Neverending counting sheep

muses: Claudia Phantomhive, Vincent Phantomhive, the Undertaker/ rp and fanart blog

[rxseandscythe]

​

A blink from the mortician, surprised at a request. Why ever would she feel like she’d need to stifle herself from her emotions? Society may be part to blame for such, yet Undertaker gave a lackadaisical shrug in answer. “Don’t care if’n y’laugh or not, m’lady. Emotions’re difficult t’process during grief, an’ sometimes one finds that they do odd things during it.” There would be no mention of it regardless; the mortician was not exactly in any position to chastise a woman of nobility as to what she could and couldn’t do.

Besides, it wasn’t like Undertaker had any personal reason to or to not force the Lady Phantomhive to stay in an emotion. Humans were complicated. Humans were simple.

Humans, were humans.

He took the offered hand and carefully led her into the shop, “Mind your step, s’rather dark in here.” Undertaker said, despite the few lone candles that were lit in various spots. A few windows bedecked in grime allowed some manner of light in, but the rest were covered by a thick drape to prevent sunlight from filtering in. Caskets and coffins were askew all over the front of the parlour, though Undertaker didn’t stop there; directing the Lady Phantomhive to the back. Two tables, one occupied with a “guest”, sheet covering the body. It was brighter back here, a few candles and windows were notably brighter. “Don’t mind th’guest, had a mishap.” He explained, letting go of her hand to let her pick a seat at the granite table so he could fuss around with the tea, “Think I have some jasmine, though I got a nice lavender too. A dear friend gave me some – would y’like that? Or would y’prefer black tea, m’dear?”

Hazel eyes narrowed almost unnoticeable under the veil when the mortician took Claudia’s hand to lead her to his shop. 

Their meeting today wasn’t just about the funeral preparation. It was the first time the young lady Phantomhive was alone with the Undertaker, so it was a great opportunity to make some foundations under their future relationship as business partners. 

The simple gesture, like the lady asked to be led, was a message: I don’t want distance between us. Be my ally.

And he took her hand. No matter if it was only good manners Claudia through the direct touch and his body speech tried to recognize if he feels comfortable with her, is annoyed by her presence or maybe amused thinking of her like a small girl playing a great lady. 

She was surprised also with her own reaction, because the rather creepy man’s appearance didn’t bother her at all, although she remembered how her nanny had commented on the Undertaker’s long black nails  (“Those claws!”) and untrimmed white hair (“A gentleman should keep his haircut short and tidy”) when he had visited father in the mansion. Claudia always found the mortician look rather intriguing and mysterious.

No matter what, the first step between them was rather successful. He took her invitation for tea with cupcakes, and didn’t avoid the direct touch. That's a good start for building trust in her. But could she also trust him?

She remembered the shop from her childhood, but the room he led her in rather wasn’t allowed for children, so another good news. He treats her like an adult.

Claudia’s heart drummed when she saw the body, but then she exhaled. It wasn’t her mother. Probably she was in the other room. The young lady didn’t want to see her cold and pale, but keep the Countess in her memory smiling and alive.

The weak light convinced her to shove the veil up, fixing it to the hat with a hair pin, uncovering her face. Her dark hair had almost blueish tint, so her hazel eyes were contrasting like jewels, sometimes gleaming with amber, sometimes with emeralds, depending on her mood and lights around.

Claudia wondered if it was a test, leading her here to drink tea and eat cupcakes next to his… guest. A few years earlier she probably would feel disgusted, but now… From the time father decided to take her for some smaller mission she had seen images that were much more disturbing in comparison to a dead body covered with sheets. Examining the Undertaker’s guest still shape on the table, Claudia blinked hearing her host’s voice.

 Had he really called her ‘m’dear’? Another shortening the distance between them. Very good.

The lady turned to the Undertaker, gifting him with a charming smile.

“Jasmine sounds good. Thank you.” She eyed the body again with curiosity. “What kind of mishap met this poor one?”

@casketdweller​

[rxseandscythe]

[rxseandscythe]

[rxseandscythe]

[blankcalcifer]

In the end all I learned was how to be strong alone.

-blankcalcifer

[rxseandscythe]

​

He busied himself with the horses, one of them getting a mite nippy. He carefully took the horse by the under jaw, silver locks shifting just enough for him to stare the horse. Behave. It seemed Louis’ temperament was starting to rub off on the rest of them, and he’d have to make sure that the temper as corrected before things went too far.

Her statement caught his attention, turning to glance at Claudia as silver hair returned to the fringed curtain as before. “Hrm? Oh, yes. Thank you, m’lady.” He carefully gave the horse a pat to the snout before he stepped away from them to examine the packages that she had brought with her. Clothes, jewelery – what about her paints? Did she have paints, or did the Earl prefer her without?

Well, he supposed he had some tucked away somewhere…

His attention drifted to the food and jam that she spoke of, and nodded, though it looked more like a little bow had been given. “Thank y’kindly, y’didn’t have t’go out o’your way for these.” Though Undertaker more than likely would nibble at it bit by bit, as he was still a little wary of offered food ( even if it were from trusted people such as the Phantomhives ).

“What sort’o tea would y’suggest for these?”

Claudia grinned even wider.

"I know I didn't have to, but they were so delicious I wanted you to try them. Asking politely for packing wasn't fun at all, and you know I love sneaking." 

It was true. As a child she had tried once even to sneak into the Undertaker's carriage when he was in the father's office, or she had hidden in a coffin, when father visited the mortician's shop. It had been quite stressful for the Earl, because Claudia fell asleep not reacting to calling her around. 

"I don't know." The lady mused playfully when being asked about tea "Surprise me. But it has to be a nice surprise."

Claudia's smile suddenly vanished. She shouldn't laugh. She had lost mother. Of course it made her sad, but in fact the young lady was also relieved that the late Countess doesn't suffer anymore. Lady Elena was in a better place now. 

"Don't think bad about me. I miss my mother, I really do, but everybody expects me to look into my shoes and sob because of the mourning time. I don't think mom would approve it. Can I be myself next to you? I mean, you look all the time on sad people. Some laughter can't hurt anyone, right? And I want to forget about my pain, even for a moment." Claudia tilted her head looking a little like a curious puppy, trying to find the Undertaker's eyes under his bangs. No success, like always. "Tea time, then?" She offered him her hand, so the mortician could lead her.

@casketdweller​

[casketdweller-a]

Undertaker didn’t say a word until she was finished, moving from where he sat on the hearse, setting aside the jar as he clamored down. “S’not the horses m’lady, though I can see about gettin’ another pair, but the flowers your father asked for.” He explained, walking around to give the black gelding’s nose a gentle pat. “There’s simply not enough, and ‘tis not the right season for them; so we’ve had to adjust.” Death was never easy on anyone, though the mortician simply handled it with his general, cheerful disposition.

He didn’t know the late Countess, but he knew the Earl. Seemed a rather distant fellow, though he handles paying Undertaker’s fees with a refinement that held ease. Well practiced –

Well, he did have almost a lifetime to perfect his juggling! Or was it puppetry that the Earl did? Bah! Details, didn’t need them.

“Calla lilies don’t bloom until summer, so it’s been a hassle trying to get them.”

@rxseandscythe contd.

[rxseandscythe]

Claudia, again busy with petting the soft horse's nose, didn't even make a step aside, like many would do, when the Undertaker appeared next to her. His closeness couldn't make her feel uncomfortable, quite the opposite, he wasn't a stranger, she should be afraid, however she wondered if father really trusted him. She did and Claudia wasn't sure if it's a smart move. Even if the Undertaker was kind and polite for her as a child, does it mean it would be the same when as an adult she would join father's business? What if she couldn't pay the mortician or couldn't fulfill his wishes? Would he still be her ally?

The girl frowned hearing about flowers.

Father has ordered white calla lilies? What does it mean? Could it be he loved mother and wanted to reward her for loyalty? Or maybe was it a sign of ignorance that he didn't even ask about the availability of these flowers? 

Claudia looked again at the mortician from under her veil.

"I'm sure you did everything that was possible to get them. I feel that you are such a perfectionist like I am, so thank you for the effort, Mr. Undertaker." Claudia's warm hand rested on the man's arm for a moment, showing him that she is really grateful, before she turned around to look again at the hearse.

"Yes. Mother would love it anyway, just because of the time we spent trying to do our best. I brought her funeral dress, just like you've asked." Claudia seemed to be in the better mood now, when she energetically withdrew to the doors where she had left packages and brought them to the mortician. "Here are clothes and jewellery for the coffin and here…" Her dark lips of rose petals colour grinned mischievously, reminding that under the mourning layer there still was old Claudia, a little devil with the angelic look. "Are cupcakes with fruit jam I have stolen from the kitchen when our cook didn't pay attention. I hope you like them. If not, no worry, make some tea and I would manage them easily." She chuckled.

@casketdweller​

[casketdweller-a]

❛ i  think  that  sounds  like  a  wonderful  idea.  ❜/feel free pick any of my muses

“Frankly it’s rather subpar, but with what we’ve got insofar, s’all we can do, m’lady.” Idle comment for an idle observation of the plan she’d put down. “If we had a bit more, it’d be far better, if’n y’ask me.”

[rxseandscythe]

"You think so?" The seventeen years old lady in the dark mourning dress made a step back to have a better view of the still empty black hearse, decorated with fresh white flowers. It was elegant and beautiful like she wanted, but he was right, her mother, the Countess Phantomhive, deserved more than this. She was a good woman, unlucky married to someone who loved his duties more than his wife. Even now the Earl was busy, leaving the funeral preparation to his daughter. Maybe it's better that way. Claudia loved her mother dearly and cared about every detail of her last journey.

The young lady approached the horse stall and let the animal sniff her hand covered with a glove made of black lace.

"What do you think about four horses pulling the hearse? Mother adored them." Hazel irises, barely visible under dark thin veil fixed to the elegant hat, glared at the Undertaker. Claudia didn't take it off during her visit, even if the mortician was a person who had been present in her life from her childhood. She was too proud to show anyone her eyes, reddish and swollen with tears. Someday she would take his father's role as the Queen's Watchdog and she already knew she was carefully observed by the Queen's spies and also those who would become her informants or enemies in the future. 

No weakness in public. Even in front of this man. Claudia wasn't sure why the Undertaker had appeared in their family or what business exactly he had with her father (he had to have it, otherwise why would he visit them? For sure not only to share cookies with a kid she had been when she met the mortician for the first time).

Now she was a young lady and she knew her future wouldn't be painted with bright colors because of an arranged marriage that had been planned from her early years (till now she hasn't met her potential future husband) and her great role in the Queen's Theatre of Puppets. 

Now Claudia's mother had suddenly died. The doctor said she was ill, but her daughter would rather say it was because of sorrow and loneliness.

The only person who really loved Claudia had passed away. It was time to grow up.

"We can buy additional horses if needed, but we can also take a peek into my father's stables".

@casketdweller

[rxseandscythe]

And the all pose.

Claudia Phantomhive.

[rotcon]

He knew she was strange, not like many others of the same seafaring ways. Perhaps it was her strangeness that allowed her to continue this lifestyle; she was feared, but undeniably respected by her crew. Even with this in mind, Claudia managed to catch him off-guard. Never in a thousand years could he have seen her actions coming.

The merman flinched at the touch of unforgiving steel, housing that tiny spark that would be more than enough to kill him if she decided to put its projectile through his skull. He glanced towards her. As if he were confused; why threaten him again with that fate when he had not made to attack her? Sebastian relaxed when she assuaged his fears. This was for the sake of protecting herself, not injuring him. No doubt, the captain wanted to ensure her aquatic product was still in prime condition. Damaged cargo wouldn’t fetch the same price. He still sneered at her proximity, leaning away when the woman went to touch him. Her hands were warm. There was a sharp intake of breath as she made contact with his wound. Lethargy often came after feeding, but he was on high alert after her approach.

What are you doing? His eyes widened almost comically as it dawned on him, Claudia’s fingers already resting on her tongue. Suddenly, the merman didn’t seem to care quite as much about the firearm being pointed at him. She might as well have shot him. A bond with a human was unthinkable. Only fools gave their blood to land-dwellers. He had heard fables in which their kind became romantically involved with such creatures, but they were just as much like the fools. Whatever etiquette they’d established between them vanished in a moment. He grabbed her jaw between his fingers and pressed, as though trying to prevent her swallowing.

Spit it out this instant. — “Spit it out, you cretin!”

[rxseandscythe]

Desperation and terror which appeared on Sebastian's face amused the Maelstrom's captain, but in the moment he rushed forward her heart jumped to her throat and her finger adjusted to press the trigger in any second. 

His claws on her jaws were wet of his prey's blood and it was painful.

Painful but not… fatal. The merman hasn't attacked her, just wanted to stop her from swallowing his blood. 

Too late. In the moment he had jumped towards her, his sudden move made her make a "gulp" sound that surprised her and him probably evenly.

"Whoops" whispered Claudia, thinking about all those legends he had shared with her earlies. Bloody mating ritual. Ridiculous. Even if it was a tradition or something among merpeople it couldn't work on her. She was a human after all, right? Anyway, she felt no difference. Maybe, the taste of blood and fear made her a little sick now. 

"Calm down. Nothing has happened". Claudia tried to get rid of his grasp on her face. "Let me go or your brain will make my wall dirty. Enough we have to clean the floor after your dinner. Come on, back to the tank, little sardine."

Even if Sebastian really believed in those legends… well.. it could be an advantage for her, because he can't force himself to kill his own mate, right? 

@rotcon

[rxseandscythe]

"It's abnormal and intrusive on my part

But we'll be in heaven

And when you taste a new flavor

It will be me!

And uncommonly still the same

I have a good spell in my hands"

Translation from "Symetryczno-liryczna" Enej

@sin-stained-soul

[rxseandscythe]

She had bested him. A human. A pompous little chit of a human had best him… A grim reaper. His hands balled up in frustration behind his back, his long nails digging into the flesh of his palm causing blood to ooze from crescent moon shaped wounds. Outside this hidden display of annoyance, his face remained passive as it should.

“You misunderstand my reasoning, while you are persistant in proving that my first impressions of you were correct, you had yet to do anything to earn my disrespect. Ignoring you would be disrespectful, so I acted accordingly.” He uttered, his reaper training showing through with just how passive he was in word choice and tone. “I will forgo that in the future since you are insisting on poking the bear for no reaason other than you are bored”

Turning on his heel, careful to switch his bloody habds from his back to his front as he moved. “I fear no one, especially not some child with the proportions of a woman…” He stated before leaving once more, not wanting to even acknowledge that the human thought that he would be a partner to her. Foolish dream of someone that should know better.

Claudia sighed and raised her eyes at the sky. 

This maaaaan!

“I did nothing to deserve such treatment” she noted following him. “I ordered a dissection, I came for it, I wanted to pay for it. I respect not touching you or anything in your damned shop because I can leave fingerprints on it. But you decided you don’t like me only because I am an aristocrat and a woman. Your ego, darling, is the size twice of mine. Do you hate people in general or I am special? And don't hide those hands. Where have you hurt yourself? Is it from my roses’ thorns?” The lady jumped forward to stop him. Her face was sincerely worried, when she saw blood.

“I’m sorry.” The girl took off a white scarf of her neck, uncovering more of her rather full cleavage, and tore it into two pieces with a knife she took out from a sleeve. Before the mortician could protest she wrapped his hands with a provisional bandage. “Many people hate me only because I am wealthy. If you have something against me, say it now. I have… enough that people judge me all the time. They don’t know me! Even my father didn’t. And… aaagh… Nevermind” Tears of helpless anger appeared in her eyes. “You probably don’t even listen to me. Sorry for touching you again. It was an instinct to stop your bleeding.”

@sin-stained-soul

[rxseandscythe]

Claudia and Laz in the thread with @sin-stained-soul 😂

[rxseandscythe]

“I know you aren’t use to men not turning into drolling dogs at the sight of you, but I don’t lose control over every bit of meat thrown my way.” He scoffed at her pointed comment, bold of him to assume indeed… He was over 600 years old, he was in perfect control of every part of himself, even the most unruly base desires.

He watched her scan the folder for the details, he might not want her company but he likes to ensure his work is thorough enough his clientelle.

Despite her continued and infuriating insistance, he refused to acknowledge any potential debt. “Sadly it is not down to you to decide that, I am the one to be recieving payment and in my mind, this service has been paid for” he countered flatly, making no effort to turn back as he made his exit. Only pausing on her threat of return “If you are wise, you won’t be”

Her blasted smell lingered in his shop front long after he remerged from the back room hours later. He had a feeling that was a hint of what was to come.

********

Returning from aiding a late afternoon funeral, his placid mood was utterly ruined by the not attached to the flowers. More orders from a spoiled little girl.

Very well. He travelled to her selected location an hour early, taking the flowers and leaving them there with a note that says ‘Princess, I am much too busy to play silly games with you. May I suggest a pet if you are so in need of company?“

In the moment he left the flowers under the tree at the river and turned to leave, Claudia stepped on the path among graves, dressed in an elegant black outfit and a hat, her hair jailed into a long plait poured down her chest. Her face smiling, cheeks delicately blushed, hazel eyes glittering. She was even more beautiful in the sun. 

“So you came.” The lady purred. “Only to give back the bouquet with a probably offending message on the card. To be honest… I didn’t expect that you would appear, when I decided to spend all this beautiful day at my father’s grave, but you did.”

She apparently was here for a long time. Probably she had left the flowers at his doors and come here.

“So you care about my opinion if you decided to answer me with that. Ignoring my existence would fit you more” Claudia passed the man and picked up the bouquet, reading the card. “How rude. Maybe it’s me who is a spoiled brat here, but you are no better, my dear. I’m not looking for a pet.” She tore the card into small pieces. “I’m looking for a… partner. And my silly game was just a kind invitation for a walk. If you now run away hissing at me like a cat, I will start to suspect you are scared of women.”

@sin-stained-soul

[rotcon]

So little faith. He smiled; they were both well aware that he desired escape. But perhaps this was his chance to bring her guard down just a little. Besides, if he put a fraction of trust in her and held off on attacking the captain herself, she would be more inclined to let him do as he wished. The siren was mesmerised even if only for a second or two. Sebastian mimicked her action against the glass, tracing the crimson outline she’d drawn. He blinked to clear his head and floated a small distance away.

The loud, repetitive noise came again. Having seen many of her crew members do this before entering, he knew it served some purpose; communicated some meaning. Sometimes, if she wasn’t within his sight, she would wait before telling her men to come in. Humans had strange ideas about their naked, natural form. But he found them intriguing all the same. Why give the man a weapon at all if he was to be eaten alive in the coming minutes? She knew as well as Sebastian did that the poor fellow didn’t stand a chance. He gave a nod to show he understood the warning.

…You want a spectacle.

Satisfaction brightened his features, as it always did when he discovered something new about his jailer. Speaking of which — the victim they’d brought in was nothing like the last. This one had a raw malice about him even before the dagger was handed over. No plea or other word sounded from his lips. With a grimace, the prey spat upon the floor. Charming. Sebastian glanced at Claudia hoping to see her reaction to the crude display. The human male’s jaw was set in a fashion that suggested he was ready for death, but not without a fight. So be it. He did enjoy it when the catch still squirmed.

The top of the tank shifted, and the cabin was filled with the siren’s haunting tone, fingers grasping the edge of the glass.

“Lorelei, My ship has passed you by, And though you promised me to show the way, You led me astray…”

Czytaj dalej

[rxseandscythe]

Claudia was used to awful behaviour of pirates, but anyway she frowned seeing the spit on the floor of her cabin. She ignored it, expecting it will be much dirtier soon.

The siren hasn’t disappointed her. 

Again his song sounded in her ears, filling her body with faint pleasure shivers. It was a nice feeling, but definitely not in the way the prisoner has felt it. 

The Watchdog raised her eyebrows, when Sebastian reached his arms to catch the prey, but the man attacked him. So… the fact merman’s meal was half deaf made him less sensitive to the song. But why doesn't it work on her?

Was she truly immune? 

The beast slid out the tank, determined to catch the pirate. The second attack was more successful, and finally the siren’s mouth was full of warm meat.

What a terrifying and beautiful scene. Someone would think they are cuddling in a love embrace. 

Claudia waited patiently, observing the beast devouring the body, but there was no disgust on her pretty face. It was just nature. The stronger eats the weaker.

Meanwhile she made some notes in the mind. The merman was much slower and clumsy without water. His tail was heavy. No wonder, it was a big piece of meat covered with glistening scales.

Now with a full belly, he should be also lazy.

The captain stood up, nearing and kneeling next to the beast. The cold gun warningly touched his forehead gently, shoving away a strand of wet black hair. The redness smeared around his cruel beautiful face looked like a scary mask.

“He hurt you.” Claudia cooed. “Shhh… let me check.” Her free hand slid down through his shoulder. “It’s just a scratch. You will be fine. That’s why you allure people with songs. In the fight one by one, they still have a chance to seriously hurt you.” She murmured, looking at her own fingertips now covered with the merman’s blood.

Her heart beated faster. Could she have the other chance? She had to find a way to tie the siren to her. Probably it won’t work but…

The Maelstrom Captain licked the redness, cleaning it from her fingers.

@rotcon

[rxseandscythe]

Her lack of reaction to his threat caught him a little of guard, but he quickly adjusted his expression to hide that fact. More than that, she seemed all the more interested when he put his hands on her, as if he did indeed like his rough touch. What motives could she have for this?

Want her touch? Why ever would he wish for her hands to be on him? Undertaker had lived in his realm for a little over a decade and had yet to seek company of any human. He wasn’t about to change that any time soon. “You are full of absurd notions, princess, I will never seek such thing. Most definitely not from you” he countered, putting her straight before that odd little mind of hers cooked up something else to throw him off balance.

“Your father paid in advance for one last favour and since he is no longer here, you acquire the balance” Undertaker posed without any further glances in her direction, knowing that if he caught sight of her grin once more his otherwise even temperament would crumble. Instead he rose to his feet and moved towards the back of his shop. “You know where the door is”

--------------------

“You will never seek such things?” she repeated grinning. She looked now like a poison butterfly, beautiful like a dream, but also dangerous. “Bold of you to assume you have a control over your true needs.”

She opened the folder checking its inside. Yes, there was everything the Watchdog needed. 

“My father is dead. I’m not going to use his name when asking others for favors. That means I have a debt now. You haven’t chosen money or anything other material payment. So…the princess found her prince charming”. Her eyes travelled over his tall dark silhouette, now offendly directed back to her. 

“I know where the door is. See you soon, Mr Undertaker, I’ll be back.” she promised sweetly and chuckled in thoughts, imagining that could sound like a threat in the Mortician ears. When she left, the room was still scented of her perfumes.

***

A couple of days later, the Undertaker could find a bouquet of dark red roses in the vase on his doormat, and the little card among flowers. 

“Meet me at the river on the graveyard today at 6 P.M. Your Princess”.

@sin-stained-soul​

[notjustdrwhoboards]

Kuroshitsuji moodboard: The Phantomhive Twins & Sebastian (requested by: @grelleswife)