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

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

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...]

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[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.

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?

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.

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...]

[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?

[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.......]

I'm not used to people invading my personal space without requesting, actually. [outside of Solomon but no, as annoyed and even furious as he can get with Ciel, he'd never place her on that level....

he may be somewhat unsettled now, but a giant hint like that is pretty hard to miss, even for a self-centered person like him. his lips press into a thin line.] Would you think a saying like that holds true here? [a beat, and then:]

It makes sense when you look at it from that angle. [not an outright acceptance of the truths in her statement, but it's not denial, either. one small step in the right(??) direction...!]

Can't you just accept that as people enjoy being around you? [Beams sweetly!!! Yeah let's be real how many people can anyone even put close to her level... She probably owns an entire tier all by herself welp

Well good, she sure hoped you're not as dense as SOME others!! Because that was kind of like dropping a brick to her usual sneaking around, isn't it. Ciel herself doesn't look bothered, more news at 11]

Why not? Mayfield bends natural laws and forces people to grow more callous, but it doesn't have the power to alter basic human nature or how individuals grow. You've changed too since your arrival, don't tell me you'll deny that much! [Going to saunter towards him now, if he doesn't mind! All the way up to right in front of him, provided that he's willing to let her get that close.]

No, I'd consider that common courtesy. [counters sweet beam with sour scowl... she does though it's a special tier that's not quite on a completely friendly and trustworthy level, but nowhere near a The Asshats I'm Related To level. ISN'T THAT SPECIAL...

yes it takes brick-drops to get him to actually notice things sometimes, but at least his attention sticks with it once it's drawn toward it!]

I think it has that power, in the end. Not the city itself perhaps, but I do believe that those are components that can be changed. [of course he would he's a fatalistic pessimist...

and given how uncomfortable he is with the topic and the sort of behavior she had only just been displaying, he won't be letting her get that close, holding up a hand to stop her progression since moving away would be too shameful, clearly. but he does put some genuine thought into his next answer, and sounds almost wistful when he speaks.] I wouldn't deny it. I could hardly fit my title now.

[Just allow her to giggle bashfully here okay, she's still in her ~~twenties~~ teens!! (Not-so-)pure maiden and all, etc.]

Now you're just trying too hard to be pessimistic. [oh a hand, what rebellious resistance you're putting up... Still, it'll achieve the intended effect of making her stop. She does give it a slightly curious look, but it drops fast to melt back to her habitual ease.] But aha, you would hardly be the only one. I think I've been playing around in this town for too long now, too. Goodness... If I don't get my act together soon, I'll really get killed the moment I step back home. [She offers a sympathetic smile. Their situations are totally relatable...]

[he doesn't believe that bashful pure maiden act for a second okay geez]

Not particularly. It doesn't come with effort. [he's a firm believer in Murphy's law and it is always painfully obvious. either way, he lowers his Ultimate Defense again once he feels certain she won't further intrude on his space.]

Do you think you ought to get your act together, then? [sympathetic smile or not, he's starting to wonder if their situations are somewhat similar. he doesn't really know much about her in the end, after all, outside of the fact that they at least have an equally stark difference between the people they are now and the people they were as children.]

[and you are wiser for it, Charles...........

Small sigh accompanied with a shake of her head, and she looks down on him fondly.]

I'm not sure, honestly. I have a skill set that most people lack when I'm serious. If an emergency crops up where such skills are needed, I'll make the effort to go back to how I used to be. But until then, that's not the sort of thing people close to me right now need, so it should be okay to stay like this for a while longer.

[And whether he's got that arm up or not isn't going to stop her from gently resting a hand on his head, now.]

Did it hurt, Charles?

[one of the few people to hold that distinguished honor. "wise enough to not fall for Ciel's delicate maiden act", how great...]

Is that a luxury you actually afford? If it might get you killed were the situation to change, is it a luxury you'd want to afford? [he thinks it'd be pretty silly for her to say yes, even if it's also what he's expecting...

his reaction to the hand placed on his head is instantaneous, and there's a look of fierce anger on his face for a split-second. it's patronising, he feels; another way for her to spit on the dirt in front of him and grind that mocking sole into his back while he's down. his instantaneous assumptions haven't changed much at all, huh... what has changed, however, is his ability to recognise what comes after them. patronising or not, coming from someone who would tear him down if necessary or not, there's something comforting in the gesture that has his hand frozen in the air, partway up to swiping hers away.]

You're being vague again. [a shift, one foot to the other. there's some amount of arrogance in his tone to cover up the fact that he can't seem to hold that spark of rage close enough, and the softness of his next words.] They don't die.

[He should get a platinum star for that...

He'll get a small - and just a bit self-deprecating, is it? - giggle out of her there.]

Honestly? Not at all. I shouldn't deserve time-off like this in the first place, and I don't even have actual important work assigned here to cover me up like it has back in Japan. But it's all that I have, here and now. So... what else can I do?

[It's a rhetorical question. (These seem to happen a lot, huh...) She doesn't expect an answer from anyone, but even a blind person can hear the mild satisfaction in her tone.] I'll just owe up to the tab in the end, once it comes. That's all.

[She quietly watches his reaction without moving. Even if he struck out, she wouldn't have resisted. After all, she knows it's due to the lack of any other tangible target, he doesn't know how to let it out any other way. Her body can take any amount of bruising, but no human heart she knows can remain that stout. That's why...

The pause did come as a light surprise. A good one though, and she finds her own smile growing softer as a result. Charles...]

And you're trying too hard to act tough again, sheesh... How long do you think you can really keep this up? There's no shame in admitting to that, Charles. [Her hand moves a bit to give a small rub, while she leans over and drops to her knees so that they're on even eye level.] I stopped crying during the second week, but immunity to pain isn't something that the human nervous system can develop. Aha... Don't tell me that the Chiropterans managed to overcome that?

[Her tone might be fainter, but ever last word is uttered with her clear blue eyes looking straight into his. Her shoulders are relaxed, so is her face - which is wearing that sheepish and vaguely cheeky smile he must be sick of seeing at this point. But... Well. That's just the sort of expression she's in the habit of showing. It can't be helped...!]

[his collection is slowly growing more impressive!!

but ah, an unexpected answer. she's so good at hiding it that he sometimes forgets the little instances in the past where she's shown mild signs of-- not quite a guilt complex, but the self-deprecation, that's certainly there. he inclines his head again; he wouldn't have an answer to her rhetorical question even if it wasn't one.]

A bit of a carefree way to look at things, is it not? [his expression doesn't change, but he makes a sound that resembles a dry laugh. nothing about it changes when she moves to be at eye level with him either, save a mild dip in his brow that most wouldn't notice.]

I disagree. [of course... but that gets a visible reaction from him, even if it's a far cry from surprise or pity or anything even remotely readable. a sense of not being completely alone in his experience is what his face is trying to convey, so naturally the message would be muddled. the hand that had been hovering in the air moves forward, stops again.]

I think we are wired differently there, you know, but I couldn't make an accurate comparison. I'm not human. [forward again, until the very tips of his fingers brush against her cheek.] Why you?

[Are you sure it's not rapidly...]

Maybe, but I've already come quite a ways down this road. It's too late to go back or give up. That, and would you say there's any other way? ["Do you have an answer to the same question, Charles?" It doesn't have to be a 'better' one. Just... a reason to go on, really. No matter how much people and things end up changing you in the end. This is simply how people, together, live. There's not much else to it than that.]

Aaah, really? I'm not sure if I should be jealous, now. Are you sure that it's not your memory growing fuzzy? [She jokes lightly, chuckling softly. The lack that he displays of what one would most expect, pity, does make her glad. It's one of those things she doesn't ever wish to receive, so admittedly, it's part of the reason why she's kept much to herself. Besides, what's the point? The past is as it is. These times weren't particularly happy, so they're not really worth reminiscing over. At the same time, however, the events can't be forgotten, not when what led up to it changed her whole life so drastically. It's just a weight to bear, while she continues trekking down the only path she's allowed herself to keep walking on.

...

The touch...

Setting aside the fact that this might just be the most surprising action he's ever yet to take against her during both their stays in this town, she'll just quietly accept it and take no other action.] Aha. Who knows? Maybe it's luck, maybe it's God's will. [#exemplarycatholic] I don't think I'm in a good position to make any assumptions. What about you?

[She's not expecting him to answer that, no, but asking's worth a shot, why not?]

[oh is it have we stepped up a notch GOOD JOB CHARLES (and even in the non-sarcastic sense for once!!)]

Nothing feasible for you, at least. [the steadfast determination of her continuing down the path she had initially picked, regardless of its consequences or the fact that maybe others would tell her she still had time to turn around, is something that also hits close to home. he pauses, thinks of amending his words to include himself, but decides to move on.

the joke, out of place as it might seem to anyone else, gets a smug smile from him. though it's a pale shade of his true smug grins, more for show than anything and lasting barely a second.] You should know how my memory is. [but in this context, he knows it's nothing to brag about with any amount of seriousness. if he was that far off the mark, he wouldn't even know basic things like the sting that showing pity can cause.

his hand remains where it is, touch feather-light but still present.] I've never been the golden child. [maybe a little more than she had been expecting, especially given his reference to the biblical Solomon that she's likely to catch, but still plenty vague. it's quite obvious that he doesn't plan on elaborating further.]

But perhaps I oughtn't make assumptions, either. [a brief pause, and he pulls his hand back.] Who can say? I can't.

[He truly is growing up...

Would he be surprised if she could surmise that much... But yes. Hear no evil speak no evil etc, right? And what do you mean it's not really fitting this can totally work. --Moving on, indeed!!]

Then you should stop sounding so suspicious, geez. [THIS IS HER WHINING but no since it's Ciel it's more like a mild protest, and given that she's not exactly serious about this, it'll probably end up sounding more coy and childish. ...Still a teenager here, totally.]

That in itself seems like it'd come with a lot of responsibilities, honestly. A nice and fancy title is one thing, but reality tends to be quite different, hm? [Being on top of the special snowflake pyramid is overrated!! Though she probably could've picked a less roundabout way of saying it, huh... But anyway, just because she catches it doesn't mean she needs to seriously address it!! She was never too fond of Solomon's story, thanks to a certain co-worker anyway.]

Then that's one thing that we've managed to agree on. [She sounds more glad than she should be...] ...Hmm. If I say that things played out the way they did because they couldn't be helped, Charles, would that come across like an excuse of some sort?

[getting ready to leave the nest soon...

THAT'S WELL ENOUGH THOUGH moments like these are why he puts up with her trolling and needling, really. she does seem to, at the crux of things, understand how to match him step for step in nearly all conversational paths he takes.

the mild protest is met with something of a shrug, and the pale look of amusement on his face fades a little bit with it. yep, definitely not going to brag about that one.]

One would think. I suppose I don't need two titles. ["but it would have been nice", is his immediate thought. oh jealousy, no matter how much he grows, he'll always know where his main vices are... but her bizarre roundabout way of easing his concerns is enough to assuage most bitter undertones in his voice. maybe they could lump their respective Solomons off to the side.....]

You make it sound as though I'm not an agreeable person. [in either sense of the word... WHICH HE ISN'T but details!! another smile similar to his usual ones; he's regaining his balance.] Anything would be an excuse in a situation like this, I believe. It just depends which one a person might find more fitting or comfortable.

[they grow up so fast...

didn't that also include when they trollnuke other people - but fair enough, these two occurrences are not mutually exclusive of each other, fair enough...]

Do you want another one? [Because letting her make one up will surely end well, surely. And ah... Lumping Solomons aside sounds like a great idea!! (Even if hers isn't that big of an asshole and is legit helpful SOMETIMES... once-in-a-man-eating-forest-visit kind of helpful but still) let's do it]

You're very fickle, so it gets hard to tell sometimes. [Giving him a chipper glance!! ...Which is his one warning too, come to think of it--] So you're saying that it's hopeless no matter what? That's sort of depressing, Charles... But I understand. I won't fuss over extra details then, in that case--!

[Did that sound confusing/is she being vague again...

--Oh but don't worry about it, Charles! He wouldn't be able to get much time to mull that over anyway, because he'll be getting pulled forward for a tight hug before she's even completely done talking. If all excuses end up the same, then she can just skip over the pretexts and cuddle him directly without extra concern, right? FLAWLESS LOGIC, TBH

...Seriously though, might as well make yourself comfortable. She's... not quite loose enough to purposefully choke him in her bosom (don't put it past her though......), but will be pressing the back of his head lightly against her shoulder while holding him closely in a fond squeeze. Shhhhhhhhhh... Don't wilt now, okay...]

[yes DIFFERENT THINGS... but they all add up to "reasons why I haven't completely barred Ciel from my life", by some miracle.]

I'd only like a new one if it happened to be as suitable as my first, but having two might take the impact out of it. [when you start piling on titles it can get a little pretentious, and not in the way that he generally approves of... yes there's a difference, small as it may be...!!

either way he's about to open his mouth to counter that when suddenly hugs, hugs everywhere!! HE'S TRYING NOT TO WILT but this also isn't the future he wanted. just when he had been regaining his conversational stride and everything, she has to go and tip him off balance again! it definitely surprises him; to an extent, even now he's unused to the more comforting, delicate range of human contact.

though incredibly, uncomfortably rigid at first (as could really be expected of someone who practically leaps away whenever hugs are threatened from other people) to the point where he might even be holding his breath, he does seem to relax a little after a few seconds. he's not trying to shove her to the other side of the kitchen, at least...!]

[>implying you can bar her even if you tried

that's just silly now, babby bat!!]

Would you hold an audition for that, too? [what best way to find pretentious titles than to stage another pretentious screening process?? ...but okay since this has clearly strayed away from pretending to be anything remotely serious--

--Back to hugs, yes. But don't you remember Charles excuses are meaningless, you said as much yourself, so just accept your predicament!! look it was either that or beat some sense into you again, so looking at the big picture here, you probably got off easy this time. probably.

His sudden imitation of a living pulled bowstring doesn't deter her in the least, naturally. If anything, the hand on his back starts to slowly move in a circular motion, the normal thing to do when you're trying to rub someone down from super high strung anxiety. ...Except this is Charles, huh, god knows he won't throw up if he gets overwhelmed by genuine affection of the physical kind in any form...

and pls don't do that Charles this IS your kitchen, think of how much hassle cleaning up would be...]

I heard a saying, once. 'Pain isn't something that you bear on your own. It's something that you should speak up about.'

[Her nose is kind of buried in his hair, so the voice might end up a bit muffled. But still, it should be clear enough...?

--And no, in case this wasn't already obvious, of course she's not letting go.]

[of course he wouldn't, titles are given not auditioned for!! but he keeps that thought to himself since it's just one made in passing.

but yes just let him revel in a moment that is not having his pride ground into minute particles of dust through horrible beat downs. he isn't exactly comfortable here and now, nor is he fully appreciative of the gesture, but in comparison he definitely did get off easy this time...

and no of course he isn't that indelicate okay, he's known back home as a crybaby, not a gets-sick-all-over-everything-at-the-first-sign-of-physical-affection baby... though he's not doing either right now, which his pride is grateful for.]

It's a pretty saying. [he doesn't like those, and he certainly doesn't adhere to them, but there's something soothing about it coming from her. and gosh, okay, if she's not going to let him go he'll just have to hide his face away from the rest of the world. IT'S NOT LIKE TENDER GESTURES GET TO HIM OR ANYTHING...!]

[man s(he)dgaf what kind of babby he is back home. They're in Mayfield now, and as long as the memory shall persist, he's going to stay as her tsundere babby bat. That's all there is to it!!

...

That's surprising, she really did expect him to brush it off as something silly and idealistic. (Because frankly, that's what she thinks.) Even if it's made as an offhand comment, there's... a certain air of resignation to it, isn't there?

The squeeze tightens, just a little.]

Haha. Would you believe in it?

[He can continue to hide his face, she sure isn't making any shred of effort to take a peek! Just don't mind her shooting for the cross-universe record of 'having held Charles for the longest time without getting backhanded or experiencing physical resistance/injury of a similar sort', alright]

[SIMPLE and definitely good enough for him. though he still isn't sure how he feels about that tsundere title okay, crybaby is almost less insulting than the implication that he actually cares...

it is silly and idealistic, though. pretty sayings are exactly that, which is why he usually saves "it sounds pretty" for sarcastic situations. but there isn't much sarcasm here right now. resignation or not, sometimes pretty sentiments do help more than they hurt.]

Not at all. [it's his turn to sound muffled since nope.png he's not moving his head at all just yet. go Ciel go, collect that record and its accompanying award!!

but okay he really can't just allow himself to accept this sort of situation without some fuss, so after a few more seconds he's gonna try... prying himself away....]

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