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[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]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

'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.

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.

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?

[ 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.

[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...?

[ 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... ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

[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?

[ 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. ♥

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...]

[ 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~.

[>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]

[ 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~!

[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?

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.

Of course. I'm quite confident I can take care of them with a hand tied behind my back; they're men quite easy to catch off guard, you know?

[more like ciel abusing every advantage she possibly has and loser faux victorians ARE easy to mess with, she's not a bully she swears /coughs]

You should let me know whether or not I ought to go easy on them, if anything. They've already quite the frayed nerves as things are, don't they?

[ And he just laughs pleasantly, because it's not like he's a bully too, nope... ]

Ah, let's see! You'd surprise Reim, but his nerves have been tempered quite soundly over the years... [ no thanks to break ] Easy to startle, but once it's done, there's much less fun to be had. Gilbert, on the other hand, hasn't learned a thing in the time I've known him, and his nerves are still as frayed and fragile as the day we met. Perhaps worse.

[ He laughs again, like this is pleasant and normal ]

You'd have more fun taking care of Gilbert, to put it simply.

Oh, I noticed. Do you speak from experience?

[some divine intervention break these two up, nothing good will come out of it...]

[ He just laughs, because what a silly question, Ciel!! ]

Well, of course! I've known that poor, feeble-hearted man since he was a boy. My experience is more than a decade by now, I suppose!

Well then, there's my silver lining~! Your experiences are that of a man's. Have you witnessed often, mister Reim being put at a loss around a woman?

[LIKE THAT'S ANY BETTER........... no one wants a genderbent break, ciel pls]

[ He looks surprised that he would bring it up, then shakes his head. ]

...Hm, not particularly. Gilbert is the one that tends to be at a loss, but that's because of his terribly oblivious nature. [ it's sad tbh ] Reim doesn't receive suitors as often as Gilbert did.

[ He thinks about it, then adds, ] I suppose he was too busy for it, since I can't recall any.

Suitors?

[no ciel

DON'T SOUND CONTEMPLATIVE...]

Wouldn't that surprise him all the more, if that sort of situation happened to him? I could flirt decently, I think, but it depends on what sort of treatment makes them squirm the most. Does Reim get his cheeks pinched often?

[ciel

stop]

...Ha ha, Miss Ciel! You're positively devilish~!

[ But by that laughter, he clearly approves... ]

No, I would certainly say not! Should you wish to undertake the task, I'm sure you would be met with quiet satisfying results!

Please, mister Break. That's heretical.

[like she gives any fucks...]

Only if they give you a hard time, now~. That was what we were talking about, hm?

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