The Misadventures of Sebastian Allen

What Now?

Central City

Sebastian sat on his bedroom floor with a suitcase wide open and clothes neatly being packed. He had his laptop opened by the foot of his bed with another boy around his age on the other side.

"Don't forget to bring my candy, Bastien."

"Yes, I brought it." Sebastian waved a small bag filled with sweets to the laptop. "I don't understand why you cannot just buy these in Paris."

"Ah, mon cousin, The American version just tastes better for some reason." the boy said. "Papa forgot to buy me some last time he was in ze States."

"And it is such a pain not to have your sugar stash." Sebastian said sarcastically. "You can live without your candy corn, Lani."

"Ma petite soeur finished the last of my stash." Alain Smythe pouted. "And you cannot tell me that you do not have your stash of chocolat in your room. I know you, Bastien."

Sebastian shrugged "C'est de famille!" (it runs in the family)

"J'ai pratiqué" (you have been practicing) Alain cheered. "I was worried I would not be able to bring you or Barry out without Aunt Nora."

"I do not know about Barry." Sebastian explained. "But I do still know some French."

"It does not matter." Alain said. "We will have a month full of bonding."

"How is everyone?" Sebastian asked. "Excited for the full house?"

Alain rolled his eyes. "Maman has started her own hurricane as soon as Papa mentioned you guys were coming. Stacy has started asking questions. Last time you saw her she was still in nappies."

"Do you think she'd give me and Barry that look like when she was little?" Sebastian created this exaggerated face with his eyes and mouth wide open then covered his face in his hands. Similar to how a then three year old Stacy Smythe had been staring at the twins unused to seeing identical older boys in her home. Alain laughed at Sebastian's impersonation.

"I doubt it." Alain said. "But who knows, she might actually be able to tell you apart this time."

"Don't tease the little princess"

"I cannot wait until you arrive." Alain said. "Finally, not stuck babysitting."

"Perk of being the youngest." Sebastian said teasingly. "She's got you wrapped around her finger."

"Do you think we can trick Barry into babysitting?" Alain asked. "You and I can go check out the scenes. I hear there is a new coffee shop nearby that lets you put Courvoisier in your drink. And they don't even check if you're old enough to."

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "I'm sure we can get away with going off on our own even with Barry without having to subject him to babysitting. We're gonna be there for almost two months, I'm sure Stacy will be sick of us by then."

"It doesn't matter." Alain waved off "What does is that you will be here. Papa and Maman have over a dozen different parties planned - social events of clients or friends. And I am so glad that you will be there to join me in my suffering."

"Who said anything about joining you."

"Oh, Bassy." Alain cooed. "Did you think you had a choice?

~()~
It took over eight hours to travel from Central City to Paris, France. After a very rousing game of rock paper scissors while waiting to board the plane, Sebastian won the window seat by a mere five points out of almost five hundred. Barry grumbled about annoying younger brothers for about ten minutes before falling asleep in the plane's ascent. The twins spent their time in their flight either asleep or excitedly chatting. The twins may be almost total opposites, but they're closer than any pair of brothers can be.