Alejandro couldn't stand it, this...this whole thing before him was just annoying. How much longer would he have to suffocate under this gripping sulking? From his fellow classmate and friend, it was just ridiculous and really petty. Trying to enjoy his cold afternoon break before having to return to academics became fed up. While others around looked on clueless at sullen Edward. Clayton had his book about illness out, trying to find the one that suited the young man's condition. Cheslock just wasn't any help. The wild teen spewed out words that only worsen Edward. Neither helped.
These poor fools knew nothing about the infliction the purest emotion can have on another. Oh, Englishmen, so primitive. It would be cute if it wasn't so damn infuriating. Trying to keep his blue eyes focused on the book in his possession, just couldn't. "Enough of this!" His voice booms, their heads whip in his direction. His brows snapping together stare hard at Edward.
The others fade out of his tunnel vision only seeing Edward, marches over cornering him up against the wall. Never had Edward seen Alejandro with a thermal look, he could feel it burning away the dark clouds in his eyes and more. Clenching his fist, Alejandro raises to him. Clayton and Cheslock both jump up to stop the action. Stop themselves bewilder at what just happen. Trying to wrap their minds around it, because it wasn't what neither of them expected, nor Edward.
He expected Alejandro's fist upon his cheek, instead the young man had it covering his own mouth sobbing. "I-It's so beautiful," Alejandro sniffs, trying to keep himself together. "your love is both heartbreaking and divine. To see...to see you like this." He turns around dramatically looking up like a saint praying. "Beloved Mary, his heart weeps with love as you have for your son. It is just as pure. Untainted and unbent. Just as Romeo and Juliet. It fills my soul beyond anything and-"
While he continued his ardent preaching the others stare wide-eyed at him, he was seriously getting into it. Like a work of art, describing Edward's feelings with such delicacy, it would definitely would be considered such. The way he fawned over them, it almost seemed like he was making a declaration.
"As the sea captain who seeks the return from a long journey, he too with his own feelings for his beloved amor." Alejandro finishes tears in the corner of his eyes and a hand over his heart. Turns around to the others with a tender smile towards Edward. Throws himself on him. "Edward!"
The others nearly jump out their skin at this display, especially Edward, shivers ran all through his body. Tried to move back, but the young man's reaction was quicker and his coiled arms around him bind him like steel. Crushing too.
"I-I can't..I can't.."
"Missing your amor is touching, it speaks more than the stars. Being away from her must be beyond any pain I cannot imagine one to endure."
"A-Alejandro...I-I can't..."
Struggling to speak through small breaths was hard enough, Alejandro's ranting blocked out his plead for him to let go. "So, that was it...hmmm?" Cheslock rather surprised. "Edward's in love."
Clayton opens his book again searching. Finding nothing. "Love isn't an illness. Yet, its effects act like one. Edward, do you have a temperature?"
A stupid question and more importantly neither of them seemed willing to assist him with Alejandro if he wasn't trying to regain air Edward would have snapped at the two. With no words coming from his mouth they did from Alejandro. Who snaps furiously at the two. "Love is not a sickness! It is a pure and honest blessing. You two idiots."
Growling at the two Perfects not caring about their status. "If you two knew anything of the sort then you'd understand Edward here is hurting from the longing in his heart. Just recently his love, his turtledove flew away and back to its home. Leaving him like an empty shell with no purpose and lost for life. Look, look into his eyes." He releases Edward and grabs him by the face tightly nearly shoving it into Clayton and Cheslock's faces. Pointing. "Can you not see the deep pools of sorrow in them? Hmmm?"
The two look close, rubbing his chin Clayton moves in a bit closer to observe. "They do look rather feverish."
"So, that's love? Eh?" Cheslock smirks. Crossing his arms lean back. "That's all it was? Really? Come on now Edward?" Hits his shoulder lightly laughing. To be quickly snarled at by Alejandro.
"Don't you dare laugh. Love is no laughing matter!" His voice then lowers looking back at Edward. "The Roman Goddess Venus has struck you with her touch, I am deeply sorry that you are aching, but, Edward it does make look rather ugly and honestly, rather a drag if I may be so bold. Your behavior is damping the whole mood in here."
That was a complete change from the passionate Alejandro to a sharper tone. Fanning his hand in front of his face Alejandro squints at Edward. Rest a hand on his shoulder giving it a light squeeze. An impish smirk lightly curls his lips. "You know my dear Edward," slipping his arm around his shoulders bringing him along with the other two. "and my other amigos. I do believe I know a way for you all to understand this significance of love."
"Mr. Sebastian! Mr. Sebastian? Where are you?" Harmony calls seeking the butler, popping her head into a room finding it empty. "He's not in here." It came to a surprise for a second, until she remembered where he would be.
Running down the halls of the manor makes her way to the kitchen and peers around the corner finding him there. Busy away preparing something delicious no doubt, the thought made her mouth water. Standing on her tippy-toes to get a peek spots something much better. Her eyes glimmered at its richness, she had to have it. About to go nearly forgot about Sebastian, she had to be careful if she wanted her prize. That sat there on the white plate, waiting to be taken in all its sweetness.
Holding her breath she sneaks in like a mouse, cautiously shooting looks to him making sure he hadn't noticed her. Good, his back was to her. Inching her way more and more, gripping her bunny tight to calm and steady her nerves. Reminded her back when she use to do this back in the cottage, with May. Every time she'd have a nice batch of sweet biscuits out or cookies. Sitting and waiting for her little hand to grab. Nearly close to the island sat in the center where the plate rested on, drops to all fours and crawls.
Not caring about scuffling her dress or knees. Ignoring the bit of cold that shoot through from floor was worth for her sweet treasure. Putting her bunny upon her back like a passenger riding to its horse, she needed both hands-free. Steady as she did reaches the island, sighing mentally she hadn't gotten caught smiles on her accomplishment. Raises one hand that searches for the plate, it took a few seconds but she finds it. This part she had to be careful, grabbing as much her little hands could take though her greed wanted more. Get a few. And eats one then another. Covering her mouth to hide the noise. Swallowing wipes the crumbs to ride the evidence around. Finds she had eaten the three she could grab.
Grunting looks around for a towel or something to just take them all. Spotting one a few feet away on the counter though was rather high for her to reach cancels the idea. Quickly comes up with one she knew would be perfect, her dress. Standing up grabs the plate and pours them all into her dress.
"There," she whispers with a smile. Putting one in her mouth. "..." With her treats safe and secure turns around to flee from her crime only to bump right into something hard.
Caused a couple of the cooks to fumble out, rubbing her nose looks up blinking a couple of times her eyes shoot open at Sebastian standing over her with eyes closed smiling kindly. With an arched brow. "Lady Harmony what are you doing?" No answer, opening his eyes finding the spot empty and a trail of crumbs. "That girl." Shaking his head follows.
Using the crumbs left behind to find her knowing he didn't. It was just amusing for him, having her scent he knew where she was. Hearing her munching on the cookies, she was indeed Ciel's cousin. Walking down through the hall in the direction the crumbs led. Walking up the stairs stops hearing her fleeing footsteps made him smile.
What was suppose to be purist he quickly realized what she turned it into. A game. She was playing with him. Stopping takes out his pocket watch checking the time reading it, there was time, the others he kept busy with their tasks, except for Tanak who was drinking tea where ever he might be. Ciel was busy away in his study, May was in her lessons. Leaving Harmony free, he heard calling and looking for him for some reason. Until she became a little thief and fled. How she always managed to flee from him so quickly baffled the demon. For someone so young and a human.
Shutting the watch shut mutters under his breath and continues. Knowing well if he turned around there was doubt what she might do should she become bored. He was a butler not a babysitter, this was not what he signed up for. Reaching the top of the stairs goes a few doors down stopping before the one she hid behind and opens it. Looking in seeing nothing moved and everything still. Frost on the windows.
Though not sight of her, her scent was heavy in this room. That and the trail of crumbs. "Well, it seems no one is in here, I shall check the other rooms."
Hearing the door shut, Harmony covers mouth stopping herself from laughing. She fooled him, he didn't know she was in here. Just like May, she was such a good hidder. Waiting a bit more crawls out from under the bed finishing the last cookie when suddenly hands grab her on both sides and lift her up. Finds her face to face with Sebastian.
"Mr. Sebastian!" she shrieks nearly dropping the cookie. Hides it behind her back with an innocent look.
That didn't work. And the penalty he delivered, taking her back to the kitchen takes out an...empty bowl, flour, eggs, sugar, butter, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and a wooden spoon. "Stay still please." He ties the apron around her little waist. Then rolls up the sleeves of her dark blue dress and puts her hair back in a bun.
He gives a second look making sure she was properly ready. "Alright then, first the flour." He scoops out a cup giving it to her. Taking it puts it in the bowl, gives it back, he does another cup and a half. Each time she put it in with a cloud of flour puffing up making her laugh.
"Sugar." she chimes hoping up and down on the stool almost falling if he hadn't caught her.
"Careful, now sugar, yes you are correct."
Getting a cup of sugar he gives it to her, though warns her not to try and eat it. Pouting she doesn't and pours it in and any ingredient that came after. Though the best part came when she could stir. Standing by her as she did so, guiding her carefully.
"Good, slowly, not too fast." He reminds her, she slowed her stirring down just a bit. It was a slight struggle but she did.
While she remained occupied with that task he went to get a wet cloth to clean her mouth when the phone rang, setting the cloth down leaves to get it when he stops and goes back to Harmony. Something telling him not to leave her alone, taking her by the hand while she took the dough covered spoon for the road.
"Hello, Phantomhive residence," he answers holding Harmony's hand firmly. Who stood there licking the spoon with a content smile. "Why hello..."
"Mr. Sebastian, I have to go to the bathroom."
She tugs at him. He sighs moving the phone away. "You shall in a little bit, let me finish. Yes," he returns back to the caller.
"Mr. Sebastian, I'm really thirsty."
Again he stops to respond. "Lady Harmony, please allow me to finish, then you shall get your drink. Please, continue." He speaks back to the caller. Only to have Harmony tug on him more, impatiently. Having enough he blocks her out to wrap up the call. "Yes," holds the phone on his shoulder and with his free hand writes down the information, "yes I will make sure to inform my master. Thank you hav-"
"Good-Bye!" Harmony shouts in the background. Waving.
Keeping his composure Sebastian bids the caller bye and hangs up. "Lady Harmony," turns to her with a stern look. "It is rather rude for one to interrupt another on the phone." Getting down to her level, to get a bopped on the nose lightly from the spoon covered in her saliva. Wonderful, he sighs. Taking the spoon with a smile. "Now, you I believe you said you needed to use the bathroom, come now."
Still holding his hand leads her there. After using it and washing her hands he cleans her properly from the mess around her mouth. Takes her back to the kitchen to finish her...'penalty'. Taking out a cookie sheet along with a rolling pin puts some floor down and pours out the dark brown dough. Handing her the rolling pin, stands behind her, his hands over her to give her extra strength as they both roll and flatten the dough.
As they did so, Harmony decided to sing. "Hickory Dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock, the clock struck 2 and the mouse ran down,"
"You seem rather fond of that song, Lady Harmony," he sets the pin down and goes to get some tin cookie cutters. Of different shapes, she chooses a star. "did you sister teach you?"
She shakes her head. Giggling. Pressing the shape into the dough. "Nope. I learned it."
"Really? From who?"
"My friend. But," her voice lowers. Putting a finger to her lips. " Shhh, it's a secret, okay?"
Playing along he nods, putting his finger to his lips silencing himself. "Alright, a secret. Lady Harmony, earlier you called for me, was there something you wanted?"
She had nearly forgotten and thinks about it for a minute. "Oh, I wanted to talk about Hearth Day."
"Hearth Day?"
"Yes, Hearth Day, the day with the colorful tree. And hanging stockings. And presents."
Christmas, she meant Christmas. "And what about this Hearth Day?"
"I..."she stops cutting the shapes. "I wanted to you to help me, to get a present. For, for Ciel." He looks at her. Her bottom lip trembled slightly. While her eyes remain bright. "It's going to be...be our..."her voice lowers again. "first Hearth Day t-together and.." she begins twiddling her fingers, tears slowly rise in the corner of her eyes. Shuts them. Rubs them away with her arm.
Moving closer Sebastian gets a clean cloth and dabs away her amber open find his red ones gently look back. "Yes, I will help you." His tone gentle brought her smile tender smile back.
"Thank you." jumping off the stool hugs him. Nearly knocking him off balance and by surprise. He catches her safely, as her words came out pure and jovial it was like a holy light. "Thank you so very much, Mr. Sebastian." He hears her whimpering a little.
She remained clung to him, till he released her and set her back on the stool. Stops for a second hearing her whisper another thank you, though instead of using his name, said another. One that both confused and shocked him. "Lady Harmony, what did you say?" he stares wide-eyed.
Grabbing the cookie cutter she makes more stars humming to herself. Refusing to answer, only smiling. That had to be equal to the answer he wanted to hear, his mind froze from the name she called him. The one she tried to say under his breath, with his heightened senses he was sure his hearing heard it. And heard it well.
She called him the 'D' word.
