Sebastian wasn't a violent person - had never been, anyone in his family could attest to that. Hell, it was the very core of his career to do no harm, but Kirke's goading seemed to push him further, and a ghost of a scowl could be seen appearing on what was a carefully neutral expression. Most of all this mess was because he had dug himself into it, and clearly the hole was only being dug deeper and he was entirely clueless as to who had control of the godforsaken shovel.
Well, if he wasn't in bloody control of it, then so be it.
"I think you don't think, Kirke." He snapped, wanting to forget what was in his hands entirely. Perhaps not to use his hands against Kirke, but to at least give the sense of more freedom. "You were careless, to have let this happen, and to have brought this upon Elsie." What was their break for if he hadn't thought seriously about their relationship — again, the relationship that Elsie would remind him he had absolutely no business being in. But here they were and here Kirke was asking to know what he thought. Of course he thought Elsie - and, begrudgingly so, Kirke - would be wonderful parents, but the timing of it all was less than ideal for everyone involved. And Elsie herself had said she wished it hadn't been so rushed.
"And quite frankly, I'm insulted you didn't think to ask for help with any of it. This marriage is between you and Elsie, and I know that now —" Sebastian paused here, meeting the other man's gaze steadily. "Trust me," (Of course Kirke had absolutely no reason to trust him ever again.) "She made quite sure that I was not to be involved in any of it and that I was to either be happy for both of you or to leave." Nevermind the fact that Kirke was likely to have wished he'd chosen to leave. But Elsie's comment had stuck with him. Sebastian knew that she didn't know the fear that had taken hold of him once he'd let it absorb. That if he wasn't happy for her, there would be no other refuge for him anywhere else if the world came to know his true nature. Elsie had always been his only hope of an inkling of acceptance. For if he didn't have his friendship with Elsie, who would accept him anywhere else? He quickly brushed that invisible, crippling thought away with a wave of his hand. "But what do you think would happen if you came to me for help at all? That I would reject you both?"
Of course all of this was rendered completely moot by his comment that had quite frankly soiled the mood for everyone around. No one could be more sorry about this than Sebastian himself, but he let his words hang in the air, watching warily for any sign of reaction from Kirke.
Well, if he wasn't in bloody control of it, then so be it.
"I think you don't think, Kirke." He snapped, wanting to forget what was in his hands entirely. Perhaps not to use his hands against Kirke, but to at least give the sense of more freedom. "You were careless, to have let this happen, and to have brought this upon Elsie." What was their break for if he hadn't thought seriously about their relationship — again, the relationship that Elsie would remind him he had absolutely no business being in. But here they were and here Kirke was asking to know what he thought. Of course he thought Elsie - and, begrudgingly so, Kirke - would be wonderful parents, but the timing of it all was less than ideal for everyone involved. And Elsie herself had said she wished it hadn't been so rushed.
"And quite frankly, I'm insulted you didn't think to ask for help with any of it. This marriage is between you and Elsie, and I know that now —" Sebastian paused here, meeting the other man's gaze steadily. "Trust me," (Of course Kirke had absolutely no reason to trust him ever again.) "She made quite sure that I was not to be involved in any of it and that I was to either be happy for both of you or to leave." Nevermind the fact that Kirke was likely to have wished he'd chosen to leave. But Elsie's comment had stuck with him. Sebastian knew that she didn't know the fear that had taken hold of him once he'd let it absorb. That if he wasn't happy for her, there would be no other refuge for him anywhere else if the world came to know his true nature. Elsie had always been his only hope of an inkling of acceptance. For if he didn't have his friendship with Elsie, who would accept him anywhere else? He quickly brushed that invisible, crippling thought away with a wave of his hand. "But what do you think would happen if you came to me for help at all? That I would reject you both?"
Of course all of this was rendered completely moot by his comment that had quite frankly soiled the mood for everyone around. No one could be more sorry about this than Sebastian himself, but he let his words hang in the air, watching warily for any sign of reaction from Kirke.