and you, you keep holding on to my lonely parts

[masterbaiting]

Who: stabilimentum, masterbaiting.
When: July 6th, in the afternoon.
Where: Outside about Sector 6.
Summary: So, maybe the household is a little overwhelming at times. Also most everyone seems to hold some sort of distaste for Claude- it isn't exactly easy for these two to go about their normal routines with each other with the state of things as they are. A tiny bit of

Comments

[stabilimentum]

Would they look best with bows? Little bows stuck to the strap, right over the top of each foot. Little bows in purple fabric to offset the red of the shoe--which is open-toed, naturally--unless it'd be nicer if the color of the bows matched. They could sparkle, too. The bows, that is. And why not the body of the shoe? Like in that one film from a while ago that featured red ruby slippers. Yes... that'd be acceptable. Attractive, even. And the shoes would have heels--thin, sharp ones. Hmm, definitely attractive. On his master's slim feet, those heeled shoes with the bows and toes exposed would sparkle in the sunlight whenever they moved--

"Your Highness," Claude says evenly, looking away from the painting.

This one is an impressionist's daydream in dark colors, resembling Monet's Vétheuil in the Fog. Claude has just hung it up in this hallway, replacing whatever amateur bullshit Sebastian Michaelis once decided suited the wall better. His fingers leave the painting's frame--a scoop ribbed design with a dark gold antique

[masterbaiting]

Impatience is likely evident in how Alois brings his fingers to his mouth, subtly rubbing teeth against nails and tongue against skin. His insides are humming; he doesn't want to stay still. Feet shift and hips shift and then he's up on his toes, craning to look at what Claude's hung on the wall. His eyes move quickly from colors to Claude and then back again before he swirls away suddenly, already making to click down the hall in preparation for leaving. Where are they heading- impulses are flawed in that they don't leave you with very much thought or cohesiveness behind the half-assed plan

[stabilimentum]

This isn't the first time that Alois has ever demanded they get out and go somewhere, anywhere at all ever, for all manner of mostly arbitrary reasons. His butler just hadn't allowed him to travel very far, since they had certain duties to perform (and dependencies to form), but taking respites to local towns was permissible. Here, though, in Siren's Port, this is their very first daytrip together. Claude is quick on the uptake, following after Alois in nearly the same rhythm, his own steps silent.

"Paints and things for paints," he repeats, sounding vaguely amused. These thought processes are too obvious. "And a parasol for you." It could mean the makings of a picnic--the parasol, to prevent his master from freckling; the paints and things, to capture his master on canvas. "As well as whatever else you might desire, my master."

It doesn't occur to Claude to leave a note either; as far as he is concerned, they don't answer to anyone but themselves. If Ciel Phantomhive has a problem with that, then he's just going to have to

[masterbaiting]

Depending on his state of mind, silent steps can be infuriating to Alois. Being too featherlight can make them heavy by reminding Alois that Claude isn't human. Men have footfalls, after all. Claude has air. Right now, though, it's a bit of a relief to not have footsteps clacking around with everything else in his head. There's not much he wants to deal with right now. Running out is definitely a good idea. There are probably a lot of things to desire. What's the use of limitations? Not very much, thank you. He nearly skips down the stairs, holding onto the bannister with one hand.

"I'm not hungry yet."

It manages to be both curt and a chirp. It's true that he's not and he doesn't want to think ahead yet, but imagining it vaguely is admittedly nice. This is going to be a Day, and a Good Day at that. "We'll see how I feel later on," he decides, and hops down the last few steps. "Do you know where I want to go?"

This is less I'm only asking because I'm about to announce it to you and more let's play a guessing game and wonder at my

[stabilimentum]

Even if Claude were to add weight to his footfalls, they still wouldn't be the loudest, most thunderous things: he moves elegantly, just like a dancer, almost all of the time. A careful spider knows where to place its legs lest it gets stuck in webbing, or slips on moisture, or sadly falls down, and it's definitely easier to move when he's clear-headed again. Without input otherwise, he tends towards moving and being silent--it fulfills his being mysterious quota. He moves silently down the stairs beside Alois, between him and the wall, a soundless shadow, "the black butler." All he's discernable by are car keys clinking and a single noncommittal hum at the question.

Which isn't a difficult question per se. Alois will decide whether or not Claude is right as soon as he gets an answer. Rightness can change at the drop of a hat, depending on how Alois feels inside of a few syllables, so Claude doesn't think too hard on what could be a win-win or lose-lose situation. Before Claude can try his best guess, however, Alois is already

[masterbaiting]

Oh, a convertible roof, is it. "Tesla is so good, then," Alois says, already imagining the wind in his hair. He imagines it in Claude's, too, and especially likes that: half-curls would probably bounce, just like Alois' steps right now. As Claude looks at keys, Alois looks at him, and it's nice to need to tilt his chin up to do so. Sometimes it's frustrating, but this is ultimately how he wanted it. (Claude's been made perfectly, after all.) Alois watches Claude because he's got every right to do so, and because it feels good to stare for a long moment uninterrupted.

They end up looking at each other. In front of the garage, near its entrance, Alois stops walking completely and keeps his own eyes where they are.

"I don't want to go everywhere," he says. His fingers are curled at his sides. "I want you to take me somewhere."

Everywhere sounded good for a few seconds, until his brain picked out a difference between those two phrasings. He wants Claude to think of something that his master will like, and then he wants Claude to want

[stabilimentum]

Tesla is so good, then? With real resentment, Claude thinks, You haven't any idea about Nikola Tesla. Tutoring Alois in science, or in any subject, can be an agonizing process, made manageable by only Claude's endless patience and willingness to explain something many times over. Of course, it's not like Alois is ready to learn the particulars of electromagnetism, but a while ago Claude taught him-- In nirvana, he'd taught Alois a lot, due to infinite time and space and few distractions-- Alois knew much more there than he does here, that's all. Claude stares at Alois here, at his determination, that intent, and is reminded of his master stringing flower petals on silk threads and saying he really could learn Claude's true name in demonic tongues