true frans don't need permission to break into each other's places!! ...wait

[ex_seventh238]

Who: Ciel and Charles
What: Charles' house looked weird from her stalking angle for a while now so Ciel just decided to go ahead and break in gets a surprise housecall that he wasn't supposed to know about!! Shenanigans ensue, alas.
Where: 767 Bunker Street
When: Oct. 19th, ridiculous hour in the morning like at 2AM
Warnings: Possible spoilers for Tsukihime/Blood+, also casual talk of gore... will update this as needed!

[Not that Charles has been acting particularly suspicious of late, no. If anything, Ciel can honestly say that the babby bat's temperament has been improving. She'd know, with how much time she spends around the Chiropteran even if they're not remotely close in living together... How did this even happen.

BUT! What's essential is that for a while now, he seems to act... not quite as he used to, back at his place. NOT that Ciel actually keeps an active watch all the time to his house, but woman's intuition + her inherent passive perception + predisposed mama henbear instinct + legit stalking has tipped her off to something unusual. ...Which coincides with around the time when Charles confirmed to her that he's traded Horace back at the post office, come to think of it!! He never DID tell her what he received in return, though there has been another few rounds of regains distributed since also, if she recalls correctly.

Either way, it's been something at the back of her mind for a while now, even if she's never given any serious thought to act upon the desire to investigate... Until now, apparently, when she just so happens to pass by during her usual patrol at ungodly hours. Ciel's no amateur at this, specializing in stealth and well deserving of her true profession and title of 'agent', so even if there are non-drone members within the household, she ought to be quiet and discreet enough to slip in by a window completely unnoticed. This theoretically shouldn't take long, she's just wondering if there's anything noteworthy in the house! That means checking the basement would be top priority, buuut she should be able to afford a side trip or two in the living room/study... Charles is out now, probably for his usual midnight stroll, so it should be fine, no worries!~

...Except when have things ever gone to plan, huh. Time is definitely going to end up passing faster than she'd expected, after coming across a certain discovery that she definitely couldn't have guessed. Now when is Charles coming home, she might just need to ask him about this in person, even if she has initially planned for him to NOT find out about her impromptu break-in...]

Comments

[ex_seventh238]

It doesn't, no. But shall I receive that as your confession?

[That he's been there. The lamb, the rat, call it whatever you want. It makes no difference.

Still looking outside, though.]

[encored]

I've had a long time to be a lot of things, you know. God, monster, knight, playwright, and most everything in between.

[lamb too, or as he preferred to hear it, the perfect specimen. his pride won't allow anything less, in the same way it won't allow him to face this topic with any shred of attachment or true verbal confirmation.]

[ex_seventh238]

[Well, that's more or less what she'd expect. This is getting a tad tiresome, but she can play along with the charade if it stays as an indirect means of obtaining some answers in the long run.]

Why did you auction? You don't seem too pleased with the finished product.

[encored]

Anyone would be displeased with something like that. Would you appreciate it if someone with your face was waltzing around sounding like a complete moron?

[granted he regards drones in a very similar light...]

[ex_seventh238]

I don't care how it sounds, I'd be more interested in its physical specs. If my flesh and blood went into it, I want to know everything about it.

[A beat, and in the same passive tone:]

Though if I had a choice in the matter, I would prefer if it never existed. Is that why you keep it locked away?

[encored]

I already do, so there isn't much of a need to be interested in it. [he lifts his chin a little, haughty indifference replacing the previous look of mild amusement.]

It and the mouse share a similar annoying sound, but thankfully this thing is easier to store than the one that came before it. I'd get questions if I left it in the yard, you know? Though it was a mistake on my part, forgetting the potential actions of inconsiderate barbarians.

[ex_seventh238]

[...

Growing a bit more sober, now. Maybe it's about time they stopped beating around the bush and squander time away on irrelevant tangents.]

So what was in it for you?

[encored]

I'm hurt that you wouldn't assume it was out of the infinite kindness of my heart.

[sure is a ping-pong game of emotions in here right now... he shifts on the counter and wishes for a moment that he had something to rest his elbow on, since he's most comfortable reclining with a hand to his cheek.] I never asked for anything in return.

[ex_seventh238]

Of course not. Reality is different from plays. There is no registration, no auction, no rehearsal, no scheduled performance dates. Roles aren't chosen, simply given. Things aren't planned, they just happen. [You don't say, with the thin transparent smirks and the pokerfaces all up in here...

He can act like an amused kid all he likes. She's standing still like a statue, still leaning against the door frame and looking his way with a detached and empty air.] You weren't asked, neither have you done any asking. Do you honestly expect anyone to believe that things went by the way you wanted them to?

[encored]

[ALL THE FRONTS. Ciel might have perfected hers, but his underlying defense mechanisms are definitely something to be reckoned with. one doesn't go through one hundred years in denial over various this and thats without having some hearty walls, which is likely the only reason he's able to keep up said thin transparent smirk in the first place.]

They did, in some ways. [at which point he allows himself a brief, private smile before turning an even brighter one to Ciel.] But that's none of your business now, is it? If you want to hear yourself talk so badly, I'd rather not be audience to it. Ah, but thank you very much for taking the time to remind me of the kind of person I'm dealing with. It's always a refreshing experience, rare as it is.

[ex_seventh238]

I suppose not. It's just nostalgic, in a somewhat ironic way. [She briefly closes her eyes. Charles you have issues.





Not a word about her, ok.

But with a small sigh, she'll prop herself back up to a standing position, and look back at him in a vaguely... curious and resigned look?

(That's just her way of not taking his PA brat attitude, actually...)]

You were still surprised, back then. Was it your first time meeting someone with 'perfect' immortality, Charles? I can't remember whether or not I've asked you this before.

[encored]

Nostalgic in what way? [nope you're not getting off the hook that easily this time you tricky fiend.

resignation oh no... he likes riling people up so much more, even if this sort of reaction will also do in a pinch. he raises a hand, and the smile is gone again.]

You have, and I'll say the same thing I said then. Your form of immortality is different than my own, but mine is also considered perfect in the world that I come from. I said to you that night that there's only one known thing in the world that can truly kill us. Do you not recall that? [she probably brushed it off as pointless bragging or an innocuous statement at the time, but given what they had been talking about up until this point...]

[ex_seventh238]

[oh oh are we playing tag


time for him to lead the chase and see how that's like!! She purposefully ignores the question to jump on the rest of what he's saying.]

I do, but it seems to me like your researchers haven't experimented enough. Every injury takes a toll on your recovery, right? I could tell that much, from personal experience. [--wait is she relaxing her posture and starting to smile...] Has none of your kind ever been killed again, and again, and again, and again, and again, repeatedly without pause, up until the point when you've exhausted your stamina reserves? [That repetition

didn't sound cray cray at all nope] I wonder. Can you tell me what happens to a Chiropteran then, Charles?

[encored]

You'll have to keep wondering, in that case. Classified information, you know? Only a few are privy to it, and you most certainly aren't one of them. [thirty years on his part and fifty years on Diva's has ruled out pretty much everything under the sun, and he could answer her question easily with something she might find surprising if he so chose, but he's holding his cards close to his chest now.]

But that's not very fair of you, asking so many questions of me and not allowing me any. [it's worded and spoken very politely, like he's talking about what kind of tea biscuit goes best with Earl Grey and not something batshit insane gj these two]

[ex_seventh238]

I probably would if I existed in your world actually, I'd argue! [Wow tension sure peaked when everyone started smiling huh

Every person in this room has issues]

Of course not, life isn't fair. You'll never get anywhere if you just passively stand back, so I make my own opportunities when I need something done. Do you remember the examples I gave you the other night, Charles? [same here same here

gj indeed they should have a toast before the night ends..........]

[encored]

[THEY HIDE THEIR ISSUES SO... well.... or maybe only Ciel and maybe only under most circumstances whoops]

You wouldn't. [and he almost boasts about why but catches himself at the last minute because he realised he'd be willingly give away more information about his situation. see he's learning!!]

My, that's a little vague. I can think of several occasions where you've elbowed your opportunities out of others. Narrow it down, would you?

[ex_seventh238]

[ALL THE WRONG THINGS and to absolutely no one's surprise everything is beyond awful once again...]

Silly, I wasn't talking about these sort of examples. Those pertaining to dying! We only spoke about it once, but I'm fairly sure I mentioned something that'd be difficult for modern medicine to achieve.

[that or she can start making a new list now

same to her really your pick]

[encored]

[it would totally be a good thing if he wasn't using it against her okay! but yes and then the slippery slope reappears and they all fly down it at the speed of light]

Ah, still vague. If you're referring to that night we spent together, you and I, there are quite a few examples and lessons I walked away with then. [is he being obtuse on purpose WHO KNOWS...]

Does this have anything to do with your nostalgia? I'm not interested in sparking up any of my own for conversations that have already passed, I'm afraid.

[ex_seventh238]

[crazy end for everyone etc

also

>examples pertaining to dying
>quite a few examples and lessons walked away with

A....h]

Eh, really? I didn't pin you for one with poor memory. I've heard that consuming too much sugar deteriorates the memory, but it seemed like a rumor at the time... [totally didn't just take a shot at some other loser here too nope]

It does, yes. [/shamelessly admits without batting an eyelash, she can be so candid too sometimes... also for all the wrong reasons] But you tend to handle everything so poorly, so I have a feeling that this is one of those times again. After all, 'dying' doesn't do anything to your body, right? It gets hard for normal people who are forced to get used to that in this town, but to us, we have an advantage. It's all the more reason why we ought to know better about the more subtle aftereffects, isn't that logical? [cupping her chin in one hand while looking back in a relaxed stance, nothing wrong here]

[encored]

[there could be no other end...

and no need to look into it too closely!! it was just a passing remark, definitely just a passing remark]

It's a rumor, indeed. If nothing else, I'd like to think my memory isn't so poor as others. [other losers are always fair game in his book.....]

Ah, this again? I won't delve into this argument with you. You already know my stance on it. [which he still sticks by to some degree even after that whopping beatdown she handed him, how healthy. he's of the honest opinion that there aren't many subtle aftereffects that matter, regardless of what he's been shown.] I hope you're not talking about nostalgia particularly pertaining to that night.

[ex_seventh238]

It's starting to look like it, though... [even while discussing this sort of topic why

...

Oh that gets a small giggle out of her.] You're being childish again, and of course I'm not that sentimental. Were you hoping to hear about something specific, Charles?

[encored]

Or, more precisely, I'm not entirely sure what point you're trying to tie to this. Creating opportunities has little to do with what happened then, I'd say. [SHRUGS...

yes he's being childish that has been the theme of his entire life this whole conversation, right alongside the bitter adamant denial.]

Not particularly. It was interesting, that's all. I don't have much desire at all to continue listening to you regardless of what it is you have to say, as I've already stated.

[ex_seventh238]

Well, it's your life. If my guess is right, no matter how largely you lived back home, when it comes down to things that actually mattered, you likely didn't have much say or were given many chance opportunities for much at all. [/effortlessly follows along]

Hehe, you probably grew tired of listening to me more than over a year ago. But we still talk pretty often, don't we? I wonder why that is? [ciel don't act so cheeky around the captain of the butthurt brigade...]

[encored]

[damn you super sleuth Ciel. he really shouldn't be so surprised by now that she can read him so well, or he should have at least caught on to the fact that he's pretty easily read, but it still pushes him slightly off of his conversational balance nonetheless. nail on the head as usual, hm.]

Because you break into my house at ungodly hours, manhandle my possessions and leave me with no other choice? [a scoff, and he slides from his spot on the counter to stand on his feet once more.] We were talking about you at the time. Concerning opportunities, I mean; you were the focus of the topic, not myself. What would lead you to such a convoluted conclusion?

[ex_seventh238]

[babby bat............ /pats]

I could try giving you choices, but you wouldn't understand unless it's like this. After all, setups like these must be what you're used to the most, hm? But I don't think you'd compare me to the usual crowd that you're more accustomed in dealing with, or at least, I would hope not?

[...]

Heh. Haven't you figured it out by now? Experience is the greatest teacher, or so the saying goes. [This is the bluntest hint he's going to get - at least, for the time being.] You just struck me as a really peculiar case. You bottle up things you don't like, and as a result, are really bad at dealing with matters that you can't control. We talked about this before, remember? So I wondered. Why would someone selfish and short-tempered accept being used when there's nothing in there for them? Ah, I know that there might be pieces I'm missing from the big picture, but it still doesn't sound like you at all no matter how I try looking at it. Does that make sense? [Her attention's completely fixated on him now, her demeanor calm and controlled like it always seems to be. Hang... in there.......]