Ciel had uncanny timing; it wasn't too long after everything had been laid out, that there came a knock at Lelouch's front door. Standing on the front porch, Ciel noted the colder weather, folding his arms beneath the heavy cloak that shielded him from the autumn air. It went particularly well with the top hat perched on his head, brim hiding his face from anyone more than an inch or two above his eye level.
He'd come alone -- perhaps not the wisest of decisions. He was ever apprehensive of meeting with others since his last social call to Draco.
He shook his head a bit, putting that out of his mind. But he could not deny his curiosity when it came to Lelouch. Something about him was...
Lelouch slowly rose from his seat in front of the chessboard with a smile on his face and took his time making his way to the front door. He wondered to himself if Ciel brought the butler with him (since they seem to go everywhere together) and would have to quickly decide on new topics of discussion (not a difficult thing when one can easily think on their feet) should his young acquaintance not be alone.
Upon opening the door, he was met with a top hat slightly below eye level, the eyes of the young boy obscured by the brim. "Welcome," he smiled, holding the door open. "Please come in and make yourself at home. You can hang your cloak and hat by the door if you'd like."
After a brief pause, smile still on his face, he continued, "Do you enjoy Earl Grey, Master Phantomhive?"
Ciel's return greeting was barely more than a nod, as he stepped inside. The layout was familiar, similar to his own house. Reaching for the brim of his hat, Ciel then lifted it from his head, and hung it where he was told he could; it was, after all, terrible manners to wear a hat like that in doors. Even with the aid of video, there were some things about Ciel that were not immediately obvious until face-to-face with the young earl. For one, his relative size, and then again, just how young he looked. The cloak around his shoulders soon followed the hat, revealing a smart, olive green suit. even having been in Somarium as long as he had, the more 'modern' styles had never really caught on with him
( ... )
"It is strangely quiet today, now that you mention it," he smiled. "I believe my sister is taking an afternoon nap... And C.C. has gone to the grocery store to restock our freezer with a variety of frozen pizzas, a food item she considers essential. I'm fairly certain she has to replenish her supply on a weekly basis, if not more often. Don't get me wrong, the frozen pizzas are decent, but I'd rather a hand tossed pizza."
Lelouch lead Ciel into the front room, the living room, that contained fairly exquisite furniture. A small table, complete with two wing-back chairs, two porcelain tea cups and matching tea pot, and chess set, sat by the window.
Ciel admired the decor, but made no comment on it. Lelouch's small tangent on his preferences regarding Pizza were lost on Ciel -- he had never been a fan of Italian foods, and the very idea of frozen, already-prepared foods was something he would never grasp as practical or desirable, as long as he had Sebastian around. Still, in a matter of moments, Lelouch had given Ciel enough to start a probing conversation; a perfect means of distracting his opponent as they played.
"It makes no difference to me," replied Ciel. "Though I must say, I've never known anyone to prefer the black over white."
It was a playful jab, nothing more, and Ciel was already making himself comfortable. He found the chair nearest the white side and settled himself there; the top of his head didn't even come close to clearing the chair's back.
Lelouch smiled at his opponent, "I welcome a challenge."
Throughout his time spent at Ashford Academy, Lelouch welcomed a challenge of the gambling sort, spending a large amount of his precious free time (which was extremely limited) playing chess with the upper echelon of society, the mobsters, the barons, those that had the money to place on a game of chess against a 17 year old high school student (which they undoubtedly thought they had in the bag).
Keeping his eyes on the young man in front of him, Lelouch poured both himself and the young Phantomhive a cup of tea, "Chess has been a big part of family interactions, my eldest brother teaching me how to play before the age of three, if I remember correctly. There are few with a skill level as high as his." He paused, taking a sip of his tea, "What about you?"
Ciel waited patiently for Lelouch to finish, both speaking and pouring the tea. With all the practiced refinement one would expect of someone older than himself, Ciel lifted the cup with a soft 'thank you', though he did not drink just yet.
"I learned to play when I was very young. Circumstances kept me from venturing outside too much as a child. My father was often busy with work, and my mother suffered from asthma and a frail constitution. We lived in the country, and while my mother's sister was a frequent guest, we did not have others often. Games like these ones were perfect for our situation."
Ciel, having had ample time to perfect his strategy, seemed like he would be quite the opponent for Lelouch. He was a bit of an anomaly, extremely mature for somebody so young, keeping to himself, and carrying that strange butler with him at most times... and Lelouch was still extremely curious, desperate to know more about his family, his butler, and that eye-patch. There had to be a reasonable explanation for and answer to all of his questions hidden somewhere beneath the adult exterior of this strange young man.
"And your butler? Was he not a part of the equation during your childhood?" he casually asked. "I'm surprised he's not joining us today, as you never seem to leave your home without him."
"No. Sebastian only came under my employ a few years ago." replied Ciel, though he seemed to stop short, hesitant to divulge any more details. He took a cautious whiff of the tea -- a suspicious move, but one he disguised as appraising the strength and bouquet of the brew. Nothing off... but then, Draco's tea had been nothing unusual, if not weak and tasteless.
"And as for this afternoon, Sebastian had other business to attend to. As it is only him and my bumbling gardener making up my current household staff, nearly all duties fall to him, and he's quite diligent about them." Appearing distracted, Ciel set the cup and saucer back on the table without tasting the tea.
He'd come alone -- perhaps not the wisest of decisions. He was ever apprehensive of meeting with others since his last social call to Draco.
He shook his head a bit, putting that out of his mind. But he could not deny his curiosity when it came to Lelouch. Something about him was...
No, he couldn't put his finger on it. Not yet.
Reply
Upon opening the door, he was met with a top hat slightly below eye level, the eyes of the young boy obscured by the brim. "Welcome," he smiled, holding the door open. "Please come in and make yourself at home. You can hang your cloak and hat by the door if you'd like."
After a brief pause, smile still on his face, he continued, "Do you enjoy Earl Grey, Master Phantomhive?"
Reply
Reply
Lelouch lead Ciel into the front room, the living room, that contained fairly exquisite furniture. A small table, complete with two wing-back chairs, two porcelain tea cups and matching tea pot, and chess set, sat by the window.
"I'll take black, if you don't mind."
Reply
"It makes no difference to me," replied Ciel. "Though I must say, I've never known anyone to prefer the black over white."
It was a playful jab, nothing more, and Ciel was already making himself comfortable. He found the chair nearest the white side and settled himself there; the top of his head didn't even come close to clearing the chair's back.
Reply
Throughout his time spent at Ashford Academy, Lelouch welcomed a challenge of the gambling sort, spending a large amount of his precious free time (which was extremely limited) playing chess with the upper echelon of society, the mobsters, the barons, those that had the money to place on a game of chess against a 17 year old high school student (which they undoubtedly thought they had in the bag).
Keeping his eyes on the young man in front of him, Lelouch poured both himself and the young Phantomhive a cup of tea, "Chess has been a big part of family interactions, my eldest brother teaching me how to play before the age of three, if I remember correctly. There are few with a skill level as high as his." He paused, taking a sip of his tea, "What about you?"
Reply
"I learned to play when I was very young. Circumstances kept me from venturing outside too much as a child. My father was often busy with work, and my mother suffered from asthma and a frail constitution. We lived in the country, and while my mother's sister was a frequent guest, we did not have others often. Games like these ones were perfect for our situation."
Reply
"And your butler? Was he not a part of the equation during your childhood?" he casually asked. "I'm surprised he's not joining us today, as you never seem to leave your home without him."
Reply
"And as for this afternoon, Sebastian had other business to attend to. As it is only him and my bumbling gardener making up my current household staff, nearly all duties fall to him, and he's quite diligent about them." Appearing distracted, Ciel set the cup and saucer back on the table without tasting the tea.
Reply
Leave a comment