Daemon MUCK - Morning Has Broken

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Feb 9, 2010, 9:50am

Daemon MUCK :: General :: Roleplay Logs :: Morning Has Broken

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Topic: Morning Has Broken (Read 56 times)

studebaker
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Tessa/Millie/Astor

Joined: May 2008
Gender: Female

Posts: 9
Location: Canada

Morning Has Broken
« Thread Started on May 24, 2008, 5:11pm »

Who: Tessa, Lane
What: Two early birds make some awkward conversation before heading out for their respective days.
Where: Lamport Residence
When: Early morning, late spring

Morning has finally come, tentative strands of the dawn peeking through the window. Lane and Tacita have not slept at all. The butler dresses quickly, wanting to start on the day's work. "Don't let me forget, Tass. The lamb for tonight, don't let me leave it until the last second, ok?" The canine nods once, smiling slightly. They would go to the market now, except it's too much too early. Might as well tidy the house a bit and that sort of thing until the morning ages a bit. As he opens the door to leave his room, he remembers Mrs.Lamport's inability to sleep. He has no idea if she is still in the living room, or if she finally retired in the hours that have passed. The daemon leaves the room first, closely followed by her person. Both look alert for signs of their mistress.

Tessa is up now, though in the intervening hours, she has washed and dressed herself for the day, so it's hard to tell if she's simply stayed up, or returned to bed only to rise so early. At any rate, she's now standing by one of the large windows overlooking the street, watching as the milkmen, delivery boys, and other early risers bustle around in the pre-dawn glow. Phrixus sits above her, perched on the heavy curtain rod and overlooking the room, and so it is he who first notices the presence of others, and it's only his stirring that causes Tessa to turn back from the window, unsure of whether it's butler or husband come to join her.

Lane looks mildly surprised to see her at the window; he believed that she would have returned to bed. Perhaps she has, for a short time. His expression quickly becomes respectful, and he inclines his head as he greets, "Good morning, ma'am." Tacita mirrors his movements. The butler wonders what she sees below. He often watches the early morning workers, and wonders if there are any familiar faces. "Can I get something for you?" the man inquires. How long has she been awake? Is she hungry? Possibilities form in his mind. Breakfast ideas, perhaps he should make some tea...whatever she requires. He almost asks whether or not she slept well, but doesn't want to make her feel uncomfortable if she has not rested at all. No need to start the day with awkward conversation.

"Good morning, Monsieur Lane," Tessa greets, not quite as jumpy as she was last night at least. She moves away from the window, Phrixus fluttering down to land on the back of thechair just before Tessa perches upon its seat. "Coffee, s'il vous plait," she decides without much hesitation, "Black but with sugar." She watches him a moment before leaning forward to pick up a book, a battered library book that doesn't really look like the sort of thing the Parisian princess would enjoy. And, indeed, she doesn't seem too interested in reading it, just setting it on her knee to play absently with the frayed cover.

"Right away, ma'am!" Lane replies, striding to the kitchen area to prepare the coffee. "It will be a few minutes, Mrs.Lamport." he says quietly over his shoulder, hoping not to disturb her presumed sleeping husband. The man notices that she is reading-- or at least, looking at a book. He knows that reading means that someone does not wish to be interupted, and hopes she doesn't mind his statement about the coffee. Silence lingers for a minute or two before the drink is ready to be served. There are faint clinking noises as he stirs in the sugar, but he makes no more attempt at conversation. Carefully, so as not to scald anyone, he walks to her chair and places her drink on a small table nearby. "It's quite hot, ma'am, so I'll just leave it here for you until you're ready." he announces quietly, trying to be as unintrusive as possible.

If reading means not wanting to be disturbed, does not wanting to read mean the opposite? For Tessa just continues toying with the book, her expression mostly just thoughtful as she studies the cover of the tatty thing, but there's perhaps a bit of disdain that she can't quite master. "I'm in no particular hurry," she replies, though her voice is also kept low and vague enough that it could refer to the coffee or her reading. "Thank you," she replies simply as Lane sets the drink down, and after a beat, she moves to set the book beside it. There's no point in reading it for Charles's sake if he's not actually here to witness her diligent study. "I will require your assistance today to take inventory of the kitchen. We may be entertaining in the near future, and I do not think that we will be fully stocked for this." Though she really doesn't tend to spend enough time in the kitchen so far to know for sure.

"Indeed we are not stocked to entertain guests, ma'am. Tacita and I were going to go to the market today to pick up a few things for supper tonight. Would you like me to pick up a few of the items we are lacking as well, or wait a while longer before restocking?" Lane isn't accustomed to talking so much, and seems slightly breathless. Tacita is already making a list of things they need; she often observes the shelves while the butler putters about in the kitchen.

Tessa looks momentarily surprised that Lane is already at least two steps ahead of her, but covers quickly. "Yes, you should purchase those supplies that you need. And do not skimp. We do not want our guests thinking that we cannot afford the best quality, yes?" She picks up her coffee, blowing lightly across the top of it before taking a small sip. "In the future, if you see such things are lacking, you will let me know. There is much work to be done here and no time to be wasting."

"Of course, ma'am," Lane responds, nodding. He wonders if Mr.Lamport feels the same way, but says nothing. Afterall, it's Mr.Lamport's income that they're spending. The butler isn't sure who holds the most power in the realtionship, but decides that it won't matter until their orders contradict each other. The man thinks that the situation may never arise; the only one who seems warm to the idea of a butler is this young lady, perhaps Mr.Lamport will not care to give him tasks as readily as his wife does. A pause, and then, "The market won't be open for another hour or so, ma'am. Would you like me to start looking through our food supply, or is there something else I can do for you?"

Tessa is quite content with her husband's obliviousness towards the hired help, provided it means she gets her way. She considers the offer for a moment before waving it off. "Do not let me keep you from your duties, Monsieur Lane. I am sure that you have much to do getting things in order. Why my husband did not have a butler already..." she begins with a shake of her head. But then, she does already know why, and it's really more of a show to indicate that /she/, at least, understands the importance of these things.

Lane simply nods in response to her answer, stepping back towards the kitchen. He, appreciates her ability to realize how much help a servant can be. Tacita follows behind him, her tail waving slightly with happiness. Both man and daemon are excited to leave the house and visit the market; the fresh air will do them good. They whisper figures to each other, keeping track of what is needed, hopefully without disturbing the other occupants of the room too much.

Tessa remains in the living room, sedately sipping her coffee and watching the shadows darken as the sun comes up properly. Phrixus is quiet and watchful, but restless, and the sound of his fluttering from perch to perch is the only sound in the room. After about fifteen minutes of this, the coffee is done, and the book has been picked up and put back down several times. The young woman is clearly bored, and while it doesn't do to socialize with one's butler, she rises now and moves towards the kitchen under the guise of checking on his progress. "We will need many things, yes?" she says as she steps over the threshold into this most foreign of rooms.

Lane looks up, a little shocked to find Mrs.Lamport so near. He recovers and replies, "Yes, by the looks of it, ma'am." The butler turns away momentarily, setting a can on a shelf. "Would you like more coffee, or perhaps something to eat, ma'am?" Tacita continues to work, nose bobbing as she counts items. Her human, however, is watching the young woman almost worriedly. Has he been /that/ inattentive that she is forced to actually /get up/ and /walk/ over to make her request known? The very idea shames him.

"Very well. Get whatever you must. It will not do to be unprepared," Tessa says with a nod, as if he was somehow going to do otherwise without her keen guidance here. She seems oblivious to the deep shame she's causing the poor man, just studying the kitchen with the same sort of bland indifference reserved for some of Charles's lengthier filibusters. Phrixus, however, is a little more curious, nudging at a shiny piece of silver with his beak. "Non, not right now, merci," Tessa replies to the offer, though then that begs the question of why she lingers. "Very well, some coffee, perhaps," she decides after a moment.

"Of course, right away, ma'am." Luckily the coffee is still quite warm and located close enough to the pantry that Tacita can comfortably continue counting while the butler attends to Mrs.Lamport. "Sugar, ma'am?" he asks, hand frozen with anticipation on the container. A lone tendril of steam rises from the freshly poured drink, tickling the man's face as he asks.

"Oui, merci," Tessa agrees, a little distracted as she sizes up the colour scheme in here. "Do you think, perhaps, that this room would do better in a warmer colour?" she muses, though it's only recently been repainted. And it isn't as though she's actually asking the opinion of the help, perish the thought. Just thinking aloud. She files it away for later, as Phrixus leaves the silverware alone to study Tacita, such focus and industriousness unfamiliar to the vain little bird.

As Lane stirs in the sugar, he looks to Mrs.Lamport but doesn't answer. Colour schemes are not his expertise, and he infers from her tone that she doesn't care to hear an answer. The butler passes the warm coffee to the young woman, and Tacita glances up to see the magpie looking at her. She pauses for just a moment, deems she is not doing anything wrong, and continues counting. It's best not to hold eye contact with your superiors, anyway. The daemon's work is nearly finished. Her person asks, "Anything else for you, ma'am?"

Tessa gives her head a little shake as she takes the coffee. "Non, that is all, thank you," she replies, as she turns away from studying the paint in here. Phrixus continues just watching Tacita, though his just seems to be more of an unabashed curiosity gone unnoticed by his person thus far. But Tessa finally seems to realize her presence is something of a hindrance here as she takes one last sweeping look around. "I will leave you to finish then. I am going to go to the patisserie for breakfast. You will tell Monsieur Lamport?"

Lane nods. "Yes, of course, Mrs.Lamport." While you're away, would it be alright if Tacita and I nipped out to the market to garner the necessary supplies?" Almost on cue, the canine daemon approaches the butler and murmurs, "We're going to need an armload of spices and herbs to make that lamb taste at all decent." Her eyes flicker once again to the avian daemon, and her brow moves almost imperceptibly upwards, questioningly. The man shoots a stern look to the weimaraner, reprimanding her for speaking like that with the mistress in earshot. Hopefully the woman is too preoccupied to notice.

"Of course. I think dinner tonight, it should be something ... un petit peu, a little bit special. Buy what you need for that," Tessa gives her leave, though it's hard to tell if she overheard Tacita and is replying to that, or just speaking of his trip to the store in general. But as Tacita looks at him, Phrixus preens proudly for a moment before fluttering loftily to his person's shoulder.

Hmph, show off Tacita thinks as she watches the bird's display. "Thank you, ma'am," Lane replies, grateful that his deamon's comment did not recieve ill attention from Mrs. Lamport. The canine noses the butler's leg by way of apology, watching the magpie. She wonders his intent for observing her as he did a moment ago, but is silent. Lane is already displeased with her. No need to upset him further so early in the day. Perhaps she can win him over while they're at the market by remembering what needs to be bought. The two of them are ready to leave, but wont do so until Mrs.Lamport departs, just in case she decides she would like something in the next couple minutes.

Phrixus is harder to read, the expression of a bird not revealing much to begin with, but he's clearly still putting on a few airs for Tacita's benefit. Which perhaps speaks of something, considering she's a servant's daemon and he's still bothering to show off to her. Tessa takes a whole sip of that coffee she'd come all this way to get, before setting the nearly-full cup back down. "I will be back in time for the lunch, but just something light," she instructs, as she moves to exit the kitchen so she can prepare to go out.

Tacita makes a note of the magpie's behaviour, planning on telling Lane later as he seems pretty oblivious to the exchange. "Very good, ma'am," the butler says as Mrs.Laport moves away. He looks down to his daemon, who has adopted a nuetral expression while she tries to puzzle out Phrixus' actions. After a moment, she meets his eyes. Ready to go. Before they leave, the man grabs the abandoned coffee and washes it down the sink. Mrs.Lamport will not want to drink cold coffee. If she requires more, he'll pour it for her. No sense keeping it if have of the household is leaving.

Phrixus is now thoroughly ignoring the other daemon, though it's in a very deliberate sort of way. Tessa seems as oblivious to this as Lane is, just reaching an absent hand up to stroke at where the sharp feet hold firmly to her shoulder. There's really nothing left for her to do at this point than get ready and head out, bringing a small wrap to protect her from the chill of a spring morning, and she seems to be complaining to Phrixus about the London weather, though it's once again in French.

Tacita snorts quietly, and in such a way that it could be mistaken as a sneeze. Pfah, that bird. She finds his behaviour quite frustrating. Dismissing it, she waits as Lane dons a light coat, tail swaying at the prospect of going outside. The butler is no less excited, and waits only a moment before he, too, exits. He makes a quiet remark to his daemon about the invigorating morning air as the stroll towards the market, bathed in the morning sun's glow.

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Logged

- Contessa de la Mater Lamport (wife of Charles) - daemon: Phrixus, magpie
- Mildraed Louise Payne (nurse at St. Paul's Cathedral School) - daemon: Aristophanes, bouvier
- Currently applying for Astor Underwood (son of Evie and Algernon) - daemon: Ismene, unsettled

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