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That Same Day - In the Kitchen.
Jennet scrubs at some stubborn grease stains that had accumulated beneath the stove . The meek mouse has done her best to support Princeton, even as her own mind was in a frustrated turmoil over the whole situation. Olyvia had been holding this job against her, and even if part of Jennet recognized her frustration, the emotional part of the mouse just bottled that doubt and pain up.
She thought she had made a friend... only for the noble squirrel to push her away. It would make her cry, if she even had the energy left to make the tears. Instead, she just tiredly focused on her job, slipping down into the cabinets that most all the other kitchen staff was too big to fit into.
The Lynx: "PRINCETON!" A feminine, growly, high-pitched and very commanding voice echoes from somewhere in the kitchens.
The bear, having just given Jennet a task down under the currently-cool stove, grunts and gets up, giving a deep sigh. "Just keep going, Jennet, I will take care of this like I said I would."
Instead of expected stomping coming to the kitchen, the owner of the first voice enters the room almost without a sound, except for huffing breath. "What are you playing at, Princeton?"
In view is now a feline lady in a very fancy and expensive-looking maid outfit, that just short of sparkles as she moves. Although at a second glance the lady is also rather short, being half the height of the huge bear she was just calling the name of. She has rather puffy, black-spotted and yellow-white fur sticking out of her dress, giving her a very pretty, almost cute image... if you ignore the wrinkled snout, laid-back ears, unsheathed claws and bared teeth, anyway. Whatever Princeton did clearly got him in trouble with this lady, who clearly is his superior.
Jennet can also tell this from the way Princeton bows upon the Lynx's arrival, offering a polite smile. "Always a pleasure, Ma'am. What may I help you with?", the bear says in his low bass voice.
"Don't play coy with me. You hired someone in my kitchen!"
Jennet blinks, giving a short affirmation to Princeton before he steps away to speak to the feline maid. She stares a moment, cringing at her words and doing her best to continue her work despite the sinking feeling in her stomach.
Princeton, while clearly attempting to be more deferent and less casual than he is usually, just nods at the Lynx: "Yes. Yes I did." He pointedly does not glance at Jennet, though is thinking of her.
The Lynx glares at the Bear: "How dare you? I thought you were better than this-! No one gets to work here without my approv-"
Princeton:"I needed a garbage girl."
The Lynx blinks a couple of times, clearly not having expected that. "Ah. Huh." She frowns: "Still, not okay. But fine. Just make sure she knows what's what, and who's what, here."
The Lynx, the Head Maid, seems to finally notice Jennet and gives her a long, evaluating look.
Jennet does her best to keep scrubbing, uniquely aware of the Lynx's stare. If the Maid has any ability to see fear, the mouse is the most visible thing in the room. But she has the sense to just keep quiet and continue working, reaching into a filthy-looking opening to continue cleaning.
The Lynx frowns at the Mouse, before turning to look back at Princeton: "See to it. And I do not want this to happen again." She bares her teeth slightly as she speaks, before turning around towards the door... but glancing to her side: "And organize that spice cabinet, I told you weeks ago!"
She doesn't 'storm off', she's clearly too dignified to do that, but it's obvious the Lynx does not appreciate her boundaries being tested like this.
Once she is gone behind at least two closed doors, the big bear sighs and relaxes. He speaks slowly, in a low voice, but there's no animosity in it. "I may have acted a bit hastily, hiring you, Jennet. Bernadette does not appreciate that, as you may have noticed."
Jennet pulls her hand back and sighs to Princeton. "If... if it's easier for me to go back to mopping, I will. I don't want to be a burden on you."
Princeton frowns, then shakes his head. He leans slightly on a nearby counter: "No. I made a promise, and besides, that was Bernadette agreeing with me. She'll calm down, she always does once she's had time to digest a change."
Jennet glances down at the floor, "S-still... I'm sorry to be causing you problems... if that was her agreeing with you, I'd sure have hated to see what she's like if she's actually mad."
Princeton gives a soft sigh: "Bernadette thinks these kitchens her precious life project of sorts, so she likes to keep all lines in her hands, even when it's not necessary." He shrugs with a weak smile: "Too much if you ask me."
Jennet slips herself out from the cabinets and sighs, dusting off her apron, "Well, nothing I can do about it, or her... other than stay out of her way."
Princeton smiles: "More or less. Just do your job and she's happy." He gives a soft grunt, getting back up to standing: "Now, about that spice cabinet. Up for helping me?"
Jennet manages an uncertain smile, nodding nonetheless "Of course."
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