It was another average day at Phantomhive manor, with both the head of the household and his spouse sitting in their shared office going about their business. Jim was working on a paper that he had due at the end of the week, and he was making an attempt to get a head start on it for once, sitting on one of the sofas with his laptop sitting in his lap while the bluenette occasionally looked his way. Ciel, on the other hand, was working on his own business, but he was not committed to it at that point in time.
Instead, he watched the menace with much curiosity, observing how he typed with such seriousness. The man shifted in his seat so that his leg would catch the laptop as it began to slide in its place a bit. Alois eventually ended up putting the machine on the coffee table to work and hunched over so that he could reach. It was at this point, however, that the blonde also noticed his spouse. He looked up with a curious expression on his face as he felt the other's gaze.
"What?" he asked, unsure as to why he was being stared at. Ciel simply rested his chin in his palm and leaned over the desk, observing him for a moment more before saying what was on his mind.
"Wouldn't you rather work at a desk?" the bluenette questioned. "It must be a pain to work like that."
"Well, if you're willing to loan out yours, then sure." answered the menace. "If it gets really bad, though, I can just go downstairs to the dining room."
"Huh… Alright." Ciel said plainly. "I was just wondering. I feel like you should have a desk, too. This is our office, after all. We both do work in here."
"Can we even fit two desks in here?" asked his husband. "Also I dunno if they even make desks like that one anymore. I doubt it would look really good in here."
"That is a problem..." the Watchdog pondered, rubbing his chin. "I suppose we could buy a couple that match, though I do like this one."
"It's just as poncy as you are." grinned the other, turning away for a moment to save his paper. He closed his laptop and leaned back in his seat, resting his arms over the back of the couch. "Something that ornate might go for a lot of money, and you won't be able to find it just anywhere."
"We could go custom. Perhaps a joint desk that works as two?"
"You gettin' deep with me, Pooch?"
"It would fit in the room better that way and still be the focal point."
"True. Though, the room is pretty big..." the blonde trailed off, looking around.
Humming, the other furrowed his brow in thought and stood up from his seat. Walking around to the other side of the desk, he stood on the other side of the room and stared at it for a moment, folding his arms. The Watchdog pondered some possibilities from there, wondering how they would get it to work and still be aesthetically pleasing.
"If both sides were big enough, we could do it." he finally said. "And if we have a section down the middle kind of like a 'T', we would even have a place to put the phone and the printer."
"I think I see what you're saying." the blonde answered, following his eye. "I think that could work."
"Yes, but the problem remains that not even I know where to find someone who can do that…"
"Google? I'm sure somebody in London can." Alois replied, watching as his husband nodded in agreeance and returned to his seat. The bluenette clicked around on his own computer and pulled up the search engine as the blonde continued to think, but while he was typing something in, the other man's face lit up as a thought occurred to him.
"Oh! The craftsmen in Gehenna do really great woodwork!" remembered the lion, snapping his fingers. "Remember those benches? They were really pretty."
"That's true." Ciel answered, raising his eyebrows and nodding. "Maybe we should try contacting them first?"
"Go for it, mate. Does that place have a number, though?"
"I have the number of the Welfare Department. They have the numbers for the local businesses."
"Sounds like a plan, man." grinned the menace. "What are you going to do with this desk, though?"
"Probably give it to the Police Department. They still need things for the chief of police's office."
"Have they picked someone for that position yet?"
"They really want officer Sybil to do it, but she seems to think that she's not cut out for it."
"That woman is ballsy, yet the kind who is hard to corrupt." Alois stated. "She would probably be the perfect candidate. I see what you mean, though. She's also way too modest. Needs to realise that she can take charge just fine."
"It's hard to convince those kinds of people of that, however. They always doubt." his beau replied, flipping through the business cards in his organiser. "I don't think she's ready yet. That said, they do need a chief. There was discussion on Charlotte taking on the role temporarily. We're not sure if the officers would be alright with that."
"Charlotte's a good choice." nodded the blonde. "Kind, rational, considerate, but not a pushover. You'd have to not be, to be married to Amelie, I guess."
"You'd know all about that, wouldn't you?" the bluenette jested with a small smirk.
"Shut the fuck up." his spouse scolded. "Prick… Anyway, the problem with her is that she's not loyal to Gehenna, so yeah, I can only see her not staying."
"Somebody has to fill the shoes, at least for a little while." Pausing, the bluenette plucked the card for the Welfare Department and placed it next to the phone on his desk to call in a moment. Before that, he would continue to converse with his husband for a while longer. He leaned forward, indicating his interest and rested his chin in his palm as he watched the other man.
"Speaking of disloyalty to Gehenna, how is Kristopherson?" he questioned. "Are we still meeting up with him and the others this coming weekend?"
"Yeah. Last I checked, everybody was still going." Alois replied, adjusting on the horrendously uncomfortable sofa before crossing one leg over the other. "Even Dan said he was coming. I dunno how he's faring, but Travis said he's seen him hanging out with some people at school. As for Kristopherson, he's doing more than fine, and is downright chipper! He made a new friend. A supernatural. He's the guy who works at the general store."
"The big guy?"
"No, the blue one. The incubus. He's alright. I'm glad Kris is getting into our world a bit more."
"It's his world now, too." Ciel reminded, causing his husband to nod. "He's got to get used to it at some point."
"He's actually been getting kind of involved in it? Last time I talked to him, he was designing simple patterns for trousers that accommodate tails."
"That's good. Perhaps he should open his own shop. He does still want to be a designer, doesn't he?"
"Supernatural high-fashion. I like it." Alois said, flashing his teeth in a wide smile. "Oh, and Travis said that his girlfriend might be coming along."
"That's fine by me. Doesn't hurt my feelings any." answered the bluenette. "What about Kristopherson's new friend?"
"Mmmmm..." Pausing, Alois hummed, pressing his lips into a thin line and looked up with an uncertain face. "I told Kris that it might be a bad idea. Y'know, 'cause Dan's kinda… Well, still a bit easy to provoke? We both agreed that it might cause some unnecessary drama."
"They're just friends, aren't they? Why is that a problem?"
"Dan is Dan, and I kind of have a feeling about those two. Y'know. Sixth sense shit."
Ciel rolled his eye and leaned back in his chair again. He was somewhat skeptical, but then again, Kristopherson did find it easier to start new relationships than the rest of them ever did. It was possible, but like with most things, Ciel wanted proof.
He did, however, understand Daniel. The man could blow anything out of proportion when upset, stressed, or even bored. It was entirely likely that he would make a mistake and do something rash. That's was his specialty, after all. Ciel only hoped that he didn't bring any of his "new friends" along, as he wasn't interested in meeting anyone new. The Watchdog simply wanted to spend time with familiar faces. Patricia's presence was fine, as he had met the woman on several occasions and discussed her with Travis when talking on the phone. Ciel had read her commishioned work for H.E.L.L.S.I.N.G; and was quite fond of it. Overall, his opinion was positive thuse far.
From the way Daniel was acting, however, Ciel did not trust any new acquaintances he could make. No one really knew what Daniel was up to, but Revy was able to get some information from the younger Westley child. According to Samantha, he had been hanging around with some shady characters who she didn't want to be around, even when her brother was there with them. Humans can have keen "gut-feelings" as well after all, even if they seldom listen. Daniel was visiting her less and less, which was odd, as she used to be invited over at least once every other weekend. They were close, but they were drifting apart, it seemed. Daniel never stopped by the Westley household at all anymore. He stopped when he got into an argument with their father over things that Samantha could not figure out, and he hasn't returned since. The eldest of the Westley children, Nathan, had also tried to talk to him, but Daniel would have refused even if nothing was wrong at all. Daniel had essentially vanished from everyone's lives. One of Mister Westley's personal assistants was supposed to be checking on him soon.
Ciel wasn't sure if it would do any good. People drift apart. Friends, family, loved ones; it could happen with any of them, if the relationships aren't maintained and cared for properly. The sensational seven had learned this once before already, as a certain international crimminal with black armour was still on the run. This is exactly why the group was trying to connect with each other, however, Daniel included.
The call was made to arrange a meeting about the building of the duo's new desk before the Watchdog hung up and stood from his seat. He walked around the older desk, running his fingertips along its surface as he made his way over to the other man. Placing his hand on the back of the couch, he leaned over so he could press his lips against his husband's; an action that was appreciated and enthusiastically returned as the pair both smiled into their connection. Once they separated, the bluenette sat down beside Alois and rested his head on the blonde's shoulder with the menace's arm around him.
"I have an idea." suddenly declared the Watchdog, prompting the other's attention.
"I'm listening." Alois said.
"What if we rounded up the others and went out to eat tonight?" the older demon suggested. "Have a family night."
"I think that sounds wonderful." smiled the menace. "I bet Sebastian will appreciate the night off."
"Then will you go round up Luka?" Ciel questioned, lifting his head and tilting his chin upward so that he was looking up at the blonde.
"Certainly." Alois replied. "If you give me one more kiss, that is." he jested, but the other did smile in return, followed by the pair connecting their lips together in a loving kiss.
