Welcome to Charming, where swirling petticoats, the language of flowers, and old-fashioned duels are only the beginning of what is lying underneath…
After a magical attempt on her life in 1877, Queen Victoria launched a crusade against magic that, while tidied up by the Ministry of Magic, saw the Wizarding community exiled to Hogsmeade, previously little more than a crossroad near the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In the years that have passed since, Hogsmeade has suffered plagues, fires, and Victorian hypocrisy but is still standing firm.
Thethe year is now 1896. It’s time to join us and immerse yourself in scandal and drama interlaced with magic both light and dark.
Complete five threads of five posts or more where your character experiences bad luck, such as stepping in a chamberpot, losing the rings for a wedding, etc...
Did You Know?
One of the cheapest homeless shelters in Victorian London charged four pennies to sleep in a coffin. Which was... still better than sleeping upright against a rope? — Jordan / Lynn
If he was being completely honest, the situation didn't look good, but Sylvano was not in the habit of being completely honest about anything. No reason to start now.
— Sylvano Capobiancoinyou & me & the war of the endtimes
Despite, or perhaps because of the lycanthrope crisis roiling Britain, the social calendar rolled on. Having made an appearance at the Moonlight Ball and therefor proved her lack of lycanthropy, Sina was unfortunately not excused from high society events. She was half-tempted to turn down the invitation from the Jeongs on the basis that they were new and therefor could not really hold it against her, but — she was curious about them, because they were new.
So she came, and she sipped her champagne, and she danced with a man who was likely seeking favor from her husband, and finally she found herself facing one of the Jeong young men.
"And which of the Jeongs do I find myself speaking with?" Thomasina said; her tone was more of a demand than it was a polite request. "You shall have to tell me which of you planned this, as well."
(A well-planned party, and no apparent women involved! Sina hoped that some people were taking notes; they would likely consider it miraculous.)
The tension in Jin’s shoulders was tight as he inclined his head and was excused from yet another conversation. He’d already met… countless individuals, none of whose names he was sure he would remember in the morning. Abeoji Yeom, for his part, had glued himself to Jin’s side for the better part of the last hour since their arrival at the Abraxley Estate. He was being introduced as the eldest, the heir, and the weight of that - even if fabricated - weighed on the half-vampire like a noose waiting to be strung up.
As the man they’d just been speaking to took to the side, Abeoji Yeom grabbed Jin by the sleeve and leaned in by his ear. “Prewett is one of the current members of the Wizengamot,” he muttered in Joseoneo just under his breath. “Remember his face and make good of the introduction. I’m off to speak with Abraxley.” Yeom’s breath was stale and hinting of jasmine in Jin’s nostrils. He peeled himself from the vampire’s side then for the first time all evening, but not without a distinct reminder as he turned to pass through the crowd. No sooner had Jin taken in a shaky breath of fresh, unstiffled air, than the jade pendant around his neck weighed itself sharply around his neck. His throat closed like a wrist had wrapped itself around his windpipe and Jin had to cough as he turned away. He tugged absently at the too-tight collar of his restrictive British attire.
Spirit’s above he needed a drink. Now.
Jin turned away from the suffocation of the crowd and excused himself to grab a refreshment. He didn’t know what he’d picked up but it looked like wine so he figured it was safe. At that moment someone else spoke to him and he looked up to see a beautiful woman with a… strong personality suddenly demand to know who he was. A little taken aback, he inclined his head politely. “Seojin Jeong,” he answered her mechanically in his soft, accented English. “The eldest.” And the heir, his mind prickled unhelpfully.
He mulled over her following question for a moment, wondering if there had been some error in his translation. Ultimately however, he wasn’t sure enough to go about correcting her, so he decided to give all credit where it was certainly due. “Our father is an old acquaintance of the Abraxleys,” he explained. “I am sure he went to great lengths to ensure a proper introduction, for which we are all very grateful.” Jin offered her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Was filial responsibility as big a thing in England as it was in Joseon? He didn’t know, but it was all he had to hang his hat on for this one.
Thomasina Dempsey * Jin has taken a persuasive potion for this event. His voice will have some slight influencing effect on anyone he speaks to this evening.
It’s subtle, and not a full dose by any means.
* Jin takes potions and enchantments at times to give his voice a persuasive quality.
His performances, or even a simple conversation, can sometimes suggest thoughts
and ideas to his audiences.
The eldest of the five, then — from what Sina could tell, all of the boys were too young to be married but too old to be in Hogwarts. Close ages, then. She had not connected the dots with the Abraxley family, and smiled demurely at his explanation. Normally she would have slightly been more annoyed about the subtle correction from Mr. Jeong, but her irritation registered as a prickle. Her curiosity, Sina thought, must be outweighing it.
"Well, they did well," Thomasina said, mild, "Given that I'm the Minister's wife."
The woman’s reaction was softened a bit from what Jin could perceive as her expression changed but he didn’t know if it was enchantment or understanding. He inclined his head politely and offered her a small smile as she gave her approval but the latter part of her statement struck him a little dumb. The Minister’s wife. As in— the English Minister of Magic? (Jin wracked his brain a moment; that had to be equivalent to the Joseoneo second state counselor and his peers, right? The one with direct line of influence to the king?) He resisted the urge to clear his throat.
Instead, Jin turned a more charming smile on the woman (forcing one of his dimples into existence) and let out a soft sound of appreciation. “Thank you,” he responded quietly, tucking his free hand behind his back. “Though I feel woefully underprepared for such an honored introduction,” he added. And it was true. He hoped there was no ceremony he was meant to enact now that he’d been informed of her position that he was failing to understand.
Thomasina Dempsey * Jin has taken a persuasive potion for this event. His voice will have some slight influencing effect on anyone he speaks to this evening.
It’s subtle, and not a full dose by any means.
* Jin takes potions and enchantments at times to give his voice a persuasive quality.
His performances, or even a simple conversation, can sometimes suggest thoughts
and ideas to his audiences.
This was a boy who had dimples and knew it, Thomasina thought — but the thought did not outweigh her general amusement by his response. It was rare that people said they were honored to meet her and seemed to mean it — her specific reputation, Thomasina thought, must not precede her.
"Thomasina Dempsey," she said, with a polite smile that had a little bit of crookedness around the edges — there was amusement in her eyes. "To complete the honored introduction, I suppose."
When the woman smiled, Jin felt it light up her face. She was rather pretty in retrospect, if one could look past the unfortunate burden of being the Minister’s wife. Thomasina Dempsey. It was a mouthful and a half, but he rather thought it fit from what he’d seen so far. This was not a woman who bent to convention and he liked her all the more for it.
“The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Dempsey,” he responded still smiling, but a touch more genuinely now. Jin bent at the waist and bowed just enough to be sincere. Then, wondering if he was supposed to ask her to dance but knowing he absolutely would not be because that seemed preposterously presumptuous even for the English, he inclined his head towards the dwindling drink in her hand. “Is there anything I can get you?” he offered, lightly. “I’ll admit, I’m not the most familiar with your Western alcohols but I will try my best.” He offered her another, albeit self-deprecating, smile.
Thomasina Dempsey * Jin has taken a persuasive potion for this event. His voice will have some slight influencing effect on anyone he speaks to this evening.
It’s subtle, and not a full dose by any means.
* Jin takes potions and enchantments at times to give his voice a persuasive quality.
His performances, or even a simple conversation, can sometimes suggest thoughts
and ideas to his audiences.
Mr. Seojin Jeong was trying to charm her, but he was doing so in a way that felt more genuine than some of the judgmental people she interacted with in Society. So — Thomasina was willing to indulge him.
"Let me be your guide," she offered, "If you're willing to lead me to where we can find my Western alcohols?"
Jin was still smiling lightly when the woman responded and he detected the hint of a tease in her tone. Feeling adequately abashed and equal parts amused, Jin pursed his lips as his smile tried to flash brighter. He said nothing, instead bowing his head and making a gesture to their left where - across the room a little ways - there was yet a table set with refreshments from which to choose.
He paused just in front and let his gaze flicker briefly over the choices. There was the hint of pallor that came to his cheeks as he regretted instigating a conversation on the very thing he knew least about and held the highest risk. Turning to the lady in question then, he laced his hands behind his back. She had offered to lead, had she not? Jin could only hope it was in a moderate direction.
“I’ll admit to recognizing nothing on this table,” he told her, albeit too honestly. It was probably not a clever thing to say in any country or class, but Jin held fast. “What is your drink of choice, if I might ask?” At the very least, even if he had no awareness of what the various liquors and strangely mixed drinks held, it might tell him a little something more about the Minister’s wife with whom he felt he did not want to make a misstep quite yet.
Thomasina Dempsey * Jin has taken a persuasive potion for this event. His voice will have some slight influencing effect on anyone he speaks to this evening.
It’s subtle, and not a full dose by any means.
* Jin takes potions and enchantments at times to give his voice a persuasive quality.
His performances, or even a simple conversation, can sometimes suggest thoughts
and ideas to his audiences.
Thomasina's mouth quirked up in a mischievous smile; he'd already told her that he didn't know anything about Western alcohol, but admitting that he did not recognize anything was rather ambitious of the man. She was not particularly used to being trusted, at things like this. It was unusual.
"I like a sherry cobbler*," Thomasina explained to Mr. Jeong, in an undertone so that others could not overhear them. She waved one hand at the red drinks, strawberry-topped, where they waited on the table. She continued, voice still low: "But it is considered a bit effeminate. As you're foreign, you can get away with it if you would like."
* A popular, elegant drink for ladies featuring sherry, sugar, and fruit served over crushed ice.
![[Image: JinSigv2.png]](https://file.garden/aUtHyTTLtm7kaRd6/Jin/JinSigv2.png)