He hadn't really been expecting anything like the invitation from Sebastian but he knew he was safe. At least, mostly safe. In a world not their own, who could say what would be safe and what wasn't? And he kept his jPad on him, just in case, most times. Like in the mine.
Astre had found a thick blue sweater for the cooling weather and had bundled up in that, and a light pair of boots over his jeans. Riverview had been good for adjusting his thoughts on clothing and what might be comfortable anymore. He couldn't imagine going back to wearing the heeled shoes he'd worn in England, especially with the soft inserts in shoes her found here.
"Is everything alright, Sebastian?" They all seemed to have been settling alright. At least, Sebastian, Undertaker, and himself. His twin was still expecting better living like a noble might.
That question did throw him a little off-balance though, and the teen stared for a moment. Then he started fiddling with his sleeves as he thought. It didn't take much, he knew his answer, but it was a lot.
"Not... really. It's different here but I like it better than England. My health is better and the house is... cozy. Not like the manor. And last time I was there, Ciel had come home. Agni... and Soma... I don't want to see the prince's face now. I'd have to if I went back."
That is quite true. As long they are in this world, Astre is safe and happy and in better health. The young Earl has plenty of space to think about certain events and plenty of time to sort out his relationship with whatever family he has left, especially his long lost twin brother (even if the demon found him to be quite repugnant, but time can only tell).
If he returned to England, what to say if the forces of the Law seek to arrest the both of them? And Sebastian is certainly his accomplice, helping him, and staying by his side as his servant. By staying in the valley, the two of them are fugitives.
At least, the demon now know that Astre did like it here, and that he does preferred living here. For Sebastian, that means his home in his valley is important and that's good enough for him. "Everything is all right." The butler said and he relaxed a little, and expression soften. "I just wanted to be sure of you...that this is what you truly wanted." After all, without the contract, Astre did indeed ask quite a lot of him from the demon's point of view, though much of tasks doesn't stretch the demon's powers to the limit. To the demon and his kind, human is their livestock, and human souls is a source of food, but the demon begin to see that Astre maybe more than just food and beyond that...a friend he truly cares for. Everything the demon built so far, from the land to the house, to work without a contract and expect nothing in return, and there's a risk for the demon to do all of this and go home to the Underworld empty-handed.
"The original contract, we agreed that I will help you obtain your revenge. That won't change." Sebastian plucked a flower from his garden, a white lily with it's petals and signature curl, and Sebastian bend over to place the flower in Astre's hands. It was his gift to him and he hoped his chosen soul like it. "After all, everything you sacrificed so far, no sacrifice you made and no pain and suffering you endured is a small thing."
While Astre is given a moment to admire the flower, "Even if the contract is gone, and even now, I choose to remain by your side. I am on your side, my Lord." And the demon already made up that he will always will. "You know, knights especially knights of nobility, they choose to remain loyal to their lords, even if there is no reward in their loyalty and their service. A good knight is someone who believes in fighting for the right causes and there are those who fight for justice, and many fight basing on faith alone. Some are willing to die for it, even if it's a hopeless crusade." A desperate crusade built on despair.
"Well, I just wanted to say I brought you here because I wanted to tell you that I have faith in you and whatever you do and that I'm willing to fight for you. So whatever you wanted to do now...just keep going. Because on days on this...simple days. I happen to like it a lot."
He did try not to bother Sebastian too much, tried to be more independent and capable. There was a lot he was trying to learn and do without needing the help of his butler or Undertaker. Tried not to be as useless as he probably was in England. Actually, as much as he knew he was in England, always depending on Sebastian for some part of the Watch Dog's duty or another, as well as work around the manor and Music Hall.
"You'd still stand by it? Really?" The flower came as a surprise but it did make him smile. And he did spend a moment or two just admiring it. It isn't a sterling rose but it was still lovely. And it accented the demon's words well. Undertaker may remain cautious, and Astre a bit too, but he at least trusted that he was still being genuine.
It was still something for him to get used to. Although it was getting easier, the longer they were all there.
"You're sure you're a demon anymore?" Came a light tease.
It's good that Astre is still trying his best with whatever strength he has left. Otherwise, the demon wouldn't fight for such a weak soul. "My, my, and I make such an effort in my grand speech to prove myself. You bid me to never to lie to you on that sad day when we first met."
At seeing Astre smiling a bit, even teasing a little, and relaxed considerably around him. That's what the demon is aiming for. For Astre to trust him. Whatever doubt his twin and the undertaker are trying to plant in his mind, this is the demon's way to fight back without raising a hand, a fist, or throwing silverware. "I made my choice." He didn't want to leave any room of doubt, but Astre is free to question the demon.
Being good-naturedly, "I think you don't want a repeat of what happened when we were doing an investigation on the Green Witch in Germany. At that time, I lost my temper and patience with you when I thought you had lost your resolve. I think I gave you a heart attack and your heart nearly stopped when you see my true form." Smirking, just a tad bit. "Though at that moment, I did wonder if I devoured your heart back then, what it would taste like."
Though at this point, Astre may have lost a lot of his resolve during his time in Riverview and they came to this. However, being in another world, Sebastian may have learned to be more patient and taking his time with him. After all, Astre is still standing here, contract right eye missing, and the demon banters with him in his own garden.
There was a soft chuckle, so much lighter than any of his laughter in the past few years. There's no bitterness anymore, just genuine humor. He could definitely remember the terms of the contract, with how he'd struggled to find a way to make their deal fair and just the tiniest bit in his favor.
And then the mention of Germany and he couldn't help a faint shiver. It had been awful, he hated thinking of it. Especially as he'd only regained his sight again while he'd flailed and lost his temper. "I'm grateful that you didn't. Despite the issues back in England, I rather like the way things have gone now."
And, this way, they're all at least kind of happy? He knew he was, he hoped everyone else was as well. Sebastian could at least have his cats now, Undertaker had the twins safe and alive, Ciel had his twin, and Astre had learned to make friends and how to be happy again.
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Astre had found a thick blue sweater for the cooling weather and had bundled up in that, and a light pair of boots over his jeans. Riverview had been good for adjusting his thoughts on clothing and what might be comfortable anymore. He couldn't imagine going back to wearing the heeled shoes he'd worn in England, especially with the soft inserts in shoes her found here.
"Is everything alright, Sebastian?" They all seemed to have been settling alright. At least, Sebastian, Undertaker, and himself. His twin was still expecting better living like a noble might.
That question did throw him a little off-balance though, and the teen stared for a moment. Then he started fiddling with his sleeves as he thought. It didn't take much, he knew his answer, but it was a lot.
"Not... really. It's different here but I like it better than England. My health is better and the house is... cozy. Not like the manor. And last time I was there, Ciel had come home. Agni... and Soma... I don't want to see the prince's face now. I'd have to if I went back."
no subject
If he returned to England, what to say if the forces of the Law seek to arrest the both of them? And Sebastian is certainly his accomplice, helping him, and staying by his side as his servant. By staying in the valley, the two of them are fugitives.
At least, the demon now know that Astre did like it here, and that he does preferred living here. For Sebastian, that means his home in his valley is important and that's good enough for him. "Everything is all right." The butler said and he relaxed a little, and expression soften. "I just wanted to be sure of you...that this is what you truly wanted." After all, without the contract, Astre did indeed ask quite a lot of him from the demon's point of view, though much of tasks doesn't stretch the demon's powers to the limit. To the demon and his kind, human is their livestock, and human souls is a source of food, but the demon begin to see that Astre maybe more than just food and beyond that...a friend he truly cares for. Everything the demon built so far, from the land to the house, to work without a contract and expect nothing in return, and there's a risk for the demon to do all of this and go home to the Underworld empty-handed.
"The original contract, we agreed that I will help you obtain your revenge. That won't change." Sebastian plucked a flower from his garden, a white lily with it's petals and signature curl, and Sebastian bend over to place the flower in Astre's hands. It was his gift to him and he hoped his chosen soul like it. "After all, everything you sacrificed so far, no sacrifice you made and no pain and suffering you endured is a small thing."
While Astre is given a moment to admire the flower, "Even if the contract is gone, and even now, I choose to remain by your side. I am on your side, my Lord." And the demon already made up that he will always will. "You know, knights especially knights of nobility, they choose to remain loyal to their lords, even if there is no reward in their loyalty and their service. A good knight is someone who believes in fighting for the right causes and there are those who fight for justice, and many fight basing on faith alone. Some are willing to die for it, even if it's a hopeless crusade." A desperate crusade built on despair.
"Well, I just wanted to say I brought you here because I wanted to tell you that I have faith in you and whatever you do and that I'm willing to fight for you. So whatever you wanted to do now...just keep going. Because on days on this...simple days. I happen to like it a lot."
no subject
"You'd still stand by it? Really?" The flower came as a surprise but it did make him smile. And he did spend a moment or two just admiring it. It isn't a sterling rose but it was still lovely. And it accented the demon's words well. Undertaker may remain cautious, and Astre a bit too, but he at least trusted that he was still being genuine.
It was still something for him to get used to. Although it was getting easier, the longer they were all there.
"You're sure you're a demon anymore?" Came a light tease.
no subject
At seeing Astre smiling a bit, even teasing a little, and relaxed considerably around him. That's what the demon is aiming for. For Astre to trust him. Whatever doubt his twin and the undertaker are trying to plant in his mind, this is the demon's way to fight back without raising a hand, a fist, or throwing silverware. "I made my choice." He didn't want to leave any room of doubt, but Astre is free to question the demon.
Being good-naturedly, "I think you don't want a repeat of what happened when we were doing an investigation on the Green Witch in Germany. At that time, I lost my temper and patience with you when I thought you had lost your resolve. I think I gave you a heart attack and your heart nearly stopped when you see my true form." Smirking, just a tad bit. "Though at that moment, I did wonder if I devoured your heart back then, what it would taste like."
Though at this point, Astre may have lost a lot of his resolve during his time in Riverview and they came to this. However, being in another world, Sebastian may have learned to be more patient and taking his time with him. After all, Astre is still standing here, contract right eye missing, and the demon banters with him in his own garden.
no subject
And then the mention of Germany and he couldn't help a faint shiver. It had been awful, he hated thinking of it. Especially as he'd only regained his sight again while he'd flailed and lost his temper. "I'm grateful that you didn't. Despite the issues back in England, I rather like the way things have gone now."
And, this way, they're all at least kind of happy? He knew he was, he hoped everyone else was as well. Sebastian could at least have his cats now, Undertaker had the twins safe and alive, Ciel had his twin, and Astre had learned to make friends and how to be happy again.