"Pouting does not suit you, Malphas."

The brooding demon barely looks up at the approaching entity. However joking and friendly the other demon's words are, Malphas does NOT appreciate them. He has been cheated despite all of his hard work and there is nothing he can do but mourn his loss and foolishness. For sitting in his arms is none other than the infant form of one Ciel Phantomhive. It is bad enough that he is forced to be the eternal servant of a once human but of a mere babe; would the insults never stop? Furthermore, why is Orobas even here anyway? To rub salt into his wounds?

"Were you not always one for a challenge?"

Malphas could beat the smirk off Orobas' face. If even his own mentor mocks him, then he has truly fallen low. The young master (and he thinks this with much bitterness) stirs slightly in his arms and Malphas impulsively decides upon something. He turns around to his mentor and smirks his trademark smirk.

"I was thinking of killing him, contract or not," his voice hoarse as he slowly returns to his true form.

Orobas merely tuts at him and comes closer to demon boy in his arms. "Wouldn't that be a waste, Malphas? He truly is a beautiful creature. It is not his fault that Hell made him regress, it is only his true demonic age. You should have know what would happen if you came to Hell." Orobas opens Ciel's contract eye, which causes the child to fuss. "If it is the contract you are worried about, there are ways around it," he says as he looks Malphas seriously in the eye, "but I cannot break it."

"Then what is the point?"Malphas hisses, sorely tried by the audacity of the other daemon.

He is immediately brought low when Orobas hisses back. "Do no not forget your place, Malphas! What would the Council say of a President sunk so low? Do not forget your aesthetics!"

Aesthetics? Malphas is immediately taken aback: of course, his aesthetics. The aesthetics that belong to Orobas but have been passed down onto Malphas because of his training. The reason he does not lie though honesty is not truly in his nature; the reason that he had fought for this boy. Malphas can only clench his teeth when thinks on what his 'aesthetics' have gained him. Malphas is nothing like Orobas, a demon who should be an angel. The way his mentor tries to bend his true nature has always been trying, but today, it is infuriating. A throaty growl rumbles through him.

"You were beaten fair and square. Were not the two of you playing a game? It seems as though your Master has won. You cannot deny that, Malphas, so would it not be better to be graceful about it?"

Malphas considers the words for a moment as a surge of anger and slight pride courses through him. Indeed, he had been 'checkmated', by the smallest of all of his masters no less. Perhaps, he should give the boy some credit.

"What do you have in mind and what can you do for me?"

"The Michaelis clan has been without issue for so long. You, yourself are evidence of this, as one of the last of its line. He already has your seal, your family's mark…"

"He was a human," Malphas answers unwilling to consider Orobas suggestion.

"And yet, you were raising him as a daemon," Orobas smoothly counters. "Your attachment to him is not a secret to the inhabitants of Hell. Do not let your demonic pride destroy something that was once precious to you."

"He seems even more precious to you, perhaps, you should take him then. Teach him to be honest and good though he be but a demon as is your foolish want, Orobas, for I have no interest in him," Malphas hotly replies as he attempts to slide the boy into Orobas' arms.

Orobas will have none of this though and merely lets Ciel fall from his arms to land upon the hard ground. Malphas is quick to catch the boy and soothe him back to sleep. The moments are so automatic that Malphas barely registers them. Orobas smirks at the display."That does not seem like disinterest to me, Malphas."

Malphas merely scowls and feels himself calm as his rage and pride subside. Demons despite their power are often helpless to their vices and even Malphas with his remarkable control, has fallen prey to his own, especially, since he is now in his homeland. Thinking much more clearly, he looks at Orobas expectantly.

"I can change the terms of the contract but not the nature. He will always have power over you but the boundaries can change. Only if it is in his best interests, must you serve him. I can only change things to that extent. Will you accept?"

Malphas looks down upon his young master who has sunken his baby claws deep into his butler's shirt. It is so kitten-like and Malphas has always had a fondness for cats. Perhaps this new game will not be so bad. His master had been so interesting when he was human, would this not only multiply now that he was a daemon? His bonds would be loser now too, wouldn't his hands be free to move and manipulate the pieces so much more easily now? This could be such a new and exciting game and demonic life was so very dull…

"Say the words, Malphas. I know you want to. Say the words and I will do it." Orobas speaks demandingly, his eyes unreadable but pleasant.

The language is alien to Malphas but feel right as soon as they slip from his mouth. "I, Malphas Michaelis, shall take him into myself and my clan. Give unto him my blood and my name and from here on, til eternity, he shall be none other than a Michaelis: my sonne, my childe, my heire."

"So be it," Orobas whispers and Ciel's contracted eye flares to life. The child squalls as the pain strums through his body. Malphas ignores it for the boy must learn from early on what it takes to be a Michaelis. Let this experience be his first lesson.

Ciel Michaelis. The name has a nice ring to it. The kitten he had raised to be the Queen's greatest watchdog would now be his to form again. A little kitten of his own to pet and coddle. Yet, he would make the boy sleek and dangerous in his own right, a kitten whose claws would strike at anyone else. Yes, as a new member of the Michaelis family, he would turn Ciel into a calm but deadly force of his own. If he could not do at least that much, then he was not worth his salt as a daemon or a father…