[IC] [Save Me From The Dark] freedomliveson x earlymorninstar

[earlymorninstar]

You won't cry for my absence, I know.​
You forgot me long ago.​

She was a simple girl in a simple town – or rather, a town that was close to places that were hardly simple. New York City was only a car’s drive away and yet no one ever put a thought towards Mount Vernon – a town so close and yet so far. Perfectly fitting for the girl whose dreams were so close to that. They were always in an arm’s reach and yet they would never get farther than the wall of her home. A shame – she seemed so promising and pretty, didn’t she? She seemed to have a good head on her shoulders: full of ideas and smiles that never seemed to fade regardless of what was going on around her. Oh, if only they knew what lie behind closed doors. But no one really cared in Mount Vernon, did they? It was a quaint little town full of perfect little houses where no one bothered one another – no matter what they may have heard or seen at night; no matter what glimpse of a life behind the door they could have gotten. No; Alyssa was just sweet little Alyssa, taking care of her poor father who never could cope with the death of his wife. She was capable; and she would be okay.

They would never really know about the trouble and chaos that poor Alyssa DePiew dealt with from the moment her mother had been lost.

It was difficult; she was meant to be daddy’s little girl, and perhaps she had become that in the long run. He just didn’t know it yet – or rather, the liquor was enough to fog his vision so that he would never know it. She was torn; struggling to love her father and yet wanting to escape all in the same. Any other person would have taken off running, but she was too good for that, wasn’t she? Alyssa couldn’t abandon her father any more than she could fathom running away even for a moment.

She’d matured far too much, too soon, because of her father.

The man was a mess, left without a wife and blind to the daughter that he still had left. Alcohol became his only companion. He fell and fell, deep into an abyss in which Alyssa could no longer reach him, nor could she even try if she wanted to. He was nothing without his wife and soon began to deteriorate under layers and layers of liquid. Alyssa was left to pick up the pieces and attempt to place them together, but how could you piece together something that did not want to be fixed? Poor Alyssa; Sweet Alyssa, left with the immense debt of her father throughout his substance abuse; card after card applied for and maxed out. Bill after bill, torn up and ignored – cursed at and spit at as if it would send the nagging collectors away. And the house – the house still held an immense amount of debt that needed to be paid, or else they wouldn’t have a place to stay.

But he didn’t care, did he?

It was inevitable that Alyssa had to venture to work every day – perhaps her only real escape without the necessity to run away. It was there where she would bury her head in books in hopes to chase away the worry of her father drowning in his own vomit, or accidentally killing himself from over-consumption. It was only at the end of the day did she feel the familiar pang of worry in her stomach before she’d set foot back in her own home. But he’d always be there- passed out, drunk off his ass, with nothing to say for himself other than a messy house.

Michael DePiew had withered away into a shell of a man and Alyssa was left to carry him along. It was a wonder she had gotten through her own mother’s death by herself, or perhaps she hadn’t even had time to grieve. She already lost one parent and she was thrust into the inevitable concern about losing another in a moment’s time. She already knew she would if he continued to keep up his binge drinking in order to numb the pain.

He became her burden just as much as she became his. As far as he knew, she was not his daughter. She was a nagging bitch who wouldn’t let him grieve over Mary – Oh, Mary… his beautiful wife. Why the fuck did she have to go so soon? Why the hell did that bastard take her?

The smell became horrible in the house; old beer and liquor wouldn’t quite come out of the carpet no matter how much she scrubbed and scrubbed. The cans wouldn’t go away no matter how many times she’d picked them up. The bills continued to pile and pile and every night she would have to make dinner for a father who didn’t want to eat, nor did he want her there.

Poor, sweet Alyssa was becoming a prisoner of her own home.
​
Am I that unimportant?
Am I so insignificant?​

It wasn't until one night that Alyssa finally snapped.

“GODDAMNIT, LISSA! WHERE DID YOU HIDE MY FUCKING BEER!?”

“I didn’t put it anywhere, dad. You drank it all this morning.”

“Don’t lie to me, you little bitch. Where are the fucking cans?!”

There had been no reaction to his harsh words; almost as if Alyssa had become her own shell of a woman. No; she’d been used to his slander; used to his harsh touch. It was only a matter of time before he snapped again over her cleaning her own home, or trying to cook him food. No matter how much she wanted to, she hadn’t taken his alcohol. He honestly had consumed it all within the morning hours and it seemed, the moment he’d sobered up, was the moment he realized they were gone. She sat at her kitchen table, nibbling at whichever sandwich she could put together as she dryly eyed a stack of bills that she’d been ignoring the week before.

“Go to bed, dad. You’ve had enough tonight. “ Her voice had been so soft; so quiet and gentle and yet it seemed as if she hadn’t cared in the least. She was going through the motions… Just like she had every other night prior. And yet, no amount of concentration could have kept her eyes on her table as she felt herself lifted and felt the sudden jolt against her shoulder as she came in contact with the wall next to her. The chair had fallen out beneath her somewhere and the table had shifted with an unruly sound against her hardwood floors. Her breath had lifted from her lungs for a temporary moment and all she’d seen was a white flash as her vision slowly returned in her painful shock.

“Don’t give me that shit! Tell me where the fuck they are!” He loomed over her in that moment, leaving her to look up at him with a new resolve through hazy vision as her breath began to fill her lungs again.

“What the hell? Touch me again, dad, and I’m calling the cops! They’ll take you away this time, I promise you!”

“Go ahead, ya little shit. They won’t believe your lying ass anyway.”

On the contrary, his cool and careless words couldn’t be farther from the truth. The police had been quite familiar with Alyssa and her situation with her father. No matter how many times she hadn’t pressed charges, they insisted for her own safety. Without a doubt, they were drooling to get their hands on him. And she’d been right. The moment she called, they’d been there and they were in the least bit gentle, ripping him out of that house.

And once more, she was left to clean up the pieces, aching in his wake.
​
Isn’t something missing?
Isn’t someone missing me…​

Within the passing days, Alyssa would come to realize that her father had been guilty of substance abuse on top of his alcoholism. He’d been sentenced to a few weeks in prison and on top of that, would be sent off to rehabilitation. It would only give Alyssa the breather she needed, and the time to actually focus on the debt and mess she was left with.

It wouldn’t be long before she found a job; an odd one at that. Something caught her off guard with the way she wasn’t asked for a resume, nor was she subjected to a background check. It was almost as if they were desperate for help. An in-home maid service. Really, how horrible could that be? But with how quick they were to take her in to at least interview her, Alyssa had an awful feeling that it could very well be one of the worst jobs she’d applied for. Either way, they would pay her far more than anything else that was local would offer, so Alyssa hardly had a choice.

It was Monday morning when she found herself in front of the large oak doors that seemed to dwarf her in a mere second. She'd clutched a portfolio folder to her chest as she faltered for a moment. One moment - she needed an extra moment to make sure she looked professional enough. Her gaze fell to her black pencil skirt that had been ironed neatly and she made sure her white blouse had been buttoned correctly and tucked in her skirt without a wrinkle. Her heart was pounding in her head and yet it felt like it had fallen somewhere on the ground by her feet.

Alright, Alyssa….

One, two, three…

And she knocked.
​
Though I'd die to know you love me,
I'm all alone...

Alyssa Picture

[freedomliveson]

"NATHAN, GET THAT BLOODY DOOR!"
"Of course, of course." The reed-thin Nathan muttered something unsavory under his breath as he made his way down the stairs, his long, stick like legs moving in grasshopper-like motion on the gleaming cream colored marble streaked with ebony. Today was one of Mansfield's more agitated moods, which was of course saying something considering that the young man who employed him was often agitated. This, however, was more of a frenzied annoyance. His study door was surprisingly open, Mansfield's slightly wider than average shoulders hunched over books scattered across his desk, a tray of crumpets, clotted cream and peanut butter(don't ask) going untouched as he pored over the open tomes in front of him, hastily scribbling in one of several notepads before consorting with the monitor mounted a couple of feet above eye level, which was directly opposite the doorway. Columns of text and numbers stayed on the screen for a moment or two before he snorted at his previous musings and swiped them away with a nearby iPad. His dark hazel, almost black irises were rapidly moving from side to side, senses totally imbibed in his research. When he got like this, Nathan knew that the day would be a rather trying one. Thankfully, there was someone to break up the traditional rhythm of the day, that being someone who answered the ad Mansfield had insisted on publishing. Nathan had offered suggestions, like oh you know, actually going through a private service to ensure the highest quality of help(which was how Nathan wound up in Mansfield's employ in the first place), but this was another impulsive decision that his employer had made. Just like installing a massive garden in the back and insisting on growing different strains of oranges or installing a make-shift observatory that jutted out of the roof. While impulsive, however, Mansfield knew when to admit when he was wrong about his desires. It was nice to hear him humble every so often.

Reaching the door, Nathan smoothed his dark brown hair down and left, adjusting the vest underneath his tailcoat and proceeded to open the door. What(or who, precisely) greeted him was an attractive blonde woman garbed in professional attire, a folder seeming to be her only possession. At least she didn't show up in a maid costume. He was terribly afraid of that possibility.

He smiled politely as he spoke:
"I see that you're here to answer the advertisement situated in the newspaper. Please do come in and wait in the seating area. Mr.Coates will be with you shortly." He ushered her into the foyer, which had two staircases flanking the main hallway that led to a landing, said landing branching out both left and right with a door that stood a few feet past the staircase to the right, which was where Mansfield was currently occupied. Nathan led the woman through the entrance hall and to the seating area, which was a room consisting of elaborate draperies that framed nearly full floor to ceiling windows. There were three overstuffed couches gilded with etched wooden designs that were arranged to face a large television that was currently silent. To the left of this gaudy scene were several guitars mounted to the wall, all acoustic but bearing different designs. A bar counter was tucked up against the left most wall with cabinets behind it.
"May I ask what your name is and why you have decided to answer the ad?" Nathan was more curious than anything, knowing Mansfield would probably hire her because she was the first one that arrived. Then again, he might be more discerning than normal.

[earlymorninstar]

It seemed like she had stood there for forever, the large door ahead of her nearly mocking her as she shifted hesitantly. Her heels idly scratched at the ground beneath her, perhaps the only sound reaching her ears through the incessant drumming of her heart in her chest. The short amount of time had given her pause – a moment to wonder if this had been either a fantastic idea or a horrible mistake. She had needed the money, Alyssa knew that full well, but was this the best option for her in hopes to pay the bills that her father was accruing on a daily basis? It had been years since she'd gone on an interview, and the thought of having to try to sell herself to a stranger was far less appealing than she would like, but at the end of the day, Alyssa really had no other options. At least, no options that would pay her quick enough to at least get the first of her bills paid.

The opening of the door had caused her to jump in the slightest and she straightened her back as soon as she had seen the male that had greeted her. It was easy enough to deduce that he was also part of the staff that worked there, and she idly wondered just how many others had roamed the large manor; perhaps not enough considering the owner needed a housekeeper.

Pushing her thoughts aside, Alyssa had met his smile with her own regardless of her nerves that continued to buzz throughout her entire body. She held her portfolio to her chest almost as if it had been a safety net, and she had only murmured a soft "Thank you" as she was brought inside.

Immediately her attention turned to the large foyer that she had stepped in, and Alyssa couldn't help but bite her bottom lip in hesitation. If she were to land this, perhaps she would have her work cut out for her. The place was larger than she'd anticipated, and hell – she'd only been in the foyer thus far. She could only imagine what other rooms the house held. Still, Alyssa had followed Nathan as soon as he had led her away, her heels clicking against the floor and echoing throughout the foyer as she quickly trailed behind him before entering the next room.

His question had given her pause, and she was almost embarrassed for not introducing herself as soon as the door was answered. "Alyssa DePiew." She replied all at once, the kind smile still on her lips as she even extended a hand for him to shake. Her other still carefully held her portfolio to her chest. "And – Well," Obviously, she needed a job. She wasn't quite anticipating his question as she searched for an answer that wouldn’t' exactly make her sound desperate. "I needed a bit of a change, I suppose. This job seemed interesting enough, and quite frankly, I could use the work to keep me busy." Which was true – the library not only could pay so much, but there was only so much she could do there as well. This could at least keep her mind off of her father and everything that had been going on as of late – she would welcome the distraction with open arms as long as she could land it, that is…

@freedomliveson

[freedomliveson]

Nathan suppressed a chuckle when she mentioned the term "interesting", fully aware that the poor girl would soon find out that was a dramatic understatement about her potential employer.
"I understand the desire to make a change in one's routine. Doing the same things over and over again can prove to be rather droll." He shot her a polite smile once more before telling her:
"Ms.DePiew, please feel free to help yourself to beverages located underneath bar counter. The cabinets behind the bar are off limits due to their intoxicating effects." A smirk before turning around.
"I will Mr.Coates down shortly. Please be prepared for his arrival."

Mansfield had stopped his research when Nathan rapped on the open door.
"Yes, yes, I'll be there momentarily."
"If I may be so bold, Mansfield, the girl seems amenable enough."
"Good. I would hope that my majordomo could provide a reasonable assessment of someone who crosses the threshold of his own home." Mansfield shot him a teasing smirk as he rose, Nathan blowing out a sigh.
"Sir, might I recommend you not approaching your candidate with more than a pair of shorts?"
"I was getting to that!"
"Of course you were, sir."

He stopped at the top of the staircase, cracking his neck before adjusting the navy blue tie he had donned for the occasion. Content with the jet black suit and dark blue dress shirt that complimented the tie, he barreled down the stairs two at a time, the soles of his shoes clattering down with him. He strode forward with his back straight, shoulders back, eyes ahead. His colleagues called it the "peacock" walk, a strut that Mansfield had developed over the course of endless presentations, award ceremonies and yes, even attending state functions with dear old Dad. He shook his head at the mere inkling he just had of the old bugger, content with moving into the foyer with a clear mind to evaluate the woman who was so "amenable" in Nathan's eyes.

He caught sight of her and was...well, impressed. She looked the part of a professional, yet allowed her natural beauty to shine through in the way she styled her dark blonde hair. She had a face that conveyed great sadness and wisdom rolled into one, soft eyes that were guardians to a number of hidden secrets she would want buried forever. He had met a few people like this in his practice, each of them fascinating him in their own right. Fate had smiled upon him. Maybe she could be used as a test subject? No, no, too risky. But maybe down the line? Have to see. For now, interact, engage, see what she's like. Thankfully Nathan had taken the liberty of giving him her name, so he announced in his slightly British lilt:
"Ms.DePiew? Mansfield Coates. A pleasure." He motioned for her to sit on the couch in the center of the room while he placed himself on the couch to the right, leaning forward to shake her hand.
"May I see your resume, please?" As he grabbed the file, he added:
"Do tell me a bit about yourself. I want to see if you match up with what I'm looking for. I'm sure you wouldn't want us to waste either of our days prancing around the subject."

[earlymorninstar]

Oh, if it really was only a change in routine that she was after, she would have certainly found something better to do than to work for someone as their personal housekeeper that was for certain. Alyssa absolutely could imagine quite a few other things to keep herself occupied in the absence of her father, however, none of those held any amount of monetary gain which she needed to keep him exactly where he needed to be for the time being. She was forced into this, more so than she would like to admit, and silently hoped it would not be as terrible as she was already deducing it to be. Hell, she certainly had enough practice picking up after her own father half of the time – at least this bit of work wouldn't come with the inevitable abuse that soon sprouted up in her own home.

Nathan had instructed her to wait and soon she had been left alone in that large room, awkwardly standing in the middle of it all. Her gaze roamed the walls and furniture, the fine things all thrown together in one room. Perhaps they lingered on the bar for a little longer than they should have – she would certainly give for something to calm her own nerves, but, she'd strayed from liquor at least for a while now, given the hell that she had to live with because of it. Alyssa hadn't quite known how long she'd been standing there, simply observing and taking everything in piece by piece before she'd heard the large steps behind her.

Alyssa had quickly turned to face him as soon as he had entered the room, so it wouldn't seem as if she was making too much of a fool of herself for gawking at his belongings. If anything, she seemed curious, however, when she finally had met the owner – Mansfield Coats. He hardly was what she was anticipating, considering he was much younger than the image she held in her mind. Typically, she had only pictured some old, lonely soul locked away in a big house with so many expensive tastes and belongings, but the man who stood in front of her was far from what she could have expected.

She had easily allowed her smile to fall about her lips again as he introduced himself, and she was thankful that the other man had at least informed him of her name prior. "Good afternoon, Mr. Coates." She replied formally enough before he had instructed her to sit. She'd easily extended her hand to shake his as well before she smoothed her skirt down beneath her as she sat. She felt as if she were a bundle of nerves, hoping not to ruin the opportunity, knowing how terribly she needed it – hoping she wouldn't make a fool of herself.

Alyssa had placed her portfolio in her lap before she opened it, taking out the neatly typed resume before she had handed it to him. And here came the awful moment of having to sell herself – She always felt so terribly awkward when she had to talk about herself. What really was there to tell? The truth was far too depressing for anyone to hear, and she would never come out and say it even if she wanted to. It was always best to fluff up the truth as best she could. Think positive, Alyssa…

She had tilted her head in thought for a moment, as she neatly crossed her legs, her hands sitting just as neatly in her lap. "Well, I'm not sure exactly what you'd like to know.. " She began after a moment. "I've always lived around here, for starters. Graduated with a BA in English Language and Literature from Fairleigh Dickinson University by the city – hardly had a chance to actually use it, of course." She offered with a small smile. "Been employed by a few places, all of which I've stayed quite a few years before other opportunities had arisen – the most recent being the local public library – " She continued. Such silly little facts, all of which he could have gathered by her resume all on his own. "To be honest, I haven't quite held a job such as this one, but I'm absolutely a quick learner and more than organized and qualified to fill it." She added as an afterthought, almost defending herself as if she needed to.

@freedomliveson

[freedomliveson]

He smiled broadly at her mention of the degree, allowing her to finish before responding:
"A literate woman in upstate New York? My, my, what a pleasant surprise. Most of the people I've met here have been a tad...well, forgive my bluntness, ignorant. This tiny little area of Rochester has proven to be quite the boon, but in general I've found this place to be an intellectual wilderness." Mansfield handed the resume back to Alyssa before continuing:
"At least you were able to use the degree somewhat in the library. Now, out of curiosity, what are some of your favorite works? I've always favored the Romantics myself. Delightfully insane, melodramatic to the point of satire and fully invested in exploring the psyche of mankind through non-traditional methods. A wonderful combination, although I'm a tad biased due to my profession." He then held up a hand.
"Alas, before we go into more pleasurable subjects, allow me to tell you what you would be doing here." Mansfield motioned outside.
"You see the grounds, yes? There's a quarter of an acre that is already tended to, thankfully, but no one to take care of the interior. You would be responsible for general upkeep around the home, learning from Nathan as much as you could. He is, after all, the majordomo of the home and is responsible for everything. It would be nice for him to have assistance during the day. The position does require you to take residence here so that you could fill in for Nathan when he returns home. He is a rather busy man in the evenings and I've been in need of much help with academic matters that I believe you can assist me with. Simple things like categorizing books, filing case studies, that sort of thing." He paused for a moment to adjust his tie before continuing:
"Your pay will be in line with your experience and qualifications, which aren't mind-boggling, but still more than satisfying to me. Will fifty thousand a year do? Your meals and board will be provided as benefits to you, of course." Judging from her self-deprecating language and the way she seemed to(in his mind) shift ever so gently in her chair as she spoke, fifty thousand would be more than enough for her. How interesting it will be to have a creature like her around. He was looking forward to it already.
"Do you have any questions for me before I take you on the tour? You have the job, by the way, it's just a matter of ironing out the logistics of it all."

Nathan had taken up residence in the entrance to the living area, sighing inwardly at his employer's swift decision making. Someday it would come back to bite him. Someday.

[earlymorninstar]

Of all things Alyssa had been expecting of an interview, the sudden whirlwind of conversation and details had not exactly been fully anticipated. He was quite the interesting sort of man, from what she could gather in those few short moments, at least. She could have hardly gotten a word in even if she tried; however, part of her was pleased over such a thing. The less she had to talk and fight for herself, the better. On paper, she knew full well she wasn't exactly qualified, however, from experience, she was probably overly suited for the position. She was used to picking up other people's messes day in and day out, fixing things that had gotten broken along the way, tidying up and keeping organized to the best of her ability when she needed to.

He seemed pleased that she had a degree even though it hardly pertained to the job at all. Then again, she wasn't sure she would have wanted someone who hadn't gone to at least some form of schooling roaming their home. She supposed you had to hold a level of trust over someone who was going to take over such a position, and she had hoped she would have come off as such. At least, Alyssa would give him no reason to think otherwise. She listened to him rattle off his favorite genres and what he'd been interested in and thankfully it had helped her relax in the slightest. Reading and writing had most definitely been where she found herself most comfortable, and if that was the one thing they would have in common, then so be it. Although, she didn't quite know how much interaction she would have with him other than this interview.

Alyssa had parted her lips to try and give him an answer, but he quickly had silenced her to move onto other things. She couldn't help but blink, the tilt of her head showing her curiosity to how quick he was able to switch from one topic to another. It was almost exhilarating as it was nearly exhausting. She had inkling that this man was full of much more knowledge than she could fathom.

Still, she listened to him, unsure of where she still stood; unsure of what more he could have wanted to know about her; unsure of if she would even land the job. Everything he threw at her she immediately took away, almost tempted to write everything down in case she'd missed something important. From what she could gather, she would be obligated to live there, which wouldn't be a terrible problem considering there was nothing for her at home at this point. She would have to learn everything from Nathan – whom she supposed was the man who had led her into this room in the first place. At least he seemed nice enough – hopefully they would be able to get along, that is, if she had gotten the job. Then there was the salary, which had caught her mildly off-guard. It was much more than what she'd made at the library, that was for certain, and it would get her well on her way to paying for her father – especially if she really didn't have to worry about other expenses considering she would be staying there.

Alyssa had shifted slightly in her seat, still gripping onto the edges of her portfolio in her lap as if her nerves had still been coursing through her, but she had brightened in the slightest over the mention of it, almost a bit of relief crossing her features – even more so when she was suddenly told that she did, in fact, have the job. Just like that. Just like it was nothing at all – as if she wasn't worrying to death over what she would do if she didn’t get it.

She had blinked in her surprise, almost forgetting to answer his question all at once, but Alyssa quickly shook her head, the waves of her blonde hair falling around her shoulders. "I – Just –" Clearly she was at a loss for words momentarily before she collected herself rather quickly. "Sorry," She just as quickly apologized with almost an embarrassed smile on her lips. "Thank you, I mean. I really appreciate the opportunity, and I won't disappoint." She reassured him, once more, as if she needed to.

@freedomliveson

[freedomliveson]

"Oh I doubt you'll disappoint, Ms.DePiew. Based on the interactions we've had today, I think you'll do quite splendidly. It is, after all, the only expectation I have. That you perform to your highest abilities." A half smile crossed his lips as he rose.
"Nathan, Ms.DePiew will require the guest quarters prepared. Please do so at once."
"Of course. Will be there anything else?" Mansfield pointed at the gardens that were blooming on the left hand side of the quarter acre that stretched out towards infinity, cherry blossoms and daffodils being the main attractions.
"Tell the bloody landscaping people to do their job for once. I'm tired of looking at such a dreary garden."
"Of course." Mansfield shook his head and offered an apology:
"I wish you could see a proper garden, but this will suffice. Come, I need to take you on the grand tour and I feel as if I will be able to do that rather well."

The tour started off in the living area, where Mansfield opened the french double doors to the outside and allowed Alyssa to take in the quiet serenity that "bombarded" the estate on a daily basis. There were a few neighbors situated on the same piece of property, but each home was arranged to where their acreage was unobstructed by any "eye sores". Withdrawing back inside, he took her to the kitchen just off the east side of the living area, where two elderly women were busy chopping carrots and celery("Yosina and Elizabeth make the best food you'll ever have"). Past the kitchen into the dining room, a long, drawn out wooden table surrounded by high backed chairs dominating the room. Clambering upstairs, Mansfield had pointed out his office quickly before showing her some of the bedrooms on the left side of the home, including one at the end of a long hallway that included a bathroom.
"I see Nathan has already prepared the quarters for you. The man is devilishly fast." He chuckled slightly as he led her back to the landing.
"Ms.DePiew, I must say that you have access to all of the property as you see fit EXCEPT for the right side of the home. I know that is quite a lot of ground for you to not cover, but I insist that part of the home remain as private as possible." Nathan emerged from below and called out:
"A Doctor Roman for you on the phone."
"Of course, I'll get to him as soon as I can."
'Shall I have him leave a message?" Mansfield looked to Alyssa, cautiously eyeing her for a brief moment.
"Yes. Yes, tell him that I'll be at the hospital as soon as my meeting is over." Another apologetic smile crossed his face.
"My profuse apologies for not explaining my profession. I am a psychiatrist at a nearby private hospital that specializes in a number of innovative procedures, some of which I have the pleasure of pioneering. That is to say that I won't see very much of you most days, so feel free to come and go as you see fit after your work is done. Nathan will administer everything to you during the day and I will give you your charge during the evening." He walked to the staircase before pausing.
"I assume that we won't have any problems with abandoning your post without warning? A couple of my former attendants did so and I was most displeased." His knuckles turned white as he gripped the top of the railing, jaw clenching for a millisecond.
"But you don't seem like the type to 'cut and run'." He turned to her.
"Speaking of which, I must take my leave. What questions do you have for me?"

[earlymorninstar]

Everything was happening so terribly fast that Alyssa was nearly second-guessing her own decisions. He seemed quite pleased with her even after a quick assessment and before she knew it, he was ready to take her on a tour of the home. And yet, he had this sweeping way of flooding her with every little detail in such a short amount of time that she found herself almost overwhelmed, drowning in information and answers before she could even ask the question. It was almost exhilarating – perhaps more interaction than she'd gotten with anyone over the past few months. She'd been used to the general passers-by at the library, answering an occasional question once in a while, which- truth-be-told - had been nice. On the other hand, she'd also been used to the constant swearing and demeaning from her father. This bit of interaction had been so foreign to her that she nearly fought to grasp at the ends of it before it slipped away.

No, Alyssa couldn't very well disappoint her new employer – she was determined to make good by her promise that she would be perfectly capable. However, she felt as if she had enough self-doubt that should she try to bottle it up, it would still overflow. How difficult would it be to keep the place tidy? She'd done it day in and day out at home, now she was only in a much larger home – more ground to cover and only enough time in the day to do so. Still, Alyssa was up for the challenge and as long as it kept her mind busy and the bills paid, then there was absolutely nothing she could complain about.

Although, the more Mr. Coates had spoken, the more she wondered just how eccentric he really was. He'd complained about the gardens and yet, she could see nothing wrong with them. They seemed far from dreary in her eye, but then again, who was she to know a thing or two about formal gardens? Maybe she just was ignorant in the subject and he knew exactly what he was talking about?

The girl remained awfully quiet as he soon was leading her throughout the home, the click of her heels steadily behind him was perhaps the only sound that came from her as she absorbed every bit of information he'd fed her. The place was much larger than she could have expected, and she continued to make mental notes of where everything was should she become lost one day or another. At least there were other employees around – she could use the help getting on her own two feet at least.

They had eventually ended up to where she was to stay and she had gotten a quick peek in the room before he led her away once more. Of course it was far more luxurious than she was used to. Their little two bedroom home only held so much – so suddenly be able to have her own, rather large room, to her herself was rather exciting. Maybe she could get a decent wink of sleep once in a while here, where she didn't have to worry so much about her father and what he might be getting into once she'd gone to bed. Perhaps this entire ordeal was a blessing in disguise.

Alyssa followed him in silence, still grasping her portfolio to her chest while she listened to him. However, her curiosity was piqued at the mention that the right side of the home had been off limits and she raised a brow without meaning to. She'd almost parted her lips to ask about it, but thought against it. It wasn't her place, first off, and thankfully Nathan had interrupted her before she'd made the poor decision. Thankfully so, she had shifted a bit in place while they both spoke, once more her curiosity lit as Mansfield addressed her again. A psychiatrist? Perhaps that was why he was so haphazard in deciding to hire her after only a few short minutes of discussion. He probably could figure out that she wasn't some sort of crazy woman that he was inviting in his home – but then she wondered just what else he could have noticed.

Her thoughts had been cut off abruptly as his next words had given her pause before she immediately shook her head to answer his question. "No, sir—" She needed this job terribly and she'd be a fool to simply leave it without warning. Although, she wondered just why others had done just that – the little snippet of a possible temper that she'd just seen could have very well been a reason. Or, maybe he was hiding some massive secret within the rooms on the right side of the house. Her imagination could have run wild, but she thought it best not to speculate… At least not while standing right in front of him. "Like I've previously said, I do not expect to disappoint." Alyssa finally reiterated. "And, I believe you have everything covered, as far as any questions I could have had. I'm sure if anything comes up, Nathan could be of some assistance." She gave a little shrug of her shoulders then. No, he didn't have to worry about her in the least. She intended on getting her job done at the end of the day and staying out of everyone's hair by the end of it all – just as she was used to at home.

[freedomliveson]

The shrug. Why the shrug? Such an innocent gesture, one of release of expectation, but conveys much more than simple apathy or nonchalant behavior. What was she hiding? What could that smooth forehead of hers be hiding? Fully aware that he could stay on this train of thought for a socially unacceptable period of time, he threw his burst of thought into the recesses of his mind and filed it for later. He would decode her patterns of movement soon enough, just as he had done for all the others he had come into contact with.
"Very well, then. Nathan, arrange for Ms.DePiew's belongings to be transported here at once. None of those brutish thugs from that previous company you hired out. People that know how to handle furniture more delicately than scraping it across the bloody marble."
"Of course."
"Good." He nodded to Alyssa, telling her:
"I shall see you in the evening, Ms.DePiew. Please do get settled in. I'll ring for you when I arrive." Mansfield stormed into his office, grabbed a sportscoat hanging on a hook between two bookshelves and hurried down the stairs through the door Alyssa had arrived in. Nathan looked up at her, the beginnings of a smile forming.
"My dear, you'll get used to him. He's a tad...well, eccentric. A good man at heart, but very, very eccentric, almost to the point of insanity." He waited a beat.
"That was a joke. One that fell rather flat, I see." He motioned for her to come downstairs before asking:
"Now would you be so kind as to help me direct the movers? They'll need an address to extract your things. I assume you'll want to go with them, then?"

____

It had been too rainy lately. Coming from someone who spent most of his time in England, that was a rather condemning statement of the weather that had currently taken up residence in this more remote part of Rochester. Rain assaulted the windshield of his black sedan made by some luxury car company or another that he could care less about(Nathan had bought the car for him). Thankfully he was just now pulling into the detached garage which proudly stood to the right of the main entrance. A covered breezeway would protect any exiting from the garage to the home and a solid ebony colored fence would block any intruders from causing any sort of disturbance. It made him smile at times, the way that the home was designed. It was as if it was purposely set up to thwart any potential outside threats. Security. He valued that.

Of course that security was being broached now, as evidenced by a small moving truck(or van?) that was taking up space at the front entrance. To think that they couldn't have taken care of that during the day! What bloody morons! Alyssa couldn't have THAT much to bring with her, could she? After all, if he were to fire her in the next few days, it would be quite the expense to shift all of her belongings back to her original residence. He grumbled through his teeth as he parked, shutting the garage door with a keyfob before proceeding out onto the breezeway where he saw Nathan with an umbrella pointing at what looked like a suitcase.
"NATHAN! Why on earth are these people still here?!"

[earlymorninstar]

Alyssa had caught it – the brief moment of pause at her response – the silence filled the air between them for only a second, but she had noticed the subtle shift in his expression and suddenly she felt if she was being scrutinized. He was a psychiatrist, after all, he probably knew the ins and outs of behavior and reasons why people did the things they'd done… And she wondered briefly if he knew more about her than she had even let off. He could have never guessed her secrets, she was sure of it – he could have never known what she'd come from or what she had dealt with throughout the years – he couldn't get past all of those walls that she had made sure to put up and secure. But in that brief, fleeting moment, she hesitated – and then he was right back at it with his quick words as he nearly bounded down the stairs. She could only stare after him, wrapping her mind around everything that had just happened within the short amount of time that she'd set foot in the house.

Perhaps she had a silly look on her face, but Nathan's words had pulled her from her thoughts and she blinked, focusing on him at the bottom of the stairs for a moment longer. His joke really had fallen thin – mainly due to the fact that it had seemed more a fact than a joke. She already could gather how very eccentric he really was, and she'd only met him for a few moments… Insanity, well, it seemed more plausible than laughable.

Alyssa quickly shook her head as she moved to step down the staircase towards him, brushing away a stray curl from her face in the wake of it all. "I'm sorry – I'm just…" She began with a small smile. "Just trying to figure out how this all happened that quickly, is all. It's a bit to take in…" She offered, her voice quiet and still cautious. She was almost waiting for him to burst right back through that door as if it were all a joke and she was foolish to believe it all.

Once more, Nathan had brought her back from reality as her gaze shifted to the front door, almost to quell her own worries before she looked back to him. "Ah – my address. Yes – thankfully, I don't live too far off from here…" Alyssa explained before she had given him her address, eager to travel along to get her things in an effort to make sure that everything arrived in one piece.

She hadn't intended on taking too much – she really didn't need to bring too much at the end of the day, but once those men were in her little house, it seemed that they simply unleashed and filtered in like ants, wrapping things up and shoving them in the truck before she could even dispute it. It was odd, her empty little house full of life that seemed so out of place in that moment. Who would have thought every bit of her life could be packed up so easily and tossed aside? Who would have thought that just hours later she would have been standing in an empty bedroom, wondering if she really had made the right decision?

What was so terribly wrong about it? She had placed herself in a good position and she was doing everything she could to help her father… who, truthfully, she wasn't so sure he deserved it. At the end of the day, he was her father and no matter how many times she had to pick herself up off the floor, patch up a hole in the wall, hide a bruise or two – she would still be there at the end of the day just to make sure that he was okay… Part of her couldn't blame him – he had lost a wife when her mother passed away, but she had also lost her mother as well… They both had to deal with a loss, but Alyssa had to deal with her father's depression instead…

She shook her head to rid herself of her wandering thoughts, breathing a slow sigh as she eyed her empty room once more. This was a good thing – it had to be, for her father's sake and hers.

And maybe the eccentric Mr. Coates would keep her busy enough that she wouldn't have to dwell on it much longer. She could collect a paycheck and send it right on its way – she could breathe for once…

Eventually they had ended up back at the large house, her belongings already being shuffled inside and she was quick to try and unpack and sort everything through. The entire ordeal had taken far too long for her liking, and apparently from what she'd heard through the open front door that she knew Nathan had ran off to – it wasn't to the liking of a certain Mr. Coates, either. She nearly flinched at his tone as she carried one of her own boxes up the stairs, wondering if her suspicion that he might have a bit of suppressed anger behind that eccentricity was true as well…

@freedomliveson

[freedomliveson]

"The moving company took much longer than expected." Nathan had met Mansfield in the foyer of the hall, which featured the moving personnel shifting furniture and other belongings up the stairs.
"I can see that." He spotted Alyssa carrying a box and balked, pointing at one of the men who was presumably returning from her quarters and ordering:
"Are you honestly expecting me to pay you people while my newest employee has to haul her own furniture, let alone allow a lady to do your work? Do your bloody job or I'll find someone who can!" The man glared at Mansfield before moving to Alyssa, taking the box from her possession and moving back towards the guest quarters. Mansfield walked to the stairs and placed a gentle hand on Alyssa's left arm.
"My sincerest apologies. Sometimes it's rather difficult to find the proper help when needed. Did you find everything alright?" A warm smile creased his features as he let go, moving down a couple of stairs before adding:
"And do join me for dinner, won't you? I believe it would be rude of me to not at least host a dinner where the two of us can interact on a much more personable level than simple 'employer-employee' conversations. After all, you will be living in my home and ingratiating yourself into the fabric of operations here. Once the moving company is out of our collective hair, I'd love to have you as company." He quickly checked his watch.
"Six oh five now, so say dinner at seven thirty? I look forward to it." A polite smile and nod later, Mansfield whisked away once more, this time up past Alyssa and into his office. A few moments later, Nathan entered, shutting the door behind him before asking:
"Are you sure about this girl, Mansfield?" The psychiatrist chuckled, plopping into the high backed leather chair behind his mahogany finished desk before replying:
"My dear Nathan, of course I am. Never been so sure of anything in my life." Nathan furrowed his brow, prompting another laugh.
"Nathan, why do you worry? I can make perfectly good hiring decisions on my own. I managed to keep you on for a whole year now, haven't I?"
"Yes, but most aren't willing to bear your...eccentricities like I can."
"Bear? What, have I become some sort of burden?"
"No, that's not-"
"Am I to be foisted about like the pack on a Sherpa's back, Nathan? Is that what I am?" Nathan sighed.
"Listen to me, Mansfield." The man in question lowered his jaw, but then raised it, motioning for Nathan to speak.
"All I ask is that you be careful about what you're getting yourself into with hiring this woman. When I went to her home...well, it reeked of alcohol. There were patchwork stains everywhere that smelled faintly of blood and certainly other...excretions."
"So she's poor?"
"That's not it. The home itself wasn't a shack, but the interior looked neglected. Furniture was worn, carpet sagging. Alyssa doesn't seem like the type to allow that to happen, so I believe something else might be playing into this."
"Professionally she may be great, but personally her life might be in shambles, I understand that dynamic. It happens to all of us at one point or another."
"Just be careful. That's all I'll say."
"Your warning has been heard." Mansfield retorted with a teasing smirk. Nathan only nodded and removed himself from the office, directing the last mover to Alyssa's quarters.

______________

Seven twenty five featured Mansfield seated at the head of the long, gleaming oak table that already had a plate of scones and clotted cream as ways to "whet the appetite". A smaller plate sat in front of Mansfield as he nibbled on a scone, turning his head every so often to the right to see if his dinner guest was coming down the stairs. He was anxious for their dinner, anticipating a rousing evening so that the duo would have some working rapport.

Hopefully.

[earlymorninstar]

Alyssa had nearly flinched as she heard Mansfield bark orders out once more – a habit that she knew she had to break soon. It wasn't as if she were home and it was her father losing his mind over something or another – this was her new employer and it would do her no good to be on edge over the fact that he had raised his voice. She really didn't mind bringing in her own things, after all, and when the man came to grab the box from her, she offered an apologetic look before Mansfield's hand on her arm had made her turn to look first at his hand, and then at him.

All at once she shook her head. "No; It's alright, really… I don't mind." Alyssa tried offering, although he was dead set on having the moving people do every little bit of work – which made sense considering that was what he was paying them to do. But, they'd been so behind schedule that she couldn't help but dig her own fingers in and grab a box or two if she could – anything she could do to help, regardless of the fact that Mansfield had immediately put a stop to it. She brushed a stray curl from her face as he spoke, somewhere throughout the day she had put it up in a ponytail, but it always had a habit of falling loose here and there, little curls tumbling around her face and neck even if she tucked them away. "And yes – " She began, answering his next question. "I found everything I need so far, at least – I should be just fine." Alyssa reassured him, although, she tilted her head a bit curiously over his offer for dinner.

Really, she had anticipated on getting all of her things together and sorted. A man like him had seemed busy enough, and unless Nathan had to show her anything else, she would have managed to linger about her room before sleep inevitably took over. Without a doubt she would be up first thing in the morning tomorrow to get a fresh start. But now that he had asked her to join him for dinner, something she very well never expected, it had thrown a wrench in her plans. Although – her curiosity was piqued. Already, the man before her had proven to be both exhilarating and exhausting with such eccentric behavior, but she was interested to learn more about just who she would be working for…

"Alright – " Alyssa had agreed with a small nod of her head. "Seven-thirty, then." She repeated just to make sure that she had gotten the time right, and had offered a small smile before he was off yet again, Nathan soon trailing behind him. She breathed a slow sigh as the movers continued to brush past her before she finally made her way back up the rest of the stairs and towards her room. She didn't have terribly too long to get herself situated before dinner, but she wanted to make sure that everything she had was where she wanted it to be – clothes unpacked and things put away neatly. The books she had brought were each stacked up in her own order, and after a long while she had at least been content with most of it.

This was going to be her new space for now – and it was awfully different than what she was used to. Although she knew she would have to adapt to such a strange place and, well, strange employer, this really had to have been good for her in the long run. No more did she have to worry about if her father was going to be breathing in his chair or his bed the next morning. No more did she have to try and clean up his awful messes day in and day out. No more did she have to deal with his constant abuses – however extreme that they had gotten as of late.

It was so very odd to have all of that suddenly missing from her daily routine.

As she sat there on the edge of her bed, reflecting for a moment, Alyssa was immediately brought back to the present at the memory of dinner. She blinked as she looked down to the thin watch on her wrist, cursing under her breath that the time had slipped her by. She glanced at herself in the mirror, quickly straightening out her top and skirt before she frowned at her hair, quickly pulling it out of the ponytail. A clip later and it was up in some messy up-do, those same unruly curls falling through in a few spots. She'd blown one from her face with a sigh and a shrug at her own reflection. Whatever – it would have to do anyway.

Coming out of her room, she quickly made her way down the hall and around the top banister of the staircase before coming down the stairs. As soon as she was in the foyer she glanced at her wrist again. Now… Where was the dining room again? She bit her lip for a moment as she thought about where Mansfield had taken her around earlier that day. She took the moment to look around, realizing after a few seconds that it had been just off the foyer. She quickly and quietly made her way into the dining room, seeing Mansfield sitting by himself at the head of a ridiculously long table, and she immediately apologized. "Ah- I'm sorry I'm cutting it close." She murmured as she looked down at the watch on her wrist again, her words quiet. "I was trying to get everything sorted and lost track of time…"

@freedomliveson

[freedomliveson]

"Not a bother at all, Ms.DePiew...or should I say Alyssa? A pox on formality at this rate. In this context, we're just two people having dinner. Please, call me Mansfield." He motioned for a seat to the right of the head of the table, which would allow the duo to make eye contact.
"But where are my manners? Forgive me, it's been a trying day." He pulled out the chair for her, allowing her to sit before gently scooting it in and returning to his seat. From the opposite end of the room a blonde haired man with a rather pronounced chin and slanted nose emerged from the kitchen balancing two platters in both hands.
"Alyssa, this is Robert, my head server. He mainly appears during dinner and house parties, but the man is under contract with several others and cannot, unfortunately, be retained." Robert politely smiled, bowing his head in greeting before sliding the platters in front of the diners and removing the silver lids.
"The kitchen staff was insistent that they make something special for, as they put it, the 'beautiful new hire'."
"High praise from both."
"Indeed, sir." Robert motioned to the meals.
"Lamb steak seared with peppercorn and butter, garlic and lemon infused spinach with truffle shavings and, as per your request, fingerling potatoes."
"Very good, thank you Robert." With a dismissive motion, Mansfield shooed the server away before unrolling the napkin next to his plate, the silverware gently siding onto the table.
"I must say that I'm rather happy with making your acquaintance, especially at this juncture. Things were getting rather frenetic at my place of employ and while I may have been able to purchase such a wonderful estate, I don't have the finances to retain as many staff members I wish...staff members of quality, might I add. There are a number of different 'agencies' and organizations that specialize in this kind of thing, but they don't provide the kind of service I'm used to." He snorted a laugh.
"My apologies. I don't mean to sound so bloody condescending, but when you grow up the son of an ambassador, old habits...well, I would say die hard, but mine haven't managed to keel over just yet." He placed the napkin in his lap before he asked:
"Well, Alyssa, why don't you tell me about how you wound up in this charming part of the country?" He picked up his fork, but then resumed eye contact, focusing in on the potential response. Mansfield couldn't help but notice the way the dim lighting accentuated the natural curves of her face, her cheekbones, the soft yellow hues that were in her hair. For the first time since meeting her, he had slowed down to actually SEE her.

She was a beautiful woman. She seemed to carry something behind those wide eyes of hers, though, something dark, stormy. He wanted to satiate his curiosity and probe deeper, but she wasn't a patient. He would have to remember that in the coming days. He silently hoped he could.

[earlymorninstar]

Alyssa had seemed terribly relieved when she realized that Mansfield hadn’t even been bothered that she had cut it so close. She had been worried that it would send the wrong message, and she’d almost been prepared to defend herself, but he had dismissed it so easily. She couldn’t help the slightly surprised look that flew across her face before it had just as quickly faded as he had immediately shown her where to sit. She let out a small breath that she hadn’t fully been aware she was holding before she lightly bit her lip and moved to the seat, carefully sitting down with a quiet “thank you” as he had pushed the chair in behind her. It was then that she actually had the moment to look around the room, her eyes dancing across the walls to the ceiling before Mansfield had seated himself.

Everything had seemed like it had happened in a whirl as Robert had soon made his way in the room as soon as Mansfield had been seated. She had tilted her head as she listened to the exchange between the two, but a blush immediately had lifted to her cheeks over the comment made. She’d only been flitting around the place for a couple of hours getting settled, but she wondered if word really was getting around that quickly that she was there.

Once her food had been placed in front of her, Alyssa felt her stomach growl in the slightest. Perhaps she had forgotten to eat lunch in the excitement of things. Really, she had only planned to go on an interview and head back home - hopefully get a call in the following days, and then figure it out from there. She could have hardly anticipated suddenly getting hired on the spot, having to uproot her entire life, and end up at an awfully large table with her new employer who was very interested in getting to know her further than just the “new hire” that would be roaming around his house.

She felt her nerves shooting through her with each moment, especially when Robert had soon been dismissed and once more it was only her and Mansfield at the table again. Alyssa had quickly mimicked his own actions, taking her napkin carefully, making sure the silverware didn’t fall on the table before she gently placed them down. She had taken her napkin and placed it on her lap before her hands remained neatly folded thereafter.

Alyssa had felt not only overwhelmed, but almost out of place in that large dining room with such a wonderful meal presented before her. She wasn’t used to such things - hell, she was lucky if she even had time to cook a real meal, and she couldn’t remember the last time she had went out to dinner. She usually could manage a sandwich or a bowl of cereal - or anything that could have been prepared rather quickly before her father inevitably was going to go off on her -- or would pass out and she would have to handle him for the evening. This was so out of the ordinary for her, that she almost hadn’t known how to act. Clearly, and judging by his words, Mansfield was used to a life of luxury - Alyssa could only imagine them in the numerous books she’d read or the shows she’d watched.

She shifted a bit in her seat when his conversation soon turned to focus on her and she bit the inside of her cheek for a moment as she mulled over her answer. “Well, I suppose I’ve always been around here.” Alyssa began quietly. “I used to live in the city with my parents - but it was about five or six years ago before I moved out here. It’s definitely a great deal quieter in the city, which I enjoy - not to mention it isn’t as busy.” She added as an afterthought. “I suppose after I went to school, it just seemed like a good idea to stay around here for the meantime.” Which, wasn’t necessarily true. She would have loved to travel elsewhere - would have loved to go back to the city once in awhile, or even find somewhere new where she could simply get away, but her father was the one who had kept her there -- moreso out of obligation than him wanting her there. Alyssa was terrified that if she had abandoned him and left for her own reasons, he would have eventually lost himself and she would be awoken in the middle of the night to that phone call that he hadn’t made it through the night.

Although - that fear had still been very alive even while she lived with him - at least Alyssa had a sense of control over it if she were home.

Alyssa had looked over to Mansfield after a moment’s pause. “What about you? Have you always been around here, or no?” She couldn’t imagine someone like him would have been confined to one place. The son of an Ambassador - as he had mentioned- had to have a bit of travelling and adventure under his belt.

@freedomliveson

[freedomliveson]

So she was a city dweller! Odd. Normally people that live in Manhattan for a while develop certain habits, such as speaking at a much louder volume than normal or being abrasive towards...well, anyone. It was both refreshing and confusing to see a converted New Yorker dwelling in a small town outside of Rochester. It might have been that the small town atmosphere tamed her once vibrant spirit or her meekness had always been a part of her life, bred into her from outside sources. There was, again, that sense of strength within her voice, but also a quiet eagerness to please. How delightfully mixed. He was going to have a fascinating time attempting to dissect her. Be cautious? Pah! What could Nathan know about the advanced workings of the human mind? To realize that in order to understand humanity, one must interact with it in the most "natural" state possible. That was why, he believed, his experiments were working so beautifully at the facility.

And there he was again. Off on a tangent.

The question, which had been asked a few moments ago, was greeted with a warm smile.
"Alyssa, I've been everywhere. My father was an ambassador for the United Kingdom(if that weren't apparent in my accent) and we made our stay in a number of different locales across the United States, Mexico and back home. Of course, home is a fluid concept, but my 'home country of birth', if you will. About a year and a half ago, I was in New Jersey studying at Princeton where dear old Father keeled over and left me his pension, some of the other inheritance used to purchase this estate. But alas, your question...California, Mexico City, London, Exeter, Manhattan, Chicago, even awful Houston! Texas! Now there's a state to avoid as much as you can. Ever wanted to spend ten months a year indoors while the outside is a sauna? If so, please do visit that wilderness. If not, stay FAR away." He chortled as he took a small bite of lamb dipped in mashed potato, swallowing before adding:
"I don't mean to be ungrateful for the opportunities I've had to see parts of the world, but to be honest, some of it gets a bit droll. Father always told me that I needed to be a bit cheerier when it came to adapting to new circumstances." He set down his fork and motioned to Alyssa.
"And what of your family, Alyssa? Are they still...well, that was phrased horribly, let me try again: where is your family now?" He had a feeling he knew the answer, but would allow his new employee to fill in the blanks. If he were correct in his assumption, then she would indeed fit into the program she had inadvertently enrolled herself into.

[earlymorninstar]

Just as Alyssa had expected, Mansfield had travelled quite a bit - to places she could have only wondered about. It was true, she hadn’t ventured far from the city or even her hometown -- her father had done a wonderful job in turning himself into the burden that would keep her grounded for years upon years. That burden had only grown heavier and heavier with the passing time, until her back had inevitably broken and her patience had finally snapped. Even now that he was gone for the time being, she still couldn’t fully escape. She was left with his bills and the fact that she would have to help him along once he was finally out -- just to make sure he didn’t relapse. She absolutely had her doubts, but for now, she could at least find her escape in her new job. She could keep herself busy here, and truthfully, entertained with Mansfield as long as he continued to have things to say to her.

Each time the man opened his mouth, Alyssa had become terribly interested. His eccentricity was wonderful- a colorful contrast to the grey shade of her usual surroundings, no matter how exhausting it was to keep up with him. He had lived a life she could only imagine - full of wealth and travels and she had almost wondered about all of the adventure he might have stumbled upon throughout the years.

As he spoke to her, Alyssa had smiled as she picked timidly at her meal - which had been, quite frankly, one of the best meals she had had in a very, very long time. She at least wanted to savor it, all the while wanting to pay attention to everything Mansfield had said. Her nerves had begun to melt away the more he spoke, and she didn’t quite feel too out of place as the time passed them by. However, his next question had given her pause.

Alyssa had bit the inside of her cheek for a moment and she glanced down at her plate. Well, she couldn’t very well tell him the truth. It was almost shameful to have to tell someone that her father had been an abusive drunk who had finally crossed the line and was forced into rehab in lieu of jail time. The fact that most of the tiny little town knew exactly who she was and nearly pitied her every time she’d walk by looking exhausted, wearing long-sleeves when it was warm out just to hide the bruises, having to stop at the hardware store every week or so to try and figure out how to patch a hole in a wall or fix a broken door hinge…

She swallowed lightly and offered a small shrug of her shoulders. “My mother died a long time ago -- which is why we left the city. She’d been very sick and, I think she didn’t want to put us through it all so she didn’t fight it. The cancer took her quickly -- so, my father and I moved from the city and into town.” Alyssa explained and glanced to him for only a moment before she looked back at her food. “My father just moved out recently, so, I figured it was time to find something new to do - keep myself busy now that he isn’t around. And, I'm an only child - so, no siblings around either.” It wasn’t technically a lie, but it was quite the softer version of the truth.

[freedomliveson]

As she told her story, he noticed the way she swallowed, the trademark shrug, the avoidance of eye contact. Yes, she was abused in some way. Maybe it wasn't recent, but abuse at any point in one's life can have a major impact on how they behave throughout the rest of their time on Earth. There were countless victims of abuse he had dealt with over the past year and most of the treatments he had prescribed had worked like a charm. Maybe he could give her some of the medicine, give her treatment, see where it led...ethical? Borderline, but if he could help her break through her meekness, that bubbling potential underneath could break free and overflow. Yes, he would do that. But not now. He was an employer for now, nothing more.
"No siblings, eh? I know the feeling." Another huge bite of lamb and vegetable was chewed and swallowed before continuing:
"An only child was I. Growing up was strange, you know. No other playmates around to distract myself with, so most of my attention was focused on books and other things that an only child would take up their time with." A peal of thunder exploded in the sky, causing the walls of the house to shake slightly in protest of the noise.
"To think..." He waved his hand at the house.
"That a home of such elegance would quake at the mere mention of a storm! I dare say I might ask for my money back." He chuckled, eating a bit more on his plate.
"I do have to say that that I'm rather impressed with your flexibility. Most are utterly terrified of trying something new. I think it speaks well to your character that you would be willing to step out on chance and see what happens. I never had much of a chance to that myself until my father passed. Being in an academic program that takes almost ten years away from your life will do that." He leaned back in his chair, sighing lightly before asking:
"So you say you wanted to try something new, yes? Why a position here? Surely you could have sent out resumes elsewhere? To be honest, the ad in the paper that I put out was a bit haphazard, not thought out. Why did you respond?" Ok that was a TAD psychoanalytical, but he did want to know why she came to him.
"Are you looking to run away from something?" A trace of a smile formed on his lips as he took a sip from an almost empty wine glass that had been filled prior to Alyssa's arrival.
"Or someone...?"

[earlymorninstar]

He seemed accepting enough of her answers and he didn't pry further into what she had told him, thankfully so. The idea of her father simply moving away on his own had seemed like a reasonable lie – much more presentable than the truth of it all, anyway. It wasn't terribly difficult to keep up with either, so she wasn't terribly concerned about keeping up the front as long as she needed to. Hopefully, her father wouldn't be brought up again in the meantime.

Alyssa had taken another bite of her lamb when he'd spoken once more, taking every ounce of information in as quick as he tossed it at her. For every small bit of information she could have given him, he seemed to have an entire novel of his own to toss her way. It was terribly interesting to listen to; he had a certain way that he spoke which had kept her enthralled. It wasn't necessarily every day that she was able to sit down and have a legitimate conversation with someone… She would at least sit back and enjoy as long as he didn't ask the wrong questions.

His words had caused a small smile to form on her lips. It really was an odd thing to be an only child and he was right in that they usually had to busy themselves with things that siblings normally wouldn't do – hence her literary education. She'd forever distracted herself with books, especially after her mother had died – her classes were the only thing that kept her distracted enough to keep her functioning for her father who had been falling apart piece by piece after she had soon left them.

As of late, she hadn't even had the time to delve into anything recent… Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden clash of thunder that interrupted Mansfield's conversation, and she couldn't help but jump lightly at the unexpected sound, immediately feeling silly for doing so. And yet, Mansfield was quick to fill the void with his words once more and he had her smiling again.

She had been slowly enjoying her meal until suddenly his questions had shifted a bit, and Alyssa felt a bit uneasy in having to answer him. Why had she chosen to apply to such an informal ad? Because she was terribly desperate and needed the money, and it had truly been on a whim that she was hoping it was legitimate? That would have been the truth had she been willing to spurt it out so easily… She seemed to ponder over the thought for a moment, mulling over just what to tell him that would sound logical enough. She bit the inside of her cheek and after a moment's pause, had decided to answer him. "Well, it honestly seemed like a good idea at the time. Yes, I needed something new, but I didn't truly want something as typical as your normal retail job or anything of the like… I figured I'd take a chance on an opportunity and given the fact that I have a thing with trying to keep things as orderly as I can—" A control thing, she knew it. She couldn't keep total control over her father and maybe that was what finally broke her – apart from the consistent abuse that had only seemed to get worse with time. "I figured it would be a good fit."

But then the second part of his question had given her pause, and her brow had twitched in the slightest. Part of his insinuation had been very true – to get out of that house meant getting away from everything that reminded her of the hell she'd been living in for the past few years. But she very well couldn't tell him that either. Perhaps he had noticed how she'd been uneasy over certain questions; perhaps he had noticed how she didn't even touch the wine that had filled her own glass; maybe he could see through every bit of deception that she was pouring into some of her answers. He was a psychologist after all, wasn't he? And he had to be a damn good one to be constantly on the move the way he was…

She had eyed him carefully then, placing her fork down after a moment. "If you're referring to the clearly droll day that I'm used to in efforts to find something new, then I suppose I'd be running away from that." Alyssa spoke quietly. "But, as I said, it's only me and my father and he's moved away, so who else could I be running from?" She shrugged again, attempting to save face as she glanced back down to her plate. He couldn't have read through her that quickly, could he have?

@freedomliveson