#heiress post

[just-placebo-estate-things]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Learning Experiences Update!! Chapter 19: Helplessness

Pip was running out of time for uncertainty, for dragging his feet, for taking one step forward and two back. There were much more pressing matters to worry about, something that made every worry he'd had so far feel like child's play.

[just-placebo-estate-things]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Learning Experiences update!! Chapter 17: Control

The ground had been shifting under Pip for some time now, but this was the biggest upset he'd experienced yet. It left him flat on his back, unable to find something solid to use to pull himself up. He was left to lay there as the horror of his situation sunk in deeper than it ever had before.

Fighting, though, fighting usually helped with this sort of thing. He couldn't worry about whatever was plaguing him if he had all his focus on dodging and counterattacking. It was a thrill, a rush, something that made him feel like he had control.

Then he met the king of the sparring ring and found that putting that level of faith in anything was so dreadfully naïve.

[just-placebo-estate-things]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Learning Experiences update!! Chapter 13: Weakness

Pip thought he was better than this. Maybe he didn't think he was smarter or stronger, but he thought he was better. Even the dumbest animal could become habituated, and Light knew he had.

But he's sick, he's hurting, he's scared, and he's so very confused. And it's all begun to get the better of him.

In the ceaseless noise of it all, he makes an attempt to restore order.

[just-placebo-estate-things]

Malv is soooooooooooooooooooo baby bird to me

Not even like a fluffy lil chick or something no she’s one of those baby birds that’s still relatively new and is still like half-naked and starts screaming for food whenever its mama shows up. wet rag of an animal

[just-placebo-estate-things]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Learning Experiences update!! Chapter 8: Comfort

Pip could withstand a lot without complaint. A lifetime in court, where speaking out meant death, required such endurance for him. It made him able to weather most storms that the estate threw at him. No matter what came his way, he could always pick himself back up and keep going.

He was durable. He was stubborn. He could handle himself. He had to.

He never could've prepared himself for what it felt like when someone tried to make it easier on him.

[just-placebo-estate-things]

Fun fact about my heiress, Lady Catherine: She essentially has four retainers. They’re still part of the roster of course, they’re just kinda a level above everyone else in terms of like this vague hierarchy that isn’t really enforced usually. 

Reynauld is her first retainer. He’s the one who she really relied on so far as helping her actually run things went, since (as far as I can tell) he rose to a leading role during the crusades so he definitely has more experience than she does. Nowadays he needs to help a lot less but she still asks for advice or second opinions from him sometimes. She feels a lot more secure in her decisions when he’s there to back her up.

Dismas is her second retainer. It was briefly mentioned in Soldier On, but he’s Catherine’s bodyguard. Catherine wasn’t exactly liked when she first showed up because of what her ancestor had done, and that led to a lot of threats being thrown around (along with rocks occasionally). Dismas would walk with her whenever she had to go out to make sure that no one tried anything. She’s a lot more liked now so Dismas doesn’t follow her around nearly as much, but if he’s not with Reynauld or at the tavern, he’s usually with Catherine. 

Bosanquet is her third retainer. He's the head researcher and local eldritch expert of the estate. Catherine essentially gave him every single old tome that her ancestor had lying around and she set him up with a private study in the upper rooms of an old library that he could use indefinitely. She also comes to him to help her plan expeditions, a responsibility that he shares with Reynauld. His expertise is invaluable and Catherine still contacts him regularly for assistance. 

Warci is her fourth and final retainer. He’s...shoot man he’s just her friend. Catherine was extremely nervous when she first took charge of the Hamlet, and the hostility of the inhabitants plus the horrors lurking outside the town borders really did no favors. Warci was basically her emotional support clown for a good while since he could cheer her up or just help her through whatever kinda bad emotions she was feeling. Since she’s in a better place mentally she doesn’t need his help nearly as much, but she still considers him her retainer and her good friend, and does have him swing by on occasion just to talk and hang out.  

[just-placebo-estate-things]

I knowwwww I posted the climax of LE last month I know but I still might need to hiatus it up this month

[just-placebo-estate-things]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Learning Experiences update!! Chapter 20: Leaping

To walk into the belly of the beast is to come home changed, for better or for worse.