Rose Stratford

Character art by Jackie Franco

**Rose Stratford** is a character in Pulp Musicals. She is the twin sister of Samuel Stratford and used to run the Stratford Family Paper Stand. She features in The Great Moon Hoax, The Brick Satellite and The Ghosts of Antikythera and is played by Mariah Rose Faith Casillas.

## Background

Rose and Samuel immigrated to the United States when they were young. Their parents passed away, leaving the Stratford Family Paper Stand in New York's Printing House Square in their wake.

She became good friends with Benjamin as he passed by the Paper Stand on his way to work at *The Sun*. Rose attempted to get a job alongside him and Samuel at *The Sun*, but was denied on the basis of gender.

## The Great Moon Hoax

Samuel meets Rose at the Stratford Family Paper Stand, where she reads the Edinburgh Journal of Science, her "favorite magazine". She tells him about the new findings, and takes out a clipping of Sir John Herschel, hanging it on the door. (Rose doesn't like the picture because she thinks it makes him look older, but Samuel insists that the printing press adds 10 years.)

Rose asks Samuel if he showed Chester Thomas the stories, but he hasn't. Rose insists that they have to keep going, no matter what, and reminds Samuel that they are "More Than This". Their friend Benjamin, arrives at the paper stand, and Rose and Samuel tell him the story they've written, explaining why it should be printed. Benjamin seems reluctant, but Rose persists, and eventually, he leaves with the notebook in his hand.

After the printing of the stories causes a break-in at the Stratfords' apartment, they are offered a place to stay at the Westchester Hotel with Margaret Cavendish. Her flat is beautiful, almost museum-like, and Rose believes it to be Heaven. She finds a place to sit, grabs some books, and reads until she falls asleep.

A few days later, Rose enters the New York Sun's office to present Benjamin with the third and final Great Astronomical Discoveries article and helps him set up the printing press. Benjamin thanks her as he knows she's busy with the fame the articles have given her. Rose remarks to Benjamin how it's strange being famous and how it makes her miss the quiet. Benjamin laughs and says that it doesn't and Rose agrees with him saying she's an awful liar. Benjamin makes an off-hand remarks about how she's better than she thinks and then apologises. This alerts Rose and she asks if Benjamin is okay and he simply tells her he has a lot on his mind. He then warns her to enjoy the fame while it lasts because it won't last forever. Rose agrees but tells him she won't let how she's feeling ever stop. Rose then reflects on her life thus far, about how her and Samuel were left with nothing but their paper stand after their parents died and tells herself that she's never going to go back to how life was before the Moon articles.

Benjamin then tells Rose that the article is ready and that he'll bring it to her next door and Rose goes into the office to wait. Suddenly, the quiet of The Sun's office is interrupted by John Herschel entering and demanding to speak with Chester Thomas. Rose, not realizing who he is, assures the man that the next Great Astronomical Discoveries article would be published the next day, however Herschel exclaims that he never wrote such a journal, causing Rose to realize who he is. Face to face with her hero, Rose becomes incredibly excited and asks Herschel all sorts of questions about his work, momentarily distracting the man, who is impressed by her knowledge. However, after Rose tells Herschel that he inspires a lot of her and Samuel's writings, he realizes that she wrote the articles and demands she stops. Rose panics and knocks John out with a printing press plate. Benjamin then emerges to present Rose with the newly printed article and Rose begs him to help her. The two then move Herschel to Benjamin's apartment.

Rose then goes to find her brother at The Sun's office and she takes him back to Benjamin's apartment. The two arrive to find Benjamin with Margaret and a Rival reporter. The reporter thanks Benjamin and the two realize that the man worked for The New York Sentinel and that Benjamin has just told him everything. The two are also faced with a very upset Margaret, who is both sad and angry at being betrayed. Unexpectedly, the woman begins to glow and the power explodes out of her, knocking Rose and Samuel out. After coming back around, Rose and Samuel rush to The Sun to find Herschel giving a press conference that they're too late to stop. However, much to their surprise, Herschel confirms the articles to be true. Benjamin becomes enraged by this and insists that the articles are fake. In order to stop him, Rose knocks him out with her printing press plate.

Later, Chester Thomas panics that now that he can no longer print the Moon articles that The Sun will fail again. Rose, Samuel and John assure him that it won't if he uses his own imagination. Chester then asks John why he didn't expose the hoax and John explains that he thinks Rose and Samuel are onto something and that seeing Margaret glow, changed his perspective on things. After Samuel leaves The Sun to go find Margaret, John invites Rose to join him on a trip to South America where he's going to work on an experiment. Rose agrees and the two set off to Margaret's home to invite the two of them along with them. Margaret and Samuel also agree and the four set off to South America.

## The Brick Satellite

Rose first appears in The Brick Satellite sailing on board a boat for British Guiana alongside John Herschel, Margaret Cavendish and her brother Samuel. As a way of passing the time, John and Rose create a game where they test each other on the various constellations: one points out a constellation and the other has to name the three brightest stars in the constellation. While they play this game the two become increasingly close. After weeks of travelling, the group arrive in Township Number Nine where they are excitedly greeted by Anna Hanover. Herschel and Anna then tell the rest of the group their plans for building the Brick Satellite. Rose, Samuel and Margaret then agree to help him build it.

Months pass as the group work at building the satellite. However, there is a problem with the clay the bricks are made from: it has too much lime in it which causes the brick to crumble. As well as this, damage is made to the flywheels which suggests that there is a saboteur within the township. One night when work has finished for the day, Anna, Rose and Margaret sit and drink together, toasting to Maria Cunitz a highly influential astronomer.

After months of work, the satellite is finally finished and the township celebrates with a party. However, Margaret doesn't join the party and instead sits by the fire. Rose approaches her and apologizes to Margaret for the role she played in the Great Moon Hoax and promises to do whatever it takes to get Margaret to forgive her.

The next day, Anna and John watch as Rose paints the name Sagitta on the side of the satellite. However, they're interrupted by an attack from the town's governor Charles. Charles corners John and Anna and is about to shoot them but he is knocked out by Rose and her printing press plate. In order to avoid the attacking mercenaries, Anna, John and Rose climb the satellite and hide with Samuel and Margaret inside. Inside the satellite is dark but it is then illuminated by Margaret who begins to glow, much to Anna's confusion. However, Margaret's power also causes the ground to shake, causing the satellite to launch.

The satellite launches successfully and takes the group into orbit. The group eventually makes it to the room within the satellite that contains the window and get their first glimpse at Earth from outer space. As the group recover from the shock of the launch, they begin to realize that they are trapped in the satellite and will likely die there. As they spend their final moments together, Rose and Samuel look out across the world teasing and joking with one another until they are approached by Herschel which prompts Samuel to leave. Herschel and Rose then begin to once again play their constellation game. Rose then apologizes to John for coming in-between his relationship with Anna. Herschel is confused by this and assures Rose that the two of them are just friends and the two continue to play their game.

As time passes, the air in the satellite becomes thin and the group passes out. When they come to, they find the Sagitta completely covered in vines and other plants. They move through the satellite and find Margaret speaking with a woman known as The Traveler. The Traveler's magic gives the group the opportunity to return to Earth and Rose goes to gather her things before the group is transported back to Earth. Upon returning to Earth the group find themselves in an unfamiliar town. After asking Morgan Reese where they are they find themselves in the town of Hanover. They then find a monument commemorating the launch of the Sagitta which was constructed in 1865. The group are astonished and confused as they realize they have traveled through time.

## Personality and Traits

Rose is an incredibly determined and bubbly person, she is very energetic and fully commits herself to everything she does. She is also extremely intelligent, spending much of her time reading and improving her knowledge, especially in the fields of science and astronomy. Rose is also willing to fight for herself and those she loves when it comes to it, acting almost like 'the muscle' of the group. Much like her brother Samuel, Rose has a very "head in the clouds" type of attitude to life and is always dreaming of the adventures she wants to have.

## Skills

* **Writing-** Rose is a very skilled writer and is the co-author of the Great Astronomical Discoveries articles.
* **Scientific knowledge-** Rose is very intelligent and her wide reading of the sciences has left her with a vast knowledge of information on it.
* **Astronomical knolwedge-** Astronomy is one of Rose's favorite subjects and she has a vast knowledge about the earth's skies.
* **Printing Press Plate -** A useful weapon that Rose has used not once, not twice, but three times in sticky situations.

## Relationships

### Samuel Stratford

Samuel Stratford is Rose's twin brother. The two are very close, being the only family either one of them has and grateful for the other's companionship. They share many of the same philosophies and passions such as writing and the sciences. Rose and Samuel share their thirst for adventure and want to be something more than they are. Samuel believes that his sister is incredible and is always happy to listen to her as she tells him about what she's read that day. Samuel sometimes teases Rose about things such as her crush on Herschel but it is always done in a friendly and affectionate way.

### John Herschel

John Herschel is Rose's friend, idol and love interest. While working at the Stratford Family Paper Stand, Rose would often read about the discoveries of Herschel and he quickly became her favorite astronomer and she formed a slight celebrity crush on him. Upon meeting Herschel for the first time, Rose was incredibly excited and asked him lots of questions. Herschel is incredibly impressed by Rose's scientific knowledge and has a lot of respect for her. Despite being initially being annoyed at Rose due to the part she played in the publishing of the Great Astronomical Discoveries articles, Herschel has a great respect for Rose and her scientific knowledge. The two share many of the same views on their outlook on the universe. They take great joy in each other's company and will spend their time together testing each other's knowledge of stars and the universe.

Following their trip to South America, Rose is actively crushing on Herschel and feels some degree of jealousy for his relationship with Anna. However, despite this, she wants the best for him and is willing to stand aside in order to ensure his happiness. Herschel also has feelings for Rose but is actively in denial about them, though it is obvious to those who know him best.

### Margaret Cavendish

Margaret Cavendish is Rose's friend. Despite Margaret feeling betrayed by the part Rose played in the Moon hoax, the two are bonded in their work as women in the field of science and the way they are treated as a result of this. Ultimately, Margaret learns to forgive Rose for her part in the hoax and comes to love and trust her as part of her found family.

### Benjamin Park

Benjamin Park is Rose's former friend. The two met when Benjamin would frequent the Stratford Family Paper Stand on his way to The Sun. Benjamin and Rose have a very friendly relationship and Rose trusted him a lot and was hurt by his betrayal. Unknown to Rose, Benjamin has a crush on her but he never acted on it and Rose considers him a good friend.

### Anna Hanover

Anna Hanover is Rose's friend and colleague. The two have a lot in common due to being women within the incredibly male-dominated field of science. Alongside this, they both face sexism in the 1830s society in which they live. The two share a love of reading and are both highly intelligent. While Rose is somewhat jealous of the relationship Anna has with John, she does not let this taint her relationship with Anna and becomes one of her closest friends.

## Trivia

* Rose is the elder Stratford.
* Both Stratfords are born on November 10, 1807, making them 27 years old at the time of The Great Moon Hoax.
	+ Rose was named after Matt Dahan's aunt Rose, with whom she shares a birthday.
	+ Both Stratfords are Scorpios!
* Rose gets easily seasick, and on the 10-day journey to British Guiana, she got seasick every day.