It has been a few hours since Ciel and the others learned of a possible Jack the Ripper suspect. A Viscount Druitt, he has medical experience and is thought to deal with the occult. Ciel has decided to infiltrate a party he is holding soon as a means of gathering information and catch him. But their is one slight problem...
"My lord are you sure you wish to ask for their help?" Lau asks as the group stands awkwardly outside of a large mansion that looks like a horror house. The house is painted in shades of red and black with large purple doors, on the door is the Grimm family crest depicting a snake coiled around a rose tightly causing petals to fall, the fallen petals create the border of the crest curling into a beautiful pattern. The snake itself is a dark red with glowing onyx eyes and has its fangs barred as if warding off evils. The front yard of the estate has a wrap around pathway for carriages and the like, a small pond sits on the left side with an old willow tree on the far side of it. The pond has a simple wooden bridge with a cover placed in the middle. The whole estate screams creepy but at the same time has a sense of peace an calmness to it.
"Is that Miss Grimm?" Grell questions pointing towards the willow tree making everyone look closer than before. Grell was right someone is over there laying on the ground under the tree reading but is too far away to tell who it is for sure. Madam Red doesn't wait another minute and starts heading for he bridge, Grell rushing after her and tripping in the process as the others ignore him and keep walking. Grell pouts and follows after them glumly crying anime tears and mumbling about nobody caring anymore. The group crosses the bridge with Madam Red and Ciel in the front,Lau and Sebastian behind them with Grell bringing up the rear.
"Miss. Grimm?" Ciel calls to the lounging woman stopping just a few feet away from where she is. She lowers the book to where her eyes are just visible over the edge of it and looks at him. ( she doesn't have on her mask ) Closing the book she places it next to her in a basket the others didn't notice before now. She stands up dusting off her dress and picking up the basket before speaking to them.
"When I said I wanted to see you I didn't think you would come so quickly." Scarlet giggles folding her arms over her stomach with the basket linked in them. "But I get the feeling you want more than to speak pleasantries over tea."
"You are correct Miss. Grimm I wish to - !" Ciel is cut off as Scarlet grabs his cheeks pulling on them slightly. " Miss. Gmrmm." Ciel tries to yell with his cheeks still being pulled on.
"Scarlet~" is all she says pulling on his cheeks a little harder. Everyone is trying not to laugh at this and even Sebastian has a small smile slipping through.
"Fmine Scwarlet!" Ciel shouts out sounding like a two year old just learning to speak. Scarlet smiles and releases the blushing noble who starts to rub at his sore cheek to relieve the pain some.
"Was that so hard hnmmm?" Scarlet teases heading for the bridge giving the group a good look at her hair for once. Scarlet's hair is as long, or longer, than Grell's hair is in a ponytail and stops at her knees, in the late afternoon light it seems to glow with the orange and reds of the sunset. Noone can tell if her hair is brown or red for it is so well mixed of the two colors making her seem a queen of autumn. "If you follow me I will lead you to the drawing room and we can talk there, or you may stay for dinner and we can talk over that."
"If it is not a bother for us to stay Mi- Scarlet." Ciel corrects himself quickly not wanting a repeat of her pinching him. Lau politely refuses saying he has to return to Ranmao, and Madam Red agrees while Sebastian and Grell bow and say yes my lady to Scarlet.
"Okay then lets hurry along." she looks up at the darkening sky with a sad smile. "I believe things are changing ne~" With that she walks off towards her mansion with the others following behind silently. Upon reaching the massive doors she pulls out a plain silver key with a red ribbon attached to it. Once unlocked she stands aside letting the others enter before her and get their first look at the inside decor. (picture the Disney movie The Haunted Mansion) One thought goes through all of their minds and all say it in sinc as Scarlet closes the door.
"This girl is too much like Undertaker."
"I take that as a complement." Scarlet snickers passing them and leading the way down the large hallways. "Max!" she yells out like a hyper child and a second later the butler appears from another hallway wearing an apron and his usual jacket removed. He has tied his long hair into a loose bun with a few strands making loops and tucked behind his ears.
"Yes my Lady?"
"We have guests for dinner tonight can you please make enough for everyone."
"Hi (yes in Japanese) my Lady, do you wish to dine in the garden or the dinning room tonight?"
"I do not wish to end up wet tonight Max." with that Max bows and heads back off towards what is now known as the kitchen.
"Pardon me miss Scarlet but what did you mean by that?" Ciel questions as they enter the drawing room and sit on the red couches.(think the study/office room from haunted mansion movie) Grell and Sebastian stand behind their respective nobles as usual while Scarlet walks over to one of the bookshelves with her basket. She seems to ignore Ciel's question finding it more important to re-shelve the books from the basket first. "Miss. Scarlet." Ciel repeats her name starting to get angry at being ignored by the woman.
"Sorry but I do not see a point in answering a question that is obvious." she states walking to the small kitchen area placed in the corner of the room. Sebastian sees her pull out the tea supplies and rushes over to her.
"My Lady please sit and let me make the tea, it is a butlers duty to serve during these times after all." Sebastian says smoothly while giving the noblewoman his trademark smile.
"I can make tea myself but have at it if you wish." Scarlet mutters sitting down on the last couch that is placed in the middle. Madam Red and Grell are on her left while Ciel is at her right, Sebastian making the tea in the corner behind Ciel at the moment. "Now what is it you wished to ask of me ..."
"You may call me Ciel, and I wish to ask of your help on the Jack the Ripper case." he pauses to take the cup of tea offered by Sebastian, waiting until everyone has a cup and Sebastian has returned to his spot standing behind him. " I would like you to - "
"Sebastian you forgot something." Scarlet interrupts sitting her tea down on the table in front of her gently.
"What did I forget miss Scarlet?" he asks quickly going over everything in his head and finding nothing abnormal with his process.
"You forgot to include you and Grell when you made the tea." Everyone looks at her completely shocked not believing that she would say something like that.
"Miss Scarlet do you mean for our butlers to - " Scarlet cuts Ciel off again holding up her hand in a silencing motion.
"My family does not care for the social standing of our guests. Be they servant,noble, or peasant a guest is guest no matter what." Scarlet walks to the tea cart making two more cups and sitting them on the table between the couches. One cup has been placed next to hers while the other is in front of Ciel. "Sit please and do not worry about our social standing while in this house." Sebastian looks down at Ciel for permission getting a hesitant nod in return, Grell does the same and Madam Red frowns at him but nods her okay on the matter. Grell sits down next to Scarlet with a noticeable blush that has Sebastian and Madam Red smirking and their eyes gleaming.
"Now if it has to do with the Ripper case I might be ahead of you on that matter." Scarlet states taking a sip of her tea and smirking at the sour expression on Ciel's face. "I assume you know of the Viscount Druitt and his upcoming party."
"That is the very reason we have come here for your help, we need someone to act as bait for him at the party." Madam Red remains quiet the whole time and keeping her gaze trained on the sight of Grell and Scarlet sitting together. The shy brunette butler is still blushing slightly and the teacup in his hand is shaking nervously. Both his and Madam Red's heads shoot up when they hear what Scarlet says next.
"E- Excuss me Lady Scarlet b- but what did y-you just say?" Grell stutters out shyly and staring at the woman next to him with wide eyes.
"I said will you go with me as my partner to the ball?" she repeats standing to return her now empty teacup to the cart in the corner. "Max is known as my butler to many and easily recognized by his height. If I am to go undercover I need someone that matches me and will not be questioned."
"So you want Grell to act as your courter and be your date at the ball?" Madam Red sums up looking at the girl with a mischievous smile and nodding her head in approval. "Well I have no problem with it Grell you will be Scarlet's date while on this case." Grell starts rambling random things and flailing around making himself fall off the couch. At this time the doors to the room swing open to reveal Max dressed in his butler attire once again.
"Dinner is ready my Lady, I have prepared everything as you like and in the usual arrangement." Max says bowing his head and holding the door open for them to exit.
"Thank you Max." Scarlet says pulling Grell up off the floor and pushing him towards the door. "We can finish any conversations over dinner ne~" The strange girl leaves no room for argument as she pushes the still stuttering Grell down the hall and towards the dinning room. Ciel lets out a sigh sitting his empty teacup down and following them. Madam Red does the same leaving the two butlers alone to clean up the cups. Max says nothing as he brushes past Sebastian to pick up the cups Scarlet and Grell had used. Sebastian's eyes flash pink as he watches the taller male quickly deposit the cups on the cart before picking up the others and repeating the process. Max turns to face the demon with a blank face as he pushes the cart towards the door.
"I just wish for you to know I will not let harm come to my mistress." Max states passing Sebastian who only smirks as he follows Max out of the room. Sebastian turns to close the doors which takes only a mere second. But he is only slightly surprised to find the hall empty once again.
"Just what are you Mr. Green I wonder." he says to himself his voice no more than a whisper. The demon butler smiles to himself before heading off towards the sound of beating hearts.