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
It was after church, a wonderful service as usual. Earth was her normally chipper self, mostly chatting with her family. But of course the social butterfly had to flutter to other people for further conversations and the like. Moondew held to the young mother as she wandered from person to person.
Finally she walked up to the elder Miss Fairchild, giving a big smile to the older woman. "Wondeful service, yes? How have you been Miss Fairchild?" Many in the church had likely realized by now that Earth and her family were a bit odd, to various degrees. Some didn't like to speak to her at times, but she did try. Being kind to one's neighbor, as God wished. And it was nice to make friends.
Since her return from their trip to Africa Temperance had felt a distinct lack of vim for the services given by Mr Dursley – though of course she took pains to keep this to herself. It wasn’t that the reverend had reduced the vigour of his sermons, indeed since the trip he had been especially evangelical about the dedication of his congregation, but somehow she felt as though there was something lacking in his words.
The feeling would pass. She was quite sure of it. She had simply been spoiled by the deep connection to the Lord working amongst the sick and hungry had given her – the poverty of others, whether it be bodily or spiritual, gave her a focus unlike anything she had ever known throughout her nursing career.
Service ended she was attempting a swift exit – dedicated as she was to keeping up appearances there was the beginnings of a headache forming behind her eyes and she was not in the mood for chatter – before, inevitably, she was approached. And by a girl she knew very little of, beyond her peculiar cheerfulness.
“Fine, thank you,” she replied a little tersely. “I always find it most enriching.” Her eyes drifted to the other woman's stomach and she felt a stab of relief - at least this was something she could talk about with some confidence. "Has the child quickened yet?"
The trip almost never left Earth's mind. It was taking her some time to write her books. Two books at once was no easy task. But one was certainly the Lord's work, and Earth had no complaint over her duty to finish it. To spread the word and encourage others to join the church.
Most of her time was spent writing, researching, taking care of her children, and attending church. But of course she made time for family as well. A busy schedule indeed, and she wouldn't change a thing. But it was tiring, especially as a pregnant woman. If she hadn't been writing for the Lord, her husband would have likely asked her to settle down a bit. Thankfully he knew better.
Earth nodded happily in response and Moondew fussed a bit in her arms. Only a bit, but noticeable. Patience was hard to practice for one so young. "Yes, kept me up a little last night. Though I have been a light sleeper since Moondew was born." It was a task of itself to keep from yawning, but Earth didn't mind. Manners were important as well.
Temperance tightened her jaw at the name. What on earth was their church coming to that their reverend was obliged to christen children with such frivolous monikers? She had heard of the other woman’s propensity for oddness but this was really above and beyond. What in God’s name was she going to call the second one? Temperance was almost scared to ask.
“I’m sure it will settle in time. Babies are far easier before they enter the world in my experience,” she said with a tight smile. “It must have been quite the ordeal to be with child aboard the ship?”
Wonderful set by Lady <3
January 15, 2020 – 5:45 AM
Last modified: January 29, 2020 – 5:55 PM by Earth Beck.
The reverend seemed to give up questioning her naming decisions by the second pregnancy. What, with Earth being one of the least odd in the bunch of Smith siblings. At least she was a faithful attendee.
"Oh yes. I was feeling quite sick while aboard. But I felt in my heart and soul that the Lord had brought us that mission at that time for us to leave and help those in need. Who am I to question Him?" She responded with an awed thoughtfulness to her voice.
Quite unable to argue with the rhetoric Temperance smiled tightly. She had felt a similar call towards the mission herself, however the other woman had at least had prior notice that she would spend most of the journey decidedly queasy, the rest of them had been forced to face that as it came. And the water itself in her case, which thankfully nobody had dared to mention though she was quite sure the story would have shot around the crew quicker than a summer cold.
“He does work under the veil of mystery at times,” Temperance replied, finally managing a genuine smile, small though it was. “As a midwife I would have advised against it but you seem to be in the bloom of health.”
Oh yes, she did feel that she was quite healthy, which only amplified her feeling that it had been the right thing. That the Lord had wanted her to go on the mission. She had, and now she could right about it for the rest of the world. Hopefully the book would not take too long.
"Certainly, but His plans are so great. Who are we to question?" She said with a whimsical thoughtfulness. "I do hope your work is doing well. Oh, isn't it so wonderful to see a new little life in their first moments in the world? I remember when each of my children were born. First seeing their innocent eyes first look at mine." A little sigh of happiness at the thought. The hard work before was certainly difficult, but her children were certainly blessings.
The moment the girl described so eloquently was one Temperance had been witness to more times than she could count and there wasn’t a single one of those miraculous moments that had lead Temperance to regret her life choices. The first thing she had learnt about birth was that it was a messy affair but the joy afterwards was charming to behold – no, the thing that put her off was the indelible knots children tied around one’s life.
Above all things one needed to love the Lord and if one loved a child she could not reconcile sharing that love. It helped, of course, that no one had ever wanted her to be the mother of their children…apart from her brother, but that sounded terrible even in her head.
“The one guarantee the Lord gives us is that we will live and then die, I consider myself privileged to be there at both events.”
Often on the same day but even she was not cruel enough to tell that to an expectant mother.
“To bring a child into such a loving family is a blessing though,” she added kindly. “Your midwife will be most fortunate.”
As one of a big family, Earth was confident that her love could reach as far as she could will it. Love was something one worked on, nurtured. She did that as a mother, sister, daughter, and devotee to her church and Lord. Everyone had varying opinions on how one loved, but she felt that love was infinite if one could work at it.
"That is a wonderful privilege. I pray every day for a long life, but I understand that his plan does not always grant that. All I can do is serve and live the best life I can." Earth responded thoughtfully. This was something that she deemed important. Important for her, her family. That they serve and live the best lives they could. "Thank you for such kind words. Bless you. I will prey for you, if you don't mind."
“You’re too kind,” Temperance responded, wondering where some people found this apparently unending well of kindness of spirit. She had tried, lord knows she had, but some aspects of their religion had always been more of a struggle than others. Temperance had never baulked at doing somebody a good turn – she was not villain, after all – but she could never remember feeling half as light as Mrs Beck looked.
“I know this isn’t your first but if you need anything please do not hesitate to ask for my assistance,” Temperance added, feeling she might as well offer the skills she actually possessed rather than lean on one’s that were rusty at best. Pleasant, meaningless conversation was tricky but she was more than capable of adeptly birthing a child.
Perhaps it was time she shared this particular skill with Blythe? She certainly couldn’t be doing much good at the constabulary!
While she did certainly try, Earth knew she wasn't perfect. Falling by pride or wrath at times, and she did worry how that effected her loved ones. Why was her brother a squib? What had her family done? She didn't like to talk about it. Perhaps that was why he was so distant. Did he blame them? Obviously, there was some cause.
"Oh, that is so kind of you. Thank you." And she meant that. Kindness didn't always come easily to people. Especially those that lacked the faith, Earth felt. So it was nice to see such kindness in her community. It felt so welcoming.
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