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I.
“Francois, you will be assigned to my son, Ryusui.”
Francois straightened up a fraction at the call of their name, breaking from the thoughts in their head that nearly distracted them. There was no longer time for nervousness and second guesses, not when they had been given their charge to serve.
The young butler looked over at the child that their boss had assigned to them. He couldn't be more than four, with thick blonde hair styled back and dressed in clothes that must have been akin to a business suit. His expression seemed too hard with trying force professional stoicism, chocolate eyes gleaming with insincere interest, but it was more than clear that the boy honestly just wanted to run around and play. Such is the nature of children, even ones that came from a pedigree like the Nanami family. Not as though they were much older than a child themselves, but that was a thought for another time.
Arm moved to place a hand across their chest, bowing in respect to their employer and charge, displaying a competent grin. “It is my honor to serve you, Master Ryusui. Please call upon me for whatever it is that you need,” they said in greeting, trying to suppress the quiver in their nervous voice.
The boy didn't say anything, just nodded his head in acknowledgment. Likely listening to his father and staying quiet, was what they could assume. As was also the nature of children. Francois didn't take offense, however, continuing to smile, exiting their bow and standing upright again.
After the rest of the new servants were assigned their roles, ranks were broken and their employer departed. Ryusui grinned with mischievous energy once his father was out of the room, running up to Francois with an eager gleam. He pointed up at his new butler with a pointed finger, “Francois, I want you to take me to the garden so I can go play!”
They blinked for a moment, stunned by the sudden attitude change despite it already bubbling beneath the surface, then smiled and nodded their head. “Of course, Master Ryusui, that can be done,” they agreed to the request, but paused for continuing, “However, before we do so, I must do something first.”
They knelt down to his level, gloved hands reaching for his tie, making quick work to undo its connection, removing it from around his neck and straightening out the collar of his shirt once they were done. “I would be remiss if I had not removed your tie and it became unfortunately caught in something while you are playing,” they explained, carefully wrapping the tie up into a roll and tucking it carefully into one of the pockets on their coat, “I will also hold onto your coat for the same reason once we are outside.”
Ryusui was stunned for a moment and just stared at Francois incredulously. No one else had ever done such a thing before; they would just simply obey and give him what he asked for, letting him do whatever it was he wanted. Yet, they didn't just do that, wanting to make sure he was in position to play safely. This was their first meeting, and yet this little action struck him as something that only those that had long served the Nanami family would've made.
He grinned widely, a faint touch of a blush on his cheeks that he almost wanted them to see, grabbing at Francois' hand and starting to pull them along, leaving the room and heading down the hall on the way to the entrance to the garden, “Come on, Francois, let's go play! I'm going to be the ship captain and you'll be my first mate!”
Francois stumbled for a moment at the initial pull, but quickly corrected their footing, keeping their pace steady without stumbling over their tinier leader. They kept their professional grin, although in their chest, their heart was racing rather fast. Whether that was from the surprise, the anxiety, or the happiness of their young charge, they didn't quite know but it didn't ultimately matter. “Of course, Master Ryusui; let us make haste to our ship!” they exclaimed, chuckling softly in echo to his more boisterous laugh.
~*~*~*~*~
II.
Seven-year-old Ryusui Nanami hated ties. They were annoying, too tight, and he could never get them right, which almost always led to him getting yelled at or having one of the servants frantically clawing at him trying to fix it before his father saw. Yet, every single time he stepped out of the Nanami mansion, or sometimes even out of his bedroom, he was required to wear one. Didn't matter if it was only for a few minutes for his father to show him off to a potential client, he had to wear a stupid tie. He knew why he had to, of course, but that didn't make things better. He wished, so much, not to wear the blasted piece of cloth, and couldn't wait for the second that he could take it off and go back to having his neck free of its haughty bounds.
He stared into the mirror, trying to get it positioned just right, but as the knot slipped in his fingers again, all he could do was cry out in annoyance. “I hate this stupid tie!” he childishly yelled, pulling it out from around his collar and throwing it onto the ground, crossing his arms and pouting about his room, “I desire to never wear one again!”
“While I understand your frustrations, Master Ryusui, you know that your father requires you to be properly dressed.”
He stamped his foot on the ground, turning around to face his butler with clear disdain, “I know that, Francois! But I just hate these dumb things!”
Standing by the doorway was Francois, the young boy's faithful butler, umber lips curled into a patient smile and arms tucked behind their back, watching as their charge struggled with his task. Admittedly, they hated seeing him get so flustered, and had to fight back the urge to step in earlier before he got to this breaking point. However, they knew that they shouldn't interfere, not unless he was unable to do so before they had to bring him downstairs.
They knew that this was something Ryusui needed to learn for himself, as a future heir of the Nanami Conglomerate, and it was something that they could not always fix for him. Although...
“That is understandable. I, too, have found myself frustrated with ties at times. I struggled often with the knot, and times when I did get that part right, I would accidentally undo it trying to even out the tongues,” they explained as they stepped towards the boy, kneeling down to grab the discarded piece of silk.
They looped it around Ryusui's neck, tucking it under his collar. They brought his hands into their own, coaxing him to grab the ends, guiding him through the steps needed to put the tie together.
“However, with practice, you will become a master of the skill,” they replied, attaching the tie clip to keep the tongues flat and together once it was settled, letting go of their master's hands and straightening out his collar afterwards to fix the wrinkles they had unintentionally caused.
Ryusui glanced down at the perfectly done tie, feeling a slight tingle in his fingers from where Francois had touched them. He looked back up at Francois, who was smiling gently as they pulled their arms away, folding them professionally on their lap.
“There. A perfectly done tie. Now, let us put on your coat and hurry downstairs. It is nearly time for the meeting.”
They reached for the coat and coaxed Ryusui to place his arms inside of the sleeves, buttoning it into place once the fabric was smoothed out. The ends of the tie was tucked very carefully beneath the connected hems, completing the perfect look that was expected of the young Nanami heir.
Satisfied, Francois stood up, brushing out the imperfections in their uniform from kneeling as they did, turning and stepping back towards the door, opening it up and then doing a light bow as they awaited for their charge to step out. The child didn't move right away, looking down at his outfit and especially the tie, then at Francois, whom stared at him with patience and kindness in their smile.
He suddenly pouted, returning to looking at the offending tie with disdain. “It's perfect now, but what about next time? And all the times after that? What if I never master the skill?” he questioned, annoyed and frustrated, all of the tingles in his fingers now gone as he clenched his fists in a childish fit of rage.
Francois took it all in stride, laughing softly again and causing Ryusui to look up with surprise. “I will always be by your side, Master Ryusui, so if you ever have troubles, I will be there to assist,” they replied with sweet and honest intention, and he could feel a small bubble in the back of his throat.
He would never admit that hearing such things was about to make him cry. No, that was a fact he'll forever deny. He swallowed that lump deep down, smiling brightly and forgetting all about the frustration he was previously feeling. Francois' smile widened upon seeing his expression turn hopeful, extending out a hand towards him, “Now, are you ready to go downstairs, Master Ryusui?”
The boy nodded his head vigorously, taking Francois' hand in his own and allowing himself to be guided out of his room, refusing to let go until the last second that he had to.
~*~*~*~*~
III.
Eleven-year-old Ryusui Nanami glanced out the window of his private waiting room, watching all of the people below as they prepped the hall for the upcoming chess competition. His head rested on his hand, arm bent and sat against the window's ledge, a pout on his face and brows furrowed as he watched as groups of contestants lingered in spots around the large space. Everyone looked nervous but excited from what he can tell. A total opposite of what he was, feeling more bored and downcast.
There was no reason, he felt, that he had to be here. But he had to, only because it was what his father demanded of him. Not that the old man actually cared, since he also made the choice not to show up. Forcing his son to participate was more for the clout and prestige that he could take from Ryusui taking a victorious place that he could brag about later. However, while that was annoying, the Nanami heir was used to such things, having done a lot of things just to try and stay on his father's good side, and if he were to be frank, he would've joined the competition regardless of what his father wished.
The reason he joined was because his older brother, Sai, was going to be part of the competition. The thought of being part of a competition with his brother, the one person in the world he could ever call his rival when it came to chess, filled him with so much excitement that he practically couldn't sleep that night. The competition was months away at that point, but still, he was delighted by the visions of facing his brother in the final match, seeing who among the two discarded boys were the true master of the game. While Sai wasn't as forthright with his positive emotions, Ryusui was sure his brother was excited about it as well, based off of how many times the two would play the game together.
Then Sai was flown out to India. Now Ryusui remained to participate in a challenge he found no desire to partake in, yet had no choice to drop out. And now he was here. No rival, no family to watch... it was just him and him alone. And that loneliness hurt just as badly. If someone was actually here on his side, going out there and battling through opponents he was sure he could beat would be a bit more tolerable to bare, but he had no one.
Not even his faithful butler, Francois.
He could feel a slight sting to his eyes, but chose to believe it was just because the air was dry. It was, very much so, and that's why his eyes were hurting. He wasn't saddened by the fact that the last remaining beacon of hope he had for this competition to be enjoyable was not here at all, having left so soon after escorting him to this room and leaving him to dwell in the silence and impatience. When asked where they were going, they didn't say, only saying that they had something important to do and to wait in here until the competition began.
Something more important than being by his side and watching him compete. Just like Sai. Just like his father and the rest of the Nanami family. All of them always had something more important to do.
Ryusui groaned in frustration over his thoughts that grew more and more dim, and the sting in his eyes became harsher and harder to ignore. He stood up from his seat and pushed away the chair in a childish fit of rage. “Screw this!” he hissed out, pulling at the starchy coat and bow tie he had to wear, yanking them off his person and throwing them at the chair.
He wasn't going to compete. Wasn't going to give anyone the satisfaction of his victory. No one deserved it and there was no reason at all for him to stay for himself. There was no prize to be won here worth playing for. Screw all of it; he's going to leave. He wasn't sure what he would do, but he knew there was plenty more to enjoy than this depressing and isolating event.
Suddenly, the door to the room flung open, and his attention quickly turned to see whom it was coming into the room. In a flash, he thought it was one of the volunteers helping to run the competition. Good, he can tell that person that he withdraws and leaving. There would likely be flustered pleas to stay, but he already made his choice. He wasn't staying. He was leaving and there was nothing that anyone could do to make him stay.
All of that rage and resolve faded away when he saw that it was Francois standing in the doorway, looking a bit sweaty and red as if they had ran all the way here from wherever they were. Bright blue eyes widened and his mouth fell agape, heart racing in his chest as if he, too, had partook in a long run, “Francois!?”
“Ah... I am so glad that I had made it back on time. The competition starts in fifteen minutes; surely it would be almost time for you to be called down to join the others,” the butler said with a wheeze to their voice, stepping inside the room and shutting the door behind them, noticing immediately afterward the turned over chair and clothes on the floor, “What had happened to your coat and tie? Did you accidentally stain it?”
Immediately going back into their subservient mask, they examined the clothes, not seeing any signs of marks. “I do not see any stains... Had you changed your mind on the designs? I had brought additional sets of clothes if you are able to quickly pick the ones you wish to wear instead,” they commented, motioning over to a large white bag on the dressing table.
Ryusui said nothing, just watching with widen eyes as Francois set the chair upright, going into the bag that they brought and pulling out two more coats, comparing how they would look with the rest of the outfit he was already wearing. “Francois... you... actually came back?” he finally asked, trying not to let his voice shake, “Are you going to be staying? Or are you going to leave again?”
The butler glanced at him confused, unsure at first the reasoning for their charge's questions. “Of course, Master Ryusui. It is my duty to be at any event you are attending, and I will be staying for the entire duration of your participation,” they replied, settling the clothes down on the table.
Suddenly, it dawned on them why he was asking, and instantly they felt regret. “Ah, but I must apologize for leaving you so suddenly. I realize that I should not have done so. Forgive me, Master Ryusui, but I had reason for not explaining myself properly.”
They dug a hand into one pocket of their uniform jacket, pulling out a small navy blue box, lifting off the lid and discarding it. Ryusui peered at the contents and softly gasped. It was a clip-on bow tie with a chessboard pattern to it and a bronze charm shaped like a king piece attached at the center by a silver ring. It didn't look like a cheaply made tie, the materials looking a lot like the silk and metal he was used to, but what was a bit more surprising was the tag attached to it. The writing wasn't in Japanese, but it wasn't in English either. It wasn't in any language he could decipher.
“It is from Master Sai. I had contacted him and asked if he could send something from India to gift to you before the competition. I had hoped it would have arrived sooner, but I did not receive notice of its arrival until we were nearly here and I could not risk you being late,” the butler explained, being careful to pull the tag off of the tie, lifting it out of the box and shifting it underneath, giving them free fingers to then pull out the paper the fabric sat upon, “It is why I had to leave you so suddenly, as I needed to go back to the mansion to gather it.”
They handed him the paper, and the boy opened it up. Inside was a simple note written in Sai's typically messy style, and Ryusui could feel his hands shaking. “Good luck” was all that was written, but it was all that needed to be said. Tears again stung at his eyes. He couldn't believe all that was happening. Moments ago, he was filled with rage and despair, but now he was ready to cry happy tears. Every ounce of rage and despair he felt was melting away, leaving behind a newfound determination. One that was every bit as exciting as the feelings he had when he first joined the competition all those months ago.
Francois beamed as he wiped those tears from his eyes, flashing that toothy grin of his that they had come to adore so much. They gently motioned for him to lower his arms and lift his head, giving them access to wrap the bow tie up under the collar of his shirt, connecting it with its simplistic hook and locking it in place. Ryusui looked at himself in the room's large mirror, then grinning even wider than before, “Ha! There's no way I can lose with Sai's luck and you watching me! This entire competition will be all mine to win!”
“But of course, Master Ryusui; I have no doubts of your success,” Francois replied, a soft laugh in their voice, words genuine and matching the thoughts that they held in both their mind and heart.
And he did succeed, but instead of the despondent feelings he had felt towards the competition, he was filled with pride and excitement as he held the first place trophy close to his chest. The bright smile that he saw on Francois' face, along with holding up the paper with Sai's message on it, in the sea of faces made that victory even sweeter.
~*~*~*~*~
IV.
Ryusui Nanami glanced up from his work on his model ship at the sound of the clock ringing, the shrill sound of chimes echoing that it was midnight. But more particularly, it was midnight on November 11th, meaning that is now Ryusui's birthday. And it was a special one at that; this year marked his 18th birthday. He was now, for all intents and purposes, an adult.
Not that such labels actually stopped him, having had lived out the many fantasies and wishes of adults practically all his life. Now he just has the ability to partake in much more without having to deal with any arbitrary conditions. At least what he considered to be arbitrary.
Although turning 18 came with its own drawbacks. Now that he was legally an adult, there was going to be a new set of commands and headaches from his father, all to try and form him into a proper heir for the Nanami Corporation. For what all that would do, given that he would be nowhere near the opportunity to actually inherit the legacy once his old man actually kicked the bucket, but still, he had to be subjected to the same sort of standards that his siblings had to endure.
Not that he would actually listen and follow anything told to him. Ryusui was his own man, not some sort of piece to fit into his father's perfect puzzle. As evident by the many times he had gone about the world doing his own things, enjoying the finer life with little regard to its costs and keeping the company of many a beautiful man and woman. Some extra lessons and scolding are never going to be enough to slow him down; only cause him a temporary roadblock mixed with annoyance.
A soft knock on his door brought his attention to elsewhere, glancing at the barrier with a curious gaze. “Enter!” he commanded, watching as the knob turned and the door pushed open, revealing his guest and garnering a wider smile than one he already held, “Ah, Francois!”
“Good evening, Master Ryusui. Or, I suppose I should say good morning,” the butler responded with a quiet voice, standing a few feet away from where Ryusui sat with both arms behind their back, “I hope that I am not intruding at such a late hour.”
“Not at all. Haven't even attempted to go to sleep. But I'm surprised you're still up; thought you retired to your room hours ago,” he remarked as he turned his attention back to his model, “Couldn't really settle in, huh?”
“Yes, I... suppose so,” they replied, pausing despite themselves, trying to play it off with an awkward laugh.
A small alert bell rang through Ryusui's head and he returned his attention to his companion, quirking a brow at seeing their usually professional and stoic face tinted in a light pink shade. “What's going on, Francois?” he questioned, laughing a bit himself but also holding a tone of concern.
Francois tried their best not to grimace or shift on their heels. They shouldn't be feeling so uneasy, yet their heart was pounding faster than the rapid beat of a drum solo. In their hands, they fiddled with the long black box they were hiding from view. “I... In truth, Master Ryusui, when I said I was not feeling well and wanted to retire early, I... I had lied,” they answered, uncharacteristically stammering on their words, “I apologize for doing such a thing. I am rather ashamed of my actions, and I hope that you will forgive me.”
Ryusui blinked, feeling even more confused than he already was. “Uh, I forgive you, sure, but why did you even lie in the first place? If you wanted time off, all you have to do is ask,” he replied, accepting the apology, “Was there something else wrong then?”
“No, I would not say wrong, but...” Francois continued, and the Nanami heir swore that they turned another shade of pink.
It was actually starting to cause him a bit of anxiety, seeing the usually prim and proper butler acting like an embarrassed child. “What's going on here, Francois?” he practically demanded, feeling a heavier thump in his chest as the seconds went on.
Francois seemingly sighed, but it was more like exhaling a breath that they realized they were holding in for too long. “Master Ryusui...” they spoke, bringing the box out from behind their back and holding it out towards their charge, “Happy birthday.”
Ryusui blinked rapidly, almost in disbelief. This is what Francois was all shy and uncertain about? A birthday gift? Really? There's been plenty of times that they had presented him with gifts, yet never once did they act like this. What was it about this gift that caused them to regress to this sort of state? He took the box carefully from their gloved hands, examining it more carefully. There wasn't anything special about the box. It was a simple yet long-length black box with no ribbons or tape on it, nor was there any sort of writing on it, giving no hints as to what could possibly be inside. He shifted it in his hands to allow him to access the lid, pulling it off and setting it aside on his work desk.
Chocolate eyes went wide when he saw the contents, all breath leaving his lungs and his heart skipping a beat. Francois watched his reaction anxiously, empty hands clasped in front of them quivering despite all attempts to stop, face feeling a little less heated than before.
Laid against several sheets of folded tissue paper was a tie. It wasn't any sort of high-end branded tie that he was accustom to, but the material still felt soft to his fingers. The fabric was an ombre of black to sky blue, adorned with stars on the black with clouds billowing along the ombre into the blue. Near the end of the tie, there was a design that was reminiscent of waves, ebbing and flowing with lines of white and different shades of watery blues. At the start of the waves, placed to the left side and holding the two ends of the tie together, was a metallic clip of a classic sailing ship, its appearance somewhat similar to the model he was painstakingly working on.
He lifted the fabric out of the box, discarding it next to its lid, examining the details further. The stitching wasn't as uniformed and perfect as it was on his designer clothes, but it was still overall clean. There were some fuzz from cut edges on the underside, but nothing that couldn't be removed and didn't take away from the overall beauty of the product. The tie clip was more clearly handmade, able to see the human touch embedded in the details.
“Francois, did you... did you make this?” he asked, tone echoing the awe that filled his head.
“I had the fabric and clip created by artisans that your father had commissioned in the past, but I had sewn it myself, yes. I acquired a sewing machine and had been working on it in secret for the past few weeks,” they explained, trying to regain their professional voice, “I had, unfortunately, made several mistakes during the process, and while this was my best product, I am aware of its imperfections.”
They brought one hand up to their head, brushing some loose curls behind their ear, the tips of it glowing in the heat of their lingering embarrassment. “However, from the day I was assigned to you, it seemed that ties had been one thing that always bound us together, so I would have been remiss if I did not create something befitting of that for your 18th birthday,” they continued, smiling gently as they met his gaze, their heart now racing for an entirely different reason, “It has been my greatest honor to have been by your side all of these years, Master Ryusui, and I look forward to many more years ahead. Happy birthday.”
Ryusui could also feel his heart racing for a different reason, almost feeling like blushing himself over how dazzling Francois' smile was at the moment. He shook the thoughts from his head after a few seconds, returning attention to the tie. He grinned widely, temporarily removing the clip and undoing the knot enough to expand the loop, allowing for him to slip it on over his head, tucking it underneath the collar of his shirt.
He glanced back at them expectantly, the grin turning into his classic smirk, and Francois jokingly sighed as they took two steps forward. Their hands went to the knot, adjusting it upward carefully as to not accidentally choke him, taking the clip from his hand to attach it once it was properly placed. They stepped back to where they were before, both of them gazing upon the fitted tie for a second before eyes meeting again, soaking in the happiness of a gift well loved and well received.
To love a tie... honestly, this was twice now that he had actually thought such a thing, despite hating the blasted pieces of cloth since he was a child. Yet, twice now he actually found himself entirely too pleased to have received them as a gift, and both of them coming from the hands of one person in the world he cared for most. His gaze softened at that thought, and he took one long step forward.
He wrapped his arms around Francois' back, pulling them close. The butler gasped in surprise, eyes as wide as saucers as their face and hands collided with his chest. They couldn't utter a word or do a single thing to pull themselves away, the blush that was nearly gone coming back in full force. They could feel their heart beating fiercely in their chest, even more so than it was when they had first knocked on the door. A brief thought came to their head; could he feel their heartbeat against his stomach?
“Thank you, Francois. I love it,” he complimented the gift, leaning down enough to rest his chin against the top of their blonde curls, his arms wrapping a bit tighter around, “And thank you for... well, everything.”
Francois could feel their lashes becoming damp, but they wouldn't shed a single tear. Umber lips turned upwards and arms shifted, returning the affection he was giving them. “Of course, Master Ryusui,” they whispered, not sure if he could hear them but the words were spoken nevertheless.
For several moments, they remained that way until Ryusui took the initiative to pull away. Carefully he pulled off of the tie and nestled it safely back inside the box, setting it back down on his work table. He then started to explain the work he had done that night, showing Francois the plans he was following and what else he still had to do. And they listened, occasionally asking questions and giving praise, but namely just enjoyed in silence. Before either of them knew it, the clock struck 1am and they had both learned suddenly how late it had become. After helping him clean up and put away some of the pieces, Francois bid him good night and retired to their room, leaving him to complete his own nightly routine.
Coincidentally, they had both climbed into bed at the same time and spent several long minutes staring off into the dark, playing over the evening in their head, smiling and ignoring how much louder their heartbeats sounded in the stillness of the late night, before exhaustion finally took over their lids and brought them into the slumbering dreamland.
~*~*~*~*~
V.
Francois was, admittedly, surprised to hear the words “poker game” come from their master's lips after the declaration of battle was made between him and the leader of the Kingdom of Science, Senku Ishigami. To be fair, it likely shouldn't come as a surprise, as there was so few things that could be done while adrift at sea aboard the Perseus and didn't include physical battles or scientific competition, but to hear “poker game” as the choice of battle and the fact that Senku agreed to such a thing was nevertheless unexpected. They had watched him play many games of poker in the times prior to the great petrification, but it wasn't a game that he often excelled at. He had many victories, but just as many losses. Given the nature of their wager – the amount of days and what route they will take to make it to North America – they would've assumed that he would pick a game that he had more strength with, such as chess.
However, as they stood in silence watching as Ryusui sort through the piles of clothes brought onboard, trying to find the outfit that he wanted to wear, they could see the smirk on his face, signaling that this battle wasn't just for the sake of winning, but for the excitement and fun of it all. That, they supposed, was understandable, given how little time there had been for such things following the harrowing events of Treasure Island and the return home that lasted barely two days before setting sail again. That was the reason behind their secret that was also brought aboard: the Bar Francois, where the crew could sit and enjoy a drink or three while they deal with the mind-numbing boredom of their long voyage. This poker game was not much different.
“Is everything in place?” he inquired as he was debating between three different colored suits that he had laid out.
“I had already passed along the other clothing options to Master Senku, and I had asked for Master Ukyo to be the dealer for the game, as requested. As for the bar, there are a few last-minute preparations needed, but I shall take care of them during the game,” they answered professionally, unconsciously standing more upright than they had before, “Everything is going as smoothly as you had planned.”
“Excellent! If this goes well, we'll have a real casino on our hands. Regardless of the length of our mission, there won't be a lack of entertainment to be had,” the captain laughed as he responded, picking up a tanzanite colored suit from his pile of choices along with a vibrant gold vest and white collared shirt to pair with it.
“To be sure. However, I share some concerns on the safety of the ship and crew if things were to get too rowdy,” the butler remarked, taking the unchosen pieces and setting them back in the garment bags they came in.
“Nothing that we can handle one way or the other,” he dismissed the concerns with a wave of his hand, undoing the connections of his coat and removing it, tossing it aside along with other elements of his attire, “We have a capable crew that could easily keep the rowdier folks in line, but if it's necessary, we can lock up the worst offenders in the brig until they sober up.”
Francois hummed, agreeing with the assessment, although they hope that the brig would not be a needed option. They took all of the discarded clothes, folding them and neatly putting them into a pile to be changed back into later. Once Ryusui was done placing on his new suit and replaced his shoes, they handed him a wooden box that was filled with a variety of ties and square pieces of cloths to be folded and placed within the coat's front pocket.
The pocket square was an easy pick, grabbing for a plain white cloth and folding it simply into a flower-like design. However, the tie was something he struggled with. There was a sunken feeling his chest as he sorted through the selection, finding many that would work but none that struck his fancy. His brows furrowed and he sighed heavily through his teeth, a sound that did not go unnoticed by his faithful companion.
“Is the selection not to your liking?” they asked, “I can retrieve the selection given to Master Senku, if you are not able to find one in this box for your use.”
“No. It's more of a matter that the one I would like isn't here.”
“Oh? Which one are you looking for? I can look for it in the--”
“The one you made for me, Francois.”
They went silent, lips curled into a frown and expression turning sour. They understood now. Of course it would not be here, having being non-existent for thousands of years. It was impossible for it to have survived, even if it were buried beneath the rubble that was once called the Nanami Manor. Their fingers dug into the sides of the box. “My apologies, Master Ryusui,” they muttered softly, lowering their head as they, too, felt that sunken feeling in their chest.
Ryusui scowled at seeing Francois' dejected look. He could see the hurt within their eyes, which wasn't his intention. Although he understood why they expressed such a thing. That tie was a special gift that they had commissioned and assembled to gift to him for his 18th birthday. He rarely wore it since he received it, although it wasn't out of any sort of shame about the quality of the gift. It was namely out of a desire to keep it safe, not wanting to risk damage to it. While Francois would have it remade in a heartbeat if something were to ever happen, it wouldn't be the same as the original.
So he limited the times he wore it to occasions where he knew little harm could come to it. A few of those times were for gaming events, such as chess tournaments he entered on a whim hoping for a challenge. And a challenge he did receive, compared to the tournaments that he had participated in as a child. However, whenever it seemed like he was on the ropes, he found a way to overcome his opponents and ultimately proven as the victor of the game. He knew much of that relied on his own strategies and the failures of his opponents, but he also felt as though he had a blessing from the goddess of luck. Those times he had felt close to losing, he would absentmindedly fondled with the tie, the fabric flowing through his fingers like the water it portrayed. When it came back to his turn, he would realize a move he didn't see before, moving his piece along the board and realizing quickly that he had turned the tides of the game.
It developed a belief in his head that this tie, so carefully crafted and gifted to him by the person he held dearest to him, was some sort of good luck charm. It's why he wanted to wear it now. To have that good luck with him as he faced off against an opponent that could, with the right hand, defeat him. Alas, no matter how much he desired such a thing, it was one thing in this world that he could never obtain again.
He sighed once again, digging back into the box and pulling out a length of bright orange fabric. “No sense on dwelling what can't be fixed; we need to make do with what we have now,” he said with the usual vigor in his voice, sliding the fabric beneath the collar of his shirt, letting the ends dangle around his neck as he cast a sly glance towards the butler, “Do me the honor, won't you, Francois?”
They stared at him with a somewhat bewildered expression, briefly still lost within their own darkness, but regained their composure, smiling and nodding as they placed the box down and freeing up their hands. They took an additional step forward, fingers grasping at the ends of the tie, gracefully going through the motions as they had done so many times before, stopping only when the bow tie was in its perfect and final form. They brushed at the loops to straighten it out before stepping back again.
“Thank you,” Ryusui gave his appreciation, giving himself the once-over to make sure nothing was out of place, smirking when he was seemingly satisfied with what he had chosen.
The smirk didn't last for too long before it faltered, and he hummed unhappily, causing Francois to internally worry. “What is wrong?” they asked, “Is there something else still missing?”
“Hmm... not with the clothes, but... I feel like I need something more. I'm missing that feeling of good luck that I usually felt when I wore that tie,” he answered, trying to play coy in hopes that they may come to an understanding of what he's seeking without commanding, “What can we do to correct this problem, I wonder?”
Francois' expression went blank, although beneath the layers of blonde curls, their ears were impressively warm. Good luck... what they had provided him was good luck? What a further shame that brought knowing that the tie was gone. But that was a fleeting thought, as the butler tried to piece together an idea of what they could give him instead to replace the figment of luck that their master was seeking to replace. Unfortunately, they had nothing that they could remotely give him, having no possessions of their own outside of the uniform they wore, and there wasn't a single thing on their uniform that they could remove to gift him as well. They had their words, but it was obvious by the spark in his chocolate orbs that a mere platitude wasn't enough. Their options were extremely limited, with only one asinine idea able to come to their mind, and the thought of doing such a thing caused their ears to burn several degrees hotter. However, with their limited options, they could find no other alternative in the moment that would satisfy the inquiry.
They cleared their throat, trying to keep themselves composed and collected, “Master Ryusui, if you could kneel down a fraction for me.”
He blinked, one brow quirked, but he listened, bending his knees a few degrees and placing himself a bit more in line with Francois' stature. They took their step forward again, arms behind their back with hands clasping onto one another in a lackluster attempt to keep themselves grounded, stepping a fraction onto their toes in order to close the distance between the heights, pressing their lips against his left cheek.
The little peck lasted no more than two or three seconds, but time felt like it went to a standstill, both parties frozen in states of shock, surprise, anxiety, and realization that a line may have been irreparably crossed. Francois rested back on their heels, face now bright red and hot. “G-good luck, Master Ryusui. I will be rooting for your victory,” they gave their well-wishes, ignoring how their initially stammered, “To that extent, I will take my leave and make haste on the final preparations for the bar, as to be ready to celebrate.”
With those final words, Francois practically ran out of the room, leaving Ryusui standing there still in the same knelt position he was moments ago, his face sporting his own bright red blush and eyes unable to tear away from the doorway. He admit that he was expecting something physical from Francois, although he had thought that it would nothing more than a hug with whispers of good fortune in his ear. But a kiss upon the cheek, following by that vision of their blush-covered face...
He straightened his back, shaking his head to reset their mind. They couldn't focus on what all this could and couldn't imply, knowing that there was a poker game that he had to win. His lips curled and formed into his mischievous fanged signature grin, tugging at the flaps of his coat and brushing out the invisible wrinkles that remained. “Alright, let's play, Senku!” he declared, stepping out of the room and turning towards where the crew was gathering for what was going to be a very exciting event.
~*~*~*~*~
+ One.
Francois flinched as they woke up in the morning and pulled away their thin blanket away, groaning softly in the dawn at the pain that shot through their fingers.
The pain wasn't a surprise. By no fault of anyone but themselves, during the evening meal preparations, they failed to notice the threadbare sections of the set of protective mitts they had grabbed, leading them to unintentionally burn themselves while they were trying to remove what they had from the oven. The sudden shock to their system caused them to drop the food, which in and of itself was an embarrassment as a butler, but it left several of their fingertips on both hands painfully burned. Thankfully, they weren't alone around the communal kitchen where they were cooking, allowing for them to be treated while the mess was cleaned up and the rest of the meal was prepared.
Unfortunately, their mistake had now left them with injuries that were going to take some time to heal. The burns, while harsh, weren't severe enough that it required the use of their ultimate healing device – the Medusa that the members of the Kingdom of Science have also called Dr. Stone – so it was something that they had to tolerate for a short time. However, it made their job extraordinary more difficult than before, having to deal with bursts of pain every time they touched anything, despite the bit of padding from the bandages wrapped around the wounds to keep them safe.
They were highly ashamed that they couldn't properly fulfill their duties, having to be limited in scope on their tasks until they were fully healed. Even doing things for themselves, such as making their bed and getting changed, had become difficult tasks, as they continued to flinch from the twinges as they went about their daily routine. Combing out the knots from their curls, pulling on their boots, brushing out the wrinkles and flaws in their uniform... all of it causing flickers of pain to go through their fingers and causing them to constantly flinch and groan from the unpleasant feelings.
A loud knock on their door caused them to be startled for a moment. “Yes?” they called out to their visitor, surprised that someone was paying them such an early visit... or a visit at all, for that matter.
“It's Ryusui. May I come in?”
Francois froze in place; their master making a visit? To them? How peculiar and unheard of! It was their duty to visit his room and attend to his needs, not the reverse! Quickly they rushed to the door, grabbing at the handle with speed, grimacing from the pain that shot up their spine but ignoring the sensation of it, opening the door hastily. Sure as could be, Ryusui was there, already fully dressed in his usual garb. “Master Ryusui! Good morning; my apologies for not greeting you, but I had not expected you to be awake at this hour,” they greeted him with professional grace, albeit with a bitterness to the apology that they had to make.
He didn't say anything in regards, just smiled as he usually did. He stepped inside the room after non-verbal insistence from the butler, allowing them to close the door behind him. He glanced about the room, being something he couldn't recall ever seeing before. A very simple room it was, but Francois didn't desire much. A bed with a nice pillow and blanket, general hygiene supplies, a place to hang up their uniform... it was all a Nanami butler ever needed.
He turned his attention back to Francois, noticing them standing at attention as they always did in his presence. “How are you feeling today? How are your fingers?” he asked, peering down at their bandaged appendages.
“They still ache, but I am managing,” they replied, being careful as they rested their hands one above the other in front of their form.
“Are you having any sort of problems or anything?” he asked a second question, and Francois subconsciously flinched, although thankfully it didn't show.
They knew that they had to answer honestly, as they couldn't lie to their master, but at the same time, they didn't want to trouble him with their current condition. It wasn't his burden to bear; the responsibility was all on their shoulders. Still, as he stared at them with that commanding aura that he had, they knew that they had to pick their words carefully.
“I have had some, yes. However, you have generously given me light duty while I am healing, so my troubles have been minimal,” they explained, hoping that their answer would be enough to settle his curiosity, “It has been nothing that I cannot handle, but I am very thankful for your considerations nevertheless.”
He could see the reflection of subtle dishonesty in their stormy grey eyes, but it was what he already expected. Even when Francois was on the floor, they were holding back tears and screams from the pain, not wishing to be a burden on those they were meant to serve. He was very thankful that, at the time of the accident, Francois was not alone and was able to have their injuries cared for immediately and preventing any lasting damage. He could imagine very easily that they would've tried to ignore their wounds and continued their work if they were alone, hiding the pain and burns from view in order to not fail at their unwavering duty.
They were all images that he privately cringed at, filling his chest with an anxious and dark lump each time they came into view.
He turned his attention further to where Francois had the remaining parts of their uniform laid out on their bed. Their coat and ascot, along with the sash that stretched across their torso and a pristine pair of gloves. Elements that, certainly, with their injuries, were difficult to put on and fasten every day. They subtly gave Francois the once-over, wagering that likely, with exception to their boots, they were sleeping in their shirt and uniform pants to make things easier on them come the morning. Less that they had to immediately touch.
He walked over to the bed, picking up the ascot, the soft fabric tickling his fingers as he shifted it through his hands. Francois watched him confused; why did he grab a piece of their uniform all of a sudden? He turned back towards them, resisting the urge to laugh at seeing their head tilted to one side as their brow furrowed as they tried to analyze his actions.
“Come here,” he commanded, although there wasn't any sort of force to his voice.
Still confused, they did as asked, stepping until they were a few inches apart. Ryusui lifted his arms above their head, the ascot held in both hands, lowering with the fabric now behind them. He pulled the ends carefully around their throat, slowly going through the steps to form the knot they usually had it in, eventually pulling the ends through and lining them up, brushing out the wrinkles he inadvertently caused.
Francois watched with eyes wide open and lips agape, hands reaching up for his but stopping inches short, frozen in the air. The end result was perfect, with the final result flaring out against their chest but would be brought into submission once their coat was put on. They looked up at their master, and caught the beautiful sight of him smiling softly at them, reflecting the same sort of smile they had shown them in the past.
“Master Ryusui...?”
“I'm always by your side, Francois, so I'm here to help you with your troubles.”
Their breath caught in their throat hearing those words. They remembered saying something similar many years ago, to a younger Ryusui that stared up at them with eyes filled with frustration and loathing. Over a tie, as well. They could feel dampness coming to their lashes, nipping at the inside of their bottom lip. “Master Ryusui, that's...” they tried to say something to chide him, but the words couldn't come out, their gaze falling away as to not continue meeting that powerful expression he was wearing.
Ryusui said nothing, just continuing to smile as he reached for Francois' coat, coaxing for them to extend their arms out. Being mindful of their fingers, he pulled the coat on over their form, kneeling down to be able to button all of the connections, making sure to tuck in the ends of the ascot beneath the top section of the coat and giving it a slight fluff to fan out the sides. He took the sash next, slinging it over their shoulder and extending it diagonally across their body, tying the ends into a neat knot. Finally he reached for the gloves, treating their hands like glass as they tried to slide the fabric over the bandages. Francois hummed in discomfort from the pressure, causing him to mutter an apology, but thankfully the painful sensations didn't last too long.
He stood back after he was done with his work, snapping his fingers in his classic way, “Ah, perfect! Just as proper as a Nanami butler's uniform should be, am I wrong?”
Francois looked over their uniform, inspecting for any flaws but finding nothing. They couldn't help but feel so touched by their master's tender care. Still, they found themselves wanting to clench their hands into shaky fists, that urge to call him out for his improper actions hard to defeat. Ryusui could see it in their eyes, as hard as they were trying to hide it. He chuckled, bringing the butler out of their personal reverie. He reached for their wrists, not wanting to accidentally cause more pain by holding their hands, leaning down to where he could comfortably rest his forehead against theirs.
“After all of these years of you supporting me, it's my turn to repay the favor. So let me assist you until you're healed, alright? That's what I desire,” he said, brushing some wayward curly wisps from Francois' eyes, his smile widening a touch when they noticed the blush starting to form across their cheeks.
The tears that tangled in Francois' lashes didn't fall, but there was still a lump in their throat from the urge to shed the happier tears. Instead, they swallowed the lump, beaming brightly as they let go of the negative feelings that clouded their heart. “Thank you, Master Ryusui. Truly, it had always been my greatest blessing, that day that I was assigned to you,” they replied, their voice expressing their feelings in a breathless and beautiful octave, closing their eyes and gently pushing back against his forehead in a sweet gesture of returned affection.
Ryusui chuckled again, following their lead and shutting his eyes in tandem, “Mine as well, Francois. Mine as well.”
- end -