sirenspull_logs | The best-laid plans o' hatters an' men

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The best-laid plans o' hatters an' men

Who: Xerxes Break, Sharon Rainsworth, Reim Lunettes, Gilbert Nightray
When: Saturday, September 15th, just before Sirens
Where: A back entrance to Phancyhive
Summary: Break has been AWOL since Friday morning, doing… things. Of course he didn't bother to inform anyone he'd be out. Of course.
Warnings: None.

[ The procedure had gone actually better than expected--

Well, in truth, he doesn't remember too much of it, beyond waking up with a throbbing headache and a bandage over his left eye. He has a bottle of lovely pills in his pocket, but he is loathe to take any until he is back at the Phantomhive-Trancy estate. It's hard enough to navigate blind; but blind and drugged?

Despite his dizziness and disorientation, he'd asked the taxi to let him off a few blocks away from the estate, and then he'd crept in through the gardens. He knows the time, from his NV; it's just before Sirens. Probably no one will notice him as he slips in, through the dappled, horizontal sunlight. And then he will sneak in through a side entrance, creep into his room and pretend he'd been hiding in the pantry eating cookies the whole time.

This is a fine plan, and there is nothing at all that could go amiss with it. ]

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[Except then he remembers who he's speaking to.]

That's nowhere close to the truth, is it...?

[ Just as planned! Break continues hobbling past... ]

[ ...wait. ]

[ WAIT ]

[ ARE YOU INSULTING HIS MAN CARD GILBERT? ]

[ You, of ALL people!

He swings his cane! ]

[ ...which is a capital error, considering the shape he's in. Swing and a miss. Down he goes! ]

[Good thing for you, your subordinate has excellent reflexes ~~most of the time~~. He steps forward and reaches out to grab Break by the shoulders before he can hit the ground and pull him upwards. Unless he keeps a hold on his cane, though, it's going down.]

Hey - calm down! Careful -

[Elsewhere in the house, Reim's keen senses have detected there is Something Afoot. Which actually means he can hear Gilbert shouting, and that typically only involves Break.

He gives it time, or tries to; let someone else babysit the man for a change! Reim deserves an evening off, and- and... Well, he's already gotten up from what he was doing and marched down the hall in search of this scene they're causing, so maybe some other time.

Rounding the corner and finding this scene before him does not exactly abate his bad mood. Break wanders off without a word and returns in the same way, and he finds Gilbert picking him up off the floor? Clearly, something has Happened.

He taps his foot; the very floor is deterred from testing him. Is his disapproval radiating strongly enough??]

Oh, just drop him.

[ Oh. Oh dear.

It's not so much the fact that he has swung and missed at Gilbert (which is humiliating). Or that Gilbert is presently holding him up (even more humiliating). ]

Mister Reim~! How cruel you are!

[ His cane, alas, has gone clunk clunk clunking to the floor, but he manages to grab onto Gilbert's arms (to avert any of this suggested dropping). He stands, with difficulty. ]

Am I in time for cake, ha ha!

[ Well, at least Sharon hasn't shown up, yet. That's something, right? ]

[What is this frightening aura, Reim...

Even after he stands, he doesn't let go, but he does step away just a little. Though, at this angle, he can see...something there, under his hair. Something a different shade of white than his hair. He frowns, but refrains from touching Break's hair to get a better look. He doesn't want to get hit, okay.]

So now you want cake...

[Reim bends and collects Break's cane. He has a lecture prepared; there is a good bit about being irresponsible and another on the various pros and cons of speaking to other people. However!

However, Gilbert's commentary is a distraction. Gilbert's entire existence is ammunition for Break to not listen and spin away giggling before anyone can make their points. With this in mind, Reim turns his glare on Gilbert, to convey no more from the peanut gallery, thank you. If he isn't going to help he has to be quiet, that's the rule.

Aaaand back to Break.]

No cake! No anything, until you explain what you're doing skulking in at this hour.

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Of course I want cake, are you feeeeeeeeling all right, Gilbert?

[ He would hit you, Gilbert, for not letting go; but in lieu of his cane, your hands are what's holding him up. His neck flops a little, shifting his fringe, revealing a bit more of the bandages. His eye, how it hurts; it's bringing back all sorts of bad memories... ]

Bring some for this sulky fellow, too.

[ A vague, floppy-sleeved gesture towards Reim. ]

No idea why he's in such a temper, but perhaps some sweets will do him good~! ♥

[SUDDEN THREATENING ATMOSPHERE. RETREAT......!

He doesn't want Break to fall over so he doesn't let go entirely, but he does shut his mouth and take a step away from Break so try and make himself more distant from this conversation, keeping his arm up for Break to hold onto.

Have at him, Reim.]

[You're a good man, Gilbert Nightray. To business, then. There will be no cake, and he's probably keeping this cane until someone pries it from his furious grip, too. He smacks the end of it sharply against the floor, for emphasis-]

Don't ignore me!

[ Aha! There's his cane! He can... he can do this. He's got just enough energy. It's just an idiot and a desk worker, after all... ]

Honestly, Mister Reim.

[ With a twitch of his shoulders, he slips from Gilbert's grasp, pushing off from his arm. He steps forwards and spins, apparently stumbling against Reim, seemingly about to fall...

Grab!

He's got his cane, and he's deftly twisting it out of Reim's fingers. ]

You know I can't staaaaand jealous men! ♥

[He retreats a few steps, but...at the same time he sort of wants to watch this shit go down. In case anyone needs to be put in time out, of course.

So he moves to stand off to the side and says nothing. Just pretend like he's not here.]

[Reim is prepared to catch Break if he collapses, but--a feint, how charming. It works to his advantage, though, as now that Break has his cane and is within range, Reim doesn't feel any misgivings about reaching out and smacking him in the shoulder -- whap!!]

Stop avoiding the subject! [He leans a bit closer, narrowing his eyes.] So help me, Xerxes Break, I will personally ensure that this entire city knows all about your... ah-

[He cuts himself off as he catches a glimpse of bandages. More injuries? Great, that is just what they needed, absolutely superb.

He considers asking WHAT HAPPENED WHAT WHY?? but feels like that'd be pointless, so. If he's quick enough, he's going to try and lift that fringe aside for a better look.]

[ He takes his whap!! like a man (fortunately he was expecting something of the sort, and was already leaning on his cane), and poises himself, preparing to bolt, when-- ]

Now, now! There's no need for that, reeeeeeeally~!

[ When Reim starts threatening social homicide, even Break knows it's time to stop playing. He actually cringes, as Reim bears down upon him; but stays put, even as he feels Reim's fingers parting his hair. Even after so many years, he hates being touched there.

He'll see a thick, white, sterile eye pad, held in place with paper medical tape. The skin surrounding it is bruised and swollen. ]

[Reim has never quite bothered to learn that rule; Break may hate it, but if shoving him to the ground didn't stop him before, some discomfort isn't going to stop him now. At least he isn't throwing himself on Break anymore.

He forgets (most of) his anger when he sees the pad and the condition of the skin (he also forgets Gilbert, s...sorry) -- that looks terrible, and before he can properly chastise Break, he has to make sure he's okay.]

Xerxes... What is this for?

[did you stick your whole hand in there this time]

I've done myself a mischief, Mister Reim.

[ A winning, beatific smile. ]

But - not in the way you're thinking.

[ He had wanted to wait, until he was sure it really worked (Stein had told him to give it a few days). But it seems Reim isn't going to let him off without an explanation. He's also fairly certain his recently-surgerized eye looks really terrible and the prospect of giving Gilbert nightmares about it again is... ]

Take a look, if you don't believe me.

[He hesitates. Ideas for what Break has done to himself flood him and run away from him again in rapid succession (one of them is, in fact, sticking his whole hand in his eye socket!) -- somehow, he feels like he shouldn't take a look. What's visible is, well--gross, and what's under it is probably marginally more so.

Perhaps he will worry himself to pieces, instead.]

I don't think- [-that should come off! Reim purses his lips, brow furrowed and still hesitating. But, well. If Break insists. And--and surely, since it's a bandage, someone will have to change it eventually, right, so! He might as well, right--!

hnnnngh why]

[Hesitating, hesitating, hesitating--finally,]

Hold still, then.

[And he'll just... very gently... remove a corner of that tape. Peeeeeeel...]

[ As Reim peels back the tape, he'll reveal, successively, more intense bruising, livid against Break's pale skin. There's a bit of serous drainage dripping down (that bandage does need to be changed, he has a packet of extras in his pocket, along with more tape). His eyelids are grotesquely swollen and his white eyelashes are partially stuck together.

But between his eyelids, just barely visible is... an eye. The sclera is bright red, but the iris is, unmistakably gold. ]

Well?

W-what do you think?

[ Break had intended to sound casual about it. But he is gripping Reim's other arm, unaware that he's doing it, or how hard. ]

Is it--

Did you--

Did you take it off all the way?

[ He knows the answer, but he still has to ask. Stein did tell him to give it a few days. ]

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