Inbawks

[somakemelaugh]

Comments

[sweetlies]

[He technically did nothing. At least, that's what he'll insist. Money exchanged hands and a piano was delivered, he could plead the fifth on everything after the money left his hands.

Except maybe when it comes to the cupcakes. Those very clearly are his handiwork.

He'll find Ciel lounging in their room, reading one of Undertaker's fantasy novels. And when he hears that voice, he looks up and smiles.] I didn't hear you get home.

[somakemelaugh]

[Without waiting for an invitation, he steps to the foot of the bed and drapes himself across it with a grin.]

You didn't miss much, though I think I did. Seems we have acquired something new and rather large while I was gone. I wonder how that happened?

[sweetlies]

[He watches and he can't help a little chuckle at seeing Undertaker just drape himself over the bed.]

Mm. I think it got here a couple of hours ago. [So innocent. He definitely didn't let them in or anything.]

[somakemelaugh]

[He's lazy, and it's a good bed!]

A few hours? I'll have to be more watchful. Goodness knows anything could have happened. Might be a violin decides to show up one day and move in with it, or a harp. We might have the full orchestra in our living room and I'd not even notice until they started playing. What a terrible roommate and guardian am I!

[sweetlies]

[He agrees!]

The harp would be awfully lonely though, I'm not sure if anyone here knows how to play it. [Another little laugh and Ciel shakes his head.]

You're a wonderful guardian. You keep me safe and fed and healthy when I would otherwise neglect myself.

[somakemelaugh]

Eh. [He shrugs a shoulder and nestles in against his own arm a little before sitting up again.] Someone might learn, but I'm loathe to lose my fingernails over it. Might be we can persuade your father to learn.

[Following that claim that he's a good guardian, he reaches for one of those feet and gives it a light pull toward him.] Am I? Whatever else I am, I'd like you to enjoy what you've done as much as I will. Come, milord.

[sweetlies]

[Just a soft, lighthearted, little scoff.] You were able to swing that scythe around so casually on the Campania, I can't imagine a harp would ruin your nails.

[A little almost-squeak slips out and he shifts until he's laying beside him.] What I've done?

[He'll play innocent as long as he can. Watch him.]

[somakemelaugh]

[Oh, this Earl.] You may be surprised. And yet you may not. They can be changed, but I like it when they're visible. [And for that, he reaches to give that head a gentle scritch with them before pulling back and scooting off the bed and drawing that leg and the boy with him, if he can.]

What, indeed? I think you know well enough.

[sweetlies]

They can? [Actually, as he thinks about that, it makes sense.] I guess I'd thought you had just cut them when we were both at Weston. Since those gloves would never had fit otherwise.

[When he's tugged along, he lets out a half-hearted little squeak and lets himself be tugged.]

Maybe it was father? [One last try.]

[somakemelaugh]

[To show off a little, he lifts his hands and lets his nails shorten as he does so with a grin.] Just like so. [They grow back again to length and he lets Ciel's foot to the floor so he can offer that hand out to help him up from the bed.] I wasn't fond of those gloves, if you'd like to know. The material was soft, but it takes away from the feel of things. When you start to lose your eyesight like I have, the other senses make up for it.

[And he's not convinced!] I doubt it was.

[sweetlies]

[He'll just take a moment to stare, a little disturbed and a little bit in awe. That certainly makes sense.

It's distracting enough that it takes him a moment to reach out and take that hand as he gets up.] You were disguised really well. I would never have guessed it was you. Especially if you hadn't chosen to invite me to the Midnight Tea Party.

[He tried at least! And just lets out a soft little sigh and smiles.] I suppose... I've run out of excuses.

[somakemelaugh]

[Not to worry! Those nails are back to their proper length by the time Ciel takes his hand to stand.] It's the hair that does it, and the eyes. Such a dramatic change in appearance from the norm that it takes a second for you to realize you're still looking at the same person.

[And back out to the living room he'll lead the boy, for the sake of doing so.] You could have fought me on it a little longer, I suppose, but I still would have brought you here to thank you properly.

[sweetlies]

I'm still not sure I would have been able to guess at all. Even Sebastian couldn't guess.

[But then, he'd never guessed Undertaker was anything but human, either. A surprise for everyone.] What would you have tried to keep denying it?

[somakemelaugh]

[Yes, the demon. Well.] There was no reason for him to suspect. Not then, anyway.

[Once he gets to the piano bench, he'll sit down on it the wrong way and pat the empty space beside him, inviting Ciel to sit.] I wouldn't have invited you to the tea party. It could have given me a little more time, but you would have forced your way in at some point, I suspect, or had that butler of yours do it.

[sweetlies]

[Yes, his unfortunate shadow even here.

He'll move right over with him and settle down on the bench.] I probably would have. You know how determined I can be when I want something done. I did set fire to Violet Wolf house after all.

[somakemelaugh]

[No worrying about it now. There are still powers that be that are being consulted to help them on that front soon enough.]

Yes, you did, entitled Earl that you are. But we're here now, and I hope you'll let me help you learn the joys of this marvelous contraption without setting fire to it in a literal sense.

[sweetlies]

[He tries not to worry about it. Really, he hardly thinks about it lately except when he puts his eyepatch on each morning.]

I couldn't think of any better way to investigate. And I wasn't about to satisfy Sebastian thinking I needed his help. [Smug bastard... He'll turn a bit though and smile up at Undertaker.]

I'm sure the piano will be fine. I can't guarantee any kind of skill or that I won't make some people deaf.

[somakemelaugh]

Making those deserving turn deaf might be better still than turning this lovely work of art to dust. But here then. [He puts one hand on the keys and plays a little trill of notes.] Sounds good for that. I trust it's tuned well enough. Let's see what you can do.

[sweetlies]

[Since he's already given in to admitting responsibility for the piano, he'll smile and listen as he depresses those keys.]

I told them to make sure it was tuned properly when they brought it. Just so it would be ready for you.

[somakemelaugh]

[First one hand, then the other goes to the keys, feeling his way around. One note plays, then another, then a string of them, and he's not thinking about it. Muscle memory still works well after all of this time.]

Did your father have any hand in this? I'll have to thank him properly when I see him next.

[sweetlies]

He didn't tell me not to when I brought it up?

[Not that he would have listened to Vincent on the matter. Undertaker had taken good care of him up until this point, especially before his father had arrived. He deserved something nice.]

[somakemelaugh]

[Hmm.]

Guilty by association, then. Oh well. I suppose this means I'm giving both of you lessons. This is too grand a gift, milord. As humbled as I am by it, I'll not be enjoying it alone. You have to know you deserve this as much as I do. [If only he could afford to do something as nice for them.]

[sweetlies]

[He stares for a moment then his smile turns soft. And he shrugs.]

If it makes you happy, it doesn't seem like too grand a gift to me. Besides, you've also looked after me and the cafe would have been impossible without you. [Just having Undertaker there with them is enough for Ciel, at least.]

[somakemelaugh]

[He shakes his head.]

It makes me happy, milord. I only worry about how much you must have spent on something so lovely, even if I do work for you. The way that you handle your business back in London, I have no doubt that you could manage the cafe here as well as the rest of your company. You give me too much credit, I think.

[sweetlies]

I see it more as working with me.

[In fairness, back in London he has the benefit of a demon to help increase sales and deal with advertisement.] I disagree. You know more about teas than I do, and you worked at that other cafe enough that you certainly know more about coffees than I do.