A/N: I'm ditching work today to go to Comic Con, hence the Friday morning update
Disclaimer: I only own Faye.
Gun Shop in London
"What do you think, Milady?" Mey-Rin asked, eyeing the sales clerk suspiciously from the back of the room. He gave them an oily grin.
"I'm afraid my expertise lies in knives and staffs when it comes to weapons," Faye said. "I don't know anything about guns."
"Oh, no I meant—" Mey-Rin gave Faye a nervous and apologetic smile, scratching the back of her head. "I meant what do you think of that clerk? Guns I know inside and out, but you're a better judge of people."
Faye blinked. The servants really were more perceptive than Sebastian gave them credit for. Faye's uncanny ability to judge others had everything to do with her powers, but Mey-Rin knew nothing about that. All she saw was Faye making quick judgments about others and acting accordingly. Faye turned and narrowed her eyes at the man, focusing on his soul. It was a stained and greedy soul. He would say anything to make a profit.
Faye turned back to Mey-Rin and shook her head. "We can't trust a word he says. We'll have to demand that he allow you to try out this new model he's toting as an improvement. Will it be bad if we're unable to get you new revolvers today?"
Mey-Rin pouted. "Lord Grey destroyed my pistols the last time he came to the Manor. Don't know how his sword sliced right through them, but they were my best pair. If only Mr. Dreyer wasn't on vacation for the next month. I know I can trust his quality." Mey-Rin shook herself out of her reverie to answer Faye's question. "I have plenty of rifles and a few pistols, but none of those pistols are as good as the ones I lost."
"Mmm," Faye mused. She enjoyed going out with Mey-Rin on trips like this, but some tasks were simply more suited for Sebastian. "We'll try out this man's wares, and if they're not up to your standards, we'll send Sebastian to find some for you. I'm sure he wouldn't disappoint us."
"Oh, I don't doubt that, my Lady," Mey-Rin breathed, a starry look entering her eyes. "Mr. Sebastian always does everything perfect. He never makes mistakes."
"Er, right," Faye said, wondering how much of Mey-Rin's reaction was hero worship and how much of it was romantic affection. Faye led Mey-Rin up to the front counter. "Give us some ammo and a target and we'll decide for ourselves how 'excellent' this new model of yours truly is," Faye ordered imperiously.
The man looked between the two women in surprise. "You want to try it out here?"
"Is that not what I just said?" Faye asked. "You wasted enough of our time trying to talk us into buying inferior models to suit our gender and then you spent the next fifteen minutes extolling the virtues of your most expensive pistol. Are you afraid it won't live up to your claims?"
The man's eyes darkened for a moment as he grasped for words. Finally, he smiled and simpering said, "I'm just not sure about your abilities in relation to the gun in question. Weapons are not toys, Countess. They must be treated with the proper care and respect."
Faye tilted her head to the side. "Are you looking to sell guns to us, or not? The choice is entirely up to you, but I would appreciate it if you would decide so you may stop wasting our time."
He ground his teeth together and tried to stare down Faye. Finally, he pasted on a bright smile. "Of course, Countess. Let me gather same ammo for you." He puttered around the shop as he set up a target before gathering a few bullets and starting to load the gun.
"Leave that to me," Mey-Rin interrupted, taking the pistol away from him. "It's not a true test if I don't try it out from start to finish." Pushing her glasses on top of her head, Mey-Rin quickly loaded the pistol and shot a round of bullets in a perfect circle into the target. The man gaped at Mey-Rin, stopping in his unwanted attempts at giving advice. The pistol clicked oddly and Mey-Rin tsked and opened up the barrel. "Jammed." With a disgusted look on her face, she handed the gun back to the clerk. "Your model can't keep up with my speed. I'm afraid we'll have to take our business elsewhere."
Faye smiled at the dumbfounded look on the clerk's face as she and Mey-Rin swept out of the shop.
"It's back to the manor now, I suppose," Faye said with a sigh. She felt bad they were couldn't find good pistols for Mey-Rin and cursed Lord Grey for ruining Mey-Rin's best set. It had been nothing but needless posturing on the part of Lord Grey.
"Look at all that fuss he's creating," Mey-Rin said with a click of her tongue, watching the Phantomhive carriage. Pedestrians approached the carriage normally before stopping, giving a double take, and quickly crossing to the other side of the street. Faye couldn't blame them. Snake standing next to the carriage doors with Woodsworth wrapped around his neck was quite a sight to see. She wondered how long it would take for London's gossip network to spread the word that Phantomhive servants moved about with snakes for ornamentation. Such gossip would undoubtedly aid their frightful reputation within criminal circles.
Snake held his hand out to help Faye up and she used all her willpower to not edge away from Woodsworth. She was trying to get used to his snakes, and hoped to be able to handle them herself within six months. Since they were now to be a permanent feature of the manor, being comfortable around the creatures was the best plan. When Snake helped Mey-Rin up, she took his hand, but edged her face as far away from Woodsworth as humanly possible, almost toppling over in her effort to not be near him.
Phantomhive Manor
"Welcome back, my Lady!" Finny called from the veranda when they arrived home, waving his hand high. "The master would like to see you in his study. He said to come get you as soon as you returned."
"Thank you, Finny," Faye said with an absent-minded smile. Her thoughts had already jumped to the most likely reason why Ciel would want Faye to see him immediately upon her return. A new assignment from the Queen.
When Faye opened the door to Ciel's study, Ciel was seated at his desk with Sebastian standing behind and to the side of him. Faye wondered if Sebastian ever got bored standing there for hours, waiting for any request Ciel might have, or if he simply considered it another part of acting as the perfect Phantomhive butler. "You wished to see me?" Faye said, stopping a few feet away from the desk.
"Yes," Ciel said with a sigh, holding up a letter. "We have a new assignment from the Queen. Or, more like I have a new assignment from Her Majesty."
"You?" Faye asked, raising her eyebrows. "Is there some reason I am excluded from this assignment?"
"The son of Duke Clemens, Queen Victoria's cousin, is a student at Weston College. For years he sent frequent letters to his family and always returned home for the holidays. More recently, all his letters have ceased and his has refused to have any contact with his family. Four other students have followed this same pattern. Her Majesty would like me to investigate what has happened to drastically change the behavior of those students."
"I see," Faye said, moving to sit on a nearby chair. "You plan to infiltrate the college and there is no place for any women on campus. What about Sebastian? You won't be able to bring along any servants."
"I'm sure I'll think of some way to aid the young Master," Sebastian said with a smile. "We don't plan for him to carry out this assignment on his own by any means. That thought aside, was your shopping trip to London successful?"
"No. Mr. Dreyer, Mey-Rin's usual supplier, is out of the country for a month on holiday and we were unable to find a suitable replacement. Sebastian, would you find two exceptional pairs of pistols for Mey-Rin before you and Ciel leave? If you're going to be away for a while, it's especially important that the rest of the servants are well-equipped to defend the manor."
"Yes, my Lady," Sebastian said with a bow. "I shall go immediately."
The next day, Faye sat in Ciel's study with Tanaka, Faye paying strict attention as Tanaka went over the basics of the Funtom business with her. She'd had little opportunity to be involved with the company, but with Ciel and Sebastian away, now was an excellent time for her to begin learning. Besides, she had to do something to occupy the time while they were gone. She hoped it wouldn't be for long.
"But why are we expanding this line in India?" Faye asked Tanaka, pointing to a graph in front of her.
"You see, my Lady, that's because our market research tells us—"
"My Lady!" Finnian cried, interrupting as he threw open the study door. He panted heavily with a wild look in his eye. "You have an unexpected guest." He paused to take a breath. "Marquess Midford."
Faye paled. Why would Aunt Francis show up unexpectedly? "I guess, we'll have to continue this discussion later," Faye said, standing up and smoothing her dress down nervously.
"Of course, my Lady," Tanaka agreed, gathering up his various papers.
Faye gave Finny a reassuring smile as she passed him, but inside she felt the same anxiety. Visits from the Marchioness rarely turned out well. Or, at least, rarely turned out without heaps of criticism thrown upon Ciel and Faye.
"Aunt Francis," Faye said with as much politeness as she could muster when she reached the foyer, "what brings you here today?"
"I heard from Edward that Ciel is attending Weston College," Aunt Francis said with a severe look. "I assume he's there on official business, but that's not why I came." She paused to study Faye as Faye came down the stairs. "I felt with your younger brother gone, now would be an excellent time to broach a topic I hope you have been giving some thought to."
"And what topic would that be?" Faye asked, raising her eyebrows. Why did every conversation with Aunt Francis have to feel like a battle? Madam Red had been so much easier going, though her exuberance brought along a different kind of exhaustion in dealing with her.
"Marriage."
Faye almost choked as her eyes went wide in surprise, though she quickly regained a neutral look. She couldn't explain to Aunt Francis that such a thing would never happen for Faye. Not so long as Faye wished to keep Ciel alive, anyway.
"Marriage?" Faye said lightly. "Don't you think that I might still be a little young for that?"
"Not so young that you shouldn't be thinking about it," Francis said with narrowed eyes. "You should be planning for the future, Faye. I know you and Ciel were separated for a number of years and wish to make up for that time, but that separation was partially your own fault." Faye clenched her fists in anger, but made no other outward signs of the rage that statement caused. Aunt Francis believed Faye had run away after the Phantomhive Manor burned down, not bothering to contact anyone and leaving everything behind. Francis had no clue what had actually happened.
"You are of marriageable age. You should be considering your prospects and molding yourself into a proper wife for someone of your status." Francis sighed as she propped an elbow on one arm and cupped her chin. "I know you haven't had much direction in that regard for several years, but I suppose we can begin now, starting with how Phantomhive Manor and its servants are run. Are there any young men that have caught your attention, Faye?"
Faye opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She closed it and tried again. "No, there aren't. And what is wrong with the way Phantomhive Manor is run? It is not your house and, therefore, not your business."
Aunt Francis' eyes hardened. "It is if my very own niece and nephew are incapable of properly running their own home. You should be giving the servants daily orders each morning to suit the present needs of the Phantomhive household. What meals to make for the day. What preparations to make for guests. What needs to be done in the garden. Are you doing these things?"
"That's what we have Sebastian for. What's the point in having a head butler who is incapable of anticipating the needs of his masters? Sebastian could hardly call himself a Phantomhive butler if he couldn't even do that."
Francis pursed her lips. "And what do you plan to do when you are married and no longer have Sebastian? Not all butlers are so insightful."
"As I have no current plans to be married, it will not be an issue within the foreseeable future. As the Head of the Phantomhive Household, shouldn't my marriageability be Ciel's concern rather than yours?" Faye would never be able to explain to the Midfords why she couldn't marry. Not even Ciel knew about her agreement with Sebastian, though perhaps she would tell him eventually.
"I'm afraid your brother does not have your best interests at heart. He does an excellent job as Earl and as the Queen's Watchdog, but when it comes to you, he is your little brother first, and the head of your household second. I'm well aware that Ciel is in no hurry to have his sister leave his side."
Both women crossed their arms over their chests and glared at one another, neither willing to give an inch.
"Well," Francis finally said, "perhaps your brother's new assignment from the Queen is kismet. Edward knows many suitable young gentlemen at Weston College." Aunt Francis tilted her head as she considered Faye. "On June fourth, Weston College has its annual cricket tournament. On that day, families of the students are allowed to attend. You will join my family and me at the party the night before and on the day of the tournament. Since no men at the very few balls you attend have caught your fancy, perhaps Weston College will prove a better place."
Faye dug her fingernails into her arms, mentally tossing out every argument that entered her head. Aunt Francis was immovable. Faye was sure she would be at that tournament if Aunt Francis had to drag Faye there kicking and screaming. Sebastian was going to love this.