{ Video; UN: potentia.regere }

[earlofphantoms]

{ Vincent is in the theater and the ballet is in full costume, practicing one Act or another. They are lovely to see - full of bright colors, like proud, graceful birds. This might be an archaic art to some, but, as the camera turns, the Earl is beaming. }

Well worth an hour or two, I assure you. The full-length numbers are considerably longer, but amendments can be made and stories can be told over several nights. We're not going anywhere, after all.

{ He rises from his seat and paces towards the stage. Thankfully he stops before he ends up in the orchestra pit. That would be embarrassing. }

Tell me your favorite story, hm?

Comments

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[sweetlies]

I'm sure it would be interesting! It isn't your fault though, you didn't mean for us to be... caught up in so much. I'm stronger for it and in no danger here at least.

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[earlofphantoms]

I would be one of the first to eliminate any danger to you here. { That's a father's job. }

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[sweetlies]

[There a little laugh, lacking any real humor.]

You'd have to race Jason and Laura and Undertaker, I think. And good luck to anyone trying to beat Undertaker.

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[earlofphantoms]

Don't underestimate me. I am a hell of a shot and I don't mind doing what is necessary. { Poisons are fun. Vincent is also skilled with knives and likely a sword. }

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[sweetlies]

Neither do any of them.

Really, I'd be interested in seeing some kind of contest between the lot of you. I'm not sure Laura would be interested but Jason and Undertaker, perhaps.

[Ciel isn't good with knives. Nor is he fond of them.]

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[earlofphantoms]

Ah I feel like I should prove myself now. { Vincent, no. }

Only if Undertaker is not allowed to use that scythe of his.

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[sweetlies]

[dad no]

The man is a mortician. I don't think he needs a scythe to do damage, with all the tools in his trade.

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[earlofphantoms]

In that case, we might be better matched. { Knives, scalpels... Underhanded distractions... } I am curious about his strength, being what he is.

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[sweetlies]

[Oh look, something Ciel can help with.]

He cut a cruise ship in half. In one swing.

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[earlofphantoms]

With the scythe. { Right? Otherwise Undertaker must have been incredibly gentle with him when they had spent time together. }

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[sweetlies]

Well, yes. But the scythe is a tool. [Are you going to argue semantics, dad?] He'd have to have a great deal of strength to use something like that.

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[earlofphantoms]

I agree. I have held it. { Briefly because his arms began to tire. } I wonder if the strength comes with his profession. A human shouldn't be able to do things like that.

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[sweetlies]

A bit of both, I would imagine. Tending the dead, digging graves and moving coffins, none of that is for the weak. [He would never be capable of it.]

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[earlofphantoms]

He is awfully spry for his age. { That's putting it lightly. } I like testing my limits, though.

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[sweetlies]

I'm sure it helps that he isn't human. [His son just shakes his head.] Don't get yourself hurt. I imagine Doctor Crusher gets exasperated enough when she sees me. I imagine she'll worry if she finds you can be just as reckless.

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[earlofphantoms]

Not anymore. { But humanity is always a hop, skip and a jump away. } I can't say I've ever needed hospitalization for my...ah...recklessness.

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[sweetlies]

[So dryly and in a tone that very much shows how much his son believes him:] Madam Red was a doctor. I imagine you didn't.

[Sorry, which twin was the sassy one?]

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[earlofphantoms]

Oh I never let her play doctor on me! { For...reasons. Just don't ask. }

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[sweetlies]

[He doesn't want to know.

Mostly because he knows his aunt was in love with his father.

A lot of things came out as she tried killing Ciel.]

You let her deliver us though.

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[earlofphantoms]

{ Yeah that is the main reason. Vincent knows - though he doesn't know the extent of her feelings or how far she will go. He presumes it's a crush. }

You came from her sister. There is no one she loves more.

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[sweetlies]

She'd still probably be the most qualified doctor to tend you in England. [She did love her sister, that should have kept Vincent safe.]

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[earlofphantoms]

Possibly. I made do. { He smiles softly, secretly. } The first time I saw her cry was when she was holding you and your brother.

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[sweetlies]

I haven't ever seen her cry except right before she was killed. [He's sure she cried after news of the attack reached her. All the family she had left, killed in one night? He's absolutely sure she did.]

No. She cried when I came home. I nearly forgot.

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[earlofphantoms]

You haven't really told me why she needed to be executed. { Per Her Majesty's orders he assumes. It feels...wrong, to him. But he accepts he doesn't know the whole story. }

Of course. You are a reminder of better times.

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[sweetlies]

I don't wish to ruin your memories of her. [That kind boy is still in there. Buried under a lot of pain but still there.]

I look like mother. And you. She got all of us back, in a way.

This is about stories though, isn't is? [Trying to veer far away from that misery, thanks.]

I did hear one more recently. About the Miracle of Sapphires.