Well, that girl and Lyssa were going to be taken care of. "What do you even mean by romance? It's nothing to do with romance." Katherine mentioned in response to Lucrecia doing her best to hold her hand back from delivering a blow. Luckily, Leoniya had came up and started speaking to them about the mission. Telling them that despite the loss of most of the forward team it was a job well done. She lost her chance, thankfully, to tease Lucrecia and her rear end.
Then, Bernadette appeared and mentioned that the comms were back up which was a good thing for the maid troops. Leoniya seemed excited to make Stroganoff to which Bernadette seemed to no exactly seem excited about. "Drowning in alcohol?" It's not like Katherine was too bothered by alcohol but drowning food in it...? Well, Polina and Lucrecia went off on their own thing. Lucrecia to get her wounds treated and Polina to clean up a bit. Katherine wasn't really sure what to do with herself. Perhaps she'd save Bernadette from her fate.
"Hold yourself, Leoniya. I needed to speak to Bernadette a minute if you wanted to head down first. I'll come help out as soon as we're done talking." Katherine mentioned, walking up to the pair and trying to stop Leoniya from dragging the poor girl down. "It'll just be a minute." She would add, trying to give a sneaky wink to Bernadette.
Seeing this as a good excuse as any, Bernadette wiggled herself out of the rats grasp, earning a pouty huff from Leoniya as the head engineer expressed her displeasure by sticking her tongue out at Leoniya in a somewhat childish manner.
“Ne Veselo, both of you.” The rat replied with a dismissive wave. “Fine! I shall make it myself! And eat it myself! None for you!” The rat laughed, walking off and heading to the galley. Bernadette merely watched her leave, giving Katherine a nod before heading back to the ships engineering and maintenance areas, certain that the Firbolg had nothing to actually talk about.
Of course Katherine could always ruin Bernadette’s day as Leoniya had planned to. She wouldn’t do that, would she?
Whenever Polina found herself cleaned up and presentable, she’d find Leoniya toiling away in the kitchens along with a few other maids, preparing an admittedly rather lavish looking dinner to be eaten on the way back to the Maison. A few other maids expressed apologies, almost running into Polina as they scurried about, cleaning, cooking, and generally doing their duties.
“Ah, Stroganoff, my mouth waters just thinking about you-hm? Ah, Polina! You are here! I was wondering if you’d be a spoilsport like the others, ahaha! Katherine dragged Detty away and here I am, making dinner just for me. Help a little rat?” She’d turn her head towards Polina as she’d walk into the kitchens, a bottle of half empty vodka sitting next to the stove she was using to cook, no doubt having used it on the sauteed meat currently being prepared to be served.
Finding the infirmary wasn’t hard, mostly thanks to well documented signage.
Upon pushing open the door to the infirmary however, she would have something of a surprise…or rather, a lack of surprise. Lyssa and Viatrix weren’t in the infirmary. Not the main sickbay area, it seemed, rather they were in the dedicated on board surgery room, door locked and the two seemed to be discussing something but nothing Lucrecia could hear. She had taken just long enough for Viatrix to get started in her examinations it seemed, though it was a bit odd she had taken Lyssa into a more private area…
This would leave Lucrecia alone with Akantha.
“U-uhm…sorry…she took the erm, scary one back there…” Akantha quietly replied. “She told me to sit here for now…” Akantha tucked her knees against her chest in the chair she was sitting in. “...uhm…m-miss?...what’s going to happen to me? Mom and dad…I don’t have any siblings or…close relatives…I think.”
Walking over to Akantha, Lucrecia sat down beside her and gently stroked her shoulder, attempting to comfort her. "Worry not, little one. We're on our way back to the Maison de Fiore, where you'll be cared for safe and sound." She said in a kind tone. "Love, why don't chat for a bit? Tell me a little about yourself? Are you originally from Cogfell? What was life like before...all this happened? If there's anything you'd like to share withme, I'm all ears."
Lucrecia tried her best to give the girl dome attention, as she was sure she needed it. Too much happened to fast, and it was doubtful that she knew how to process any of it. She also wondered if Akantha had even been tended to yet.
"Has the doctor tended to you yet, Love? Are you feeling all right, does it hurt anywhere?"
With Leoniya gone, Katherine walked over to the now leaving Bernadette and wrapped her up in a hug. "Come on, Bernadette~ I gave you a real easy out. Can't you at least give me a little thank you?" Katherine was internally smirking as she stopped the poor girl from going off to where she wanted but that wasn't the Firbolg's problem. She deserved a small thank you, didn't she? She rubbed her cheek against the smaller girl's as she was being quite obnoxiously annoying about it.
Still, if Bernadette just said thanks that would be enough for Katherine to just stop. "Alternatively, I could just show you what got me tossed off the ship earlier first hand. It was a little fun. Not the thrown off the ship part, of course." She continued to tease. It wasn't an empty threat though. She would follow through quite happily.
When Polina returned to her cabin, she quickly stripped off and took a warm, but quick shower. She needed those quick few moments of relaxation, especially after a fight like that. Well, she didn’t need it, but it felt entirely inappropriate to enter the kitchen feeling grimy and covered with demon gore, even if she had done her level best to avoid being overly splattered with guts on account of protecting Akantha at the time. She took those few minutes to also reflect on her first high-intensity battle since being in the employ of the Violet Garden. Considering the scale of the demon attack, she idly wondered of its political repercussions and what her other mistress would think of it all. That was out of her pay grade, though, at least for now.
Once she was done, she tossed her soiled uniform into the laundry and fetched a fresh change of clothes before she appeared in the galley where Leoniya was prepping her Stroganoff with some other maids.
Making sure her frilled maid’s headdress was properly presentable when she entered, she nodded at Leoniya’s greeting. “Of course not,” she denied. Polina had promised to help earlier, after all. “Where do you need my help? I’m looking forward to a proper meal, too. It’s Detty’s loss.”
“...I have defensive underwear for perverts like you.” Bernadette replied, quite aware of what had gotten Katherine thrown off the ship. The small engineer wouldn’t fight Katherine though, she wasn’t willing to put forth the effort so she’d let the cat cuddle up to her for the moment. “Thank you for the assistance…but I really need to get back to work unless you want the weapons to start misfiring at the most inopportune times.”
Bernadette would pull herself away from Katherine, straightening her dress and walking towards the ship's lower decks once more.
“Excellent, I knew you were a comrade!” The rat laughed. “I was thinking about making some honey cakes for dessert, hm? That little pink haired firebrand will love them, I’m sure. You can start on those.” Between Leoniya, Polina, and the other maids in the kitchens the meals wouldn’t take terribly long to do. Lyssa would show up not long after either, strutting into the kitchen and rather childishly taking a bite out of the unfinished honey cakes, earning a swift reprimand from Leoniya.
The Galley would remain lively for the remainder of their trip home, back to the Maison.
“N-no…” Akantha replied quietly. “She took the scary one back there first…told me to wait out here.” The girl didn’t look up from her seat or towards Lucrecia as she continued. “Y-yes…I’m from the town…it was a nice…enough place, I guess. Mom was a secretary for one of the businessmen in town, and dad was a peacekeeper. Dad…dad….tried holding them off and mom took me and ran and…and…” She sniffled, rubbing her eyes, but no tears came. “The…the demons…they did such awful things to everyone…I-I thought I was next but that’s when…you all showed up…”
She’d fall silent as the door to the operating room opened, Lyssa bounding out with what seemed to be her normal levels of limitless energy.
“Lulu!” She’d grin, hopping towards Lucrecia. “Doc says I’m fine! Just a bit bruised but otherwise good to beat up some more demons.”
“How about we don’t do that for a bit, hm?” Viatrix would walk out shortly after, bopping Lyssa lightly on the head with a closed fist.
“Bweh~!”
“Lucrecia, are you hurt? I can see both you and the little one, she might be a little more comfortable with you present…” Lyssa would wave bye to the both of them before heading off to the mess hall. Viatrix would ultimately lead the two of them towards the room, where she’d give the two a proper treatment and a full work over with her regeneration magic. Once done, they would be free to go, though Akantha seemed intent on sticking with either Lucrecia or Polina…
“This will be your first time at the Maison.” Sitting across from the demon was a rather young looking woman, likely not much older than her mid twenties. Dressed in a full military uniform with short cut black hair and blue eyes. White gloves adorned her hands, pristine and well kept. “You’ve enjoyed relative comfort while you were recovering, but as per the deal we have struck, I will be putting you to work starting today.”
The vehicle they were in was something of an oddity, if only because they were still quite rare for anyone but the most well connected or the wealthiest. A sleek, black automotive, bearing the family crest of the Fiore family on its doors. The back of the car was excessively comfortable and posh, with two sets of velvet, violet colored seats that faced each other, a table that folded from the door…it was everything one might need to enjoy a long ride in luxury and in private.
“Just as well, Elizstrazia…you’re the only demon currently acknowledged to be employed by the Maison officially.” She’d continue matter of factly. “Try to behave yourself. I don’t need the other maids getting anxious. Not that they’ll disobey me…but let's not give them any reason to start trouble.”
The vehicle would pull up to the Maison’s gates, stopping briefly to let them open.
“Now with that out of the way…any last questions, well, now is the time. Once we’re inside and I assign you your squad, your training for both combat and maid duties will be handed over to Mariarca.”
It had been a few days since the Cogsfell incident, and the Maison was abuzz with activity for one simple reason. Lady Fiore, was returning to the Maison after a long period abroad. The Clemantis was in the drydocks situated on the eastern end of the maison. As usual Bernadette was there tinkering away, and a good few dozen maid squads were being drilled in combat by both Myrilla and Leoniya out in the training battle fields.
A good many of the trainee maids and general personnel were scrambling around, cleaning, cooking, and making sure the Maison was spotless for the Lady. She wasn’t known for visiting often, even when she was in Alavaris so to say everyone was taking this seriously was an understatement.
“Are the Wards in proper order, Rosanna?”
“No, they’ve completely failed and I can’t do anything about it.” The witch maid would retort. “Of course they are, I wouldn’t be here if they weren’t.”
“Leave your sass at the door when Mistress Fiore arrives, would you?”
“I don’t intend to be present when she arrives unless I must, Mari. I’ve better things to do then sit around for a rookie squads debriefing.”
“As long as you’re present to greet her, there won’t be a problem.” Mari sighed, shuffling some papers in a folder she had briefly read over. A written missive from Mistress Fiore on a recent development a few months ago about them getting a new, potentially difficult operative.
"Its true, then? About us getting a demon for a maid?"
"...Yes." Mari replied, walking into the reception foyer. "I've yet to announce it as Lady Fiore has asked to make it herself...I can only imagine she'll find it mildly funny to drop it on most of the other maids." Rosanna didn't reply, merely frown and glance thoughtfully towards the door.
The vehicle rumbled past the busy pedestrians of the city, earning a few questioning looks as they passed. A car was certainly not something everyone had access too, and even then, only the wealthiest of the nobles or merchants had access to such technological marvels. The tinted windows, however, prevented any from seeing within.
“Its been awhile since we’ve had a moment alone, hasn’t it?” One of the occupants was sitting on a plush, luxuriously soft cushions in the back seat of the large vehicle. “What, with both of us being busy with work lately.”
“Well, there’s only yourself to blame for that.” The other occupant retorted, melting into the nice cushioned seats. “However, I can’t say it isn’t nice.”
“Yes yes, its my fault for working too much.” She sighed, glancing out the windows at the passing businesses, mostly of the entertainment sorts. Bars, restaurants, theaters…some showrooms for mechanical exhibitions. A small squad of the church paladins shutting down something they deemed ungodly.
Sickening, that one.
“At least now with the foundation and plans laid out nicely thanks to myself, I might add,” A smug, self satisfied smirk formed on her lips as she glanced towards the other occupant. “We’ll be able to relax a bit as the pieces fall into place. Perhaps I’ll take you some place much nicer soon.”
“You better. It’s been something else helping out like this.” The other occupant tiredly mentioned as she looked toward her companion. “Maybe it’ll be a bit quieter too….” She gave a bit of a sigh before speaking again. “It’s all going well, then?”
“What, don’t like it? I thought you’d find it amusing.” She gave a quiet laugh. “But lets save the business talk for when we arrive at the Devils Advocate.” She’d get up from the seat, scooting next to the other woman with a smile. “We don’t get much of a chance to be mostly alone these days. I’d much rather spend it talking about you, Duchess.”
Duchess gave a small smile, “What’s there really to say, Violet? I’ve been busy thanks to you.” The woman moved in a small bit closer to the other. “You need to find more time to go out with me. Not that I have much time myself, I suppose.”
“Tsk,” Violet rolled her eyes, proceeding to climb on top of Duchess’ lap with a smile, sitting on top of her as she’d hold a hand under the other womans chin. “I can say I missed you quite a bit while I was busy.”
“I’m sure you did.” Duchess said, a smirk crossing her face as her chin was held by Violet. “Well, we’ll have time soon enough, I’m sure.” She looked into Violet’s eyes as if trying to read her soul. “That said, I’m curious how much you did miss me.”
Instead of saying anything, Violet leaned over, placing her lips on Duchess’ own, taking a long, drawn out kiss from the other woman. It was only cut short by the sound of the vehicles engine dying down, and the chauffeur exiting the vehicle. With a mildly annoyed huff, Violet would get off of Duchess, retaking her seat as the door for the vehicle opened.
“We’ve arrived, Duchess.” Violet would hold out a hand and help the other woman out of the vehicle.
Duchess accepted the hand and stepped out of the vehicle, unbothered by the interrupted lover's moment. "So we have."
They had arrived in front of what appeared to be a small, high class jewelry store. Both however, knew much better that it was merely a front for something else entirely.
"We could have taken a small bit more time getting here." Duchess mentioned, holding Violet's hand still ready to get a move on despite her words.
Violet guided Duchess out of the car, straightening her own dress lightly as she’d glance up and down the streets briefly.
“Sadly, business calls and I need to confirm things with Queen and Lucelle.” Violet responded to Duchess, releasing the other womans hand as she walked into the jewelry store. Busy as it always was, after all, the Heathrow Jewelers were quite well known and quite popular among both the wealthy and the more religious groups of the city.
Violet walked up to the counter catching the eye of the jeweler.
“We would like to view the…rarer collections.”
“I see. Do you have a recommendation or a jewel in particular you wish to see?”
“I believe the Queen is expecting me to see the Cinder Ruby with her.”
“Oh goodness, do forgive. Right this way I believe she is already waiting on her guests.”
“Plan on eating?” Violet asked Duchess, briefly turning to her as the clerk moved out from behind the counter.
"I wouldn't say no. I'm quite famished." Duchess replied with a nod having stayed quiet until now. She had been quite busy readying for this outing she had forgotten to eat. "You're paying, right?" She teased.
“You have your own money.” Violet retorted with an eye roll as she’d follow the clerk. “But I suppose I owe you that much.”
"You're the best Violet." Duchess said with a grin as she followed. She seemed proud of herself for getting a free meal. "I suppose I'll have to do you a favor later."
“A favor, eh?” Violet replied as they were led into a back door that said ‘employees only’. “I’ll have to think of something.” The mildly teasing and perhaps lascivious smile that accompanied the statement made it obvious what sort of favor she might have been thinking of.
For now though, the pair were led through the backrooms of the jewelry store, past well dressed patrons and a few sitting rooms for displaying more pricey pieces of jewelry…but they would be led past those, down a hallway, down a set of stairs and into the basement where they’d come to a seemingly dead end. The clerk, produced a small metal rod from his waistcoat.
It would soon light up. Magical runes engraved on it in the symbols and language of the First Circle. Similar patterns would appear on the wall where they would slowly engrave themselves, a magical hum could be heard as the wall would bend outwards, creaking wood warping from the magic until it’d fold in on itself in an angular manner, soon creating what was a fairly simple, nondescript door. The words ‘Devils Advocate’ was written in arcane script on the door.
“Ladies, have a good time…” The clerk bowed to the two of them. “...Do be careful though. We have some particularly…rowdy customers today.”
“When are blood demons not rowdy.” Violet retorted, pulling open the door. “I can handle myself.”
"You'll just beat them until they lose their senses. Guess that makes them significantly less rowdy." Duchess mentioned as she followed behind Violet. "Makes me wonder what constitutes 'particularly rowdy'."
The pair would soon find out.
As they descended another small set of stairs down a tunnel into the establishment proper, it was quite clear they were definitely being rowdy. They could hear the howls and roars of laughter before they even descended fully, and once they had managed to make it to the bottom of the stairs, the body of a large high demon flew past Violet, nearly grazing the side of her face as it’d slam into the wall behind the two of them.
“...Ah, the smell of sulfur and blood, you think after growing up in the first circle, I’d be used to it.” Violet responded, completely unfazed as a large high demon, at least seven feet tall sporting charcoal colored skin and tusks like an elephant would stop his beating of a smaller demon, turning to the pair that just entered.
“...we got ourselves human, lads!” He’d stomp over, dragging the unconscious body of another demon behind him. The rest of the establishment had quieted down at this declaration, turning their heads towards this supposed human.
“Or Blood demons lacking any kind of decorum or brains.” Violet exhaled.
“Now what…are some mortals doing here. This isn’t a place for a couple of lost whelps.”
"Every time I swear." Duchess complained, "Do you think lost whelps would find themselves here? Lummox. Continue on with what you were doing." She ordered as if that demon were going to listen.
“Now don’t be like that.” The demon laughed, cracking the neck of the other demon he had been dragging with him. “You’re here for a good time, why else would a mortal come here? Why don’t you both enjoy a drink with-”
“It still amazes me,” Violet interrupted. “How some blood demons have less critical thinking and brains than your average Orosian priest.”
“What was that, whore?”
“You heard me. Men of the cloth are smarter and more devious than you.”
“You little bitch think you can just waltz in here-”
“Oh yes I can indeed waltz in here. Since you don’t know who we are, I can only make such a conclusion about your lack of mental acuity.” By now the rest of the place was watching, the fighting having died down just a bit.
“I don’t care who you are mortal, I’ll squish that head of yours and eat it!” The demon said nothing in reply, only raising one of his arms and aiming to completely smash Violet’s head against his fist.
"Annoying." From Duchess' hand came a wiggling, writhing mass. It spread across the floor quickly before wrapping itself around the demon's leg and then up his body constricting as it went. Soon, the demon found he was unable to move his arm or leg as the tentacle-like mass started to constrict around his neck. "Should he be dinner?" Duchess asked Violet more than a little irritated.
“Ghhk-Bloody tears what…are you-!” The high demon hissed, trying to struggle free from the tentacled mass.
“She is something ten times as terrifying as you will ever be, whelp.” Violet coldly replied, having been completely unfazed and didn’t even flinch at the incoming attack. She walked over to the demon, not raising her head as she spoke to him. “I can’t tell any more whether every blood demon I meet is as dumb as a child, or they simply want to claim they could do something to me. Any idea who I am now, demon?”
“Ggrrrg…” The demon hissed.
“...right, I forgot. You don’t know basic manners.” Suddenly, the demon would find himself falling, face first onto the floor. It had been a fast movement, faster than most present would have been able to even observe as an ethereal blade cleaved demonic flesh from bone. “First, you should kneel before those stronger than you, isn’t that right?”
“G-gaah-w-what!?” Blood began pooling around him. He tried thrashing, but his arms were still bound by Duchess and his legs had been severed from his body at the thighs.
“I took the liberty of making sure you’ll never forget to kneel again.”
“Do you have any idea what family I’m from! I’m a demon noble you pathetic-”
“No, I don’t. Must be some backwater family that’s known for mucking stables.” Violet rebuffed “I do hope these tusks weren’t important.” Another swift strike, the long tusks being severed neatly right at the base. Violet reached for both, picking them up. “Quite pretty. I’m sure they’ll make an excellent alchemy reagent or some magical tool.”
“Y-you…nngr-!”
“Ah…I thought I heard you guys! Duchess! Violet!” A blur of motion would tackle Duchess, as a little short haired imp of a demon rammed into her head first, wrapping the other woman in a hug and nuzzling her head of short hair against her chest. “Aaaah, its been years!~”
"Ah… Princess…." Duchess groaned having taken a head-first tackle from a cute demon. "H-how are you…?" She asked, still recovering from the hit. "You're still as cute as I remember."
“Ehehe, course I am.” Princess continued to hold her head against Duchess’ chest, demonic, fur tipped tail swaying back and forth lazily while her demonic hooves clacked against the floor. “Eeeh, whats this dummy up to?”
“Learning his place.”
“V-violet!?”
“So you do recognize my name.”
“Y-you…nngh-I-I am sorry Lady Violet I didn’t-ghhk!”
“Didn’t know what? Here I am as Queens Guest, and you have the audacity to harass me when I’m the reason you’re here in the first place.” Violet knelt down, glaring at the demon coldly. “And I can send you back to that cesspool known as Naraheim.”
“P-please…I-”
“Oh don’t worry, I’ve no interest in this further, besides,” She quickly glanced at the demons he had been fighting earlier. “I believe your friends desire your time more than I.” The look of relief was quickly replaced by one of terror as about ten or so demons quickly dragged him back into the mass of rowdy demons….
“Ahaha, wow If I said what’s happening to him, I’d have to censor myself.” Princess laughed, holding a hand to her forehead as if she was trying to shield her eyes from the obscene display.
As Duchess' tentacle retracted into it's rightful place, she merely ignored the happens and turned Princess around so they could go on their way. "Let's go this way, you demonic ball of energy. You've been well, right? I'm sorry I couldn't have met you myself. I've been far too busy."
“What, don’t wanna stay for the show?” Princess giggled, holding onto Duchess’ hands as she’d decided to let the other woman manhandle her across the floor as the trio started to move. Now that they had a moment to not be harassed, they could get a much better view of the establishment they were in.
The smoky interior smelled of sulfur and spice, the warm atmosphere tinged a shade of red as demons howled both with laughter, danced, some fighting some deciding to have rather…public displays of affection. Nothing unusual for blood demons, really. The ornate wooden floor was covered with the occasional red and gold carpet, finely crafted tables served as the supports for massive plates of food.
Really, if there was some vice wanted to be indulged in, one could find it here.
“I take it Queen is ready to meet us?” Violet asked after walking a bit. Princess finally disentangled herself from Duchess, smiling her usual cheery smile. “Oh, she’ll be here soon. She wanted me to bring you to our usual table. Lucelle is busy doing,” As if on cue, a sultry, seductive voice came on over the speakers. Glancing towards the source of it, a white haired demon with smooth, pristine skin that was using black, bat like wings as a dress was starting to sing. “Her new hobby. So its just us for a bit!~”
"Oh my dear teacher…. What manner if buffoonery have you started to indulge yourself with?" Duchess questioned as she looked on to the sight. "How long has she been doing this?"
“Oh…hm, for a few months now?” Princess responded with a giggle, walking down the aisle towards a staircase that led up to a section for private seats and meetings. “You know how she likes having people look at her. Humans seem to like it too, heh. I bet she’s planning something fun.”
“...I leave her alone for a few months and she plans something that could probably put this whole scheme in jeopardy.” Violet coldly grumbled, following the demon up the stairs.
"That's just like her though, Violet." Duchess said, sighing a small bit. "I'll talk to her later about it. Not that she'll listen to me, but, well. Hopefully."
“Maybe I should just kill her.” Violet grumbled, following Princess into a cushy, luxurious booth area that overlooked the main establishment below. “...well, that aside, Princess, no hug for me? I’m a little sad.”
“Pfft, normally you shove me away. Last time I tried to give you a hug, you pushed me off a cliff.” Princess responded, bouncing over to Violet. “Not that I don’t mind a bit of…rough handling, heh.”
“What can I say. I missed tormenting you just a bit.” Violet responded, taking a seat at the sizable, circular table that served as the booths main feature. Princess followed shortly, taking a seat next to Violet and motioned for Duchess to come sit next to her.
Duchess considered it for a second. Sometimes Violet could be awfully possessive and, as they made eye contact, Duchess knew the look she got back from Violet. A playful wink.
"Alright then, Princess." Duchess surrendered as she took her seat next to the short haired demon. "Now you're sitting next to both of us just like you wanted."
“...You guys are up to something, aren’t ya?” Princess replied with a pout.
“Must you always be so suspicious.” Violet replied with an eye roll.
“...hmmng, well do your worst-bweeep! Agh that’s my horn!”
“So it is.” Violet replied, grabbing one of the demon goats horns as the demon herself made a funny little bleating noise.
Before the demon could reply again, she felt another hand on another horn. "My, my. How adorable your horns are. And those noises as well. Adorable." Duchess mentioned, happily teasing Princess.
“Y-you guys are bullying me!” Princess bleat again, feeling Duchess’ hand on her other horn. “Y-you know my horns are basically a status symbol! I’m the great Princess of Naraheim! They might not be as big as my sisters but they’re still impressive! Y-you disrespectful mortals!”
“Oh yes, spare us the show Princess. We practically grew up together.” Violet, pulling the demons horn hard enough so her head would be pulled into Violet’s chest. “Now give that hug I mentioned.”
“Hmph, meanie~” Princess grumbled, but she would do as request, nuzzling against Violet and giving her a hug.
Duchess released her horn as Violet tugged the demon in for a hug. "She's right, we both know the real way to bother you is to start teasing you but then abruptly stop." Duchess looked over the place again, "So, when is that beautiful Queen going to show her face?"
“Hmph, you guys are just mean…guess that’s why both of you get along better with demons then humans, huh~?” Princess teased, earning a thump on her forehead from Violet.
“I see the three of you are settling in well.”
“...can’t you use the door for once, Queen?”
“And what, miss the chance to scare both you brats shitless?” Standing at the balcony that overlooked the rest of the establishment, was the fourth member of their little group. “Not like I need doors anyways.” She’d say, walking across the floor, taking a seat opposite of the other three, propping her feet up on the table and immediately grabbing a glass bottle, ripping off the cork with her teeth and taking a long drink from it.
“I hear you bring good news from the operation in Cogsfell.” Violet said, not particularly minding the Demonic Satyr melting into her arms.
“No thanks to those halfwitted maids. There was a rogue high demon there. Duchess?”
“And it was taken care of.” Duchess said matter of factly. “It was hungry and spat acid but the tank rat and puppeteer took care of it and captured it. I’d say it’s under lock and key.”
“Hmph, well, as long as its not causing trouble.” Queen grunted, lighting up a cigar. “The operation went well. All objectives were met…though, we do have a report of someone by the name of ‘Sir S’ making an appearance.”
“So I heard. He wasn’t with us or the Maison.” Violet frowned. “While I’d like to believe that was nothing, we can’t discount an agent working against us in some manner.”
“Mmnngh~” Princess pulled herself out of Violet’s hug, sitting up in her chair. “I could find him. I can probably smell him out, eheh. It hasn’t been that long.”
“I know you’re eager to cause some havoc, Princess, but stay focused on your job.” Queen blew a puff of smoke in her direction. “Violet is already looking into this mystery man. Anything else to report about the Cogsfell operation, Duchess?”
“Nothing particularly. They collected their target and a small child as well. I half wonder how long most of those maids are going to last after watching the entire situation though. If that rat weren’t so handy with machinery it might not have turned out so well for them all.” Duchess giggled, thinking on the situation. “That aside, I am curious about this Mister S. I’ve never heard of such a man before. Well, that’s what aliases are for, isn’t it?”
“I have my thoughts on him.” Violet replied with a dismissive wave. “Useless to speculate until we have more concrete information, but he’s likely not a demon as far as I can ascertain so far. The fact he seemed completely fine with that one maids dolls likely means he’s not from the church either, assuming he knows what they are.”
It was then, the group gathered would notice the music from outside had died down. It would not be long before the group would hear footsteps outside the room, and their final compatriot, Lucelle, making her entrance. Behind her, was a large minotaur dressed in a rather fashionable black and white suit, a tailcoat long enough to extend to just below the floor.
“I do hope I’m not too late.” She’d say, taking a seat next to Queen. “Hehe, the little darlings do enjoy my singing.”
“Good evening, Lady Violet and Guests.” The minotaur would speak fairly eloquently, kneeling and bowing to the group. “We do sincerely apologize for the display when you arrived.”
“Hmph, its quite alright. Putting some worthless soul in their place is entertaining enough.”
“Glad to hear it, My Lady. I shall be here to take your orders for the evening. If I may…we have recently acquired a rather rare, delectable specimen. An Elephant, I believe…” There was an inquisitive tone to his voice, as he’d barely just look up from his kneeling bow at Duchess who had snickered quietly to herself.
“...Ah? Is that so? Well, I do love some…exotic meals, hm? I think I’d be more than happy to have that.” Violet responded fairly quickly, a smirk forming on her lips. “Ah, and add some Fernel Wine to that order too, will you?”
“An excellent choice, madam.” The minotaur barely restrained a laugh. “There’s enough to go around, if someone else wants the same.”
“Well, if it’s good enough for Violet, I could go for the same.” Duchess mentioned still softly making her snickering known. “An exotic meal and some wine to wash it down. How wonderful.” She mentioned looking toward Lucelle, “That said, glad to see you could make it Teacher.”
“Ah, my little Duchess, hehe.” Lucelle responded with a light giggle. “Yes, you know how busy I am these days keeping myself…well, mostly inconspicuous. I have found a particular love of singing lately. Maybe my talents will be useful in the human realm soon.”
“Humph, lets hope not.” Queen interjected, a puff of smoke coming from her lips. “Last thing we need is you starting a weird cult because of that voice of yours.”
“Oh dear, I think someone’s jealous.”
“Can it before I shove my pipe down your throat.” Queen grunted, quite unimpressed. “I’m in the mood for something a bit more bloody. Dealing with incompetent fools makes me want to drink my weight in alcohol. The good stuff, the most expensive Primarch tar you have and a Behemoth Whale. Cook and serve in a cheap whiskey.”
“Mmmmhm, I’ll have some of the Elephant!” Princess chimed in. “Oh oh, a blood cake too please! Preferably virgin!”
“I think I’ll just have something light, mhm. Blood demon cuisine doesn’t quite agree with me. So I’ll just have a simple lizard roast.” Lucelle ordered, turning her attention back to Duchess. “Perhaps you’d like to join me on stage at one point? I’m quite certain you’d do well, your voice is ever so lovely.”
“I’ll pass, thank you. Something about singing to so many demons makes me sick to my stomach.” Duchess said, her hand slowly gliding to her mouth as if she were trying to hold back. “Perhaps in a small room with hardly anyone else around. I’m not a huge attention whore like you.”
“Oh my, you want to give all of us a private show?” Lucelle teased, ignoring the insult to her. “Or is it just little Miss Violet you want to share your voice with?”
“Take your guess, I suppose.” Duchess mentioned before looking toward Violet, smirking before looking at Lucelle once more, “Though I think Violet may sing better than you.” She teased.
“Tsk,” Lucelle pouted as Violet laughed. “I’ll have you know, no mere mortal can ever beat my voice in anything you should know this, my irreverent student.” Finished taking orders, the minotaur would stand and give a brief thanks before leaving, sauntering down the stairs and heading towards the kitchens.
“I dunno Lucelle,” Queen chuckled. “Your voice does nothing but give me a headache.”
“Tell that to the demons who were asking for an encore.”
“Not going to take her up on that offer, Lucelle?” Violet replied as Princess would lean on Duchess’ shoulder, lazily cozying up to the other woman. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were scared of losing.”
“I’ve never lost to a mortal. Not once, and I do not intend to start now. If you want to go down there and stand on stage and give it a shot, mortal, then let us.”
“Not once? As your student, I can think of more than a couple of times though?” Duchess mentioned as she patted Princess’ head like she were a small puppy.
“You are no mere mortal you…furry…whatever it is you actually are.” Lucelle snapped back, sounding a bit irritated.
“Ahaha, she still beat you though.” Queen replied. “Little Violet has numerous times, too, hasn’t she? Your little voice doesn’t work on them, you know this.” Lucelle fell quiet, though from the way she was tapping her fingers against the wood of the table quite clearly indicated she was not quite happy with the discussion.
“Alright, we get it, everyone here hates the other so lets get this over with and we can all unwind and take our hate out on each other after. Alright?” Violet sat up, leaning over the table. “The Cogsfell operation went well. All objectives were met and its time we start the final touches on it.”
Duchess continued to pet Princess as she spoke up. “Very well. It just means I’ll be able to tease Teacher later.” The cat-like girl mentioned as her attention was brought to work matters. “Just tell me what you need done, Violet.”
Violet would pull something from her pockets. A curious little statue, quite clear to all present that it had been used to seal a particularly powerful High demon. It was shaped like a sort of small, slug looking creature with stumpy legs, a tail.
“An Auction. One of our agents shall be purchasing this at an Auction with instructions on how to unseal and free this demon.” Princess didn’t comment, merely nuzzle herself a bit more affectionately against duchess.
“To what end?” Queen questioned.
“Oh the fact you never pay attention is astonishing.” Lucelle huffed. “I believe he shall be taking the fall for the whole scheme, yes? We bust an underground auction house using him as a scapegoat and we get ourselves a nice new ally in the process.”
“More allies are always nice. It sucks when you’re the only one doing the heavy lifting.” Duchess said, patting Princess on the head still hardly realizing she was doing it. “When does the auction take place?”
“One week.” Violet replied. “Truthfully I don’t know how well this particular demon shall help us but either way help or not it shall prove a useful tool nonetheless.”
“The only one doing any heavy lifting here is me, Duchess.” Queen harrumphed. “Or do I need to tell Violet about every little incessant chattering and mischief people have been up to? Besides, you’ve got good help now.”
“H-hey now. No need to… Loose lips, sink ships, Queen.” Duchess stumbled around her wording before biting her lip and hiding her head behind Princess’. “Well, that aside, I hope to hear good news about this auction.” Duchess added.
“That’s what I thought.” Queen moved her hooves off the table, grunting as they could hear the telltale steps of the minotaur walking his way back up the stairs towards their room.
“I’m sure you all are already aware of the rest of the particulars about this operation,” Violet replied. “If not…well, you’ll receive your orders later. For now though…I think its about time we had ourselves some wine and dining, hm?”
The minotaur walked back into the room, carrying a gargantuan tray in his equally large hands. He’d set it down on the table, proceeding to divvy up the food as ordered.
“A lovely cut of elephant for the two lovely mortals.” He’d say, a few small imps flying into the room behind, pouring wine for the both of them. The food itself had been cooked to perfection, the meat tender and perfectly seasoned with herbs and spices. “We took the liberty of adding some familiar spices from the human realm and blending them with select ones from the demon realm.”
He’d swiftly grab a dark red colored, fluffy looking confectionary along with another slice of the elephant to Princess.
“Do enjoy, the chef put a particular attention into the frosting I believe.” Another swift movement and a plate was placed in front of Lucella. “A lizard roast, straight from the Second Circle.”
“Mhm…I do not believe I specified that.”
“Ah, well, do forgive me madam if I made a presumption…”
“...oh its fine. No need to spoil the mood.”
“And for you, the strongest and most expensive Primarch Tar wine and whale meat from the behemoths in the first circle. A delicacy only the high ranking demon nobles typically have the pleasure of. Will there be anything else?”
Duchess pushed the resting Princess off of her so the girl could eat. “Nothing else here, thank you.” She picked up her fork and started to poke at the meat in front of her with a somewhat sadistic grin crossing her face. “Serves you right~” She mentioned before picking up her wine glass and taking a small sip.
“No, that shall be all from us.”
“Very well, if you need anything else, it shall be our pleasure to serve.” The Minotaur would take the trays, and the imps would follow him out.
“Haven’t I told you never to play with your food.” Violet replied with a eyeroll and a small smile as she’d cut into the meat herself, not taking a second glance at it as she’d lean over, offering a piece of meat to Duchess. “Or am I going to have to feed you myself.”
Duchess’ grin softened, “Well, you don’t hear me complaining do you?” She asked as she leaned forward and stole the meat from the fork like a shark biting some poor wretches hand from their body.
“You…” Queen merely looked on in a slight bit of exasperation while Lucelle watched with obvious amusement. “...for two demon loving mortals…why bloody hell do you two have any reason to be so lovey-dovey.”
“Tch,” Violet pulled back, blushing a bit. “Shut up, demon. I’ve been busy and haven’t been home in a while. Consider it a blessing any of you even get to see me like this.”
“Well, I consider it a blessing.” Duchess teased, giggling to herself before grabbing her knife and start to cut into her food.
“Just remember to keep yourselves unnoticed and this next operation will go off without a hitch.” with a final minor bit of protesting from Violet, the group would spend the rest of the evening carousing, chatting, and otherwise still getting on each others nerves as the evening dragged on, until night would eventually fall, and one by one the group would soon leave one after the other through the night until Violet would be the last one to stay, leaving only well after midnight in the early hours of the morning…
The small white-haired girl cocked her head. After a few moments, her lips parted, revealing her set of sharp teeth, rows of razors filling her small mouth as she grinned. Her scaled legs crossed, the girl leaned forward.
"Just one," she continued, "How much longer until I get to kill something? You've kept me waiting. I want to start showing them just what kind of punishment they're in for, you know?"
A single glance made it obvious she wasn't in the least bit human, nor was she of any of the other mortal races that dwelled in the world. The curling horns atop her head, the black scales that stood out against her almost paper-white skin, the tail extending from the base of her spine. Her wings were currently reduced and hidden, but they would only have added to the obviousness of her nature.
There was no denying Elizstrazia was a demon, and she would have laughed in the face of anyone who tried to make her hide it.
After a few moments, her crimson eyes drifted from the vehicle's other occupant, and out the window.
"Waiting this long has been a pain in the ass," she added, "Cooped up on that room, only allowed to stretch my legs when I was told. D'you know how frustrating that is? I don't think you can blame anyone for getting bored. I don't think you can blame me for wanting to do something fun."
It wasn't as if she didn't know why, in the first place. The memory was all too near. her body could barely move. She hated to even think about it. The shameful state she'd been in.
She didn't want them to see.
She didn't want them to know.
Thinking about it again made her fingers clench, her jaw clamp tighter, her red eyes narrowing.
So she'd been stuck.
Stuck until they told her it was safe for her to even walk again.
Sure, she had a lot more space when she was finally let out. But Elizstrazia hated the fact she had to be told it was safe in the first place.
She shouldn't have had to be stopped from doing so in the first place.
And she hated that she was still confined even then.
... At least those maids knew what kind of meat she liked.
But as much as she hated the fact she'd been told what she could and couldn't do like that, there were some things in this world she hated far more.
And this was her chance.
So of course she'd struck a deal.
"Besides, it's not like you'll need any of those others, so shouldn't they be glad to see me? They can admire my beauty, then take a break as I rip our enemies apart, right?"
Elizstrazia smirked, one of her hands placed to her chest. One could perhaps say she was briefly the picture of arrogance, at least if their idea of arrogance was a small draconic girl.
A Scale Demon was a Scale Demon, after all. Pride was a matter of course.
"Trust me, I'm beautiful even when I'm covered in blood, so they won't have to look away."
She was going to take full advantage of the chance she was given.
Lucrecia scowled a bit, she strongly felt that Viatrix should've saw to the child first. Then again, Lyssa was the daughter of the woman who signed her pay checks. She continued to listen as she explained that she was indeed originally from Cogsfell, and what events transpired prior to meeting her and Polina. "Your parents can rest peacefully now that you're safe with us, Amor." She said. Before she could continued, the aforementioned daughter came bursting out of the back room.
Merda. That's the second one to refer to me by that silly name... She silently groaned.
"I am joyed to see you in good health and high spirits, Madonna." She said, slightly chuckling as the doctor lightly conked her on the head. "It is nothing serious, thankfully. Just a few scrapes to the back; I'm more concerned for Akantha here.: She looked at the rescued girl, gently rubbing her shoulder.
Promptly following Viatrix into the backroom with Akantha in tow, the two were fully healed by her magics. After they were cleared, Lucrecia took Akantha with her to the mess hall. No doubt the others were finished cooking by now, and she was sure that the little one was famished. Lyssa also made her way there, chowing on unfinished pastries and being yelled at by Leoniya. "I wonder if the boss used to be like that in her youth?"
It was morning and a few days had passed since the operation at Cogsfell. Lucrecia did her part to ensure that Akantha was acclimated to her new life at the Maison, provided she wasn't pulled away to assist with other duties as per her station. A small part of her that perhaps it was best she not wear her heart in her sleeve and not fall slave to her maternal instincts. This was job after all, and business always came first.
She noticed Leoniya and Myrilla barking orders at another squad of maids, thankful that it wasn't her for a change. Lucrecia did her part to ensure that everything was in order for Lady Fiore upon her return. She looked to where Rosanna was talking with someone; as another magically inclined coworker Lucrecia was naturally curious about her. But, something Rosanna said that she managed to catch made her eyes widen.
A demon was joining the Maison as a fellow worker?! She exclaimed to herself.
When Polina heard that the mistress of the Maison was returning, like the rest of the maids, that had gotten her attention. Unlike the other maids, though, she had her own special reasons for being especially attentive around matters of the Lady Fiore. After all, her loan to the Maison was not just a gift from her own Lady, but also as a means for the princess to have eyes and ears in the mysterious organization, given the rumors that continued to swirl around the controversial scion. Polina was not fond of this sort of business, but she would not begrudge her mistress for this type of business.
Polina had yet to make much on that front, aside from the spattering of combat –a few days ago aside—and maid training. It mildly rankled the Farisian maid that, as a fully-fledged servant, that she had been subjected to probationary training, but the additional combat experience mostly made up for the tedium of being slotted into a more junior position.
Now, the rumors of the Maison getting a demon maid were quite juicy, and it was all but confirmed as true. That was worthy information to look into, especially when it came to Mistress Fiore’s reasons for signing the creature on. A good starting point into her mentality, Polina supposed, before she internally groaned. This would be a pain.
Well, nothing else to do now but to look good and wait for the Lady to return.
This was one of the most emotive scale demons she had ever seen. Perhaps that wasn’t too unsurprising, considering the circumstances that they had met.
“Patience, Eliz.” Livia frowned, resting her chin on her hand as the vehicle drove up to the front of the maison. “If my intel is right, and it always is, you’ll get to have your bloodbath sooner rather than later. I must stress though,” Livia would push open the door to the vehicle as it pulled to a stop, getting out ahead of the demon. “You will behave yourself or I will terminate our contract. I do not tolerate any disobedience and I can not have a liability.” She’d say, holding out a hand to the demon to help her out of the vehicle.
“Even potential liabilities as charming as you.”
Once the demon had disembarked from the vehicle, Livia would walk the short distance up to the front of the Maison, the lush, well kept grass a shade of vibrant, healthy green while several trees lined the area in front of the building, perfectly pruned and well kept by the maids excellent hands. She’d push open the door and walk inside…
The Maison was still a flurry of activity even as they spotted Lady Fiore’s vehicle rolling up in front of the Maison. Several maids had been selected to greet her, standing on either side of the plush, long carpet that led to the main staircase, but a few were scrambling to get everything prepared. Mari, pocket watch in hand grumbled lightly as she’d glance between the maids, a few of her notes on their new demon friend and the door. Rosanna simply stood quietly, glancing in Lucrecia’s direction.
“...I do believe you’ve spilled the proverbial herbs all over the table.”
“Well, they’ll be finding out in roughly two minutes anyways.” Mariarca responded with a sigh. “Has Nynette prepared the meeting room and refreshments?”
“A little late to be asking about that, isn’t it? But as far as I am aware, yes.”
“I would expect nothing less from the first Maid. Then everything should be in order then-oh, Akantha.”
“Ah-Oh goodness sorry, pardon me…! I was a bit lost.” Akantha had been given a room with the rest of the trainee maids for now and was allowed to stay until they figured out what to do with her. They weren’t her legal guardians, after all, and Mari was already looking into her family. Viatrix had observed her sense she had returned from Cogsfell, but the little girl seemed mostly fine, aside from insomnia and nightmares and she refused to sleep alone.
“Polina is over there, if you’re looking for her.” Mari pointed her in the direction of the farisian maid. “But keep it down, the Maison’s Patron and owner Lady Fiore shall be arriving-”
The door to the Maison opened, the black haired woman took a moment to allow the demon following her entryway before closing the door behind the two of them.
“...now.”
Akantha froze as the lines of Maids stood at attention, before quietly bowing to Lady Fiore as she entered. Akantha froze in place nearly in the middle of the carpet before scurrying off near Polina, holding her leg with some uncertainty. Livia walked down the aisle, saying not a word, merely observing the maids present with a cool glare as she made her way to the staircase at the other end of the rug. Mariarca handed her the folder of papers as Rosanna merely offered a nod of acknowledgement before walking off.
Livia would take a moment to go through the folder before sighing.
“First of all…I am glad to see everyone of you in good health.” She’d greet the maids. “I heard there was some trouble in cogsfell. For those of you who took part in the operation, you have my gratitude.” Quite a practiced speech, it seemed. “I sadly do not have time to hang around nor do I wish to involve myself too much in your day to day functions. Mariarca and the administration does that well enough…however.” She turned her attention to Elizstrazia. “As you have likely noticed, we have ourselves a new resident and a new member of our organization. She might be a demon, but you will treat her no different as any other maid. And you, Elizstrazia, will give them the respect they deserve as your senior members. I do hope, I have made myself clear on that.” With a mildly disinterested huff, Livia would fold the papers under her arm as she turned to Mariarca.
“Mariarca, I shall be in the eastern sitting room. I expect those who took part in the Cogsfell forward operation to meet me there in an hour. Our new demon friend as well.” She turned back to the demon. “Until then…hm…actually.” She glanced towards Polina. A small smile seemed to form on her lips. “Maid Polina. Maid Lucrecia. Show this one around the Maison would you? Introduce her to Myrilla and Viatrix.”
“Of course, my lady. I shall make preparations. Is there anything specific you need?” Mariarca replied.
“I see one of our maids assigned to the greeting duty is not present..." Livia frowned. "Do give her a good reprimanding for me. Otherwise, I’ll have Nynette see to it if I need anything else. Focus on your usual duties for the moment.”
“Very well. I will inform miss Katherine that she is to be punished for her absence. The rest of you, get back to work. Polina and Lucrecia I expect you to handle this demon flawlessly. Give her a full tour of the Maison and make sure she does not cause trouble. I'll be preparing her work unfiform. I'll send word once its finished.”
In another part of the manor, a workshop reserved for more practically inclined maids and one specifically designed to help a certain Firbolg with her doll creation, sat the firbolg in question. She had been working the night away, seeing to repair her adorable little dolls. This meant…well, she was currently sleeping away the morning hours and completely missing the greeting and meeting of Lady Fiore in the entryway.
This, of course, was not something the maids would tolerate.
Upon not seeing the Firbolg there, Mariarca hastily tasked a certain pink haired maid with finding her and bringing her to the foyer for reprimand.
Lyssa pushed open the door to the room, quietly observing the plethora of dolls frantically working to repair the other dolls…and Katherine herself? Face first on a desk, snoozing away.
Grinning impishly, Lyssa quietly approached.
SMACK
The hardest smack the maid could deliver was slammed right on Katherine’s ass.
“Kitty needs to wake up before Mariarca fries you, ahah!” She’d giggle, giving Katherine’s butt another playful smack for good measure.
"Fine, fine, I know," Elizstrazia replied, waving one small hand to and fro, "Our contract and all. I'm not going to go on a bloody rampage, if that's what you're worried about."
At least, not until combat began.
Still, it was annoying to have to listen to someone's orders, even if she'd entered Livia's employment knowing that would be the case. Knowing and agreeing to do it didn't make it any less bothersome.
However, the petite draconic girl had little to complain about when she was described as charming, regardless of the context, nor did she hesitate to take Livia's hand once again.
It was warm.
Her bare, scaled feet touched the ground only a brief moment later.
At least if she was going to be working somewhere, it was somewhere that befit her own beauty. The well-kept grass, the fine architecture, it was perhaps the minimum she could expect for someone like herself but at least it wasn't below that.
The scale demon followed Livia to the mansion, immediately taking stock of the other maids when they entered.
She was supposed to respect them, wasn't she?
Being truthful was the best way to be respectful, wasn't it?
It only made sense.
Elizstrazia stepped forward, smirking, with a hand placed to her chest.
"That's right, if you couldn't tell by my beautiful looks, I'm a scale demon," she began, her tail swishing from side to side, "I'd hope you didn't need me to tell you, given what that would say about your intelligence."
One of her razor teeth, a fang, showed as she cocked her head to the side.
"I won't mind if you admire me, but don't get in my way in battle. I don't want to have to work around you just to spill their guts all over," she continued. Naturally, she was obviously being perfectly respectful. Saying anything less then her true feelings would be to lie, and you didn't lie to someone you respected.
"Ah, and just because I can create barriers doesn't mean you can expect me to defend you," she added, crimson eyes glittering as if to emphasize her smug demeanor, "If you want cover, you'll just have to get behind me."
It had been a long night of hastily repair her dolls that had been damage. Especially the one that had been eaten by the demon. She managed to recall the majority of it back to it's ring before it hit the demon's stomach but, well, there was only so much one could do. A bit of the material was recyclable but most of it was, sadly, a lost cause. Still, most repairs have been completed otherwise and she had to start from scratch to replace the destroyed doll. Well, not that she quite made it that far. In fact, she made contact with the desk with her forehead. At some point after, she fell asleep rolling her head over to rest her cheek on the table.
That's how she spent most of the morning until a certain...
Smack!
"MRrraaaaaaoowww?!" Katherine exclaimed, woken from her restful slumber by a slap to her rear. Who!? What!? Before she had the chance to turn around to see who was assaulting her behind with a resounding slap... Another rang out!
Smack!
"Who!?" Katherine questioned, quickly spinning around on the stool her sat on to see a certain familiar maid from the day before. "Lyssa! How rude! Don't enter someone's room and slap their behind with such force to wake them from slumber! Why would you hit someone's behind like such?" The feline questioned, furrowing her brow as she gave some hypocritical line of question to a maid she had hit the rear of only the day before. "Hmph! What is it that you want to have to come in here and wake me so rudely? I have plenty of dolls to repair for the next combat situation." The Firbolg asked as she waved toward all the dolls in the room. One even brought the Firbolg a glass of water which she gratefully took and drank while waiting for Lyssa's answer.
Polina raised her eyebrows as a familiar little girl appeared in the hall. Somewhat ill timed, if you asked her, but she couldn’t fault her for feeling left out. Despite living safely with the rest of the maids in the mansion for the time being, she still had a lot of recent trauma to work out. The Farisian maid beckoned for her to come over. She supposed it might look strange to the mistress, but she assumed Livia had already been briefed about the temporary guest that she found herself taking care of for the time being.
Speaking of the devil, that was the moment Lady Fiore took the moment to make her entrance. Polina briefly smiled in amusement as Akantha sputtered at being caught out, before finally running over to hide behind her leg. She stood at attention, keeping her signature poker face on as the mistress of the Maison made her inspection and speech. Behind her was the new demon maid in question. She hadn’t been entirely sure what to expect out of an enmaided demon, but the cute, fluffy little thing wasn’t entirely what she had anticipated. Despite what Livia had implied about trouble, Polina didn’t have any existing prejudices against the concept of a civilized demon… or at least, one with the veneer of being civilized. The Kyrsa had been ‘enemies’ of the Empire, what was to say the demons wouldn’t eventually end up with some sort of détente? The very existence of this Elizstrazia meant this was a possibility.
Well, given that she had been just assigned to show said demon around the estate, she would probably get to know for sure. She inclined her head towards Lady Fiore in acknowledgement of the order. An hour wasn’t much time to give a tour before having to debrief, but it was good enough.
The Farisian maid turned to Elizstrasia to give her a welcome, finding some amusement at her antics, but hid it behind her usual face. “Polina. Welcome to the team. If you want admiration, it’ll have to be earned, but I can show you around the Maison in the meantime.”
It seemed that Rosanna noticed the change in Lucrecia's expression, as she was now looking her way. The freelancer winced, hoping that she wouldn't get in trouble for eavesdropping on an important conversation. She was broken out of her worries as Akantha scrambled her way into the hall. She was glad to see that the little girl seemed to be doing better. Having been made a temporary trainee maid, the other staff looked into her family tree and other background details to determine what they would ultimately do with her. Viatrix informed them that physically Akantha was fine, but her mental state was affected with nightmares and insomnia. The poor thing couldn't even sleep alone, which wasn't surprising considering all that she'd been through. I would certainly take a long time for those scars to heal, if they ever...
Still naturally attached to her rescuers, Mari pointed Akantha in the direction of Polina. She watched with a smile as she cutely scrambled over to the Farisian maid, grabbing onto her leg. Mari pointed out that the Patron Livia was due to arrive any moment, which was confirmed as the two large doors marking the entrance to of the Maison began to open. There she was - the black haired woman who looked to be younger than Lucrecia herself, dressed in regal military attire. The lady Livia Fiore had made her entrance, and one other it seems. Trailing behind her was the new edition to the team that Mari and Rosanna were discussing earlier. Wearing a white frilly dress with her scaly tail thrashing about, their new demon ally had made themselves known. Her name that she so proudly exclaimed was Elizstrazia, a scale demon that Lady Livia herself vouched for. It was an odd feeling, having to work alongside a being that was the same as the creatures you were hired to kill. Lucrecia was naturally wary of this new arrangement, and she couldn't imagine what effect this may have on Akantha's psyche.
But, as this was a decision made final by the Patron of the Maison, she couldn't very well reject it...
"Buongiorno, Signora Livia. I trust your travels were well?" Lucrecia said, politely curtseying to honor the young mistress. "You are too kind, your words are most generous. However..." She opened an eye, glancing toward Elizstrazia. "While I of course have no right to challenge your orders, I feel I must state that I am unsure of this 'arrangement' you've made with this...demone."
Standing in a normal pose, facing Elizstrazia, Lucrecia held a calm but stern expression. "You won't need to worry about babysitting us, Ms. Elizstrazia. We weren't hired by the Maison for nothing." She responded in a flat tone. "As Ms. Mariarca says, Polina and I will be your guides. Mind your manners and don't go wandering off on your own. No funny business."
She was still getting used to fighting demons, let alone interacting with them in a social setting. Lucrecia had no idea what to expect...
“Lucrecia.” Livia responded coolly. “I can understand your hesitancy and concern, but I have a contract with this one. Demons, especially scale ones…while it is hard to get them to agree to anything often will at least keep to the letter of the deal.” Livia glanced at the rest of the maids, handing the folder back to Mariarca. “I expect you to treat her as nothing more than another maid in training despite her nature. Any problems with her, you report to me first, unless she is directly harming another human. Do I make myself clear? Now all of you, get back to work. I’ve little time for idle hands.” She would then, leave, heading for the sitting room where she’d presumably be until they had finished their tour.
Akantha was quiet.
She hung tightly to Polina’s leg, eyes hyper focused on Eliz, little hands trembling.
“...Ah? Akantha…why don’t you come with me and help me get a dress ready.” Mariarca’s voice seemed to get Akantha’s attention, looking swiftly between Polina, the demon, and the head maid. Hesitantly, she’d let go of Polina, wordlessly running over, making sure to keep a wide berth around Eliz before ending up behind Mariarca, using her as cover from the demon. Mariarca offered the girl a small head pat before ordering her to come along. She glanced one more time back at the demon, but shook her head, running off after Mariarca.
That just left the rest of the maids to bow as Livia left, before going back to their duties. A few glanced at Eliz, but none said anything. If they were to treat her like any other trainee…well, Lady Fiore was not one to lightly punish maids that went against her orders. As they left, however, one familiar pair of pointed ears and red-hair would move towards them. A pair of bright green, elvish eyes studying Eliz with a hint of curiosity.
“So…this is our newest member.” The elf in question was named Siegine. Another of the veteran maids that had been with the Maison for a while. “Strange, she’s much smaller than I imagined a scale demon would be.” The elf studied the demon in front of her a bit longer. “Hm…I very much would like to fight you, but alas, I’m here on business. Myrilla is in the training fields if you are looking for her. I was heading that way too, and thought I could accompany you all.”
Well, Myrilla wouldn’t be hard to find at least. Viatrix was likely in the medical ward, too.
@Pyromania99 “Waow, what a hypocrite. Smacked my butt and you don’t want yours smacked? I thought you’d liked it.” Lyssa giggled, taking a few steps away from the firbolg as she’d take a look around the workshop. “Oh, no reason though. Not like Lady Fiore has returned or anything! I believe she said something like ‘Someone tell that dumb cat maid I’ll put her in the basement as punishment for not being here!’” Lyssa said with a grin, completely being an instigator as she’d pick up a doll and grin. “Mariarca asked me to drag you there.”
Lyssa proceeded to pet the dolls head, giving it a few flicks on the forehead with her finger.
Earned? Her very existence was something to be admired. Her beauty, her loveliness, that was something to be admired. She was like a work of fine art, wasn't she?
It was proof that she'd never be marred, to be admired.
"Well, I suppose you'll just have to learn," replied Elizstrazia, entirely ignoring the comment about 'funny business' from one of the maids in preference of addressing the assertion that she'd have to earn her admiration, "Anyway, I guess I'll follow you if I mu-"
Smaller.
'Smaller than I imagined'.
All other thoughts in Elizstrazia's mind, for a moment, ceased, as she grasped that phrase and analyzed it over and over again in her mind.
'Smaller than I imagined'
"I'm not short," the girl the size of a child snapped, stepping forward, "I'm... I'm-I'm beautiful! I'm a beautiful, admirable scale demon, utterly gorgeous and impossible to ignore and I'm not short or small or anything like that, got it?! If... if I were then..."
She trailed off for a moment, her tail rapidly swishing back and forth with irritation, her hands curled into fists at her sides. The sheer indignation in her expression, her tone of voice, was practically making the air vibrate around her. How dare anyone call her small? How could anyone see her and think something like that? She definitely wasn't! She totally wasn't! Just because she had to look up at almost anyone here and damn it why did they have to be so tall why didn't-
The point was that it was wrong to say that!
"... I'm not! That's it! Got it!?"
In some people the desire to ignore reality really was quite strong.
Polina gave the demon maid-to-be an unamused stare. This demon girl was really full of herself, wasn’t she? Better than being extremely violent or twisted in a way that wasn’t analogous to human failings, she supposed. “Come along, then. Lucrecia and I will show—”
She was interrupted by the girl suddenly snapping at Siegine. Ah. Ah… she had a height complex. Polina was very sorely tempted to tease her in her usual manner, but she decided that discretion was the better part of valor and dropped the thought that came to the tip of her tongue. “Yes,” she replied instead, nonetheless using a dry tone. “You are not short, Elizstrazia. Now follow me, we don’t have all that much time to explore the entire Maison in an hour.”
She really hoped that the demon girl wasn’t going to have a temper tantrum about her height right here. At the very least, Mariarca had extracted Akantha from the tricky situation so there wouldn’t be a small girl being traumatized by the small-scale demon.
Lucrecia wasn't amused by Eliza's snide rebuttal, but supposed it wasn't surprising given what she is. Livia's final say on the matter superseded whatever conflicting feelings she still had. With a bow, she acknowledged her master's orders and saw her off. She then turned her attention back to Eliz. Lucrecia noticed Akantha anxiety building up whilst still in the presence of their new teammate. Thankfully, Mariarca took the initiative and led the girl away to another task. That's one less thing to worry about!
As they were about to be on their way, Siegine, an elven woman and another veteran to the Maison, had walked up with them. Taking a curiosity to their demon comrade, she inspected her head to tail. While she eventually let up on her examination, a comment she had made didn't seem to sit right with Eliz. This caused her to go on a tirade, making a display of herself in front of everyone present. Lucrecia didn't say a word. Instead, dawning a complete look of perplexity on her face. Demons, creatures she was led to understand were blood-thirsty eldritch horrors, have among them one that is tantamount to a child throwing a temper tantrum. Over her height no less.
Polina attempted to calm the childish demon down, refocusing the group to continue onwards to duty. A sentiment that Lucrecia completely cosigned with.
I suppose I still have a lot to learn about these "malicious" beasts... She silently thought to herself.
"It's rude to wake a woman up from a restful slumber that way. I didn't do it to wake you up." Katherine said, sounding so high and mighty about it. "Hmph. Anyway, no you can't have one. I need these to work." After the doll was flicked on the head, another one came up behind her with a rolled up newspaper and smacked her on the ass. It was hard to tell if it was revenge from Katherine or for the doll that had it's head flicked. The one that was flicked seemed to complain at her a small, inaudible bit before turning and walking away. It didn't seem to mind the pets but the flicks were a step too far. The one that smacked her had walked away as well.
"But right. I forgot about the Lady coming here." Katherine said with a small rubbing of the temple. "Do I really have to go to that dungeon? If she's going to punish me couldn't she just drag me in that office and wag her tongue at me there instead?" Katherine asked with a sigh. "Feels like such unnecessary punishment for working on my tools of the trade. Anyhow..." Katherine lifted her legs up while sitting on the stool. "You can carry me there." The lazy cat-like woman said with a smile.
“I apologize, I meant no offense, I was merely…” The elf paused, as if realizing what she was about to say may not be quite helpful to the situation and instead would cough lightly, clearing her throat. “...well, I shall accompany you to Myrilla. Shall we?” Seig bowed, offering a small smile to the group before leading them on their way.
Whatever she was originally going to say, she wasn’t going to say even if Eliz pestered her.
The maid would lead the rest of the group through the well known halls of the Maison, from the entrance hall and grand staircase to the well traveled hall through the western wing of the mansion towards the training fields and the wing where a good portion of the training was held for new maids. Contrasted to the Eastern wing, where much of the operational and intelligence operatives were housed.
Soon they’d exit through a large set of double doors, heading outside down a large, stone path that followed the Maison around its Western wing towards the training fields. The only noticeable thing was Lyssa carrying a very annoyed looking kat over her shoulder. Seemed she made certain to take the long way towards the sitting room by effectively running a lap around the outside of the mansion, just to annoy Kat. She paused briefly to wave at them, and give a friendly grin towards Eliz but ultimately didn’t stop to say hi.
“If you don’t mind me asking, Eliz,” Sieg would inquire as they walked. “Why has a demon decided to help the Maison?”
Eliz, though, would not get very long to reply. There was the sound of a gunshot from the training fields, from atop a tall watchtower the familiar pink hair of Myrilla could be seen, a long rifle in her hands. A bullet grazed the demon's cheek, plinking off her pristine skin, leaving a smudge mark behind.
Myrilla slid down the ladder to the tower, and was making a beeline towards the group, drawing her sword from its scabbard.
“Eeep! Kat why you teaching these things to behave like that?” Lyssa chided the other maid, standing up and dusting her dress off as she’d stick her tongue out at the retreating doll. “Ehehe, well, I guess I don’t mind too much but they gonna get in trouuuuble~” She’d walk over to kat, giving her a bright grin as she was asked to be carried.
“Eh? Carry you, but I dont wanna. You look heavy.” Lyssa huffed, frowning a bit as she’d mull it over. “...hmm, but fine! Sure! Okay!” After waffling for a few moments, Kat would find Lyssa lifting her off the ground, the pink haired maid laughing brightly as she’d sweep the Firbolg off her feet. For a moment it looked like she was going to get a princess carry…but then was promptly slung right over Lyssa’s shoulder, upper body hanging off of Lyssa's back.
And Lyssa’s hand conveniently holding Kat right by the butt.
“Ehehe onwards!~”
And with that, Lyssa ran out of the workshop and headed towards the sitting room.
The long way, towards the Sitting room. That involved running a lap around the outside of the mansion, passing briefly by the rest of her squad on the way, but Lyssa moved too fast for her to ask for help.
