thefarshore | (Heaven's BBS)

I believe 'soulless' is a bit a misnomer, so much as they're incomplete. As such, they lack enough drive that would mark them as an individual.

Would you like a shinki that has a soul as well, young Phantomhive?

[ Hannah, your position on having a soul is debatable. Including whether or not you have your own, and not just Luca and Jim's inside you. ]

So you are saying they may have enough soul to function, but not enough to separate them as unique beings? That I could believe more, though I wonder why their originality was kept from them?

I think I would. But I am wary of letting a stranger into the ~~house~~temple. (Maybe he should take comfort in his soulless servant. Without an individual personality/drive, they cannot rise against him.)

It may not be intentional, though it's also possible that they're slowly recovering. A soul is particular and can be quite resilient if enough is left, after all. Even a trace of one can grow strong enough to take over.

[ She has no way of knowing if that was true or not, but it sounded close enough. Not that she had any experience or studied knowledge to back it up. ]

Then might I suggest you naming another shinki that is already settled at another temple? For example, if you were to name me, I would remain at the temple of Ma'at, but will be available for service should the need arise.

Your outlook is quite optimistic. (Hope is something he cannot believe in no matter how hard he might wish for it to return into his life.) When something shatters to pieces, it might be glued back together, but it is greatly destabilized. My shinki is a weapon - I will use them - however they are fragile too in your theory.

The idea does appeal and I do not feel I owe your master anything.

I assure you, Phantomhive, I do not speak out of optimism.

[ Which is why she's pointedly not correcting him- for there's nothing to correct. Neither of the statements they've made are wrong, as far as she could understand ]

You shouldn't feel anything towards Mister Spears, for he holds no involvement or say in my decisions. The only case where his presence comes up is if he presents an order that overrides any other god I've been named by. Otherwise, his involvement is nil.

The offer is a choice I'm free to make, and it's a mutually beneficial deal- not you renting or borrowing from another god with expected debt or payment.

It was presumptive of me to pass such a judgement, but your assessment does seem bright next to mine.

(He will continue to be wary and unsure around his shinki, but maybe he can drudge up some sympathy for their plight too.)

...indeed. (She can't know of his past with the Reaper. There are levels of disgust and anger reserved especially for that group. Sutcliff is at the top of the list.)

You make a good point. (He sends her directions to his temple.) I would feel better speaking about this in person.

Does it? I suppose if one wished it to be.

[ Will's made quite a point of trying to keep her at arm's length from the entire deal with the reapers, for all that she's met them. Yet that hasn't stopped her from crossing paths and developing opinions of a few of the others- Grell included. Seeing the directions posted as well, not even she realizes the smile that went by. ]

I'll be there shortly.

[ Which she does! Hannah certainly has been one from their era to have adjusted to the modern fashion rather easily, that being the easiest thing to notice as she approaches the Grecian temple. If the lavender-white hair didn't count, at least. At least she didn't have red eyes or black fingernails ]

(He makes no remark to either of her statements, lapsing into thoughtful silence while he waits. The Grecian styled house is beautifully maintained. His soulless shinki will answer the door, ushering her into a sitting room where Ciel is waiting. He, unlike her, is still dressed in Victorian fashion. ~~Good luck convincing him to update.~~)

Thank you for coming.

[ Ciel, being a new arrival, doesn't quite have the same expectations to blend in with the modern world as longer residents have. After a month though? It stood to reason that some effort was made. Especially when you had no memories tying you to a particular time period. ]

Earl. It's a pleasure.

[ When she gestures something of a bow, there's two very distinct things that Ciel could notice right away. One was that her form was perfect, even through these modern clothes. More importantly, the way her movement was wasn't one of a noble or standard commoner trying to address another noble, but definitely that of a servant to a distinguished house. Not that there was any way of her knowing the quirks that stayed. Even as she stood tall, her hands remained folded in front of her as if in waiting. ]

Many temples have a significant personal touch added that resonate to the person standing in for their god, but I see they kept on quite the traditional side for you.

(He can be here a month or a year and he won't experiment with more modern clothing unless someone directs him. Even then, he would find some comfortable median. He likes to look good and he fears if he branches out too much, he might end up looking like this again.

Her greeting - the way she moves - and her accent all combine to give him a clearer picture of her before she became a shinki. This woman is a professional servant - a maid, perhaps - though she seems to be a bit more like the servants he employed.)

I prefer traditional architecture, though the rooms are far more comfortable than you would expect of ancient Greece, I think.

(He motions to a chair.) Please take a seat. We have much to discuss.

I suppose I'll have to take your word for it.

[ A tongue-in-cheek note of amusement. After all, it's not as if either of them would be familiar with the comfort levels ancient Grecian's lived with.

With Hannah around, he'll certainly get pushed towards it a little more actively. Will had a classic style- suits were suits, and it suited him well enough for these purposes. ]

As you wish, sir.

[ There definitely was something more, though the tone of 'professional servant' seemed to be at a level higher than the ones that were most recently employed to the Phantomhive's. Stepping to the chair, she smooths out the back of her skirt when taking the seat, using a casual manner in contrast to the posture she held. ]

Where would you like to begin?

(You never know. He does know of ruins and mythology. Then there are the scenes depicted on vases. Of course they could be quite different from how the regular Grecian lived, but he is fairly certain his house is more insulated, comfortable and generally spacious.)

You are welcome to have a look for yourself.

(He steeples his hands together, looking at ease.)

I am in need of protection. I see no reason to skirt around the issue. Heaven can be dangerous and without someone I can trust aiding me as a weapon - of sorts - I fear what will become of me.

[ She'll keep that in mind for the future, Ciel. Thank you for the invitation. For now, it's business. ]

Then, with the number of people you trust being so limited, the next logical step would be someone open and straight forward with their offer.

[ Which shows that she's not naive enough to think that someone would trust her so easily, after only a couple of conversations beforehand. She had been upfront about how this was mutually beneficial. ]

Either way, fear is healthy when it's just enough to keep you vigilant. Though I can tell enough to know that you don't need someone encouraging such instincts. With your approach, it seems safe to deduce that this is a factor you've considered long before coming to the Far Shore.

(He doesn't have anything he fears losing. Yet. Such acquisitions take time to collect. He probably values his books the most.)

That can be hard to prove. I can only trust my instincts in that regard and since you are a practiced shinki, I think I could do far worse.

(One way of playing a game is surrounding yourself with allies that have been playing it longer.)

The world is dangerous. I lost my parents and my home four years ago. I can only rely on myself and my impression of those around me has not often been wrong.

[ The joke probably is that while Hannah certainly hasn't played the shinki game for very long, there's another that she's far more well-versed in. Not that she remembers. Though it'll be clear to Ciel in due time. ]

I see, and I do not need to ask what your impression of me is. The fact that we're here says more than enough. My service is yours for when you need it, as I've said on the network. The only standing stipulation is that it's limited to what does not go against Mister Spears' orders.

[ A true demon's aesthetic at its finest right there, even if she doesn't realize. ]

Do you have a vessel name in mind?

(Demons will be demons. But Ciel isn't really looking for them in Heaven. That would be silly, right?)

He would not like you near me, but as long as I don't interfere with his day, surely he doesn't have to know?

(Ha ha as if loopholes like that ever work or last. He does notice she sounds a lot like a certain butler. It's almost too easy to fall back into old habits.)

Kyo since the vessels use kanji. It is also small enough to be hidden on your person when you are in Mister Spears's company.

[ Incredibly silly. Who would let a demon roam around when there are raw souls just wandering around and being used, right? ]

Due to some standing orders I'll have to give him an update, but this arrangement is already acceptable as it stands. He's unlikely to present an order that would interfere with your needs.

[ Kyo, huh? She bows her head, almost like an understanding nod, but more a gesture of approval. It's certainly better than gi. ]

Where it is, just like my vessel form, isn't something that comes by choice. Either way, there are ways to easily hide it, no matter where the name may brand itself.

(It's like a buffet!)

His opinion of me is not the greatest, I fear. I do not mind speaking to him if it becomes an issue. We should be able to make a profitable deal.

(Business is business. He has given the name some thought - he tends to be careful with such things (unless you are the demon who branded his eye).)

The kanji should be short. Unless it is placed on your face, I do not think it will be troublesome.

Then I'll leave it between you two should there be an issue.

[ Which is exactly what she'll do when telling William about her nora'ing to both Ciel and Dean, by the time she does so. She doesn't hold the kind of guilt or responsibility to hold hands with everyone if they disagree over her choices. They're all in positions that require a level of maturity, and what happens is up to them. ]

The level of coverage that can blend into a natural appearance is rather impressive these days. So even if it is, I'm not worried. Now, would you like to conduct this somewhere particular? While you were assigned the soulless shinki, this is your first naming ritual as Asteria.

That would be best. (If William listens to him. Yet Ciel is willing to fight if Hannah turns out to be as useful as she seems to be. He needs power; he is safer if he surrounds himself with such armor.)

Indeed? That is comforting. (He lifts his chin and nods.) Outside under the stars should suit Asteria just fine.

(He rises from his seat and glances at her.) Are you prepared?

[ In some ways, she'll be more useful than initially thought, if only for just how similar she was to a particular dog. Just as she'll go along with his whims and desire to follow the theme of the goddess he'd been tasked to act for.

Also rising from her seat, the darker skinned woman moved off to the side for a little more distance. The way she stands, with perfect posture and hands folded down in front of her, it only hits further to Ciel's thought of her having been a professional servant previously. Very professional, as if there was a kind of aesthetic to hold to that kind of position, whether or not she remembered wasn't even a factor. ]

Yes sir; at your ready.

(Ciel rises and walks to a door that leads to an area outside; it features a large pool flanked by grecian columns. Under the night sky, the pool reflects the stars and the moon, giving off crystal clear images of each tiny spot of light above.)

I do not know if this will hurt, but we should be prepared. (He motions at a stone bench.) Rest if you need it. I have no intention of harming you.

Edited 2017-12-03 06:39 (UTC)

(Heaven's BBS)

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