The Vassal Academy Ch. 27: The Actors Arrive
After breakfast, Devon went to his office to check the news and messages that had come in during the night. He had just sat down and was reading the first message when Josh knocked on Master Devon’s door and entered when bade. “Master Devon, please forgive this interruption, but I need to talk to you.”
“Sure Josh.” Devon said. “I needed to talk to you too. What can I do for you?”
“Master, I don’t think I can be a slave, not for a while anyway.” Josh began obviously uncomfortable. “I knelt in front of a chair last night, and I tried to imagine anyone else in the chair, you, Master Andre, Mistress Rebecca, any of you.” He hesitated and then after a long pause, he finished the rest of it. “I couldn’t see anyone else there, no one. Just Brad.” He stopped as his voice broke.
“I understand Josh. Really I do.” Devon said softly. “You have to give yourself time.”
Josh shook his head. “Master, I can’t see you as anything but a Master. I never will.” He stumbled again and took a deep shuddering breath to try and calm down. He swallowed hard and took a second deep breath, a smoother one. “I can’t be a slave, not now. I don’t know if I ever will again.”
“Josh, it’s only been a few weeks. It takes time.” Devon said, knowing as he said it that Josh was probably right. His submission was to Brad, not to a notional Master. Josh had loved Brad, and felt like he couldn’t love again, and as long as his heart was hurting, he couldn’t submit.
Josh held up a hand and slowly managed to get himself under control. He continued. “Master, I think I have a way to help you, and me though.”
“What is that Josh?” Devon asked cautiously.
“I’ve been working with Chef, and I really enjoy that. To earn my keep while I’m here, and I think you’re going to be short of space when the people from California show up, I’d like to work with him, if you’ll permit me of course.”
Devon nodded. “Sure Josh, that’s no problem. As for earning your keep. There is no need, you’re still a guest.” He shifted uncomfortably. “I had hoped to talk to you, and ask if you’d consider moving upstairs for a week while the Actors are here. I regretted the inconvenience, but I think I have another idea. One for a longer term answer to the problem of rooms if you will.”
“What idea is that Master?” Josh asked.
“If you’ll come with me.” Devon said. “I’ll show you.”
They went to the kitchen, and then down into the basement. The bondage area would be under the training wing, but Devon turned towards the smaller staff wing area. He opened a door, and turned on a single overhead light bulb that dangled from the ceiling. The room was smaller than the bondage area under the training wing. But it was fairly large. It had three doors that led off the room, not counting the one they’d come in by.
“It doesn’t look like much. However It’s fairly large, and it has it’s own bathroom and shower.” Devon walked and opened the door. “Obviously we’d have to make some changes, install carpet, better lights, furniture, probably paint and possibly wall paper.”
“It will be fine Master.” Josh said as he looked around. “It’s roomy, and I can see lot’s of potential here.”
“It also has a door outside.” Devon said and pointed. “It’s locked, and bolted right now, we’ll get it working for you. That way, you can come and go as you please.”
Josh nodded. “Yes Master, I understand.” They were giving him freedom.
“Josh, I don’t want you to think you’re being shunted down here. For the week the actors are here, as soon as we get things put back together, this room, your room, becomes the high priority.” Devon said. “I just figured you could use it, and be comfortable here, while at the same time being close to us, your friends, and we are your friends Josh, and have some personal area where the slavery isn’t.”
Josh nodded. “I think I understand Master.” He smiled slightly. “It will be fine Master.”
“I never knew what to do with it. It’s got four windows up near the ceiling that look out, but they’re kind of small, and the room feels dark that way.” Devon said. “I assumed that at one time it had been some sort of maids room, with Chef’s area, a Mother in law suite, added on later.”
Josh nodded. “Yeah, we hung out in his room yesterday.”
“I think this can be done up nicely, I’ll have Jeannette and Geneva take a look at what should be done when we have a chance.” Devon offered.
“Thank you Master.” Josh said again.
Devon escorted him back upstairs. He knocked on Chef’s door and it opened in a few moments to show the famed Chef John. “Chef, I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Not at all.” Chef said. “Please come in.”
Devon entered and sat on the couch. “Chef, Josh has asked if he can stay, and work in the kitchen. I’ve told him I saw no problem, and we have that big storage room under us that isn’t in use, it’s going to be a couple weeks before we can start on setting it up, and I wanted to make sure you’re comfortable with him as a….” Devon stopped. He shrugged. “I don’t know the term.”
“Trainee.” Chef said with a grin. “He’s not much of a cook, but he has potential, he hasn’t made a mistake in following my instructions. I think I can teach him to be a fairly good chef.”
Josh grinned and then chuckled. “I knew the Trainers were superior, I just never realized that Chef was the same way, about his kitchen. Somehow I think it’s supposed to be flattering.”
Chef grinned. “It means that I think you’re not aware of the delicate nature of cooking, but I think you have potential.”
Devon nodded. “I’ll put him on salary. Would six hundred a week be too much for a trainee?”
Chef shook his head. “No, that would be fine for a few months. When he learns more, and is more useful, I’ll suggest a raise for him.”
“We’ll see to it Chef.” Devon said cordially. “I don’t even want to know what test you’ll give him.”
“I’ll let him tell me about Squabs.” Chef said chuckling. “Welcome aboard Josh, and I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
Josh turned to follow Devon out and then stopped. “Chef, what the hell is Shad Roe?”
Chef roared with laughter. “It’s a fish. A seasonal fish like wild Salmon. You can only get them in the spring.” He wiped his eye and asked. “Where the hell did you hear about Shad Roe?”
Josh shrugged. “It’s in the book Master Devon gave me. They mention the Shad Roe. They said that they don’t get it in Europe. They also talk about Squab, which is what made me think of it.”