villainous noble

“Hey you’re from the 1880s, is it true that they put drugs in the original Cola drinks??” Maybe that was a dumb question to ask, but he had always heard that. Maybe Ciel knew, maybe he didn’t. “It’s ok if you don’t know! Or if they didn’t. I don’t know. Oh, but root beer floats are so great. And those cherry drinks. Uuuh. Something temples?? I forget. Ok, I’ll be right back. You stay right there.”

He only had maybe five minutes of flying left for the day, so he would have to push himself to move quickly. He left Ciel’s side, setting a timer on his phone so he could remind himself to be fast.

Finding a non soaked store was nearly impossible, but he managed to find a cafe not completely underwater yet, and pried open the door. “Please let there be tea.” He muttered, wading through the waist high water to look through their storage. He found a box and cheered to himself, then mentally apologized for taking something without paying for it. He would come back when everything was fixed and pay for the entire thing. He grabbed a kettle, and a few cups, and a spoon, shoved them into his backpack, then hurried back to the dome. He was soaking wet again, but smiling triumphantly. 

“I got tea! And hot chocolate packets. Because hot chocolate is great. Ok, um. I can’t promise this’ll be any good, I don’t have any sugar, and I don’t know anything about tea brands or anything. You may be better off with the hot chocolate, but lets try it?”

“Wanna see a cool trick though?” He poured water into the kettle and held it out to Ciel, so he could see it. “I promise you’ve never seen anything like what I’m about to do.”

      ciel blinked. drugs? he wasn’t sure what jon meant. colas were medicinal, but he wasn’t sure if that was what was meant, given his tone. he just shrugged helplessly. ‘ i don’t know what you mean. it’s all right. i can try to find out. ’

      any distraction, ciel was looking for any distraction. he once again focused his mind toward the present. he would not be weak, letting fear win. he waited, while jon was gone, shivering in his blankets. he said he would be right back, but ciel still worried. it was dangerous out there, and likely dangerous in here, though significantly less so. the cold was lessening as he pulled the blankets tighter around himself. a fresh change of clothes would not go amiss but he was in no danger of freezing to death in what he was wearing, even though it was far from weather appropriate.

      the thought of tea was a nice one, though. when jon returned, he couldn’t help but smile--just a little. the scowl reappeared in a flash, however, and ciel glanced away. hot chocolate sounded nice as well. really, anything sweet to keep his mood up. again, he reflects on the fact that nobody here is going to tell him he’ll ruin his appetite.

“When this is over, you HAVE to try soda. It’s this bubbly liquid with like, a buncha different flavors. It comes in cans, it’s so sugary and so bad for you, but oh it tastes so good. I like Pepsi best, cause it’s sweeter than coke. Oh! And milkshakes. Milkshakes are amazing. Unless you’re lactose intolerant, than you might not. Or maybe you would anyway, I know some lactose intolerant people who keep drinking and eating dairy products despite it upsetting their stomachs.”

He was rambling, but he hoped it would pull Ciel out of his head and keep him from panicking. 

“Ok, warm blankets first, maybe even a change of clothes?? Wet clothes probably don’t help you a lot to feel warmer.” He ignored Ciel’s suggestion to rest, running off to find some warm blankets. He returned a moment later with a pile of them. “Ooops. They’re kinda wet cause I am too. But they should do better than nothing. They’re not too wet. Here, I brought you some towels. Do you need help drying off? If not, I’ll leave you to warm up for a moment, while I go run to the nearest store and try to find a cup and some tea. You probably need something light on your stomach, since you’ve been through something so rough. Don’t wanna make yourself sick, ya know? That used to not stop me. I could eat straight poison and it wouldn’t do anything to me. Now it kills me, which is boring. I miss being able to spook dad by eating batteries.” He laughed at the memory, smiling a bit sadly. 

“ANYWAY! Tea. You good here?” His mind was all over the place, he wished he could run as fast as his mouth did, he’d get so much more done. Maybe he would get his super speed back soon? That would be nice. He needed to get so much done, and he felt like he couldn’t move fast enough to get it all done.

      ‘ i’ve had soda. it’s not usually very sweet, though, ’ he said, frowning thoughtfully. ‘ fizzy drinks are for the masses anyway. i’ll have some, though, if you say it’s good. ’ he liked sweet things, though he normally liked the more expensive variety. still, that was mostly his inner snob coming out. ‘ the company i own back home makes a variety of sweets... i should look into sweet fizzy drinks... ’

      a branch out from chocolates and lollipops, but not so far out of the way that it would be difficult to market. putting it in something other than bottles would be difficult, though. perhaps he could simply--never mind. his mind was veering wildly off-track. it was a good distraction tactic, but ciel felt it might be better to ground himself a little, rather than let his mind try too hard to distract itself. pain is meaningless if he doesn’t feel it, and so too, therefore, is fear.

      ciel waited patiently while jon went to get the blankets. when he had them, he wrapped as many as he could around himself, like a cocoon, and shivered only a little. it was better, at least. ‘ i’ll be fine here, if you can really find me some tea. i think hot tea would be best, if only because it will help me warm up... ’

     he had never done well in the cold, less well with cold water. he really wanted to sit beside a fireplace, with a good book and tea with honey and other things that will ruin his appetite. he didn’t know what batteries were, but the thought of jon making his parents watch him eat poison was a humourous one. he cracked the barest imitation of a smile at the thought.

Jon smiled again and set Ciel down on a chair gently. Food first. No. Drink. People always need liquids first. Food can wait. “Um. Tea. I’m guessing you like it hot, and not sweet and cold?? I’m from the south in America and so we drink it with ice and lots of sugar. I don’t know if there’s any fancy brands around here, but I can look for a not ruined food store really quickly, if you want me to? It won’t take too long.”

“Tea is just… heating water and putting the tea packet in the hot water right?? And then sometimes someone puts sugar or milk or something in it right? There might be a store I can … uh. Borrow some stuff from. Maybe a supermarket?? Uh. Here have some water though.” He fished out the water bottle and passed it over. “Any injuries? Uh. Here, have my cape. It’s not weighted or warm like my actual one, but this’ll do for a moment while I grab you some blankets, right?”

He took his cape off and held it out. It was a relatively thin sheet of red fabric, with the same S inside the shield, much like the one he wore on his shirt. He was shivering too, but he had things to take care of. He could worry about being warm and eating later.

      he leaned forward, clutching his cane as if for dear life. flying had been--scary, he had to admit, at least within the comfort of his own head. he could be afraid in his own mind. ‘ hot tea is better, but if that would be too hard to come by i can... try it cold. ’ he wasn’t sure what that would taste like, but he really just needed something to do with his hands lest they start shaking again.

      he took the water gratefully. ‘ i prefer tea from a kettle. i wasn’t aware there were, ah... packets? i’ll try not to be picky right now, though. given the circumstances. ’ emphasis on try. he wouldn’t promise anything. fear tended to bring the brat out in full force.

      ‘ i don’t have any injuries. i don’t think i do, anyway. i’m just rather... cold. i might be english, but i very much dislike the rain, ’ he said. it wasn’t... a real joke, but it was as close as ciel could ever get to one. he accepted the cape and wrapped it around himself. it was better than nothing. what he wouldn’t give for a hot bath, a nice rest, some tea and little cakes... all unattainable for the moment, but hopefully that would make them nicer when he could have them.

Oh. Well that explained his funny clothes. Well his fancy clothes. Which were more on the style of Japanese ouji fashion these days than normal clothes. He wondered, briefly, what Ciel thought of Jon’s clothes. “OH! Maybe once all this is over, we can go shopping. It was 2019 or so when I left my Earth. And everything is pretty modern here, by being like, 2020 now. Yeah we had New Years and stuff, and it’s 2020 now! Though I’m sure your clothes are good for when you were where you came from, England of the 1880s. Geez, remind me to show you how to use a cell phone! Wow so much to do once things finish up! We can have so much fun! That’s something to look forward to, right?? So cheer up.”

He didn’t doubt it. The eye patch and sour demeanor suggested a pretty harsh past. Most kids Jon’s age didn’t have eye patches unless they were pretending to be a pirate, or actually had something wrong with their eye. And he guessed Ciel wasn’t pretending to be a pirate (even if his old fashioned clothes, eye patch, and cane made him look like one).

“They declared this area a safe area. No flooding can reach it, there’s plenty of supplies and medical care, and it’s away from the wires and such, so you don’t have to worry about NULL or STAR agents attacking. I hope no one would be cruel enough to attack flood victims anyway, but you never know with the sickos here. I can’t stay for long though, but I’ll make sure you’re settled in before I head back out.” He was tired, but he couldn’t afford a break. His dad wouldn’t take a break, so neither would Jon. Even if he did look like he was ready to drop, and maybe was starting to see a bit of double vision. He walked inside, looking for a warm dry spot to set Ciel down. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? Let me set you down and get you some blankets and see if I can find an inhaler in case your asthma acts up, ok? You good if I set you down?”

      ciel was glad for the chatter. normally he preferred a little more quiet, but these circumstances were different, and he felt somewhat comforted just by the way jon was rambling on. even the idea of shopping for strange modern clothes interested him--he’d been considering getting some anyway. they seemed easier to put on by himself, at least. they were interesting in their simplicity, even if he didn’t really understand them. he’d been struggling to dress himself without his butler--or at least an ordinary servant.

      ‘ something to look forward to... yes, i suppose it is, ’ he said, not wanting to admit he was excited at the idea. it would mean that things were normal again, if nothing else.

      ‘ someone who would attack people just trying to take shelter would have to be truly cruel, ’ ciel said, frowning. he didn’t doubt that someone might, because he knew all about human cruelty, but jon was right. this was safer than many other places.

“An inhaler. It’s a …. uh a thing doctors invented to help people with breathing problems?? It’s got something in it I think that makes it easier for people when they’re having asthma attacks to breath better??? I dunno. I don’t have asthma so I never paid attention to how it works. I just know it’s something people with asthma have and hafta have on them??? What year are you from?” That felt important to ask, but maybe not right now. He smiled when Ciel took a deep breath, then flew faster, aiming for a safer ward. Anything was better than the storm, especially if it could lead to Ciel being sick. There wasn’t time to take care of him completely if he got too sick to function, and everyone was going to be stretched thin with this going on. 

“Hopefully this’ll be over soon. These things usually don’t last too terribly long. One took a whole month.But I think that’s about the longest it’s lasted. So hopefully this’ll be over soon. We just gotta keep you safe, and then it’ll all be over. But uuuh. Welcome to Spirale??? You got an easier introduction to this than I did. I was made to sit through a killing spree. Which turned out to just be a “prank”.”

He settles for Golden Ward, towards the spot that was declared a safe area. “There! Spiral Dome” There might be massive flooding going on around Golden Ward (Jon felt a pang of worry for Peter and Battler), but Spiral Dome was safe from flooding. He landed at the door, then smiled again at Ciel. “Here you go! Safe and sound!”

      it was good to know that such things existed here, even if ciel hoped he wouldn’t need one--at least not now. if he was going to have an attack, it could at least have the decency to wait until things were calmer, and he could get his hands on an inhaler, learn how it works. still, it wasn’t as though these things ever happened at convenient moments. he would rather not need to compete with anyone for medical care. he had a feeling he wasn’t the only one not equipped for this sort of thing.

      ‘ what... year? 1889. ’ he frowned a little, but pushed it aside. this place was strange. why not add oddities with the passage of time to the mix? it wasn’t something to worry about now regardless.

      ‘ so long as this ends soon, i will... cope. this is not the worst experience of my life by any stretch of the imagination. ’

He glowers even harder at that.

“You’re the one who was looking at MINE! You’re twice as rude, you little hot pants wearing shit. You should know better.”

      ciel blinks once. twice. then he scowls. half of those words didn’t make sense, at least not in the order they were placed in. he knows an insult when he hears one, though.

Got another fan, huh? And by fan, he means someone who wouldn’t stop staring at him out of morbid curiosity. He’s like a freakshow wherever he goes and he’s grown accustomed to it by now. On a bad day, it would bother him but he’s feeling particularly civil today so he spares the kid for now.

But before he could even answer the question, he takes notice of the eyepatch the young boy is wearing and he finds himself just as intrigued as well.

❝I could ask you the same thing.❞ He says, gesturing to the accessory with a tilt of his head. 

      ciel immediately looks back at him, then away. it’s not as though he’s trying to be judgemental, truly he isn’t. he’s seen stranger-looking people, both here and back home, but he is young, and prone to childish curiosity and a childish lack of understanding why he can’t always just get the answers he seeks. everything is made more difficult when he’s alone, too...

      he reaches up to touch his eyepatch, as if he could just cover it with a hand like that. it’s already there to cover something else, and any more layers will become ridiculous quicky. his hand lowers, and he feels embarrassment make him turn a little pink.

“You get asthma attacks???” Oh geez. That did require more medical attention than Jon thought he was equipped to handle. Someone with some healing magic might be ideal. “I wish I had my real cape, it was good at protecting against the weather. And warm. And weighted. It would absolutely make you feel better. Some place warm, with medical attention. Wish I’d thought to grab an inhaler, if I’d known. I’m sorry.”

But lamenting being under prepared for every situation wouldn’t help Ciel if he did start to have an asthma attack. “Can you take a deep breath for me? I’m gonna speed it up a bit, so it might be harder to breath. So just, hold your breath for a moment.”

      ciel just turned a little red, definitely embarrassed. he didn’t like letting people know of his weaknesses when he could help it, but this wasn’t such a case. he just nodded. ‘ i do. it’s... what’s an inhaler? ’ he asked, though really, it wasn’t the time to ask questions. they helped him feel grounded, so to speak. information was power, and so on.

      ‘ i don’t need medical attention, i just need to be someplace warm and dry where i can rest, ’ he added, taking a deep breath as if to reassure jon. ‘ if i can get out of this weather before it gets worse, i’ll be fine. ’ he hoped so, anyway. he could usually tell if an attack was coming on, and so far he wasn’t feeling any symptoms, apart from shivering, though that could easily be attributed to the cold.

Jon pumped his fist in the air, cheering to himself. Free ice cream. Of course, that was if Ciel didn’t manage to recognize him the next time they met and he was in civilian clothes. He cleared his throat, moving his hair back from his face, though that damn cowlick bounced right back in front of his forehead. 

“Shhh. It’s ok. I got you.” He picked Ciel up carefully, minding his strength. “You comfy? I’m not hurting you am I? I can lift a car, you’re not so bad.” He laughed softly, hoping if he appeared more calm and cheerful than he was, that Ciel might fully relax. Flying in someone else’s arms could be stressful, and since the other boy looked like a light wind could knock him down, he didn’t want to stress him out.

Once he’s sure his friend is safe in his arms, he flies up, going slow at first. Just so Ciel could adjust to the idea of being in the air. “We can’t go too high up, don’t worry. For one, it makes us disappear. Two, the storm. If we get too close to the clouds, I might survive a lightning strike, but I doubt you could. We’ll get you somewhere safe and warm, or well, as safe as one can be on an island hellscape like this.” 

He laughed again, trying to keep the tone light. “This isn’t so bad is it? What do you think of flying? If I had my full powers, I would be able to share it with you, so that as long as you were holding my hand, you’d be able to fly. But I don’t. Not yet.”

      ciel tried not to panic as he’s carried. it was-- it was not a wholly unfamiliar sensation, after all. his father used to carry him around when he’d overexerted himself, and sebastian had needed to do it on occasion as well, though this wasn’t much like either experience. for one, jon was much smaller, and for another, he’d never been carried through the air. he didn’t have a particular fear of heights, but he did believe he had a reasonable uncertainty regarding them. a fall would certainly kill him, after all.

      he held onto jon with an attempt at maintaining his dignity. ‘ yes, i’d rather not add a lightning strike to the list of things that have happened to me today, ’ he says, and shudders at the thought. ‘ please. i just want to be warm. i... i get asthma attacks when it rains like this. ’

“I will. It’s what I do! I’m Superboy remember?” He flashed Ciel a grin, hoping that if he kept an upbeat manner, it might help him relax. “Buuuut if you’re worried about paying me back, how about this? If you can recognize me next time, I’ll pay for a snack for you? If you can’t guess who it is, you owe me ice cream. Deal?”

As if the world wasn’t falling down around them, Jon kept trying to joke. Then he got serious for a moment. “Yeah. Can I carry you? I promise not to drop you. I carry people all the time.” He doubted Ciel weighted much, he just looked ultra thin and small. “I do these kinda things all the time back in my world. I can’t fly for much longer, but I can get you somewhere safe in the time I have left. But I gotta hold you. So…” 

He held his arms out, hoping Ciel wouldn’t turn him down.

      the joke helped, it did. ciel’s scowl lessened, if only ever so slightly, and he suddenly looked even more afraid. that was better, though. it wasn’t a defense mechanism, after all. it was just plain old, regular old fear. he hesitated only for a moment before nodding. ‘ deal. ’

      he didn’t think there was any dishonesty here, in the other boy. he didn’t even care, at that moment, if there was. again, he was helpless, reaching out for any hand that might save him. if there was a catch, it couldn’t be worse than the one already branded onto his eye, right?

@esdaemonis​ for the event

Yes, he was only supposed to be handing out supplies and food, but there were a few people Jon was keeping an eye out for. People he considered friends, or people around his age. He knew other kids didn’t have powers like his. 

Of course, finding people was hard without his Super Good Eyesight. Boy did he miss having his powers. Seeing in the dark, and through such a storm would be a piece of cake under normal circumstances. And he wouldn’t be worried about the storm overhead either. He eventually found the person he was looking for, Ciel. He dropped down in front of him.

“Ciel! Thank Rao you’re ok! You are ok right? I’m here to help! You, specifically. It’s dangerous out here. I know a few good safe spots though, I can escort you there!”

      things were getting rather out of hand, and while ciel normally hated admitting he was afraid, he was--he really was. he kept his scowl firm on his face, however, in an effort not to lose his cool. he missed sebastian so much, and that was utterly stupid and irrational ( really, missing the demon who is going to eat him? ) but he couldn’t help it.

      he had something to distract him from his panic, though, he noted, as jon found him--he was sort of shocked. the other boy looked so very serious, like he knew what he was doing. ciel was grateful for that, at least, as that sort of confidence did a great deal at allaying his nerves. a little, at least. he was still somewhat visibly upset, his uncovered eye wide and and his hands shaking.

          Cliffs and wildflowers and legends—not quite an exact replica of home, but a close enough echo that makes Lunafreya nostalgic. Pretty and quieter than most of the places on the island as well, and in part why she’s drawn here.

Seeing someone else isn’t an uncommon occurrence, but it doesn’t happen with any sort of frequency. Seeing a child though, it is a little worrisome if only for the fact that Lunafreya has seen more than one child walk around unaccompanied by any sort of guardian. Paints a dull picture of this place if children a whisked away from their homes.

“It isn’t the easiest place to reach for some and there are much more interesting things to do in the ward, besides.” She offers, turning to face the boy fully. “Now, if you don’t my asking, are you alright? It’s never good to overexert yourself around cliffs.”

      the view is as nice as he’d hoped, and ciel reflects that he doesn’t take enough time to take in these sorts of views. the last time he’d stopped, or even slowed down was--what? never? maybe. the thought should upset him. it doesn’t, though, he’s too focused on his goal ordinarily, and he doesn’t have it in him to regret that.

      still, his quest for vengeance has been forcibly put on hold here, and perhaps it’s the fact that he’s been forced to pause his goals that made him trek all the way up here.

(@esdaemonis​ liked for a starter!)

Good God, this city is huge! Wilson is used to large expanses of wilderness, so the introduction of buildings back into his surroundings is almost a little claustrophobic. Truth be told, he’s waiting for the twist. There’s always a twist. But there’s so many people here, just milling about without a care in the world. Maybe he can let himself indulge in the hope he’s put that nightmare behind him.

He’s a bit wary to venture too far from his home, lest he get lost and never find his way back. He’s really just in awe that they just gave him a place to stay, with a bed and a roof and everything–he’s nearly forgotten what it’s like to live indoors. Still, Wilson elects to get his bearings rather than just bask in the safety of his own home. Is it even safe? There’s that worry, also–this instilled instinct to keep moving, to understand his surroundings before he gets comfortable.

It is on this little expedition that he finds what appears to be an ancient theater–and a potential acquaintance, dressed in a suit! He seems like an upstanding citizen, or at the very least someone worth talking to.

“Good day to you! You’re dressed quite finely, good sir,“ he says with a nervous little smile. He hasn’t had a regular conversation in a while–what if he says the wrong thing? Not to mention, his chosen conversation partner looks a bit cross. Maybe this was a mistake. Well, he can’t just flee now that he’s initiated contact, so he just stands there and fiddles anxiously with his hands before he says, “It’s, ah… Quite lovely here, isn’t it? I seem to have arrived well into the springtime, I find it rather nice. Have you been here long?“

      ciel dislikes this city--he’s been here long enough to decide on that for certain. in truth, he dislikes all cities, with their crowds and their noise. the countryside is much nicer, and his manor is nicer still, and familiar besides. getting away has, in the past, meant work for her majesty. something to do, and usually something gruesome at that.

      while he is no stranger to such things, and of course he will do his duty just as his father did before him, he still associates large cities with london and london with trouble. this place, thus far, has been less troublesome, but he’s not certain that it will stay that way, given things he’s heard from others thus far.

      he makes a startled sound as he’s approached by someone, as he had been so lost in thought, but he recovers quickly, placing a hand over his chest to quell his rapid heartbeat. really, he shouldn’t be so surprised to be approached. it’s the city, people need all sorts of things. his expression goes from surly to something a little more polite in a matter of seconds. he has to actively work to keep it that way, but it’s not this fellow is, thus far, speaking politely.

      at least this stranger isn’t being patronizing to him. ciel knows he looks as young as he is, and people tend to speak to him as if he’s even younger than that. he didn’t even point out the eye patch, or how odd it looked on a teenager. this is a nice change of pace at least. the comment on his outfit doesn’t hurt.

〝 Obviously not. You got lost.〞Jiang Cheng scoffed, but the tension in his shoulders started to relax. Okay, maybe he would help. 〝 Where do you need to go?〞

He started walking, only casting a glance back when he was a few steps away. A flick of the hand, motioning for the boy to follow. The silence wasn’t exactly comfortable, but small talk wasn’t his specialty. He looked over occasionally, just to double-check that the kid didn’t wander off and get lost again.

〝 Did you arrive here recently? Is your family living somewhere in the city?〞

      at least the man is agreeing to help. ciel doesn’t want to seem ungracious, so he looks up at him, expression maybe a little softer than it was before. ‘ thank you. ’

      ‘ i need to get to the archimedes ward, or at least to the edge of this ward. i think i can find my way back from such a location. ’

      he doesn’t sound so sure. it’s so much easier to get around familiar territory, though, and this place is far from that. it’s also unfamiliar in other ways, what with its levels of technology beyond what ciel was used to. still, he intends to at least refrain from getting lost every few steps.

Oh wow it’s like looking into a surlier, short short wearing mirror of himself. Badou doesn’t like this (this is almost painful, when you can’t run), so he answers the glower with only just this side of sullen.

“I know that one eye can’t be for show– what are you looking at, first?”

      ‘ nothing! ’ he says, immediately on the defensive. this isn’t good, he was caught staring. his visible eye narrows after a moment of further scrutiny and the glower makes him angrier.

    the uneasy gaze that lingers on his ears doesn’t go entirely unnoticed. leon’s had many a stranger direct questioning looks toward his appearance, as even on his own homeworld they are considered an oddity. perhaps it may have bothered him before to receive such stares or sometimes even questions, only when he was much younger and a smidgen self-conscious, but now the boy cares hardly about it. besides, he considers the reaction only fair. leon had done his own share of gawking, and that probably hadn’t been missed.     the question prompts a rummaging through the pockets of his too large lab coat, followed by a setting down of his small notebook onto the table. from one side to the other, he shifts to swap one arm with the opposite to prop his jaw up by the knuckles while thumbing through the pages of notes he’s accumulated.    “ no, not exactly. but you’re right – this place is far from home. at least for a lot of us, anyway. ”  they’ve all come from different origins, so he decides against speaking for everyone.

    “ see, what’s in this book doesn’t match what’s in the skies either. not that i can tell. and the eclipses, i can’t pinpoint a cycle to them…”      his mouth thins into a taught line, but then he’s sitting up and pushing the book of galaxies closer to the other boy.    “ this one’s a map of the skies from ‘earth.’ ”  the only name in this book to spark any recognition in him.  “ do any of these stars look familiar? ”

      ciel does his best not to stare. he dislikes when others focus on the odd things about his own appearance, after all, and he tries not to be a hypocrite whenever possible. and anyway, ears aside, the other boy doesn’t look that strange at all. ciel wonders at the lab coat, and whether the boy fancies himself a scientist of some sort, but only briefly, before turning his mind to other topics.

      namely, the sky. he’s interested to know any theories about where this is, and why they might have been brought there. he’s no scientist himself, and would never make any particular claim to understanding the sciences outside of what he had been taught during his schooling. he’s always been better with languages and literature. 

      ‘ so these books are useless, when it comes to looking into the skies that we can observe from here? ’

      he’s asking for clarity, and talk of the eclipses definitely makes him nervous. people apparently appear and disappear by the whims of the sky, and it’s... supernatural and eerie and unnerving. he hates thinking too hard about it.

      glancing at the book that the other boy has opened, his brows furrow.

Loki had been examining the many sweets for sale on the star trail. He had grown up in a warring society who’s local delicacies included meat, ale, and more ale, so he was somewhat new to the concept of “sweet treats” and was unsure of which he would enjoy. His concentration was interrupted by a boy, seemingly around his age, offering him a plate of some sort of dairy-based pastry. He blinked curiously at the boy.

“You would just…give it to me? To a stranger? Without expecting anything in return?” It seemed ridiculous to Loki that anyone would give up something so (potentially) delicious treat for nothing. “What is this called, anyway?”

      ciel’s eyebrows rose, the right one creeping up over the top of his eyepatch. this wasn’t that complicated, was it? well, he wasn’t one to be rude without reason, but he was a rather surly sort if left unchecked. with a slight tilt to his head, he scrutinized the other boy. well, he wasn’t the strangest-looking person ciel had seen in this place, but that really wasn’t saying much, given some of the people here.

      ‘ i’m giving it to you, yes. what am i going to do with two of them? it’s far too much for me to eat. ’