The Birthday
Had this idea when writing Successional. Just a little thing that amused me and I thought I'd share it. If people enjoy this then maybe I'll continue it. There is no set plot so I may hop back and forth in the timeline as inspiration hits.
~~~SSS~~~
In the kitchen of the Schnee manor, a group of maids and butlers we're huddled up in the kitchen. It was a place where their employers and their children would never check. Tonight was the night the middle child of Jaques and Willow Schnee turned ten. To say the night went as expected would be an absurd lie.
"Did you hear what Master Jaques said!?"
"Hard not to, I was serving him and lady Willow their champagne. I was stood next to the two when the shouting began. Haaaaa~ I never felt so awkward in all'a my life."
"To say such things, in front of his children no less… I guess what they say about money and manners was right."
"Has anyone checked on the young miss?"
"Do you think we should? I don't want to get in their sight at a time like this. It's unfortunate that Mr. Klein is busy with Lady Willow right now."
The five of them looked anxiously at each other as they thought about their opinions. They were the help, the faceless and unmemorable servants that made sure the home ran smoothly and remained clean no matter what mess occurred.
But they were also people, family members, uncles and aunts, even parents themselves. They were acutely aware of just how messed up tonight was. Jaques Shnee had told his wife that he'd never loved her, that he'd just married her for her father's company. That was a rather horrible thing to say in private, but he'd made his declaration in front of the rest of his family. Little Weiss looked heartbroken when she heard her father's words. And the hearts of the servants broke s little bit for her.
"I swear, if I could get away with it…"
"Aiden, what have we said about arson?"
"That I can't do it while on the clock or on Schnee grounds…"
A petite maid by the name of Teagan Gliri looked on between the other four as she mustered her courage. She knew in her heart that the young child didn't deserve to have a night like this.
"What if we-" The shy girl 'eeped' at the sudden gazes of her coworkers. She wanted to crawl under something and hide, but she knew she couldn't back down, not now! "What if we get little Weiss a little something? She holed up in her room right now, all alone."
A tall, bespectacled man who was as tall as he was lanky put in his two lien next. "What could we even get her? I know the wages are nice, but it's near eleven, nobody will be open now. If only this whole thing happened an hour or two ago."
"Now Horace, there's no need to worry about that at a time like this. There must be something we can do, surely."
The group looked around each other, the sudden realization the kitchen was their chosen location kicked in at once.
"Yes! That could do."
"Would a snack or coco be best, what do you think, Aiden?"
"She's been through a lot, Fiphi, why not both?"
"Yes, yes, grand idea!"
"I'll snag the ingredients! My nieces love when I make coco a certain way."
The group began to furiously put together a late night snack fit for the gods. This being the home of the Schnees, gods were close enough. While they might have their slight issues with the adults in the manor, the staff all adored the children, and would do whatever was necessary to make them happy.
~~~SSS~~~
Jonny Redd was looking up and down the hall as he stood outside the young ladies bedroom. If he was caught by anyone who wasn't in on their little plan, then he would likely be canned on the spot. In his hand was a plate of assorted cookies and a large mug of hot chocolate. There was whipped cream in a small crystal bowl and another filled with marshmallows.
After loosening his necktie, he knocked lightly on the large white door.
"..." No response from inside. Lovely. He turned his head to see a tower of faces arranged vertically around the corner. It would be amusing if he weren't risking his employment.
The mousy Teagan girl mimed for him to try again. This whole operation was her idea, why was he doing this? It should be one of the others up here. He had seniority darn it!
He knocked again, a little louder this time. "Lady Weiss? Are you awake?" If not, then the whole thing was a bust anyways. But at least they'd tried.
There was some shuffling from behind the door. As the sound got closer, he thought he heard some sniffles as well. The door cracked open revealing the small form of the youngest daughter.
Her eyes were tinged with red and he could easily spot her runny nose. She hadn't even bothered to change out of her dinner clothes. The poor girl was a wreck, understandably so. Her poor excuse for a father ruined her first double digit birthday.
"Um… Yes?" Poor innocent little child, she truly deserves some happiness tonight.
"A few of us thought that you might need some snacks. Here is some cocoa and cookies, baked fresh just minutes ago." Jonny lowered himself to one knee so the girl could see the treats better. Her blue eyes widened at the sight of the decadent sweets.
"Really?"
"Of course darl, this 'eres jus a lil s'mthing we in the kitchen out t'gether." Jonny snapped his hand up to his mouth to stop himself from speaking any more. He'd let his accent slip out, and pretty heavily at that. "A thousand pardons young lady for my speech, it sometimes skips out when I get tired."
The girl giggled at his words, leaving him a bit confused. "It's funny!" She… Thought his family's accent was funny? Maybe at one point he'd be mildly offended, but right here and right now? It was something he could use.
Letting his throat and other speech muscles relax, he shoved aside his "proper speech" ingrained into him by his old teacher. Tonight it was funny!
"Welllll now, if'n ya want, maybe ah can ignore "protocol" fer jus' a lil bit. Whaddya think?" He got the desired reaction in the form of a fit of giggles. Looking back at the other four heads, Teagan was smiling massively, Horace had a thumbs up, Fiphi looked on kindly at his work, and Aiden was trying to hold in his laughter.
He'd get them back later.
"An a gotcha one last little snack to keep ya all stuffed tonight." He pulled out a bright red apple and a small knife from his inner jacket pocket. He quickly began peeling and cutting the fruit up. And within a half minute, he held out the long strip, revealing the art. "Now I ain't grand at cookin, but I know apples a fair bit. So whaddya think? Ain't this a purdy thang?"
Held out before the young girl was ribbon of apple cut up to resemble snowflakes. From her awed expression, it seemed his old party truck had played off. Though making snowflakes was a new challenge, one he honestly enjoyed.
"It's so pretty, is it alright to eat?"
"'course it is! It'd be a right shame for it to not get eaten up. An I'd be right pleased if'n ya enjoyed it a'swell as all'a'tha others." She gently took the fruit treat and placed it on the tray, next to the cookies.
"Uh, mister, mom says I shouldn't have snacks after dinner." He chuckled at how adorable she was acting. She definitely wanted them, but years of training made her wary.
"S'slright, I'm sure you can break a few o dem rules tonight, it's your big tenth 'fter all."
"Really?"
"But of course! Now, me n the rest of the folks who helped out in all this wanna be sure that you know, if ya ever do need anythin, you jus gotsta give one o us a holler." He jerked his thumb to the other four, causing them to awkwardly wave at the young lady when she saw them. Weiss, bless her soul, waved back without even thinking.
"Really? Anything?"
"Of course, Miss Weiss."
He was surprised when the small girl lunged at him and wrapped her tiny arms around his neck. He could feel a bit of moisture seeping into his pressed shirt, but he hardly cared in this instance. He gently patted the girls back so she'd hopefully calm back down.
"If I ask for another snow apple, would you make it?"
"Whenever you want, little lady." She got off of him and gave an adorable little bow to him of all folks. He picked up the tray, walked in and placed it on her bedside table for her to enjoy before he walked back into the hallway.
Once he was outside, he saw the others there as well, together they turned to her and bowed deeply. They all spoke as one to the small girl halfway in her doorway. "Happy birthday, little Weiss."
They hoped they were able to salvage a little bit of joy on this night. And with the big smile on her face, they knew they'd succeeded. Watching the door close, the five servants made their way back to their respective posts. Each of them had a smile on their face as they cleaned up the remains of the part with the rest of the staff. A few gave them curious looks since they had been gone for a while, not to mention the smiles.
Eventually the rest would learn about what happened. How they had helped the middle child retain a bit of joy on what was supposed to be a special night. Something like this was a part of their job as serving tea or dusting windows. To make sure the family felt at home in the large manor was just as important. They would do their best for the people they cared for.
Even if they were never seen.
~~~SSS~~~
Hoped you liked that! If anyone can guess who every character is a reference to (Classic RWBY rules in play, all fairy tales/ folk legenda), then I'll let ya have a small cameo in a future chapter. If this fic is liked that is.