Next: Chapter 2
The Manor of Reb'bhek'aran; Newly Appointed Dragon of the County.
Courtney hesitates in the grand... like really grand hallway, where she was told to wait for her turn in the interview process.
The hallway is tall, arched at the top to make it feel even taller. It feels very stark, sparsely decorated, and one could almost imagine the end of the hall being a huge throne, though no such seat is present.
Reb'bhek'aran pokes her head out of her room quite low to try to spy the new maid. Pulling back before she's spotted (she hopes), she then clears her throat and steps into the room. Her body is perhaps no bigger than a horse, but the long tail and neck make her seem far bigger despite her lithe and noodle-y body with wings wrapped loosely at her sides. Her scales are a shiny sea blue, with the thicker scutes of her underbelly a paler blue-green.
She does her best to stand tall as she enters the Hallway, clearing her throat again, "Ahem. Ah. Hail, um, Maid. You have been chosen to serve my greatness, the mighty and fearful Reb'bhek'aran... so um... any questions?" Somehow she feels like that wasn't as scary as she imagined it would be in her head.
Courtney, or really Thea as she prefers anyone call her after first two times of said anyone trying to struggle pronouncing her name, stands awkwardly in the hallway.
'So this is it. Don't screw up. Preferably ever again.'
At least she didn't piss herself in the interview, unlike some other candidates. Even if it was because she purposefully dehydrated herself. Which in turn might have led into her being very quiet. Which was apparently a good thing in the huge-ass-McLarge dragon's eyes who did the interview. So Thea may have accidentally improved her odds.
Working for a dragon. If she can survive this for the allotted two years and somehow does not get eaten in the intervening time, she will have enough money to cover her university studies and then some. No one can really agree why dragons are so wealthy, but it is obvious that they are.
Of course, that means Thea has to degrade herself to be a maid, and she's not sure if a job lower on the proverbial rung even exists.
All her thoughts fly right out of the window the moment the blue-scaled dragon steps into the room. Her throat is suddenly again very dry.
"H-hello. Er, um, y-your highness?" Was that even a proper title to use?
Reb'bhek'aran shakes her head, "Oh, no no I'm no Highness. I'm just... Err... I mean, ha! Um, yes! Honorifics. I think you're supposed to call me 'Mistress'? That'll do." She pauses, staring down at her new maid. "I'm Reb'bhek'aran, by the way. Or uh, Mistress Reb'bhek'aran. Or just back to Mistress, I guess!"
Courtney blinks at the stuttering. Still, she manages to hold herself together and gives a small curtsey, trying to shoo away the embarrassment as she does. "O-okay, Mistress. Will do." She swallows. Is she supposed to even introduce herself here? For now she opts to not do anything unless said otherwise. That much the bigger dragon, this one's... Father or uncle or something, drilled into Courtney's head. 'Don't screw up...'
Reb'bhek'aran seems to realize she's slipping and straightens her neck up, flaring out her wings to try to look impressive, "Yes! Excellent! Ah, now I assume you were told your duties. You will have free reign of the manor to perform your tasks. But should I need you for anything, you will be summoned to my chambers." She gives a long pauses, watching the maid. "Uh, how should I summon you, by the way?"
Courtney straightens up as well, swallowing: "I got the basic i-idea, yes. A-and..." She blinks: "C-Courtney. That is my name, er, when you need me." Pause. "Mistress."
Reb'bhek'aran nods, with a grin, probably intended to be friendly and not terrifying, "Courtney. Got it! Well, if I need you for anything beyond household duties, I will call you." Her voice lowers to more of a mumble, "It uh, probably won't be too often."
Courtney blinks at the mumble but wisely refrains from mentioning she heard any of it only answering to the louder part. "I h-hope I will not disappoint you, Mistress." Not disappointing a dragon means not getting eaten out of frustration with all those teeth, for example. She gives another curtsey. "Is there, uh, anything else?"
Reb'bhek'aran considers a moment, trying to think of what her Mother would tell their servants back home, probably pausing just a moment too long as she tries to think, "Ahh, uh... no. That will be all, Courtney." She glances back towards her room, then back at the maid, "Oh uh, don't bother me I guess. Unless there's an emergency? Or a visitor who can't wait. Or a... Well... I guess you can bother me. If it's important. That's sorta part of your job too I guess. Uhm, good luck?"
Courtney blinks again, then nods with what she hopes is an enthusiastic smile. "T-thank you, M-mistress. I will, er, get right to it." She keeps a calm demeanor.
...Even if she is freaking out inside. Dragon, and only passing clue about what to do, and not disappointing the dragon and teeth and she doesn't even know where to start and please stay calm until the dragon is in a different room...!
Reb'bhek'aran seems to be waiting for something else, but after a moment she takes a slow step backwards and then seems to practically vanish, the only hint of her retreat being her long tail winding around the corner back into her room.
Courtney breathes an enormous sigh of relief once the dragon turns and leaves the room. She takes a deep breath and then turns towards what she assumes are her quarters and then to figure out how to do all this...
She consciously adjusts her dress, a far more comfortable one than the maid outfit probably waiting for her...
Next: Chapter 2