Charlotte Phantomhive commanded the same presence amongst the nobles as he husband had, perhaps even more-so, and in the bowels of a London Penitentiary it was no different. It didn't stop some of the more troublesome prisoners calling out vulgarities to her in passing, but an icy glare and a slight pause in her careful, measured steps was enough to get them to fall silent and step back from the rusty iron bars. It was no small feat. Most of the guards couldn't even pull off such a thing. She pauses while the guards unlock to the door to the common room currently housing the Kinneys then steps into the large room.
They were bound in a line by heavy iron chains and cuffs at their wrists and ankles. A guard holds either end of the chain, essentially binding them all in place. I have a proposition for you all. We don't want your pity. Charlotte sighs, a small delicate sigh in the large, dreary room. She idly tugs at the hem of her black gloves so they cover her slender wrist. Once satisfied, she continues as if Alex hadn't spoken. I am in need of a new staff. If you would rather die here then so be it, I'd be much happier seeing your bodies dangling from the end of a hangman's rope then sullying the halls of my home with your filthy bodies. You should not be so quick to sentence your family to the same fate. A leader as poor as yourself can only lead as so long before your followers rise up in mutiny. You'd do well to remember that. You aren't nearly as clever or intelligent as you think your are. Alex glares at Charlotte, straining at the edge of his short chains to get closer to her. She paid the action no mind, remaining frozen in place. Instead, she looked to the rest of his family for an answer. It didn't talk long, Alex's wife was the first to give in to the request. While her husband had no been particularly cruel to her, but this...this had gone too far. Enough was enough. She wasn't prepared to die for her husband. What is it that you want from us? Alex redirects his unbridled fury to his wife. He might have struck her if his wrist irons permitted to do so. You will be silent. She flinches away from her husband, keeping her dark eyes fixed on the floor. Charlotte frowns, eyeing Alex with contempt as she harshly reprimands him. You are the one who should be silent. I am not above having you whipped. Alex's mouth settles into a grim line after Charlotte's attention once against shifts his his wife. I simply need extra help around the hose. I don't think that's too much to ask of such criminals as yourselves. But you would to better to keep a much tighter leash on your husband. If he wishes to act like a rabid beast, I'll have to have him put down. B-but miss- Mrs. Alex's wife pauses a moment at the correction, then nods slightly. Mrs, I don't understand why you're doing this. Haven't you even been told not to look a gift horse in the mouth? If you wish to die, then so be it. I certainly won't try to stop you. I must have been foolish for thinking you might want a chance to repent for your sins before meeting your maker. Forgive me, I must have been wrong. Charlotte turns sharply when she doesn't get an immediate response. The heels of her shoes keep time with the clock ticking away on the wall as she makes her way tot he door she had entered from. One...two...three...four... The guard fumbles for the keys. He finally finds the right one when the small, mousy woman speaks again. But Mrs, what of my children? Charlotte pauses, glancing at her over her shoulder. I'm sure they can be of some use, they aren't stupid are they? No, Mrs. Then I'm sure I shall be able to find something for them to do. Charlotte steps through the open door. You shall receive further instruction upon arriving at my home. Disobey any of my orders and you shall find yourself facing a fate worse than death.
The Kinneys were more than a little impressed when the reinforced carriage finally made it tot he top of the winding gravel drive. Well, most of them. The children excitedly talked amongst each other, until the carriage rumbled to a stop and they were let out one by one, and unshackled. Charlotte was standing on the top of the stairs, her hands nearly folded behind her back in a freshly pressed black gown. She surveys the scene before her, then smiles at the guards who had been tasked with bringing the Kinneys all the way up here. The remaining maid and head butler stand behind her on each side. Would you care to stay for tea? It's the least I can offer you for your troubles. The guards look amongst one another, then pull their hats off and dip their heads. We wouldn't want to intrude ma'm. I wouldn't think anything of it. This place seems so empty nowadays. I'd enjoy the company. She smiles again, and caught between a rock and a hard place, they agree, leading the prisoners inside. The maid leads the guards into one of the sitting rooms. It wasn't until they were well out of ear shot that Charlotte tossed back some of her black hair and addressed the group in front of her. This is Sakuma, when I'm not around to give you orders you shall report to him. He;s been running this household for far longer than I have so don't think you can get away with slacking off without my being informed. Alex you'll be working outside, you're much too unseemly to even be considered placed in the house. Take your son with you, and if you can't behave yourself then I'll find you a one way trip back to jail. She pauses and glances over her shoulder as her maid reemerges. Take Alex and the boy to the gardener out back. She dips her head and leads the pair out the back door. Charlotte turns to his wife and her daughter. As for you two, I need a new handmaid. And Sakuma can use all the help he needs in the kitchen. You can start with afternoon tea. Charlotte turns and heads for the drawing room. The two girls loo at each other doubtfully, but diligently follow Sakuma to the kitchen. There was a lot of learning on the job done for all of them, but Charlotte was far more forgiving Alex's family then she was the patriarch, and not without reason. The four of them were expected to keep a house than previously had a staff nearly thrice that size. All the empty beds in the servants quarters showed that. But when it meant that they could live another day, who could complain about the long hours and grueling labor?
100 years later, in a small downtown London apartment...
Gus awakes a little later than usual, and rushed out of his room in the morning to hear his parent arguing. While it wasn't an unusual for them to find something to fight about, they rarely mentioned his name as much as they had lately. Although he couldn't imagine why since he had been making a point to stay out of trouble lately. The scuffle he got into a few days ago with one of the urchins he frequently spent time with was only a misunderstanding. He had made that very clear. But they still fought.
Gus creeps along the wall to the kitchen where his parents were. The floors were old, and one misstep would have given him away, but his father noticed him lurking there and they all fell silent. Gus sighs, peeking out from around the corner and saying a weak good morning to his family. They were doing that a lot lately too. When he was in the other room they would suddenly take up yelling in harsh whispers, then fall silent the instant Gus entered the room. What was it that they didn't want him to know about? His mother turns away, busying herself with the dishes in the sink, leaving his father to deal with the mess they had made of things. Good morning kiddo. Hurry up and eat your breakfast, I've got a surprise for you. Uh...Alright then. Brian slides a bowl of oatmeal towards his sun, which earns him a snort form Melanie. She slams a cupboard shut and slips into the other room. Don't make it sound so fun, Brian. You might as well be-
Don't ruin it for him. They glare at each other over Gus. He pauses and shoves the half empty bowl aside, having lost his appetite. He hadn't even been that hungry to begin with. Whatever this was, he just wanted to get it over with. Then he could go meet up with his friends and get all this past him. You aren't sending me away are you? Brian smiles to poorly hide Gus' almost correct guess and waves to boy off. Why would we do something like that? Of course not. We're going on a trip. Where? It's all part of the surprise my boy. He grabs Gus' coat off the tree near the door and steers his son out of the door before he could object, or get one of his arms in a sleeve for that matter. Any questions he tried asking when they climbed into a carriage were brushed off or blatantly ignored. The longer they traveled the more worried he got. They were pretty far out of town by now. He was starting to think he had been right about getting sent away. But to where? He hadn't seen anything but trees for miles. He knew his family wasn't that well off, but he wouldn't but them selling him to make a quick pound. Right? He was their only child. Only son for that matter. They shouldn't have been so eager to write him off. After all, who else was going to carry on the family name? Boys his age got into fights all the time, it wasn't that big of a deal. At least he wasn't running around stealing like the others. One member of his gang got hauled off to the work house when they got caught. Nobody had seen or heard from his since. He probably died or something. Would such a cruel fate really befall him?
Gus only grew more confused when the dense trees surrounding the carriage finally thinned out to reveal a large white mansion perched behind an ornate metal gate. The carriage rumbled to a stop at the stairs, and Gus was let out by his father. He hung behind as Gus gave a once over to a small boy with a patch over his eye and the much taller butler beside him. He smiled, but it wasn't a cheerful or sincere gesture. It seemed more out of habit than anything. It just made Gus feel cold, despite the weak sunlight that came through the clouds. The driver tips his hat in greeting at the boy, but he ignores him and curtly dismisses any opportunity to properly introduce himself. It took you long enough. I was starting to think I'd have to send Sebastian to collect you. He turns sharply and retreats back into the house. Sebastian, I trust you can handle this. Of course, young master. The butler, Sebastian, bows in his masters wake. The somewhat pleasant smile fades when he turns to assess the scrawny boy standing in front of him. He sighs, folding his arms in front of him. He's filthy. You couldn't even bathe him before you brought him here? He waves Brian off when he opens his mouth. He'll have to do I supposed. Unless you have another illegitimate child running around somewhere. Sebastian smirks and Brian glares. I don't think that's any of your business if I did. Of course it is. If I recall correctly you owe my young master for having had the pleasure of taking your first breath. You should do well to remember that. All debts must be repaid, one way or another. Sebastian looks at Gus again and starts leading him inside, closing the door on Brian. What do you do? Do? I don't do anything. Sebastian frowns. Nothing? Not even washing? No. I did the shopping. Sebastian turns sharply, brushing back some of his hair. Running errands was worse than nothing in his book. He was assuming the worst at this point. He probably got sent out of the house because he couldn't do anything else. But, he wasn't going to waste anytime training the boy. He would find out soon enough if he was as useless as he was assuming. You are not to use the front door for your comings and goings. Not that there will be many. Why would I worry about that? I'm not staying here. My father said he wasn't sending me away. And you believed him? You really are a stupid boy. I'll put this simply: from this day forward you are to serve as a member of the staff of this household. If someone tells you to do something you do it. Without all these pointless questions. As far as your concerned, my master owns you.