I'm just curious. How is Jane and Ryker first met? Like the situation, the context, etc.
waaaa this is probably gonna end up being pretty long......!!!! thank you for being interested.....!!!!! (/////)
⚠️ disclaimers:
cw: blackmailing (in my brain ryker used to be even more of a useless bum before becoming an awakener and that gets reflected in their lore); time period accurate(?) misogyny
might be subjected to change / ooc. im doing a lot of speculation and filling a lot of the gaps with my own imagination, especially around pre-detective era ryker. please take this just as my own interpretation
might be upsetting to some people so please dont take this too seriously. reader's discretion is advised
in short, they have known each other ever since before joining mythag, actually even before ryker formally became a detective!!
jane is the daughter of a very powerful, influential family in londinium, her father actively takes part in politics too.... she's always deeply respected and admired him, he was the one who taught her to always behave "in a way thats honourable to her status", valuing loyalty, honour and grace, following the concept of "noblesse oblige"...
one day, by a stroke of luck, ryker stumbles upon proof that jane's father has been involved in several financial crimes. however, he doesnt use that proof to denounce him; instead, he starts blackmailing him in exchange of money
jane ofc doesn't understand all this lol, she just sees him visiting their home sometimes and talking with her father.... she doesnt really understand why her father would give the time of day to a useless bum like ryker, but in her brain justifies it still by that concept of "noblesse oblige" and doesn't think too much of it, even if she still doesnt necessarily agree with it. she has a very poor perception of him, since she values hard work and in her eyes he's mooching off her father, taking advantage of his generosity (at this time, shes also kind of intrigued by his lifestyle, something so foreign to a sheltered young lady such as herself, but she would never even think of entertaining the thought lmao. but it's important to note she is drawn by the freedom and lack of social responsibility he represents)
when ryker eventually starts getting his fame as the lucky detective, he stops visiting her family, and again she doesn't think much of it. sneers at his sudden surge in popularity, but is ultimately glad she never has to see him again
WELL. THAT IS. UNTIL HER FATHER GETS ACTUALLY PUBLICLY ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLEMENT. thats where her entire world comes crumbling down; her father flees away leaving the family behind to fix the mess he caused. the best solution would be for her to marry into another wealthy family in order to save face and avoid bankruptcy, and she's always been aware that was always supposed to be her role as the young heiress of such an influential family, but.... SHE DOESNT WANT THAT!!!!!! SHE TALKS BIG ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY AND SOCIAL STANDING, BUT SHE DOESNT CARE ABOUT ALL THAT!!!!!! SHE HATES IT!!!!!!!! SHES ALWAYS BEEN SO JEALOUS OF SOMEONE LIKE RYKER WHO CAN LIVE HIS LIFE WITHOUT CARING ABOUT YESTERDAY OR FRETTING ABOUT TOMORROW, WHY CANT THAT BE HER!!!!!! WHY CAN SHE ONLY BE SEEN AS A PAWN IN HER FAMILY'S RELATIONSHIPS!!!!!!!! IS THERE REALLY NOTHING MORE TO LIFE?! IS THIS ALL THAT LIVING IS SUPPOSED TO BE????? JUST AN ENDLESS, VAGUE AND UNFULFILLED SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY????????
it's also at this time that she realizes what the actual relationship between ryker and her father was, that he probably was aware of his crimes and was blackmailing him for a quick buck, it would explain why her father never complained and never asked him to pay back his debts...... so she channels that fury and anger towards him
what shes not aware of yet, is that atp ryker has already become an awakener and joined mythag, and ofc caught wind of the whole scandal. feeling guilty for his past and wishing to repent for his actions somehow, he pulls some strings and manages to get mythag to accept jane among their students, despite her actually not having any sort of attitude to silver. it's a difficult choice, that entails also completely cutting ties with her family, but she ends up accepting, effectively running away from her life and discarding her name......
imagine her surprise when she gets there and is greeted by a wolf beastman with a voice she recognizes all too well lol
