Road to Romance - Victorian Mischief

By Alex White

- 11 minutes read - 2330 words
A detailed write up of a game of classic victorian romance.

This is one of four stories which were being told simultaneously by a game group. The other stories will be added here as they are released. These are transcripts of live sessions, and not carefully plotted short stories, so please don't expect them to be polished!

Safety Discussion

We wanted to test the boundaries of what we were comfortable with, and so elected to aim for sensual/steamy romances. We did a lot of check-in during the game to make sure that everyone was comfortable with where we were going.

“Victorian Mischief”

This is a classic victorian romance.

  • Protagonist: Edward, a well-to-do young man from a good family, Played by Cris
  • Paramour: Alice, a prostitute. Strong but flawed, flirtatious. Played by Alex.
  • Trouble: Jealous ex, Madame Millicent, the brothel owner who doesn't want to lose Alice Played by Marsha.

Introduction

We see Edward in an ornate ballroom, circulating amongst the guests. He easily moves from person to person and is very comfortable here - but there is also something detached about him. He doesn't spend much time with any individual person before moving on.

The scene changes and he is in a study. There is an older woman who is exhorting him to find a match, but he wants something more.

"Mother, I don't want to just marry someone that will improve our status because they need our money..."

He gets more agitated as the conversation goes on. His mother leaves and he pulls something out of his pocket and reads it.

The camera moves elsewhere, and we see Madame Millicent berating Alice. Madame is angry about somthing. She is yelling at Alice "This is your life. And it will always be your life. You are never getting out of here."

Encounter

We see Edward lying in bed. The bedchamber isn't as nice as we might expect. It's a bit dingy. Then you see a hand appear on his shoulder and a girls voice says "Oh, Edward, I'm so pleased when you come around. You're not like the others"

The hand comes up and runs through his hair a bit.

"You're special, Alice" he says.

"You make me feel special" she replies

Edward continues "I have never felt the way I've felt when I'm with you. And I don't just mean the sex"

She puts her head up over his shoulder from behind.

"It makes me feel so alive" he says

She looks wistful "I can't tell you how nice it is to be with someone who doesn't leave me covered in bruises"

"I don't understand how anyone can treat you that way"

She bites her lip for a moment "It's that damn madame. But I'm not always going to be here. I'll always be here for you Edward, but even though she says that this is my life forever, it isn't. I'm going to make something of myself. I'm going to get on in this world and make my way. One day you'll see me, you'll be proud of what I do. I'm not proud of what I do at the moment, but it brought me across you. You are the light in my life at the moment Edward"

"I hope I don't just see you when you become something. I hope I see you while you become something.

"As long as you keep paying the Madame, you see me as much as you want! Technically our contracts done now, um, have another go before you have to leave? I think you're up for it?" and she reaches her hand down and caresses his lower body. "I think you're ready for another go round. We've got this time. We can make it quick"

"I don't want to make it quick"

"I've got another John coming in 20 minutes, but I want this time for us to be the best of me"

Edward rolls over on top of her

"Oh, Edward..."

Complication

We are back in the brothel, in Madame Millicent's office. She calls Alice into the room for a little chat.

"Uh, Alice, I heard that you haven't been very happy here, is that true?"

"I don't know what gave you that impression Madame, I'm perfectly happy here"

"Uh, I heard from another one of the girls that you were planning on making your exit, that you no longer wished to work for our fine establishment. Is that so? I found you when you were just a dirty little street urchin. I gave you a job, I gave you a viable career..."

"You took advantage of me when I was a child! You introduced me to things to make money for yourself!"

"What else would you have done?" the Madame retorts. "What other skills could you possible have?"

"I'll start a shop"

"Oh really? With what money? With what capital? Who would see you as a respectable shopkeeper after all that you've been doing?"

"I don't know, but it's going to happen"

"Has that client of yours, Edward, been putting these thoughts into your head? You've been spending an awful lot of time with him haven't you?"

"Only the allotted amount. He just gets what he's paid for, nothing more"

"That's not what I heard from the other girls. I hear you've been skimming time off your other clients to spend a little bit more time with him..."

"No, he's wealthy. He pays well. You should be happy that he prefers me to your other girls"

"Yes, he only seems to prefer you, doesn't he? And yet you want to leave. Despite having this high paying client. This doesn't add up Alice. What are you really after here?"

"I told you, I want my own life"

"You don't get to have the privilege of your own life" the Madame shouts.

Alice storms out. Madame Millicent thinks for a moment then turns to her writing desk. She writes a letter to Edward, telling him that there will no longer a service provided for him at her establishment... and if he sees Alice again then people in society will find out about what he has been doing..." It's blackmail.

When Edward recieves the letter he is fuming, and he throws it into the fireplace.

First Kiss

You might think how do you have a first kiss after all that has been going on? Well, we thought about the film Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts character (the prostitute) had the rule "no kissing, it's just business". Kissing makes it personal.

Alice is walking in the streets when a carriage draws up alongside. She hears Edward speaking from the covered interior "Alice, step inside".

She glances around then quickly steps inside. The carriage pulls away.

Edward says "I've been thinking about your problem. I don't know if you want my help, but I've thought of a way to get you started on your path"

She touches his lips with her finger and says "You are such a blessing Ed, such a blessing"

"We have an opening for a scullery maid"

"I've dreamt of becoming a scullery maid! But where would I live?"

"It would be torture for me to live downstairs, to be so close to you and yet be separated by that boundary, the landing which I would not be allowed to cross!"

"I cannot stand that you are living under that woman's control. This is a way out"

"I've been used by people since I was a child. I want to have my own life. I want to be my own woman. I want... to be... your woman. Living as a scullery maid... it would be a start"

There are tears in her eyes. She takes his hand and kisses it. "I don't deserve anything. Life is hard, you have to fight for everything. It makes such a difference to have somebody fighting for me for a change, not fighting over me"

Edward pulls her towards himself and kisses her on the lips. She leans into the kiss. And it is so unlike the professional attention that he has had in the past. it is slow, tender, and has a real sense of love behind it. She senses tension drain out of Edward. The carriage rides on.

Catastrophe

Well, when Alice got into the carriage with Edward it was noticed by one of the other girls on an adjacent corner who then reported it to Madame Millicent who was none to pleased.

So Madame Millicent pays a cordial visit to Edward's mother. Seeing as how the threatening letter didn't work, she would like to have a nice conversation about the conduct of her son and her concern over his social standing should this news unfortunately get out. Seeing as he is openly inviting the Madame's girls into his carriage.

"My son would not see prostitutes" the mother complains.

Madame Millicent brings out a record book. "Is this not his signature here?"

"That must be a forgery" his mother sputters. "He is a high born man who knows nothing of your tawdry business"

"I simply thought you might want to be informed of this situation, because we would hate for this to get into the public eye, wouldn't we?"

"Hm. I think it is time I sent him on the grand tour of europe. I've been putting it off for a while"

"What an excellent idea"

"And this... creature that you say that he has been seeing... I dare say you'll make sure that she gets a jolly good thrashing. Don't spare the horsewhips"

"I will certainly put her in her place, you can be sure of that"

A few minutes later, mother calls out "Edward! It is time for your Grand Tour"

"I'm not going anywhere Mother" he replies.

"Oh yes you are. you need to expand your mind. see the continent. See how the foreigners live. We'll fill that vacant position which you mentioned"

"I've already got it sorted out"

"Oh I'll review it. But for you it is going to be three months down in France, the low countries, and up in the Alps. Good for your health. You've been a bit below par recently"

"Yes mother. Of course. I will go. Give me a couple of days to put my affairs in order"

"Don't worry, we've got servants that can do that"

"I've got to pick out which servants are coming with me"

"No, no, no, no, I'm just going to send the butler along with you. My boy, there's been rumours about you dipping your wick in a strange ink well, and we can't be having with that. We can't have shame on the family. This is a punishment as well as a benefit."

"but..."

"Mother is speaking. This is a punishment for you for your indescretions, the things you have been doing. Three months in Europe will give a chance for things to settle down to preserve our family name and give you a chance to broaden your outlook, maybe find a nice foreign girl from a good family. Yes, it's a reset for you and it is one that you need"

Edwards mother draws him along to the front door

"I've been thinking about this for a little while and the butler has packed your valise. You may kiss your mother goodbye"

She presents her cheek, and he dutifully kisses her. Then slowly walks down to the carriage.

Comeuppance

Madame Millicent decides to give Alice a jolly good thrashing. She's going to beat her black and blue and bloody.

But Alice isn't going to have any of that. She wrestles the whip out of Millicent's hand and beats Millicent in turn! All the disgust and pain comes out. As Millicent is sobbing Alice shouts in time with her blows "You. Will. Never. Ever. Own. Me. Again".

Alice then breaks the whip and throws it down.

"If you ever come against me or Edward, your body will be found floating in the Thames. Live your life. I will live mine on my terms"

"Ungrateful wretch" Millicent moans as Alice storms out.

Happily Ever After

Alice shows up at the servant's entrance to Edward's residence. She has a letter to the maid in charge and we see her accepted as the new scullery maid.

Time moves on, and we see her working happily, and then Edward returns from the continent. They maintain a proper distance. There are glances, but no more.

After a few years we see Edward in mourning. He comes back to the house from a funeral. He goes to see Alice. She has worked her way up over the years and is now the Housekeeper.

"With my mother's passing, I can do what I've wanted to do for a very long time"

"Go", Alice says, "See the world. Be the man that you are supposed to be"

He whispers "Will you marry me?"

She bursts into tears. She had forgotten that as a possibility. She had become happy in her new life here.

Edward says "You've built a new life on your own, and I don't want to take that away from you. But you are all that I've ever wanted"

"Edward, you're all that I've wanted. I dream of you every night. The life I had before was horrible apart from those points of light I spent with you"

She continues

"These last years I've been content to spend time watching you from afar. Making sure that the things you touched and sat on and slept in were clean and sparkling and just right for you. I don't know how it works in this society but I would be beyond honoured to be your love. I never thought I'd say those words" She then bursts into tears.

"We will work out the potential issues. You will be perfect as my wife"

She falls into his arms and covers his neck with quick kisses.

And they both lived happily ever after.