Author's Note: I am REALLY hoping that this can be my last revised chapter, but I'm not about to hold my breath. I must fill in some details and delete others but it seems like I have a general plan, which is good. I just hope I have not missed anything that might create unnecessary plot holes. Curse myself for being so adamant about this. I now have Ivy in the manor without being Ciel's half sister. Infiltration successful, now all I gotta do is work out all of the kinks down to possibly chapter…fifteen I think. Easy? No. Fuck me. Nothing else to declare, we are moving on homies gs. Ciao!
Disclaimer: So! Like I always say. I own nothing. Kuroshitsuji is not my property and I'm just having fun playing with it for a while. Damn copyright laws that got me into this situation -_-'. I'm bored of taking advantage of Sebby's responsibility towards guests…plus if he's going to kill me I don't want him getting it into his head that he should torture me too. So anyway! I own nothing for the millionth time and uh…I LOVE YOU SEBBY PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! *kitty eyes –since puppy eyes wont work-*
Chapter Four: That Maid Employed
"How absurd and delicious it is to be in love with someone younger than yourself. Everybody should try It. " –Barbara Pym
"A few hours later one of the workers there found me." she stated blankly after telling them her story. "I was taken in, I did not bother to speak to anybody for a long time. Most of the other children were frightened by me, and nobody wanted to adopt the pale, somber child who sat all day and brooded, behaving like the queen of Sheba." she explained. "I did not wish to be adopted either, I wanted my mother. As I said however, she never returned and I grew up there until they kicked me out. Afterwards I was not sure what it was that I should have done so I decided to live my life, find a job, and maintain a low profile existence."
Ciel regarded her quietly with a cool and calculating gaze. "It is the truth." she assured him with all the sincerity she could muster, feeling the full effect of what she had just agreed to, sinking down on her. She had never been more nervous.
"You are saying that it is your…'clan' that is tracking you?" The young Earl was really not familiar with all of this demon lore stuff. After all unless an explanation was necessary, Sebastian kept those things under wraps from any human ear. She gave a simple nod, chewing her lip.
"I don't know why they would choose now to come, after so many years. I had hoped that they would have forgotten about me." Her gaze trailed out of the window on her end blankly. "Why would they even want to bring me back so badly? I do not understand…but I know that to go back would mean a fate worst than death. I will die before I let them take me." Green eyes flashed with a steadfast, and stubborn resolve.
"All the more reason for you to collaborate with us. As of now, we have a common opponent." Ciel's eyes watered and he began to cover his face with a handkerchief. "How much longer till we reach the manor?" He demanded shortly. Green eyes blinked at him.
"Not much longer. Perhaps fifteen minutes."
"Is he alright?"
"The young master is highly allergic to cats." Sebastian explained smoothly. Ivy blanched, immediately covering her ears back up hoping to keep as much fur away from him as possible.
"I think a warning would have been just a tad more helpful of you, Mister Michaelis." The neko frowned at the demon beside her. The Earl may have been her kidnapper only hours ago, but he was still just a small boy and she had no desire to harm him. As a matter of fact, perhaps she could make more of an attempt at being a bit less cranky. She turned her gaze to him apologetically. "I am so sorry, Earl. It will not happen again. I will be careful to keep my distance-"
"It's fine." The child's tone was riddled with annoyance at the hint of being fussed over by a stranger. He had no desire to be treated like a child. She blinked, realizing her slip up. Her hands folded themselves in her lap as she silently watched him. "You will have to be with us for an extended period considering what is happening. I can only assume that I will have to keep you on as a maid to avoid suspicion." He spoke curtly, sounding very much like a grown man in his manner of speech.
"I see…Um…I do not mean to sound too doubtful in your planning skills as my new 'employer' however… how on earth do you expect to explain to your other employees well…erm…these?" Awkwardly the half neko patted both sides of her bonnet meaningfully. Noting her sudden softness Ciel decided that this girl had a serious case of bipolar syndrome. Never the less, she made a valid point. He and his butler exchanged glances. It was apparently time to come up with some wild story telling.
…..
"You mean like, Finnian?" Bard inquired. As the butler gathered the Phantomhive servants, he began to prepare them to meet their newest co-worker.
"In a way. However, the lab that held Finnian for those dark years of his life, simply wanted to create an injection that improved mankind's chances at overcoming disease and other deficiency's for good. This girl however, was the product of attempts to create a biological weapon of war using the useful traits of animals. All were failures that did not live for more than a few days…She however managed to survive so please speak little of the subject, and be careful as she is rather…touchy." He described for lack of a better word. Honestly it was not a lie, the girl was nervous, temperamental, and timid all in one. How was such a thing even possible?
Anyway with all that these servants had experienced and had seen him do without a single question, it was certain that they would not think twice about a girl from a science lab. Miss Ivy had thought the idea was 'utterly stupid' and questioned whether or not they would buy such a story, however she did not realize just how trusting and soft headed those three were. As for Tanaka…since Finnian came from a lab, he would not bat an eye either.
"SHE'LL BE RIGHT AT HOME HERE WITH US!" The young gardener stepped up enthusiastically feeling an immediate kinship toward anyone who had undergone a similar terror to the one that he had experienced. Bard frowned.
"A weapon of war? You sure she's safe? What if she's some kind of double agent?" He took a drag from his cigarette.
"I would have had some hope that you had more faith in my –and the young master's- judgment by now. Behave yourself, Bard." The butler responded curtly. Maylene looked on ever the curious one, wishing she could fast forward through all of the talk and get to the introduction. Perhaps having another maid would be refreshing after being in a manor surrounded by an ocean of testosterone all day every day. Not that she hated being around her friends…and not that she would ever disdain Mister Sebastian's company. Of course not…a blush overcame her features.
"Where is she?" She asked curiously.
"Ho, Ho, Ho." Tanaka sipped tea in the background as usual. Honestly none of the servants would have been surprised if the eldest servant had already seen her due to his inexplicably cunning wiles. The steam rose into the air from his porcelain cup as innocently as his beady little chibified eyes gazed back at them. Sebastian gave nothing away with his own steady gaze either…his smile as enigmatic as always.
"Just a moment." He said in a tone that calmly hinted for their patience. As he stood before the door, he curtly opened the two large doors that concealed the newest member of the Phantomhive household behind them. Brown eyes watched through their spectacles intently as Maylene wondered what she could expect such a girl to look like. "Everyone, this is Ivy. Our newest housemaid, please be sure to treat her well and to get her well acquainted with how things are done in this manor." He was not facing them as he spoke but his tone betrayed the slightest hint of amusement.
He moved aside and there she stood. A frown resided in her light mint green eyes as she followed his form before her face softened looking at them. She looked fairly young, around Maylene's age group she supposed. An icy beauty in spite of her weary expression and raggedy appearance, she stood with her hands clasping a leather hand bag in front of her. Finnian waved at her obligingly, and Bard narrowed his eyes in a welcoming smile. She seemed so nervous and lost to be here that Maylene could not help but sympathize as well. The maid smiled at the first other female to be introduced into the young master's home and gave a rather shy nod and a smile.
After a moment of surveying them with slight puzzlement and awkwardness in her eyes, she softened into a small smile of relief. "…I'm pleased to meet you." She spoke in an almost hushed voice at the moment -most likely because she was so tired- giving them a polite little dip of a curtsey. They tried not to stare at her ears, they really were strange to look at. What did they feel like when one touched them? Mink perhaps?
"I'm Finnian! This is Maylene, Bard, and Tanaka!" The gardener stepped forward eagerly, making said ears droop and the girl jump ever so slightly. She must not have expected such colorful servants to greet her. "We're your new friends! I work on the gardens, Bard is the head chef, and Maylene is a maid just like you-" Bard pulled him back by the collar mid sentence with a gruff laugh.
"Slow down there for a minute, Finni. Let's not overwhelm her. So…Ivy is it? Where did you get that name?" Maylene gaped at the situation he was putting himself in.
"Bard that's ru-!"
"Who did you work for? How did the young master find you- OW!" The girl known as Ivy gave a start when Sebastian punched the top of Bard's head.
"You deliberately disregarded my warning, and you are being impolite, until Ivy receives her uniform and is settled in she shall be our guest, and she shall be treated as such." When he turned to Ivy she seemed to lean in the opposite direction. With a grin he turned to Maylene, making her breathe catch as it always did when he directly caught her gaze in his own fathomless one. Her cheeks pinkened ever so slightly. "Maylene." His voice was always so rich, so dark in its essence, so… like the touch of velvet. "Would you be so kind as to show Miss Ivy around? Oh and take her measurements for a new uniform. Bard, Finnian? Back to your respective duties if you please. Tanaka, please take it easy." The order was given crisply before he made off to continue with his own schedule. For a moment the silent dark haired girl opened her mouth as if to protest something before going silent and frowning in irritation at his retreating back.
"Yes, Mister Sebastian." Maylene called after him with a dutiful nod, adjusting her glasses. Finnian scurried off with one final wave to the new girl, and Bard lumbered off rubbing his aching head with a grumble or two. Maylene noted that she was slightly taller than her by perhaps half an inch or so. Her measurements were probably not too different from her own then.
"I'm sorry for not greeting you properly earlier, I am." As if brought out from some deep process of thought, green eyes lit up and trained on her. Rather unnerving in a way, but when she smiled softly all was forgotten. The girl took the maroon haired maid by surprise as she grabbed her hand, shaking it.
"Oh it's perfectly fine. I am actually relieved that you are so close to my age to be honest." Huh? Why? As if reading her thoughts Ivy continued. "You see, honestly I did not know what to expect when I was brought here, and since the only other maid in the manor would be the one I spent most of my time working with, I was worried that you would be an older woman… perhaps as irritable as the butler who oversees you." With that she winced. Irritable? Mister Sebastian? "I am so happy that is not the case. I am sorry for babbling…it tends to happen when I feel awkward or nervous. Tell me what is it like working here?" Maylene felt the need to put this girl just a little more at ease.
"We are all very happy to be here. The young master rescued all of us from our dark pasts, and you too now apparently. Oh and you shouldn't worry about Mister Sebastian. He can be stern but for all of his faults he is not unkind." At the bespectacled maid's words, Ivy's gaze seemed to sharpen as though she had forgotten something very vital.
"I see…" And just as suddenly as it appeared it was gone. "Well in any case. It seems that I am yours to lead. What are we to do first?" Maylene was not used to making any authoritative decisions as a maid so it was rather odd to be asked such a thing.
"Well…I think it would be a better choice of action to get your measurements before I show you around the manor." Ivy nodded, preparing herself to learn to adjust to manor life.
….
Ivy noted that it would only be normal that the servants be unaware of who Sebastian Michaelis really was. Unkind would have been an understatement for a creature like him. It made sense since he was collared that he would treat them nicely, besides to keep your servants content earned the assurance that they would be unlikely to turn coats on you. A happy servant…is a loyal servant. It would only be fair to them that they remain in the dark about this contract game going on just under their noses.
The clean, dark grandeur of her surroundings made her feel so out of place among them in her humble worn attire. It was beautiful here. Too beautiful. What tokens of vanity every simple item felt like to her, she was almost afraid to touch anything at all. The elegant halls held an eerie beauty to them that only she seemed to notice. Such a queer place…dark and intimidating, much like the master and his butler. Macabre paintings decorated the halls, and the floor was patterned with polished black and white tiles, like a chessboard that you could see your reflection in.
'Oh dear…what am I doing here? This is beyond insanity.' She groaned internally. Everything seemed to chorus as one 'Hello. You now walk among the mad, please enjoy your stay' -Insert sunny smile-. The half-neko girl walked close beside Maylene, feeling like this house wanted to eat her or something.
Maylene –she noted- was a bit shy, but then again so was she, so the two of them spoke little, still she was pleasant enough to be around. The only issue she had about this was that nobody had bothered to show her to where she would be sleeping, and she knew that for all the butler cared, she could sleep in the stables. That ass clearly just wanted her to feel as uncomfortable as he could possibly manage. Keeping that thought in mind, she steeled her resolve and decided that she would adapt quite nicely to this place…for as long as she had to of course.
One thing she knew for sure however, he did not like her…and really she was not particularly fond of him herself. 'We will see about this little game of yours, devil.' Her eyes settled into a pleasant looking calm so as to not alarm anybody who might look at her face.
….
"Can I help you?" Liam was at the counter again today, it seemed there was a duchess who was throwing a party and after the wedding cake had been a success, they were suddenly in demand. So his father was quite busy. Standing at the counter in front of him were two rather tall gents. One with a gold-like color in his eyes, and the other with striking green ones. The first one –slightly younger- looked determined, and the other bored out of his mind. The two of them raised an eyebrow as if his question were a rather stupid one.
"Certainly. My…companion and I have been on a search. You see, a certain important part of our family has gone missing and we have been just so concerned since." Liam stared blankly not sure what to make of them. "We have followed her trail, to the general area and have lost it quite sadly…she is a thin little one about yea high, with long hair... -the blackest you've ever seen, large green eyes…you wouldn't have happened to see anything…have you?" His eyes seemed to challenge the young Irishman to lie.
His memory moved back to the young lady that had entered his father's shop, looking for work. She fit their description perfectly. In spite of her appearance however, he did not look as though she had been in danger…though for her to be a runaway was believable. These men…they were not like her though…what affiliation could such a gentle spirited and soft creature like her have had with these almost menacing looking and imposing men? If she was a runaway…he would certainly understand why. He was suddenly glad that his father was so busy today.
"Nothing lately, sir." It wasn't a lie. He had only seen her a while ago and never again since. "Perhaps she is long gone from this general area already, sirs. Is there anything else I can help you with? Nothing can top our crisp apple pies I've been told. Care to try one?" He offered politely. Ah the joys of being a salesman. The older of them seemed to grimace at the pastries slightly and the other more menacing looking remained flat and disinterested, staring as if directly through him.
"I see…" His voice sounded different as he trailed off, strumming his nails on the counter in a pensive rhythm. "No thank you. We appreciate you giving us some of your time anyway." The golden gaze of his eyes seemed to be piercing through his soul. His companion scoffed a bit loudly at this and rolled his eyes, earning a dark glare. "Goodbye." As they made their way off Liam watched them. Just when he thought it was okay to feel relieved, Cassie…she came out of nowhere and accidentally collided with the stranger's leg. Making him look sharply down at her with a slight frown.
Liam nearly barked for her to get back into the kitchen but that would be too suspicious, instead all he could do was look on in horror as his companion knelt to her level, tilting his head with a smile. The little girl stared at the two of them wide eyed as if awed by their presence.
"Oops! I'm sorry." She smiled apologetically at the gentlemen. The older brother wrung his hands and swallowed hard. The golden-eyed younger man simply walked off with disinterest while his…-associate perhaps?- lingered.
"…What a sweet little one." The crouching man ruffled the child's hair before standing back up. "That is quite alright. Have a good day." She blushed. With a single salute to Liam, and a poke to the girl's forehead followed by a wink, he was off after his moody companion. It was only then that Liam let out a breath and frowned at his little sister who stared back innocently and confused. His blue gaze softened…it wasn't her fault.
"Liam?" She asked. "Are you okay?" A hand ran through his chin length locks.
"Its fine, firefly. Go back into the kitchen, alright? Don't leave without telling me and Mum where you are next time either."
"Okay!" With that the shock of her red hair flew past him and into the back. He watched her go with his sky colored irises. What a day so far, eh?
….
It would not hurt to behave herself here. Things had gone well so far. As she and Maylene had conversed, Ivy had come to see that they really did have more in common than they assumed. Except of course on the topic of Sebastian, but that was not such a big issue. "...So you see, ever since the young master rescued us we have all been so happy. I hope you will come to be as happy as we are here, I do." Really her accent was so endearing. Like a younger version of one of those mother-hen type maids.
"I certainly hope so myself. Though I don't plan on staying here forever." The maroon haired girl looked at her curiously. Ah, if only they knew of her real situation. There was no way she could hope to stay at the Phantomhive manor. Contracts do not last forever…and there was no way she would be caught dead still working there once that demon was freed from his bonds. The very idea made her shudder.
"You alright?" Maylene watched her with concern. "You seem light-headed. Have you eaten? The kitchen is really close by, it is and I'm sure Bard wouldn't mind some company." As a matter of fact the neko girl had not had a decent meal in quite some time, but she did not feel like going through the trouble of preparing something at the moment. She was more tired than she felt hungry right now. Before she could respond however, there was the thundering of an explosion. Both girls jumped in surprise.
"What was that?" Ivy asked wide-eyed, and before Maylene could respond she was headed in that direction. "Come on! Somebody could be hurt!" The bespectacled maid was already blushing in embarrassment as she scurried after her, trying to assure her that all was fine. It was hard not to be embarrassed however, when a new face was made to discover the faulty work of the Phantomhive servant trio.
Dark plumes of smoke slithered from inside the kitchen, curling in the air through the cracks of the surprisingly still intact door. As Ivy barged in, she took in the disaster around her. Maylene hurried in after her, both girls coughing and waving the thick plumes from their faces. Bard sat sulking in a corner between two counters, clothes browned, ash stains on his face, and his hair charred into what looked like a round-crisped brown shrub. Over his shoulder there rested a customary flamethrower and he coughed ever so slightly, cigarette nowhere in sight.
"Bard! What have you done this time?" Maylene wailed at the state of their surroundings. He stood, dusting himself off for the most part. His turquoise eyes were cast grudgingly to the ground as he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, not one to enjoy being embarrassed in front of the women folk.
"The blasted turkey was still not thawed out after so many hours. So I tried to take matters into my own hands." Ivy blinked at him and Maylene looked around forlornly. "Sebastian is totally going to have my head on a pike for this one. It was our last McArthur Gold." The maroon-haired maid covered her mouth in realization of the statement.
"No!" She gasped.
"Yes." The head chef groaned back. Ivy was completely lost here, but really she did pity them. Or well…him, because really it was not Maylene's mistake just his.
"I suppose that means this kitchen is not fit for use at the moment." She remarked dryly.
"You think?" Bard responded with a stressed huff. "Hey, sorry for nosing into your business earlier, lets start over Miss …" He trailed inquiringly, shaking her hand over again. She blinked briefly at him before drawing her hand back politely.
"Just Ivy will do." The dark haired mystery girl responded with a shy but undeniable finality. Now he blinked a bit and both he and Maylene stared for a moment. Ivy blinked innocently and cleared her throat. "Your face is a little burned…Bard." She told him, pointing at her own face and his. He scoffed.
"Pshaw. This? I've been scalded much worse before little lady, don't worry about me!" He placed his hands on his hips and broke into the good guy pose as if he did not look like a roasted circus clown. So this level of catastrophe was routine? The horror. "Just some home remedies from the green house should be able to take care of it." Maylene adjusted her glasses, nodding in agreement. Ivy felt a bit out of place being the only new face among such old friends.
"That's right, Bard! Some lavender should do the trick. Miss Ivy and I can fetch it while you start cleaning up. We were headed for the garden anyway." The neko girl just nodded in agreement. Ah the eagerness of friends to help one another. She did like them so far…though they were rather odd. Tanaka had made her sweat drop when she first saw him, a strange chibified old man sipping steaming tea from a mug. Green tea…she could tell by the scent. Bard called after them as they left. "Take your time ladies! I wouldn't want you to get caught up in Sebastian's scolding too." That had been that.
Now as the two girls walked through the gardens, Maylene explained how Sebastian had planned out the garden's design. The grass seemed almost too perfectly green for a place with such a dark side to it. Ivy admired the vegetation and floral coloring with a certain hidden enjoyment, anything full of color and life brought her relief from the darker side of life that she normally lived. Though it was so typically, garishly feminine to have such a soft spot for flowers, so she never mentioned it aloud. It seemed that Finnian was nowhere in sight and this disturbed her reddish-haired companion apparently.
"Where is he?" Ivy noted that Maylene tended to fiddle with her glasses when she was agitated.
"Uh… Perhaps he is busy?" Ivy offered. That did not seem to placate the maid very much…well it was a bit too quiet. "I could help you look for him since I really have nothing to do here until I get my uniform…"
"No, no, its fine." Maylene was not up for more embarrassment. "Until tomorrow you're a guest, you are. I'll just make sure he's alright for just a moment while you enjoy the garden." What on earth could he possibly do all by himself that could be so bad? As the other maid vanished, fidgeting nervously and stumbling over a random tree root, Ivy folded her arms looking around. The greenhouse was not too far away. It would make an interesting place to explore, as she had never been inside one before. Then she heard a soft 'mew' and her attention darted to the source.
Up in one of the larger trees, she caught sight of a small black cat stuck in the branches…such a typical storybook, good deed moment. She smiled up at it apologetically; it would only be appropriate to rescue the poor thing. "Hello there. Are you stuck?" She cooed gently up at the adorable little thing. There was another darling meow in response. Aw, the poor thing. "Oh dear. Come on I'll catch you." She coaxed, placating as she beckoned her over with her hands. The creature's fluffy ears drooped and she curled further into the tree apprehensively. Ivy sighed. "Oh alright. Here I come."
Up she climbed with unnatural dexterity. "It's alright." She assured the little stray not making any sudden moves and gently holding out one of her hands for her to sniff. Her offer was tentatively accepted and she was able to stroke the soft black fur. Just as she was picking up the light little thing, a scream grew until it reached her vicinity. Suddenly she was being swarmed by bees, and the source of the scream slammed into the trunk making it shatter and sending the tree she perched in toppling downward.
"Ow! Son of a- eek!" she nearly dropped the cat as she swatted away the offending insects, shielding her as best as she could. Jumping down she was abruptly snatched and spun away from the wrath of stingers and the falling timber, set onto her feet gracefully. The kitten was then plucked from her arms in her moment of shock. The form of a certain perfect, pristine butler in black stood before her, stroking the feline as he regarded her with a tilt of his head.
"How careless. You should have foreseen that, little one." Ivy glared defiantly back up at him. Was it suppose to be her fault that her skills had been diminished from years of neglect? Maylene came charging toward the clamor and Finnian was seen as a wailing heap on the ground speckled with several bee stings not too many it was nothing too serious. The demon butler sighed with a withered frown.
"Is this sort of thing really a routine occurrence?" Ivy asked weakly. He made no response. Both the maid and gardener hung their heads in shame and she knew that she had hit the nail.
"I'M SOORRRYYYYY! IF MISTER SEBASTIAN HAD NOT SHOWED UP-…" The boy warbled in tears babbling a tearful explanation that Sebastian had no intention of listening to. Maylene was about to speak and he held up a hand to dismiss her.
"Have you at least taken Miss Ivy's measurements?" He demanded.
"E-err…yes. Right here."
"Give them to me." He practically snatched the paper, making Ivy frown at him in silent disapproval. Mental note: Sebastian Michaelis = Snobbish Bully Supervisor.
"See here, it is unnecessary of you to-"
"Miss Ivy. A word before you go about your business." 'Hell no.'
"Oh come on what could I have possibly done to-"
"Come now, you must be hungry-"
"I can eat later. Until I can officially work I'm to be a guest am I not? You have no such power over me to order me around just yet, and please do not interrupt me again." The neko was slowly losing her temper. 'Besides the kitchen is unfit for use right now.' She grumbled mentally. All she wanted to do was ask these people what the exact extent of their everyday blunders was. Her stomach grumbled and she blushed. Damn it. "It will only be a few minutes…I'm sure you need a bit more time to repair a few damages in the kitchen, yes?" An elegant eyebrow rose at her.
"B-bard blew up the kitchen again, Mister Sebastian." Maylene shifted her footing. 'Again?' Suddenly Ivy was even less enthusiastic to work here than before if that were even possible. Sebastian sighed, gently placing the fluffy black creature back into her grasp much to her surprise.
"I might have known. Excuse me; I will have to brief you on your duties here later." He crisply straightened his jacket lapels. She could feel his irritation and it seemed to make the lush green of the surrounding leaves and grass, darken. Really she pitied that poor head chef, watching the butler leave. She and Maylene moved to tend to Finnian, Tanaka coming to their aid as well.
"Oh Finni." Maylene scolded. "What on earth were you doing?" They plucked and squeezed out some stingers from his arm and face.
"I was trimming the trees and I knocked one over! It had bees in it!" Oh this child! Ivy had never seen such immense strength in a human being before. Much to her shock he sprang up and barreled into her, she only barely managed to keep her footing after quite a bit of stumbling, the kitten leaping onto her head to avoid injury. What the-? "I'M SOO SORRY! DID I HURT YOU?" She blinked at him and shook her head almost in a panic. Was he completely right upstairs?
"Finnian, I believe Miss Ivy is perfectly fine." Tanaka spoke up. " I do believe it is alright to release her now." At the old gentleman's words, he abruptly let go and backed away apologetically.
"I'm fine. Its perfectly alright. I have a feeling Mister Sebastian is more upset about the cat getting mixed up in this than anybody else." She assured, wringing her hands awkwardly now. Without so much as a single thanks the kitten leapt to the ground and trotted off gaily. "You are welcome!" She called after her indignantly, turning back to the others. "So basically Finnian is um….too strong for his own good." It was tact. "… and Bard can not cook without destroying the kitchen for the life of him." The maid and gardener nodded.
"Oh and Maylene is really clumsy the other day sh-!" A nervous maid clamped her hand over his mouth with a blush. Clumsy? Well that didn't sound so very dreadful. Anyway she might have guessed by the way she tripped so hard over the tree root earlier in her search for her monstrously strong co-worker. After a moment of silence…she smiled, then she giggled jovially.
"That is nothing to be ashamed of! Honestly I was more afraid that I would not fit in what with my…" She trailed…not particularly eager to begin a conversation about her ears. As if sensing her discomfort, Finni hugged her again –not so dreadfully tight this time-.
"Don't worry! This is a nice place. We are all friends and Mister Sebastian has been very kind to us." Oh for the love of- if she heard these people sing the butler's praises one more time she was going to scream until her chords snapped. "I know you'll fit in here, Miss Ivy. I can tell." He gave a sunny smile that she returned albeit slightly awkwardly. He was being sincere; there was no need to make anybody uncomfortable.
"Thank you." She said with genuine warmth. "I hope that I can be of use to the manor."
"The young master would have never hired you otherwise. Pleast be at ease." Tanaka smiled with a polite nod before he deflated back into his usual chibified form. Before she could reply her traitorous stomach grumbled again. Her ears drooped.
….
It was troublesome scolding and banishing Bard from the premises, before making quick work of the kitchen however, somebody like him could take care of these matters easily. At the moment he was working on a snack for the young master. Chocolate Rose-Geranium Cake before his senses quickly picked up on the sound of footsteps, both light- one more so than the other-…the women. He paid them no heed as he prepared the young master's snack. The door creaked open behind him and he heard a squeak and the sound of feminine scuffling. He rolled his eyes, not bothering to look in their direction as he spoke.
"Miss Maylene, and Miss Ivy what exactly are you doing?" There was then more scuffling followed by a resigned sigh.
"M-mister Sebastian…" The maid blushed, Ivy stood beside her grudgingly with her slender arms folded over her chest, looking at the ground with a forlorn gaze. "Miss Ivy decided to eat after all…we were just checking to see if there was anything we could whip up, we were."
"Ah." He said, quite crisply and pleasantly. "Well then I believe I can take it from here. Go about your chores Maylene." Ivy's eyes widened in alarm, watching in anguish as the other maid scrambled off dutifully if not clumsily. 'Noooooo!' What the hell was she going to do alone with the bastard? How the hell does one even make conversation with the demons of hell? Oh dear…she trembled. Her eyes began to wander distractedly as he remained silent. Was he purposely prolonging her agony? He prepared a pan wordlessly.
She caught sight of something on the counter and briefly forgot that the butler existed. Chocolate bars…Phantomhive was famous for their chocolate after all and she certainly did love some good chocolate. He seemed to sense her thought process as she reached for one because he finally spoke up, scaring the living daylights out of her. "Sugar is not a meal." She jumped, a frown darkening her features as she noticed that he had not even bothered to glance in her direction. How on earth had he-? Never mind. With a glare at his back she stuck her tongue out at him. Yes she knew it was rude and unladylike but…oh who the hell gave a damn anyway!
"Well I…I was going to make myself something, but with this ridiculously awkward atmosphere you-…Oh see here I can't cook with a cranky butler –or anybody for that matter- hovering around me the whole time alright? It is annoying." As if on cue her stomach grumbled again, and she made faces at the back of his head. Without another word she snatched the intended bar and breezed away to sit on a counter, munching on the brown delicacy with a smile and a pleased blush. Her legs kicked out back and forth in a very disarming and childlike manner. He turned to look at her with an eyebrow raised. Come to think of it he'd not seen her smile before now.
"I assume you enjoy the company chocolate." He stated dryly. She blushed again and nodded rather sheepishly, hugging the treat to her chest. Such things brought her back to the only pleasant memories she had…and those were very few.
"Very much." She admitted. He hummed stoically in response. "I see. Well then I should tell you not to eat between meals and that I will not have you pinching from the chocolate supply but I will assume you are aware enough to know how to be a respectable employee." He must have been really used to having his day shit on by the other servants, huh? If she hadn't been informed as to their backgrounds she would have wondered why someone as picky as Sebastian would have hired them in the first place. Never mind that.
"What am I doing in here exactly, if not eating?" She asked distractedly pulling at the wrapper from her snack, oddly placid. He turned curtly to face her completely.
"I have been instructed by the young master to brief you on several important matters regarding your stay at the Phantomhive manor."
"Yes?" She asked softly, not looking at him still. The hellcat was not available for comment at the moment it seemed. Either that or she was not really paying attention. The dutiful butler tilted his head curiously.
"You will be working in our manor as maid –as you already know- thus you will be instructed in our routines, the protection of said manor, and I will have to be acquaint myself with your capabilities and strongest points. Also, since the servants and visiting relations may want to know your full name, the young master has deemed it best that you are given an alias." He began, the girl's ear twitched slightly back. 'Oi, he gives lectures too? Fuuuuuuuu-! Okay its alright Ivy take it easy' She told herself.
"What does he have in mind?"
"Ah. He has left that up to me to decide though nothing seems to suit you so far…I believe I should call you Miss Gateau." He said this non-chalantly as if he was not at all naming her after a desert. That is not awkward at all right?
"Is that meant to be some kind of lame innuendo for something I'm not able to pick up on? Or perhaps by giving me such a laughable name you hope that I will consent to give you my real one?" She frowned suspiciously. There was an amused shift in his ominous presence.
"Not at all. I simply based it on your apparent love for the cocoa bean…since you are so keen on being a chocolate monster. It is also the master's favorite desert. The first desert I executed properly and the first time my palate was introduced to the vile matter known as chocolate." Ivy's eyes widened as if he had gravely insulted the very essence of her happiness.
"Blasphemy! You sir, are speaking in a fit of jealousy because you are unable to appreciate the food of the Gods like everybody else who was blessed with real taste buds. To put it inelegantly, shut your face, Sebastian Michaelis." With that she folded her arms decisively with a defiant frown. The demon seemed to look at her in mild astonishment at the way she spoke to him in spite of her knowledge of what he really was. Really she was astonished too. Immediately upon realization she internally berated herself, but really it sucked that she had to curb her tongue just because she was so small and fragile in comparison to him.
His expression vanished instantly and he went back to his duties. "What are your strongest skills?" Ivy winced at this. She had not sparred since she was about eight years old. That was an entire decade. However, if she had to tell him, she would tell him what her specialties were.
"Well obviously I have been stuck at an orphanage since I was eight years old so I have not exactly had the time to practice. However, my specialties include swordsmanship –I have a natural knack for handling any kind of blade-, stealth, and endurance. I can do other things of course but those three are my main abilities." She debated whether or not to tell him about the signature family…trait she'd inherited from her mother. Really she realized that in any of these cases all of her abilities will be milked toward the benefit of her captor and employer so naturally she hesitated to give them room to completely use her abilities. He nodded wordlessly.
"You sound proficient enough, I suppose however that this means I will have to re-educate you to your former level of prowess…perhaps even improve it." She could hear the batter stirring in the sterling silvery bowl he held. At this piece of information she believed that she had never felt more deflated, her stomach had a nervous cramp suddenly. How much stress would it take for a half-breed to develop an ulcer? Was it possible for her to get one?
"Pardon me whilst I weep for joy." At this she swore she heard him scoff. The preheating oven made the kitchen noticeably toastier than other parts of the manor at the moment. The chocolate in her hands began to melt slightly because of it, and so she had to reluctantly finish it off quickly. "When will this glorious event take place precisely?"
"As soon as possible. Do you often swing back and forth from one emotion to another this quickly?" She just sighed at the declaration.
"It is part of my nature yes. I suppose I have been a bit waspish though haven't I? Now that I've struck a bargain with the little earl I should be more receptive to what he has to say shouldn't I?" Her minty irises seemed alive with expressive thoughts that even the demon had difficulty naming precisely. "It does not mean that I trust either of you mind you, or that I like being here, however I have made a decision already. I apologize…but not to you." Her eyes sharpened once more, eyeing him with disdain. "Just to the child…" For a moment she seemed lost thought. The demon butler tilted his head at her.
An immortal plagued with human emotions, human aches…even perhaps a certain touch of tenderness, what a stressful way to spend eternity. She was just a girl, freshly ripened into a woman -though just barely it seemed- and already so tired and knowing. How much longer till she lost heart completely? According to what he had learned and observed half-breeds did not often live long enough to find out. What would such a state look like? What an engaging puzzlement she could turn out to be for his stimuli starved mind. Her darling ears drew back and her eyes narrowed when she caught his unnerving scrutiny. Uncomfortable? How droll.
"What?" She demanded. 'Get me away from this man!' The girl pleaded to nobody in particular. At this point she was not choosey. She hugged herself.
"You're feline traits really are quite charming." He smiled happily, stepping forward to touch the fluffy appendages on her head, only to have her reel away.
"MISTER MICHAELIS! ENOUGH OF THAT! IT IS COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL AND I WILL HAVE NONE OF IT!" She screeched, stomping her foot. He blinked with a very entertained expression. Never had he seen such a passionate female expression of wrath directed at him. It was quite interesting. Her vibrant green orbs filled with righteous venom for him. It was all actually quite amusing. Serenely, he folded his arms and smiled with eyes now closed smugly. She stared at him. What on earth was going through this man's head? She folded her arms feeling quite vulnerable.
"My, what a temper." He commented smoothly. The remark made her want to strangle him. Did he not take anything she said seriously? Her fingers itched to claw that smug expression off of his pretty face. Instead she willed her nerves into her normal calm, telling herself over and over that there was nothing to be angry about. She always was a bit high strung.
"Is there anything else you need?" She managed to ask the question calmly, looking at the wall…if she looked at him there was a good chance that she might attack him, which likely would not end well for her.
"I simply wanted to ask to you be mindful not to shed too much, maintenance is hard enough as it is and the young master's allergies will suffer." he smiled. That was not what he wanted to say at all, but winding her up felt like so much more fun. By the way her eyes lit up he knew he was doing a very fine job of it.
"I will be careful, Mister Michaels." she said neutrally but with a look in her eyes that said 'Back to Hades you vile hell-spawn' –insert proverbial flames flying from her eyes-.
"See that you are." he nodded. "Now then you may go, I am busy and you are right it is a bit distracting to have somebody hovering about while one cooks." Ivy was absolutely mortified by this declaration.
"Indeed...well since there is nothing else to say then I will be taking my leave." She hopped down to her feet curtly.
"Have a splendid day." Now he sounded like a harmless mother hen type…how disturbing. Her upper lip curled and she shuddered. She bit her tongue trying not to respond to the insincere call, slender fingers digging into her arms. It was then that it sank in. He would be keeping an eye on her? For how long? Oh this was dreadful. She could not handle him. Not alone like this. She might try to kill him, and that would not work out very well for her. He was baiting her, trying to make her angry she could see it. For what? She had no idea. Still she was a smart girl and she would not let him do it. Damn butler. She exited the vicinity self righteously, missing the grinning gaze that watched from behind raven bangs
Then she realized that after all of that...she hadn't even eaten something. She groaned, there was no way she was going back in there.
Author's Note: Alright so the ear explanation was pretty lame but I promise I could not come up with something better –sad I know-. However we have all seen the exaggerated slowness that the servants have been made to display both in the anime and in the manga so I figured them falling for it would not be that far-fetched. Considering Finnian's super strength and the way they just shrug off Pluto's 'demon dog' status. Also the way Sebby took him down with so little effort. Man they're slow. Anyway this took way longer than expected. Sorry for the delay, I'm trying to get this over-with quickly so that I can get back to regular updates. Ugh. So yeah um…hope it was good and uh…Ciao!