"Sir, if you wish, your bed is prepared."
The soft, respectful words broke in upon whatever thoughts filled the young Count Hargreave's mind, and the familliar, caring voice shuffled them quietly away, leaving him free to focus on the simple, warm, homey pleasures which Riff kept always ready for his master.
Or at least, that was the way it was supposed to work, Cain thought sourly. Lately he found his mind filled with things altogether different from the normal, natural, familliar, contemplation of death and the darkness which filled the world. Before, Riff's voice had served to clear Cain's mind. Lately it just made it more of a mess.
Cain missed the darkness.
He hadn't had a good, bloody murder to contemplate in weeks. No strange activity. Barely even a simple mugging. Of course his mind was running away from him. It was bored. And like his little sister Merryweather, it began to pull stunts to keep iteslf entertained. Or something.
"Sir Caine?" Riff made his way over to his master, who had yet to respond to his valet's first suggestion that the young man go to bed. The Count was exhausted, that was for certain. The difference was, lately it had become an exhaustion of the soul, a sort of listlessness and detatchment from those around him. Especially Riff. Or at least that's the way it seemed. It probably just seemed that way because the Count spent so much more of his time with the valet than anyone else. Silently, Riff cursed the spontaneous wave of peace which had broken out across London. When it had first arrived, he had been close to thanking each and every god by name. The young master had had no reason to go gallavanting out to all hours of the night, returning only after Riff had worked himself to new peaks of worry. The fact that the Count was also often injured on these escapades did nothing to ease his servant's mind. But now, seeing his master sitting at home every evening, with even Merryweather's antics fail to bring light to her brother's eyes, Riff was close to going and committing murder himself. Never had the Count been so distant and emotionless with his friend than in the last few weeks.
Riff sighed before bowing once more to the youth in front of him, "Master Cain. Will you be coming to bed tonight?"
Cain jumped slightly, and gave his head the tiniest of shakes, as if to dislodge an unwelcome thought. He turned to his oldest companion and smiled, expressing all the gratitude and emotion he had never been taught words for.
He lay tucked into his bed as his eyes silently followed Riff as he moved around the room, extinguishing lamps and collecting dirty clothing before he moved to leave the room. As the door swung closed, a whispered question moved across the room; "How could I ever be worthy of you?"
~*~
Well... there will be more. Like maybe a plot. I don't think this even has a plot yet. Ths isn't even fluff... O_o I don't think there's a word for what this is yet. But there will be more, once I come up with it. And I really think I need to read more of the manga... I'm only part-way through Vol. 2, so if there's anything severely inconsistant, sorry about that. But in the meantime, why don't you r&r? I won't actually get down and beg for comments.
....
well, okay, maybe I will... But doesn't everyone? ^^;; Anyway, thanks for reading, ta ta for now.
The soft, respectful words broke in upon whatever thoughts filled the young Count Hargreave's mind, and the familliar, caring voice shuffled them quietly away, leaving him free to focus on the simple, warm, homey pleasures which Riff kept always ready for his master.
Or at least, that was the way it was supposed to work, Cain thought sourly. Lately he found his mind filled with things altogether different from the normal, natural, familliar, contemplation of death and the darkness which filled the world. Before, Riff's voice had served to clear Cain's mind. Lately it just made it more of a mess.
Cain missed the darkness.
He hadn't had a good, bloody murder to contemplate in weeks. No strange activity. Barely even a simple mugging. Of course his mind was running away from him. It was bored. And like his little sister Merryweather, it began to pull stunts to keep iteslf entertained. Or something.
"Sir Caine?" Riff made his way over to his master, who had yet to respond to his valet's first suggestion that the young man go to bed. The Count was exhausted, that was for certain. The difference was, lately it had become an exhaustion of the soul, a sort of listlessness and detatchment from those around him. Especially Riff. Or at least that's the way it seemed. It probably just seemed that way because the Count spent so much more of his time with the valet than anyone else. Silently, Riff cursed the spontaneous wave of peace which had broken out across London. When it had first arrived, he had been close to thanking each and every god by name. The young master had had no reason to go gallavanting out to all hours of the night, returning only after Riff had worked himself to new peaks of worry. The fact that the Count was also often injured on these escapades did nothing to ease his servant's mind. But now, seeing his master sitting at home every evening, with even Merryweather's antics fail to bring light to her brother's eyes, Riff was close to going and committing murder himself. Never had the Count been so distant and emotionless with his friend than in the last few weeks.
Riff sighed before bowing once more to the youth in front of him, "Master Cain. Will you be coming to bed tonight?"
Cain jumped slightly, and gave his head the tiniest of shakes, as if to dislodge an unwelcome thought. He turned to his oldest companion and smiled, expressing all the gratitude and emotion he had never been taught words for.
He lay tucked into his bed as his eyes silently followed Riff as he moved around the room, extinguishing lamps and collecting dirty clothing before he moved to leave the room. As the door swung closed, a whispered question moved across the room; "How could I ever be worthy of you?"
~*~
Well... there will be more. Like maybe a plot. I don't think this even has a plot yet. Ths isn't even fluff... O_o I don't think there's a word for what this is yet. But there will be more, once I come up with it. And I really think I need to read more of the manga... I'm only part-way through Vol. 2, so if there's anything severely inconsistant, sorry about that. But in the meantime, why don't you r&r? I won't actually get down and beg for comments.
....
well, okay, maybe I will... But doesn't everyone? ^^;; Anyway, thanks for reading, ta ta for now.