|N.oiz|Beneath Master's Thumb|Laurel|

[Laurel.Black]

"You're going to be late for your presentation Viktor."

Something he could care less about.

"At least try and get up...you've been in bed all weekend. I had Lainey make your favorite breakfast and I have a surprise for you I think you'll want to get up for~"

First it was his mother that would try and woo him and then it would be his father to try and demand his participation in a game he wasn't willing to play. Still he laid there waiting... Soon her iconic sigh of defeat cut through their shared silence before she finally left. While he didn't feel like the 'show dog' approach that morning he was intrigued by her latter statement. If there was nothing else that would get him from his bed, it sure was the promise of gifts that he would gladly ready himself for...

The Ruiize manor was located on the countryside. The drive up to the estate from the nearest city was at least an hour probably more if you were bad with directions. It was the epitome of a poor man's dream with its indoor pools, outdoor pools, marbled floors, unnecessary statues, paintings, landscaping-- so on and so forth. It was life you could enjoy if all you had to do was live but, for Viktor it was a prison. At the ripe age of 24 he hadn't stepped foot outside of the manor due to his family's strict instructions. With their massive fortune it was hard not accumulating enemies even when you donated to various charities and non -profits to stay on the public's good side. It seemed no matter how much good one could do their would always be people who wanted what you had. So, Viktor was home bound only to travel with the family when they were off on vacations. He could tell you more about airport security than he could about the city he lived a mere hour from.

He was expecting his father to pay him a visit after his mother left but after tossing and turning from anticipation he supposed he was just too busy. He couldn't say he wasn't happy about that. He didn't think he could take another baseless lecture about being on time and whatever other crap he felt like pulling out of his ass to talk about.

"I suppose I should try not to be a disappointment today..."

were his words as he rolled over in bed...

Downstairs his parents were wrapping up a meeting in anticipation for their new butler's arrival. They'd decided to source outside of their normal company to perhaps motivate their son back to his normal self. As part of the contract they sent out a driver personally to retrieve their new employee. He was to bring all that he wanted to make himself at home as he would be living on the estate until they deemed his services no longer applicable to their son.

At the chime of their generically fancy grandfather clock, their meeting ended, and right on time the doorbell rang. "Ah, that must be him." all too happily the mother strode across the living room pulling the door open quickly. "Welcome, please follow me. My husband will arrange for your things to be taken to your room." Viktor's mother was a tall brunette with greens eyes dressed from head to toe in money. Leading the other off into the kitchen area she finally turned to him. "Sorry, to throw you into the wolves den so quickly however, we have an important presentation in a couple of hours and I need to get Viktor up. Do you think you could start right now and we can go over any finer details of your contract later on today?" she asked with a tilt of her head and hopeful smile.

 

[Dionysus]

Beau Monet was not exactly a rather intimidating man. From his short stature, petite frame, his gentle face and that long wisps of white hair that remained so neatly combed and tied back. Fear striking wasn’t the first word they used to describe him, yet neither did they use words such as kind or lenient. Whilst he wasn’t terrifying, it was safe to say he had a certain demeanour about it. Icy, cold blue eyes had a feeling of uncertainty about them, like a calm before a storm. His face - whilst gentle, his jawline defined but not too sharply like most men - remained emotionless, yet one could almost hear the way the cogs of his mind moved, formulating a plan to everything.

He had grown up with not much wealth, in fact he still lacked things such as money and status, in the countrysides of France. A thin and small child he was, picked on and bullied relentlessly. A wiry smile almost worked it’s way to his lips at the childhood memory, where were they now? Pathetic country men. Beau had risen to the ranks, whilst merely a butler he still served some of the most high born and known families there were. It was an honour not gifted to some, yet here Beau stood, outside the gates of his next families home.

With confidence of a man who lived in the very home, he raised his fist and knocked before he entered, not waiting for the others to greet him. Beau knew his manners, he was a polite and patient person, yet he was here for a job, a job he aspired to get done swiftly. “Ah, Mrs. Ruiize, it’s an honour to make your acquaintance.” A well spoken voice rung out, hints of his French origin coming in like water droplets.

Like an obedient servant, Beau followed Mrs. Ruiize, merely chuckling at her request “Ma’am, I am here to serve and benefit your family. If you wish for me to start now, you need not ask. I haven’t brought much, I can assure you I’ll have your son to a correct and outstanding standard shortly. I doubt it will take long, I expect my reputation in correcting families should do more than enough to demonstrate that. But, I’ll have him up and dressed within the hour.”

And with a smile, the butler took his leave, ascending up the steps of the manor until he reached Viktor’s room. He knocked, waited, and entered. “Sir, it’s past the time you should be up. Come now, I’ll prepare your clothes.”