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[stabilimentum]

[A smooth, sedulous voice answers:]

You have reached Claude Faustus, butler to the Earl Alois Trancy. How may I be of service?

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Re: 06/01

[stabilimentum.livejournal.com]

[There is a gigantic caterpillar out in the gardens. It's a sleek, black, plush-looking creature currently resting on a decorative circle of asphalt that absorbs heat very well compared to other walkways and patios. Set amidst blooming wildflowers and sandstone garden spheres, the caterpillar is positioned exactly where the sunlight is strongest and therefore the warmest. It soaks up the heat greedily, basking while the clouds allow it, squirming slightly in pleasure. Grotesque, maybe, but it's peaceful.]

Good afternoon, Mr. Snake, [says Claude Faustus.

His quiet voice carries when he wants it to. So does his scent, which for now is cool and hinting at crisp, reminding passersby of freshly-made cucumber salad. The caterpillar begins to wriggle more and more, scraping its bottom half over the asphalt, until it's able to sit up and turn around and look at Snake.

--Oh, it's none other than Claude Faustus wrapped up in an extremely cushiony sleeping bag. His entire body, except for his face, is covered and framed with the thick black fabric. Instead of his usual glasses, he's wearing dark designer shades that complement his bizarre inspired-by-Kafka appearance. For a spider, he sure seems ready to spin a cocoon.

His expression is so damn serious, it's stupid and silly. Here he is, sitting in a sleeping bag, presumably soaking up all the heat he can get from it and the absorbent asphalt beneath him. His mouth is a thin white line, almost a frown, although that's due to how his insides ache rather than any approaching snakes. Weather this depressing isn't unfamiliar to him, and it isn't helping his waxing moodiness any. Sebastian Michaelis recently returned to Siren's Port--somehow, he doesn't remember anything about Claude. The general idea was valuable for renewing his vows with Alois Trancy, but Claude didn't expect to ever be forgotten after everything.]

The sun should remain like this for approximately one more hour.

[The demon's blood runs cold these days; his biology is somewhat consistent with a poikilotherm, or an organism that derives heat from environmental sources. The sun is one of his favorite methods to warm up, which is why he's out here while the warming is good. A long time ago, he'd do this in Alois Trancy's company on sunshiny afternoons.]

If my presence is an inconvenience to you, I'm perfectly willing to move elsewhere.

[Given the ridiculous drama inside of the household--for example, Ciel Phantomhive trying to murder him--Claude doesn't want to be seen as the antagonist. He's holding off on provoking Ciel any further, hoping resentment will fade over time and Ciel's servants will just leave him alone. Spending his days outdoors is how Claude gets away from the temptation to ruin Ciel even more.]