At Your Service [Tommy Shelby]

The three Stooges

Before she walks out of the room Vivian quickly checks her reflection in the mirror, attempting to tame her wild locks, but her unruly hair seems to have a mind of its own. Her mother sometimes cursed her hair for being so wild, something she got from her father's side. If he didn't keep his hair short he'd have hair bigger than his head. Deciding it'll have to do for the day, she heads downstairs.

With a bit of a slow walk, Vivian made her way to the mansion, taking her time to remember the path. Eventually, her eyes fell upon the grand staircase adorned with a striking painting of a woman with flowing blonde hair. Seeing this familiar sight, she knew she had reached her destination.

Next to the hall, a grand door led to the living room area, and as she entered, she spotted Oswald sitting and enjoying a cup of tea.

"Oswald!" she called out with delight. He turned his head towards her and greeted her with one of his big, warm smiles.

Vivian's excitement fills her voice as she walks into the living area. "Darling, I have to thank you so much for driving me all the way here! I will be sure to repay you for the gas when I can—"

Before she can finish her sentence, she notices they are not alone. Her words stumble to a halt as she sees a rather skinny man with an enormous mustache standing by the fireplace, holding a glass of what she presumes is whiskey.

"Oh, I am so sorry for barging in," she stammers, feeling a bit embarrassed at her enthusiastic entrance.

Vivian smiles politely, trying to ease the awkward air in the room as the man addresses her. "That's alright, love. I was just chatting with Oliver, here."

Oswald mumbles that it's Oswald, not Oliver, but the man seems to pay it no mind, his focus now solely on Vivian. She decides to take the initiative and introduces herself, reaching out her hand. "I'm Vivian, Vivian Jansen. You must be Mister Shelby?" she asks, hoping to confirm his identity. 

He takes her hand and places a sloppy kiss on it, chuckling playfully. "I am a Mister Shelby, but I don't think I am THE Mister Shelby you are looking for!" he nearly shouts, his jovial demeanor evident.

Before Vivian can inquire further, another younger man bursts into the room, calling out for Arthur. Vivian assumes this must be the mustached man's name.

"Arthur, Arthur, there is a focking cab in front, he needs to move, I got my-" The younger man barked, halting abruptly in his tracks, much like Vivian had done before him. His eyes shifted disdainfully from Oswald silently sipping his tea on the couch to the unfamiliar woman standing before him. 

"Oh, who is this lovely birdy then?" He gave Vivian an impudent once-over, a brazenness that left her feeling decidedly uncomfortable. Undeterred, she extended her hand for a shake, introducing herself.

"Right, well, I am John, that dickhead there is Arthur." he is sizing her up again and then asks: "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Oh, I've taken up employment as a maid at the Shelby residence," she replied with an air of determination, refusing to be daunted by their forthright manner.

"huh.." he scoffs, seemingly unimpressed, "you don't look like a maid."
She notices how straightforward these men are, they don't care how they're perceived. They just say what they want to. That doesn't matter though, she grew up with boys, she can handle herself. "What does a maid look like then?" she joked.

John chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Less pretty, I guess.." It was a backhanded compliment, but somehow, the lightheartedness in his tone made it oddly endearing. He gave her a wink, prompting a subtle eye-roll from Arthur, who seemed accustomed to John's cheeky antics.

John's attention shifted to Oswald, and he couldn't resist a taunting tone, "You're the cabby?" Oswald, visibly ill at ease, offered a slight nod, "Yes, Mr. Shelby." Vivian arched an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. She had never witnessed Oswald so uncomfortable before; there was an unmistakable unease in his demeanor around these men. Perhaps this explained his earlier warning about the job? Whatever the reason, she knew she would soon unravel the enigmatic nature of these Shelby men.

Observing John's brash behavior towards Oswald, Vivian couldn't help but notice the stark contrast in how he treated her. She sensed a palpable hierarchy at play within the household, with John asserting his dominance with an air of arrogance. "Move that cab, will ya? We need that space," he ordered, displaying little regard for Oswald's feelings.

"Yes, sir, right away," Oswald replied, hastily placing his unfinished tea on the table and making his way outside.

Meanwhile Vivian found herself sitting uncomfortably in the midst of the conversation between John and Arthur. Their banter revolved around rowdy encounters and dubious escapades taking place in a pub called the Garrison, a subject that failed to pique her interest in the slightest.

She shifted slightly in her seat, feeling like an outsider intruding on a conversation that held no relevance to her world.

Despite her desire to excuse herself, Vivian hesitated. She couldn't fathom a polite way to disengage from the company of these unrefined men. Their assertive presence and intimidating demeanor made her feel somewhat trapped, leaving her uncertain about how to gracefully bow out.

The sudden interruption in the form of a boisterous voice calling for Arthur and John proved to be Vivian's saving grace. Despite the indifference displayed by the Shelby brothers, their animated conversation seemed to press on relentlessly. The voice, however, grew louder, accompanied by approaching footsteps that resonated through the hallway.

"Yea, in here Tom!" John bellowed, seemingly unfazed by the impending arrival. Vivian's curiosity was now piqued, wondering who this newcomer might be and what business he had with the Shelby brothers. As she strained to hear more from behind the wall, a distinct sigh escaped the lips of the unseen man on the other side.

Seconds later, the figure materialized in the doorway, and Vivian couldn't help but be taken aback. A stark contrast to the roughness that surrounded her, this newcomer exuded a sense of rugged refinement. Dressed impeccably, he carried an air of authority that demanded attention. His eyes, sharp and penetrating, scanned the room before settling on Vivian. She was not given too much attention though, he seemed to be in a hurry and his brothers did not help the slightest.

"John, Arthur, come on, we've got work to do," Thomas asserted with impatience, adjusting his peaked cap and gesturing for the men to hasten their departure. Vivian couldn't help but be taken aback by the commanding presence of this man. Startled, she flinched as Arthur loudly announced, "Ah! There's THE Mr. Shelby." He passed by Vivian, nudging her with his elbow. As their eyes met, she was struck by the intensity in his blue gaze, though his face revealed no emotions, resembling a stoic portrait. Hastily averting her eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling of being under scrutiny, as if Thomas could peer into the depths of her very soul.

"Alright, come on," Thomas reiterated, his gaze lingering briefly on Vivian before leading the others around the corner and away, leaving her alone in the room. As she made her way to the front of the house, she caught sight of the cab disappearing into the distance. It seemed Oswald had opted to avoid a goodbye, perhaps preferring not to dwell on the fleeting connections forged in the enigmatic world of the Shelbys.