voice → action. masterbaitingJune 20 2011, 18:16:45 UTC
Well what- [Frustrated sound, because the vagueness does get to him. It also makes him walk more quickly, though, so he abandons his attempts here and simply marches into Claude's office once he's able. When the door's closed, he folds his arms, drums his fingers against them, and raises his chin expectantly.]
[Claude lifts his hand and gestures for Alois to come closer. Sitting behind the desk, he has a small laptop to one side and a series of NVs on the other. His golden pocket watch is obvious among the numerous nondescript devices. After a moment, he selects one NV that looks like a plain mobile phone.]
Despite your repeated assurances to the rest of the household, there is a growing effort to isolate and "deal" with me without your knowledge.
[He offers the NV to Alois, which turns on at a touch to reveal a certain filtered post by Jack Vessalius. A few weeks ago, after overhearing Dr. Yumeno's discussion of replacing NVs, Claude decided it'd be prudent to falsify a few identities for exploring this brave new world in cyberspace. Not too long after, he also enlisted the help of one Mr. Naoya to learn how to encrypt and hack things at a highly advanced level.]... Mr. Vessalius is also approaching this from a legal standpoint, as he plans to declare guardianship over you and your brother. I was informed of him saying as much to
( ... )
[Though irritated, Alois is mostly unperturbed at first- Claude's being weird but nothing's blown up and no one seems dead so whatever it is can't be too...
...That all drains away fairly quickly, while he finds out what Jack had hidden from him.]
Jack is trying to-?
[The bitter thickness of betrayal hangs at the back of his throat. He thinks, Jack should know better.]
[Claude looks back to his laptop, which is currently displaying numerous legal documents.]
Jack Vessalius has enough consideration to at least ask for your permission. It's my assumption that he will approach you sometime today, given that he has already discussed the matter with Ciel Phantomhive. They are convinced you will have no issue whatsoever; somehow they lack the understanding of what is undeniably important to you.
However...
[Click, scroll scroll scroll.]
When you're sixteen years of age, it will be possible to declare emancipation--be considered an adult by the courts. At that time, you may file for legal guardianship of Luca Macken. This is an option I will research further if you would like; that is, whether or not it is viable to secure guardianship early. It doesn't seem unreasonable that exceptions would be made with how many extraordinary circumstances are present in Siren's Port. You are the head of your household, financially responsible, and the blood-related next of kin.
[Alois is reading and floundering, which mayn't be too surprising given how often Jack Vessalius leaves him at a loss; he doesn't have a clue as to how he's supposed to react. But then, then he's very, very angry, biting back something foul, taking everything as one very massive threat:
There are those who'd wrest care of the very precious Luca Macken away from him.]
No one else is going to have him, [he says very suddenly. With one hand, he's holding onto the side of Claude's chair very tightly.] No one knows him like I do. No one knows how to take care of him like I do. He isn't anyone else's. Claude-
[His atmosphere is thick and dark and so full of smoldering.]
No one has any right to him. Not anyone aside from me, Claude.
[Needless to say, that is exactly what Claude wanted to hear.]
It's unfortunate how they misunderstand you.
[As always, whenever he's gotten something "right" about his Alois, a sort of exhilarated feeling uncurls throughout Claude. Its sharp tendrils are adrenaline, and they tell him to turn his head, and he does and stares at Alois to better take in what's made the glow.]
My informing them as much would not be well-received, master. [He settles his hands on his lap for now.] Besides... this concerns your family, so you've the prerogative and priority to decide the state of it. I'd hope they listen well to you and choose to respect your wishes.
I will do whatever's necessary to support you going forward.
[Slowly, Claude flips over one of his hands until his palm faces up. It's an offer to be held, should Alois need him, because Claude is very pleased with these negative reactions.]
Master, he claims to have a "friend" helping him--perhaps the lawyer he requested. Applying for guardianship involves him filling out and then filing the necessary paperwork. Afterward, there will be a court hearing where a judge determines whether or not he is competent and responsible.
If your objections aren't enough to stop him, then I imagine Luca Macken's own disapproval might do it. [That is, go sit down with Luca and tell him no.] For Jack Vessalius to proceed in spite of you both--
[Really, with how devoted the brothers are to each other, Claude can't imagine a rift forming over a crossroads like this. No matter how nice Jack is to them, the Mackens have always had major issues with adults of authority. Claude witnessed some of the villagers' fallout firsthand.]Morally reprehensible. And without consent from either of you, the courts
( ... )
He won't do it if I say no, [Alois says angrily, and ignores the offered palm in favor of climbing into Claude's lap so that he can see the screen more closely. (Sometimes it doesn't matter what he's offered; he'll make his own routes.) Most everything about him seems coiled tight, right now, thin wire springs capable of a fair amount of whiplash once set off. Then- ]
He won't, will he? Claude, he can't take that away from me, he can't do this. He shouldn't even be trying.
[Any slack in his springs is pulled in fiercely right away, and he goes tense against Claude; even his toes, which dangle as his legs hang over the edge of one armrest, are curled. He's thinking: Mustn't trust any of them, that shit.]
[Claude has to be careful about this, he thinks. The finish line is clear, and right there in front of him, and he wants so badly to sprint to it but he knows that he shouldn't. He moves his hands away so Alois can sit down; settling in, he spends a moment admiring human body heat. Despite or because of all their flaws, human beings are the most beautiful Creations. They have unlimited potential, unlike angels and demons.
Slow and steady does it, right?] There is something more deplorable he could attempt, [he says, speaking directly into his master's ear. This is informal, comfortable, warmly wonderful, even when stress twists Alois into spiral springs. Claude touches a certain spot on Alois' taut back, trying to locate and unwind some of the tension. 'Lost at sea' into 'here with me'...
Alois shan't snap so soon.]
A worst-case scenario, if you will. [His other hand reaches forward, skipping across the touchpad. With just a few fingertip flicks, Claude brings up the filtered post by Jack Vessalius that has been uploaded
( ... )
[The concern in his voice is very real.]
If at all possible, I've need to speak with you in my office. [It's a small room on the third floor that Claude has appropriated for himself.]
Reply
[Alois sounds very unsure, but it doesn't mean he's not already getting up to walk to Claude.]
Reply
[Claude isn't being vague just to be frustrating--he just wants Alois to get to his office as soon as possible.]
Reply
What happened?
Reply
Despite your repeated assurances to the rest of the household, there is a growing effort to isolate and "deal" with me without your knowledge.
[He offers the NV to Alois, which turns on at a touch to reveal a certain filtered post by Jack Vessalius. A few weeks ago, after overhearing Dr. Yumeno's discussion of replacing NVs, Claude decided it'd be prudent to falsify a few identities for exploring this brave new world in cyberspace. Not too long after, he also enlisted the help of one Mr. Naoya to learn how to encrypt and hack things at a highly advanced level.]... Mr. Vessalius is also approaching this from a legal standpoint, as he plans to declare guardianship over you and your brother. I was informed of him saying as much to ( ... )
Reply
...That all drains away fairly quickly, while he finds out what Jack had hidden from him.]
Jack is trying to-?
[The bitter thickness of betrayal hangs at the back of his throat. He thinks, Jack should know better.]
He can't just - do that. Claude, he can't just...
[Really, it can't be that easy.]
Reply
Jack Vessalius has enough consideration to at least ask for your permission. It's my assumption that he will approach you sometime today, given that he has already discussed the matter with Ciel Phantomhive. They are convinced you will have no issue whatsoever; somehow they lack the understanding of what is undeniably important to you.
However...
[Click, scroll scroll scroll.]
When you're sixteen years of age, it will be possible to declare emancipation--be considered an adult by the courts. At that time, you may file for legal guardianship of Luca Macken. This is an option I will research further if you would like; that is, whether or not it is viable to secure guardianship early. It doesn't seem unreasonable that exceptions would be made with how many extraordinary circumstances are present in Siren's Port. You are the head of your household, financially responsible, and the blood-related next of kin.
There are... [The look he ( ... )
Reply
There are those who'd wrest care of the very precious Luca Macken away from him.]
No one else is going to have him, [he says very suddenly. With one hand, he's holding onto the side of Claude's chair very tightly.] No one knows him like I do. No one knows how to take care of him like I do. He isn't anyone else's. Claude-
[His atmosphere is thick and dark and so full of smoldering.]
No one has any right to him. Not anyone aside from me, Claude.
Reply
It's unfortunate how they misunderstand you.
[As always, whenever he's gotten something "right" about his Alois, a sort of exhilarated feeling uncurls throughout Claude. Its sharp tendrils are adrenaline, and they tell him to turn his head, and he does and stares at Alois to better take in what's made the glow.]
My informing them as much would not be well-received, master. [He settles his hands on his lap for now.] Besides... this concerns your family, so you've the prerogative and priority to decide the state of it. I'd hope they listen well to you and choose to respect your wishes.
I will do whatever's necessary to support you going forward.
Reply
This is an awful feeling.]
What's required for him to take Luca?
Reply
Master, he claims to have a "friend" helping him--perhaps the lawyer he requested. Applying for guardianship involves him filling out and then filing the necessary paperwork. Afterward, there will be a court hearing where a judge determines whether or not he is competent and responsible.
If your objections aren't enough to stop him, then I imagine Luca Macken's own disapproval might do it. [That is, go sit down with Luca and tell him no.] For Jack Vessalius to proceed in spite of you both--
[Really, with how devoted the brothers are to each other, Claude can't imagine a rift forming over a crossroads like this. No matter how nice Jack is to them, the Mackens have always had major issues with adults of authority. Claude witnessed some of the villagers' fallout firsthand.]Morally reprehensible. And without consent from either of you, the courts ( ... )
Reply
He won't, will he? Claude, he can't take that away from me, he can't do this. He shouldn't even be trying.
[Any slack in his springs is pulled in fiercely right away, and he goes tense against Claude; even his toes, which dangle as his legs hang over the edge of one armrest, are curled. He's thinking: Mustn't trust any of them, that shit.]
Reply
Slow and steady does it, right?] There is something more deplorable he could attempt, [he says, speaking directly into his master's ear. This is informal, comfortable, warmly wonderful, even when stress twists Alois into spiral springs. Claude touches a certain spot on Alois' taut back, trying to locate and unwind some of the tension. 'Lost at sea' into 'here with me'...
Alois shan't snap so soon.]
A worst-case scenario, if you will.
[His other hand reaches forward, skipping across the touchpad. With just a few fingertip flicks, Claude brings up the filtered post by Jack Vessalius that has been uploaded ( ... )
Reply
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