Hey Guys I'm Going To The Store Can U Make Sure Nothing Happens To My Chocolate Milk

Fantasy Guide to Royal Households and How they Work

When I say Households, I mean the entourage that follows around the royal family. The household went everywhere with them to care for their needs from the people who would empty their chamber pots to their noble companions. Most royal households are basically the same as noble ones, only on grander scale. Every royal had a household and an entourage as well as every noble at court.

Palace Personnel ~ The Commons

The commons were an intregal part of every household. They made up perhaps 80% of the work force. Royal courts were often on the road and never spent more than a few months at every palace. The court was constantly moving. Some positions were not permanent, meaning certain servants did not travel with the court because they were employed at the palace only. They would be paid by the Monarch's paymaster.

Scullion: The scullion was a relatively easy position to fill so they were often changed as the court went from palace to palace. They would be responsible for scrubbing and cleaning the servants quarters and the kitchens. They would scrub floors with lye, scour pots with sand, sweep put the fireplace and clean up after the other servants. They were the first to rise in a castle and tasked to light all the fires in the kitchens. Scullions would just be employed to the palace and serve a multitude of chambers

Laundress: The laundress was responsible for the cleaning of anything made of fabric in the household. Since they are handling unmentionables, they knew what happened behind closed bedchamber doors. They knew when the King visited the Queen or hadn't, they knew when marriages were consummated or not and they knew when the Queen and royal women were not pregnant. They often sold secrets to pad their pockets. Laundresses might be permanent staff but sometimes not.

Minstrels: The minstrel was a commoner hired to play an instrument or sing for the entertainment of the royal. A royal might staff a few at a time but they would always have one on hand. The minstrel would likely come with their masters as they travelled. The minstrel might serve the main royal household but a royal might retain their own.

Cook: The cook was one of the most important servants in the household. They would have the task of overseeing the running of the kitchens and keeping supplies in order. They would likely be on call at all times. Henry VIII's cook was often woken in the night because his royal master wanted a midnight snack. The cook was a valued member of the household and would have been highly sought after if they were a very skilled cook. They would have travelled with the joint. Cooks were apart of the greater royal household but often royals retained private cooks for their own use.

Maidservant: The maidservant cleans the castle. She would sweep the floors, scrub them, empty the chamberpots, get rid of the ashes from the fire and ready the fire for later. She would make up the bed or strip it for the laundresses. She would wash anything that needed washing including furniture and ornaments. She was likely not a travelling servant and would be strictly employed at a single palace.

Jester: The jester was the hired entertainer. Working under the master of revels, the jester had the daunting task of making the monarch and their family laugh. They would tell jokes, tell stories, cause havoc in the court for laughs and lighten the mood. The most successful jester of all time was Will Somers, jester to Henry VIII. Will broke bad news to the infamously bad tempered monarch and got away with things that would have sent others to the block. Will survived most of Henry's reign, his head intact. Jesters would be apart of the main household though each royal might have one of their own.

Positions within the Royal Household ~ Noble

Nobility were always welcomed at court. They eat at court, slept at court and were cared for by the monarch. Some nobles had to sing for their supper and most were hired as royal servants. They weren't exactly scrubbing floors and would be paid handsomely with land that would generate wealth for them

The Steward/Seneschal: This person was the head of the royal's staff. They would have the task of running the lands and servants their master or mistress. The steward served as a backup and assistant in all the tasks even representing their master or mistress when they were unavailable. Would be a high ranking noble. Each royal household would have them.

Treasurer of the Household: The treasurer was the accountant and pay master. They would be in charge of ensuring debts were settled, wages were paid and the household was running within the budget. This was a coveted position because it gave the treasurer insight into the financial situations of the royals. Such info was wroth its weight in gold. Each royal would have one.

Usher: The Gentleman Usher would be in charge of escorting guests into the royal chambers and into the royal presence. They would act as a go between their royal master/mistress and the guest often going back and forth with messages. It was just as coveted as the position of chamberlain but with less responsibilities.

Master of Horse: The Master of Horse was in charge of seeing to the horses of their master. They would oversee the grooms or the stableboy/hands who were employed at the stables to actually care for the horses. The master of horse would ensure that the stables were in order and the horses were up to parr in order to bear royalty across the kingdom. Each royal would have one but there would a main one who acted as overseer.

Master of the Wardrobe/Mistress of the Robes: These are the nobility who are employed to look after the clothes of the royal they serve. This would mainly involve a managerial position, overseeing the inventory of the royal wardrobe (a warehouse like building that housed the clothing) and placing orders for new clothes. It was a tidy job that rarely involved getting the hands dirty. Each royal would have one.

Chamberlain/Valet: The chamberlain is employed to look after the Lord's bedchamber. This was the most sought out position as they effectively were the gateway into the royal presence. Their main task was making sure their boss was comfortable and happy. Could be a well born commoner or a noble. Each royal would have one.

The Page: All royal households had pages. They would be a young noble boy about seven years old sent to their royal master. He would be in charge of tidying up after the lord, carrying messages to other servants and occupants of the castle and serving him at meals. Unlike others on the list, the page would not be paid. His experience was his payment as he would learn the running of a court and how to be courtier. Each royal would have one.

Squires: Squires were like pages though they only served the men. They would accompany their royal master to battle, look after his armour and mail, ensure that his lord's horse was saddled, caring for their master's weapons. The squire would always be a young nobleman on the cusp of becoming a knight.

Governess: The governess is a noblewoman woman employed to oversee the Monarch's children's household. She would be the first teacher a royal child would have and would oversee the nursemaids who would have care of the physical person of the child. She would be appointed when the child was four or five. Notable governesses include Katherine Swynford (wife of John of Gaunt and mother to the Beaufort line), Margaret Pole (wife of Tudor Loyal Sir Richard Pole, sister of the last York heir Edward of Warwick, daughter of George Duke of Clarence and niece to King Edward VI and Richard III), Kat Ashley, Margaret Bryan, Madame de Maintenon and Baroness Lehzen. Most unmarried Princesses retained their governesses while Princes generally outgrew their governesses after they were breeched.

Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber: They were the male companions of a King or Prince, sort of like ladies in waiting but manly. They would accompany the King or Prince everywhere they would go and shared duties with Groom of the Stool (royal toilet paper dispenser) and the Chief Gentleman of the Chamber (overseeing the staff and maintaining the chamber). They would help their master get ready, serve him at the table and organize hunting and games to keep him entertained. Gentlemen and companions where often chosen for their connections as well as their master's own opinion. Henry VIII's gentlemen included: Sir William Compton (ward of Henry VII and heir to rich lands), Sir Henry Norris (the grandson of William Norris who fought with Henry's father at Stroke and a relation to the Yorkists Lovells), Sir Anthony Denny (son of Sir Edmund Denny Baron of the Exchequer) Sir Michael Stanhope (brother in law to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset), Charles Brandon (ward of Henry VII and son of Tudor Loyalists)

Ladies in Waiting and Maids in Waiting or Maids of Honour: These are the female attendants to the Queen or Princess. Ladies in Waiting were married while the Maids were unmarried. They would have to attend their mistress wherever she went, help her get ready, keep her chambers in order, write letters for the Queen and maintaining her honour. They were chosen for their connections. Using Katherine of Aragon as an example, her Ladies in Waiting included: Maria de Salinas (daughter of Juan Sancriz de Salinas secretary to Isabella, Princess of Portugal and a Spanish courtier in the service to Katherine's parents, wife of Baron Willoughby de Ersby), Elizabeth Howard (the daughter of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, sister to Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk and wife to Thomas Boleyn, ambassador to France), Anne Hastings (daughter of William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, wife to George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and Lord Steward.), Agnes Tilney (wife to Thomas Howard, Earl of and 2nd Duke of Norfolk.), Elizabeth Scrope (wife of John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, a loyal Tudor lord), Margaret Scrope (wife of Sir Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk cousin to the King), Anne Stafford (sister of the Duke of Buckingham, married Sir George Hastings, Earl of Huntington and daughter of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (cousin to the King) and Lady Katherine Woodville (sister of King Henry VIII's grandmother and his great aunt by her marriage), Elizabeth Stafford (sister to Anne Stafford wife Robert Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter and Earl of Sussex around). Their connections are what got them their places and you can see why they were chosen.

Accommodation

Accommodation can be a difficult thing to sort both as a writer and a steward. You might have a palace of 200+ bedchambers in which you must house a staff of 500-/+, a varying amount of nobles, the royal family (of a varying amount) and their own households. When assigning rooms it is best to think of a Russian nesting doll. Start from the inside and work your way to the outside.

The best rooms go to the monarch, their consort and their children/siblings/parent(s). These chambers would include the bedroom, a drawing room/ common area, a privy, a closet (a small chamber that can be used for prayer or work). They would be furnished with the best cloth, the best candles and whatever furniture brought by the resident since most royal courts travelled from palace to palace. They will also have chambers for their personal servants such as ladies in waiting and grooms.

The second best set of rooms would go to the highest ranking nobles/people in the court. These rooms would be less fancy and a little smaller. These would be given to from titled nobility descending from those of Ducal rank (Dukes/Duchesses) or even members of the council such as Thomas Cromwell in Tudor times.

The next set would be considerably smaller, perhaps minus a closet or a drawing room. Given to lower nobility.

The next level of chambers would be smaller perhaps only the bedroom and a common area given to minor nobles.

The last set of rooms would be small and only hold enough room for a bedroom. Servants would have to sleep on the ground on pallets beside their masters.

Any other guests at court would have to stay at off-site locations around the palace in the city. Some nobles at houses around major palaces just in case they arrived late or were kicked out of court.

Listen. Listen. Listen

I deadass caught myself literally giggling and kicking my feet, I shit you not.

I embarrazzed myself in the privacy of my room.

This is the cutest fucking thing I've ever seen and is it too much to ask???? This is all I want dammit!!!! Lemme paint and let Dabi walk in and think I'm adorable!!!!!

i have another request :33333333333333333

How would Dabi or Hawks react to coming to their artist s/o room and seeing her face, hands and clothes covered in paint? :33

omg I love ur requestssss these are so cute 🙌

Hawks

Keigo wandered into your apartment as usual, some snacks in a crinkly plastic bag as he sauntered through the balcony door. He always entered like this- unannounced, with snacks, from the windows or the balcony, like a bird into its nest, because that’s what your place was to him. “hey babe I’m-“ he peeked into your bedroom, where you sat, cross legged on a big flat piece of cardboard, absolutely covered in paint. Hair, face, clothes, even the backs of your legs were smeared in colors where you’d lazily wiped it away. “Oh hey Keigo!” You grinned, waving a painted hand at him. He let out a snort, walking in and crossing his arms, a wide grin on his face. “You sure made a mess” he chuckled, sitting on the corner of your bed. You pouted a bit, hiding a small smile “I mean I put down cardboard,” you shrugged, gesturing to the large flat piece of cardboard beneath you.

It too was a total mess of blues, yellows, pinks, an array of colors that mixed and contrasted against the sad beige. He glanced down at the canvas in front of you. It was large, and it looked like you were making a landscape. It was pretty. Really pretty. Meow all the colors made sense, the way they blended and shaped the painting, providing their own shades and highlights to advance the setting you’d so meticulously crafted. he grinned, running a hand through your hair, little specks of paint dappling the ends of it. “It looks lovely. Have you eaten?” “Uhhhhh-“ “don’t tell me you skipped lunch too” he sighed at your silence as you closed your mouth, not wanting to dig yourself a bigger hole. He rolled his eyes, placing a kiss on your head. “Don’t worry, I brought snacks, and I can heat up some leftover pizza…you’d be so hopeless without me” he said the last part ever so dramatically, leading you to giggle and shake your head, flustered by how much you didn’t want to admit he might be right. He stood, walking back towards the door, still glancing back a few times to see the array of colors surrounding you, admiring how- of course you looked beautiful like this. He grinned, leaning back on the door frame “oh and babe?” He chirped, watching your bright eyes glance back at him. “It really does look nice… not as nice as its artist though” he winked dramatically once more before sweeping out, leaving you to shake your head and smile at his antics.

Dabi

It was an average day for Touya, doing his usual rounds with the league, looking for new recruits, burning said recruits alive because they annoyed him, and then walking home, and by home, he means to your place. He kicked off his boots once he was inside, knowing you wouldn’t be too appreciative of him tracking dirt in. “Hey doll where’re ya at” he said with a stretch, finally relaxing within the confines of your flat. “I’m in the living room!” He sighed, smiling to himself as he heard your soft voice from the other room. He turned the corner, and-

“Did you get jumped by crayons or somethin”

you snorted at his comment, turning to look at him. His brow was furrowed, and he scoffed at the sight of your face. Mainly because nearly every inch of you was smeared in paint. “No, I’m painting” you replied, turning back to your project. he scoffed once more, coming closer to peer over your shoulder. The painting was focused on a cherry blossom tree, the bright pinks and faint reds shading them contrasting the light blue of the pond behind it. “Nice.” He said gruffly, plopping down comfortably next to you. “Don’t know why it required you to be so…messy, though” he eyed you up and down, smirking, his amused expression outweighing his snarky remarks- it was clear he found this to be absolutely adorable.

“I didn’t mean to… it kinda just happens, you know?” You shrugged, giggling softly as you glanced back at your artwork. He eyed you for a moment, his smirk widening into a smile. “So this happens often then?” He teased, gently nudging your shoulder. “You mean if I get here early enough I’ll get to catch you being messy? i mean, I have to leave my boots at the door, but you can practically eat paint and it’s fine?” He laughed, kissing your painted cheek with a Cheshire Cat grin. You rolled your eyes, gesturing towards the cardboard beneath you. “I laid down cardboard” you offered, and he scoffed once more, grinning impossibly wider. “Doesn’t seem like it helped. You’re really something, you know that? Don’t worry, it‘s why I love ya so much… I’ll go make some tea, cos it looks like you won’t be done for a while” he dragged out his last word, ruffling your already messy hair as he stood, looking down at you and your little project. He couldn’t help but find your current circumstances to be adorable, but he’d much rather tease you than admit that to your face. Much more fun that way.

Onggg @yippe3allthedamnnamesrtaken you have the best requests EVER 🙏😭🫶

also I’m fully aware that at some point now autocorrected to meow, but I honestly found it to fun to fix it hehe

MY BABY 😭😭😭

JSLJDKSSJ IDK HOW TO ACT RN AWOOOO BARK BARK BARK RAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

I WANNA EAT THIS PIC

hiii could i pls know the details or see the full image of the profile pic you use for Choso in your smau?? :3 he looks so handsome in it!

Here you go!! I found it on pinterest:3

Idek who I wanna be more in this situation 🥴

I know this new memory of Aizawa pinning Dabi has been blowing up.

Okay, Aizawa, move! It's my turn to pin Dabi, shoo shoo!

Yes, I know what I said!

cockblocked 😔

Had to sit there and stare at the wall for a bit

Holy shit???

Alright, there's something that I've had on my mind for a good long while, and I know I'm not the only one to think it, but it's eating at me.

Anyone wanna talk about how Dabi is SO Tai Lung coded?

Like. I've even seen fanart of Dabi as a snow leopard hybrid for chrissakes.

And I say "talk about" so loosely honestly because I know I'm right, you can not argue with me on this one.

Exhibit; Horikoshi literally ripped off Kung Fu Panda:

Hello?? You're going to stand there and tell me that I'm wrong???

My eye deadass started twitching, I'm being so serious rn holy fuck

This gives me Barbie vibes

I just had thee most delicious KFC Cruncher Sandwich

It was heavenly

It was the crunchiest Cruncher I've ever crunched.

Like, I've had it plenty of times, but this was downright divine.

10/10

For simps that love the loser version of shigaraki!

🎮🩵🎮🩵🎮🩵🎮🩵🎮🩵🎮🩵🎮

🎮🩵🎮🩵🎮🩵🎮🩵🎮🩵🎮🩵🎮