Jervaise

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"You turn – and see the Carnival's Bearded Lady. She wears a yellow and pink striped crinoline and carries a frilly parasol. Her beard is... actually, her beard is familiar. You look again. It's Jervaise."[2]

Jervaise is the head butler to Mr Wines, one of the Masters of the Bazaar.[3] How exactly he came into their service remains a mystery, though it may have to do with his wife's past pursuit of the Name.

History[edit | edit source]

"Jervaise and the Hooded Woman sit side by side, one oar each. They bicker ceaselessly; the boat goes in circles, barely half a mile off the shore. When they return some hours later, they are both beaming. "Marvellous," the Hooded Woman says. "We should do it again," Jervaise concurs."[4]

Once a simple fisherman[5][6] on Mutton Island, Jervaise and his wife - none other than Mrs Plenty,[7] alias Miriam, of Carnival fame - ran a bar called the Cock and Magpie before becoming entangled with the Masters.[8] He has past ties to the Drownies,[9] which may be relevant to his distaste for Rubbery Lumps[10] due to the true nature of the authentic snack.[11] Now that Miriam has busied herself running the Carnival, Jervaise moonlights as its Bearded Lady.[12] He and Miriam[13] both habitually smoke tobacco,[14][15] and they share a fondness for bickering.[16]

Mrs Plenty, Jervaise's wife.

Jervaise has long been a source of support for Miriam; he helped her recover from the Seeking Road,[17] though the experience left psychological scars.[18][19] However, like just about any long marriage, theirs has seen its fair share of rocky periods. Jervaise's devotion is not absolute, as he frequently visits the Parlour of Virtue, where his encounters with Sinning Jenny go beyond professional courtesies.[20] Following the events of the Grand Clearing-Out, Mr Wines sent Jervaise to Mutton Island in order to collect love stories for the Bazaar;[21] despite already being married, Jervaise was willing to forge new courtships to provide material for these stories himself.[22] Mr Wines is well aware of Jervaise's indiscretions, and occasionally steps in as the couple's marriage counselor.[23]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 'Meet me at the contortionist's tent at midnight.', Fallen London "You turn – and see the Carnival's Bearded Lady. She wears a yellow and pink striped crinoline and carries a frilly parasol. Her beard is... actually, her beard is familiar. You look again. It's Jervaise."
  2. ↑ 'Meet me at the contortionist's tent at midnight.', Fallen London
  3. ↑ The smoothness of stones, Fallen London "Jervaise - Mr Wines' majordomo - […] is happy to gossip."
  4. ↑ Suggest a boat ride, Fallen London
  5. ↑ Joke with His Amused Lordship, Fallen London "Have I told you the one about the fishwife and the Rubbery Lumps?"
  6. ↑ Surrender a third Mutton Island story, Fallen London "Jervaise is nowhere to be found. He has left a note next to a cold pile of Rubbery Lumps […] 'Assume all's well with whatever you've put together. See Wines when you're back in London at festival's end. As for me, let him know I've gone fishing. J.'"
  7. ↑ Put on a little show, Fallen London "Jervaise's […] waiting with his arm around... Mrs Plenty."
  8. ↑ Take a good look around, Fallen London "Miriam used to run this place a'fore me, with 'er 'usband. Both of 'em tangled up with them Masters up in London."
  9. ↑ Enlist help from the Drownies, Fallen London "Jervaise's attempts to listen […] are ruined by […] attempts to plug his ears […] They want to make you into one of 'em, and I'm telling you my love, blue ain't your colour!" Jervaise mumbles something about a favour having been returned, and stalks away […]"
  10. ↑ Try Rubbery Lumps, Fallen London "The Dashing Drownie abandons his Lump after one bite. "What say I fetch us some nice fresh fish instead?" Jervaise's eyes widen. "Oh thank God," he says. "Yes, please.""
  11. ↑ Yes, Fallen London "Lank hair, hollow eyes, stinking white skin. "I could have chosen differently," he says. "If I hadn't eaten it. The flesh, the fruit. I might only be dead.""
  12. ↑ 'Meet me at the contortionist's tent at midnight.', Fallen London "You turn – and see the Carnival's Bearded Lady. She wears a yellow and pink striped crinoline and carries a frilly parasol. Her beard is... actually, her beard is familiar. You look again. It's Jervaise."
  13. ↑ Have a chat in the shadow of the wheel, Fallen London "Catch Mrs Plenty when she nips around the side of the wheel for a smoke."
  14. ↑ Suggest a boat ride, Fallen London "Jervaise sits in the boat, drinking and smoking..."
  15. ↑ Stories for Mr Wines, Fallen London "Jervaise waits outside the Parlour, carrying a ledger in scarlet leather. He nods as you emerge, […] putting out a cigarette […]"
  16. ↑ Suggest a boat ride, Fallen London "Jervaise and the Hooded Woman sit side by side, one oar each. They bicker ceaselessly; the boat goes in circles […] When they return some hours later, they are both beaming. "Marvellous," the Hooded Woman says. "We should do it again," Jervaise concurs."
  17. ↑ "What do you care?", Fallen London "I got certain duties I can't get out of, even with wot Jervaise and 'Imself did fer me."
  18. ↑ Sabotage a picnic, Fallen London "All you need do is ensure that the contents of the basket are replaced with candles. The expression on the Hooded Woman's face, and the horror on Jervaise's as he registers it, is enough to put a lid on the whole afternoon."
  19. ↑ Bring the pair to an unfortunate place, Fallen London "Jervaise takes his wife's hand and leads her from the well, but not without first shooting you a glance of mild loathing."
  20. ↑ Show him the money, Fallen London "She exchanges kisses with Jervaise and he clasps her petite hands in his broad, hairy ones. "Dearest," he says. "Hello, petal," she replies. "I haven't seen you in a while.""
  21. ↑ Offer assistance to Jervaise, Fallen London "He lists Mr Wines' requirements. Three stories, loosely on the theme of love, blossoming at the Fruits of the Zee festival. The Master has no requirements as to the nature of that love..."
  22. ↑ Ask Jervaise to consider forming a pairing, Fallen London "You do know I am extremely spoken for? […] But if you need somebody to fill in, I suppose I'll do in a pinch."
  23. ↑ Report a story of Mutton Island to Mr Wines (Average relationship), Fallen London "'There will be discord. No doubt we will be expected to play intermediary. Again.' It sounds extremely resigned."
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