ic inbox;

[madhatted]

[The voice that of the message is probably not the one you expect. And if you're Gilbert, probably causes traumatic flashbacks. It's certainly Break's voice, but a bit high pitched and more comical...]

Hello, this is Emily! You're obviously an idiot who can't even come see someone in person if it's important, but I'll take pity on you anyways. Leave a message and I'll tell the wonderful and charming Mr. Break about it if it's worth it!

[are you sure you even want to leave a message now]

Comments

[madhatted]

[ with these two, it might as well be ]

[ Break nods, though it comes with something of a tired sigh. ]

And I appreciate your assistance and prudence, as always. I feel as if I've aged twenty years in the past few weeks! [ His tone turns playful, but it's still tired and half-hearted ] My fragile health may just suffer yet~.

[expiatrice]

It's the least that I can do, so please, don't mention it anymore. [for more reasons than one...

and she chuckles.]

I envy you a little, actually. You don't have to worry about your hair turning white, unlike me. [She's doing well keeping the tiredness out of hers... A+ life skills.] Do you think two canes would help, out of curiosity?

[because like sURE IT WILL........ (unsure)]

2canez

[madhatted]

[ He stares incredulously for a moment, but then laughs despite himself... ]

Unless the second one has a sword in it as well? Somehow, I don't think so, unfortunately.

better than 2chainz, clearly this must happen now and you should also get a rename token because

[expiatrice]

[A sword.

Why is she not surprised?

PERKING UP NEVERTHELESS]

Do you dual wield?

[#priorities]

HAHAHAHA

[madhatted]

[ cIEL ]

[ The surprises keep coming, and he laughs, shaking his head ]

If pressed, it's possible! But I can't say with confidence that it's my strength. I'm much more used to using the sword in one hand, then the sheath in the other to block.

if you port him to another game after haven or something it's the perfect journal name

[expiatrice]

[what is it...]

Ah, so you're more the knightly sort of person? That's quite poetic~! [break makes for a decent blood knight maybe possibly potentially] Does the slenderness of a cane work for you, despite it all?

screams

[madhatted]

[ More than you even know, Ciel, more than you even know... ]

Ha, perhaps so... My knightly nature is rather limited to a small group, but I suppose I can't deny it for Lady Sharon, at least. [ But he nods ] But the concealed nature of the sword is what I prefer, honestly! I suppose I'm revealing my age here, but I saw the rise of pistols as a weapon of choice, so sadly I'm a bit old-fashioned in that respect... I do wish I could openly carry a sword at times, since something largely would have a bit more force, but, well, having it be a surprise works well enough too.

[expiatrice]

[she's ok with this]

How chivalrous! No wonder she seems to be so much of a romantic, hehe.

[waving her hand IT'S FINE no judging about each other's age, not here!] I'm more fond of pistols myself, but we can't very well afford the luxury in a place like this, so it does credit to the classics, which are more handy! I fully understand the concern about convenience and stealth, though, it's probably why I favor the Black Keys so much even if they're considered tricky to use and equally old-fashioned.

[no one expects sextuple wielding ninja nuns unless you're from the crazy world of TYPE-MOON, lbr...]

[madhatted]

[ He ducks his head slightly with a smile, though he doesn't deny the comment about her being a romantic at all... ]

Oh, the Black Keys? And what would those be, Miss Ciel? I didn't think you the type to name your weapons~!

[expiatrice]

[that's as good as agreeing... A+]

Oh, that's what we all call them back home, I didn't make it up so I can't take credit, hehe. It's a special weapon only individuals who are in a similar line of work to mine have mastery over, and long story short, it involves creating light swords out of paper. You can imagine, how handy that is to carry~!

[she looks so happy and proud........]

[madhatted]

[ It's okay, they're both freaks, so he looks quite genuinely interested, actually. ]

I do indeed. And that's an interesting method to produce them, as well. It's very clever, actually. [ The tone of interest there is like he's considering how he would do that himself, but, nope, Pandora Hearts bullshit magic doesn't extend that far, thankfully. ] It's a type of magic that produces this, I'm guessing?

[expiatrice]

[you know what they say, freaks of a feather...]

A mixture of sorcery and faith, actually, but it's technically considered a thaumaturgical process, yes. [mfw nasumagic lingo once more]

[madhatted]

Faith...

[ He hums thoughtfully ] Forgive me for saying so, but you don't strike me as particularly faithful, Miss Ciel.

[ Faithful people don't casually agree to mercy kills!! ]

[expiatrice]

Belief is power, though. Sacraments are the tangible manifestations of that. [aka "i believe cause it's convenient" CIEL...] The concept might be somewhat different from what you were used to, but that's how it's always worked for me. [>kotomine being part of tm clergy, after all.] The Lord's will is still my will, I just had to adjust my way of doing things, given how drastically the setting has changed from home to here.

[...

this is legit, okay...]

[madhatted]

[ yeah he just laughs at that sorry ciel ]

Well! If that's how it works, I certainly can't argue it! But, goodness, it seems the idea has a bit more leeway than I would have guessed.

[expiatrice]

[she's fared worse than being laughed at

TAKES IT IN STRIDES!!]

You get used to it, after meeting too many different people from different worlds that operate by equally varying systems. I think it's refreshing to learn about them, personally!

[madhatted]

[ Another laugh, but he just shakes his head a little ]

You have such an interesting combination of optimism and realism, Miss Ciel.

[ I WILL MERCY KILL YOU but also learning about new worlds is cool!! ]

But I'm not saying that as if to disagree~! I'm not the most social person by nature, but still, hearing about all of these odd places... It's certainly enough to pass the copious free time we have here.

[expiatrice]

...

Thank you, hehe. It's the first time someone put it like that! [TOUCHES HER CHEEK break isn't buying into your maiden act ciel, stop

(except more like FUDGING TYPE-MOON POWERLEVELS WITH MAGIC SYSTEMS IN OTHER WORLDS IS COOL, that... too)]

Do you mean you're just a little pickier than the usual person, mister Break? I don't think there's a problem in that, I can think of plenty more people far less social than you that I've met here! [dat backhanded compliment.] That is to say, if there's any topic of interest you'd like to look into without seeking people down personally, I could probably ask around for you?

[madhatted]

[ LMFAO well, good effort ciel... ]

[ But Break just laughs lightly as ciel makes his later post weird for him to ask bUT TIMELINES, shaking his head. He much prefers backhanded compliments to real ones, so it's okay. ]

Quite picky, I'd say, but if anything, Haven is breaking me of that habit, at least slightly. I don't have the luxury of choice as I did at home. [ though he still finds like 95% of the people here irritating ] But your offer is still appreciated, despite that! I'm sure I may just ask for such a favor, but I need to formulate my questions first... Naturally my new area of interest is my employer, but I need to be more specific with what I ask.

[expiatrice]

[the majority buys into it. GOOD ENOUGH SHE THINKS

oh... OOPS... blissfully stews in ignorance]

Haven breaks a lot of things, it's true. [wow ciel try to pretend to care a little more, what about ~PUBLIC IMAGE~] Different people adjust differently, it sounds like you're still determining your method? Please take your time and proceed as you see fit. My offer will stay open and you're welcome to take me up on it later, whenever you like?

[questions about yao though... hahaha. well, it's his business, and he just said he's still mulling over it. So!]

[madhatted]

[ He nods ]

More or less. For being their employee, they share a woefully small amount of information, so... It seems up to me to dig it up myself.

[expiatrice]

'Employee' does have a nicer ring to it.

[said neutrally, but the implication is rather transparent. More like 'pawn', amirite.

But Ciel's not here to chide him, so.]

Your hands are tied regardless, you have too much on the line. Please be careful; I'm sure you're already aware, but you have to tread with much more care regardless, on either side now.

[madhatted]

I am.

[ He nods, and his expression shifts, almost to something mournful and nostalgic, and he shakes his head with a laugh. ]

It is, unfortunately, something I know perhaps too well. So I'll take care with my actions from now on.

[expiatrice]

Bad habits are terribly hard to break, aren't they. [...] Your name is a little ironic, thinking it that way, aha.

[another beat.]

May I offer a word of advice? Although it may not really be an advice, I confess. Just a personal opinion based on experience, if you will?

[madhatted]

[ He nods, chuckling a little. ]

It is. I believe that was something of the thought behind it.

[ He wouldn't say it so directly, but it tells clearly enough that it wasn't his birthname. He hadn't, and wouldn't, meet Elesia when she came to haunt Ciel, but that, too, was something they seemed to share. But he looks in her direction, nodding. ]

Of course. Yours is one of the few that I would consider taking to heart.