"june" is not the best month for ciel [OPEN]

[cheats]

Who: Ciel Phantomhive (cheats) & YOU
When: Forward-dated 3 IC days (OOC: Jun 6th)...! But otherwise, various.
Where: Various
What: Ciel is fresh from a canon-update and wearing a dress. Also this is a catchall for any June interactions!
Rating/Warning: None to start!

---

prompt a — dude looks like a lady (open)

[ To be honest, Ciel isn't quite sure what happened.

It's the sort of thing he can't mentally piece together, because now that he's here and having sat through that damn powerpoint again, it's familiar to him. CERES, the amusement park, all of the things that he had... forgotten. It's the fact that he had forgotten them while he had returned home. Or at least, that's what it had felt like, but based on everything the people in charge here said, such a thing shouldn't even be possible. He remembers that now, but that doesn't provide any comfort whatsoever. Much more than that, it's upsetting, especially for a particularly paranoid person like Ciel. He had accomplished more at home, been returned to the matters of the Green Witch, and it wasn't as if it were a distant memory. He still had the signs of such a conflict.

...Which is also another problem. He still had the signs of such a conflict.

This problem at least allows Ciel to put those paranoid, burning issues to the side, since there's a different obstacle that he has to face, and that is the fact that the events that had transpired to get out of that damned village had left him injured, for one, but that wasn't nearly as bad as the fact that he's wearing a dress. He had pleaded with some of the people to give him something else to wear, but of course, he had no such luck.

He's absolutely mortified, but he can't just stick around and wait for help, especially since he's been shooed away. He just wants to go to his "home," dammit!! Why does this have to be difficult too!?

So it's with a great effort and a very, very red face that Ciel finally starts to make his way home. If you know him, that blue hair and eyepatch makes him unmistakeable, though the injuries and dress may be questionable... And if you don't, it's not exactly unfair to mistake Ciel as a young lady with how he's dressed, at least until he opens his rude mouth. ]

prompt b — closed to casa de birbhouse

[ Well. After that shitshow above, Ciel eventually makes it home, though this was probably a more taxing effort than actually escaping from the damn village while getting shot at by a tank. He hates people. He hates them so much!!

In fact, he hates them enough that when he enters the apartment, he doesn't even bother calling out to say that he's back. For a moment, he doesn't even care, because looking past the pure mortification of having to get home wearing this stupid dress, he's tired because he's still injured. Getting stabbed by Alois is a distant memory by now, since having to deal with the remains of what the mustard gas had done to him and the exertion of the escape from the forest was exhausting.

So instead, he flops down on the couch first and closes his eye. He doesn't quite mean to, but it doesn't take long at all for Ciel to fall asleep like that. It's also a deep enough sleep for Darren to come sit right by Ciel and start to eat the long tassels of the dress, and he doesn't even stir at all.

Surprise for Oz and Ada... ]

prompt c — ruthless corporate takeovers (open)

[ You know who isn't exactly happy when you disappear for a week without notice? Work.

Work is at least something that Ciel feels confident enough with. As one of the employees at a local toy store, he's managed to work his way into not working as a sales assistant, since his personality is terrible for it, and instead, he generally handles matters of paperwork, bookkeeping, and general more managerial work. Despite his age, he's actually quite good at it, but to make up the work he unexpectedly missed... Well, he has to get those hours in, and there's really only so many hours that you can assist with that type of work.

So much to his chagrin, Ciel is instead at the front of the shop for the month. At first, he would seem especially suited to it, because he at least does look adorable and perfectly fitting in all the cute toys. But as usual, once he opens his mouth, it's clear that his personality isn't as cute as his face. He sounds completely unenthused, like he would rather be anywhere else but here. ]

Welcome to CERES Toys... How can I help you today?

prompt d — school is for nerds (open to school-age characters)

[ You know who else isn't exactly happy when you disappear for a week without notice? School.

To be fair, though, Ciel isn't exactly the best at attendance to the local school anyways. He excels in his classes, since he's very academically gifted (probably as a result of being personally tutored by a [redacted] year old demon), and as such, he finds most of school trivial and boring. Still, he does all of the assignments that are requested, and he at least shows up more days than he doesn't. Minus the week of his canon update. This at least has him at school more often, since he has work to make up for...!

i ; It's class time! What subject? Well, whatever you would expect to an intelligent fourteen year old to be taking. It's hard to believe that he's as smart as he is sometimes, though, since he's brazenly just sleeping in class. Will you be nice and wake him up? Or will you just try and throw paper at his head and keep score until he finally wakes up...

ii ; As a part of one of those classes, it looks like it's group project time, which is pretty much the worst. This is especially true considering it seems like you're going to be working with Ciel, who is a giant, bossy pain in the ass. Good luck?

iii ; As Ciel's truly charming personality would lead you to believe, there's only so much of being a lil shit teachers can tolerate, and Ciel as promptly ended up in detention. If it's just started, he's probably still mad about being there and will complain to whoever is closest, but eventually, he comes to terms with his punishment and reads a rather difficult looking book on tax laws instead. If you're in detention too, this means you have free reign to bully him.

Or, you know, just gently bully him. He deserves it. ]

prompt e — wildcard

[ Want a thread with Ciel, but none of these options sound appealing? Hit me up to make up your own prompt! This will also be the option that catches anything stupid I plan throughout the month... ]

Comments

d iii;

[ineptus]

[It's probably a little surprising to find Mabel in detention, but after doing things that were distinctly not listening to the teacher talk about stupid, boring math, that's where she winds up with an extra assignment to do and half falling asleep over it. Uuughhh so booorrriiiing. But hark, what's this? Is this a familiar voice she hears?

Hopefully Ciel has no problem with Mabel just sliiiiding in beside him.]

Tax laws? I didn't know there was a tax class here!

[cheats]

[ Considering the people that Ciel tends to keep as company (that is, hellions, in one shape or another), it's not quite as surprising as it could be to see Mabel here as well. At first, he flinches away from her to hide his face behind his book, since really, he's still terribly awkward and shy when it comes to girls in general, but Mabel especially. However, he at least peeks up from his book with some surprise, since with how she speaks of it, he's surprised. ]

...There's not.

[ But he's still confused, since it almost sounds like she's... interested? Did he misunderstand her tone? ]

Do you know anything about taxes?

[ineptus]

[Wow Ciel are you really hiding from her?]

Oh! Well I guess they can't have everything here. And I know some things!

[She closes her math book, turning to face him more in her seat.]

I know that you're supposed to tell the government how much money you made in the year so they can take some of it from you for state stuff and government stuff and social security stuff. I also know that if you don't tell them about all of the money you make, that's called tax fraud and you'll go to jail if you get caught.

[She puts her elbow on the table, propping her chin up with her hand thereafter.]

But some income you can safely avoid telling them about, depending on what kind it is, and they won't know about it if nobody tells them!

d-ii

[uncoincidental]

[...well, this is as awkward a pair-up as any. Curse you, teachers. Just for that, next time they have a test Sheba is totally mindreading them for the answers instead of studying.

For now, though, they're going to have to make this work. She would really prefer not to get a bad grade... although in the grand scheme of things grades probably don't matter much here. It's not like she's going to be taking her transcript from CERES Academy back to Weyard with her when they finally do all get to go home, if they get to go home.]

Do you ever get the feeling that the people here are out to get us?

[She says, as if she's just making idle, everyday conversation.]

[cheats]

Yes.

[ Ciel responds as immediately and naturally as if it was indeed normal, everyday conversation. For Ciel, it is, at least. His paranoia tends to soar to new and exciting levels, so of course he thinks CERES is out to get him.

This is also proven by the fact that this is probably the first thing resembling conversation that he's said since they got paired up. Before this point, it roughly extended to "pass me the construction paper" without even so much as a "please" to go with it. ]

Having to go to an academy in the first place is a ridiculous waste of time.

b.....

[harepiece]

[WELL, NAPTIME'S OVER NOW PUNK because here comes Oz. He was out at the time because otherwise you know he'd definitely be moseying out as soon as he heard the door open, so when he comes back, the first thing he sees is -- someone in a dress on their couch?? A STRANGER?! A-

Oh.

Nope, closer inspection reveals that this is definitely Ciel. He absently tries to pluck Darren up too, because Darren's such a problem child that he's used to dealing with him without breaking his concentration. But what does he do about this?? Maybe he should wake this loser up...

Tentatively, he reaches out with the hand that isn't trying to keep Darren from choking and pokes Ciel's arm.]

[cheats]

[ Yes, this green pile is in fact Ciel, which is made clearest by the thing that Oz already knows well. Ciel is adorable when he's asleep, even when he's angrily sleeping. Clearly, it's been a trying day for grandpa.

When Oz pokes him, Ciel doesn't deck him, but he does flinch sharply, since he's very quickly awake, at least. That one eye is wide and wild for a moment, as it is when Ciel is startled awake, but... It's Oz. Once Ciel realizes this, it at least gets him to grumble sharply, because it at least hasn't been a canon update spanning months so much as a day or so.

In fact, he's about to criticize Oz for waking him up when he remembers it's been a day or so. And he is definitely wearing Sieglinde's dress. He stares at Oz like a deer in the headlights with an awkward, uncertain expression, since he doesn't know what to do to avoid this awkward conversation.

...He kind of wants to run, but he refrains from that one, at least. ]

[harepiece]

[Ah yes, avoiding being decked, this is going to be the highlight of their friendship isn't it... "That one time Ciel could have punched my lights out, but didn't."

ANYWAY, yeah, that sure is Oz. And he sure was worried!! He's been around in Cerealia long enough to understand that disappearances are just one of those things that happen, but it's still upsetting. More than the dress (which he may or may not tease Ciel for), he's just happy to see his nerd roommate back.]

It's strange for you to go missing like that and then come back like this, you know.

[Never mind, he's definitely going to tease Ciel for it.......]

A

[2cool4guardian]

[Questionable? That's the least of it. Any kid alone in the city would call Jack's attention, but the injuries and the dress that reminds him of older times make the kid even more noticeable. To put it in simpler words: he looks like shit.

This is a job for a Guardian.

In his mind he's approaching slowly, but let's be honest: anyone would be startle by a chilly boy suddenly appearing next to you. Floating. At least the concern on his face and voice is true and more gentle?]

Hey, kiddo, are you okay? What happened?

[cheats]

[ Out of everything strange about this place, the one thing that Ciel will absolutely, never get used to is the fact that people here are capable of much more than what he would guess. It's ironic, considering the mark of a pact with a demon seared into his covered eye, but Ciel was still a logical and not very whimsical at all child.

So when Jack very suddenly appears, and floating, no less, it's all Ciel can do to quickly stifle a noise of alarm by bringing his hands up to his mouth. At least he's not new to this sort of thing, but dammit, it gets him every time and he hates it!! ]

Wh—

[ Ugh. Ugh!! He wants to ask what he is first and foremost, but there's also a part of him that just doesn't want to know. The noise is uttered out as Ciel lowers his hands, and though he still looks startled, there's a sort of inherent mortification too in anyone even approaching him. ]

What do you want?

[ he's a grumpy one, so good luck, jack... ]

[2cool4guardian]

[At Ciel's noise, Jack jerks back on instinct and-- oh. Well. That's not a girl, go figure. Which makes this situation all the more worrisome.

Alright, so maybe his approach wasn't the best. He's still new at this talking to people thing! He decides to land in front of Ciel, moving slowly this time so the kid can follow him. His free hand moves up and down, a gesture asking the boy to calm down.]

It's okay, it's okay-- I'm not gonna hurt you. I just wanna help. You're hurt, right?

[His concern is as obvious as it can be - so is his body temperature. He's cold to be near to, and under his bare feet frost is starting to appear.]

prompt c bc it's not right to have ciel not hating one of mine rn

[kirkwalled]

You could be happier, couldn't you?

[ yes... hawke is going to be That Customer right now but look, she came into this very cheery shop -- without her dog, mind you! this absolutely colorful and happy shop and while some of this place seems kind of over the top, when she approached the counter she didn't expect that. ]

Aren't you supposed to match the mood of the place? Good customer service, is it?

ah truly it is ciel's fate

[cheats]

[ There is absolutely a reason that Ciel generally doesn't work the front end of the shop, and that's primarily because at the comments, his face immediately sours. True, he can put on a good face to make a sale when he wants to. In fact, he's very good at it. But this shop isn't his (not yet, at least), and that simple lack of ownership doesn't give Ciel too much motivation to pretend to be a good employee.

Alas.

Maybe that's his fate too. ]

...What can I help you with.

[ He pointedly ignores every comment, at least verbally, but his irritation couldn't be any clearer on his face. Or in his tone that makes a question not sound like a question... ]

[kirkwalled]

[ hawke patiently waits out the sour expression and complete overreaction, in her opinion but then ciel opens his mouth and nothing changes. she really just wants to inquire about the stuffed dinosaur and if it's dog-friendly but nope, now she's going to change her tack. she leans against the counter and gives ciel a flat stare. ]

You really aren't ever going to bring in any customers like that. You don't even sound like you want to help me.

d iii

[twomeals]

[Unlike Ciel, Yue's got terrible grades. Partly because his home tutoring got him up to about a second grade level and he's now stuck in classes more "appropriate" for his age.

Which is why he's now sitting at the desk next to Ciel's, listening to him complain about detention. And he was trying to take a nap, too...]

....It's not that bad, though.

[cheats]

It's a waste of time.

[ Ciel is on a rampage!! It's an indignant and very non-threatening one, since Ciel is about as threatening on his own as a very upset kitten, but. He at least makes up for that with pure dedication to being angry alone. ]

This is all a damned waste of time! I've already been tutored, so I don't see why I need to be in school in the first place.

[twomeals]

Do you have something else to do with it? The time, I mean.

[This very upset kitten is a nice way to pass the time, actually. Watching him be angry...from his position with his head on his desk.]

Maybe they think you haven't learned enough.

d - iii

[dishonorstudent]

[ Ryuko is no stranger to finding herself in detention, being a rebel and delinquent student of the highest caliber. Unlike Ciel, however, she's making herself comfortable by tethering her chair on its hind legs, rocking back and forth as she eats a lemon of all things. ]

Well, well... Long time no see. "Phantompipe", was it?

[cheats]

Phantomhive.

[ Ciel turns Ryuko's way with an annoyed little huff, but that annoyance also dies quickly as he sees what she's eating. For a boy that loves sweets far too much for his own good, this is nothing short of repulsive. ]

...Is that a lemon?

[dishonorstudent]

Nah, it's an onion.

[ Of course it's a lemon, and she'll bite it again if just to make him more miserable. His childlike huff is endearing, ok. ]

Why, ya want it?

c;

[undaunts]

[Quite frankly, it takes her a moment to realize that he's there--mostly because she's stuck staring at one of the stuffed animals on display. Generally, she's old enough that she doesn't get too distracted by toys (ha, that's a lie), but... this one is just so utterly peculiar and awe-inspiring that she has to stop.

And then she realizes that there's someone talking to her, but she points out the plushie to him and--]

It's a cookie...and it's stuffed.

At the same time.

[Look.

This is an incredible discovery, Ciel.]

[cheats]

[ Really, Ciel thinks it's stupid, so when Ruby points it out, he's under the assumption that he's complaining. Why? Well, he would. He sighs, then gives a shrug. ]

I don't pick the designs. I don't understand either.

[ Why would you assume anyone thinks like you do, Ciel... ]

[undaunts]

But it's like...

[Sorry, Ciel, you're not escaping this conversation...]

... It's delicious! But not edible. But it's squishy and adorable! [...] But still not edible. Which is a weird thing for a cookie to be. Not edible, I mean.

obviously it's c

[loosetongue]

[Alois hates his "job" and has hated every minute of it since he realized he needs to have one to survive. No more free money? That's complete bullshit, if you ask him - or if you don't ask him, because he's shared the sentiment, unsolicited, with enough coworkers by now that almost every shift has requested not to work with him.

This, and an unlucky twist of fate, is how he's finally wound up not only working the same shift as Ciel, but also the shift Ciel is out front and not hiding behind a desk somewhere. Pros, cons. On the one hand- he's still pissed off about getting shot. On the other... no, actually. No, that's everything.

He doesn't come up to Ciel immediately, because in his dumb little head it seems much more menacing to wander around the store always just around the corner, just to be a shit about it. He's also pushing around one of these things, but more infuriatingly noisy because this is the Future. The sweet sounds of it popping its way over announce Alois finally coming up behind Ciel to ruin everyone's day.]

You look like a prat, you know.

[cheats]

[ Don't worry, Alois. As it turns out, Ciel is still just as pissed off about being stabbed, if not more. After all, to Ciel, it was completely and utterly unwarranted, and while he's been able to avoid Alois since thanks to the manager, making up these shifts is leading him to destruction.

He knows Alois is here, since Ciel had been careful to check the schedule every day to see whether he would be stuck with his new mortal enemy. So in a way, Alois's plan works, because the fact that Ciel knows Alois is here puts him on edge, so that menacing wandering is working rather well until he starts hearing those pops of the toy. Then Ciel's irritation shifts to a completely different kind of indignation.

When Alois finally appears, it looks like Ciel has half a mind to grab the toy and break it over Alois's head, but the rude remark prevents him from that. He stares incredulously for a moment, truly Judging with every fiber of his being. ]

As if you look any better, moron.

[ because even if alois isn't wearing olde timey victorian clothes i know his fashion sense is awful ]