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]

[She finally stands up. That's part of what... 'looking after' entails, huh. Taking responsibility, too. Spell it out bluntly for them even when they refuse to see, regardless of whether they have the capacity to or not. And even if they don't or can't, somehow make them see, make them understand, make them realize why these things are important.]

How you feel about him is irrelevant. No matter what you may recall, it doesn't change the fact that you've contributed directly into his coming of existence. You can justify it as you like, but you're treating him no differently than how you've been treated in the past. Doing the same thing to him that made you resent others in your personal experience. Wearing your face, too... Tch. Do you not see the irony at all? Or are you choosing again, to purposefully remain in denial?

[encored]

[a scoff] Please. I had reason for resentment long before the circumstances that brought such a thing into existence came about. [looks like the ABORT ABORT signal is flashing in his subconscious, since the tentative steps he took out of his comfort zone are quickly being retracted. nope nope, not gonna take responsibility for something he was forced to have a hand in. if anything, his treatment of 06 and the mice is very much on purpose. if he's treated poorly by everyone else, there has to be something lower than himself on the totem pole.]

Either way, it won't be a problem after this evening. I've already said as much, haven't I? Perhaps this time I'll actually receive something useful. I do have quite a number of decent books that I haven't seen in years, now.

[ex_seventh238]

...

[She closes her eyes, and when she speaks, there's an uncharacteristic edge of weariness in her quiet tone.]

Ah, please do. Any distance you may choose to keep running would be preferable to this.

[This... may or may not be what he was expecting, if he was expecting anything at all already]

[encored]

[oh, he does look a little surprised, actually. with how bullheaded she can be, he had been expecting to be held up much longer... and, even more surprising, he's not entirely sure how he feels about it.

STILL he's counting this as a conversational win even if it's far far from it and the point sailed over his head entirely. there goes the gold star he earned earlier...]

I'm so terribly sorry that you found something you didn't like by sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. Is that all, then?

1/2

[ex_seventh238]

[She takes a step back and opens her eyes.]

I feel sorry for you, actually. To have buried your open scars so deeply away that you now refuse to even recognize the very loneliness and pain that you still feel, reflected through eyes identical to your own on a mirrored face that you can reach out and touch. ...You would stay like this even if he smiled at you, wouldn't you? Really. If you can't recognize yourself, how do you expect anyone else to?

[That's how deep his denial ran, huh. Even Father isn't that bad.]

2/2

[ex_seventh238]

[She turns her back to him.]

You may not tire of seeing the world in agony, including your own image, but others do. If you can't even stand to look at a cheap copy of yourself smile, then at least have the decency to spare him of further suffering on your account. For both him and you, there has already been more than enough. ...Besides, when the end comes, all the pains that he would've accumulated will ultimately be tallied on top of your own. Keep that in mind, if you adamantly refuse to acknowledge anything else I've said tonight.

[What a winner you are, Charles... :|]

[encored]

[his eyes narrow sharply at that, and he'd take a step forward if he didn't have such a strong desire to maintain physical distance right now.] Don't you dare look down on me like that. [focusing on the lesser slight of that entire statement to avoid the plain and open truths of it... it is pretty impressive in a sad way how complex his denial has grown over the decades.]

I don't expect that of anyone. I don't want that of anyone. [being recognized would be too terrifying. when she turns her back, he takes a step to the side, clearly intending on leaving the kitchen. he does pause on the threshold to wave a hand in the direction of the basement.]

If you're so concerned about its suffering, take it with you. Keep it for the night until I can return it to the post tomorrow.

[ex_seventh238]

[He wants to stay as far away as she is right, huh. ...She doesn't hold him in contempt, of course not. Charles, do you really still have to keep fighting so desperately when your transparent cover has already been blown, more than just pierced and completely seen through?]

Then stop looking down at yourself.

[...

She won't stop him, but she will pause briefly to look back. If he hasn't also turned his heels and is standing at a point where he can clearly see her face, he can witness for herself just how much she's 'looking down' at him.

There's just... a quiet and fragile reflection of empathetic sorrow, is all.]

I can't carry your cross for you, Charles. Just go as soon as the Post Office opens. [That... would be best, for both your sakes.]

[encored]

[even if the shell from a hermit crab is removed, it'll keep looking for a new one... that is to say, he does realise his facade is laying in pieces at his feet, but he already regrets acknowledging it to the extent he has.

as for the look on her face, he only catches a glimpse of it and quickly turns to avoid studying it more fully. he can't tell if the aching in his chest is due to anger or something else, but he doesn't allow himself to ponder over that for very long, either.]

I've already said I will, so leave it. [he hadn't really been hoping she'd carry his burdens anyway; it had just been an envious barb, a little jab at the fact that she was showing concern for the clone he mistreated just moments after meeting him. sensible? nope. he never does very well on that front...]

[ex_seventh238]

[Why did the babby bat learn to make hermit crab impressions before anything else...

She gives a tiny sigh as she turns around to passively stare at the doorframe.]

Mm. Are you retreating to your room for the night?

[encored]

[it has "hermit" in its name... DESTINY.....

but he'll glance over his shoulder only briefly on his way into the foyer connected to the kitchen.]

I am, yes. You know the way out.

[ex_seventh238]

[this is not the destiny you want..........

She doesn't answer, there's nothing more to say. ...She won't be moving, though, simply standing there while redirecting her gaze to the windows to look outside. She'll get going when she's ready, unless he's become paranoia-wired enough to want to make sure she's out the house before he retires for good. Either way.]

[encored]

[no but it is the destiny he deserves......

he's going to be going up to his room, shutting the door and everything, but his paranoia is pretty high so he's not going to actually be doing... anything.... until he knows that she's left the house. in the meantime he'll just be sitting by the window, senses trained on any noises she might make downstairs.]

[ex_seventh238]

[it's the destiny every churchie deserve...


but look at them now

...

Ah, she'll start walking. Leave the kitchen, step into the hallway, and...

...

What is there to hesitate, really? She's already made up her mind, whether the same could be said for him or not.

She doesn't head for the exit, but for the basement. Her steps stop in front of the door leading to the room below. And there, she turns her back on it, sits down on the floor, and leans her head against the wooden frame.

Charles...]

[encored]

[the didn't get a super fantastic end but at least it's not the hermit crab end....

really though, he's pretty agitated when he doesn't hear the front door open. he can't have a proper pity party with an audience, and crying out of frustrated jealousy over his own clone and the fact that it might have a decent future is definitely not a very elegant thing to do.

so he'll pick up a book after a few minutes of not moving at all and settle back in the chair by the window to read. he most likely won't be moving from his room until she's gone unless there's good reason, regardless of what hour that might be.]

[ex_seventh238]

[or the 'rocks fall everyone die' end...

admit it he likely won't be registering a single word from that book either, stubborn uncool lame loser that he is

and... nope. It was her limit when she convinced herself to not go downstairs and sit by the clone's side instead, so she'll just stay hanging in the middle. On the other side where 06 is locked, and below the floors that Charles himself must be currently seated.

...What a sad state of affairs.]

[encored]

[for now, at least...

HE MIGHT... a few at least!! he already has pretty much every book he's regained memorised anyway, so focusing on them isn't entirely necessary. but wow it's a good thing he doesn't need to sleep, since he's on edge the entire night as she camps out by the door. HE CAN HEAR THAT HEARTBEAT, CIEL, HE KNOWS YOU'RE THERE...

come morning, at around 9 or so, he'll finally give up on the hopes that she'll leave, assuming that she's going to stick around for some inane purpose like ensuring he doesn't beat up 06 on their way to the post. anyway just gonna descend the stairs now, looking surprisingly composed for someone who spent the larger portion of the night seething in tense silence.]

[ex_seventh238]

[Eh she doesn't really need sleep to live for a day either, she can cram later. Granted a normal person SHOULD get at least some sleep daily, but he wouldn't hold her to the norms, would he.

And in case her NOT MOVING wasn't obvious already, Charles, she doesn't care!! You have to deal with her until this is over with, okay. She sticks by how she can't carry your cross for you, but whether you may ever come to realize it or not, helping is not out of the question. Even if by all appearances, tagging along would look more counterproductive than anything else...

He'll find her seated, cross-legged in front of the door leading to the basement. She doesn't look up at his descent, appearing every bit as calm and composed as a meditating priestess ought to be, though depending on how honed his sixth sense has gotten by now, he may also be able to tell that the perimeter around her feels... different.

It's nothing intrusive or uncomfortable though, she just had to pull a few precautionary strings to not get noticed by drones. No sentient member of the household passed by, either; let's chalk it up to divine grace and speak no more of it.

Anyway.

Are you there yet, Charles?]

[encored]

[he wouldn't be surprised if he found out she didn't need some amount of sleep daily. sometimes he forgets she's basically just a human with some enhanced abilities...

regardless, he pretty much assumed that was her plan of action by the time six or seven rolled around. ...well, it was either that or she had decided for some reason to try and protect 06 but that didn't make much sense even to his envy-addled brain, so he shoved that theory aside quickly.

ANYWAY he does make a brief note that something feels different about the place, but it's only in passing and not something he focuses on at all. instead he walks almost right up to her, holding a hand out to rest it lightly against the door. testing, mostly, to see if she's just waiting or if it's something else.]

What an impressive guard dog we have.

[ex_seventh238]

[she still did her time as a monster and 'some enhanced abilities' class her among the most powerful hoomans in her world, that's gotta count for something!!

...oh he didn't jump to the worst possible conclusion. the little steps, they are happening *^*

--But yes! No. ...Er, the closed door is just that: a closed door, and that's pretty much exactly what she's been doing in the last 6-ish hours: waiting.

She quietly breathes out, but still doesn't make any attempts to move or open her eyes just yet.]

Are you ready to leave?

[encored]

[considering how powerful she is YEP... though it still doesn't excuse her for skipping on sleep!! if only he were a more caring person, but he doesn't even take note of the fact that she's still awake and has likely been awake all night.]

Are you to tag along? My, you truly are concerned, aren't you? I suppose even if I promise to you that I won't harm it, you wouldn't be convinced, hm? [well if the door's all fine and dandy he'll be reaching for the knob and delicately stepping around her to start down the basement steps yep...]

[ex_seventh238]

[you haven't even seen her final form--

--THAT IS.

No need to sidestep, she'll stand up and graciously move aside. So much politeness all around...]

That's not my concern.

[(It's you.)

But alright go ahead, no one's stopping you. Ignore the looming feeling, she IS right behind you... but just watching, so don't worry about that. She won't be coming down, but she will be standing by the door and waiting for him to come back up with 06.]

[encored]

[is it a hermit crab]

Of course, of course.

[DOWN INTO THE ABYSS HE GOES thank you for sidestepping so kindly!! now time to play Let's Wrangle The Clone... which no thanks to a certain someone here is a little more difficult than it would normally be since 06 isn't actually starved anymore. Corpse Corps are designed to kill Chevalier okay, even if they're meant to be effective in large numbers, taking down one on its own is still a bit of an exercise!!

meaning it might be a little longer than initially expected before Charles comes stomping back up the stairs with 06 in tow, significantly more ruffled and out of sorts than he had been when we walked down there. WINNERS ALL AROUND.]

[ex_seventh238]

[now you're just massively projecting


she still seems passive, but her shoulders do drop a bit when these two losers are finally back up. Trying so hard to fight down her urge to eyeroll...

BUT YES]

You two aren't going to keep this up, are you?

[Staring down at both Charles and 06 in a mild but alarm-raising flat gaze of subtle warning...]

[encored]

[NONSENSE...

luckily for everyone involved, 06 seems to drop some of his mad flailing as soon as he notices Ciel's look. it's less that he has any sense of self-preservation and more that he's just keen on avoiding that sort of stare since it's similar to the one Charles already gives. said loser smooths down some fly-away hair that had gone out of place during the struggle and turns his nose up.]

Don't make this any more difficult for me than it already is. One nuisance is bad enough. [either way TIME TO GO, NUISANCE. he'll just be dragging 06 in the direction of the front door now, despite rather loud noises of protest.]