#bb observations

And yet in more recent chapters....

Chapter 12 of the official Black Butler Anthology has Sebastian pretend to be Ciel's childhood friend for the day (the "osananajimi" trope in romance anime, even teases him playfully)

Sebastian, as himself, likes holding Ciel's hand, and walking side by side with the Young Master... But Ciel doesn't think it's possible to hold hands with Sebastian like this because he isn't human... Or at least they can't, because of their current roles and circumstances.

He does not allow himself to succumb to such illusions.

Sobbing hands and knees on the floor rn, once again plugging in Hallucination because I keep hurting myself thinking about how they believe it's not possible for them to hold each other's hands, as master and servant, as demon and human.

Thinking about Sebastian having inner conflict, wondering if it's such a sin as a demon to enjoy holding his master's hand, a simple touch of affection. So unbecoming of a servant and yet indulging in it every chance he gets... Dancing with him, carrying him, helping him into/out of the carriage.. what would it be like to hold his master's hand in his own, without pretense nor necessity?

They can never walk side by side, that's the way things are. And yet...

To want this much...

I might be forgetful but I've never seen him caress Ciel's face this indulgently before (whilst in the middle of battle even)

From earlier arcs, the only scenes that come to mind of a gentle caress similar to this one are these

Wherein Sebastian admires Ciel's eye, where the seal of their covenant resides in/will reside in. His loyalty to Ciel at this point in time is solely attributed to the contract, and it reflects in this action.

Writing this bc I remembered another moment in which I grew to love Sebastian

He has such complete faith in his master, he trusts Ciel's ability and resolve. The entire cricket match, Sebastian was only supporting from the sidelines, but it was Ciel who took the podium, instructed the team, and used wicked strategies to win the game.

It's like saying: "If my Young Master says he'll win, then he will."

He doesn't even have any doubt, he already has a uniform prepared for Ciel's victory.

I was reminded of it when I encountered these panels, which occured after Ciel declared that he will take back the title "Earl Ciel Phantomhive":

It seems dressing Ciel in finery is Sebastian's love language. His unwavering show of support. (After all, an indication of Sebastian's absence is represented by Ciel looking unkempt)

This whole time while the household was running from the law and are hiding with Lau, Sebastian was mostly silent and contemplative, only thinking of how to protect and survive, and Ciel was really quiet too. No doubt Sebastian was in a state of limbo as well

It seems he was waiting for Ciels command. I believe he'd even acquiesce with running away like a coward, even if it would prolong Ciel's revenge. Perhaps he was already forlornly imagining how his master would undoubtedly still thrive in another part of the world.

After the Reunion, instead of shocking his master back to his senses like in GWA, Sebastian patiently waited for Ciel's next move. When his master is decisive anew, he welcomed it with open arms. He is learning. Becoming more attuned to his master's emotions perhaps, becoming more sensitive

And then this happens: a gorgeous parallel to Chapter 2, the first instance of Ciel reaffirming his identity as "Ciel Phantomhive"

Their initial plan at the moment was to escape the country. I was almost afraid that Ciel would be too affected to fight his brother, but once again he shows his ridiculous mental strength.

This is surely another moment of Sebastian regaining his faith in his master. In fact, gaining moreso.

With all this in mind, I like to think that Sebastian buying expensive clothes for Ciel, even though Ciel was stripped of rank, riches, and title... It's like saying once again:

"You told me you would win, so naturally, I prepared for the occasion."

Ugh the parallels. Ugh the faith and devotion. UGH the character development, the respect he has for this boy.

Rereading the Blue Memory arc, the contrast between early contract and present Sebastian is so palpable. Could you even imagine??? The difference is a chasm. That demon is so whipped.

At first he was like "lol 'Earl Ciel' Phantomhive 🙄🤭😒"

And now he's like "Earl Ciel Phantomhive 🧎‍♂️🧎‍♂️🧎‍♂️🤲🤲✨✨"

Examining holistically, after everything they've been through, it seems something has shifted. It seems something previously considered "unattainable" has grown in Sebastian.

In the Indian Butler arc, many months prior, Sebastian claimed that "Faith" born out of love and devotion for another person is impossible for demons to achieve.

Sebastian... Boy, I have news for you.

Reading @mister-astringent's amazing oneshot again, rn I'm laughing, and my mind ran away with me. I was thinking about Sebastian having urges to eat Ciel's soul but preventing himself because there will come a proper time.

And I joked to myself "he's waiting until marriage", then I started cackling jfhfjdj

Now I'm giggling and kicking my feet about Sebastian thinking of "marriage" in his fleeting thoughts. It's so fun to think about this.

(I saw this on twitter, I'm gonna link it when I find it again)

I think it's really cute... Sebastian imagining "human marriage". Half of it is genuine and the other half feels like playing a game, playing house. A silly indulgent daydream that inadvertently got out of hand.

It's funny to think of Sebastian going like "we're human-married" as a bit, and Ciel doesn't even know.

He likes the Ceremony of things, it seems. I imagine he'd enjoy thinking about an imaginary wedding while he works. Picking out roses and making mental bouquet arrangements. "Ah yes, this would be most suitable for the Young Master". Venues and color schemes, the perfect catering service, the guests' dresscode. It's something entertaining to idly think about.

However, this imaginary wedding has gotten so detailed and out of hand, you could fill an entire booklet of specifications he's thought up in his free time.

Maybe this little daydream seeps into reality little by little, in the form of him dressing them up like this lmao

(Love how they're always matching in these official arts)

Another thing that makes Sebastian wanting to "marry" Ciel kind of cute is that 👉👈 Marriage seems to be a foreign concept to demons. It promises an eternal and unwavering bond, but in the grand scheme of things it is not binding in a way that is absolute, not in a way a demon respects. No bond is more binding or trustworthy than a contract, after all. Marriage holds no candle.

And yet... Sebastian thinking of this, marriage to his master, even as a thought or fantasy... I think it's really cute because it reminds me of a young person's concept of marriage. Someone new to love and exploring its concepts for the first time, maybe even looking up popular traditions and thinking/studying about them in his free time. Trying to understand its appeal and relating it to what he already knows to be the ultimate form of Union.

The difference between the binding of a marriage and a contract is that the only real tether between two people in a marriage is their own will. It is their own choice to stay tethered. Somehow, in this light, it becomes even more meaningful than the absolute union of a Demonic Contract. And so Sebastian dreams.

Since essentially, Seb is New to these concepts, or New to thinking about them, it's almost "innocent"..? There's a gap moe for an otherworldly being playing house out of their fascination and attachment to this one human that they, at first, weren't privy to being attached to.

And I could see Sebastian treating this as fact, cheekily, like it's an inside joke only he knows. That he's essentially "contractually married" to his Master. (Although that is NOT how demonic contracts work. It's something nice for him to think about. Leave him alone, he's romanticizing his own contract)

He'd huff to himself silently, chuckling, a fist to his mouth using the term "the old Ball and Chain" in reference to his Master. "My other half/worse-off half" etc.

And we know that Goshujin-sama means Master. Sebastian calls Ciel this sometimes. But it also means "husband". I like to think about him testing it out in his mind, the shape of it on his tongue. (Although, "bocchan" rolls off so easily, its an eternally precious term and he'd rather keep using that term instead)

(on a related note, narratively, marriage usually means the most exciting part of a ship is over, because all their issues are usually resolved at this point in the story, but sbcl "marriage" doesn't sound like It's Over. Probably because they already have a binding contract like "marriage", and still they have interesting character development and issues.)

Anyway I think I like it when Sebastian likes such small and simple things. Things you wouldn't think a beast would like.

He likes his master's cheeks,

he likes his hair,

he thinks he's beautiful,

he likes holding his hand,

he likes cooking good meals because he wants to see the Young Master smile etc.

And I think it's very in-line with Ciel's in-universe mischaracterization of Sebastian, for him to enjoy something as human as the finite fantasy of Marriage. He finds beauty in things that have An End after all, in laughably impossible promises, in things that are fleeting. And it would just be an added bonus: the materialization of the thread (the chain) that connects them in this way, seals akin to engagement rings.

They don't even interact by much, and yet it's so clear they have something going on between them. The thing is, the students don't know what exactly, so all they can do is speculate.

It's not rare for students to visit the housemaster for lessons at the end of the day, but Phantomhive does it on the daily. This could be explained away by saying "ah well, that's how Phantomhive gets to have good grades all the time, he's diligent and tutors with Master Michaelis"

(I do like the detail that the lessons they're covering are lessons he and Sebastian have had back in the manor)

Schoolboys can be quite the gossips

"Have you ever noticed how different they act around each other? They arrived around the same time too."

"I once heard Phantomhive call the housemaster 'Sebastian' near the powder rooms. That's against the rules, right? We can't even call each other by our first names."

"One time, I wanted to ask the professor for an extension on an assignment. It was pretty late too so I didn't want to make too much noise. When I peeked in his office to check if he was there, I saw Phantomhive sitting on the Housemaster's chair?? Master Michaelis was putting Phantomhive's coat on a rack, and the guy started loosening his own tie! Then he started demanding the professor for something sweet. That was kind of unlike him, shouting like that. This is off, way off.

I think Master Michaelis saw me so I ran back to the dorms. The next day, he gave me an extension and I didn't even get to ask!"

Trying to assess what made this scene so,, intriguing.

The music makes you go like 👀👂.. they knew what they were doing

Ciel sitting on the professor's desk, the professor serving him and taking off his jacket????? The role reversal and power move— i

And Ciel didn't need to remove his jacket. The two of them just did that. Usually you'd remove your jacket in a place you own, or somewhere you have authority and are at ease.

But doing it in the professor's office (???)

As if wherever Sebastian is is automatically his personal space like— The nerve of this guy. Once again a power move.

He is above Sebastian's station, someone who in normal circumstances should be someone of higher rank than Ciel as housemaster and professor. Because secretly they're master and servant. That's crazy. God, the alarm bells going off in my head, since in my head Sebastian is a teacher (and therefore above him)

Brazen things Ciel did in the span of 2 minutes:

threw his books on his professor's desk

removed his jacket in front of the professor

had the professor take his jacket off and put on a coat rack

sat on the professor's chair (with improper posture mind you) and loosened his tie

If anyone else saw this they'd think Ciel was a brat (he is)

Although it might not be strange for a teacher to serve tea 🤔. Ciel didn't even finish the tea tf

This arc has me in a chokehold against the floor

I'm not much into teacherxstudent scenarios, but with sebaciel it works because they're roleplaying, they're having fun with it. It's a powerplay.