Chapter Text
"We don't take charity cases." The sound of Hideyasu's father's voice was what drew him away from laying idly about in the parlor, his feet propped up against that table from Paris his mother so highly valued. Padding across the hardwood floors, he pushed aside one of the lace panels and peered out one of the large bay windows. It was early enough in the day to merit his father's yelling - the man never seemed to tire of bellowing over anything and everything - and so his interest was only mildly held at best. It was the words about charity cases that even had him looking, or so he was telling himself.
"S'why I said I wasn't one. I'm here to work for a meal and a roof over my head." He looked...well, dirty. That was Hideyasu's first thought as he saw the vagrant standing on the porch, a tattered bag at his side and a scowl on his face. "So lemme work here."
"What experience do you have that would make you worthwhile? As you can see, the Jounouchi plantation isn't hurting for hired help." The patriarch motioned out wide with his hand, prompting the young man to turn and look. It's true that people were scattered here and there, all working and chatting away about some gossip. They worked as needed, paused when wanted, but the fields were never without a hand in them. The house was much the same as Hideyasu turned to spot one of his personal attendants vanishing around the corner, the pink of her ribbon giving her location away as sure as a beacon. A frown pressed his lips as he narrowed his eyes, listening. "Unless you've got some hidden talent that will practically wow me, pick up your bags and be on your way. As I mentioned before, your kind," The man sniffed on the word and Hideyasu sneered with annoyance. "Is not welcome here."
The young man didn't answer right away and instead focused his attention back out onto the fields. Hideyasu wondered just what it was he was looking for, why he hadn't just grabbed his bag and gone. Was he grasping at straws, trying to find something to say he could handle? They had hands picking crops already and harvesting the fruit so there was no need for him there. "'m good with horses." Came the eventual reply, and Hideyasu could hear his father's surprise.
"Oh? Well now, I just so happen to have a fine team and a groom that's in need of another stable hand." An eyebrow was raised by both Hideyasu and the man on the porch, both clearly surprised by the sudden change in the man's tone. Hideyasu must have made a noise or knocked against the glass somehow because the young turned and looked his way. His eyes were dark, much like his overall complexion, but there wasn't anything particularly striking about him. He still looked dirty and, judging by the look he was giving Hideyasu before turning his attention back to his father, was of low-line quality. In other words, someone beneath him. Someone not worth noticing. Someone he needed if he was ever going to get away from this place. "You listening boy? I won't have you causing trouble if I decide to let you stay on the farm."
"As I said, I work to earn my keep. You won't have any problems from me, you got nothing here I'm overly interested in." He looked back towards the window where Hideyasu stood and smirked, his jaw raised ever so slightly that it shadowed his eyes. Hideyasu took a sharp breath and pulled the curtain shut, his steps not entirely quiet as he stomped away. Whatever came of the conversation he didn't hear it due to his location and the excited voices of the maids who buzzed about like honeybees to flowers. He managed to turn in time to see his father point off towards the large barn where their horses resided, apparently having decided to take him on after all. Typical. For as much as the man spouted off nonsense about not accepting charity cases he let people work there so long as they showed up. It was something about stroking his own ego rather than helping them out, a certain way he could tell neighbors during galas that he was such a kind benefactor to those in need. Maybe that was why the young man had shown up on their step rather than at the Kazuraba one down the way? Akira was a formidable woman in both word and action, her reputation strong among the community, so perhaps he didn't blame him for not showing up there.
"Young master." A buzz at his elbow had Hideyasu turn and look, one of the maids a little close for his usual comfort. He enjoyed their presence, even daring sometimes to call them friends, but there were times when he found them nothing more than bothersome pests who pecked at him too often. This might have been one of those times with the way she looked at him, her dark eyes wide with amusement and a mischievous smile on her lips. "Was that someone new your father was bringing in?"
"That's - " The moment he opened his mouth to reply it was as though he'd given permission for a floodgate to be released. They surrounded him on all sides, peppering away with questions he clearly had no answer to. Not that they'd even allow him to answer at the rate they were going and he raised a hand to his temple. It was best to let them talk and get it out of their system before he attempted a word in edgewise.
"Oh, what's his name? Do you know his name, or his age?"
"How about where he's from?"
"I think he's taken a fancy to you. It was hard to mistake the object of those glances."
"How about - " Hideyasu tried to interject to get them to scatter about and stop stepping on the hems of his skirt. They weren't doing it on purpose but their overly excited motions had him staggering as he attempted to walk towards the parlor that had been designated for his own personal use.
"How about you go greet him, young master? As the next head of the house, provided you don't marry off to a rich gentleman and take their name, it's entirely within your right and duty to do so." The head maid pushed up on her glasses, the tips of her fingers moving it slightly as the grin stayed on her face. Hideyasu turned to look at her as those around him squealed their approval. A choir of 'yes please do!' filled the air as hands went to his dress, smoothing it out from where he'd ruffled several of the layers during his earlier lay about. When one of them went to reach for his hair he slapped the hand away, prompting them to giggle and scatter just as suddenly as they'd gathered. They were all lucky his parents were not about, his mother in her drawing room and his father likely in the same spot as before. He was "too friendly" with the help and had been warned once.
With a sigh that had him heading towards the screen door instead of the parlor where he'd originally wanted to be, Hideyasu paused in front of the large mirror in the foyer. For some reason he found his hands smoothing his dress the way the maids had, his fingers brushing wayward strands of hair back into place and teasing them to stay with a little spit. Unorthodox and more than a little gross, certainly, but no one was around and it served just fine. His usual smirk was set upon his face as the finishing touch to his ensemble, and Hideyasu pushed open the door to set foot outside. His fancy new boots made a heavy clacking sound as he crossed the porch, raising some heads as it attracted the attention of nearby workers, but they turned back to one another and the task at hand when it was clear he wasn't interested in them.
The barn was by no means a small building, and was elegant in design. Hideyasu's family could say they were known for the horses they bred, steeds beyond compare and measure both on the track and off, and so it was only natural they'd be housed in a structure that rivaled the nicest of some of the plantation homes around the county. It was always staffed by the head groom, a man Hideyasu had known since childhood and had become rather comfortable with, and several other works were scuttling here and there whenever he checked in. Today proved to be no different as he saw horses being lead in and out, the familiar baritone voice calling out commands and instructions on how each horse was to be handled. He paused and smiled, eyes nearly closing for a moment to listen to a sound he found a guilty pleasure in. It was only when the sound was broken up by a stranger's voice that he remembered why he had stepped out from the cool air inside the manor.
"I was wondering when you'd come out here." In the shadows of the barn only faint movement could be seen, illuminated by the streams of light that poured in from the high windows upon the walls. The young man wasn't lying about wanting to work. He was already at it, his sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular arms that were obviously used to manual labor. His bag was nearby and tossed against a wall, covered in a thin layer of sawdust that accumulated on anything inside the barn. "Faster then I thought though."
"Oh you were, were you?" Hideyasu did his best to tone down the amusement in his voice. "What made you so sure?" Now that he was up close, he could see that his earlier assessment was still rather spot on. He was dirty, not a product of his overall hygiene but from walking on the road and now his work. He was also a bit younger than he'd initially thought. Probably younger than himself, not that Hideyasu was taking that into account. Dark hair and eyes, a faint accent that placed him far from the comforts of the South. A Northern boy perhaps, or a traveler with no land and speech to call his own.
"You were watching me from the porch earlier." A pitchfork was in his right hand and he used it to stab into a mound of hay, briefly pausing when he saw Hideyasu stiffen . "I figured it was only a matter of time before you headed out to see who I was." The movement started again and soon the air was filled with the sound of work alongside their strained conversation.
"That's right. As the young master of the house it's my duty to meet and welcome all new hands who one day might be in my employ." Hideyasu sniffed a bit, arrogance seeping in even as he tried to keep it out. He didn't like being called out on anything he was doing and he liked it even less when they were correct. Sure he had a habit of being underhanded on occasion but it was all tactical moves. He didn't need a complete stranger spouting things off. "So I'm out here greeting you and welcoming you in. How are you finding your work?"
"I just started," He said. He blinked at Hideyasu before his lips parted in a laughing grin. "Are you like this all the time or am I getting some special treatment here?" Hideyasu bristled at the comment, his expression soured and no longer wishing to be out here. He was getting as much as he was giving, that was for sure, or maybe the stable hand wasn't even aware of how he was talking. Aside from his grins and the random glances, he gave no sign of being malicious. That didn't stop him from making Hideyasu feel like he was being challenged. Challenged over what exactly was still unknown.
"Take care you don't go and get kicked by a horse. I'd hate to see you get injured when you've only just started," Hideyasu quipped.
"If one of them hits me I'll just try to aim for you. With as many layers as you got in that skirt I'm sure it'll act like a cushion." The worker laughed and Hideyasu saw red as his cheeks turned the same color. He felt hot and flushed beneath his clothing, not with anything other than unhappy rage. He took a step towards the man, pointing an accusatory finger.
"You wouldn't dare, you - !"
"It's Hase." The newly appointed stable hand paused in his work, a thumb running over his cheek to likely brush away sweat or dirt. It didn't serve any purpose other than to leave a streak of brown over his face, drawing Hideyasu's eyes to his jawline. He swallowed hard before gathering himself back up, pulling has hand to his side and balling it into a fist. "My name is Ryoji Hase." All the anger seemed to deflate from the situation at the introduction of a name. Hideyasu cleared his throat.
"Well then Mr. Hase, see to it that you do your job." Hideyasu turned on his heels, the bottom of his dress kicking up a small cloud of dust as he prepared to leave the barn and head back in. He'd gotten enough of a feel for this stranger and his ways for it to leave a bad taste in his mouth. Since the taste wasn't going to go away with only talking, perhaps a glass of lemonade was needed. It would cool down his temper and wash away the bitterness he was tasting.
"I didn't get your name," Hase said from behind, prompting Hideyasu to look over his shoulder. The same look from before, from the time on the porch, colored his features and sent a shiver down Hideyasu's spine.
"That's because I never offered it." With that he swept his dress up in his hands and headed back towards the house, not even so much as sparing a glance back at the figure whom was left in the dark. If this was going to be a game with a no account stable boy, then let the games begin.