Chapter Nineteen
Butler, Taking the Stage. Bride, A Governess
Phantomhive manor was bustling with people, although not a remarkable thing, it was bad timing for good reason. The news that the Earl of Phantomhive was leaving with his butlers for Town was an important factor in why everyone was making their departures as the sun was beginning to set, casting a long amber glow over the brickwork and gardens.
A carriage sat waiting on the drive, the driver perched in his seat observing the doors as they opened. Sebastian, Ciel and Marianne stepped out, garbed in their long winter coats and gloves. The demon was hauling all of the luggage in his hands, and had given the guests a most eloquent explanation for their seemingly sudden departure.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for visiting the Phantomhive manor today," smiled Sebastian. "Ah, but what unfortunate timing! I'm afraid the Young Master, my apprentice and I must be off to London on business. By which I mean…"
He passed one of the suitcases to Finny, who was waiting outside with MeyRin, Bard and Tanaka.
"How nice that the weather has cleared up. It's the perfect day for a circus!"
Ciel snorted at those words.
"Circuses are held in tents. The weather is irrelevant."
Marianne could only smile at their banter, since it was obvious the whole time they were talking, Sebastian had a shit-eating smile on his face.
"Bard, Finny, MeyRin," said Sebastian. "The Young Master, Marianne and I will be staying in Town for a while."
Bard saluted them with a smile.
"Take care of yourself, Young Master!" he laughed.
"See you later!" yelled Finny while he waved.
MeyRin lifted a handkerchief to her eyes, small tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Please come back soon!"
Ciel began to climb into the carriage, but then looked back at them with a stern look in his exposed eye.
"You three," he said. "Look after the place while I'm gone."
"Yes, My Lord!" the servant trio cried in unison.
The carriage drove away after that, with all three passengers safely inside. Ciel read the letter from the Queen out loud to Sebastian and Marianne.
My dear boy
How did you enjoy your Christmas? My attempt to make a Christmas pudding with Ash was a great success, and we have received a lot of praise from John. It will give me great pleasure to see you try it.
Now, as to the enclosed tickets, did you know a circus is expected to arrive in London soon? I'm told it's a travelling troupe, and a large number of children are missing from towns they've visited. Although the police are doing all they can, they still haven't been found. They always vanish without a trace in the middle of the night. It's as though they've been lured away by the Pied Piper of Hamelin…
The sorrow of losing a family member is difficult to bear. I sincerely hope the children will return safely to their families soon.
Victoria
Ciel tucked the letter back into his coat pocket. Sebastian smiled from opposite him.
"Where will you go first, My Lord?" he asked.
The boy tapped his finger against the windowsill of the carriage, Marianne watching him quietly.
"Hmm, first of all…"
Their first stop was Scotland Yard. The three of them were safely tucked away in the File Room, and were leafing through the files one after the other.
"It's very convenient that Sir Arthur is out." Ciel commented.
Inspector Aberline had joined them, and was doing his best to stop them.
"Please, stop! If the Commissioner finds out…" he cried out.
"Make sure he doesn't, then." Ciel said.
Marianne arched a brow, tugging the peak of her baker's cap, before she went back to reading through the articles.
"Listen, this is the third floor! How did you get in here?!" Aberline asked.
Ciel merely looked at Sebastian and Marianne.
"Well, Sebastian? Edward?"
Sebastian got to his feet.
"No bodies have been found that match the missing persons reports," he explained.
Marianne tapped her chin in thought.
"That means whoever has taken them is keeping them alive, although for how long is another matter."
Ciel nodded his head.
"We'll leave when you're finished copying. And we might as well borrow the photos."
Aberline shook his head vehemently.
"You can't do that!"
The boy didn't even blink.
"If you get found out, just say I took them."
"That would get me into even more trouble!"
Marianne handed Ciel one of the files. He perused it quietly.
"Listen… Underline, wasn't it?"
"It's Aberline! And you know that!" Aberline snapped.
Ciel smirked.
"You've been a great help. We appreciate your co-operation."
Sebastian stepped forward and placed a handful of gold sovereigns into Aberline's hand. He gasped at the sight and shoved the coins back into the demon's hand.
"I'm not for sale!" he yelled. "I just want to do whatever it takes to bring them home!"
As he walked past, Ciel's smirk only widened, as his eye carried a malevolent glint.
"'Whatever it takes,' eh?" he said. "Very flexible of you. You have a bright future."
Marianne hurried after Ciel and Sebastian, leaving Aberline behind, who somehow ended up holding a mop for him to clean up the mess they made.
"H-Hey!"
"Hurry up and get yourself promoted, Aberline." Ciel called out.
The trio left the building after that.
They made their way back to the carriage. Sebastian was the first to speak.
"It seems they're all still being treated as missing persons."
"By respectable society, perhaps," agreed Ciel. "But someone in the Underworld may have already disposed of them."
Once they were all tucked away in their compartment, Marianne spoke up.
"I take it we will be visiting him again to find out?" she asked.
The boy grimaced.
"I'd really rather not, but needs must." He tapped the roof with his cane. "Let's go."
Sebastian gave a shit-eating smile.
"Very good."
It wasn't long before they pulled up in front of Undertaker's parlour. They stepped through the door without knocking.
"Are you here, Undertaker?" Ciel called.
The door slammed behind them as they stepped into the darkness. Candles illuminated the room and made the shadows dance before their eyes. They were lined up like an alley and upright bones stood at the end of it. Marianne huddled closer to Sebastian. Undertaker's eerie laugh rang throughout the room.
"Welcome, my Lord!" he laughed, remaining unseen as they walked further and further into his inner sanctum.
Ciel jumped out of the path of a rolling skull, which knocked over all the bones.
"Strike?" Marianne muttered.
"Is today the day you'll condescend to enter one of my special coffins?" Undertaker asked from behind them.
Ciel was quick to react.
"You-!"
Undertaker merely shook his finger at them.
"Please, have a seat. I have a batch of cookies fresh from the oven."
Soon enough, Ciel and Marianne were sat on one of the large coffins, while Sebastian stood in front of another. Undertaker was using a third one as a makeshift coffee table as he smirked at them.
"Children's bodies, hmm?" he said. "Regular society regards them as missing, and no corpses have turned up. Well, dead children are an everyday affair in the Underworld. I'm sure you know that as well, My Lord."
Ciel was cold when he gave his response.
"I've brought their information. Did you take care of any of these children?" he asked.
Sebastian placed the files down on the coffin in front of Undertaker. Marianne scratched her temple with a wince as she watched the mortician place his chin down on the wood.
"Hmm, did I?" asked Undertaker. "I feel as though I could remember, if I saw something entertaining…"
He glanced up at the young earl and his companions.
"You know what I want, My Lord. Give it to me!"
The trio's expressions were deadpan.
"Give me prime laughter! Do that, and I'll tell you anything!"
Undertaker's hands grasped desperately towards Ciel. Ciel glared at him and turned his eye to his two butlers.
"Sebastian! Edward!"
Sebastian tugged on the edges of his gloves.
"Very well."
That plan was immediately interrupted by Undertaker.
"Oh, you're relying on him?" he asked. "Aren't you able to do anything without your butlers, My Lord? Well, anyone entertaining enough will do, really."
Ciel, having grown very irritated by his words, stepped up to the challenge.
"I'll do it!" he snapped.
Sebastian arched a brow.
"Will you?" he remarked.
"You get out. And do not peek inside! That's an order!"
Sebastian bowed.
"Yes, My Lord."
Marianne followed suit.
"As you wish."
And so, Sebastian and Marianne were sentenced to stand outside Undertaker's shop, and wait. Marianne sighed heavily.
"I don't know whether I should feel proud of him for doing it himself, or sorry for him for the ordeal he is about to undertake."
Sebastian chuckled.
"I hope you have something to keep yourself entertained with then."
Marianne pulled out a copy of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park from her coat.
"Already ahead of you."
She sat down on one of the boxes outside the shop, and began to read. She patted the spot beside her, asking him to join her. Sebastian sat down beside her without a word, wrapped an arm around her, and watched the passers-by while she read.
Midday became afternoon. And afternoon became evening. Marianne had finished her book and had fallen asleep against Sebastian's shoulder. When the sun was low in the sky, and the average person stopped walking by, they heard Undertaker's laughter trickle out from inside the store. The girl jolted awake at the sound, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes with a groan. Sebastian assisted her to her feet, and opened the door with a bored expression on his face.
They were shocked to see Ciel. He was completely dishevelled. His hat and coat were gone, along with his jacket. His tie was loose around his neck. His sleeves were rolled up, and his hair was sticking up at odd angles. Marianne glanced at Undertaker out of the corner of her eye, and saw he was drooling.
"Ah, I never imagined the Earl Phantomhive would go that far!" he laughed.
Sebastian and Marianne immediately set to work putting Ciel right.
"What on earth did you do?" Sebastian asked.
"I don't think I actually want to know…" muttered Marianne.
The boy scowled at them.
"Don't ask."
The demon smirked at his words.
"Still, if you're willing to put on a show for the Queen's sake…" he sneered. "…You really are a dog."
Marianne glared at him.
"Sebastian!" she hissed.
"Shut it, you!" Ciel retorted.
The boy then turned to Undertaker as Marianne slipped his coat back on.
"Alright, I've paid your fee. Tell me about the children!"
Undertaker smiled.
"They're nowhere."
The girl facepalmed. The demon and the boy stared at him in confusion.
"Sorry?"
"None of them were my customers, and there aren't any rumours either." Undertaker explained.
Ciel shook his head.
"In other words, you don't know a thing about this?" he asked.
"I beg to differ. I know that I don't know."
Sebastian nodded his head, beginning to understand.
"True, if you don't know, that would mean no one in the Underworld killed them," he reasoned.
The boy agreed.
"If their bodies haven't been found in either circle, they're still alive."
Marianne tapped her lip, then shuddered.
"Or something is being done to hide them."
Ciel crossed his arms in thought.
"In which case, I suppose our only choice is to personally investigate that circus."
He picked up his cane and turned to the door.
"We'll go there straightaway, Sebastian, Edward," he said. "Undertaker, contact me if you hear anything."
From his seat, Undertaker called out to the boy.
"My Lord… Each of us only gets one soul. Take good care of yours."
Ciel snorted.
"I know that."
The man waved farewell.
"Do you really?"
That night, they arrived at the circus. People were milling about all around them, looking at the stalls and performers as they juggled and danced. Marianne felt particularly uncomfortable as she held Sebastian's arm. She was wearing a dark purple day dress and coat, trimmed with black lace and paired with black buttoned boots. Her hands were covered with black leather gloves, and her head was adorned with a dark purple bonnet decorated with a black ribbon.
"Are you sure I should be going around like this?" she asked.
Ciel glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
"We would look strange if you came as a butler, so it seems more appropriate for you to appear as my governess. You don't look so out of place then," he explained.
"I'll take your word for it. I can only hope no one takes too much notice of me."
The three of them turned their attention to the circus.
"So, this is it." Sebastian muttered.
They stepped inside the largest tent, and settled down in their seats, near the back of the stands. Ciel went to sit down first, followed by Marianne, and then Sebastian.
"It's quite elaborate," commented the demon, staring up at the chandeliers hanging over the top of the ring.
"Yes…" Ciel agreed as he handed him his cane and top hat. "But no more than any other circus."
The lights in the tent went out one by one. A single spotlight shone down on the ring, illuminating a man with spiked orange hair.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Welcome to Noah's Ark Circus!"
The man's hair had extensions, bleached at the tips, and braided at the strands. Four hoops lined each of his ears, and a light blue line was painted over his left eye. He wore a yellow bow around his neck, a purple coat trimmed with gold draped over his shoulders, a black and lavender checkered vest with a white ruffled button shirt underneath, black puffy short pants with lavender diamonds on the seams, and black and white knee-high boots that curled up at the toes. One of the things that Marianne noticed was that he was missing his right arm, and it had been replaced with a skeleton arm prosthetic. His left hand was gloved in white. Between his fingers was a collection of coloured balls.
"My name is Joker. Pleased to meet 'ee!"
As he juggled the balls, Joker bowed and allowed the balls to fall on his head. The audience were laughing. Joker opened his mouth to reveal a blue ball that he made disappear with his skeletal hand.
Ciel and Sebastian looked at one another.
"A prosthesis?"
Marianne tapped her lip.
"A rather good one, it would seem."
Joker continued to speak.
"Tonight you'll see performances to stun and amaze 'ee!"
Four others ran into the ring to join him.
"And now, with a great broze from our fire-breathing Jumbo, the show of the century begins!"
A fifth person emerged from the shadows, considerably larger than any of the others. He carried a flaming torch as he roared and sent the others scurrying away. Breathing fire, he let the room fall into darkness once more.
Up above, two trapeze artists moved back and forth on the swings. Joker continued with his commentary.
"First our trapeze artists, perfectly in tune with one another:"
The boy was upside-down on his swing when his female partner let go of hers and flipped twice in the air before catching his hands.
"Peter and Wendy!"
The boy was blond with green eyes, wearing green shorts, shirt and hat, while the girl had brown hair and eyes, and wearing a pink dress with black ribbons and white frills.
Next was the knife thrower.
"Our knife-thrower, the perfect shot who never misses his target: Dagger!"
A boy with sea-green eyes and bleached blond hair with a lock of black at the front was throwing daggers at a board with a young woman attached to it. He wore a black and white striped shirt with a jabot under a plain cream vest, with black trousers with a black skirt over them and a red and black hat. His eyes had purple eye shadow on the lids, thick eyeliner, and red dots painted under them. There was no sign of him favouring one side or the other, but it was obvious that his right leg was in fact another prosthetic.
Another performer was introduced.
"And now, a beautiful dance by that rarest of rarities, our own serpent man, Snake!"
A boy with pale, scaled skin, covered in snakes of varying sizes, danced in a green loincloth to show off the intricacy of his scales. His eyes were gold and his hair was white. When he opened his mouth, a forked tongue peeked out between his lips.
Ciel touched Marianne's hand as he spoke.
"Their acts are fairly standard."
Sebastian glanced at them and placed his hand down upon the small of the girl's back.
"Yes…and they don't seem to be forcing the children to perform," he murmured.
She smiled at them.
"You never know though… Appearances can be deceiving."
Joker then continued to speak.
"And next… Look above ye, ladies and gents!"
They looked to where he pointed, and saw a girl walking along a tightrope.
"A death-defying tightrope walk by the circus princess, Doll!"
Doll wore a short, white Lolita style dress, a wig of white roses that went over her left eye with two feathers sticking out at the top, and off-white ballet slippers with white roses on the vamps. A white stocking went up one leg, and a black and white striped one went up the other. Her white eyelashes fluttered over her blue eyes, and against her freckled cheeks. White beads dangled from the left side of her wig and tickled her bare shoulder.
The three of them stared up at her.
"If they didn't intend to force the children to perform… Could it be coincidence that the disappearances were along the circus's route?" Ciel said.
Marianne shook her head.
"There is no such thing as coincidence, especially when a pattern emerges."
They watched Doll perform the splits on the rope, and in the air while balanced on her hands. Her eyes met Ciel's.
A ring of fire lit up on the main stage with the sound of a cracking whip. An enormous tiger leapt through the flames.
"And last, but not least, the star of our troupe! I bring 'ee the famous tamer of wild cats! Beast!"
Beast was, despite her name, a beautiful woman with curling black hair and red eyes. Red eye shadow coated her lids, along with dark red lipstick, long black eyelashes, and red marks painted under her left eye. She wore a black leather bodice and skirt with a red sash around her waist, fishnet stockings and gloves, and a red headband with a rose. Her left leg was a prosthetic. She cracked her whip and the tiger lay down before her. Joker smiled at the woman's side and continued to speak.
"We'd love some audience participation for this act. Are there any volunteers?"
Ciel and Marianne looked at one another.
"No children in the final act, either. This was a waste of time," muttered the boy.
She could only pat his shoulder sympathetically. Beside them, Sebastian rose to his feet.
"Sebastian?" she called out.
He didn't answer her.
Joker spotted him through the crowd.
"This gent in the tailcoat sure looks eager! Please, come on stage."
The audience applauded the demon. Ciel wasn't sure what to make of it.
"Step right up, Sir." Joker called.
Ciel then realised the possibilities of the butler entering the ring.
So, that's it. This is a chance to make contact. He smiled to himself. Go. The only way to find a clue to these mysterious disappearances is through the circus.
Marianne, on the other hand, wasn't as eager for him to step up.
This is not going to end well… She thought to herself.
Ciel only continued to smile.
You may have made contact, but how exactly do you plan to investigate when all eyes are on you?
Sebastian stepped into the ring, and made his way towards Joker.
"Now, if you'll just lie down here…" Joker said.
Sebastian only breezed past him… heading straight towards the tiger.
Everyone could only watch in amazement as he knelt before the large cat, and began stroking it like a human would with their housecat.
"Ah, what lovely round eyes you have! Soft ears…"
Ciel all but slapped himself on the head.
Oh, blast! Tigers are cats!
Marianne chuckled to herself when she saw the look on Ciel's face.
"Forgot the cat part, did you?" she smiled.
He glared at her without saying a word, since he knew she was right.
Sebastian continued to fawn over the tiger.
"I've never seen such vivid stripes!" he cooed. "Oh dear, your claws have gotten a bit too long… We'll have to groom them."
Joker and Beast were looking at him with slightly disturbed looks on their faces.
Poor Ciel dropped his head into his hands to hide his face, overcome with embarrassment. Marianne rubbed his back without saying a word, wondering if she should go down there to put a stop to the spectacle…
Sebastian petted the pads of the tiger's paws.
"And your paw pads are full and plump. Very attractive!"
The tiger was unimpressed with his actions, so decided to latch her teeth onto his head.
The crowd began to scream. Beast cracked her whip towards the tiger and her new chew toy.
"Betty, let him go!"
Sebastian caught the whip before it could touch them. Betty retracted her teeth from his head.
"She hasn't done anything wrong." He said, and continued in a suave and sophisticated manner. "I was so overcome by her charm that I behaved rudely, that's all. And… Indiscriminate whipping isn't enough to train her properly."
Betty meanwhile latched onto his head again.
"Betty! Spit him out this instant! He's dirty!" Beast cried.
Sebastian was unfazed by the attention.
"Goodness, aren't you a tomboy, my dear? You remind me of someone, actually…"
He caught Marianne's eye and made her blush.
By the end of the circus, the trio had reunited, but Ciel was keeping as far away from Sebastian as possible.
"I didn't tell you to go that far!" he snapped.
Sebastian only smiled as he walked with Marianne on his arm as she dusted off him off as best she could.
"My apologies, My Lord. I've lived many years, but cats are such whimsical creatures, I still can't quite read their moods," he explained.
Marianne shook her head.
"With big cats like that, Sebastian, you keep your distance. They are much more volatile than the cats you usually encounter. They are wild animals in comparison to domesticated cats usually kept as pets. You do not go near one like you did tonight!" she chastised.
"What was the point of attracting unnecessary attention-?" Ciel continued before letting out a loud sneeze. "You know I'm allergic to cats! Stay far back. Marianne, get him cleaned up as much as you can before we get back to the town house. I refuse to have him bringing in cat hairs because of this!"
He hurried away from them after that.
Just then, a voice called out from behind them.
"Oh, there 'ee be! You there, in the tailcoat!"
The couple turned around to see Joker running towards them. Sebastian held Marianne close when Joker stopped before them.
"I'm so sorry about what happened, Sir."
The demon shook his head.
"No, please, I apologise."
Joker chuckled.
"Gave me a scare, traipsing right up to the tiger like that! All right?"
Sebastian glanced back and saw Ciel disappear around a corner. He drew his mate closer and listened to Joker as he continued to speak.
"We have a doctor on staff. Better let him have a look at 'ee I reckon. Please, come on back."
Ciel nodded his head. Sebastian smirked quietly.
"I don't mind if I do."
The couple were taken around the back of the large tent, where the roust-abouts and performers were tidying up the props and ropes, and removing their costumes from their sweating bodies. There were animals wandering about, or locked in their steel cages, and the occasional circus member smoking from a hookah. Marianne rubbed her nose irritably to block out the smell. Sebastian gave her his handkerchief as he held her on his arm, following quietly behind Joker as he talked joyfully on their trek.
"Right this way. Sorry it's so filthy."
He spotted Snake in the shadows of the medical tent.
"Ah, Snake! Is the doc in the medical tent?" asked Joker.
Snake didn't answer, and glared at Sebastian and Marianne as they continued to follow after the ringleader.
"Oh, maybe he's just making rounds."
As they walked past the next tent, the two trapeze artists, Peter and Wendy, were watching them with smiles on their young faces.
"Say, isn't that the boy who got bitten by the tiger?" Wendy asked.
Peter giggled.
"That's him. Stupid boy!" he said. He then looked at Marianne. "Pretty girl with him though."
Wendy shrugged.
"Wonder what she sees in such a stupid boy."
Joker led them into the next tent, and spotted who he was searching for.
"Good, there he is. Doc!" he called out.
Doc was an older gentleman with black wavy hair, an unshaven chin, and glasses balanced on the bridge of his nose. He was sat in a wheelchair as he tended to Dagger's prosthetic leg.
"Hello, Joker. Is your hand acting up again?" Doc asked.
Joker shook his head.
"Naw, today I've got someone else…"
Dagger leapt up in exclamation.
"It's you! You're the one who just got bitten by Betty!" he cried.
"Betty?! That's terrible!" Doc said. "We've got to get you to the infirmary!"
Marianne arched a brow in curiosity.
"Why on Earth would you name a tiger 'Betty?'" she asked.
The circus members sweatdropped at her words while Sebastian only smiled at her kitten-like inquisitiveness.
They went straight to the medical tent after that. Doc examined Sebastian's head, a difficulty considering how tall the demon was. But the butler graciously bent down for the man to proceed.
"Did you really get bitten by a tiger? I don't see any wound…" commented Doc.
Sebastian raised his head with a disarming smile.
"Just an affectionate nip," he said.
Joker and Dagger were dumbfounded, their thoughts drifting back to how Betty nearly decided to swallow the entirety of his head.
"Affectionate?"
"Nip?"
Marianne shook her head.
"Or you just have very thick skin," she commented.
Doc merely smiled.
"Well, I'm just glad you're alright."
"Too true!" Joker added. "I was afeard the troupe leader'd kill me for letting a customer get hurt!"
Sebastian glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
"You aren't the leader?" he asked.
"I'm more or less the hired replacement. The real one's scary." Joker laughed.
Dagger chuckled behind him.
"Don't blame me if you get yelled at for saying that!"
Just then, Beast came into the tent.
"Doc, would you take a look at my leg?" she asked.
Dagger's eyes lit up at her presence.
"Miss!"
She became agitated.
"You!"
He continued on without noticing the interruption.
"I'm here for my leg, too! Yet more proof of the red thread of destiny between…"
She pushed him and pointed at Sebastian.
"You're that dapper freak! What are you doing here?!" she demanded.
Sebastian and Marianne looked at her with wide eyes.
"You wrecked my show…! And you bring an innocent maiden into a dark tent…!" Beast shouted.
"Beast!" Doc snapped, bringing her rant to a halt. "You can't talk like that to a guest! This isn't his fault; it's yours for not being able to control Betty!"
Beast argued against him, pointing at Sebastian again.
"But he walked up to her without…!"
"No buts!" shouted Doc. "You're a pro, aren't you?"
Joker tried to placate them all.
"Now, Doc, please don't shout in front of our guests."
Dagger agreed.
"That's right, please just forget this and check Miss's leg!"
Doc sighed heavily, but nodded his head.
"You'll be retraining Betty after this, Beast. Is that clear?"
Beast looked away.
"Yeah."
"Right, then. Show me your prosthesis."
Sebastian immediately became curious at the word.
"Prosthesis?"
He got to his feet and took Marianne's hand in his. Joker went on to explain.
"We're a bit of an irregular bunch here…"
They watched as Doc removed Beast's stocking and revealed the extent of her prosthesis.
"We're a gathering place for people with certain problems." Joker smiled as he looked down at his right arm. "I'm missing an arm, myself, but the Doc got me this fine replacement. Good looking, isn't it?"
Doc didn't look up from his work, using a screwdriver to work with the nuts and bolts inside Beast's artificial leg.
"The design you picked is the reason you always need adjusting, you know," he said. "Put yourself in my shoes!"
Sebastian stared at the doctor for a while, before making his decision to speak.
"Do you make the prostheses for this circus, Sir?" he asked.
He and Marianne began to look over all the parts and pieces for the prostheses as Doc explained.
"More or less. And it's a big job! I do everything, from carving the parts to the final fitting."
The demon knelt down behind Doc and watched him work on Beast's leg.
"Carving them? Are they wooden, then?"
"Nope, ceramic."
Marianne tapped a finger to her lips in thought.
"But wouldn't ceramic break too easily?" she asked.
Doc shook his head and showed the pair the leg.
"I use special materials, so they're light and sturdy."
Sebastian glanced at his mate, gestured her with his eyes to feel the limb before them. With hesitant hands, she reached out and held the ceramic in her gloved hands.
"They are quite smooth to the touch… Almost like porcelain," she muttered.
Doc nodded enthusiastically.
"Aren't they? And I use spherical parts in the joints, for nice fluid movement."
Sebastian moved his hands down over Marianne's, cupped them gently as they held the artificial calf.
"This is truly fine work," he commented, drawing the girl's hands away.
During their inspection, Beast was blushing scarlet. Marianne caught sight of something on the woman's thigh.
"Oh! Is that a seal?" she asked.
Sebastian's eyes immediately landed on what she was talking about, and moved the leg so the thigh was exposed to take a closer look. To everyone around them, the position was incredibly lewd to say the least. Even poor Dagger's nose was bleeding at the sight.
"What are you doing, you pervert?!" Beast bellowed.
She prepared to slam her leg down upon them, but Sebastian swiftly pulled Marianne into his arms and evaded the onslaught.
"Oh, I beg your pardon. You didn't strike me as modest enough to be embarrassed by such trifles."
Marianne sweatdropped.
"Not the best thing to say…"
Beast drew out her whip and began snapping it towards them. Sebastian merely gave a shit-eating smile as he dodged every one of her strikes, with Marianne secure in his arms. Beast continued to lash out, destroying all the objects in her path. Doc could only watch in shock.
"Oi, Beast! Stop that!" he turned to Joker and Dagger. "You two, stop her!"
Dagger was more than happy to step into the fray.
"How dare you lay a hand on my lady's fair and tender skin?!" He threw his daggers in swift procession. "I haven't even touched it yet!"
Sebastian backflipped out of their range and leapt up onto the horizontal tent poles above, Marianne stayed in his arms, set in a bridal carry with her skirts flying around her legs.
"I didn't actually touch her skin… but I do seem to have touched a nerve," he retorted. "Also, I already have a maiden for such things."
The demon pressed his lips to Marianne's blushing pink cheek. Marianne shook her head.
"You know you're making it worse!" she cried.
He set her down on the pole and twirled her along it, turning her into a ballerina on the wire.
Dagger was incensed as he readied his next set of daggers. Doc tried to stop him.
"Dagger, stop! You'll shred the tent!" he cried.
"Beast's honour is more important than this tent!" Dagger roared, throwing his knives.
Sebastian smirked and caught them all between his fingers. Marianne smiled prettily at him while their audience stood in awe.
"No way!" gasped Dagger.
Beast cracked her whip.
"Don't get cocky!" she snapped.
She made to lash out again, but was stopped by Joker, who had her whip wrapped around his cane. She stopped at the cold stare he gave her and became still as he stood before her with his cane between them.
From the tip, he produced a bouquet of flowers for her.
"Ta-da!" he laughed. "Alright, that's enough!"
"What? No!" Dagger cried.
Joker gave Beast the flowers.
"Here, Beast, don't be so scratchy."
The poor doctor was in tears from the stress.
"Why didn't you stop them sooner?!"
Marianne balanced her way back to Sebastian, and let herself be lifted up into his arms as he jumped down to the ground. The demon covered the girl's eyes from the sight before them. Joker was petting Beast's prosthetic leg and holding her close.
"Now, now. It's such an 'ansome leg, I can understand why he'd want to touch it." Joker presented her with the flowers once more. "Take these flowers and cheer up."
Beast pouted and walked away from him. Joker then turned to Sebastian and Marianne.
"That was mighty athletic, Sir! I reckon I'd hire 'ee! And the pretty lady!" he smiled.
Sebastian's eyes glinted. He saw the opportunity before him, and seized it with both hands.
"Is that true?" he asked. "Truth be told, my current master is so spoiled, I'm quite disgusted with him."
In the carriage, Ciel sneezed loudly.
"'Master'? Be thee a servant, then?" Joker asked. "I took 'ee for gentry, dressed up so fine…"
Sebastian chuckled.
"Me, gentry? Hardly," he smirked. "I am simply one Hell of a butler."
He then glanced at Marianne.
"But alas, it is because of the difference in class that my master refuses to let me marry my dear betrothed," he explained, drawing her into his arms. "Because she is the governess to my master's family, I cannot wed her. I fear constantly he will attempt to arrange a marriage for her to remove her from me. Our only hope is to escape together."
Marianne, realising the story, decided to play along.
"The master is cruel, his guests terrify me, and yet he makes me sit with them at dinner and in the parlour. But a week ago, I heard him in his study making a deal with one of the men to sell me as his bride, or something far worse. I cannot bear to be parted from my love, but we have nowhere to turn!" she cried, wiping the tears clinging to her eyelashes.
Sebastian brought her closer.
"Now, was that true? If so, we'd very much like to join you," he said.
Joker was the first to speak up after hearing their story.
"Not having me on, are 'ee?" he asked.
Sebastian didn't show a single emotion on his face.
"I never jest."
The man laughed loudly, clapped the demon on the shoulders, and patted Marianne on the head.
"Lord, that's funny! All right, me 'ansome. Sure, join us anytime!"
Beast was quick to protest.
"Hey Joker, you can't just decide that!" she snapped.
"But he's got such talent, and she could be a natural."
Sebastian then interrupted the beginnings of their argument.
"There's actually another person we'd like to introduce you to," he said with a shit-eating smile.
Ciel sneezed again from inside the carriage.
Joker smiled.
"If he's anything like 'ee, that's fine. But I reckon we'll give an entry test."
Sebastian smirked under the shadow of his hair.
"Very well. We'll come back tomorrow with him, then," he said. He bowed smoothly. "Thank you for all your help today."
He and Marianne walked away. Joker called out to them.
"Oh, Sir, Miss!"
The demon merely smiled.
"No need to show us out."
When the tent flap closed behind them, Sebastian led his mate towards their next destination.
Now, then… he thought to her. There were nine tents and ten carts before the medical tent.
Marianne glanced to her right.
And further along, we have… some nicer tents.
He smirked and leapt over the boundaries surrounding the tents in question.
As long as we're here, we might as well investigate them.
Lifting her up and over by the waist, he placed her down beside him. They started to walk towards the tents.
I don't sense the children at all. Sebastian drew her closer to his side. But I have been sensing something… Could it be?
Marianne stopped them when she saw something slithering on the ground in front of them.
"Sebastian…" she whispered.
A snake whipped out and hissed venomously beside Sebastian's head. In the shadows was Snake. Marianne was relieved to see he was fully clothed this time, instead of in the loincloth he performed in. He wore black thigh-high boots, a black and white striped shirt cinched at the neck and waist with black belts underneath a black high-collared jacket with long, baggy sleeves, and tight black trousers. His snakes were swept around his shoulders, neck and arms like an imperial robe. His eyes were slits.
"This area is off-limits."
I am pleased with the response to my writing this arc, and to answer the questions about the seasons, once I have completed the circus arc, I shall be returning to the season one episodes, so sorry for the confusion.
Also, thanks to all your generous reviews, I have come to a decision about what Marianne's act will be. I thank you for all your suggestions. Her act shall be revealed in the next chapter.
Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Please read and review!
