♕ || Another party that he didn’t want to go to, but Elizabeth coerced him into attending. Naturally Ciel’s attention span to all of this was minimal, really only looking up whenever his fiancee bounded over to try and pull…
♔: Alois adjusted the lapel of his frock coat uncomfortably and stared at his hands, locking his fingers together and fidgeting. It wasn’t often he was this unsure of himself; in fact, he was quite sure he’d never felt this loss for words. Maybe it was due to his own uncertainty.
“Well,” he began, his voice wavering as he tried to regain his confident tone, “that’s actually what I was coming over to ask you. I think I recognize you from somewhere, and I was wondering if you— um…” he trailed off, wondering what it is he could say. He sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry. My name is Earl Alois Trancy, it’s pleased to meet you” he grinned, extending his arm out in a handshake.
Though, he couldn’t shake the feeling this wasn’t the first time they’d met. He certainly had the same features; shorter than Alois and younger, but only by all of about a year. The same bright, blue eyes, although one was now covered and the remaining eye had a different expression. It no longer had the same lost, helpless look; he was so full of dignity. It was difficult to even consider the two may have been the same person.
He started to doubt his own reasoning, and with that uncertainty came hesitation. Yet, alongside all this nervous apprehension which was so foreign to the young blond came a nostalgic sense of longing and a strange, exited satisfaction, forming the smirk that tugged at the corners of his lips.
♕ || Why the boy was so fidgety in front of him, Ciel didn’t know. He knew he wasn’t the most approachable person in the room but he wasn’t being outright rude or looking intimidating. A single eyebrow of Ciel’s was raised as he waited for something to be said, he wasn’t about to say anything further to make for a one-sided conversation. Finally the boy started speaking again, that was a start at least. The eyebrow went back up when he mentioned ‘recognizing Ciel from somewhere’, but where that 'where’ was he didn’t elaborate.
A single eye went down to look at the extended hand, surprised he was being so easily forthcoming with Ciel even though he hadn’t said much on himself yet, but he was in public and there were levels of standards for formality and behavior that Ciel had to adhere to. So silently Ciel lightly grasped Alois’ hand and gave it one pump along with a squeeze before he pulled it away and let it fall back to his side. It wasn’t something against Alois, Ciel just wasn’t fond of physical contract in general.
Earl Ciel Phantomhive, the same for you as well.
Now that the formal name introductions had been passed, now what? Ciel wasn’t exactly stellar in his conversation carrying skills, and when it was paired with a low desire to carry one on, it was never helpful. The only productive thing Ciel could think to say was asking for an elaboration on where he seemed to have known the bluenette from.
You mentioned a moment ago about knowing me from somewhere? Did we meet at another party in London and my memory is simply eluding me for the moment, or is there somewhere else you’re thinking of?