When the Stars Fall
Strange Decisions

"Sebastian's not just going to come out after that," Sam told her when she asked after Sebastian. "It's kind of something you get used to, the fact there are certain things that make him shut down. On top of that, he's really not the type of person to go out in the first place, see."

The fact she'd not seen Sebastian honestly bothered Ardyce, but that most certainly wasn't the answer she was looking for in the long run, though in the back of her head she wondered what kind of answer she was looking for. "You've most certainly taken an interest in Maru's older brother given the fact he turned out to be nothing like you expected, but you weren't far off in telling Sam that Sebastian is your type in that so far there's not anything that contradicts that and everything going for that. Still..."

As Maru's brother, she definitely wanted to respect his personal space, particularly after learning he was autistic. What she didn't want to hear was that he locked himself up into his room, particularly since she wanted his help in finding out what happened to Maru. Ardyce found herself bothered by the fact the police investigation targeted Sebastian as this meant they weren't looking for the actual person who'd supposedly harmed Maru.

The supposed came from the fact they'd not yet identified the body, as the newspapers reported online. This made sense given the fact the body found was decomposed, so there were no facial features that might identify her, meaning the police would need to turn to DNA for identification purposes, but the DNA tests would take time to get back. Despite the papers reporting the fact the body was supposedly Maru's, everywhere online people said it was her.

And, everywhere online there was someone suggesting it was in fact Sebastian who killed her, but there were some comments from sources Ardyce didn't recognize claiming to know the Goth kid quite well and that because he was Goth that he must have most definitely have been the one to have killed his sister. This simply made her stomach churn violently, given the fact the young man she'd met didn't seem like a killer but blaming his weirdness—in other words, his autism—seemed wrong on so many levels.

The conversation took place at the Stardrop Saloon, but she'd ventured into the arcade area of the place to speak with Sam regarding the fact she'd not seen Sebastian in a while. Speaking with Sam wasn't her original intent; instead, Ardyce simply planned on getting a hot meal at the only place in town that one could do so, which is where she also overheard Elliot speaking with another girl Sam would identify as Leah, the local artist.

"It must be him. I mean, who else could it be?" Elliot asked. "And maybe this isn't such good material for a book after all. I mean..."

"You just realized that it hits too close to home?" the redhead who could almost pass as Robin's sister rolled her eyes. "Well, you also need to realize that it couldn't be Sebastian either. I've met the kid, and he's actually a sweetheart. Bumbling in his interactions, mind you."

"Did you say he was the artist type, so you might actually be a bit biased in that regard?"

"Well, maybe."

"And I've heard from good authority that he's quite kinky." Elliot then added in. "You know, that girl who helps out at the general store at times?"

"That girl..." Leah shook her head. "Is named Abigail, and she's quite... different."

"So's Emily, and Emily is fine."

Emily was the barmaid with the vivid blue hair that Ardyce knew had to be dyed, just as Abigail dyed her hair. Why either one of them loved that vivid coloring, she did not know, but the young woman shook her head. "Sebastian wouldn't hurt a fly. Anybody here in Pelican Town who grew up with him would actually know that, but you should have seen him when he and Maru were younger. He absolutely adored having a baby sister. He just didn't know what to do with her when she got older."

"Of course, he didn't," a man with glasses sighed. "Maru kept telling me things weren't right between them, but I always got a really strange vibe off of him."

"Harvey. You're drunk. I'm cutting you off, so go on home."

"Not a healthy relationship and I'm all about healthy—health," the person muttered.

Emily shook her head. "That's Harvey, the local doctor. Don't mind him either. Everybody ended up torn up regarding what happened to Maru, but it's more likely to be a complete stranger than anybody who knew her, which is why it will never end up being solved. Sebastian won't ever be the same. Well, he'll be the same, but he won't go back to being who he was before all of this happened."

"You don't at all seem strange."

"Oh, Yaba, I am most definitely strange. Some might say I'm the exact opposite of Sebastian and his whole Goth vampiric phase, going all light and religious, but, everyone is sacred in the eyes of Yaba."

This was when Ardyce took her cue to take the meal and go elsewhere to eat while Gus, the man who owned the bar gave her a pitying look before reminding Emily not to talk about religion with the patrons, particularly the ones from out of town who didn't know her. She saw Sam and headed back there, hoping Sebastian would be there.

"Well, we did meet up here before the whole Maru thing and when he wasn't in one of his moods," Sam said. "Sebastian's not just going to come out after that. It's kind of something you get used to, the fact there are certain things that make him shut down. On top of that, he's really not the type of person to go out in the first place, see."

"Not really."

"Well, perhaps it's good you're not staying long because then he can't get attached to you and have yet another reason to be moody after you leave. I miss him, hanging out with him."

"Then be more proactive. And..." Ardyce stopped short, realizing she almost told Sam not to rule out their dating. "Well, locking himself up in his room isn't healthy, so I'm going to do something about it."

"Really?" Sam shook his head.

Which was why a few days later she mustered up the courage to head over in the evening, having remembered Sebastian preferred the rain over the heatwave that burned everything up in the day but on her way she ran into Penny. "You going to see Sebastian?"

"How did you know?"

"Sam told me you were planning on doing something, but I hope you succeed. And..." Penny frowned. "Look, Sam mentioned something about you and Sebastian getting together."

"Wait a second."

"Oh. I know. He was out of line, but I think it would do him some good. I don't think he's dated, anybody but Abigail."

"My understanding is that he wasn't dating her."

"Well, that..." Penny frowned. "That's kind of a shock, given the fact she told everybody they were, but he said nothing. Then again, Sebastian never really says anything. I also think he could do the long-distance thing, so don't rule it out, starting something with him."

Ardyce wanted to say she didn't want to break Sebastian's heart, yet..."

"I think you'd break his heart more if you didn't make a move."

"How did we get to this conversation?" Ardyce asked Robin.

Except she knew full well. The moment she walked in, Robin said, "Ask my son out."

It was blunt, in your face, and enough to make anybody uncomfortable, but Demetrius wasn't around to stop Robin from trying to hook her son up with someone as he was out working on his research. Ardyce looked at her, staring. "Hold on a second..."

"Well, it's obvious to me that the two of you like each other, but unlike others in town I never once believed Abigail when she said they were dating. That girl drove Caroline nuts with the number of times she claimed as much."

"I don't want to break his heart though, as I don't know if I'm staying here in town after I find out what happened to Mary, though that is a possibility."

"I know. He'd go with what you wanted, making it work long-distance or even going with you, and as much as I'd hate to see him leave, I want him to also thrive. That boy's had so many things not go his way, it would be nice if just this once one thing would."

"But it might not."

"Yet if you don't try, you'll never know."

Ardyce didn't want to say that she'd indeed planned on trying as she headed down into Sebastian's room, feeling a bit more awkward than before.