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]

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 deal with it. Claude is careful not to outright punish his master for keeping other people, and if Ciel is the least bit smart, he'll stop seeming so suspicious and jealous.

Then again, it must be quite upsetting--Claude and Alois hardly need to touch each other to be together. Their companionship is tangible, deeply staining their skin, which should be better than silly gestures of ribbons and rocks. And when he's feeling petty, the tried and true: I was here first.

Adjusting his glasses, he adds, "Will you want to take lunch at a restaurant?"

Several side street bistros come to mind immediately. Claude has spent more time longingly gazing at them than being a patron, thanks to the diet he (usually) sticks to. Many of the eateries in Sector 6 are fucking expensive, but he has his own wallet filled with money produced out of greed and boredom. In fact, he'll be able to buy for Alois any number of things. "Irresponsibility" is a worthless concern when you have a transmuting demon in your possession, willing to provide endless wealth to the household if only Ciel would stop whining.

Oh well. The car keys clink together when he squeezes them. At the stairs already, he needs to decide which car they should utilize. From the collection, Claude is preferential to a jet black Tesla Roadster Sport: its incredible electric motor is powered by a custom microprocessor-controlled lithium-ion battery with 6,831 individual cells. It can go from 0 to 97 km/h in 3.7 seconds; its top speed is 201 km/h. It's aesthetically pleasing, too. (Other demons can loathe humanity all they want, but even the bitterest has to admit a human's capacity for creation is beautiful.)

[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 temper if you're very wrong. 'Game' isn't quite so accurate as 'test,' and Alois wants to make sure that they are still together - that they can still speak without conversation. He opens the front door and marches through it without ceremony. Without waiting for Claude's first answer, he says, "Which car are you driving? I want to go." Alois is buzzing in his eagerness, jumping even further at the idea of taking the afternoon off now that the fresh air has hit him. Maybe they should go to a florist. Maybe he should get a new coat, even if the weather doesn't really suit it; or, maybe he's lacking in formal gloves.

[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 getting to be quicksilvery, ashimmer with excitement for the day (or Day) ahead of them. It's charming to watch how his master's heart can change from one moment to the next. As long as he finds that pleasing...

Looking away for half a second, Claude shuts the door behind them and locks it with the touch of his fingers on the deadbolt. Convenient power, really. After a demon is invited into your home, they can easily do things like that.

"The Tesla Roadster," he says, picking out the correct key. They have a short walk ahead of them to the garage that's sitting away from the mansion; Claude's favorite car is ready enough by the front of it. "It's a black car." Not an inspiring description-- "Two seats, with a convertible roof." Better. He wonders if Alois would like the top up or down.

Now that he's properly outside, the activity inside is much more muted to him. There is a reason why he prefers quiet households, but there's nothing that can be done for the one here. He should spend more time working out in the gardens, he thinks, or finish up the underground tunnels and his decompression chamber.

"How does 'everywhere' suit you?"

Nonchalantly asked, with gold eyes focusing back on Alois.

[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 to take him there. (Want, want, want.) His stare is firm, his expression is intent, and his heart is beating a little bit hard. The clear air out here is unclogging the roadways in his head, but that means that his thoughts come rushing once the dam is gone. So, being taken somewhere is important to him.

Very abruptly, he breaks eye contact, and walks quickly the rest of the way to the garage. It'd be better if his ears hadn't suddenly gotten hot. Never mind that. Instead-

"Somewhere really good! You've got to do it just like that, Claude!" (It's got to be just right today.) He claps his hands above his head.

[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.

Thankfully, Alois looks away first, before Claude is forced to. He doesn't have a heart to beat a little too hard, but his skin feels like it doesn't fit quite right.

Alois' request of wanting and choosing is distasteful, unsurprisingly. When it comes to mortal masters, Claude prefers his to be domineering: essentially controlling him to the fullest, making him their tool to do great things with. Alois is one of the few he's had to have delusions about free will within a contract, as if a demon is a djinn to be freed on the third wish. These are mystical bonds of slavery that Claude enjoys, which he kept in spite of his death. While Claude can be autonomous to fulfill his own goals, even twisting orders out of proportion, he honestly has trouble with open-ended commands like I want you to take me somewhere. Somewhere really good!

Alois walks on ahead, and Claude stares after him. He's still nice to look at, at least. The passion. "Yes, Your Highness," he replies, mentally opening the directories he's committed to memory.

Inside the garage, it smells like humidity and warm metal, mostly, with traces of concrete, gasoline, and leather upholstery. The Tesla Roadster is next to the long panel doors--it's a very solid black, the top is already down, and its entire shape is sleek and low to the ground, almost prowling, like a jaguar on the hunt. Claude strides ahead of Alois so he can unlock the passenger's door and open it up for him. The interior is also black, from seats to controls, except for an idling touch-screen display on the dashboard that's there for GPS and more.

No, Claude won't be revealing where they're going; that would ruin the mystery. (It'd take an order to get an answer.) His expression is flat and unreadable, holding no clues; in his mind, he has a fingertip on top of an address. It might not be a really good place, just one Claude wants to share, and he's somewhat eager to see his master's reaction to it.