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 Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 12:51 pm
"Young Master...Open your eyes."
It was late enough in the morning already and Sebastian had to admit that he felt terribly out of sorts having already gotten off on the wrong foot...Not that his foot had been the issue. Frowning down at the calm features of his young Master the demon sighed, standing straight and, after a moment of confusion, raised his right hand up to push against his brow. So aggrivating. He had to admit, slightly, for a moment, he had been upset with his dear Earl. The things he did for him under the contract and now, a permanent reminder to carry with him even once their contract was complete. Sebastian had yet to be certain if he cared for the child's twisted mind enough as to consider the loss a badge or a scar. In time the demon supposed that decision would be made itself. But the matter at hand was far more important. Ciel.
Bringing his hand down and looking back to the sleeping Earl again the demon frowned, ever so slightly. No, he would not at all be content to realize that his adventure had ended within the watery depths of the Seine and all that he had experienced, for it seemed that he experienced a lot by the tossing and turning of his sleep, was nothing more than fever induced hallucinations. Oh Ash was gone, that had been real enough, and Sebastian was more than happy to be rid of the disgusting excuse for an angel. But Ciel still had others out there to gain control over, to destroy, oh he would be so upset... The demon smirked.
The loss of his mark of the contract was causing two very difficult, albiet difficulties for two different people, problems. One, while the verbal link to their deal remained the demon could no longer properly feel the state of his young Master's mind. Nor could he, if he went off and found trouble as he was apt to do, track him down as quickly as he could before. The other matter pleased Sebastian and caused the difficulties for Ciel. Sebastian was free...In a way. The chains of the contract had loosened, giving him room to move as he hadn't in years...Plenty of room to manuver and get his own mark set back into place...When he was good and ready to.
Not attempting to rouse his young master again just yet the demon brought his fingers to his lips. Removing the soft fabric with his teeth far more out of necessity than desire to show off; Sebastian had been quite grateful for the privacy of his room to manuver the garment on. Dropping the glove onto the bed he brought his fingers to his lips again, biting down with an elongated canine and drawing blood from the tips of his fore and middle finger, "It is my duty to teach you young Master...As a butler and tutor to an esteemed Earl such as yourself, it would be disgraceful if I did not employ the best methods."When enough blood had pooled he reached out, carefully manuvering his dark nails and the liquid dipped fingertips past the childs rosy lips and against his tongue. Hot and spicy, a method to delve into the young soul's mind, to regain his mark and increase the quality of the prize that would one day be his...And it wasn't as if his Earl had told him to stop.
Pulling his fingers away and calmly licking off the residue left behind Sebastian turned his back to the sleeping child for a semblance of privacy to tug his glove back into place. Calm, composed, the perfect butler again he smiled with no hint of what he had just done as he once again attempted to rouse the child.
"Young Master...Open your eyes."
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 8:58 pm
 Breathing heavily, Ciel twisted and turned. The white sheets that were usually so comforting to him, seemed to en-wrap his body, trapping him within its clutches. Of course, the small boy did not see the sheets in his dream, nor did he recognize them. Instead they were hands, pale hands reaching for his legs all of their black painted fingernails digging into his legs. Don't touch me!! he screamed but the words didn't come out, he was choked or at least felt that way. He tried opening his mouth but a huge amount of water filled his insides until he couldn't bare it any longer and was forced to close it again. Or...was it water? He wasn't necessarily sure; the whole setting was pitch black, and the only thing visible to him were the dread hands. He looked up in a desperate manner and it surprised him to actually see something as he stared. At first it was a blur but it came into focus as his eyes strained themselves to peer at the strange glow.
Finally he managed to see it clearly, his eyes widened in surprise as he realized what it was. Fire. The entire top was burning with fire. Ciel thrusted his body wildly now, trying to escape the grips, the fire seemed to close in on him now, inching its way closer and closer. He tried to close his eyes, but they remained wide open, unblinking and refusing to close for even a second.
Then bitterness. Ciel's mouth began to taste something strange as he passed his tongue from side to side in his mouth. He tried spitting it out but it was only forced deeper in. I-iron...? he thought, bringing his shaking hands to his lips."Master..." something echoed in within all the darkness; it was faint but loud enough for him to hear. Ciel turned at the voice, trying to find it....it..sounded so familiar but......he couldn't place his finger on who it was. The voice repeated itself once more, but Ciel couldn't find the source; everything was pitch black to him.
"Young Master...Open your eyes."
My...eyes...? My eyes are open...
a hand went from his lips to his left eye, but when Ciel touched it, he could only feel his closed eyelid.
A gasp escaped the boy's throat as he bolted right up from his bed. He took in deep irregular breathes, his lungs grabbing all the air they could take. His skin felt extremely hot and he noticed he was perspiring extremely as his dark hair matted against his forehead and his arms stuck to the sheets. Sheets? He was in a room? When did he get here? Was he not drowning? Where were the hands? The fire? Still panting, Ciel looked about the room confused, that is until he saw a tall, lean figure smiling down on him.
"Seb...astian...?" 
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 9:29 pm
So confused...It was amazing really, how easily a human could confused reality and dreams. Amusing, incredibly so and the demon was glad that he had so much experience in hiding his pleasures in life. After all, he was going to gain a great deal of enjoyment from his Master's next lesson.
Hand crossing his chest the demon bowed, "Yes my Lord, how very astute of you." He stood straight again, watching the Earl with his normal calm and all-knowing expression, "I am afraid that you have slept in, it is already a quarter past your normal waking hour and your schedule will be terribly backed up if we wait much longer." Moving closer he reached out to carefully fold down the quilt to give the boy plenty of ease to manuver out of the bed should he wish...Which, knowing his young Master, Sebastian was certain he would have to goad him out at some point. Ah well, the challenge of angels may be over but there was always another just around the cornor.
"I have prepared a fine Earl Gray for you this morning along with a sweet porridge and cut fresh fruit." As he spoke the demon carefully poured out a cup of the spoken of tea for Ciel, "The way you were sleeping I believe that a simpler meal will do your frayed nerves well. Comfort foods, I believe is the term humans use." he returned to the nobleman's side to set the tiny plate and carefully perched serving of tea upon it, "Of course, if my Lord would prefer something more delicately prepared it will be done." He paused, finally regarding the child again, "Please hurry, as I said, we are behind."
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:26 am
The way Sebastian seemed to have spoken to him would have made Ciel believe that everything was quite normal, and maybe that then, it was all a gruesome nightmare he had been having. Except....there was one small detail that convinced the boy otherwise. Sebastian was missing an arm. Ciel's eyebrow slightly twitched upwards, at first seeking to ask the butler of this, but Sebastian's recent expression annoyed him and he decided he could muster up an answer himself. For the moment he would just have to play along with the demon, who obviously knew something he didn't for the moment. Ciel's face went from Sebastian down to his owns legs, then closing his eyes and softly sighing the Earl twisted his face into it's usual 'spoiled brat' expression.
"Don't rush me, you have no right to do so." Still the boy turned around in his bed, his legs turning outwards so that Sebastian could dress him as he always did. "I don't need comfort food, just make me something else."
Comfort? Psh, nothing brought comfort to him anymore, and what was worse was the fact that his mouth still tasted like iron; the strange thing was that it didn't all taste bitter, some of it actually tasted sweet and almost delicious but the stronger sour side took over that small taste. "While your at it" Ciel continued "give me something to drink that's strong, I have this strange taste in my mouth I wish to get rid of" he took a pause before looking back up at the butler expectingly "Do you happen to know what it might be?" he asked, thinking that the answer might be in the demon's knowledge.
With his hands placed somewhat behind him, the Earl's posture was straightened up as he glanced down at his legs. Had they gotten longer? He could tell it wasn't by much, but there was still some growth that was noticeable. He had to admit, and only to himself that is, that his small stature sometimes troubled him. It wasn't that his shortness crippled his actions and or abilities to preform, only....handicapped them in a way. He could always find a way to find a way around any obstacle, but he wouldn't deny that being taller would be much more easier if not more efficient.
A pout mixed in with a scowl crossed the boy's face, something that happened quite regularly; when would he finally have a growth's spurt? He moved his legs more inward, so that his feet laid themselves onto the wooden frame. Oh well, as long as he had Sebastian he needn't worry about such trivial things. If a more prolonged person were to cross his path in the wrong way, he could just order Sebastian to kill him.
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:20 am
"Of course not my Lord, my apologies." Bowing slighty as he was corrected for bringing up the schedule, not that it would stop him in a few minutes time from reminding the boy again, Sebastian departed to the wardrobe kept a small distance away. Ah, what a bother. He hadn't fully considered how all of his duties would currently be changing, not to the Earl of course, he would be expected to act as he always had in his eyes, and his own quite frankly. But it would take a bit of getting used to, a little more thought in how to remove the expensive garments from their hangers,on how to carry them properly, and of course, help the noble with his dressing.
"I am quite certain that I do not know what manner of things children enjoy putting into their mouths, nor have I thought about it much." Sebastian stood above the Earl, his clothes for the day carefully draped over his arm and the calm smile still in place, "I will prepare you some black tea then perhaps some tarts to go with so that you might still have your fruit this morning." Falling gracefully to a knee the demon gathered up the pants, carefully rolling up one leg so that he might easily slip the garments on with one hand. Inserting one of the Earl's feet at a time before standing, as he expected him to do as was usual, so that he might finish the job and lace up the garment, "Once you are fully dressed I will prepare another breakfast for you, you would not wish to catch a cold I wager." Hmm...Not too difficult, it made the usually dreary work of preparing the nobleman for his day a bit more interesting when Sebastian had to think about his movements so much. Reaching just below the child's throat he carefully unknotted his night gown so that it might be slipped off and replaced with his undershirt. Going in much the same way as he had with the pants, rolling up each sleeve to make it simpler to put the boy within them.
"Fresh tea, tarts, is their perhaps something else you wish for this morning my Lord?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:00 pm
Waiting as Sebastian took his usual routine dressing him, Ciel stared on. Even though the butler's work was as proficient as ever, he seemed to take longer than usual. Ciel could tell he was not accustomed to this one armed manner, which meant that Sebastian had indeed had an arm not too long ago. Or else he would've worked at a steady pace as he always had. Why was he having this eerie amnesia? It was almost as if his brain didn't want him to remember this important detail and left a huge gap where it once was; but Ciel wanted to remember. He was too stubborn to give up, let alone let his mind win him over and play stupid games with him like that.
A calm expression coming over his face as the man worked Ciel looked from Sebastian back into his room. Everything was in place, in order and just as he left it the day before. The day before was....he couldn't remember. What had he done? Probably the usual work and routine. He nodded slightly to Sebastian's suggest over the breakfast and cold. Now that he had mentioned it, he did feel quite hungry and his skin suddenly began to get goosebumps from a chill that ran down his spine.
"Yes....actually" he said, still looking about the room "I have yet to hear a single sound since I awoke. Where are Tanaka and the others?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:09 pm
Letting the child sit again Sebastian gathered up his shoes, "Oh I suppose at the hospital still. Human doctors are so protective, they would not allow them to be brought back here just yet." and the demon did not press the issue. He was glad to have the silence and the ability to prepare his day as he saw fit. Business could go far quicker, even without an arm, when he did not have to worry about being seen as he flitted from one end of the manor to the next to care for business.
"If you would like for them to be retrieved it can be done. But I thought you might appreciate the peace and my undivided attention my Lord." Ah, troublesome...Manuvering the shoes on was easy enough, but the complicated laces another matter. It took a moment of staring at the mundane objects for Sebastian's mind to plan out a course of attack, but once he had his fingers were able to deftly move up the footwear, a mess of spider's legs producing a perfect bow at the top of each boot. Relieved when no trouble came the demon stood up again and stepped away from Ciel to gather up the Earl Gray that he had refused in exchange for something stronger.
"Would you perhaps prefer breakfast in its proper place today? I can have the table prepared for you by the time you ajourn to the dining hall."
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:31 pm
The hospital? Why would they be in the hospital? Before he could ask the demon went on and Ciel replied by giving him a droll look "Oh yes of course" he stated sarcastically. A small smirk spread on his pale face. He watched as Sebastian tried to tie his shoelaces but had quite a bit of trouble with it. Ciel couldn't help but feel a tinge of sympathy surge through him....and yet, one of amusement as well. The butler had managed to get the laces tied and stood up formally once more. Ciel clunked his shoes together, staring at his legs once more. "Yes, have dinner ready for me there. Now leave, I have something I must see to" he ordered in a stern voice. Although he himself didn't know what he had to see, it was mostly just a lie to be left alone for a while. To his discontentment he couldn't shake the eerie feeling off.
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:44 pm
A smirk came across the demon's features and left as quickly as it had come before he fell into a deep brow, "Yes, my Lord. I will see to it that your meal is prepared, call if you need any assistance at all." he stood straight again, watching, waiting, and then stepping away. How stubborn his young Earl could be, to not ask the simple questions that would gain him understanding. After all, the order to never lie to him had been given long before the contract faltered, Sebastian would never dare let so much as a fib pass his lips in Ciel's direction. But the demon supposed he simply wanted to figure it out on his own. It was a pity that he had 'forgotten' to bring the paper up to his bedroom that morning, ah well...Word would get to him eventually, when Sebastian saw fit.
"Please remain in the more used of the rooms, if you do not mind my Lord...I have been unable to check the entire premisis since our return, I am uncertain what might be waiting out there." His smirk was long since gone and there wasn't even a hint of it ever being there as he carefully manuvered the cart to the door, pausing there so that he might open the boundary for himself, "I will locate you when your tea is ready then." he bowed, low and deep again, before excusing himself...Yes...Humility would be the best first lesson, it would serve him well.
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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 11:34 am
"Alright then..." the boy agreed, not wanting to really push the demon any further but certainly implying that he leave, from the look he gave him as he said this. Ciel didn't keep most promises when he didn't feel like it, something that annoyed most people and sent them wild with frustration. He didn't care much though, he was an Earl and did as he well pleased. No one had enough authority to boss him around....unless it was the Queen of course. The Queen....why did she ....seem so unpleasant to him now?
Ciel kept in his bed until Sebastian found his way out of the room. He waited a few seconds, making sure the demon would not return any time soon. Then hopping off of the bed he quickly dashed towards his cabinet. At first he stumbled and almost fell, it seemed that his legs were finding it hard to get accustomed to walking. However, the pale boy managed to wobble over there and then search through every drawer, box and or any object that could give him some clue to what was happening.
Sadly enough, everything was as he left it. There were no things missing, damaged or added into the wooden box. He slammed everything closed in frustration, and as he looked up, he managed to catch his reflection for the first time since he had awakened. The mirror, which was hung just above the cabinet, almost surprised him at what it showed.
Ciel's usually normal but thin arms now were extraordinarily skinny. The sleeves of his attire left a large gap in between his arm and the material, leaving a bag of emptiness where it would normally be full. Although the sleeves seemed to be quite shorter than expected. His face was strangely paler than usually, and Ciel could see some of his veins showing oh so lightly from some parts of it. Matted and longer than the boy's typical straight cut, his hair as he noticed had changed too. The only thing that remained the same was the eye patch Sebastian had given him. The mark that showed he, Ciel Phantomhive, was a master...and a slave.
Bringing his hand up towards his face, Ciel touched the flesh that surrounded the patch. Circling it almost hypnotically before finally touching the smooth material; he felt the urge to touch underneath it. Something he rarely did unless he needed Sebastian. Still, something called out to him, something burned inside of him and almost begged him to look. The term "curiosity killed the cat" flashed into his mind for a brief moment, but as usual he ignored any sign of warning given to him. With a hesitant, bony finger Ciel reached under it, preparing himself to see the usual sign that was embedded into him. The sign he could never forget.
Finally, when the suspense of his slow movement could not be taken any longer, he yanked the whole thing down. Silence. Then with bulging eyes, and a mouth slightly open, Ciel gawked at his reflection until it dawned on him that his covered eye looked just like his other one; and the seal had been removed.
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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 12:31 pm
Sebastian planned to carry out Ciel's wishes in his normal manner. Planned to return to the kitchen and brew a wonderfully hot pot of black tea and the kind of food more suited to the young Earl's palate. He would prepare it with his usual speed and grace and bring it up to the boy before he had even settled in a room of his chosing. The day would continue on and he would mull over his plans and in time they would come to fruitation, ah but things never went as planned within the Phantomhive manor. Perhaps that was why he was so content there.
The demon had thought to remove the mirror, it would have been the best course of action even if it would not have completely stopped Ciel. After all, there were plenty of mirrors stationed about the boy's home. If Sebastian were to remove them all, which he very well could and in a matter of minutes, the questions would only have come faster. The questions that he would have to answer truthfully and eventually the order to revert their connection to its past state. And so the demon decided to leave the mirror be and hoped for the one thing that was rarely accomplished by any human. That Ciel's curious and troublemaking nature would change and he wouldn't go looking at himself.
Sebastian sighed as he felt the eye become exposed before the last thread connecting him to Ciel vanished completely. At least distance was on his side. The boy could yell and cry (not that he was apt to do either of those things) and the demon could turn a blind eye. But if that bell rung and he was summoned, well, he was one hell of a butler after all. He would do as he was told and Ciel would ask the questions and the orders and would be made and such a thing could not happen.
"No, not at all."
Gloved fingers tracing his lips where he stood in the kitchen Sebastian thought. Yes, humility. Not only was it what the child was lacking most it would be most easy to invoke in his weakened state. Far easier for one to believe that they were born and raised in a downtrodden state if they entered a world of illusions already weakened. And it wasn't as if his Earl was anywhere near suffering true illness or death. His body was just tired, unused to the harshness of the world...No, no, that would be saved for another lesson. For now he would hold steadfast with his desire for humility.
"As it is my job to teach young Master...Perhaps if you were more willing to learn on your own I would not have to resort to such tactics." Speaking to himself Sebastian crossed the kitchen and removed his glove once again, "But I do so wish to see you bow your head, to show true respect...I am not worthy of course, as a butler nor as a teacher..." his hand smoothed over the cold stone walls. Slowly black tendrils and whisps of dark smoke curled around his hand, nails sharprening, skin becoming even paler. Riding the faint cracks in the stone and ridges in the wood that made up the grand establishment the demon's influence rushed to Ciel's room, "However, as I am the only one present I will take this role gladly my Lord. And on my name as your butler I will perform my role as well as you have."
Finding the smallest of openings through the boards in Ciel's room the whisps of darkness moved through the carpet and out to open air. Tracing along the wood and riches about them, snaking back and forth, hurrying to the pale legs and shaking body of the confused Earl to grab ahold of him.
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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 2:45 pm
"What the....?" the Earl cried. The seal wasn't there anymore. What did that mean? Was he longer bound to Sebastian? Did this mean he had accomplished his goal? His soul though....? Ciel bit his bottom lip, tugging at a few strands of his dark hair. Now he was even more confused than ever; one thing was for sure though, if Sebastian had indeed watched him sleeping, he knew about this too. Why didn't he tell him right away?
Tsk....I'm getting tired of this....I might as well just demand answe - -
"What?!" the boy looked down at the floor, something had clutched onto his leg. What looked like smoke... or even something darker and more menacing made its way up his leg. Digging into it harder as the Earl finally realized what had been happening and tried to struggle out of it.
Just like in his dream he was left practically defenseless.
"S-Sebastian!!!"
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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 3:30 pm
"Ah ah ah...So much trouble if you move my Lord." Eyes half lidded as he focused on the movement of the tendrils Sebastian turned his hand as it rested against the wall. A small turn, grasping a few tendrils, and then yanking back towards him. Everything froze, before a moment later and another twist of his hand the darkness sprung to life again. The thin strands wrapped around one another, each struggling to be the one atop the others until a rope was formed. The single thick tendril paused again, tip barely brushing against Ciel's knees and trembling. It tightened and writhed against him like a snake trying to climb and smoke emerged. A sweet yet acrid scent that matched well with the taste of the demon's blood.
Just sleep...
Sebastian's voice easily reached into the child's room and the thin trail of smoke became darker and filled the room faster than one would think possible.
You'll be perfectly safe my Lord. As a butler of the house of Phantomhive I would never let any harm befall you.
Through the thick veil of smoke more tendrils how sprouted from the one wrapped about Ciel's legs. They spread out, surrounding the boy, waiting, watching, and finally, once the smoke was thick enough, lunging. Wraping him up from head to toe, tightening around him, cocooning him from the world and any damage from the outside world as Sebastian's world was created.
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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:10 pm
Finding it hard to bare any longer, Ciel became frustrated when Sebastian didn't come at his command and tried to pry them off himself. The dark tentacle like fog enraptured themselves more and more in his legs. With bleeding nails the boy persisted in trying until he himself had almost given up. Then he heard a whisper, or at least what seemed like a whisper. It was more in his mind than aloud, but he heard it nonetheless. The smoke grew thicker and filled with a new, yet recognizable smell that he had tasted earlier on in his mouth.
.....Sleep...? I am not tired...
Although when saying this, the boy could feel his eyelids heavily sinking themselves against his eyes. He suddenly felt woozy and dazed, and found it harder and harder to keep his balance as the fog kept blooming on like a dark flower.
Harm....? Heh, I find that funny, are you not the one who is harming me at this second...Sebastian? The boy whispered wearily as he recognized the voice cooing at him once and for all. A small smirk had spread on his lips despite his recent situation. After all, how could he help it? Irony was so dreadfully comical at times was it not?
After a few seconds, his breathing steadied down, and Ciel could feel himself losing the battle against whatever had grabbed a hold of him. Oh, how tired he now felt, how horridly tired, that the boy had a hard time even holding his head upright. His arms limped, and his legs buckled in a small bit as his eyes, blue as ever, slowly closed.
Fine...you win... momentarily. Then all went black.
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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:37 pm
It was easy to mold the world to his own wishes. Nobody else was within the manor grounds after the terrible fire, the entire place was under his command. In the time that Ciel slept Sebastian put up wards to keep any unwanted visitors away and adjusted the Earl's childhood home. Portraits were wiped clean of himself and his family, those whom resembled Sebastian but never existed taking up their place. The Earl's clothes vanished and were replaced with sizes tailored to Sebstian, a few belongings, properly worn to reflect his station, placed with the 'butler' in the servants quarters. With both magic and the art of acting the boy's world was turbed upsidedown. In the time of a nap the world went back in time to the sun's rising and the workers of the Michaelis manor began their day.
"Ciel! Ciel get up, you can't still be sleeping, Ciel!?" Maylene, or something incredibly like the maid, was at the worker's side. Grabbing ahold of the rough cotton shirt he had been placed within and shaking him, "Ciel, please get up, you're already late and you know how Master does not like to be off schedule!"
((Gah, small, sorry D: ))
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