[ Video ] 2: Pool of (Gilbert's!) Tears

[maddeninghatter]

[ This bright Sunday morning finds Gilbert Nightray sitting behind the wheel of a black jaguar convertible. ]

I'm realizing that I've been a rut, lately. All I do is look after my young master, fret about things uselessly, and work.

[ It isn't his car. ]

So I thought I'd go for a drive, reacquaint myself with the city. Would anyone care to join me? You could point out some things that I've been taking for granted.

[ In fact, he's never driven a car before. ]

I'd be happy to exchange a lift in exchange for a bit of tour guiding, what do you say?

[ Xerxes Break is "borrowing" Ciel Phantomhive's car and Gilbert's body. The feed ends with the sound of a powerful engine growwwwwwwwling to life! ]

Comments

[spiderlilies]

[ She does her best not to giggle! Instead, she'll just flash him a pretty smile and pretend not to notice, you know. ]

Oh, thank you! [ Slipping into the seat, she'll place her handbag on her lap while oogling the inside of the car a bit. It really was different seeing these things in person. ] You wanted to see the city, didn't you? That sounds just fine to me♥.

[maddeninghatter]

[ He shuts the door after her, and lifts her seat belt. ]

There's a strap. You'll see where it clicks in.

[ Ahiru had actually introduced him to this little feature! He settles into the driver's seat ]

Let's go!

[ She reminds him, in a way, of Lottie Baskerville. The hair is similar, and the figure. Lottie's terror and fury had been intoxicating. She had been the last attractive woman he'd seen before...


All things considered, it's good to be making different memories. ]

How do you feel about the corporate sectors? Newcomers seem to shun the companies, but I think it's a mistake to isolate ourselves from the workings of the city.

[spiderlilies]

Ooh~. What a clever feature.

[ Ah, now Ann remembers seeing this done on the television, now that she thinks of it! Makes it a bit easier to complete the act of securing the seat belt gracefully. ]

The corporations... Some shun them, others merely decide to remain neutral. More safe that way, I suppose. [ She'll lean back and think on it for a moment, while retrieving a pair of sunglasses from her handbag. ] Why not? I hadn't been much interested in them before, but I should like to know what they're really about.

[maddeninghatter]

"Safe"? Might seem that way, but I doubt it.

[ He's got the clutch and the gear shift figured out, to the point that the car accelerates smoothly onto the road. He weaves through traffic with careless impatience.

He is speaking seriously to her, now, so his voice has lost its lilting, teasing tone. ]

There are three sources of power in this city. First, the government, which is weak and corrupt. Government entities such as police department and the courts are ineffective - witness the overwhelming response to the that little hunting party targeting Newcomers, perhaps you read about it in the news? And the Newcomer Political Party is a joke.

Most telling, however, is that the government does not control the Core.

[spiderlilies]

Are you implying that the Core can be controlled?

[ Her brows raise over the frames of her shades, at that. ]

[maddeninghatter]

The Sero corporation controls access to it. Or so I understand. Certainly they aim to control it; they must.

[ It doesn't take long, at the rate Break is driving, for them to arrive in the Sero-controlled part of the city. It's noticeably cleaner than the adjacent Sector 4, full of modern buildings. Their polished windows gleam in the sun. ]

[spiderlilies]

[ Leaning toward the window side of the car, she glances overhead at the tall buildings with a certain level of awe. She'd seen it, but the experience seemed so much different this way! ]

Oh, I imagine they'd like to... Having authority over a power like that, they'd undeniably be the dominant force in the Port's government.