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]

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.

[expiatrice]

[tmw she already teased him about it asking about if his parents were history nerds or something because XERXES... That's Persian is what 300 taught me

but yes, she's happy to let it drop with a small smile, figuring something on the line was up already. he probably has too honestly, since she never ever gave out a last name to anyone. now what does this say too, if one's to give it any thoughts at all...?]

It shouldn't be anything you don't already know, however. You've been hit with a number of hard lessons of late all at once, it would seem.

[...]

But I'd like to comment on it regardless, yes. A reminder that this place is nothing like what you were used to back home, and for that reason, whatever that worked in your world can't be assumed to hold true here, especially with how ruthless and ever-feeding the corporation is. ...It sounds exceedingly silly, but Haven is a place where sincerity can triumph pragmatism. Peace of mind, a moment's respite, a single reason to smile, - what people once take for granted and what's once easily dismissed are invaluable things, in these ruins where everything is geared to break us down. That's why...

[...]

It's conceit, to think you can do everything on your own and move freely within your loved ones' shadows. The more you try, the more pain you'll cause them, and before long, you'll find yourself outdoing Haven. Can you envision it, the progression...?

1/2

[madhatted]

[ As soon as she says that she wants to comment on it, Break already has his expectations for what she'll say. It's more along the lines of what he would expect of his own self-criticism, harsh, critical, and brutally honest. It was something he valued and expected, so to hear otherwise... His eye widens in surprise that's very clear, and for longer than just a passing moment.

For Ciel, of all people, to be giving this as advice... ]

nope j/k 2/3

[madhatted]

[ Well, it makes him listen to it slightly more. His friends were naive and optimistic, which were qualities that he couldn't embody in the slightest, though he had learned to tolerate them. To hear similar values of those small moments of friendship being repeated by Ciel... There must be some truth to them.

It's a bit hard to accept, honestly. But his expression softens, and he nods. ]

...Quite clearly, in fact. Thank you, Ciel.

[ No "Miss," this time, because he's being sincere. He doesn't have much to say in response, because this time, there's no room to argue it. ]

[madhatted]

[ But after the moment of sincerity passes, he can't help but to chuckle to himself, shaking his head. ]

My, but I certainly didn't expect to hear such a thing from you, of all people. You struck me a bit too cold for such warm sentiments.

[expiatrice]

[She's not there to lecture him or repeat to him how greatly he's failed, things he knew and others around him have no doubt already thoroughly chewed him out about. That much was still true, so it was never her intention to stretch that topic more than it must've already had.

The drop in honorifics is noted, too. She's quite diligent with her own use also, after all. She can't help but give a sigh half-caught in a chuckle regardless, but it sounds vaguely self-deprecating all the same.]

You've nothing to thank me for, Break. But if you insist, I'll cherish it.

['Gratitude', from people like them... Hah.

And now, raising an index to her lips in a shushing motion!]

Shhhh, not so loud. I can't meddle if people thought I was a cold person,, you know?

[madhatted]

[ He dips his head slightly as another small concession of his gratitude, but he lets it go without further comment, since of course their personalities aren't suited to sentimentality very well. But still, now it's shifting to teasing, which is always easier for Break. ]

Aha~! So I was right to think that you do enjoy meddling in others' affairs... But no worries, Miss Ciel, your secret is safe with me. ♥

[expiatrice]

Well... I suppose I haven't been able to keep it too well, with how much I've been getting around for the past year and then some. [lbr how she meddles is kinda obvious. sorta. a little. maybe more...] But no need to draw further attention to it than necessary, hm? I'll be holding onto you for that, in any case. You DO know what they say about a woman scorned, yes?

[this isn't threatening, nope...]

[madhatted]

[ With a smile, ] Oh, yes, quite well! I'm not sure if Lady Sharon may have spoken of it, but you see, she comes from a family of powerful women... So with my personality, I've all known their wrath quite well, you can imagine.

[ He admits it so casually... super whipped... ]

So don't worry. Your secret is absolutely safe with me~.

[expiatrice]

[>super whipped

ah, her favorite.........]

She hasn't, but I can't say I'm surprised! [NO WONDER THEY GET ALONG LIKE TWO PEAS IN A POD.] Let's not speak more of it then, but if Gilbert, Reim, or any of the others are giving you extra trouble, please do let me know. It wouldn't be right to slave drive the elderly, now would it?

[ur old, break]

[madhatted]

[ That just makes him laugh, and it's quite genuine ]

Now this is a first! No one has offered to come to my rescue from their nagging before... [ BECAUSE IT'S ALL DESERVED ] But I'll certainly keep it in mind~!

[expiatrice]

[making losers genuinely laugh is one of her life talents.

to be fair (???) she offered the same to sharon and sharon has priority, so. :v]

Well, it does take a very unique and specific skill set, to be able to interfere with something like that. I'm rather confident to have it! Please don't forget when you do come to need it, in that case?

[madhatted]

Oh, I have no doubts that you do, Miss Ciel! Yet still, were you to rescue me from Reim or Gilbert, would you be able to survive the nagging that would befall you for it?

[ Another laugh ] I wouldn't want you to suffer such a fate as well, you see.