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@faustian-spider-claude
I feel like pansexuals and asexuals are in this weird ghost world where the LGBTQ+ community recognizes us to use as a point of heterosexual culture trying to erase queer identities but then within the queer community they turn around and, well, erase us Like we don’t exist as people but merely as a concept to prove your point
What I want to do: tell people I’m asexual so it’s out of the way and they can stop assuming I’m allosexual
What I don’t want to do: give a 5 minute explanation of what asexuality is followed by a 10 minute debate on whether or not it’s actually a real thing followed by yet another another 10 minutes of uncomfortable questions as they continue to try and disprove my sexuality to me
Nothing More than a Craving
@strawhatshinobi97
This was the third night this week that Claude risked trespassing on the grounds of the Phantomhive estate. He would frequently tell himself it was just hunger. He was only feeling this way because he desired a meal. In reality, he knew that wasn’t the entire truth.
Word had gotten around that a demon, now called Sebastian it seemed, had formed a contract with a child, and it had become the subject of much talk. Contracts were rare, and those with children were nearly unheard of. It made him curious. Something about this child must have been special. He went through great pains to mimic everything he observed about their contract. Claude found himself a young boy who had lost everything he valued in a fire, who had been forced to service the disgusting whims of a perverted old man, who had been so broken by the world and yet retained a small piece of innocence and trust.
The results of his efforts, however, were less than satisfying. Despite all of the similarities, the soul that belonged to his master did not have the same appeal as the one he tried to replicate. Perhaps it was impossible to make a soul perfectly mirror another, but that thought did nothing to comfort him. If he was not able to recreate the soul of Ciel Phantomhive, then he would have to resort to stealing it.
That was what led Claude here yet again. He needed to find something that he could use to break their contract, or even some way to separate the child from his demon. His hypnotic abilities would work splendidly if he could get the young earl alone, but that would not be easy. Every moment he lingered increased his chances of being caught. For now, Sebastian seemed to be occupied with readying the earl for bed. It was wise for him to leave while he was still undetected, but he couldn’t bring himself to. He was risking a confrontation, but Claude wasn’t leaving until he had found some way to take Ciel’s soul for himself
Journey to the Past | @faustian-spider-claude
faustian-spider-claude
Claude’s eyes glowed at the open challenge. This boy had the audacity to think the he could best a demon like himself. Though he had more or less outgrown his younger and more aggressive tendencies, the demon still found it difficult to ignore such a show of arrogance and the great satisfaction that would come from putting him in his place. “I will take your challenge at another time,” he growled, “I imagine that starting a fight now would only attract unwanted attention, but don’t worry. I won’t forget about it”
He continued to follow behind Nicolo as the house slowly came into view. A decision would have to be made soon. Claude desperately wanted to find a way out of this situation, a choice that would put him on top. Unfortunately, none of his options were that ideal. Perhaps it would be best to go along with the boy’s plan for now. It would give him time to come up with something better.
“You asked me to take care of your brother and to ensure you could continue to practice,” the demon stated bluntly, “Those are not the same, and I could do one without the other. It also seems you are under the misconception that you have some sort of authority over my behavior. You did not ask me to be like this, but it’s of no consequence. So long as I am at risk of being discovered, I will act with as much suspicion and caution as I find appropriate regardless of how obnoxious you may find it.”
Claude tried to focus himself for what was coming. Using his hypnosis took a lot out of him. Having to use it twice in such a short amount of time would be downright exhausting. Thankfully, there at least wouldn’t be another demon standing in his way.
“Good! I’ll fight you and I’ll win! I’ll show you who–” The boy’s boasting quickly stopped, tiny legs freezing in place. Claude’s eyes…He’d never seen a demon’s eyes burn that threatening color before. Olive colored hues quickly dashed away from the dangerous glance. For the first time throughout his cocky spell, Nicolo felt a twinge of fear in his chest.
“Anyway…” the boy continued, pushing past the demon to walk ahead, changing the subject as quickly as possible. “Enzo is the only one keeping me from practicing. Right now he won’t let me because of you and your big mouth. If he forgets that there’s demons around me, there’s nothing to keep him from letting me practice. It’s easy.”
Nicolo’s eyes darted down to the cobblestone pavement, stepping on each stone one at a time, his arms outstretched the balance him. “I don’t care about Sabrael. She can’t hurt me. I have Djinn and Tariq to protect me. I’m not afraid of her, and you shouldn’t be either.”
Claude could only assume that Nicolo was naive. He would not be making light of Sabrael otherwise. “Your confidence doesn’t alleviate my concerns,” he said, “She is the sort of demon that could cut down Tariq and Djinn in one fell swoop. Why she has accepted a deal with that elder, I cannot say, but I am very cautious of her. I advise you to be as well.”
The demon let out a sigh and shook his head. There was no point anymore in trying to have a logical discussion with a child. Perhaps he should have left his unconscious body back when he had the chance. Claude had found him interesting then, but now the situation had only become more and more troublesome. If he was killed and sent back to Hell because of this mess, he vowed to make Nicolo suffer for it.
Once they had reached the house, he waited for the boy to enter first. Given the course of the evening, he half expected Lorenzo to be waiting on the other side of the door, ready to hit him over the head with a cooking pot. It was the perfect sort of ending for this entire debacle. Claude was just ready for it to be over. Hypnotize the brother, then he could finally have a chance to be alone wtih his thoughts.
the government, watching me from the cameras: “the lack of motivation on this girl. incredible.”
Journey to the Past | @faustian-spider-claude
faustian-spider-claude
Claude watched the boy continue on and fought against the urge to laugh at his change in attitude. Children always seemed to think themselves invincible. If it weren’t directed at him, the demon would’ve found it amusing.
“Well look who’s suddenly become full of themselves,” he mocked, following him down the path, “An old man claims you have some sort of special power, and you eat every word of it. If you really believe that having two tag-alongs makes you superior in some way, then don’t let me stop you. Just know that it’s only impressive to this Fierro character.”
Claude did consider the value of having Nicolo relay the actions of the commune to him. It would be plenty useful, and the book they had stolen would not have much about their current practices. Still, since leaving that place, the demon had a nagging sense of suspicion. There wasn’t anything to stop the boy from handing him over the next time, and Claude wasn’t about to push his luck sneaking in again. He would be dependent on Nicolo’s honesty, and he wasn’t sure that was a position he wanted to be in.
“If I believed you had some care about my well-being, I would put more value on your position with the commune. You put yourself in danger to get me into the practice chambers, but now it seems as if you would just as likely stab me in the back as you would protect me.”
An interesting dilemma this had become for him. If he refused to go any further, it was likely he would become a target, whether for their rituals or for death, but at the same time, he did not want to aid the continuation of these practices. Right now, Claude needed time to think. It was unlikely they were in any real danger, but at the same time Elder Fierro was the only one they convinced. He, unfortunately, was the one the demon was least worried about.
“Nicolo,” the demon asked, letting the thought run through his head, “What are the odds that your house is being watched right now? Perhaps it is nothing, but Sabrael did not believe our lie,and to my knowledge the elder did not forbid her from acting on it. Is there a chance she could have someone watching for you
“I do have power! I have an aptitude for magick, like my mother did. I had power even before Djinn and Tariq came around!” This demon was beginning to get on his nerves. How obnoxious he was, trying to prevent him from practicing like this, insulting him. He’d show Claude, he’d show all of them.
“I can out-perform every other student that the elders teach. Even the others with demons! I bet I could even fight you!” Now, that was a bold statement. Fighting an ancient demon, probably one as old as Tariq, didn’t sound like the best idea, but if it was the only way he could preserve his talents and his training, then he’d do it.
“No one’s watching the house. The elders trust me. Besides, their demons aren’t allowed to wander of on their own. They’re contracted. They’re very possessive over them.” The boy huffed, crossing his arms over his chest as he began to return home once more. “I don’t know why you’re being like this. I thought I told you to just take care of my brother. I didn’t ask you to be like this. It’s obnoxious.”
Claude’s eyes glowed at the open challenge. This boy had the audacity to think the he could best a demon like himself. Though he had more or less outgrown his younger and more aggressive tendencies, the demon still found it difficult to ignore such a show of arrogance and the great satisfaction that would come from putting him in his place. “I will take your challenge at another time,” he growled, “I imagine that starting a fight now would only attract unwanted attention, but don’t worry. I won’t forget about it”
He continued to follow behind Nicolo as the house slowly came into view. A decision would have to be made soon. Claude desperately wanted to find a way out of this situation, a choice that would put him on top. Unfortunately, none of his options were that ideal. Perhaps it would be best to go along with the boy’s plan for now. It would give him time to come up with something better.
“You asked me to take care of your brother and to ensure you could continue to practice,” the demon stated bluntly, “Those are not the same, and I could do one without the other. It also seems you are under the misconception that you have some sort of authority over my behavior. You did not ask me to be like this, but it’s of no consequence. So long as I am at risk of being discovered, I will act with as much suspicion and caution as I find appropriate regardless of how obnoxious you may find it.”
Claude tried to focus himself for what was coming. Using his hypnosis took a lot out of him. Having to use it twice in such a short amount of time would be downright exhausting. Thankfully, there at least wouldn’t be another demon standing in his way.
Here’s some more.
It’s shaping up to be a very productive summer.
That last one though
Bloody Reunion
“Brilliant,” Katherine replied. “I’m sure there’s no misunderstandings about the contract itself, but since I wrongly believed you were able to prolong my father’s recovery time, there’s already been an issue of what I expected you to be capable of. Discussing these things beforehand will likely save the inconvenience of similar situations in the future.”
Thomas’s brow flinched as he wanted to glare at the demon in response to the silent rebuttal, but he knew he shouldn’t have expected any different. Claude knew full well that Thomas was going to be a thorn in his side and the redhead realized that the demon’s loyalty to Katherine only meant that Claude couldn’t be openly hostile to him. It was in the demon’s favor that Katherine was the one that made the contract because Thomas would’ve been sure to make the demon’s servitude a miserable experience.
When they were alone, Thomas had to hold back a laugh as he quirked an eyebrow towards the new butler. There was no mistaking about how the two felt about each other from the moment they met, but he was glad that Claude was still willing to be so open about it once Katherine wasn’t around. It’d make the conversation go a lot smoother if they weren’t wasting time pretending.
“Very well then, though I’m sure you know damn well what I’m going to say,” he started off. “I suppose it’s worth saying that I have no plans on interfering with you and Katherine finding this first group. It’s as much her wish as is yours, even if it’s only yours so you can be a step closer to completing your end of the contract. I’m also aware that any attempt at confronting you at this point in time would be futile on my part.” Even after his arm heals, he wouldn’t think to try and attack a demon; he was bold, but not stupid.
“However, I firmly believe that every being in existence has a weakness, and I intend to find yours. Maybe she was having a moment of weakness or perhaps she truly values her soul so little to promise it to you, but I won’t willingly let her become a meal. You have every reason to laugh at me for saying such things now, but you asked me to share my peace and I did. Now would the opportune time for you to do the same.”
In her room it all Katherine could muster to step out of her comfortable bed. Her worries about Thomas and Claude being alone were minimal. Claude wouldn’t attack Thomas because it would violate their contract, and as stubborn as Thomas could be, she knew he was smart enough to know when he was out classed in terms of combat. But it was hard for her to concentrate think of anything as she gathered her nightly wares. She wondered if she would actually make it to having tea. She certainly didn’t have the energy to boil water and take a bath, but she still managed to give herself a minimal scrub with soap and water to wash away the grime from all the sweating she had done that night.
She pulled on her nightgown first and then wrapped herself in a robe. Katherine moved to her vanity to brush her hair when she finally noticed herself in the mirror. The mark had turned her iris from a vibrant green to a flat gold, the pentagram outlined with a glowing yellow, prongs of the stars red and the center dark purple. It was beautiful despite the sinister nature behind it. But seeing it brought a chuckle from Katherine’s throat. “You always said this family would go to hell without you, Mother. And here I thought you were just being dramatic.”
Claude didn’t bother to restrain his laugh or hide the sarcasm dripping from his voice. “You’ll find my weakness, will you?” he mocked, “You’re correct. The thought is absolutely laughable. You remind me of a caged animal, hissing and snarling in the hopes that you’ll one day be free from your prison.”
This man was either courageous or dimwitted, perhaps both. It was amusing to the demon that he believed there was some weakness he could discover, some way he could save his sister from her fate. All the same, Claude was certain that Thomas would be nothing but a nuisance to him. He would have to take joy in whatever mocking remarks he could sneak in. Katherine would, of course, have no tolerance if he were to openly disrespect her brother, and it was quite unbecoming for a butler of his caliber
“No matter,” he stated dismissively, brushing past Thomas to continue towards the kitchen, “Keep hoping for something that will never come to pass. I will finish this contract, have Katherine’s soul for my reward, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.”
The kitchen thankfully, was not as damaged as some of the other rooms. A couple shattered windows from where a few of the men had broken in were the only indicators anything had happened at all. The demon put a pot of water on to heat and poked his way through the cupboards as it did. He was well adept in this kind of work and even found it a bit relaxing. He grabbed the water the instant it was hot enough and set it on a tray along with the tea and a couple cups. Tea was much better when it was served just before drinking, of course. He had thoroughly ignored Thomas while he worked, but as he left to return to Katherine’s room, he couldn’t help but taunt him some more.
“I’ve come up with a brilliant idea,” he said, turning to face the young man. The smile on his face was anything but kind, “Since you have a moment, I’ll share it with you. I think I’ll let you watch when I devour her. After I’ve finished, I’ll just leave you here, leave you with image forever burned in your memory, but just before I do, I’ll whisper my condolences to you. After all, It won’t be your fault. There was nothing you could’ve done to save her.”
Leaving the red-head with that thought, Claude made his way back to his master’s room. “My Lady,” he softly spoke upon entering, “I have brought the tea if it would still please you.”
“And I can retell a number of stories where an animal did escape its confines and maul the one who held it captive,” Thomas replied, though his tone was a lot more defensive than intended. “Nevertheless, if you were as all-powerful as you’re trying to convince me you are then why don’t you stay on this plane and ravage souls at your leisure? Is a contract your anchor to this world, or is there something that creatures such as yourself want to avoid here?” He turned away from Claude, facing ahead. “Not that I expect you to answer such questions. Even if you decide to, there’s nothing stopping you from lying to me anyways so I can’t say I’ll even believe what you’ll tell me. So long as there’s one loose thread flawing your entire being then I intend to find it, and unravel it.”
As they reached the kitchen, Thomas simply watched as the butler familiarized himself with the room. He wondered if time alone was giving Katherine the chance to reflect on everything; maybe she’d realize the situation was more dangerous than she believed and she’d be more willing to let him help. She had just been so willing, and so quick to agree to Claude’s terms, even with as much as she argued. He just didn’t believe she was thinking rationally.
As the demon spoke to him before leaving, Thomas felt a certain…terror, a feeling of helplessness as Claude’s words sank in. His glare never left the other, but he couldn’t bring himself to retort. He had tried to be confident that there was a way out of all of this, but until he could find that way, everything the demon said was right. If he came up with nothing, then Katherine would die. What would he do then? He had never thought of a life where Katherine didn’t exist. Perhaps he’d have to resign to what he had said long before, and let Claude devour his soul as well.
It took Thomas a moment to realize the butler had already left by the time he regained his bearings. He thought he should hurry to follow him, but what would happen if he did? What would he say to him? What would he say to Katherine? His mind was just blank, and speaking to either of them was like speaking to a brick wall. He didn’t believe Katherine disrespected his concerns as much as Claude, but all the same it was easy to see she wished he’d just resigned to it all. With stiff legs he ventured further into the kitchen, rummaging around until he found a generous assortment of cooking liquors. “Perfect,” he grumbled to himself, retrieving a heavy bottle of bourbon and a glass and pouring himself a drink.
Katherine had finished brushing her hair, luckily having it tied up until that point had minimized the tangles she would’ve gotten during all the skirmishing, and had sat herself in the cushy armchair in the corner of her room. She had taken a random book and experimented with the sight of her now-marked eye. When she made the contract she was under the assumption that her eye would be left useless and still retaining her sight was a pleasant surprise. Her marked eye was even instilled with perfect vision whereas her right eye was still afflicted with near-sightedness. Though she still couldn’t see if it was covered, she noticed when she placed a hand over it. She knew she’d have to wear an eyepatch to hide the mark completely, but it seemed so garish. She was already getting tired of the ‘you poor thing’ looks she had been getting since her mother’s death and she wasn’t looking to get more each time someone saw her ‘injured’ eye.
The younger twin tried swiping her bangs to the side over her eye, looking at herself in a hand mirror when Claude walked back in. It was style that might work if she grew her bangs out, but at that moment it just looked a bit ridiculous as her bangs barely reached over most of her eye at all.
“Yes, that’s fine,” she spoke, trying to correct her hair back into place, a little embarrassed to be seen fussing over her appearance. When she looked back up she noticed Thomas wasn’t with him anymore. She hadn’t expected whatever they were going to talk about to be pleasant, given Thomas’s apparent disdain for the demon, but she was still a bit surprised he decided to stay behind.
“He has no intention of coming to peace with this arrangement,” she spoke. “I’m sure you realize that. Stubbornness is a trait that runs rampant in our family, for better or for worse. I just have no intention of mediating whatever transpires between you two. I’m going to have neither the time nor the energy for it.” Katherine was certain she wouldn’t be able to avoid it completely, but she could try to minimize her involvement if the two respected her enough to keep her out of their squabbles.
“You ought not to worry, My Lady,” Claude reassured, “I will make sure keep my behavior professional. Setting aside his dislike of your situation, I’m still certain we can at least be tolerant of each other. That is, I will tolerate him so long as he doesn’t try to interfere with our arrangement.”
The demon poured Katherine a cup of tea. He had grabbed a cup for Thomas as well, but it seemed the young man had not followed him as expected. All for the better. His master’s company was the only on he preferred to be in anyway. Cultivating a soul took time, and Claude didn’t want to waste any of it with meaningless bystanders.
“I have reserved the rest of the night for cleaning and repairing the manor,” he stated, “I will regularly monitor your father’s health, and though I don’t expect any your assailants to return, I will be keeping watch for them as well. Have you considered how we will proceed tomorrow? You wished to discuss the finer points of our contract, but that should be short work. Is there anything else in particular that you wish to accomplish,or would you like a day to rest?”
Journey to the Past | @faustian-spider-claude
faustian-spider-claude
Claude had been listening quietly until the boy’s final request. Make it so I can practice again. That sounded like the last thing he wanted.
“What benefit would I get out of allowing these practices to continue?” he asked, “Why would I, why would any demon want this to continue? I can understand why your brother must forget us, It would be dangerous to allow him to speak with the elders, but I cannot ignore what I’ve found in this place.”
Claude felt like everything he may have accomplished was being undone, but he supposed it would be equally as suspicious if Lorenzo stopped Nicolo from practicing for no apparent reason. The elders would immediately assume something was wrong. As much as he hated turning a blind eye to these disgusting practices, it was the most sensible decision for now.
“Fine,” he said with an exasperated sigh, “I’ll relent this once. Lead the way. I’ll convince him that you stopped me before I was able to do anything. I also suggest you put away your shadow pet. It’ll be difficult to make your brother believe there aren’t any demons while there’s one sitting in the room.”
“What do you mean?” The boy asked, finally pulling away from Djinn. For the first time in this demon’s presence, he felt an obscene amount of anger towards him. How dare he try to stop his practicing. What did this stupid man hold over him, a prodigy? It would be a sin to hide his talents from the world.
“I have to practice. Elder Fierro says I can’t let my talents go to waste. New souls don’t come around often. Why wouldn’t you want someone on the inside? Isn’t that a benefit to you? If I have power in this community, I can easily influence them to spare you and enslave those you want out of your way. You don’t realize how much of a benefit I am to you.”
Turning his back to the spider, he made a shooing gesture towards his familiars, telling them to retreat once more. The boy followed the same moonlit trail he’d memorized since the day he arrived in this commune, still refusing to look back at Claude. “I’ll practice. With or without your intervention. What you get out of it is up to you.”
Claude watched the boy continue on and fought against the urge to laugh at his change in attitude. Children always seemed to think themselves invincible. If it weren’t directed at him, the demon would’ve found it amusing.
“Well look who’s suddenly become full of themselves,” he mocked, following him down the path, “An old man claims you have some sort of special power, and you eat every word of it. If you really believe that having two tag-alongs makes you superior in some way, then don’t let me stop you. Just know that it’s only impressive to this Fierro character.”
Claude did consider the value of having Nicolo relay the actions of the commune to him. It would be plenty useful, and the book they had stolen would not have much about their current practices. Still, since leaving that place, the demon had a nagging sense of suspicion. There wasn’t anything to stop the boy from handing him over the next time, and Claude wasn’t about to push his luck sneaking in again. He would be dependent on Nicolo’s honesty, and he wasn’t sure that was a position he wanted to be in.
“If I believed you had some care about my well-being, I would put more value on your position with the commune. You put yourself in danger to get me into the practice chambers, but now it seems as if you would just as likely stab me in the back as you would protect me.”
An interesting dilemma this had become for him. If he refused to go any further, it was likely he would become a target, whether for their rituals or for death, but at the same time, he did not want to aid the continuation of these practices. Right now, Claude needed time to think. It was unlikely they were in any real danger, but at the same time Elder Fierro was the only one they convinced. He, unfortunately, was the one the demon was least worried about.
“Nicolo,” the demon asked, letting the thought run through his head, “What are the odds that your house is being watched right now? Perhaps it is nothing, but Sabrael did not believe our lie,and to my knowledge the elder did not forbid her from acting on it. Is there a chance she could have someone watching for you
Kuroshitsuji I/II » The boys and their butlers
Journey to the Past | @faustian-spider-claude
faustian-spider-claude
Claude poked his head out from his hiding place. It seemed they were far enough away from that wretched place, at least far enough that he no longer had to hide.
“Quite easily,” he replied, jumping down from Nicolo’s shoulder to resume his human form, “I do not have to hide myself, so my abilities will not be hindered, and I certainly can’t expect you to blatantly lie to your brother. Simply tell me what you want him to believe, and the rest will be trivial.”
Frankly, dealing with Lorenzo was the last thing Claude was concerned about. There were more pressing issues demanding his attention, but preventing Nicolo’s brother from contacting the elder he had narrowly escaped would save him several headaches later.
Leaning against the same building, the demon let out a sigh as he waited for the boy to collect himself. “It truly is pitiful,” he mumbled, “to be reduced to nothing more than a twisted silhouette of your former self, to have your powers manipulated by someone else.” He was of course, referring to the familiars. It was strange to say he felt sorry for them. He didn’t believe himself capable of such a thing, but even contracts were not as restrictive as that. Whatever was to come from their actions tonight, Claude would make certain not to end up trapped in the same prison…whatever it took.
Anything he wanted him to believe? Well, then…perhaps Nicolo could do a bit more than he imagined with this. Of course, he could simply hypnotize his brother into forgetting about his need to meet with the elders. But at the same time, he could go much further, ensuring that this mess never reared its ugly head.
With a smirk playing on his lips, he turned towards Claude, petting Djinn yet again. “I want you to change his thoughts. Make him forget that you and them are demons, that you’ve even met. Make him forget that he has an urgency with the elders.And lastly…make it so that I can practice again.”
That sounded about right. He was very proud of the way he’d just thought. He didn’t even have time to listen to Claude’s lamentations. It must’ve been truly horrible, being bound to servitude for life like Djinn and Tariq. But the power that it gave him was incredible. Far too incredible to pass up. With them, his options were limitless. He could do whatever he wanted. They weren’t his slaves, of course. They were more like….partners.
“Come on…it’s getting too late. The longer we stay out here, the more trouble we’ll be in.”
Claude had been listening quietly until the boy’s final request. Make it so I can practice again. That sounded like the last thing he wanted.
“What benefit would I get out of allowing these practices to continue?” he asked, “Why would I, why would any demon want this to continue? I can understand why your brother must forget us, It would be dangerous to allow him to speak with the elders, but I cannot ignore what I’ve found in this place.”
Claude felt like everything he may have accomplished was being undone, but he supposed it would be equally as suspicious if Lorenzo stopped Nicolo from practicing for no apparent reason. The elders would immediately assume something was wrong. As much as he hated turning a blind eye to these disgusting practices, it was the most sensible decision for now.
“Fine,” he said with an exasperated sigh, “I’ll relent this once. Lead the way. I’ll convince him that you stopped me before I was able to do anything. I also suggest you put away your shadow pet. It’ll be difficult to make your brother believe there aren’t any demons while there’s one sitting in the room.”
Bloody Reunion
“Brilliant,” Katherine replied. “I’m sure there’s no misunderstandings about the contract itself, but since I wrongly believed you were able to prolong my father’s recovery time, there’s already been an issue of what I expected you to be capable of. Discussing these things beforehand will likely save the inconvenience of similar situations in the future.”
Thomas’s brow flinched as he wanted to glare at the demon in response to the silent rebuttal, but he knew he shouldn’t have expected any different. Claude knew full well that Thomas was going to be a thorn in his side and the redhead realized that the demon’s loyalty to Katherine only meant that Claude couldn’t be openly hostile to him. It was in the demon’s favor that Katherine was the one that made the contract because Thomas would’ve been sure to make the demon’s servitude a miserable experience.
When they were alone, Thomas had to hold back a laugh as he quirked an eyebrow towards the new butler. There was no mistaking about how the two felt about each other from the moment they met, but he was glad that Claude was still willing to be so open about it once Katherine wasn’t around. It’d make the conversation go a lot smoother if they weren’t wasting time pretending.
“Very well then, though I’m sure you know damn well what I’m going to say,” he started off. “I suppose it’s worth saying that I have no plans on interfering with you and Katherine finding this first group. It’s as much her wish as is yours, even if it’s only yours so you can be a step closer to completing your end of the contract. I’m also aware that any attempt at confronting you at this point in time would be futile on my part.” Even after his arm heals, he wouldn’t think to try and attack a demon; he was bold, but not stupid.
“However, I firmly believe that every being in existence has a weakness, and I intend to find yours. Maybe she was having a moment of weakness or perhaps she truly values her soul so little to promise it to you, but I won’t willingly let her become a meal. You have every reason to laugh at me for saying such things now, but you asked me to share my peace and I did. Now would the opportune time for you to do the same.”
In her room it all Katherine could muster to step out of her comfortable bed. Her worries about Thomas and Claude being alone were minimal. Claude wouldn’t attack Thomas because it would violate their contract, and as stubborn as Thomas could be, she knew he was smart enough to know when he was out classed in terms of combat. But it was hard for her to concentrate think of anything as she gathered her nightly wares. She wondered if she would actually make it to having tea. She certainly didn’t have the energy to boil water and take a bath, but she still managed to give herself a minimal scrub with soap and water to wash away the grime from all the sweating she had done that night.
She pulled on her nightgown first and then wrapped herself in a robe. Katherine moved to her vanity to brush her hair when she finally noticed herself in the mirror. The mark had turned her iris from a vibrant green to a flat gold, the pentagram outlined with a glowing yellow, prongs of the stars red and the center dark purple. It was beautiful despite the sinister nature behind it. But seeing it brought a chuckle from Katherine’s throat. “You always said this family would go to hell without you, Mother. And here I thought you were just being dramatic.”
Claude didn’t bother to restrain his laugh or hide the sarcasm dripping from his voice. “You’ll find my weakness, will you?” he mocked, “You’re correct. The thought is absolutely laughable. You remind me of a caged animal, hissing and snarling in the hopes that you’ll one day be free from your prison.”
This man was either courageous or dimwitted, perhaps both. It was amusing to the demon that he believed there was some weakness he could discover, some way he could save his sister from her fate. All the same, Claude was certain that Thomas would be nothing but a nuisance to him. He would have to take joy in whatever mocking remarks he could sneak in. Katherine would, of course, have no tolerance if he were to openly disrespect her brother, and it was quite unbecoming for a butler of his caliber
“No matter,” he stated dismissively, brushing past Thomas to continue towards the kitchen, “Keep hoping for something that will never come to pass. I will finish this contract, have Katherine’s soul for my reward, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.”
The kitchen thankfully, was not as damaged as some of the other rooms. A couple shattered windows from where a few of the men had broken in were the only indicators anything had happened at all. The demon put a pot of water on to heat and poked his way through the cupboards as it did. He was well adept in this kind of work and even found it a bit relaxing. He grabbed the water the instant it was hot enough and set it on a tray along with the tea and a couple cups. Tea was much better when it was served just before drinking, of course. He had thoroughly ignored Thomas while he worked, but as he left to return to Katherine’s room, he couldn’t help but taunt him some more.
“I’ve come up with a brilliant idea,” he said, turning to face the young man. The smile on his face was anything but kind, “Since you have a moment, I’ll share it with you. I think I’ll let you watch when I devour her. After I’ve finished, I’ll just leave you here, leave you with image forever burned in your memory, but just before I do, I’ll whisper my condolences to you. After all, It won’t be your fault. There was nothing you could’ve done to save her.”
Leaving the red-head with that thought, Claude made his way back to his master’s room. “My Lady,” he softly spoke upon entering, “I have brought the tea if it would still please you.”
Bloody Reunion
Once they made it to Katherine’s room, the twins draped themselves over her large bed. Thomas wrapped his free arm protectively around her waist while she rested her head on his chest. Katherine’s body was exhausted from the trauma from receiving her mark, but her mind was far from ready to settle for sleep. Thomas was in a similar boat, but as adrenaline subsided, he was becoming much more aware of his broken arm, a sting resonating through his body with every beat of his heart.
“You’re absolutely insane,” Thomas spoke up after a period of silence.
Katherine parted her eyes and glanced up at him with a tired glare, the golden glow of her marked eye making her appear more menacing. “I was really hoping you’d wait a day before you started your complaints again.”
“You’re implying there’s going to be times when complaining will be more convenient for you.”
“Am I really so in the wrong?” she asked. She turned over onto her stomach, folding her arms on his chest and resting her chin on them as she spoke. “Even if Claude’s appearance scared this batch off, it’s incredibly likely that more would come back. And with Father incapacitated and you with your arm broken, we wouldn’t have been safe. And what if that man had killed father and taken us? You probably would’ve been beaten and tortured into a mindless henchman and I’d wind up chained to a headboard somewhere.” Thomas visibly grimaced when she mentioned her hypothetical fate. She felt slightly guilty about being so blunt about it, but it was for the sake of convincing him she had made the right choice. “I realize this might seem like a short-sighted decision. Perhaps it is. But would you not have done the same?”
Thomas sighed through his nose and looked away. That was the exact problem. They were in the exact same situation and yet he froze and let her take the fall. He should’ve been the stronger one; he should’ve been the one to protect them both. Not her. And certainly not this demon…
Speaking of which, Thomas’s glare towards the demon wasn’t subtle when he entered the room, especially since Katherine was quick to sit up upon hearing his voice. He didn’t have too much time to brood as she urged him up to sit as well.
“Thank you,” she replied genuinely. “Our father isn’t unused to being attacked, but he’s usually in a better position to fight back.” When he’s not worried about his children being shot along with him.
As Claude started dressing his injury, Thomas was positive that their unspoken animosity towards each other would surface through subtle rough treatment of his broken arm as he handled it and the redhead found himself humbled when the demon handled it more responsibly than he would’ve. Now that it was set more properly and there wasn’t the surge of pain in his every movement when his arm was hanging uselessly, he certainly felt a lot more calm as well. He looked at Claude for a moment once the work was finished and opened his mouth for a split second to express gratitude, but soon closed it again without saying a word and looking away. Though he doubted the demon had any misconceptions of how Thomas felt about him, he still wasn’t ready to accept him so readily just because he followed Katherine’s orders.
“That sounds pleasant,” Katherine spoke in regards to Claude’s suggestion. “Any…casualties you find then take to the cellar as well. We’ll have to notify their families.” Realizing the gravity of having to smooth this whole situation over made her sigh as she felt a headache start to surface. “And I suppose any servants that managed to escape this ordeal will be fired. It’ll be difficult enough keeping Father out of the loop without them.” She turned to Thomas. “Plus, we’re adults, it’s not as if we need an abundance of workers to take care of us.”
Looking back to Claude, she continued on. “And it’ll be beyond my comprehension tonight, but tomorrow I’d like to have a more thorough discussion about our contract as well. I’m certain we both have certain expectations of each other in regards to this arrangement that should be made known.” It might also be a good opportunity to learn the extent of some of his abilities, and perhaps get some other questions answered.
Thomas chuckled slightly. “You’re beginning to sound like Mother with how thorough you’re being. But it’s only the first night, Sister; please don’t overwhelm yourself with all you’ve been through already.” Thinking on it, Thomas got a thought and stood up. “Actually, why don’t I show our new employee where the kitchen is?” Looking from Claude back to Katherine, he gave her a calm smile. “While I’m sure he can find it on his own, you can change into your nightwear while we’re gone.” It was plainly obvious that Thomas wanted a moment alone with the demon himself, but he was sure Katherine was eager to get out of her heels and corset now that he brought it up.
Katherine gave him a suspicious look, knowing his true intentions, but she trusted him to not make any rash remarks or actions. “I suppose if you want to then I can’t stop you.” Not to mention that if it was between him leaving and him staying and continuing his pestering of her decision, she’d rather have a minute to herself.
Satisfied with her answer, Thomas turned back to Claude. “Well, shall we, Mr. Faustus?”
Claude bowed at Katherine’s request. “Of course, my Lady. By the morning, I will have your home in perfect repair, and I will gladly answer any questions you may have.” His tone shifted as a sly smirk formed on his face. “So long as you understand that nothing about our arrangement is subject to change. Our contract is signed with your soul. I believe you would call it legal and binding. However, any explanations will be fully given to you.”
The demon was slightly taken off guard when Thomas offered to lead him to the kitchen. He was already familiar with its location as well as the rest of the home. However, he quickly pieced together that the young man simply wanted to engage him away from his sister’s presence. So be it. Claude was confident that he wasn’t going to harm him at all. Even if Thomas wanted to attack him, his broken arm would be all but useless. The worst the man would probably be able to manage were threats, and those were of no concern to the demon.
“Of course, lead the way Thomas,” Claude spoke, giving the words a subtle sneer as they left his lips. Though in any public setting he would certainly address the young man with the appropriate title, it was only the three of them here now, and he ensured that Thomas understood he was loyal only to Katherine. What better way to communicate that one has no authority than refusing to address them by their proper title.
Once they were out of earshot, Claude let out an irritated sigh. “I think I’ve had enough of these hidden glares. I know you have something to say, so speak. I have much work I ought to do after tea is served and would like to begin as quickly as possible.”
Journey to the Past | @faustian-spider-claude
faustian-spider-claude
Claude let out a sigh of relief as the two ascended the stairs. That was much too close. He should’ve known better than to expect Nicolo to stay confident and focused around his elder, but there wasn’t anything else he could’ve done without revealing his presence.
“Finally,” the demon whispered, “Let’s leave before that man realizes you’ve lied to him. Sabrael was not convinced, and I’m certain she is still monitoring us closely.”
The spider eyed the boy’s bag where the book had been hidden. As long as he had that, then there was no reason to stay here. Once they left this horrific dungeon of a room, he would be able to pour over the pages as he wished.
“I will be relieving you of that book once we return to your home,” Claude stated, “It is only a matter of time before someone realizes it is missing. Since you were found practicing down here, you will naturally be their first suspect, and I imagine it would cause you and your brother a great mess of trouble should the book be found in your possession.”
Granted, it also placed him in danger as well. He didn’t imagine these cultists would be very forgiving after finding their stolen book. Perhaps he should leave it with Nicolo after all. He felt a sharp stab in his mind….right, there was still that presence to deal with. He wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything if it continued to interrupt him, and yet, without its help he could’ve very well been discovered.He needed to learn what it was, or at least a way to control it…
With frustrated sigh, Claude buried himself further underneath the boy’s shirt. “…we should go…”
Nicolo didn’t need to be told twice to leave. He gathered his bag and his courage and began bolting up the stairs, ensuring that his now-summoned familiars were following him. He’d listened to every word Claude said, but refused to speak himself until they were far enough down the street that they were out of Sabrael’s range. Giving off a relieved sigh, the boy took a moment to pause, leaning against a nearby building.
“That was too close…Thank you for helping us, Djinn.” A hand cautiously reached out for the shadow creature, petting down its back like it was his pet. Its form was cold, clammy and smooth, almost like that of some sea monster. The demon gave no verbal response to the boy, but simply nuzzled against his touch amicably.
“Enzo will be so angry at me when I get home,” Nicolo mused, watching Djinn circle around him. Each time the demon would pass his front, it would nuzzle against his outstretched hand. “He’ll try to talk to the elders about this, about all of you demons. When he goes to them, they’ll figure out we were the ones who stole the book, wouldn’t they? We’ll get in trouble…”
The brunette’s olive hues lifted up, meeting the shining gaze of the moon in the sky. His tone grew serious, his face drained of all childishness. “Can you hypnotize him too, Claude?”
Claude poked his head out from his hiding place. It seemed they were far enough away from that wretched place, at least far enough that he no longer had to hide.
“Quite easily,” he replied, jumping down from Nicolo’s shoulder to resume his human form, “I do not have to hide myself, so my abilities will not be hindered, and I certainly can’t expect you to blatantly lie to your brother. Simply tell me what you want him to believe, and the rest will be trivial.”
Frankly, dealing with Lorenzo was the last thing Claude was concerned about. There were more pressing issues demanding his attention, but preventing Nicolo’s brother from contacting the elder he had narrowly escaped would save him several headaches later.
Leaning against the same building, the demon let out a sigh as he waited for the boy to collect himself. “It truly is pitiful,” he mumbled, “to be reduced to nothing more than a twisted silhouette of your former self, to have your powers manipulated by someone else.” He was of course, referring to the familiars. It was strange to say he felt sorry for them. He didn’t believe himself capable of such a thing, but even contracts were not as restrictive as that. Whatever was to come from their actions tonight, Claude would make certain not to end up trapped in the same prison...whatever it took.
Pick a God and pray
Fredrick, Fire Emblem Awakening (pretty much the most raw ass shit you can say right before you about to fuck someone up)
