~morning~
A butler's morning begins early. He finishes his job later than anyone else in the evening, and begins it earlier than anyone else in the morning. That is the duty of a butler who manages the entirity of the manor, Sebastian thought as stood peering into the mirror. Too bad he was a butler and a demon, then.
"My hair has gotten far too long hasn't it...aah, willing it shorter just won't do." He fixed his tie. "Nothing can be done about how troublesome humanity is..." and with that, like a shadow, he streaked across the manor to do his job, throwing on his tailcoat.
"well, then. Shall we be off?"
First is the assignment of the daily tasks to the servants, he thought as he walked towards the kitchen. He pulled on his gloves and entered the room, which was already occupying a happy Finny, a grinning Mei-Rin, and a half-asleep Bard, and a hunched over lump of what looked like a Lady Serene.
"Good morning everyone. It is nearly time to begin. Mey-Rin will service the linens, Finny will trim the trees in the garden, and Bard will take care of lunch preparations, please. And...may I be so bold to ask why exactly Lady Serene is here?" he asked taking note of the sleepy blonde's presence.
"I c-couldn't...sleep...at-at all...And now I feel all….tingly and numb...and numb and like I'm drunk...er...something..." The butler's left eyebrow twitched and a drop of sweat rolled down his face.
This had better not be like the last time...She was such a scandal. Sebastian thought twitching as the memory came to mind, Though it was amusing...
"At least you don't have to work, Lady" Bard said yawing.
"I didn't know producing charcoal was work...is this the 1900's...? And aren't you a master chef or something? Charcoal isn't that yummy..." She said drowsily as Bard squinted his eyes at her in question.
I don't make charcoal!...mostly. Hold up a second...Is she...is she like the last time!? Bard discreetly scooted his chair away from her, gulping, as the butler turned back to them.
"I do hope you get some rest later, Lady Serene. Now, If you all understand, please hurry to your appointed places! No slacking off!" He clapped his hands as they all ran to do their jobs, leaving the butler and the lady.
"oh...Can I help?" The lady turned to Sebastian. He froze, picturing what would happen if she did 'help' him.
"You are already helping me enough as you are" he said pleasantly. Well it was true...sort of.
It means I won't have one more nuisance to deal with...
She suddenly hopped on top of the table counter and leaned close to his face, closing one eye, staring at him suspiciously. He continued to smile hoping she wouldn't realize what he really was thinking.
"oh...but that's boring...I'll just go help Mey-Rin..." Sebastian flinched, thinking of all the possibilities of the two clumsy girls together. An Image even worse than the one before popped up, leaving him cringing.
This clums-Lady Serene needs to stop poking in my responsibilities, when she's not needed, or I'll just have to teach her when she's not needed. The butler thought darkly, though his face suggested otherwise.
"Actually, can you go get a spoon for me?"
"REALLY?! YES!" she said in a mood swing, still not entirely awake, "Wait which spoon do I get...?" She ran over to the drawer containing the silverware.
"can you find a spoon that looks exactly as this one, please?" he held up a tiny dessert spoon.
"Oh, yes of course...I am Sherlock Holmes...I shall find this very important spoon..." she trailed off fidgeting in the drawer, throwing things over her shoulder, nearly hitting Sebastian.
There only happen to be one of these spoons, and I am in possession of it, Thankfully.
He sighed.
Next is to prepare for the awakening the head of the family, and make breakfast and the early morning tea.
He and a disappointed spoon-less Lady Serene walked to the Young Master's Door. She wanted to keep looking but, he couldn't have just left her there, It would have been World War III if it was her searching for that spoon.
Sebastian knocked twice then strolled in with the Lady, who was eyeing the yummy looking food on the cart.
"Good morning, Young Master, it is time to wake up"
"yup! Good Morning Ciel...!" She said flopping onto bed, next to him. Sebastian flung the drapes open, revealing the blinding sunlight. Ciel rubbed his eyes.
"Today's weather is pleasant."
he continued to rub his eyes, noticing the lump beside him, "...Lady Serene...what are you doing here?!" he flushed, "get off of my bed!"
"No...It's so soft..." She said nearly asleep as the wrapped her legs and arms around the earl as if he was a giant teddy bear. Of course this just made him blush and want to slap her off, when he widened his eyes in realization.
Oh no. she's like that again...
"ahem...Lady Serene...?" Ciel asked
she answered eyes still closed, nearly asleep, "I need to find that spoon...so I can...turn it into a KeyBlade...and help Sebastian...defeat the cookie monster heartless from Kingdom...Hearts..." She mumbled. Ciel groaned, still red as ever.
"Sebastian...get her off of me..."
he smirked "as you wish, My Lord."
The butler had to pry her hands off and replace the open space with a pillow to keep her from awaking and wailing in rampage.
"She's like that again, isn't she?"
Sebastian smirked, "I'm afraid so, Young Master."
He half sighed, half yawned, eying the now peaceful girl, "take her to her room, when you are done here."
"of course, Young Master"
At 12, my household's master, Ciel Phantomhive, is the head of a family who governs vast dominion. At the same time, his is the face of the president of the Fantom Company, producer of toys and confectioneries. Through his sly extremely gifted management techniques, the Fantom Company grew into a giant company in the blink of an eye.
"Today's Assam?" He said through a yawn, not even taking a look at the tea.
"just as expected from the young master. Since I heard that Assam offered fine tea leaves, I sent away for some from the place itself."
"By the way, I have invited the children from Lord Barton's orphanage here."
"ORPHINAGE?!" Lady Serene bolted up, nearly scaring the day-lights out of Ciel. Apparently she wasn't entirely asleep yet.
Ciel glared at her for nearly making him drop him tea and answered, "yes. Is that a problem?"
she looked down, softly smiling.
"No...I just... I just wish there could've been someone like you around when I was in the orphanage..."
"huh? You're an orphan?" Ciel asked.
That could explain a few things, Sebastian thought.
"yes...well was, but that's a story for a different time! Anyways...how did I...get here? I remember last being in the kitchen trying to braid...Finnie's hair...?" she stared off into space trying to remember.
It seems she's as usual, this time when she awoke.
"anyway Young Master, I think that sounds like an excellent idea. When will it be?"
"Tomorrow"
Sebastian froze. Tomorrow?
This bra- The Young Master...Do you think that if you leave it to me I will be able to manage anything and everything somehow or another?You'll lay wast to your workmen with your irrepressible handling...
He a convincing fake smile,"Understood". Serene gave him a look, as if she knew what he thought. She probably did, considering the circumstances.
"No matter how small the guest, I will not embarrass the Phantomhive name by giving less than the highest quality of welcome.", The room then went silent as the two stared at Lady Serene.
"What? why are giving me that look?"
"don't mess...anything up..." Ciel glared at her
"Since when have I ever messed things up? Uh – Never! You know , I'd say that you're the one always messing things up, not me. And You know if Sebastian had actually listened to me that one time when Sir Clause was over, Mey-Rin Would have never spilled the dam-"
"Lady Serene, please leave the room." Sebastian's eyebrow raised.
"oh so now you're just gonna kick me out because I insulted you?"
"no, I have to change." Ciel said flushing.
she blinked "oh...in that case I'll just turn around!"
Sebastian smirked at her response.
"What- No! Get out at once! Your behavior is extremely- gahhh!" he put a hand to his head, not being able to find the right words to describe her, as his face heated up.
"I don't see the problem..." she said putting a finger to her lower lip, in thought.
"get. Out."
"seriously?" she pouted " what, are you not 'manly' enough to change in front of a Lady? Awww poor Ciely..."
"you...you call yourself a lady...?!"
she sighed, "Fine I Guess your right...I'll leave...if you give me the food, of course!"
as expected, Sebastian thought, smirking.
Ciel sighed madly and loud "take the damned food already and leave for once!"
"well isn't someone grumpy today..." she mumbled under her breath. A normal human wouldn't have been able to hear that, but the butler was not exactly human.
"Yay, Sebastian's yummy-British-fancy-food!"and with that she left, skipping away, munching on a scone, happily. Ciel groaned at the loud noisiness in the early morning and Sebastian just thought about how odd and amusing she was.
"Oh, that's right," Sebastian said as he began to undress him, "The Herend Chinoise tea set you ordered the other day has arrived. Therefore today's afternoon tea will be Keemun. Berries are in season so I thought that the snack would be currant and berry summer pudding. How does that sound?"
"I'll leave it to you." Sebastian tied the neck bow at last, finished.
"understood. Then I will begin the preparations for tomorrow at once." Ciel muttered in agreement, dismissing the butler.
Well. It's at this point that my work truly begins. The butler took off his tailcoat, rolled his sleeves, and pulled his gloves.
"then, shall we begin?" he said clapping his hands, smiling.
"Blend finely-shredded high quality milk and dark courveture chocolate together with 60 degree centigrade water. Next, add in pour cream heated to the point of boiling. While stirring, let the mixture cool to body temperature before adding Cointreau. Now, pour it into the-"
"KYYAAAA" the (cooking channel mode) butler was interrupted by a high shrill, which could only mean Mey-Rin or Lady Serene, most likely both, unfortunately.
"what?" the butler asked himself. He impatiently continued towards the door where the voice had sounded. He peeked through the door, annoyed.
"Mey-Rin?" ,surprisingly Serene wasn't there also, "What on Earth..."
"MR. SEBASTIAN!" the tearing maid pushed herself out of the huge pile of bubbles, which engulfed the room, and onto him.
"What are all these Bubbles?!" his face twitched annoyed, yet surprised, though he should've been used to things like this by now.
"I-I followed the instructions on the detergent exactly! Put XXX(30) spoonfuls in, but it went all weeeeird." The butler snatched the box away from the bawling maid. His face turned into an unimpressed, dumbfounded look.
"Mey-Rin...This isn't XXX(30) spoonfuls. It's III (3)." He stated bluntly.
"EH?!" she opened her mouth in shock, bubbles going into her mouth, but then she just cried some more, and apologized over and over.
This stupi...Er, this house maid...Her eyesight is already bad but I have a hunch that's not the problem here. Why doesn't she realize that the strange thing isn't the instructions, but her own head? I have heard that in society the image of a clumsy maid commands a certain amount of charm, but I cannot possibly understand why. I feel the slight urge to commit a murder.
The butler thought, smiling falsely, the way someone would to an idiot or someone lower. His left eyebrow twitched. Just then he heard a familiar, slight, girl-like giggling behind the doorway. He turned around but no one was there, only the smell of flowers and..charcoal? He turned back then closed his eyes sighing.
"haa...I understand, In any case, please stand aside." He cleaned the room and also hung up the clothes to dry, which took up nearly 15 minutes of his time, when if a normal butler had done it, it might have taken him 45. He sighed rubbing the 'sweat' off his forehead as Mey-Rin stood in awe, hands pressed to her cheeks, mouth agape.
"now my own job still remains to be done, so please return to your work as well." he walked down the corridor with a sour look on his face.
"honestly...at such a busy time...", for whatever reason he felt like he was being watched, but only continued to walk on.
Cla-click. He shut the door, loosing himself in the cooking atmosphere, smiling.
"Next is...bring butter and water to a boil in a frying pan. Turn off the heat and sift wheat flower and baking powder. With a wooden spatula, once more-" his speech was cut short once again by what sounded like the atomic bomb on Japan. In this house, honestly he wouldn't have been surprised if it was.
He winced, "What is it this time?!"
He strode fastly towards the manor's second kitchen who had it's door exploded off, cracks in the door frame, and ash and black surrounding it.
"Bard! What happened!?" he stood looking in. The cook looked even worse than the doorway. His hair was now Afro style and he sat with a flame thrower looking pissed, covered in ash.
His hair looks even worse that of Lady Serene in the morning...
"weeeeell, I thought I'd try out the capability of this new recruit I sent for from the motherland but... I can't use this guy!"
are you just now realizing that fact?
"I don't think that the lamb's lavender roast needs that much fire power..." he said calmly "first is that even cook ware...?"
"Don't say such defeatist things! Cooking is one of the fine arts! the fine arts are explosions!" The cook burst into his well-known speech, looking motivated and serious, though it would've been hard to take him for that with the current hair style he was sporting.
This stupi...Er, this chef. I've heard your cooking rant before, so won't you just get cooking already? I think what you create is at least 8% charcoal, anyway. He gave a fake and annoyed grin as his mouth twitched.
Keep your artistic visions to yourself and focus on creating something edible...if you don't, it'd be best if you became charcoal as well, The butler violently finished. Behind him, yet again, he heard laughter. This time it was more like a silent and light giggle, as if someone was trying to cluster it all in. But when he turned no one was there. He only caught a flash of pink fabric rounding the corner. He ignored the nagging feeling of figuring out who the stalker was and turned to the disarrayed and disheveled cook.
"Haa...there's no helping it. It looks as though the ground meat and vegetables are safe so we'll manage something with them.", the butler pulled his gloves and went to work on fixing the mess.
when he finished he sighed, turning to return to the other kitchen, about to leave an inspired and respectful Bard.
"In any case that should do it. I will leave the tidying up to you."
"Yes sir!" he saluted.
Sebastian madly stalked back to his work station, hands balled with swinging arms, and fast moving long legs. As if the father he got away from the trouble-makers, the more likely everything would be okay. As if.
"Honestly! Can't I make any progress, here?!" he nearly slammed the door, but instead calmed down, cla-clicking it. He sighed, grabbing the bag reading "brown sugar".
"It's about time to finish up. Spread brown sugar on a pan and heat-"
"UWAAHH!" suddenly a cry filled his ears and a body fell into his shoulders, making him drop the sugar everywhere. It didn't matter much because either way he was going to squeeze hard enough to burst it from annoyance. The demon was honestly trying his best not to murder uh...lecture...every last one of these stupid, annoying,and clumsy, er...servants...
"This time it's you, is it..." He looked up as if asking Satan why he was cursed with this despicable job.
"UWAAHHAHHH, MR. SEBASTIAN!"
are you a baby? He thought annoyed with an agitated expression, as the gardener wrapped his arms around Sebastian's chest, wetting it with tears. He was about to whack the poor boy off, but then responded.
"If you're crying, I wont be able to understand you. What's wrong?"
Finny led him to the bare garden, which was filled with bare trees and their green dressings on the spared ground. The "man's" face was less than displeased and a dark shadow crossed his face, as finny stood awkwardly and embarrassed in the back.
"I thought you were supposed to trim the branches, but...the lawn is" he stared at the dead leaves on the ground.
"I forgot that the herbicide dispenser has been broken since the other day! Uwaahhh, I'm so sorry!"
this stupi...this IDIOT! despite the face that he's the gardener he's this clumsy? It's said that even an idiot can use a pair of scissors, but an idiot using scissors can be a problem, too. For instance, he said it happened "the other day,", which you'd expect to mean two or three days earlier, so how can he have already made a mistake and forgotten it? I am remembering what it's like to be very deeply angry.
The butler smirked, looking amused, when in reality he was only doing that because the only other option in his list was murder. Again he heard a tinkling voice. Laughter. He was also becoming seriously angry at whoever was enjoying his displeasure.
He tsked, ignoring it,"If it's already come to this, there's nothing I can do about it. Go to the garden store and buy some trees." he said taking out pocket money.
"wh-what kind of tr-trees should I buy?" he said trying to dry his tears.
"You are the gardener, so the design of the garden is up to you. Buy whatever you think best."
Suddenly the boy's eyes lightened up, sparkling with excitement.
"then, then, I want to build a garden that's like a transformer robot! is that okay!?"
The butler just stared blankly at the boy.
Though I have lived for a very long time, this is the first time I have ever met an alien.
The butler stood in deep thought, as the gardener grinned, gradually tilting his head to the left at the butler.
"Mr. Sebastian?" the butler panged out of his daze.
"You don't want to make the Young Master angry, so please just hand over the money ~ . It's bad to space out like that!" You could feel the rage burning off of him as finny left him in the back speechless.
"yay! I'm off!" he sing-songed. The butler though, could swear he was shedding hair by the second.
I must stop socializing with them. At this time...I want to see her.
He dashed away like a black lightning bolt.
Her strong-willed eyes that glitter like amber. I must hurry! To the place where she waits!
He flung the door to outside open, revealing an pretty area, that was not killed yet by Finney, the alien.
"wha...what?!" there was no one or nothing there. Off to the side he heard the familiar tinkling of laughter and light-hearted meows. The same laughter that had been teasing him around all day. He had already had his suspicions, but this just proved it. He turned the corner revealing a small adorable black cat who was being lifted into the air by Serene Bisiore who was laying on the grass.
"oh..h-hey, Sebastian!" She said trying to keep her laughter inside herself.
She's laughing at me...
Anger boiled inside of him, though he only smiled pleasantly.
"good day, Lady Serene." he said emphasizing "lady" as he know how much she disliked it. She grunted, knowing what he was up to.
"do you by the way mind telling me what you have been up to until now?" he said twitching. She got up giving the cat to him, unexpectedly. He squeezed the cat tenderly as if she was life itself.
"just amusing myself...", she said grinning. He glared at her.
"It was you...wasn't it?"
"hnn? Oh I was just getting back at you for all the times you've dropped me on the floor or smiled at my suffering." she said grinning. He was about to commit murder by now, when serene changed her expression to a serious and melancholy one, making the butler think twice.
"I Let it happen because you need to learn about people more. You should think sometime about how others feel. I know you're probably really tired of fixing other people's messes and being lectured when you don't need it, but this time you do." he stared flatly at her.
"You know, almost everyone adores you...Have you ever noticed how they always come to you for help? Even if they mess up, they truly mean to do well. And yet...you are always thinking bad things about them. Well, just imagin if instead you were them. They don't mean to be that way, it's just how they were born. It's like hating someone because they have brown hair. Which is why I understand it's extremely hard for you to connect with people because you're a demon but can you...try?" he continued to stare at her flatly. Somewhere in him he knew she was right. Even if he'd rather die than admit it or think it.
"for me? Please?"
as if you asking me would empower me to do it more.
She looked up at him tears balling in her eyes, which made him think twice. His eyes widened, He had seen the other Servants cry but this time it looked so...
what..what exactly is that look?
"If you still don't understand let me put it this way. You really like that, cat, huh?"
He sighed. "yes..." she's so talkative and pestful...but that look in her eyes...
"well just imagine that cat hating you more than anything else in the world " he flinched, as the thought crossed his mind for a second.
"you are the cat and the servants are you. That sounds a bit complicated...but...that's exactly how it is! they all love you, so very much...so please try! I know you can!"
What and interesting and odd request. She could ask for almost anything and yet it's something like this...This clumsy girl -her soul- occasionally makes me want to steal her away along with the young master. He smiled, kneeling, gently grabbing her hand and kissing it. She could feel tingles go up her nerves. She was unused to it, since in her time, guys wouldn't randomly go around kissing Ladies' hand's all the time.
"of course...Lady Serene" she flushed
"Is-Is that a promise? From the very bottom of your heart?" he couldn't exactly say that, he was a demon after all.
"or...maybe at least something close to that...?" she said in despair
"somewhat." she looked relieved and happy as he got back up.
"okay...? Don't forget our promise okay?" she sniffeled, regaining her happy demeanor. "Well...anyways...bye Neko-chan and bye bye Sebster! Have fun with your work...!" he just stared after her in thought.
"Mrow?"
"hmmm...do you fancy her?" Sebastian asked the cat. It was the first time he actually met someone who liked cats on the same level as he. Well, almost on the same level...no one could really compare to him.
"Nyaa!" the cat seemed to say 'yes 'and Sebastian laid down some food for the cat.
"Now, now, you don't have to eat so quickly. There's plenty."
Cats are good. They don't talk about unnecessary things. They are something that my world does not have. That place does have pets, but...
An image came to his mind and he shook his head back and forth vigorously.
Nope. It's just not the same.
He clutched the cat's paw squeezing it.
"ahh, your hand is so tender...I wish I could remain like this forever." he said smiling in actual happiness.
"but, sadly, I must be leaving. I will be awaiting tomorrow." he waved good bye smiling, as he shut the door.
~sigh~
He looked up at the chocolate Big Ben,"There have been a great many hindrances, but this is about it." Sebastian said brushing his hair out of the way, just as a choir of yells exploded behind him.
"MR. SEBASTIAN!" the E-C-K trio yelled in unison.
He turned sighing, "yes? What is it this time" he asked calmly, expecting the worse. But instead of balling their mistakes, they just stood in awe staring at Sebastian's chocolate masterpiece.
"Amazing!" Finney yelled grinning, "It's chocolate!"
"This is all candy?!" Mey-Rin wondered how she could ever level to the amazing butler.
"hey...So you left all the work to us and did this?" bard asked coldly
...left it to you?
"tomorrow, it seems that there will be children coming to the manor. I made this for them."
The gardener and maid went completely bonkers at how cool it looked while Bard folded his arms looking a bit jealous, "That's large scale for brats..."
"Just as expected from Mr. Sebastian!" they continued to cheer.
"But," Finney put a finger to his lip in question, "what kind of a statue is this?"
Sebastian looked up, "what do you mean? It's the 'Rowdy Earl' that you li..."
Sebastian's face looked shocked as ever as his heart thumped loudly.
he has no head! He stared, trembling in disbelief and anger at the chocolate rowdy earl.
"My minutely detailed model...the earl's neck..."
suddenly he whipped his head around to the servants, about to strangle the day-lights out each and every one of them. He just automatically assumed it had to be one or another of the trouble-makers.
"Hey, Hey! We've been doing our jobs until just now, right?" Bard said in panic.
"That's right! There's no way we could've stolen it!" Mey-Rin said shaking her hands back and forth as Finney nodded vigorously. They all knew how Sebastian could be when he gave them that look.
He calmed down "in that case...which means...Lady Serene!", The Servants gasped in agreement. The girl did love her food. They all began to run after Sebastian in search of the lady as they rounded a corner, revealing a pretty happy, skipping Lady Serene in the following corridor.
"Oh hey Sebast-" Bard cut her off, grasping her shoulders.
"how could you ruin such a art masterpiece?!"
she blinked twice ,"huh?"
"Yes, that wasn't very nice! Now the earl's head is missing, Yes it is!" Mey-Rin exclaimed.
She squinted her eyes confused, "the earls head...The Earl's head!" her eyes went wide in realization, "Good God, Did you somehow cut of Ciel's head!? This is Horrific, someone call an ambulance for God's sake!"
they all stared at her dumbfounded and confused, with blank faces.
"well, don't just stand there!" she continued.
Sebastian snapped out of his shock, "No, Lady Serene, They did not cut off The Young Lord's head..."
surprisingly
"We're talking about the 'Rowdy earl's' head! Did you eat him?!" Finney asked teary eyed.
"wait what... I didn't – No! I'm not a cannibal, why would I want to eat the 'Rowdy Earl's' head!? Just because I love my food and meats doesn't mean I eat human flesh! I'm not Hannibal Lector! Or a zombie!"
once again they all remained silent with a dear-in-head-lights look on their faces, not knowing the right way to respond to the Lady. This was new even to the butler.
Hannibal...Lector? His eyebrow twitched in question.
He was about to reply when a thought bumped him in the head, reminding him of something. He opened his pocket watch.
"Oh no! It's time for afternoon tea! I will take care of the preparations, so everyone please continue to question Lady Serene to the best of your ability to find out what happened to the 'Rowdy Earl's' head!
"Yes, Sir!" they saluted respectfully.
"But I'm not a cannibal! Or Hannibal lector! And I don't even like that song by Ke$ha!" she shouted in the distance as Sebastian sprinted off to prepare the afternoon tea.
Leaving the Servants alone with Lady Serene makes me nervous. I must hurry back.
He found the door and knocked twice, "pardon me."
he looked in, his eyes widening in shock. In front of him lay The Young Master asleep on his chair with the gnawed-up "Rowdy Earl's" head on his desk. He stared at Ciel, then hunched over sighing, as if truly tired from all the things he had to deal with.
Honestly...this person...
"with the window open too. While it's true that I'm here, isn't that leaving yourself too defenseless?" he asked to a sleeping Ciel as he closed the windows.
Servants who cannot be helped...A selfish master...A troublesome, strange acquaintance...being a butler isn't easy...But, I do not think this lifestyle is all bad... He said in his head, thinking about the sleeping Ciel, the awing servants, the cat's paw, and the giggling Serene. Perhaps...The lady was right...somehow he knew that.
He smiled.
And maybe for the first time of the day, it really did, just come naturally.
Kehh! sorry for this being so short but, i'm not good at 3rd person, and in the manga it's like this. I also really wanted to do a chapter from Sebastian's POV because it's really hard to tell what he's thinking. I tried my best to make him seem in character! So yeah! Thanks for reading ^.^ review or following would make my day 3