Ch.4
The McHouston household
A/N: Sorry for the wait, two weeks of party and bullshit and no sleep caught up with me. Then I lost my Zune ) : (Life:so overrated). Then I got writer's block, then monkeys took over the earth, ; P okay enough with lame excuses! To the story!
Also: I've decided to add a "soundtrack" to my stories in which I suggest a song that I think would go with the story and ask that people leave comments and reviews of what song they think would go with the story! Just something fun to try. For this story the song that comes to mind is "Blunderbuss" by Jack White: preferable the Dye by the Northern Line cover, but if you can't find it I think the original would work fine. (Also, dis just my opinion, Jack White? Sebastian? Similar looking? 0.0)
"Welcome to the McHouston manor!" Mr. McHouston bellowed proudly spreading his arms as if uncovering the huge a estate that stood before them. "Not to bad aye?" he said smiling "and it cost a pretty penny too!"
Mr. McHouston obviously loved showing off his house, and it was a fine house by most standards, a fantastic house actually. But then again, Sebastian Michaelis and Ciel Phantomhive didn't have most standards. This house was nothing compared to the great Phantomhive estate, in fact, it almost amused them to watch a man boast and brag about a building no bigger then their guest house. But then again not everyone can be as filthy rich as a Phantomhive.
"Hope you won't get lost what with all these hallways!" he joked to Sebastian.
"I'm sure I'll be fine." Sebastian said barley able to hold back a smirk as he answered.
Suddenly it hit McHouston that he was bragging and carrying on to a man who has served some of the most powerful people of all of England. Suddenly he felt embarrassed, then a little offended.
"Yes well, I'm sure this isn't anything compared to Buckingham palace and all that, but it is quit big by America's standards." McHouston said defensively.
"Yes yes, it is a glorious house for a man who built himself up in the world." Sebastian answered back politely.
Ciel couldn't help but let out a slight scoff at this, what's so impressive about that, he had managed to build himself up, and with a tragic past behind him and a nearly ruined family name as well. Sebastian glared at Ciel hoping that their new master had not heard the rude reaction. Ciel raised his fan, blocking his face from the demon's cruel gaze.
Lucky most of the house hadn't heard, except for George Jr. and Kathrine. George Jr raised an eyebrow to the young woman. "I'm sorry did you wish to say something?" he asked Alice.
"Oh, it was just a sneeze..." replied Alice meekly
Now it was Kathrine's turn to scoff.
"Oh, do you have a cold!" Veronica asked worried, "do you need a handkerchief?"
She quickly began searching through her hand bag trying to find he handkerchief.
"No, it's fine." Alice replied quickly, trying to stir the attention away form her.
"No, no, it's really no trouble at all!" she replied
"No, their really is no need milady, I'm fine really..."
"Milady? No, no, call me Aunt Veronica!"
"Uh, well, um, Aunt Veronica, really, I'm fine I, It's just a..."
"Here take mine," Robert offered gently handing Alice the handkerchief from his pocket, "It'll take hours for her to sort through that thing, it may be small, but she keeps her whole world in the that handbag!"
She sighed and took the handkerchief politely from Robert.
"Alice, what do we say?" Sebastian said lowly to his daughter.
"Thank you Master McHouston..." Alice replied. Ciel cheeks began to flush, he didn't know why but suddenly the idea of answering to these idiots felt infuriating. He was Ciel Phantomhive for god's sake! He sighed controlling his anger, becoming a demon has made his temper frail, already he could feel his face growing hot and he had to look down, careful that none of the McHoustons could see his flashing eyes.
"Please call me Robert," the young McHouston replied softly, gently pulling her hand up his lips he gave a small kiss and then let her hand drop.
'Oh GOD NO!' thought Ciel his face growing redder, memories of Lord Aleister floating through his mind.
Robert smiled and backed off joining the rest of the McHouston youth which were standing back to accompany the tour.
Katherine felt like she was about to throw up. First of all, that was clearly not a sneeze. Okay, maybe the McHouston name wasn't a big deal in the freaking United Kingdom, but here in America, they were a pretty big deal, and so what if the family doesn't go back for centuries or whatever, you gotta start somewhere right? Just as she had expected, one of those high and mighty wannabe princesses that think that they are just the salt of the earth! Just look at her, acting all sweet and innocent for the family.
And of course they're all under here spell. The last time Veronica had heard Kathrine sneeze she got on to her about covering her mouth! And look at Robert who's suddenly all Prince Charming, and, oh god she isn't! She is, she really is...blushing! Now I've seen it all, look at her, averting her eyes, trying to hide her red face. Spare me! I think I'm going to through up!
Sebastian sensed Ciel agitation, as much as he would have liked to see him suffer, they really did need to get along with the tour. 'After all' he thought, 'We wouldn't want Lord McHouston to get any ideas.' he could barely suppress a smile as he asked politely for Mr. McHouston to continue the tour.
The rest of the tour went smoothly. On the bottom floor was the entrance hall, which was brilliant as far as entrance halls went. A big beautiful ballroom with shiny wood floor. A large gloomy kitchen and of course an ever so spacious dinning hall. Up stairs there was the library, the offices, where the McHouston's did their business, a study room and a very large "vanity room" for Veronica.
On the next floor was where all the bedrooms where. Each one relatively the same, large, with a big beautiful window viewing the city, fine carpets, a wonderful canopy bed with downy mattresses, a coffee table with some chairs, a few dressers and cupboards. Each with a private bathroom finely tiled. Looking at the rooms Ciel could already begin to feel the pang of homesickness for his own room and own downy mattress and canopy bed. But with each room he shook it off. Flapping the lacy fan which seemed to be a good tool for keeping his emotions in check. Sebastian did say that when first becoming a demon one would become very sensitive and needed some way to keep form losing it and tearing someone's head off for looking at them wrong.
"Now usually we keep the servants that live here in a separate house next door, but seeing as you are the butler and will be playing such a demanding role in this house," Mr McHouston explained walking up to the last room at the end of the hallway, it looked to be nothing more then a cleaning closet. "You and your daughter will be staying in the mansion itself! In the extra room." He took out his extra key and handed to Sebastian "Here you are Mr. Michaelis, I hope this will be to you and your daughters liking."
Sebastian unlocked the door and opened it with a creak, it was very dark and dusty, it had one crooked window with ragged curtains drawn, Sebastian stepped forward and opened the curtains letting the light shine through. They could now make out two beds, two dressers, a small private bathroom with the door currently shut, and two night stands each with a new candle waiting to be lit. The beds where plan, White sheets, uncomfortable springs, but seeing that neither of them would sleep it didn't bother them much.
"It's wonderful." Said Sebastian, bowing to McHouston to show his gratification. "Now if you don't mind, me and Alice would like to unpack."
They're suitcases had already been brought by the other servants and set up in the corner of the room.
"Aww yes, you two get started on that and I can introduce you to the staff tomorrow!" McHouston said glancing at his pocket watch, but until then I do have some work to do so I'll be off."
Mr. McHouston gathered up the rest of the family and headed to his office. Leaving the two Englishmen to themselves.
Sebastian shut the door and swiftly lit a candle. Solemnly staring at Ciel he criticized "That scoff back there?"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it."
Sebastian sighed "Young master, I realize that answering to others as your nobles will be hard at first. You think you're better then them, you are a Phantomhive, the Queen's watchdog, and now a demon. But how did you think I feel, a demon, having to answer to a mere mortal..."
Ciel have Sebastian a red glare, "A demon, a devilish creature that feeds on souls in order to survive..."
Sebastian nodded, if there if one thing his bocchan knows it's his place. Or at least his place as a Phantomhive, not his place as a Michaelis. "Okay then," he said, "How about this, anytime you feel angered, that you are a Phantomhive and you don't have to stand for this! Just remember that for now you are not a Phantomhive, you are a Michaelis."
Ciel frowned. A Michaelis, is that what he's reduced to. "I'll keep that in mind." Ciel replied fanning himself.
"Well? Ain't you going to unpack?" asked Ciel
Sebastian gave Ciel a strange look.
"I may be a Michaelis to them, but I will always be a Phantomhive to you." replied Ciel, "Now I order you to unpack for me, while I sit and rest."
0.0
the next day...
"Alright staff look sharp!"
The grungy staff lazily stood up, another day another butler. Charlies was the head of the staff, with often lack of a butler Charlies, who was the head of the kitchen, had to take the place of keeping the staff in check,
"Staff, this is our new butler Mr. Sebastian Michaels, and his daughter, Alice Michaels! You will treat Mr. Michaels with respect and..."
"Please excuse me for interrupting but I believe you've gotten my name wrong, you see my name is Sebastian Michaelis not Michaels."
"Oh, well, please beg my pardon Mr. Michaelis...its just Lady McHouston had always pronounced it..."
"Yes, yes, she is aware of the error now."
"Oh, well, good." He coughed embarrassingly, "I can assure you it won't happen again, Mr. Michaelis."
"Now if you don't mind!" he said going back to his military style of commanding the staff, "I would like to introduce you to the fine McHouston staff."
Like most families like the McHouston they had many servants, much different from the unconventionally small staff of the Phantomhive's. Sebastian had mixed feelings about what he saw. Yes there was many of them but they looked just as lackey and useless as the Phantomhive staff. He wasn't sure if more would be better in this case. Sebastian sighed 'Not that it would be any problem now that I'm here.' he thought to himself.
Half of the staff were immigrants from the north, Ireland mostly. The other half were American born, and a small percent of them were from more exotic countries such as China, they mainly kept to themselves. The main beef was between the Irish and the Americans, at this time immigration was just starting to become an issue. The Irish came for a better life then felt that they were being treated unfairly, the Americans felt that the Irish were taking their jobs and overpopulating their country. Just by looking at them one could see the divide.
Sebastian was aware of this divide, he thought it silly and decided to pay it little mind.
Seeing that their was so many Charlies didn't bother with introducing the whole staff and simply narrowed it down to the heads of each "area".
"This is the head of the downstairs, Mrs. O'Fallen."
"Good ta meet ya sir." the perky old woman said curtsying to the handsome man.
"This here is Jimmy Stacks, head of the courtyard." the stocky intense man tilted his hat to Sebastian.
"Here is the young Mrs. Murphy, she's head of the linen and cloth." a beautiful young blond lady shyly bowed to the new butler.
"And finally Jack Richards, head of transport."
The muscular dark-skinned man shrugged, "I just do heavy lifting and mechanic that's all, I'm not the head of anything."
"Nonsense," Charles bragged for him slapping a hand on his shoulder, "You keep everything moving around here!"
He turned back to the new butler, "And I'm Charles, head of the kitchen usually, but with you here I can go back to my duties as a mere cook."
"Oh, so your not the Chef?" Sebastian asked, raising an eye-brow.
Charles broght his palm to his face, "Oh yes of caurse, how could I forget," he turned and dragged out a shaggy haired man who seemed to be lurking in the corners. "This is Shake, his the head cook, don't mind him, he's little nuts thats all, great cook though, he's French right?"
Charles looked down to see if he was right.
"Italian." the short man crocked out.
"Oh right, right, Italian, yes he's the head chef! They just made me head of staff and kitchen cause I have a good, leadership personality, people listen to my voice, it has order, superiority in it and..."
"It carriers more." the short Italian scoffed as he walked back to his place with his fellow kitchen mates.
"Yes!" said Charles agreeing, "It does carry more. Well now you know the staff, I trust that today will go smoothly?" Charles raised an eye-brow at the new comer.
Sebastian smiled, 'how long has been since they had a decent butler?' he asked himself. "Thank you Charles, I believe I can take it from here.