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Post by reeves on Mar 21, 2009 22:39:43 GMT -5
At Bertrand's retorts, Reeves couldn't help but smirk. Bertrand certainly knew how to stand his ground.
Reeves sighed, becoming a little frustrated at being called "he" or "it". He had a mind to say so but he had to constantly remind himself, it wasn't his place. He instead scowled inwardly down at his scuffed up boots, wishing he could have a go at Miss Thera Noble, a nice Jersey fist fight so he could bust her perfect nose into two, but that would most likely get him fired...and possibly jailed.
Why would he want to go anywhere near her room? He sighed and shook his head. Bertrand was nice enough, but he still felt not human in this house, more like an obscene creature.
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Post by Thera Noble on Mar 21, 2009 23:16:05 GMT -5
Bertrand sighed and rubbed his temples. "sorry, kid" he apologized to the boy whose name he still didn't know. He could tell that his patience was thinning with Thera's snyde remarks and who could blame him, really? thera treated people like dirt and that was never fun at this kid seemed to be just at the age when restraint isn't really anyone's forte. "I'd like to say she doesn't mean it but I'm pretty sure she does. All I can give you is that she really doesn't know better. I've tried and tried to teach her but it just doesn't seem to take." he let out a dark chuckle "the only reason I'm not the exact same way is because I accepted at a young age that the servants were going to be my parents because my real parents didn't really want to." It hurt a bit to say it out loud but he'd known this from the very beginning. They'd never wanted a son and a daughter, they'd wanted an heir and a bargaining ticket for social advancement.
"What's your name, kid? If you don't mind me asking" he blurted out suddenly. He hated not knowing what to call people other than "kid" or "lady" or "mister" It made him feel just as bad as Thera and his parents, like he wasn't even affording them their identities.
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Post by reeves on Mar 22, 2009 0:00:29 GMT -5
"What's your name, kid? If you don't mind me asking"
Reeves was a bit surprised, but he didn't mind. His name would be better than it kid of he.
"People call me Reeves, s' my last name, but my first name's Seth." He said smiling slightly. "Seth Taylorson Reeves, not a bad name for a poor street kid, eh?"
His smirk was half hearted but not completely sad.
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Post by Thera Noble on Mar 22, 2009 16:59:37 GMT -5
Bertrand smiled "It's not a bad name for anyone" he replied warmly. "Personally, I just thank God that my father decided not to make me a Junior" he gave a slight shrug, his smile widening "Maybe I'm a little bit bias but, frankly 'Rudolph Egbert Noble Jr.' just strikes me as a little bit ridiculous"
He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair "From what my grandmother tells me, she thought it sounded distinguished but, from man to man, I think she might have had a bit of a drinking problem back then." Bertrand had only been half joking about the drinking problem. Most people thought that most upper class women didn't have such brash addictions but the truth was it wasn't that uncommon they just had to hide it a little bit better than the common person.
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Post by reeves on Mar 22, 2009 17:05:09 GMT -5
"Maybe I'm a little bit bias but, frankly 'Rudolph Egbert Noble Jr.' just strikes me as a little bit ridiculous"
Reeves actually let out a little laugh at that. "Egbert? And I thought Bertrand was crazy! But a nice name all the same it is," He quickly caught himself, not wanting to make fun of Bertrand.
"From what my grandmother tells me, she thought it sounded distinguished but, from man to man, I think she might have had a bit of a drinking problem back then."
"Yeah probably," Reeves smirked, but his eyes got a tad bit far away. He remembered how his father had started drinking when he kept getting fired from jobs, causing the whole entire family to split apart.
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Post by Thera Noble on Mar 22, 2009 17:40:42 GMT -5
Bertrand laughed in amusement. "No, that's okay, It really isn't. It even sounds stuck up. It's not the worst, though, believe me, even Egbert isn't the worst I've heard. I know a couple of guys whose names are Pinkney and Dock." he shook his head slightly. "I'd feel really bad for them if they weren't complete jerks but they are, so.." he shrugged, still smiling.
"Anyhow, you can call me Bert if you want, most people do. Well... away from school and home that is." Frankly, even at home the only people who called him Bertrand were his parents, his sister, and recent hires around the house. He liked it better but his parents would have none of it. Anyone who had worked there for any length of time knew they had to use his real name when his parents were around.
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Post by reeves on Mar 22, 2009 17:48:34 GMT -5
"No, that's okay, It really isn't. It even sounds stuck up. It's not the worst, though, believe me, even Egbert isn't the worst I've heard. I know a couple of guys whose names are Pinkney and Dock."
"Hehe, fascinating choice of names," He laughed again. Bert really wasn't so bad. He didn't know how Thera could be related to him.
"Y' know Bert, you ain't so bad for a hoity toity," Reeves commented, smirking.
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Post by Thera Noble on Mar 24, 2009 22:07:54 GMT -5
Bertrand chucked, "Thanks, I try" he replied and had just started to say something else when Thera ran into the room, her expression full of a mild panic. "what's wrong, Ther, did the dog get in again?" he turned to Reeves and gave a short explanation "The dog usually urinates on the carpet when he gets in, Thera can't stand the smell"
The smile that had formed on his face at the thought was swiftly eliminated, however, as Thera finally blurted out the reason for her impromptu appearence "Mother's home" she gasped, her expression grave. Bertrand's eyes widened and he looked over at Reeves and immediately began to take out his wallet. Thera, fed up with her brother's slow reponse, rolled her eyes and stalked over to Reeves. she snatched the money from her brother's hand as soon as he had pulled it out and shoved it into Reeves's hands before giving him a strong shove towards the door. "Well, come on you little rat, you're paid. There's no more time for socializing. get your filthy ass out of the house before you get us all killed. and on that same line, I'd suggest you use the back door if you value your life." Thera ordered the boy, a look of disgust clouding her anxiety over her mother's return. Bertrand gave him a slight nod. "She's right, Reeves, the way mom sees it servants shouldn't be seen unless they're given permission to be. you really ought to leave. See you around."
He and Thera left the room just behind Reeves, making sure that the picture on the door was straight before they rushed down the stairs, pausing only to starighten up in the hall mirror before walking into the Foyer to greet their mother.
Essie and most of the other servants had already arrived and Bertrand waved to her as they passed. "Mornin' Bertie" she whispered with a maternal smile, giving him a pat on the shoulder before continuing on to the kitchen.
just then, Mrs. Noble came bursting in the front door followed by several other servants all toting several bags of dresses and countless hat boxes. "Hello darlings!" she greeted her children, a false and exaggerated smile on her once-beautiful face. "Mummy was just going on a little shopping trip." she trotted over to Bertrand and staightened his tie slightly. "Well, Bertrand, darling, assuming that your powers of observation still exceed your ability to dress yourelf adequately, I should hope that you recieved the packages that were meant to arrive today" she told her son, a false smile still planted squarely on her lips. "Yes, mother, of course" he replied, ignoring the ill-concealed shot at the state of his clothing. "They're upstairs in your chambers". She gave a nod of approval and turned back to the door passing over her daughter completely.
She walked over to the door way and leaned out of it momentarily before turning on her heel and walking back over to her son. "What on earth is that little one's name again?" she asked pointedly, "you know, the maid".
"The little maid? Her name's Gracie." Bertrand replied stiffly. his mother obly scoffed. "Bertrand, You know better than to refer to the help in a moniker as informal as that one. What is her surname, son?" Bertrand paused for a moment and shifted uncomfortably as he thought "um, I believe it's Scott, mother, but since when do you use people's names at all?" he asked in barely contained contempt. "how right you are, darling" chirped Mrs. Noble, her falsely pleasent smile widening slightly as she stalked back over to the doorway. "Stop lollygagging and get in here you little peon" she hissed at the young girl who was nearly to the door as it was with another large load of boxes and bags.
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Post by graciescott on Mar 25, 2009 15:44:32 GMT -5
"Stop lollygagging and get in here you little peon"
Gracie let out a little gasp and quickened her pace, trying to hold all the large and bulky packages in her frail arms. She was nervous at the fact that Mrs. Noble was already mad at her. She had only been watching her steps so she could see around the packages.
"Yes Madam, I-I'm coming, I didn't m-mean to--," She started to apologize quickly when she stumbled over the thresh hold and the packages went tumbling. She quickly scrambled to her feet, straightening her maid's cap, her black curls tumbling around her pale face and she scurried to pick up all the packages, again apologizing in a timid voice all the while.
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Post by Thera Noble on Apr 5, 2009 14:56:59 GMT -5
All three Nobles backed up in surprise as the packages fell but that was the end of the similarity in their responses to Gracie's mistake. Thera's just stood where she was, her look of surprise turning into one of disgust as Bertrand instinctively bent down to help the young girl pick up the packages. He didn't get far in his attepts, however when Mrs. Noble grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back over to where his sister stood, a look of pure rage on her face. "What do you think you're doing?" she hissed at her son, who was now staring down at his feet with an anxious look on his face, occasionally glancing up apologetically at Gracie. "don't help that little piece of filth. It's so...common" she sneered as if it were some disgusting curse word "sorry, mother" he replied, his eyes still fixed on his feet. She rolled her eyes in response. "fine." she replied angrily. "just get out of my sight. Your father will deal with you when he gets home "
Bertrand retreated up the stairs and Mrs Noble turned her rage on Gracie. "and you" she hissed, her face positively distorted with disgust. She grabbed the young girl by the arm causing her to drop the packages she was holding again. "If you value your pathetic little life, you'll learn keep your filthy ittle butterfingers steady for once in your life and for god's sake, when I say hurry up. You hurry up!" she released the girl's arm, shoving her in the direction of back door. "go get Karl." she said, referring to the fairly large driver. "tell him he is to deal with you harshly. I don't care what he does, but I want it to hurt. Got it?" she hissed before ordering the nearest servant to take the packages up to her room and stalking off up the stairs. Thera remained near the door, her hands on her hips, pouting angrily. The truth was, everybody but Mrs. Noble knew that nothing ever came of the punishments which Karl was quite frequently ordered to inflict upon the rest of the hired help. He was a gentle giant who'd never touched a woman or child in anger in his entire life and likely never would and Mrs. Noble never remembered who she had ordered to be punished so there were never any reprocussions when Karl repeatedly failed to follow mrs. Noble's orders. And she had so wanted to see that little cow get what was coming to her too.
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Post by graciescott on Apr 5, 2009 15:14:09 GMT -5
Gracie watched Bertrand get scolded, trembling slightly. She gave him a shaky smile behind the mistress' back and watched him retreat to the stairs, his head down. It wasn't fair, he was only trying to help. It wasn't his fault she had dropped the packages, it was nobody's fault but her own.
"and you"
Gracie let out a little whimper when Mrs. Noble grabbed her by the arm, she couldn't help it. She was quite terrified of Mrs. Noble. She could be absolutely merciless. She quivered as the lecture began, but kept her head up, wanting to be brave.
"If you value your pathetic little life, you'll learn keep your filthy ittle butterfingers steady for once in your life and for god's sake, when I say hurry up. You hurry up! go get Karl.tell him he is to deal with you harshly. I don't care what he does, but I want it to hurt. Got it?"
Gracie saw the look she was given from Thera. Gracie thought about Thera often. They were almost the same age. They were both girls. Though one the fine daughter of a wealthy family, and one a maid. She scampered wordlessly out the backdoor, wiping away a tear as she ran. When she was out of sight of Thera or anybody who she would get into trouble with. She came to a halt, gasping and looking around the yard, not sure what to do. She knew Karl would never hurt her, but the misses told her to go by her anyways, so she would just do what she was told.
She saw the large burly man in the back, fixing up one of their finer coaches. She went to go by him and sat down, hugging herself, watching him work.
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Post by Thera Noble on Apr 5, 2009 15:57:25 GMT -5
Thera followed Gracie outside, her arms crossed angrily over her chest, and rounded on her as she sat down on the ground. "What? crying because you didn't get punished?" she sneered at the slightly younger girl's back. "Pathetic. You can't even carry a couple lousy packages right and now you're sulking about it?" Thera wasn't sure why she was going out of her way to pick on the youngest member of their hired help but she just couldn't help herself. And she didn't want to at that. She was pissed off and somebody had to take the brunt of her frustration. Her mother had hardly even aknowledged her the entire time she had been home and now, because of this stupid little maid, she probably wouldn't be down until suppertime.
Karl turned his attention away from his work for a moment to see what the young Misses was doing out of the house, tormenting Gracie but Thera noticed the shift in his attention and promptly rebuked him. "Just get back to work, Karl, this has nothing to do with you" she yelled, maintaining absolutely no respect for the man. Elder or not, she was above him. She had been since the day she was born and she would be until the day she died. Karl gave a questioning glance to Gracie before nodding dutifully to Thera and returning to his work.
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Post by graciescott on Apr 5, 2009 16:40:33 GMT -5
"What? crying because you didn't get punished?"
Gracie shook her head, calming down slightly. That wasn't the reason. The reason she had let a tear by was because she was sorry about Bertrand being punished, sorry as well that the Mrs. never paid attention to her daughter much either, which didn't make much sense to gracie, since Thera was almost the spitting image of her.
"Pathetic. You can't even carry a couple lousy packages right and now you're sulking about it? Just get back to work, Karl, this has nothing to do with you"
When Thera yelled at Karl, Gracie stood up slightly, her pale face cool. "You may be in charge of us, but it doesn't mean you have to yell at us every second of every passing day. If it weren't for us, how would the food get on your table, or how would you get dressed in the morning? You need us just as much as we have work to do."
Gracie never dared to say such a thing, she was surprised to find them coming out of her own mouth, and she knew it was probably a mistake too, but it was the truth.
"If you excuse me, miss Thera. I have work to do," Gracie started and moved towards the house to do her afternoon chores of cleaning the parlor and cleaning the ashes out of the fireplace in the rooms that had them. Then she had to collect the laundry, then help in the kitchen before supper.
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Post by Thera Noble on Apr 5, 2009 21:23:32 GMT -5
Thera's eyes burned with an indignant rage as Gracie stood up to her. How dare that filthy little brat speak that way to one of her superiors? but, by the time Gracie had finished, Thera's expression had changed to one of smug superiority. "Oh, is that so?" she sneered at the younger girl. "Well, let me explain a little thing called supply and demand to you." she quipped, her arms still crossed over her chest. "You see, when there is a large supply of some commodity like...oh, say...workers?" she uncrossed her arms and gave a small, sarcastic shrug. "then there has to be enough demand for that commodity if all of it is going to be used. Or, in laymen's terms if all of the workers are going to have jobs. Well, right now, the supply of workers ouut weighs the demand. With all the new immigrants coming into the country every day. We could fire all of you right now and by this time tomorrow, you'd all be replaced twofold." she continued, her voice filled with false friendliness. "You, however" she gave a small, pout of feigned sympathy "would have a much harder time finding another job. I'd guess it might take three, four months for you to find a job with a salary anywhere near as good as this one. But, don't worry, at least you'd be better of than poor Karl here." she said, the obvious sneer returning to her voice as she pointed over at Karl who, by this point, had been tinkering with the same part of the car for several even though it had long since been fixed. "You see, Karl has three kids, did you know that? He used to have his wife to help foot the bill for raising them but she died last year." a small smirk formed on her face as she continued " If he had to take that kind of pay cut. His kids would starve" she leaned in toward Gracie, looking very smug. "In short, you need us more than we need you. Karl knows that" she turned to Karl, the false smile returning to her face. "Isn't that right, Karl?" she called out to him. and he replied with a dutiful nod. "So, you go do those chores, but remember, do them with a smile because we control your survival." she gave the girl a slightly too firm pat on the shoulder and stood back triumphantly.
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Post by graciescott on Apr 6, 2009 17:57:48 GMT -5
Gracie watched Karl nod, that same polite weary nod. She watched Karl work for what seemed like hours, before sliding her gaze to Thera's indignant smug smile. She kept quiet, her blue eyes wide. She then turned away from the cruel nightmare of a moment and headed towards the house.
She now knew. She was going to stay to herself. She wasn't going to say a word. She would do her work, and she would try to give a reason to stay away from Thera's and her mother's lecturing. She would do everything she was told, and she would take whatever words they gave her. That was the life of a maid, and Gracie knew that now. She would do what she must...like Karl. She closed her eyes and said a small prayer for Karl and his three children.
She stood in the quiet parlor, silence ringing through the elegant room. It was cleaned every day or two, so as no dust would settle in the room. Gracie let a finger rest on the ivory white keys of the beautiful piano. She couldn't read, but one of the older maids, Katherine, had once taught her how to read piano music. Gracie never really got to play, but it was a good way to make her hours go faster, making songs in her head.
She moved from piece of furniture to furniture, cleaning them expertly. She was always a bit of a clutz, but she took special care of the parlor. She would dust each small figurine and item carefully. The parlor was one of her favorite places in the house, if her only favorite. She was usually alone when she cleaned it and could enjoy the quiet and dreamlike haze of the room. She had a feeling she wasn't alone and felt like there were eyes on her back, she didn't turn, only kept cleaning.
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