Rational Kuroshitsuji

I'm really surprised neither twin has made a big deal of who has the Phantomhive Ring since they saw each other.

Considering it was a big enough deal to carve the complaint into Our Ciel's bedroom wall, I think it's weird that no one has mentioned it since.

(ch 128 pg 14)

They've both explicitly claimed they are the rightful "Earl Ciel Phantomhive." If only the Earl is allowed to wear the ring, and if Real Ciel went to great lengths to keep it during their capture, why aren't they scuffling over it now? Shouldn't it be more important?

There was an entire section of the twins’ flashback in which Rachel Phantomhive explained to the older twin how special the ring is for the Earl. That backstory was revealed very recently, so it’s got to be important to the story now.

The older brother ought to have demanded its return before the younger brother was handcuffed and carted off by Scotland Yard. Instead, Our Ciel was still wearing it when he was handcuffed.

(ch 144 pg 5)

But even though he still has it, Our Ciel isn't using it as part of the proof that he is the rightful Earl. He doesn't mention it as one of the reasons he deserves the title. He talks about how well he carried out his duties, how the queen conferred the title to him, and how well he kept the secret, but he doesn’t say anything about the ring.

It's not even being featured artistically. The ring is on Our Ciel's hand when he makes his claim, but it isn't part of the foreground in the drawing. You could easily miss it if you're not looking for it.

(ch 147 pg 26)

So what's going on?

Maybe I'm just complaining too soon, and it will be a big deal in the next couple of chapters.

Or maybe the twins have both unconsciously realized the truth that metal and stone alone does not have real power to bestow a title. In that case, the complaint "who stole the candy from my tummy?" might be more a complaint about stealing, and less about the "candy" itself.

Or maybe someone other than the older brother carved that message into the wall? ... It's possible, but unlikely. Who else would even know enough to make that threat? And if it wasn't the older brother, then there wouldn't have been any reason for Soma to punch Ciel in the jaw on sight. So I'm not putting money on that one.

(Ch 146 pg 14)

Well, I guess Chlaus and Diedrich are never getting those telegrams.

Now that Lord Randall knows that Pitt assisted the Phantomhives in their flight, Scotland Yard should have him under constant surveillance until Ciel is recaptured, and should stop him from sending telegrams.

But what if Pitt can still get to a telegraph office and send one? Would it stand any chance of being useful?

No.

(I am kind of really into the history of early communications technology, so I'm using this as an excuse to rant a little bit. Please join me for a romp through telegraph history below the cut.)

So here's a question: What did Vincent Phantomhive need photo studio for?

(Ch 146 pg 12)

I had to double check the timeline of the history of photography to make sure it actually would have been a photo studio in his time, but that part totally works out:

We can assume Vincent worked as Queen's Watchdog in the period between Claudia Phantomhive's death in 1866 and his own death in 1885.

If nothing else, carte de visite were popular during that time. From Wikipedia:

The carte de visite was slow to gain widespread use until 1859, when Disdéri published Emperor Napoleon III's photos in this format. This made the format an overnight success. The new invention was so popular it was known as "cardomania" and it spread throughout Europe and then quickly to America and the rest of the world.

What would Vincent have done with a photo studio though? He was already a titled noble. He wouldn't have needed the income.

Maybe he used photographers the same way we've seen Ciel use a photograph against the Sphere Cult, to catch evil-doers redhanded and publish evidence of their crimes.

Maybe he was just fascinated with photography, and it was his "thing" in the same way that running a toy shop is Ciel Phantomhive's "thing." A fascination with chemistry and  invention is classic in the genre of Victorian mystery and crime-fighting heroes (a la Sherlock Holmes), so it would fit the mood of the story.

Maybe it was an excuse to have a hideout in London. Although that begs the question, what would Vincent have needed a hideout for? Our Ciel has very rarely needed a hideout, since again, he's a titled noble who can go where he pleases and doesn't need to run from the law (with rare exceptions). 

I suppose he commits a fair number of break-ins though, and probably needs a place to run when those don’t go well and he’s being chased by people with guns.

The Great Stink was an event in central London in July and August 1858 during which the hot weather exacerbated the smell of untreated human waste and industrial effluent that was present on the banks of the River Thames. The problem had been mounting for some years, with an aging and inadequate sewer system that emptied directly into the Thames. The miasma from the effluent was thought to transmit contagious diseases, and three outbreaks of cholera before the Great Stink were blamed on the ongoing problems with the river.

The smell, and fears of its possible effects, prompted action from the local and national administrators who had been considering possible solutions for the problem. The authorities accepted a proposal from the civil engineer Joseph Bazalgette to move the effluent eastwards along a series of interconnecting sewers that sloped towards outfalls beyond the metropolitan area. [...]

Bazalgette's work ensured that sewage was no longer dumped onto the shores of the Thames and brought an end to the cholera outbreaks; his actions are thought to have saved more lives than the efforts of any other Victorian official. His sewer system operates into the 21st century, servicing a city that has grown to a population of over eight million. The historian Peter Ackroyd argues that Bazalgette should be considered a hero of London.

I’m so proud of Finny for being able to enter the Funtom store and keeping his cool long enough to scope out the place and make a purchase without blowing everyone’s cover.

He’s really grown as a capable Phantomhive servant.

Didn’t Yana Toboso recently occupy the Bitter Rabbit costume for a real life Kuroshitsuji promotional event? (link to @akumadeenglish ‘s translation of her tweets about it.)

Does that make this self-insertion? Because it’s definitely the same mascot. Check out the tag on the ear, almost hidden by the speech bubble.

Our Ciel: I’ll take on the ghost of my brother that’s arisen from his grave!

Me:

(Ch 147 pg 27)

At the end of chapter 147, Our Ciel resolves to defeat the "ghost" of his brother and reclaim the estate, manor, and title of Earl Phantomhive.

So here's my big question: Does that plan align with the contract?

The terms of the contract stipulate that Sebastian must obey and protect Ciel while he pursues vengeance against the "mastermind" who "attacked House Phantomhive" (ch 138 pg 30). If Our Ciel stops pursuing the mastermind, that's a breach of contract.

That's why I'm so interested in what Sebastian has to say when he pulls Ciel aside at the end of the chapter. How Sebastian handles this situation will be crucial to how I predict the plot turning.

(ch 147 pg 28)

Sebastian might just be rebuking Ciel's table manors for now, but what will he do next? Will he pull him aside and repeat the same speech from the Green Witch arc, threatening to eat Ciel's soul on the spot unless he resumes his revenge? 

I think it's likely, considering he uses the same body language, even grabbing Ciel's face the same way he did when he threatened Ciel in Germany.

(ch 147 pg 28)

Our Ciel might try to argue that he does need his Earldom in order to achieve revenge. His plan up until this point was to continue to operate as Watchdog and living in the manor so that his enemies would come to him.

I don't think that's a strong argument though. Ciel's strategy was fine in the beginning when the "mastermind" didn't know he was still alive, but we can safely assume that they know now. Our Ciel has the resources of a devil and his capable servants, and the "mastermind" must know he's still alive. He doesn't really need to title anymore to kill his enemy.

But what should we think if what if Sebastian doesn't pull Ciel aside and lecture him about the contract? What if Sebastian allows this to continue as though reclaiming his title is the same as achieving revenge?

I would take that as confirmation of one of two things:

Either Sebastian agrees that reclaiming the title is a decent way of discovering the "mastermind" and pursuing revenge ...

... or one of the people Our Ciel will need to defeat in order to reclaim the title is the mastermind.

Pitt is willing to help the Phantomhive crew when they show up at his doorstep, but he’s not so loyal to them that he keeps their secrets.

He’s very clear that if he needs the money, he’ll sell the photo he took of Our Ciel Phantomhive when they entered the studio.

(Ch 145 pg 13)

And he immediately gives up their location when Randall corners him.

(Ch 145 pg 17)

Pitt might not be an enemy of Our Ciel in the sense that he would try to harm them.

But at this point, he’s not a helpful resource any more. When Our Ciel looks for allies to help him re-earn his Earldom, he should not look to Pitt for help. 

Our Ciel complains that everyone turned their backs on him in this chapter. 

Is that really true though? How many of Ciel’s allies have actually turned their backs on him?

I made a chart.

(Ch 141 pg 14)