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 1895. It’s time to join us and immerse yourself in scandal and drama interlaced with magic both light and dark.
Complete a thread started and set every month for twelve consecutive months. Each thread must have at least ten posts, and at least three must be your own.
Did You Know?
Did you know? Jewelry of jet was the haute jewelry of the Victorian era. — Fallin
Gideon had, of course, visited muggle art galleries in the past, but such exhibitions of magical art were rare enough that he could not in good conscience not bring Loretta to observe it. Quieter than Prudence, better company than Calliope, and more appreciative of the fine arts than Odira, Gideon could think of no better sister with which to spend this particular species of afternoon.
"..and of course—Merlin's beard," he said in awe, his sister on his arm as he entered the ballroom and his eyes were drawn immediately to the glass dragon suspended from the ceiling. He had, of course, heard it would be here, but hearing and seeing were altogether different things entirely. "Have you ever seen such a thing?"
Loretta was not one to take much enjoyment in social events but an art exhibition was right up her ally. It was the icing on the cake that she was keeping Gideon company. The fine arts was one of those things they held a common interest in. Loretta looked towards where Gideon was looking as he broke off their previous conversation. Merlin, what a sight! "It must have taken the artist ages! I heard that there is also a garden complete with weather charms within." With her luck, she would probably end up toppling out of it somehow so perhaps it was best she keep her curiosity to the external nature of it.
"Why, dear brother!" Loretta said in glee. "I would say I am afraid I would somehow end up falling out of it but that wouldn't stop me if you promise to not let me embarrass myself." A tall order, probably. Suiting since they were both tall.
While I am confident that you might do anything you set your mind to, Lorrit, I do not think even you gifted enough to plumit out of a contained space by accident," Gideon chuckled warmly, glancing at his pocket-watch. "We do, though, still have a quarter of an hour until our booked time—and there is," here, the healer became a little more unsure, "something I wished to show you."
Loretta laughed in response to Gideons words. Indeed, he was the sibling she felt most comfortable with aside from Odira. Though things with Odira had hit a very awkward phase following her sisters traumatic experience. "You do? What might that be?" Loretta asked in curiosity.
"Just there," he offered, a mix of sly and shy, as he pointed upwards towards his skied work.
The piece—his piece—hung above a rather outspoken painting of a trio of centaurs and so might have been missed, but at present, depicted the colours of autumn—a palette that would be changing when the clock allowed. While it was no secret in the Browne house that Gideon enjoyed sketching, painting, he had given no indication to anyone that he was so serious about it as to submit a work to an exhibition.
At first Loretta thought thought that Gideon meant the painting of a trio of centaurs. And so she had a brief moment of confusion, not seeing why he should want to show her this.
But then her eyes caught onto the other piece, one she recognized as her own brothers handiwork. She'd had no idea that Gideons painting extended to submitting to exhibitions! "Gideon, it is lovely! I adore the colors you have used. I feel like I have stepped into autumn despite it being January."
He was rather tickled that she recognized the work as his—and was quite tickled at her reaction. His cheeks pinked slightly, but strained in a grin.
"I am glad you like it," he answered brightly. "It took a great deal of work to get the charms just so, but I'm pleased with how they turned out—and, Gideon added, "as one of the artists from the exhibition, I am invited to the ball as well—an invitation I would be delighted to extend to my dear sister."
Loretta was quite proud of Gideon and it was clear that her brother was very delighted at the inclusion of his piece in the exhibition. She was not exactly enthused at the idea of going to a ball but she would not rain on his parade. Besides, she could practically hear Calliope hissing into her ear about passing up good opportunities to socialize herself more. "I would be glad to attend the ball with you. We must celebrate your masterpiece."
