{ From an old account of mine that's since been removed }
Yes, this is cracky. No, I do not care.
Sebastian had seen Ciel Phantomhive in perhaps every state imaginable. Whether he was furious, devastated, pretending to be happy, or just painfully bored, Sebastian had been the boy's shadow through it all. Nothing was new. Nothing could have possibly surprised him…
Except today.
Today, the young Earl was particularly off in his behavior. He'd been quietly irritable all day, whilst he usually voiced his annoyance, and seemed very upset with the butler despite any advice or combination of sweets offered to him. That, in itself, was troubling.
Not that I care, Sebastian had reasoned to himself, the boy's irritability rubbing off on the demon much easier than usual. He'd actually found himself pacing in the manor's kitchen, glaring red daggers at the pie he'd prepared that had now gone cold - forgotten and avoided… just like every else that was put in front of Ciel today.
"Fine," he at last answered Bardroy's question (who'd been patiently waiting with a worried look on his face), "You can eat it."
That was all that needed to be said before Bard had scooped up the treat, taking it over to the table where Finny and Mei-Rin had sat themselves with milk and silverware. Considering the lack of plates, it looked like they were just going to use the pie-tin. Just as well… less dishes.
Not caring to stand around and watch the trio eat, the butler walked away, making quick work of the stairs. Maybe he'd intended to go to his unused bedroom, or maybe he was just pacing again, but he achieved neither before the door of Ciel's study opened to reveal the Earl.
"Sebastian, a word."
For the first time in, well, ever, Sebastian was nervous as he entered the child's office-space. Ciel paced for a moment himself before turning to look at the demon, hands clasped together behind his back. "We have… a problem."
Had his heart beat, it probably would have exploded with panic right then. Why? Because this was never how Ciel addressed things, nor was it normal to see that edge in the Earl's eyes - at least, not directed at Sebastian. He got annoyed, angry even, but this was… something different, something that Sebastian couldn't quite identify.
"Y… yes, my lord?" Sebastian would later curse all of Heaven for stumbling over his words in front of a human, but for now, he paid little attention to his own behavior. Every ounce of his attention was poured into Ciel's features, his tone, waiting to see just what it was that had him so… whatever this was.
"You have got to stop throwing our good silverware at people! I have to pay for that, you know!?"
Ciel had practically exploded himself at that moment, like a bomb that had finally went off. His azure eyes glared, hands no longer clasped - balled into separate fists instead, as he spoke.
"…Excuse me?"
"I'm not kidding, Sebastian," Ciel told him seriously, crossing his arms over his chest and pouting much like the child he was known to be, "I have spent thousands of dollars on silverware this month. This is getting ridiculous!"
So that was it, then.
The infamous Ciel Phantomhive, the Queen's watch-dog…
…Was upset over cutlery.