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]

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.