Commander's Rounds

Gaiden Entry 16.3- Master's Treasured Memories

There was work to do. Maid work.

Belfast had assembled most of the Royal Maids in front of the HQ building where commander did his business and also lived. She looked up and down the line to make sure everyone was paying attention. She had received a special dispensation from the queen for this, so there would be no troubles with her. Belfast knew what needed to be done- all she needed to do was direct the maids.

She took a deep breath, and began. "Hello to all of you. The matter for us at hand is that our master will be away for at least a week, and since he won't be conducting business here himself, we are going to take advantage of his absence."

Dido quickly raised her hand, while quivering. "Does... does that mean m-master has abandoned us?"

Belfast gave Dido a warm smile. "It merely means he has something to tend to away from port."

"Oh." Dido lowered her hand, and looked less than reassured.

Belfast went back to speaking. "What this does mean, however, is that while master is away, we can give his home and headquarters a proper cleaning. He will come back after being very busy, so he won't want to deal with a mess himself. This not only includes general cleaning and tidying, but also matters like laundering his clothes and linens. Dido and Hermione will be handling master's laundry. Gloucester and Sirius will be tidying the office, Newcastle and Glasgow will be handling the information stations. Curacoa and Curlew will handle miscellaneous tidying. If there are any questions, you can come to me, Curacoa, or Curlew."

Hermione raised her hand. "Excuse me, but where are Edinburgh and Sheffield?"

Belfast gave a nod to her. "They are remaining to tend to the queen and other dorm duties. Anything else?"

There was a silence. Belfast was pleased. "Every maid is expected to do their duty."

Belfast unlocked the door, and each of the maids spread out to get to work on their part of headquarters. Belfast was about to head in as well, until there was a tug on her skirt. "Um." Belfast turned to see the miniature version of herself, Little Bel. The diminutive maid gave a curtsy before looking up. "...Is there anything I'm needed for?"

Belfast shook her head. "I wouldn't say you're ready for this sort of sensitive duty. However..." Belfast picked up her smaller self and held her close. "There's no reason you can't watch. Even if it feels like you are doing nothing, consider it educational."

Little Bel nodded, and snuggled into Belfast as she was held. Belfast carried her smaller self into the building while everyone else was hard at work.

--------------

Hermione was rather surprised as she worked through the commander's sheets and bedcovers. She had thoroughly checked around and under the bed for anything missing, and she did not once have a chance encounter with any dirty magazines. She was certain that was the way that things were supposed to work, as she had vague memories of sailors hiding all sorts of items like that while at port or at sea.

Perhaps Dido would encounter that while going through the commander's laundry.

She had her own things to think about, however. She was thankful that the building had its own laundry facilities, and a bizarrely configurable machine. It actually wouldn't be much trouble to get things done in the exact correct way, the combination of temperature and time and cycle that would leave the commander (and any romantic company) sleeping on or under the best-made sheets in the port.