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"Ah, that's true." Hakkai is of the opinion that the infirmary's workers should have their own area under control. Food is important too, and being able to eat in a setting that's in good repair does matter.

He offers Sebastian a thoughtful little nod.

"Would you like to take a boat out before dawn tomorrow? We could see if we have any way to bring back a few extra cups..."

He's had some thoughts about cupholders. They'll still need to dip up the light, but....

"Since it is necessary" - a k a since the Admiral wants to see it - "of course I would not mind. I should be able to carry at least twice as many cups as you."

And balance them all perfectly even when in a moving boat. Probably also while rowing said boat.

"I wouldn't doubt it," Hakkai assures him earnestly. "I can row. I've had practice, ha ha."

Admittedly, the 'practice' was in being assigned to punishment shifts rowing on the Galley, but it still counts.

"I'll bring tea, then?" He casts Sebastian a thoughtful glance. "I'll let you pick which sort."

The 'ha ha' likely indicates the practice was had under uncomfortable conditions, but really, it still counts. Sebastian learned how to brew perfect tea by getting his badly-made scalding attempts poured over his hands. It's all experience gained.

"Thank you. Darjeeling's fourth flush should do quite well."

The fourth flush has the strongest flavour; it's a good choice on a very early morning. Sebastian isn't cross with Hakkai at the moment; he sees no need to request his awful Space Tea. Not to mention Hakkai's teaching him about Asian teas; it's fair to return the favour.

"Ah, that's a good choice," Hakkai agrees with a polite sketch of a bow. "I'll meet you two hours before down. At your cabin?"

The questioning rise of his voice is genuine; he's not sure if Sebastian is choosing to spend the nights on shore or returning to his own room.

"At my cabin is fine, yes. Until then?"

Even someone like Sebastian gets restless spending every godforsaken day on the same infernal ship, and he has spent some nights on shore... but the loud partying gets on his nerves. Reading in the silence of his cabin is far more peaceful.

"Until then."

Hakkai will turn up two hours before dawn the next day, precisely; he's carrying a small basket with a thermos of hot tea and a few little cups tucked in it over one arm, as neatly groomed as if it were a more reasonable hour of the morning.

He knocks at Sebastian's door.

Sebastian opens, of course just as meticulously put together as always. He has put the butler uniform aside for today - salt water stain are so cumbersome to get out of fabric - in favour of a Victorian suit and overcoat. Not that he needs an overcoat to stay warm; it simply looks more proper that way.

"Good morning, sir."

Nyx takes the opportunity to slip out of the cabin to weave between Hakkai's legs, because when you're a cat raised by Sebastian, people = pets. Sebastian gives her an affectionate pet as she returns inside.

"Shall we, then?"

Hakkai gives the cat a smile, but -- with his hands full -- doesn't crouch to pet her. She's heading back to Sebastian before he could have in any case, and he nods politely to Sebastian.

"Yes," he says, "let's. I've found a rowboat that looks somewhat seaworthy." And it has plenty of room for two people and enough floor space for both the picnic basket and plenty of cups. How many cups they'll be able to fill, he's not sure, but he's planning to row and let Sebastian juggle them.

It's not that far out to the seashore, where he settles in the stern of the boat and picks up the two oars, waiting for Sebastian to find a comfortable seat before he pushes off into the water.

Sitting passively while someone else is working is still uncomfortable for Sebastian, even when it's his own warden who has cooked and made tea for him how many times now? He clasps his hands firmly in his lap while Hakkai rows, to combat the impulse to offer to take over, making useless small talk on their way out.

It's almost a relief when they finally reach their destination, as much as Sebastian's aware the Admiral intends to fully enjoy this forced honesty. Sebastian picks up one of the many cups they've brought.

"Well, then. Shall I go first?"

He's not stupid enough to not understand that Hakkai likely wants to see what the water reveals about Sebastian.

"I don't know if it matters who goes first," Hakkai offers honestly, shipping the oars safely as he picks up another cup. "We're both sitting in the light."

But perhaps it does, because the brilliance is rising through the water around them, unbroken by the drifting lily pads. Hakkai's own hands seem transparent with it, bones and skin alike glowing golden as he smiles wryly.

Inside his skin, bright as his bones, iron threads through his hands like sinew; what is in his hands is a cup, but somehow, as he cradles it, from a certain angle it looks like he's holding an image of Sebastian seated elegantly on an invisible chair as Hakkai's own flesh becomes his shield.

He would put himself between Sebastian and any threat. He couldn't do otherwise.

Edited 2024-12-31 05:09 (UTC)

Sebastian's eyebrows rise with some surprise, or interest, as Hakkai's 'truth' literally comes to light. Him keeping Sebastian...? But, no, that doesn't fit, and after a moment Sebastian can guess the right meaning of the symbolism.

His mouth curls in a slight show of displeasure.

"Surely you are aware I need no protection, sir."

Hakkai pauses, startled, and then looks down at himself.

After a moment, he lets out a single audible breath, almost an annoyed little huff, and turns to dip the cup into the water. Light wells up around and through his fingers, showing his stubborn protectiveness even more clearly as he does.

"Even if you don't need it, I want to protect you," he says after a moment. "You're my Inmate. And--"

Well, it's embarrassing already, he may as well continue being honest. "I like you."

"Yes, so you have mentioned already."

And it's not that Sebastian thinks people shouldn't like him - they should; he's amazing. He just still finds it strange that someone would like him even with the full understanding of what, and who, he is. ...He sighs.

"...I suppose it would be unfair to criticise you for doing your job." And said job includes caring about his inmate, Sebastian supposes. Bah. He lowers his own cup into the water: as the light shines through it, it shows Sebastian. And, just in front of him, his young master. Hakkai, of course, has never seen Ciel, but it's not hard to guess his identity with the bespoke Victorian clothes, the eyepatch over his right eye concealing their Contract seal.

Only... the young master in the vision isn't a child: he's a beautiful, but fully grown man, his expression stern, his eyes sad. Miserable still, but someone who has survived into adulthood, even with a demon by his side.

It's not hard to guess Ciel's identity. Hakkai is caught for a moment with his mouth open, considering the age of the young man in front of Sebastian. That's not a teenager; that's someone Hakkai's age, perhaps older. Looking distinctly un-devoured.

After a long moment, Hakkai says, mildly, "I suppose it's also my job, yes."

But he hasn't cared for every inmate he's been assigned to.

Sebastian too looks at what the light reveals, and... yes. If he could be reunited with the young master, if he could continue their amusing game... even if it lasted all of his master's natural lifespan, that would be enjoyable.

"'Also'?"

"I'm obligated to protect you as your warden, but I want to protect you because I like you and feel a personal connection to you. Even if I weren't your warden, I'd still feel the same way."

He half-smiles, glancing at Sebastian. "I think you'd feel the same way about your young master. Even if some outside force were to break your contract... would you want to stay by his side without it?"

...

"...I cannot conceive a scenario in which my Contract with the young master would be broken."

"It's only a hypothetical," Hakkai murmurs, mildly, and settles into the boat with the cup gently cradled between his hands.

"What I mean is -- you don't only care about getting your side of the deal."

Yes, but what Sebastian meant was that he hates the idea of the Contract being broken, even as a thought experiment. He'll let it slide, though, since Hakkai rephrased it in more acceptable wording.

...Hm.

"I will admit I have lately found playing this part for the young master... enjoyable."

At the very start of their Contract, he loathed having to serve such a demanding brat of a master, and would have pounced on the slightest excuse to end things prematurely.

"I did get that impression," Hakkai agrees, with a little flicker of a smile. "And I think that's a good thing -- that you've come to enjoy it."

Because it does mean Sebastian finding enjoyment in things beyond sating his hunger, and if he wants that to continue into Ciel's adulthood -- it's a change in perspective that, Hakkai thinks, is probably why he does have the potential for graduation.

There are worse things than wanting to serve a particular person, not for the reward but because they're important.

Edited (hit post too soon!) 2025-03-02 16:50 (UTC)

"Would that the Admiral shared your sentiment."

Because as far as Sebastian can see, he still hasn't graduated. He's quiet for a resentful moment, then:

"I do suppose it is why I agreed to act as Mademoiselle Florbelle's servant."

Because he... misses it? Probably? Sebastian doesn't know how much of their talk when Hakkai was high out of his mind on the Narrenschiff, but it's hardly a secret that he's been acting as Justine's butler of sorts.

"Do you care for her? Or is it just... the reminder of what it was like, that you missed?"

Hakkai's tone is soft, not pushing.

"I find Mademoiselle Florbelle a most interesting person. She is damaged but brilliant; quite fascinating to speak to.

But I do not care for her, no."

At least, he doesn't think so. As a human, he cared about Johann and Trevor, and that still holds, but as for others... he supposes he's still a demon, with a demon's limited - or non-existing - capacity for caring.

"Not at all? Or just... not as much?"

Sebastian is not always, in Hakkai's opinion, the most in touch with the amount that he cares. At least, not until someone threatens to take away his things.

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