* ˚ ✦ carnelian house

@elsie j. ♟ Abraxas was all business most days. Without having to utter a word, his aura commanded respect and subservience. There had been many times all he had to do was give his breeders or the service staff a simple look to get them to fall in line. Yet there was no denying he had a soft spot for Elsie. Not that anyone would dare utter it aloud if pressed. Favoritism would be bad for business, he knew that, and if he was ever asked, he would vehemently deny there was any special treatment going on. Elsie was the mother of his child and so good with Aurelia. Most masters didn't keep the breeders who sired their children in their life, but she was all the richer for having Elsie since business often took Abraxas and his wife away. Was this not the best he could provide for her?

Hearing the dismayed little whine scratched some primal part of the alpha’s brain and he had to resist the urge to wrap his arms around Elsie’s waist to give him reassurance, to keep him here. Fortunately, the kettle ensured he maintained his propriety, though he did subtly grimace at its interruption pulling the omega’s attention from him. In spite of the other's apprehension over making a mistake, he easily went through the motions of preparing Abraxas’ tea with ease. The alpha smiled as he watched, though his gaze was helplessly drawn to the slightest flash of skin as Elsie’s nightrobe slipped down. His hand twitched, itching to reach to bring it back up and perhaps feel the softness of the other beneath his fingertips, but the ever attentive omega beat him to it…

Probably all for the best.

“Yes. Yes, that's exactly what I was hoping for.” He assured him with a gentle smile and reached out to carefully accept the hot teacup. When he got a couple of fingers through the looped handle, he took it from Elsie's grasp, but his other hand delicately touched the omega's wrist to dissuade any attempt to make a quick getaway. “Since you cannot sleep either… why not enjoy a cup with me? I'd love to hear about your day.”

@abraxas c. ♚ Elsie clearly remembers the day his contract was first purchased. He remembers the worry and fear that swarmed within the deepest pit of his stomach, constantly wondering whether or not he'll perfectly provide the desired services to his supposed master. I mean, no matter which house they're from, breeders always aim to please, don't they? So the moment he came home with Abraxas that day, he made sure to be as subservient as possible, obeying every request and submitting to every possible touch that may lead to the ultimate goal they're both aiming for. What Elsie didn't know was how fertile he actually was considering how he had already gotten pregnant from his first contract. Or perhaps it's Abraxas' seed who holds the most blame in the conception of Aurelia. Either way, Elsie was relieved to know there was actual proof that he can serve his purpose as a breeder.

Then, not long after, he was permanently enrolled into the Carnelian House. It was something he didn't at all expect since he originally thought that he was going to temporarily stay until his pregnancy was over. Seems like Abraxas had other plans— plans that only ended up messing with Elsie and his own biases towards masters and mistresses years after he had given birth to Aurelia.

When Abraxas speaks, his voice only causes Elsie's chest clench uncomfortably, body literally coming to life as he brings a hand to cover his mouth due to how much he was smiling. "I try my best to be perfect, sir, but even I know that I'm not immune to committing mistakes," he replies, a sudden concern over how casual he must sound popping into mind. Yet, even if he wanted to change it, his mouth betrays him as he whines childishly to pair with his silly scrunched up face, "Are you *really* going to make me guess? I'll literally end up walking out of here if I get it wrong, you know. I won't be able to face you after, sir."

Thankfully, Abraxas' staring goes unnoticed since Elsie, himself, is a little too preoccupied with his own view, eyes flickering from broad shoulders to rolled up dress shirt sleeves that expose really attractive forearms. He feels his body turning hot with his face following suit. Luckily, the question proceeds to snap him out of it, eyes blinking rapidly to help him refocus on Abraxas' distractingly handsome face. "Ah, yes, Aurelia— She slept quite quickly this time, so I didn't have too much difficulty." As soon as the kettle whistles, Elsie goes over to it, turns the stove off, and doesn't even hesitate to open up a cupboard with the box of various tea leaves. Elsie doesn't even need to ask for which of them Abraxas specifically wants as he takes one out. Glancing back at him with a hand pulling back up the part of his robe that was slipping off his shoulder, he raises up the cup with Abraxas' favorite tea leaves inside and smiles sheepishly. "I couldn't sleep. Just like you can't do so right now. Is this what you were looking for?"

@elsie j. ♟ The scent of lavender brought with it a sense of calm after such a long, arduous day and Abraxas found himself smiling fondly even before he felt the gentle touch to his shoulder. Favoritism among the staff was frowned upon in Carnelian House and, on most days, the alpha played the part of nothing more than the impartial manager. He knew there would undoubtedly be whispers when he'd plucked Elsie away from the Blushing Lotus, but the idea of leaving the one bearing his child to toil away in such a... den of iniquity was unfathomable. Years had gone by since, but Abraxas' soft spot for the omega hadn't diminished. And on quiet nights like this, he dared to let his mask slip away a little.

"After all this time, I would think you'd know me well enough to have confidence in your guess, Elsie." The master prodded playfully as he turned away from the cabinet to properly regard the breeder. He looked so... delicate in his nightgown that Abraxas was momentarily awestruck, his soft smile faltering as he let his gaze admire the alluring figure before him. It wasn't that he hadn't seem Elsie in... far less formal circumstances (God, that was not something he needed to think about right now!), but he was more accustom to seeing him in his day to day wear around the manor. With... far more buttons done up, less skin, and his hair not so adorably fluffy.

"Um..." He uttered dumbly, the gears in his brain desperately turning to find words to regain some semblance of composure. "What are you still doing awake? Did Aurelia have trouble sleeping?"

@abraxas c. ♚ As opposed to Abraxas' disinterest to have breeders trailing behind him for the sole purpose of serving, Elsie makes sure he's stuck to the hip of any master or mistress so he'll be the first to know when his services are needed. He didn't want to be caught slacking, after all, and the only way to be certain that he's at everyone's beck and call is to be in close proximity. It would be inconvenient for them if he was in a whole other room instead of nearby, wouldn't it?

Ah, but when it came to Abraxas specifically... That was a whole other story.

Maybe he knows Abraxas quite well enough to be aware of his desire to be left to his own devices often.

Or maybe, just maybe, he isn't well-equipped enough to serve him when being near him sends him into a spiral of irrationality and emotion.

Funnily enough, Abraxas was the exact reason why he was still awake right now, stalking across the halls of the carnelian house with hands daintily closing up his night gown. He's been on his mind a little too much lately— haunting his dreams with reruns of lovely memories. He remembers the night in which he assumes they conceived Aurelia, and it's starting to feel as though he should be forgetting it all instead.

Perhaps this is all just ual attraction brought upon by the fact they have a child together and they're biologically meant to be drawn to one another...

But then all those hypotheses would instantly be flushed down the drain the moment he finds Abraxas in certain situations that summon a special kind of fondness to swell inside of him. Just like this one. It's only been a minute since Elsie has entered the kitchen, but Abraxas hasn't moved an inch from where he's standing. Seems like he's really at a loss for what he's looking for. God, why is he adorable? It's frustrating.

With a soft sigh and a curve of his lips, he walks over to the other slowly and lightly taps at his shoulder. "I have a couple of guesses as to what you may be looking for, but I don't want to assume and embarrass myself if I get the wrong answer."

@elsie j. ♟ Abraxas wasn't the sort of master that particularly wanted to be pampered. He very much liked coming home to the manor at night when it was quiet and still, with no one bending over backwards to fuss over him by asking what he needed. They trained their breeders to be attentive, of course, so he couldn't fault them. Having the attention on himself, though, was something he never got accustom to.

Yet no matter how autonomous he wanted to be, the fact remained that he had next to no idea where anything actually was in the kitchen. The alpha had been bumbling around, searching in the cabinets for the last ten minutes trying to locate the biscuits and fixings for tea to no avail. He did manage to get the kettle on the stove and on its way to a boil, but it'd be wasted effort if he couldn't find the bloody tea leaves. Sighing in frustration, Abraxas straightened up and stared pensively into the pantry. He'd had so many tea parties with Aurelia by now, one would figure he'd have this down by now...