Monster Mash [Active/OPEN, NO NEED TO ASK]

[dollsy_npcs]

Characters: Luxa, Ushiromiya Ange, Xerxes Break, Ciel Phantomhive, Portgas D. Ace, Mello, Subject Delta, Various Dollsy Monsters, OPEN TO ANYONE
Setting: Grand Ballroom
Time: The very beginning of Night 20
Summary: Happy birthday, Dollsy! It's party time, and all the monsters and ghosts have come out to play. Care to join them for a bit of wine and

Comments

No posts? I must fix this dilemma!

[queenslapdog]

Ciel had never been one for parties, but he followed the curious sound of music cautiously to find the answer to the mystery of the lack of monsters across the house this evening. Golden butterflies filled the room, along with a grand assortment of monsters and ghosts, and- much to Ciel's astonishment- they seemed to be very much enjoying themselves.

Ciel stood, back pinned to the outside wall, peering around the corner to observe the party quietly. One of the monsters looked up directly at him, but looked right back down at his plate, ignoring him completely. Even so he snapped back against the wall for a moment, before peering around the corner again. None of the monsters moved to attack.

He cautiously stepped around the corner, ready to run, but no monster came after him. He stepped into the room, and still, no monster attacked. A goat butler bowed to him, gesturing for him to enter, and began to guide him to an open table. Though he hesitated at first, he cautiously followed, sceptical of the entire party. It just seemed so out of character for the house.

He discovered at the table a plate of Rouen-style roast duck with a side of pasta drenched in a rich butter sauce, spiced with herbs selected to perfectly complement the duck. The Art Enthusiast paused at the table and pointed to the duck dish, nodding with a smile as Ciel claimed it as his own.

He carefully cut a piece and sniffed it before tasting it. If it happened to be poisoned, he figured he'd suffer for a while, die, and come back to life in the attic, no real harm done. And with the flavour the duck possessed, he thought for a moment that it would even be worth the death.

He waved over one of the goat butlers and ordered, "A glass of Burgundy Pinot Nior, aged about 17 years, if you would." How could he have such a fine dinner without an equally fine wine?

This would be before he settles down by Lonely Boy, I spose.

[omnomnomsweets]

It wasn't long before Break found him like some kind of excessively cheerful Ciel-seeking missile. The fact was, he felt that he ought to make his presence known; he wasn't going to stick to Ciel all night, but he would certainly be keeping an eye out.

"Hmmmm~? What's this, Master Phantomhive?" He swooped in on the boy, nearly sloshing his wine on Ciel's shirt in the process. "Drinking already? Shouldn't you grow up a bit first? I was under the impression that there were laws against that sort of thing. What a terrible little boy!"

And again, he wished Emily was there to emphasize the point, but this would be his last night without her. For now he would just have to be obnoxious enough for the both of them.

You got it!

[queenslapdog]

Ciel smiled charmingly. He seemed more comfortable now that he was back in Victorian-style clothes- or was that the Pinot Nior? "Why, good evening Break. You really should try the duck. It is honestly good enough to be worth a poisoning."

Ciel swirled the wine glass and inhaled the rich bouquet. "It seems more of a crime to not enjoy a fine wine with this fine meal. Besides, by the looks of it, perhaps it is you who ought to avoid drinking." He was smiling still with a perfectly polite smile. That sort of polite smile that just screams, 'bite me.'

At least he was being more than civil. He even went so far as to gesture to the empty chair next to him, "Please, have a seat."

[omnomnomsweets]

It must be said, Break was a little bit thrown by how polite Ciel was being. Still insufferable as always, but it seemed that once you put him back in his element he was capable of acting like a proper nobleman after all.

What a shame, then, that Break had no respect for status.

"Good enough to be worth a poisoning! Ha! What an interesting assessment," he said, in a tone of voice that made 'interesting' sound like 'incredibly stupid.' But he sat down anyway, setting his carafe as far away from Ciel as he could manage.

"You're mistaken! I may have had a little--" rather an understatement, he was making good progress with the carafe-- "but I assure you, I'm just fine. I could fence you blindfolded and win."

[is_not_number1]

Mello was almost happy to have found Ciel; he hadn't seen the brat since watching him be killed the previous night. Though it was true that he still strongly disliked him, he had to admit the kid could be pretty entertaining. So why not greet him? Besides, Break was there as well, and he was-- quite unlike Ciel-- usually pleasant to talk to.

"Ciel!" He called out in a noticeably fake excited tone, as he nearly sprinted over towards where the little brat was sitting, before grinning rather deviously and throwing his arms around the kid. If this was still the same Ciel he'd known before, he was sure the kid would not appreciate that in the least. "You're alive! Oh, how I've missed you! How are we doing, on this... fine, stormy night?"

[queenslapdog]

Ciel laughed, "I doubt that, sir. With so much of that carafe empty, I dare-say that I doubt that, without even knowing your skill level."

Again, he has that wonderfully polite 'bite me' smile. "I am rather skilled at fencing, and I am wise enough to be no more than half a glass into my wine."

Ciel was about to continue on the virtues of remaining sober when Mello draped his arms around him. Ciel shrugged him off and pushed him away, clearly restraining his irritation. "Please, Mello, show some decorum. I have been doing rather well. The food is superb. I can not wait to taste the desserts.

[omnomnomsweets]

"Sir?" He leaned forward, resting his chin on hid hands with a cat-caught-the-canary grin. "I'm sir now. I could get used to that. More to the point, is that a challenge?"

Not that he was stupid enough to have a bout right here. Peaceful as the party may seem, there were still hellhounds present and he wasn't taking any chances. Still, he would very much enjoy putting the brat in his place.

But Mello interrupted, full of cheer and goodwill and, no doubt, mischief. The look on Ciel's face was to die for-- he had the 'bite me' smile down quite well, but he was fairly awful at hiding his annoyance.

"Ciel, don't be so rude. Look at how happy he is to see you. You'll break his fragile heart, and then he'll be useless to us."

[is_not_number1]

Ciel's reaction didn't exactly come as a surprise, but Mello had been expecting him to be a bit more whiny and violent and not quite so composed. Though it was still plain that he was annoyed, he seemed to be behaving considerably more politely than usual.

He shook his head and took a few steps back from Ciel. "I feel so rejected," he said quietly, with great-- albeit not at all genuine-- solemnity, and turned to face Break for a moment. "What am I supposed to do with myself now?" He sighed, and took a brief pause before continuing in response to Ciel. "Oh, I already tasted the desserts. They seem to be very excellent, with all the right delicious desertiness. I'm sorry if I'm spoiling anything for you, though. Hopefully you weren't planning on having that be a surprise or anything."

[queenslapdog]

Oh, how Ciel was rocking that classic 'I'm better than you' smile. "I apologise, but you really should know that it's... improper to touch someone in such a way." The way he said improper, it sounded like he was suggesting something else, considering their past.

Ciel laughed one of those polite, fake laughs, "Not in the least, after this meal, I would expect nothing less! However I assure you that you have yet to taste what I shall order."

The house's kitchen could get any food you wanted, and by the taste of it, the wine was likely an 1816 or 1819 wine, since the weather those years produced a more acidic taste than was normal, which meant that the goat butlers could get a specific year- why not a specific company? He waved to one of the goat butlers, "Butler, please bring an assortment of the Futnom Company's confections."

He seemed rather at home, making demands from butlers. Still, he yawned as the butler walked away. He has dark circles under his eyes, but seems to ignore these as he says, "And, indeed, that is a challenge Break. We would have to find rapiers or fleurets, of course. Perhaps we could have the butlers bring some up to our room for us, so that we may duel later. When we are not among such monstrous company." As he said monstrous he glanced at Mello briefly, before gesturing to the table with the Chest Monster and the skinless.

[omnomnomsweets]

Break laughed and pulled out the chair next to him, gesturing for Mello to sit. A partner in crime was always welcome-- it allowed Ciel's impudence to be evenly distributed over two people.

"What do scorned lovers usually do? Vandalize his quarters, spread malicious gossip, poison his drink..."

He paused, intrigued by Ciel's request. Futnom Company? The other Ciel had mentioned that-- wasn't he the head of the corporation?

"Oh? Master Phantomhive didn't tell me that he made sweets." It sounded a little accusatory-- not that Ciel could have provided him with sweets here, but he still felt that he should've been informed. "In any case, I accept your challenge. Would you really trust a butler to choose your weapon, though? That's so charming!"

[is_not_number1]

"Hmm..." Mello briefly nodded and sat down, giving a slight smirk as he thought for a second. "I think I should go with poisoning his drink. He deserves no less for breaking my heart." He closed his eyes and sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "But Ciel, what is it? Why do you feel that I am unworthy of your love? What's wrong with me, Ciel? Why must my ever so passionate love for you be unrequited?"

Still smirking, he leaned back in his chair, resting one arm over the back, and propped his feet up onto the table. He had no clue what Break had meant about Ciel making sweets, but... "What? Holy shit, don't tell me... Ciel's a pastry chef?" Even if that was anywhere along the right lines, Mello could never picture it. "Oi! Goat-head!" He sharply called out to the same butler Ciel had ordered from, before it got too far a way, "Get me more dessert while you're at it! And it'd better be chocolate, but I'm not picky aside from that, so long as the quality's good! And bring me some more of that wine too, will ya?"

He glanced back towards Break, raising an eyebrow. "What's this challenge?" He asked curiously; he'd missed the beginning of their conversation, so he wasn't quite sure what they were talking about. "Are you two dueling to the death or something?"

/needs more icons (Insert suspicious glare)

[queenslapdog]

Ciel merely laughed at Mello's tirade, deciding to not grace it with a response, though he did crinkle his nose when he saw Mello put his feet and his dirty shoes on the table. As he did he corrected Break, "Of course not, I would have them bring a selection. Only Sebastian might be capable of selecting the best weapon for me, and unless he is hiding beneath one of these goat heads, he is not here."

But there was something off about what Break said. Ciel had not tied the name of the company to himself in any way. He narrowed his eyes at Break and spun his family ring around his thumb. Break had also inexplicably had that when he arrived. "I never told you that I am the head of the Futntom Company."

He would have normally told Mello that the goat butlers would already be bringing chocolate, and told Mello that it was a fencing duel, and that it would only be to the death if Break was not afraid of dying, which a man his age should not be, but he found the fact that break knew things that Ciel had not yet shared to be very suspicious, and so instead he was busy ignoring Mello.

[omnomnomsweets]

Sebastian, Sebastian, Sebastian. The more he talked about him, the more disgusted Break felt with the whole affair; what kind of fool relied so heavily on one person? At any time Sebastian might get tired of him, or betray him, or die. Surely he wasn't so disconnected from reality that he couldn't understand that.

"Oh, no. I'm sure Ciel is above such things, being a lord." His voice dripped mockery and disrespect, but his smile was as sweet as ever. "It's his business, you see."

He didn't answer Ciel right away, opting instead to take a long sip of his wine and let the suspicion fester. He had already explained this to Ciel before-- it wasn't his fault that the boy refused to believe him.

"You told me the last time you met me. Back when you were a little more bright and didn't have a penchant for dresses. But more importantly, what kind of confections?"

[is_not_number1]

"Oh," Mello corrected himself, shaking his head in mock regret, "My bad! I forgot Ciel was a little noble child! That's right... he doesn't even know how to dress himself! He'd never stoop to such lows!" He caught sight of Ciel's displeased nose-crinkling, and questioningly raised an eyebrow in response. "Ciel, you shouldn't make faces like that, though! That's most certainly not very tactful... you're making yourself look ugly!"

He paused for a moment, narrowing one eye in consideration. ...Break knew Ciel apparently owned this company that Ciel claimed he never told him about, but Break remembered that he had told him that the last time they had met? What the hell did that mean? Had they met before they'd come here? But they were from different worlds, weren't they? Had Ciel gotten his memories wiped or something? Maybe he'd gotten into some accident and hit his head really hard?

"...What the hell am I missing out on here? What last time Ciel met you? And what... he's only like eight and he's already got a business up and running? It isn't actually his own, is it?"

[queenslapdog]

"I told you that I have never met you before. I don't know. Maybe the house made some copy of me. Clearly it has been going out of it's way to make me look more like a fool. I will have you not forget our chess match, in which I outwitted you." He continued to eye Break suspiciously for a moment, with an added bit of distaste masked with a smile. The house really had been giving him particularly bad hands, but with these goat butlers that seemed more than willing to obey every order he presented them, it seemes like his luck might be changing.

Ciel turned next to Mello, swilling his wine before taking another sip and saying, "I am twelve, Mello, and yes. My father began the business, but I have done quite a bit of expansion, with a lot of work in our confections department." He finished the last of the wine in his glass at the goat butler arrived with his company's confections.

He began pointing to the different candies, listing off some of their names, "Cherry toffee, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, raspberry truffle, lemon drops, caramel toffee, caramel sucking candy, cordial cherries, strawberry crème. I am sure you can figure the others out on your own. I recommend the truffles. They are among our more expensive candies, but well worth the price. Of course, there is no price here, that you would know of at least." Ciel gave a wicked smile as the goatler set down a plate of cabinet pudding that he had ordered with his dinner. Rather than eat any of the suggested candy, he dipped his fork into the cake and savoured the taste.

Of course, he was just playing with them, right?

Unexpected tl;dr?

[omnomnomsweets]

Break picked up a raspberry truffle and turned it over in his hands, scrutinizing it. There wasn't much to know just by looking at it, but it was a convenient distraction. This bothered him more than it ought to. He had never been close to the Ciel. If this doppelganger hadn't showed up, he probably wouldn't have given it a second thought. It wasn't even that he felt guilty-- guilty enough to go along with the contract, perhaps, but not guilty enough to be responsible for the strange sense of loss that he felt when the old Ciel came up. It was incredibly strange to miss someone who was right beside him. Stranger still that he hadn't missed Ciel before-- it wasn't his absence that bothered Break so much as the implication that, once gone, he would be so thoroughly forgotten. No one else seemed to have known him, he'd left no trace of his existence, no legacy in this house-- he was denied even by himself. The only thing left of him was Break's memories, and those were dismissed as fake or fabricated. For a person to disappear so quickly, so completely... it didn't sit well with him.

"I met him before, shortly after I arrived. He lost a game of chess--" Break wasn't so distressed that he couldn't spare Ciel a pointed smile at that-- "and became my servant for a time. He was a perfectly terrible servant, of course. I suppose it's just in the brat's nature to be useless, hmm?"

He tossed the truffle up and caught it in his mouth. It was surprisingly good; not spectacular, but better than he'd like to admit to Ciel.

"So what are the terms for our bout?"