Jeeves and Wooster, a TV show

Spoilers for S01E01


One kiss would never suffice, Jeeves decided as he turned off the light in Mr Wooster's bedroom.

Jeeves considered himself to be quite a gentlemen's gentleman. Always professional and to the point. It was detachment that was needed for a valet to do his job properly and Jeeves was the one to do things properly even when others faltered in the face of necessity.

That's why, despite his admirable skill and dedication, he found himself searching for a new gentleman to serve times and times again. Gentlemen these days just wouldn't do what was right and proper. They desired to abandon all decency and constantly defy an orderly state of things.

Searching through the book at the Ganymede's club he went through notes of young gentlemen who were in absence of a valet. A young gentleman seemed like a prudent course of action since older ones tended to develop odd habits connected to their previous servants.

He needed someone young and unmoulded, without attachment to a certain expectation of obedience.

Despite Jeeves being most admirable in his daily tasks, he had such strong opinions on the matters of dress code, fashion and general conduct that he found himself incompatible with a certain breed of people demanding that all things would be shaped to their desire.

The desire had little to do with everyday life, Jeeves found. There were orders, rules and general conduct required for society to function properly.

Surely, Jeeves introduced himself to new thoughts regularly, but just enough to know what to avoid and how, rather than to ruin the perfect structure upon which their wealth and prosperity lays upon.

That's how he got on the name Bertram Wooster.

'Confused chap,' the previous valet said in his note. 'Doesn't know his nose from his mouth but is quick to count his socks.'

Jeeves observed the short note thinking about it. Nothing more was written but there was something to be heard between those lines. The fired valet found no greater flaws on Mr Wooster than his lack of direction and the attachment to his clothes.

No valet will be rushing to a young gentleman who fired his valet without a proper explanation but perhaps the explanation was at hand provided by the very valet who was sacked.

Why was it important that the gentleman counted his socks? The only reason Jeeves could think of was that the young Mr Wooster found the number of his socks lacking and therefore decided that it was the valet who stole them.

Since there was no complaint against said valet, it was obvious that the young gentleman found no reason to report his theft or to expose him to the valet association.

That meant two things. Firstly, it meant that he wasn't the sort of gentleman who would take revenge upon his servant or deny him the opportunity to earn his money. Secondly, it meant that Mr Wooster had to have at least a somewhat keen mind to notice the missing pairs of socks since the valet was the one in charge of obtaining new ones.

Jeeves could appreciate both of those qualities in a gentleman.

A scornful heart that desired retribution meant to seize control over its minions and lesser ones. Jeeves took pride in his profession. He couldn't stand for him, or any of his colleagues, to be treated with anything but respect.

The previous valet made a grave error when he presumed that just because his master seemed like a confused chap, that he's not alert or aware of his surroundings.

As he thought about it, Jeeves realized that he's beginning to experience a certain dose of curiosity about that young gentleman whose only crimes were the lack of guidance and a sharp eye for detail.

If anything, he'll try to stay at least a month and see the state of the said Mr Wooster. If he proves to be a man of lesser intelligence unwilling to learn the ways of proper dressing and addressing then Jeeves will have no problem in searching on.

After all, there was no shortage of gentlemen, but there was a shortage of well-trained valets.

When he entered the said Mr apartment Jeeves felt confident. At first glance, Mr Wooster seemed as innocent as a lamb caught in an incoherent state induced by the long night out.

That was the state Jeeves knew how to cure all too well.

As he tidied the apartment Jeeves noted it to be a pleasant small place which would be easy to maintain dashingly pretty. As he worked, he could see the lack of discipline and sense of detail the previous valet had.

He could also see the style of life his new master was leading. For now, it seemed all too timid, nothing to suggest any graver vice or flaw.

As Mr Wooster spoke Jeeves was pleasantly surprised by his cheerful persona. Politeness was the gravity of his world, the thing that defined a civilized and dignified society. What Mr Wooster gave out in the world was something more than politeness, he seemed astonishingly satisfied with the world around him.

Jeeves asserted his closet and clothes in an agreeable fashion and after some small resistance Mr Wooster took Jeeves' guidance as seriously as any sensible gentleman should.

That made Jeeves quite satisfied with his new employment.

In just a few days, or maybe in just a few hours, he found himself deeply concerned for his master's sense of approval, or more for his satisfaction. Maybe it was because, when satisfied, his master would spread out a sense of glee and gratitude Jeeves hadn't yet had the privilege to witness.

That was perhaps the reason for which he was so quick to offer his honest opinion when the young master offered his risky plan for engaging his friends to one another. For some reason, the young master wasn't really keen on getting engaged himself.

Upon inspecting the young girl to whom he should be betrothed to, Jeeves found it hard to imagine any blissful or even tolerable union between the two. His master was far too eager to please to be served with a bride who would stretch him as far as she can before him breaking, or perhaps she wouldn't even mind him being broken.

The last image was the reason that made Jeeves decide to intervene. Not that he intervened much, he just inserted what was offered to him. And what was offered was marvellous, it was almost as a small miracle which worked like a charm.

Jeeves was very pleased with his small injection working but was unsure how his new master will react. That's why he removed himself from the situation by pursuing their umbrella which was taken from its stand.

The umbrella wasn't hard to catch but Jeeves stood with it in hand waiting for some amount of time to give his master time to adjust to the new situation. He was most curious to see what will become of it, will he just ignore it, will he notice the intricate planning which was demanded of him.

The friend who wasn't Mr Wooster passed him by with a smile on his face and Jeeves decided that it was time to go back to the apartment.

The evening seemed to go by normally as a routine to which Jeeves already got accustomed to. It seemed that the confused part of his master will prevent him from noticing anything. For some reason, Jeeves found that a bit disappointing.

Then, just before going to bed Mr Wooster disclosed his understanding of the matter. As he lied to bed he said to Jeeves 'you're a bit of a marvel'.

'Thank you, sir,' Jeeves answered candidly.

It all seemed well and as it should be but then it happened.

As he was about to turn off the light Mr Wooster smiled brightly.

'Good night Jeeves,' Mr Wooster said simply turning his light off.

'Good night, sir,' Jeeves answered as expected but with a certain dose of lightness in his chest.

As he turned off the light an unusual thought came to his mind.

One kiss would never suffice. If anyone would ever be honoured enough to betroth Mr Wooster and gain his affection one kiss would just lead to heartbreak and pain. Surely, there would be a demand for much more than one kiss.