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“How unexpected to see you here, my lady.”
Ciel scowls, taking a seat on a stool in the corner. The kitchen is filled with light and the smell of lemons. At one end of the room, Sebastianne is zesting lemons over a bowl filled with sugar. It’s nearly midday, and Ciel had grown tired of her paperwork, wandering down to the kitchen to find something to distract her. She knew she’d find Sebastianne here; it seemed like there was always something pulling her towards wherever Sebastianne was.
“I’m hungry,” She declares, leaning back against the wall behind her. The stones are cool against her back, and she shivers.
Sebastianne is frowning at her. “Cold, my lady?”
“No.”
Shaking her head, Sebastianne turns towards the oven, opening the door so the warm air drifts towards Ciel. “You’ll catch cold.”
“I won’t.” Not now, she thinks, but it’s better to antagonize Sebastianne than to admit when the demon is right. “I want something sweet.”
“You haven’t had lunch. You’ll spoil-”
“I won’t,” Ciel says again, watching Sebastianne begin the zesting once again. Her hands move quickly, efficient to a level that’s just shy of inhuman. To any watching eye, it’d be the trained motion of a professional with many years of experience under her belt, but to Ciel it’s evidence of how well Sebastianne keeps herself in check under this human guise.
“Don’t you have something better to do, my lady?”
“Watch your tongue.”
Sebastianne hums, setting aside the skinned lemons. With a wooden spatula, she stirs the sugar-flour mixture before cracking two eggs into the bowl.
“Does this visit have anything to do with the Halstead contract you are avoiding?”
Sullenly, Ciel looks down at her hands. “It’s so bloody long.”
“It is an important acquisition, my lady. There’s a lot to consider.”
“I know that,” Ciel whines, then flushes, catching herself for being so childish. She scowls. “Don’t tell me what I already know.”
Sebastianne hums again, sifting flour now. “If you know, my lady, perhaps you ought to be finishing reading the contract.”
She’s right, of course, but Ciel doesn’t appreciate her saying so. “I needed a break.”
“And you’ve had one. Go on, now.”
“I shall do as I please!”
Sebastianne turns to peer at Ciel, distinctly amused. “Certainly, my lady. Would you like to taste the batter?”
That makes Ciel frown. Sebastianne isn’t usually so forthright with treats, especially unfinished ones. “...Why do you ask?”
“You seem to be having a hard time. I only wish to make your afternoon more pleasant. Perhaps a small reward will motivate you to finish your contract.”
Warily, Ciel watches Sebastianne approach, the wooden spoon in hand. There’s a smear of pale batter there. It smells delightful when she holds it up to Ciel.
Tentatively, Ciel wraps her lips around the spatula, watching Sebastianne carefully. This could be.. a trick? She wouldn’t put it past the demon.
But the batter is delicious, bright and citrusy and not too sweet. Ciel closes her eyes and hums.
“Is it good, my lady?”
Ciel nods, leaning back. When she opens her eyes again, Sebastianne is giving her a particularly amused look, eyes bright.
“What- Sebastianne!”
Giddily, Sebastianne smears the batter over the side of Ciel’s mouth down to her cheek. Ciel lets out a yelp and smacks the demon’s hand away, glaring at her fiercely.
“Don’t be so-!” CIel flounders, batting at her face. It only serves to smear it around her face
“My lady,” Sebastianne says with a sly smile, “It seems you’ve made a mess of yourself.”
“You made a mess of me!”
“Is that so? My mistake. Allow me to help you clean it up.”
Before Ciel can answer, she’s leant forward to press her mouth to Ciel’s heated cheek, lapping obnoxiously at the skin like a dog. It leaves a wet trail over the stickiness of the batter, and Ciel squirms, slapping Sebastianne’s shoulder and grunting. “You disgusting mutt!”
Sebastianne laughs warmly against Ciel’s cheek, the sound spreading through Ciel and making her stomach flutter. She sighs, giving up on pushing Sebastianne off and submitting to her fate.
“Can you even taste it?” Ciel asks sullenly. She knows Sebastianne doesn’t eat real food.
“Of course I can. A chef must always taste her work. How else would I learn to prepare you the best, my lady?”
“You are so humble today.”
“Aren’t I, my lady?” Sebastianne murmurs, pressing a kiss to the corner of Ciel’s mouth. She stands, shaking her head. “You’ve thoroughly distracted me. Now we’re both behind on our work.”
“A pity,” Ciel says, leaning back against the wall again. Her face still feels sticky, but she does her best to ignore it. Giving away that she’s irritated by it will only mean another win for Sebastianne, and she’s not willing to give her the satisfaction.
“Perhaps a change of pace would be appropriate for both of us.”
Ciel raises her eyebrows.
“Would you like to help me, my lady?”
“You’d have me cook in my own home?”
“You might enjoy it. And baking is a very different art than cooking, my lady, you ought to know that.”
Ciel does know that; she’s not stupid. Still, she considers the idea, eying the bowl of batter. “What would I do?”
“I was planning to make a custard filling for the cake.”
That’s not something Ciel’s ever done. It’s also not something she’s ever really thought about doing, but perhaps she’ll never have another chance. It could be entertaining, at least more entertaining than contracts. “...Alright.”
“Come, my lady.”
Ciel slides off the stool and steps up to the counter as if she’s never seen it before.
Sebastianne laughs, sliding an arm around her shoulders and pulling her in to look at the ingredients closer. “Is that alright, my lady?” She asks, amusement lilting her voice, “Or shall I fetch you a stool?”
“Quiet, you.”
“This won’t get you out of your paperwork,” Sebastianne says strictly, handing Ciel the spatula, “But if we finish this quickly, I might have time to help you go over the contract.”
Sebastianne’s hand is warm and familiar around Ciel’s shoulders, and she lets herself lean into it. She huffs. “How kind of you.”
“Of course, my lady,” Sebastianne murmurs, turning to press her lips to the top of Ciel’s head. “Now. The most important thing to know about making a custard…”