An: Yay! Vastra's back!
Vastra returned suddenly and unexpectedly, walking through the front door one evening in early December. Jenny rushed out at the sound, thinking someone was intruding and was confused when there was no-one there. "Jenny!" came a voice behind her and she turned. Elation filled her at the sound of her name in that voice and with a surprised "Vastra!" Jenny rushed at her, dove underneath the veil, hands clasping the edges, kissing Vastra in the heady relief of her being home and unhurt after so many weeks. Vastra staggered a little in surprise as Jenny hugged her.
"Hello to you too, little ape."
Jenny let her go at that, awkward enough that she might've overstepped some boundary that she didn't pick Vastra up on the "little ape". She fiddled with Vastra's luggage, picking it up to take it upstairs.
"That was kissing yes?" Vastra enquired, removing her veil carefully and hanging it up. Jenny froze on the first step of the stairs.
"Yes ma'am." She didn't turn around.
"Hm. What for this time? What have I done to deserve such thanks?" Vastra shook out her cloak to rid it out any travelling dust and mildew.
"They can be like a greetin' too." Jenny dropped the luggage in favour of twisting her hands into her apron. "There's um lots of things. Reasons why. People kiss, I mean. But that was like a greetin'. A greetin' kiss." She turned round but stared at her feet, realising that it wasn't exactly convincing.
"I saw such things as I was passing through France. This is customary in Britain too?"
"Between…between people who know each other. Who're close. They um…they kiss. Particularly if they ain't seen each other for a while. An' then they suddenly see each other." Jenny continued to stare at the floor, a skirt appearing in the periphery, aware that now Vastra was looking keenly at her, was standing right in front of her, was taking her head in both hands and lifting it up and…
Her eyes fluttered shut at the sensation of cool scaly lips and her hands reached out to clutch at Vastra's dress and when Vastra released her, she found her breathing had become erratic.
"Hm. Not unpleasant." Vastra mused, turning away to move into the plant room.
Jenny wasn't sure if this was a compliment or not and, after gaping into thin air for a second, recovered herself and darted upstairs with the luggage.
She found Vastra in the plant room, her fingers steepled, eyes staring at the opposite wall. Jenny brought her a cup of tea and went to retreat but Vastra asked her to stay. She sat down in the chair usually reserved for clients, knees hugged to her chest, talking about what had happened with the Doctor, the riots that had happened throughout London only a few weeks ago, a new story she'd found in a magazine called A Study In Scarlet by a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Vastra returned the favour by filling her in on all the adventures of Egypt. She had hopes there was a clan of Silurians there, given the reactions and legends of the tribes she had met. After so long talking, Jenny was relaxed and felt the kisses were quite forgotten by Vastra; an ape oddity or custom that could be freely ignored.
But she couldn't quite forget it herself, not when Vastra yawned and suggested they go to bed. It'd been weeks since she'd last shared a bed with Vastra and she fidgeted nervously instead of dressing in her nightgown.
"Whatever is the matter? You've been jumpy ever since I returned. What happened?"
"Nuffin'."
"That bad hm?" Vastra crawled across the bed to stare up at her, eyes narrowing. "Did something happen with your family?" She grinned as Jenny looked at her in surprise. "I am trying to be a detective you know. And I have noticed that three things upset you. Being passed over because of your class, me or something to do with your family. And I've only been back for five minutes and I don't think even I could upset you quite so swiftly."
Jenny sighed. It wasn't really what was bothering her but it would serve as a cover and she had been intending on asking Vastra's help in the matter anyway.
"I saw me sister. At the riots."
"Cathy?" Vastra was surprised.
"Nah. Jess."
"Jess?"
"I had two older sisters."
"I recall you mentioning the name now when you told me of the day your mother died. What was she doing there?"
"Protestin' mainly. With this party called the…the Socialist something. I dunno. She got arrested for pullin' a peeler off 'is 'oss."
Vastra sighed. "Criminality runs in your family I see."
"Oi."
"Should we go speak to Gregson in the morning then? You would wish for her to be released? Or have you already tried?"
Jenny snorted derisively. "Like Gregson'd listen ter me."
"Well I shall speak to him then, as soon as I'm rested." Vastra assured her, wriggling back under the covers. "Which will happen a lot sooner if you stop standing around and get into bed." She added as Jenny didn't move.
Jenny very quietly and deliberately got dressed in her night gown, blew out the candle and then curled up at the edge of the bed and stared into the darkness for a long time.
She must've fallen asleep because she dreamed of cool scales and kisses. She woke up, rolled over and as usual Vastra wasn't there. She huffed a breath out to release the small pang, realising that Vastra wasn't back yet, burrowing her head under the covers.
"Jenny? Are you alright?" the quilt was gently tugged from her and a concerned scaly green face peered at her.
"Ma'am?" Jenny started upright into wakefulness. "You're back!"
Vastra stared at her bemusedly. "You are surprised? I got back last night. Don't you remember?"
"You weren't 'ere when I woke up."
"I got up." Vastra stared even harder at her tousle-haired sleep-fuddled human. "We're going to see Gregson today. He'll want a report on the Egypt case and I will ask him about your sister at the same time."
"Yeah." Jenny's shoulders slumped. It wasn't exactly the enthusiastic response Vastra was expecting.
"Jennyyyy…" Vastra drawled. "What is the matter?"
"Nuffin'." Jenny shook her head, plucking at the covers.
Vastra frowned. It couldn't be Gregson, if she hadn't tried to see her sister. It couldn't be her family, if she hadn't even seen her sister yet. Which left, as she'd factored into the deductions last night, Vastra herself. Apparently she could upset her in that short a time.
"You may be a thief, Jenny Flint, but you are a terrible liar. 'Nuffin' was the matter last night and 'Nuffin' is the matter now and I'd quite like to know what 'Nuffin' is, if it is not your sister and not Gregson…"
Jenny closed her eyes when Vastra leaned to catch her gaze. This rather confirmed the matter to the Silurian.
"How is your training going?" Vastra asked in an attempt to at least get Jenny to talk to her.
"S'goin' fine."
"Are you looking forward to your birthday? You mentioned before I left that it was coming up soon." Vastra racked her brains for something to talk about that hadn't been covered in yesterday's conversation.
"9th of October." Jenny burrowed back under the covers.
"What about it?"
"Thas when me birthday is. 9th of October."
"But that's…" a rush of shame and sorrow went through Vastra, a combination that she could only call regret, as she realised that was nearly two months ago. It intensified when she realised precisely when the 9th of October had been. "But that was only two days after I…why didn't you say anything? I could've delayed going. Jenny!" she shook what she assumed was a shoulder. She had left the little ape alone. So soon as well after her family had left her. Well that explained why Jenny was upset with her.
"S'alright." The lump gained a face, albeit one that was reddened. "That was the day the Doctor turned up. So I weren't alone or nuffin'." But she had been. She'd told Rose that. She'd been alone on her birthday. The Doctor and Rose were nice enough but Vastra was the closest thing she had to a family. Well, apart from Jess perhaps. Her face fell even further at that thought. After all, Cathy had walked out again. What was to stop Jess doing the same?
A head butt to her shoulder brought her attention back to a very sorrowful looking lizard staring at her.
"I will get Gregson to track down your sister and release her." Vastra promised, moving off the bed and out the door with the determination and singlemindedness she had when she had a task to do.
Gregson had been able to find no hint of a Jess Flint and Vastra returned home, more than a little dispirited. How was she going to cheer Jenny up now?
"Well there wouldn't be." Jenny shrugged, now dressed and sat at the kitchen table, when Vastra told her. "The Paternoster Irregulars couldn't find anything either when I asked 'em so I reckon she changed 'er name long ago."
"You could've told me!"
"You left that bleedin' quickly."
"Hmph."
Armed with this information Vastra returned immediately and found there had been one Jessica arrested. A Jessica Blackett had imprisoned for attacking a police officer. Gregson took her to the jail, where she paid the fine and saw Jenny's sister.
Cathy had not resembled Jenny in the slightest, being taller and more fair haired. But Jess Flint or Blackett was almost the twin of Jenny. Her dark hair was wild, her face rather dirty from jail and her eyes sparked at Vastra.
"'oo're you then?" she asked, as soon as they were in Vastra's carriage. "I don' take no favours off'n no toffs."
"I am not a toff, I am a private detective." Vastra explained, keeping herself calm.
"I din' do nuffin' wrong. So I whacked a peeler, ain't nuffin' requires detectivin'." Jess slumped moodily backward in the carriage chair and folded her arms. "You from one of the reform schools or summat? Bit bleedin' later doncha think? On'y by about a decade." She laughed bitterly.
"I am not from a reform school and I have no interest whatsoever in whatever multitude of crimes you have committed." Vastra had thought she might like Jess but found herself aggravated by the attitude.
Jessica raised an eyebrow and stared suspiciously at her. But she was safe in the depths of her hood and behind the veil. "Awright yer stumped me. Woss this all about? Some charity fing? Gonna try an' set me up as yer maid all nice n dandy?"
Really aggravated Vastra. She felt a twinge of annoyance. Is that what she'd done to Jenny? Was that what Jenny saw it as?
"We're here." She merely replied, stepping down from the carriage outside 13 Paternoster Row.
She hoped Jenny had gotten up and for some reason she hoped that Jenny wouldn't call her ma'am and yet…she remembered Cathy's reaction suddenly.
"Jenny!" she called as she entered the house, wishing she could sound less authoritarian. Behind her Jessica made a noise of surprise.
Jenny came out the kitchen, looking distinctly maid-like, which distinctly annoyed Vastra.
"You're back alre…" her voice trailed off as she spotted the young woman in a plain black dress behind her.
"So this is a Let's Reform People As Maids thing is it?" Jessica's arms folded.
Jenny flushed and stood wringing her towel between her hands.
"So it's you then I take it. Infamous Jenny Flint." Vastra stopped herself from hissing at Jessica's barbed tone but only just. "You workin' as a maid for this toff?"
"Jenny is my assistant." Vastra spat, unable to contain herself any longer.
"Balls." Jessica laughed cynically. She stared at Vastra a while longer.
"I merely wished to reunite you with your sister."
"I'm sure I'm grateful." Jessica snorted. "Gawd, I can't e'en believe it's you really, cept you look the same gormless idjit as ever."
"Surprised yer still remember what I look like." Jenny bit back. "Seein' as yer scarpered an' left us to the wind when I were 'ardly seven. An' yer might be a bit grateful seein' as 'ow she got yer outta prison."
"They weren't keepin' me there long anyways. Due to be all released after Christmas. An' if all that meets me is that now I become 'er nice lil maid like you I can do without favours."
"Thought you left to be a maid, a nice little skiv for some rich family rather than look after yer own!"
"Yeah an' thas when I realised s'all work fer the likes of us an' I decided to fight back a bit. 'ow'd she e'en know where I was ey? You at the riots? You watchin' from the sidelines, like everyone else, all safe in yer respectable maid's uniform?" She laughed. "An' you used ter be the worst of us, cept fer Albie. Mind you, you always was sellin' anyone to the peelers for cash you was I ain't surprised you'd sell yerself. Does your Mistress know about yer past?"
"Yes." Vastra replied, finding her voice again. She wasn't sure whether she was amused or shocked at their bickering.
Jess glowered at her. "So this is a reformin' thing is it? Takin' criminals an' givin' 'em employment?"
Jenny and Vastra looked at each other, wondering simultaneously what Jessica would make of them robbing banks but figuring she probably wouldn't be best pleased at that either.
"It's not like that. She rescued me." Jenny replied.
"Is that what she spun you as a tale? HA!"
"Nah you don' understand. It weren't nuffin' like that! I was attacked an' she rescued me. It weren't from no reform school, though I been around some places, it were from a long dark alley." Jenny took a step towards Jess.
"So what you stay with 'er outta some twisted gratitude? Scrapin' an' bowin'? Bet you don' e'en get paid do yer. You bin right fixed you 'ave. You got any sense you'll come along wiv me. I can set yer up independent like, yer own Mistress."
"But…"
"You don't owe 'er nuffin an' neither do I. Gawd I don' e'en know why I'm botherin'. You wanna stay an' lick some widder's boots fine. I got better things ter be doin'."
"What like get arrested?" Jenny spat. "I tried that an' I din't like it much." She and Jess were face to face now.
"At least I'm fightin' back! Rather than playin' dress up to rich bastards!" she pushed Jenny backwards.
"Jenny!" Vastra caught her by the arm as she stumbled, standing protectively in front of her, glowering at Jess. Jess looked at them as if a veil had been lifted. Her eyes widened.
"Ohhh. Is that what it's like? Not jus' a maid. Well that is a set-up. 'ow'd she con yer into that?" Jess whistled.
"She din't con me into nuffin'!" Jenny pushed back past Vastra, annoyed at the Silurian's protectiveness.
"I've 'eard about 'er sort. Tempt young kids in off'n the street with offers of a bed an' a meal an' then wham! Though usually they're men." Jessica shook her head. "You 'ave bin put upon yer poor sod."
With a snarl, Jenny grabbed her sister by the front of her dress, slamming her into the wall.
"Jenny!"
"Done a good number on yer, I'll give 'er that." Jessica said breathlessly, struggling against Jenny's grip.
"I chose ter stay with her. Yeah there was a bed an' a meal in it but seein' as she'd just rescued me from a bunch what probably did what you was insinuatin', I was inclined to take the offer up. She killed the bastards what were about to do fer me, got Cathy out of an asylum an' 'as generally bin lookin' after me ever since. So don't you dare. Ever. Imply. That I've bin put upon. Yeah, maybe we gotta be maid an' Mistress in the eyes of the world cos the world don't allow much else between the 'igh class an' lower class but don't you ever talk like that about 'er! She done fer me more'n you ever did, walkin' out like that, leavin' us all to fend fer oursels. Did yer know that Thom died? Did yer know Albie got picked? Did yer know Megan is livin' with our bastard aunt and uncle an' we can't e'en see 'er? Did yer know that Da died inna workhouse and Cathy ended up in an asylum? DID YER? DID YER KNOW I'D BE DEAD TOO BUT FOR 'ER?!"
Jess had stopped struggling and was now looking at Jenny amazed.
"Don' talk to me about 'ow you've bin fightin' cos you weren't fightin' fer us. You just…" Jenny ran out of words and let Jess go, stepping back.
Vastra wordlessly moved to her side. Jess noted the protective stance, the brush of hands and thought she could feel a glower.
She glowered back at the impenetrable veil.
"Oo are yer." She tugged her dress straight again.
"I told you. I'm a private detective. And adventuress. My name is Madame Vastra."
There was a silence.
"You 'elp 'er out do yer? Adventurin' an' the like?" Jess raised an eyebrow at Jenny.
"When I can…" Jenny shrugged.
"So yer…friends an' the like."
"…yes." Jenny thought that "an' the like" just about summed her and Vastra up.
There was a long silence.
"Fanks fer springin' me." Jessica sniffed, still not quite looking at Vastra.
"You're welcome." Vastra said a little sarcastically.
Jess brushed past them towards the kitchen and the back door. "This the servant's way out I take it? I wouldn't want to cause rumours or anythin'." She called to Vastra.
"Jess!" Jenny pushed past Vastra, realising she was quite possibly about to lose another of her sisters.
Jess turned back to her sister, with a small smile. "Aw c'mon Jenny. I'm fightin' fer socialism an' yer I don' e'en know what with the toffs. You can't tell me Vastra don' 'ave money, look at the place. You made it plain yer ain't comin' away with me so don't "Jess!" me. If she's who yer choose then fine enough an' I wish yer 'appiness."
"But…"
"I'm sure our two stories would make some interestin' listenin' to. An' who knows one day when everythin's calmed down but fer now? I can't say as I care fer yer preference o' company." Jess nodded to both of them and slipped out the back door.
"JESS!" Jenny ran after her.
"Listen, kid. I ain't no detective but I can tell yer never gonna choose a sister who rightly said I walked out on yer, though our useless arse of a father should've done some work lookin' after yer and I don't feel no shame over it, it weren't my job, over 'er 'oo saved yer. We got diff'rent paths to be walkin' at the moment. 'Sides…she's waitin' fer yer." Jess pointed over Jenny's shoulder to where a cloaked figure was watching them from the doorstep in the gloom of the evening. Jenny turned to look and froze when she heard footsteps running away. Her heart dropped in her chest but she didn't look behind to see the figure disappearing. She walked resolutely back across the court yard to the back door of 13 Paternoster Row where a cloaked figure, rather distressed by the melancholy crumpling in Jenny's face, swept her into a hug right on the doorstep, regardless of who might be watching.
And Jess, having crept back to watch from the shadows, grinned slightly and wandered off at a more casual pace, whistling softly. She had her own battles she was fighting and always would be; it was her nature. But there was a small part of her that was glad that at least one of her family had found something more.
An: Yay for Second Kiss! The inspiration for the type of which was a very good piece of fanart which is Jenny diving under Vastra's veil for a kiss *goes off in search of it to link the artist* which I can't currently bloody find but if you look up Jenny Vastra Fanart Kiss it's about the third result. Thank you to that artist! If anyone knows who that is please let me know the image merely links to 99+ pages of tumblr and as much as 99+ pages of Vastra/Jenny posts sounds awesome, I have work tomorrow.
The riots being referenced are the 1887 Bloody Sunday riot (If memory serves there's another fanfic that mentions them also, possibly Compilation of Short Stories on Vastra and Jenny or something? which is an awesome fic. Shout out to that fic!) The Socialist Democratic Federation apparently was involved (this is Wikipedia knowledge I was looking up the meaning of U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday and...there are a lot of Bloody Sundays, the 1887 one heads a long list) including one Annie Besant who I take to be the same as organised the 1888 Match Girl strike (the match factory being the only large scale industrial factory in London at the time if I recall my Wikipedia journeys in trying to find a factory for Jenny to work in). Jenny most likely would've been working from or for there during her time as a match girl, therefore I like to think she will support the strike when it happens in the future of this fic. It will probably involve a return of Jess as well who seems like the type to support it, being down with the Socialists. I think she may be more an anarchist Socialist League member rather than the SDF and probably ends up in some Tipping the Velvet-esque adventure and the like and then in her older age goes and becomes a Suffragette.
Weird Co-Incidence: I looked up the members list of the SDF (for lulz) and there's this bloke called James Gribble. I thought I was just making up a name but apparently it is a real surname. Welp.
A Study In Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle got published in the November of 1887 in Beeton's Christmas Annual and I think is the first Sherlock Holmes story. Seeing as The Secret Lives of Monsters infers that Arhur Conan Doyle ended up knowing Vastra and writing a story about an adventure with her (if not indeed directly basing the detective off of her but seeing as he wrote A Study In Scarlet in 1886 that's not possible in this timeline), I had Jenny read it to start off their whole thing. ACD(C? XD) may or may not be making an appearance in this fanfic; I mean the Doctor Who Adventures comic makes it that they know Oscar Wilde (well really I imagine they would) so all is game but I will admit beyond the Hound of the Baskervilles, I know little about his works so possibly not except as brief mentions. Also apparently he got invited to the wedding but according to Moffat declined to attend and sent a hamper instead. I bet Oscar Wilde attended in person.
Wow this is a Sydney Padua length note. I'm a little impressed. Considering I swear I wrote in the initial summary of this fic that there would be next to no historical accuracy. Then again, wikipedia articles is hardly...
To the next chapter! Let me know if my quality of writing is failing abysmally.
