Making his list and checking it seven times twice

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

Pryce has systematically been conducting inventory of the linens, china, crystal and silver since he was promoted from First Footman to Butler. He began with the linens, white damask, crisply starched, followed by the china (12 patterns), moved on to the crystal (Waterford, naturally) and today at last finally sits down with the silver. The strains of Mozart's Symphony #40 drift through the air thanks to the record player perched atop the upper cabinets. He's made the count, separated serving and eating utensils, lined them up by length (longest first) on the old farmer's table in the kitchens, has a goodly supply of silver polish and soft clean rags at hand and finally has donned white cotton gloves to begin his work in earnest.

No fires to put out. No last-minute surprises. No one to bother him, just the butler and his routines.

[Tag for Gideon, please?]

Comments

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. She knows that expression, that layout, that general sense in the air. Karin had left the Clubs incredibly well-trained, both in the expectation of a warmly affectionate butler and in the fact that certain times seemed to be some sort of sacred.

Not the best time to come check on Gideon after hearing about the promotion. Also not a time to actually be able to back out of the room--she's already interrupted.

What to do.

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's Butler radar, maybe hidden sensors. Maybe Pryce has a sixth sense. But even with his back to the doorway, he senses a presence not normally found in his habitat. He sets down cloth and serving spoon. He'll need to start over now. That thought almost makes him happy. Seeing Eileen when he turns around and bows definitely does.

"Tea, Miss Eileen?"

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

"...if it's not too much of an interruption, Mr Gideon." Which, well, it won't be, because he's likely made all sorts of little contingency plans for the horribly emergent situation of one of his Faces suddenly needing to be fed and cared for.

It's a genuine comfort.

As is sliding up to the side of the table, hands politely held at bay, and asking an entirely habitual question. "I don't suppose I could help?"

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

She's the Ace. Her hands shouldn't be sullied. But she's also a child who seldom gets to be a child, and that includes chores. "Tea first, Miss," he decides, already bustling with kettle and pot and rich, fragrant tea leaves. He's put aside her favorite cookies, baked fresh today, and plates two of them.

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

She could do with chores. And, in two years, when she's a Two again for the first time in 9 years, she'll do well to understand properly the way the Castle is run.

Until then, she'll just flash quite a bright little smile and bob her head appreciatively. 'Tea first' is a perfectly acceptable compromise.

"Congratulations, by the way."

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

That earns a genuine smile, something the Little Miss is often wont to do. "Thank you, Miss. Please don't worry about any change in the routines Miss Karin had in place." The switch will go seamlessly or there'll be heads to roll. He smiles at the Ace as he places the tray in front of her and pours her first perfect cup of tea.

"There's milk if you'd enjoy it with the refreshments." Not milk and cookies. Those are for children. But milk as accompaniment that enhances flavor.

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

"I'm certain we'll barely feel a ripple, Mr Gideon." The Clubs were a suit of good faith, after all; and there was no reason to have anything but the highest faith in Pryce taking over what Karin had laid in place.

The question, of course, as ever, was whether it would mean an interruption in other things. There were fewer art classes now that Elisha was King, slowly fewer music lessons since Elani became Jack.

Possibly less time talking about the mollusks classed Octopoda now that Pryce was the Head Butler. "That's all right. I'm certain it'll be perfect just like this. Are you settling in well, then?"

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

This is clearly a bad time to come stumbling up through the trapdoor under the table, isn't it? The bumping of the trapdoor against Gideon's feet will draw an exclamation from Leigh, and a small retreat as she tries to figure out where else she can go from Club Castle's secret passages.

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

He doesn't drop the soup ladle he's polishing. Oh, no. He sets it aside (marking the need to start again from the beginning). His shoes, however. His shoes. Scuffed. Horribly, terribly scuffed.

Pryce has the reflexes of a snake. The stool goes rolling back and he's under table, trap door flung up and hands reaching in no time flat. He'd expected to catch a different sort of rat, the sort of rat that's a castle Two attempting to sneak in late when he's tardy for his shift. Not a sparkly rat. Not a sparkly rat who's the Young Miss's friend.

"Enjoying your visit, Miss? I believe Miss Eileen is with His Majesty at the moment if you would care to wait."

His tone clearly implies wait here properly and in the open and not like a scuttling rodent in its hole.

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

Oops. She nods quickly and climbs out, shaking his hands off. Dusting herself off once she's out and setting her hands behind her back is clearly only proper. "'Kay. S-sorry, sir."

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

"Pryce, Miss. Just Pryce." He'd been told his 6'2" frame caused Miss Eileen's friend an unusual amount of unease, so he sits to put them more on a level. Guests, even those prowling around the bowels of the castle, should be put at their ease. "You're welcome to wait here until Miss Eileen's business is completed."

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

Much better, now that he isn't so tall to her eyes. She's been having a better time coping since the growth spurt, but the height difference can still make her quake at the wrong moment. "Um... d'you know how long she'll take?"

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

He pulls a pocket watch out and peers at it. "I estimate another half hour at least. You may help yourself to tea if you like."

She is a Two even if she's Miss Eileen's friend. No need to stand on ceremony here.

[civilizedpoison.livejournal.com]

Butlers and their routines were a fixture at all of the Castles, Briony thought as she paused in the doorway of the kitchen. They were different routines, of course, though Isaac had liked polishing just as well. Sean preferred baking. And Chives...

Well, she didn't know him well enough.

"I hope I'm not interrupting, Gideon," she said. "Giving everything a onceover?" Well, more than that, obviously. But it wasn't for her to say.

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

"Impossible, Miss." He sets the polishing aside in order to rise and bow. "It seemed prudent. Miss Karin ran a taut ship. So must I if I'm to emulate her."

[civilizedpoison.livejournal.com]

Her smile flickers a little, and she inclines her head. "I'm sure you'll uphold her standards. Do you have any jasmine today?"

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

"But of course, Miss Nine. Where would you like your service?"

[civilizedpoison.livejournal.com]

"Would the kitchen be too much trouble?" He is working hard there, after all. "If it is, the library's perfect." Chives doesn't let her take tea in the kitchen unless she forces his hand.

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

But he is not a Chives, could never hope to reach that level of perfection. And she is not a Spade. So he only bemoans the unseemliness of the locale and nods. Clubs are not nearly so formal as the sharp Suits, and he is above all a Club butler.

"As my lady wishes." She may take her tea here, but only if he's allowed to hold out a chair for her, serve her as is proper and then hover in the background alert to her every beck and call.

[keeping-faces.livejournal.com]

The Queen of Clubs had not yet congratulated Gideon on filling in as Club Butler. When she finds him, she is immediately pleased by his efforts, "You are certainly worthy of your new position, Pryce. You know I would not say that to just anyone, don't you?"

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

He rises to bow, swift and seamless. "Her Majesty is too kind."

He's done something wrong if the Queen is here in his domain. Perhaps something wrong with the morning's tea. He'd prepared it himself but foolishly allowed Manfred to deliver it. His hands move without thought, flipping on the kettle, warming the pot, setting up tray.

"How may I be of service?"

[keeping-faces.livejournal.com]

He is reading into this too deeply. Carmella did the same in her earlier years of serving as a member of Club Castle's staff.

"At ease, Pryce. I am merely here to send you my personal congratulations. I realise my presence here is a bit unorthodox but old habits die hard. I have to slowly distance myself from the servant's quarters."

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

"I'm certain Her Majesty will find herself welcome anywhere in Club Castle as she certainly is here." Though it would be more seemly if she was Upstairs instead of Down.

"And she is far too kind. My only hope is to continue on with the excellent level of service provided by my predecessor. Might I interest you in tea, Milady?"

[keeping-faces.livejournal.com]

"Why thank you Pryce but I understand that the castle staff need a place to themselves so I won't make a habit of visiting." She knew what Gideon was getting at, in his own indirect way.

"No, thank you. You may however, bring tea up to my office in, say, half an hour?"

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

Her acquiescence to the Rules earns her a small, barely visible flash of smile. "Of course, Your Majesty. It will be my pleasure."