Less // she/her // XXVI // Taurus // INFP // Hufflepuff
Wizarding World Profile | Pinterest | Spotify
Hi there! Welcome to my blog. I'm still in the process of figuring this all out but I'm hoping I'll get the gist of it soon. Atm I'm taking things slow so I might be a bit MIA.
Regardless, you can feel free to drop me a note. My asks/DMs are always open :)
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HP WWI Verse side blog @savetheundoneyears
old secondary oc blog @inactive-herbalist
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WRITINGS
Have Yourself A Jummy Little Christmas (HPMA)
The Chronicles Of The Dragon's Eye (HPHL; WIP - unpublished)
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OCs (below the cut)
❥・ Violette Jolie Durand | Pinterest | Spotify
⤿ the Durand Lineage
❥・ Abraham Aurelius Henry Alden | Pinterest
❥・ Oscar Alatar Erdstern | Pinterest | Spotify
❥・ Victor Abel Lyon | Pinterest
-> a very happy birthday to one of my favourite and most beloved OCs, my grumpy softie Eli! 💚 I missed it, but his ‘creation day’ was on 13th December, so I’ve officially had Eli (and Rex) for two years, which is crazy! His story is also one of my favourites, including the other OCs in it; it’s down to him that I ended up with Miriam, Rex, Evelyn, Hestia, Romulus, Rusty, and Tiberius, and I couldn’t imagine things without any of them. I’m also super grateful for the love he’s received too and it means the world that others love him as much as I do :’)
Can I get motion, stillness and favourite for Kespar? 👀
(Curse you for becoming obsessed with an oc I hadn’t developed at all so I now have to develop 😂 JK I love it plz do it more cuz I love this boy sm♥️ I needed an excuse)
Motion:
I think that he’s probably tall and lanky when young and he’s also introverted so he walks around trying to not take up space and to look smaller to not be noticed? Also you know I always gotta bring in some trauma so I think he might have a bit of restricted or more cautious movement because of the acid burns he has from his mothers dragon 🤡
Stillness:
I don’t know much about if he would fidget or not but to come back to the tall lanky part he probably sits with bad posture and slumped as to not be as tall. I also think he’s more of a thinker so he would sometimes just stare off in thought.
Favorite:
Back to the trauma aspect, I think his favorites will be his gloves or his long black suit trenchcoat specifically because they are big and can hide his scars. Not that he feels self conscious, but because he doesn’t want other people to fuss over them or him. Also, they give him a vibe of mystery that he kind of likes 😂 Makes him look intimidating when he’s really just a sweet kind boy. He’s gotta match the badass aesthetic of his sister and scary mom you know.
In yesterday’s press conference, Minister Evermonde, Head of the British Ministry of Magic, introduced strict legislation against the involvement of wizardkind in the ongoing Muggle war. Any kind of magic use is strictly prohibited in matters of war and will result in severe punishment; the ground of justification is the International Statute of Secrecy.
Full article on page 3.
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Since July 14th, the Wizarding World has been put into a state of unease. Following the assassination of Muggle Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the declaration of war by Austria-Hungary, many wizards fear of the war spreading and the Wizarding World getting caught in the crossfire.
Addressing the precarious situation, the British Ministry of Magic gave an official statement on the 25th of August, 1914, in which Minister Evermonde made clear, that any sort of wizard involvement in Muggle warfare, threatens the International Statute of Secrecy and would not be tolerated unless authorised by Ministry Officials. Upon further questioning, whether the muggles do not deserve help and protection, he explained that ‘the Ministry simply doesn't have the resources to entertain and aid the muggle war as of now’.
‘The Ministry’s focus is to ensure our kind's safety. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we divide our resources wisely. Not only is there a war raging but the Wizarding World is facing issues that, too, need tending. Protecting the Wizarding society is our top priority and we refuse to put it at risk. I can assure you, however, that the Ministry has the situation under control and acts on the matter as much as needed. […] I know this war is a very emotionally charged topic but I must ask that civilians may refrain from joining the fight and do not enlist on their own accord. It might undermine Ministry measures and therefore, any offence against the issued legislations will be punished.’
– Archer Evermonde, Minister of Magic, Press Conference regarding the Muggle war at the British Ministry of Magic, 25th August 1914
Despite Minister Evermonde ensuring that the situation is under control and that the Ministry is in constant exchange with parties of the International Confederation of Wizards, it needs to be clarified which measures exactly will be taken to aid the situation. So far it is only known that Head Auror, Willard Hartford, is planning to launch new operations to undermine and prevent attempts to harm the Wizarding World, primarily in response to the war and the latest Dark wizard activities – regarding the rumoured Azkaban break nothing was mentioned.
Ministries Unified
‘In these dark times, it is most important that we lay down our conflict and move forward as a union.’
– Archer Evermonde, Minister of Magic, Press Conference regarding the Muggle war at the British Ministry of Magic, 25th August 1914
Regardless of the war raging between the muggles, Evermonde emphasised the importance of international cooperation. He confirmed that all Ministries of Magic are currently working together and flying at full speed to find solutions to keep the distress for the Wizarding world at a minimum. According to Evermonde, there is no bad blood between the magical parties, and the conflict has not stifled constructive exchange between the Ministries.
Whether the Muggle war will be confined to the few countries already involved or what scale it will take can not be said, but the feeling on this point in high official circles is optimistic. Despite this optimism, the Wizarding communities across Europe prepare for war.
Edited by Odessa Avery
tag list: @kathrynalicemc
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Pureblood woman, sister of Albert Seymour, was bred to find a suitable match and was commanded to marry the rake Elijah Thorne. Smart, witty, observant and a Slytherin alumni, it didn't however save her from a miserable marriage, blackmailing him in order to do their duty and be done with it. She ended up raising the twins herself.
Father: Elijah Thorne
A rake, irresponsible, neglectful and a useless drunk, he was always doing drugs and in brothels rather than alone with his young and beautiful wife. Who ended up blackmailing him in order to conceive at least one child and be done with it. The marriage worked well until an American opportunist used a love potion on it and convinced a whipped Elijah to elope and leave his family for America. He would never return to England or get out of the ship alive.
Other relatives: Marcellus Alexander Thorne, twin brother
Both raised by different tutors, where Marcellus was reserved and flamboyant, Eleanor was calm and with a calmer head on her shoulders. They both had a great affection for one another, and bonded much during their time at Hogwarts. He'd be her biggest support in England during her adult life, and his daughter Enya would often visit her home in France.
Jesse Isaiah Seymour and his sisters, first cousins
Both cousins were within the same age ranges and had similar natures and got on well.
Eleanor and Eris moved in similar circles, but never interacted properly until she attended his first opera role, and the moment she heard his voice, she fell instantly in love.
They both started courting, and she'd support him and enhance his singing abilities, striving for him to become his better self. Both families approved of the match and soon made a life in Paris. They married and had two children: Knox and Marielle.
PERSONALITY
Overall personality: Eleanor is sweet, smart, gentle but firm, with a good head on her shoulders and a woman of her time, loyal to the end and devout of her loved ones.
Positive traits: Sweet, smart, gentle, loyal and with a good head on her shoulders
Thorne Abbey is the ancestral home of the Thornes since the Anglo-Saxon era with its founder, Luxia Thorne, established a powerful castle guarded by walls full of thorny vines and pointy towers that are enchanted to repel bad-meaning visitors and intruders. At first it was Thorne castle, but with time, it was changed to 'abbey' to avoid drawing muggle attention. It's famous for its fierce warriors, draped in velvet, white and black walls, fiery members and astute matriarchs, although it all changed after the French Revolution and the beginning of the Regency Era, with Abel Thorne following the Prince Regent into his extravagant and hedonistic habits. The family would change their ideas again well after Eleanor's time.
BACKSTORY
Eleanor Marie Thorne was born on a snowy night of March in 1881, alongside her twin brother Marcellus, although they grew up differently, they had loyalty to one another and a sense of siblinghood, although they teased one another plenty.
Just like her mother, she was sorted into Slytherin and was made Prefect and Head Girl, achieving a flawless curriculum, being a quiet and friendly girl, but an overachiever. She was always brought along dinners and reunions with investors and tennants as well as her brother, and co-ran Thorne Abbey after their mother retired until her brother married and had a child of his own. Despite her being away in France, she kept advising her twin brother until they both stepped down as well.
MISC
As a very wealthy untitled lady, she was required to be equal to her titled counterparts, and thus learned the harp, pianoforte, singing and the violin. She was taught to fence, shoot to almost perfection, archery, horseriding and field games. She developed a great love for Parisian and royal fashion, to embroider, recite poems of the best writers from memory, as well as Latin, Greek, German and French.
She was one of the richest bachelorettes of the wizarding world, with nearly 25,000,000 galleons on her dowry alone.
She soon became a philantropist, and spent her fortune on enhancing her husband's branch of the Durand family with lavish portraits, generous donations to important charities, endear herself to the high society and was pen pals with several figures of the wizarding world, among them many Ministers of Magic, socialites, heroes,... anyone who was somebody had received Mrs. Durand's regards.
She was a fashionista through and through, always wearing the best designers, with her gorgeous, luscious and thick brown curls that could've rivalled Empress Sissi's long hair and was a fashion leader, always dressing for the House of Worth. Her great fashion sense would be passed down to her niece Enya and being a fashion icon would be mandatory within the House Thorne.
motion, roots and favorite for Lotus because i'm interested 👀
motion: How does your OC move? How does their clothing help or hinder their range of motion? Are they flexible, coordinated, clumsy?
It depends on who’s around. When she’s around her father and other authority figures she tends to be more rigid and aware of her movement whereas when she’s around friends she’s much more relaxed and carefree. She’s skilled at handiwork and pretty coordinated but there are still moments where she’ll get distracted and accidentally knocks over a glass of ink.
roots: Is your OC's look inspired by any specific style of clothing or fashion trend? What are the roots and/or inspiration for their look?
Hm, I feel like her style can be pretty much summed up as Berlin artist meets Durmstrang witch. So lots of dark colours, white and red and lacey, translucent fabrics and vintage/witchy vibes but also modern silhouettes and a lot of artistic inconsistency.
favorite: Does your OC have a favorite article of clothing or accessory? What is it? What's the meaning behind it? Do they wear it all the time or do they wear it sparingly to keep it safe?
She loves wearing big men’s coats, especially her grandpa’s old one. She loved him dearly and still feels guilty about his death (Voldemort you bitch!). When she wears it, it still feels like he’s around and it gives her a sense of comfort. It’s so big on her it’s honestly more of a cloak than a coat.
From the character design ask game: Stature, might, and favorite for Ione, please?
stature: What's your OC's body type? How tall are they? Do they wear clothing to accentuate their look or do they try to mask it?
Ione, like her sister, is kinda smallish and delicate looking. She’s probably around the same height too (maybe a bit taller) – so around 163cm. She likes to wear soft and delicate clothing to highlight that.
night: What does your OC wear to sleep? Do they have a favorite pair of PJs, or are they more the birthday suit type?
Ione, likes to wear silky nightdresses to bed – or anything that feels nice and soft on the skin. If her partner is away she might steal one of their pjs if the missing gets too bad.
favorite: Does your OC have a favorite article of clothing or accessory? What is it? What's the meaning behind it? Do they wear it all the time or do they wear it sparingly to keep it safe?
She loves wearing a fiddler cap that she got from *someone* (story yet tbd). She wears it whenever she can unless it’s inappropriate. It usually is a huge contrast to the rest of her outfit which normally tends to be more proper and feminine but she likes it and would NEVER forget it or willingly leave it behind. Before that she liked to wear hairbands and still does for formal occasions.
oc asks: character design edition @cursed-herbalist thanks for the ask!
for jimmy crouch, alexej kavinsky & viveka raeburn
at first glance, what stands out most about your oc's appearance? what's their distinguishing feature?
with jimmy i think the first thing one would notice is his expression. he rarely looks at people in a welcoming way. but his fluffy hair is also a good option cause sometimes that hides part of his face!
in alexej it has to be his height... specially if he's standing next to people. he's a funny little guy. but i do think his eyes are also a thing to notice, they're very captivating.
for viveka i feel like it's the eyes as well. they're just very bambi. but then again also powerful gaze??
how does your oc act while still? are they fidgety? do they have any common gestures or tics? does their clothing affect how they hold themselves while at rest?
jimmy can be very restless and anxious and it can be hard for him to be still. he also has some back pains and is often sitting and standing in a bad posture. it's hard for him to find a good position. if he's focused on something then he can be very still though. clothing doesn't really affect his stillness.
alexej has his durmstrang background which taught him to be in a good posture and still. it kinda sticks to him even when he's alone and not under orders. even when he's relaxed he's mostly still. his calmness was one of the reasons why he met knusper and befriended him.
viveka gets impatient quickly and is usually tapping her feet to a level where it can get annoying. if anyone else would do the same thing she would absolutely tell them to knock it off though. she doesn't like to stay still and would rather be doing something useful but secretly she kind of wants to learn to enjoy being still and just relax. her outfits also make her look much cooler when she's on a move than when she's just standing still.
does your oc have a favorite article of clothing or accessory? what is it? what's the meaning behind it? do they wear it all the time or do they wear it sparingly to keep it safe?
for jimmy it's his stupid hat 😂😂😂 we love to hate on it. but let's also give appreciation to black converse (jimmy 🤝 dawn) and his leather jackets that jupiter steals borrows. but like most beloved thing is that hat. but what is the story behind the hat??? where did it come from???
alexej loved his mothers old buckle ring but he did give it to sydney. for clothing, he loves warm jumpers and big blazers.
viveka loves any type of black clothing that's flowy. flowy pants, suits, dresses, capes etc. her patrnous is a runespoor and she was in the slytherin house so she has always loved snake shaped jewelry as well.
glance: At first glance, what stands out most about your OC's appearance? What's their distinguishing feature?
face: Describe your OC's face. What's their smile like? Are their orbs cerulean? What would someone notice first when looking at them?
stature: What's your OC's body type? How tall are they? Do they wear clothing to accentuate their look or do they try to mask it?
motion: How does your OC move? How does their clothing help or hinder their range of motion? Are they flexible, coordinated, clumsy?
stillness: How does your OC act while still? Are they fidgety? Do they have any common gestures or tics? Does their clothing affect how they hold themselves while at rest?
canvas: Does your OC have any scars, piercings, tattoos, or other markings? Do they display or cover them up at all?
CUT & CLOTHES
night: What does your OC wear to sleep? Do they have a favorite pair of PJs, or are they more the birthday suit type?
day: What does your OC wear on a normal day? Why do they default to those clothes? Do they wear similar things, or do they change it up?
formal: What's your OC's formal look? Do they like dressing up? Do they have different looks for different occasions?
informal: What's your OC's lazy-day look? How do they like to dress when they're winding down?
outerwear: What's your OC's outerwear situation? Jacket, sweater, cloak? What sort of weather do they deal with most and how do they protect themselves?
footwear: What does your OC wear on their feet?
road: What does your OC wear while traveling? Do they have high-quality equipment, or are they making do? What does their gear look like?
armor: What kind of armor does your OC wear? Is it well kept? Bonus: where does it come from? Is there a story behind it?
arms: Does your OC have any weapons? What weapons do they carry, and how do they wear them when they're not fighting?
roots: Is your OC's look inspired by any specific style of clothing or fashion trend? What are the roots and/or inspiration for their look?
texture: Does your OC favor any specific kinds of cloth or textures? Is there anything they can't wear or don't like? What sort of fabrics do they prefer?
wardrobe: How big is your character's wardrobe? Do they wear things threadbare, or can they afford new clothes often? Are they any good at mending and repairing their own clothing?
ACCESSORIES & ACCENTS
bling: What jewelry does your OC wear? Does it have any meaning?
hair: How does your OC wear their hair? Does it have some kind of meaning?
makeup: Does your OC wear makeup? How often? What kind? Why do they wear makeup, and do they like it?
favorite: Does your OC have a favorite article of clothing or accessory? What is it? What's the meaning behind it? Do they wear it all the time or do they wear it sparingly to keep it safe?
change: Has your OC ever drastically changed their appearance? Significant haircuts, big tattoos, complete wardrobe swap, etc? Why? How do they feel about the change?
alternate: What would your OC's alternate universe look be? If they're a fantasy character, what's their modern look? If they're sci-fi, what's their fantasy look? What AU would you want to see your OC in, and how would they dress themself? Bonus: Prompt an AU!
“I have no doubt that a thorough investigation will yield results and secure Alderly’s future,” Quincey said. “I do believe our fortunes are about to change.”
Go read the wonderful story @gaygryffindorgal is posting about Dawn and Quincey’s festive adventures ❤️
Summary: Dawn holds down the fort. Evander offers to help with Aldelry's economic crisis.
Words: 2.7k
Characters:
Dawn Harvelle and Evander Alderly @potionboy3
Quincey, Olympia and Isabella Alderly, Tess Brandon
Gaia Alden by @cursed-herbalist
Also featuring:
Lainey Bell by @gcldensnitch, Evan Harvelle by @potionboy3
Beginning | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Want to read the first fic in the series, A Christmas Prince? Click here!
Chapter 4: All the World's a Stage
The meeting Dawn was supposed to attend with Quincey was postponed in favour of all kinds of other meetings that Dawn wasn’t allowed to attend. It was three in the morning when Quincey and Lainey returned from whatever emergency meetings they’d been having. Dawn had been sitting with Olympia, Evan, and Tess, but Evan had given up at around two, proclaiming he had to go get some sleep before he drooled all over the priceless antique furniture. Dawn felt the same way, but he couldn’t go to sleep before Quincey was back.
“How did it go?” Olympia asked when Quincey and Lainey entered the room.
“Everything’s still up in the air,” said Quincey. “Mother told me to get some sleep because tomorrow isn’t going to be any easier.”
“It’s today,” said Olympia.
“Right… I’m sorry about the play.”
“Don’t worry about that,” said Olympia. “Dawn has had an idea.”
“Yeah?” asked Quincey and turned his tired gaze to Dawn.
“We’re having it here,” said Dawn. “Mr. Flitwick has agreed to help us, though Miss Pince was very much against it.”
“Well, some good news, at least,” Quincey huffed and sat down. Lainey was still looking through her phone.
“Lane, please, give it a rest,” said Quincey. “Take a break.”
“Your Majesty,” said Lainey and put her phone away. Everyone in the room looked at each other and the stress and exhaustion felt palpable.
“I’m starting to feel like Christmas might be cancelled this year,” said Quincey quietly.
That was too much for Dawn. “No,” he said sternly. “This is the Christmas capital of all the Christmas capitals and we’re not letting the people down by losing hope now.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Dawn.
“We will figure out why the initiative isn’t working, and we will have a Christmas,” he continued. “We don’t need money to make a good Christmas, I never did before.”
Tess smiled at him.
“You’re right,” said Olympia. “We can use whatever we have in the palace kitchens to make a meal for everyone after the show tomorrow.”
“That sounds like fun,” said Dawn.
“I can do an inventory in the morning,” said Lainey.
“Hey, why aren’t you on strike?” asked Olympia.
“They don’t have a union for Kings’ best friends,” said Lainey. “And besides, if I don’t help fix this mess then the country will be worse off.”
“You’re so right,” said Quincey.
“Touching,” came a voice from the door and Dawn turned to look at none other than Evander.
“What is it now?” Olympia asked.
“I was wondering if I could have a moment of the king’s time?”
“Moments are in short supply,” said Quincey.
“I understand, I just wanted to thank you again for taking me back into the fold.”
“That's putting it a bit generously, isn't it?” Olympia interjected.
“Perhaps, but I'd like to do something to repay you. All. I may have a solution to Alderly's financial crisis–”
“I should've known this was about getting your hands on the kingdom's money,” Quincey interrupted him. “You can forget about it.”
“Cousin, no. It's just as I say, I want to help!” Evander defended himself. “I do have a degree in economics from Oxford.”
“You do?” asked Dawn.
“He does,” said Quincey.
“All I'm asking is that you to hear me out, I have a sound plan. Give me a chance to redeem myself.”
Olympia shook her head.
“Fine, you can come to the meeting tomorrow, alongside Dawn,” Quincey said. “But I’m keeping an eye on you.”
“Of course, I would expect no less,” said Evander and bowed. He backed away from the room. “Good night,” he called out before leaving.
“Brother, have you gone mad?” asked Olympia.
“I know you hate him, O, but economics is far more useful in this situation than art history,” said Quincey. “We might actually need him.”
“We can’t trust a word he says.”
“I can trust that he loves this country,” said Quincey. “That’s the one thing about Evander I know to be true.”
~
The next morning Dawn was led to one of the palace’s many conference rooms. There were several ministers present, as well as the queen mother, Evander, and Quincey, along with a slew of experts and assistants. Most of the meeting went completely over Dawn’s head, which frustrated him to no end. No one had given him any material to prepare for this, the only folder he had waiting for him back in his rooms was about the upcoming wedding, which seemed to matter less and less by each passing minute. After an hour and a half of economical jargon Dawn had to physically restrain himself from yawning.
“Your Majesty,” the queen said. “I have three words for you. Stay the course.”
“Even in light of everything that's happened??
Isabella gave her son an encouraging smile and said: “We put into action what your father dreamed of doing for the last years of his reign.”
“But the situation has changed so vastly since then,” Quincey replied. “Are there really no adjustments you'd consider, mother?”
“Patience. This kind of long-term investment in roads, hospitals, schools... it's good business.”
Dawn wasn’t sure what it was about the way the queen said good business that made him finally open his mouth: “I beg your pardon. Queen Isabella, may I?”
“Yes, of course, my dear.”
Dawn took a deep breath. If he fumbled this, he wouldn’t get a second chance. “If all the infrastructure projects are happening in Alderly, through Alderlian companies, how can the country be losing so much money?”
The minister of internal affairs perked his ears. Maybe all these high and mighty politicians didn’t think too highly of Dawn, but he was damn well going to try his best to prove them wrong. “Did you think that perhaps we should consider taking some proactive steps to find out?”
Isabella smiled at Dawn, tightly. “Absolutely we should and will. A thorough review begins tomorrow.”
“Well then,” said Quincey. “Good.”
“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty,” Evander cut in. “I love our country and was merely curious to know how The Queen Mother accounts for the inverse returns.”
“Count Evander, that is hardly appropriate–,” started the Prime Minister, but Quincey motioned for him to keep his peace.
“You’re welcome to go through all of these documents,” said the queen. “As I had expected you had when you were invited to this meeting.”
Dawn wondered if Evander had ever received the documents either, or if it was just him.
“The documents are one thing, Your Majesty, but I had hoped–,”
“Hopes what, dear nephew? To get inside knowledge of our country’s goings-on so you could exploit them for your own gain?”
“Queen Isabella, I…”
“Enough,” said the queen. “Quentin, maybe now you will finally see that as king, you'll find everyone as their own agenda. Keep a watchful eye on those who try to lead you astray.”
Evander fell silent and Quincey cleared his throat. “Thank you for your… advice, mother.”
Isabella nodded.
“I have no doubt that a thorough investigation will yield results and secure Alderly’s future,” Quincey said. “I do believe our fortunes are about to change.”
~
After the meeting Dawn and Quincey headed out to get the courtyard Christmas tree. They both needed some fresh air. It had begun to snow lightly and Dawn so happy to finally spend some time with Quincey outside the palace walls and out of reach of the watchful eyes of the court.
“Fresh snow at Christmas is an Alderlian sign of good fortune,” said Quincey as they made their way deeper into the woods.
“Well, we could take it as a good sign, then,” said Dawn, bundled up in his best outerwear so as not to freeze to death. He had learned his lesson from last year, prancing around in converse even though there was two meters of snow everywhere.
“Do you think it’s in time to save Christmas?” Quincey asked.
“At least the play, if nothing else.”
“Olympia has worked very hard on it, it’s been good for her,” said Quincey.
“I’m glad to hear it,” said Dawn. “She did seem pretty invested.”
Quincey nodded and then stopped abruptly, pointing out a tree. “What about this one?
Dawn examined the specimen. “It's a little bare on the side.”
Quincey moved on to the next tree. One good thing about owning acres upon acres of forest was that you could have your pick of the most perfect Christmas tree.
“This one's nice,” said Quincey.
“It's not really a cone, is it?”
“What?”
Dawn sighed. What did they teach these royals of the Christmas country? “Well, a Christmas tree should be a cone. That was more of a triangle.”
“Well, I always thought a cone was a sort of triangle,” said Quincey with a shrug.
“Did you fail geometry?”
“Hey!”
“Finding the perfect tree is like finding the perfect man,” said Dawn, attempting to sound like a wise philosopher. “It takes time, and first impressions can be deceiving.”
“Oh, I see,” Quiney laughed. “Just because I stole your taxi a year ago now means I need to freeze to death while we find a perfect tree?”
“Not my fault you had to wear your fancy coat. Should’ve dressed warmer.”
Obviously, Quincey would be a lost cause without him.
~
The pair inspected many a tree, and some half an hour passed. Quincey had had the sense to wear a hat and gloves, so Dawn wasn’t too worried about him freezing. Coming across another tree of suitable proportions, Quincey said: “No geometrical imperfections here.”
“This one?” said Dawn, doubtful. It was an alright tree, but the branches leaned a bit too much up.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Tall, majestic, really the perfect tree,” said Quincey in a valiant defence of the upward bending branch tree.
“Totally wrong.”
“Are you sure this isn't the one?”
“Come on,” said Dawn and took Quincey’s hand. He wanted this excursion to last as long as possible, since he wasn’t likely to get another moment alone with Quincey like this in a while. He led him still deeper into the woods, until finally he came across what he was actually looking for.
“This one,” he announced.
Quincey looked from Dawn to the tree and back again and said with a tone full of disbelief: “That's... that's a runt. I mean, it's missing branches. It looks more like a tetrahedron than a cone.”
“Tetrahedron, shut up…” mumbled Dawn and circled the tree. “This one’s unique.”
“Unique?”
“Yes, this is the one.”
Quincey obviously had his doubts, but luckily for Dawn, he was also up for most of Dawn’s crazy ideas so he tagged the tree dutifully so the royal lumberjacks or whatever they were called could find it when they came to collect.
Dawn kissed Quincey’s cheek. “You didn’t bring your own axe?”
“I doubt they’d let me handle one.”
“Oh no, they wouldn’t. You’ve got too delicate of a constitution…”
“I could have you locked up in the dungeon for that.”
“You’d miss me too much.”
~
“Wow,” said Olympia once the tree was brought to the courtyard. “That's a very... unique tree.”
“Exactly. It's perfect, right?” asked Dawn.
“It'll look great, once we get all the lights in,” Olympia said though Dawn could tell she was also judging his taste. He decided to drive the point home even harder.
“Yeah, the coloured ones,” he said. “And those big, old, inflatable reindeer up there.”
Olympia nearly grimaced. “Luckily the staff will decorate this one, so you keep your grubby little hands off it.”
“Alright, you Christmas elitist…”
Pince cleared her throat and said: “As things have gone back to normal with the crown this year, we will light the tree Christmas Eve, after the king's address.”
Pince turned to Dawn and addressed him specifically, saying: “The decor mandate is white and gold. No inflatables.”
Dawn laughed. “Yes, I know Miss Pince, don’t worry.”
Olympia and Quincey laughed with him, when Pince’s expression turned from extremely worried to extremely relieved.
~
The next day was the day of Olympia’s play. The whole palace was abuzz with excitement, as nothing of the sort had been seen within the royal residence in years. Dawn and Tess were helping with the finishing touched to some of the supporting actors’ costumes, when Dawn noticed Evander standing nearby. Suspecting that he was up to no good, Dawn walked up to him.
“Are you spying on me?”
“Excuse me?” asked Evander, sufficiently affronted by the idea.
“I don’t like being spied on.”
“I don’t know if you know this,” said Evander. “But not everything is about you.”
“Then what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be hatching some evil schemes somewhere?”
“I call it looking after the interests of Alderly,” Evander said coolly.
“Or for one Alderlian,” Dawn said with a scoff. “Named Evander.”
“Yes, I get it, it's not that clever.”
“Quincey may have been taken in by your little act but I'm not,” said Dawn and went back to work.
“What was that about?” asked Tess.
“Just clearing some things up.”
Tess looked thoughtful for a moment and then said: “I don’t know him, but I think he’s really trying to help. Last night he was still up, pouring over some account books long after everyone else had gone to bed.”
“He was?”
“Yeah,” said Tess. “In the kitchens. I went to get some chamomile tea so I could sleep.”
“Doesn’t mean he’s trying to help. It could be a plot.”
“I suppose it could…” mused Tess and added a final bow to the dress she was working on.
~
The play was certainly interesting. Dawn had to admit the artistic liberties taken were sometimes lost on him, but he had to appreciate the unique take on a classic folktale. The cast had opted to use masks to portray certain characters instead of elaborate costumes. The climax of the play, Princess Froon granting Santa Claus his powers and Grundel turning into a knight was complete with smoke effects. Gaia was swallowed by a cloud of smoke and her mask and cloak were replaced with shiny chainmail. She made quite a dashing knight and the kiss shared between her and the princess was straight out of a fairytale. Most of the references and more subtle choices went straight over Dawn’s head but he was pretty alright with that, seeing Olympia take the stage in a form she actually enjoyed, in a stark contrast to her royal duties.
~
After the play was done, Olympia invited all of her fancy friends down to the kitchens to bake gingerbread cookies for charity. It really was a little chaotic and only some of the cookies were actually respectable looking enough to be even considered for charitable purposes, but the castle was in need of cookies too, and Dawn didn’t mind if his cookie was made into the shape of a butt by some pompous noble.
He himself was making an attempt at decorating some heart and star shaped ones, when he heard Olympia’s voice behind him.
“Is that a snowman or a yeti?”
“It’s Grundel!” said Gaia, laughing. “Don’t you know your history?”
“I’ll have you know that Grundel doesn’t have a hat.”
“Mine does!” Gaia defended herself and both laughed.
“You were quite good tonight,” Gaia said.
“Thanks.”
“I’m glad it all worked out.”
“Imagine if we’d had to refund the tickets…”
“You could have kissed your allowance goodbye,” Gaia said.
“God-forbid, I have no life skills.”
“Well acting…”
“Now you’re just making fun of me.”
“Maybe a little,” said Gaia. “But it was fun, maybe we should make this an annual thing? Next year we could do The Christmas Nights.”
Dawn had no idea what that one entailed, but if it was anything like the one Alderlian folktale he did know, it was sure to be entertaining.
“I’d like that,” said Olympia.
“Hey, do you like coffee?” Gaia asked suddenly.
“Sure.”
“Would you like to go, sometime?”
“For a coffee?”
“Yes. With me, preferably.”
Olympia laughed. “Yes, I’d like to.”
Dawn suppressed a grin and busied himself getting more cookies to decorate.
Dawn’s Blog, December 20th
Post title: The Tale of Princess Froon
Dear all,
Christmas spirit has overtaken the palace, and the Alderlian saga of Princess Froon and the Wicked Ogre melted hearts and sparked a wild frenzy of sweet treats and cocoa in the kitchen. It was a wonderful day, a great release from the pressure I feel as my life is about to change forever.
tag list: @lifeofkaze, @gcldensnitch, @endlessly-cursed, @cursed-herbalist, @magicallymalted
Happy Birthday to us, my dear! My oldest OC who has gone through so many remakes (the newest being a potential new fc?) I believe I created you when I was around 19, and now I’m 25 ♥️
I will also mention that due to her recent remake she is free for ships and fankids 👀
“Honestly, Tess, I didn’t think I would ever get married, much less married like… well all this,” Dawn said, motioning around vaguely to everything around him. “But shouldn’t it be about… royalty or not, about being with the person I love, with... with all the people that I love there with me?”
Go read the wonderful story @gaygryffindorgal is posting about Dawn and Quincey’s festive adventures ❤️ (gaia belongs to @cursed-herbalist)
Summary: Royal protocol threatens to dictate everything about Dawn and Quincey's wedding. Olympia's charity play faces obstacles.
Words: 3k
Characters:
Dawn Harvelle and Evander Alderly @potionboy3
Quincey and Olympia Alderly, Tess Brandon
Gaia Alden by @cursed-herbalist
Also featuring:
Pandora Lovelace & Nymeria Lee by @gcldensnitch, Jimmy Crouch, Maxim Raeburn, Rosa Yaxley & Evan Harvelle by @potionboy3, Rocky Weasley by @magicallymalted
Beginning | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Want to read the first fic in the series, A Christmas Prince? Click here!
Chapter 3: The Princess and the Ogre
“Your Majesties, Your Highness,” said Evander. He had a distinct look of dishevelment about him that Dawn had not expected to see.
Quincey’s personal security guard had already stepped in, ready to escort Evander out of the premises.
“It’s alright, Mr. Flitwick,” said Quincey. “He appears to be in no shape to do us any further harm.”
“Queen Isabella,” said Evander. “Merry Christmas.”
“What is it you want, Evander?” asked the queen.
“I know I deserve to be met with such hostility,” Evander continued. Dawn’s dad and Tess had made their way next to Dawn, as if to serve as his personal guard. Dawn thought it was kind of cute. Tess whispered: “Is this the bloke who…”
“Who tried to steal Quincey’s crown? Yes,” Dawn whispered back.
“Frankly, I’m amazed to see your face here, cousin,” said Quincey.
“After the… unfortunate incident last Christmas, I lost almost everything I had,” Evander explained.
“Just desserts!” Olympia chimed in.
“I don't expect you to forgive me,” said Evander. “But I wanted to say I'm sorry, and Merry Christmas…”
The entire family was looking at Evander in something of a shock. This was the last thing Dawn had expected and he was willing to bet it had not crossed the minds of anyone else in the room, either.
“And congratulations,” finished Evander, looking at Dawn and Quincey now with an expression that could almost be described as genuine. “To you both.”
He turned to leave, and Quincey stepped forward. “Wait.”
Evander stopped in his tracks, turning back to face the king. Quincey sighed and said: “I don't know how you'll ever regain our trust. But we're still family. And it's Christmas.”
Olympia looked like she was about to punch some sense into her brother. Dawn exchanged looks with his dad and aunt.
“He may stay,” Quincey told the head of security and Evander looked seemingly relieved.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet, Olympia might actually murder you.”
Evander looked at Olympia who scowled. It seemed forgiveness didn’t come to her as easily as her brother, though Dawn wasn’t sure where all this goodwill on Quincey’s part was coming from.
~
Queen Isabella exchanged a few words with his wayward nephew, who then hovered awkwardly near the tree but didn’t touch any of the decorations. A passing waiter gave him a mug of steaming hot glühwein. Dawn decided to go over and see what he was really up to.
“Count Evander,” he said as he approached.
“Mr. Harvelle,” he replied. “Or Your Highness, soon enough.”
“What brought you to us on this… fine December evening?” Dawn asked.
“I knew you would all be together, and I thought: what better time to make my apologies?”
“I guess,” said Dawn, squinting his eyes.
“I know you don’t like me or trust me, but I’m not here to cause any trouble,” said Evander. “I’m just trying to make things right between me and my family.”
“It’s my family too, now, so if you try any shit–,” started Dawn but Evander stopped him on his tracks: “I won’t. I don’t want to go against you and my dear cousins ever again. The first round was quite humiliating enough.”
Dawn was a little pleased to hear it but hoped it wasn’t too obvious. “Quincey’s right, Olympia might actually kill you.”
“Yes, I imagine obtaining her forgiveness might be a little too optimistic.”
~
As the evening went on and the tree began to look sufficiently decorated, Evander had gained enough ground to sit on one of the couches and talk about his past year. He and his mother Amelia had a falling out and that had resulted in her cutting off all the money. It must have been a blow, but Dawn found it hard to sympathize with a count when it came to these things.
“So, what did you do?” asked Tess.
“Well, I moved to a more… modest housing arrangement,” Evander explained. “Oh, and I sold my car, that one was… difficult.”
Dawn rolled his eyes, but Tess chuckled and said: “It must have been.”
Evan sat next to Dawn and said under his breath: “Should we be worried about that one?”
“I’m always worried about Evander,” Dawn replied.
“Maybe I should kick his ass?”
Dawn laughed quietly. “Oh my god, dad.”
“I would probably lose.”
“No, you’d totally win.”
“Win what?” asked Quincey, walking up to them.
“Fist fight against Evie,” Dawn explained.
Quincey seemed to think about it for a while and then said: “You would definitely win.”
Evan grinned and Dawn smiled but then his expression turned more serious, and he asked: “Why did you let him stay?”
Quincey shrugged. “I think everyone deserves a second chance.”
~
Everything went mostly without an incident although Olympia did throw a glass bauble at Evander when he dared to laugh at Tess's joke too merrily in her presence. Dawn thought it was funny, but the queen informed them all that the bauble had been a gift from the American ambassador and now he would wonder why it doesn’t feature in any of the royal photographs.
Back in his bridal suite™️, Dawn exchanged a few messages with his friends back home. Well, back in Bristol since this was home now. It was late, too late, with Dawn’s early morning looming threateningly in the horizon.
the bristol squad;
panda:
wait cunt evander is back??
panda:
NO
panda:
COUNT
panda:
autofill1!!!
maxim:
oh my god
rocky:
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
dawn:
where’s the lie
panda:
it was a typo
nym:
no it wasn’t
jimmy:
it was a freudian slip
Just when Dawn was putting his phone away, he heard a knock on his door. He crept out of bed, wondering whether it was Evander, come to assassinate him. Suddenly it made perfect sense why he had come back, acting all humble and apologetic. He certainly had some devious plan to kill Dawn and get the throne. Just in case, Dawn picked up a decorative candelabra on his way to the door. When he opened and was instead faced with Quincey, dressed in his pajamas and a fancy dressing gown, he hid the makeshift weapon behind his back and smiled.
“Quince!”
“What were you going to do with that?” the king asked, half puzzled half amused.
“Defend myself, of course, your palace security is lax, I know that from experience.”
“Dear lord…” said Quincey and grabbed Dawn’s face, kissing him. Dawn pulled him into the room and maneuvered the door shut. Quincey took the candelabra from him and deposited it on a nearby side table.
“Jesus, you could have killed someone with that,” he said.
“That was the idea, although I was expecting it to be Evander.”
“Why would Evander come to your rooms at this hour?” Quincey inquired. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
“To kill me, of course.”
Quincey laughed. “Of course.”
“Are you allowed to be here?” asked Dawn.
“Well, no, technically not.”
“Ooh, naughty,” Dawn teased.
“But I wanted to see you,” said Quincey with a soft smile.
Dawn, not immune to Quincey’s smile, kissed him and pulled him to bed.
~
The next morning, Dawn was dressed to the nines in the custom made Alderlian wedding outfit insisted upon by the queen. He felt like a complete fraud.
“It’s magnificent,” said Pince.
Rosa was frowning but remained silent.
“I can’t wear this,” said Dawn. He couldn’t even name all the different items of clothing involved.
“You must,” said Rosa. “It’s a symbol of Alderlian continuity.”
“No, it isn’t,” argued Dawn. “I want to talk to Quincey.”
“The king is busy, at the moment,” said Pince. “But I’ll make sure to note down that you want a word with him.”
“He’s going to be my husband and I need to schedule a meeting with him?” Dawn asked. He tried his best to remain calm, but this was all getting ridiculous. He wondered what Quincey was going to wear for the ceremony.
“Help me get this thing off, I need a break,” said Dawn and Rosa rushed to help him remove the outfit. None of it felt right.
~
The kitchens were empty, since it was some time until lunch, but breakfast had long since been served. Tess set a big, steaming cup of tea in front of Dawn and sat opposite to him.
“You’re my hero,” Dawn said.
Tess gave him a smile. “This is all a bit…”
“Much,” finished Dawn and Tess nodded, sagely.
“Have you settled in?” Dawn asked.
“It’s definitely been interesting to spend so much time with Evan, of all people.”
“Are you getting along?”
“Sure, I always liked him,” said Tess.
“That’s a relief,” said Dawn. “I didn’t realize they wouldn’t let me drag you two everywhere with me.”
“We’ll be fine,” Tess reassured him. “I’m just a little worried about you, though.”
Dawn sipped his tea carefully, as to not burn his tongue. “I feel like it's not my wedding. All this pomp and circumstance. It's like, at this point, I'm almost dreading the big day.”
“Marrying into royalty, of course there’s always going be parts of your life that won’t be just your own, but I think there’s a reason why the king fell in love with you, and it wasn’t your complete adherence to rules and protocol,” said Tess.
“Honestly, Tess, I didn’t think I would ever get married, much less married like… well all this,” Dawn said, motioning around vaguely to everything around him. “But shouldn’t it be about… royalty or not, about being with the person I love, with... with all the people that I love there with me?”
“When did you get so wise?” asked Tess.
“I was always wise, you just refused to see it because you were bitter that I put glue in your hair,” said Dawn.
“That’s very true.”
Dawn took a deep breath. “Christmas without mum is always going to be hard. But getting married without her being there…”
“I know,” said Tess. “I always think about her when something big happens in my life. Like when I graduated or when I launched a new tea line.”
“I guess we're both feeling that, huh?”
“I miss her every day,” Tess said.
“Me too.”
“Which reminds me,” said Tess and dug something out of her pocket. “I was supposed to give this to you as part of your wedding gift, but I figured you might need something to watch your back before the big day.”
Tess took Dawn’s hand and put a necklace on his palm. It was clear quartz with a fine leather cord. Dawn remembered seeing it on Tess many times. Dawn’s mum had given it to Tess as a present when she started high school, to bring her luck, and Tess had worn it throughout the years, up until university and beyond.
“I can’t take this,” he said, immediately.
“Yes, you can,” said Tess, and closed Dawn’s fist around the necklace.
“It’s yours.”
“You need it more than me,” said Tess. “I don’t have any big, life altering events in my horizon.”
“Tess…”
“Your mum would want you to have it. I know she would.”
Dawn sighed.
“I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Then…” Dawn started. “Thank you.”
He pulled the necklace over his head and maybe it was in his head, but it did bring him comfort. It made him feel like everything was going to be alright.
“She’d be proud of you, you know,” said Tess.
“Would she?”
“Yes. So proud.”’
~
On the car ride to Olympia’s dress rehearsal, Dawn got a rundown of The Tale of Princess Froon.
“It’s a folktale,” Olympia explained to Dawn, Evan, and Tess, but mostly Evan. “The original is much more brutal than the version told to children. Kind of like Grimm’s fairytales. A fair maiden who granted Santa Claus his magical powers, sounds wholesome, no?”
“Very,” said Evan.
“Princess Froon was coveted for her ability to grant magical powers. One day she was captured by a big, hairy ogre named Grundel…”
“Like Shrek!” said Dawn.
“No, nothing like Shrek. Grundel traps Princess Froon inside a castle made of ice…”
“Like Frozen?” Dawn tried again.
“Not at all like Frozen, Dawn, shut up. Grundel was going to eat her for breakfast, when his pet turtle…”
“Turtle?” asked Dawn. He couldn’t resist.
“Yes. His turtle found a little baby in the woods. And when he brings the baby to the castle, she cares for it and nurses it back to health. Her kindness melts the ogre's heart, and he falls in love with her.”
“The end?” asked Dawn and Olympia threw a piece of confectionery at him.
“No,” she continued. “The ogre sets the princess free, so then she turns the baby into Santa Claus. And she kisses the ogre to say goodbye and thank you, and he turns into a dashing knight in shining armor. The end.”
“And it's all true?” asked Evan.
“Obviously.”
“Fair enough,” Dawn said.
“Honestly, it’s not any less mad than strange women lying in ponds distributing swords as a basis for a system of government…,” mused Evan.
“Who's playing the ogre slash knight in shining armor?” asked Dawn.
“Just the reason for my mother’s ire,” said Olympia. “Her name’s Gaia Alden, the daughter of baron Alden.”
“Oh,” said Dawn. Suddenly it made much more sense why Isabella was so against her daughter taking part in this play.
~
The thing about Olympia’s play was that it was completely put together by amateurs on as low a budget as possible. The entire idea was to collect money for the orphanages of Alderly so the children could have a nice Christmas, complete with a heap of presents. The participation of so many members of the nobility itself had garnered quite a high society crowd. It was all in good fun, for a good cause. Olympia had told Dawn that they’d pretty much done everything themselves from sets to costumes.
“Why must you trap me here, Grundle?” Olympia spoke her line. Dawn was no actor, but he found the princess’s portrayal to be believable enough.
“Your fair beauty hurts my eyes,” said Gaia Alden, donned in the mask of the fearsome ogre. “But that is not why I trap you here. I trap you here because I want your magic!”
“You cannot force me to use it. I must believe in my heart!”
“Then I shall eat you. And your magic shall seep into my flesh and stones!”
There was a brief pause in the action and Dawn, from his front row seat, could see everyone racking their brains for how to handle this.
“I think it's ‘bones’,” Olympia whispered.
“That's what I said, isn't it?” asked Gaia. As an audience member, Dawn would have bought stones hook, line, and sinker. Maybe Grundel was a stone troll.
“Never mind. Let's move on to scene 12.”
“Right, yes,” Gaia said, clearing her throat. She motioned to her prompter and had a brief discussion with him. Just as the director was about to call action, everything went dark. For a minute, Dawn suspected a blackout but then his phone buzzed. It was Quincey calling.
“Hey,” he replied.
“Dawn,” Quincey said. “The unions are calling for a general strike. Are you still at the theater?”
“Yeah, we’re here,” said Dawn, keeping an eye on Olympia, who was frantically discussing with Gaia and some others of her theatrical troupe.
“The theater workers are also going on strike, in solidarity,” said Quincey. “I’m afraid the performance is cancelled.”
“What? Does O know?”
“I have to go,” said Quincey. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Quincey hung up and Dawn was left staring at his phone, flabbergasted.
“O!” he called out, climbing up on the stage. “What’s going on?”
“I wish I knew,” said Olympia.
“It looks like the play is cancelled, Your Highness,” said Gaia, going through her phone, probably looking at news.
“Maybe they’ll get everything figured out before–,” Dawn started.
“The premiere’s tomorrow,” said Olympia. Dawn decided not to question why he hadn’t been made aware of this, same as many other things going on in Alderly.
“I’m sorry, Olympia,” said Gaia. “You made a brilliant Princess Froon.”
“Fuck,” said Olympia.
“C’mon, O,” said Dawn. “It’s going to be alright.”
“People are going to want their tickets refunded,” Olympia said. “But we used most of the money already. On the kids.”
Dawn put a hand on Olympia’s shoulder. “We’ll figure this out. Come on, we have to go before your security detail thinks Miss Alden and I kidnapped you.”
“That would be bad,” said Gaia.
“Alright,” Olympia sighed, and they headed out of the theater hall.
~
“Merry Christmas, your highnesses,” said Gaia once they were outside. “For what it’s worth, I'm sorry we won’t be able to do the play. It was fun.”
Olympia smiled. “You made a brilliant ogre, Gaia,” she said.
“Thanks…?”
“And an even better knight in shining armor,” the princess added, taking both of Gaia’s hands in hers and leaning in to kiss her cheek. Something about the gesture made Dawn avert his eyes. Gaia left in her own car and Dawn and Olympia entered theirs.
“Fucking hell,” Olympia said.
“Can the crown pay the refunds?” asked Dawn.
“Not easily.”
“Well… shit.”
“Mother did tell me not to do this,” Olympia said, leaning her head back against the leather seat.
Dawn thought about all the hard work Olympia had put into making this play happen and an idea began to formulate in his mind. “Most of your crew is just your friends and peers, right?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“What if we did the play at the palace?” Dawn suggested.
“What?”
“What if we just cleared room and put up a stage for the play so then you wouldn’t have to refund?”
Olympia seemed to think about it for a moment. Eventually, she said: “It could work.”
“Yeah?”
“I think it might. Oh my god, I’m texting the idea to the guys right now,” she said and took out her phone, starting to type. Dawn grinned. Maybe the Christmas play could still be saved, but then there was still the country.
tag list: @lifeofkaze, @gcldensnitch, @endlessly-cursed, @cursed-herbalist, @magicallymalted
