rekindled for memes and museboxes.

[pervigil]

Don't get me wrong; I'm glad you decided to 'dust me off' — so to speak — but I'd rather not be teased. We both know you won't take me anywhere new on my own, and you'd sooner bring that butler back than introduce me.

—Jealous? Whatever for? I think he's done an excellent job with my son.

No, I was never so naive as to think that Ciel would grow up unscathed by our family name. He would have taken on this responsibility eventually. It's unfortunate that it happened so soon, but then, that's my fault, isn't it? I have nothing but gratitude toward that man; where I've failed, he's taken up the slack.

... What?

No, not that much gratitude, thank you. You modern women, I swear....

Comments

1/?

[neverlie]

[ what in god's name-- ]

2/?

[neverlie]

[ then again, this place. ]

3/?

[neverlie]

[ so he's not mad and this is really his..

it's really him. ]

4/5

[neverlie]

[ and is he really talking so highly about sebastian? ]

fin!

[neverlie]

.. He's simply doing his duty as my butler. Father.

[pervigil]

And a good butler deserves praise, don't you think, Ciel? How is a servant to know he's done well when his master offers him no approval?

[ He's chiding, but lightly, and he is still smiling. Good signs, right? ]

but it's such a beautiful button that saves me when i fuck up a reply 8'(

[neverlie]

[ daddy, you just have no idea. 8| ]

He is a Phantomhive butler. If he doesn't know by now how to perform well without my praising him like a dog--[ heh. ]--then he doesn't deserve the position.

if you use it as a crutch you will never achieve perfection, child

[pervigil]

[ There's a glint in Vincent's eye: humour and satisfaction. ]

And does he perform well?

[ It's a prompt with the expectation of a particular answer. Don't let him down, kid. ]

but mediocrity is suitable.................

[neverlie]

I have extremely high standards and I haven't fired him yet. If that answers your question.

[ because hell no he isn't praising sebastian in a place like this where anyone can see. if sebastian sees he'll be smug about it forever. ]

god ikr? being perfect is too hard. :c

[pervigil]

[ With eyebrows raised: ]

Then you do know that he can perform well without any praise at all. What, then, is the harm in praising him now and then?

lays here.....

[neverlie]

He knows and I know that he's satisfactory. What, then, is the point?

same

[pervigil]

Loyalty, Ciel. [ His smile sombers around the edges. ] You can earn a man's loyalty through fear or through love. He doesn't fear you, so you must make him love you.

[neverlie]

I have no concerns about his loyalty. He is completely devoted. [ at least until ciel's goals are accomplished, at which time, he knows perfectly well what will happen to him. ]

[pervigil]

Devotion through circumstance is tenuous at best. But I suppose you're a different man from your father.

[ He says it warmly. He may not agree with everything Ciel's doing or done, but proud? Yes. Yes, he is. ]

[neverlie]

I've had to be in order to survive.

[ he's definitely forgotten how to handle parental affection, though. ]

[pervigil]

And had I not been so different from my own father, I might have survived.

[ And Ciel wouldn't be making contracts with demons, but hey. Who's keeping score? ]

You may yet wind up a better man than I was, Ciel.

[neverlie]

.. Ah. [ not remotely likely. ] I suppose anything is possible.

More importantly, I hope your writer has no intentions of sending you away again

[pervigil]

I don't think she's sussed out what her intentions are just yet. She's horribly fickle.

However, I do believe I'm in for some exercise, if she ever does make up her mind. Nothing long-term, I'm sure, but anything is better than nothing.

[neverlie]

Indeed, I'm unfortunately familiar with the sentiment. [ no earl of phantomhive should be shoved into some dusty little corner. ]

[pervigil]

[ and yet HERE THE TWO OF THEM ARE. what irreverent twits their writers must be. ]

I was, for a brief time, at home in a place called Anatole, but the experience was short-lived enough that I hardly had time to settle in. Before that, it was a town called Mayfield, where I spent more time than I'd have liked.

[sleepygunsman]

...............Everyone seems to like butlers.....

[pervigil]

A good butler is invaluable, in my opinion. Do you disagree?

[sleepygunsman]

I've never seen one to be able to agree or disagree. [Yeeeeah, he's broke bro. ]

[pervigil]

A good butler can do the work of ten men without disturbing you, keeps the house in a working order and the master in a working mood.

... On the other hand, a bad butler is inexcusable, and disrupts the entire staff. I'd sooner have no butler at all than an incompetent one.

[sleepygunsman]

You sound pretty picky....And lazy.

Can't you keep the house in order and motivate yourself?