So, yeah, I should be doing my homework right now, but I have this story in my head, and yes it's 12:30 am, but I just gotta write it. I think I'll put this in with "Asleep at his Desk" And just have that be a sleep-related fluff story. Also, would someone kindly tell me how you put in those Author's Notes before and after the chapter? Since I don't know how, I kinda said what I wanted to say in the chapter. Also, I am SOOOOOOO happy with how well my first fic is doing! I've had I think about 5 reviews, and some faves, and I think a follow or two! Super big, EXTRA-SPECIAL thanks to Luna Enchantment for being my FIRST favourite and review ever! *Hugs and holds forever* And lots of love to everybody else, because I squee everytime I get that e-mail that says somebody reviwed, or favourited, or followed. Thanks a bunch!
Also, someone said they had difficulty discerning point-of-view, so I will try to make this one in third-person, and in future, I will use *** ...asterisks, I think they're called, to indicate a change of scenery and/or POV. Lots of Love!
Ciel Phantomhive stared up at the sign on the building he was standing in front of. Oh, how he despised having to come here. To say it made him uncomfortable was an understatement. However, there was valuable information to be gained here, and since he was having trouble finding leads pertaining to the case he was working on, there were no other options available. And so, when his butler, Sebastian, opened the door, Ciel took a deep breath and entered, resigning himself to the fact that his personal space was once again about to be violated.
Ciel stepped into the parlor, and as usual, there was no one in sight. He certainly loved his entrances, that man. Ciel took another step forward.
"Undertaker? Are you here?" As usual, a soft laugh echoed from one of the coffins, and the lid slid open to reveal the robed, scarred, gray-haired man getting up from the coffin with a chuckle.
"Well, hello, there, my little Earl. What brings you here today? Have you finally decided to permit me to measure you for a hand-made coffin?" The Undertaker was already at the Earl's side, wrapping his arms around his body. Ciel shivered internally.
"Unfortunately not, Undertaker." Sebastian cut in. "We require some information regarding the slasher case. We were hoping you could provide some insight." The Undertaker's grin only spread.
"Ah, yes, the London Slasher. He's made my job so much more fun. I have guests coming in left and right. Some of them are barely recognizable as human, that is, until I fix them up all nice and pretty for the funeral." However, as you know, my information comes at a price."
"Another joke?" Ciel said with a sigh. "Honestly, don't you ever get tired of hearing lame jokes all day? I imaging very few people provide suitable humor for your tastes." The Undertaker frowned in thought.
"I suppose you might have a point, little Earl..." The Undertaker mused, but then a gleam appeared in his eyes, and his smile returned once again. "All right, Earl," He said, "I'll let you off without first-rate laughter this time, but instead, you must consent to be fitted for a coffin, here and now."
"Wh-what? Now? B-but..." Ciel spluttered.
"Aww, come now, Earl," the Undertaker purred, "What's that harm in having a few measurements taken and trying a few coffins out for size. You might just find one that takes your fancy.."
"Master," Sebastian whispered in his ear. "You should consent to his request. The information he provides will surely lead us in the direction of the killer."
"Oh...Alright. But if you don't provide suitable information..." Ciel glared at the Undertaker.
"Oh, I assure you, little Earl," The Undertaker said with a grin, "It will be well worth your time..."
Ten minutes later, Ciel had had his entire body measured and, after enduring another painful reminder about his height difficulties, he found himself laying in a coffin made of black wood, with his head on a white silk pillow and his body surrounded by masses of more silk.
"There," The Undertaker was saying, "Isn't that perfect, Earl? The black and the white make a remarkable contrast, but together they will complement your peaceful complexion perfectly. I might even attend your funeral to admire my work."
"Well, aren't I lucky, then?" Ciel said sarcastically. "Now, what more can tell us about the Slasher?"
"Yes, yes, the Slasher. Well, as you know, he takes pleasure in cutting up the bodies of women, but it looks like the women were cut up before they died."
"Before?" Sebastian asked, "So this is torture, then?"
"Indeed. Not only that, the cuts were made in the exact same spot on all of the victims. Perhaps some sort of ritual? Come, let me show you..."
"So then, you believe the killer may be a middle-aged man with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, a deep-set hatred of women, who has some ties to the occult and lives in a secluded area?" Sebastian sat in the parlor with the Undertaker, where the Undertaker was pointing out the exact locations of the lacerations on the bodies.
"Indeed. Cutting someone up this finely takes a lot of time, and there's a lot of screaming involved. That's not really something one can do in the middle of a busy street, now can they?"
"That seems most likely." Sebastian stood. "Well, thank you so much for your time, Undertaker. Now, shall we go, Young Master?" When Sebastian received no response, he turned, only to find that his Master was nowhere to be seen. "Young Master?"
The Undertaker turned as well. "Oh, dear, has the young Earl gone and run off on you? Well, I suppose we should search for him, then."
That settled it. Sebastian went off to check the back rooms, while the Undertaker began to search through the rooms where he kept his coffins. A few minutes later, after many of the rooms had been thoroughly searched, it was the Undertaker who came upon the Young Earl first. The Undertaker's mouth dropped into a shocked "O", and for the first time in many, many years, the Undertaker was struck speechless.
Sebastian was busily checking around and under various cabinets in one of the rooms when his ears picked up the sound of muffled laughter coming from the other end. Curious, Sebastian looked up, and began to search for the source of the sound. He walked into a room which contained many coffins, and an astounding sight met his eyes. The Undertaker was on the floor, his entire body quivering with suppressed laughter. And, in front of him, in the centre of the room... Sebastian's eyes widened and he too, was left speechless. He had found his Master.
In the coffin specially picked out by the Undertaker.
Asleep.
The Undertaker opened his eyes in the midst of his uncontrollable laughter, and noticed Sebastian. "Quite a sight, isn't he?" He choked out. Indeed he was. Ciel lay in the coffin, in his usual day clothes, his hat clutched gently in his hands, his expression a peaceful one. Were it not for his regular breathing, Sebastian might have begun to wonder if the child truly had died. Of course, any normal butler would have burst into a fit of laughter at the sight. Sebastian, however, was not a normal butler. He was a Phantomhive butler. And as such, he would not fall so low as to laugh at his dear Young Master. As a Phantomhive butler, he was not permitted to laugh at his Master. As a Phantomhive butler, he was not permitted to laugh at his Master.
As a Phantomhive butler, he was not...*smirk*...permitted...*snicker*...
...No. He was a Phantomhive butler. He would control his emotions. So he settled for his usual mocking smirk, before making a slight bow to the Undertaker, who was now laying on the ground, clutching at his sides.
"It seems my Master is quite weary at present, so if you don't mind, we will be excusing ourselves."
"...'course..." The Undertaker managed to gasp. Sebastian bent down and gently scooped his young Master in to his arms before carrying him out into the late afternoon sun and back to the Phantomhive estate.
Ciel was blearily opening his eyes, blinking in confusion as he found himself laying in his bed without any recollection of how he had gotten there. As he was attempting to adjust to the new surroundings, Sebastian lightly knocked on the door before entering with a tea cart and seeing his Young Master still struggling to return to full consciousness.
"Ah, Young Master, are you awake? You have been asleep for quite some time, would you like some tea?"
"Sure...Hey, how did I get here? Weren't we at-?" The last thing he remembered, the Undertaker had been fitting him for one of his silly coffins. He had been laying in the coffin, thinking that maybe they weren't so stupid after all. In fact, this one was quite comfortable...He remembered feeling warm, and cozy, and...
Oh.
Ciel's eyes widened with the horrible realization, and he stuttered, trying to voice the idea, to force the cursed, pride-shattering words from his mouth.
"I...I...fell asleep, didn't I? ...In the coffin..."
Sebastian bowed deeply so as not to hide his smirk, but of course, his voice held nothing but regretful affirmation.
"Yes, Young Master..."
"...Oh..." Ciel couldn't believe it. How could he have allowed himself to become so weak? And in front of others! Not only that, but of all people, Undertaker! Undertaker...
"So..um...Undertaker..." Ciel began.
"You will be pleased to know that the Undertaker has informed me that all further inquiries are free of charge. He says you have satiated his need for laughter for the next hundred lifetimes." Ciel's face then turned such an alarming shade of pink that Sebastian hadn't truly thought his Master capable of such embarrassment. He decided he might tease his Master...just this once...
"Young Master, you appear to be rather warm. Are you feeling ill?"
Ciel shook his head, while reaching out toward the tea Sebastian brought, which was placed into his waiting hand. He took a small sip as Sebastian began to speak again.
"You will have a rather large amount of paperwork to complete tomorrow but even though you are no doubt feeling wakeful, I simply cannot allow you to complete it now. It is currently 10:33 pm, much past your bedtime. We cannot allow your afternoon nap to affect your natural sleep pattern, and as such, I must ask that you at least try to sleep through the night. Is that satisfactory, Young Master? ...Young Master?"
Sebastian looked up. Ciel sat on the edge of his bed, with the teacup clutched gently between loose fingers...he was asleep. Again. Sebastian sighed.
"Really, Master, what am I going to do with you...?"
So THERE is my newest fiction! I have an idea for a full-blown story floating around in my head, probably a yaoi in later chapters, situated after the end of season 2, but I am currently stuck part-way through chapter 2 because...I can't think up a good plot line. I was sort of thinking some evil demon who wants to take Ciel as his own...(NOT Claude, Alois or Hannah...an OC, without even a hint of OC slash or pairings..sorry!)...so...any ideas? Leave them with your review, I will read them all and decide! Lots of Love! (I have a feeling that's going to become a slogan of sorts...)