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who: Ciel, Jason Todd, Undertaker, Beverly Crusher
what: Ciel has an asthma attack
when: 9/17
where: Book store, hospital
warnings: None?

He'd had time during the day, business was slow and if he stayed, he might have fallen asleep in his office. So he'd sent a message to Jason, inviting him to join the teen at a local bookstore to pass the time. And with the intent of picking at his brain a bit for more reading material, things he could read to keep himself up at night until he was too tired to dream.

If he couldn't dream, he couldn't disturb anyone.

He got himself a cup of tea while he waited, resisting a cough. What an inconvenient time to get sick. Hopefully it wouldn't spread to Jason- maybe he should have thought this meeting over more carefully.

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Jason had made his way in a little different than usual. He had rolled out of bed when he got the message. Being the type that he's up once he's up he confirmed he would come. Took a quick shower and showed up in normal attire, not feeling like a full suit at an hour he deemed early with his odd hours.

A leather jacket and a t-shirt over his nicer jeans. His helmet had ruined any style to his hair but otherwise he looked like he usually does. He made his way to meet Ciel at the table stopping to grab some coffee as he dropped his keys next to him and started pouring cream into the coffee.

"Sorry I'm late, my hours are messed up from working nights." He offered. He figured the Earl would see him in his normal gear eventually so better a day he's tired.

"How are you today?"

His clothing choice wasn't quite anything he was used to, beyond seeing some people dressed similarly in passing. Sometimes even stopping into Funtom, but he'd never given it much thought beyond wondering how it was comfortable.

"It's perfectly fine. I'm sorry, I hope I didn't disturb you." He offered a smile, sipping at his tea and resisting another cough for a moment for it slipped out. "I was hoping to pick at your brain for more book recommendations. I thought now is as good a time as any to start a collection in the apartment."

Jason felt more comfortable in civilian clothing, which was half the reason that before his more recent body armor he used to just fight in the same style of clothing he was wearing right now. Though with a mask of course.

"Don't worry about that. I needed to be up anyway." He waved it off as he took a drink of his coffee before arching a brow at that cough, sitting it aside. He was kind of glad that he no longer gets sick easily since his trip to the pit. "Would you like something more modern or more classical today?" He asked, waiting just a second more before inquiring. "Are you getting sick, Earl?"

Of course he was going to ask, Ciel wasn't exactly surprised. Although he had hoped it would go ignored. Getting sick was inconvenient, for work and in general. It meant he had to avoid being near the candy in the store so as to avoid spreading anything.

"Just a cold." He coughed again but then waved his hand dismissively. "Perhaps something modern, it behooves me to read a wide variety of material."

Of course, it would be rude not to ask, and while he could be rude as hell some days. He strived to be better around the young lord, someone Alfred would be proud of. "Just make sure you get some rest later, it does wonders." He spoke, just a bit of concern but trying to not let it show to much, he hated being babied when he was Ciel's age so he wouldn't do that, not unless he needed to.

"Well, off the top of my head I would say you might like the Outsiders, but I cant be sure, it's about two groups of kids through the social classes, the greasers and the Socas, the greasers are the poor kids and the Socas are the rich kids. It's a good read, it takes place in the 1950's or 60's, so some of it might not make sense to you but, i can always help."

It really took some getting used to, having people who genuinely cared about his well-being purely for the sake of caring. No motives behind it, no familial ties to warrant it. Just care.

"I'll be sure to. Maybe I'll sleep while reading." It wouldn't be the first time. And this time at least, he wouldn't wake up and pull a gun on his butler. Or roommate, as the situation had turned to.

The book certainly sounded interesting, it was enough to catch his attention if nothing else. And the names were curious, he'd never heard anything like that. Ciel gave another cough and then leaned onto his hand.

"Sorry. Greasers?"

It took time to accept strangers caring that was something Jason had had to grow into himself. Being a child of misfortune it took time to accept the care of others, it was something he still struggled with, but he was a hypocrite because he expected others to let him care about them when he wanted to.

"See, that's the best thing to do. Anytime I manage to get myself sick that's what I do. That or watch old B-movies." Though in truth he'd watch something closer to rom-coms and change the channel if anyone walked in. Though, Jay couldn't and wouldn't judge pulling a gun on someone who was to close to a person sleeping. He's done it a few times.

"Uh, well you see, in the fifty's poor kids used grease to style their hair. So, it's like the poor kid's may have had cool styles but they looked greasy because of it. Now of days we have things like hair gel, and sprays. I'm confusing you aren't I. Well basically its just what they called the poor kids. The core of the story focuses on the importance of family and friends even when the odds are against you. It's one of my favorites."

Movies. He'd heard of those in passing. Keith had mentioned them, moving pictures but not like what Ciel had heard of. Definitely more advanced and nothing that was available to him.

"I've never actually seen a movie. B-movie or otherwise." Whatever a B-movie was. He was sure he'd find out. From Jason or some other way. There was certainly time, and it would help Undertaker and himself adjust to a place like this a little sooner.

Again, Ciel let out a cough. And then another, easing the tightness forming in his chest, considering adding honey to his tea for his throat.

"It sounds interesting. And if it's a favorite of yours, it would be good of me to read it. Sharing things like this builds and understanding between friends, doesn't it?"

Someone would defiantly fix that sooner or later. "B-movies are low budget, usually cheap horror. like the old penny dreadful but in moving picture form. Actors filmed played on screens like the phones we have here but on any screen." He tried to explain to make it easier. "Maybe another day I will take you to a movie, when your feeling better."

Jason watched when he coughed again. A concerned look forming, he could remember himself stubbornly protesting he was well at Ciel's age. Hell, it was his most cherished memory much to his denial. But that alone had him more worried, but not enough to move yet. He was bad about ignoring that nagging voice in his head.

"I have been told that myself." It wasn't something he cared to admit that he didn't really have much in the way of friends, most of his life. He had his addopted family and the other vigilantes and most of them judged him by his actions not his personality. "So, what is one of your favorites then? So I can do the same."

Cheap horror. A short laugh turned into a cough as he thought about that. He'd dealt with enough horror in live that seeing it, rather than reading, would probably be a bit much.

"Perhaps... not horror. Seeing it seems as if it would be much different than reading it." He could read horror without a problem.

"I actually find Poe's works interesting. It's easier to separate yourself from the fear and his writing was interesting.

That was a little more concerning. He tipped his head some watching the young earl. Yet, still he choose to trust the boy.

"I've seen enough real horror that the movies horror isn't anything to me. That and the classic ones are cool, but yeah, no worries. I'll figure something out later. " he spoke with a wave of his hand as he lifted his coffee to take another drink.

"Oh I love Poe, I was dressed as the Red Death at the Masquerade. It and Annebelle Lee are my favorites." He offered with a grin. He had had fun moving around the Masquerade in that long red cloak and mask.

"As have I but I've also no experience with movies. I know the moving picture that was shown last year in Leeds, that caused quite a stir."

He's also been the cause of some horror but more often than not, he gets himself caught up in things that turned out badly. Like the Campania. Maybe once he figured out how to control his nightmares again, it might be a welcome genre.

"His writing style draws you in, makes the reader feel the anxiety of the characters. It's a real skill."

"True, I mean there's over a century between our times. Its a practiced art and industry by my time. Most of us are disenchanted with it. It was the year 2016 for me. Still it must have been amazing those first views of moving picture shows."

He smiled a little, he did so love history. Then he nodded the grin growing. "God yes, it's amazing. He makes you feel what your supposed to feel. Even over multiple reads. There are a few modern writers like that but not to his level. That man had a gift."

"I actually hadn't seen it. I keep rather busy so, despite my desire to, I simply couldn't. Perhaps when I return home I'll be able to get my hands on it." There wasn't a lot that he couldn't get his hands on. And, if nothing else, he had a butler who could get it for him.

Providing Sebastian would still be contracted by then.

"I've yet to read anything quite so engaging though I do have my hopes." Cough cough. "And we both, at least, enjoy Doctor Arthur's work."

"I'll look into it, I'm sure there's something like it here." Things to fill the sleepless nights. Red Hood wasn't needed in this place, and yet he couldn't bring himself to attempt to live the civilian life. So, he spends his nights looking up weird things and playing video games.

"Clive Barker is a good one. He's horror as well but still pretty cool." He took another drink of his coffee trying to think of another modern writer. "Oh! If anyone tells you to read Fifty Shades of Gray, tell them to go to hell. Just a word of advice."

Ciel was having the same trouble himself. He wasn't used to not having the Queen sends him jobs, no payments from the Yard, no servants wreaking havoc. It was a lot to adjust to, both their lives taking a sharp turn.

"Fifty Shades of Gray?" One brow went up, curious. "Is it that bad?"

Sharp turns neither would be good at adjusting to.

"It's.... badly written porn. It was a best seller that glamorous abusive relationships and other bad things." part of him wanted to add 'that a kid your age shouldn't read' but, Ciel seemed pretty much grown up aside from his size. Jason wasn't about to judge the maturity of a child who showed maturity. "Its poorly written all around." Yeah, he read it just to see how bad it was.

Porn he at least understood and made a face. How repulsive. Sure, people needed to make a living but poorly written and porn. That it had even been published shone badly on whoever had approved it.

"I'll be certain to avoid it. I appreciate the warning." Another cough, this was going to get tedious.

"No problem, if I think of another like it I'll warn you. I mostly read it as a dare anyway, my former friend was a bit immature and said I couldn't suffer through it...and I did." The horrified look on Roy's face was well worth it. Sitting back he ran a hand through his hair, before finally ignoring his inner voice.

"You sure you shouldn't be resting?"

Ciel just shook his head. Reading trash based on a dare? It reminded him a bit of how juvenile students at Weston could be.

"I'll be fine. I can't sit in bed all day. Or however long it would take to shake this cold, Funtom won't run itself."

Ciel never had been fond of just taking it easy. Not since he'd been more of a child, while his parents had been alive. It felt wrong to have people that would fret over him.

Oh, that was one of the better dares... Everyone was lucky his former friend was not here, and that they had bad blood these days. Otherwise the two would be doing stupid things to kill time.

"Alright, you know whats best for you. How are you on tea then?" He asked as he lifted his coffee for another drink. "I was the same way at your age, if it wasn't for Alfred I would have never rested." He admitted.

"Sebastian would do much the same for me." When his butler had recognized that he was getting sick but he was the first human he'd really contracted, it seemed. He'd had to learn so much about living a human life, after all.

He'd never had to deal with friends giving him ridiculous dares. Of course, he'd also never dealt with having friends, even when attending Weston. Ciel had played the friend but he didn't have friends. The closest he'd had was when he was the fag of a Prefect's fag.

"I'll need more tea soon but it's fine for the moment."

"Sebastian was your butler right? Alfred was B's. I spent most of my time with Alfred." He explained. He had been lucky the old butler took a shine to him, he was better off for the wisdom the man passed on... even if he was so much like his adopted... estranged father figure.

A sad truth, Roy was basically Jason's first real friend. He had been on good terms with all of his teachers Talia sent him to... but he killed them all once he was done with them, they were all scum bags in the end. So, that didn't really count. Even as a boy he didn't really have friends even when he was sent to his new fancy school.

"Let me know when and I'll go get it for you." he offered with a shrug. "Another book you may like, is The Turning of the Screw. It's about a woman whose gone to be a governess to two children who aren't quiet right and everything goes sideways pretty quick."

"That's right, for the past few years. Before that, the major domo of the household was Tanaka." Gramps, he missed him, but the look on his face the last time he'd seen him...

He wasn't sure where Tanaka stood with him anymore. At least Sebastian's loyalty was guaranteed. And he couldn't be upset with anyone in his household for choosing however they would.

"You don't have to." Cough. "I do appreciate that though." The book seemed interesting, he wasn't sure how well it would hold his attention but he was willing to try. It did feel a little close to home though.

[CLOSED]

BOOK STORE/ASTHMA ATTACK

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