Ready and Adle

Ciel gets mocked by horses.

The wheels came to a screeching halt, accompanied by the harrowing cries of the horses. The pair exited the carriage at once. "What's all the commotion?" Ciel demanded. Coachman Callum shrugged. "Horses musta got spooked." "By what?" The earl's tone sharpened. Callum glanced down the road before answering. "Rectory ain't too far. If my horses aren't up to the job…" he looked down at the earl, his weathered face softening, "…I can always carry ya." The offer was uncomfortably sincere. Ciel suppressed the heat rising in his cheeks. Beside him, his butler suppressed a laugh of his own. Laughter escaped anyway. "Ha! Like I used to, when you were a wee pup!" Callum's bony frame shook with each fond guffaw. Sebastian shook as well, though considerably less than the coachman, and no noise was audible. Ciel struck his walking stick against the ground with the ferocity of a judge calling for order. It did not have the intended effect. If anything, Ciel caught a flicker of amusement in the horses' eyes. He shook his head and started down the road. Sebastian, lips pressed shut, followed.

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“Make it strong, Sebastian,” Ciel called from across the room. Experience had taught him that certain reports were best read only after the tea had been poured. “You know I always do, my lord,” Sebastian replied lightly as he set the polished silver tray upon the desk. Ciel shot him a skeptical look. “And what, precisely, is that supposed to mean?” The butler’s smile only widened, a glimmer of amusement dancing across his face as he sensed his master's irritation.“It means,” Sebastian explained with impeccable courtesy, “...that I always anticipate your needs accordingly.” His expression remained perfectly composed, almost infuriatingly so. 

Ciel dismissed his butler with a gesture and reached for his tea. He lifted the cup and sipped the hot beverage slowly. Sebastian watched, hands clasped behind his back and a faint smirk tugging at his lips. His brown eyes shifted languidly to the letter. "You know, my lord," he began, his voice carrying that particular smoothness Ciel had learned to distrust, "...you might allow me to read the report aloud. That way, you could enjoy your tea more thoroughly."

The earl regarded him over the rim of his cup with an expression of mild contempt. "You seem oddly interested in this case." He set the cup down with quiet deliberateness. "Care to explain why?" Sebastian closed his eyes briefly, the practiced smile never wavering. "Ah. No reason in particular." His gaze returned to the letter, then to his master. "Only a hunch that there is something—" he paused, as if selecting the word with care, "... unique about it."

Ciel studied him for a moment. "Is that what your demonic intuition is telling you?" His tone was entirely dry. Sebastian made a sound that might, generously, be described as a laugh. "You could say that." He raised one gloved hand to his chin in quiet contemplation.

Ciel exhaled. He had little patience for Sebastian's theater on a good day, and this was not shaping up to be a good day. "Fine," he said, gesturing toward the envelope. "Read to your heart's content." Sebastian inclined his head and reached for the letter. "You are far too kind, my lord." He opens it with a polished knife he always keeps in his jacket. 

  “This case is located in Sussex at St. Michael's Rectory,” Sebastian read. “A rectory, ay?” Ciel muttered into his cup. “I see now, why you are so invested,” the earl glanced at his butler’s composed smile. “...You are hoping to rendezvous with the nuns.” Ciel stated plainly. 

The butler’s face twitched, "Not quite, my lord," he said, maintaining his polite tone through what appeared to be moderate effort. "And for the record, a rectory is the official residence of a parish priest.” Sebastian couldn’t help, but correct his master’s ignorance. 

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Kuroshitsuji | Black Butler Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: Sebastian Michaelis, Ciel Phantomhive, Father Dion Donadieu (OC), Hagdalena Alderin (OC) Summary:

The Roman Curia Exorcists are not ordinary parish priests. They're essentially the Church's elite military branch. They undergo a lifelong initiation, receive identifying tattoos, train with specialized blessed silver weapons, and accept that they will probably die in combat. That sounds closer to a knightly order than a typical clergy member.

The Curia offers to recruit Dion. He declines the offer saying, "Some men are called to hunt wolves. Others are called to tend the flock after the wolves have passed." Dion respects the Roman Curia Exorcists immensely. He prays for them. He may even have friends among them. He simply believes God called him to serve as a parish priest rather than as a full-time demon hunter.

Dion is still an exorcist, just a different kind.

Father Dion: He specializes in possession cases. His role is to discern whether a person is possessed, perform the rite of exorcism, and care for the victim before and after the exorcism.

Roman Curia Exorcists: They hunt and physically confront demons. They're trained to fight, use blessed silver weapons, and accept an extremely dangerous vocation.

Hagdalena and the Curia / Dion's greatest fear.

Hagdalena is a ward of the church. She's supernatural, yet not demonic. Dion is probably one of the few people in the Church qualified to testify that Hagdalena is not possessed. As a priest experienced in possession cases, his opinion carries weight. But even he can't fully explain what she is.

This JULY, you better keep a watchful EYE. Cause we'll be snooping through everyone's stuff!!!

Event Prompt: List some of your OCs' prized possessions! OR List gifts your yumeship gave/received!

Here are some ideas:

Draw or post pictures or make mood boards of things your OCs would own.

Explain the lore behind the items.

List 5 things your OCs always have with them.

What was the first gift your yumeship gave and received

Which were the best and worst gifts.

Did your OCs ever lose a cherished belonging? How?