Dorado stuffed the bear into his rolling pull-behind suitcase Wednesday afternoon, then stopped, stooped, and pulled it back out.
What was with this stupid toy and making him feel guilty?
Dorado lifted the bear to his face and scowled.
It's bulbous green eyes wandered in opposite directions.
He sighed, sat in his bunk and wondered if he should find Cowatch and give it back again.
But he really didn't want to see her today.
So he was going home a day early.
Dorado looked at his big black backpack and rolled his eyes, giving the bear a squeeze.
He stood and went to the chair his bag rested on and set the bear in, trying to stuff the giant head in, then sighed when it wouldn't.
Here's hoping no one would see it...
"You can come whenever you need to."
It sounded jerky, awkward, like he wasn't quite used to being genuine or around anyone under thirty-two.
Like he was a robot in the movies.
Dollface tore her eyes away from the elevator door and to her father.
He stood short and skinny at five foot six, in clothing nearly seventy years out of date, a mop of blue-black hair falling over an eyepatch and brushing over a thickly lashed blue eye.
He was young, very young.
While most fathers of teens were well on their way to a retirement or some other great reward, Dollface's father was young enough to be mistaken as her older brother.
"An elevator?" She smiled, trying to lighten Ciel Phantomhive's permanently dower mood, "I can see why ya think it would lift m'spirits."
Uncle Sebbie, tall, slim, and pale as Gramma's Sunday stockings, snorted, then pulled a poker face to show he wasn't listening in.
"You know what I mean."
Dollface sighed.
Tightwad.
But he wasn't always that stuffed a shirt.
Dollface had a picture of him in a pretty pink dress.
"Hey, where's Reggie?"
"It is unknown at this time." Uncle Sebbie said, tone purposely empty. He wasn't allowed much in the way of emotion on the job.
Dollface reckoned he always looked like he was in mourning, but not as much as she now did her father. A stiff, pale face, black hair just a little too long and his suit a little too crisp.
"This sure is a long trip." Dollface muttered, wondering how she could turn this particular enemy into a friend. She was suddenly startled away from studying her boots by the ding of a bell. She jumped, looking up at the glowing bulb.
"Top floor, master." Uncle Sebbie purred. Ciel stepped out, knowing Dollface was in tow.
"Dad, why am I Dollface?"
Ciel didn't even even dignify the question with a turn or a nod, just a casual, British answer of, "I knew a few people."
"Who?" Dollface asked, keeping up with her father's brisk walk through the LA penthouse living room. She didn't even notice Sebastian practically floating past them and into the room ahead.
"Someone you don't need to worry about."
"Who?"
"Are you a wren or an owl?" Ciel stopped and turned and so fast with such aggressive agitation Dollface practically jumped out of her boots.
"Don't ask anymore questions!" Ciel said, grabbing her by the shoulders. Dollface squeezed her eyes shut, absolutely terrified.