#leather club Fraser

[sammaggs]

Friendly reminder that Leather Mountie has his dick out 😌

Received my copy of the Due South Companion yesterday and have finally learned why exactly Fraser says "Oh, dear," upon encountering the Leather Mountie in Chicago Holiday. Let me show you:

Oh dear indeed.

Thank you kindly for your assistance, @sammeltassensammelsurium!

[sammaggs]

A WIP Snippet, for Chicago Holiday Pt. 1 week!

Leather Club Fraser UNDER THE CUT!

START:

Benton is surprised that there is any line at all on a Thursday evening, but he supposes there isn’t much else to do on a night like tonight; be hot at home, miserable by yourself, or be hot in a room full of other hot people, with purpose.

It makes sense to him.

The young woman at the door looks as though she should be babysitting for pocket money, and Fraser refuses to let her waive his entry fee. She takes too long to stamp his wrist, her grip lingering, holding onto him with her other hand to keep it steady. When she looks back up into his eyes, she actually jerks back a bit, startled; Benton has been told that, on occasions like these, he can look rather intense.

He nods politely at the bouncer; feels his shoulders loosen ever so slightly as he enters the vestibule, then drop further as he pushes back the length of black velvet separating the world of the mundane from the realm of the hyperreal.

Fraser has made himself at home at this club in the years since he’d been dragged here on the heels of an entitled, lonely teenager. Though he had never been in an environment like it before in his life, he’d found that being in the club had felt… if not comfortable, then at least familiar.

This place is frequented by those whose tastes exist on the outskirts of what is deemed socially acceptable. The North too, it was often said, is populated by the interesting and unusual, the people who chafe in big cities, who do not always fit in. Who feel the call of the wild and become half-obsessed with it.

The North is filled with freaks, and Fraser is one of them.

Here at this club, then, are his people, and Benton has become progressively less reserved, visit after visit. He is not built for casual relations, but here at the bar he can at least provide utility. He keeps an eye out for the vulnerable, the overly-intoxicated, the tearful. He often observes scenes, and wonders at the kind of control the men over the padded benches maintain over themselves and their willing subjects.

He wonders if he is capable of such control, too

[preetsramblings]

I'm starting to realize Ray k would never have survived season 1 and 2 Fraser. Ray v? Easily, easily couldve handled season 3 and 4 antics. But season 1 and 2? Ray k wouldve had an aneurysm. I just finished watching season 2 episode 4- and the closer I get to finishing season 2 the more I realize how much Fraser mellowed ( can you say he mellowed??? He certainly got less ridiculous) In season 3 and 4. He's still insane- but he's not willfully locking himself and his partner in a bank vault to drown to death and blocking all routes out.

He does still try to take on the mob on his own- which- I mean cmon Fraser if I had a nickel-

Ray v had the patience of a Saint, is what I'm getting at here. I need the Ray's to sit down and talk about their crazy mountie and how he tries to destroy their blood pressure on the daily.

I need Ray k to realize he's damn lucky Fraser didn't turn the gto into a fireball.

(Yes I'm watching this all backwards. I did season 3 and 4 before doubling back to watch 1 and 2. At least I got the pilot done before anything else!)

[emilybeemartin]

A whopping, like, 2.6 people have expressed interest in my recent adventures in watching Bean films, which is all the encouragement I need to present to you:

An Incomplete Guide to Sean Bean Roles (Investigation Ongoing)

Our guy has a vast filmography, and I'm not even close to being halfway through it, but I've watched a lot of his significant ones in the past few weeks thanks to a perfect storm of illness, injury, and lapses in client work. Crucially, I have created superlatives for a variety of them and present them here for your benefit. Disclaimer: many of these films are violent! Or have butts and/or tits! Some have dick! Some have dated bits that didn't age well! So, if you have triggers or are watching with young viewers, do your research first! Also, these are just the opinions of one solitary millennial! Nothing is objective! Nothing is real! I care not!

Okay, CYA done, let's begin. I'll get the two most obvious ones out of the way up front, otherwise they'll dominate half the categories:

ACT I

Greatest Bean: Fellowship of the Ring. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he achieved more pathos with Boromir than a lot of his other roles have allowed for, and every note he hits just sings. No debate.

Best Bean for Your Buck: Sharpe. For the best confluence of quantity, quality, physicality, emotion, humor, and action, you can't beat Richard Sharpe.

Favorite Dramatic Bean: Time; he earned that BAFTA fr

Softest Bean: The first date scene in Stormy Monday, where Brendan shyly gets to know Kate, slow dances with her, lends her a shirt and strokes her back after she asks if they can just go to sleep instead of have sex.

Most Dashing Bean: Vronsky in Anna Karenina, that uniform cuts, damn

Swooniest Bean: I know I'm supposed to say Chatterley, and he is undeniably sexy as Mellors, but there are parts where his character is actually kind of off-putting. I'll lay a good chunk of the blame on the weirdly ominous score, the very of-the-time depiction of dubious consent, and Joely Richardson's tendency to look like she's having the worst time of her life while shagging the hot gamekeeper. No, I'm giving this category to Stormy Monday again. He's just so gentle and genuine in this one, without some of the obligatory "heartthrob" overtones of his nineties stuff. He never raises his voice at Kate or manhandles her. He really does feel like some kid who just wants to be sweet to his girlfriend.

Laddiest Bean: When Saturday Comes, specifically the strip club and bathtub scenes.

Favorite Sad Bean: As a collective, he has some great grief scenes in World on Fire, but! The railroad track scene in When Saturday Comes?! That was RAW.

Favorite Mad Bean: Black Death; there are plenty of movies where he doesn't smile at all, but unlike some others, his grimness and anger felt proportionate to the story, rather than just rage because he's good at rage.

Favorite Bad Bean: There are so many great Bean villains (Goldeneye, obvs), but I think my favorite is Patriot Games. Bonus points for all the different hairstyles he has in this film (long locks-shag-shag ponytail!-buzz-wet spiky buzz). Also HUGH FRASER AAAA

Favorite Dad Bean: Wolfwalkers, where Bill Goodfellowe literally turns his own convictions and beliefs upside-down in order to protect and support his daughter.

INTERMISSION

A note on GoT: I haven't watched it. When season one was first coming out, it was during a time where I really couldn't handle watching any kind of sexual assault onscreen, and while I have a higher tolerance now, I just... don't want to. I like seeing gifs of Ned Stark and appreciate that it's one of his great roles, but I just can't make myself take the plunge.

ilysm you grizzled dead wolf man

ACT II

Favorite Costumed Bean: Odysseus in Troy: curls, leather, thighs.

Favorite Un-Costumed Bean: He strips in quite a lot of his films, so let's give it to Lady Chatterley for sheer screentime, exertion, and the bonus of being naked and wearing a flower crown. Honorable mention to When Saturday Comes for the totally not homoerotic amount of butts and also dick in the locker room bathtub scene.

Hurtin'est Bean: Bravo Two Zero. Oof, don't watch this one if you have an aversion to seeing pain, although---you're a Sean Bean fan, and we all know one of his MOs is being GREAT at pain. This one was directed by Tom Clegg, who directed Sharpe. Also lol at the sickle-shaped wound on his shoulder, which is covering his 100% Blade tattoo (he gets a lot of sickle-shaped wounds on his left shoulder).

Best Inside References: The Frankenstein Chronicles, where he plays a former Peninsular soldier, and every reference to his service is a reference to Sharpe, including shots of his greenjacket, pistol, sword, and flogging scars. Honorable mention to The Martian for the Council of Elrond line.

Most Unsettling Bean: Cleanskin for moral grayness, The Frankenstein Chronicles for body horror

Most Inefficient Use of Bean: Black Beauty. Despite getting high billing he's only onscreen for about two minutes and I'm convinced the long shots are a body double. Criminal.

Biggest Missed Opportunity: We were robbed of a Sean Bean Odyssey. R o b b e d

Funniest Bean: Deploying Bean for comedy is woefully underused, but he made full use of his ~15 seconds in The Vicar of Dibley ("Spring" episode). He's also hilarious in Wasted, though I haven't watched the show, only the clips he's in on YouTube, where he plays a mock version of himself serving as a spirit guide for a stoner. IMO, though, Sharpe gives him the most room for humor.

Favorite Character Quirk: In World on Fire, when Douglas is having WWI flashbacks and really coming apart, he kept putting his hand to his mouth. My modern brain first read this as talking into a phantom radio, but of course that wasn't right, and then I realized--he was reaching for a phantom gas mask. CHILLS. AMAZING. (Honorable mentions to the Mouth Rub and the Tongue Thing [pictured above]).

Most Nostalgic Bean: National Treasure. The concept may be utter silliness, but you have to admit, this is a fun movie to watch.

Best Dismount from a Horse: Henry VIII, he goes pshwing out of the saddle

Best Swordplay: You may think there's no possible answer to this, but there is---two moments, specifically: the preparatory sword-spin he does at Balin's tomb just before the goblin attack in Moria, and the four lunges he does at 1:26:22 of Sharpe's Battle. It's just facts.

Prettiest Bean Film: Wolfwalkers, hands downnnn

Favorite Bean Death: All right, you knew we had to eventually end here. It's Boromir, obviously--- nothing tops that. But if we're looking at other roles, I think Patriot Games is my favorite, followed by Goldeneye.

So! That concludes this installment of Bean films, though I'll be continuing the labor, and I hope you will, too. What are your favorites?

[variousqueerthings]

i like the fact that benton fraser is patently disturbed by sexy stuff aimed in his direction, but doesn't mind if it's just about professional work or not about him. stitching on a leather corset? worth admiring (and useful for the case). strippers? just doing their jobs in his vicinity, carry on. i think even with the bdsm club, while i don't think he initially knew where he was, he clearly was chill about the get-ups on the whole, even after he gained an awareness (still unsure if police-mountie was dick out at the event which caused one moment of fraser-distress, i choose to believe)

also the things he deems as sexual or non-sexual. crossdressing is a respectable pastime, and not inherently a sexual thing (the fact that the focus of that episode is an only-girls school as well... oh the woke left are at it agai- this was 1995 you say?) bdsm/kink, not inherently sexual, unless someone is directly/indirectly propositioning him for sex

there's a certain set of criteria that affect him specifically that make him anxious/uncomfortable, which, just shockingly accurate asexual writing actually, it really makes it seem more like it's about him than about a prudish outdated sensibility/ideology about what "socially correct behaviours" are meant to be (although he does have those too but in a mostly charming way... when ray opens the car door for ms fraser..... wonderful genderplay, 10/10 points) (also very noticeable because ray can be quite judgemental about these things, bdsm/kink/stripping/crossdressing are things he's spoken disparagingly/ignorantly about and been corrected on by fraser's much more enlightened understanding)

(i'm also curious about how i'd read this with him as a very subby guy who is drawn canonically to two very dommy women, the first of whom definitely does have sex with him. i mean, he's giving that "asexual will have sex in the context of submission" vibe, but also analysis/headcanon of how he'd feel about that, considering all the other reactions to sexual Stuff in general)

[rupertgayes]

How would you pitch watching Due South to someone who doesn't know it?

THE PREMISE: mountie from the northern reaches of canada goes to chicago to avenge dead dad (also a mountie), gets into buddy-cop shenanigans with a detective. said detective leaves the show in season 3 and gets replaced by another detective, shenanigans continue to ensue. there's also a dog. he's very cute.

THE PITCH: honestly, after being in the spn fandom and having most of popular culture awash with prestige shows (that are not spn, but like spn are typically dark and gritty and like killing characters off too) and having most of the popular media landscape try to cover their collective asses by having an aloof, 'you-can't-make-fun-of-this-because-we're-not-taking-it-seriously-ourselves' air, it was truly refreshing to sit down with a close friend of mine and check out this show.

i'm being completely serious when i say there's a certain je ne sais quoi about this show. is it because it's from the 90s? perhaps. is it because it's canadian? maybe. i wasn't even alive when this show first started airing and i'm not a media analyst. it basically takes the premise of the dudeley do-right cartoon and asks 'okay, but what if that was like, a real guy?' and fucking runs with it to the wildest heights. it's a comedy, but it's also so bizarre in some ways that it makes it a truly unique treat to watch. i love psych and brooklyn 99 for having a comedic procedural aspect, and neither of them are comparable in whatever it is that due south is doing.

there's honestly a lot of heart and soul in the entire show, and it has the ability to shift from just being comedic to having drama, mystery, and moments that pull at your heartstrings. it's a show that you can enjoy on the surface as a fun episodic show with fun characters and fun moments, but it also lends itself quite well to extrapolating on the characters, their motivations, etc. (and by etc i'm also including any shipping you might want to do).

i won't say it's a paragon of DEI, but again, i think it has a level of earnestness which makes any slip-ups it does have something i can kinda view with indulgence, versus shows that are making the same (or worse) mistakes 20+ years after this show already ended. these characters are treated with a level of dignity and respect, and i think overall the characterization is pretty consistent - there are some shifts happening between seasons 1-2 and 3-4, but i feel like it has more to do with budgets, a change in creative team, etc., versus writers not 'getting' certain characters.

there's also a lot of memorable episodes, scenes, bits. i think the latter seasons are more campy (my favorite) and some eps from s1 and 2 make for legitimately some great television. even the more mid episodes have something worthwhile, too. some of my fave moments in no order:

fraser (the mountie) saving and talking to? a rat in a strip club

also him going to a leather club

twice

and meeting a mountie in a latex version of his red serge uniform

using a tarp as a parachute

mafia egg conspiracy

aliens??

due south but make it silence of the lambs a little bit

performance arsonist

lake pirates? ghost ship?

also why are most of the major bad guys here doing some form of environmental crime? get your captain planet on ig, i'm into it

also fellow cops can also be bad guys. acab ig??

sick muscle cars eric kripke himself would've enjoyed. sometimes they get set on fire tho

due south but make it to wong foo thanks for everything

fraser running away from women so he doesn't have to kiss or interact with them

way too much time in closets, in general.

fellas is it gay to ask your new partner of one week maybe to pretend he's a woman so he can decide if he finds you attractive

there are red ships and green ships but no ships like partnerships :)

and to reiterate about the dog: there's a dog who's half wolf and all deaf and fraser can talk to him 'because he (the dog) reads lips'

his dead dad shows up too sometimes

anyway, it was really nice to watch this show for the first time, there are still moment i scream-laugh at because they're just so ridiculous and i'd never catch any other moments like that in any other show. i definitely see why there's still active fans for it thirty years later. there's also some wild shipping fodder here, which is at least partially why there are still fics getting written for these guys today. destiel if the cw weren't cowards etc etc. when i watched the finale, i cried tears of joy because while i'd miss the characters, they got an ending that actually seemed to fit, instead of it being a rush job, which is not unique to spn but, you know.

also you can watch it for free on youtube rn.

[quasilogical]

Ray Vecchio opinion/headcannon: Ray doesn't have a problem with the BDSM/leather kink, but he does have an issue with the scene. What I mean by that is, Ray only seems to mind that the suggestive behavior is between strangers, or by strangers directed at him.

Ray complains to Huey and Gardino in their car about their smoking, not about any patrons they see come and go. He speaks professionally to leather!mountie cop, and doesn't seem phased by his look, when even Fraser does a double take. (Of course, Ray might have seen the guy earlier and was already past his initial shock. Also, Ray worked in Vice and has a background in undercover, had he played the leather!cop role himself before?)

Ray looks upset with Fraser during the raid, and there could be a lot of explanations for that. Annoyed Fraser was in a club at all? That Ray left his stakeout to bring Fraser formal wear only to find him in a club? That Fraser allowed a minor to get into a club? But he basically just tells Fraser to get in the transport van; they don't have an argument. He is absolutely upset, but he still asks Welsh to get Fraser out of trouble for the raid.

Ray is noticeably impatient and uncomfortable with the bar patrons trying to bring him into their play. When people Ray doesn't know encourage him to tighten their cuffs or be rough, he tries unsuccessfully to shut their comments down. Ray certainly isn't friendly with the patrons like Fraser is, but he doesn't call the patrons names (like Welsh does). He makes the arrests, and I won't lie, I'm confused what law they supposedly broke, but the arrests seem to be understandable to all the cops of the era. So while the law is likely considered stupid to modern audiences, the only contemporary character to think this is excessive or odd is Elaine (who I don't think went to police academy since she's civilian).

Many writers seem to see Ray's behavior in the leather club as super disrespectful. I'm not claiming he was perfect, but I've always read his behavior as uncomfortable, not disgusted, but YMMV.

With all that said, Ray is very flippant in The Promise, speaking of Louise St. Laurant. "Ah, so she likes handcuffs" in reference to himself being incarcerated. Which hints at Ray being willing to use the cuffs for roleplay as long as this is a person he knows, is dating, and trusts to some degree.

So, like, writers feel free to make Ray kinkier. Just know the kink negotiations before the main event are probably pretty intense.

[pigtailedgirl]

In The Mood For Fraser/Vecchio Kink Love Apparently; Fic Recs

I know @gayvecchio once asked for fic recs. I love all of these I found recently very very much. The last one just guts me with it's Fraser POV take and like entirely on an emotional level. So, welcome to me getting into the sexy time Fraser/Vecchio.

No matter how much leather they wear (3375 words) by gracicah Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: due South Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Benton Fraser/Ray Vecchio Characters: Benton Fraser, Ray Vecchio Additional Tags: Handcuffs, Light BDSM, Oral Sex, Podfic Welcome Summary: Fill for Seascribe's C6D prompt: "Fic exploring that scene in Chicago Holiday where Ray arrests Fraser at the BDSM club. Because Ray looks shocked and disappointed, and Fraser looks a bit awkward but not at all embarrassed. Maybe Fraser decides to broaden Ray's mind a little. Handcuffs might possibly be involved."

which i cannot touch because they are too near (2185 words) by belmanoir Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: due South Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Benton Fraser/Ray Vecchio Characters: Benton Fraser, Ray Vecchio Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Bondage, Post-Call of the Wild, background Frannie/Kowalski Summary: Fraser tops from the bottom.

Maple Sugar (1573 words) by belmanoir Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: due South Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Benton Fraser/Ray Vecchio Characters: Benton Fraser, Ray Vecchio Summary: Ray thinks Fraser forgot their anniversary, but actually he's been planning his gift for a while now.

Open My Eyes, That I May See (1650 words) by SLWalker Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: due South Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Benton Fraser/Ray Vecchio Characters: Benton Fraser, Ray Vecchio Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Unabashedly Blasphemous Title, Bondage, Domination, Porn with Feelings Summary: The first half-dozen times Benny tied him up, Ray had mouthed off.

[greenygal]

Due South s1 recs, part 2

Pizzas and Promises

Two for Ray coming up with Those Outfits:

I am Not Like You, by dS_Tiff

Going Undercover, by nomave

A smidge of post-drowning trauma:

Thank God for Frannie, by wneleh

New Trunk Smell, by orphan_account

Promises and Pizza, by Tallihensia (Fraser/Ray V)--Rework of the episode to bring a slashy moment just a little closer.

***

Chinatown

Three backstory pieces with some connection to Fraser’s grandparents and China:

Home Schooling & Open the World, by Luzula

Bind Off in Pattern, by NienteZero

He Said Always. He Said Never, by Amparo Bertram--A crossover with Kung Fu: the Legend Continues. One of KFTLC’s recurring villains pops up in Chicago’s Chinatown, and the rest of the cast gives chase to stop him.

***

Chicago Holiday, Part 1

No Matter How Much Leather They Wear, by gracicah (Fraser/Ray V)--Ray is surprised by how casually Fraser took the kink club, and he has some questions; Fraser offers some demonstrations in answer.

Right Church, Wrong Pew, by preetkiran1016 (Fraser/Ray K)--Two pieces telling Fraser and Ray K's POVs of an AU where they had a sexy encounter at that club, sometime late in s2.

three evenings, two Rays, by ifreet (Stella/Ray K, Stella/Ray V)--A short piece postulating that Stella Kowalski is in fact the secret owner of the club!

***

Chicago Holiday, Part 2

A Gold Mine, A Boomerang, A Tank of Gasoline. And You, by Mary (Fraser/Julie Frobisher)--Sixteen-year-old Benton Fraser becomes a man, in more ways than one.

***

A Cop, a Mountie and a Baby

Sans Souci, by Julien (Fraser/Ray V)--Fraser asserts that people do find Ray attractive, and Ray wants to know how the Mountie can be so sure.

***

The Gift of the Wheelman

Haunted, by ButterflyGhost--In which Ray contemplates the ghosts of their fathers.

Angels, by ButterflyGhost--In which Ray sees those ghosts from a very different angle. The last line of this kills me.

***

You Must Remember This

Two pieces about the events at Fortitude Pass:

Could I Revive Within Me, by pqlaertes (Fraser/Victoria)

Things You Said Under the Stars, and in the Grass, by ExpatGirl (Fraser/Victoria)

The Stakeout, by Rachael (Fraser/Ray V, unrequited)--Ray wasn't asleep when Fraser was talking.

Love and Glory, by brooklinegirl (Ray V/Suzanne Chapin)--On Ray’s last night before Vegas, Suzanne Chapin makes an appearance.

Five Years by Kernezelda (Ray V/Suzanne Chapin)--Five years was a long time. It wasn't nearly long enough to forget her.

[peppermintquartz]

Not gonna write this so have the bulleted points version

Tommy first went to a gay bar just before he enlisted but fled when a leather daddy offered to get him a drink

During his army days, he sometimes went to gay bars but always alone. He'd stay someplace a bit dim, just to be there, and with a maximum of two drinks because he doesn't wanna let down his guard and he's afraid Drunk Him would do something stupid like reveal his real name

and occasionally he'd dare to dance with a guy who's caught his eye, and do a little more than dance in the back rooms or side alleys, but only with hands or mouth and always with protection because he can't risk being found out

When he decides that it's enough, he's had enough of flying around warzones, he decides he'll save lives instead, the first person he tells is the owner of a snug little place, and he drinks more than his usual

He ends up sleeping with the owner, who's very sweet and gentle and very experienced, taking care of Tommy throughout his fumbling attempts. In the morning he wishes Tommy good luck and stay safe before he leaves.

When he returns stateside, Tommy's a little more daring about going to the clubs and bars, but only those that are plausibly for anyone who enjoys fun. Occasionally he sees a familiar face and he brushes it off by saying he's there to check out the hot girls, "maybe they're bisexual and I get lucky", and he knows it's a crude thing to say but he doesn't know what else to do. And to make it plausible he does sometimes go back with women, and he tries, he really does, maybe he can fix himself, he tries so hard to enjoy these trysts, but it's never quite what he wants and the women sense this

He stops going because it's getting tiring to pretend, and it's so empty inside his head and his heart when they're tangled in the sheets. His body is just a thing, some thing to play with and use, and he's tired of it.

And on the rare occasion he hooks up with a man, he makes it clear he's not gonna be acknowledging any of this outside of the bedroom

He doesn't want to do this anymore

He leaves the 118 hoping he can find something else to fill that aching chasm in his heart. A work family, maybe. He's heard of such things. Maybe he can find family instead of love.

He still watches the sappy hallmark shit during Christmas season and yearns for something stupidly sweet like a handsome man swooping into his life and choosing to, wanting to kiss him under the conveniently placed mistletoe, for "happily ever after" to be true

He gets tired of the pretence enough that he stops pretending. When a colleague sees him checking out a hot guy at the basketball court, Tommy doesn't deny it. Slowly, slowly he lets them figure it out. He puts up a male celeb's photo as his lock screen (younger Brendan Fraser shirtless is so droolsome).

He doesn't announce anything, he just stops pretending to be what he isn't

(he sends Hen a message to apologize for his behaviour. He doesn't know if she's forgiven him completely but he hopes that she won't think too badly about him.)

And 217 is cool with it, cool enough to point out the occasional cute guy who's come by the station (brothers, cousins, boyfriend's friend, pizza delivery guy)

And then Howie calls in a favor one night

[mrlenesmck]

( florence pugh , 20 , 10 april , cisfemale ) ϟ  ━ woah , i think i just saw MARLENE MCKINNON ! there’s been so much happening lately that i totally forgot about the HALF BLOOD but i am glad to see HER still around . they always had wanted to be A HIT WITCH , i wonder how that’s going. the last i heard about them was that they might be involved with THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX , but i’m not sure how true that is. besides, they always seemed UNFLINCHING and COMPASSIONATE . although , now that i think about it they were also RECKLESS and SELF-DESTRUCTIVE . still the GRYFFINDOR alum always reminded me of EVERYTHING I WANTED by BILLIE EILISH and THE SEA BREEZE BATTERING DOWN YOUR WINDOWS , THE KIND OF WARMTH YOU FEEL IN YOUR BONES , CIGARETTE ASH ON YOUR TONGUE. i hope they haven’t changed too much !

I N T R O

full name ➵ Marlene Mórrígan McKinnon.

nicknames ➵ Marls; Kinno; Marley; Lena; Mick; Mickey.

pronouns ➵ she/her/hers.

birthdate / age ➵ 10 April, 1960, 3:07 am / 20 years old.

birthplace ➵ Blochairn, Glasgow, Scotland.

childhood home ➵ The House of Scar, Sanndaigh (Sanday), Orkney, Scotland.

current residence ➵ Diagon Alley, London, England.

sexual orientation  ➵ Bisexual, Biromantic.

blood status ➵ Halfblood.

occupation ➵ Hit Wizard.

affiliation  ➵ Order of the Phoenix.

P H Y S I C A L

height ➵ 5 feet, 3 inches.

body type ➵ slim figure; soft natural kibbe body type.

hair ➵ dirty blonde or dyed brown; soft and straight or wavy.

eye color ➵ green.

dominant hand ➵ right.

FC ➵ Florence Pugh.

voice ➵ Laura Fraser ( natural Scottish accent ).

special characteristics ➵

prominent freckles on shoulders;

birthmark shaped like a stone on her left thumb;

tattoo of arrows pointing down on her left forearm just below her inner elbow;

tattoo of a bee on her inner left wrist;

tattoo of a match stick on her inner left wrist;

tattoo of a doe for Lily.

smells of ➵

salt and seaweed;

apple shampoo;

dragonhide leather;

cocoa butter lotion;

coconut body wash.

E M O T I O N A L

zodiac ➵ aries sun; capricorn rising; virgo moon.

MBTI ➵ ENTJ (“The Commander”).

positive traits ➵ dauntless; compassionate; family-oriented; unflinching; adventurous; dedicated; observant; vibrant; benevolent; loyal.

negative traits ➵ self-destructive; reckless; overprotective; dogmatic; relentless; ruthless; restless; impatient; stubborn; blunt.

likes ➵ arguing; Firewhiskey; Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them (the book); dueling, family; cobblestones; buying records; bell bottom jeans; the Montrose Magpies; protecting her friends; Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans; apple crumble; Quidditch World Cup; Led Zeppelin; salted popcorn; coffee; red wine; going to rallies; parties; smoking (of any & all varieties); making her dad proud; her owl.

dislikes ➵ having to follow instructions when she knows she’s right; bigotry; Pepper-Up Potion; silver masks; the color orange; fake banana sweets (c’mon, really); any team other than the Scotland National Team (because Scotland is FAR superior, losers); losing; being asked why she supports the Magpies when her great great grandmother (maternal side) was a Parkin in blood (of the Wigtown Wanderers); mayonnaise; foods that are too spicy; strawberry jelly; disappointing people; funerals.

amortentia ➵

broom wax;

apple cider vinegar;

leather;

the sea;

water lilies;

shortbread.

M A G I C

blood status ➵ halfblood.

wand ➵ Aspen, White River Monster Spine core, 12 inches, unyielding.

Pottermore, Ollivander: Wand-quality aspen wood is white and fine-grained, and highly prized by all wand-makers for its stylish resemblance to ivory and its usually outstanding charmwork. The proper owner of the aspen wand is often an accomplished duellist, or destined to be so, for the aspen wand is one of those particularly suited to martial magic. An infamous and secretive eighteenth-century duelling club, which called itself The Silver Spears, was reputed to admit only those who owned aspen wands. In my experience, aspen wand owners are generally strong-minded and determined, more likely than most to be attracted by quests and new orders; this is a wand for revolutionaries.

Aspen  ➵ ‘yearning for justice’ comes out as them being executors; adaptability is core trait; least associated with death compared to poplar and black poplar; communication comes easy for them; highly aware of own mortality; elemental composition is primarily fire and ice based; talent for charmwork, dueling, martial magics, ancient rituals and magics; best subjects include charms, defense against the dark arts, history of magic, ancient runes and arithmancy; aspen wand owners work best in groups and are energised by the presence of other people.

Pottermore, Ollivander: American wandmaker Thiago Quintana’s harvesting of White River Monster spines initially raised concerns of over-fishing, but because he was the only one who knew how to lure the creatures, the ecological impact was not severe. They were no longer used as a wand core after Quintana’s death (in new wands), as he took the secret of luring the creature to his grave. This core produces spells of force and elegance.

White River Monster Spine  ➵ often choose masters who are steady, observant and passionate, who choose what is right over what is easy, are unafraid of hard work and enjoy challenges but also stubborn, stubborn enough to feel like they have to go it alone even when they don’t have to and have strong instincts that make it difficult to accept being told to stop when they believe they’re in the right, are self-sacrificing and far too willing to play martyr, good at adapting to tragedy and putting aside their own feelings, highly attached to certain places and people and will defend them to their utmost ability; masters are often sensitive to people’s and creature’s vibrations and are good at judging the intentions of others and their presence in general and if trained could be able to distinguish between vibrations of different creatures, at highest level this would bean differentiating individual being’s vibrations; elemental composition of this wand is water and plant based, with earth as secondary element; talent in magic with transformation, travel, protection, regeneration, agriculture and sensing; best areas of magic include transfiguration, herbology, defense, magical creatures and potions (divination may be too overwhelming for them); ivory, navy blue and black ripples are emitted during spellwork and magic smells of algae, water lilies and a tang of apple cider vinegar; possesses ability to self-heal after being injured; highly attuned to owner’s favorite places and can act as a compass, pointing their owner towards home.

Ellie, McKinnon lore: Aspen and White River Monster Spine is a very rare, if nigh on impossible to find, combination. Quintana took the secret of acquiring the spines to his grave, and no other attempts since his death in 1934 have ever been successful. Only 3% of his wands were ever created pairing the core with Aspen. Some years before his death, the then 74 year old Chalmers McKinnon purchased 6 of Quintana’s wands - one Aspen, one Poplar, one Lilac, one Sycamore, one Sea Buckthorn, & one Black Locust - at the request of his wife, noted Seer Ismene McKinnon, all of which were ended up locked away in the McKinnon family vault until the newest generation of McKinnon’s turned 11 and were able to attempt to find their match. Until Marlene came along, only two of the wands ever found their master - her father, and her aunt, Iola. The rest of the wands still remain unclaimed, and after her father and her aunts deaths, both wands were buried with them.

Combination  ➵ makes for an excellent and complementary combination; the owner is a passionate revolutionary who are never content with the state of things and are persistent and steadfast in their desire to change the world around them; reliable wixes who perform best under pressure, who are strong willed and refuse to back down from just about anything, which is especially true if they are defending or protecting something or someone; good at compartmentalizing and focusing on a mission to the point that people can believe they are cold and unfeeling but the opposite is much closer to the truth as they put their all into their beliefs, often stretching themselves thin, are horrid on relying on others and will work themselves to the bone if permitted; martyr complex is woven through their very being; observant, not much gets past them, and are excellent judges of character like a ‘human sneakoscope’; can be excellent leaders or followers if they are being led by someone they consider competent; don’t care much for material objects; excellent reflexes and above average pain tolerance; elemental composition of this wand is fire, ice, water and plant based; talent in magic with transformation, rituals, travel, protection, regeneration, agriculture, vibrations, dueling and charmwork; overall an excellent all-around wand; silver, black and periwinkle ripples are emitted from this wand during spellwork and its magic smells of snow, water lilies and cinders; works well in all temperatures and does not need special products for hot temps like other aspen wands; when grouped with other aspen wands they will communicate with one another and can perform group spells if required; core is territorial against other white river monster cores and the cores feed into each other during duels (the longest duel of such endured for 12 straight hours); has the ability to self-heal after being injured; wand can act as compass.

patronus ➵ Hippocampus.

animagus ( would-be ) ➵ Horse ( Thessaly breed; white with grey dopples ).

E D U C A T I O N

Hogwarts class ➵ Gryffindor, 1978.

extracurriculars ➵

Gryffindor Beater / September 1973 - June 1978.

Wizards’ Chess / October 1973 - June 1973.

Duelling Club / September 1974 - June 1978.

Remus Lupin Appreciation Club ( unofficial club ) / September 1975 - June 1978.

Duelling Club President ( unofficial position ) / September 1977 - June 1978.

courses & exams ➵

O.W.L.s

Ancient Runes - O

Arithmancy - O

Charms - O

Defence Against the Dark Arts - O

Herbology - O

History of Magic - O

Muggle Studies - E

Potions - O

Transfiguration - O

N.E.W.T.s

Ancient Runes - O

Arithmancy - O

Charms - O

Defence Against the Dark Arts - O

Herbology - O

History of Magic - O

Potions - O

Transfiguration - O

M I S C E L L A N E O U S

health ➵

suffers from an undiagnosed panic disorder.

pets ➵

Apostolos; the Eurasian eagle owl.

handwriting ➵ Signerica.

F A M I L Y

Chalmers McKinnon ➵ b. 1828, d. 1945; great, great - grandfather; Ravenclaw; deceased; pureblood

Ismene (née Dumont) McKinnon ➵ b. 1830, d. 1960; great, great - grandmother; Beauxbatons; Seer; deceased; pureblood

Kinloch McKinnon ➵ b. 1868, d. 1954; great grandfather; Hufflepuff; Mermish translator; deceased; pureblood

Astraea (née Greengrass) McKinnon ➵ b. 1869, d. 1979; great grandmother; Slytherin; stay at home mother & socialite; deceased; pureblood

Phillip McKinnon ➵ b. 1899, d. 1980; grandfather; Ravenclaw; Unspeakable; deceased; pureblood

Amaryllis (née Parkinson) McKinnon ➵ b. 1907, d. 1980; grandmother; Apothecary; Slytherin; deceased; pureblood

Sebastian McKinnon ➵ b. 1933, d. 1976; father; Gryffindor; Cursebreaker; deceased; pureblood

Clothilde (née Watkins) McKinnon ➵ b. 1935; mother; Ravenclaw; retired Healer; alive; muggleborn

Iona (née McKinnon) Moody ➵ b. 1942, d. 1979; aunt; Ravenclaw; Auror; deceased; pureblood

Alastor Moody  ➵ b. 1943; uncle; Ravenclaw; Auror; alive; pureblood

Marlene McKinnon ➵ b. 1960; herself; Gryffindor; Hit Wix; alive; halfblood

Alexander McKinnon ➵ b. 1962, m. 1980; younger brother; Ravenclaw; Unspeakable-in-Training; missing and presumed dead; halfblood

Ambrose McKinnon ➵ b. 1962; younger brother; Slytherin; Tattoo Artist; alive; halfblood

Iris McKinnon ➵ b. 1965; younger sister; Hufflepuff; student but also a Seer; alive; halfblood

T L ; D R 

Gryffindor 1978. Seeker (‘73-‘78), Wizards Chess (‘73), Duelling Club (‘74-‘78). Graduated (mostly) with O grades and despite a less than stellar detention record.

Eldest child of Sebastian & Clothilde, older sister to Alexander, Ambrose and Iris McKinnon. She was taught piano at a young age, though Iris had more musical talent than Marlene ever did, and Alexander used to pretend he knew how to play the bagpipes, when he did not. Alexander and Ambrose were a Ravenclaw and Slytherin respectively, and Iris was sorted into Hufflepuff. (She’s always been fiercely protective of Iris - she once punched someone who called her a duffer.)

Parents are Clothilde (Hilde) and Sebastian, Hilde being a former Healer (having retired after giving birth to Marlene) and Sebastian remaining a high profile Cursebreaker until April 1980 and his untimely death. Hilde often referred to Marlene as her ‘wilder’ child, though Alexander and Ambrose were both plenty wild in their own ways and often roped Marlene in on their games and vice versa. Sebastian was very proud of his children - he considered them the best of him, and he was open about it, to a fault.

She’s very proud of her family. She always has been. Being sorted into Gryffindor only bolstered it - she’s proud to take after her father, to be like him in so many ways that infuriated her mother almost to no end (and also endeared her to the same extent, too). It was there that she met her other family - the only family that she now has left. She didn’t like them all, not at first, but she loves them, deeply, down to her bones.

She came out when she was 15. She’d been caught behind the greenhouses with her hand down Florence’s blouse when they’d been caught by Sprout - which ended with her nearly knocking all of them out with the potted Mandrake she was holding and, also, two weeks detention for skipping class. She wasn’t scared, really, to tell her friends - she was more apprehensive about what her brothers would say. (Her first kiss with a boy was with a fellow Gryffindor.)

A couple of months after that incident, Marlene’s father died - the details she was given were sketchy, and she was the one who had to forced her way into being there when her siblings were brought out of class to be told about it. The only person she let see her cry the day they buried her father was her aunt Iona. Her mother needed her to be strong for the funeral, her siblings needed her to keep them together (especially poor Iris), and she refused to let them down.

She once made the girls - Mary, Lily and Dorcas - promise that they’d be friends forever. It’s gotten a little harder to keep that promise over the years, but she loves them - and the boys (men, now) - more fiercely than she loves almost anyone else in her life, even if it’s all so much more complicated now than it had been when they were at Hogwarts, when they were just children, not people forced to grow up too fast, to fight a war.

For Marlene, graduation couldn’t come soon enough, but then tragedy struck: her favourite aunt died after there was an attack on her and her husband’s home. The grief was too powerful for her to put into words. The anger and confusion she felt, the blame she felt was on not only Alastor but herself for being too slow to answer the call for help (despite not being law enforcement at the time). It was all devastating for her, and led to somewhat of a downward spiral for several months.

She applied in December 1978 to be a Hit Wizard under then Head Archwilt, having been a bartender for a few months in self-imposed exile (she refused to see her favourite uncle Alastor when all she could feel when she looked at him was that he was to blame) - when she was accepted, she, of course, got blackout drunk and woke up in Hogs Head. (She has since developed somewhat of a rapport with Aberforth.) (He would not entirely agree, but begrudgingly allows her to stick around on her days off. She enjoys the time with his goats.)

More recently, her younger-but-eldest brother, Alexander, just a month after graduating and being accepted to become an Unspeakable, disappeared without a trace. They searched and searched and searched - Marlene all but begging the Auror Office to keep the case open, but nothing, yet, has been found. Suffice to say, it’s a blow that Marlene doesn’t think she’ll ever fully recover from. The Order has been more than a safety net for Marlene: it’s the one place where she feels like her grief, her anger, her heartbreak, is even being heard anymore.

[lifeofkaze]

3 and 12 for:

- Lizion

- Rockstar!Lizion

- Chava? Avarlie? Whatever, you know who I mean.

- Bradlyn

- Seliot

- Dylana

I love those questions but of course I can't answer them shortly. Wouldn't be me if it was a precise answer, would it? 😂

Brady and Eliot belong to the wonderful @kc-and-oc of course!

3) What quirks/mannerisms do they consider characteristic of each other?

Lizion: To Lizzie (and probably everybody else) there is nothing more characteristic to Orion than his complicated way of speaking. Over time, she became fluent in speaking Orion. The one quirk Orion associates most with her has got to be her unwillingness to keep her hair open. The handful of times he's seen her out and about without a ponytail can be counted on two hands.

Rockstar!Lizion: Lizzie has a black sweater that used to belong to Orion and she refused to forgot to give back. She wears it whenever she's not feeling well because it's cosy af. That's the one and only reason. If Orion has his hands on a guitar, he is always absentmindedly plucking the strings ever so lightly when he's not playing actively.

Avarlie: Every available surface in Ava's place is covered with books and scrolls and maps and notebooks. Charlie has long given up on trying to stem the flood of parchment. Ava made a sport out of it to come up with the most ridiculous dragon theories of her own and see if she can make Charlie believe them. She’s a good actor but has never succeeded so far.

Bradlyn: Caro wears thin leather gloves when is working on a potion so as not to spoil the ingredients with body heat or residue from other ingredients. Brady automatically scans every room he enters for the best options to paint and the way the light falls into it. He gets a very contemplative expression when he does that which Caro adores.

Seliot: Selene cannot not comment on whiskey. She'll always have one and will most likely find something is wrong with it if it doesn't have the name "Fraser" on the bottle. Eliot tried tricking her once by rebottling a Fraser blend but she saw him through immediately. Eliot works extremely hard and sometimes forgets everything else when he is consumed by paperwork and research. They never lived together but when they spend time together on a project in Egypt, Selly always tried to remind him to at least eat something once in a while.

Dylanielle: Danielle has an impressive collection of nail varnishes and often switches colours every other day. Much like his father, Dylan tends to run his hands through his hair when he is distressed or nervous.

12) How do they react to each other’s nicknames/terms of endearment?

Lizion: Orion started calling Lizzie 'Chaser' first and and then off the pitch as a direct reaction to her calling him 'Captain' whenever it came to Quidditch. Both like these nicknames and they stuck with them even after graduation when Orion wasn't captain anymore.

Rockstar!Lizion: Orion's nickname for Lizzie is drummer girl, in allusion to the famous song "Little Drummer Boy" and, obviously, because she is a drummer and a girl. Witty, right? Feeling she might need something in return, Lizzie started calling him Free Bird, after the Lynyrd Skynyrd song, because she found it fit him. She never planned on sticking to it until she found out it annoyed Orion and changed her mind about it.

Avarlie: They never really had special nicknames for each other, except for common couple ones like "love" or "darling". However, sometimes Ava used to call Charlie "Dragon Boy". He never really liked it, so she stopped with that. Nowadays, she uses it if she wants to get under his skin - which she does a lot.

Bradlyn: Caro isn't great on nicknames, she'd much rather use Brady's actual name. She was very impressed however, when Brady started calling her "raring" one day, the Swedish word for "darling". When/If she feels particularly soft, she'd use the same one for him.

Seliot: When they surprisingly met again at a dig site in Egypt, Eliot was working as a healer for the cursebreakers involved in the excavation. Not wanting everyone to know their history, Selene mostly referred to him as "Doc". Eliot had a particular nickname for Selene as well, but that remains a secret between the two of them.

Dylanielle: Dylan and Dana mainly use common nicknames for each other. Dylan sometimes calls Danielle a stunner, but not only because he thinks she's absolutely gorgeous but because there are few people in the dueling club who still stand when hit by one of her stunning spells.

[penandlily]

Rosemary Woodward Character Profile (As of 1993)

An extended introduction into my Hogwarts Mystery Player Character. 

If you want to read more about Rosemary, check out my new fanfiction on AO3! It’s a long, slow burn, bittersweet Rosemary X Charlie fic that takes place from 1993-1998, and I update every Tuesday twice a month! 

I used @hogwartsmysterystory​‘s template, but tweaked a bit.

Artbreeder Portrait 

Identity

Name: Rosemary Eugenia Woodward Gender: Female Birthdate: 1st December 1972 Blood Status: Half-Blood Sexuality: Straight Alignment: Neutral Good Nationality: British born, half British/half Spanish Residence: London, England Myers-Briggs: ENFJ-T (The Protagonist)

Witchcraft Particulars

First Wand: Acacia and Unicorn Hair, 11 inches Second Wand: Laurel and Phoenix tail feather, 12 inches Boggart: Voldemort killing her friends and family. Amortentia (smells like): parchment, toast and marmalade, black tea, forest after rain Amortentia (smells): smoke and bonfire, honeysuckle, strong coffee, leather Patronus: Lion Patronus memory: Finding Jacob alive in the Portrait Vault Mirror of Erised: Rowan alive again

Favorite/Most Used Spells: 

Impediment Jinx (Impedimenta) Reviving Spell (Rennervate) Knife Spell/Knife Curse (Punctum/Oppugno Punctum), invented by Rosemary and Jacob

Appearance

Faceclaim: Turkish actress Pinar Deniz

Older Rosemary:

Hogwarts Rosemary (wearing a Gryffindor tie for some reason):

Height: 5’4/162 cm Weight: 125 lbs/56 kg Physique: Fairly slim/toned. Developed a lot more muscle after she started Curse-Breaking professionally Hair color: Black, to her mid back Eye color: Blue Skin tone: Light olive

Scars:

Assorted scratches and scars around knees and palms from falling during expeditions.

A vampire puncture mark on neck (long story) 

Inventory: Mokeskin satchel, wand, spare bits of parchment, pocket rune dictionary, ring of many keys, fountain pen that never runs out of ink (quill and ink is inconvenient during travel), archeologist excavation kit (only when traveling)

Fashion: Depends on whether or not she’s out Curse-Breaking. Not Curse-Breaking: lots of layers usually, with mom jeans, jumpers, tank tops, dresses, and tights. Cute and comfortable 90s appropriate clothing. Curse-Breaking: very Brendan Fraser-esque in The Mummy. Long brown duster, knee high leather boots, fingerless leather gloves, utility belt that holds her wand and a few useful potions. Bandana that she enchanted to be fire and waterproof, used as a scarf to keep the hair out of her face.

Occupation: Freelance Curse-Breaker

Academics

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff 

Extracurriculars: Ancient Runes Club, Frog Choir, Hufflepuff Quidditch team (reserve)

Astronomy: Acceptable Charms: Outstanding DADA: Outstanding Herbology: Exceeds Expectations History of Magic: Exceeds Expectations Potions: Acceptable Transfiguration: Exceeds Expectations Ancient Runes: Outstanding Care for Magical Creatures: Exceeds Expectations Arithmancy: Exceed Expectations

Relationships (Current):

Brother: Jacob Marino Woodward

-9 years older than Rosemary, physically and mentally only 2 years older -Could be twins: Black hair, blue eyes, olive skin. -Rosemary’s Curse-Breaking partner -More impulsive than Rosemary, much less academic but more tactical and inventive. -Has a tense/slightly non existent relationship with their father after Rosemary joined Jacob as a Curse-Breaker instead of the Ministry

Father: Martin Woodward -born 1929 in Manchester, England -son of a Muggle carpenter and his wife. Has three older siblings that he doesn’t have much of a relationship with because they don’t know about his magic. -Hogwarts alumni (Hufflepuff House) -Sandy brown hair, vivid blue eyes -Magical carpenter (builds and designs magical and Muggle furniture)

Mother: Cristiana Woodward (née: Sanprudencio) -Born 1931 in Madrid, Spain -Spanish pureblood witch. The Sanprudencio family is one of the oldest and most influential pureblood families in Spain. Her father was the Spanish Minister of Magic for 37 years, and her brother-in-law is the current Minister of Magic.  -Cristiana met Martin by coincidence in Diagon Alley when she was 17 and visiting London for the first time. Kept up a correspondence for a few years before leaving Spain in 1949 to be with him after her family wanted her to marry someone else. -Deputy Head of the Department of International Cooperation until her retirement in 1992.

Closest Friendships

Rowan Khanna (deceased), Nymphadora Tonks, Penny Haywood, Barnaby Lee, Bill Weasley, Ben Copper, Merula Snyde, Charlie Weasley

Background:

Rosemary was born in Madrid during a Christmas trip her family took to see her mother’s side of the family. The Woodward family stayed in Madrid until the new year before returning to their home in west Kent.  

She and her family visited Spain mostly every summer until Jacob went missing, and Cristina would go alone to Spain while Rosemary stayed with her father.

Jacob came home for a few weeks after being expelled from Hogwarts, and went missing in the night from their house a fortnight later. Their parents found Rosemary curled up in Jacob’s empty bed the following morning.

Rosemary wasn’t very popular at Hogwarts aside from her friends for her first four years. Always running around the castle looking for Jacob, Rosemary didn’t involve herself much in clubs or sports. Once she found Jacob in her fifth year, she started to loosen up and expand her extracurriculars. She joined the Ancient Runes club with Rowan, the Frog Choir, and started enjoying Quidditch more.

After Rowan died, Rosemary shut down due to grief for the rest of the year, retreating even from her own friends. She was a shadow of herself, mostly just focused on revenge against Rakepick. Rosemary almost left Hogwarts at the end of her sixth year, but Charlie Weasley convinced her to stay just like she had convinced him earlier that year.

Rosemary healed throughout her seventh year, trying to live life the way Rowan would have wanted her two. She still had nightmares and flashbacks to what happened in the Forbidden Forest, but she and her friends helped each other get through it.

After defeating R and avenging Rowan’s death, Jacob had an official hearing with the Ministry and was allowed to keep his wand. He asked Rosemary to start a freelance Curse-Breaking business with him, which she accepted.

Charlie and Rosemary started dating quietly in the last few weeks of seventh year. He was set to take a job in Wales at a Dragon research center in the Welsh mountain side, but something happened suddenly at the end of summer that made him take a job in Romania instead and break things off with Rosemary.

The begins in June of 1993, and Rosemary is two years out of Hogwarts. She travels the world with Jacob and she hasn’t spoken to Charlie for almost two years.

[magnoliasinbloom]

Moodboard Challenge

A huge thank you to @outlanderlush​ and @iamnottrisha​ for organizing this. The moodboard belongs to @outlanderlush​, the story belongs to you all. Hope you enjoy.

AO3 / Magnolias In Bloom Master Fanfic List

Mayfair

This was not his sort of scene at all.

James Fraser stepped silently behind his colleagues into the smoky darkness of The Mayfair Club. The boys had insisted, to celebrate their law firm's latest contract. The pulsating beat spilled out onto Dover street and Piccadilly, as the hour grew close to midnight.

He'd heard of this place. He'd never had reason to visit it, though. He found his thrills elsewhere: in the courtroom, in a swimming pool, and a few years ago, in Afghanistan.

He imagined he could feel the scar tissue on his back prickling in apprehension as scantily clad serving staff paraded by, balancing loaded trays. It was Friday night and Mayfair was jumping.

Raucous calls greeted the group, as the manager slapped Dougal’s back and set the men up at a prime table in the middle of the club, from where they could monitor all the action. The décor was lush and elegant, as befitted one of the most exclusive gentlemen’s clubs in London. They were immediately plied with champagne in silver buckets; one word from the manager, and Jamie found the group surrounded by swatches of bare skin. Women danced all around them, lively with the prospect of huge tips.

John Grey, an Englishman in the midst of Scots who did not care overmuch for the attentions of women, sat back and laughed at Charlie Stewart and Dougal MacKenzie’s exploits. For once mindful and respectful of the club’s rules, they kept their hands to themselves, but that did not stem their lewd comments and lascivious stares. All of it made Jamie feel slightly ill.

He took a seat next to John, shaking his head politely at a blonde girl who offered to dance for him. Instead, he ordered a whisky neat, crossed his legs, pulled out his phone, and settled in for a long night.

And then he saw her.

He had thought to drown himself in drink, but instead he found himself foundering in her whisky eyes.

She was taller than most, towering even higher on ten-inch stilettos. Her brown curls were nestled under a black bowler hat; her hair reminded him of the different hues of water in a burn, when it ruffled over the rocks. In his native Scotland, he would call her mo nighean donn, his brown-haired lass.

All of this flashed through his mind in a second. She hadn’t noticed him, of course. Her own gaze was focused on the horizon; a horizon that held a gilt-edged mirror, random patrons, and flashing lights. She leaned casually against the bar, seemingly bored.

Dougal caught Jamie’s gaze and smirked. “Interested, are ye, lad?”

Jamie sat up straight and looked at Dougal. “No, Uncle, ‘tis alright. Just tired.”

“Och, Jamie my boy, there’s no need to be shy. I’ll buy ye a lap dance.” Dougal gestured towards the women at the bar, until he caught someone’s attention. A thin blonde waif sauntered over. Jamie could feel heat crawling up his neck as she approached; it spread to his face until he was sure it matched his red hair.

“Uncle, really, I dinna want—”

“Lass, I’d like ye to take care of my nephew here.” Dougal waved a thick wad of notes while Jamie felt he would die of shame.

The woman glanced at Jamie, who refused to glance up from his lap; her eyes gleamed, and spoke to his uncle.

“Perhaps a private room would be better, if you insist on spending that much.” She batted her eyelashes at Dougal and smiled. She called the manager over and whispered in his ear. He nodded and took the money from Dougal.

“This way please, sir.” The last thing Jamie wanted was a lap dance, but he figured it would be better in a private room; he would simply tell the lass he didn’t want her to perform. She could sit and rest for a while, or go do something else. The dance was paid for anyway, and he’d avoid further comments from Dougal. After that, he would leave, no matter what—he was tired and the thumping music was giving him a headache.

Jamie was led down a short hallway to a secluded area lined with small rooms. They had no doors; instead, satin curtains dropped from the doorframes. There was a low-lying table in front of a plush banquette seat; everything was lit in purple tones and soft electric candelabra. The music volume was not as earsplitting here. Jamie took a seat, defeated. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, taking deep breaths. He heard the manager greet someone and he opened his eyes again.

It was the brown-haired beauty from the bar.

Jamie swallowed hard. This was not who he was expecting. Now she would think he had requested her for a lap dance! He felt his face burn, hot with embarrassment. He tried not to look at her; she had changed her outfit into some sort of dancer’s leotard—except he’d never seen a dancer wear a leotard that was practically see-through, lacy, and black. The hat was still perched on her head.

“Make sure he’s well taken care of, eh, love? He’s a VIP client, mind. Show the lad ‘ere a good time.” The manager—Stephen, his tag read—touched the woman ever so slightly on the small of her bare back. Jamie could see her visibly shudder; she had a glass face that did nothing to hide her distaste. He felt like punching the living daylights out of Stephen, but before he could react, the woman waved the manager away and drew the satin curtains shut.

“Miss, I’m sorry, I dinna want—no offense, but ye dinna have to dance for me, truly—”

She turned to him with a mysterious smile; it stopped the words coming out of his mouth. She pointed discreetly at a CCTV camera tucked in the corner of the room and shrugged; she had a job to do, regardless of his wishes. Sultry, upbeat music burst out of hidden speakers, different from what was playing in the club. This seemed to be a cue for her; she stepped forward and climbed expertly onto the table.

He hadn’t wanted this, it was true; but to say he didn’t find her beautiful and sensual would be a lie. Jamie watched, helpless, when she began to dance.

As the lass moved, Jamie forgot about everything else. Her outfit hugged every curve, so no further removal of clothing was necessary. The high, black patent-leather heels clicked almost inaudibly on the tabletop. Her hands were everywhere: trailing down her neck, tracing the contour of her breasts, tracking the outline of her hips. When she turned, the shape of her derriere made a perfect inverted heart shape, covered in the lacy material.

The woman swayed in time to the music, occasionally twirling and dropping the lower half of her body, only to rise up in a fluid motion that reminded him of ocean waves. Her whisky eyes never met his, preferring to keep her gaze on her feet. Her scent—sweet jasmine—enveloped him. Jamie was completely mesmerized, almost forgetting his previous objections to this moment.

Almost.  

The vibrating beat changed, now pounding out a staccato bass. Jamie felt an overwhelming sense of dread wash over him, skin tingling. A hole opened up in his chest, sucking the air from his lungs. He could feel his heart sprinting along, trying to pump enough blood to keep him from fainting. The music, pounding like gunfire, triggered the familiar wave of memories from the battlefield six years ago.

James Fraser curled his hands into fists; head between his hands, willing himself to remain conscious, he called out to the dancing woman with beseeching urgency. He thought he was screaming, but it was barely above a whisper.

“Please. Stop.”

- - -

Claire thought he was dying.

She had heard stories about men who suffered heart attacks and collapsed in the club. Fortunately, it had never happened during her performances—until now, it seemed.

She heard him calling in spite of the music. She heard the word stop.

She halted mid-step, arms raised above her head; she watched him for a second, disoriented and sweating rivers, before Claire Beauchamp, nurse, sprang into action. Clambering off the dance table, she landed gracefully on her stilettos. She was at his side, ready to assess and aid the red-headed man before she remembered.

No touching or contact exchange between performers and patrons.

Claire hesitated for a second before recalling Geillis’s trick when she wanted to flout the rules a bit. She pulled the bowler hat off and stepping carefully onto the banquette, draped it over the CCTV camera. It would buy her at least ten minutes, she thought.

The red-headed man was keening softly, rocking back and forth in an attempt to get himself under control. This was some sort of panic attack. His tightly fisted hands trembled as they rested on his knees. Perspiration stood out on his forehead, red curls sticking to his skin. She sat next to him, as close as possible without actually touching him. She wasn’t sure how he might react to her attempts to help.  

“Breathe.” Claire’s voice cut through the music. His back and forth motions slowed, as he registered her words. “Just breathe.” She stretched her hand towards him carefully, so he would be aware of her actions. He gulped for air as she gently loosened his tie and opened a few buttons on his shirt.

“What’s your name?” she asked kindly, her hand on his shoulder as he inhaled and exhaled slowly.

“J-J-James.” Pause. “Jamie.” Another pause. “Fraser.”

“Alright, Jamie. I’d like you to tell me five things you can see around you.” Claire’s hand remained on his shoulder, the touch feeling as forbidden as it actually was.

“Five. Things. I…” Jamie took another deep breath, panic his eyes. “I see the table. The curtains, the lights. The seat. You.” She was surprised at the soft Scottish burr of this tone. His eyes blinked slowly and met hers in a calmer gaze, an intense blue she only remembered having seen in nature. The Cornish coast, perhaps.

“Well done. Tell me four things you can touch.”

Jamie glanced at her hand, and Claire quickly pulled it back.

“I’m sorry, Jamie, we’re not actually supposed to—”

“No, it’s fine, lass.” His voice was still stilted; he was still trying to pull the reins of his control. “It was yer touch that helped, at first.” He smiled shakily. “And yer voice, of course.”

The panic seemed to subside. They sat still for a few minutes, until Jamie broke the silence. “Will it cost yer job? I’d be happy to speak to the manager, if ye like.”

“No, I—don’t worry. I took care of it.” She gestured at the CCTV camera once more, and Jamie chuckled at her improvisation.

“Would it help to talk about it?” Claire asked softly,

“I dinna ken.” Jamie hesitated. “I dinna ken if I… can.”

“Was it something I did? If so, I apologize.”

“No, lass, it wasn’t anything ye did. Nothing ye could ever do. It was the song, it brought back… memories.”

Claire nodded encouragingly. Jamie was quiet for a minute before launching into his story.

It was 2013. Lance Corporal Gavin Hayes playing this song on his phone as they cruised through Kandahar.

The convoy in front of them, exploding into clouds of fire and smoke.

His own tank, turned on its side from the blast of a land mine.

The searing pain on his back, the screams of his fellow soldiers, the endless rat-a-tat of shots ringing in his ears. Cries of “Major Fraser!” all around.

“I graduated from law school and I served in the military. My da died from a stroke while I was on active duty. I flew back for a few days from Afghanistan, to attend the funeral, but I had to return. Then the attack happened.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that, Jamie. About your father and your men.” Claire wanted to touch him again, squeeze his hand, his shoulder, anything to show her sympathy. Noise from the hallway had her jumping up hastily, climbing back up on the table to place the hat back on her head. She began to dance again, her hips swaying in time to the beat. Jamie—James—fixed his stare on his lap, refusing to look up at her.

Claire felt strangely gratified; she was used to men ogling her, to their vulgar comments, and occasionally, men trying to touch her despite club rules. It inspired her next words.

“I’m a nurse.”

Jamie did look up at that, shock on his face. Claire smiled, continuing her sinuous motions.

“I do have a day job, you know. I applied as a dare, but the money is good. I’m used to being up at night, so I pick up shifts here and there.”

“I didna think—that is to say, I wasna—”

“Men would be surprised to know, that’s all. But I don’t think you’re like most men, anyway.” Claire turned, looking over her shoulder at him. “I’m booked for a full hour. What do you want, Jamie?”

Jamie swallowed visibly. “To talk. For ye to come with me, away from this place. And one more thing.”

“What’s that?” Claire touched the brim of her hat, with a glance at the camera that was always watching. Jamie stood.

“Tell me yer name.”

Claire paused, regarding him seriously. She always gave a fake name appropriate to men’s fantasies. She considered the usual (Eliza, Lizzie, Candy, Clara…). She thought about walking out, taking him with her, just to talk. Responding to instinct, she smiled.

“I’m Claire. Claire Beauchamp.”

“Well then, Claire.” James Fraser reached out, their hands entwining as he helped her off the table. “It’s a pleasure to meet ye.”

“The pleasure’s all mine.” Claire gripped the lapel of the coat Jamie had draped over her. He buttoned it up to the neck; the sleeves were too long on her so he folded them over her wrists. He gestured for her to go through the curtains first; he followed her down the hall, pushing the emergency exit door out into the cold night.

Jamie and Claire, hand in hand, left The Mayfair Club together and didn’t look back.

- - -

Claire’s first dance Gavin Hayes’ song Claire’s last dance

[variousqueerthings]

OKAY ten episodes into due south and we've got some new takeaways + some doubling downs

just had the christmas episode which means "just had the episode where fraser hallucinates his dad" and I am. very sure. that this show will never come to this conclusion, but mr benton fraser, your dad was not a good dad, and "wishing you'd spent more time with him so you could learn more" was never your fault and also... all this hero-worship for a man you didn't know, because he made it so you didn't know him, you may have had an icon/figure/image you wanted to emulate, but you didn't have a dad

also im perhaps doing fraser sr. a disservice, but I really do wonder about how long he knew about the dam. this was his area after all. but i think it's comforting to fraser jr to think his dad was only briefly hooked and then did the right thing immediately, but going by the hunter idk... also darnit benton fraser get that man down from the pedestal, you're doing yourself an injury craning your neck to look up all the time, when he's not worth it! (but also big big fan of this as a major blindspot he has, characterwise)

also in the christmas episode some rare rare ray backstory, and his father was abusive, so we're really getting guy A: absent father whom he wishes desperately to still be the perfect son for and live up to the Ideal of (benton) and guy B: abusive father who taught him to duck and to never hit kids (cos they don't learn anything from it), which is a very clear background for his cynicism and sense that people don't improve that we meet him with

TO GO BACK SOME EPISODES:

Pizzas and promises: fraser in ray's clothes (ray is now keeping them in a shrine in his closet)

I have said this before (somewhere to someone) and I will say it again: I like to read asexuality and aromanticism into characters, I enjoy it, I especially enjoy finding ways it can work with established canon (say, a character who does have relationships, ok so how does this work, etc) but. BUT. Benton Fraser. there's no reach?? that's just an aromantic asexual man there. to the point that it's a recurring joke that this beautiful beautiful man does not wish to flirt (or doesn't understand it's happening), does not want someone undressing in front of him (sexually, he clearly doesn't mind ray taking a shower), does not even consider himself as a sexually attractive person and is continuously surprised whenever someone else does, etc. have been informed that paul gross at one point said he doesn't think he's a virgin, which ofc opens up all kinds of new doors to think about (idk if this is ever established in the show, so we'll see, because it obvs changes the direction of thought depending on if yes or no)

but yeah, fraser literally holding a hand over his eyes because he's so disturbed by the car saleswoman undressing and then saying something like: "oh... dear. an accident..." before running out (hand still over his eyes...) -- also in that episode we have one of several "ray saves fraser in a desperate last-ditch way and fraser seems to think it's all premeditated and ray is a little frustrated" which plays very well into hc's about ray wanting fraser to Pls Stop Constantly Putting Yourself In Bodily Harms Way!!!!

Chinatown: ofc he speaks chinese. this is also such a Community Episode, continuing the idea that fraser is becoming this big name around the [insert chicago area] known for helping people (+ i bet he'd get free meals in chinatown for the rest of his life). also ray's face when he ordered at the restaurant was perfect -- just when fraser couldn't get more larger-than-life...

chicago holiday prt 1+2: ok well, obvs it's all about the bdsm club - fascinating that it's not something that makes fraser more uncomfortable than just every day life, which tbh, tracks as an aroace (in this case especially the ace part of it), because everything is sexual all the time, leather isn't distinctively sexual. "punish me I've been bad" made me fucking cackle though. y'all want fraser to be a dom so badly. that man is not a dom. at best he could do some praise kink, but that's all he's got in him - the fact that there are two police raids on this place. and like. it's not just queer people in there necessarily, but it definitely has several queer people. and the police chief calls them perverts. it's very much the overlap between kinkphobia and queerphobia (which, ultimately, is almost the same thing, in that queers are considered kinky, and kink is considered queer). so i'd say it's probably the worst look we've seen for the local police force so far BUT it does fit with the overarching setting that is: ---- systemic, casual injustice and bigotry ---- full of real-world people ---- also a little bit of a fairytale (fraser's pov of the world) ---- plays into explorations of ray who has one foot in the "real" world (which is unjust and cruel and harsh and he's just trying to survive in it without getting into too much trouble, he's just "doing his job") and one foot in fraser's world (the belief that everyone is fundamentally worthy of respect and decency, because everyone is a person, and that this respect will be paid back). he's not a perfect person, as is often shown, and this isn't his finest hour. I like that both fraser and the barkeeper AND the femmedom all call him on it in one way or another ---- am i remembering right, I believe this was also the episode where ray said he didn't even think fraser was a proper cop, because of fraser's ethos, which is very funny because... he isn't. my man is fired, he is not legally a cop anywhere, because he was too good a person for the job. he's an Embodiment. an Ideal. of Something (Justice, Decency, The Wild, idk), but he is not a cop my man. he got arrested in the raid too! in fact if it wasn't for ray imprinting on him, he'd have been in so much trouble several times! - also I mean. I said it, but if everyone wants fraser to be a dom, then people think ray's a bit subby, but going by their dynamic, ray is fraser's daddy. buys him nice stuff, makes sure he eats, socialises (with him), chastises him for putting himself in danger... anyway, obvs @gjdraws and I have ahem... discussed this

a cop and a mountie and a baby: shockingly this wasn't as gay as I thought it'd be. there's a bit of stuff when they're around the park, but actually the main takeaway of this episode is that this woman had heard of fraser's reputation and staked her baby on it, wild. fraser my guy. you're already a legend

There's a lot of I've forgotten to say/wrote to GJ in much ramblier paragraphs but The Gist

MISC: - the leather jacket fraser wears... inherited? bought in canada? it's such a distinct third Fit to his mountie clothes - fraser has some unhinged parenting takes, but who can blame him because his dad sucked!!!!! (okok, I'm over it... no I'm not) - ray... I didn't get into just how many moments there are of ray being in love with fraser, idk they just keep coming. every episode, it's like a tidal wave. think a notable one was end of "chicago holiday" where he brings fraser something to wear so they can go out together, just cos. but he does things for him "just cos" all the damn time! - elaine! third? bestie? i think she deserves to leave the police station and join them on cases! I wish to know more about her. that time she profiled someone and it was just fraser in drag (and ray recognised fraser in drag) - frannie! unconvinced by the way they wrote her in "pizzas and promises," thought she was fun in the first section, but i think the writing let down her character during the part where ray nearly drowns (OH YEAH THAT WAS GAY TOO MY GOODNESS) because like, why wouldn't she be more worried? think there were more dynamic, less "she's just shallow/ditzy" ways of writing that - the "jai ne said quoi" ongoing bit was very cute. also very gay. just. all of it is

[fashionbooksmilano]

Jean Muir : Beyond Fashion

Sinty Stemp,   Foreword by Felicity Green

Antique Collectors' Club, London 2007, 176 pages, ISBN  978-1851496211

euro 29,50

email if you want to buy :booksinprogressmilano@yahoo.it

"The clothes in themselves do not make a statement. The woman makes a statement and the dress helps." Jean Muir.                                                      With the closure of Jean Muir Ltd. in 2007, interest in the life and work of the Iconic British fashion designer has never been greater. Jean Muir (1928-1995), doyenne of dressmaking, is forever associated with the 'little black dress'. Her signature style married a distinctive purity of line with a soft fluidity on the body, to create the sensuous, deceptively simple clothes that became her trademark, epitomised by her work in matte jersey, and in particular her jersey dresses, which brought her legendary status in an internationally-renowned career that spanned four decades. Working with a range of fabrics, which apart from her matte jersey included wools, silks, suedes, leather, and fine cashmere, she was the first designer on the international stage to apply couture quality and craftsmanship in her collections.                                                                        The actress Joanna Lumley, a Jean Muir house model in the '70s, who has worn Muir designs ever since, famously stated that, 'every woman should have a Jean Muir in her wardrobe'. Her designs were constant favourites with artistic, literary, and dramatic personalities drawn to the discreet luxe and timeless femininity of her clothes: Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Lady Olivier, #CharlotteRampling, #LaurenBacall, #BarbraStreisand, #BridgetRiley, Dame Diana Rigg, whose actress daughter, Rachael Stirling now also wears Muir. This beautifully illustrated book highlights the variety and appeal of a career that covered every aspect of the fashion world, and includes many of Muir's sketches, as well as photography by #NormanParkinson, #DavidBailey, Eric Boman, Barry Lategan, #SarahMoon, #DeborahTurbeville, #HelmutNewton and #ArthurElgort. It has written contributions from Lady Antonia Fraser, Sir Roy Strong, Bridget Riley, #SuzyMenkes, Fashion Editor of The International Herald Tribune, and Alexandra Shulman, Editor-in-Chief of British VOGUE, amongst others. 

09/04/20

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