locked on the scarring. Esben couldn't withhold his sigh that time. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"Cadmon sends me a letter saying it was nice to send you up  to visit, you and your...[i]friends!"[/i][/color][/b] He shot a short, accusatory glare Esben's way. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"Talking the whole time like you should already be back, and you [i]weren't[/i] back, I had no [i]clue[/i] where you were, all the staff said you should be by soon, and you—you—"[/color][/b]

He looked back and forth between the pair of young men, one he'd known since he was a child, the other his "ward," one he'd "known since he was a child."

Halvor sank into one of the larger chairs, falling into it like a deflating balloon. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"More tea would be nice,"[/color][/b] he said weakly, and an attendant waiting just beyond the door scurried off again. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"Where have you been? What [i]happened[/i] to you? Cadmon said to expect guests, how many will there be...I don't know if I have the rooms for it...How long have you known each other? That would've made some of this so much easier, I tell you, knowing you're both acquainted, and..."[/color][/b]

His eyes fell on the pink-haired woman with a commander's uniform also sitting on the couch. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"Good heavens, and to think I've missed you this entire time! By the Mother and her house, these two boys will be the death of me, I swear it...We haven't met too, have we?"[/color][/b] He tried to offer her a polite smile, though given that this was both the most animated Esben had seen him in years, and how it looked like he was spending all the energy he had on the very [i]beginning[/i] of a conversation...

[color=#b3ccff]"Dame Commander Éliane Laruelle of Solitude, Halvor, part of the overseer's own guard. Éliane, this is Viscount Halvor Breien."[/color]

[b][color=#8fbc8f]"Eh? Oh! Yes, yes, thank you, Esben, just like your father, you can always hold moments like this together."[/color][/b] The servant came back with more tea, and Halvor hurriedly poured himself another cup. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"You must be on leave, then, yes? I haven't seen you since we all went down to celebrate your graduation, your parents, sister, and I. No shock at all you went on to graduate work, no, Anders and I rather expected it, would have been a waste if you didn't...But travelling, and with Rudolf, no less! And a commander of the household guard..."[/color][/b]

He trailed off while looking right at them, and Esben's eyebrow raised once again. Halvor shook his head, trying to smile again. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"What a lovely vacation! Cadmon did say that Rudolf was planning to head on to Solitude as well. Dreadful place, far as I'm concerned, too busy, much too busy, although there hasn't been much coming out of there lately, Kay said I shouldn't worry myself too much though...Ah, but, of course, you can't leave [i]yet,[/i] no, absolutely not. I told Cadmon in [i]my[/i] last letter, he was asking something about whether you'd be up for a trip to Brightlam, but I told him that you couldn't go that far, otherwise you'd never make it back in time...and even Esben is here! That's truly wonderful, that means nobody will be missing!"[/color][/b]

Halvor was no less energetic, although he was at least finding his stride, as far as anyone could call it that. And leaving Esben no less confused than when they'd started. [color=#b3ccff]"Missing for [i]what,[/i] Halvor?"[/color] The viscount's head snapped back over, surprised for a moment, before the light of [i]genuine[/i] delight came into his eyes. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"Oh, you don't know yet? Even better! I shan't ruin the surprise, no, of course not, ah...How many of you [i]are[/i] there going to be? I need to know the extra places to set for dinner tomorrow night, they should all be here sometime in the morning. And rooms! And, and..."[/color][/b]

He was starting to get overwhelmed by the thought of all the accomodations to prepare. Esben sighed again. [color=#b3ccff]"Our chocobos are already in the stable by now. Counting the Moogle, there's eight of us."[/color]

[b][color=#8fbc8f]"I always knew you had it in you to make that many friends!"[/color][/b] The pride in Halvor's voice faltered as soon as he registered Esben's flat glare. [b][color=#8fbc8f]"Y-you see, Lene and Hanne, they always said...No, no, forget it. Eight it is! And everything you'll need to get you to Solitude, of course, you can't go riding across these snowy wastes unprepared. Oh, did you see the flowers out front? No materia or anything for them, just skill. I think I'm getting better! Hard to find the right ones for this that would grow in winter, of course, but I knew I'd manage. Ah, but you all probably want to avail yourselves of the baths after being on the road so long, yes? Kaja, can you make sure we have hot water?"[/color][/b] He sprung up out of his chair, slamming his emptied teacup back down on the endtable next to him.

[b][color=#8fbc8f]"And I'll make sure we have rooms prepared for you all, of course, we'll have Aksel give all of you who don't know a tour of the place while we make sure we have extra for [i]tonight's[/i] dinner...Ah, do you need anything else for now?"[/color][/b]