riverviewlogs | A celebration of family, eh?

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A celebration of family, eh?

who: Ciel Phantomhive, Undertaker, Vincent Phantomhive, those invited to spend the holiday
what: Celebrating Hygge with cocoa by the fire
when: Second day (and on? maybe?)
where: Phantomhive/Undertaker house
warnings: None

He'd spent a late day in the store the day before, having several Bitter Rabbits customized to share at least a passing similarity to their recipients. And when they'd been finished, he carefully wrote out notes for each, boxed them, and set them out to be delivered the next morning. Two of them, he packed up to take home with him, to give to their new owners personally. They were in an unmarked box at least, easily covered up as something for work that he didn't want to leave.

He hoped the invitations would be accepted. At least in their own home, his father and Undertaker seemed at least a bit excited for Hygge. Even if it was something unique to this world.

Ciel also made sure the had plenty of ingredients for cocoa and plenty of marshmallows for it. His sweet tooth demanded as much. Anything else he was sure would be asked for. A shop wasn't too far away that they couldn't get anything needed or wanted. Or so he hoped.

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The box with Undertaker's gift is held carefully, along with his fathers, each box marked so he wouldn't mistake them. And he wondered just how busy they'd be during the holiday as he watched Undertaker, smiling at the man and enjoying the scent of cocoa in the air.

"I could smell the chocolate." He smiled, slipping up the the counter and setting the boxed down. Perfectly innocent, the way he did it too, no markings except for a "U" on one and an "F" on the other.

His grin showed a little more teeth as he giggled and took a spoon for another stir of hot chocolate that he had finished, blended in a cup of steaming milk. The spoon was set aside on a paper towel and he set the cup on a saucer to offer to the boy, though the boxes on the counter took his attention.

"Oh? What might those be?"

Mm, Ciel would gladly accept the cup, wrapping both hand around it and inhaling the scent. Just taking a moment to enjoy it before lightly blowing at the steam, hoping it wouldn't take too long for it to cool. It smelled good enough that that he was already willing to burn himself.

"One is the Bitter Rabbit for father. The other is a surprise." There was a grin, full of mischief that might have been expected by then. "You did make cocoa already though, I suppose I could let you see. If you really want."

Steam meant hot, and it did smell good and had his own mouth watering, but he'd hoped Ciel would give it time to cool a little before he tried it out. While he waited, the boxes drew him away from the other cup of cocoa he had made for himself. One finger reached out to poke at the boxes gently.

"I think I do. Is it alive or dead?"

It was very tempting though, it smelled good and it was a treat he sometimes had to argue with Sebastian over. As he did with most treats that didn't come with a meal or tea. It was just another thing that made him happy to live with Undertaker.

"Neither." He was all smiles, watching the man, and just resisting propping his chin on his hands. And that smile turns more sweet than devious. "The one marked with a 'U' is for you, of course. Open it."

He turns a glance back at Ciel before taking the box indicated and looking it over. "Milord, you shouldn't have. Not for me." Say what Ciel would, he still didn't feel like family to the boy or to his father, but he wouldn't turn the gift down.

He looked it over once or twice, shook it lightly, then took a letter opener - those still existed in this world! - to the tape on it to spare his nails. "Whatever have you brought me?"

"I wanted to." He said on impulse, watching and waiting, holding his breath for a moment and hoping he'd like what was inside. Ciel had tried to think of everyone that had become important to him since he'd arrived, and Undertaker was one of the first. It seemed perfectly reasonable to him to make this one a little more special.

And inside was a soft, white, Bitter Rabbit, very much unlike others. It had bright green eyes sewn on it instead, a pale scar across its face, and a little black robe. There's also a thin gold chain sewn onto the robe around the bunnies waist.

"Do you... like him?"

The awe on his face becomes clear as soon as he sees the bunny, even before he sees that it has been tailored to look more or less like him. "Aww, isn't this something?"

He sets the box aside and sits with the bunny in a chair at the table, looking it over, running fingers over the soft fur, the unique detailing. Funtom had always made the best of their products and this rabbit was no different, but that it had been made specially for him spoke volumes. "I love him. Thank you, milord."

As if to punctuate that, he giggles and hugs the bunny to himself, burying his face in on top of its head.

Seeing him hug the bunny seemed to trigger all of Ciel's muscles to relax, his held breath let out. Undertaker was probably the one he was most worried about. He was still learning about everyone else he'd made a bunny for but Undertaker remained something of an enigma.

"I'm so glad to hear that." And he was, Ciel smiling so gently a moment later and then taking his cocoa and sitting at the table with Undertaker. He wasn't quite sure what anyone would do with their Bitter Rabbits, looking like them (or as best Ciel could manage) but he hoped that at least seemed to mean as much to them as Undertaker's seemed to.

He thought nothing of being a little childish with his rabbit, the first toy he had had in centuries. The skulls and dead bodies and human anatomy cutaway dolls didn't count. "Aren't you just the sorriest thing?" he all but crooned to the little plush when he finally released it from his embrace. One nail ran down the length of the scar over its face almost affectionately.

"Look at this! Who hurt you, lad? Who?" He hugged the bunny close again, petting its ears as he cradled it like a child. "Don't you cry. I'll keep you safe. This won't happen again, no it won't!" Then he made a show of kissing the top of its fuzzy head. "But, oh my, I can't go about calling you Undertaker. Goodness knows people will get us confused!"

At last, he turned back to Ciel. "Does he have a name, milord?"

It was a sight Ciel couldn't help but laugh softly at. It wasn't often he saw Undertaker so... free, he supposed. And that made him feel warm inside, but he supposed that was just part of having family. Even if they weren't, really.

That was a good question though. And nothing he'd really ever given thought to. Even back home, every version was just called 'Bitter Rabbit' and they let it go at that. He was sure most people just gave them names themselves after they bought them.

"No. Ah, I guess I didn't think of names. I'm sure you'll think of something nice for him though."

He hummed in thought, looking back to the rabbit in his arms again, and smoothed a hand down over its ears. "Maybe I'll name him Bill. Doesn't seem to match, but it does have a ring to it. Bill the Bitter Rabbit."

Then, just to tease a little more, he put the plush in front of his face and took a paw in each hand and made one wave. He adjusted his voice, making it higher pitched as he pretended to speak for the bunny. "'ello! My name is Bill. I've not been the best rabbit of the bunch, but thank'ee kindly for making me and giving me a home!"

Almost immediately, Ciel rose his hands to covers his mouth and stifle his laughter. He knew Undertaker liked his laughter but he was still getting used to laughing, it was a little tiring sometimes because of that. Once he got his laughter under control and to levels closer to soft chuckles, he smiled and watched the bunny.

"I think Bill is a wonderful name. And a great rabbit." He really was glad Undertaker took to the gift so well. "I think he suits you, Undertaker."

The sounds of that laugh thrilled him. He hadn't expected it to get such a reaction, but now that it had, he tucked that little tidbit away for future use. His grin spread without bounds and he giggled right along with the boy, settling the rabbit on the table beside him, one hand smoothing down the robe he'd been placed in.

"If it gets that out of you, I'll call him that. He certainly is something. Thank you kindly, milord. I'll keep him as one of my treasures."

He couldn't stop his smile half so well as he tried with his laughter but it did drop away for a moment, just a moment, at Undertaker's words. Just as quickly though, he was smiling again. This time it was much softer, and he stared at the table.

"One of your treasures? Really?"

The look on the boy's face was something he hadn't quite expected, much like the outburst of laughter from him moments ago. Something seemed different about Ciel now, made more certain by its mere presence, and it softened a place in him that the young Earl had been chipping away at in the months since their arrival.

"One of my treasures, yes." He stood and moved around the table, feeling a tad playful still, and opened his arms in invitation and waited.

Meanwhile, Undertaker had spent those months dealing with Ciel constantly having his walls torn down and insecurities exposed, all while acting as his stability and making little holes here and there where Ciel had hardened himself. Helped by several others, of course, but he'd been a constant. Even moving in with the teen.

Even if it had helped him as well, getting him out of a more crowded living space.

With all the influences he's had, with how close he'd gotten to Undertaker, the offer of a hug wasn't refused. The teen standing up and stepping into the embrace, slowly, still wrapping his thoughts around a stuffed bunny being close to his mourning lockets.

As expected, Ciel stood and moved to embrace him and he permitted it for a few moments. His own arms encircled the boy and held him close, but when he stepped back, he kept one arm about the boy's shoulder. Then, moving quickly, he ducked down to scoop Ciel up behind his knees and held him close once again as he spun around with the boy, giggling and giddy.

What had taken ahold of him, he couldn't say, but it had started in Ciel's delight and blew over into him like wildfire.

Of course, being picked up is something he's not used to, not really. He didn't cound the times Sebastian did it, it was necessary then, for the sake of speed or if he'd been hurt or sick, so when Undertaker just scooped him up, arms immediately wrapped around his neck and the boy let out a little squeak of surprise.

As he was held though, he did let himself smile. He could remember being held like this so long ago before he'd let go of ever being a child again. It was nice.

This was probably a good holiday for this reminder to.

One spin around is all it takes, all he needs, to get a reaction from the boy. The squeak pulls another bout of giggles from him, but he'll grant Ciel a little mercy and stand with him there, still held off the ground, peering down at him through a split in his bangs.

"My lord, I do believe that's one of the most amusing things I've ever heard from you. Shall I try this again some day and see if you do the same?"

Ciel still held on even if he knew there was never a danger of him being dropped. Undertaker would have found a way to catch him if Sebastian had failed to on the Campania, he was sure.

He looked up under those bangs though, too those phosphorescent eyes and smiled again. Then tilted his head a little, curious.

"What's so amusing?" He knew he probably meant the squeak but he wasn't about to mention it.

Here was another application for his hair that he hadn't considered - a miniature veil under which to hide a shared glance. He watched Ciel watching him, far too close to make out anything else other than that they were looking at each other, but it was all that they needed for the moment. He couldn't help a grin at the boy through it all.

"You are, of course." As if it should have been the most obvious thing in the world.

Well, there was Albert, but all he did was stand in a corner all day long, waving hello or goodbye to everyone, regardless or whether or not they were actually there.

It was good for them, Ciel was just short enough to be able to look up under his bangs. Being able to see his eyes, one of the few that really ever got to do as much, sometimes made him think. Funny how close they were and both had problems with their vision. One near-sighted and one half blind.

He did let out a little huff at the answer though. Even made a face and gave Undertaker a friendly, gentle, shove. And the leaning against him immediately after.

"It's just nice seeing you so relaxed. And seeing you enjoy your gift. I wasn't at all sure what you'd like."

The boy's weight put no strain on him. If anything, it alleviated some of the gravity other stresses had tried tying to him, and the little push helped to knock that off all the more. As they were, he gave Ciel a gentle squeeze and held him steady, rocking him side to side for the sake of doing so, much like he might with the boy as a young child.

"Me relaxed? I should say the same about you. You're the one always with such a severe face, sometimes I wonder if you'll ever look any different."

He didn't think it would make any difference to him, having seen how strong he was before. And nobody could be called weak who handled the dead or a scythe that size. Ciel was sure he'd fall flat if he even tried holding it. So he'd never ask and didn't let himself entertain the thought further.

"I've... gotten better though." He couldn't help how he looked most of the time. Years of habit, out of self defense mostly, was hard to break but he slowly let those walls down in the past few months.

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