Blackford Manor (Ground Floor)

Location: Her Room → Kitchen
Interacting With: No One in Particular

Clementine rose from her bed and look out the window of her room. Hmm, it seems I really am trapped here, she thought, observing the water level. No matter, today was a new beginning. What would make this "new beginning" different than any other? She didn't know, but she couldn't help but hope that this mansion would act as a home for awhile. Besides, being a kitchen hand really wasn't a bad job. She found it quite relaxing to chop vegetables and clean the dishes. It was a chance to let her mind go blank, to forget all that had happened and all that could happen. She took one more look out the window before going to the small wash basin and washing her face.

Almost soundlessly Clementine crossed the quaint room to the wooden dresser. She had already set her clothes in it, as she had no intention of leaving the manor any time soon. Once dressed in a long sleeved, ankle length, cream coloured dress, she tied her well worn apron around her waist. She brushed her dark blonde waves before tying them back into a half pony tail so as not to interfere with whatever work she would be required to do today. After putting her boots on, she slipped her pencil behind her right ear and put her notepad in her left apron pocket. Ready to face the day, Clementine left her room with a slight smile on her face. Come what may, she thought to herself as she closed her door.

After reading the note left for her, she decided it'd be best go to the kitchen and see what needed to be cleaned. She had no intention of seeking out the maids and manservants unless she absolutely needed something. She had no idea who they were and if they were new as well, which was quite likely, they'd have no clue what to be doing with themselves. With a mental sigh, Clementine walked down the hall with a soft click-clack of the heels of her boots. She'd always been quite light on her feet, but walking silently in heels was just too much effort. Besides, she had nothing to hide at the moment. She was merely a kitchen hand going to the kitchen.

It did not take long to find the kitchen, situated on the ground floor with a servants' staircase conveniently close to her room. Upon entering, she found herself in the presence of a handful of other servants. She recognized a some from last night after arriving at the manor, but none of the new servants had engaged in conversation. If Clementine was like how her family had always wanted her to be, she'd be greeting each person and making small talk. Instead, she simply walked into the room and did her best to ignore everyone. She wasn't exactly known for her proper social skills and that seemed unlikely to change for as long as she lived.

It would do no good to clean the kitchen with these bodies in it and while it is in use, she thought as she paused to look around. Two people were by the stove, a woman was making something and a man chatting with her. A lone man was by the sink, staring out of the window above it. Finally, there was a blonde woman standing against the wall, seemingly observing the others just as Clementine was doing. What a lovely little group, she thought as a small smile formed. Perhaps we'll all be friends and live merrily in this big, old house. Sarcasm was one of her favourite things.

While she wasn't too happy with being around these people, Clem suddenly found herself preoccupied with another thought-- what was she going to eat for breakfast? Being unable to eat solid food put quite the damper on meal times for her. It also made things complicated when relocating or attending a meal with strangers. She had no intention of settling for a glass of water. It smelled like the woman at the stove was cooking oatmeal. Perhaps she'd share with the others and if not, Clementine was perfectly capable of making her own. Unsure of what to do, she decided to learn where things were in the kitchen. After all, she'd be spending quite a bit of time in here. She began opening drawers and cabinets, closing them gently so as not to disrupt those having conversation. It'd do no good to annoy others on her first full day here.

The first night in the manor had been a long one. Though she was dreadfully tired, sleep eluded her as she lay upon the the wool blanket that had been tucked neatly into the sleigh bed in her chambers. The mattress was softer than the one at he old apartment above the butcher, but it lacked the warmth of personal history that her old home possessed. Glancing around the room she noticed that, though not quite as upscale as the rest of the manor, even the servants quarters were furnished nicely. In addition to her bed there was a vanity, a set of shelves, and a matching dresser in the room as well.
Upon her arrival last night she began unpacking her bags, though she told herself it was to make this place feel more like home she knew the real reason was to keep her from turning tail and running back out the door. There was no history here, no trace of her father in it's walls. Gazing around the room brought no memories of laughter or joy, only an unpleasant emptiness.

“Sleep is out of the question," she sighed crossing the room to the sparsely decorated shelves. A trinket box and a few knick-knacks sat on the top shelf, tokens of her father’s affection in the years when he was still alive, and a few leather bound books that she cherishes took their place on a shelf of their own.
While searching for the Manor upon her arrival in Hob’s Bay she stumbled upon a library. Though the librarian could not help her search, she had recommended a novel that Nina happily borrowed. Thoughts of a blooming friendship between her and the older woman put a smile on her face, books had been her sanctuary for the last year without him. She retrieved this book from the top of the pile and sat in the windowsill, it’s pages would help her pass the time until morning came.

---

Streak of dawn passed through the thin part in the thick curtains revealing the particles dancing in the air. Nina placed a ribbon halfway through the book and sighed, thoughts of heroic knights made her heart flutter and cheeks turn a magnificent shade of pink. Outside the water seemed to have risen an amazing amount since her arrival, the manor seemed to be an island surrounded by a sea that parted just for her arrival.
How odd, she thought, I guess I won’t be returning this book anytime soon, I hope she understands...”
As she placed the book back on it’s shelf she noticed a letter that had been placed on her nightstand. She was sure that it was not there the night before, but it must have been. No one had entered the room while she was reading, “I must have missed it..." she mumbled as she opened it, taking in the tasks for the day.
The thought of being around so many new people both excited and terrified her as she thumbed through the small selection of dresses she brought with her. After settling on a pale yellow dress with a sweet heart neckline that fell just past her knees she retrieved her white apron from the dresser and tied it around her waist. Though she was sure that there were aprons for her in the kitchen to choose from, she had a special attachment to this one. Though it was made of white cotton, she had embellished the edges with lace and sewn the outline of a white rabbit on the corner. Her father’s nickname for her had always been his little bunny due to the way she wiggled her nose back and forth when she was deep in thought or reading a particularly exciting chapter in one of her romance novels.
Finally she pulled on her black boots and laced them up. They rose to above her ankle and the two inch heel gave her just enough lift that she wouldn’t stand out too much with the others. Finally she pulled her hair up in a bun, though she attempted to keep it neat she had trouble with her curls at times. Sticking a few pins into the bun to hold down the flyaway strands and tying a pastel blue ribbon around the curly mess completed her preparation for the day. She considered slipping on her white gloves, she had worn them almost every day since her father’s passing, but chose to risk the passing touch of the others. Her job in the kitchen wouldn’t require hand coverings. At this point they would just be a crutch for her social anxiety. She did bring a book with her however, The Language of Flowers , to bury her head in should it become to much for her. It was time to start her new life, it was time to meet her new family.

When she entered the kitchen she was amazed to see just how many servants Mr.Blackford had employed on his staff. In her days at Claire manor as a child there was only two maids, the cook, and her father who did all of the work. Claire manor was half the size of this estate however, so the staffing choice made sense. With her life of isolation for the past year even just three or four people would seem like a crowd though.
Nina kept her head down as she entered the kitchen, her hands clutching her book tight enough to pull her the skin white across her knuckles. She wanted to turn and run, but remembering the rising water she knew there would be no escape. Instead she took a deep breath and raised her head to view the group that had converged in the room, no doubt in search of breakfast before their work day began. Though she had no appetite she had no choice but to remain in the kitchen, this was where she belonged.

Glancing around she wondered what she should begin doing. The cook, she assumed based on the apron he wore, was chatting with another girl who was preparing something in a small pot and a second girl was looking through the cabinets and drawers.
They must be the other kitchen hands, they look busy... I should be doing something as well... Glancing around she searched for a task to start. It seemed that most everyone was waiting patiently for something to eat.
Nina placed her book down onto the butcher block table and grabbed a basket that sat in the corner of the kitchen next to a door she was assuming served as a pantry. Stepping into the small room her assumption was verified only by the sparse supplies lining the shelves.
I suppose that makes sense, one of the tasks does require an order be placed fro supplies... I just didn’t think it was going to be this bad. she thought as she removed the lid from a dusty barrel. Though the barrel could have held hundred of apples, only seven lay at the bottom of the barrel. She almost fell in as she leaned over to reach them, her ability to balance on the edge with her feet off the ground saved her from taking an embarrassing tumble on her first day. Returning to the kitchen with the basket of apples she felt a lump form in her throat. Now that she had found food, she couldn’t just stand there with the basket and hope that the others would come...

She swallowed hard and walked over to a man with dark hair who was gazing out of the window over the sink. Standing next to him she dumped the apples into the sink and began rinsing the dust from their red skins. She spoke in her soft, melodic voice for the first time since she stepped into the kitchen, though she couldn’t bring herself to raise her eyes to his.
“Are you hungry," she asked, holding a freshly washed apple out to him, “There isn’t much to eat right now, but I found these in the pantry.”

"Samuel Perkins, the new gardener of Blackford Manor," the young man proudly introduced himself as, taking the apple she offered.
Nina raised her eyes to his, having been taught at a young age by Lady Claire that a young woman should always make eye contact when introducing herself, and wiped the water from her hands before extending one to him.
"Nina Xalvadora, it's a pleasure to meet you Monsieur," she responded with a smile. His eyes were blue like her own, but didn't shine with hope as hers did. He looked tired, but not from a single night. His eyes carried fatigue from a lifetime of restless nights. At the sight of them she felt a pang of heartache for him, but was unsure why.
"The name is Asher Jones. I am the head cook of this manor. By the looks of it you have all come in search of breakfast. Rather than having you rummage through the place and make a mess for me, please have a seat at the table by Lady Juliet. I will put together some food for you to help get your day started off right.
The grizzly fellow that had been at the stove chatting with another young lady had turned his attention to the rest of the group and addressed us in a booming voice. He confirmed her suspicion that he would be the cook of the house and requested that everyone take a seat.

Nina retrieved the remaining six apples from the sink and placed them back into the basket, unsure of what to do with them. She decided to place them on the counter next to him, should he choose not to use them she knew where they would need to be returned.
She returned her attention to Samuel long enough to give him a shy smile before turning to the table to take her place where her book already rested.
Being a kitchen hand she felt that she should be helping him and raised her hand gently, "Monsieur Jones, I have been hired to work in the kitchen with you if you'd like any assistance..." her voice trailed at the end as eyes turned at the sound. Her shoulders rose and her head dropped, it was going to take some time before she felt comfortable around so many people. Her life as a wallflower was over, she was part of something now. A cog in the machine, and for the machine to function properly there would have to be contact between her and the other cogs.
She could only hope that she would be allowed to do some cooking during her employment, though being a kitchen hand only guaranteed that she would be doing much of the cleaning in not just the kitchen, but the entire ground floor. For now, at least until Mr.Cherrywood arrived, she knew who to look to for guidance.

As you were chatting along, the cook preparing dinner and the kitchenhands doing their jobs, three new people entered the room. The eldest of the three introduces herself as Mrs. Gelder, and reminds you all that in the absence of Mr Cherrywood, she will be in charge. She has little else to say to you, opting instead for a small cup of black coffee before she sets about her administration tasks of the day. She tells you that she expects you all to do the same.

The two others say little. In fact, they hardly introduce themselves. The younger woman only smiles faintly, keeping at the edges of the room and vanishing before she calls too much attention to herself. The man looks to the floor and says nothing. He responds to question with a gentle smile and a slight shake of his head, as though unable rather than unwilling to reply.

Before you know it, breakfast is over. It is time to move on to your work, and perhaps allow yourself to explore the house and the still visible grounds before dinner is served. The water is still high, but steadily pulling back, revealing long stretches of white sand, and nothing else...

---

---

Josephine
It was clear Mr. Cherrywood had not had help with his paperwork for some time. The papers were erratic, most of it hastily put together. She couldn't find a proper record of the guests they were expecting at the end of the week. Similarly, though the house was clearly lived in there were few orders of food. Enough to feed two, perhaps, but not the large staff required by the house– not even four, depending on how long Lord Blackford had lived alone with only Cherrywood, Nancy and Christopher for company.

Had they been close to a forest she might have understood. It wasn't unusual for Lords to prefer their meat fresh, but around here there was nothing to hunt. Josephine sighed, rubbing her temples against a headache born from confusion. Hunger cleared her mind, so she refused to take food before the most important work was done. Still, she was beginning to feel awfully alone in the little office by the kitchen, and considered a spot of supervision before she continued her work.

Nancy
"As you can see, a lot of this stuff is really old," Nancy explained to the other maids over the fast-paced clicking of her heels. "You'll want to be careful when you clean it. Not that the man upstairs gives a toss about the furniture, but Cherrywood can be a real arse about it." She gave an awful, throaty laugh at this, nudging Christopher, who only shrugged as he continued to give the floor a prolonged stare.

"Most important bit's probably the dining room," Nancy continued. "The guests are gonna spend the most time in there, so we should be thorough with it. I'm guessing they won't have much time for the other rooms, but I guess it won't hurt to give it a proper clean for once."

She pushed open the double doors to the dining room, revealing a lavish chaos of furniture. A huge, dark oak table stretched from one side to the other, around which stood a dozen of equally oak chairs with blood red seating. Golden curtains bulged by the gigantic buildings giving a view to the garden of the house. A few counters lined the walls where the servants would be resting drinks and dinner before serving. At the very edge of the room, a huge fireplace would gape like a mouth over whomever sat at the Lord's seat. It was a lot to take in at once– shelves with fine china on display, a gigantic crystal chandelier wobbling over the middle of the table, and all this only at first glance. Nancy paused, letting the maids take in the sight, her expression frozen into a cruel half-smile.

"All right," she said. "Any questions?"

Location: Dining Hall to Kitchen
Interacting With: Nancy and Maids

Following breakfast, Clementine joined the maids as Nancy led them to the dining room. Though her primary duty was cleaning the kitchen, it wouldn't hurt to know where the dining room was. She might be requested to come back and help out should her efforts be needed.

The dining hall was quite a sight. It was grande and beautiful, yet a bit intimidating. She'd seen plenty of dining halls before given her past life, but this one just seemed a bit creepy. Perhaps it was the dark furniture, the large fireplace, or the dreary weather outside that made her feel this way. She looked around, taking it all in. Her facial expression barely changed as she did so.

Her attention turned back to the maid leading them as she asked if anyone had any questions. Clementine had quite a few questions. Who were the guests that were coming? Other wealthy civilians? Where was Master Blackford? Could there really be only a few staff members that weren't new in this large manor? Why did the man next to Nancy not speak? How had she been selected for this role? How had they even found her after she'd fled after knocking some sense into that pervert cook? She would not ask these questions to another human just yet. First, she might as well wait and see if some would be answered for her. Until then, she'd just do her job and hope nobody bugged her too much.

Clementine shook her head in response to Nancy's question and gave a small nod to the maids before leaving the dining room. It was time to go and clean the kitchen. She was looking forward to the mind numbing work of sorting and cleaning. A small smile formed on her face as she walked down the hall, glancing at the walls as she passed them. She was soon in the kitchen, where Mr. Jones and Miss Nina would be if they weren't already. Hopefully there were no creatures or unwanted plant life lurking within the kitchen. Clementine did not want to deal with catching mice or removing mold. Both were quite annoying.