[ after the loss of his wife, regulus flounders. he's a young father--a young widowed father, now, and while he's independently wealthy and money is no object, he doesn't know what to do with himself. his children--three and five, a boy and girl, respectively--are too young to understand, and regulus just can't handle things on his own.
it's a car crash that does it: on the way home from some gala he'd hardly paid any attention to. the wreck turns his entire life upside-down and for months afterward he's laid up in physical therapy and dealing with survivor's guilt. they're barely in their twenties and now his wife, the mother of his children, is gone. he doesn't know how to explain to the children that their mother is never coming home, and to top it off he can barely walk.
his wife's mother takes care of them for him while he recovers. his own mother isn't suited to the task, which is perhaps for the best. he's working himself back up to 'dealing with the public' again when he decides he can't just force his mother in law to mother her grandchildren after the loss of her only daughter.
no... he puts out an ad, asks around, and finally settles on a potential nanny for the children. he'd hired remus lupin on a trial basis at first, but the children adore him already and are finally settling into a routine again, so it's starting to look permanent.
which is why regulus calls him in to his office a month into his work, cane hooked over the edge of his desk. it's getting late: the children are already in bed and regulus himself is tired. he's probably going to knock back a glass of whiskey with his pain pills after this, but that's a horrible coping mechanism for after he's given remus a formal job offer.
the butler is ... somewhere, buttling, but he'll have told remus of regulus' request to come see him before he calls it a night, at least. ]
[Remus had gotten quite a lucky break with this job-- Mr. Black was paying him very well, had been quite understanding when he'd needed a weekend off for health care reasons, and the children were an absolute delight.
He didn't see their father terribly much, but their interactions had been pleasant, and the young man certainly had a charm to him. Remus couldn't imagine, having been a husband, then a father, then a widower in such short a time. At so young an age. If he can make Mr. Black's life easier in the wake of that, he is happy to do so.
When he's asked to come to the man's office before leaving for the night, he can't help but be a bit nervous, but he's also hopeful. Young children are very honest in how they think about people, after all, so he knows they like him. He has confidence in his teaching and caregiving abilities, and he has already let Mr. Black know that if he were to be hired on permanently, he would gladly continue his own education to be properly certified in the next step of the children's schooling before they reach it.
Once the children are properly settled into bed, he makes his way to Mr. Black's office, knocking politely at the door before letting himself in.]
Good evening. [Remus smiles politely, but not without kindness.] You asked to see me?
[ regulus is trying to not be the distant father his own father has always been, but it's difficult when all he can think of is the loss of their mother. it doesn't help that both children look like her, and not him, so he's doubly reminded every time he sees them.
he throws himself into charity work, since he doesn't have need of a paying job, but he hasn't been able to bring himself to go to any more galas. more often he's just holed up in his office working, showering the children with attention whenever he comes out of the private space.
he's seen what good the older man has done for them in the short time he's been around, and honestly he can't think of any better person to do the job. so when he comes into his office, regulus smiles and gestures toward the chair across from him. he'd stand in greeting, normally, but he's sure the other man will understand why he doesn't. ]
Yes. Please sit, Mr. Lupin. I have to admit, the children have been singing your praises since the first day you were here. They adore you, and honestly I can't see any more large changes in their lives being good for them at this juncture.
[ he pauses, glancing out the window, then looks back toward the other man and cants his head. ]
I'd like to make your position permanent. I know this is a difficult career path to tread, so I'd like to draw up a contract between us so that you can be sure you'll be taken care of. I know that there are--those in my social circle that leave no recourse for the people that watch their children, and if I'm honest I think that's stupid. I want you to feel comfortable staying on with us.
[Remus takes a seat when offered, chuckling softly.]
Well, I adore them too, Mr. Black. Your children are a delight to work with.
[His smile brightens as Regulus continues to his offer. Even if he wanted to say no, he'd be a fool to. There just wasn't going to be a better deal somewhere else in his field.]
I would be happy to accept this as a permanent position. I know we discussed this briefly during my first interview, have you decided whether you want me living in-home or not?
[Honestly, that's something Remus has a bit of mixed feelings about-- on the one hand, no commute and room and board taken care of are unique and rare perks in this line of work. On the other, he wouldn't really have "off" time in that case. Maybe officially, but he's not going to deny a child something they need just because he's technically off the clock. And as he becomes more of an established presence in the house, it's likely they'll start to come to him when they need something in the middle of the night, rather than their father.
But the idea of not having to stay in his tiny studio flat with the broken heating system and the utter lack of water pressure and the roof that leaks when it rains... it would be hard to say no if Regulus asked for that.]
[ his shoulders slump a little in--relief, it seems. he's just glad this has been as painless as possible, all things considered. he sighs, but it's a pleasant enough sound: he's still smiling, in any case, and nods slightly. ]
You can't imagine how glad I am to hear that.
[ one of his hands rests on his knee, the one of his near-useless leg, and clenches slightly. this is the best decision for everyone. things have to move forward, and he can't just live in stasis. the children have needs, even if he just wants to curl up somewhere and ignore his problems.
well, mr. lupin is very good at solving them for him, isn't he? ]
As for living in-home, I wanted to leave that up to you. We certainly have the space, and the children would adore the setup, but I'm aware that it can be uniquely taxing to not have privacy or to have your down time invaded because they don't understand personal space. [ a beat. ] If it troubles you, I'd be willing to give you a bump in pay to accommodate for it, and we can discuss the matter of set days off to give you space to yourself.
[ he thinks that's a good offer? he's not--sure. his wife had always handled everything, when it came to the children. so he's a bit adrift here, and he knows that were the other man some kind of con-artist he could get taken easily in his time of grief, but he doesn't think that's the case. he pauses, considering: ]
As for the certifications you offered to obtain should the position become permanent, naturally I'd be paying the courses.
[ okay, he might be a little desperate to get him to stay. ]
That is-- a very generous offer, Mr. Black. [Remus is honestly a bit shocked-- he'd be a hell of an idiot to say no. There simply wouldn't be a better offer anywhere else.
Well... fuck it. Maybe this will finally get his friends off his back about finding a better place to live.] I can agree to those terms. I'm willing to be flexible regarding my days off as your schedule requires.
I'm inclined to be generous when it comes to my children, Mr. Lupin. I want what's best for them, after all. And this... is what's best for them, in my opinion.
[ it helps that he has the funds to burn, of course. but he's genuinely glad that the other man's agreed, honestly, and it's a load off his mind. he sighs, settling back in his seat and relaxing somewhat. ]
Of course. With my--lack of cemented schedule, should anything of import come up for you please just let me know and I'm sure we can work around one another's schedules to find something suitable.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
we got some nanny au in here
it's a car crash that does it: on the way home from some gala he'd hardly paid any attention to. the wreck turns his entire life upside-down and for months afterward he's laid up in physical therapy and dealing with survivor's guilt. they're barely in their twenties and now his wife, the mother of his children, is gone. he doesn't know how to explain to the children that their mother is never coming home, and to top it off he can barely walk.
his wife's mother takes care of them for him while he recovers. his own mother isn't suited to the task, which is perhaps for the best. he's working himself back up to 'dealing with the public' again when he decides he can't just force his mother in law to mother her grandchildren after the loss of her only daughter.
no... he puts out an ad, asks around, and finally settles on a potential nanny for the children. he'd hired remus lupin on a trial basis at first, but the children adore him already and are finally settling into a routine again, so it's starting to look permanent.
which is why regulus calls him in to his office a month into his work, cane hooked over the edge of his desk. it's getting late: the children are already in bed and regulus himself is tired. he's probably going to knock back a glass of whiskey with his pain pills after this, but that's a horrible coping mechanism for after he's given remus a formal job offer.
the butler is ... somewhere, buttling, but he'll have told remus of regulus' request to come see him before he calls it a night, at least. ]
no subject
He didn't see their father terribly much, but their interactions had been pleasant, and the young man certainly had a charm to him. Remus couldn't imagine, having been a husband, then a father, then a widower in such short a time. At so young an age. If he can make Mr. Black's life easier in the wake of that, he is happy to do so.
When he's asked to come to the man's office before leaving for the night, he can't help but be a bit nervous, but he's also hopeful. Young children are very honest in how they think about people, after all, so he knows they like him. He has confidence in his teaching and caregiving abilities, and he has already let Mr. Black know that if he were to be hired on permanently, he would gladly continue his own education to be properly certified in the next step of the children's schooling before they reach it.
Once the children are properly settled into bed, he makes his way to Mr. Black's office, knocking politely at the door before letting himself in.]
Good evening. [Remus smiles politely, but not without kindness.] You asked to see me?
no subject
he throws himself into charity work, since he doesn't have need of a paying job, but he hasn't been able to bring himself to go to any more galas. more often he's just holed up in his office working, showering the children with attention whenever he comes out of the private space.
he's seen what good the older man has done for them in the short time he's been around, and honestly he can't think of any better person to do the job. so when he comes into his office, regulus smiles and gestures toward the chair across from him. he'd stand in greeting, normally, but he's sure the other man will understand why he doesn't. ]
Yes. Please sit, Mr. Lupin. I have to admit, the children have been singing your praises since the first day you were here. They adore you, and honestly I can't see any more large changes in their lives being good for them at this juncture.
[ he pauses, glancing out the window, then looks back toward the other man and cants his head. ]
I'd like to make your position permanent. I know this is a difficult career path to tread, so I'd like to draw up a contract between us so that you can be sure you'll be taken care of. I know that there are--those in my social circle that leave no recourse for the people that watch their children, and if I'm honest I think that's stupid. I want you to feel comfortable staying on with us.
no subject
Well, I adore them too, Mr. Black. Your children are a delight to work with.
[His smile brightens as Regulus continues to his offer. Even if he wanted to say no, he'd be a fool to. There just wasn't going to be a better deal somewhere else in his field.]
I would be happy to accept this as a permanent position. I know we discussed this briefly during my first interview, have you decided whether you want me living in-home or not?
[Honestly, that's something Remus has a bit of mixed feelings about-- on the one hand, no commute and room and board taken care of are unique and rare perks in this line of work. On the other, he wouldn't really have "off" time in that case. Maybe officially, but he's not going to deny a child something they need just because he's technically off the clock. And as he becomes more of an established presence in the house, it's likely they'll start to come to him when they need something in the middle of the night, rather than their father.
But the idea of not having to stay in his tiny studio flat with the broken heating system and the utter lack of water pressure and the roof that leaks when it rains... it would be hard to say no if Regulus asked for that.]
no subject
You can't imagine how glad I am to hear that.
[ one of his hands rests on his knee, the one of his near-useless leg, and clenches slightly. this is the best decision for everyone. things have to move forward, and he can't just live in stasis. the children have needs, even if he just wants to curl up somewhere and ignore his problems.
well, mr. lupin is very good at solving them for him, isn't he? ]
As for living in-home, I wanted to leave that up to you. We certainly have the space, and the children would adore the setup, but I'm aware that it can be uniquely taxing to not have privacy or to have your down time invaded because they don't understand personal space. [ a beat. ] If it troubles you, I'd be willing to give you a bump in pay to accommodate for it, and we can discuss the matter of set days off to give you space to yourself.
[ he thinks that's a good offer? he's not--sure. his wife had always handled everything, when it came to the children. so he's a bit adrift here, and he knows that were the other man some kind of con-artist he could get taken easily in his time of grief, but he doesn't think that's the case. he pauses, considering: ]
As for the certifications you offered to obtain should the position become permanent, naturally I'd be paying the courses.
[ okay, he might be a little desperate to get him to stay. ]
no subject
Well... fuck it. Maybe this will finally get his friends off his back about finding a better place to live.] I can agree to those terms. I'm willing to be flexible regarding my days off as your schedule requires.
no subject
[ it helps that he has the funds to burn, of course. but he's genuinely glad that the other man's agreed, honestly, and it's a load off his mind. he sighs, settling back in his seat and relaxing somewhat. ]
Of course. With my--lack of cemented schedule, should anything of import come up for you please just let me know and I'm sure we can work around one another's schedules to find something suitable.
[ he smiles, faint: ]
They'll be very glad to hear the news, you know.