(no subject)

[livinginanhgwellsnovel]

For Violet the progression from perfect self control was a slow one. It started with small things at first. She voiced her more unkind -- or more than usual -- comments aloud, louder and more directed as the days went on. She barked orders at anyone within earshot, person or machine with no discrimination between, and upbraided them at length when her instructions were not immediately followed, and she was rarely please with the results when they were. She boasted at length about her family and the greatness of her country to anyone who would listen. She spent long hours in the wardrobe room, arguing with the machine which tried its best to serve her and could not meet her standards. She took three spoonfuls of sugar in her tea.

As the days proceeded, her habits only grew worse, escalating as her tolerance for any such nonsense disappeared.

The replicator in one of the empty rooms was the current draw of her ire.

"Treacle tart with clotted cream!" she shouted at it, visibly furious with the thing. All around her dishes of dessert littered the floor, some having been thrown a good distance. The machine, unaware of its peril, produced for Lady Grantham a whole pumpkin pie with cottage cheese mounded on top.

This was the last straw for Violet.

"Damned machine!" she shouted. Grabbing the pie, she flung it away where it smashed right at the entryway as the door slid open. Unaware that she had company, Violet turned back to the replicator.

"Useless!" she said and banged it with her cane. She smiled with satisfaction and did it again, but harder this time. "Ridiculous - contraption. Idiot Americans made you. They never - let - things - alone!" she said, punctuating each word with a blow from her cane.

Comments

[highfunctioning]

"I quite agree." Sherlock stepped into the room, fresh from a very productive hour in the wardrobe; he'd found a laced front shirt and tri-cornered hat with no trouble, but the rest of the clothes were his own, including his long coat -though it was dreadfully hot.

"Lady Grantham. A pleasure as always." He strode forward and took her hand, placing a gallant yet chaste kiss on it.

[livinginanhgwellsnovel]

She looked at him critically, caught in an internal war. He looked ridiculous, but his manners were in place if overblown. He had also agreed with her, yet she didn't care to be humored. For the moment she remained mollified, and she replied "Quite. I would like to do away with them all," she thought again an then thumped her cane on the floor, "and their makers! What is the use of something meant to serve that does not obey?"

[highfunctioning]

Her attitude was nothing less than inspired, and Sherlock instinctively knew that he needed her to successfully commandeer the ship.

"Madam. I wonder if you wouldn't be interested in joining me for a walk?"

[livinginanhgwellsnovel]

"Where? For what purpose?" she asked, immediately suspicious. She stopped attempting to cause injury to the machine for a moment which left the cane brandished in her hand in case he decided to get out of hand as well.

[highfunctioning]

"Just about the ship. A brief constitutional so that I can tell you all about some incredibly exciting plans."

He offered his arm, too excited to make her a part of his crew to see how wary she was.

[livinginanhgwellsnovel]

The prospect of exciting plans, possibly even secret plans, piqued Violet's interest. Being in the know was infinitely preferable. Violet had no interest in things she had to learn about after the fact.

She took his proffered arm and prompted, "Go on."

[highfunctioning]

"I am proposing that we take control the ship." He resisted the urge to check in as he laid out his plan. She resembled his mother to such an extent that a look of disapproval would quite ruin his day.

"The time to accept our situation without question has passed. We'll take the ship and dock where we choose."

[livinginanhgwellsnovel]

The pause between his statement and her answer was quite long as she turned over reaction and consideration. Then, "I had not expected sense from you, but in this you are right. Quite right. We will take the ship." And because she was not thinking of propriety and in no way would have wanted to bring others into their plan or her obvious right to ownership of the ship, Lady Grantham truly meant we.