*Ciel's POV*
Days passed without feeling like days at all. It seemed like time had been ensnared into the spider's web just as much as everything else. The hours ticked by slowly, and Ciel fell into different patterns than he was used to; he woke later than usual, early morning tea becoming noon-time refreshments. The Earl Grey brew that he so enjoyed disappeared from the motel, replaced by ginger and chai blends. It wasn't he was used to, nor was it how he preferred things to be, but…
He couldn't waste his time on details like tea. He didn't have that kind of luxury anymore, not when he was constantly pulling all-nighters, burying himself into his work until it nearly suffocated the Earl. The problem of Sebastian's disappearance had come back to the young human's mind with a vengeance, demanding answers; he couldn't sit around and worry over the Queen's requests when he was too busy trying to track down a demon that apparently didn't want to be found.
"I'm not comfortable here anymore," Ciel confided in the new butler one morning. A little over a month in Claude's company had proven to be interesting, though the Earl couldn't decide if it was an interest that he would ever enjoy fully. Returning to the Phantomhive Manor, however, was a futile dream; he'd sent the four servants away to search for Sebastian Michaelis (though this detail hadn't been told to Claude) and the Manor, he knew, would prove just as tiring as the motel he'd been staying at. "I don't want to go home, either," he decided before the butler could comment, "How soon can a different Estate—"
Claude's interruption was impolite, though the words brought a reassurance nonetheless, "I had thought you might want a new household to return to; I've already made the preparations, my lord." A smile touched the demon's features, clearly pleased with himself.
"Your smile is absolutely sickening," Ciel muttered, "What have I told you about things like that? This isn't about pleasantries; I don't have time for that." His words grew harsher the longer he spoke, so he forced himself to shut his mouth for the moment, azure eyes lingering on the demon at his side. "Nonetheless," he began, speaking more slowly now, "I want to leave by this afternoon. See to it that there won't be any hiccups in those plans."
*Claude's POV*
The smile fell from the demon's face swiftly; his cold demeanor had morphed in ways he didn't understand in Ciel's company. Determined not to dwell on that, Claude started to turn away, but then paused and looked back at the child with a purse to his lips, "My lord, if I may, your obsession with work cannot be healthy for you." It wasn't work he was talking about though, because that wasn't the boy's real obsession as of late. No, the human had grown obsessive over that other butler again…
"It's no concern of yours, Claude," Ciel replied sharply, standing from his seat as he set the tea-cup down. "Get to work yourself, would you?" he added, almost like an after-thought, "I'm going to pack my things." He waved the demon out of the bedroom then, and Claude was left to prepare for the trip. It took only an hour or so to arrange the carriage and pack up anything that wasn't the young master's personal belongings.
Returning to the Earl's room, Claude saw that the luggage had been packed in this time as well. "When would you like to leave, sir?" he asked, tilting his head to one side.
*Ciel's POV*
"I've a few questions to ask first," Ciel decided, crossing his arms over his chest and ignoring the tiny voice in his head that told him he looked defensive. "My other servants will be busy for some time now," he told the demon vaguely, leaving out the details as to where the four servants had gone. "But I would prefer some other individual in the Estate with us, given I'm used to having a full house." It wasn't that he wanted a full house, really, just that he didn't want to be in an even bigger place, still alone with the demon; he had a feeling that would rot his mind into loneliness quicker than his work could suffocate him from it.
Claude nodded as he suggested, "I've got someone in mind, a maid that would be more than willing to stay with us until your servants are back from their holiday."
A holiday, yes. That's a nice conclusion you've come to, butler. I don't suppose I'll be correcting it any time soon.
Pulling himself from his thoughts, Ciel replied, "That sounds fine. I'm ready to leave now, then." He was eager to get out of this damned motel; the small space had started to drive him mad, if he were being honest with himself. "Let's go, Claude," he added as he stood from his place, nodding at the suit-case in a vague order for the butler to carry it out with them.
The sooner I'm in a bigger place, the sooner I'll have more room to think. Then… then I'll plan my next move, I suppose.