hisbutler_bound | Nevermore Tasks 004

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Nevermore Tasks 004

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I hope I am not imposing on your evening, but it seems I have quite a bit of rabbit left over and I seem to have prepared a little too much. [Yes, a little being fifteen extra that were salvaged from the fire, still clean and able to be eaten]

[Behind him is a spread of cooked rabbit, prepared just for his lord on the table, along with some veggies to adorn it, a tender sauce for the meat served only at the exact beginning of the meal. It'll be surprisingly still hot whenever his young lord decides he's ready to eat. Giving a quick look at his pocket watch, it'll be any minute now]

I have prepared in the same manner a few more rabbits, seeing as more than enough were cooked. If anyone would like them, I would be willing to trade for anything -- as not to deplete the current minimal stock here. Some vegetables perhaps, or bread. Anything you can spare.

Oh, and Miss Unohana, I would like for you to check up upon my young lord when possible. I will not discuss the details publicly. Thank you. I will save a little rabbit for you, if you like for your services.

Mister Negi, how is Taro? Would you like some rabbit?

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[Mood, is it? Nah, it's simply a coping mechanism, a different tactic, and something designed to frustrate Sebastian. Ciel had made a living of being hard to predict.

Ciel's manners were impeccable, though he still ate a bit like a child -- toying his food into precisely the right position to spear it with his fork, mixing or separating tastes.

His glass was in his hand when Negi spoke, and for a heartbeat or two, he didn't respond. When he did, all of his body language suggested that Negi had his full attention.

Looking into his eyes, though, was like pushing against a silk curtain.]

What did you bring with you?

[Sebastian on cue set down the tea service that was wrapped up along with the jar of tea leaves. He was like a shadow, hovering over Ciel, like a mass of thick darkness waiting to swallow him up. He knew his every intention, his every mood. He understood what others could not, and to say this was most displeasing in some way was an understatement.

Ciel was rather curious to him at the moment, and he wanted to devel more into his soul. But he understood the edges of it. He merely needed to rip it open.]

[Negi motioned lightly towards the tea service and the jar as Sebastian set them out.]

I brought this tea service and another jar of tea leaves. I wasn't sure if you had found a suitable tea service or not, so... I offered to trade one for some rabbit meat.

[He was choosing his words carfully. He felt he had to walk on eggshells around Ciel, like saying the smallest thing wrong would set him off like it had the night before. He still wasn't entirely sure what had happened, but even though Ciel was acting like he was paying attention to him, Negi could tell that, in actuality, he wasn't.]

[Ciel showed no reaction to Sebastian's movement, though he must have felt the way he was looking at him, known just how much it was burning him not to know what was going on inside of his head.

Ciel set down his glass long enough to reach out and undo the parcel enough to see the pattern and make of the set. It was quite a nice one, more the style he was used to, and the faint scent of the tea leaves was familiar. He drew one of the cups out of the wrappings, running a thumb along its edge. He might have been watching aimlessly out a window for all he reacted.]

Thank you. It's lovely.

Sebastian, please fix some of this for us. Mr. Springfield could use something hot before the journey home.

[Turning to the side, Ciel gently held out the teacup for him to take.]

[That small hand holding such a delicate cup was outheld to him, and his hand curled underneath it palm upwards to lift it, making sure not to touch his hands. A butler must never touch his master's hands, unless beckoned. He did not deserve such a treat. Sebastian often did it anyways, unless he was being one of servitude.

Ah, how annoying. He had already prepared tea, and yet he nodded anyways, taking the tea service and the tea and proceeded to head towards the kitchen.]

Yes, my lord. [He would return a few moments later with it, the crisp scent of high quality wafting into the air.

His eyes shifted back onto Ciel, pouring the tea without needing to look and he set it down in front of both of them]

[Negi winced inwardly, and tried not to let it show outwardly. Was Ciel really reverting back to being on a last name basis with him? And the way he had inspected the tea service, like he was approving of a piece of meat for dinner. There was a sharp pang at that, deep down, a barb that Ciel had planted months ago, and was now twisting, pressing down on.

He toyed with the vegetables on his plate, eating one here and there until Sebastian returned with the tea. He silently watched his cup fill with the steaming liquid, trails of vapor raising into the air. He plucked two lumps of sugar from the nearby bowl, stirring them into his tea idly, still pointedly not looking at Ciel.

After a moment, he lifted the cup to his lips, blowing before taking a small sip.]

[Ciel knew perfectly well that Sebastian had already prepared tea, but it was only proper to put gifts to use. He was grimly pleased to note that the butler was still conducting himself appropriately with the presence of a visitor.

Perhaps that had been too cold, but Ciel wasn't about to correct it now. The rest of the meal passed in silence that he felt no real need to fill with false chatter and hollow words. Instead he watched the teacup in his hand. Though it was hard to tell from his face, he did like it.

He was reminded of the older set his family used to use for breakfast. Nice, but more personal and familiar. The tea, too, brought back memories.

Sebastian, of course, would recognize these things, but Ciel made sure none of it showed.]

[He didn't move the entire meal, only to assist Ciel if and when he needed it with more tea, or more sauce, or something of the other like salt. For long moments, he would say nothing at all, never expressing his opinions or demonstrating any independance.

Only every now and then would he ever... ] The young master very much appreciates your gift, Negi. I believe he is simply under the weather at the moment. [ ... correct a master's mistake. No, not correct. Every now and then Ciel had to taste humble pie. But to be so rude to a guest was not fit for a lord of a house. Socialization was one of many key ingredients]

I will fetch dessert. [He'd promptly make his way towards the back]

[The blend of tea was good, it had long been one of Negi's favourites. An unmarked mix, though he could taste distinct notes of orange, maybe some sort of spice, very warming on cold winter days. But even having one of his favourite teas was no match for the uneasiness he felt. Though in all ways he had been politely welcomed, he certainly didn't feel it.

But at Sebastian's words, Negi perked a bit, curiosity piqued. And as the butler left to bring dessert, he turned towards Ciel, just a little, gaze aimed at his teacup still, but eyes shifting up to look at the Earl.]

...you're feeling ill?

[Even the prospect of dessert did very little to pique Ciel's apparent interest. The single blue eye moved slowly towards Negi, a delicate eyebrow raised beneath a fall of hair.

Without a sound he lowered the teacup, replacing it on the table, and pressed his lips together -- mostly to chase an errant drop of tea with his tongue. Ah, nobles and their ways.]

The rabbit population is multiplying in our cellar. Sebastian smoked the beasts out -- and nearly managed to smoke me out as well.

[Come to think of it, he did sound a little hoarse, and he was speaking quietly.]

[Sebastian made a habit of continuing to listen, even from his view and hearing from all the way in the kitchen. Sliding the made dessert onto a tray, he picked it up and headed back in, but did not enter quite yet. He was sure they weren't entirely finished with their meals yet, and it would be impolite to prompt dessert so early.

Besides, he was rather enjoying the conversation, what little there was of it. Dessert was more of the rasin and creme combination. It would compliment the suculent flavor of the rabbit in contrast. ]

...it affected your asthma.

[It wasn't question, more a statement. Negi knew the problems Ciel had had with asthma in the past. He had seen an attack or two, and they had always left him worried. He had never suffered from asthma himself, but just seeing someone go through the pain and panic of an attack was enough.]

I hope that Unohana-san is helping with it.

[Just because Sebastian wasn't visible didn't mean he was gone, or not listening. All the little movements and natural shifts of Ciel's body stopped when Negi said that, and Ciel stared at him, considering. It's obvious he hadn't expected Negi to know about that.]

... she is.

Even my lungs are a subject of common knowledge?

[Sliding back in, his brows furrowed considerably. Even his lungs were common knowledge to Negi. That furrow quickly narrowed, his fingers sliding behind his back, one of his knives in hand, and he fingered it for the moment.

Keeping that hand behind his back, his free hand slide under plates to scoop up the cake when he delicately and masterfully cut it with only one hand, setting it next to them after clearing away plates.

His eyes never left Neku]

[Had Negi known what Sebastian held behind his back, he would have been more alert, more on guard. As it was, the sudden staring at him from both directions was enough to unnerve him, and he shifted nervously in his seat, eyes trained on the slice of cake before him.]

...I've seen you have an asthma attack before. It looked horrible... I can only imagine how it feels not to be able to breathe.

[It's terrifying.

Ciel barely kept himself from saying it aloud, and it startled him how close he'd come to admitting it. Not being able to breathe, feeling as if he might die, knowing that there's nothing Sebastian can do to help him, to keep him safe... it's terrifying.

Though he's not afraid to die, he's afraid of being beyond Sebastian's reach. Of dying pointlessly. Of not accomplishing what he needs to, because of some human weakness.

Ciel recognized the stance Sebastian held, but only because it was so familiar, and could make a guess at what he had behind his back. Oddly, it comforted him.]

It's painful. But it will be controlled.

[Sliding down the required forks to eat it, he slides over back behind Ciel once more, his pose never changing, his stance either. He's ready should he need be, but he's halfly relieve to know only that perhaps only Negi knows.

He wants to ask, but it is not his place. It's not concern for Ciel, merely concern for his well being. After all, no complete mission equals no soul.

His arm slides down lightly near his side, near Ciel's side, gloved fingers turning lightly and almost unnaturally slow to touch his elbow. It's merely an assurance that he is there incase he is needed, usually only flanking his left when things are left unsaid.]

Edited 2010-03-19 22:48 (UTC)

Do you have medicine for it? An inhaler?

[Negi realized, a moment too late, that he was being a bit too intrusive, but he was worried. Genuinely worried. Ciel was - used to be - his friend. Of course he would be worried about his health.

Picking up the offered fork, he slowly cut off the tip of the slice, spearing it on the end of his fork, but not eating it just yet. He was waiting for some sort of rebuke, some hint that he had gone too far.]

[The touch against his elbow made him remember himself, remember that Sebastian would not let him die, though he might allow pain or fear -- it was oddly comforting, but Ciel reflected, also twisted... and blackly amusing. Ciel allowed the connection for a moment before he moved his arm, picking up the fork and working the perfect first bite onto his fork.]

Madam Unohana is providing treatment.

[A pause, and for now, he'll allow it.]

Who else knows?

[Good, the real meat and potatoes, though he adjusts to moving that one hand behind his back more firmly, fingers curling down at behind his back to slide it more into his hand instead, his offending hand against Ciel's elbow moved away, allowing him to slide his hand back down to his side.

He leans in lightly, listening in for the list of names if any. He won't forget them, but even with them he would do nothing without Ciel's orders]

[His own first bite slips past his lips, fork lingering in his mouth a moment before moving back to the plate. He worked the bite of cake around his mouth for a moment as he thought back. Who had seen Ciel's attack...it had been on the network. There was no telling.]

...besides me, I believe it's only Al, Unohana-san and maybe one or two others. I can't recall at the moment.

[Al. Again, that name. Again, that person... everything seemed to lead back to him -- but then, from his observations, the boy was neither useful nor would he be a candidate for being used. The single blue eye half closed, and for several moments, he looked very serious.]

You said that previously, I had lived with this person. And his family.

[His voice was deadly serious now. He had to tread carefully. Clearly, the boy had a reason to have not spoken with him since his return... and he wanted to keep it that way. But at the same time, he was becoming dangerously curious.]

[His eyes narrow faintly, though his body remains composed. Al, again. That name always seems to pop up when it comes to Ciel. Inwardly he makes a mental note to somehow hint meeting this one. Gloved fingers curl at the tips before resting back against the sides of his pants, staring endlessly at Negi.

He looks down at Ciel's cup though, repouring tea into it, knowing his taste for it. Whether he drinks it or not, it must be refilled each and every time. There wasn't anything being said he didn't already know, but he said nothing]

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Nevermore Tasks 004

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