canon: the infernal devices | A RE-READ IS IN ORDER

[galahads]

You're aware, I hope, that Jessamine and Magnus aren't the two I'd choose to have as company in a perilous land full of waifs and strays? Your whims and your fancies and your everything else-s are exactly that: yours. Marvelling at a weather phenomenon that occurs nightly until dawn, daily with rain and often without in the fair city of London is not, as you seem to believe, delightful or fascinating. Even, I should add, if it makes me sprout wings in place of arms, or imagine I'm led on the bank of the Thames when I'm not, or even if it perpetrates the most dastardly of deeds and prevents me from stumbling home.

Not even then shall I wish to stray from dirty streets and dirtier water to express my gratitude to Jessamine that of everyone in the world, I am glad that it is with her I have found myself, for there are none better to fight alongside. I hear lying is exceptionally bad for the soul, and I feel as if I should take care of what is left of mine.

—Not to mention that I can imagine myself sprouting wings on the bank of the Thames and stumble home in mist if I so desire in London, so doing any of it elsewhere has not even the slightest appeal.

On the other hand, I'm aware that you'll do as you wish regardless, for cruelty is as natural to you as preoccupation is to Henry.

Comments

[galahads]

Rest assured that my living habits aren't likely to change, even in a world of mist and Mist.

[halfthelady]

Lovely. I didn't want to see much of your face to begin with.

[galahads]

And you shan't. If Sophie is to be believed, and frankly, I'm convinced she merely exaggerates matters simply to complain, the most you shall see of me is the mud and the mess that leads from door to room and wherever it is I decide to sleep and eat.

[ pause. ] How have you been cooking?

[halfthelady]

If there is anything that Sophie and I agree on, it would be our opinions of you, dear William.

[Her smile falters and she flushes slightly looking away.]

Why does it matter?

[galahads]

Female solidarity when used against me is a cruel thing. [ for once, though, he doesn't remark on the change in her expression. ] Perhaps I merely wished to make like Alice and indulge in a simple curiosity, or perhaps I'm asking out of pure selfishness and a desire to discover how it is I'm to be fed.

[ momentary silence. ] Maybe I'll take advantage of my good looks and wander from pub to house to pub to house and claim a remarkable ineptitude for looking after myself, something that I suspect will become easier and more true to word with the passage on time, and then I'll stumble across a young woman — preferably — or an older woman like—. [ pause, nope, not finishing that, actually. ] With a young woman kept hidden away a la Rapunzel, and both will take pity on me, and take me into their home to feed and fatten me up.

[halfthelady]

[Rolling her eyes at you, Will. Rolling. Her. Eyes.]

Whoever wishes to be stuck in a room with you is certainly the fool. Why don't you just hire a nanny for yourself when you arrive? You could certainly do with one.

[galahads]

[ your eternal distaste for him is delightful. ]

I'll only have a limited supply of money, and if I'm to pay for female company, it certainly shan't be for a nanny.

[halfthelady]

[So glad to provide entertainment. Not.]

Whomever you spend your time with is none of my concern - just don't bring them into the house.

[galahads]

The garden, then? I hear risqué is en vogue at present.

[halfthelady]

Let me rephrase myself: do not bring any sort of improper company onto the property.

[galahads]

Are you calling me proper, Jessamine?

[halfthelady]

Shockingly, when compared to the unsavory characters you seem to enjoy spending your time with in bars and alleys with, yes.

[galahads]

That's actually remarkably disheartening. [ MELODRAMATIC SIGH. ] I shall have to try harder.

[halfthelady]

You're impossible.

Has your mundane told you yet that you're going to have to seek employment?

[galahads]

She seems to doubt my ability to remain employed for any length of time — and yours, as it happens. It seems outside of England, female equality is all the rage.

[halfthelady]

My mundane finds the thought of us being employed hilarious.

She says I could find a job being 'trophy wife' if I truly wanted to do nothing but I don't like the sound of her tone when she suggests it at all.

[galahads]

It means you're pretty, Jessamine, and that your husband cares more about that than your sparkling personality. Truthfully, I don't understand why you're so wary of it; it is what you want, isn't it? Someone to pander over your looks and nothing more.

[halfthelady]

[Jessamine doesn't even want to start on how she thinks that even her looks don't matter much anymore. She had thought Nate liked her for being her - looks and all - but apparently that wasn't the case and thinking about it still hurts. It still makes her angry and it's partly why she can't stand to look in the mirror longer than she has to.

She scoffs at his comment instead.]

It's the term itself. And besides, it makes me sound too much like you when you speak of being taken care of by those rich, female benefactors.

[galahads]

Alas, I don't think trophy husband is a — thing. I'd gladly sit at home, or not at home, but certainly somewhere with a chair and do nothing.

[ he wouldn't, but pretences are important, especially between the two of them. ]

[halfthelady]

Why not? Style of dress and manners have changed for the worse - trophy husbands shouldn't be too completely off. There has to be a role for you somewhere in this world, correct?

[galahads]

I was quite hoping it hadn't changed that much that I, too, had to indulge in any kind of change.

[halfthelady]

Wishful thinking as I'm often reminded on a daily basis while I'm here. How lucky for me that you'll be the one to join me in that.

[galahads]

My, such optimism. You're learning already.

[halfthelady]

Wouldn't Charlotte be proud that my mind is retaining useful information for once.

[galahads]

Charlotte has too much faith in anyone.