Chapter Text
For once, Button House is still and idle. Alison and Mike had recently discovered a quick route to the nearest big Tesco’s, and naturally wanted to pop out and buy a few things. Before the couple left, Alison had made sure pages were turned, the TV was turned on, and some surprises were left around if the ghosts got too nosy in their bedroom.
On the TV was some news channel, turned on as a punishment for no ghost being able to decide what they wanted to watch. Of course, this lead everyone into losing interest and wandering off to do whatever was more interesting than the weather forecast and more fear mongering.
Lillian had been the only one to sit and watch, partially due to the fact she was hiding from Captain drilling her about more war stuff. She wondered if he’d ever learn that just because she was in World War One, she did not in fact care about World War Two.
An interesting news hook made her perk up, shifting her position from a lazy slouch to an attentive posture. She brushed her blonde hair away from her one eye that was now wide and awake.
The news hook that caught Lillian’s eye was one of a group of female activists, trying to close the gender pay gap. Back in her day, she had longed to do stuff like this. She had wished to raise her fist and make a change, she had longed to… nevermind. Lillian shook away the thought, not allowing herself to get melancholic. She just continued to listen to the TV anchor.
“—…and these women led the charge, intending to break barriers in both employment and politics…”
At that moment, a familiar scent of ash had indicated that Mary had stopped at the doorway, lingering. Lillian could only assume that the news had hooked her too. As a fellow woman, she assumed the feeling Mary had in her heart at the moment was pride. However, her assumption was wrong.
“‘Tis not right… Where be their ‘usbands?” Mary started, her voice timid.
She feared for the fate of the women, whose pictures were now displayed on the screen. They were beaming, their smiles beautiful, bright and triumphant. The way anyone, regardless of gender would look after a huge win.
Lillian turned around, puzzled. Her arms were not hanging off of the back of the sofa, not the most comfortable position.
“Oh, Mary, this is marvellous. What do you mean by this?” Lillian had less internalised misogyny than Mary, and in the moment of bliss that the success of her sex had given her, she had forgotten just how much it had impacted her fellow ghost.
“Women… leaving their roles! Their duties! God, pardon their souls… They be confused…” The ash-covered ghost sounded more panicked now, clasping her hands together as if to begin a shaky prayer.
She walked forwards, a small cloud of soot following not far behind like a shadow. Mary gently fell to her knees a few feet from the TV, watching the screen with increased empathetic worry.
“Mary,” Lillian softened her tone. “You are aware that women are allowed to do this now, are you not? We’re being taken seriously now, rather than being labeled ‘shrews’. We gained the right to vote just after my time, thanks to the suffragettes…”
“What be a suffragette?”
“A very, very brave kind of woman from my time,” Lillian hesitated before quietly speaking the next sentence. “I wanted to join the movement.. I- Actually, pay no mind to that part.”
Mary’s soot-streaked hands trembled as she clasped them tighter together.
“But… leaving their ‘usbands… their homes… their duties… ‘tis improper, is it not?”
Lillian shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her.
“Improper? My dear Mary, the only thing improper is believing that a woman’s life must be dictated solely by men. Courage has no gender, and neither does purpose. A woman may love her home, care for her family, or do both… but she may also dare to live fully in other ways. I wish I knew that in my golden days.”
Mary tilted her head, uncertainty and awe flickering across her face.
“And… they be happy, without shame or fear?”
Mary loosened her hands, letting herself breathe. She thought about a lot of things in that moment, but most of all Annie. Mary recalled everything that her, now gone, close friend had taught her in their time. And using this information, she came to a conclusion. Mary mumbled under her breath.
“Annie’d be a suffra-.. suff- hmm.”
“What was that, Mary, dear?”
“It matters not, Lillian… Praise be the brave girls!”