#lucy;about

[lucyofedinburgh]

LUCY. A study in four unfinished paintings. Venice, 1798

01. self-portrait, 1798. 02. the canals. 03. hands and flowers, both dry. 04. in portegrandi.

[lucyofedinburgh]

TASK FOUR ✧ FAMILY TIES Lucy’s family is split in two, comprised of her paternal lineage (who raised her) and her parents (who did not). She is closest by a wide margin to her cousin, Charlie, who happens to be in London this Season. He is excellent at cards, loves a good horse race, and is always the first to buy a round at White’s.

Lady Gow, her primary maternal figure, resides in Edinburgh -- where Lucy goes when the Season concludes. They have a positive relationship, though Lucy’s stubbornness and desire to subvert the rules proves vexing for the Lady Gow, who would much prefer that Lucy use her wits and prettiness to secure a good match. Lady Gow’s brother-in-law, Hensley, is an infrequent but important person in Lucy’s life, as he fosters her love of art.

Her parents remained in France for Lucy’s entire life, and are presumed dead in the wake of the French Revolution.

[lucyofedinburgh]

lucy; a playlist

01. BY AND BY — caamp. Just wish I’d spent more time, listening to you speak your mind.  02. TEAM — lorde. And you know, we’re on each other’s team. 03. LET ME TAKE YOU OUT — class actress. I know you feel alone, so I’m gonna take you out. 04. SISYPHUS — andrew bird. I’d rather fail like a mortal than flail like a god on a lightning rod. History forgets the moderates. 05. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET ME GET WHAT I WANT — the smiths. So, for once in my life, please please please let me get what I want; lord knows it would be the first time. 06. GOODNIGHT & GO — imogen heap. It's bad enough we get along so well. 07. THEY WANT MY SOUL — spoon. I’ve got nothing I want to say to them; they’ve got nothing left that I want. All they want is my soul -- yes, yes I know. 08. THE ONLY THING — sufjan stevens. How do I live with your ghost? Everything I see returns to you somehow.

[lucyofedinburgh]

lucy;task | what’s your type?

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for – and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool – for love – for your dreams – for the adventure of being alive.

MBTI ❁ | ENFP Charming, independent, energetic, passionate. They are often the life of the party, but unlike types in the Explorer Role group, Campaigners are less interested in the sheer excitement and pleasure of the moment than they are in enjoying the social and emotional connections they make with others. Perfectly capable of switching from a passionate, driven idealist in the workplace to that imaginative and enthusiastic free spirit on the dance floor, often with a suddenness that can surprise even their closest friends.

IN RELATIONSHIPS → Campaigners will spend a lot of time exploring social relationships, feelings and ideas before they find something that really rings true. But when they finally do find their place in the world, their imagination, empathy and courage are likely to produce incredible results.

ENNEAGRAM ❁ | 7w8, THE ENTHUSIAST, REALIST Sevens are frequently endowed with quick, agile minds, and can be exceptionally fast learners. This is true both of their ability to absorb information and their ability to learn new manual skills—they tend to have excellent mind-body coordination, and dexterity. All of this can combine to make a Seven into the quintessential "Renaissance person."

STRENGTHS → Natural self-confidence and charisma Ability to assert themselves Remaining calm in situations of crisis

WEAKNESSES → Being perceived as impatient and blunt Difficulty following through on plans Tendency to focus on material items

ALIGNMENT ❁ | NEUTRAL GOOD Neutral goods value both personal freedom and adherence to laws. They feel that too many laws may unnecessarily restrict the freedom of good beings. They also believe that too much freedom may not protect society as a whole and encourage counterproductive divisions and in-fighting. They promote governments which hold broad powers, but do not interfere in the day-to-day lives of their citizens.

LOVE LANGUAGE ❁ | QUALITY TIME The love language that centers around togetherness. It is all about expressing your love and affection with your undivided attention. Focus on them. 

[lucyofedinburgh]

Meet Lucy.

Goodness, LUCY HERZOG has arrived in London. SHE is 29, of the EDINBURGH NEEDHAMS. Though they are RETURNED to the Season, we can only describe them as IMPISH and QUICK-WITTED, dear reader. Accompanied by HER HUSBAND AND AN ASTONISHING AMOUNT OF HOUSE PLANTS AND DOGS, they have settled in and are accepting social calls. But be warned: they are known for their SHARP TONGUE.

Lucy Needham is the sole heiress of Needham Textile Limited, a forerunner in common textile manufacturing, simple goods production, and silk imports. 

They own factories in London, Birmingham, and Edinburgh, and are heavily involved in the oceanic trade. Lucy is distant from this: the business was founded by her great-grandfather, and has been operating independently with a layer of middle management as long as she has known it. Still, she enjoys the profits.

Her parents died some time ago. She rarely speaks about it.

She was raised by her Aunt, the Lady Gow, and learned etiquette, painting, dancing, and the like from her. Of these, Lucy is an avid painter preferring watercolor as her medium. (This year, she is undertaking secret a portrait series of everyone in the Ton.)

Lucy debuted in 1795 to some acclaim, though she has a nasty habit of evading proposals. She is charming and light on her feet, but also quick to disappear, often without explanation. Catching her interest is half the battle -- keeping it is the rest.

As a returning member of The Season, Lucy is a familiar face to some and largely unknown to others. She has never been engaged, though she was caught out three Seasons ago when she played two of the prettiest girls of the Season against each other. In that incident, she did not show remorse.

She is whip-smart, and it is clear that the rigid rules of the London Season chafe against her.

Last season, contrary to her plans and all of her sense, she fell head first for the visiting prince, Sebastian. She is deeply enamored with her new husband. She is also, admittedly, a reluctant Prinzessin.

The reasons for their return to London -- and participation in the season -- are manifold, but Lucy’s homesickness played a considerable part.

----------

Hi, I’m Annie! I’m so excited that everyone is here and was interested in joining my strange idea for a game. :) I wanted to make a character that could cause some Good Trouble™, while not always being in direct competition for a match (though... down the line... who’s to say!). I’m up for any and all plots, and would love some pre-Season relationships for Lucy, whether you love her, hate her, or have had a dalliance with her. 🌸

[lucyofedinburgh]

GETTING TO KNOW LUCY ↓

BASICS. Full Name: Lucy Clare Needham Nicknames: Lucy ❤️ Skeleton: The Unbeliever Titles: N/A Cast Position: Royalty | Nobility | Gentry Birthdate: 01 December 1767 Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland

PHYSICALITY. Height: 5′4″ (162 cm) Body Type: Reasonable? Lucy is fairly active, especially when she is not in London and is able to pursue a daily riding regimen. She spends a fair amount of time in the sunshine, even if it is inside her conservatory, and is strong enough to be independently capable for most of her tasks there. She does overindulge in sweets and cakes from time to time. To err is to be human. 🤷‍♀️ Hair: She grows it long but pins it up, and it has a wave to it, with varying shades of auburn. Lucy prefers to have it pinned back, away from her face, but rarely curls it unless it is a special occasion. Eyes: Brown / Green / Blue / Gray / Other | Glasses Skin: Creamy, fair -- almost pale. She tans, somewhat, but is far more prone to burning in the sunlight. So she wears hats. 🎩 Markings: As a child, she had freckles in the summertime. It has been an important point for Lady Gow, her Grand Aunt, that Lucy not get them as an adult. She has a small birthmark midway up the inside of her right arm, a caramel-colored splash that looks like an ink spot. Walking: Lucy loves a stroll. Especially in the warmer weather, she enjoys being outside and admiring the world around her. One of the easiest ways to tell if she’s in a sour mood is how she walks: if she is purposeful and direct... hide? Or just walk faster than her. Speech: With cadence. Lucy knows carrying a conversation is more than words being exchanged, and enjoys the toss and volley of a clever conversation and all of the non-verbal cues that go along with it. Posture/Bearing: Years of etiquette lessons have blessed Lucy with good posture, though she is prone to curl her entire body into a chair on a rainy day.

PERSONALITY. Presentation: Charming. Lively. Well-rounded, and there has been a lot of work put into Lucy to get her to that place. She is an apt listener, and excels at finding commonalities between herself and those whom she meets. Interactions: Raised by her Baroness aunt but not titled herself, Lucy has always known that she must rise to be accepted. She is a gifted storyteller when the situation calls for it, and goes through phases where she simply must entertain and party each night, followed by protracted lengths of quiet pursuits. Lures: Curiosities. Oddities. Things that do not fit into the manicured world that she inhabits, those who break the mold. Temperament: Quick to emotion, and quick to flee from it as well. She hates that side of herself, finding it weak, and is far more likely to retreat than to show emotion if she does not think it is safe. If Lucy was a truffle, she would have a shiny, party girl shell with a soft, nougat-y center. Can you tell I’m eating Valentine’s chocolates rn Reputation: Most of her peers would consider her “fun” or “clever” or, perhaps the most likely, “creative” in her pursuits. Some kinder souls may consider her charming, and others, less kind, may call it trouble.

HABITS. Favorite Hours: Early riser. Lucy loves mid-morning, much to the chagrin of her household, though she doesn’t always make it. She is quite self-indulgent. Punctuality: Five to ten minutes late. 🙈 There are just so many things to do! Nervous Ticks: If nervous in a group, she will most often position herself next to someone who she considers safe, like her cousin, Charlie. If the temperature is rising in a conversation, Lucy won’t leave -- but she will grow quiet, and watch while the others fight. Sleeping Style: Sprawling? Lucy often wakes on her back, with one arm over her stomach and the other reaching above her head, fingertips touching her headboard.

EDUCATION. School: Lucy struggled in school. Rote memorization is not her forté, and she had some delays in learning to read. Known Languages: English, passable French, though she is a far cry from fluent. Talents: She can play the pianoforte mediocrely, largely due to a lack of interest in it. She can embroider, though she loses interest in that, as well. Lady Gow would not consider gardening a talent, but mercifully, Lucy is a skilled painter, interested in portraiture. As she is a lady, this is considered a pastime, not a profession. Learning Style: A bit of visual and social, but largely kinesthetic.

PHILOSOPHY. Religion: Anglican, though it is less of a conscious choice and more fulfillment of an expectation. Superstitions: Rabbit rabbit rabbit. Virtues: Chastity, Charity, Temperance, Diligence, Humility, Kindness, Patience, or Justice Vices: Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Sloth, Pride, Envy, Wrath, or Despair

RELATIONSHIPS. Family: Comprised of the Lady Gow, their matriarch, her brother, Hensley, her son, Lord Kinnaird (affectionately referred to as Charlie) and his wife + assorted children, and Lucy. She is very much at the odd-end of their family, though the Lady Gow accepted her as a daughter and has always treated her as such. She is beloved, though there is an inherent dichotomy between being accepted into her maiden family and their expectation that she will go off and begin her own. Friendships: Lucy has a lot of people who would consider her friends, and only one or two who she trusts. She is quick to attend a gathering and slow to invite people into her home. Friends in Need: Lucy would, and historically has been there for her friends, though she lives a life of little need and there are only rare occasions when she has been called upon. Needing a Friend: Only in the most dire of circumstances would Lucy ask for aid, but granting it would endear you to her almost permanently. Discord: Lucy’s emotions tend to rise fast and hit hard, which makes her impulsive at best and a dirty fighter at worst. If she’s upset enough to fight, she’ll spit out what she feels in the heat of the moment and regret it later. Enemies: Lucy’s deep penchant for self-indulgence can leave those around her unknowingly in the lurch. She has likely gravely disappointed people and been so self-absorbed that she was not aware of it until much after the fact.

MOTIVATIONS. Intentions: "For fun, of course!” She would say, but the truth is that Lucy is (like her skeleton) deeply distrustful of the premise of the Season, and does not believe one can find love on schedule -- and yet, here she is, willing to test that theory. Et tu, Lucy? Goals: See if what was broken in 1797 can be mended. Use Charlie’s penchant for whiskey to break into his office and read his letters more easily. Collect a lot of plants. Fears: Her gender. Her class. Her own stubborn, indefatigable ability to sow self-doubt. Regrets: All those times she dozed off during pianoforte lessons as a child. That time she burned part of her hair with an iron and it now waves in the opposite direction from the rest  Not recognizing when she had someone she loved, who loved her in return, and investing in it fully. Breakthroughs: If Lucy would learn to sit with uncertainty, if she would realize that she is already loved, she would be a much happier person. In the meantime -- is that a pelargonium? She must have it.

---

If you’ve read this far (?!), come plot with me!

[lucyofedinburgh]

👾 what was my muse’s childhood bogeyman?

Lord Gow, her uncle. He was a very tall man, with a heavy footfall, and he often paced the halls at night when he could not sleep. The shadow along his profile could elongate to look like a crone, and Lucy often wondered if he transformed to a monster after midnight.

[lucyofedinburgh]

What is your most proud art piece?

Lucy owns a small, unnamed portrait by the famed Anton Graff. It’s a personal favorite for several reasons, the foremost that she bought it from the artist himself when he visited London four years ago. It is also one of the few pieces that she was able to buy without Charlie’s involvement in the transaction.