Chapter Text
A soft clattering of carriage wheels filled the refined streets with a familiar clatter and little new in what was outside but within the carriage was something else entirely. Something most here passing by would turn their nose at, scoff or even yell and point. At least that was Nicole’s thoughts as she sat alone in the carriage. Blackened windows with metal mesh over it only letting her vaguely see outside and watch nobility pass her by clueless. The sight for her wasn’t too unfamiliar but the streets the carriage bumbled down were. She’d seen the highest of highest streets and the lowest of lows but the middle was for people ignorant of her very existence. Nicole stroked her dark green ponytail with worry. She didn’t know how she was going to be a bodyguard around here with the magical hair in the way.
That thought was swallowed back though as Nicole tried to remind herself what she was in this for.
Yes,
the client sounded like a sleaze from what vague stories she’s heard at home or on the street but she was finally going to have a real independent job for once in her life. Carmen Brew was his name and Nicole hadn’t even met him yet and he hadn’t left the best impression. She was hired under what she felt was a squeeze. Only receiving the job offer 2 hours prior with only the carriageman who carried her now telling her she had an hour to pack her things and accept or refuse before the offer was gone. It sounded even worse in her head when she described it like that- But frankly she was desperate. She’d trained over a decade now to conform and keep herself in control and had never been given a job offer. It was her chance to prove she’d changed and could pay back her debts herself instead of being a continuous devil on her family.
Nicole’s thoughts running in circles soon came to a stop though as the bumping of the street halted and the carriage door clicked open. The coachman held it open for Nicole to step down and take in the new residence before her. A grand manor no doubt and even if she’d seen bigger before higher in the city, she’d never got close to one.
“Your bags, ma’am.” The coachman held out Nicole’s lightly packed bag for her to take.
“Thank you. Where should I be headed to get my work?”
The man averted his eyes seemingly unknowing. “Didn’t get instructions that far in. Suppose’ just head inside and wait in the hall.”
Nicole squinted in worry. The great start continues. “Alright… Thank you regardless.”
The coachman returned little appreciation before taking off and officially stranding Nicole to her new task. Nicole turned towards the grand home and sucked in her little pride to march on. As she walked through the opened gate and front garden, the original wealth the estate gave off corroded away when she looked much closer. The garden was unkempt and overgrowing even onto the driveway of the home. The fountain before the doors didn’t seem much better either- filled with leaves from the beginning autumn and dead pine-straw of imported pines. At the door, the wood lacked furnish and paint in some areas from weather and disrepair. Nicole glanced over the vines that seemed to have claimed the lower level of the estate for itself before pushing one of the heavy doors into the main hall.
She didn’t know what she was expecting coming inside but the near utter silence and dusty air was far from it. It was only near though as while Nicole found herself standing awkwardly in the entrance she could hear the vaguest of arguments down another hall. Not knowing what more to do, Nicole let the heavy door beside her creak and close under its own weight as she slipped inside completely. She resigned herself to standing by those doors among the other still sets of armor far more elaborate than her own basic plate she wore but seemingly purely decorative. Given more time to look inside as well, Nicole saw how the two floors she thought there were were merely a decorative choice of tall ceilings and multiple windows. Not that it was a good creative choice. The lower windows around her were already a dusty mess with even vines claiming the sills but the upper windows looked like they were never cleaned. Trying to seemingly fend off her dread though, Nicole at least believed that the scent of the home was nice. Or maybe it was just the fact she’d never smelt grassy in the industrial city before.
Regardless of this, Nicole's attention was brought back down from her ever curious dissociative state when a door slammed and thundering footsteps rushed her way. She bit her breath and waited. From around the right hall came a middle-aged man, already enraged seemingly. He wore a fully brown tailored outfit with an orange tie to his thinly striped suit. Height was little of note- slightly over average but not that it mattered with Nicole’s own height being much taller and his face was sharp with stubble unkempt. The man’s rampage down the hall paused when he spotted Nicole out of the corner of his eye and finally spoke up directly to her.
“You. You’re Nicole Ting, yes?” He questioned sharply.
“Yes sir. Are you-”
“
Carmen Brew
.” The slight growl made Nicole hush herself. “Why are you just standing out here in the hall?”
Nicole sweated but kept her voice in order. “I asked the coach where I should go but he had no idea so I was waiting for instructions.”
“What? Did he even tell you what your job would be?”
“Only that I’d be a bodyguard for you.”
Nicole could swear Carmen was practically going to blow a fuse but after checking his watch seemed to keep his professional facade up.
“That imbecile… No matter. Listen to me closely because I do not have the time to repeat myself understood?”
“Understood sir.”
“You are not
my
bodyguard. I am the one hiring you but you will not be guarding me. My whelp of a son, Cole, is your assignment. He’s twenty and frankly too much a headache I’d rather have someone else babysit him for once. He will not need much protection as I doubt any assassin has his eyes out for him but rather you need to keep him in line. He’s made a habit of trying to skip out on his practice, being late to his own performances, and making a fool of me in public. So you are to make sure that doesn’t happen, no matter what force you might need to use- Understood?”
Nicole thanked the hearth her training of masking was paying off but still felt guilty that the whole thing made her feel frustrated and fooled. Nicole’s silence at such a request had Carmen looking more and more impatient by the millisecond and Nicole panicked only a moment before she responded.
“I-I Understand.”
“Good, I was worrying you were brain dead for a moment. Your quarters are down the right hall, second door. Drop your things off and know that your curfew is the same as Cole’s. When he goes to his room for the night I expect the same as you.”
Nicole was about to raise a brow at what else she was to do after that but Carmen’s yell back down the right hall cleared it up for her.
“COLE! Your guard is here. I expect you to guide them around the home before you work. Do not delay because they will tell me from now on.”
Nothing returned the shout but Carmen didn’t seem to care. Just as quick as he pushed the job onto her, Nicole stood by as he marched to the front door.
“Go drop off your things. I have work to attend to and I do not need to hand hold two adults.”
The heavy front doors thudded behind Carmen and Nicole made it a point to be quick with dropping her things off. She beelined for what was now going to be her room, the second door down the right was easy enough to remember, and slipped in. The room felt just as desolate as the rest of the home so far, though at least she could understand this time with it being a guest room. The roof still stretched far above what felt comfortable and though she found herself supplied with a closet, large bed, desk and even what looked to be a personal washroom, it felt so cold. She was just at home less than two hours ago but damnit this place made it long for it more than the nights she spent far further. Little was to be unpacked with such a light back, just an extra pair of her normal wear, a night gown that might constitute more for a very long shirt and leather armor if she got sick of plate. She had little of hobbies so at most what else Nicole could pull out was a few empty papers and letters onto the desk to mail home.
Before Nicole had a chance to stand aimlessly in place again, a knock at the door came. She could already guess what might be behind it but knew better than to delay the fate she’s gotten herself into. Pulling herself together, Nicole opened her door with a quick swing and found herself a bit wide eyed. She didn’t know what she was expecting Cole to look like but the quite short blonde scratching his head turned away certainly wasn’t it. Cole seemed uninterested as he turned around but once he did both were staring at one another. Nicole barely processed it used to staring and instead just studied his face. Faint freckles and bright wide green eyes on tan skin didn’t help him look much more mature than a teen. The suit he wore, even if fitted, didn’t seem to fit his demeanor either.
“Uhm… Hello.” Cole’s high voice broke Nicole out of her observation and straightened herself out.
“...Hello. Cole, right?”
“Yeah. What’s your name?”
“Nicole Ting.”
Cole only gave a small hum in confirmation and continued to look over her curiously. The staring was fine at first but now that Nicole was aware of the prolonged aspect, she combed her hair back till she had to ask.
“...What are you staring at?” Nicole expected the answer.
“Oh- Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting you to be uh… a girl?” Well she wasn’t expecting that.
The slight drop of her mask and narrowing of eyes at Cole for the comment seemed enough to make him squirm though.
“Ah- Not that’s a bad thing or anything! I was just surprised!” Cole cleared his throat embarrassed. “Sorry. Full name’s Cole Brew. Pianist and composer. Also workaholic but seeing as you’re here now that’ll have to wait for me to show you around. Need anything from your room before we start?”
Nicole raised a brow at the way Cole joked but responded coldly. “No. Lead on.”
Cole seemed nervous with how she spoke but kept the small polite smile on his face. “Alright… Well we will get to the end of this hall last since it’s where I work but first- My room.”
Cole opened his door to let Nicole peer inside briefly. “There’s really not much to note here given it’s probably a copy of your own minus the books.” He wasn’t very wrong either to Nicole’s eyes. The rooms were eerily similar only his floorboards looked like they could fall in if he weren’t so light. Cole closed the door as Nicole quietly brought her head back out and followed him into the main hall.
“Main hall! As you can imagine- there’s again little to say of it. Across the entrance though is the kitchen but you’ll see that at lunch.” Nicole peeped over to the kitchen that seemed to double as a sunroom around a hedge garden and her curiosity peeked.
“Is there a garden outside?”
Cole’s smile faltered and eyes dimmed as he looked outside as well. “Well there is but it’s not exactly a nice one. My dad can’t be bothered to spend a copper on it so it’s not been taken care of in half a decade. I’m sure you’ve seen the vines on the sills.”
Nicole’s own face soured and Cole took notice to her surprise. “Are you disappointed it’s not taken care of?”
“In a way I guess… It’s nothing to stress over though.”
“...Alright. Well onward it is then.”
Cole turned on his heel to the left hall and Nicole did her best to divert her eyes from the windows as she followed. This hall seemed a good bit more kept together comparatively to the right yet Cole didn’t seem to reach for any of the doors.
“Now while I’m not really allowed to enter these rooms they’re still important. That’s the cook and maid’s quarters on the left and the right side of this hall is just for meetings and my dad’s room. However, the most important thing is that last room there.” Cole pointed straight ahead to far more elegant doors surrounded by more of the armor statues and paintings. “That’s my dad’s office and the reason it’s important is you should never ever enter it!”
“Why’s that?”
“He’d probably kill you is why. Well hopefully not really but he doesn’t let anyone in there without him. The one time I did as a kid to just have some fun with his chair, he smacked me right up the head!” Cole laughed over the memory but Nicole felt on edge by the idea.
“Well that’s all that there is here so now you get to see my favorite room!” Cole turned again and walked briskly towards the right hall again. Nicole followed reluctantly, somewhat dodging the creaking boards Cole stepped on without a second thought. Past their rooms and directly opposite of the office were the doors that seemed much less grand. The handle Cole turned was worn gently and when Nicole stepped inside behind him, she was pleasantly surprised by the inside. It was a small study filled wall to wall with books and creatively built with one upper level with a desk covered and surrounded by parchment and ink stains and stairs to the lower leading to something literally grand. A large grand piano was the main accent of the whole room, highlighted by a circular stained glass window adjoined with a singular armchair. Cole bounded down to the piano and took a comfortable seat still turned towards Nicole following hesitantly.
“And this is my study! Though it's more just where I play piano at this point. You can sit in the chair if you want unless you’re more the standing type.”
Nicole continued to just stand, almost seeming to expect more till nothing came and Cole was sitting awkwardly for her to say anything.
“...Is that really all?”
“Well… Yes. I’m not really allowed outside without
him
having a close eye on me so it’s breakfast then playing, then lunch, more playing, dinner, and bed.”
Nicole grimaced a tiny bit and looked out the window without a response. Cole sighed in sympathy and continued to talk.
“Yeah… Not what you were hoping for huh?”
“Maybe. Can you not go out now that I’m watching you?”
“Doubt it. My dad’s a real pain in the side.”
“Great…” Nicole sat back in the arm chair and pinched between her eyes before rationalizing it.
“I don’t have much right to complain. This is my first job and I suppose I have no right to say what a real job is or not.”
Cole tilted his head. “This is your first?”
“Independently. I did maid work before but that was assigned to me to get me in order.”
“Assigned huh… Is it because of the uh…” Cole was peering up past her eyes again.
“Hair? Yes. I’m surprised how long it took you to mention it.” Nicole noted dully.
“Well it was the first thing I noticed but I didn’t wanna be rude. If you don’t mind me asking, what is the deal with that anyways?”
Nicole combed her ponytail in front of her shoulder while speaking absently. “Cursed is what the priests say. I had it since birth and it’s why I was worried about the plants. I can “control” plants is my bare minimum understanding of it but control is an overstatement. I’m stoic to make sure I don’t go destroying another house over a tantrum. I hate it.”
“Gosh… I’m sorry.”
Nicole sat back and flinged back her pony tail uncaring. “It’s just how it is. I’d rather not dwell on it.”
“Alright…” Cole turned around on his bench and lifted the block over the keys to distract himself. Nicole turned back to the window in turn but before she could ruminate to herself, Cole spoke up one more time.
“Well even if it causes you issues, I still think it's quite pretty if it’s any consolation. I won't pry any further though- I’ve got a warm up to do anywho.”
Cole started up his playing without looking back and thank hearth he did Nicole thought. She was still but her cheeks burned up. The iridescent green glow of her hair was undeniable and her nervousness over how the rest of this job was going to play out haunted her.
At least the music was nice.