video; @cphantom (DATED TO FEB. 14 - MIDDAY)

[sweetlies]

[It isn't his first business venture, and most certainly not the first one where he has management over his head, but he hasn't had to give a direct report to anyone in years, not even the Earl Phantomhive, whichever one it might have been at the time. He does his job well, whatever it might be, and he doesn't foresee any issue with it, otherwise he never would have taken this job to begin with, but now that he has the cafe to himself, he has started the process of organizing things, and that's exactly what Undertaker is doing.]

[Pen in hand, paper on a clipboard, he's still old school when it comes to sorting. Supplies had been easy enough to order. The menu was decided upon and ingredients set and ready to go. The hardest part about all of that had been agreeing not to bring his own brand of cookie into anything, except on special occasions. A small price to pay. Not everyone could appreciate his humor, and that was a shame, but he would let it slide. What was left was to give the whole place an open, inviting feel. Easy enough to do with the funeral parlor, such as it was, but the cafe was a breeze.]

[If this was supposed to be a challenge, he felt he should have upped the stakes a few notches.]

[Ciel has the camera discreetly recording Undertaker as he does everything. It's nice seeing the man in such a social atmosphere and slipping into his role so easily. He does want to try to throw him off a little though, setting the camera on one of the tables and carefully keeping it propped up, before tossing an apron onto the counter in front of the man.]

Forgot your 'uniform.'

[Ciel is wearing a similar one, black with pale blue flames coming up from the bottom. It might not fit the Victorian pair very much but he is trying to meet this place halfway.]

[He'd be proud of the boy's efforts, and really, he is. But he's not above making a bit of a jest at it all in spite of everything. Undertaker turns to look at the apron that has been given over to him with his brand of grin.]

Oh? And here I thought that one was yours. Milord looks so professional in it.

[He giggles, but takes the cloth and lifts it to hook over his head. Without the top hat, it's not hard at all to do, but getting the length of his hair over the loop makes for a little bit of work, something he's quite practiced in after so long with it as it is. He makes short work of his mane and the apron and leaves the mess of it hanging over his shoulder so he can freely tie a bow at his back at the waist.]

Do I look like I belong here yet?

[He resists sticking his tongue out. He's a nobleman still, at least in behavior, and a business owner. There has to be some attempts to seem professional on his part... it's hard to resist though.]

I mean, it could be but then I'd be the manager and where would you be? [Ciel smiles though.] It's perfect though.

[He's even had 'manager' embroidered onto it.

After a moment, he slips to the counter to set out some tins of tea and coffee. Even if neither of them is a fan. Announcement time!]

As you can see, we've entered into the cafe business. It's taken a bit of work to get a location and the design but it's all come together finally.

[Undertaker, blind as he is, hasn't noticed that the camera has been recording this whole time, and so he looks to Ciel with a tilt of his head.]

My lord, of course we have. I've just been working with you on it this whole day.

[He flashes a sweet smile at the man, and he's very obviously too innocent.]

Whoops, perhaps I put the camera too far away.

[No, he wanted everyone to see how lighthearted Undertaker could be. And the position of it gave a wide view of the cafe as a whole.]

Say hello to the Quarantine?

[Ah, so this is what Ciel has been up to. He's not upset in the least, and he'll even offer a wave to the camera.]

Well, hello! Fancy meeting all of you here. We're just about ready to open, so don't worry yourself over where to get your next cup of whatever it is you like. If it's not here, we'll get it for you.

[He's not bothered and that's nice. It makes Ciel heave a soft, relieved, sigh. And then he focuses on the camera again.]

Since this is our grand opening, any couples that visit today will get a free cup of a drink of their choice with the purchase of another one. Of course, we don't want anyone single to feel left out, so feel free to find a way to show affection here, whether with customers or staff, and we'll find a deal for you.

Happy Valentine's Day, Quarantine.

(replies from sweetlies and somakemelaugh. Cafe menu here.)

Comments

[somakemelaugh]

[Of course not. But Undertaker would. Even in jolly old England, he never was above making jokes at the woes of his clients. Some of them, anyway.]

Ah, no, milord, but you must have been thinking about it. It's a special holiday for lovers and all. I was surprised to find you working here today.

[sweetlies]

[All those times he'd wanted to measure Ciel for a coffin, or cracks about his height, and Undertaker still found new ways to fluster him.]

Ah- no. I haven't really. We've never done anything, really, for the holiday before.

[somakemelaugh]

[Really though, who would he be if he didn't change things up now and then?]

Oh, that's a shame. You've been back in the land of the living for four years by our time and you've never done anything for your fiancee for Valentine's Day? What is the world coming to?

[sweetlies]

[Of course, he grumbles a little. And makes a little face that lasts all of a moment.]

It was never much of a thought since we're only engaged yet. [Even he knows how flimsy an excuse that is.]

I should... probably get her something... [GIFTS ARE HARD THOUGH.]

[somakemelaugh]

[Such a fussy lord. Good grief.]

Oh, woe, that it would come to me to teach you how to treat a lady. Here I wasn't even raised as a noble. What ever am I to do?

[sweetlies]

[The fussiest little lord.]

I can treat her well. [Comes a little objection.] I just... I'm not good with gifts. She likes 'cute' things.

[somakemelaugh]

[Look at this grin. Do you see this grin? He means you all the best. He promises.]

Cute things, you say? You should get her a corpse. Corpses are cute.

[sweetlies]

[That grin scares him. And he's right to be concerned when that suggestion comes up.]

I'm not sure that's really cute for young ladies.

[somakemelaugh]

[It should. This is the one that's gonna haunt this boy for the next week at least.]

Maybe. She'll grow into it, I'm sure.

[sweetlies]

[Oh yeah, definitely. Why doesn't he have cake mix or something to poke his face with?]

I think it would rot first. [That's not him endorsing the idea!]

[somakemelaugh]

[Arrangements first. Sweets later. They're better fresh anyway.]

It would have, even with my talents, back in our time. But we're in a new world with new technology, and I have looked into it.

[sweetlies]

[They are.]

You... aren't really considering making those dolls here, are you?

[somakemelaugh]

[This is too easy. Should he keep teasing? Should he give it up? Aaaaa, how's a reaper to choose?] Not unless I need to. I know what I need to know now to make it happen, but my reasons for doing so are strangely absent. Besides, I might find myself in a heap of trouble if I went about raising the dead and someone from this world could link it back to me.

[sweetlies]

[It really is. It's a wonder Undertaker doesn't get hours of entertainment out of Ciel already.]

I would rather you not end up on the run here. It would be terribly lonely. [Selfish look on it, he knows.] And I imagine it wouldn't be comfortable or convenient for you.

[somakemelaugh]

[He may not be surprised. His amusement with this boy knows no bounds, it seems.]

Nothing I haven't had before. You might be surprised how easy it is to run from someone when they're too busy with bigger prey on the horizon. This city has trouble enough to keep it busy now and then, but I'll keep my head down, if it pleases you. [He grins, that same, wide grin he always has.] Won't do to have our young Earl lonely, will it?

[sweetlies]

[He flushes a bit and huffs softly.]

I just don't want to see you having to run and be uncomfortable or anything. It seems like it would lead to a lot of cold and hungry nights. If nothing keeps their attention away from you.

[somakemelaugh]

[He shrugs and keeps fussing at what he had been before, simply because he can.]

It'll take more than just hunger and cold to do me in, but I don't envy life always on the move, so it's for the best that I keep out of it, wouldn't you agree?

[sweetlies]

[He nods, so slowly. Really, he would just hate to see Undertaker branded a criminal. Here, at least, since he'd ruined that for the man in England. Ciel really does feel a bit guilty for that.]

Would it? [He's a bit curious, really.] Can that not really hurt reapers?

[somakemelaugh]

[He was headed in that direction himself. It was only a matter of time before the Yard caught up to what he was doing, with or without the Earl's help.]

It won't do good for my health, if you're wondering. I wouldn't prefer it, but you must remember, I'm already dead. Not a lot can do too much about that.

[sweetlies]

[With Randall in charge though, he'd really try to deny something so supernatural. It was just the kind of man he was.]

You don't seem very dead. You're warm and you breathe and speak. [Unlike the Bizarre Dolls.]

[somakemelaugh]

[Whatever it would be, he would have been found out. Let the games begin.]

To human life. I live, but I'm no longer fully human, I think you've found. Things that once ailed me as a human no longer do. Some of them anyway.

[sweetlies]

[He worries for everyone else, really, rather than Undertaker. As much as he doesn't want to see his life get any more difficult, he knows the man can handle himself in fights.]

You still sleep and eat. I suppose I haven't ever seen you sick but you always seemed stronger than anyone else and more healthy. You'd fool anyone. You have fooled plenty of people, in fact.