The day had started out surprisingly normal, Ciel had nearly forgotten his friend's birthday, being exhausted from a case he'd been working on solving for a week and losing track of time as the days had blurred together.

Thankfully, his loyal-as-ever butler, Sebastian, had pulled him aside mere moments before they had arrived at the manor.

Nothing like making the young master sweat a bit, Sebastian bit back from grinning as a look of pure panic flashed across Ciel's usually stoic expression the moment a knock rapped upon the door. Ciel still manages to shoot a brief scathing scowl with a lip curled snarl at Sebastian before briskly recomposing himself besides the remaining furrow of his brows. One of which keeps twitching with his restrained irritation.

"Prepare the horses. Then bake a cake, and have a surprise party set for when we return," Ciel orders Sebastian in a quiet yet sharp barking tone, worried his friend might hear him beyond the massive front doors had he spoken any louder.

Damn you Sebastian, he growls inwardly to himself, casting one last scathing glare towards his demonic butler before turning and heading to the front door himself to personally greet his friend at the door, rather than one of the servants.

"Welcome my friend," Ciel greets, cracking open a massive door for his friend and ushering them inside before shutting it with a firm thud. He's trying to act casual, ignoring the way his cold heart beats a bit livelier than usual within his chest. He knows he doesn't have to worry about his quickly put together plan failing or not being ready in time, but, he wants it perfect for his friend. One of the few people he actually likes in this God-forsaken dog-eat-dog world.

"How would you like to go for a trail ride today?" He offers with a small smile on his lips as Sebastian reappears giving a subtle nod towards the young master with his own ever stoic, yet devilishly knowing expression on his sharp features.

The butler's reddish eyes narrowed with what might have been the slightest up tick of the corner of his mouth in the show of a smirk before heading off, disappearing from view to carry out the other orders Ciel had given him. Sebastian revels in making Ciel squirm and today is seeming to be an unusually perfect day to do just that without the noticeable threat of any bodily harm.

The young master barely holds back from glaring until the butler is out of sight again, but his friend is here and he can't show them that anything is out of the ordinary.

Instead, Ciel offers his friend his arm with slightly wider grin tilting onto his lips. His single peacock-blue eye shining brightly, "come now, let us see what the day has to offer shall we?" He offers a bit more enthusiastically, his tone lighter and more genuine as they take his arm.

Guiding them out towards the stables where a pair of horses that have been pre-prepared for riding are patiently waiting. Their coats gleaming, freshly brushed, manes and tails braided elegantly, blanketed and saddled with a set of riding helmets sat nearby and at the ready for the duo.