I get that the Plague Ghosts are mainly just comic relief and there to create a contrast between the ‘upstairs’ and ‘downstairs’ ghosts but what if they have emotionally supported each ghost in many ways:
(hear me out)
Robin- Robin was (presumably) the first and only ghost for quite a while, so when the plague ghosts were the next to stay on they would have been pretty much his only company until Mary came along. I don’t think he would have particularly minded their looks or smell, and he could have helped them work through squabbles and they could have helped him understand more about the (then) modern world. Robin and the Plague ghosts are still on great terms, the visits are just less frequent.
Kitty- Kitty would probably accidentally stumble upon or get dared in some way by Robin to go into the cellar (I believe that’s where they are, may be wrong). However, when she gets there she would be very excited about new friends- although she may make a few comments about their appearance but not to be mean- and the Plague ghosts would basically adopt her. She would tell them about her treatment by her family and they would try and make her a bit less naive. But, when another ghost arrives she would most likely get very distracted and eventually forget to visit them.
Thomas- After watching Isabelle and Francis marry Thomas is desperate to escape the should-have-been happiest day of his life. He finally reaches a dark door that he’s never seen anyone go down and decides it is a really good place to write sombre poetry. Thomas is so caught up in his imagination that he barely notices the other ghosts until one of them suggest‘plight’ as a rhyming word to ‘light’. He expects for them to turn him out, ‘like everyone else in my life’, but instead they want him to recite more poetry, and an unexpected bond forms. Together they write some literature-changing poems, not that anyone knows because they’re all dead. Eventually, Thomas and the ghosts have an artistic falling out and it takes a century or so for them to become friends once more, but they almost never write poetry together anymore.
Captain- Despite his best efforts, after Fanny makes a few comments on the LGSM meeting that happened in Button House, although the others subtly tried to tell her to stop, the Captain finds himself unexpectedly emotional. He cannot go outside because that is where Operation William was buried (which may or may not have something else in) and he cannot go in any rooms because of all the memories of Havers and ghosts in them. So he goes to bury his emotion. Aka the deepest part of the house. He goes in and sits down and begins to have what his mother would call one of his ‘episodes’, he barely notices the other people in the room, who gently stay by his side until it is over. One asks if there is anything the Captain would like them to do and, with all that has built up over the past 35 years or so, it comes out in pieces and a rush. Everything. All he has bottled up and buried and hidden beneath blank expressions is said. The Plague ghosts pass no judgement and each shares something they regret or fear until the Captain feels as if maybe not everyone and Button House in and imbecile. They never talk about it after, but if the Captain ever feels overwhelmed he goes down there and knows he will find a safe place with people he can trust.
Wow, I got into that. Do you get what I’m saying now? It was just a nice idea and I only did a few of the ghosts but if there’s anyone else you’d like me to do I can try.
I’m very sorry if I described anything wrong or was incorrect about anything, please do correct me!
