damned_institute | Dayshift 42: Bus 2

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Dayshift 42: Bus 2

Before anyone could come to any decisions for their next move, the room suddenly filled with a thick fog. Faster than he could realize what was happening, it had filled up the entire room and swallowed every single one of his friends. Then there was that undeniable stench of iron, blood and... he last remembered taking a step back and feeling that slippery skid and the realization of what that was. By the time he yelled, he was sitting straight up in his bed like he'd bolted awake. Like it'd been nothing more than a bad dream. ...What the hell just happened?!

"Oh! Good morning!" The nearby voice made him yelp with a half squeak-like noise. Oh, for hell's sake. It was one of those freaking nurses again. She was beaming at him like nothing had happened at all. Before he could so much as ask one question, the hag started blathering real fast about some field trip and buses and getting changed and hurrying up before everyone left without him and... OH MY GOD, WHAT WAS SHE DOING?! She was grabbing at his shirt like she was about to start helping him get dressed (or undressed in this case).

He flailed in a desperate attempt to get away from her and yelled his consent to go along if she would get out and let him change HIMSELF. What was the matter with her?! Thankfully, she left but told him to hurry. Hell if he knew what she'd do if he took too long. So for the sake of not getting freaking stripped, he quickly changed into the clothes she'd left on the bed. Clothes being the ugliest looking white-and-black track pants he'd ever seen and a bright blue sweatshirt with a cute little penguin design on the front. This was some kind of joke, right? ...Not to say the penguin wasn't cute or anything but there was no way, no way, he was wearing something like this in public.

But the nurse had burst right in again, and before Kanji could offer much protest, he was being pulled down the hallways and through the doors of the bus. He'd yelled some things her way, but she totally wasn't listening at all. By the time they stopped, he was standing at the front of the bus with a paper bag and the nurse had run off to cart another poor sap along. Frickin' PERFECT. For the sake of not standing up there like some kind of zoo animal for everyone to stare at, he plopped himself into one of the seats by the front and sighed in complete exasperation.

[Free. No limit.]

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Reapers, Sebastian recalled as he opened his eyes, slept. The word "sleep," of course, was meant in the most clinical sort of sense; with the limited knowledge he had, it would do no good to assume whether death gods could dream, faint, "toss and turn," etc., the same way that humans did. After all, to lose consciousness to such a degree as to render the body completely and utterly helpless...why, in the context of a Hellish world, such an action was indirectly equivalent to suicide. When Sebastian had first been confronted with the sight of one "sleepy" and disgruntled William T. Spears, the very idea that death gods should have such a... human weakness both surprised and amused the butler; a demon would and could never be "caught dead" in those circumstances (no pun intended) without some physical cause or reason.

Which was why, when Sebastian Michaelis woke in his bed in M40, eyes open and mind clear but with no recollection of how he got there...

The butler narrowed his eyes, looking down at his hands and the (again) useless symbol staining the skin. The demonic senses he'd only just begun to enjoy again were once again absent, with only a faint pulsating of power that lurked so faintly within him that he had to focus to confirm its presence. It seemed irritation would be a common feeling for him here; annoyed, he would have to face again the dumb and cowlike face of his attending nurse, suffer again Grell Sutcliff's hair and pet names until he could fulfill at last his master's wish.......

...then again.

His master.

Armed with a smile and the distant air of a professional, Sebastian took no time at all in getting dressed and ready for their "trip." The Institute had been thoughtful enough to provide them with casual clothing for their outing, though there was nothing truly "casual" about Sebastian's outfit. Slacks, starched shirt, tie, and jacket...it was as if he were still in England, ready to wake his master with a selection of ganaches or (his own creation) breakfast fondue with raclette on toast. The look should soothe Master Ciel—he'd had a rather traumatic night, what with being left alone. Even this much normalcy should serve to please him.

No more games—no more risks. His weakened state now reminded Sebastian of the necessity of proper vigilance; he'd have to be properly attentive now, and there was much business he and Master Ciel needed to sort out. Distance made the heart grow fonder, yes, but isolation bred madness. And there was still so much plot to be had in London for Ciel Phantomhive to lose now.

Find me, Sebastian.

Sebastian.

The command was hardly thought of before the butler arrived at the bus as commanded. Hardly a minute more before he was at his master's side.

"Good morning, Master Ciel," Sebastian said, voice as pleasant and gentle as if this were a morning in the Phantomhive Mansion—as if nothing had changed at all. He bowed, low, stalling those waiting behind him to board the bus as he waited for his master's permission to sit and continue.

Ciel had to bite down on a sigh of relief as his butler appeared by his side. For a moment, he had started entertaining thoughts again that the seal might not be effective during the day. He still wasn't certain to what extent its powers could stretch here. With Grell Sutcliff's powers also reduced to some degree, there was no telling who was affected by this and what was causing it. He wasn't even sure if Sebastian had fallen victim to the same consequence. While he had seemed in top shape the previous night, something ...had been off.

This included the fact that the seal hadn't flared to life until he'd been under serious threat. Before that, it had seemed dormant, as if Sebastian couldn't hear his earlier requests to come to him. Ciel would have to ask the demon about it while they were alone, but for now, he needed to maintain his identity as a normal patient and planned on keeping Sebastian's identity secret along with it. He was sure other patients would take more notice of their activities if they knew his butler was a demon from Hell. It would be better for them to remain as inconspicuous as possible. With that thought in mind, he grabbed Sebastian by the arm and tugged him into the seat next to him.

"Don't use my real name in public!" he whispered harshly,"Here, my name is Christian Porter. And you are not to behave as my butler but an acquaintance I have met here."

It would be difficult to pull off when the both of them had grown too comfortable in their daily routine, but he couldn't let it be known that Christian Porter was really Ciel Phantomhive, lest Grell Sutcliff finds out where his room is and continues to torment him. He also didn't need the death god drawing attention to Sebastian by stalking him. They'd have to be more careful. They'd already had too many slip-ups. Last night alone could have ended poorly if not for the outstanding circumstances that allowed them all to escape alive and relatively unscathed.

Sebastian blinked as he was yanked into the seat, surprised by his master's sudden forcefulness until he understood its motivating factor. Between the two of them, Ciel had never been the one to initiate physical contact; it was an unspoken term in their contract that kept Sebastian himself from being too forward, as well. While some masters desired physical intimacy, others abhorred it.

But that could change.

But even if it would, it was too soon to tell.

"Understood," he whispered back with a parting nod. When he straightened, the stiffness in Sebastian's posture was relaxed ever so subtly to mimic the form of a polite acquaintance. Christian Porter...the name was not nearly as interesting as "Smile," but the situation was similar. Sebastian had to wonder, though, just how long his master would insist on keeping up this charade while knowledge of their secret was practically available already to the general public.

"It's a pleasure meeting you, Christian," Sebastian smiled, the angle of his lips belying his amusement.

"My name is Dorian Gray--a fellow patient here, and a butler by profession."

Ciel's arms crossed over his chest, annoyed that Sebastian was taking such great amusement in his obvious discontent and clearly overdoing the act. It was of no consequence as long as they were able to convince those around them for the time being. The nature of their relationship had to remain secret, so that they wouldn't fall victim to that telltale description, 'the young noble and his ever-present butler.'

"...Nice to meet you, too," he grit out between his teeth, eying him with further distaste.

He tried to console himself that he would only have to endure this act until they were alone. Then things would resume to vague semblance of normalcy.

Softening his facial features a bit more, he attempted to behave just the slightest bit more friendly towards him. "Are you new here?"

If the dial of time were turned but a couple millenia back and Master Ciel Phantomhive a spurned woman with tentacles growing out of her head, Sebastian had no doubt he would have long turned to stone. As it was, however, Ciel could only bristle with unspoken irritation and remind himself not to make a scene.

"By most standards," Sebastian responded, civil but still smiling in the same, satisfied way.

"About as 'new' as you are, though perhaps more. I arrived during second shift yesterday."

Second shift, was it? That was before Ciel had arrived, which meant the demon must have sensed his presence that exact moment he'd woken up in the institution. Why hadn't he come for him, then? Evading the nurses should have been no problem and to have had that reassurance earlier would have spared him a whole day's distress.

It was useless ruminating over the countless possibilities. They had 'the now' to focus on.

Ciel reacted with vague surprise, another cover up for his annoyance, which was still threatening to slip through, especially at the thought that Sebastian had purposely avoided him the day before. That bastard.

"I arrived during the fourth shift, so I would say you were slightly more of a veteran than I am."

Fourth shift—exactly the time began to sense him. In the end, it seemed the Contract's power had remained for the most part intact.

"A veteran...I'd say that in this place, how much of a 'veteran' you are is measured more by the people you have met and what you have accomplished, rather than how long you remain imprisoned."

There were quite a few individuals in the Institute, for example, who had been there but a short time and yet experienced much of the horrors that Landel's had to offer. Until his master asked, however, Sebastian would keep that information to himself.

If they were going by that then Ciel could already consider himself experienced, considering he'd met with an old foe and had gotten stabbed under the course of one night. He certainly hoped tonight's shift would prove to be more fruitful or at least allow him ample, uninterrupted time for exploration. He hadn't gotten really far much to his dismay, and he also had been denied the chance to properly discuss their situation with Sebastian, something he hoped to rectify soon whenever they got off this bus.

"I heard there were a lot of dangerous things lurking around at night from some of the other guests," Ciel's eyes widened, feigning a look of fear and trepidation, "aren't you scared of them, as well? How did you manage to survive the first night unscathed?"

Sebastian watched, expressionless, as his master spoke—taking in the wide-eyed look and false anxiety. He watched, incapable of making observations through any viewpoint but his own. The Ciel Phantomhive that he had known in the past—nay, even but a few months ago—would have been incapable of such a perfect fake. It wasn't simply because the Ciel of the past would have lacked proper motivation; the old Ciel Phantomhive would never had had the confidence to try and lie his way out of an uncomfortable situation, even if lying presented itself as an easy option. And the disguise now...

....shallow, yes. Completely. Not only was Ciel's illusion convincing only to observers glancing from a reasonable distance, their conversation until now was stilted with Act and Mockery. Ciel was flaunting in front of Sebastian but a simple, childish disguise, and yet...

............Sebastian smiled faintly, attention drawn away only when the bus made an abrupt stop. Breaking the stare, the butler resembled for a moment a hunting dog sniffing the air for a leading scent before the facade was back on: the perfect, careful acquaintance, ready to take his new friend out for a walk.

"Shall we continue this discussion elsewhere?" he 'suggested' brightly, offering his hand as some of the other patients began to stand up and glance, anticipating, towards the doors.

"I sense that we may have a great deal left to talk about, Christian—and after a harrowing night at the hospital, a more calming ambiance would be most attractive."

The act was becoming less and less of a hassle for him to pull off, a sure sign that Ciel had been playing this game too long -from his time at the circus to now. However, he understood the necessity for it and could not be too careful considering the number of eyes watching them. He'd confirmed Grell Sutcliff's presence here, but he didn't know how many other figures from their past would suddenly decide to drop in on them.

Fortunately the bus ride proved to be shorter than imagined, and they had arrived at their destination quickly. His uncovered eye made quick work of peaking out the window and trying to survey the area. He would have to find a secluded area for them to properly converse with one another without being overheard. Undoubtedly, the nurses would be watching them very closely while here to make sure they were on good behavior and not doing anything that would raise eyebrows or cause trouble. An outing with a newly-formed friend would hardly seem threatening or out of the ordinary.

Catching Sebastian's last statement, Ciel nodded in agreement and stood up, tightening his jacket around him and re-arranging the scarf. The material wasn't as delicate and luxurious as what he was accustomed to wearing and barely did anything to block out the cold from reaching his skin, but he would have to endure yet another discomfort. He had no access to his actual clothes, and there were no other alternatives. He only wished the nurse hadn't been so insistent on telling him how "grown-up" he looked in his fashionable street wear, especially when he looked so -so pedestrian in them.

Taking the offered hand, Ciel finally answered, "Perhaps somewhere outdoors then? It's a nice day, and some fresh air would do us both some good after being indoors for so long." He summoned up another congenial smile and tried to maintain a bit of sincerity in his voice, inwardly disgusted by his own act. If anything, he despised the outdoors and would have rather been in his study at the moment.

"There is a park nearby that may fit your description," Sebastian replied with a nod. With neither haste nor hurry he led his master gently off the bus and onto the streets.

They walked in silence until their destination.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/654949.html?thread=55055205#t55055205).]

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Dayshift 42: Bus 2

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why does my net hate me?