The Playful Prodigy

From The Fifth City Wiki
Revision as of 20:32, 11 April 2025 by KestrelGirl (talk | contribs) (Avoiding overly extensive Gift spoilers)

"Are you quite sure you want to know this?"

Beyond this point lie major spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include endgame or major Fate-locked spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.

You can find out more about our spoiler policy here.


"The Playful Prodigy makes no sound as she stirs from the ceiling. You do not hear her unfold her spindly limbs. You do not see her long hands reach down, or the frightened, child-like faces that peer from each palm. You feel the needled finger, though, as it pricks a vein in your neck. Sharp as a bee sting."[1]

The Playful Prodigy is the second-youngest child of the Empress and her Consort. Once known for her cherubic cheeks and mischievous blue eyes,[2] she now appears as a spider-like creature with faces on its hands and needle-sharp fingers.[3] She enjoys playing with dolls,[4] and retains childlike mannerisms.[5] Her room is webbed with threads,[6] and she rests inside it by suspending herself from the ceiling.[7]

The Prodigy has a close relationship with her younger sister, the Captivating Princess,[5] who has served as her accomplice in her search of prey.[8] The Prodigy waits silently for unsuspecting intruders, then drops down silently and pricks their veins with her fingers,[7] rendering them unconscious.[9] She wraps her victims in silk to extract a piece of their very being,[10] allowing her to claw back her humanity.[11] The Captivating Princess appears to be the mastermind behind this plan.[5][8]

In the Sunless Skies timeline, Beatrice has successfully restored her human form. The Generous Princess, as she is now known, is notorious for her extravagant (and extremely dangerous) gifts and services, and is the center of society in New London.[12]

Historical Inspiration

Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (1857-1944) was the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She was known for her unwavering devotion to her mother and played a significant role in preserving Victoria's legacy. Born at Buckingham Palace and christened Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore, Beatrice was the ninth and final child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; she was affectionately nicknamed "Baby," and became a favorite of both her parents. After Albert's death in 1861, Queen Victoria relied heavily on Beatrice for companionship, expecting her to remain by her side indefinitely.

Victoria was reluctant to let Beatrice out of her sight; she only allowed Beatrice's marriage to Prince Henry of Battenberg on the conditions that the couple live with her, and that Beatrice continue her duties as the Queen's unofficial secretary. Beatrice and Henry were married in 1885, and had four children; after Henry's death in 1896, Beatrice remained a close companion to her mother until Victoria's death in 1901.

In the decades to come, Beatrice dedicated herself to transcribing and editing Victoria's extensive diaries. Since she was tasked with removing private matters as well as anything potentially damaging or libelous, she removed so much material that her revised and published editions were only one-third as long as the original manuscripts — but the results, completed in 1931, still became a significant source for historians studying the Victorian era. Beatrice, the last surviving child of Victoria and Albert, died in 1944 at a royal country home in Sussex.

References

  1. ↑ The Gift, Fallen London
  2. ↑ The Gift, Fallen London "At the very front, cross-legged on the floor, sits the Playful Prodigy. She has the cheeks of a cherub and blue, mischievous eyes."
  3. ↑ The Gift, Fallen London "[...] her long hands reach down [...] the frightened, child-like faces that peer from each palm. You feel the needled finger [...] Sharp as a bee sting."
  4. ↑ The Gift, Fallen London "[...] A grand dolls' house stands in the middle of the room. Nine dolls sit within. The table in its dining-room is set with little honey-pots, painted red."
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Gift, Fallen London "Beatrice?" she calls. Behind her, the Playful Prodigy edges forward, placing her pointed feet [...] carefully [...] "You silly thing, wrapping your own gift. Come, now. I know you're hungry. Eat. It's time to grow up, dear."
  6. ↑ The Gift, Fallen London "Once, it was a pretty room of frills and lace. Now, ichorous cords stretch across it [...] The furniture is caked in stringy secretions. [...]"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Gift, Fallen London "The Playful Prodigy makes no sound as she stirs from the ceiling. [...] You feel the needled finger [...] as it pricks a vein in your neck. Sharp as a bee sting."
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Gift, Fallen London "A happy voice rouses you. Delicate fingers are stroking your hair. "I knew you'd be perfect. So curious. So bold. So resolute. Thank you, for exceeding my estimation." [...] The Captivating Princess kneels beside you."
  9. ↑ The Gift, Fallen London "A happy voice rouses you. [...] Tacky strands bind your arms and legs."
  10. ↑ The Gift, Fallen London "Her needled fingers pierce your heart. Your memories of what follows are fractured; broken glass rattling in a box. She did not want your blood, though you lost plenty of that. No – she dug deeper, and dined on something less replaceable."
  11. ↑ The Gift, Fallen London "'[...] I am happy to report that B_______ has blossomed. She has sloughed off her unfortunate infirmities and become exceptional: pleasing to the eye, an avid observer of the world, quick and generous. [...] She speaks of you often: both of your virtues and your flavour. [...]'"
  12. ↑ The Silken Salon, Sunless Skies "The Generous Princess manages many affairs of court. She cultivates alliances, forms opinions, sets trends, makes introductions, suggests promotions and dismantles reputations. [...] It's said that she fears the light of the suns, and that her gifts inevitably destroy the recipients. [...]"
Retrieved from "https://thefifthcity.wiki/w/index.php?title=The_Playful_Prodigy&oldid=19571"