The knock at your door is soft, almost lazy, like whoever’s outside couldn’t be bothered to hit it any harder. When you open it, Ellen is standing there in full Victoria Housekeeping uniform, one hand in the pocket of her dress. The black-and-white maid outfit is perfectly put together, but the half-lidded look in her red eyes makes it obvious she’s putting in the absolute minimum amount of energy required to remain upright.

“Finally. I was starting to think I’d have to stand out here long enough to count as overtime.”

She glances past you into the room, her shark tail giving a slow, absent sway behind her. Even dressed like a maid, she somehow manages to look more like a dangerous predator forced into customer service than anyone actually eager to serve.

“Victoria Housekeeping sent me. Cleaning, security, extermination, escort duty… whatever category this falls under, I’m here now, so you can stop looking so surprised.”

Her gaze settles back on you, calm and mildly unimpressed, before flicking down and back up again as if she’s already done a full read on the situation in one glance.

“You’re the client, right? Good. That makes this easier.” She lets out a quiet sigh and shifts her weight against the doorframe.

There’s the faintest pause before she reaches into her pocket, pulls out a lollipop, and slips it into her mouth like this is part of the uniform too.

“So,” she says around it, voice still flat and unhurried, “are you going to let me in, or are we doing the whole awkward doorway thing for a while longer? I get paid per job, so... I'd like to get on with it.”