(Untitled)

[wellsuited]

Who: Sebastian Michaelis (demon_andbutler), Elena (wellsuited)
When: Forward dated to the 22nd.
Where: A theater in Anatole
Format: Paragraph
What: The horrible result of Elena winning a certain butler at the date auction.
Warnings: Fantasized violence.

Comments

[demon_andbutler]

Anatolian opera was similar to the opera Sebastian was familiar with, and yet... well. There were clear differences in subject matter. This particular opera revolved around the Twins, although they were depicted as swans, one white and one black. ...Scorched were being sacrificed to them, as well, if the fake pit of fire was any indication.

When Elena glanced at him, he seemed completely absorbed in the show, opera glasses held up to his eyes. In his peripheral vision, he could see she was looking at him, and she did not look pleased. He'd had no doubt opera would not be her forte. It was an ostentatious and ridiculous form of human expression, but it was the most "proper" activity for a date that he could think of.

He lowered the opera glasses, met her gaze, and grinned smugly.

He certainly was enjoying himself.

[demon_andbutler]

"Mm. Perhaps you are more adept than most, then. That's commendable." Sebastian didn't comment on the other possibilities.

He cocked his head at her, raising an eyebrow. "My prize-winning recipe is no secret, actually. It is feeding the royal family for the next three years. And the key ingredient is chocolate, if you were curious."

Was that a smile? Wonders never ceased. "Yes. The butler is the head servant, and manages all those beneath him. My staff is not as large as many households, but currently there is a cook who barely cooks, a maid who makes more messes than she cleans, a gardener who may in fact be from another planet, and... a footman who may show some promise." If Sebastian didn't have to murder him, that is.

And Tanaka, but he hardly counted as anything.

"I shudder to think how they are fending without me." The whole manor might be levelled by the time he got back.

[wellsuited]

"So you're bad at keeping secrets too...or is that just too close to telling a lie?" A moment of thought, the mention of a royal family and chocolate coming together in her mind. Factor in his accent and it makes Elena think of-

"Huh. Wonder if Mello's a part of the royal family."

Elena sighs but then blinks at the descriptions of his employees. "No offense, but...they don't sound very good at their jobs. If you ask me, you should fire them. Oh!" She looks over at him with wide brown eyes. "You want me to fire them? If they ever show up here, I mean." She looks like she would enjoy it.

[demon_andbutler]

"I wouldn't say that," Sebastian said. He certainly had secrets, and he kept them. Perhaps it was easy because they had to do with things no one thought to ask. "I speak when it is necessary and not a moment before. That is expected of any good servant." So maybe he was just well-trained by his job. ... Or his job was well-suited to his nature.

King Mello? His shoes clicked on the sidewalk in the silence; he was thinking back to all the rulers that had been in power since the monarchy was established. "I'm not familiar with anyone by that name. But many from my world also seem to be from far in my future, so I wouldn't rule anything out."

Sebastian chuckled lightly at her eagerness. "No, that won't be necessary, but I thank you for the offer. Unfortunately, it is not my decision. I must have permission from the young master to dismiss servants, and he likes them." They were useful for something. It just wasn't service. "Might I ask, what is it that you do, exactly? I don't think you ever told me."

[wellsuited]

"Yeah, I'm not good at that." Speaking seemed as necessary as breathing to her. If someone stitched her mouth shut, well, they might as well slit her throat while they're at it.

"You know what's stranger than that? Having people who are supposed to be dead show up. I mean, I read their files. They were stamped 'Deceased'. Sometimes there were even pictures!"

Despite the excitement in her voice at that, a frown crossed her lips a moment after. She'd kind of always wanted to fire someone. Unfortunately she couldn't do it to anyone she worked with because they were either too good at what they did or they outranked her.

"Do you mean before or after I came here?"

[demon_andbutler]

"Ah, no, I've noticed that." Sebastian chuckled lightly. "I can't say that I mind." Very few individuals thought Sebastian's job was interesting enough to ask about. That in itself appealed to his aesthetics rather nicely. Besides those other bizarre things she said gave him a lot of material to work with. It was all very entertaining.

"My, that's unusual." Although he gave no indication that he'd already met two people who were dead in his world - that would require too much explanation from someone who didn't lie. "That Door is quite a wonder, isn't it?"

"Both," Sebastian said. He was curious to know more about her; he was getting the feeling she was far more useful than she seemed. He was aware they seemed to be strolling aimlessly at the moment, but he wasn't about to steer her in any particular direction. In fact, he was surprised that she hadn't just demanded to be taken straight home so that she would no longer have anything to have anything to do with him.

[wellsuited]

He'd noticed something about her. That always meant something to Elena. Before Anatole, she'd often felt like a shadow - to her sister, to the other Turks. Someone who was there but often overlooked. Someone who gets no screen time! Err

[demon_andbutler]

"Oh, I'm fairly certain the Door is exactly where someone wants it to be," Sebastian said, a bit darkly. He had his suspicions about this place, although for the most part he kept them to himself.

Ah, yes, that President. "A military-based operation, then." Interesting. Sebastian did notice the smile. It seemed as though Elena could be useful, once one got past her personality. "That's very impressive. Much more impressive than service. I should be honoured you agreed to spend your evening with a simple butler." Of course, agreed was a relative term here, but he wouldn't bring that up again.

Sebastian furrowed his brow at her implications. He'd never thought of it that way. But he was accustomed to belonging to a race looked down upon like cockroaches; it hadn't occurred to him to be outraged at the way the Scorched were treated. He tilted his head.

"Are you suggesting there will be war?"

[wellsuited]

"You're not a 'simple' butler." Didn't she once tell him that he was more than he seemed? Maybe she's on to you, Sebastian. Sure, she's a little on the derp side. But sometimes animals have that sixth sense... "You have a job and you do it well. That's something to be proud of."

Well, it looks like his secret is safe with her after all.

She paused at his question, both in word and action. For a moment Elena just looked at him, the serious expression making her look a little older than her years. If she knew it made her look even more like her sister...well, she wouldn't do it at all.

"I'm just saying if there is one, stay behind me and you'll be fine."

[demon_andbutler]

Sebastian raised an eyebrow at her. Hm. It would make sense given her occupation that she could make that sort of judgment. Still, there was no way for her to know how far he went beyond the "simple," and if she asked, there was no reason to evade. He smiled and nodded to her. "Thank you. That is kind of you to say."

Ah. Interesting. It seemed he'd made an ally without even trying. That just made it more amusing. Elena was far more useful than she'd originally appeared.

"Perhaps I shall," he said. "Although you must know by now that it would not be just myself. My master's safety is far more important than my own."

If you want a slick butler, you'll be getting his bratty master, too. Sad fact.

[wellsuited]

"Loyalty, huh?" Elena arched a brow at him. It was true that she thought Ciel was...well, a little bratty. And worse, she didn't even think he was that good of an employer. But loyalty, that was something she understood.

"Package deal. It can't be helped." Elena smiled a bit before shrugging her shoulders.

"So, thanks for the opera. It really wasn't that bad!" She really had needed that nap, after all.

[demon_andbutler]

Loyalty wasn't quite the term Sebastian would use. Loyalty suggested respect and even fondness for the person to which loyalty was pledged. His answer wasn't quite an answer, either. "I would never leave him, unless he ordered me to do so." And even then, he always returned. Ciel knew that by now.

"You're very welcome. I have completed my obligation for the evening, then. I could escort you home, if that is your wish." He glanced at her to gauge her opinion on the matter. "Unless there is another activity you would like to do while we are out."

[wellsuited]

"No, I-"

She stopped there. She was about to tell him that there was no need for him to escort her. She'd be fine. And though his last words were likely said for the sake of politeness, Elena seemed to be considering them. But eventually, she smiled a bit and shook her head.

"It's pretty obvious you and I don't like the same kind of things. So I'll spare you."

[demon_andbutler]

"How can you be sure?" Sebastian asked, with a look of interest that seemed genuine. He had never once said he liked opera, after all. "You have graciously endured an outing I thought appropriate. The least I can do is return the favour."

Besides, he was curious enough to see what kind of thing Elena did for entertainment.

[wellsuited]

Return the favor?

Elena tilted her head at that. She could appreciate the want to return a favor. It was a policy that she'd adopted herself. That way she'd never owe anyone anything. And maybe if she left things as they were, she would still owe him...in a strange, abstract way.

Both slender brows raised as she studied him. He did seem sincere, though in truth Elena isn't that hard to fool in that department. The answer he gives to her next question certainly has the power to sway her.

"Do you like guns?"

[demon_andbutler]

Sebastian had no real opinion on guns. They were loud and somewhat inelegant, and the bullets certainly hurt when they penetrated flesh. He was impressed with their technological advancements throughout the centuries. The human race was quite adept at inventing new and improved ways of killing one another.

For what he did, however, they had always seemed unnecessary.

"I must confess I've never fired one. So I cannot say." He smiled in return to her questioning look. A lot appeared to be riding on his answer. "But I am always willing to learn."