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
With a softly uttered spell, she rotated the easel so that the canvas faced him. She stood by it, both physically and metaphorically, and wiped at her paint-dappled hands as she waited for his reaction. She was never one for grand or dramatic reveals but even with her simple approach the first look was usually at least a little evocative.
"As I said, the colors will be slightly different once they've cured and I've added the varnish."
"Have you heard? She's the one that killed her husband!
They couldn't prove it... but everyone says it was her"
Ross appraised the portrait. "It's an impressive likeness, Mrs. Embry," he said, after a beat. He smiled at her. "Particularly in the expression, and the hair." It did not look as if she had painted a white woman's idea of how Black hair must be, as divorced from reality — no, Mrs. Embry had actually painted his hair as it looked. "Thank you for your services."
She dipped her head in acceptance of the compliment. She never knew what to say when receiving one about her work but she was glad to hear he was happy with it. She even let slip a pleased expression at the mention of his hair - it wasn't a texture she'd had much practice with and had been an enjoyable challenge.
"Thank you for the commission." part of her burned to thank him in particular for hiring her in spite of her reputation but she was still a little rattled by his very artful revelation. And it wasn't like her to say such things in so many words. Instead, after a moments hesitation, she took a step back behind the easel and began to gather up her paints and brushes to leave.
"I'll send word when it's finished."
