Monday can certainly forgive the girl for mistaking Arthur Penhaligon for a Piper's Child. He is the correct age, after all. But after a second glance, the differences become plain. All the Piper's Children that Monday has seen wear a patchwork assortment of clothes; they have a generally scruffy appearance about them.
Arthur Penhaligon is clad in clothes that rival Monday's own in their finery. The work of Sunday, he assumes. There is a smudge of dirt below his right ear, but otherwise he seems clean. He's gazing at Monday with unashamed curiosity (also in keeping with the generally fearless attitude of Piper's Children) although he seems to be biting his lip subconsciously.
"Ah, yes. Arthur, this is Monday. Monday, this is Arthur."
"It's nice to meet you," Arthur says, holding out a hand.
At least, Monday thinks, he did not spit in it beforehand. Piper's Children have the unfortunate habit of doing so.
"Likewise," he says, taking the boy's hand in his own. Arthur must be average size, but he seems small next to Monday. He is dwarfed by Sunday, of course. They make a strange pair.
"... Please, sit down," Monday adds, gesturing to the two chairs set before his desk.
Arthur sits; Sunday follows suit a moment later. Monday retreats to his own seat.
Sunday is looking at him expectantly, as if the mere act of introducing Monday to the mortal will have swayed Monday into giving over the First Key.
"So you are the Rightful Heir," Monday says, deliberately turning to the boy.
"That's what Phineas tells me," Arthur says.
Monday looks at Sunday, unable to conceal his surprise. "Phineas."
Sunday sniffs. "I thought it prudent to assume a mortal guise while in a mortal realm."
Monday looks back at the Rightful Heir. As far as he is aware, Sunday has avoided all reminders of his mortal life (including his name) since becoming a Trustee. What is it about the boy that causes Sunday to ignore long tradition? And not just the use of Sunday's former mortal name, but this sudden interest in appointing a Rightful Heir and having the other Trustees acknowledge him.
Is this some ploy of Sunday's to gain control over the rest of the House? But it makes no sense; Sunday is already first in precedence. He could wrest control from the other Trustees by virtue of wielding the paramount Key.
"But you are aware of what goes on in the House. Who 'Phineas' really is, and the like?" Monday asks.
"You mean that he's Lord Sunday? And supposedly the most important person in the House."
"There is no 'supposedly'," Sunday puts in, offended. "I am first in precedence."
"Yeah, I wanted to ask about that. What's this precedence thing about?"
"It is the measure of importance and authority within the House. I am first. Monday is eighth."
"That's why you're the tallest Denizen I've seen, right?" Arthur asks. "Cathy was telling me about how a person's height tells you how important they are."
"Another indication of higher precedence is a Denizen's appearance. Those with nicer clothes and more attractive features are high up," Monday adds. He wonders what Sunday has told him of the House; this is fairly basic information, especially important if Sunday intends for Arthur to meet with the other Trustees.
"Wow," Arthur says. "How many Denizens are there in the House, then? Cathy said she was 12,000 and somethingth."
Sunday shrugs. "I do not know. There are several tens of thousands in the Incomparable Gardens."
"There are less than ten billion," Monday says. "I assume this Cathy is a Piper's Child?" At Arthur's surprised nod, he continues, "She must be one of the highest ranked. The Piper's Children are relatively new to the House; they have been here for only two millennia. The tasks of the House were already well established when they arrived, making it difficult for them to find open positions. However, they are versatile and able to handle numerous tasks rather than being limited to one task as the lesser Denizens are."
"Oh," Arthur says. "You know a lot about the House."
"Minor details that are of no real concern to anyone," Sunday puts in, scowling at Monday.
Jealous, Monday thinks with amusement.
"They used to be mortals like me, right?" Arthur asks, calmly ignoring Sunday's words. "But they're different than you, Phineas," he adds, looking at the Trustee.
"The Piper's Children were human. Sunday was not," Monday remarks. "Also, Sunday is the son of the Architect and the Old One. So while he is technically mortal, I would say it is only in the barest sense of the word, whereas there was nothing remarkable about the Piper's Children before the Piper brought them to House."
"So, is the Piper a Trustee too?"
"Certainly not," Sunday huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. "He is far too immature."
Arthur coughs and looks at Monday for an explanation. He seems to be trying not to smile. Monday finds himself smirking back.
"The Piper is the youngest son of the Architect and the Old One; he was a mortal as well. He has little interest in affairs of the House. I do not know much about him; the Piper seldom strayed to the Lower House," he explains.
"He enjoys staying in the Secondary Realms, consorting with mortals," Sunday adds haughtily.
"You visited me on Earth," Arthur says.
"It's different," Sunday insists.
"Ok, Phineas."
Sunday looks temporarily mollified; Monday supposes agreeing to this meeting was worth it just to watch Arthur push Sunday around. The best part is Sunday seems utterly unaware of it.
"Well, I trust you are convinced?" Sunday asks, turning back to Monday. "You can give over the First Key now."
Monday raises his eyebrows in spite of himself. "All we have ascertained is that you have done little to educate Arthur on matters of the House," he says.
"I know about the Keys and the Demesnes and stuff," Arthur protests. "The Architect and Her Will..." He bites his lip. "It's not your fault that She made a mistake when She bound the Old One, so I don't see why everyone should have to die to fix it."
It seems that Sunday has explained the important concepts to Arthur, Monday must concede. "Nevertheless, I do not feel confident in your capabilities," Monday says frankly. "I refuse to hand over my Key, even if you intend to give it back immediately," he adds when Arthur opens his mouth to protest again. "I will consider it if you convince another Trustee to do so."
"You'll do it if we convince another Trustee to do so," Sunday says.
Monday considers this. He is likely the only one willing to even listen to this insane proposal; the other Trustees would dismiss it out of hand.
"I really will give it back. It's not like I'd know what to do with a Key even if I had it," Arthur says. He seems earnest.
Monday frowns. "Very well, I will hand over my Key if you find another Trustee who does the same first. Though I doubt you will find anyone willing to even consider it."
My reasoning for Monday being eighth in precedence: if you'll recall, in Sir Thursday it was stated that Arthur was sixth in precedence when he was drafted. But there was only four Trustees left at that point, which would have made Arthur fifth if we're assuming only the Trustees were above him. So why was he one lower than that? I'm thinking that either the Mariner and the Piper were in there somewhere. They're both around in this fic, hence Monday being eighth rather than seventh.
(Or, y'know, the Architect. but then Sunday wouldn't be first either so let's pretend She doesn't count oops)