Chapter Text
Taking quick steps the boys made their way through the tunnels and around the Octavinelle dorm and straight for the Monstro lounge. Ciel glared at the beastly looking entry way as Jack yanked open the doors and they hurried down the hallway to the main area of the lounge, only to be greeted by the sound of music, and students packing the lounge from front to the back. Ciel’s eyes went wide in shock, he’d never seen a business like this so full of people and it was louder than he was used to.
Epel looked around in awe. “This place is hopping.”
“It has a kind of classy feel, but yes, it's very busy.” Lilia agreed with a smile and bounced to the music, a happy smile on his face.
Ciel crossed his arms as he admired the overall feel of the place. “It's a bit garish for my taste, but it seems that the students are happy.”
“Remember, we're in enemy territory here.” Jack reminded them, “Stay sharp at all times”
The lavender haired boy nodded, “Yeah, who knows what they might pull.”
“It's always wise to keep one eye open when you are sleeping on unfamiliar ground.” Lilia warned them and put his hands on Ciel’s shoulders, and Ciel took a breath, holding his head up.
“Let's just go about this confidently and cautiously.”
They strode in, a determined air about themselves, then stopped at the desk as they waited to be seated. It was a while before Floyd approached and he waved with a goofy grin.
“Eyyy, Shrimpy! Glad you could make it!” he looked at the group, “I see you've got a Sea Urchin, Guppy and Devil Fish as your plus-ones.”
Jack scowled and glared, “I told you not to call me that!”
“I'm not a guppy.” Epel heatedly informed him, knitting his brows.
“Nice to see you too Floyd.” Lilia said politely and Ciel asked in an aloof voice.
“Is this normally how you greet your guests?
Floyd chuckled and smiled as Jade joined him at the host desk. The more put together twin politely smiled at them, and put his hand up to his heart as he gave a slight bow.
“Well, well. Thank you for coming to our establishment so promptly.” He said and checked his wrist watch, “You're about twenty minutes early.” Then beamed at them, “Welcome to the Monstro Lounge. Is this your first time dining here?”
Ciel nearly rolled his eyes, “That's the first thing you're going to ask us?”
“Y'know, I've been wondering since yesterday...” Jack said, “Do you have a thing for askin' questions you already know the answers to?”
Epel crossed his arms and narrowed his brow looking at Jade. “I bet he does.”
“Heh. I like to keep my bases covered.” Jade assured them and Ciel rested his hand on his hip as he asked.
“And which bases are those?”
“All of them,” Jade smiled in a sly way, then motioned for them to follow. “Now then, if you would allow me to provide you with a rundown of our establishment...Right this way.”
Jade lead them to a table, carrying menus, and spoke as they walked around the various groups that were cavorting. “The Monstro Lounge is a meeting place for gentlemen. Any quarrels with other dorms are verboten here.”
“Fair enough,” Ciel shrugged, “sounds like your typical set of gentleman club rules.”
Jade nodded and grinned politely, “Students from all dorms are expected to abide by Octavinelle rules on the premises.”
“Does that mean your rules trump that of the schools?” Ciel asked and Jade just chuckled.
“Yes.” He noticed Ciel glance at the other students with a cautious gaze, and the others seemed just as concerned as Jade went on, “We pride ourselves on providing a place for everyone to enjoy under the same set of rules.” He stopped at a table and seated them. “With that out of the way... How may I assist you today?”
Ciel picked up the menu and said in a disinterested voice. “You know why we're here Jade, you invited us. We want to speak to Azul about this business with the study guide and the anemones.”
“Heh heh heh...” chortled the Vice Housewarden, “Very well. Azul is currently meeting with another patron at the moment. So you’ll have to wait for a bit.”
Ciel tapped the table with his fingers as he set down the menu, “Is he now? I thought he was anxious to meet with me, that's why he set this up. If it's not that important to him then...”
“Ah ah ah. You're the one who came in twenty minutes early.” Jade reminded him, “Could I please ask you to wait in the lounge until such time as his schedule opens up?”
“Do we have a choice,” the young Earl inquired and Jade just smiled, as Ciel picked up on the meaning of it, “I take that as a no, we do not.”
“Oh!” Jade exclaimed, and pointed to a notice on the menu, “And lest I forget, our establishment has a one-drink minimum. You must order at least a single beverage of some variety.”
“What sort of drinks do you have?” Epel asked and Jade quickly went around the booth and leaned over the back to point things out to Epel on the menu.
“It's all on the menu right there. Everything from sweet to sour to spicy,” Jade said, “Take your time.”
Jade stepped back and waited for their order, much like how Sebastian typically waited for Ciel to figure out what tea he wanted when he had a choice, and Epel nervously looked over the menu.
“Some of these drinks are kinda...fancy.” the lavender haired boy said and Ciel huffed.
“I'm not spending one thaumark in here...” he put down the menu and looked at Jade, “I'll have a glass of water.”
Jack put his down too, “Hummm I guess I'll have some tea.”
“Mmmm Tea sounds good right about now.” Lilia said, “What type though…Jack would you like to try the fall harvest tea blend with me?” Jack agreed and Lilia looked to Jade, “Then we’ll both have the fall harvest blend.”
Epel sighed and handed over his menu, “I think I'll just have a soda.”
“Excellent, you have your orders ready.” Jade grinned and took the menus from them, and clapped his hands to get someone’s attention, “Sea anemone, if you could take our esteemed customer's order”
Deuce rushed past carrying a tray and begged off, “Sorry, I've got drinks to run.”
“You do it! We're slammed over here!” Ace told Jade as he ran by carting empty and discarded plates, glasses, and other dining-wares. “You keep making us do all the work while you're just sittin' pretty over there.”
As they passed Jade, he glanced at his brother, and Floyd moved quickly to block them both and smiled in a rather threatening manner.
“You're talking back to Jade?” he asked putting his hands on his hips, “How impressively bold for a sea anemone.”
Floyd reached out and grabbed their anemones before either could dodge and started to yank on them hard enough that both were lifted off the floor slightly.
“OWWW! Geez!” Ace winced and gritted his teeth, even as his eyes watered from the pain.
Deuce, who had tolerated worse just a few years ago, cringed and shouted at Floyd. “Quit tugging our anemones!”
Ciel angrily looked at Jade watching the abuse and snapped at the host. “Is THIS how you treat your employees? I think it's rather disgusting behavior for the managerial staff to act so high and mighty over their wait staff!”
“Azul tasked me with instructing the new staff,” Jade explained to him, “so it falls to me to instill proper discipline in those who fail to respect authority.”
He nodded to Floyd who yanked again on Deuce’s anemone, and the blue haired boy finally yelped.
“Ow ow ow ow ow! Okay, okay! I get it!”
Ciel clenched his fist and Epel put a hand on his shoulder whispering in his ear. “I know, it’s bad, but we’ll get them out, and then we kick both their asses.”
The young Earl gave a nod as Floyd kicked them both in their legs nearly making them drop their wares and Epel shouted as he stood, “Now hold on a gall darn minute!”
“You're going overboard here!” Jack joined him, standing up and Lilia sat back crossing his arms, and glaring.
“Yes. Exactly. The worst the treatment of the employees the worst the service will be.”
Jade smiled his politest smile, telling them, “Ah, but you must understand. As I just finished explaining, here in the lounge, everyone must follow our rules.”
“I didn't see anything about that in the contract.” Ciel hissed and Jade just smirked.
“Section 37, page 3.”
Floyd let Ace and Deuce go, and both grimaced, as they tried not to whimper from the pain. “And according to the rules, we're allowed to squeeze problem employees who don't do as they're told!”
“Tch... You're just makin' a show out of hazing the rookies in front of us.” Jack said indignantly, “It's making me sick.”
“As I said. Disgusting.” Ciel agreed with a furious look in his eyes, “I can see why you can't get employees the proper way, because they'll walk out the moment you show how you really treat them. No wonder you have to create these tricks to get students to work for you.”
Floyd chuckled and folded his arms, smirking. “Is that your way of offering to take their place helpin' out around the lounge, Shrimpy?
Ace looked over at the group and said with a grin. “Ooh, that's a great idea! I second that proposal!”
“What?” Ciel demanded and put his hands on his hips. There was no way in hell he was going to serve anyone. He was an Earl, Earls did not play waiter.
Ace looked around at Deuce and called out, “All in favor?”
He and Deuce both raised their hands, “Aye!”
“The ayes have it!” Ace exclaimed, “Ciel, Lilia, Epel and Jack are hereby nominated temporary assistants, effective immediately!”
Ciel’s eyes narrowed to near slits as he glared at Ace, “Excuse me?!”
“Hey, what're you tryin' to pull?!” Jack asked him and Epel frowned.
“Of course you’re gonna do a con, like chaining me up on Halloween.”
Lilia chuckled, “How amusing...it seems like Ace had something up his sleeve yet again.”
Ciel sat back down and crossed his arms. “No. I refuse. I’m a customer, not the wait staff.”
“Come on Ciel,” Pleaded Deuce and the young Earl scoffed.
“An Earl does NOT wait on tables! It’s considered unseemly!”
Ace snorted, “Oh so NOW you’re acting like your better than us?”
Ciel rolled his eyes, “As a noble it’s seen as a social taboo.”
“Since when do YOU care about that junk?” Deuce asked and Ace scoffed.
“Since he’s scared of actually doing work. He probably couldn’t carry a damn tray himself.”
Ciel glared at the red head, and heatedly retorted, “Give me one reason I shouldn't walk out of this place right now and leave you to your fate.”
“There's a reason...honest,” Ace said and motioned with his head and lowered his voice, “Look over there.”
Ciel glanced over in the direction Ace was motioning to and blinked when he saw Ruggie.So Ruggie made it in?! That’s why they want us to do this? He must have some information or something. Damn it! I don’t want to humiliate myself in front of these blasted fools, but what choice do I have?
The young Earl glanced at the other boys who noticed the hyena as he rushed about in his ceremonial robes, and their eyes met one another’s, thinking about the same thing, that Ruggie had, somehow, manage to pull off the perfect undercover job, and if they didn’t play along whatever his plans were could be blown.
“We're not picky, really.” Jade said and smiled, “We'll take anyone, as long as they're willing to pull their weight.”
“And if they're not?” Epel asked cautiously and Deuce said to him in a way that pleaded to play along.
“You guys wouldn't want to get kicked out of the place, right?”
Ace lowered his voice to the young Earl and he implored, “I'm runnin' on fumes here, and Grim's in the back, up to his eyeballs in soap from dishwashing. And he has like fifteen minutes left. C'mon, be a couple of pals and help us out.” He put his hands together, “Please... And...Well...Just get close to Ruggie while you're working okay?”
Jack was silent for a long moment then clucked his tongue and put a hand on his hip. “Tch... Fine, whatever. The sooner we wrap up our business here, the sooner I can go back to my dorm and catch a few winks.”
“Yes. I'm rather tired myself.” Lilia yawned and Epel stretched.
“Yeah I'm beat.”
They’re already trying to make excuses to do as little as possible. I’ll give them credit for trying, but it’s not going to work with the Leeches. If anything it will make them want to work them harder just to see them fail.Ciel thought and nodded. “Then let's make this quick. I'm not one to serve others. They serve me. Besides, Missy will be rather upset if Grim and I miss our tea before bedtime.”
Ace rolled his eyes, “What? Dude, it's twenty to nine. What time do you guys go to bed?”
“I'm always tucked in by ten.” Jack told him and Epel played with his jacket.
“Since I have to help you two dumbasses with this, eleven, I'm normally in bed latest by ten thirty, it's a school night.”
Lilia yawned, “I had an extremely long gaming session last night and need to recharge. I don’t really have a set schedule, sometimes I see the sun rise before I go to bed.”
“Normally eleven at night,” Ciel told them, “but given the way you two have been running me ragged recently, ten tonight. And I intend to get back to the dorm by then.”
Ace looked at Jack and chuckled, “Whoa, we got a serious model student over here!”
Jack gave him a dirty look and Ace nervously laughed as Floyd smiled.
“So I can put Shrimpy, Guppy, Devil Fish and Sea Urchin down for helping out with a shift, yeah?”
Each one reluctantly nodded, the last being Ciel, who gritted his teeth and decided to go as slowly as he possibly could.When this is all over I’m paying back my two tweedles for this humiliation.
Floyd grinned and gave them thumbs up, “Perf. You can start by running these drinks to table three.”
He handed a tray to Jack, and then passed out other items to the boys, ensuring that they all were rushing around the whole of the lounge. Jade called out to them as he headed back to the host podium.
“Don't keep our customers waiting, now.” He looked back at Jack and scolded, “And Jack, try not to scowl so when interacting with clientele.”
“Yes sir.” Jack said through a toothy grin that looked unnatural on him, the moment Jade had his back turned Jack scowled and he walked away to deliver the drinks. Lilia was put on desert delivery, while Epel and Ciel were both to take orders.
“Pffft! A scowl like that would have anyone running for the hills!” Ace said and Jack called out after he dropped off the drinks and hurried past to collect the next set.
“What? I'm not scowling.”
“Hey, no slackin' off boys.” Floyd said, “I'm keepin' an eye on you.”
Deuce passed by Ciel with a tray as the young gray haired boy hustled to deliver an order from table 4, “It's a lot easier with you guys helping!”
“Don't get used to the idea of me waiting on people.” Ciel warned him and Ace teased as he raced by the young Earl with more dishes to wash.
“Yeah, I thought you'd bungle it, but you're doing pretty well.”
Epel looked pleased with himself, and proudly declared as he carried several slices of pie, “Easy as pie!”
Jack shrugged confidently, as he delivered another round of drinks. “It's not that hard once you learn what to do. And Lilia's been givin' me pointers, too.”
Lilia gave a little giggle and bow to Jack, “It's my pleasure.”
“Ha ha. Keep up the good work.” Jade said and then looked at Ciel correcting him with a smile, “The kitchen hasn't received table 2's order yet. Please try to stay on top of that.”
“Yes. Of course.” Ciel growled and dropped off his next order.
The longer they worked the more the orders increased and Ciel felt sure that Jade was telling people to order the most complex items on the menu. The Investigation club members rushed back and forth and up and down the stairs from the different tables, as the students laughed and called out to them rudely with requests for items not even on the menu.
Epel exasperatedly sighed and yelled out, “We're coming with it hold on!”
“I kept people waitin' because of my slip-up?” Jack apologized to the others as he had his tail stepped on, making him drop the soup he was carrying, nearly burning himself.“Sorry. That's on me”
“I swear they're giving us the harder customers to make us look like fools.” Ciel griped as Floyd mocked them with a smirk.
“Awww, is this too hard for a widdle puppy like you? Aha ha!”
Jack clenched his fist, “Urgh! I won't make the same mistake twice”
He tucked his tail into his belt to ensure that no one could touch it and then grabbed the new soup and delivered it post haste. Ciel shook his head and then turned to Floyd sneering.
“Floyd are you mocking Professor Crewel? You know he won't like hearing that.”
The goofy smile was back on Floyd’s face as he crossed his arms, “Heh. I'm not mocking Beaker Fish, I'm using him as inspiration to get your asses moving. Besides, who’s going to tell him? You?”
“I might just do that,” Ciel threatened and then stalked away on his heels to get to his next table, all the while cursing in his mind.
“Uh-oh. Here comes Mr. Do-No-Wrong.” Ace said to Ciel as he passed by him and motioned to Ruggie, who was out performing all of them, balancing four trays on his arms, and easily delivering the ordered food and beverages to their tables with a welcoming smile.
Ciel watched impressed by the hyena’s talent and balance, as he finished his last tray and grabbed a new one, he glanced at Ciel, and walked over with it to the young Earl.
“Hey can you hand this over to table 8.” Ruggie requested and, as Ciel took it, he felt paper under the tray, and nodded to Ruggie who gave him a hearty, “Thanks” before moving on to the next order.
“Which way to 8?” Ciel asked him and Ruggie pointed to the upper tier.
“To your left.”
Ciel hurriedly walked away and pocketed the note while putting the tray on the table and delivering the meal to the students, who thanked him before they dug into their s’mores nachos.
Time passed quickly and the group became more tired from the work expected of them. Jack took out a napkin he’d swiped from an empty table and wiped his brow as he huffed.
“I'm beat.”
Epel cricked his back, “Ugh. My back's startin' to kill me. How is Lilia able to carry all that weight?”
The group looked at Lilia carrying three bins of dishes, he smiled as he passed by them at a hurried pace, “I've just had more practice.”
Ciel had loosened his tie, unbuttoned part of the top of his shirt, and took off his jacket, leaving him only in his vest. He was sweating, he hated this, and panted, “This is NOT what I expected to be doing when we came here!”
“Ha ha ha!” Floyd came over to where the group was resting at the moment. “Lookit you all, down and out like beached jellyfish!”
Jade put his hands on his hips and smirked, “This is no time to rest on your laurels. There are orders to be delivered. We mustn't keep out esteemed customers waiting. Heh heh heh...”
“Ugh, fine, we're moving! Damn tyrant...” Ace said as he got up from the floor and glared heatedly at Jade. Deuce shook his head and slumped off to do his job saying.
“He's even worse than Housewarden Riddle when he didn't get to eat the first slice of tart.”
“Tell me about it.” Ace complained as he grabbed a pad to take more orders. Ciel in the meantime hunted down Ruggie and when he found him the hyena slipped him another paper again under the tray as he requested.
“Give this over to table 6.”
Ciel smiled and nodded feeling the paper, “Thank you. 6 is…”
“On your right! Hurry now. Mustin' let the customers wait.” Ruggie told him and winked as he hustled off to deal with another set of tables. Ciel nodded to him and dropped off the tea, then pocketed the papers once again. He’d watched Ace do it with his tricks enough times that he had some idea how to do it neatly, not perfectly, but good enough that it was hard to tell what he was doing unless someone had a keen eye for slight-of-hand.
The nine o’clock hour drew near and Jack called out to the others, “We've put in all the outstanding orders.”
“And it wore us to the bone in the process...” Deuce grumbled and Floyd whistled as he wandered up to the group of students, rubbing his shoulder, smiling.
“Wow, nice job. That mean you're still up for more?”
Jade chuckled, “In that case, you can get to washing dishes, serving food, and making drinks.”
“No way!” Epel vehemently shouted and Jack slouched slightly at the thought of doing more work and groaned.
“Have mercy on a guy, will ya?”
Lilia smiled reminding the two sophom*ores, “This is only temporary and I believe it is now nine.”
“So our time is done.” Ciel told them and added in an arrogant tone, “Now where is Azul, and my stupid cat.”
Jade looked at Floyd and gestured towards the back doors to the kitchen. Floyd put his hands in his pocket pouting as he turned and headed for them, grousing.
“Right! I'll get him. Yeesh!”
Jack glanced back at the now petering out guests of the lounge and leaned against the cool wall, “Phew. The crowds're finally dying down.”
“What time does this place close?” Epel asked and Jade happily informed him.
“Ten thirty on the weekdays, around twelve on Friday, and one am on Saturday.”
Ciel raised his brows astonished, “And you expect the same people to work all those hours?!”
“Well they did sign the contract.” Jade smiled at him as Floyd brought over Grim, carrying him by his bow. The cat monster looked exhausted, and only when Floyd called out “Shrimpy! Here’s your cat!” did Grim look up and grin.
“You're here!” he pulled free of Floyd’s grip and rushed to Ciel diving on him and Ciel held him close.
“I said we would be.”
Floyd looked over at the Investigation club members, and Jack, with a grin, “You practically put that rush in a headlock and gave it a noogie! 'Preciate the helping hand, Shrimpy and pals.”
“And Pals? What is with the whole ‘and’ thing recently?” Epel asked and Ciel shook his head.
“He’s just trying to annoy you, Epel. Don’t pay him any mind.”
Lilia smiled thoughtfully and put a finger to his lip, remarking, “I do actually think Floyd is being genuine here.”
“I still don't trust them.” Ciel lowered his voice as he told him and Lilia nodded in agreement.
“I don't either.”
A moment later Azul strode out of his office and looked over the remaining guests. He smiled at the bunch and complimented them on a job well done, in his opinion. “You got a veritable madhouse of customers under control. Most impressive indeed.”
“Azul!” Jack jumped when the lanky second year appeared behind him and Ciel let his arrogance show just a bit as he held his head up to look down at the older silver haired boy.
“You've been keeping us waiting a bit too long, don't you think?” the young Earl said and Azul pushed up his glasses with a slight scowl. He didn’t like to be talked down to, especially not from someone like Phantomhive who had no leg to stand on.
“I said nine o'clock. And look it is.” The Housewarden bade them to follow him, “My apologies for the wait. The VIP room is ready now. Right this way, if you would.”
The group minus Ace and Deuce started to follow Azul, only for him to stop and turn to look at Lilia and hold up his hand stopping them in their tracks.
“Wait...” He turned and pointed at Lilia, “Not you.”
Lilia blinked, genuinely surprised, “Pardon?”
“We can only have so many people in the room, you understand.” Azul said coolly and Lilia raised a brow with a less then pleased look in his raspberry red eyes as he complied.
“I...” he put his hands on his hips. “Alright. But if I notice somethings off, I'm coming into the room weather you like it or not, Housewarden Ashengrotto.”
Azul shrugged, he didn’t want to take chances with the fae in the room as the junior might cause issues for him.
“Fair enough.” Azul opened the door and walked in motioning for the others to enter, and said to his two assistance. “Jade. Floyd. Get our customers some tea.”
“Right away, sir.” Jade and Floyd said, then walked back down the short hall to the main area of the lounge.
Ciel, gently handed Grim over to Lilia asking, “Watch him for me, okay?”
“Of course,” Lilia said as he took the cat monster and petted Grim as he spoke softly, “Ciel, be mindful of him, and don’t let him force you into anything.”
“I will,” Ciel assured him and then he followed Azul into his office, which doubled as the VIP room for the lounge.
The moment they walked in Ciel took in the sight and felt that the room seemed just as garish and overly decorated as the lounge. It felt like the person was trying to make it seem elegant, luxurious and refined, as if to show off their wealth, but in the end just made the room seem rather tacky to the young Earl. The walls were all a dusty purple, and the whole room had built in bookshelves, which housed a number of different sorts of books –Ciel counted three shelves each on the fourteen book cases in the wall-and each row was filled – from laws to business to some fictional works. All seemingly well read, and reminding Ciel of Riddle’s room. He had to wonder if Azul was trying to model himself after Riddle in order to seem smarter to those who came into the room, which made him wonder if the well-worn leather bound books were read by him or did he purchase them looking like that. At the base of each book case was an aquarium with sea plants and coral, which had a blue tint to them due to the blue glass that was in the front. The aquariums were shaped like waves, and between each case on the bottom was a light fixture in the shape of a fish,where the eyes were lit up.
Between each case, was a decorative peach shell, and a darker purple accent made the boarders between shelves stand out more. Atop these were twelve short teal green looking metal banners that looked like seaweed, four on each side, and curled slightly under. This followed by the four long larger metallic teal banners that were on the opposite sides of the room framing the door with two book cases, and a large safe, with two book cases framing it as well. The roof, as with the lounge itself, cured up and over like a wide arch, with a purple gradient design that coated the whole room on the ceiling. The boarder around the cases had purple and dark pink like plant designs curving up and around into a sort of archway, while the bottom had pink squiggle lines next to a pink shell. A very Victorian aesthetic that Ciel had seen in a number of homes he’d visited over the years. What was interesting to him was the boarder framing the safe, as it was slightly different. A purple set of columns with a pink line that resembled a beam of magic, like the one he saw come from the trident that Triton used in his dream. At the top corners was a set of teal shells angled to fit the corners. And between them was an imposing safe. Over which was a similar set up to the boarders above the book cases, but a sea scape mural was at the very top on both the safe side and the door side. Making Ciel think that Azul had a need to keep the idea of being trapped in an aquarium a very purposeful choice.
He set his gaze upon the safe, and wrinkled his nose. The whole thing looked like a child’s idea of how safes worked. Four large, curved black bars made their way to the center of the gold and silver plated safe. In the center was ship wheel and Ciel tried to puzzle out how the blasted thing opened. Eventually he gave up and looked around the room a bit more. A mahogany desk of finely polished wood sat before the desk, with a leather backed chair that had some interesting nautical designs in gold atop it and curved into the shape of a sea shell as well. A crab lamp sat on the left side of the desk, while there was a black leather desk set in the center complete with a feather quill pen. Gold inlays around the base of the desk had sky blue tentacles curling down and up to meet in the middle. On the tiled floor was a dark plum and purple rug with various floral patterns that Ciel had seen decorating moderately wealthy family homes. A pair of navy blue leather couches sat facing one another, and in between them was a coffee table made of heavy brash, and marble, a blue glass inlay with fake fish, starfish, shells and other aquatic life sat in the center.
The longer Ciel stood in the room the showier the room felt, and the more he questioned Azul’s branding ideas.
Ostentatious looking luxury without a hint of actual care placed for real thought regarding his set up. He’s trying to look valuable, but he’s really not.The young Earl thought as Azul offered them a seat on the couches.
“It looks like a mix of a library and a lawyer’s office.” Ciel remarked pleasantly, but under the polite compliment all he was thinking about was how much his Aunt Ann would say that he was just trying to be a show off, and mask something more.
Epel nodded as the two took a seat, with Ciel in the middle and Epel on his left. “This is like...one of those sets on a TV show.”
“What IS this place? Are we really still on school property?” Jack asked as he wandered around the room before he sat to Ciel’s right, “Look at that huge vault... It's like some kinda bank.”
Ciel stared at the vault and muttered softly to the other two, “What would he need that big a vault for? I wonder...”
Azul sat opposite them, and crossed his legs as Floyd and Jade came in with the tea and set it out for them. The older boy had Jade pour him a cup then offered it to the others, smiling cheerfully.
“All right, that's enough rubbernecking. Please, have a seat. So, what would you like to discuss with me?”
Ciel spoke first after Jade had poured the tea for them. He put his hands on his stomach folded and calm, “To put it bluntly, I've been asked to discuss with you the removal of the anemones off the students’ heads and to release the students that you've indentured through that contract of yours, at the request of the Headmage.”
Azul raised his brows as Ciel crossed his arms waiting for a response. When he got it, the young Earl scowled.
“Ha ha ha!” laughed Azul for a good minute before setting his cup down, “Goodness me. That's quite the demand to make right out the gate.”
“Oh that's not a demand,” Ciel said in a stern tone, “that's an order.”
Azul smirked at the young gray haired boy, “You're rather bold, Phantomhive. You would order me to release all 225 students from their contracts with me?”
“Did I stutter?” Ciel asked coldly and Epel blinked.
“225? That's insane!”
Jack scowled, “You bamboozled that many people?! I agree! That's nuts!”
Azul picked up the sugar and put some in his tea, then stirred it remarking, “Yes, well, Jade and Floyd did a bit of proactive market outreach this year. With a wonderful team to aid them.” Ciel covered a smirk, knowing that his plan to break the network was in play as they spoke, “Thanks to that, I've had no shortage of clients ready to strike up deals with me.”
“Now, Phantomhive—as for your request to free these students...” Azul said after taking a swig and putting the cup down, “I am not forcing them to labor under any undue duress”
“Come again?” Ciel scoffed, “Your contract states they have to work for you, until they graduate. That's certainly some form of hostage situation, don't you think?”
Azul shrugged, “They made a contract with me, and they willingly consented to the terms laid out in writing.”
“Except that the contract was created before the curve was implemented, and you didn't let them know about the changes to it forth with.” Ciel countered and Azul pushed up his glasses with a smug smirk.
“It was all there in writing. Plain as day. You read it.” He said and folded his hands on his lap, enjoying the duel of words between them, “Contracts are ironclad agreements not subject to intervention from outside parties on any emotional basis… "Poor, unfortunate souls" they are not. To put it more bluntly Phantomhive: your protestations will avail you nothing, no matter how much you might kick and scream or beg, like you did for the kiosk.”
Ciel scowled, “I never begged. And furthermore, I'm not about to prostrate myself before the likes of you.”
Azul sniffed and took up his cup again shrugging. “Right then. There seems to be nothing I can do. They'll just have to keep working for me until the end of the contract. Unless there's something else that has been turning in your mind Phantomhive.”
“What do you mean?” Epel asked and Azul gestured languidly at the young Earl.
“The way he looks at me right now. He wants to say something. Well go ahead. Freely speak. I won't stop you.”
Ciel leaned forward slightly appealing to the business side of Azul, “From my understanding Azul, you're a businessman first, a student second.”
Azul raised his brow, intrigued, “Perhaps.”
“And you know I am too,” Ciel pointed out as he leaned back crossing his legs. “So I've learned some interesting things about you. That you prey on those who seem to want something, and you have your lackeys, for better use of a word, go out and talk you up as this person who can make their desires come to fruition. A veritable fairy godmother as it were.”
“Interesting observation. Go on.” Azul urged him as he listened.
“Furthermore, it seems to me that you tend to also like to go after students when they are at their most vulnerable, and use manipulative tactics in order to get them to come to visit.” Ciel told him and the boys listened as he laid things out, “Promising them some sort of help. Yet it also seems to me that those you target have something you desire as well.”
Ciel smirked, “For example...Steven J. Jones of Heartslabyul. My understanding of his situation is that he's an excellent soccer player, one that does well for NRC's team, but that he hadn't been able to make...first string...” he waved his hand at the term, hoping he used it correctly, “and this year suddenly after the first week of school he's able to play better than ever with skills he didn't possess before.”
“And your point?” Azul scoffed as he sipped. He was slightly irritated by the accuracy of the younger boy’s observations.
“I noticed that you have a very nice singing voice, which I also heard around the school that it wasn't so last year.” Ciel told him, “I also heard that Steven was in Choir and after the first week of the term, dropped out for some unknown reason. So, I'm guessing you wanted to boost your singing so you could do better on the oral aspect of the class as Riddle has a naturally good singing voice and, out of jealousy you picked Steven for his voice and got him to sign a deal, and then later used him to trick other students in so you could fill out your staff.”
There was a glint of smugness in Ciel’s eye that Azul wanted to punch out, but he kept his cool and set down his cup again as Ciel took up his and sipped.
“Alright then. Where is this leading,” Azul scowled and uncrossed his legs, “I'm a busy man Phantomhive, and I don't have time for stories.”
“The thing is...” Ciel went on in a casual tone of voice, “You tend to want what others have, and for you, you want something from me, I would dare say my business...So let's make a deal Azul, and see who really the actual Business leader around here is.”
Epel’s eyes went wide and he jumped up from his seat and stared down at Ciel, as the gray haired boy sipped his drink, “Wait! Ciel what? Hold on a second...”
“Have you lost it?!” Growled Jack and Azul smirked.
“Oho. You want to make a deal with me?” he leaned forward. “Now there's an interesting proposal.”
Ciel set the cup down and smirked right back at him in a challenging way, “Why? Are you scared I'll out maneuver you?”
“Hardly.” Azul snapped, the boy was starting to get under his skin a bit, but he wouldn’t let him have the final say for long.
Floyd laughed behind Azul, “Aha ha! Shrimpy's got some guts!”
Azul tapped his fingers on his arm as he considered his options and then shook his head remarking.
“Hm. Now, while your interest is duly noted...” he pinched his fingers, gesturing as he explained, “there's a wee bit of a snag. You see, Phantomhive, my understanding is that you have no innate magical power.” He waved his hand motioning towards the young Earl, “You're not gifted with a beautiful voice, nor are you heir to any kingdom. You're an utterly run-of-the-mill human in every possible way.”
Ciel smirked coyly, which really irked Azul, and he pushed up his glasses, trying to keep calm.
“What's wrong with being normal?” Epel asked sitting back down, a heated glare came from the lavender haired freshman and Azul shrugged.
“Nothing, in general,” Azul returned his gaze to Ciel, “Considering the big ask you're making of me, I would need considerable collateral.”
Jack crossed his arms being cautious, “Such as?”
“Hm, I don't know...” Azul said with a shrewd smile and from the air summoned a contract that he laid out on the table, perfectly set up for this occasion. He waved his hand over it and gazed at Ciel with a knowing grin, “Maybe something like this. Take a look over it.”
Ciel cautiously picked it up and starts to read the contract as Azul continued to talk.
“Just off the top of my head, how about usage rights for Ramshackle Dorm, which is presently under Phantomhives's supervision?” Azul said and Ciel gestured.
“I’d like a magnifying glass, just to read the fine print.”
Azul nodded and Jade brought one over, and Ciel took it to go over every inch of the contract, and, after a while, he asked.
“The dorm? Why the dorm?”
“Well it's quite an interesting piece and place, and one of the only things of value you own.” Azul pointed out and Ciel scoffed as he went back to reading.
“The school owns it, not me.”
The silver haired boy smiled brightly, “Ah! Yes. But you are managing it...thus it counts.”
Ciel raised his brow, “So what in turn are you offering to me?”
“Pardon?” Azul asked, he had not been ready for this little hiccup in his plan as Ciel set down the contract and crossed his arms.
“If I'm putting up the dorm, what are you putting up instead for me?” the young Earl inquired, “I'm not signing anything without there being a clause for myself in here.”
Azul blinked, he was a lot more cunning than the sophom*ore had taken him to be and offered. “Well all 225 students will have their contracts null and void.”
“Not good enough.” Ciel shook his head and Azul frowned, oh this was annoying.
“Not good enough?” he asked heatedly and again Ciel indicated it was not. Azul thought quickly, “Right then, let me think?” then held up his fingers, “Five percent.”
Epel looked at him confused, “Five percent of what?”
“Investment in the Monstro Lounge.” Azul said, and looked at the gray haired boy with a happy smile on his face, “Does that sound fair enough to you.”
“Twenty five.” Ciel said bluntly and Jade and Floyd looked astonished at the brazenness of the freshman.
Azul balked and had to catch his thoughts before answering, “What?!”
“Twenty five.” Ciel tapped the contract and Azul scowled.
“Ten...”
“Twenty....” Ciel counter offered and Azul put his hand on the table his voice rising.
“Fifteen and that's my final offer!”
Ciel nodded calmly, “I'm willing to negotiate with fifteen.”
Azul glared at him and cleared his throat trying to put the mask back on, “Now as you can see this is a rough draft. When we are ready to continue.”
“Hey... Was that your whole angle from the…” Jack began asking when the door slammed open loudly and Grim rushed in shouting.
“SIGN ME UP FOR THAT!”
Ciel turned around to see the cat monster leap up on the table and glared. “Grim?!”
Lilia hurried in and smiled cheerfully, “I'm sorry! He just got out of my grip. What was I supposed to do?”
Ciel did not buy that for an instance, he was sure the two were listening at the door. Epel furrowed his brows asking.
“Grim, how long have you been there?”
“Long enough!” Grim declared and shouted, “I can't TAKE it anymore! I can't wait outside anymore!”
Jade frowned, “Eavesdrop on others is hardly employee-of-the-month behavior, Grim. Floyd, eject them.”
“Can do!” Floyd went over to grab Grim and Ciel stood up blocking him.
“Hold on!”
Azul raised his voice, “Now, now. Let's not be hasty, gentlemen. Phantomhive, the lone student at your dorm has weighed in on the matter.”
“Weighed in on what matter?” Ciel asked and Azul smirked.
“About the contract.” He said and folded his arms, “What say you? Will you put Ramshackle Dorm up as collateral and make a contract with me?”
Grim looked between Azul and Ciel, “Wait what's going on? Contract for what?”
“Were you not listening, Baby Seal. Shrimpy and Azul were gonna make a deal to fix your problem.” Floyd said and Lilia scowled deeply as he crossed his arms glaring at the sophom*ore who as seated. It took a moment but Azul looked away from his eyes as he felt a shudder run down his spine.
“Yes I'm wondering that myself. What is going on?”
Epel scowled at Ciel as he explained to Lilia, “Ciel just challenged Azul to a contract.”
“What?” Lilia raised his brows and Epel continued as Ciel sat back down and kept his eyes on the contract to go over sections in detail.
“Azul put up 15% and the 225 students as collateral, and Ciel has to put up Ramshackle dorm. “
Lilia turned his gaze to Ciel asking firmer this time, “Ciel…what are you doing?”
Ciel didn’t look up at the fae and Jack turned to Ciel, speaking in a demanding voice.
“Ciel, don't do it! You know he's just gonna name some unreasonable terms you could never possibly meet.”
Ciel took a deep breath and looked at Azul, ignoring everyone else in the room at the moment. If he wavered now there wasn’t going to be a second chance at this. “I want to know the contract terms before I sign. All of them.”
Lilia put his hands on Ciel’s shoulders and whispered harshly into his ear, “Ciel...think about this...Really think about this...”
“Hey! Ciel! Are you listening to us?” Jack asked him and Epel knelt on the couch pleading with the young Earl.
“Don't do it...We'll find another way.”
Azul ignored the others as well and spoke with the younger boy as if they were the only two in the room. “That's the sporting attitude I like to see.”
“Are you serious?!” Jack demanded and reached out to touch Ciel’s arm to pull him off the couch but Ciel gently, but firmly moved his arm away and glared at Azul. In his mind he could hear the sounds of the crab and the small fish begging the princess to not take the deal. He recalled pleading with her to do the same. But his life was already forfeit, and he was sure his contract with Sebastian trumped whatever Azul had planned for him. Yet, internally a small voice in his mind was wailing at him to not do this.
I have to. What other choice do I have at the moment? The longer this goes on the harder it will be to break the contracts.Ciel thought as Azul smirked at him.
“Here's the deal...” Azul said pushing up his glasses with an astute smile, “I bid you pilfer a certain photograph from the Atlantica Memorial Museum in the Coral Sea before the sun sets on the third day from now.”
Ciel raised his brow, “So you mean starting tomorrow?”
“Yes.” Azul said and Jack’s eyebrows shot up.
“You want us to steal a piece of art?!”
“That's illegal.” Epel yelled and Jade put his finger up to his lip to shush him, before looking at Azul with some surprise. Ciel caught the glance, and then looked back to Azul.
So, this is a shock to Jade at least. This must be important to Azul personally in some way if he wants us to steal this picture.The gray haired boy thought and nodded.
“No, not a piece of art.” Azul assured them. “A theft like that would be well above your paygrade and mine as it were. No, this is a photo that was taken by a simple camera. One commemorating a visit to the museum from Prince Rielé, taken ten years ago.”
Ciel furrowed his brows, “Who?”
Azul snorted, it was surprising to meet someone who didn’t know of the prince from the Coral Sea. “The prince of the Coral Sea.”
The young Earl shrugged, this was of no importance to him. Epel snorted and teased with a nasty grin.
“What are you sweet on him or something?”
Azul let out a bitter laugh. “Hardly.”
“Then why?” Ciel asked bluntly, “Because it seems rather random.”
“Gonna need more detail than that.” Jack nodded and Lilia grabbed Grim and moved to the back to watch and listen.
Azul rubbed his forehead. He didn’t want to go into details, but given the way these three were acting, it would be harder to get the boy to sign if he didn’t give them some bait.
“It's a photo panel placed right near the museum entrance. It has no historic value whatsoever.” Azul said. “Borrowing it would not cause any particular fuss.”
“You asked us to pilfer it, not borrow.” Ciel corrected him as he sat back. “If we were talking about borrowing then I should have the option of speaking with this...Atlantic...”
“Atlantica,” Azul corrected him and Ciel continued.
“Atlantica Museum...”
Floyd grinned, “Memorial...”
The young Earl shot him an irritated look.
“Get it right Shrimpy, or don’t say it at all.” Floyd teased and Ciel huffed as he repeated for a third time.
“This Atlantica Memorial Museum's head curator to get the okay to borrow it. But you clearly want it stolen. Why?”
Grim raised his voice from the back, “Yeah! Why do you want it at all?”
Azul looked over the group and smirked pushing up his glasses smugly, and folding an arm over his chest. “Heh. What's the point of a challenge if it's not challenging?”
“That's not a challenge, that's just plain old stealing,” Ciel said directly and added in a sarcastic tone, “and rather below what I would consider benevolent in any case.”
“So you would think.” Azul retorted, “If I were to concoct a trifling errand, I would simply be giving away my end of it, wouldn't I? I'm not running a charity here.”
The young Earl sneered at him, “No, clearly you're only in this for yourself. So why do you want a photo of the prince? Blackmail?”
Azul just smirked and Jade spoke up instead, explaining in more detail the situation at hand, with one of his annoyingly polite smiles.
“The Atlantica Memorial Museum is a renowned tourist attraction that houses a good twenty different cultural artifacts.” The Leech brother closed his eyes thinking, “That includes the Silver Hair Comb, a Coral Sea national treasure, and the Mermaid Princess's Prized Cork Openers, among others.”
Ciel blinked, “Mermaid Princess?”Could it be…Ariel?
Jade smiled and nodded, “Yes. She's one of our legendary figures in the Coral Sea. She had a collection of items that she kept close to her. Sadly most were destroyed in an accident.”
“It wasn't an accident, it was a form of punishment.” Ciel muttered angrily and Jade noticed his demeanor change ever so slightly. Azul on the other hand was not interested at all in talking about the famed princess.
“We're not asking you to find a speck of gold dust on the seabed here.”
“Again, we're talking theft.” Ciel said. He was used to taking things, certainly, but most items he stole was for a purpose. Papers for example that could detail certain fact he needed for a case, a personal item that could be used for blackmail for gathering intelligence, or such trifles. He’d never yet stolen something of worth to the public, nor from institutions that had no bearing on his case, so this was making him slightly uncomfortable. Yet still, he knew that they could do it if push came to shove in the matter and Azul didn’t back down.
Floyd crossed his arms and gave Jade an inquiring look. “Oh, hey, didn't we go there on an elementary school field trip once?”
“Yes. I remember that trip.” Jade smiled. “It was quite fun.”
“For you,” muttered Azul, and Jack hit the table lightly to get their attention.
“Hold on. The nation of the Coral Sea is at the bottom of the ocean, right?” the wolf boy asked and the Octavinelle trio nodded, “It's not exactly hospitable to land mammals like us with no fins or gills. I think you're askin' too much here.”
“How exactly are we gonna get there?” Epel questioned them and Lilia smiled tightly.
“Not to mention, as Ciel said, this is theft pure and simple.”
Grim nodded and crossed his arms as Lilia held him in place against him, “What they said! I can't breathe underwater, y'know!”
Azul snorted and gave them a rude and superior look as he stated fixing his glasses.
“That sounds like a "you" problem...” he smiled, “is what I would normally say, but fear not.” Ciel stared at him irritated at his theatrics. “I will provide you with our very own magic potions. They'll enable you to breathe underwater.”
He waved his pen and several books, which turned out to be false, opened up and from out of what was a cabinet floated large round shaped snail shells with a cork stopped in the top. Azul caught three of them, and held them out to the students sitting across from him.
“Behold, your way to go underwater.” He said and Epel had to laugh.
“Shells?”
“No, potion bottles,” Azul corrected and Floyd chuckled.
“In the shape of shells.”
Azul glared at him, “Thank you Floyd for your observation and color commentary.”
“Sure, no prob.” Floyd saluted him and Azul shook his head, then turned his attention back to the three boys.
“Once, when a poor little mermaid princess fell in love with a human, the Sea Witch was kind enough to grant her legs to walk upon the earth.” He told them and Ciel crossed his arms.
“That's not the version I heard.”
Azul glared at him for interrupting his story and said curtly, “Interesting. And really, what are any of us without a sense of charity? Heh heh heh.”
“If you were so charitable, you would never have charged a fee in the first place for those guides.” Ciel rudely pointed out and Azul waved away his commentary with a scoff.
“Business. Business, Phantomhive. That's all it is.”
Ciel drummed his fingers on his arm, and tapped his foot on the floor. His irritation growing with the older silver haired boy, “If it's not charity then don't call it as such. It's people like you that make the rest of us that actually give a damn about the welfare of others a bad name.”
Azul prickled and pushed up his glasses yet again, coldly remarking, “Whatever you say Phantomhive.”
Ciel let out a hot annoyed breath and said under it, “You're just like every other well off kid at Weston. Always looking for a way to abuse the system and then cause abuse to others.”
“Did you say something Phantomhive?” Azul questioned him and Ciel snapped back with a blunt.
“No.”
The Octavinelle Housewarden nodded, though he was sure that the young Earl had muttered something discourteous about him under his breath. Still he continued on. “Now, would you please have a look at the contract? Take your time. It's all here in writing. Perfectly legal.”
Ciel once again leaned down to stare at the scroll on the table, the golden glow lulling him into his own mind, concentrating on the words written before him as he scrutinized over it with the magnifying glass to ensure there wasn’t a trick somewhere. Yet, even as he read, memories of the dream and his past experience at Weston kept popping up, invading his thoughts and mixing around as the room seemed to fade into a blackness.
“If you want to cross a bridge, my sweet, you've got to pay the toll,” Ursula’s voice whispered in an ear, “take a gulp and take a breath, go ahead and sign the scroll...”
“We had no other choice...” he heard the labored breathing of Herman Greenhill say in the other ear, and then the faint whisper of Ariel softly reminding him of what she lost even if she got her desire.
“But I'll never see my father or sisters again...” he winced as his mind flashed to his own parents’ dead corpse laying embraced beside the fireplace in the sitting room, a bloody pool around their bodies, and the look of shock on his father’s face as Ursula came in again whispering.
“But you'll have your man. Life's full of tough choices, innit?”
The soft and firm voice of Edgar Redmond wafted in mixing with Ursula’s laugh, “And so we failed to notice it...the darkest of shadows that spawned from the light...”
“We have done their loved ones wrong, to be sure....” Lawrence Bluewer said in his mind as Ciel tried hard to focus. “But we had no other alternative to protect tradition and order. We did not wish to bring disgrace to this school by ruffling feathers. Surely you understand Phantomhive?”
No. I didn’t back then, and I still don’t now…Ciel thought as his own words came back in a hushed and terrified whisper.
“How can you say that...when you've taken their lives?”
Azul’s voice then rushed in over his own in a mocking tone, “As per terms of our contract you, are to devote yourself to my service, until such time as you graduate...”
Ciel was sweating now, as he finished another section and Crowley’s comments played out in between the words that he read on the page.
“Night Raven College is a historic and prestigious institution famed for producing the finest of mages. Yet now the campus is replete with students capable of only minor feats of magic -a fact I'm sure you're none too pleased about Headmage...”
The young Earl swallowed,Stop talking! Just shut up!
But the voices kept coming in louder still as Bluewer’s words again struck a chord following, merging and twisting from Crowley’s statement.
“The school is a respected institution that has produced elites who form the main stay of Great Britain.” The blue haired Prefect had told him, “Our generation cannot afford to defile the tradition that has been protected for hundreds of years since the founding of this school...”
Lies…that’s not…Ciel thought and Crowley continued.
“Which is why I have a proposal and it's one I think you will find to be quite beneficial...That's how he framed it.”
Ciel felt something nauseous start to creep up his gut as it knotted. This shouldn’t be an issue, so why was it bothering him now. That was all in the past…
Redmond’s voice whispered softly in his ear again, reminding him, “I see. Even the Vice Headmaster...is hand and glove with Derrick.”
The name made him freeze, but Ciel shook it off as Crowley spoke up again.
“I cannot prohibit his actions...” the Headmage had sorrowfully declared. “There was no illegitimate activity involved in their production...It was crafted exclusively by hand...when he offered to contribute ten percent of the proceeds to the school...”
You’re like him too…that man…you’re like him taking that bottle, just as corrupt in some ways.Ciel gripped the magnifying glass tighter, trying to control his emotions as images all flew about his mind and Edgar Redmond’s warning
“All of Derrick Arden's splendid achievements were false.” The blonde boy said in his head. “He had stolen the talents of other students by way of despicable methods....To make himself shine...he had been doing this for four years, ever since the day he enrolled.”
Greenhill shouted loudly over the din of laughter, and the sounds of Maurice Cole’s minions tearing at his clothing and making him feel violated once again. “This isn't right. The tradition of this school will continue to be undermined...as long as they're here. We can't allow that...because tradition is absolute!!!”
He heard Azul laughing and then a shout from the Scrabia student that he’d seen at the brawl in the Monstro Lounge.
“Give me back my Signature spell!”
“What's this? Have you really forgotten the terms of your contract?” Azul disdainfully said to him, and showed him the line on the contract, “In other words, your powers are mine, to return or not as I please...”
Ciel glanced down at his hands and saw them trembling,Why are my hands shaking...why am I thinking of this now?
He tried to focus again on the scroll only to then hear the softplip, plip, plipof something viscous dripping onto the paper. Ciel looked up some from where he was reading and saw thick, red droplets of blood peppering and dotting the whole of the top part of the golden contract, growing more and more by the second.
“So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?” Ciel gasped as more drops of blood filled the page covering the words of the contract and he began to pant, as fear gripped his chest and Azul kept right on speaking, “Will you agree to a contract with me?”
“What?” Ciel said weakly as he felt another wave of nausea. The smell of the fresh blood was getting to him and it was now spilling all over the page and moving toward him.
Slowly, fearfully, Ciel looked up as the voice of Azul’s changed into someone whom Ciel knew was not in that world, and was just a memory. He’d never met him…not when he was in Red House, yet here, he could hear his voice, clear as day, as he did at the Midnight Tea Party.
“I'm afraid I don't have all day, so if you could make your decision now,” the boy said as Ciel saw the blood run down his sleeve and arm. It was dripping onto his shoulder from the back of his neck. “I'd appreciate it. Chop, chop!”
Ciel finally raised his eyes and a shocked look came over his face as he saw the visage of a cruelly smiling Derrick Arden. There was no light in his eyes, and they were twisted with cruel and malicious intent. His smile went from cheek to cheek showing joy in the pain that he was causing and the smugness made the young Earl feel sick to his stomach. What was worse was that he was bleeding from the front of his hairline, down over his face and cheeks. It dripped off his bangs, and down over his lips. He was sure that behind his head was pools of blood running down his back, and some down the front of his neck.
In his hand Derrick was holding a fish bone pen, and smirking arrogantly at Ciel, as if taunting him to take it.
“So what do you say Phantomhive...” the blonde boy asked, the blood dripped off the pen staining the tip red, as he held it out to Ciel, “Are you going to sign?”
Ciel stood up so fast he nearly knocked Epel out of his seat, and then covered his mouth as he let out a scream, then vomited into his hands, dribbling some on the table. Azul moved back fast, pulling the contract away from him and Ciel gagged as he tried to keep it in. Jack pulled up his legs as the shorter boy ran past him, and he followed with Lilia as Ciel bolted from the room into the hallway.
“Ciel!” Lilia cried out worried for the younger boy with Jack on his heels calling out.
“Ciel! What's the matter?”
Ciel ran as far as he dared from the room and then collapsed on the floor, threw up, and began to hyperventilate as he did so. When he fell and the liquid splashed out into a puddle on the floor and Octavinelle student looked on with horror.
“Here! Use this!” Lilia said as he grabbed the ice bucket student was carrying and threw the ice on the floor before putting it under Ciel’s mouth as he continued to vomit. He gently rubbed the boys back and spoke in a soothing voice, “It's okay, Ciel. Let it out.”
Jack kneeled down beside the smaller boy and pushed his bangs back as Ciel coughed and gasped, then lost his stomach again. The wolf boy felt the younger boy’s head and shook his head at Lilia.
“No fever.” He spoke gently to Ciel. “Are you okay...Look if you don't feel good? We can just skip this whole damn thing.”
“We can't!” Ciel cried out as he coughed up a bit more, and Lilia angrily shouted.
“We can!”
“No. We can't.” Ciel looked up determined and hoarsely told him, “Azul is abusing these students...he'll keep doing it and use them against the Housewardens in time.” The young Earl coughed and wiped his mouth, “I just...”
Jade strolled out calmly and crouched beside Jack asking in a concerned voice.
“Phantomhive...Azul was wondering if you were alright.”
Lilia glared at the sophom*ore as Ciel sat back, clearly done with emptying his stomach. Jack had pulled him against him like he did for his siblings when they were sick and let Ciel take deep slow breaths to steady himself. The gray haired boy had a dazed look in his eyes as lights flickered in them for a moment.
“Give him a moment, Jade.” Lilia insisted and Jade gave a nod, noticing the bucket and then the vomit.
“Oh dear. I'll send someone to clean that up.” The Leech twin gave Ciel a surprisingly compassionate look and stood up signaling to another student, beckoning him over and instructed the newly arrived one and the one who formerly held the ice bucket, “A ginger tea please, and alert the maintained ghost that we need clean up.”
The two students nodded, “Yessir!” and they hurried off.
With them gone, Jade stood, grabbed the ice bucket and nodded, “I’m going to dispose of this and will be back shortly.”
When he had departed Jack looked at Ciel as the boy leaned against him, and the four sat on the wall, with Grim worriedly watching his minion.
“Ciel what happened?”
Ciel looked down, glancing at the mess on the floor he’d made, and then away ashamed as he spoke softly, “I saw the ghost of someone I thought long dead in Azul...” he wiped his mouth off as Jade returned with a hot mug of ginger tea and some crackers.
Ciel took them and Jade told him, “Drink slowly. I'll let Azul know...”
“I'll be in once my stomach settles.” Ciel informed him and Jade gave him a concerned nod.
“Alright. Take your time...”
Jade turned on his heels and walked back in, while Jack and Lilia took the time to look after Ciel, ensuring that he drank slowly. Lilia stroked his hair and back as he asked in a soothing voice.
“Ciel...what happened in there?”
The young Earl sipped his tea and munched on a cracker. “It's...just a bad memory welled up, and this whole thing has been upsetting, so my asthma flared up and this is the result. That's all.”
“A bad memory?” Jack asked and Ciel shrugged not wanting to talk about it.
“It's nothing to concern yourselves about.” He wiped his mouth after he finished the tea, “I need to go back in there and deal with this.”
“NO. You need to rest.” Lilia replied and Jack agreed with the Diasomnia junior.
“Yeah. We can find another way...”
Ciel gripped the mug before setting it down beside him and responded.
“In what amount of time? You heard the teacher's the holidays are coming up soon, the students will be going home. I don't really care about if the school gets in trouble for that. My issue is that this will just continue after they get back and I don't...” he thought of the looks on Deuce and Ace’s faces, the pain that Grim was in, and all the students under Azul’s thumb. He hated the fact that the Housewarden was so easily getting away with this. That it was just like Weston, where abuse had been the norm, under the guise of brotherly relationships, and traditions. “I don't want anyone to have to suffer abuse because they thought that the guide could help them. I'm damn sure a lot of the students took the deal because they wanted to slack off, but there's a small percentage of students that actually care like you do Jack. But they just don't have the skills in them to get good grades, or concentrate or they can't read right...whatever the case may be, that guide helped them. I don't want them to suffer under Azul and his little sycophants hands.”
The gray haired boy slowly stood up and the two older boys stared at him as he turned to face them, putting back on his arrogant and haughty mask. “Now...I have a deal to make. Are you going to back me up in there or not?”
Jack stood up and nodded, then put his hand on Ciel’s shoulder. “Yeah.”
“It's your call Ciel. I don't agree with it, but I accept your reasons.” Lilia said.
Ciel nodded a thanks to him, then turned on his heels and walked back into the VIP Room with the two following after him.
Walking through the doors and going back to sit Epel leaned over to Jack behind Ciel and whispered, “Is he okay?”
Jack shrugged lightly, “Not sure, but he wants us to think so.”
Ciel sat across from Azul and noticed the table had been cleaned. Azul still had a slightly disgusted expression on his face, but he nodded to him and asked sympathetically, “I see you're back. Feeling better?”
“Does it matter...?” Ciel said and Azul raised his brow as he answered, “But yes. I am.”
The silver haired boy smiled cheerfully and eagerly, “Excellent! Go ahead and sign the scroll, then....” he gestured to the contract, “I give you my word that I will release the 225 sea anemones currently doing my bidding, and 15% of the Monstro Lounge. Should you fail at your challenge, however...” he smirked, “...Ramshackle Dorm will belong to me, and as a student of that dorm, you will do as I say!”
Ciel held his hand out to Azul, “Give me the pen...”
Azul did so and Ciel picked the scroll up one more time and read it over again, and eyed the signature line before saying, “It’s a deal, Ashengrotto” and signed it.
Setting the scroll down Ciel held out his hand to Azul, who shook it, and then he pulled the contract into his grasp.
“Heh heh heh...” the silver haired Housewarden chuckled, “There we are. Signature received. The contract is now in effect.” He sat back smirking, touching his cheek with his fingertips as he spoke, “Should you successfully steal the photo from the Atlantica Memorial Museum and bring it to me before sunset on the third day from now...”
Ciel stood up and dusted himself off, “You'll free the students, if I don't Ramshackle is yours and I'm your servant. I understand. Make no mistake though.” Azul looked into the young Earl’s eyes and saw darkness, and it froze him once again, “I won't let you win!”
Azul sucked in some air, then snapped his fingers, “Jade. Floyd. If you could kindly walk our guest home? I'll see you in three days.”
Jade and Floyd walked around to escort the young Earl but Ciel brushed them off, “I can see myself home, thank you.”
“I insist...” Azul said and Ciel snapped at him angrily.
“I'm not your servant yet Ashengrotto. Don't think you can boss me around just yet.”
Azul huffed and pushed his glasses up yet again, “Very well. I wish you luck on your way back. You're little friends shifts are over, they should be heading back to their dorms as well. Good night Phantomhive,” he handed over the potions to the boys after standing himself, “and remember...three days.”
“I understand,” Ciel said and then turned and walked for the door.
The group of five left quickly, and Grim hopped onto Ciel’s back. He sniffed the young Earl and cringed, as the boy still had a slight hint of vomit on his clothing. They hurried out of the lounge, back down the path, through the dorm and out the tunnel to the mirror. When they arrived at the Mirror Hall, Lilia stopped them from splitting up.
“If you would all wait outside in the cool air. I'll be right back. I need to get something.”
Agreeing the four boys went outside while Lilia ducked into the Diasomnia mirror, and after a few moments, the junior returned bearing some snacks with a grin. The boys were waiting for him by a bench in the cool night air as Lilia waltzed over and grinned warmly.
“Animal crackers and some ginger ale to help calm the nerves.” He said handing out the cookies, and drinks. “We keep some stocked in Diasomnia for students that get ill, and need something for their upset stomachs.”
Epel took one out and grinned as he bit into a bear.
“Thanks Lilia.” The junior smiled back in turn and Epel turned to Ciel, “Ciel...gonna ask you this right quick and I hope yer honest with us.”
Ciel slowly ate the animal crackers and nodded, “Yes?”
“What in tarnation were you thinkin' in there?!” Epel scolded him and Ciel stared as the short lavender haired boy waved a lion cookie at him, “We're talkin' 'bout Azul here! You even said he's crafty as raccoon lookin' fer food! And here you are signing that contract of his! Why?!”
Ciel sipped his soda, which he was still getting used to as carbonated drinks back home were vastly different, and took a breath before responding to the slightly infuriated freshman.
“I know it seesm crazy but hear me out...there's a method to my madness.” Ciel assured them, “Ruggie gave me notes,” he pulled the notes out, “and he's spying on them. Whatever this picture is, it's worth something to Azul, if anything Rook will get me information about it.”
“We noticed him,” Epel said and folded his arms. “So that was his plan. Okay, but how do these notes help us?”
“And what if we can’t get the picture?” Jack asked as he at a zebra, and Ciel calmly nibbled on an elephant.
“Then I worked in a plan B, and it's one that will cancel out the contract.” He sipped his soda and the two freshmen blinked in surprise as Lilia giggled.
“Clever.”
“That's my minion!” Grim patted him on the shoulder while Ciel gave him a cracker, “I taught him everything he know!”
“You what? But how?” Epel insisted and Ciel smiled at the older boy deviously, putting his finger up to his lip.
“Never mind that. Right now, the things we need to focus on are three things. One, ensuring Ruggie can get us information.” He finished his crackers and opened the papers for them to see, “He has a number of names of students that Azul has under thumb that he could use in his little ring. I'm sure he can possibly get more. Seems like he went undercover to keep an eye on things...I'm going to owe him,” He muttered, “and probably get money for that coat he wants.” Ciel held up a second finger, “Two, making sure Rook,” he looked at Lilia, “and you, can get us what you can about Azul so we can negotiate if needs be.” Then he held up a third, “Three...getting that photo from this Museum.”
Jack nodded, “Right. We'll do our best.”
Epel gazed at Ciel and could tell a million ideas were rushing around his mind. He wasn’t about to question him, but he hoped that the young Earl had a strong enough back up plan, as he didn’t want to see Azul take over the Ramshackle dorm, nor force Ciel to be his servant.
“Yeah!” Epel agreed and stood up crushing the empty bag in his hand, “I'm gonna say goodnight and talk to Rook.” He put a hand on Ciel’s shoulder, “Let me know if you need anything else. Send a ghost message, since, you know...you have ghosts.”
Lilia hopped off the bench as well stretching, “I'm going to turn in as well. You know how to get word to me. Goodnight Ciel. I just hope you're right about this.”
“Thank you Epel,” Ciel said with a nod, “and I hope so too, Lilia.”
Bidding them both good night Jack, Ciel and Grim watched them walk back into the Mirror Hall and then the wolf got up too, cricking his neck.
“I'm gonna walk you back to your dorm. It's late.”
Ciel put the remaining crackers in his pocket and smiled holding the bottle, as Grim hopped down to walk beside them, “Thank you Jack. I'm still a bit woozy after...”
“I know. Don't worry about it.” Jack looked a bit embarrassed, but nodded, “Let's go.”
The two walked side by side, discussing the Lounge and the VIP room, with Grim cracking jokes and Ciel noting how odd the whole setup was. Eventually they got to the dorm and, as Ciel let them inside Jack stopped and sniffed the air.
“Wait...there's someone here.” He said and sniffed again smelling something familiar and growled, “Who the hell's here?”
Ciel frowned and tensed, wishing he had brought his cane with him, “The ghosts aren't out...” he called to them, “Tommy? Happy Haunts? Ghost Hosts?”
Silence followed and the young Earl clenched his fists, while Grim stayed close to him.
“No response. That's not like them at all. Where do you smell people?” Ciel asked and Jack sniffed the air again and then pointed down the hall.
“This way...”
“The Lounge?” Ciel said and Jack nodded.
“Yeah...” they cautiously made their way down, Jack in the lead, ready to pick up Ciel and Grim and book it out the door should there be danger. “Right…” he stopped dead when he pushed open the doors to the lounge and stared shocked, “What the hell?”
Ciel looked in and his eyes went wide then his expression twisted into something far more furious as he put his hands on his hips and demanded, “What are you two doing in MY DORM?!”
“Yeah what my minion said!” Grim shouted and repeated him, “What are you two doing in MY DORM?!”
Seated on the couch in the lounge Jade and Floyd lounged happily, with Jade crossing his legs and read a book, and Floyd leaning back on an arm tossing a dusty old glass bobble that had been on the fire place mantle when Ciel had first arrived like it was a ball.
Jade looked up from his reading and smiled shutting the book. “Oho. Good evening Phantomhive, Howl, Grim.” He stood, “It seems you’ve arrived.”
“Again, what the hell are you doing in my dorm, Leech?” Ciel asked livid and Jade politely smiled.
“So this is Ramshackle Dorm. This is my first time inside, and already I'm smitten by its charm.” He waved his hand, “It's close to school as well. It would be a perfect site for a Monstro Lounge branch cafe.” He looked over at Ciel, Jack and Grim, who had all sorts of angry expressions on their faces, as he grinned and crossed his arms. “I’m glad that you made it here as quickly as you did.”
“Yo, Shrimpy, Sea Urchin, Baby Seal! How ya doing?”Floyd waved from the couch asking, “There's ghosts living here, right? That sounds rad.”
Ciel stormed over and grabbed the glass bobble from Floyd’s hand and put it back where it belonged while Grim hissed.
“Why're you guys inside, anyway? Did you follow us or somethin'?”
“How did you get in?” Ciel demanded, “The door was locked!”
“We knocked and asked if we could we could enter, and the young ghost who's staying here...Tommy I believe, let us in. I think he thought we were friends of yours...” Jade smiled at him and Ciel nearly turned as red as Riddle hearing this. He managed to control his temper and asked darkly.
“Why are you here in the first place? Shouldn't you be back cleaning your cafe?”
Floyd stood and cricked his back, “Uh, 'cause this place is collateral in a deal between you and Azul? Duh?”
“Myah?!” Grim shouted and Jack’s ears went down confused.
“What?! That doesn’t make any sense.”
Ciel growled as he went up to the two tall Leech brothers. “Now wait just a minute...the dorm doesn't belong to him unless I don't finish his little game.”
“Now, now,” Jade tried to calm him down, “if you read the contract on page 5, it states that the collateral can be confiscated prior to the terms being finalized, should the contractor deem it necessary, and in this case,” he smirked, “Azul deemed it necessary.”
Bastard.Ciel thought angrily.Dash it all! That scum!
Jack scowled and crossed his arms, “What does that mean?”
“It means we're confiscating the dorm.” Jade smiled slyly and Grim’s eyes went wide shouting.
“Say WHAT?!”
Ciel shook his head and pointedly remarked, “What reason would he deem it necessary?”
“We need to do some measurements, and you know, stuff ya need to do before the contractors and the interior designers get in.” Floyd said and folded his arms.
The young Earl looked at him utterly baffled by what he was talking about, “Whatever on earth are you blabbering about? Are you actually taking over the dorm because he wants to already start remolding it? Is he that damn stupidly confident.”
“Yes. He's quite confident.” Jade chuckled, “Though stupidly is subjective.”
Jack frowned, “Which means what, in plain terms.”
“This dorm belongs to Azul until you hold up your end of the bargain.” Jade simply explained, “Hence, I'm afraid I must ask you to vacate the premises immediately.”
“Wait What?!” Grim yelled and Ciel roared.
“Are you crazy? Or just daft!”
Floyd laughed, “Don't worry, Shrimpy, we'll give you time to pack your stuff. So nice, right?”
Ciel was shaking and balled his fist up tightly threatening through gritted teeth, “Give me one reason I shouldn't pull an Ace and sock you in the jaw right now.”
Floyd excitedly smirked at the smaller boy and put a hand on his shoulder reminding him with an intense smile. “Because you can't reach Shrimpy, and I'm faster.”
“Once this dorm officially enters Azul's possession, we will be disposing of all personal belongings in it.” Jade explained to him, “I suggest you prepare accordingly.”
“You know this dorm belongs to the school!” Ciel exclaimed, and Jade smiled.
“Yes. But you are managing it, thus it falls under your possession for the time being.”
“What about the ghosts?” Jack asked in a worried tone thinking of the youngest among them and Jade shrugged.
“I'm sure they'll find whatever accommodations they deem necessary.” He said politely, “Or not. It doesn't become our problem as they are not our responsibility.”
The young Earl clenched his jaw, “You can't kick them out. They don't have anywhere else...”
“Heh heh heh. Don't worry!” Floyd patted Ciel on the back making him stumble. “We'll give it all back if you bring us the photo before the third sunset.”
“Heh heh heh heh...” Jade and Floyd chuckled as Ciel stared at them remarking heatedly.
“You two are utter monsters...”
“It's just business.” Jade said smiling pleasantly and Ciel gritted his teeth trying to manage his anger. His mind was spiraling back to when his brother arrived and the manor and took everything from him. He wouldn’t go through that again! He turned to Grim and seemed about ready to order the cat monster to fire off some spells to burn the whole place down first, when Jack took a second to grab the smaller boy and pull him back to his side telling him sternly.
“Don't pick a fight you can't win at this stage.” He eyed up the two Leech brothers and said to Ciel in a low tone. “We'll figure this out okay. I'll help you get your stuff.”
Grim’s eyes went huge and he screamed, “MRAAAH! I gotta save all the tuna!”
He was gone in the blink of an eye, and Jack sighed as he patted Ciel on the back leading him towards the stairs.
“Let's start by getting your uniform and study supplies...what a mess...”
They headed up the stairs and into Ciel’s room, the whole while the young Earl going from blank stares to furious rage, and then back to a shocked state. Inside Jack sat him on the arm chair and went to his wardrobe. He opened it and pulled out all the suits and put them on the bed. After a moment, Ciel finally got his sense back and hurried to the side of the wardrobe and picked up the bags that Ace and Deuce had gotten him so he could bring items with him if he was to travel anywhere with them. The two began to pack the suits and other clothing away, and Jack got the hats and their boxes down from atop the wardrobe.
Ciel was silent for a long moment then started to talk in an eerily calm voice. “I won't let them have it...”
“Have what?” Jack asked and Ciel snapped with a surprising amount of fury.
“The dorm! I won't let them take the dorm! This is my place, where I live! I'm not letting Azul have it...I WON'T!” he shouted and took down the coo-coo clock that they’d finally fixed and put it in the bag, “I won't lose a home again! Not to anyone!”
Jack looked at him puzzled, “Loose it again...I'll ask later. Now's not the time. What else do you need me to get for you?”
Ciel thought a moment and pointed to the bathroom. “Bathroom supplies, for myself and Grim, and then anything in the kitchen. Can you get me the Ghosts too?”
Jack gave him a short nod, “Sure. Be right back.”
With a quick step Jack went into the bathroom carrying a few of the smaller bags from Ciel’s shopping, and Ciel was putting the hats in their matching boxes, when he suddenly doubled over in pain and held in a scream as he felt like something vile was sliding down his heart and body. He nearly collapsed into the chair and held the arms, digging his fingers deeply into the plush fabric until it passed and he gasped.
“What was that?” he’d felt it before when Riddle blotted, and again when it was happening to Leona.Could Azul or someone be…?
Jack rushed in from the bathroom shouting. “You okay?”
“Fine...” Ciel said, panting and huffing, “I think some acid or whatever is still inside if you know what I mean.”
Jack gave a short nod, telling the younger boy didn’t want to discuss it and folded his arms, “'Kay. If you feel sick let me know.”
“Yes…” Ciel took a few shaky breaths. “Thank you.”
Jack walked out a few minutes later, and it wasn’t long after that the ghosts all came up to his room looking utterly despondent. Ciel couldn’t help but feel guilty seeing their reactions and Missy was the first to speak.
“Is there any way we can help you?” she asked and Matthias agreed.
“Yes, you helped us so much. What can we do?”
Slinky put his hands on his hips, pouting, “They said they're takin' over the dorm. What's that mean?”
Ciel sighed as he tried to explain to them, “It means…I had to make deal where the dorm can go to the Octavinelle students in order to help the other students of Night Raven College.”
The ghosts looked surprised by this news and Tommy grabbed Ciel’s hands, nearly crying, “Does that mean we won't see you anymore.”
Ciel gently hugged the smaller boy, freezing as he did so, but not letting go, “No...I'm going to get the dorm back. But Tommy...all of you. I need your help.” He turned and looked to all the ghosts, namely the Happy Haunts, “You kept people out of here before I came in with the Headmage. Do you guys think you can scare the Octavinelle students out of here?”
“Oh definitely we can.” Lashes smirked and Slinky laughed eagerly with a malicious grin.
“Just leave it to us...Heh Heh Heh. We'll make sure no one bothers this dorm.”
“What are you going to do in the mean time?” Marshmallow asked excitedly and Ciel smirked.
“Find a place to sleep, but first...” he got up and went over to the wall where there was a shelf and pulled off the tape they’d set up to keep it on the wall, and just like that the shelf gave way sending the items crashing to the ground. “I'm going to leave this dorm in the same situation that I found it in.”
The Happy Haunts laughed, happy to be haunting and making trouble again. Ciel turned and instructed them.
“Lashes, I need you and Henri to break the heater in a way that only you can fix it. Missy, Tommy, I want this place so dusty that they can't stand to be in here. Slinky Matthias, and Marshmallow, make as much of a mess as you can, break anything we've repaired and make it so hard for them to walk that they're going to not have a clue where to start with the cleanup,” he smirked, “Now I have to grab my stupid cat and trash the dorm.”
“Yessir! Whooo!” the ghosts shouted and went off to make a racket and a mess.
As Ciel headed down stairs looking for Jack and Grim, he took his cane and started to smash anything he could with it, letting the pent up anger release on an object. His goal before they left was to ensure that it would take longer than three days for Octavinelle to move in.
