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A SLOWCAKES SPECIAL EDITION

CREW DIRECTORY

A listing of all registered members of the S.S. Sunflower. Why yes, S.S. may technically be anachronistic. Unfortunately, you see, I’m writing this and I thought it sounded good at the time and I’ve referenced it too often to change it now. Such is the terribly cruel fate that I must labour under

CONTENT WARNINGS INCLUDE: Mentions of death and disease, child neglect and endangerment, homelessness, orphaning.

Angie [Angela] Wright

Pronouns: She/Her

Position: Ship Navigator + Quartermaster

Known Aliases: The Bomb-Toting Revolutionary

PERSONAL DETAILS:

Angela Wright was born to a working-class family in London. Growing up, she was exposed to harsh conditions and saw the terrible state of the labourers in Mr. Iron’s factories, which led to Angie’s stance on the Masters and her work. She and her childhood friends (including Captain Bell and her future wife) spent their childhood running amok and causing havoc in London.

Once she got older, she started working in factories herself to gather more information and learn the skills she needed to help the revolution. She began to develop a passion for explosives she’d carry over for the rest of her life. She also developed a very keen eye for detail and a love of things like making schedules and organization.

During this period of her life, she married a boy from her neighborhood she’d grown up in because her parents were insistent she ought to settle down a little. At the time, she’d thought she loved him ‘enough’ to marry. He was a very nice man, and he was good to her, but she wasn’t entirely happy. Still, he gave her plenty of time to continue her revolutionary aims and was always supportive of her work.

Eventually, Bell approached her and told her he was buying a ship, and wanted to appoint her as Quartermaster. She thought long and hard about this, and after speaking with her mother, agreed to join the ship. This was good for her- she found on their first voyage that she loved navigation and sailing and the sea-life. She and Bell went on several more voyages with their first crew, until a sea accident took most of their lives.

When she and Bell returned, they spent some time on shore waiting to find more crew-mates. During this time she did some self-reflection, and came to the realization that she wasn’t attracted to her husband- not because of anything he did, but because she simply didn’t like men at all. Oops! They ended up splitting amicably, because he admitted he couldn’t survive a marriage with a partner who was almost never home. Her ex-husband is still around and they are on speaking terms, even if it is very, very awkward.

Eventually the ship’s new crew arrived, including some of her childhood friends. She and Evanganline reconnected, and over several months, eventually fell in love and began seeing one another. After only a year, they got married, and have been happy ever since, waging war on London’s oppressors and running an airtight ship.

FUN FACTS| - The serious one among her immediate friends. She can still get very silly with it, don’t get me wrong. - Would be described as being High Wisdom, High Intelligence. - Enjoys the adventure and thrill of the high seas but also is more realistic about things like survival and needing money. - Anarchist Rev - Sometimes you and your wife are perpetually on the run because you like to blow up Mr. Iron's factories and thats okay! - Can be a quite doting friend but will still smack some sense into you if need be. - Really likes puzzles. - Swears like a sailor. - Encourages chaos only when she thinks she can stop it from getting too out of hand. - she is the reason that Louis got himself banned from the Singing Mandrake. - She can and will throw hands if she feels her honor is on the line.

Evangeline Wright

Pronouns: She/Her

Position: Weapons Expert

Known Aliases: The Lady Of Gunpowder

PERSONAL DETAILS

Evangeline was born to unknown parents and given to an orphanage to be raised at a very young age. She was a quiet, hard-working child, prone to staring off into space and getting lost in her own thoughts. She was never the most outgoing of children, and found it difficult to make friends. Her distaste for the Masters was born quite early; she was quite lucky to be in a kinder orphanage than most, but she saw the conditions of children like her in the workhouses and factories, and she resented their powerlessness and the beatings they took from those in charge. She grew quietly determined to do something about this someday, though her own anxiety kept her from commiserating with her fellow workers much of the time.

It was Angie who first coaxed her out of her shell, finding her standing in the streets near Wolfstack Docks one fateful afternoon and dragging her into a game of dice with her friends. Angie’s bright-eyed personality captivated shy, quiet Evangeline, and she slowly but surely warmed up to their small group. They taught Evangeline much about herself, and she credits them for the woman she is today.

As she got older, she found herself drawn into a sect of nuns working in a small Church in Spite. They were, as it turned out, members of the Great Game in disguise, and their involvement in international politics slowly but surely drew Evangeline in. She split her time fairly well between romping about London with her friends and learning the particulars of the Great Game. By 18, she had learned to read and write in several languages and dozens of ciphers, and she could read people much more keenly than many of her peers. This order also led Evangeline to the epiphany that she was, in fact, a woman. Her sisters became a source of strength and pride for her, and she relied upon them for much.

When her friends inevitably drifted apart, Evangeline continued to train. She learned to use a myriad of weapons, studied politics, and became a keen mind and a valuable asset to her sisters. She feels indebted to them for all they have done for her, and routinely sticks her neck out on their behalf.

She remained with them for a long while, until one day her old childhood friends arrived at her door. They spoke of adventure on the zee, of community, of finally fulfilling their old childhood fantasies. And Evangeline, though hesitant, agreed. She joined onto the ship, putting her Great Game experience and her training to work. Through their time together, Evangeline has been the ship's greatest source of stability and support. During these voyages, Evangeline also rekindled her relationship with Angie, and the two were married within the first year.

FUN FACTS - Quiet and calmer than the rest of the crew. But do not let that fool you. She is up to the same level of shenanigans as everyone else. - Handles all the important legal stuff because she cannot trust Bell with that. She adores them but they are so forgetful. - Low Wis High Int friend. She'll get lost walking from her house to the docks but she can also speak 6 languages. - 6 languages are English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi and German. She had a lot of time to study growing up. - She's the gal you call for when you can't figure out how to kill a sea (or sky) monster - Don't ask her about the orphanage she grew up in. She'll get sad and it’ll be really uncomfortable. - She misses her sisters from the old abbey sometimes but she loves her life on the zee and wouldn't trade it for anything.

-Of all the crew, is perhaps the most religious although her view on God differs from traditional Anglicanism or Catholicism. She has a much more personal relationship with her faith and often emphasizes the idea of community and caring for one's brothers and sisters above all else. She's very accepting of other religious traditions... although she does have distaste for Calvinism + Puritans. - Enjoys traveling and hearing the stories of people across the zee/reach. - Bit of a bookworm. She’s always got something on her bedside table to read and she and Bell often trade recommendations. - Keeps her clothes and hair quite tidy in contrast to the disaster that is her workspace.

- She does the ship’s laundry because no one else is allowed to touch the soap after the incident.

- She also haggles with merchants at port for supplies because people on the ship kept getting scammed. Mac (Biggs) O’Hare

Pronouns: He/Him

Position: Crewmate

Known Aliases: Biggs

Background

Mac was born in London to a very standard family. Both his parents worked average manufacturing jobs. Their hours were long and brutal, and they were often quite busy when Mac was growing up. Mac himself worked from a young age, helping the family as best as he could. The work he did was fairly dangerous; the textile machines of the factories could be brutal, and Mac developed a hatred for them and their factory owners at a young age that he would carry with him for the rest of his life.

As he got older, he developed a passion for adventure and story-telling. He began to spend his days off wandering the city in search of new things to do and experiences to find. His thirst for novelty sometimes got him into trouble, but he generally did well for himself.

He met Smalls, his husband, on onepub outing. The two of them became extremely close to one another, hitting it off instantly, and it was to none of their mutual friend’s surprise when they got married only a year into knowing each other. They settled down for sometime, sharing a small flat, working and exploring through London together. Still, both longed for adventure.

Thus, when the pair of them found Bell’s ad searching for new crewmates, they decided that signing on was their best bet. For Biggs, this was a chance to finally get away from the horrible grind of London life. Zailing would not be easy, certainly, but it would be new and exciting. And something new and exciting, an adventure, would do them some good.

Fun Facts - World's Most Passionate Husband Guy. - Why is he called Biggs? Who knows. He'll make up a different story for it every time. - A bit quiet but when you do get him talking he simply will not shut up. - Loves to tell stories, the wilder the better. How truthful are they? Who can say. - Loves animals, especially cats. London's cats hate him because all he wants to do is pick them up and plant his face into their soft fur. - The most tidy/orderly person on board and generally is the one keeping the common areas neat. - You would not guess this from the state of his clothes.

Porter (Smalls) O’Hare

Pronouns: He/Him

Position: Mechanic/Carpenter

Known Aliases: Smalls

Background

Porter was born in London, and raised by his mother after his father died at Zee. She was a maid, and they lived in the servant’s quarters of a well-to-do family. Porter worked for the family himself, doing chores and helping his mother keep their home. When he wasn’t working, Porter was always fixing things, drawn to machines from an early age. He had a sharp mind and a brilliant imagination, and he poured that outlet into his journals, writing stories about his life and eventually about characters. He dreamed of someday becoming a real novelist, and read anything he could get his hands on.

He did not have many friends through his younger years, preferring to pick and choose very specific acquaintances who he built strong connections to. Porter cannot do anything by halves, and to him every relationship is something to entirely devote oneself to. Instead, he filled his time practicing his manners, studying how 'proper' gentlemen behaved and trying to meet those ideals. Porter had a very idealistic view of the world, even with his exposure to its horrors, and this idealism persisted even as he grew up.

Once he was older, he began to work in factories and businesses, fixing their machines and furnaces and developing skills he would someday use on ships. Because the Zee always did call to him like it did his father, and he was eager to work on a ship himself one day. It was only after he met and married his husband, however, that he got the opportunity to do so.

Fun Facts - Why do people call him Smalls? Well, because his husband is Biggs, obviously! - A writer. He enjoys his life on the ship because it gives him so much material. - Considers himself to be a 'proper gentleman' and as such can be a bit of stickler for manners. - Incredibly polite but will also drag you to hell and back if he feels insulted. - Somehow always knows what's wrong with the engines without even checking them. - Big Brother energy. - Pack bonds with inanimate objects very easily. He swears up and down that the engines will get sad if you don't talk to them and then they won't work properly.

- He loves a good glass of wine and he and J. Willows often drink together after work.

- Loves children and wants a huge family of his own someday.

Elena Wright

Pronouns: She/Her

Position: Apprentice (Navigation), Mascot

Known Aliases: None.

Background

Elena Wright was born the daughter of an actor and one of his many lovers, a bright young lady who worked as a seamstress in the middle of London. Elena was often ignored by both parents, who were busy people, neither of which had wanted a child. Being born out of wedlock, Elena faced a lot of stigma from the society around her, and as such became jaded from a young age. Still, she had her basic needs met, and when her mother was around and attentive, it was clear she loved Elena very dearly.

Unfortunately, life was not always fair. Her mother perished one winter, slipping on her way home and falling into the Stolen River, never to be seen again. Not wanting to live with her distant and oft-drunk father, Elena ran away and began living on the streets. It was there that she first encountered Bell. Desperate, she had attempted to pick their pockets, and had been so bad at it Bell caught her instantly. Unlike how many would react, though, Bell had been kind, buying her a meal and bonding with her over shared experiences. She would leave the encounter with her spirits lifted. Several weeks later, she encountered Bell again on the docks and begged for a position on his ship. He gladly accepted, and she has been a dear member ever since.

Fun Facts

- Elena never lets anyone push her around- but that’s also resulted in her being too stubborn on occasion and getting herself or someone else hurt. - Has a very particular way of doing everything and becomes frustrated when she is thrown off her schedule/rhythm. - The crew absolutely dotes on her. - More down to earth than most of the other crew, but she can still get into quite a bit of mischief when she feels like it. - Loves to make jewelry and maps in her spare time. Her space in the ship is absolutely covered with craft materials. - Tends to be the voice of reason among the younger members of the crew. - That term is used rather loosely because she also thinks its funny to let Hive 'release the swarm' on dockworkers who are jerks to them. - Shows a lot of promise in navigation and enjoys the work. - Has memorized the schedules and preferences of everyone she knows and can tell IMMEDIATELY when something is off.

- A very social child.

Louis Evans

Pronouns: He/Him

Position: Jack of All Trades/Ship Hand

Known Aliases; None

Background

Louis was born on the surface as the son of two shoe-makers. They weren’t wealthy, but they did well for themselves and Louis was taken care of. However, he was the youngest child of five, and his older siblings were exceptionally cruel to him. He had been a ‘weird girl’ as a child, masculine in a way that his peers disapproved of, and he was severely bullied for it. This bullying did severe damage to his mental health, and he frequently became non-verbal, especially when experiencing over-stimulation on top of the tormenting. This would develop into selective mutism, and Louis would become avoidant of most people to protect himself.

He decided to run away to London at the age of seventeen, when his parents started discussing the possibility of marriage. Louis had come to the conclusion that he did not want to live as a woman, and had heard many whispered tales of people in London who were different, but who still were accepted and treated with respect. He knew that it would still be difficult and imperfect, but his fears paled in comparison to the difficulties he knew he would face on the surface. Thus, one night he packed a bag and legged it to the docks, taking the first ship that would have him to London.

His early time in London was difficult, but he made a living taking odd jobs and working wherever would have him. It was when he ran into Evangeline at the market that he was offered the position of ‘ship hand’ on the Sunflower. He accepted, knowing that it would at least be a few months of steady work, and he has been with them ever since.

Fun Facts - Enjoys being around the others while he works, like the Victorian London equivalent of listening to a podcast. - Takes a long time to warm up to new people. - Joined the ship to get away from the crowded city. Enjoys the relative solitude of the zee. - Prefers routine and structure and always gets bit stressed when the ship gets off schedule. - Likes fish. - Has a bajillion notebooks filled with drawings of fish. He's really good at drawing fish.

- Did I mention he’s autistic yet?

- He and Toadie are best friends. He often sits right next to her when she’s working, and she’s the first person to hear about any of his news or get shown the drawings he’s working on.

Hive

Pronouns: They/It

Position: Mascot, Apprentince Mechanic

Known Aliases: None.

Background:

Hive is of indeterminate origin and history. If asked, Forks will tell people she found them playing in Bugsby Marsh, and that the pair have been inseperable ever since. Not much else is known of Hive. It joined the ship at the same time that Forks did, the pair having snuck on the ship in the night and stowed away, discovered only when they were already mid-zee. Bell found the pair endearing, and the two of them have been the group’s darlings ever since.

Fun Facts - Might actually be a hive of sentient fungus in a human shell. - No one is actually sure. Forks probably knows but she won't tell. - Very Quiet. Mostly non-verbal. - Loves bugs, but especially beetles. Keeps a little jar filled with pet beetles. All of them have names and it loves them so much. - Handles all the spiders on the ship. - Very attached to Forks and won't go anywhere without her. - Likes machines. Compares the inner working of its machines to bugs. - Can sleep standing up and does this specifically to freak Arthur out. - Enjoys soft fabrics. In another life they may have been a tailor of some sort. - Easily distracted.

Forks

Pronouns: They/She

Position: Mascot, Apprentince Ship Hand

Known Aliases: None.

BACKGROUND

When asked, Forks will remark that she had quite the typical childhood. She was born in a small, cramped flat to a poor family. She had many siblings and it was often crowded and disease-ridden. She ran away when she was old enough to be on her own without dying immediately, and wandered the streets, living as an urchin. During this time, she met Hive, and the two quickly became inseparable.

Forks joined the ship at the same time that Hive did, the pair having snuck on the ship in the night and stowed away, discovered only when they were already mid-zee. Bell found the pair endearing, and the two of them have been the group’s darlings ever since.

Fun Facts - Loves to scamper around the ship. Somehow she always knows where she's needed at any given time. - They love meeting new people and figuring out what makes them tick. - Collects weird little objects: cutlery and silverware, trinkets, odd glass and funky rocks. - Was the one who got her and Hive on the ship. She's very protective of her best friend and has been known to get testy when she thinks people are making fun of it. - They have a strong sweet tooth and can be easily bribed with sugar. - Sensitive hearing. - Enjoys games and is constantly inventing new ones for themselves, Elena, and Hive. - Perpetually untied shoes because she thinks its cool-looking. Consequently she is very used to falling over.

-Loves climbing, always looking to be at the highest height possible.

Sarah "Toadie" Beckham

Pronouns: She/They

Position: Gadget/Tool Manager/Mechanic/Ship Cooke

Known Aliases: None.

BACKGROUND

Sarah "Toadie" Beckham was born on the surface to a very average family around Norfolk. Her mother had lost two siblings to the fall of London, and Toadie spent her childhood being constantly told about how horrid and awful the city had become in its falling. Toadie had been scared by the gruesome stories, but equally they had been intrigued. They were an adventurous child; they loved to explore the woods of their home, and they adored collecting and examining bugs, frogs, and snakes.

She began to work as a child on her father's small farm, watching their very small flock of sheep. She was a dilligent worker, but as the years went on she became ill-contented with her lot in life. One of her few joys was helping the village's clock-maker with his work when she had the spare time. She found herself fascinated by the mechanical pieces, and slowly she began to dream of someday working with such things herself.

She decided to pursue this dream one horrid summer, when half their flock died from disease and their parents were forced to sell their land and move to the city in search of factory work. Toadie bid her family goodbye, and got on a boat to London despite her mother's protests. There, Toadie sought out and eventually secured an apprenticeship, learning to repair clocks, and slowly branching out into other kinds of machinery. In their little free time, they tried to make friends as best as they could. But socializing was hard for them, as they found they could not quite relate to their peers in many ways. Much soul-searching was done during this period of their life, and they came out of it with some understanding of who they were and who they wished to be.

Still, they struggled to feel at ease. It wasn't until they were offered a job by Evangeline, who saw potential in their work and believed Toadie could be a great addition to the ship's crew, that their life truly changed. It was a decision that Toadie would never regret.

Fun Facts - Her nickname is in fact because she likes amphibians. - She loves coming up with ways to streamline tasks. She's like a DND minmaxer. - Can't swim. This is a sore subject for them. - Likes to paint in her free-time. - Gossips frequently with Carpenter and J Willows. They especially love to chat about the scandals of the upper class, if only to remind themselves that they to are just people at the end of the day. - Manages the majority of the ship's cooking; Elena helps, but she would never expect her to do all that by herself. - Has worn the same pair of boots for eleven years and does not plan to change them anytime soon. - She enjoys a good nap, and her favorite feeling is managing to clear enough of her schedule to take a nap for an entire afternoon. - Cuts the hair of most of her shipmates and finds the task soothing. Constantly jokes about retiring to become a hairdresser.

- Always tinkering with something on the ship. If their hands aren’t stained with either oil or flour, something has gone horribly wrong.

J. Willows Bei-Ceylon-Lavender

Pronouns: She/Her

Position: Mechanic/Shiphand

Known Aliases: None.

BACKGROUND

J. Willows Bei-Ceylon-Lavender (or perhaps, to put it more simply. just Willows) was born in London post-fall to Ambrose Lavender and Katherine Bei-Ceylon. The pair of them had fallen to London while in the same boarding house, and had over their time together fallen in love and gotten married. They were extremely doting and supportive parents, and they raised J. Willows to be kind and understanding above all else. J. Willows was never very far from at least one of their parents: some days she would sit in her father's small tailoring business, reading quietly or helping keep the space tidy while he worked with clients. Other times, her mother would take her to the moratorium with her, and J. Willows would sit in the front while she met with grieving families. She was not allowed to see the bodies, of course, but she did understand death froma young age, and grew to have a healthy respect for the dead and little fear of death itself. It was simply another part of life for J. Willows.

J. Willows was born mute, unable to speak due to poor development of her vocal chords. Her parents were determined, however, to set her up to be comfortable and to be able to communicate, and they prioritzed teaching her BSL. This was not precisely common in their time, but they were determined to do what was best for her. Thus, J. Willows learned BSL from an early age. Much of her family learned alongside her; even her grandparents made an effort, though it was somewhat harder for her paternal grandparents, given their older age. Still, J. Willows was never made to feel poorly for her disablity, and her family fostered a confidence in her she would carry into her adult life.

J. Willows grew up with many friends, having known Ellison and Bell since childhood, with Angie and Evangeline joining soon after. They were always getting up to something, and J. Willows learned with time how to mitigate the fallout from their shenanigans... and when to let them implode a little bit. People had to learn somehow, after all. Her childhood being somewhat easier than some of her peers, though not without the struggles of being both disabled and being the child of two immigrant families. Still, J. Willows was grateful for her childhood, and she carried the kindness and grace she was raised with into her adult life.

Willows spent her early adulthood working in a few factories, though she quickly found herself growing sick from the chemicals and smoke, and could not keep up with the work. She found the working conditions in London to be awful, and soon she turned to other opportunities. It was during this time that Bell reappeared in her life, offering her work. J. Willows gladly accepted, and has been a member of the crew ever since.

Fun Facts - Uses a combination of BSL and fingerspelling to communicate with her shipmates. They all learned sign language when she signed on. - Has a fantastic sense of humor and prides herself in making her friends laugh at inopportune moments. - Enjoys the rigor of life at zee/on the ship and finds it preferable to the time she spent in her old work in London - Used to work as an assistant at her mother's mortuary business. :) - Her parents were incredibly loving and it rubbed off on her. She's an incredibly supportive friend and she does everything in her power to make the people in her life feel welcomed. - Has an eye for clothes because of her upbringing. - Enjoys reading. She's almost constantly got her nose in a book when she's not working. - Enjoys sightseeing and often uses her shoreleave to explore different ports. - Keeps detailed journals.

Arthur (Art) Hemmingway

Pronouns: He/Him

Role: Pilot/Shiphand

Known Aliases: None.

BACKGROUND

Arthur Hemmingway was born in London after the fall to a fairly well-off family: his father was a low level legal clerk and his mother worked as a laundry-woman. Art himself spent most of his childhood working on the docks, helping sailors and merchants hawk their goods and doing whatever odd jobs he could. It was hard and exhausting work, but Art remained positive. He loved the people he was exposed to, and grew up with dreams of life on the Zee.

When he was old enough, he began to take odd jobs on ships, though he found it hard to settle in on any one ship. Many of them had work cultures he found he couldn't understand, and he often felt out of place and uncomfortable. It wasn't until he met Carpenter on one of these voyages that he truly clicked with someone. The two of them got on like a house on fire, and when they returned to London from that voyage, they immediately found new positions working together. The two of them were inseparable from that moment on, and when they found the listing for positions on the Sunflower, they both jumped on that opportunity together.

FUN FACTS - Sweet guy. Loves people and is always eager to help. - Works hard and plays harder. - He joined the crew in hopes of adventure and has yet to be disappointed. - Dreams of seeing everything strange this world has to offer. - Considers the crew to be his family and will fight anything and everything to take care of them. - The one everyone goes to when they need their mood lifted. A bit of a jokester. - Enjoys decorating things. He repaints the ship/boat as often as possible to keep it looking fantastic. - Carpenter is his best friend and they are inseparable.

Carpenter Harrison

Pronouns: He/Him

Role; Weapons Guy/Demolitions

Known Aliases: None.

BACKGROUND

Carpenter was born in the Neath, to parents who were extremely minor nobility; his father owned investment accounts and properties on the surface, which was where their money came from. His mother, meanwhile, stayed home with him and his older sisters and ran the home's social calendar. She was dilligent in making sure that all of them got impecabble educations, and Carpenter grew up with a strong background in several languages, including Latin, mathematics, and science. Yet his chief interest remained in the arts: Carpenter had a passion for the theater that persisted throughout his youth.

This passion often led him to sneak out, going to the seedier, freer performances in areas of London his family turned their nose up at. Carpenter immersed himself in that culture and lifestyle, becoming familiar with the honeydens and the cramped bars that constituted the social scenes of the poets and the playwrights. This habit lead him to his second love: ships. One vibrant evening, a drunken wandering had led him to the docks with his companions, where they snuck onto an old boat to drink and be merry. Carpenter had been fascinated by the whole thing, and began to dream of life at Zee. Returning home, he began to read any book with even a smidge of zee-faring in it, and soon his head was filled with dreams of farflung adventures and the potential of romance like in his books, waiting for him somewhere.

Thus, to the anger of his family, Carpenter left the comfortable life of the upper-class and began to sign onto ships, wherever one would take him. He was a quick study, and became a skilled ship-hand in a few years time. Though his travels took him to many ports, Carpenter's love-life remained abysmal. He did, however, meet his dearest friend, Arthur, while working on a ship. he two of them got on like a house on fire, and when they returned to London from that voyage, they immediately found new positions working together. The two of them were inseparable from that moment on, and when they found the listing for positions on the Sunflower, they both jumped on that opportunity together.

FUN FACTS - Outgoing and perhaps a bit too bold. - A little hot-headed, especially if he feels disrespected. - A hopeless romantic. He started signing on to the ships in the hopes of meeting his 'soulmate' in some distant port. It... has not worked out for him, but he has made plenty of friends. - Loves flowers. He would have been a florist on the surface if he could have, but unfortunately he was born in the Neath. - Loves the rush of a good fight. - Kind of an idiot, but he's a well meaning idiot. Himbo energy.

- He has very particular ideas about what makes good tea and loves arguing about it with other people.

#my posts #fallen london #fallen london spoilers #fallen london ocs #a page from slowcakes #tw child neglect #tw child impoverishment #tw child endangerment #tw homelessness

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artisanoftheredscience · 2 months ago

Text

A Page From Slowcakes

THERE WILL BE AN IMAGE HERE I'M JUST FIGHTING W/ PICCREW RIGHT NOW!

[Editor's Note: Credit to Brightgoat and their maker, "Bright's Piccrew Hell" for the art. Image ID in alt text.]

NOTICE: Please read Editor's notes next to section headings, as they contain information about content that may be triggering for some.

Name: Captain Bell

[Editor’s Notes: Captain Bell has no known prior names, and it is unclear if Bell is a first or last name. They will not elaborate.]

DOB: May 18th, 1871.

Age: 23-27 years old. [Editor's Note: The first age dictates the first edition in which the Captain featured. In this latest edition, our Captain is 27 years old].

KNOWN ALIASES: That Guy Who Awakened That Goliath Squid, That Guy Who Killed That Goliath Squid, The Raving Monster-Hunter.

Pronouns: He/They

Profession: Captain of the S.S. Sunflower, Full-Time Nuisance

BACKSTORY (PRE-NEATH) [Editor's Note; Discretion is advised- content ahead contains mentions of child impoverishment, hunger, disease, alcoholism, depression, and violence that may be triggering for some.]

Bell was born on the streets of London to a mother who quickly abandoned them, unable to provide for herself and unwilling to make her own situation worse by caring for a baby. Luckily for Bell, he was not left alone for very long. A recently ‘graduated’ street urchin found him, and delivered him to some friends who ran a small orphanage near Wolfstack Docks. Bell stayed there for about six years or so, although conditions there were very poor. There were about fifteen other children in that small house, and Bell often felt suffocated, being constantly stuck surrounded by children he didn’t really care for and who didn’t really care or him either.

Once Bell was old enough to walk around and think for himself, he ran from the orphanage and joined with a group of Fisher-Kings. The conditions there weren’t much better- food was still scarce, the nights were cold, and they didn’t recieve much in the way of an education. But unlike the orphanage, where Bell had often been ignored by over-worked care-takers or pushed around by the bigger kids, they were completely free to do as they pleased. And Bell enjoyed the games the Fisher-Kings played, becoming quite adept at stealing things (mostly hats) from heads. His favorite stomping grounds were the factories and homes by the docks, because their they could watch the Zee.

Bell adored the Zee with every fiber of their being, was drawn to it almost from the moment they could first walk. They dreamed fervently of having a ship of their very own someday, and in between fleeing from cops and ‘concerned citizens’ and sleeping wherever was dry and high, they would daydream about a future on the high-seas, the false-wind in their hair and a massive harpoon in their hands. It called to them, and they swore to someday see all it had to offer.

Bell was fairly close with the gang of urchins he ran with, but his closest friend in the world was not another urchin, but Ellison Arrow. They met by complete chance- Ellison had climbed up into the attic of an abandoned home to chase after a strange(er) than normal beetle, and Bell had happened to be taking a nap there. The two hit it off near instantly. Bell considers Ellison to be the singular most important thing in his life, and throughout the years continously aids him in all is work. Whether it’s revolutionary business, academic exploits, or just the everyday trials of London life, when it comes to Ellison, Bell has always been but a stone’s throw away.

It was just the two of them for a few years, till Bell met Angie and J. Willows playing with marbles out on the docks. The pair quickly joined them to four a strong group of fast friends, and they got up to all sorts of antics over the years. When Evangeline joined them at age 14, their little group was completed, and there was scarcely a moment when they weren’t together. Bell loved and adored his merry group, and became quite protective over them. They got up to all sorts of youthful misadventures, and Bell learned much of their particular brand of mischief from them.

As they grew older, they went their seperate ways for a time; Angie got married, J. Willows and Evangeline began working longer hours, Ellison went to study at the university, and dear old Bell joined onto a ship as a member of their crew. Bell worked hard under his new captain, learning all there was to know about zailing and the creatures of the deep. She was the one who trained him to become a Monster-Hunter, and when they eventually parted ways, Bell would never forget the kindness she showed him.

With her influence, he began to work for a few different crews. He earned a reputation as a dangerous monster hunter and influential member of the underbelly of the zailing profession, so to speak. If there was money to be made, shady or otherwise, Bell probably had their hand in it. They developed a particular love for danger, such that even a bad trade could become appealing to them if the risk was sufficiently thrilling. This impulse to chase thrill would often get them in trouble over the years, but whenever things at Zee got really risky, they knew they could always come back to London to let it simmer down. During these periods of shore leave, Bell spent most of his time following Ellison around, so much so that it became almost expected at the University for the sharp-minded professor’s office to smell of the Zee.

Eventually, Bell saved up enough money to purchase his own ship. He convinced Angie to join him, and the pair of them took on a small crew and began to make Zee voyages. This went well enough, until their first real challenge killed their entire crew. In the bloody aftermath, Bell fell into a deep depression. They spent several months holed up in the Blind Helmsman, drinking themselves half to death to avoid their own shame. It took a long time for them to forgive themselves for their mistakes and to take the next step towards restarting zailing. In the end, it was Ellison who convinced them to return to Zee, reminding Bell of their calling and helping him to see that they weren’t responsible for the death of their crew. When Bell did finally return to Zailing, he reassembled a crew that included newly divorced Angie and Evangeline, and before long their old childhood friend group was back together at last.

Over the years, Bell would recruit a large cast of interesting folks to make up the Sunflower’s crew, and their time on the Zee and their many misadventures would make them infamous throughout the Neath. With their accomplished history, there isn’t much that the crew of the Sunflower can’t do, especially with Bell at the helm.

Except paying their taxes on time. But hey, a little fraud never hurt anyone, has it?

NOTABLE ASSOCIATES

Professor Ellison Arrow: The (platonic) love of Bell’s life. Bell literally cannot picture life without them. That’s their ride or die, and Bell would do anything for him. They spend a lot of time together; whenever Bell’s on shore leave, they’re hanging around Ellison’s lab or offices. All Ellison’s students know Bell as the odd zailor who sits in on classes and watches their professor like an excited hawk. Ellison knows Bell like no one else ever has or ever will, and for Bell, there’s no one else in the world who is even half as important.

Liz(ard) O'Connor: These two have an oddly supportive relationship. They’ve got similar vibes- they’re bitey, absurdly strong Monster-Hunters with no impulse control. Bell is what Liz could have been with better emotional support systems, and sometimes it lowkey kills Liz to think about that. It’s cool, though. These two get along just fine.

J. Willows Bei-Ceylon-Lavender: One of his closet friends. They’ve known one another since they were quite young, and Bell would do anything for her. He’s one of her biggest supporters; when she’s got a plan, he’s in her corner hyping her up. She thinks he’s a bit of a dork, but that’s also her good friend, and she’d go to war for Bell as quickly as Bell would go to war for her. They’re just that close.

Angie [Angela] Wright: That’s his best friend! Bell loves Angie very deeply. She’s a source of emotional stability for Bell, who can be a little all over the place. In return, he’s her sense of spontaneity. She lays the plans out, Bell helps them go even better than expected. Or worse. It really depends on the day. He supports her in everything she does, right or wrong, and he’s always in her corner.

Evangeline Wright: One of his best friends. The two of them are always up to something when they’re together. Bell loves hyping up her schemes and supporting her crimes, and she loves doing the same for them. They match one another’s energy in a dangerous way. Even when they’re being relaxed, they’re scarily similar. Whether it’s the quiet, sleepy moments or the excitement of the high zee, these two are made to be friends.

Sarah "Toadie" Beckham: They have a playfully antagonistic relationship. She begs them to get a haircut and chastizes them for causing trouble; he teases her for oversalting her cooking and not being able to hold her liquor. They like to trade information about their particular areas of interests, and their conversations are an endearing mix of lighthearted joking and amphibian facts.

Arthur (Art) Hemmingway: They’re not the closest, but Stone and Art get along well enough. Art is a jokester, and they often get into playful banter when they’re working together. For the most part, though, they’re off doing their own things.

Louis Evans: They get along pretty well! Out of all the crew, Louis is definitely the most reserved, and Bell’s energy can be pretty intense for most people, so they tend to avoid one another. But Bell cares about all of his crew, so if Louis needs anything, he’s always right there to help.

Porter “Smalls” O’Hare: Smalls and Bell get along like peas in a pod. Bell loves to read his writing and often has advice for upping the excitement for the scenes on the Zee, which Smalls appreciates. The pair make an odd match, but they’re very supportive friends.

Mac “Biggs” O’Hare: When these two are in the same room, no one is getting any sleep, that’s for sure! They’re both extremely talkative, and when they start up a conversation, they’re never going to stop. They love to trade travel stories and talk about the ship, and oftentimes have to be pulled away from one another by other crewmates.

Carpenter Harrison: These two aren’t the closest either, but they get along fine. Bell doesn’t relate to his romantic hijinks, but he listens and sympathizes anyway. They also love to swap stories about their particular interests. Bell has learned about a lot of flowers from Carpenter, and Carpenter knows way, way too much about musical instruments.

Hive: Bell doesn’t call himself Hive’s parent, but... that’s his damn kid. He doesn’t mind that Hive is a little odd, because he was odd himself as a child. The two of them are very close. When Hive isn’t with Forks, its shadowing Bell around with wide eyes. Bell seems to understand Hive instantly even when its not speaking, and they make very good companions.

Forks: Again, this is Bell’s kid! She reminds him a lot of himself growing up: wild and excitable, smart but often easily distracted. He loves helping her focus her energy on projects, and encourages her to explore and figure out what she wants to do. He also appreciates her tiny ears and her ability to just Know Things about the crew. She thinks Bell is The Coolest, and will brag to anyone who talks to her. Really they’re just the cutest.

Elana Wright: Bell cares deeply for Elana. She’s like a niece to him; he loves to listen to her talk about her studies and teach her about the Zee. They get along like two peas in a pod, and Bell does everything he can to make sure she’s comfortable on the ship.

EXTRA INFORMATION

Heavily involved with the criminal underbelly of London. Chances are if some major shit has gone down, Bell’s in there.

Loves music and musical instruments. Obsessed with collecting weird instruments and listening to songs of all kinds. His friends gift him objects that make weird sounds all the time.

Also just really like sounds. Weird sounds >>> everything else

Super fucking forgetful. Angie keeps them on track often otherwise they’d forget everything.

Ellison's childhood bff and they are QPPS, although that isn’t the wording or description they’d use, since it doesn’t really exist at the time.

Sometimes you have a queerplatonic homeoerotic relationship with your best friend and that is okay! Live your truth 💞

Participates in Hearts’ Game because they like poison and think it’s fun. They have never lost a match- but they’re only there for like a single season a year.

Loves big, challenging hunts and is thus always getting their friends into trouble.

Has a Moby Dick type arc with a giant octopus that causes every major problem on the zee for 6 years in the FL/SSeas timeline. [Exaggeration, but still.]

Local Zailors hate them! Here's how one man almost fucking awakens ancient forces beyond mortal ken every day!

Constantly put in the Path of Seeking and just says no because they stay silly

They love their crew and they would happily sell out the entire neath to protect them. Their friends are the most important people in the world to them.

#my posts #directory #fallen london ocs #fallen london #hunger #disease #alcoholism #depression #cw violence #child impoverishment #child neglect

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