video

[somakemelaugh]

Who: Undertaker and ERRYONE
Broadcast: All
Action: Goldstone
When: After calibrations/shuffle


[Welcome to the parlor. Or at least, it would be the parlor if it was back in his home. Either of the ones before. For now, it's just Undertaker's modest little abode on the good ship Goldstone, not too unlike many of yours who stand witness to it now. Maybe he'll add to it over time. He has heard audiences like to get to know people, and what better way to do so than to personalize?]

[Alas. Without much means to add such customizations (yet) you get only to see his smiling face, complete with the scar crossing right over it. How's that for unique?]

We're a lively bunch here, aren't we? Starting things off with a bang, visiting people in their past lives with or without them knowing. Just like the good old days, back in the academy. [There's a giggle, one which might or might not put a shudder down spines. He's an... unusual git and he knows it, complete with the mortician's facade and, some might recognize, the overly cockney accent.]

Ah, we're going to get along just fine, I think. Too bad they've not made use of the smarts I was given, [He flicks a hand.] lab support or something other, bandages I suppose. Wouldn't be much use to me anyway, but you'll find me on the Goldstone, should you have need of my assistance. Look for Undertaker.

[And, with a tip of his hat, the video feed ends.]

Comments

[somakemelaugh]

[There, he pauses, brushes the hair back the right way.]

Would you truly have been happier if I hadn't made it in time, your twin's body was destroyed like your parents? I knew you wouldn't run to each other's arms when he stepped back into the light, but I had hoped this would set things right in time.

[sweetlies]

[He slowly shakes his head and closes his eyes]

No, I’m glad you found him. I just... didn’t know what else to do. I still don’t entirely know what to do with everything but at least you’re here to help me. And with no fear of Sebastian doing anything.

[somakemelaugh]

[He shakes his head, continues to rub that hair.]

I think you have an idea of what you want to do, regardless of the circumstances. All that remains to be seen now is what happens with that.

[sweetlies]

[His eyes are still closed and stay that way. He's too lazy to fight the comfort.]

Not back then. Now? [And he pauses, thinking. What does he want to do now?] Now, I want to find somewhere we can settle properly and be happy. Even if we go back to our world somehow, maybe... Hm, France sounds nice. London would be too dangerous, with Sebastian around and the reapers chasing after you.

I liked our cottage in Riverview, we could find somewhere like that.

[somakemelaugh]

[He'll be glad for that and continue with the spoiling.]

That sounds nice. I was rather fond of it myself and I think we can manage something similar, even if we can't get away from the fleet at this rate. We'll just need to bide our time and see how things go. And you, milord, [He lifts a finger to tap the boy's nose.] could do with a rest after all of this. I think we both can.

[sweetlies]

[And when has he ever refused a bit of spoiling?]

Mm, could make the rooms nice. And cozy. [There's a surprised little noise when his lose is poked and he opens his eye, blinking in confusion.] Well... maybe a little. I am very comfortable right now.

[somakemelaugh]

[Never, not in recent memory anyway.]

We could. How do you propose to do that? Seems a shame to have such a small, cramped space like this in the middle of the only place in the world we've never been and have it seem so little like home as it is. I almost feel unwanted.

[sweetlies]

You’re wanted by me, at least. [He pauses, hums softly, and then curls a little more comfortably against Undertaker.]

After kidnapping us and using us for entertainment, you’d think they give us more comfortable rooms. We’ll make it our own though, I’m sure. Between the two of us, we’re plenty crafty to make this cozy.

[somakemelaugh]

[One more scritch at that shoulder, just to be sure.]

That's good. Not sure what I'd do if you didn't want me around. I might just have to go find another skeleton to fuss at. Makes the time go by a little faster, though... [He hums and looks around.] Might be a bit cramped with him here. He's not good at sharing the bed.

[sweetlies]

Mm, maybe not as cramped as it otherwise would be but it wouldn't be nearly as comfortable, I'm sure. Albert never did hold heat very well. [He can't help but giggle softly.] Not sure his replacement would be any better. Or if they'd even be very good at jokes.

[Not that the teen is very good at them, himself. He tries but his jokes are cheap and a bit corny most of the time.]

[somakemelaugh]

No, he didn't. It's a real shame, too, seeing as he liked staying in the living room where we were most of the time. Think of all we could have saved on firewood if he was his own heat source. Maybe a warmer skeleton next time.

[It's all banter, of course. He'd never wanted to replace Albert in the first place, but he does hope if they return to Riverview that their house is still there, and Albert is still inside. It'd feel a little more like home.] I suppose I could always find one like him. Still seems wrong to replace a person just because they're in another world.

[sweetlies]

The next one would never be the same. [Odd as it is from the former Earl of Phantomhive, he kind of misses the charm the skeleton had added to their home. Everyone who visited might have found it strange but knowing the two of them, it just wouldn’t have felt right otherwise.]

I do wonder if Albert might have family put this way who might provide some of the charm he did. [He hopes everything is the same if they return. At worst, maybe a layer of dust and cobwebs to clear and a bit of airing out.]

[somakemelaugh]

[He reaches up to brush a bit of hair back and out of Ciel's face.] You know, come to think of it, he never did mention relatives. Maybe he just liked us so much he didn't want to risk us kicking him out.

[sweetlies]

[He blinks and smiles up at him, relaxing further. Undertaker is a presence he can't imagine losing at this point. It had been crushing when he'd first woken up on the Marsiva and hadn't see the reaper with him. And then they'd gotten their transfers and found one another.]

Hm, I suppose he didn't. Embarrassed of them maybe? Or estranged? Either way, he was good company. And you were so happy when he stuck around.

[somakemelaugh]

[That gets a giggle from him.] Well, of course I was. Who else was I to talk to when you were away? If I talk to myself, we may well get into an argument and I can't imagine who might win.

[sweetlies]

[Which, of course, gets him giggling softly as well. It's gotten so much easier to laugh over the past year and he likes it.]

Win or lose though, it would undoubtedly be an interesting argument. Who better to counter your own arguments than yourself?

[somakemelaugh]

[He has noticed that, and he reaches up to ruffle fingers through the boy's hair, because he can. It's a bit childish, but he can't help it.] It might be, depending on what was the subject. I've had quite a few heated discussions with myself in the past and it usually ends with a headache under a pillow.

[sweetlies]

[It is but Ciel doesn't care. Even if he tried to care, he'd fail. He's started liking it, really.]

That doesn't sound very good. I suppose I'll have to fill in for Albert then, not that we've ever really kept any of our arguments going very long.

[somakemelaugh]

[There isn't any protest, and he hadn't expected any from the boy at this stage in their friendship. They've grown far too comfortable around each other.]

Oh, I think we can make that change. New world, new people, new environment? We'll find something to back and forth about. Like these clothes we're made to wear. Terrible, isn't it?

[sweetlies]

[They have. He can't, and doesn't want to, imagine what it would be like without him. He's sure that if he somehow returned to England and Undertaker remembered nothing, he'd still show up on his doorstep.]

We'll manage. [There's a soft laugh.] These clothes are awful. I miss the sweaters I had, they were cozy. [If a little too large for him.]

[somakemelaugh]

[And another reach to brush fingers over that hair.]

I think I might like to go shop for something different the next time we visit a new world. Maybe even just something as simple as a nice shirt and pants to go with it, even without the robe.

[sweetlies]

That sounds nice, actually. We should find a nice robe or two though. They always were cozy.

[Which, obviously, implies that Undertaker would have a small thief raiding those robes. It's not as nice as getting any of his own.]

[somakemelaugh]

[After their last run in another world, he has come to expect it. He'll make sure to stock a few extra.]

They were cozy because you kept sleeping in them. I ought to make sure you have your own few in your closet when we find a home.

[sweetlies]

They were cozy before that! [He laughs though, laying his head back against him.] They were warm. And absolutely comfortable to sleep in.

[He won't object to a few of his own though, once they settle somewhere. So long as they weren't made for his size.]

[somakemelaugh]

[It's easy enough to accept the boy back against him again. They'd done this so often.]

It must have been like those gowns you used to sleep in. That's all I can think. Nothing like what they have us sleeping in now, is it?