Spending time at Undertakers was always relaxing, in an odd sort of way. The man seemed to be slightly off his rocker, but Harry didn't mind. It made things interesting. At the moment Harry was sitting atop the counter, eating Undertaker's special bone shaped biscuits. The reaper sat behind him, meticulously braiding his hair, which had grown down to the middle of his back.
They weren't talking today, simply sitting in the comfort of the other's company. William never understood how Harry could stand to be around the man, and was constantly trying to get him to not visit the reaper. He was ignored, however good his intentions might be.
Just as Undertaker finished tying up the braid, the door opened, revealing a group of people, lead by what seemed to be a child. Though Harry had learned over the years not to judge a person on their age alone. He could feel their curious eyes on him, those of the child's butler especially. But his attention was not on them, no it was focused on two figures towards the back of the rather ragtag group.
Beaming, Harry leaped off of the counter and ran at the serenely smiling figure. With an ecstatic shout, he practically tackled the older man, who caught him easily, much to the surprise of everyone else except Ran-Mao and the Undertaker.
"Ah, my little porcelain doll! It certainly has been a long time now hasn't it!"
Looks were exchanged, full of confusion and frustration. Apparently, Lau hadn't told them about any investigations taking place in his opium den. He supposed that was a good thing, neither he nor Lau wanted to attract too much attention, especially not from what appeared to be nobility.
Suddenly he was taken into another pair of arms, belonging to a much softer, definitely female frame. Ran-Mao crushed him to her breast, whispering about how cute he was and how she had missed him.
"Ran Mao," Harry choked out, "Can't, breathe."
"Can one of you explain what the bloody hell is going on here?"
Lau, being his usual unruffled self, simply smiled and looked toward the young boy for a moment before answering.
"Ah, of course my young lord. The young man currently being suffocated by my dear sister is an old, friend, of mine, who has helped me out on multiple occasions."
Although not able to see him, Harry could practically feel frustration radiating off the small boy in waves. Stifling his chuckle at the kid's expense, Harry managed to wiggle out of Ran Mao's grip, turning to introduce himself properly.
"Hadrian Potter, at your service," he announced, placing a charming smile on his face and bowing. " And you are?"
Seeming to size him up, the boy was quiet for a moment, before apparently deciding something. He moved forward out of the group, taking the position of leader.
"I am Earl Ciel Phantomhive, and this is Baroness Burnett," he stated cooly, gesturing towards a woman draped in scarlet, reminding Harry undeniably of Grelle. He desperately hoped that their personalities were different, because Harry wasn't sure if he could survive two Grelle's with his sanity intact. Ciel seemed to hesitate for a moment before motioning towards the third person.
"My butler, Sebastian," he concluded shortly. Something in Harry's brain clicked in that moment, recognition flaring as he looked at the butler. So this was the man Grelle wouldn't shut up about. Harry burst out laughing.
Sebastian looked almost insulted, which only caused Harry to laugh harder.
"So," he managed to choke out, " you're the one Grelle keeps talking about. Though I must say he does have a point."
Undertaker, knowing exactly what Harry was talking about started cackling as well. The three in front of him looked alarmed to see the two men giggling and clinging to each other in an attempt to stay upright. Lau didn't even blink an eye, too busy talking to Ran Mao about the pros and cons of an all liquid diet.
"What on earth are you two going on about? Stop this nonsense!"
"Sorry, sorry," Harry wheezed out, pulling himself to sit on the counter once more. "It's just…, he chuckled once more, "oh it's just, I never thought I'd actually meet you, and, oh, Grelle's going to be so jealous."
He saw the earl and his butler exchange glances, and knew he would be questioned later. Oh well. Undertaker, with a grin still on his face, and giggling quietly, turned to them.
"What can I do for you today, my dear earl. Finally come to try out your coffin? Specially made just for you…"
"I'm here for information," here the earl cast a wary glance towards Harry, "which you already knew."
"Are you now?" the silver haired man crooned, "and what kind of information would you be looking for my dear boy?"
"I would prefer this to be a private discussion, Undertaker," Ciel states, sending a pointed look in his direction. The mortician follows his gaze, grin widening upon seeing him.
"Oh don't worry little earl, dear Lily flower over here knows just as much as I do, if not more."
The butler was looking at him curiously, like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. Harry could almost see the pieces starting to come together. The man was missing valuable information however, and was quickly becoming frustrated by it. The wizard could hear the earl and Undertaker discussing some new case of his. Bored, he contented himself with watching Undertakers silver locks shimmer in the dim light of the shop, half listening to see if anything interesting came up.
He perked up when he heard Ciel mention the Viscount Druitt.
"Aleistor?"
Everyone turned to look at him then. The red lady seemed to have forgotten he was there entirely. Undertaker started laughing, hearing the slight hope in the boy's voice. Blushing, Harry glanced down to his tea, wanting to slink away into the basement.
"Oh lily flower, I'm sure he wouldn't mind you paying him a visit even without an invitation," the man seemed to remember something, and threw his head back, laughing once more, " you'll soon be able to have an entire section of jewelry of just what that man has given you!"
Slumping further downward in his chair under the incredulous looks of the others, he glared through his lashes at Undertaker, silently promising revenge.
The butler continued to look at him strangely.
He should have known those two would be at the party when he heard the mention of Aleistor. There was nothing to be done about it, however, except to continue with his mission. Dancing with the Viscount, he could feel the glares of Ciel and his butler from across the room. He knew they didn't know that he was the man they had met the day before, but he was interfering with their own mission, and he had no doubt that the earl would try and make his move soon.
The earl looked miserable, most likely because of the dress he seemed to have been forced to wear. Harry had no doubt he could be a good actor, but if the boy dropped his mask every time he wasn't in direct contact with his target, someone was going to notice. And if that someone was his target, he would be screwed.
Meanwhile, the Viscount was slowly but surely leading him towards the side of the room, where Harry knew a door lay, hidden behind thick draperies. Leaning down, Aleistor spoke soft and smooth into his ear.
"My darling flower, how sweet you've been. Do you tire of these dreary festivities? Might I suggest something a bit more, entertaining?" The man's eyes spoke of desire, and Harry was happy to play off of that. No matter how many times he did this, the Viscount was always the same. It made things so very simple for him. A sultry smile on his lips, he moved slightly closer, hearing the small gasp of want from the man.
"What would you have in mind, my dear Viscount?"
The smile he was given was verging on predatory.
"How about something, a bit more mature, than dancing. Simply follow me, darling, and I'll show you things you've never even thought of."
Glancing around, he nodded subtly to William, who had been watching out of the corner of his eye from across the room. Closer to him, however, he saw Ciel making his way through the crowd, a look of slight panic in his eyes, although whether from him thinking another victim had been taken, or that he had worn his rather lovely dress for nought, Harry could not tell. Winking, he turned away, and let himself be led into the dark beyond the doorway.
Sorry this took so long, I had the first part and was going to post it until I realized it was only 400 something pages. Then I got stuck on the introductions scene. Like, what the heck would they say? What would he introduce Madam Red as? What the heck would they say?!
Ah, the struggles of a writer. I hope this was worth the wait.