SEBASTIAN MICHAELIS

[The feed opens, revealing Sebastian standing in the middle of the bar, the dark room only lit by candles. He has taken his tailcoat and waistcoat off, his sleeves are turned-up to his elbows. Behind him, it can be seen that the dancepole has been removed, the first thing he did after moving in.]

Well... Since Bayonetta is gone, Daria and I have decided to take the To The Moon Tavern up again. [There's no regret in his voice as he mentions the dark-haired witch. He has had a good time with her, just like he did with Beast, in that past life of his, before Demeleier. Nothing more.]

New team means new bar so it will be closed for a little while, the time we rename and revamp it. We also will propose you new drinks and snacks. If you have special wishes, please let me know and I'll see what can be done. In case you want to give a bit of your time to help with the makeover, it will be greatly appreciated.

[A smile appears on his face but it is not his usual warm though fake one. The ones who know Sebastian enough may have noticed the worry behind it. He has to admit it, he is not at ease anymore since that Halloween Ball. He is plagued with the sensation of being constantly watched and followed, feeling again that familiar yet stranger presence around him. At this point, he doesn't think anymore that it is a trick from the Fae.

And his hunger is back, stronger, endless.]

[Private to NORTH // Extremely difficult to hack.]
I have more space now, North. My invitation still stands.

[Private to DARIA // Extremely difficult to hack.]
I may have found a new name for the bar...

[Private to MED'AN and ZELDA // Difficult to hack.]
I know we still have to talk about that Counsellors idea. Would you mind to wait until the bar is open again ?

[Private to MIYO // Difficult to hack.]
Oh, it seems that we now are neighbours, Miss Takano. I hope you won't mind the nuisance... ?

[And with a last grin, mostly for the nurse, he ends the feed.]

[When the feed starts, the only thing Demeleier's inhabitants can see is a muzzle sniffing the communicator. It belongs to an adorable kitten, probably not older than two months. The tiny furrball then proceeds to carefully lick the screen.]

Hamlet, no, don't... [Pale hands with black nails grab the kitten and Sebastian sits face to the communicator before placing a bowl of milk on the table. The demon scratches behind the little one's ears and happy purrs can soon be heard.]

Well, this is Hamlet. [Yes, Sebastian is a Shakespeare's fan.] There is not a lot of cats over here so if you see him wandering around, you will know where to bring him back.

[There's a bright smile on Sebastian's face. You can be a soul-eater demon, a mass murderer and still love cats. No ?]

[Private to BAYONETTA // Extremely difficult to hack.]
Tell me you won't mind Hamlet, dear...

[Private to NORTH // Very difficult to hack.]
North. I hope that you feel better now ? There's some things about that night that I'd like to discuss with you...

[Private to ALICE // Very difficult to hack.]
What happened the other night were strange circumstances to meet, weren't they ? I'd like to thank you again for your help, Alice. And also... May we have a word about what you exactly saw ?

[Private to VIKTOR // Very difficult to hack.]
What you did to North's wounds really impressed me ! Thank you, Viktor. Your help was very welcome.

[And then, Hamlet jumps on the communicator, ending the feed.]

[Sebastian opens his eyes and all what he sees is unfamiliar darkness. Getting up, he dusts his suit, he is the Phantomhive's butler after all and what would people think if he appeared dishevelled ? Really. Looking around once more, Sebastian takes the device he found near him and starts to write on it with the little pen-thing. It's interesting, how his words appear on the dark screen.]

I don't know where I am, I don't even know how I arrived there. A minute ago, I was in London, waiting for my fakely dead body to be buried and now I am here, wherever 'here' is. Maybe some kind of higher power found amusing to transport me in this place for a reason or another ? Very well then. I never mind to play new games.

The night around me is pitch-black, without the lights of London to warm it up. The stars in the sky shine softly but not enough to give any luminosity. Given their positions, it seems that I am far from the Phantomive Manor. Not even sure that I am still in England. The Young Master ? Well, I'm sure I'll find him again. I won't let such a delicous soul get away from me so easily.

For the moment, I am in a clearing, standing in the middle of a dark and deep forest, exhaling sweet and spicy unknown fragrances. As silent as a tomb. But I am not alone. Oh no, I am not. All around me, I can feel presences, dark and mysterious. They are not human, not demonic. Powerful, yes but kind, no.

[He stops to write and listens. It seems to him that he heard the rustle of leaves not too far. But he just shrugs. Why to be afraid of what is around him ? Sebastian is a demon after all. His fingers mechanically reach for the rowan crown on his head, careful not to make it fall. What do they say about rowan tree again ?]

Over the limits of the forest, I sense the presence of numerous souls. Some powerful but all different from the things hiding in the forest. I now will walk away, find my way through the trees and see if I can learn more about this most strange place.

[Sebastian leaves the clearing behind, without looking back. He doesn't know if his words will reach anyone. To tell the truth, he doesn't really care.]