“Maggie’s a good girl, just...makes some daft decisions sometimes, it seems like. She’s got so much potential -- that’s why I got her that scholarship to King’s College. I may not be much myself, but I’ve met more than a few gents through the museum what are always looking for a noble cause to sponsor, and that Maggie, she’s a cause and that’s for sure, noble or not remains to be seen. I knew she could make something of herself; more than any of the rest of that family, an’ that’s not saying much. Bless her, she was learning the bookbinding trade same time as she was learning about “The Bard” and all those old poets and such, met a nice young man, second son of Lord Somethingorother, I forget. She had such a bright future, and then? I’ll never understand what got into her head, stealing an exam like that. Thought she had more sense - she was always so serious about her books and her studying. Got sent down, and of course the young fellow wasn’t about to have naught to do with her after that.
All that time working in the library was well-spent, though, and in spite of leaving under a cloud, as they say, she was able to pick up a good job at a print shop, putting type together into -- well, she explained to me once, but alls I know is that she puts the words together to go on the pages, and then puts the book together after all’s done. A good job, was making a tidy sum and got a place of her own. Why she wanted to work for less at some dusty old bookshop, I’ll never know. Says she’s a “document restoration specialist” now - sprucing up old books to make ‘em look like new. I’d’ve thought that the money wouldn’t be much doing that, but every time she comes over it’s new earrings or a new scarf or what have you, so she can’t be doing too badly for herself.
She comes over most Sundays for dinner, and I’m glad she’s been able to make something out of herself. I do worry sometimes that the only fella she ever mentions is that layabout cousin of hers, “Mistah Hughes” he calls himself. That whole side of the family is trash, if I’m not to be mincing words, and as long as she’s spending time with him there’s no hope of her finding a decent husband. Still. She’s my granddaughter, the only one I’ve got and that’s the truth. I wish her naught but good, and if she can just get out of her own way she might just get somewhere in the world.”
William McGill, Security Guard at the British Museum
- Gender
- Female
- Eyes
- Green
- Hair
- Short, wavy, auburn
- Height
- 5'5"
- Weight
- 130
Appearance
Physical Description
Fairly athletic, as she goes out dancing several nights a week.
Body Features
Irish pallor, with a spritz of freckles that come out when she's been out in the sun a lot
Apparel & Accessories
Tends to dress a half step above her station, albeit in secondhand wares most of the time. Likes brightly colored blouses.
Mentality
Education
Most of a Literature degree at King's College
Accomplishments & Achievements
Had a straight-A average in college...until she was expelled.
Failures & Embarrassments
Expelled from King's College in senior year of a Literature degree
Mental Trauma
Soon enough.
Intellectual Characteristics
Very perceptive and detail oriented. Can get hyperfocused on the details, especially when working on her art. Fails to see the forest for the trees and is oblivious to anything else going on when she's working. The kind of person who gets working on a project and forgets to eat.
Morality & Philosophy
Maggie believes money corrupts, and that it is impossible to be rich and a good person. She prefers to scam people who are demonstrably bad, but "careless" is enough of a sin that she'll snip the purse string of a well to do lady coming out of the opera.
person.sexuality
Got her heart broke and never wants to go through that again.
person.gender_identity
Tomboyish female
Taboos
Cruelty to animals or children
Destruction of art or literature
Personality
Motivation
Adventure: Maggie loves the thrill of the con, the feeling of having put one over on some rich toff who won't miss it anyway. She wilts when things are predictable, ordinary, stable.
[Secondary]Arrogance/Vengeance. Money corrupts and therefore all rich people are evil if you dig deep enough.
Quotes & Catchphrases
"He'll never miss it."
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Knows a good bit about early modern printing practices and drama. Gifted at book restoration...and forgery.
Fair to middling at shoplifting, pickpocketing, etc. She's bad enough at it that it is always a challenge, but good enough that she very rarely gets caught.
Likes & Dislikes
Likes: Jazz, Marlowe, gin
Dislikes: Professors, condescending rich people.
Virtues & Personality perks
Codeswitches easily between lower class and educated speech.
Vices & Personality flaws
Bit of a kleptomaniac/adrenaline junkie.
Sometimes has a hard time concealing her contempt for the university system.
Hygiene
Her appearance always suits the situation; working in the back of the shop she's completely unselfconscious, doesn't notice if she's spilled ink or if her hair is a mess. But if she's going out in "public," she will always have her hair combed, makeup on point. Nicer clothes when dealing with clients in the shop, shabbier stuff when out on the town.
Social
Birthplace
London
Current Residence
London
Wealth & Financial state
Maggie's income fluctuates wildly from month to month, depending on how much "freelancing" she's doing. Her typesetting job had her making a relatively good living, but it was mind-numbingly boring. Her income at the Bookstore is significantly less, so she supplements with the occasional pickpocketing/shoplifting/game of "It'd be a shame if..." with Shaw.
Family Ties
Shaw Hughes - cousin
William McGill - paternal grandfather
Religious Views
Raised CoE, stopped going long ago. Ex-BF was staunchly atheist - if God exists, why would he allow suffering? - and a bit of that rubbed off.
Social Aptitude
Prefers to be invisible whenever possible, blending in to whatever situation she is in. When in her element, talking about her areas of expertise she is confident bordering on arrogance and condescension - after all, how could these people possibly know as much as she does? Has pretty major trust issues, but will have a drink and a laugh with friends.
Hobbies & Pets
Pretends the bookstore cat is annoying but loves having him curl up on her lap.
Speech
Defaults to received pronunciation, but code switches fluently to lower-class (becoming more pronounced when hanging out with Shaw).
Social
Birthplace
London
Current Residence
London
Wealth & Financial state
Maggie's income fluctuates wildly from month to month, depending on how much "freelancing" she's doing. Her typesetting job had her making a relatively good living, but it was mind-numbingly boring. Her income at the Bookstore is significantly less, so she supplements with the occasional pickpocketing/shoplifting/game of "It'd be a shame if..." with Shaw.
Family Ties
Shaw Hughes - cousin
William McGill - paternal grandfather
Religious Views
Raised CoE, stopped going long ago. Ex-BF was staunchly atheist - if God exists, why would he allow suffering? - and a bit of that rubbed off.
Social Aptitude
Prefers to be invisible whenever possible, blending in to whatever situation she is in. When in her element, talking about her areas of expertise she is confident bordering on arrogance and condescension - after all, how could these people possibly know as much as she does? Has pretty major trust issues, but will have a drink and a laugh with friends.
Hobbies & Pets
Pretends the bookstore cat is annoying but loves having him curl up on her lap.
Speech
Defaults to received pronunciation, but code switches fluently to lower-class (becoming more pronounced when hanging out with Shaw).