sweetserenity

𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓷 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓼 - 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓽𝔂 & 𝓩𝓪𝔂𝓩𝓮

Lisa listened to Studwick as he criticized her attire. "...Yes, there was time to slip on something dry. It would have been a fast change but it was possible." Her shoulders slumped a bit, realizing that she should have done what her mother and everybody else would have expected of her.

Yes, she was old enough to make her own decisions.

But at the same time, she should have known better.

It was only her third day away from her family and she already made a noticeable mistake. A faint blush painted her cheeks. She was embarrassed. "My sincerest apologies, Sir. I realize why you disapprove of my attire and I... I agree. You will never spot me looking so disorderly again." She tucked a loose lock of hair back behind her ear and glanced over at the door. It was perhaps rude of her to desire to leave the room, but she didn't want to bother him any longer. The sooner she could leave, the sooner they could both forget about this incident and move on.

"Listen, I know we have not gotten off on the best foot, but I just want you to know that I've meant everything I've said. Everything. And even though I look like this, even though I don't know a damn thing in this world besides what I managed to learn cooped up inside a dump, I value this opportunity to be here. Even looking around this one single room takes my breath away. One day, I want to be content. Fully, undeniably, one hundred percent content. This is my first step to achieving that goal." As Lisa went on that little tangent, the blush faded away from her face and she regained her confidence. She sighed. "..Pardon my language there, Sir. Will this be all?"

𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓷 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓼 - 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓽𝔂 & 𝓩𝓪𝔂𝓩𝓮

Lisa looked at her feet as he dismissed her sympathetic statement. Perhaps it was childish of her to bring up such a thing at a time like this. She needed to learn how to keep her mind grounded. She clasped her hands behind her back and briefly looked up and over at Ralf. He beared a neutral expression, per usual. It was almost as if nothing ever fazed him.

She wondered how he felt on his first day here, whenever that was.

The young woman looked back at Sir Studwick.

"I want to work here to put everything I've been taught my whole life to good use," Lisa explained. "I want to save my earnings to pay for university someday. My dream is to become a teacher. That is fairly ironic because I never got the opportunity to attend school, but something about it appeals to me greatly." She smiled. Thinking about her aspirations helped calm her nerves.

Two or three years here, and then she'd be able to live her dream. "You can trust me around your belongings. They are of no use to me. Theoretically, even if I did steal and sell something, it would guilt me for the rest of my life. It's not in my nature to act wrongly. You can trust me."

She smoothed out the skirt of her damp dress. She was starting to feel silly wearing something so unprofessional and unkept at a time like this. If her mother were here, she would have snapped at Lisa before she even waltzed up the steps of the manner to change into something dry.

Something in Lisa suddenly clicked.

She wasn't her mother, so why live by her orderly ways? I'm twenty years old, for God's sake, she thought, if I want to look so unruly at a time like this, then so be it! It was my choice. It's not even that unkept, just a little wet with a few wrinkles. I'm Lisa Thorne, and appearance isn't the most important thing in the world to me!

A little smile spread across her face, which was quickly replaced by a frown.

Who am I kidding. I resemble a clown.

𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓷 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓼 - 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓽𝔂 & 𝓩𝓪𝔂𝓩𝓮

She did as he said and walked closer to his desk. It embarrassed her having her appearance evaluated, but she did her best to not show it. She stood still with her arms casually draped at her sides. Her eyes wandered the room. It certainly was more pleasant to the eye than her simple little bedroom, she thought.

Not that she was devastated over it, of course. She was determined to make it look more homey with some little decorations that she will have to buy at some point. For now, it was to remain as simple as a sheep.

Her gaze returned to her employer. "Very well, Sir Studwick," she said. Wanting to break the ice a bit, she added, "I hope I am... up to par?" At the moment, she wanted nothing more for the evaluation to end. It was like being escorted to her room for the first time; how the passing servants' eyes were glued to her. Lisa wasn't made for the spotlight. She was a supporter, somebody who stayed in the background.

Absentmindedly, she reached up and rubbed her temples. She could feel a headache coming on. Hopefully it wasn't the beginnings of a cold or other illness, but that wouldn't be impossible. She did walk over a mile in rain and hasn't gotten around to changing out of her damp dress. But it could easily also just be from traveling and the stress of adjusting to a new environment.

She lowered her hands. A sudden compulsion forced her to speak, "I'm sorry about your parents."

Lisa looked at him, tracing over his aging features with her gaze the way he did to her. She kept her gaze gentle and brief before meeting his eyes.

𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓷 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓼 - 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓽𝔂 & 𝓩𝓪𝔂𝓩𝓮

Lisa had began unpacking by the time she was retrieved. "One moment!" She called out, quickly putting away the nightgown she was holding. A sudden sense of nervousness consumed her. She would be meeting her boss. One wrong word or action, and she could be kicked out. Who knew when the next job opening would be for any other family? She would have no choice but to go back to her family for the time being. Her future plans would be put on hold.

Wringing her hands together, she glanced in a mirror to make sure she looked alright before opening the door. Lisa paraded down the steps and quickly spotted Ralf. He was certainly prim and proper, but also very level minded. Surely he'll be around while I'm meeting Sir Studwick, in case he makes a sudden rash decision? Lisa thought. She approached him, visibly a little nervous but trying to keep her cool. As long as she was herself, everything would be alright.... hopefully.

When did I get so anxious? She couldn't help but wonder. She looked up at Ralf and offered a hopeful smile. "Pleasure seeing you again," she greeted.

"Likewise. Follow me, Sir Studwick is waiting," Ralf returned, starting to walk the short distance to his employer's study. Lisa followed behind him, her heart racing at such a rapid pace she wondered if he could hear it. Within only a few seconds they arrived at their destination and Ralf strolled into the room, Lisa at heel. She looked over at her employer who was sitting behind a plethora of papers. He looked like a busy man.

Despite her nervousness, she forced herself to look confident. "Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you," she said with a curtsy. "My name is Lisa Thorne."

𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓷 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓼 - 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓽𝔂 & 𝓩𝓪𝔂𝓩𝓮

Nothing to see here

Nothing at all

𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓷 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓼 - 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓽𝔂 & 𝓩𝓪𝔂𝓩𝓮

The young woman nodded, eager to finally get out of the rain. "Yes, thank you."She stepped inside and followed him down the hallway. Other servants passing by would look at Lisa, some with a gleeful expression and others with a surprised one. She wasn't used to this sort of attention. It made her want to recoil and hide inside a rabbit hole.

They traveled up wooden steps until they got to an attic. It was ridiculously warm up there, but it did help Lisa feel less chilly. An elderly maid holding a towel approached Ralf and Lisa. "I can take it from here, Ralf," she said with a gentle smile and a dismissive wave of the hand. As soon as he returned to his normal duties, the maid handed Lisa the towel. Lisa graciously accepted it and began dabbing it at her soaked hair. As she did so, the maid lead Lisa down the hallway, almost to her room.

The Hallway

"Remind me what your name is, dear?" The elderly woman asked, looking over at the new servant as they walked.

"Lisa Thorne," she replied with a smile. "And you are?"

The elder woman gave a little sigh. "That's a lovely name. I'm Agnes, the housekeeper. Used to be a Lady's Maid until the demise of Miss Studwick, God rest her good soul."

Lisa's eyes widened a bit. She had heard of the Duke passing away, but his wife was a surprise. "Oh, my. I'm so sorry."

Agnes just gave a small nod, ready to move on from the topic of her beloved deceased Mistress. After a few moments of silence, they soon approached a room at the end of the hallway and she opened it. "Here we are, dear. Your new quarters."

Looking around, it was very minimal. A small room, light tan walls, a single bed, and a dresser. But at least there was a window with a pleasant view of the backyard. Agnes looked at Lisa, awaiting her response, but the young woman had no words. She just stepped into it, strolled to the middle of the room, then turned to face Agnes. "I.. thank you for escorting me here. Send my regards to Mister Rickard, as well."

Her Room

"Will do," Agnes replied politely. "Expect to be fetched to meet Sir Studwick very shortly."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Boarding School

Her eyes wandered to the TV, and she smiled when she saw it was Spongebob. That was of her favorite shows as a kid. "It's not just any old bird," Diana replied as if it were obvious, glancing over at Derek, "it's a dove. The symbol of peace."

𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓷 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓼 - 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓽𝔂 & 𝓩𝓪𝔂𝓩𝓮

@ZayZe

Lisa woke up bright and early on a sunny summer day. Today, after a couple days of traveling, she would finally arrive at the manor she was to work at. She threw on the nicest dress she had brought along and braided her hair. Looking at herself in the mirror, she thought she looked presentable. She was filled with nervous excitement as she marched out of the inn she had stayed at through the night and began to walk the last few miles to Studwick's manor.

Dress

She was thrilled to start her new life. After being cooped up indoors with no company other than her strict mother for 20 years, she finally was going to put herself to good use and work as a servant. Sure, it wasn't the most exciting job in the world, but it certainly was a start. It would allow her to create friendships and improve her housekeeping abilities. As soon as she saved up enough money to attend university, she would be able to quit. Hopefully she wouldn't despise her time spent at the manor, but on the flip side it was best to not get too attached. For the time being, her mind was set on her aspirations, not her relationships.

Lisa happily strolled through a prairie. A few horse drawn carriages passed by her, and she would always give a polite nod to the coachman.

Things took a turn for the worse when dark clouds suddenly filled the sky. She was only about a mile and a half from the house, so she decided to make a run for it. However, it was too late. Rain started pouring on her at a rapid pace soon after she began running. Lisa held her small bag that contained her belongings over her head and resorted to walking again. Better to show up only wet than wet and sweaty, she figured.

Thunder began crackling overhead as she made her way up the steps of the manor. She was soaking wet. The weather was so perfect the past couple days, why couldn't it have lasted one more? She wondered as she knocked on the wide, wooden doors.

The Hunt For Roleplay Partners Begins... [CLOSED]

Bump.

Boarding School

"Oh, there it is. Toss me the remote, I was the one who was looking for it!" She held out her hand, a quirky smart-aleck grin on her face. "..and I can't see myself ever getting a tattoo, to be honest. Not my thing. But if I had to, I would get a dove around the top of one of my shoulder blades."