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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Ah, Taro is doing very well, actually. Thank you for your concern, Sebastian.

I would gladly accept some rabbit, though! What would you like in exchange? I could bring over a tea service from the shop?

That is good to know, Negi.

No, while I would offer the rabbit free to you, sir Negi, I'm afraid my master would be most displeased if I turned down a tea service. So I would highly appreciate it.

If I knew what happened to the one that I gave him as a gift several months ago, I would give you that one, but... I believe he brought it with him to his old home here, and I'm not sure where that was.

When would you like me to bring it by? I also have another jar of tea leaves, if you would like.

It is alright, I am very sure my master will enjoy any gift given to him. [He tries not to laugh internally at that]

Any time is fine and I would appreciate the tea leaves. Now even. [Oh, he knows his master will be eating soon] It is still warm if you would like it for dinner.

Edited 2010-03-14 05:02 (UTC)

Ah? Now? Mm...

[Give him a moment as he looks at the time.]

...I think I could manage that. Give me time to let everyone know where I'm going and go to the tea shop, and I'll be there.

Only if you wish, Negi. Any time is fine.

[His lips crease, as if holding back a smirk. Perfect]

Then I will await your arrival.

Alright. I'll be there soon, about twenty minutes or so.

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[And Negi is there in exactly twenty minutes, just as he said. He still has the coordinates given from the last time. He knocks lightly on the door, a bag containing the tea leaves and the boxed tea service slung over his shoulder.]

[Opening one of the grand doors, his hand gestures across his chest, bowing a little in greeting]

Do come in, Negi. The rabbit is in the dinning room.

[Negi bows just slightly in return, more habit than anything, and lifts the bag.]

Thank you very much. What would you like me to do with these?

[He takes a mild step to the side, holding it hand out towards Negi with his palm upwards] I will take those off your hands.

Please come inside. It is cold outside, and I wouldn't want you to catch cold. Would you like to eat here or shall I prepare it for your departure? [His eyes peel open slightly more, a sinister tone hidden behind them]

Mm, thank you.

[He offers the bag to Sebastian, making sure not to jostle it too badly. The tea service was fragile. But he moved into the doorway, not catching Sebastian's look, more examining the inside of the house. He hadn't had much time to look before, when he had come to drop off a jar of tea leaves.]

Ah, actually, I could stay, if you wouldn't mind? [But there's a slightly nervous tone to his voice. He's sure that Sebastian saw his and Ciel's conversation.]

[Ciel had smelled the food from upstairs, and it had been ready for quite some time, he could tell. The house was smaller than he was used to, which meant the main staircase was visible from the entryway. He appeared on the landing, dressed casually but still impeccably.]

Sebastian, close the door, it's cold-

[He froze, eyes widening as he took in Negi. Just as quickly, he raised his eyebrows, expression mild, tone nothing but polite.]

Sebastian, you won't leave our guest standing in the doorway, will you? Come in.

[Click.

Sebastian almost slammed the door, but ever composed his gloved fingers left it, having locked it with that firm click. He takes the young Negi's coat and hangs it up, already moving towards the dinning room to prepare.]

No, I don't mind. Allow me to serve you. [Perfect. Ciel's timing couldn't be better and the way his lips parted mischeviously from out of view of the both of them was brief]

This way please.

[He pulls out a chair rather close to the head table's chair] Remarkable timing.

[It's then that he curls his fingers against Ciel's high backed chair, the one suited for and only for the head of house hold at the very end of the table. So many chairs that would never be filled to the brim stand along the long table. He waits patiently for Ciel to sit]

[As soon as he heard Ciel's voice, Negi freezes in place, mid-reach of handing Sebastian his coat. He turns his head just slightly, eyes widening, and the flicker of fear, of uncertainty on his face is unmistakable.

The loud 'click' of the lock bolting into place startles him briefly, but he manages not to jump. Instead, he gives a short, quick bow in Ciel's direction, teeth grit together behind his lips in a sudden attempt to keep the nervousness at bay.]

I apologize for dropping by without your knowledge.

[Nothing but polite. He follows along behind to the dining room, sitting in the chair pulled out for him and mentally wincing at how close it is to Ciel's own chair. But again, he remains politely silent, hands clasped together beneath the edge of the tablecloth, the thumb of his right hand worrying the ring on his left index finger.]

Edited 2010-03-14 13:02 (UTC)

[Ciel wasn't amused at Sebastian's meddling. He'd been there, seen the events of the night before, known at least some of what was going on in Ciel's head.

Now, however, he was unreadable, even mild. If anything, he seemed polite and curious, graced with the presence of something unexpected. There was no real interest in the way he looked at Negi or even reacted to Sebastian's ministrations. A graceful, polite nod returned the gesture, as fit his station.]

Of course not. Sebastian has been instructed to find supplies -- [Oh yes, he'd seen that little bundle there.] -- and you happened to arrive at an advantageous time for us to return the favor.

[Nothing more to it. He's not looking in Sebastian's direction, other than to offer a nod as the butler adjusted the seat, sitting down as his guest did.]

[Had Negi just left, he would've gotten just the rabbit, possibly an entire whole one, but seeing as how he stayed, it seemed they would dine together. It made things so much more enjoyable.

But Ciel was in a mood, most likely having shut down, and he could feel all those turmoil of emotions within his heart. Added flavoring for his eventual supper. A pinch of salt. A dash of spice. Stir it up fully. He loved it so, but.. without being able to eat it soon, he had to be careful.

He returned with a tray and a silver platter, already setting down the rabbit and cutting into the fine meat. Serving it onto plates without asking he poured the sauce over, and develed out the vegetables, added rolls, and drinks.

Only then did he turn to Ciel's back, behind his chair to the right like a good butler. It was his place after all]

Edited 2010-03-14 21:00 (UTC)

[Negi remained silent the entire time, simply watching Sebastian plate dinner, politely keeping his hands in his lap. He was avoiding looking at Ciel if at all possible. Something had been wrong last night, something that had kept Negi awake, wondering.

Slowly, he picked up his fork, shifting around a bit of rabbit on the plate he had been given. He was hungry, but... somehow, at the same time, he wasn't. After a moment, he took a small bite, exhaling softly through his nose. The rare times he had eaten something Sebastian had made, it had always been delicious.

After politely chewing and swallowing the bite, he took a small sip of his drink, then waited a moment before speaking, voice a little nervous, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Ciel.]

...it's good to see that you're settled in.

[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]

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