#pardon me for replying back so late … please forgive my tardiness

[glass-heartz]

I’m glad you were able to get inside somewhere! ♡＾▽＾♡ I wish I was there to help you warm up, as I’m naturally quite warm (≧∀≦ゞ, but hopefully my warm wishes help slightly. Poor Angel, you sound practically frozen! (/;◇;)/

will another haiku help? Probably not. but at least it’s some entertainment? (ノ‥)ノ

-

Dark obsession’s grip, Claws dripping with crimson blood, Consuming all light.

-💞

i was indeed frozen, but i can already feel your warmth just by this lovely wish of yours for me. i’ll take all the warmth you can offer to me, i’d be glad to receive it,, >_< !! i’ve just arrived back, and i’m wrapped around blankets !! i adore how you’re looking after me,,

your haiku warmed my heart, that’s for sure,, your mind and poetry never fails to surprise me with your lovely words,, <3 !!

[daquanfromthetrap]

Sebastian x Reader(Ch.3)

It’d been a few days since you had seen Lord Phantomhive and his esteemed butler. Although your father had a habit of forcing you into doing things you weren’t particularly eager to do, you felt that partnering up with a demon to solve a substantial amount of murders and kidnappings would at least be entertaining. Besides, you still needed to know why this particular demon had such an effect on you. With you, yourself, being half-demon, you had met your fair-share of demons and other supernatural entities. But never have you had experiences with them, such as the experience you’ve shared with Sebastian; and from what you can tell, he’s never had such a thing happen either. You were also bemused as to why it took you so long to sense Sebastian’s true nature. You would use this mission as an opportunity to find out why Sebastian Michaelis was different from any other demon; and you had no doubt that he would be doing some investigating of his own.

*You and your father were now standing in front of the Undertaker’s building*

“Are you sure this is the place?” your father gave you a puzzled look.

“Yes father, this is where Lord Phantomhive instructed us to meet him. It says in his letter.”, you replied, looking up at the dusty shop before you with a huge sign that simply read “Undertaker”.

You suddenly heard the voice of the young lord, “Milady, my lord. I do apologize for my tardiness.” You and your father turn to see an approaching Lord Phantomhive shadowed by his butler. 

“No need to apologize, my lord, we’ve only just arrived.” You bowed politely, greeting the Lord. You then turned to Sebastian, “Hello Sebastian, it is pleasant to see you again.”

“You flatter me milady, but the pleasure is all mine.” Sebastian smirked, giving you a deep bow. 

Pfft. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes at the exaggerated gesture while your father and Lord Phantomhive exchanged quizzical looks.

Your father cleared his throat, interrupting the interaction between you and Sebastian. “If you don’t mind me asking, where exactly are we, my lord? And why are we here?”

Lord Phantomhive gave your father a polite smile before answering him, “This fine establishment, my lord, is owned by one of my informants. If it has anything to do with death, he’s bound to know about it.”

“Yes, a fine establishment indeed.” Your father muttered, earning a giggle from you.

You and your father followed Lord Phantomhive into the ill-lit building. Unsurprisingly, the place was filled with empty coffins. Makes sense. You thought to yourself as you slowly browsed around. Even from the outside, the place reeked of stale death.

“Undertaker!” Lord Phantomhive called out. There was no answer.

“Perhaps we come back at a later time my lord. He doesn’t seem to be present.” Sebastian spoke up, eyeing around the shop suspiciously.

Just then you passed by an upright coffin leaned against the wall. It was still too dark to tell if there was something inside the coffin but you felt movement behind you. You swiftly turned, grabbing the assailant that snuck up behind you and pinned them inside a nearby coffin that was leaning against the wall. To your surprise, the man you’ve pinned up against the wall started giggling uncontrollably. His long, grey hair and chains around his body shook as he laughed. You looked up at him very confused.

Hmph. Impressive. There’s much more to milady than meets the eye. Sebastian thought to himself as he watched you with your hand around the Undertaker’s throat.

“Undertaker?! Why didn’t you answer me the first time I called out for you.” Lord Phantomhive huffed with annoyance.

You then realized that the person you had just grabbed so aggressively was in fact the owner of the shop and the informant that Lord Phantomhive was talking about. You quickly let him go before taking a step away from him.

The Undertaker laughed again. “I’m sorry but I just couldn’t resist my lord. What an interesting creature she is. You’ve never brought the likes of her into my shop”, he said with a smile.

The earl side-eyed him warily for his comment as he began to laugh some more. “What are you going on about? I’ve brought a woman in here with me before!”, the young lord exclaimed before shaking his head and turning to you. “Please pay him no mind, madame. He means you no harm.”

You turned to smile at the strange man before you, “Pardon me sir, but you startled me. Please forgive my intrusion.” You finished with a bow.

He stared at you for a few seconds before muttering under his breath, “Hmm.. Very interesting.” He then proceeded to giggle as he did earlier.

His words were said so low that your father and Lord Phantomhive couldn’t have heard him but you knew that someone else was listening. You could feel Sebastian’s eyes on you as they bore into the side of your skull.

“Undertaker, I would like to ask you a few questions regarding the recent murders and kidnappings.” The young lord spoke up.

“I’ll be happy to help you, my lord… but you know the price.” 

Suddenly Lord Phantomhive’s face turned red with irritation as the Undertaker leaned over a coffin, with a foolish grin on his face. “Just grant me the gift of laughter and all the information you want is yours.” He said, taunting the young lord.

“A laugh? That’s your price?” you asked in disbelief.

He leaned over to you so that his face was just inches away from yours. Although you could not see his eyes, you knew he was staring into your very being. He chuckled, “Just one laugh, and I’ll tell the young lord everything he wants to know.”

Sebastian cleared his throat and adjusted his coat. “Very well then. If you could all please wait for me outside, I will take care of this.” He says plainly.

“There’s no need for that Sebastian.” You interrupted him with a sly smile, making your way to the Undertaker.

You looked at the faces of your father, the earl, and the butler as they waited to see what you were going to do. You smiled at them, bending down to whisper into the Undertaker’s ear. After a minute or two, you stood back up and looked down at the Undertake expectingly. There was a pause as the Undertaker slowly turned his head to face you in what you interrupted as surprise since you couldn’t see half of his face. You could feel the tension in the room as everyone else was holding their breaths to see what the Undertaker thought of you. Then, what everybody had been waiting for, a maniacal laughter that even shook the building with it. After his rather long laughing fit, the Undertaker grabbed both of your hands with glee. Still facing you he spoke to Lord Phantomhive, “My lord you must bring her into my shop more often. What a hilarious woman, you’ve brought me.” You simply smiled at him as he held your hands before looking up to catch Sebastian’s eye.

“Alright you had your laugh, now tell us what you know.” Lord Phantomhive spoke impatiently. 

“Ah yes. I’ve been having the most peculiar guests as of late. Always comes in pairs; eyes burnt clear out, like they’ve been stuck with a hot poker.”

“And what of the children?”

“I know nothing of children, my lord.” He smiled, still holding your hands and turning them over to observe them.

Sebastian stood quiet as he watched the Undertaker take you in with such fascination.

The young lord huffed in response, “Nothing?! How useless of you. You try my patience, you loon.” 

The Undertaker replied with even more laughing until your father spoke up. “The fact that you know nothing of the children IS something.”

The lot of you all turned to your attention to your father as he continued to speak. “If this man deals with everything that’s dead, then the fact that he knows nothing of the children may be that they are still alive.”

“Ah yes. Well done my lord.” Sebastian replied after thinking about it for a second. 

Ciel nodded in agreement. “Well if there is nothing else for you to tell us then we must be on our way.” He said to the Undertaker, turning to leave and the rest of you followed suit.

“Always a pleasure, my lord. Do come in for a fitting when you get the chance and don’t forget to bring the lady next time. She really is an interesting creature.” He called out, still giggling like a madman.

-------time skip to nightfall----

Your father had already taken his leave to one of his smaller estates he owned in London. You were now left alone with Lord Phantomhive and his butler, as the three of you were casually walking down one of the streets that you all decided was the hunting ground of the murderer. To the public eye, the three of you seemed to be a normal family, as the three of you made your way down the street; Ciel in the lead with you and Sebastian closely trailing behind him. The young lord had already provided you with your disguise, for which you were grateful, but you couldn’t help but find the fabric a bit itchy. Of course, you weren’t one to complain, so you chose to ignore it as you looped your arm through Sebastian’s.

“Are you alright, my love?” Sebastian asked you with fake concern as he noticed you readjusting your dress.

You gave him a fake smile in return as you replied, “Why everything’s alright as long as I’m with you, Darling.” 

He chuckled at your response, probably delighted in your discomfort. He is a demon after all. 

“Must you two be so revolting? There’s no need to act right now.” the young earl whispered harshly.

You and Sebastian exchanged amused looks before falling silent. You were suddenly stopped by an elderly couple. 

“Pardon me, but you two make such a lovely couple.” The woman said. She then turned to Ciel, “And such a beautiful boy you’ve made.”

You and Sebastian, a little taken aback by the compliments, shot each other looks before you replied back to the old woman, “You are most kind, Miss. We bid you and your husband a good night.”

The three of you began to be on your way when you were stopped again, this time by the old man. “How long have you two been wed?” He asked as they both looked up at you and Sebastian, waiting for one of you to answer.

This time, Sebastian spoke up, “We’ve been joined for 8 years now.” He smiled as he place his hand on your hip to bring you closer to him. You fed into the act of a loving couple, placing your hand on his chest and gently placing your head on his shoulder. 

Wait, why would he say 8 years when Ciel is 13? It wouldn’t make any respectable sense. You thought, looking up at Sebastian a bit perplexed. He looked as if he was holding back a laugh.

“Well then that must make you 8 years old then doesn’t it, sweet boy?” the woman spoke in a voice people usually use when talking to infants or small children. 

Your question was answered as you could feel the anger of Ciel bubbling up as he stood behind you. You could feel Sebastian shaking while trying to hide his laughter. 

That bastard!! Ciel screamed in his head.

Grabbing the back of your dress, as if he was afraid to be seen, the lord then peeked out from behind you before shyly nodding to the woman in response. 

The couple smiled at the boy adoringly. “You two truly do make quite the couple.” The woman smiled at you. 

You nodded in response before the man beside spoke to Sebastian, “Well go on then, show your lovely wife you love her. Show the whole street!” 

Sebastian smiled at the old man as he tucked your hair behind your ear and kissed the top of your head. 

“Hmph, are you her grandfather or her husband?! Kiss her like you mean it, son!” the old man rumbled, egging Sebastian on.

He looked down at you with wide-eyes, not sure what to do. “Public displays of affection can be highly inapprop-” he began to protest.

You rolled your eyes before grabbing him by the collar and pulling him down to meet your lips. As your lips touched, you felt that same feeling you get by just making simple contact with the demon butler, only this tingling was much more intense than the experiences you’ve shared before. The tingling sensation was felt throughout your body, making your knees quake a little. Sebastian froze in shock as you maintained eye contact, pulling away from him. The usual composed demeanor of the butler was completed shattered as he stared at you with wide-eyes. You could see his hands shaking just a bit before he brought them up to his collar to adjust it, clearing his throat. Even the young lord looked completely surprised as he just stood there looking between you and his butler.

“With a passion like that, I’m surprised you two don’t have 10 little ones running around here.” the old man joked.

You laughed with him in response as Sebastian just stood there in silence. “Well he is a bit shy when it comes to publicly displaying our affections.” You placed your hand on the young lord’s head, ruffling his hair a bit before looking back up at the couple before you, “Well we have to get this little one along for some rest now. We bid you good night.” You smiled as the couple bid you their farewells.

The three of you decided to spend the night in a nearby inn, which was also the inn that housed a few of the victims. You all decided to get two rooms. The young earl would stay in one room with his butler while you would stay in the room adjacent.

After changing into your nightgown, you sat down to ponder more on the events of that night and what is yet to come while combing today’s stress out of your hair. You suddenly heard a knock at your door. “It is Sebastian, milady.”

At your approval, he slowly opened the door and stepped inside while you continued brushing your hair. 

“Come to go to bed, darling?”, you smirked jokingly.

He chuckles as he watches you with dark eyes. You laughed in response as you make your way to sit down on your bed. He uses his inhuman speed to pin you down on the bed. He held your wrists and straddled you. “Is that an invitation?” He whispers into your ear.

You giggled bit before staring up at him indifferently, “What do you want Sebastian?”

Your reaction seemed to surprise him as he raised his eyebrows at you before giving you that signature smirk. You smiled at him before using your own inhuman speed and strength to flip him over. This time, you were on top of him, holding his wrists down. You smirked at him as he looked up at you with wide-eyes. A deep-throated chuckle rose from him; it was almost a growl.

“What are you?” He asked, still under you. 

“I’m no threat to you, or your master.” you said gently before letting go of his wrists and allowing him to sit up.

“I know.” 

“Oh? Then why did you come here tonight? To consummate our marriage?” you answered back teasingly.

“Don’t tempt me.” He says dangerously before sighing, “I came to inquire you of the interactions we’ve been having. There’s no doubt in my mind that you have felt these strange sensations as well.”

You were quiet for a bit. Should I trust him? You eyed him warily before taking a deep breath. “In truth, I was hoping you would tell me. Surely you would have come across something like this in your time. You’ve been alive far much longer than I.”

“So you know what I am.” He says.

“I do.”

“And you know of the contract between the young lord and myself? The deal we made?” He asks. You nodded in response. He pauses for a moment before continuing, “Does it frighten you?”

“No.” You simply stated. 

Your answer seemed to please him as he turned to look into your eyes, searching for genuineness. Why does her answer please me so? He questioned his own reactions to your response. He reached out to you before hesitating and bringing his hand back down to his lap. What am I doing?

Seeing his hesitation, you gently grabbed his hand, removing the glove the covered it. It revealed the seal to his contract with Ciel as well as his natural black nails. You felt that familiar tingling as you traced his seal with your own hands. Sebastian watched you quietly, feeling the same tingling sensation. It’s not an unpleasant feeling. He concluded to himself, still trying to make sense of why the two of you had this strange connection. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted you to do to him what you did earlier that night in front of the annoying couple. He was drawn to you; he strangely, felt at peace. She’s just a girl. He told himself, trying to shake off any other thoughts about you. You looked up at him, still watching you. 

You sighed, “It’s late. I should be getting to bed.” You dropped his hand before returning his glove. 

“Yes, of course, milady.” He says slipping his glove back on to hide his nails and the seal. “I should be watching over my young master.” And with a bow, he leaves you alone with your thoughts.

Now, back in his master’s room, Sebastian watched the young lord sleep soundly as he thought about the interaction he just had with you. Strange. He thought. She doesn’t feel like a threat, yet there is something she is hiding. How can a mere girl have such an effect on a high-ranking demon, such as myself? I’ll find out sooner or later...

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[unstiteo-blog]

100 Lessons in Life.

(Summary: this is a story about a young Gabriel "John" Utterson and his life growing up with his family, along with the struggles he faces while the others try to figure out what troubles him.)

Chapter I: Lesson One

The blinding rays of sunlight washed over my eyes, begging I rise from my bed. It was clear they would not leave me alone until I did. With a quiet groan, I sat up, rub my eyes with my fists, rested my glasses on my face, and left my room for breakfast. I’m not surprised to see my sisters up and helping our father prepare the meals. They are nearly finished. I take my usual seat at the table, sit straight, and yawn. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” says my father. “You're usually up earlier than this.”

“I'm aware. I apologise for my tardiness, father.”

My father said nothing. He served me my food, ruffled my hair, and smiled at me. “No, no, son. You say, ‘thank you for waiting for me.’ It lets people know you are grateful for their patience.”

“Oh.” That actually did sound better than what I said. How did my father come to be so wise? “In that case, thank you for waiting for me.”

“You're very welcome.” He kissed my head, watched my sisters take their seats, and served their plates with that smile of his. “Why are you up so late?”

“I couldn’t sleep. I kept tossing and turning.”

“Was it a nightmare?” immediately asks my eldest sister, Sienna. I refer to her as Rosey, Rosey dear, or Rose, depending on the time of day. Naturally she would ask that sort of question; she has this tendency to take on the responsibilities of an adult but forgets she is a child, that we are all children who would like to spend time with her. “Were you overthinking again?”

“Again?” I ask, almost offended. “When have I overthought anything?”

“Kid's got a point,” speaks up Zara, who is halfway finished with her meal. No doubt because she wolfed it down like she always does. “If anything, he underthinks.”

“That's not even a word,” I reply with a roll of my eyes. “I just haven’t caught myself overthinking, that’s all.”

“Well,” quietly says Luna, who has more maturity than Zara since she was born after Sienna, “just because you haven’t noticed it doesn’t mean we haven’t. You’re not very good at hiding your emotions.”

Emotions? What emotions? I don’t feel anything! This is preposterous. Father sat at the far end of the table and gave me a worried look, which fills me with dread, but said nothing. I suppose it’s because he knows he can get me to crack with one look alone. “Thank you for the food,” I say, deflated. I suppose I have been overthinking, but not about me.

About them.

My family is very…different from me. If you saw us, you would most certainly not think we were related. I’m the only one who is much, much lighter than them to put it to you shortly. As of late, I’ve been hearing children my age speak ill of my sisters and my father. They say such terrible, abhorrent things that I shan’t repeat—I’m better than that. It concerns how I was born, for the most part, but I already know I wasn’t born under the best circumstances. It’s knowing strangers don’t like them because of me.

I feel like a burden.

But I can’t tell them that. Such matters cannot be changed, and such ignorance can only be helped with the help of miracles. Even so, why does it feel like a knife is piercing through my chest when I think of my mother? She left me; she didn’t want me. It hurts, but I find it in my heart to pity her. My father, Rosey, Lulu, and Zizi are the most kind-hearted and loyal people I've ever met. She could’ve had something nice but avoided it because of me.

I did that.

“Jack. Jack,” eventually cuts in my father. I notice Sienna has been shaking me—how long has she been doing that? “Are you there?”

“What? Huh?” Oh…perhaps not the best response I could’ve given at a time like this. My father frowns.

“You’re doing it again.”

“Oh, forgive me,” I pick at my food and start to eat. I can’t help but notice the others have lost their appetite. “I mean, thank you for assisting in my recovery. Who was speaking?”

“I was talking about how you have this tendency to dodge anything that concerns you,” says Luna. “You always put others before yourself.”

“That doesn’t sound like me at all. I’m a very selfish person, Lulu.”

“There you go again, dodging my point. You are not, and you know you're not. You're a hermit at best.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You should listen to your sister, Jack,” interrupts my father, his voice soft and soothing. I don’t want to admit it, but it does help me relax a little. “She’s always been very talented at reading people, especially her younger brother.”

Drat. That she has. I would look like a fool to turn her away.

“Very well,” I sigh, picking at my food again. “Only because I am outmatched.”

“John-John,” says Sienna, whose arms are now draped over my shoulders, “never forget that the worst thing you can do to yourself in a time of need is to stay silent on the matter.”

“Closed mouths do not get fed,” advises Luna.

“Reaching out doesn’t make you weak,” says Zara. Our father reaches over to hold my hand. He squeezes it firmly.

“We love you, my boy. Do not forget that.”

My hands were ice cold. Sienna pecked my forehead, Luna clung to my arm, and Zara approaches me only to lightly punch me in my [unoccupied] arm. It made me grin.

After that, we continued eating breakfast together, talking and laughing as if none of that happened. Something is wrong with me, we’ve noticed, but I don’t let it prevent me from enjoying my days with my loved ones. Furthermore, I have much studying to do if I wish to become a lawyer someday. I can’t allow the past to consume my thoughts.

The day continued on as normal. Father went to work, our nanny looked out after us, I stayed in father's office to read his books on law. It was obvious he wanted to be a lawyer more than anything, but his job was what kept a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs, and provided us with clothing. He was afraid to quit if it meant sacrificing what kept our needs in check. If he quit now and failed to become a lawyer, what happens to us?

I suppose I'd always felt responsible to become a lawyer if we plummet into an unfortunate ending. Much to my surprise, it appears being a lawyer is rather interesting. There is much arguing involved, and you can imagine that's a hobby of mine with three sisters.

I don’t exactly know when I took a break from studying, but I do know I decided to take a break and read one of father's books for fun, but it must’ve taken up the entire day since—

Knock, knock, knock.

Speak of the devil.

There he stood in the doorway, a faint smile on his face. “The girls told me they hadn’t seen you all day. I figured you’d be in here.”

“Am I truly that predictable?”

“A bit, yes. But I’m grateful to know you’re safe.”

“Where else would I turn?”

He didn’t reply. He sat next to me, glanced at the sea of scattered books on the floorboards, then he turned to look at me. “Jack, may we talk about earlier today?”

Blasted. “What…what happened earlier today?”

Father frowned. “Jack…”

“You just got back from work. I don’t wish to bother you.”

“You could never. I love you and the moments we spend together. Knowing you are suffering bothers me more than anything.”

“It happens all the time, you know that.”

“Yes, I do. And I get more concerned the more it occurs. What have I always told you?”

I paused for a moment. “Never eat before retiring to bed?”

Father laughed. “Good guess, but no.”

“Pet all the dogs you meet on the street?”

“You’re more of a cat person, aren’t you?”

“Get enough sleep?”

“Have you been getting enough sleep? You did mention you were tossing and turning the night before.”

I shift uneasily. There’s a question I didn’t want to answer. I look at my hands, avoiding eye contact, and shake my head. “My head is too loud sometimes. The thoughts I have, whether I’m alone or with family, blind me from reality. It’s like someone plunged me underwater and they’re trying to talk to me—I can’t hear them properly.”

There’s silence for a moment. Oh God, what did I do? This was my fault. I never should’ve opened up. Now he thinks I’ve gone mad. He’s going to call me looney for feeling like this, I know it.

I feel father’s arms pull me in for a hug. Instinctively, I hide away in his chest, safe from this cruel world. What’s this? He isn’t angry with me? “Jack,” says he, “you should’ve told me sooner. I’m not scolding you for bottling such feelings up, but I know that it must be even more frightening thinking you’re enduring this alone—you feel like you’re insane.”

Aren’t I?

“But you’re not insane,” he continues. “You're simply hurting, and everybody hurts once in a while. We all hurt in different ways. Please, Jack, tell us when you need us. We will always be right there to help you.”

I think tears started to leak from my eyes, but I had them screwed too tightly to tell. Father rubbed my back and hushed me, not seeming too alarmed by my state. “That’s all right, Jack. Let everything out. It’s okay to cry if you’re feeling upset.”

At that, I cried harder. I didn’t mean to! It was comforting to know he didn’t dare let go. Eventually, my crying session came to an end, and I pulled away from father to wipe my eyes. “Hey,” says he, “how are you feeling?”

“To tell you the full truth, I'm tired. But I do feel better.”

“Let’s get you to bed then.”

He picked me up—despite my resistance—and carried me to bed. He pulled the blanket over me, pressed a goodnight kiss to my forehead, and smiled at me. “Do you need anything?”

I think for a moment. “A little glass of water, please.”

“Of course. Water is a necessity, drink plenty of water.”

As soon as he left, however, I dozed off. I was utterly exhausted.