riverview | Video; @cphantom

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Video; @cphantom | memory share

[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...]

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[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.]

[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.

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.

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?

[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.

[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.

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.

[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?

[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.

[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.

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.

[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.]

[That made two of them.

Ciel can't help an almost impish grin.] Take advantage? Would I do something like that? Especially in a friendly game of chess.

[He's absolutely do it with the other Aristocrats and with billiards, most of them willing to think him cocky instead of just clever enough to pull off multiple sinks.] Besides, aren't you old enough to know a few tricks I don't?

[This is nice, having the boy's snark back.] Oh, you've done it well enough. I might have let you win a time or two, but milord is a cunning one. I've been the victim of your killer streak time and again. [He pointed a finger at the boy in mock accusation.]

Shall I put you on trial to prove it?

Have you? [How had he not realized?] I never did like losing. So I had to get better.

[He manages a little pout, eyes still filled with laughter.] And how would you do that?

Oh, imagine that. You, not liking losing. I never would have guessed. [Lies.]

[He hums and gestures to the counter in the kitchen.] Might make that the judge's bench. It needs a little remodeling though. We could put the benches for the jury over there, and your podium here.

I'm a very good actor. [No, he isn't.

He rests his chin on his hand, watching and grinning.]

You need evidence for a trial though.

[Scratching at his chin with a fingernail.] Never seen you act before, so I'll have to take your word for it. Speaking of, we do have evidence. I'd stand as a witness to the horrors, and there's all the proof I need. [He's pointing now at the chess set, packed neatly away on a shelf.]

[That he believes Ciel is probably his best evidence towards 'acting' skills.]

I'm sure that's considered bias. I could be my own witness then. [He glances at the set and grins.] You could still beat me.

[It's half hearted at best.]

Well, I suppose you could, but then you'd pull rank on me and I'd be thrown in jail as a heretic. Still, I've not lied to you once. [That's a lie.] You've lied to me a time or two. The chess set never lied, though it has disappointed. Not quite so trustworthy. [He frowns.] Might be I need to rethink my case, or hand pick the jury.

I can't though, not here. You're older than me, children are supposed to respect their elders.

[His smile falters a little.] I've lied to a lot of people. Although, I haven't really lied to you here.

[He saw that. None of it. He reaches out and gently taps the underside of the boy's chin with the back of two fingers.] There, see? Proving my case already. This'll be an easier than I thought. And since when did you ever respect me anyway, outside of here? I'm just a mortician, no one special.

[Good question but when had Ciel given anyone any real respect since he'd come home?]

Outside of here doesn't much matter anymore though, does it? I'm just the spare.

[His own smile faltered, then faded entirely. He set his cup down after a moment and reached out to the boy, palm up in invitation.] Why do you say that like you do?

[His grip tightens on the cup for a moment and then he sets it down, taking the offered hand.]

I did, I do. Maybe not as much as I should have, but no one will care who I do or don't respect. Ciel is the heir.

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