Hey, all jokes and UT/Claudia feels aside, am I the only one thinking it’s interesting that UT doesn’t appear to be willing to discuss this? Unless it’s just because it’s Seb who’s asking, which would explain why the twin seems to know?
Anyway, you’d think that since everything where UT is concerned (as well as several arcs) started with Claudia, he’d be more… vocal or explanatory when it comes to her, especially since he also said stuff like…
unless her death left him so broken that he can’t discuss the topic?
I mean, considering that our!Ciel knows nothing about his grandmother…
UT’s silence might be similar to Vincent and Frances’: whatever happened to Claudia, no one was able to mourn her properly (and UT probably even less than everyone else), hence why no one is willing to mention her?
Or maybe it’s just plot convenience because Sensei is after a better timing to tackle the possible UT/Claudia backstory…
I’m just on the fence about UT’s words also possibly being Yana directly hinting at us that she’ll never confirm/deny any UT/Claudia or UT = Cedric theories, thus leaving it “to our imagination”.
After 141, it’s clear that UT considers Real!Ciel his masterpiece and cares a lot for him as a revived Phantomhive. But he doesn’t seem to care about RC as a person, instead going on and on about how lovely a doll RC is, even though he himself said RC has freewill and actions. It’s ironic that UT, for all the effort and devotion he put into RC, considers him a doll first, person second- he’s not wrong, per se, but it clearly upsets RC:
^ RC does not appreciate being touched against his will or being talked about like he’s not even there.
Then I got to thinking, we know our twin duos are Sebastian + Our!Ciel, and UT + Real!Ciel. OC says he doesn’t trust Sebastian. But what about RC’s feelings towards UT? I think it’s possible that RC loathes him at most, dislikes him at best. Remember when this happened in the Green Witch arc?
^ Being forcefed through the funnel during his mustard gas episode traumatized OC so badly that he relived his moment in the cult:
This happened moments before RC’s death, so the physical and emotional anguish is doubled. Now, in the current arc, we found out RC was there as well, and probably went through the exact same forcefeeding routine:
^ RC’s likely triggered by many of the same things OC was, such as having things shoved down his throat. Then in 141, we find out after he recovered RC’s body, UT’s been experimenting on it…
^ By shoving tubes through his nose and throat, while RC can do nothing but helplessly lie there and be carried around.
And since UT’s taking RC everywhere to observe OC, we know RC was sentient this whole time… meaning he could feel UT shoving those tubes into him, regardless of how gentle or not. At this point, RC had no free will and could do nothing but be UT’s doll.
^ He was sentient here as well. We already saw how OC reacted to the funnel. Who knows how horrible RC felt about having that thing shoved through his chest? We can only imagine UT’s been doing this to him non-stop for the past 3 years.
^ So then, when he had the chance to attack UT, he did. Of course, this was on the Campania and maybe RC was just a mindless zombie compelled by instinct. But he was aware of what’s going on around him and is inherently more advanced than the other BDs’. Maybe he doesn’t have to go around eating people in a search for souls or a substitute.
Maybe here, he wanted to bite UT, since now he can finally move on his own, and this is payback for everything UT’s done to his body while he could do nothing but watch.
And lastly here, RC just looks irritated and resentful. Even his line, “What do you think you’re doing!?” is angry. But UT doesn’t care, and this probably fuels RC’s dislike farther, because again, he’s being regarded as an object, and not his own person.
So in conclusion, based on this evidence so far, I think RC and UT are not emotionally close, and if anything, RC probably hates UT, which is ironic given all the care UT supposedly has for the Phantomhives. Of course, RC must know UT’s the only reason he’s alive now and able to see his brother again.
So the way I read it, going by this interpretation, RC tolerates UT’s presence and toying with his body because he regards UT as a means to an end. He needs to use UT to stay alive and take control of OC. UT arguably objectifies RC the same way Sebastian objectifies OC’s soul, and RC uses UT the same way OC claims to use Sebastian.
But this doesn’t mean RC is grateful towards UT or appreciates what he did. Because it happened against his will, and put him through unimaginable pain. So the moment RC finds something or someone to replace UT, he’ll probably leave and betray this reaper in a heartbeat. I’m just guessing what their relationship is at this point, but my thoughts could change depending on what happens next.
((you know what: actually your post makes me realize it’s similar for Lizzie.
Maybe UT “cares” about her too since she’s related to Claudia, but not doing anything about her crying/being depressed for months or even using her during this arc would be on the same level as imposing his wish onto real!Ciel. He’s too focused on his selfish wish to see all the damages he’s leaving behind.
Gosh UT will have amends to make if he’s not leaving the story after this arc… if he’s Cedric that also doesn’t vouch for him being a good dad, but then again since Tanaka is the one who stepped up after Claudia’s death, that’s to be expected))
Ch 140 review: a theory of the timeline of RC’s appearance
I’ve been thinking a lot about answers to these questions:
1. Why did Real Ciel try to kill Prince Soma?
2. Why did Real Ciel leave the “candy in my tummy” threat on Our Ciel’s bedroom wall?
3. Why is Real Ciel acting so supportive of Our Ciel? How can that be the same person who left that threat?
My theory, the short version:
1. Real Ciel’s body and mind are extremely fragile, and he tried to kill Soma because Soma tried to touch him.
2. The message was meant to get Our Ciel to follow Real Ciel to the manor.
3. Real Ciel is trying to manipulate Our Ciel into supporting him with blood.
The long version:
Remember, “Lord Sirius,” whom we can safely assume is Real Ciel, appeared emaciated in front of Violet. He required so much blood that Blavat ran out of his blood type from regular intake and required contributions from Violet.
(Chapter 115 pg 23)
It’s no coincidence that Blavat killed off the last of his followers in Bath directly before Real Ciel started appearing in London. With that last boost in supplies, Real Ciel has enough blood to appear normal for a while.
What does a kid who needs compatible blood do to get more?
He goes looking for his identical twin.
He starts with the townhouse in London, but Our Ciel isn’t there (he’s still investigating the murders in Bath). Instead, he finds Prince Soma.
Prince Soma opens the door and welcomes him inside, thinking he’s Our Ciel. This tells Real Ciel and co that Our Ciel is not home, and he has leeway to set up shop and wait for Our Ciel to come home for a confrontation (as does eventually happen at the manor).
But Prince Soma, unlike the manor servants, notices something is weird and tries to touch Real Ciel.
(Chapter 126 pg 24)
Real Ciel is extremely sensitive to being touched, for two good reasons:
1. His body is physically fragile.
2. His mind is fragile. He endured the same abuse Our Ciel did at the hands of the cultists. Our Ciel lashes out at unwelcome touches, so it makes sense that Real Ciel would too.
So Real Ciel loses it and lashes out at Prince Soma.
I don’t think this is a premeditated murder attempt at all. I think this is a moment of rage for Real Ciel. He can’t stand to be touched and he shoots Prince Soma to make it stop.
At this point Agni has to protect his prince from Real Ciel, and Real Ciel’s guardian has to protect him from Agni.
Now Agni is dead, Soma is out of reach, and Real Ciel still needs blood. He needs to do something to make sure that Our Ciel can seek him out, but the police cannot (because there’s a dead body full of knives in the hall, after all).
So he leaves the message, “Who took the candy from my tummy?”, a message that only Our Ciel would understand, on the wall to make sure Our Ciel will go to the next place he might expect his brother to be: the manor house.
Of course, he’s still enraged, so the message ends up brutally carved into the wallpaper.
Fast-forward to Real Ciel’s arrival at the manor. Just as he did in the townhouse, Real Ciel walks in like he owns the place. This time he’s not discovered (Tanaka notwithstanding), and the servants do not try to touch him (they know better), so he sets up shop to wait for his blood supply to come home.
When Our Ciel returns to the manor, Real Ciel needs to convince him that he’s on his side so that Our Ciel will willingly support him with his blood. Everything he says to Our Ciel is to manipulate him into the mindset they had when they were kids: everything is okay and Real Ciel will protect Our Ciel. Just leave everything up to him.
There is a beautiful poetic irony here: Real Ciel talks like he’s still the stronger twin, when he’s actually physically and psychologically weaker than Our Ciel.
The tables have turned completely.
When they were children, Real Ciel was outgoing and brave and Our Ciel depended on him.
Now, Our Ciel is independent and resilient and Real Ciel is counting on his bodily support just to survive.
midnight-in-town 