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
Aristide was doing better these days. At the very least, he had dragged himself out of his room and made some sort of effort to be functioning. Even so, he still hardly smiled. He felt like he couldn't and he felt guilt whenever he actually did laugh. He knew deep down that it wasn't healthy. Asa would not want him to be morose forever. Adrienne most certainly did not want him to be.
Speaking of whom, he was expecting her any moment now. He had his maid set out some tea and biscuits. As he waited, he drew in his sketchbook as he wondered what this news his sister had might be.
After Cash had left, Adrienne got dressed in her most casual evening wear; she was only going over to her brother’s place next door. She’d have gone over in her nightgown and evening robe if that wouldn’t have sent some of the maids atwitter. On top of bringing news, she also picked up the bouquet of flowers Olympe had brought back from the market. Ari’s place needed some livening up, and though Adrienne knew flowers wouldn’t bring back Asa, she wanted Ari to know that there was still life.
He was where she expected him to be; sketching in his sketch book. Adrienne walked through the floo and hurried over to him, murmuring in French as she did so. “Bonsoir, ma moitié,” she greeted, swooping in to kiss his cheek. She was careful not to make sure he got a face full of the fragrant flowers and transferred them to the arm furthest from him. “I’ve brought you some more flowers.”
"Bonsoir," he said in return greeting as he sket his sketchbook aside. "Thank you, I'll set them in my parlour," Aristide said with a smile as he accepted them. He reached over to pour out a cup of tea for her. "So what news do you have?"
He looked better; at least moreso than last time, though Adrienne didn’t want to pry too much. Her news would already be a blow in some way to her twin. She hoped he would be happy, but she knew that (before she was aware he loved Asa) at some point she’d have been decidedly put out had he been the one delivering this news for his wife. So she sat down and accepted the cup of tea and took a sip before she collected her thoughts. “It’s quite good news,” she said with a smile, placing her teacup in her lap. “I’ve just told Cassius, and wanted you to be the next to know.”
Aristide peered at his twin as she informed him that it was quite good news. Something she would tell Cassius first instead of him? (Never mind that the man was her husband and so should be the first in any case.) He chuckled as he also sat down and poured himself some tea as well. His stomach was churning so hard it hurt. "You're not about to inform me that you're having a child, are you?" He asked with a chuckle as if it would be the most ridiculous thing she could possibly be sharing.
Well, there was no beating about the bush now, was there? Adrienne couldn’t help but mirror her twin’s laugh, however there was no humor in it and even worse, to hide that fact she immediately took a long sip from from her tea and avoided Aristide’s eyes. “Well…” She hesitated, pursing her lips and scrunching her nose. “Erm….”
Aristide immediately clocked into the difference in his twins laugh. No long sip could camouflage it from the wavelength he had always shared with his twin. Though apparently that wavelength was not always in tune because apparently, she appeared to actually be about to inform him that she was with child.
He said nothing though looked at her stomach as if he felt he would be able to see through layers of sinew to the child growing within. Then he darted his eyes back up to Adriennes and then back down. Oh. Well, then. He was not quite sure how to process any of this.
There was no need for words; but still, she felt she owed him an explanation. An explanation besides ‘it was our duty’, because that’s all that it was, wasn’t it? And it still didn’t seem like a good excuse. “I….we didn’t exactly plan for it to happen.” She began tentatively. “But it was always the goal in the end, I suppose.” The silence was deafening. Usually the silence that settled between them was natural as breathing, but today it was fraught with tension and Adrienne didn’t know what to say next.
October 29, 2024 – 5:22 AM
Last modified: October 29, 2024 – 5:31 AM by Aristide Selwyn.
"I suppose one never fully does plan such things," Aristide said. After all, their own existence had been far from planned. Their father had no choice but to hide his true connection to them for the rest of his life and could only have the mantle of a doting though somewhat distant uncle. "Congratulations, my moon. Your own little star will soon join the constellation of our family."
His words meant more than Adrienne could say. She beamed at him, and placed her hand on his before giving it a squeeze. “I know you will love them as much as I do, and you will be a fantastic uncle.” She responded before leaning forward to kiss his cheek.
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