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
Thank you for your company last week. I thoroughly enjoyed swapping stories with someone as well traveled as you. Most of my friends here don't quite understand when I start babbling about the cultural differences. Their eyes glaze over and they nod along mutely. So, again...thank you.
Have you had any updates on your ship? I can't imagine your crew is happy about being dockside for this long. I know I'd be displeased if my travels and/or livelihood were indefinitely suspended.
I was just in the Ministry this morning, actually, so there is some news on the subject of my ship, but nothing particularly pleasant. The Department of Mysteries has reason to think, apparently, that it is cursed and has ordered us all off of it while they muck about trying to get it un-cursed... and nevermind that they didn't mention this for the past month as we've all been aboard all day patching sails and whatnot.
In any case, it looks as though I'll be stuck in port for some time still, so if you're looking for another chance to swap stories, I'll be quite available. I enjoyed talking to you, too.
Captain J. Alfred Darrow
MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER
March 16, 2020 – 10:28 PM
Last modified: March 16, 2020 – 10:28 PM by Jupiter Smith.
The ministry, for all its grandeur, is absolutely backwards sometimes. I'm sorry your trip has been further delayed — will the ship you were meant to be escorting hire another escort? Your crew must be furious. Is the ministry at least providing you with funds to pay them whilst they're dockside? What a logistical nightmare!
When are you free? I'm afraid my afternoons are now mostly preoccupied with staffing my twin's shop. I don't believe I mentioned her before, but well...she's why I returned so abruptly. It's a long story.
I haven't had much cause for direct interaction with the Ministry before, but I have to agree. They seem to be getting worse as the days go on, at least from my perspective. I've already given official statements on the whole situation twice and I've just been told them want me to come in and give another one before they send someone to look at the ship. Totally backwards.
We've furloughed our crew, and that's the state of things for the moment — though I do expect to lose the contract if this keeps up too long, and a good portion of the crew, besides. And of course the Ministry isn't offering anything in the way of compensation. Stupid desk-workers get so smug about this sort of thing; it's like they think every time we set off it's some sort of pleasure cruise. They don't seem to understand that this is my livelihood.
But I'm sorry; I'm complaining too much. For now things are fine and hopefully the Ministry gets things sorted quickly and we can all go back to normal.
It's a shame to hear your afternoons are so occupied, since mine are almost entirely free. Do you ever have days off? I've plenty of time to listen to long stories if you're willing to share.
Captain J. Alfred Darrow
MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER
No apologies necessary, I asked. I would've thought the first task on their agenda would be to assess the severity of the curse. Not waste weeks on statements and other bureaucratic nonsense. It leads me to wonder how any work gets done there at all. Do you think all of the apartments are as backwards as the Department of Mysteries?
I have this upcoming Sunday and Monday off, though I suspect my parents are going to insist I accompany them to church. They're devout believers, and if I were being honest I would have to say I still don't understand how my elder sister, Earth, converted them. A miracle, perhaps.
The short version is my twin sister's husband was trampled by a carriage in early January. The long version requires at least one drink to unravel
I've been wondering the same thing ever since Monday morning.
I'd hate to be such a corrupting influence by taking you away from Church, but perhaps we could plan for Monday? My flatmate will be out during working hours so I won't have to make excuses to get him away. And I can have drinks at the ready.
Your sister's name is 'Earth'? Is she married? I think I might have met her — I sailed to Africa this summer and there was a woman named Earth onboard, and it's not a particularly common name. She wasn't a Smith, but I can't imagine... particularly since there was a Church connection there, too. They were all church members en route to Africa to save the souls of the natives. I don't know how you feel about that sort of thing, but... well, they paid well, and that was what I was looking for at the time. And I don't think they did any real damage down in Nigeria.
Captain J. Alfred Darrow
MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER
Church isn't exactly my cup of tea, but I attend to appease my parents whilst home. I can do so little for them when I'm abroad, so granting them a few hours of my time is the least I can do. Even if there is a pastor spewing nonsense for the entirety of those hours.
Besides, Earth has coerced me into having tea with her today and my brother eloped last night. I think I'm going to need more than one drink when we meet tomorrow.
And yes, my sister is Earth! As I'm sure you gathered from above there. Earth Beck. A missionary trip sounds like something she would partake in, so I'm not the least bit surprised. My parents named us after the solar system. An outlandish naming trend my siblings have all managed to continue thus far. It's a bit ridiculous really.
Yes, everything is alright now. There was some trouble with the shop and Mars, who is expecting, needed assistance. It was chaotic in the moment, but everything is quite alright now. Thank you for your concern.
Monday the 24th would be lovely. I'll see you then.
I spoke to someone from the Ministry yesterday and they implied I might be cursed along with my ship. I don't feel as though I'm dying but I thought, in the interest of disclosure, I ought to let you know — in case you want to hold off on your visit until I have some more information and can say definitively that I won't be infecting you with some nasty Pictish thing. Though, given the sluggish rate of information that has been shared so far, that would likely put our visit off for quite some time. It's up to you.
Captain J. Alfred Darrow
MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER
March 17, 2020 – 9:14 PM
Last modified: March 17, 2020 – 9:33 PM by Jupiter Smith.
This is very selfish of me and will contradict some of the things I said the last time you visited, but — well, I've just been told I may be dying at any moment and so I suppose I've given myself license to be selfish.
The Ministry did officially diagnose me as cursed, but I don't think there's any danger of spreading it to you (or anyone) — they said my crew are all fine and I'm only affected because I handled the cursed object. So — that's a silver lining, I suppose. But it's a nasty old curse that they don't think they can break, and it might kill me without much warning, and since I don't know how much longer I've got I don't really want to sit around just feeling like I'm wasting time.
I'd like it if you could come over. You can stay the night, if you want. It doesn't matter much to me whether we do anything or not. Mostly I just don't want to be alone with my thoughts all weekend, and — well, you're easy to talk to.
J. A. D.
MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER
March 21, 2020 – 9:58 AM
Last modified: March 21, 2020 – 9:58 AM by Jupiter Smith.
I haven't heard from you since the weekend, which might simply be because you're busy with whatever. Which is fine, obviously. I don't expect daily updates about your life or anything. Just...considering your prognosis I wanted to make sure you're still alive.
As it happens I am still alive — but had a close call two days ago and have only just been released from hospital. I think the release had more to do with the staff's need to clear out beds for more pressing things and not with a significant recovery on my part as they've advised me to stay home and do very little for the next week, which is advice I intend to follow.
But I think I'll be alright. Thank you for writing.
J. A. D.
MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER
![[Image: V9Vf0R0.png]](https://i.imgur.com/V9Vf0R0.png)
