liminalteashop | bodyguard & red string au psl

bodyguard & red string au psl

[Gil had been in desperate need of a job for a while, but things seemed to finally be looking up. He'd had his misgivings about the suggestion his old mentor Break had given him. It sounded too good to be true. Be the personal bodyguard for one person and get paid very generously. There had to be a catch. There always was.

...Then Vincent had assured him that it was fine, he shouldn't be relying on someone like Xerxes Break anyway. He could find Gil a job where he worked and Gil decided the catch didn't matter.

He stands in front of the closed door, nervous and sleep deprived. He made an effort to clean himself up and look more professional, but there's no hiding the exhaustion in his eyes. He has no idea what kind of person his employer is, only his name. He supposes it makes no difference. He takes a deep breath, knocks to warn his employer, and steps inside.]

Mr. Vessalius...? I'm Gilbert Nightray. It's nice-- to...meet you?

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[All Oz had been told was that the family had arranged a bodyguard for him, as he was the Vessalius heir. Not that he figures his father really cared or had anything to do with the arrangement. It was likely to support the household staff in keeping track of him. He glances when he hears the knock, blinking up at the other through his mess of blond bangs. Oz isn't sure what he had been expecting. He figured it would be someone older than him but young enough for the physical aspect of the job of a bodyguard. Let alone what to make if this guy had some sort of ties with Break.]

Hm? Oh. You're the new bodyguard? For me? I'm Oz! Oz Vessalius.

[Gil tries to hide his surprise, but he didn’t get the job for his acting or people skills. Oz is younger than he expected. He looks like he’s around his adoptive brother’s age but he doesn’t glare at Gil with the same scorn. In fact, he doesn’t seem upset by his presence at all. That’s a relief.]

Oz. [It’s an odd name. But Gilbert isn’t exactly common these days either.] Y— Yes. Someone already informed you that I’d be working for you?

The staff just mentioned I'd get a bodyguard. They didn't say who or anything. So I figured maybe it was you.

[Oz may already have plans to drag Gil around exploring the grounds together. Things like that. He might not want Ada to get involved in some things, just in case to keep her safe. But he wouldn't be alone anymore. He isn't sure what exactly Gil was told about him, what to expect.]

I guess I should give you a tour, huh? Make sure you know the mansion, the grounds. The staff. Oh, and Ada!

[The staff. Not Oz's father. Gil doesn't comment on it and nods.]

I do need to familiarize myself with the place. [And he's not supposed to leave Oz's side, but he leaves that part out!] Who is Ada?

A tour then! Ada is my little sister.

[But evidently, Ada seems more obedient and less likely to get into shenanigans, and is less important as she isn't the heir for the Vessalius. So she doesn't have a bodyguard like Oz. Oz doesn't seem too surprised or bothered that his father never mentioned anything about this. He barely sees his father anyway. So he focuses on the other, reaching to take Gil's hand and show him around the mansion and grounds.]

[Before Gil can stress about potentially having to guard two people, Oz takes his hand, stopping his nervous rambling before he can start. He tries to dismiss the pull he feels, like something tugging at his soul. It’s probably just because Oz caught him off guard. Soulmates, people tied by the same red string aren’t rare, but there’s no way.

He must be tired. That’s all.]

O— Oz!

[It’s not very professional for a bodyguard to stumble after the person they’re meant to be guarding, yet here he is, too flustered to argue.]

What? You gotta get to know the mansion, the grounds, the staff, right? And Ada. Come on!

[Oz doesn't think anything of it. It just makes sense to show Gil around. To get him familiar with this place, with the people he is likely to encounter here. He doesn't consider, doesn't necessarily immediately note the pull, that tug, that familiarity of it as he pulls Gil behind him, smaller hand in his.]

But…I’m your bodyguard.

[Gil replies uselessly. Not an equal, and probably the most pathetic bodyguard in existence. He’s never done this job before. If it weren’t for Break’s connections, he’d probably still be trying to find something. He feels bad. Oz deserves better.

It’s easier to worry about this than the fact that he doesn’t wish to pull his hand away for some reason.]

Yeah. So you need to know this place. The people here, so you know who is supposed to be here or whatever, right?

[Oz logic. Not that he has had a bodyguard before. But he knows the basic idea. That Gil is supposed to keep him safe. Protect him. He won't be able to do that if he isn't familiar with the grounds, the mansion, the staff. Oz doesn't think on it more than that. As he darts forward and shows Gil around the mansion, pointing out the staff as he goes, introducing him to them all.]

I suppose.

[Staff are met with short but polite responses. Gil is taking mental notes of everyone there. It’s a lot more people than he’s used to dealing with at once, but Oz is right. He’ll probably spend time later trying to memorize all of their names and faces, and the layout so he doesn’t get lost.]

There’s so many people.

You'll figure it.

[If he hangs around often enough. Being Oz's bodyguard. Gil would get to know the place. The staff. The family. Oz seems happy enough, amused, as he leads Gil around, all but skipping and gesturing to various people and rooms as he points them all out to the new arrival.]

Oh. And no, I'm not telling you my best hiding spots.

[He certainly seems pretty cheerful about this whole thing. That makes Gil's job easier, in a way. But then Oz goes and says that and Gil looks incredulous, sounding almost amused.]

You don't think I'll figure it out?

Nope. I've found all the great hiding spots!

[Gil might learn. If he asks the rest of the staff, he would be told that sometimes Oz does like to hide and avoid them. Or, more precisely, them calling him because he knows they want him to come and do something boring. That and he finds it amusing to hear them panic.]

Not even the current staff can find me when I hide.

I guess there's a lot of places to hide here.

[But other staff have other responsibilities as well. Gil literally has one job. He'll have to work harder than all of them.]

Does this mansion have any secret passages?

Maybe.

[No, Gil, Oz isn't going that easy on you. Unfortunately. Still, it is true that it might be easier for Gil to keep track of him, with that being his sole job, unlike the rest of the staff who have other duties they need to tend to. Giving him that chance to hide and try not to giggle as he hears them searching for him.]

You're giving me a headache, you know?

[Gil wishes he had a cup of coffee. He hums in thought and looks down at Oz.]

What if I agreed to keep the other staff distracted when you hide?

A lot of the staff say I do that.

[That is nothing new, Gil. Oz being playful and mischievous is nothing new either. That's just what is expected of him, given his personality. He tilts his head when Gil offers that though. It could be useful.]

You would? What would you want from me if you helped distract them?

How come? I haven't seen you give anyone else a hard time.

[Oz seems social, but other than the hiding comment, he hasn't done anything to make Gil's life harder. He can't imagine he would get in the staff's way that much.]

What are the chances of you sharing your hiding spots?

You just got here. You'll figure me out.

[Oz doesn't do anything that malicious. More that he likes to tease and have fun. But he does pause at the other's question. Would he? Oz supposes that in time the other might figure his hiding spots. Especially given it is his job to keep an eye on Oz. But that doesn't mean he has to go that easy.]

Not that great. I mean. You might figure them eventually and find me. But that doesn't mean I gotta make it that easy for you.

[He doesn’t bother to hide his exasperation. If only it were so easy.]

Then what about where to get coffee here?

The kitchen. I can show you.

[Oz doesn't think twice on the question. Belatedly realized that it is probably rude that he hadn't immediately offered the other a drink or something when he had first arrived. The teen leads the way, pointing out any rooms he hasn't already shown Gil. He pauses at the entrance and the doorway to the kitchen. The staff seem used to Oz poking around, merely telling him that they don't currently have any snacks on hand for him just right now.]

Ah, I'm not here for snacks. I'm showing Gil around! My new bodyguard.

I didn't mean now--

[But it's too late. Oz has already warned him, and as his bodyguard Gil has no choice but to follow. There's so many people in there. He stops awkwardly and tries to shrink as much as someone of his height can.

He should probably introduce himself again.]

He...llo....

I'm showing him around, giving him a tour. You said you wanted some coffee, right?

[Evidently, Oz was too focused on showing Gil around that he might have missed the other saying he actually didn't want a drink right now. The staff seem happy enough, eager to help, even if they tease Oz and seem used enough to his visits for snacks alongside Ada. The staff mostly return to what they were doing after giving Gil a polite wave, one of them coming to check on Gil if he needs anything.]

Yeah… I did.

[Gil blinks and stands there awkwardly. When any questions are asked of him he shakes his head, not wanting more attention on him longer than necessary.]

I’m fine. Thank you.

The cooks here are great! Their drinks and food are delicious! And they almost always have snacks for us.

[Read as: Oz often probably sneaks in and grabs snacks. Whether the staff notice or chastise him for it. Still, he does his best to wait patiently. Not that it takes too long before the drink is ready, and Oz offers to show Gil to one of the rooms where he could sit and relax with the drink for a bit before Oz continues to show him around.]

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