Disclaimer: I do not own Black Blood Brothers.

Way # Seven and Eight: Tell him he's pretty and suggest a sex-change.

*Looks at the last update date, then looks over at today's date* So… Umm… Long time no see and all. I haven't returned with grand promises to update more regularly, but I do hope the next chapter won't take two years. I really, really hope.

"Does being bored annoy you?"

Zelman Clock didn't open his eyes. He could hear Mel moving around the room, dusting the furniture to his right. "Annoyed is not the word I'd use. Tedious, I suppose. But it's more long stretches of nothing. I do not feel enough, to be annoyed."

"Dang."

Zelman smirked, "Even if boredom annoyed me, you couldn't take the credit. You are not boring. You are a something, in the midst of nothing."

Though Zelman wasn't looking at Mel, he could tell she'd brightened considerably. "Once I'm done dusting, I can leave. Then you'll be back in the nothing and be annoyed!"

"The nothing is not annoying, it's just nothing," said Zelman.

Now he opened his eyes, and looked over at Mel. It'd be difficult to find another who looked so forlorn; shoulder's drooped, and head bowed; Mel's usual manic energy now misting around her, making loop-de-loops through her arms. Sad loop-de-loops though. Like a roller-coaster full that went slowly down the track, its inhabitants all going "yay" in a monotone voice. Regardless of her energy's current state, Mel still diligently cleaned the decoration on his shelf.

"Sayuka said you had to stay here and wait on me."

"I make the other staff uncomfortable," said Mel, matter-a-factly. Instantly revived by either his attention or by his mention of her coworkers. Zelman's ego liked to think it was the former. "Personally, I think they're just jealous of my work ethic."

The vase now dusted, Mel sat it back on the shelf. It sat there with the satisfied air of one who's just had a good bath, and is enjoying being clean. "You know you're very pretty."

"Yes."

Mel's bright smile turned upside down. "Long shot anyway," she muttered.

Zelman laughed quietly, "You're going to need to become coherent if you want me to get bored of you."

"I was just thinking that since telling you that you were ugly didn't work, maybe the opposite would. But like I said, long shot."

Zelman closed his eyes again. "You must be getting desperate."

"No, I'm not," Mel snapped, quickly. There was a long pause. Zelman faced the ceiling and his eyes remained shut; he knew Mel well enough however, to know that she'd be trembling, her heart going thump-thump-thump at a speed more suited to one who'd just run a marathon, than dusted vases, miniature statues and an old piano. Perhaps Mel needed a doctor after all, just not a psychiatric one. It couldn't be healthy for a human heart to beat that fast.

Mel giggled quietly; Zelman knew she'd now donned her trademark psychotic smile. The one that made the rest of the staff uncomfortable, and was one of the several reasons Mel was now tasked to wait on him hand and foot. The other reasons, there were seven in total, were primarily Mel's other antics that made the rest of the staff feel very unsafe. However, among that number of seven, Zelman suspected Sayuka didn't want him to be alone.

Therefore, she'd sent him one of the few individuals whose company he enjoyed –Enjoyed was probably too strong a word, but tolerated was definitely too weak of a word and Zelman didn't have a good middle word. Liked, maybe, but that still felt too strong-. Mel could likewise be counted among the even fewer number of people who felt comfortable about Zelman.

Listening to maids whimper at his most sudden movements had its charms, of course, but did get grating after several centuries.

"You should get a sex change."

"You really think so?"

Zelman looked over at Mel to see her smiling dreamily. "Nope. Not at all."

Eyes closed and facing the ceiling, Zelman drifted slightly, enjoying the way his ego swelled. Mel curled up around his feet, at the edge of the couch. Something she'd taken to doing once her chores were done, and he had no more tasks for her. He didn't mind her there, the sweet smell of her blood grazing against his senses. A quiet, pleasant something in the sea of nothing he felt. Sometimes she'd sleep, other times she'd read; Mel willingly watched whatever he wanted to watch, and afterward, talked to him about. Chattering away, sometimes for hours.

Another quiet, pleasant something that helped to drown out the nothing background. Her something going up and down, from a quiet, but soothing background noise to a thoroughly entertaining orchestra. Zelman smirked at the irony that Mel had come to annoy him, and ended up doing the exact opposite.

"So you like Sayuka?"

The volume of Mel's something went from background noise to hard to near deafening club music. Oh yes, his psychotic maid had her uses.

Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading!