#invite me to your 1870s tea party

[spoonstrek]

I like to imagine traveling back in time to the Victorian Era just so I can loudly find refined white sugar a banal item and can bitch about the quality of tea available in the West

[carisi-dreams]

“Let’s go and crash the party. Don’t forget your gas mask.” + barba/stone/dodds in the titanic!au

“Where’s the craziest place you’ve ended up after allowing Sonny to make your plans?” Mike asked with a big smile.

He was the most relaxed Rafael had seen him and it was only because he was the one asking that he even entertained the idea of responding. For every one of Sonny’s plans that had worked, there was also a plan that had ended in disaster or nearly being thrown in jail. Truthfully, Rafael thought that sometimes Sonny flirted with jail because a cell had a chance of being warmer than sleeping under a bridge. But still, Sonny’s love of freedom over comfort, even the comfort of a warm bed and a real job and staying in one place for heaven’s sake, always won out.

Rafael fingered the edge of a porcelain teacup. He mentally traced the intricate design in his mind, feeling like an imposter even though Peter had assured him and Mike both that them having tea with him wouldn’t draw any attention. Rafael felt uncomfortable, warm around the collar and out of place, and he loathed that feeling. He wondered absently if that was how Mike had spent most of his life feeling. His heart tugged somewhere deep within him, or the food was too rich for his stomach, and he guided his mind back to the question.

“Hmm.”

He hummed to buy himself some time. He picked up the cup and brought it to his mouth. The tea was still warm and although he usually preferred his without any sweetener, it was hard to resist the lure of the perfect shaped cubes sitting on the table. Perfect and square and sweet and white. God, was he out of place here.

When he looked up Peter was giving him an encouraging look with a soft smile. He was never condescending and it irked Rafael to no end that he was rich, handsome and kind. Part of him really wanted to tell Peter to pick one, two at most, and let the rest go.

“Sonny has had some crazy ideas,” he began slowly.

Mike made an impatient noise as he reached for another sandwich. He flapped his hand at Rafael to encourage him to continue.

“We…there was this one party. With Sonny, there is always a party to go. Half the time he leaves out the fact that we’re crashing and half the time I’m pleasantly surprised because we actually are invited. He likes to keep me on my toes,” Rafael paused to glance between the two men. He felt a fond smile pulling at his mouth.

“Anyway, there was another party. It was themed, but heaven help you if you could figure out what the exact theme was. It was confusing in the way that most things were Sonny are concerned happen to be.” He paused for another drink of tea.

“He just came home and said, ‘Let’s go and crash the party. Don’t forget your gas mask,’ then disappeared.”

He could tell they were confused about the word ‘home’, although Peter’s brow barely crinkled in comparison to Mike’s deep, confused frown.

“We were staying with some friends of his at the time. I’m convinced that it’s the only reason why I agreed, in the first place. I was too comfortable. Mind you, I didn’t even know what a gas mask was. It turned out to be some kind of…weird, hooded thing that some Brit invented in the 1870s to filter bad air? Smoke? The details about what it is and how Sonny had two were barely consequential.” Rafael stopped to chuckle.

“In the end, we had to climb over a fence and it ended up being some kind of obstacle course themed party.” He shrugged and reached out for a biscuit. “It was fun, I suppose. Although I did rip my last good pair of trousers. I made Sonny busk to afford to buy me another pair.”

He tore the biscuit in two and then looked up again. Peter’s lips were pressed tightly together, but his eyes danced with held back laughter. Mike’s shoulders were shaking, but his head was ducked low to his chest. Rafael rolled his eyes even though it was bad manners.

“You can laugh.”

As if a dam had burst, the two men erupted in laughter immediately. They got chastising looks from the tables around them, but Rafael didn’t care as he was forced to join in.

[the-letter-horror-lover]

(not) a failed gift

Cinerraria

Summary:

Lizzy is torn between two choices: a rare edition classic, or an antique painting that's only up for auction.

[#cielizzyweek day 4: Gifts]

Notes:

Disclaimer: Kuroshitsuji belongs to Yana Toboso. I'm just borrowing the characters, and don't get any material benefit from writing this fanfiction.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Gifts are not always material, although most people often associate gifts with material things. Lizzy knew that, actually. His presence alone meant more than anything, just like Ciel had said just now. Lizzy's facial expressions and body gestures represent what she feels but cannot express. But usually he is always honest and open.

"Oh, Lizzy. I told you, it's okay. You didn't bring a gift. You know that? It's just symbolic stuff. The best gifts come from things you can't see."

"Yes, Ciel. I know." Lizzy took a bite of the macaron, then swallowed it in one gulp . He glanced at the corner of the room doubtfully. On the mahogany table was a mountain of gift boxes, various shapes and colors. The guests who came did not want to miss the opportunity for Ciel's birthday this time.

"It's just… it's like everyone cares for you, giving you the best gift, except for me, your fiancé."

Ciel finished munching on the lemon cake. He raised the teacup to his lips. Then he looked at Lizzy's gaze, which was still adamant and felt guilty.

"No one cares about me more than my fiancé," Ciel replied. "And the best gift is right here in front of me."

The young man flashed a smile, blinking a closed eye so as not to be seen.

"Ah..." Lizzy froze. He thought again. It was clear that Ciel had no problem with this, but instead he complicated it, as if he really needed to be reassured. In fact, Ciel should have received more special treatment.

"Okay," Lizzy said finally. "Thank you for understanding."

Lizzy was flattered. Hopefully this represents the best gift as Ciel envisioned.

"What about dancing?" Lizzy said after taking a sip of her tea.

" Excellent! Who can refuse the Lady's invitation?" Ciel answered, then called the waiter, "Sebastian, turn on the dance music."

Ciel took him down to the dance floor and they danced together.

Every now and then, Lizzy's mind was torn between dancing with Ciel and the 'failed gift' she didn't give.

#

For the past week, Lizzy has been torn between two choices: a rare edition of a classic, or an antique painting that can only be obtained at auction. Ciel has a high artistic aesthetic. He doesn't want to lose to the others: his colleagues from the Phantomhive family and the Funtom Group will surely compete to give the best, most luxurious and special gifts. Who doesn't want to win the crown prince's heart? So, Lizzy tried to find the best. He knew Ciel was eyeing the original Tobias and The Angel to add to the family gallery collection . For how many months had he been asking for the painting, as he had heard before. And Lizzy knew Ciel also wanted a copy of Jules Verne's book, an early 1870s printed version, which must have been very rare.

However, it seems that luck is slipping away from Lizzy's hands. Paula, who was entrusted with searching for the painting, has already managed to find it at auction on an e-bay site. Not a problem with the price. However, when Paula said that there were other bidders who dared (even competed) to risk the highest possible price, Lizzy was heartbroken when she saw the nominal listed. The 'gift' just went away. He failed to get it.

Then, this morning, Lawrence Bluerone of Ciel's old school friends, who had agreed to intercede for Jules Verne's book, canceled his appointment because he was still out of town and held back by sudden interests. Bluer had offered Lizzy to pick up the book tomorrow—the day after Ciel's birthday, however, Lizzy refused. It's too late to give gifts, then, he told Bluer over the phone. Finally, Lizzy decides to attend Ciel's party without bringing any gifts.

#

It was October twentieth afternoon, a week after Ciel's birthday. Lizzy came to visit.

They enjoyed afternoon tea in the room overlooking the garden. What made it unusual was when Lizzy felt something strange on the walls of the room. In the left corner of the room, five steps from this tea table position, Lizzy saw a painting that wasn't there before, hanging there. He was stunned, looked at the painting, then was shocked. It's a painting of Tobias and The Angel!

"Ciel? That painting…?" Pointing his finger at the painting, Lizzy stammered. "New?"

Ciel turned and his gaze followed where Lizzy was pointing, then nodded.

"You noticed it before. I was just about to tell you. Hey, what are you doing, Lizzy? Why is your face so pale?"

The young man frowned in surprise, looking at his fiancé, who now looked beautiful in a pastel green dress. Her blonde hair was in a neat bun with a cute bow tied around her head. When she was a teenager, Lizzy often appeared with this kind of make-upchanged from being happy to be tied up in twintails . Whatever her clothes and hairstyle, Lizzy is still just as beautiful.

"Ah, no. It's okay." Lizzy dodged. He shook his head hard. Then, leaning on the back of the chair again, hiding his clenched hands under the table, trying to act as if nothing had happened.

"I like the painting too," he continued. "I was just surprised to see that painting finally made it into your collection."

Lizzy hastily drank as much tea as possible, as a diversion for Ciel not to suspect anything.

"Is that so? You never said you liked him too? Well, the important thing is that I finally managed to bring Verrochio home. Buy it from e-bay, by the way. Sebastian says there's one antidote that's really hard to beat. Lucky Sebastian knows how to handle it."

Lizzy scratched her non-itchy cheek, then laughed blandly. Luckily, he didn't spit out the tea he was drinking. How could he not be surprised, knowing that he had just fought his own fiancé, in an auction that he had fought for her? It's so magical!

Lizzy remembered something. He immediately opened his bag. Take out a square-shaped object wrapped in cardboard with very neat folds.

Ciel, looked at the package curiously.

"To you, Ciel," Lizzy said with a smile, sweet and mysterious. "Think of it as ransom at last week's party."

Ciel received the box and immediately unwrapped the paper. He was stunned to see its contents: a book called 'Around The World in 80 Days'. After opening the inside cover and flipping through the pages, Ciel was sure it was Jules Verne's work he was after! This time, it was Ciel who was stunned. With a look of disbelief, he alternated between Lizzy and the book.

"This…? For me?"

The girl nodded. "No, for my fiancé," he answered, trying to joke.

Satisfied, Lizzy glanced out the window at the garden of violets blooming in the twilight. Her round green eyes sparkled again, very bright. He tilted his head, took another sip of tea, then returned Ciel's gaze with a smile.

"Thank you, I mean." Ciel corrected his words.

The young man was still turning the pages and stroking the book in his hand. In the midst of his nervousness, Ciel couldn't hide his joy at getting the prize he had been coveting for so long.

"With this we're even," Lizzy said. "Honestly, I should have given it to you at your birthday party yesterday. But it was delayed for a reason. And I hate it when my plans fail. So even if it's past, you should accept this gift."

Lizzy ended the topic by keeping a secret of the fact that involved her in fighting over the painting that had just inhabited the walls of this room.

Notes:

note: reference to Verrocchio's painting Tobias and The Angel and Jules Verne's book Around The World in 80 Days.

Series this work belongs to:

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