Party at Spade Castle?!!!

[maidenthespade]

Twenty-four years ago today a certain Butler breathed his first. Katya is not knowing why Declan seems obsessed with fours, but she knows the fact that it is his twenty-fourth must make it significant to him. And because it is important to Chives, it is important to her. And not just to her, she thinks as she oversees the arranging of Spade Castle

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[sevenbyright]

He's late. He's late, and it's because of Avery's suggestion that he involve Tamsin in his decorating plans. Sieben can't fault her for it, however, as it's resulted in the first real conversation he's had with his new assistant that had gone beyond squeaked monosyllables. Tamsin has an eye for color and a taste for subdued elegance, though a rather unfortunate liking for overly elaborate marquetry tables, but regardless, they'd become involved in a discussion of lighting fixtures and dark-stained walnut cabinetry and both had lost track of time.

Now Sieben's pausing outside the hall to ensure there are no misplaced wrinkles in the charcoal suit, no off-center seams, tie straight as an arrow, not a hair out of place. It's the least he can do to make up for his tardiness.

[piquedbutler]

He can also intercept the butler in a moment of being unnaturally frazzled. The Powers That Be have given Chives leave to run back and forth to the kitchen, which is helping a good deal, but there's something slightly Off about the state he's in. The opposite of their Old Game, perhaps--Sieben properly Immaculate, Chives looking like there's a single solitary hair out of place.

The bow as he slips again out into the hall to head toward the kitchen is rushed.

"Milord Jack."

[sevenbyright]

"Chives," Sieben answers, and there's just enough of an inquiring lift at the end of the sentence. He's never seen the butler this flustered. There's something oddly wrong with it. That won't do.

He takes a step to the side, out of the traffic pattern though there's no one in sight at the moment, and reaches out again. The tie doesn't need fixing, just smoothing, and Sieben uses the tips of his fingers to ease a few hairs back into place. "Happy twenty-fourth," he says quietly, picking the number and not the occasion. Perhaps it will help, if something is amiss.

[piquedbutler]

There's been Too Much Attention today. There have been Too Many Eyes and Too Many Words and he's never actually learned how to Handle this. Being thrown aside? Yes. Being treated as nothing? Of course. Being gently used by the few particularly lovely Spades he considered his Favourites? Entirely. Having what felt like the entire Castle grinning at him and wishing him a pleasant anniversary of birth? 508 cupcakes angled in his direction?

No idea. Well, no idea beyond counting in absolute silence behind a politely appreciative expression and hoping that he'd make it to the seventeenth without snapping one of his own fingers accidentally.

He's counting now, of course, as Sieben steps to the side and reaches out to smooth things down into place again. Twice in one day he's needed Adjusting. Twice in one day, the Jack has rising to the challenge with silent, self-possessed movements. Despite the fact that it's only piling onto the heinous amount of Human Contact he's had all day, it brings a touch of relief to Chives' shoulders. "...

[sevenbyright]

"I will," Sieben says, watching the butler carefully. He's tense and unsettled. He and Sieben don't share the same compulsions, but it's easy to see that this change in Routine has thrown him. The best Sieben can do is to return to that. "But not now. In an hour, at my office. Tea." The magic word. And he smiles indulgently. "And a cupcake, perhaps. The red velvet is quite good, I understand."

[piquedbutler]

Tea. Tea he can do. Tea and bringing one of his Face Cards a cupcake, making a quiet run from the kitchen to an office, setting up a service on a desk and being in a room with fewer than four people.

There isn't a good Thank You card for Making Life Less Atrocious By Means Of Being Overwhelming To Persons With Abnormal Social Receptors.

"Very good, milord."

No crack of the voice or tone--but more appreciation than usual in the eyes.

[sevenbyright]

Subtlety is where it counts with this man. Sieben had learned that before he'd even advanced from Two to Four. It's quite enough to see that gleam now. It's quite enough.

"Thank you, Chives," he says with a faint smile and takes a step back from the doors. He'll explain to Katya later that he'd stopped by and spoken to the butler outside.

[piquedbutler]

There's no need to respond with words, is there? His back simply bends slightly in a calm bow before he vanishes back into his own realm. Every moment outside of the subdued Celebration helps.

And, in an hour, he'll be tapping carefully at the Jack's door before letting himself in to set up tea and a cupcake, looking for all the world much more like Himself.

[sevenbyright]

Sieben hadn't realized until Chives' reappearance that he'd in fact been quite worried. Seeing the butler looking nearly his old self again prompts a slow exhale and a smile. This is better. A quiet return to normal, no fussing, nothing out of the ordinary.

Consider it another birthday present.

[piquedbutler]

It's a lovely birthday present. Don't think Chives hasn't been tracking the fact that his Jack has been so thoughtful in providing him these little bits of Normalcy and Appreciation today. Chives tracks Everything.

Admittedly, mostly meals and cleaning schedules, but sometimes also Kindnesses. He hadn't pegged Sieben for one of the people whose kindness he'd be so compelled to track.

The seven piece service is set out easily, the cupcake offered on a small plate before he moves to pour the Jack a cup. He'll get to 'thank you' in a moment. The first 'thanks' always comes in the simple continued diligent Service.

[sevenbyright]

If asked, Sieben couldn't quite say why he's been making the effort. He hadn't expected to be one of the people who would be attentive to the need for Kindnesses. He might notice, but he's never been one to act.

Something's changed, gradually, over the past several months. Now it seems he's a...refuge of sorts. He's silent while the tea service is laid out - seven pieces, as always - and then smiles as he accepts the perfect cup. The silence is comfortable.

[piquedbutler]

Perhaps it's the molding and pressure of Ascending. Perhaps it's something Personal. Perhaps there's nothing that can be parsed and dissected. Sometimes, a person has to lean back, count quietly and trust that the Pattern will take care of itself.

His fingers shift to the teapot once the Jack has been served, attention on his own gloves a moment. It's never quite Right to speak without first asking permission or given leave to free reign, but... it's been an Exceptional Day already.

"...thank you, sir."

[sevenbyright]

Sieben takes a measured sip of tea, letting the silence settle again. Comfortably. "There is no need for thanks," he says calmly. "But you're welcome."

And there isn't any need for thanks, he's realizing. He prefers to see Chives at ease with himself. If it takes a little kindness on his part to bring back that equilibrium, he's happy to do so.

[piquedbutler]

Odd, to be on the other end of the No Need For Thanks equation. But... also quite Right. He had served, thus far in his life, one Ace, one King, two Queens and two Jacks; had watched many more in the other Suits. The mark he'd come to see in a Good Royal was the quiet ability to Serve the entire Suit. A good King knew the names of even his Twos; a good Queen spent time amongst the Staff; a good Jack took time to find assistance even in the lowest Rank; a good Ace stopped from time to time in the scullery or on the grounds turn a hand at the trade which had begun his or her rise to Dominance.

The duck of his head as his fingers fall briefly to Neatening doesn't mask an actual smile, but it serves the same purpose. It's good to know, on this day of all days, that he serves the Best Royals in the Deck.