Chapter 8: Employment Within the Phantomhive Estate-- Part 1
Eden smiled as she awoke the next morning in a bed beside Snake and his friends scattered all around the room. Her human was back where he belonged and he was safe and sound asleep. She watched as the slowly rising sun made his scales softly glisten. He was so cute when he was asleep and free of the usual anxiety that came with being around normal humans who judged those who were different. It was of no consequence to her-- she enjoyed being around him and ignored those looks he received. Of course, she got them too but she was also the last of the earth children. She was no longer considered human, given her life span and abilities. It was only natural to get strange looks from normal people.
Her green eyes narrowed at the door a second before a knock interrupted the morning silence. The door opened to reveal Black who seemed to be ignoring the hissing snakes at his feet. "Time to get up. Snake begins his job as the Phantomhive footman. Make sure he is suitably dressed with none of his...friends and prepared to begin his training. We will start after he is introduced to the other employees. Also, take this day to acquaint yourself with the manor. Tomorrow, the young master will assign you a suitable position. After all, no one in this household eats for free. All must earn their keep." He gave a smile that chilled her blood before he headed off to do whatever demon butlers did.
She sighed before running a hand through Snake's white locks, whispering, "Snake... time to wake up. Black is insistent on you learning how to be a footman... though why anyone would be a man of feet, I do not understand..." Yellow orbs opened slowly and he gave a sleepy smile at her. Yes, this was her favorite time of day-- when they were alone and could simply be without the social niceties that made her yearn for her solitary life back in her forest. Well, perhaps solitary wouldn't be the appropriate word. She could never live without her human now that they were together.
His eyes widened and that adorable pink flush coated his cheeks when he took in her bare breasts that, just last night, he had cleaned of dried blood. She had relinquished control of the plant life that she used as clothing to conserve energy as she finished healing her injuries. He, in his surprised embarrassment, moved away so quickly that he ended up falling off the bed with a manly yelp.
Eden couldn't help but chuckle as she peeked over the edge of the mattress. He had small tears of pain in his eyes as he rubbed his head. "...are you alright, Snake?" His eyes met hers and he was up in a flash, moving quickly to get on the stuffy clothes that was similar to Black's butler wear.
"I am fine, says Emily... If I work for Smile, hopefully we can find the other members of the first string. We can have our family back, says Oscar..." He struggled with the odd tie around his neck, clearly not used to such precise clothes. His own circus attire was designed to show off his body and took a bit to get on but proper clothing had to be worn appropriately in order to not appear sloppy-- in society, a poorly-dressed servant, especially a butler and a footman, reflected badly on the aristocrat they served.
Eden smiled, lightly shaking her head as she grew her leaves into a short dress that could have been mistaken for a child's sleeping gown. Her shapely legs slipped over the edge of the bed and she gingerly stood up. A week of not moving very much made her feel a little weak but a bit of time outside would help her re-energize. She approached him and gently took the tie from his hands to help him out. "I missed you...and Emily, Wilde, Victor, and all the others... but we must talk after you finish your training. I need to talk to you about the first stringers I followed here..." She finished the tie and ran a hand down his torso before hugging him. "Not everything is as we thought..."
She personally did not need anyone other than Snake but could not help but admire his loyalty to their circus family. His hands went to her waist to return the hug, the heat she felt above her head let her know he was blushing as he was prone to do when she showed her affection. Pulling away, she relayed Black's request about leaving the other snakes behind. "But it would be in the other servant's best interests to be acquainted with Emily, Victor, Wilde, and the others... if for nothing else so they will not be mistaken for intruders outside this room." Oscar popped up between her breasts and hissed softly to add his input. Snake flushed and nodded at the small snake's comment.
The small leaf-dress grew, petals of blue weaving through the leaves until she had a rather elegant dress that resembled some of those she saw on the women who attended the shows. Vines rose to arrange her hair into a curly up-do that was held with bluebell flowers. "Is this better, Oscar?" she asked softly, receiving a flicker of the snake's tongue along her lips. "I am glad you approve." As many snakes as possible snuck into the pairs' clothes though Oscar refused to relinquish his place. Once her hand was in the crook of his arm, Snake lead her out of their room and towards the scent of food, assuming that was the way to the kitchen.
Xx.xX
Snake introduced himself and Eden, not straying too far from the doorway due to his shyness. It was apparently not proper and Black got on Snake's case for not speaking loud enough or with the pride that 'befit a Phantomhive servant', whatever that meant. But it seemed to strike a cord in Snake who's cowlick rose as straight as a pine needle. He apologized then began to introduce the many snakes that poked out of the circus performers clothes and the ones that slithered into the room from the hallway.
Black glared at them and hissed at Eden. "I told you to leave the snakes in your room."
She raised an eyebrow with a smirk and shook her head. "That would not have been wise. No one can survive on air. If everyone is not allowed out of that room, they would starve. If they left the room in that state, they could hunt for anything in their paths. Even if they managed to stay fed, if one of the others came across them and they were not introduced, our friends would attack, determining them to be enemies. Only you and Smile would have been safe and that means that you would be short a few staff members." She turned her eyes towards a very small man and tilted her head. "Hmm... that man there may have survived... but the others have a sense of danger to them. And Oscar here only knows that I was shot here so he still may have attacked the old man." She chuckled softly and nuzzled Oscar's head against her cheek. "As the saying goes, better safe than sorry."