Hey! I'm trying to get as many updates up before the 17th, I'm visiting my family, but this year, unlike the last, afterword's I'm getting a job. So I'm not really sure how long it'll take me to update after that…
~Miss. Jessi-Pon
Chapter 10: Photo's are for nerds!
Allen and Sebastian were doing their usual clean-up of the house, tiding up the bookshelf's, and dusting the desks. Target spotted, he clicked a few pictures
Ciel looked at his 3 (useless) servants expectantly.
"So then, what was this matter you wanted to discuss with us?" May-Lene asked poking her fingers together, in a sort of embarrassed but confused way.
Ciel looked down before pulling his head back up and spouted something no one thought they would ever hear, "There is a job I want you three to do."
"J-O-B?" they asked eyes sparkling in delight. They all hugged each other happily.
"What a relief!" Finny laughed.
"Being called up to the young master. I thought we were going to be fired for sure!" May-Lene laughed also. Tanaka laughed merrily.
He picked up a camera, "This is one of the items that Talbot is said to have collected: a camera with a past." He placed the Camera down on his desk and placed a hand on top of it, his other hand on his hip, "I heard this long lost item had suddenly come up at auction, and went to quite some trouble to acquire it."
The three looked confused, "Talcum?" Finny tested the word carefully.
"William Henry Fox Talbot, " Tanaka stated, in his real form, "He was an English scientist, and one of the best inventors of photographic technology. There is this strange rumor surrounding the final camera he used. Then the being most treasured by that person may also be revealed in the photograph."
May-Lene clapped her hands together in an affectionate manner, blushing, "The thing most important to that person?" She asked.
"And this is that nifty camera?" Bard asked as Tanaka deflated.
"Let's take one as a test." Ciel got under the cover, "Don't move. This camera takes ten seconds for the negative exposure." Ciel took off the cap and Finny stood still, as if frightened.
"What's a negative exposure?" May-Lene asked confused.
"Put it simply, it reflects and burns Finny's image." Bard explained.
"If you don't stay for ten seconds, it will blur and won't come out properly." Ciel explained as Finny fidgeted. "Eight. Nine. Ten." He got out from under the cloth, "All right." Finny took a deep breath, "It was fine to breathe, though…"
~Later~
They went into the dark room so Ciel could develop the picture of Finny. Finny suddenly gasped, "Ah! That's my little bird!" He yelled.
"Huh? You had a little bird?" Bard asked.
"How cute!" May-Lene shouted.
"I gave it food every gay and eventually it would come to eat from my hand." Finny explained, "I was so happy, and I went to pet it nicely… " the head of the bear that Finny was mimicking's head fell off, "It stopped moving."
"Y-You mean it…" May-Lene stuttered out Tanaka took a deep drink of the tea then became the real Tanaka once again.
"Ah, I forgot to mention something." Tanaka started, "The precious thing that is reflected is something which does not belong in this world. In other words, only the dead."
"Th-the dead?" Finny asked scared.
"By that, you mean…" May-Lene asked.
"The most prescious thing to that person which is not of this world." Ciel smiled, "In other words, it means the dead will be transposed to the photograph." May-Lene and Bard screamed in terror.
"Do occult stories like that really exist in this 19th century world?" Bard asked Ciel looking truly terrified.
May-Lene joined Bard and yelled, "How amazing! What an exceptional camera!"
"Ah, my little birdie!" Finnie cried.
"Take a picture of Sebastian and Allen with this camera." Ciel ordered, "However, do it without them realizing." Everyone looked at Ciel afterwards.
"A sneak photo?" Bard asked confused.
"Yeah," Ciel confessed. May-Lene looked worried
"Wh-Who is the one that Sebastian cares most for?" May-Lene asked before blushing harder, "O-Oh and Allen also!"
"I'd kind of like to know." Finny confessed.
"That bastard, Sebastian! He is always finding flaws in my artistic cooking!" Bard exclaimed, " He's human, too! He must have a weak point or two! This is our chance!" Bard yelled as Ciel's smile became a little more well known.
"Also Allen is so secretive he's been here a year and we still don't know anything about him!" May-Lene yipped in.
"You'll do it, right?" Ciel asked.
"Yes, My Lord!" They practically shouted simultaneously. They cheered.
"Ah, I've always wanted to say that!" Bard said as the rest clapped in enthusiasm.
"I said it!" Finny happily said.
"If a picture was taken of 'that thing' with this camera, I really do wonder what would come up," Ciel thought looking at the camera, "Allen, too. I've known him for a year, he hasn't given me any kind of hint of anything, other than he is an 'exorcist' and a 'noah', I don't even know what that really is!"
"This will be something to see" Ciel smirked.
~Later~
It was 9:30 and Ciel was moving his toy soilders around the toy house that looked suspiciously like his own. He moved all three soldiers cornered the ram.
"At this time of day, Sebastian is normally in the library." He said confidently, "Allen… I'm pretty sure he should be cleaning the dining room…" He placed a white lamb where Allen should be. "Or… Where is he?"
~With the servants~
Sebastian looked around suspiciously.
"Stay still!" Bard whispered from their spot in the bookshelf.
"I-It's ten seconds!" May-Lene warned.
"Ten seconds." Finny smiled. Sebastian just smiled and dashed to the left, quickly cleaning the whole room.
"So fast!" Bard whispered, impressed.
"He's so fast I'm having trouble keeping track of him with my eyes!" May-Lene stated surprised.
"Damn it! There's no way we can snap him like this." Bard whispered back. Sebastian just looked curiously at the flowers, "Ah. He stopped!" he merely bit his index finger in what looked like slight worry. He whipped out a red rose and placed it in the pure white bouquet. The room was sparkling
"I forgot to take it." Bard looked put out as he said it. Finny clapped.
"How wonderful." May-Lene swooned.
"Next up is the cleaning of various rooms." Ciel hit the ram off its spot in the library.
Finny ran open the door, pushing a table right to Sebastian. "Watch out! They took a few pictures then." Finny ended up falling out of the hole he had now created.
~With them and Allen~
The servants were near the door that goes to the dining room, finding Allen standing in the middle of the room.
They set up the camera. After the shot Finny began counting, "Six. Seven. Eight…." Allen jumped from his spot and began doing quick acrobats cleaning the house. And even though he was more slower than Sebastian, it seemed impossible to take a picture of the boy was doing said acrobats because he was moving so much. About a minute later he stopped to a five second check and left the room using a different exit.
"This seems to be getting harder…" Bard whispered.
~With Ciel~
He moved the Ram, "Then come his daily duties in the butler room." Ciel looked bored, "Where would Allen be..."
~Sebastian~
Sebastian was writing the schedule for Ciel. The bell rung to visit Ciel's current residence. Sebastian knocked on the door.
"Come in." Ciel called towards the door.
Sebastian opened the door, "Was there something you wanted?" Sebastian asked.
"It's untied." Ciel said.
"Huh?" Sebastian said confused, before stopping. "Understood." And he began tying the ribbon.
May-Lein popped up in the window, "Sebastian, your face looks wonderful in profile as well."
"All right! Now just like that!" Bard rasped.
Finny held the ladder, "Four. Five. Six…" Sebastian looked suspiciously at the window, before the two scooted down hurryingly. He opened the window and looked around.
"Let's let some air in." Sebastian turned. Bard asked.
~Later~
The three were sitting in the hall.
"Why do we have to go to all this trouble just to take a single photo?" Bard said as they sighed.
The door flew open, and Sebastian stood.
"There is a job I'd like to ask all of you to do." Sebastian said as they jumped in fright.
"Wh-What is it?" May-Lene asked.
"That." He said looking out the window to the giant Plu-plu.
"What's up with the pooch?" Bard asked, confused.
"In the afternoon, we shall be receiving a guest." Sebastian informed them, "Please move that somewhere out of sight before then, that it will not offend our guest's eyes." Finny ran to the window.
"Somewhere out of sight being…" Bard asked confused.
"I will leave that to you." With that Sebastian turned and left.
"Hey!" Bard yelled, "We have our own jobs to do as well."
Sebastian turned and smiled, "You can do it between your other jobs. Just make sure it is done before our guest arrives."
Sebastian walked out the door and shut it, "Now I should be able to concentrate on my own work for a while."
Allen passed by heading to the study with cleaning supplies, "Hello Sebastian."
"Hello Allen" Sebastian smiled.
~With the servants~
"Come on Plu-plu." Finny dragged the huge demon beast. "Here, now!" and he catapulted the dog.
The dog blew flames at him and ran when the rope snapped.
"W-Wow! Plu can breathe fire too!" May-Lene stated amazed.
"That's a Devil Dog for you!" Bard remarked, "Wait this is no time to be dawding!" Finny cried.
~With Ciel~
Sebastian passed him a blate, "For heaven's sake. What are they doing?"" Ciel thought. Ciel looked angrily at the window.
"What's the matter?" Sebastian asked Ciel.
"No. Nothing. I will take dinner in here today as well." Ciel informed him.
Sebastian bowed, "Understood." Sebastian looked at the toys before smiling.
~With Sebastian~
Sebastian looked at the devil dog in discust, "Good grief. Those three…" he placed a hand on his head, "It would probably be better if they were just eaten by him." Suddenly a cat meowed.
"Oh my."
~Lu-plu Pov? Whot happened!~
I woke up with a disturbingly, gross sound. Yeah you guessed it meowing. I heard the demon chuckle. And rub the beast in a way that he has yet to do to me, the awesome Plu-Plu.
"What a supple body, and soft paws." He rubbed it more. I looked at the stupid creature with hate in my eyes and hunger in my belly. "Ah cats are so sublime." I quickly changed into my human form and ripped the cat off after climbing on the stairs and bawling into the suit of the unaffectionate master of mine. He sighed. "Why does something always interrupt?" Just then the affectionate master walked out of the house.
"Wanna know what Seba-Chan…" He started with an amused smile and a shake of his head, "I am not gunna ask."
~With the servants~
Ciel looked at the incomplete pictures and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Young Master." Finny apologized.
"But Bard has thought up a cunning plan!" May-Lene informed him.
"It came to me after seeing the pooch breathe fire." He confessed.
"Don't go using any flame-throwers." Ciel interrupted.
"How depressing." Bard said as they looked downcast.
"Earl!" Lau walked in.
"Master Lau!" May-Lene stated surprised.
"What did you come here for?" Ciel asked.
"I heard something interesting was going on." He confessed.
"Go home." Ciel ordered, looking away.
"Don't say such cold things." Lau pouted. "Leave this to me."
"Huh?" Ciel looked over.
Lau smiled, "The spider's web has already been woven." He picked up the two objects representing the butlers, "The more you stuggle, the harder it becomes to escape from those bonds. Whatever the prey, once they get involved with me, catching them is only a matter of time."
"All right," Ciel agreed, "However, I will not tolerate failure." He looked right at Lau, "No matter what."
"But of course." Lau stated, "If I sullied the Phantomhive name, I'd be ejected from this country, after all." Then with a friendly voice he stated, "So, what are we doing?"
~Lau's plan~
Ran-Mou was on the stair railing looking sexy when Sebastian passed, without the guest.
"What is that?" Ciel asked, blushing and looking away.
"Oh, how strange." Lau said. "I thought that would make that butler stop and look for a second."
Suddenly Allen walked in, and looked at Ran-Mou. He let out a scream. Ciel looked at Allen grab a sword from the wall and point it dangerously.
"Master Cross is here isn't he?" He asked looking paranoid, " I won't-not this time! I won't pay his debts!" With that he ran from the room.
"Very strange indeed." Lau nodded.
"I am an idiot for believing you for even a second." Ciel stated.
"It's too early to give up yet." Lau signaled for the servants for effects to blow the skirt up.
"Wait, that's not the right target!" almost took a picture of the visitor. "Where is he?" Sebastian was at the top of the stairs looking worried.
"Mr. Jones?" He called out.
"Oh. Oh, yes!" the man looked at Sebastian before running after Sebastian.
"Ah, how strange." Lau stated once more.
"What a waste of time." Ciel shook his head. Sebastian took him to the dining room (That Allen cleaned), and gave the man notes, with Tanaka taking Ciel's place.
~With Ciel~
Today, I have prepared the Devil Dog Cake from our trip to hounds worth." Sebastian gave Ciel. Ciel picked one up and glared.
"Why is there something like this…." Ciel began to ask.
"It seems that Bard and the others bought an insane quantity of it, perhaps to feed Allen." Sebastian answered.
"How did the article go?" Ciel asked.
"Tanaka showed his formidable strengths as company president." Sebastian answered.
"I see. Well, it's not like I can be the face of the company at present." Ciel stated smiling.
"Yes. There was a photograph taken at the end as well." Sebastian explained.
"A photograph?" Ciel asked.
"Yes. Lately, it seems that having a photographic portrait accompany an article is the fashion." Sebastian explained.
"I see." Ciel stated.
"Young master, how about having one taken as well?" Sebastian asked.
"Nonsense." Ciel said.
~Later that night~
"Young master!" Finny yelled as a statue came at Ciel. Running towards him. Sebastian saved Ciel, the two angel wings on Sebastian's back. Allen pulled Ciel from underneath Sebastian. Sebastian held Ciel as Allen checked for injuries. The Wings crumpled. Not 2 seconds later fireworks went off.
Lau stepped out. "Isn't this a wonderful scene." Meanwhile the servants took a picture with all three of them, Allen on the left, Ciel in the center and Sebastian on the right.
"Your late." Ciel complained.
"I'm sorry." Sebastian and Allen apologized at the same time. Allen seemed worried, Sebastian seemed apathetic.
"I was making preparations for tonight's dinner." Sebastian confessed.
"I was cleaning the dining room… again." Allen replied.
"Today's main dish is a Rouen-style roast duck." Sebastian told him.
"I see." Ciel said.
"You should have just ordered me to let you take it." Sebastian said.
"Yeah, save the trouble." Allen said laughing.
"What?" Ciel asked confused.
"Whatever you order me to do, I will do right away." Ciel looked flabbergasted as Sebastian confirmed this.
"Yeah." Allen agreed, "As much as I hate pictures, if you order it, I'd have to." Ciel looked angry as the two smiled.
Ciel looked away, "What are you talking about?"
~With the servants~
"We finally took them!" Finny exclaimed.
"The fruits of a day's hard labor!" Bard cheerfully said.
"That's the young master for you!" May-Lene cheered.
"I'm beginning to see it!" Bard yelled happily after a few minutes of squinting. Just then Plu-plu went in looking angered.
"Plu-plu?" Finny asked. He blew fire in their faces.
~With Ciel~
"Aren't you going to go see, Earl?" Lau asked cheerfully when he heard the ruckus. Ciel contemplated.
~With Allen and Sebastian~
Plu-plu ran to the black and white butler.
"Good." Sebastian smiled as they both pet the dog. Sebastian gave the dog a treat. They both got up.
"So what do you think Ciel is up to?" Allen asked.
"He has once again concocted a most elaborate prank." Sebastian answered. "Sleep outside at night." Sebastian told Plu-plu as they walked away. Sebastian knocked on the door.
"Ciel, it's time for bed." Allen said looking into the room. They found Ciel already sleeping.
"Sleeping out here like this… how sloppy." Sebastian remarked.
"Shut up he's 12. I know you obiously can't remember when you were 12, but he's still so young, so innocent," Sebastian snorted, "Okay, maybe not innocent, but still, he needs his rest."
Sebastian looked at the camera, "That aside, it would seem that the number of unnecessary jobs has increased again." Sebastian looked at Ciel to the camera, They left the room (Allen carrying Ceil), and put him to bed. Allen kissed Ciel's forehead.
~Servants in the morning~
"Sebastian got transposed," Finny said in awe. Looking at the one picture.
"So then, the one who is most important to the young master is Sebastian?" May-Lene asked.
"So, that's how it is." Bard stated.
"They're really close friends!" Finny exclaimed.
"The young master is my rival." May-Lene muttered, "What should I do?"
"Ah! Plu-plu!" Finny pointed out.
"huh?" Bard asked, scratching his head, "Which means… "
"The one Sebastian cares for the most is Plu?" May-Lene yelled.
"Is that true?" Bard asked.
"Or is it really the young master?" May-Lene asked.
"Which is it?" Bard asked.
~With Ciel~
They were setting the table, Allen and Sebastian.
Sebastian leaned in, "I'm honored."
"Shut up." Ciel ordered.
"It's really your own fault for leaving yourself defenseless while asleep." Sebastian stated smiling.
"Yeah," Allen agreed, "You were practically begging us for the picture to be taken.
"You bastards!" Ciel cussed, looking at both of them.
"The image reflected in a picture is but an illusion." Sebastian said. "However, even if it is an illusion to hold onto it is one of the hollow dreams humans have." Allen turned and walked out of the room before reaching in his jacket and pulling out a picture of him.
He was in the middle of the picture with two men next to him. The right stood Mana, in his old clown outfit. To the right stood his Master, Cross. Cross was in his full General get up. Allen let a few tears fall before wiping them away. Then he realized something.
"W-Why…. Why isn't Kanda here?" Allen asked himself…" Could it be I distanced myself… or…. Is he still in the land of the living?"
~With the servants~
Bard and May-Lene were getting chased by Plu-plu while Finny looked at the picture.
"But wait. Wasn't that camera only susposed to transpose things like my little birdie?" Finnie asked, "Why is Sebastian transposed?" Finny flipped the dog over, "Well, whatever."
Oh shit! Another? Yeppers.
See what I did there? Yes you Lena-hater's he's not dead. No I didn't think this up on the spot, this was supposed to happen, tricked you there didn't I?
Miss. Jessi-Pon