The sleeping ash. Black Butler various x reader

At night: The Butler, A Colleague

*3rd pov*

"Now, I'll give ye a quick tour. Come with me. First, these are the tents ye'll be sleeping in. This is where the so-called 'second string members'- the stagehands, newcomers, and the like–live. There's usually two or three to a tent." Joker moves to the other tents. "And that there's the dining tent and the tent that serves as our leader. It's up to ye new folk to cook up the meals too, so give it your best!" Joker informs. Kitty yawns and transforms into a cat then climbs up to Joker's head which makes him blush that she chooses him to climb on.

"T-The tent all the way back is the first-aid tent. And...From 'ere on back are the private tents of the main cast." Joker points at the purple tents while Black looks at the tents. "Private tents?" Smile asked. "Well...Once ye hit it big, ye get a place to yourself. Oh, 'n' one more thing... That's Snake's tent, so ye should stay away for your own good. There are a great many poisonous snakes roaming free, so one bite, and off ye go to the other side. Snake and his slithery friends are still veeery shy— So newcomers especially should stay sharp 'round these parts." Joker explains as Black and Smile makes eye contact.

"...By the way...What's become of your right eye, Smile?" Joker asks. "Eh!? Ah...This...There was an accident..." Smile puts his hand on the eye-patch. "How sad...For someone so little to have had such misfortune befall him." Joker sadly pets Smile's head with his skeleton hand. "?? Right..." Smile could only say. "Well...Everyone 'ere's got their own issues, so ye'll get along just fiiiine!" Joker wraps his arm on Ciel's shoulder while the other pets Kitty's head. "Y-Yes." Smile said. "Like us, did everyone here join the troupe while the circus was making the rounds?" Black asked. "Nnn? For the most part, yes. But all the first-string members come from the same town. Guess ye could say we're all childhood friends." Joker explains.

"Childhood friends?" Black asked. "Yeah. But Snake's still a rookie. He's a genius with his snakes, he is...And we were without a snake charmer at the time, so he became a member right quick. If ye join the first string, ye don't have to held with prep and ye don't have to worry about fighting for your meals. And ye can get your own tent. That's why everyone does their best to get to the top...To the first string..." Joker guides them to the big tent where all the members do their talent.

"And here we are. The training grounds. Newcomers train and train 'ere...With the hope of debuting in an actual performance one day. Ye must always start with the basics. Once ye've made quick work of your warm-ups, then—" Joker gets cut off. "Joker! It's almost time!" Beast calls out to him. "I hear ye!" Joker shouts. Black looks at Beast while she glares at him and heads back. "Well, give it all ye got, ye three–" Joker grabs Kitty and pets her then hands her to Black and leaves. "A tent full of poisonous snakes at the entrance of the main cast's private quarters, hm? Guard snakes instead of guard dogs, hm?"

"So to gain access to the private area, we've no choice but to get into the first string...Is that it?" Black helps Smile with stretching while Kitty in human form lays on the ground. "Poisonous snakes won't kill you two. Go see whether the children are here or–" Smile gets cut off. "They are not here." Black informs him. "Eh?" Smile looks confused. "I have not sensed the presence of any children at all in this circus, not during the tour earlier." Black tells him. "But we have yet to find proof that the circus has no relation to the missing children. We can't leave until we've looked into all the nooks and crannies of this place."

"Quite. It is entirely possible that they may be in such a condition that I would be unable to sense their presence." Black said. "Don't say such an ill-omened thing. She wishes for the children's safe return." Smile tries to hold Black his back, but is struggling while Kitty smirks at the sight. "Yes, sir." Black said. "That reminds me...Instead of the children, I did sense–" Black gets cut off. "HEEEEY!! Ye can't be stretchin' all slow and steady, like! Pick it uuup!"