Tea Rose 2, Paprika 6, Iceberg 13: Bastard

[bookblather]

Author: Kat
Title: Bastard
Story: In the Heart -- Regency AU
Colors: Tea rose 2 (A mind lively and at ease, can do with seeing nothing, and can see nothing that does not answer.), paprika 6 (Every other day I crossed the line.), iceberg 13 (hot chocolate) with Geena's paint-by-numbers (The past'll be presented/Recast and reinvented)
Supplies and Materials: Tapestry (Tea rose/eraser), eraser (Regency AU), stain (In great affairs men show themselves as they wish to be seen; in small things they show themselves as they are. - Nicholas Chamfort), modeling clay (free), glitter (What would you change about your family life if you could?), novelty beads (my brain took this picture in a weird direction), canvas.
Word Count: 903
Rating: PG-13.
Summary: How Ivy learned of her parentage.
Warnings: sexist and sexual slurs, attempt to distress a child.
Notes: Ivy is apparently the Regency honey badger.


Ivy was five years old when she found out that she was a bastard.

It was pure happenstance. A very elegant lady came to visit Mama, and Mama sent Ivy and Aaron out of the house to play. Aaron actually did it but Ivy was curious, so she waited until he was busy, then crept back to the house to listen.

As it happened, she did not have to creep too close. She could stop at the neighbor's stoop and make herself comfortable, because the elegant lady was shouting very loudly and Mama was pushing her out the door.

"...you and your little bastard!" the lady screamed, and whirled around in the street, her vast skirts picking up all sorts of filth. Ivy giggled to see it. "Don't think you'll ever be welcome again!"

Mama stood at the top of the stoop and frowned down at the lady. She was wearing the expression that meant someone was going to get paddled and soon. Ivy knew it wasn't for her, but she shrank back nonetheless.

"If you ever," Mama said, in her very calm and very angry voice, "refer to my child like that again, you will not like the consequences. You are never welcome in my home. Now get out." She turned on her heel and slammed the door.

The elegant lady screamed a few more things, then turned on her heel and saw Ivy then, sitting innocently on Mrs. Hervey's stoop. She swooped down on her, her skirts whooshing like a ship's sails in a gale. Ivy watched with interest, propping her chin on her hands, as the lady came to stand in front of her.

"You," she hissed. "You little bastard, if you even think to get your grubby paws on my father's money, I'll... I'll..."

Ivy tipped her head to the side. "Keelhaul me?" she suggested. "Papa told me pirates do that. What's a bastard?"

The lady smiled nastily at her. "You are," she said, sweetly. "And your mother is a whore."

Ivy knew what a whore was. She knew a few, actually. "No, she's not," she said, reasonably. "Miss Lucy is a whore. Mama's not, Mama takes in stitching. "

"She's a whore," the lady said, "and you're a bastard, and if you ever try to worm your way into our family I will destroy you."

"I don't want your family," Ivy said. "I have my own. My mama and my brother and my papa and..."

The lady spat at her. Ivy jerked back, shocked, and the lady snapped, "See you keep your place," before stomping away.

Ivy tried to wipe the spit off her leg with her skirt, but she could still feel it, so she went home.

Mama tsked and took her on her lap to scrub her leg, her head bent down by Ivy's and her arm around Ivy's waist. Ivy liked sitting with Mama like this; she felt warm and drowsy, like she'd just drunk a whole pot of chocolate. Like she could say anything.

"Mama," she said, when Mama pressed a wet cloth against her leg. "What's a bastard?"

Mama went still against her for a moment, then resumed wiping her leg. "Where did you hear that word?" she asked, her voice careful.

Ivy shrugged a little. "The lady said I was one, but she wouldn't say what it was. What's it mean?"

"Ivy," Mama said, gently scolding. "I told you to go play."

"I did go play," Ivy said, "but I came back. You didn't say how long."

Mama laughed. "My little lawyer." She kissed the top of Ivy's head, then put the cloth on the table and patted her leg. "You're all clean."

"But what's a bastard?" Ivy persisted, squirming around on Mama's lap to face her. "You never said. Am I not supposed to know?"

Mama sighed, and closed her eyes. "No, pet," she said, quietly. "I just hoped you wouldn't have to know. A bastard is a child born out of wedlock."

Ivy thought about that for a moment, then said, "But you and Papa were married when I was born."

"Yes," Mama said, "but strictly speaking Papa didn't... do you know how women get babies?"

Ivy nodded. "Miss Lucy told me," she said, and wrinkled her nose. "It sounded very unpleasant."

She surprised Mama into a laugh, and then Mama covered her eyes again. "Oh, Ivy. Only you. Well, so you know that there is a man and a woman involved. For you, Papa was not that man."

That... was a surprise. Ivy frowned, felt her forehead wrinkle fiercely. If Papa wasn't her papa, not really—but that didn't make sense, Mama wasn't Aaron's mama really but Aaron called her Mama because she was the only one he had. So, really... "Is Papa still my papa?"

"Yes!" Mama said, sounding startled. "Of course he is, pet. He loves you. You've his name."

Ivy did, too—she was Ivy Kendall, and Papa was Nathan Kendall, and all the world knew you had your papa's name. "Oh," she said. "All right then. Can I have a biscuit?"

Mama laughed again, and kissed her forehead. "No, you may not. But you may go and find your brother and play. You needn't do your chores today."

Ivy yipped with glee, and squirmed off her mama's lap and out the door before Mama could change her mind.

Maybe Aaron would want to play catch!

Comments

[isana]

Ugh, that lady. I understand period-appropriateness with women having babies out of wedlock, but good lord, spitting on a child is beyond the pale. Clearly, good breeding did not come with status in that family.

But it's good to see that Ivy's unaffected (for now), and that Gail patiently explains things to her instead of going 'when you're older.' Terrific job!

[bookblather]

I can only assume that she doesn't think of Ivy as a child so much as she does as a symbol of depravity.

Thank you very much! Ivy pretty much stays unaffected; her mother was chill enough about it and her dad is basically all, "of course you're my kid, what's for dinner?" so it doesn't feel like a big deal to her.

[shipwreck_light]

Honestly, Ivy's reactions to this. Oh, there's spit and oh that sounds unpleasant and you didn't say how long. This is obviously a very tense situation, but watching her be very much a little lawyer indeed is such a joy.

Plus, I can feel the love. It's very chocolaty indeed and this is sweet and you should be proud.

DID I MENTION I GODDAMN LOVE IVY NO MATTER WHEN SHE IS?

[bookblather]

I think Gail handled it exactly right, tbh; she didn't make a big deal of it, just explained it. And Ivy, also, does not give a fuck, because she is a tiny lawyerly honey badger.

Thank you!

[settecorvi]

I love how Ivy works through each event with her own logic. Sure, her papa might not have been involved in the making of her, but she has his name, ergo all is right in the world. Even more, I love Gail's measured explanation, delivered with Ivy cuddled in her lap.

[bookblather]

Yup! Ivy has a very peculiar sense of logic, but it suits her quite well; her life is fine and comfortable, her daddy is her daddy, and everything's okay.

Thank you!