Workplace Mentality

Twinwing rested his head on his hoof, staring out the window at the scenery as it flicked past the train cart window. Evergreens and tall oaks rising and falling over grassy green hills. Despite the wonderous view presented to those on board, Twinwing wasn’t engrossed in the view, instead he was sulking as he stared up towards the sky. Slowly turning his gaze back over towards the front of the train he looked down at the table between him and the empty seat opposite him. A small letter sat unfolded on the table facing Twinwing, who sighed, rereading it yet again.

“Dear Twinwing,
It is with a heavy heart that we must inform you of your employment termination effective immediately, due to budget cuts to the company several members of staff have been let go this is not a direct offence to you as an individual but a necessary sacrifice for the company’s continuity. Should you ever consider reemployment with us or another workplace under our brand please provide the slip contained with this letter as a means of reference for past service and skills.
With regards, your boss, Paper Clips.”

Twin scoffed scrunching the letter up and throwing it towards a bin, tapping against the lid and rolling out of sight behind it. Twin wasn’t too disappointed about the loss of his job, it had been rather miserable in terms of both the work itself and the work environment, however it has been a steady source of income… income he no longer had access too. Twin had taken a decent sum of his money from his account and booked a short holiday in Canterlot city, perhaps some time to relax would do him some good after the recent disaster. Though, part of him also felt guilty as it would make money even tighter than before on his return.

The train whistle caused Twin to shake his head, clearing the distracting thoughts from his head as he stood up, collecting his bag from under his seat and following along the mass crowd of ponies. As Twin saw the carriage doors ahead of him open, many of the ponies oohed in awe, as Twin shuffled towards the front he did likewise. Canterlot was like no other city in Equestria. The scenery of a waterfall cascading down a massive mountain, the contrasting white and gold colours of the city and the many golden suns atop the towers. Twin stared, his woes fading from the front of his mind as he, alongside the many tourists and visitors, gawked in amazement at the slice of grounded heaven.

Twin followed behind the massive crowd of ponies into the station, tickets and passports being shown, guards shuffling and leaning on their spears as they watched the civilians shuffle past one at a time. Once Twin had passed through the checkout he headed outside and gasped. The crisp, warm summer air was complimented by a soothing cool breeze, unlike the train cart, rippling the grass causing it to sway photogenically. However, what made Twin gasp was not in fact the surroundings, but the little crowd of ponies waiting at the station, holding the trademark signs with names printed on the front. One mare in particular caught Twin’s attention, the body of an Earth pony stood tall, one hoof holding a sign casually whilst the other leaned on the metal fence separating those disembarking. But instead of hind legs and a bushy tail, a smooth, sleek serpent’s tail simply grew out of her lower waist, trailing and twisting around behind the mare, glittering in the sunlight. The snake-pony took notice of Twin staring and looked over, a sly grin stretching over her face before a voice caused her to turn away, distracted as a stallion wandered over, as if floating, back towards the predator mare.

Twin snapped back to reality and made his way off the station towards the city itself, passing over the drawbridge and through the gate. Twin noticed more of the snake-ponies scattered amongst both the guard and the crowds wandering about. Twin couldn’t help but admire the shimmering scales flowing behind each one, like colourful, rainbow-like water ripples but on land. Twin glanced from building to building, each a beautiful contrast of colours, as if a rainbow had flown through the city colouring each one itself, plants and flowers bloomed from window sills and small gardens and Twin smiled. The sound of a soft bell chime caught Twin’s attention and he looked over at a little coffee shop. Twin might have kept going until he saw the sign, a small snake curled around a coffee cup, its tongue flickering into the liquid within… surely a drink and a small bite wouldn’t hurt, and maybe Twin could learn about what all these creatures around town were!

The bell rang out once again as Twin stepped into the little cramped space, small two seat tables had been forced in alongside wooden chairs, green tops with white table cloths, little sugar sachets sat within the confines of miniature snakes, wrapped in their coils. Despite being on a public road, the shop was nearly empty beside Twin and one other customer by the far wall, reading a paper as he sipped a purple coloured tea. Twin sat down and had to stifle a gasp as another snake-pony slithered over with a menu, surprisingly agile in the narrow spaces between the tables.

“Good morning can I get you anything?” She asked with a sweet smile, Twin noticing two sets of long fangs in between her grin and his throat tightened a little.

“Oh uh… just a hot chocolate please.” Twin said and the lamia nodded turning back over her own tail before disappearing into the kitchen briefly before returning and setting the drink down with some cold milk and a tea spoon. As the mare turned to slither away again Twin spoke up “Um excuse me,”

The lamia turned back to Twin “Yes?” She asked politely.

Twin shuffled in his seat and looked down at his drink nervously “What… are you?” Twin asked trying to be as polite as he could with the blunt question.

“I’m a lamia, half pony half snake. We live here, one of our own runs the nation now the Princesses have stepped down.” Twin looked up at her and she nodded insistently that the statement was true “Anything else?” Twin shook his head “Okay, please, enjoy.”

Twin sipped his hot drink, looking outside as a pair of lamias slithered by. Noticing a lonely stallion, the pair converged on him and looped their tails over his neck and shoulders, talking before the stallion followed them down the next turn. Twin shuffled again, rubbing his neck, imagining how it might feel to have a coil pressed up against his windpipe, tightening slowly. Twin gulped and quickly finished his drink, leaving more than enough bits before leaving, the lamia who had informed him of her species name saying a cheerful goodbye.

Twin gulped once outside, rubbing his neck absentmindedly as he walked, unable to stop himself patting his neck nervously every few seconds each time he saw a lamia “I should find a hotel… it has been a long trip.” Twin mumbled as he made his way towards the overnight district.

“I’m sorry sir, but we have no rooms, if you’d booked in advance we could have sorted something out.” Twin sighed “Have you tried any of the others?” The receptionist offered Twin.

“Yes, half a dozen others.” He said, blushing, booking a hotel was sort of a major thing for a holiday.

“Well, if you can’t find anywhere you can always ask one of the lamias… they’re so… kind… they always love visitors.” Twin nodded, not noticing the pony’s vacant expression as they thought of the wonderous serpents slithering around outside.

Twin left the seventh hotel and sighed, rubbing his forehead slightly as he glanced around before wandering off. Stupid, it was just plain stupid to think he could book a room on the day he got there in a major city like Canterlot! Twin rubbed his eyes, tired from wandering around and carrying his suitcase everywhere with him. He was attracting a fair few glances now as ponies began to recognise him wandering from hotel to hotel and Twin quickly shuffled off the main road, down a tight alley. Twin emerged on the opposite side of the hotel street, it was oddly quiet by contrast and the high buildings seemed to muffle most sound, creating the illusion he was further from any other living pony than he actually was in reality. Twin continued on his way, glancing around, hoping to find a bed and breakfast perhaps or maybe even just a pub or inn for the night.

Twin found neither, but what he did find was a small business office tucked between an old shop up for lease and an occupied marble white house. The window of the office advertised various job positions and awards for assisting in employment opportunities. Twin stared at the offers for a long time before deciding that, even if he had no chance of getting a job here since he didn’t have enough bits for a house or apartment, at least he’d be able to sit down for a while.

Twin pushed his way inside and a mare looked up from a magazine at his arrival. Twin didn’t see much of the cover, besides a purple sheen and a lamia curled over a large log, but the way the mare stowed it under her desk so hastily made Twin think it had little to do with latest songs or gossip. Twin gratefully took a seat across from the mare who smiled as he sighed, shuffling to get comfy.

“Hello, how can I help you?” The mare asked.

“Yeah um… I’d like a job… heh, obviously. I was hoping to see what you have available?” Twin asked nervously, despite not really expecting to get one, Twin couldn’t help feel a little hopeful twinge in the back of his mind.

“Of course, anything specific?” The mare asked tapping away at her computer briefly, no doubt bringing up a program to help narrow down the selections.

“Er,” Twin paused “Not office work.” He said quickly.

“Alright, office work gone…”

“I suppose I could do serving or construction.” Twin suggested.

“Sorry, construction is full and the local hospitality industry has already closed their open job offers now the main season has started… I do have a few jobs in retail.” The mare suggested looking up at Twin.

“Alright… but um… see I don’t really have the funding to afford a home, do any offer… renting or something?” Twin asked.

The mare shook her head “No, sorry…” The mare paused and, for a second, Twin could have sworn her eyes had changed from brown, like his own, to red and purple. The mare seemed to freeze, her hoof hovering over her keyboard and she let out a long sigh “Sir… how do you feel about the lamias in charge of Canterlot?” She asked softly.

“Oh… they’re interesting I suppose, I’ve not been here long, just a few hours ago honestly.” Twin admitted before immediately scolding himself, if he didn’t know the city that would limit more jobs.

“Would you mind working for one?” Twin thought it over then shook his head “I have a perfect job… hospitality staff for Scale manor, room and board is provided free of charge and you can start as soon as you like. Tomorrow even, as the work day will have already started.” The mare looked at Twin hopefully.

“Sure, it could be interesting. Starting soon it also useful.” The mare suddenly banged her hooves on the table, causing Twin to jump in surprise at the unexpected outburst, shivering as if being hit with static as she shut her eyes, smiling and moaning softly.

“G-guh-GREAT! I’ll give you the address and you can head there right away!” The mare said and Twin stared for a moment as the mare hastily wrote the message down for him, as well as giving him a little sealed slip of paper “H-here you are, give that to the gate guard so they’ll let you i-in!”

“Thank you.” Twin said smiling, this trip was going alright by his count! Even if he had just cancelled his holiday on a whim for a possible job…

Once Twin had left, the door shutting behind itself, the mare leaned back in her chair moaning as she held her throat, almost drooling as her eyes shifted colours “I goooht you another one Mistress!!” She moaned to nopony in particular.

Twin stared at the scribbled street on the piece of paper, turning it sideways and even upside down, hoping to understand it better. The mare seemed to have developed a sudden bout of serious shakes and Twin didn’t understand or even know why that had happened. Twin glanced around and wandered up to the first mare he saw, which happened to be a lamia.

“Excuse me,” Twin said and the lamia turned from her friend smiling, her tail raising itself up and looping around Twin’s neck, holding his head up with the tail tip. Twin could feel the thick muscles and fat mushing against his throat under him as he was made to stare up at the lamia inspecting him “I… need directions, please…”

“Where to?” The second lamia asked beginning to slide her tail towards him, flexing and shifting the muscles along it in anticipation.

“Scale manor.” Twin said and the lamia stopped, her tail pulling back, however her smile, surprisingly, remained.

“Right of course, just down that street, turn right and continue on to the last building. Can’t miss it, it looks like a miniature castle!” The lamia said, raising her hoof and pointing as she spoke the specific directions, tugging on Twin’s neck making him gulp and propelling him forward past the pair as they giggled once they’d told him what he wanted to know.

Twin kept going, wondering what was amusing them so much as he took their directions towards the manor. Twin halted, the two lamias were right it was just like a miniature castle! Thick limestone walls several stories tall with enough room for passage between them, each corner rising higher with watch towers, and a large polished steel gate that was currently rolled down. As Twin got closer he could see ponies moving atop the castle walls, and one peeking over from the nearest tower at him, probably informing those below of his approach. Twin felt a little nervous, despite the fact he had been informed to head here for the job application. Once Twin reached the gate there was a lamia waiting on the other side. He was wearing a chest plate much like the ones worn by the royal guard, but deep purple instead of gold and a purple scarf wrapped around their necks, a purple iris with a black slitted pupil watching Twin from the centre of his throat, the emblem marked into a pin to keep the scarf in place. He had a helmet shaped like a viper, with a large open hood and the visor over his eyes was coloured with a multitude of colours, but Twin was just barely able to make out the slitted eyes underneath. Was that allowed, the visor colouration, or was it standard for this manor guard?

“Why are you here?” The guard asked softly.

“I was told I could get a job here… I um… have a slip…?” Twin said uncertain he would accept this. The guard however held out a hoof close to the gate bars and Twin slipped the paper through, the guard pulling it away to read it, removing his helmet to do so.

Twin rocked back and forth nervously on his hooves, tapping his suitcase with his hooves, though he stopped when the guard glanced up at him briefly with an irritated expression.

Once done, the guard adorned his helmet again before turning and waving his hoof in a circular motion and the gate began to grind up slowly “Follow me, I’ll get somepony to interview you.” He ordered and Twin hoisted his bag up, following after him.

Twin looked around, noticing a small building that more lamias were leaning out of, alongside a few ponies, looking at the newest arrival, all wearing the same armour. Twin was also able to confirm the colouration of the visors was deliberate as it was matched across every one he could see. Twin felt his cheeks flush at being checked out by so many ponies at once and was glad when they reached the mansion. Twin glanced up at the multi-storey obsidian coloured house, looking left and right as they stood in the middle of the large C shaped building, Twin pausing as he stared into the greenhouse nestled on one side. The interior was full of strangely coloured plants and Twin could just faintly see slivers of white moving around and a figure, watching him. A feeling of both fear, awe and desire rumbled in Twin and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to gallop over or away. Before he could decide Twin was led inside, the lamia tugging on his hoof with a stray coil to get him moving again.

“Wait here.” The guard said in his soft monotone voice as he disappeared towards the side with the greenhouse. It wasn’t long until Twin could hear the soft ruffle of a tail on carpet and the padded sound of hooves clipping over the floor.

The guard returned, passing Twin by and returning outside towards the gate, leaving him alone with the stranger who he had been walking with. Plain white with a white and blue streaked mane, the stranger seemed to be looking THROUGH Twin as opposed to at him, yet he also acknowledged his presence by looking him up and down. He was wearing a red suit that, when Twin moved, seemed to shift in the light as if it had thousands of individual little patterns, it took Twin a while to realise it was a mimicry of snake scales. He also wore a little white collar that looked oddly large and thick with the trademark eye of a lamia over his throat.

“So, you are here for a position?” He finally asked, his expression hardly shifting.

“Um, yes please.” Twin said awkwardly as he shuffled, however this nervousness seemed to perk the stallion up slightly as he smiled.

“Wonderful, I will get a member of staff to show you around the manor. You will be among the service and cleaning staff, as you know, so you will clean and take anything the Mistress requests to her wherever she may be. Understand?” Twin nodded “Good, I will be in my office,” He said, pointing to his office “I’m Alex Holmes by the way, head butler, I’ll be your supervisor.” Alex finished before returning inside his office to continue his work. Or so Twin assumed.

“Don’t you need my name?” Twin asked the closed door quietly “How is he going to get another member of staff from in there though?” Twin thought before hearing another pony approaching from the other side… what?

A tall blood red pegasus, wearing a matching uniform to that of Alex’s, turned the corner His brown and red coloured mane was slightly ruffled, like his tail, and he seemed to be breathing oddly heavily, as if he was recovering from being short of breath.

“Hello,” He panted with a smile, his gaze was much more focused than Alex’s, but Twin did notice he seemed a little distracted, occasionally shutting his eyes as if his thoughts kept drifting “I’m Boltblood Thundercloud… Bolt’s fine… I’m going to show you around the manor.” He said and Twin nodded “You can leave your bag at the door, in case you decide this isn’t for you.” Something about Bolt’s tone indicated that was a disgusting suggestion.

“Oh, okay… I’m Twinwing, nice to meet you?” Twin offered a hoof and Bolt shook it, he was surprisingly strong for a pegasus.

As Twin set his bag down Bolt stood staring before responding “Nice to meet you too.” Though his voice was friendly, the long pause was a little eerie “Follow me.” Bolt waved a hoof turning on his hooves and making his way down the corridor.

Bolt made a direct route for the kitchen, as Twin saw the stainless white doors Bolt glanced back at him “You’re going to be a butler, right?” Twin nodded “Oh good, we need some new ones after the dinner a few months ago. A lot of staff… left with the lamia visitors.” Bolt fluttered his wings as he flushed slightly “Anyway, this will most likely be your second most visited room, besides whichever ones you are allocated to clean. I’m the head chef I take care of the staff here,” Bolt gestured with a hoof around the room, four other ponies were dotted around, two mares cleaning and two chefs checking stock lists “When Mistress orders food come here and I’ll make it and take it to her.” Bolt explained.

“Shouldn’t a waiter take the food?” Twin asked confused.

“Normally yes but… well, Mistress prefers it if I take it.” Twin raised an eyebrow “It’s how things run here, you’ll get use to it.” Bolt said with a confident nod.

“Okay, if you say so.” Twin said a little confused by the change of norm.

Bolt led Twin around, showing him the living room, a moodily lit room with many cushions and a constant fire in the wall before a large pile of cushions that seemed to blaze the room with more warmth than was needed or should be able to produce. As Bolt finished on the side of the manor Twin noticed one room they’d missed.

“Hay, what’s through there?” Twin asked.

“Oh, that’s the greenhouse, it has a bunch of plants from the Mistress’ homeland in the Badlands. Mistress doesn’t spend much time in there I’ve noticed, usually just to collect herbs for jobs.” Bolt said staring at the door, no doubt he also collected seasoning leaves and such for the meals.

“What does… um ‘Mistress’ do?” Twin asked.

“Oh, she’s an enforcer, the lamia Queen’s Hypnotic Tail, to be specific. She deals with ponies trying to overthrow the current lamia rule and maintains order and safety, deals with resistances that have some really strange and outlandish ideas about lamias. But she’s nice, takes care of her staff, usually pays around double the minimum and all commodities here are free, though punishments are harsh but you normally earn them if she has to get involved instead of Alex or another staff member.” Twin shrugged, sounded like a nice enough employer to him.

As Bolt tried to lead Twin back towards the other side of the manor to continue the orientation tour, the door to the greenhouse opened and Bolt quickly turned back and bowed as the lamia of the house slithered out. She was a beautiful artic clean snow-white unicorn with a mane like a fire ablaze, deep captivating purple eyes with a black snake slit. Her tail matched her body and mane respectively with its body and underbelly and she was huge! Her tail could have looped around maybe a dozen ponies at once! Not to mention how heavy and thick it appeared. The lamia paused upon realising the pair were looking at her, smiling at Bolt before looking at Twin, inspecting him slowly with her gaze, looking over the white bodied pegasus that was so similar to her own.

“Who do we have here?” The lamia asked approaching Twin.

“A possible new member of staff.” Bolt said standing up.

“Possible?” She asked looking at Bolt.

“I haven’t signed on yet… just… seeing what I’ll have to do before I start.” Twin explained and she stared at him for a moment.

“Well, Bolt, why don’t you return to the kitchen and I’ll continue showing this fine stallion around.” Bolt glanced at Twin then his Mistress “I insist.” She said before he could try to argue.

“As you wish.” Bolt said, sounding slightly dejected, though Twin didn’t know why. Bolt left and headed towards the kitchen, pushing the door open with a little more force than was needed.

“Don’t worry about Bolt, he just likes it when he has my affection, like all the other staff really,” The lamia paused mumbling softly “The smart ones anyway.” Twin looked over unsure if he’d misheard “Now, follow me, I’ll show you the rest of my home and I’ll chose where you will be working.” The lamia began slithering ahead and Twin followed beside her, glancing sideways every so often “Tell me, what’s your name? I’m Ruby Scales.” Ruby said placing a hoof to her chest.

“Twinwing.” Twin said with a slightly sheepish smile.

“Twinwing, hmmm? What a nice name. So, tell me, have you ever worked with lamias before?” Ruby asked.

Twin let out a little laugh “Er, before I got here today I didn’t know lamias existed. I was rather surprised, I might have been scared but everypony on the station was just so nonchalant about them.” Twin said and looked at Ruby to see how she’d react, a little nervous as he expected her to be concerned that he had no experience with her species.

“You know nothing of us?” Twin shook his head “Wonderful!” Ruby said with a wide smile “Then I can… ‘educate’ you whilst you work for me.” Twin felt his double wings flutter at his side at the suggestion and Ruby chuckled, running a coil through Twin’s orange and blue tipped mane, rubbing down the back of his neck and brushing his tail.

Twin almost stopped, just to lean into the serpent’s touch, it was smooth and cool, but also weighty with a nice bit of pressure and cinching to match to sooth his muscles. Ruby would make an expert masseuse. When Ruby pulled Twin to the side more forcefully, having almost wandered into a wall beside a ramp to the second floor, he shook his head back to reality and opened his wings, pushing Ruby’s tail off with them.

“Were you not enjoying that?” Ruby asked.

“No, I just want to be able to focus on what you’re telling me to do.” Twin said as the pair approached a small haggle of ponies just outside a room emitting constant chatter, which Ruby confirmed his suspicions as the break room.

They were all alert and looked rather nervous at Ruby’s approach but bowed nonetheless. Twin gave a little wave and one of the mare’s spoke up “A new pet, Mistress?” She asked and her friends shuffled on the spot, frightened.

“No, a new butler and cleaner, hopefully.” Ruby said levelly.

The mare watched as they passed by, before saying to her friends, in a carrying whisper “He’ll end up one though.” Twin noticed Ruby’s tail twitch and slither an extra time, as if irritated.

“What did she mean?” Twin asked, concerned.

“Nothing,” Ruby smiled patting Twin’s head with a coil “I just…” Ruby cleared her throat “Have… ‘other’ staff.” Twinwing’s wings pomfed out at this statement, his face turning red and Ruby chuckled. In all honesty she had no problem with that sort of services or speaking of it, but it was a good knock off.

“O-oh, ri-right.” Twin mumbled, glancing down the second-floor hallway at the various doors.

“The bedrooms staff are provided with,” Ruby explained.

“Can I take a look?” Twin asked.

“Oh well…” Ruby shuffled about, as if looking for a way out of this situation “Alright, but they are rather… small…” She admitted “I do need a lot of staff, as you’d imagine, so I had to be conservative…” Ruby watched as Twin approached an unoccupied room and opened it.

The room was barely the size and length of two ponies laying atop each other. A single window, small and rounded, bathed the room in a surprising amount of light. There was a little desk tucked into the right side and a ‘bed’ piled on the floor.

Twin wandered inside, poking the bed, before rubbing it. It was very reminiscent of Ruby’s coils in both colour and feel, though softer and with less form “Strange… so this is where I’ll sleep?” Twin asked.

“Yes, just sleep, the break room has games and much more recreational activities. Video games, reading as well as meals things along those lines.” Ruby said.

“Oh, that’s fine, I thought this was my only free space.” Twin said and Ruby beamed.

“Glad to hear it Twinwing, now shall I go over what I’ll expect you to do on a day to day basis?” Ruby suggested and Twin nodded “Alright,” Ruby motioned for Twin to leave the room and Ruby shut the door, lighting up a little plaque on the door changing it to his name with ‘butler’ underneath. Ruby’s writing was very neat, at least using magic “You’ll begin you day by heading to one of the staff bathrooms here,” Ruby motioned to a few doors, which Twin peeked inside of, like the bedroom the bathroom was sized to be as small as possible to be useable but not take up access space. Just a shower, sink and toilet were present inside.

Twin moved back out, shutting the door “Then?” He asked, promoting Ruby to continue.

“You will head down here, to this bathroom, my own,” Ruby pushed the door open and Twin felt like he’d wandered into an indoor pool as opposed to a bathroom! Twin could see where the staff bathrooms poked out and why so much room was needed for Ruby, the bath was like those used for professional swimmers and she used it just to bathe? Twin gulped “Don’t worry, the taps will fill it up faster than you’d expect. Once it’s full of hot water get the shampoos and scale oils ready,” Ruby nodded to a shelf full of various selections of both.

“How do I know which you want?” Twin asked.

“You don’t.” Ruby answered smiling and Twin suddenly looked concerned “Don’t panic,” Ruby flicked Twin’s nose with her tail tip giggling “I like them all, and I promise you’ll enjoy them too.” Why would Twin enjoy them?

“Anyway, once you’re all set, head upstairs and wake me, do you know how to wake a lamia?” Twin tilted his head at Ruby’s odd question.

“There’s a specific way to wake you?” He asked and Ruby giggled.

“No, but it’s the way I like to get up, here…” Ruby had Twin stand on his hind legs and hold his forelegs, Ruby then placed a thick coil atop them and helped him wrap it over his shoulder down his side like it was an ammo bandolier “You wrap yourself up, get your warmth in my cold scales. It helps me wake up.” Twin flushed but nodded with a little smile.

“Okay.” Was all he managed as Ruby pulled her tail away, flicking his chin to turn his gaze back up as he watched the point around Ruby’s waist shift and flex as she moved her tail.

“Now, let’s keep going,” Ruby said slithering back out the room “Once I’m clean and ready for the day you will head up to my room,” Ruby began heading up a spiral ramp, leading to a single door, pushing it open revealed a large, lavish looking room, though with very little furniture despite that. A large fireplace, which was just low embers now and looked slightly blackened and dirty as if suffering from cleaning neglect, a walk-in wardrobe that dominated one whole wall, a few noticeable gaps in the line-up available, with a little pile set aside with dark coloured garments, and the bed, which was the size of a normal room, the bedsheets were slightly ruffled and messy and beside it, on a bedside table, was a small stack of sealed folders. Ruby flushed “Sorry it’s such a mess,” Ruby said flushing “I’ve been getting a lot of work recently after the dinner and festival so even I couldn’t tidy up after myself. Some ponies didn’t take to the royal sisters stepping down from leadership in place of our kin very well and seem to think they can force them out of retirement and the festival was thanking ponies for accepting us, which they didn’t like, so, yeah… that and a load of staff got eat- …switched jobs for other lamias after the dinner.” Ruby said, somehow smoothly shifting, not even with a little stutter, from what she had been about to originally say.

“Well, it would be redundant to hire me if it was all clean already, right?” Ruby smiled nodding at Twin’s point.

“Naturally. Once I’ve had my bath you’ll head up here, put out the fire if it is still burning so it can cool out, make the bed, take any dirty clothing down to the laundry room, there’s a little side room not far from the greenhouse that heads downstairs to where it is, it also has dusting equipment, come back here and dust and then clean out the fireplace and relight a new fire. You’ll find it to be more than enough work, but just in case it isn’t see to the living room as well as I spend a lot of time there. You know where it is?” Twin nodded.

“Bolt showed me earlier.” Twin said and Ruby nodded happily.

“Good, I was concerned you might not know. Anyway, when you’re cleaning the living room, if you get to it, and I’m there you’re more than welcome to wrap a coil or two around your body, I know it can get quite warm.” Ruby said with a grin “No doubt Bolt told you if I want food you’ll take the order to him?” Another nod “Wonderful, he’ll bring it out so your own duties won’t be interrupted. Now, do you have any questions?” Ruby inquired “Job related first.” She added as a cheeky afterthought.

“How long will I work, both shift and contract wise?” Twin asked.

“You can quit at the end of any given month without any problems once you sign on, and you work until the jobs I have assigned you are completed, once done you can relax and enjoy yourself. If you want to head out the manor, speak to the captain and he’ll give you a tracker.” Twin looked confused at the last part.

“A tracker? Why do I need a tracker?” Twin asked.

“To make sure you’re safe for one, and to make sure another lamia doesn’t snatch up my staff… again,” Ruby growled softly “We tend to be…” Ruby looped a coil around Twin’s back pulling him close, her nose touching his “Grabby.” Ruby finished with a smile and Twin chuckled nervously as his vision was entirely purple now, before Ruby let go of him “Anything else you need to know?”

Twin shuffled awkwardly “Pay is sixteen full bits an hour.” Ruby said without needing the question.

“Oh, thanks…” Twin hesitated “You also said you would ‘educate’ me on lamia culture?” He asked and Ruby grinned.

“Let’s give you a day to settle into the routine, then I’ll show you the wonders of lamias, okay, Twinwing?” Twin nodded happily “Alright, go see Alex about your contract.” Twin nodded and left the room, heading back downstairs.

As Twin was passing the staffroom, the mare from earlier was stood in the doorway, waiting “Hold up,” She said quietly, with an urgent look upstairs “Are you going to sign on?” Twin nodded, uncertain if he liked her fearful tone “Don’t. Just leave, get out and don’t look back whilst you still can. That… ‘mare’ she’s a monster, more like a demon really! All the other staff are in her coils and you will be too if you stay, so get out now! If you sign on she’ll-” The mare suddenly stopped speaking, clutching her throat as a red aura floated around her neck.

“A demon, huh,” Ruby said softly, slithering down the hallway, her horn aglow with magic, the mare whimpered trying to shuffle inside the staff room but Ruby tugged her forward into a coil that grabbed her by the waist “Don’t worry about it, Twinwing… she just thought you might be taking her position since her work has been lacklustre.” The mare wriggled and struggled, trying to break free “She tends to my room,” Ruby explained and the mare shook her head frantically “I’ll see her contract is… terminated.” The mare’s eyes widened and she gave a little choked sob, shaking her head more desperately “Be still, hummingbird.” Ruby said and the mare froze, Twin noticing for a split second the eye on her neck glowing “Follow me and we’ll sort out your punishment, come on.” Ruby gave the mare a pull and she followed along obediently, with a sad whimper.

“Hay, you can always find another job.” Twin said smiling at her. She didn’t look back but Twin swore he heard her sob.

Twin continued on his way down to Alex’s office, knocking lightly on the door “Come in,” Alex droned softly after a short pause and Twin opened the door, finding Alex sat atop a pudgy pile of coils forming a chair, Twin piecing it together than he was sat atop the same kind of coils his bed was made from “Ah, you’re back, I have a uniform for you,” Alex said motioning to his desk which had a neatly folded pile of clothing that perfectly matched Bolt’s and the other male staff “And the contract.” Alex said pushing a few sheets of paper forward with a pen sat atop “You will begin tomorrow, so today would be a good time to familiarise yourself with the place.” Alex said as Twin walked up to the desk pulling it forward to read.

Twin skimmed over the words, written to the minimum size legally allowed, only a few words being taken in, nothing specific “Alright,” Twin signed his name on a designated dotted line, below a line that said ‘Employees agree to all the following terms and conditions without question and will obey their new employer fully, including personal titles, such as goddess, mistress/master, etc.’ Twin hesitated looking at the end but Alex pulled it away quickly “Do I need to call Ruby Mistress?” Twin asked and Alex signed his name slowly and carefully.

“No, you’ll understand when you can call her that.” Alex said cryptically.

“Understand?” Twin asked baffled but Alex didn’t answer, instead he pushed the uniform forward.

“Try it on and familiarise yourself with wherever Mistress has specified you need to work, then go to bed. See me if you have any problems. Food is served in the staff room at seven, twelve, six and desserts at nine if Bolt has anything that’s about to go out of date.” Alex said waving to the door as he clicked on his computer screen and slowly leaned back, zoning out.

Twin decided he’d been asked out and didn’t want to set a bad first impression, so he grabbed his uniform and left hastily… missing the point when Alex’s eyes began to shift with various coloured rings…

Twin looked around the hallway, heading for his bag before turning around and heading up to his room, placing it atop his desk to unpack later. Twin set his uniform down beside it, looking over the red garment. It was a warm colour and had a wonderful snake-like pattern to it, and Twin vaguely wondered how much it must cost to get them all for the staff members working here. Twin decided to give it a try, pulling the suit on, the inner linings were soft and squishy and felt quite nice against his fur, not needing a shirt to separate it from his body, and when Twin clipped the collar on it has a perfect snugness to it, like he was having his throat playfully squeezed. Twin giggled, hopping around, this was a much better job than his last one, a sexy snake boss, a comfy uniform, that didn’t itch, and his own room and food, with decent pay to boot!

“I should sell my house.” Twinwing thought with a nod, rubbing his collar “I don’t need it here, with Ruby.”. Twin made his way out the room, heading for the staff room. It was a large square room full of plush snake coil seats and regular bean bags and sofas, a central table was piled with food and Twin sat down to snack away, very few of the skeleton crew staff taking notice of him.

Once full and stuffed, Twin headed back to his room, undressing and flopping onto his bed, gleefully rolling around to get a feel, noticing a stray coil getting snagged and looping over him “Oh no, I’m being coiled up!” Twin cried out softly to himself rolling over and over until he had sunk under the coils, wriggling around to get his head free from the intense heat he was producing under the ‘covers’ as he laughed merrily.

This place was great!

Ruby beckoned with her tail, opening her mouth, as her maid stared down into the red fleshy maw “Get inside, you know you deserve it.” Ruby cooed as the mare stepped forward obediently, now fully aware of her mistake and she agreed heartedly with Ruby that she ought to be put in ‘prison’.

The acceptance gate was oddly damp, probably suffering from leaks no doubt, as well as cramped, the mare had to crawl through to get inside, quickly sliding down towards her cell once she got going. She hummed, it wasn’t so bad, a tiny space but it was a snug size really, and the bed was beyond the comfort level she had expected. It was already lights out though… time to… sleep…

“Now, enjoy your little prison sentence.” Ruby said to her ‘former’ maid as she rubbed her tail, a soft gurgle and moan could just barely be heard, the mare would no doubt be terrified once she awoke from trance and survival instincts would make her struggle, even if it was beyond pointless now, but Ruby’s body had ways of coaxing a pony into submission on its own. Ruby licked her lips leaning back into her bed “I hope you were a good trade Twinwing, and not a disappointment like this one, staff recruitment has been rather dry lately… I do so enjoy Pegasi and I want to feel your wings in my coils real soon.” Ruby mumbled to herself chuckling as she sighed, leaning back to relax and sleep off her meal.