Video; @cphantom | memory share

[sweetlies]

[The video starts in a faintly dimmed room, all the light coming from candles spread about. It's a large room, all made of shining white marble, a chandelier of gold hanging above and holding several of those candles. It's clear it must have cost a fortune.

Pillars make a circle around the room, behind them are stone seats for an audience, there are several cages filled with children in various conditions and all of them chains to the bars by their ankles. In the center is an altar, the floor around it painted with a pentagram, and around that are a couple dozen adults dressed in dark robes and masked as if it were a masquerade. They're all laughing, ignoring the caged children until one cage door is opened and a young boy is pulled out, no more than ten years old.

He's screaming and reaching back to the cage.]

"No! Don't take me away!"

"Ciel!"

[They lay him on the altar, hold him there, and one man holds up a dagger, a wild grin on his face, and brings it down into the child's chest. Blood spills everywhere, from his chest, from his mouth, there's a scream. Two screams. One from the boy on the altar as he dies, one from the boy in the cage.

They look alike, even while one lives and one dies. Like mirror images of one another.]

"There is no such thing as God!"

[And a black smoke filled the room, the candles are snuffed out, the cultists fly into a panic. And then red eyes appear and several of their panicked faces turn to delight, demanding riches, eternal life, petty desires one has every day but the eyes instead settle on the boy in the cage as he reaches out between the bars.]

"Oh. What a tiny master... You have summoned me, that fact will not change for an eternity. The payment to cross has already been made. Now... choose..."

"I... I want-"

"Shut him up!"

"I want power! The power to take revenge on the ones who did this to us! Demon! I'll make a contract with you!"

"So you're abandoning the light for the path to hell? Fine. Well then, let's mark our bodies with the contract seal. The more visible the place where your seal is, the stronger it's power. So, where do you want-"

[The child in the cage, Ciel, doesn't hesitate.]

"Anywhere is fine. I want a power stronger than anyone else!!"

[Through his tears, the smokey figure reaches out a clawed hand, wiping away a tear slipping from his right eye.]

"You're quite greedy, despite your small body. Well then, I shall put the seal on that big eye of yours, filled with despair."

[He grabs his face, another scream being torn from his lungs, and when he draws his hand away, one blue eye had turned purple, an inverted pentagram replacing any features his eye once had. Even his pupil is gone, and blood pours down his cheek.]

"Kill them all!!" [And all... goes dark...]

Comments

[somakemelaugh]

[It was never anything he would hold against the Earl. What he'd done was through no fault of the boy's own; he was playing with fire and eventually, he would have been found out. People would have been most unhappy with him no matter what he did, once he'd turned down that path.]

[His fingers curl and stroke lightly up and down the thin shoulder.] Don't trouble yourself about me. It's nothing I can't handle, I assure you. Long as you're safe, body and soul, that's what matters.

[sweetlies]

If we're in this together, shouldn't I trouble myself? [He can't help it anyway, especially now as he's leaning against him. And then Ciel shifts and wraps his arms around Undertaker in a hug.]

I can't imagine I'd want anyone else right now. Sebastian might have considered this a breach of contract. Somehow.

[somakemelaugh]

[He doesn't push the hug away. Quite the contrary, he turns and shifts and offers both arms to keep the boy in their embrace, chin settled on the mess of hair on Ciel's head.] I would still advise you not to, but you'll do as you please in the end.

[Not that it troubled him, not now.] I would also advise you not to think on him here. For now, you're safe and you've nothing of the sort to concern yourself with, milord. Think on that instead, yes?

[sweetlies]

I usually do. [He makes himself smile, thinking he would at least be careful where he could. Just so Undertaker wouldn't worry too much and do anything that might harm him for the teens sake.

Don't think of his demon though... that isn't easy when he can only use one eye and his deal with him has just gone public. But he nods.]

I'll try. I don't know how well I'll do but I'll at least try.

[somakemelaugh]

[The effort is appreciated, but his concerns aren't exactly put to rest. He gives the boy a light squeeze for it, if only because he can.] That you try is what's important. And I think a good cup of tea might help you out with that. Do you feel up for it?

[sweetlies]

That... that sounds nice, actually.

[With Undertaker, it's easy to try letting things take a backseat to the immediate moment. It was easier to relax and calm down.

He's not quite ready to let go but he forces himself and gets up, brushing at him pantlegs to straighten them out.]

Thank you.

[somakemelaugh]

[He did note that hesitation, lips quirking at it as he picked himself up to go get cups and tea bags down for them to use.] No trouble at all.

What'll it be, then? Our supply hasn't gone low. [And really, it wouldn't. Neither of them would let it.] I think I fancy chamomile myself. Nice and soothing, it is.

[sweetlies]

[He stayed at Undertakers side, glancing at their collection of teas and thinking. Eventually he smiles a little himself.]

Chamomile sounds nice, actually. I think I'll have some with you. We could both definitely use it, after all.

[somakemelaugh]

[He nodded and took the tea down for them and set one in each cup, one cup at a place for them each on the table, then moved to the stove to get the water and kettle ready.] A good choice. I might suggest a bit of honey in this, but you get what you like. You know where it is.

[sweetlies]

Mm.

[He didn't disagree with that, already moving to get the honey for them, setting it in the middle of the table. He even grabs a couple springs of mint from what seasonings they have, setting them on a napkin in case either want.]

Do you want anything else for it?

[somakemelaugh]

No, thanks. That'll be fine. [Now they sit and wait for the water to boil. While they wait, he spends his time staring at the Earl.]

So much with memories in this place now. First my past, now yours, and still no word on what might be causing it.

[sweetlies]

{He does keep an eye on the kettle but his attention, otherwise, is on Undertaker. It really is concerning that memories can be shown so easily and seeming without care for the damage they may cause, and yet no answer has surfaced.

It's early though, he tells himself. Maybe the shock of it hasn't worn off yet?]

Not just us either. I saw others, in passing, while trying to erase my own.

[somakemelaugh]

As did I. Looks like a fair number of us have been affected so far. Could be that portal at work again. [He shook his head. Really, he had no idea, and that bothered him a little less than he thought it should have.] Why memories? So far everything has affected the city at large, but this is personal.

[sweetlies]

[They didn't know a lot about the portal, so it is possible but memories? Well, maybe, it can apparently tell if someone is feeling displaced.]

Maybe someone is doing it on purpose. Or has some kind of ability that lets them do it but isn't in control.

[Since meeting Sebastian and learning about reapers, he really isn't too surprised by much anymore.]

[somakemelaugh]

[He lifted a shoulder in a shrug.] Could be an ability of one of our neighbors. I suppose we'll find out sooner or later, with so many people already having had their pasts thrown out into the open and who knows how many others who've yet to be named who only had theirs passed around in dreams.

[sweetlies]

I suppose we will. [The cause couldn't stay hidden forever, not with so many people brought by the portal and so many people having their memories, good and bad, laid out for anyone to see.

Ciel stands as the kettle starts to whistle, pouring the water for them both since Undertaker had set everything up for them.] I hope it won't last long.

[somakemelaugh]

As do I. It's quite an embarrassing situation for many of us, but what they don't know about you, I won't tell.

[Much as that memory didn't show, at least. He thanks the boy quietly and takes a tea bag from its package, breathes the scent in deeply, and sets it in his cup to steep.] Should I stay with you this evening, milord? Just a quiet day in with the two of us?

[sweetlies]

[Embarrassing, horrifying, he could think of quite a few ways to describe it but he nods in agreement instead.] I appreciate that.

[Hopefully his memory was too awful for anyone to latch onto the fact that he wasn't Ciel.

The question surprises him as he fixes his own tea, putting honey into it and staring for a moment before smiling a little.]

I'd like that. So long as you're sure you won't be needed at the cafe, or anything.

[somakemelaugh]

[Once the tea had finished its course, he took the bag aside and pressed out the water that he could and added his own honey and gave it a stir. When it had dissolved, he took the cup to his face again and gave it a good smell. Really, he did love chamomile.]

Today is a free day for me. I had planned on spending it with a walk around the city, but given the circumstances, I think I can put that off.

[sweetlies]

We could still go on a walk, it would be relaxing too.

[Ciel put everything back and then settled down, just wrapping his hands around the cup for a moment to savor the heat. And then slowly sips at it, smiling into the cup at the taste.]

And then just... lounge, I guess, when we get back.

[somakemelaugh]

[That's a little more of the boy he knows. He'd wondered if the Earl would be too nervous to show his face in public again after what had just been broadcast for the world at large to see, but he'd been wrong, and glad for it.]

It is, it certainly is. The air is starting to cool off and it's been a lovely day out. Sounds of the wind in the leaves would do us both good. How about taking a stop by the deli on the way home to pick up a sandwich for lunch when we get back and let laziness take us?

[sweetlies]

[He isn't exactly excited about being seen but hiding away wouldn't be fair. To him or to Undertaker, he doesn't want to ruin his day.]

I'll be sure to wear a jacket then. [To avoid his getting sick again but the suggest keeps a smile on Ciel's face.] That's perfect. And we don't have to worry then about making lunch ourselves.

[somakemelaugh]

[He tilts his head, sips from his tea and savors the scent once more.] Ah, it's not quite cold yet, milord. You may not need it, but I'll leave that to your judgement. Less to sort out once we return, but that'll be the idea. I plan on being as useless as possible when I next set foot in this place until the morning. In fact, I may very well sleep on the couch tonight.

[sweetlies]

Better safe than sorry.

[He could also duck his head into his jacket if he felt too uncomfortable at any point.]

Are you sure you'd be comfortable there? We could play chess or something until you get tired.

[somakemelaugh]

[He made a small gesture with his hand.] Fair enough. Wouldn't want to see you back in the hospital any time soon.

[One more small sip. This tea, oh he loved it.] Depends on how lazy I am when we return. Might be I don't feel like getting up and going to the room, and I think I'm hardly a match for you in chess at my best. You'd take advantage of an old man like that and kick him when he's down, would you? [The grin turned decidedly teasing. They needed the humor.]