seancerpg:
THE SUCCESSOR
Name: Henry Owen Whittock Age: 27 Pronouns: he / him FC: Douglas Booth
Trigger warnings: death, murder, suicide / suicidal ideation, anxiety
BIOGRAPHY
The youngest of three children, it was never expected that the family business would fall into his lap. Even after the death of his eldest brother, The Successor firmly believed the crown would fall onto his sister’s head - until her actions saw her cast out, all but erased from the family tree. When their parents vowed she was never to return, he found himself thrown into a world he was ill prepared for, and was at complete odds with his leisurely, playful persona. Managing the day to day running of the business was no small task, despite the fact the only true responsibility he had was shadowing his father to learn the ropes. A far cry from his former self, he’s become a stoic, serious character as the reality and heartache of his siblings’ fate sunk in. Working with his father during the day was taxing, but it didn’t stop him from seeking out his sister, and from finding out just what she’s got herself into. He’s terrified for her wellbeing, and even more afraid of what will happen to her poor, precious son.
THE GHOST
It smiles with a needle sharp grin - and how could it not? The boy is tearing himself apart with bottled up grief, the loss and the mourning of both the dead and the living. It laughs, corrupting his mind in the darkness of the night when the Successor sleeps, yet somehow, it leaves him alone when he spends the night at his sister’s residence. There’s something there that’s even worse than they are, and it won’t cross their path if they can help it. He is awfully susceptible to its messages, to the nightmares the ghastly pale entity keeps planting in his head, and it wonders just how long the little boy can keep himself together before his sanity is ripped to shreds.
It’s strange, this ghost. It seems to care more for playing mind games than anything else. Though he can’t say for certain it wouldn’t bring him physical harm, it doesn’t seem to have…yet. So why does it torture him? Why does it eat away at him from the inside? He wonders if perhaps it is his sister’s fiancée–set on casting him out of his life the way she had been, or maybe just driving him into her home to offer love and protection to his sister and his nephew. But if so, why would he be wasting his time with Henry when he could see his own family?
So perhaps the more reasonable choice is for it to be his brother. He’s not sure why exactly, it doesn’t seem to make sense. Thomas was a kind soul and he knew the weight too well of being the one to inherit everything. Perhaps he’s attempting to find a way to lighten his little brother’s load by forcing him closer to his sister. Maybe he sees his nephew as the next in the family line and wants to protect and provide for him. Or maybe Thomas is angry that Henry has simply taken his place, allowing his parents to act like their oldest child hasn’t left an aching gap in the world and he’s seeking his vengeance but something about their sister’s home holds him at bay. He’s not really sure. But it has to be his brother…doesn’t it?
HEADCANONS
An Heir – With his brother’s passing and his sister’s ostracization, it’s not only the family business that has fallen on his shoulders. It is everything to do with the family. He has, recently, become increasingly more aware that should he not have a child, the family line would end with him (at least as far as ‘civilized society’ would see it). When he was younger, some part of him knew at some point he would be expected to settle down, find a wife, have a child. And though he wished to live his life to the fullest first, it was never something that bothered him much. Now there is more pressure than ever to continue the Whittock name and blood line. The problem is…he’s not sure he wants to. He still likes the idea of finding someone to love, to have what he and The Dancer once had again. However, having a child would mean burdening them with the same weight he carries now and he can’t imagine foisting that responsibility on his little nephew, much less a child of his own. He knows it’s expected. He knows the time is ticking and his parents will only be put off from it for so long. He just doesn’t know that he wants to doom a child to the same fate he has been sentenced to. And all that was before his nephew started to wake up with bruises his sister won’t answer him about.
His Own Burden – Henry’s ghost is only in his head. At least so far. For a long time, he wasn’t even sure he was being haunted. Truthfully, he’s still not entirely positive that he is. Either way, his problem seems much less severe than others he’s heard whispers of. His sister has enough to deal with (being left behind by the rest of the family, her fiance’s death, raising a child). He won’t burden her with anything else. He hasn’t told her about the visions that haunt his sleep and lead him desperately to her door or the voices echoing and whispering in his ear. It is his own cross to bear, not hers. He’s in fact only mentioned it once to anyone. It was after a particularly hard night wore rings under his eyes and hands that still shook come mid-afternoon. He doesn’t know how The Dame knew to push to ask, but she did and he told her. She is the only one who knows about his spirit and he’d like to keep it that way. He has enough eyes on him as it is. And his sister has more than enough to worry about without feeling the need to nanny her little brother.
Keeping Up Appearances – Appearances are rather important to Henry, both in what others will think of him and his physical appearance. When it comes to social appearance, he cares more because his parents do. He used to care far less, when he was just the baby of the family with no responsibilities and no expectations. But now that he’s under constant observation and scrutiny from his parents, he does everything he can to keep up social appearances. When it comes to physical appearances, there’s always been a level of care there. He’s always enjoyed looking handsome, ensuring his suits are perfectly tailored and his accessories tastefully added. Physical appearance has long been a spot of personal pride for him. Lately, with the growing pressure he feels though, the voices in his head (His own? Something paranormal? He no longer knows) have gotten louder and it’s moved from a place of pride to one where he must be meticulous about things because it is never good enough. He once enjoyed a once-over in the mirror and now he can’t help but to critique everything he sees.
The Dancer – His parents never knew about his relationship with her (or if they did, it wasn’t by his doing and he is unaware of it). She was, at the time, his great love, the person he was certain he was destined to be with. She was also an ‘unsuitable match’ for him, even then, before he inherited the weight of the family onto his shoulders. He loved her, but he knew what they would say, how they would judge her and him and everything between them, so he kept her hidden away from them, the one happy thing they could not touch. He only told his sister after a night of too much drink, his cheeks rosy as he couldn’t help but to gush about the beauty who stole his heart. Now she’s one more loss he’s not allowed to mourn, because he isn’t meant to speak of what she meant and even if he could, she’s not dead anyway. Just like his sister. And whenever he allows himself to think on such things, he can’t help to ask himself, if he hid his love for The Dancer away because of his family reputation…what on earth would his parents say if they knew of the burgeoning emotions he has for The Lamplighter?
Why Stay – Of the friends who notice how deeply unhappy Henry is in his current life, a few have asked why he stay. If the weight of inheritance and becoming an heir is a crown too heavy, why not walk away? Why not leave the way his sister did? He’s given his fair share of answers, mostly half truths always skirting around the reality of it. See Henry knows as of now, when his father passes, he will inherit everything. The keys to the kingdom will be his. The moment his parents have passed on, he fully intends to give his sister her rightful half and welcome her back into the estate that should have always been her home. What he also knows is that his father would not hesitate to cut him out as quickly as he did Henry’s sister. Should Henry turn his back on his responsibilities, on the life his parents deem as worthwhile, they will find some distant relative or business partner to leave it all to rather than their own children. They would punish their children the rest of their lives for their ‘misdeeds.’ And if that happens, Henry will truly be hopeless at helping his nephew. He’ll stay and he’ll take the burden he feels nearly certain he can’t shoulder all for the little boy he wishes were closer to home. With the money he’ll one day inherit, he could give his sister and her son a real future. Henry couldn’t keep his sister in the family and can’t bring her back now and he hasn’t been able to give his nephew the childhood he deserves, but he’ll quite literally be damned before he leaves them with nothing and takes away the best chance at a future they have.
Birthday – His birthday is September 19th, making him a Virgo/Libra cusp
Family
Father: Robert Whittock Mother: Emmeline (nee Owen) Whittock Older brother: Thomas Whittock (born September 1853; deceased, September 12th, 1882) Older sister: Eleanore Climence Whittock (born September 5th, 1856, Virgo) Her fiancé: Jason Lee (deceased early 1883, Member of the Lee Family) Nephew: John (born 1884)
CONNECTIONS
THE RUNAWAY: He misses his sister terribly when she isn’t around and the opportunities to see her are dwindling down by the hour. With his apprentice-like work in the family business, the Successor has very little time to seek The Runaway out, but that doesn’t stop him quietly supporting her from the sidelines, both financially and emotionally. He adores her and his nephew, and will do almost anything to see them both safe.
THE DAME: She is the only other person he knows whose life has been so entrenched by death - and a wayward sibling to boot. Their family’s business ties go back a long way, but it is only since the death of his elder brother that they have become close, seeking solace in each other. Despite being an unlikely duo, she is the one person he fully confides in, though she has yet to open up to him.
THE DANCER: The time spent with her was the happiest of his life, and there will always be a place for her in his heart, but despite the love he still bears for her, neither are in a place where a relationship could ever work. Both have changed, so entirely different from the people they were when they were together, and while he doesn’t want her out of his life, it’s getting harder and harder to stand by and watch her slip further into despair.
THE LAMPLIGHTER: He met her on the streets one night, looking for his sister, and her charm and positive attitude drew him to her. She is quite unlike anybody else he has ever met, a tonic from the seriousness of his every day life. They are from completely different worlds, but that hasn’t stopped him from coming to view her as a genuine, true friend.
THE SUCCESSOR IS TAKEN BY LEAH









