[The knock jerks him awake. Sleeping on a ship flying through space isn't at all like sleeping in the most comfortable Victorian bed ever; in fact, it's much like sleeping in the horrendous beds in the circus, though maybe he isn't giving the Neheda much credit because he's ill of mood.
Initially, he hadn't even slept. He was Goldilocks, and, it turned out, nothing was just right at all. The bed, the pillows, the air in the room even. He stayed awake in the dark with the gun under his head, listening to the sounds of the ship when he wasn't going through the blackglass.
Then he fell asleep without knowing or wanting to, and he dreamed about a giant, grotesque snake--definitely not Wordsworth, or Shelley, or Byron--busting out of one of the vents and trying to eat him alive. Reprieve only came when the demon's knock pulled him from the venomous fangs and back into the dark.
He knows who it is without having to ask.] Sebastian.
[ That's enough acknowledgement for him, so finding the door conveniently unlocked or otherwise accessible for the purpose of the thread, he opens it and steps inside with a cool smile. In one hand is a tray, though not the lavish silver trays that Ciel is much more used to. It's just a simple, plastic cafeteria tray, though Sebastian is making every effort to retain as much normalcy as possible. He'll be able to smell the breakfast immediately, though it's also quite a step down from his usual breakfasts... ]
Good morning, young master.
[ He walks to Ciel's bedside to half bow and half offer the tray for him to take. There's no poached salmon here, just simple, usually plain oatmeal, though Sebastian has at least made it less bland by the addition of sugar, cinnamon, and some fruit. There's an orange as well (which Sebastian will peel as they talk), and a steaming hot cup of tea, though it's also cafeteria tea, so it's time to lower your standards, Ciel. In addition, there's also a neatly folded stack of papers, all handwritten, since Sebastian has already learned to not trust sending anything sensitive over the blackglass. ]
Your breakfast, though my apologies that it is not quite your usual fare.
[The artificial light that comes on when he sits up is blinding, and the face he makes, squinting, does little to help him not look like a complete and utter irritated shit. It's a look he turns up at Sebastian, though it's ire isn't directed at the demon, not too much, but it is directed at the oatmeal after he takes the tray and finds out what sub-par breakfast is on it.
It only took him a day or two tops to be tired of the circus. Countdown to how long it takes before he's complaining about wanting to go back home.
The tea gets his attention first, naturally, and even if it's the shittiest tea he remembers ever tasting, it's better than having no tea at all. He makes a face to cover for any kind of relief that might give Sebastian the pleasure of knowing he is satisfied with something. Sure not with this tea. Nope.]
It will do for now. [Spoken with resignation; he hasn't even touched the oatmeal yet.
It's dodged instead for a short look at the first page of the stack of papers. Ferdinand he knows and has annoyed. Nic he has met and has annoyed. Isha he has spoken with over blackglass... and has annoyed. Isaac is dead--]
Don't act like I'm stupid! [The outburst is sudden, and he pins Sebastian with a glare.] I read their data, and Mogget is a cat! You know I'm allergic to cats! Don't pretend like it is the greatest thing!
[ Honestly, he's surprised that the subpar meal isn't immediately thrown in his face, but at the very least, it does speak to Ciel understanding the situation, which he's appreciative of. He watches his expression silently, looking for the minute signs that he'll certainly take as praise, but at the face, he just laughs softly and shrugs. Expected, honestly.
Though by the time he moves to the report, Sebastian simply waits patiently and dutifully to address any additional questions or concerns, and also as expected, Ciel gets hung up on the absolute best crew member. His expression is serious, as it always is when it comes to cats, and he answers with a perfect, even tone. ]
I am not pretending, young master. Mogget is a the greatest asset upon this ship, I am certain.
[Oh my God, you infuriating blockhead! Ciel very nearly crumples the paper in his hand from the agitation. Not only was he stuck in a place without good tea, good food, or a good bed, he was stuck on a team with a fucking cat.] Don't be ridiculous! [He's not quite going to shun Mogget's abilities, not after reading the data file, but he hates cats nearly as much as he hates Sebastian (read: a lot), and he'll fall over dead before he ever admits that a cat could be "a great asset."] It's only a cat. [God in heaven, please don't let him have to be in the same room as this foul beast ever. P l e a s e.
Quickly, he takes another sip of tea as if this will erase Mogget from the face of the universe. He feels better already, but instead of daring to look at the rest of the papers in fear there'll just be more cats. One is enough.
So he tries the oatmeal before it gets cold on him. It's nowhere near as grand and delicious as the breakfast he is use to, but Sebastian--ugh, once again--has made it exceptionally better with the addition of other ingredients... and... demon butlery.]
Has anyone found the creature yet? [But not asked with a full mouth. And he's not sure whether to call it creature or killer, but he is assuming creature for the time being. Though he suspects he would have heard something if that had been the case.]
[ Sebastian's lips purse into an amused smile as Ciel criticizes poor, innocent, perfect Mogget, but he keeps quiet, at least. There are a few things he knows not to push, and cats is one of them. Well. Unless the cat is actually in front of him, in which case he can't control himself (sometimes leading to "affectionate nips" from tigers), but thankfully for Ciel, Mogget isn't here.
Sebastian takes a seat on the edge of the bed, then takes the knife as he starts to perfectly peel the orange for Ciel. It busies his hands, since at the question, Sebastian's expression turns more genuinely serious, and he shakes his head.
Not yet. I have been passed some information from my superiors, however. There were some details discovered about the creature itself, as well as autopsy results from those killed. Did you receive this information?
[Both of Ciel's eyes lingers on the slowly peeled orange, really just out of idleness, though it's apparent in his gaze or at least in the gaze of the blue one, that he is listening to what Sebastian is telling him.] I saw the autopsy report. It was nearly useless. I don't know who compiled it, but they only gave us the bare bones. It didn't give any details about the bodies, and they couldn't even figure out the cause of death.
Or they didn't tell us.
[He raises the cup of tea to his lips and exhales irritably over the top of it before taking a sip, eyes lidded.] What were the details about the creature?
It is possible, yes, but I would say that it unlikely, considering if they wished to withhold information for the sake of not inciting panic, it would seem wiser to me to not release the information at all.
[ Though he does have a feeling that Ciel may believe that it was intentional anyways, considering his general paranoia, and Sebastian could hardly blame him. Honestly, Sebastian is preparing for both possibilities in whatever ways he can, though most of his ideas amount to improvisation at a moment's notice. Still. He feels more content having some idea all the same. ]
We have been told that it is faster than Ghost, one of the officers, is able to camouflage itself and disguise a heat signature, but can be tracked by animals. However, the trail is all over the ship and inconclusive. In addition, the damaged container was a decoy, and its original contents are missing. It is also worth noting that they are unsure how the container was brought aboard.
[To be honest, Ciel would take Undertaker over these morons running the medical team. Sure, he may have to do some stupid stunt, or get Sebastian to tell a ridiculous joke, but at least he would receive better answers about what's going on, even with the round-about riddles.
In one movement, his eyes flicker open, and he lifts them both to Sebastian again. Well, all of that sounds rather terrifying.
He thinks about the dream he had: the behemoth snake with its piercing eyes and its sharp fangs. Unconsciously, he stares at one of the vents on the ceiling somewhere above and behind Sebastian's head. It could be anywhere.
There could be any number of others dead.] If it was in the vicinity, do you think you could sense it? You said it could be tracked. Could you smell it?
[ He shakes his head with a light frown first and foremost, but it's definitely more thoughtful than actually concerned. ]
If it was close by, yes, I could. However, I am not able to do much at this time, since we do not know what it is. I am at a disadvantage in a setting like this.
[ The orange is peeled by now, so he sets the rind on the tray, then offers the orange towards Ciel for him to take a slice. ]
This ship is like nothing I have experienced before, so many smells and sounds are unfamiliar to me, and it is the same with souls. There are a few people I have run into who have... unusual states in that area. I would not pry, since that ability is something I do not wish to draw attention to, but unfortunately, the people here are just as foreign to you as they are to me. It makes it difficult to discern which ones belong here. If I manage to get close to the creature and know it, I would have much better luck, but for now... It is not so simple.
[Reaching out, he slides a finger into the open navel of the orange at the top, then carefully and deliberately brings his fingers back to snap the slice from the rest of the orange, much like he is imitating breaking someone's leg, or gouging out someone's eyeball. He puts the whole slice in his mouth without any sort of care for etiquette or grace. His chewing isn't grossly opened-mouth so much as it is vicious and firm.
He waits until he is finished with the slice, uncaring of how long that forces Sebastian to wait patiently.] I did receive the air lock map from Mr. Wilder, and he said it was given to him. But air locks aren't places a creature or person could use to travel the ship throughout.
It's curious: what's the importance of giving a map like that to someone, or what's the importance to him that he swindled it? [A hypothetical question mostly; he is trying to organize his thoughts.] Are they checking to see if someone got in on Selena?
[ Sebastian waits patiently, watching the display with a brief quirk of a smile, but he says nothing. There's another piece of information that he had received, but it was one that was a bit more significant, so he wished to present that one alone. He waits until Ciel is done with his musing, at least. ]
There is another possibility. It seems that whatever it is, it may also have a pathogenic element to it. If that's true, then the air vents would likely be necessary to track the spread.
[Ciel freezes in his reach for another slice of orange, and his eyes snap to the vent behind Sebastian's head that he was looking at, then he quickly looks back as if he hadn't been warily eyeballing one of the exits to said air vents. "Pathogen" was new, but not new enough that he didn't know what it was.]
My unit leader, Ferdinand Wurstel, said something similar. [Finally, he puts two fingers around another slice and squeezes it out of the skinless orange. When he brings it back to himself, he doesn't eat it, but instead regards it like it's a scientific specimen. He's thinking.] He said neurotoxins affect the nerves, and the early onset of necrosis was worrisome as it may mean the thing has bacteria, too.
I told him to look into a cure using the toxins, but he believes it may take too long. [After a moment, Ciel lifts his eyes to Sebastian.] Your team is on the front lines. Has anyone become sick yet?
[ He's glad that Ciel had already heard about it, because it saves him the trouble of explaining it further, as well as Sebastian's concern about that element. He'll still get to it eventually, but after they discuss business. Still, he shakes his head. ]
No, there has not. There are some members of the team missing, from my understanding, that said, but this is true for every team.
[ A considers it thoughtfully, then adds: ]
If people do start getting ill, however, I could act as something of an indicator. The neurotoxicity and necrosis would affect me, technically speaking, but they would also be as superficial as the miasma.
[ Which I guess is also the time for these two idiots to learn they're from different canonpoints, good job... ]
[The miasma mention obviously causes his brows to quake, like they want to come together in confusion, but he's trying not to let on that he is. He thinks about the other information first as he slides the orange slice into his mouth for chewing: no one was sick--yet; there were still some missing, but so was true for many of the teams; Sebastian could be an indicator because both would even affect him.
So should he just hold Sebastian by the feet and stick the demon up and down every inch of the ship to figure out what is going on?
Okay, back to what's most important, naturally: What the fuck is the miasma? His brows do furrow now.] What miasma are you talking about?
[ Sebastian wears his surprise and confusion more openly, but that's hardly a surprise in itself. Where Ciel has to guard his reactions carefully for fear of Sebastian taking advantage of him, Sebastian has no such worry. He'll always have the upper hand in that area. ]
...The miasma in the woods? Around Master Sullivan's manor?
[ He had, of course, noticed that the injuries Ciel had suffered were gone as he remembered them. However, upon researching the medical capabilities, he had put that confusion to rest, having assumed that the CDC patched up those injuries. Now he wonders if that assumption had bee false. ]
[The surprise on Sebastian's face makes the brow over his blue eye quirk upward. It's not often Sebastian is genuinely surprised, so when it does happen, Ciel knows something is amiss.
But he still doesn't understand what the demon is talking about. Who? What? What the hell...? Miasma?] What are you talking about, Sebastian?
What woods? I don't know a Master Sullivan. [Are you trying to play some kind of joke on him? Because Sebastian can perhaps fake a fairly decent surprised face, though the demon usually doesn't.] Is this your idea of a joke...? You have a terrible sense of humor.
[ Sebastian stares at Ciel seriously for several moments longer, since he's trying to discern the same thing. Ciel may deliberately be a little shit just for the sake of it, but there would be no reason to with this matter. At least, not that he can think of. Still, the now serious expression in comparison to that surprise should let Ciel know that Sebastian wasn't feigning surprise, for one, and also that this is something that he finds serious. ]
Young master, before you accepted their offer, what were we doing? What matter did the Queen ask you to look into?
[This gets Ciel's face to twist more. Why was Sebastian asking this? The demon knew exactly what they had been doing. They had been--
Surprise similar to Sebastian's earlier surprise breaks over his face suddenly, a kind of understanding shock. He still doesn't know what's going on admittedly, but he realizes things aren't as they should be. Had the CDC taken Sebastian's memories? Had they given Sebastian new ones?]
We had left Weston College. [It's said very levelly. It's said as if implying this is what he wants Sebastian to confirm.] She asked us to look into Derrick Arden and the other students who wouldn't return home.
[ That at least gets his serious expression to soften somewhat, since he's familiar at least. It's not long ago, at least, so he shakes his head as he tries to piece this together. ]
[As much as he'd hate to admit, Ciel looks relieved. Sebastian knows Weston and, thus, Sebastian knows him, and what had happened. Miasma and Sullivan and everything else be damned. Sebastian remembers Weston and that's all that matter for a brief moment.]
This is the one I received next. [As if that is the most obvious answer.] The Queen sent me a letter saying I was to host a guest. The guest, of course, was a recruiter for-- [He motions around them with a hand.] --this.
[ His expression isn't quite as serious as it first was, but there's still an edge to the look on Sebastian's face. Interesting. This is a development he can hardly ignore, and one that makes him bristle slightly, since the idea of Ciel being deceived into this contract bothers him a great deal. The conflict of the contracts was already something Sebastian had given though, but this... ]
That was likely fake, young master.
[ Which Ciel probably had suspicions about regardless, but he continues on smoothly. ]
From what I know, we solved the affair with the College, and the Queen sent her request for us to investigate unusual deaths in Germany. We were well along in our investigation when I received a letter myself, but the fact that it was addressed to me was enough to catch my attention. [ Since he's a servant—naturally he wouldn't receive mail at all. ]
[Ciel blanches quickly. He is less embarrassed than he should be about not realizing a fake and more mortified that the possibility is very clear and very real. Had the letter... really been...?]
Don't be... ridiculous.... [He sounds like he's trying to convince himself more than Sebastian.] I opened the seal. The Queen's seal. It was her handwriting.... [Suddenly, everything sketchy about the CDC comes crashing down on top of him like a wave, consuming him, choking him. They tricked him, made a fool of him, impersonated The Queen. Now what? Now where does he begin? Would he have failed? Ridiculed? He hadn't abandonned his post, but if he isn't there, would they think he had? What about Elizabeth? The other servants? Prince Soma and Agni?
He's shaking his head without realizing it, both at the situation and what Sebastian is saying.] Stop lying to me, Sebastian! [Out of nowhere and sharp, and his voice faintly echoes in the mechanical room. He already knows Sebastian isn't lying, wouldn't lie.]
[ Sebastian's expression stays serious, but as the color drains from Ciel's face, the quality of it shifts. Anyone that didn't know Sebastian would read the look upon his face as concern or care, but that's of course not what it actually is. Were the CDC any less clear on what they desire from their recruits, Sebastian would be furious at his newest employers for tricking Ciel into this, because this child's life was his, and trapping Ciel in a circumstance where the contract could never be completed... Well. A demon's temper was best not seen when it came to their meals.
As it was, though, this was... interesting. If nothing else, it was a matter he would have to investigate. ]
I do not tell lies, young master.
[ He states it coolly and simply, left without the usual wry edge such a statement would have. He reaches to the extra glass he had brought (in case Ciel wanted water), and with one sleight of hand, it's filled with milk, and otherwise, he reaches into the pocket of his jacket to pull out two small containers of honey that he had brought in case Ciel had demanded the oatmeal sweeter, which he's glad for now. Milk he can at least create rather reliably with his powers, since it's a rather neutral taste, but sweets he has more difficulty with, since they never exactly taste sweet to him. He continues on in conversation as if this hadn't happened, preparing the drink with barely a pause. ]
Forgery or not, we can hardly change what has been done at this point. I will investigate the matter more thoroughly.
[The milk and honey will only blanket everything for a little while. He is ill from lack of restful sleep, from being without good tea and good food and sweets. He has no comfortable pillow. He has no books. He has nothing at all from his manor except for Sebastian alone, and that is hardly enough to satiate him.
But he will take it regardless, the milk. A small reprieve in this time of turmoil. It lets him clear his head momentarily, dip into some normalcy that he can orient his thoughts with.
The murder is just a small hurdle. Each mission is just another slightly bigger hurdle. The most important thing for them took focus on, he knows, is the CDC. Figuring out how to get back without reprocussions. Figuring out how to get out of the contract without it backfiring.] Do it. Find out anything you can about the CDC, about anyone working closely with them, about their contracts. [His voice is hard and bitter, eyes focused solely on Sebastian's face. The ringed lines of the contract activate, glowing a brighter purple than that of his eye. This is something he's serious about.]
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Initially, he hadn't even slept. He was Goldilocks, and, it turned out, nothing was just right at all. The bed, the pillows, the air in the room even. He stayed awake in the dark with the gun under his head, listening to the sounds of the ship when he wasn't going through the blackglass.
Then he fell asleep without knowing or wanting to, and he dreamed about a giant, grotesque snake--definitely not Wordsworth, or Shelley, or Byron--busting out of one of the vents and trying to eat him alive. Reprieve only came when the demon's knock pulled him from the venomous fangs and back into the dark.
He knows who it is without having to ask.] Sebastian.
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Good morning, young master.
[ He walks to Ciel's bedside to half bow and half offer the tray for him to take. There's no poached salmon here, just simple, usually plain oatmeal, though Sebastian has at least made it less bland by the addition of sugar, cinnamon, and some fruit. There's an orange as well (which Sebastian will peel as they talk), and a steaming hot cup of tea, though it's also cafeteria tea, so it's time to lower your standards, Ciel. In addition, there's also a neatly folded stack of papers, all handwritten, since Sebastian has already learned to not trust sending anything sensitive over the blackglass. ]
Your breakfast, though my apologies that it is not quite your usual fare.
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It only took him a day or two tops to be tired of the circus. Countdown to how long it takes before he's complaining about wanting to go back home.
The tea gets his attention first, naturally, and even if it's the shittiest tea he remembers ever tasting, it's better than having no tea at all. He makes a face to cover for any kind of relief that might give Sebastian the pleasure of knowing he is satisfied with something. Sure not with this tea. Nope.]
It will do for now. [Spoken with resignation; he hasn't even touched the oatmeal yet.
It's dodged instead for a short look at the first page of the stack of papers. Ferdinand he knows and has annoyed. Nic he has met and has annoyed. Isha he has spoken with over blackglass... and has annoyed. Isaac is dead--]
Don't act like I'm stupid! [The outburst is sudden, and he pins Sebastian with a glare.] I read their data, and Mogget is a cat! You know I'm allergic to cats! Don't pretend like it is the greatest thing!
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Though by the time he moves to the report, Sebastian simply waits patiently and dutifully to address any additional questions or concerns, and also as expected, Ciel gets hung up on the absolute best crew member. His expression is serious, as it always is when it comes to cats, and he answers with a perfect, even tone. ]
I am not pretending, young master. Mogget is a the greatest asset upon this ship, I am certain.
[ Well. He is. To Sebastian alone... ]
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Quickly, he takes another sip of tea as if this will erase Mogget from the face of the universe. He feels better already, but instead of daring to look at the rest of the papers in fear there'll just be more cats. One is enough.
So he tries the oatmeal before it gets cold on him. It's nowhere near as grand and delicious as the breakfast he is use to, but Sebastian--ugh, once again--has made it exceptionally better with the addition of other ingredients... and... demon butlery.]
Has anyone found the creature yet? [But not asked with a full mouth. And he's not sure whether to call it creature or killer, but he is assuming creature for the time being. Though he suspects he would have heard something if that had been the case.]
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Sebastian takes a seat on the edge of the bed, then takes the knife as he starts to perfectly peel the orange for Ciel. It busies his hands, since at the question, Sebastian's expression turns more genuinely serious, and he shakes his head.
Not yet. I have been passed some information from my superiors, however. There were some details discovered about the creature itself, as well as autopsy results from those killed. Did you receive this information?
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Or they didn't tell us.
[He raises the cup of tea to his lips and exhales irritably over the top of it before taking a sip, eyes lidded.] What were the details about the creature?
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[ Though he does have a feeling that Ciel may believe that it was intentional anyways, considering his general paranoia, and Sebastian could hardly blame him. Honestly, Sebastian is preparing for both possibilities in whatever ways he can, though most of his ideas amount to improvisation at a moment's notice. Still. He feels more content having some idea all the same. ]
We have been told that it is faster than Ghost, one of the officers, is able to camouflage itself and disguise a heat signature, but can be tracked by animals. However, the trail is all over the ship and inconclusive. In addition, the damaged container was a decoy, and its original contents are missing. It is also worth noting that they are unsure how the container was brought aboard.
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In one movement, his eyes flicker open, and he lifts them both to Sebastian again. Well, all of that sounds rather terrifying.
He thinks about the dream he had: the behemoth snake with its piercing eyes and its sharp fangs. Unconsciously, he stares at one of the vents on the ceiling somewhere above and behind Sebastian's head. It could be anywhere.
There could be any number of others dead.] If it was in the vicinity, do you think you could sense it? You said it could be tracked. Could you smell it?
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If it was close by, yes, I could. However, I am not able to do much at this time, since we do not know what it is. I am at a disadvantage in a setting like this.
[ The orange is peeled by now, so he sets the rind on the tray, then offers the orange towards Ciel for him to take a slice. ]
This ship is like nothing I have experienced before, so many smells and sounds are unfamiliar to me, and it is the same with souls. There are a few people I have run into who have... unusual states in that area. I would not pry, since that ability is something I do not wish to draw attention to, but unfortunately, the people here are just as foreign to you as they are to me. It makes it difficult to discern which ones belong here. If I manage to get close to the creature and know it, I would have much better luck, but for now... It is not so simple.
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[Reaching out, he slides a finger into the open navel of the orange at the top, then carefully and deliberately brings his fingers back to snap the slice from the rest of the orange, much like he is imitating breaking someone's leg, or gouging out someone's eyeball. He puts the whole slice in his mouth without any sort of care for etiquette or grace. His chewing isn't grossly opened-mouth so much as it is vicious and firm.
He waits until he is finished with the slice, uncaring of how long that forces Sebastian to wait patiently.] I did receive the air lock map from Mr. Wilder, and he said it was given to him. But air locks aren't places a creature or person could use to travel the ship throughout.
It's curious: what's the importance of giving a map like that to someone, or what's the importance to him that he swindled it? [A hypothetical question mostly; he is trying to organize his thoughts.] Are they checking to see if someone got in on Selena?
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There is another possibility. It seems that whatever it is, it may also have a pathogenic element to it. If that's true, then the air vents would likely be necessary to track the spread.
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My unit leader, Ferdinand Wurstel, said something similar. [Finally, he puts two fingers around another slice and squeezes it out of the skinless orange. When he brings it back to himself, he doesn't eat it, but instead regards it like it's a scientific specimen. He's thinking.] He said neurotoxins affect the nerves, and the early onset of necrosis was worrisome as it may mean the thing has bacteria, too.
I told him to look into a cure using the toxins, but he believes it may take too long. [After a moment, Ciel lifts his eyes to Sebastian.] Your team is on the front lines. Has anyone become sick yet?
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No, there has not. There are some members of the team missing, from my understanding, that said, but this is true for every team.
[ A considers it thoughtfully, then adds: ]
If people do start getting ill, however, I could act as something of an indicator. The neurotoxicity and necrosis would affect me, technically speaking, but they would also be as superficial as the miasma.
[ Which I guess is also the time for these two idiots to learn they're from different canonpoints, good job... ]
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So should he just hold Sebastian by the feet and stick the demon up and down every inch of the ship to figure out what is going on?
Okay, back to what's most important, naturally: What the fuck is the miasma? His brows do furrow now.] What miasma are you talking about?
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...The miasma in the woods? Around Master Sullivan's manor?
[ He had, of course, noticed that the injuries Ciel had suffered were gone as he remembered them. However, upon researching the medical capabilities, he had put that confusion to rest, having assumed that the CDC patched up those injuries. Now he wonders if that assumption had bee false. ]
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But he still doesn't understand what the demon is talking about. Who? What? What the hell...? Miasma?] What are you talking about, Sebastian?
What woods? I don't know a Master Sullivan. [Are you trying to play some kind of joke on him? Because Sebastian can perhaps fake a fairly decent surprised face, though the demon usually doesn't.] Is this your idea of a joke...? You have a terrible sense of humor.
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Young master, before you accepted their offer, what were we doing? What matter did the Queen ask you to look into?
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Surprise similar to Sebastian's earlier surprise breaks over his face suddenly, a kind of understanding shock. He still doesn't know what's going on admittedly, but he realizes things aren't as they should be. Had the CDC taken Sebastian's memories? Had they given Sebastian new ones?]
We had left Weston College. [It's said very levelly. It's said as if implying this is what he wants Sebastian to confirm.] She asked us to look into Derrick Arden and the other students who wouldn't return home.
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[ That at least gets his serious expression to soften somewhat, since he's familiar at least. It's not long ago, at least, so he shakes his head as he tries to piece this together. ]
And you have yet to receive word of another?
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This is the one I received next. [As if that is the most obvious answer.] The Queen sent me a letter saying I was to host a guest. The guest, of course, was a recruiter for-- [He motions around them with a hand.] --this.
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That was likely fake, young master.
[ Which Ciel probably had suspicions about regardless, but he continues on smoothly. ]
From what I know, we solved the affair with the College, and the Queen sent her request for us to investigate unusual deaths in Germany. We were well along in our investigation when I received a letter myself, but the fact that it was addressed to me was enough to catch my attention. [ Since he's a servant—naturally he wouldn't receive mail at all. ]
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Don't be... ridiculous.... [He sounds like he's trying to convince himself more than Sebastian.] I opened the seal. The Queen's seal. It was her handwriting.... [Suddenly, everything sketchy about the CDC comes crashing down on top of him like a wave, consuming him, choking him. They tricked him, made a fool of him, impersonated The Queen. Now what? Now where does he begin? Would he have failed? Ridiculed? He hadn't abandonned his post, but if he isn't there, would they think he had? What about Elizabeth? The other servants? Prince Soma and Agni?
He's shaking his head without realizing it, both at the situation and what Sebastian is saying.] Stop lying to me, Sebastian! [Out of nowhere and sharp, and his voice faintly echoes in the mechanical room. He already knows Sebastian isn't lying, wouldn't lie.]
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As it was, though, this was... interesting. If nothing else, it was a matter he would have to investigate. ]
I do not tell lies, young master.
[ He states it coolly and simply, left without the usual wry edge such a statement would have. He reaches to the extra glass he had brought (in case Ciel wanted water), and with one sleight of hand, it's filled with milk, and otherwise, he reaches into the pocket of his jacket to pull out two small containers of honey that he had brought in case Ciel had demanded the oatmeal sweeter, which he's glad for now. Milk he can at least create rather reliably with his powers, since it's a rather neutral taste, but sweets he has more difficulty with, since they never exactly taste sweet to him. He continues on in conversation as if this hadn't happened, preparing the drink with barely a pause. ]
Forgery or not, we can hardly change what has been done at this point. I will investigate the matter more thoroughly.
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But he will take it regardless, the milk. A small reprieve in this time of turmoil. It lets him clear his head momentarily, dip into some normalcy that he can orient his thoughts with.
The murder is just a small hurdle. Each mission is just another slightly bigger hurdle. The most important thing for them took focus on, he knows, is the CDC. Figuring out how to get back without reprocussions. Figuring out how to get out of the contract without it backfiring.] Do it. Find out anything you can about the CDC, about anyone working closely with them, about their contracts. [His voice is hard and bitter, eyes focused solely on Sebastian's face. The ringed lines of the contract activate, glowing a brighter purple than that of his eye. This is something he's serious about.]
That's an order.
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