(Oh! Black butler anime to air April 2024 (You're def gonna hate my upload times now that I have an actual job on top of school and what a coincidence with the title of this chapt.) Happy holidays 🩷)

~Friday, June 1890~

"I was kidnapped," you said blankly to the man behind the desk. You were rushed into his office by the woman at the front desk, which prompted you to blurt out your premature response. You arrived at the hotel a day later than you were supposed to. The young lord had laid out a plan and response for every interview question known to man. The last resort was the truth with a few details to leave out and a few untrue details to sell it.

"What," his face paled a little before trying to laugh it off. Fidgeting with the name plate on his desk, "Smith" read back to you in black enamel letters. "You're joking."

"No, that's why I didn't show up yesterday. I was kidnapped. You could ask the Yard if you're worried about my integrity, the inspectors' name was Abernathy...? Or...."

"Abberline, and I don't think that's necessary."

"You're... not denying me are you? Oh please no!"

You dropped to your knees and covered your snicker with a fake sob. This was mortifying yet funny, on your knees in front a man is not something you had on your agenda- oh wait... just the wrong man. Who ironically was on his knees to wake you up in the morning after he put Corbin to sleep in the young lord's room. Your orgasmic scream had reminded you there was an audience in the closet, yet he didn't stop until he had you cum on his tongue twice more.

"Please, my husband died and I have a baby at home to take care of myself. This is my last resort, I can't do another job to keep my family afloat. I was brought up by my mother working in a house, I don't know any other job like I know service. Please," real tears started to brim your eyes unwillingly. You were brought up to be a service girl, just not the type he was thinking. You spent all this time resenting them that you never realized how much your parents hurt you. Now for it to just roll off your tongue casually as a prettied up lie shocked you. Even when you went through these questions with them you didn't think about how saying it to someone else would be. You pathetically wiped your tears away but they kept coming. He came around his desk getting to his knees to help wipe your tears away.

"Don't," your voice deepened to its normal tone. Scurrying back on your haunches. "I'm sorry- I didn't- that wasn't-"

'Included in my plan.'

"I'm sorry, I just need this job," you sighed brushing your hair away from your warm face burying your face in your hands. Now you were definitely mortified, you wanted to dig a hole into that cherry wood floor under the Persian rug and disappear.

"You're hired," you saw a sweat bead drop from his face as he grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his brow. Even his slightly bald head started to sweat. "Start today, Agnes will show you your duties. We have a strict policy that everyone have a checkup, our doctor is out so a nurse will do it." The man was a nervous wreck, why was that concierge so anxious to get you there if he's so easily flustered?

~

"Arm."

"What are you doing?"

"Just some blood work. Arm."

An elderly Asian nurse held out a boney hand waiting for you to stretch your arm out. You've been stabbed, held at gunpoint, grazed by bullets yet that thick needle in her hand intimidated you. "Don't make me ask again Ms. Smith."

"Why, may I ask, are you a nurse if you don't like interacting with people?" You gave her your arm and stared at the needle so hard as if you could make it disappear with a thought.

"What makes you say that?"

"Every hair out of line you're annoyed."

"You read too much into people. What if I had a bad day and your constant wincing and questions are making it worse?"

"Sorry, I just-"

"When you reach a certain age, certain things just tick you off. It's better to keep your head down and do what you're told sometimes. Makes life easier. You've been in service, you should know," she pierced your skin quickly making you flinch anyway. Little did she know that you do know. The social aspect wasn't your strong suit however.

"Are you anaemic by any chance?"

"Would that jeopardize my job?" You asked ready to dish out another phase to your sob story.

"It shouldn't. Take supplements and you'll be fine. Here," she picked out a navy blue uniform, and gave you a crystal bottle.

"What is it?"

"Liquid iron salt. Should help you with your anaemia."

~

You met Agnes after being given your disgusting dosage, you didn't want to take it until Lady Sullivan examined it but arguing with the nurse was going to cause a stir. She was a pretty old woman, true to her stereotypical name, she donned a nun's habit. It was midnight blue and through the tight fitted veil wimple, you saw whisps of golden blonde and silver strands of hair.

"Blue?"

"Huh?"

"Your dress?" She asked in a thick accent you couldn't pinpoint where from, her knobby hands pointed.

"Oh, yes," you said showing her.

"It is so close to black, it's hard to tell sometimes," she shook her head and beckoned you to follow her. Leading you down to the enormous kitchen you saw a bustle of a few maids. Some wore white, some wore grey, others wore blue and only two wore black.

"Wow, only women working here?"

"Yes, it was on the advertisement. You can't read?" She whisked your answer away with a wave of her hand. "No worries, we have a teacher that's helpful. You were supposed to arrive yesterday so I could have you fitted," she snapped. You finally understood. It was Sister Agnes you weren't supposed to annoy, not Mr. Smith. "We have balls weekly, if a man chooses you. You go with him. You arrived the day before we host it, you were supposed to come yesterday, I will need to find you something suitable for tomorrow." Snapping her fingers at someone, she walked off to scold someone.

"Hi!"

You took a very deep breath, composing yourself before you turned around to exactly what you didn't need. A chipper coily haired sun-kissed brunette with dark freckles dusted across her cheeks and a smile so sweet it could rot your teeth, stood there waiting for your reply. Her light grey uniform had the sleeves rolled up and flecks of flour sprinkled her skirt.

"Hi?" You mustered the weakest greeting you could. Happy outgoing people in this setting would eat up any chance they could to help the shy new person. As much as you're going to hate it, you needed to earn someone's trust and sucking up to the boss was not going to work. The man who hired you probably let Sister Agnes and that nurse know you were some pathetic pity case. Sucking up to the wrong people would backfire.

"I'm Melinda," she outstretched her hand. Yet another accent. She was definitely not from England, it was refreshing and beautiful and one you've never heard before.

'Must you be so chipper?' You mentally complained about her disposition. "Vera," you replied not accepting her hand.

"Oh silly me, hands full. Come let me show you where you'll be sleeping and you can get ready," she beckoned you to follow her. She led you down a hall towards the servant quarters. Maroon walls, thick purple drapes and gold framed Monet's lined the walls every few feet. All of you shared a common room, forty beds were lined up, twenty on each side against the wall. A basin on everyone's nightstand with a ceramic water jug next to it. The floor to ceiling windows dimly lit the room a hazy white as the drizzle of rain sprinkled the windows. Glancing outside, it was rather high up for servants quarters, you were staring down at a sad tiny patch of grass they named a lawn and you could see guests coming in and out if you stood at a certain angle.

"Okay, ground rules Vera," she said turning to you. "Oh, don't bother trying to figure how this building works, it's confusing for everyone."

"We have a very strict regiment. First, we refer to Agnes as Sister Agnes, basic respect. Second," she opened the night stand cupboard, "We have a strict bath schedule. Shower every night but not in the morning, even if for some reason you miss your nightly shower, just do it the next night. All of those products are necessary, the sweet soap especially. "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" as Sister Agnes likes to say. Third, every night you're to leave your uniform at the foot of your bed."

"Won't it wrinkle? Can't imagine having to iron it every morning," you said.

"We alternate the uniforms, you have two of the same uniform, we iron it before bed. Sundays are reserved for us maids to do our own laundry. Fourth, every morning we have mint leaves in our basin that we must wash our face with," she pulled out a tin that had dried leaves in it. "Three leaves in the basin, hot water, wash your face."

"What's the point?"

"Wakes you up so you won't be tired. Working here is not for the weak. You have twenty-five rooms to clean everyday, kitchen duties and whatever else she sees fit to throw at you. Come, you've got kitchen duties for today, you'll get your floor assignment tonight, and I suggest ironing that when you take it off. Made the mistake of waiting to iron it the next day almost got my ear wrung off." Melinda turned to give you some privacy to change. "You'll get used to changing around people," she had said.

You both made your way back into the kitchen where Sister Agnes stood evidently waiting for you with a wicker basket under one arm and a piece of paper in the other.

"Ms. Smith, I've assigned your rooms," she handed you a slip of paper. "I'm putting you to work immediately we've been understaffed for a while. Your references precede you, so I trust you know what you're doing. Here's the bedding," she patted the fresh sheets in the wicker basket. "Ask Melinda for help to read it."

"Oh, thank you," you said taking the paper of the rooms and chores you were assigned to. Floor thirteen, changing sheets, coaxing fireplaces, and manning the vegetable station for dinner. Almost perfect, just a floor beneath Sebastian and the young lord. "Guess I have to get to work. Is there a servants staircase or do we walk among the guests?"

"Back stairs, there's a lift for us to use. We're very spoiled servants as long as we follow the rules."

Just as you were about to pick up the basket it was knocked over by a rushing body. You stared at the back of her head in disbelief and Melinda rolled her eyes.

"That's Mal, don't take it personally. I think she gets a kick out of being the favorite. Likes to put new girls in their place, AS IF SHE WASN'T NEW HERSELF ONCE," she shouted across the room so the girl could hear. The other maids started to snicker before Mal threw them a look you couldn't see, her curly hair blocked the view of her face. Melinda bent to help you pick up the linen. "She's got such a temper, sometimes it's a bit fun to poke the bear... even if Sister Agnes disagrees."

You laughed in your head, they have no idea how low and petty you can get. You'd go to hell and back to just for fun, but you'll behave for now.

~

Ms. Nina Hopkins walked into the common room behind Sister Agnes, unusually calm. Sister Agnes called her in to measure you for a dress for tomorrow night and dragged you into the common room for you to be measured. She froze up the second she saw you, the color draining from her face making her look like a sheet of parchment, and you ignored her. Of course, he uses the people his brother has on call. Placing her bag down she silently took her materials out. A crash above shook the room before a short screech and sudden laughter was heard.

"These girls," Sister Agnes shook her head looking at her pocket watch, reminding you of someone. "I'll be back in a minute," she walked out the room and made her way to the kitchen.

"Celia," she beckoned to her assistant, "Trouvez Agnès. Dis-lui que la robe sera là demain matin." (Find Agnes. Tell her the dress will be here in the morning.) She sent her assistant away on a goose chase. Sister Agnes may be old, but she was fast.

"I'm in the habit of making dresses in the sizes of my regular clients, I have a dress that would work for you if you don't mind blue. What is going on? I'm glad that butler is gone but the news, and the new earl is unsettling."

No time for beating around the bush, "I would normally lie but, I need you to be my eyes in the manor. Convince the Earl he needs a different wardrobe to separate him from his brother. Any information is helpful, I don't care if he's saying the curtains need to be a different colour, write it in a letter."

"You can trust me. I hate this... change in command if you will."

"Any other places that you're suddenly working for?"

"No, but I do get mass orders for Baron Heathfield's maids. An orphanage as well, children clothing, the earl pays for them. There was the music hall as well but that's closed down."

You bit your lip, 'All those places are covered.'

Footsteps reached your ears, "Ms. Hopkins, I don't want anything to happen to you. Anyone asks if we're familiar the answer is no. Write to the Kudlun trading company and address "the sparrow"."

Her eyes widened, "The spa-". The footsteps grew loud enough for her to hear them approaching, "I understand," she said. The door opened and she resumed character, some of the uncertainty leaving her voice at your small reassurance, "Ah Agnes, perfect timing."

"That was the quickest you've worked," she said and gestured to a fresh tear in her skirt. "My girls knocked over an entire cabinet Ms. Smith they'll need your help in the kitchen. Can you stitch this up please Ms. Hopkins?"

"Of course," she beamed finally taking out her things from her bag. "Celia."

~

You were never more thankful you worked at the Phantomhive estate more than you were now. The hotel was fast paced, if one person fell behind on their job the entire flow was interrupted. You snuck up to room 1408 only to find the three of them were not in the room. You thought of leaving a note but someone might come in and read it. After the dinner rush, you immediately ran to the showers before a majority of people made their way down and threw a face towel around your neck to hide your mark.

"Lights out girls," Sister Agnes came in clapping her hands. You sat in your nightgown cooling off and observing everyone after a well deserved scalding hot bath.

"Hey, I'm changing!"

"Nothing you have, that I don't Bhavna," she said yet averted her gaze and closed the door behind her to give her privacy. "Where are the dividers?"

"Mal said they were beginning to yellow so she washed them."

She nodded stiffly and continued overseeing the nightly routine.

"Where's Mal?" You whispered to Melinda.

"Teachers pet comes to bed whenever she likes," a red head Scot said sparking a bit of laughter.

"Enough Paisley," Sister Agnes said in a strict tone. "Lights out in five, I better come back to everyone in bed. Ms. Smith your dress will arrive in the morning."

You tried your best to stay awake but you were so sleepy you convinced yourself one night's rest wouldn't ruin the investigation. The air became stifling and heavy. It was almost suffocating you, you couldn't lift your eyelids. It felt like someone was sitting on your chest while your throat constricted. Falling asleep you felt tears sliding down your face as you tried to breathe or call out for help.

~

You sat up groggy, half the girls were bustling around getting ready for the day. Some in towels, others strutting their stuff without a care in the world. Your nose was stuffed from whatever that sudden bout was last night.

"Morning sleepy," Melinda said pouring hot water in her basin.

"It's four in the morning," you grumbled, chest still feeling the tightness from last night.

"Yes, today's an early day. After our work we attend the ball. You'll get used to the schedule."

"Here," she opened your cabinet and dropped the mint leaves in your basin. She poured the hot water in and continued to wash her face in hers.

"Thanks," you muttered getting up and splashing your face with the hot water. A cooling sensation hit your face waking you up a bit to your annoyance, but thankfully helped clear your nose. Sleep was the only thing on your mind. Grabbing your uniform, you tossed it on waiting for instructions. You sat on your bed trying your best not to fall back asleep. Glancing outside the weather didn't help your mood, it was still raining.

"Five minute warning girls," Sister Agnes said.

"Egg duty for you this morning," Melinda grinned.

~

Taking the lift to the thirteenth floor, you got to work. Dusting, cleaning, and other tedious work. Snooping here and there. Walking into room 1313 you were met with a pudgy man twisting rings onto his thick fingers.

"Oh my apologies, I didn't see a sign on the door."

"Don't you worry your pretty little head about that, I didn't put one. I was just leaving for the day," he grabbed his walking stick.

"Apologies sir, I'll wait outside."

"Nonsense," he waved his hand. "Just one favour, a little extra coal. This room is a bit drafty."

"No problem sir," you tipped your head.

"You're a new scullery maid?"

"And chamber maid, yes sir. You frequent this hotel?"

"Sure do, lotta business trips to and from home. I have to go, pleasure to meet you," he said walking out dropping a sixpence in the ashtray on the mantle with ease. American accent, dripping in jewelry, giving a tip so freely. You didn't have time to think what he could be doing here and so often.

He was right, it was drafty in there. After scrubbing the bathroom top to bottom and making the bed you plopped down on the floor tired from cleaning half the rooms on one floor. A cool breeze hit your neck making you shiver. Closing the curtains, you put your hand out you tried pinpointing where the air was coming from. Licking your finger you moved out back and forth slowly trying to catch the wind direction finally stopping besides a bookcase. Shoving the heavy bookcase aside there was a visible crack on the wall. Pushing on it a blast of cool air hit you revealing a dark hallway. Several other doors connected to the room, stars embossed above the door frames.

You cracked one of the doors open and entered the room you cleaned before. Concluding the rest of the doors led to the other rooms you ran back out and put everything back in its place.