#regency slang

[bethanydelleman]

Hi so like. Not a question you have to answer at all if you don’t want to. Totally understand

Do you know what the period appropriate regency euphemisms for like having sex would have been? Just like. causal conversation. What words would you use for like “I had sex with her”

You do not even know how prepared I am for this question!!!

I did a bunch of research while writing a very smutty story about Jane and Bingley called A Little Before Their Marriage. Spoiler: Mrs. Bennet gives the best sex talk ever and she knows slang! I even read Fanny Hill (widely considered to be the first erotic novel). It's bad, I'll post a review.

The main source is Green's Dictorinary of Slang, some terms are summarized here. And I'll highlight some below the jump (swears down there):

Fuck is super old, about 1600s. Same meaning as today.

Cunt has meant "vagina" for 800 years. So go wild with that one!

A lot of vagina slang has to do with holes (chimney, burrow, cellar) and penis with poles (lance, pen, maypole). Shocking isn't it! The term quim for vagina came up in a lot of the erotica I read. Machine was Fanny Hill's favourite term for penis.

Alter of Venus is an awesome term for vagina. I personally find rogered to be a fun term for sex (and I know it was used by rich people). Roger also means penis.

Things to avoid: Dick does not mean penis until late in the 1800s, so not during Austen's time. Make love does not mean sex until 1930-ish. Also, rutting has an animal connotation which may be slightly racist/classiest.

Have fun!

[plistommy]

I’m a sucker for Regency romance fiction. Steve Harrington, only son of Duke Of Hawkins, falls in love with lowly stablehand Billy Hargrove, and they must keep it secret, ESPECIALLY from Steve’s arranged fiancée Lady Nancina Byers. But what happens when Billy’s drunken lout father Neil figures them out? What if he demands his whore son bilk the young Lord of all he’s worth if they don’t want to be found out by Steve’s father, or worse… the Ton…

TW abuse!!!

The sun was shining for the first time after weeks of cruel rain. The warm wind was soft on Steve’s face as he walked through the courtyard to the familiar stable.

It was a beautiful day for a ride.

”Good day is it, Lord Steven?

”Good day indeed.” Steve smiled at the stablehand as he opened the heavy door.

Billy.

The man had been working for his family for years now. Steve had come to know the man, too pretty for his own good with those beautiful blue eyes and strong body.

He was really the only friend Steve had. Or a secret one, at least. Steve really didn’t have anyone else to talk to than his family and his soon to be wife, Lady Nancina by arranged marriage.

Nancina was a kind woman. He liked her. He even thought they could be great friends. But he didn’t want to marry her.

His heart belonged to someone else.

But… his father demanded it, like he always did with everything. He was the Duke. And you never disobey the Duke Of Hawkins.

Especially if you’re his only son.

”I’ve got your mare ready for you.” Billy said, that deep voice making Steve warm in all of the good ways.

”Thank you.” Steve said softly, loving how the younger man's lips turned into a smile. A real one.

Steve brushed past the other, bending down to pick up his helmet, shining like it always did when Billy had cleaned it for him after every ride.

He heard a groan coming from behind him and he turned around quickly, concerned if the blond man had hurt himself, but all he found was those piercing blue eyes staring right at his ass.

”Those… are a sin.” Billy murmured, gripping the shovel in his strong arms tightly.

Steve blushed red, but smirked and gave a small wiggle to the other man before he finally stood up.

”Just for you.” He said with his charm and Steve loved the reaction it always got from Billy.

Okay, so they weren’t just… familiar with each other. Or just friends. They were more than that, had been for almost years now behind the closed doors.

Billy huffed a little before dropping his shovel next to the wall. ”Only you today?”

Your family isn’t around? Your fiance? Is what it meant.

Steve smirked and took a step forward.

”Yes. Father and…. others are gone today. Only me present.”

Steve wouldn’t be at the stables like this with his wedding coming up in six days. There were rare times when he could, but never this close to an ’important day’.

And Billy knew that.

He didn’t even blink before the other man was on him, arms wrapping around Steve’s waist as he picked up the Lord on top of one the tables. Steve happily spread his legs to get the other closer to him.

”You’re a sinful man, my Lord.” Billy moaned and it made Steve laugh.

”My Lord? Please, call me Steve… you know that, Billy.”

Billy groaned into the kiss and squeezed Steve’s ass that still had those unbelievably tight jodhpurs on.

”My Darling…” And oh did that name make Steve whine as Billy purred it into his ear.

He felt rough hands, working hands slip inside his trousers and soon a thick finger was teasing his hole as the man between his legs moved closer.

”Wanna make love to you, Sweetheart. Please?”

Steve’s head hit the wall.

”Please…” was all he could get out before Billy was removing their clothes.

If only they would’ve known they weren’t alone.

—

Billy was walking back to his home, a small and cramped wooden house close to his Duke’s residence.

He didn’t get a room like their servants did, but he didn’t mind that, he liked his own space and it wasn’t a bother to anyone. He was always early at work, always respectful and always quiet. That's how the Duke liked him to be.

When he got close enough, he could see a figure standing on his small porch and not just any fucking figure.

His bastard father.

”Took you long enough.” A grumpy voice said.

”Wasn’t expecting you, Sir.”

The old man took a long drag of his cigar, keeping his harsh eyes on Billy as he came to stand before him.

Billy was waiting for the man’s usual cruel words. How he was such a disappointment as his only child, a son and how he wished he would’ve left him to die when his mother had left them for a man over the seas. How easy it would’ve been to take him into the woods for wolves to share.

He didn’t let those words get under his skin. Not anymore.

”So tell me, son.” Neil took a step forward, towering over Billy’s frame as he blew smoke into his face, but he didn’t react. That’s what Neil wanted.

Instead, he stood on his ground. He knew how this goes, every single time.

”How long have you been fucking the Duke’s son?”

Billy’s eyes widened. And Neil smirked.

”What do you mean, Sir—”

”Do not lie to me, son!” A slap ”I saw what you dirty fucks were doing at the stables. Don’t think I haven’t noticed it before. How that ’Lord’ looks at you everytime you walk by and how you…” Neil grabbed his collar.

”How you beg to fuck him. Like a whore.”

Billy was fuming. He felt his whole body shake as his father looked down at him, still feeling the sting on his right cheek. He wanted to punch him, hell, murder him, but Billy knew he couldn’t. Was too afraid to and all he could do was to fucking take it and look straight into the other’s eyes so he wasn’t disrespectful.

”Now…” Neil said, breath smelling like alcohol ”You have to do something for me, son. For me to forgive you.”

Billy gritted his teeth.

”You don’t want the Duke to know, isn’t that right? Or the young Lord's precious little Lady Nancina? Don’t want to lose that precious job I got for you or your… ’Darling’.” he mimicked Billy’s words at him, but with disgust.

Billy wanted to kill this man. Fucking burn him alive.

But, he nodded ”Yes, Sir.”

”Good.” Neil said and finally let go of him.

”For this to go away, you’re going to leave him dry. Take everything. It’s going to be easy, you already have the whore in love with you, so nothing but sweet little lies and your cock can do the job.” Neil grinned ”Isn’t that right?”

He knew his father was a cruel and a disgusting man, but he didn’t think his father would go this low. Especially for his own fucking blood. He always had hope, but he should’ve buried it a long time ago, because the man would never change and didn’t want to.

Billy was used to getting punished. He was used to the words thrown at him. He was used to getting hurt.

But he wasn’t going to hurt Steve.

Not the man he loves.

The man who makes him the happiest he’s ever been just with his presence. The man who holds him close as they kiss. Who praises Billy for just being him even if he was just a stablehand for the other man.

He would rather die than to do this.

”Son.” He heard. It was a warning.

When he felt a hand on his throat and his back hitting the wall behind him, he yelled out ”Yes, Sir!”

His father held the hand for a while, making Billy struggle until he dropped it and gave him a small pat on the shoulder like he wasn’t just trying to kill Billy.

”Good. I’m expecting you in six days. Do not disappoint me.” And then he was gone.

Six days.

Oh fuck.

The wedding.

Billy’s breath got caught in his throat and he wanted to cry as he slumped down to his porch.

How could he hurt his beautiful Steve?

[auraxins]

ngl i might have to ask u all to suspend ur disbelief w this cowboy shouto fic bc i can NOT write the dialogue without busting into fits of giggles

[camelspit]

He just called himself a "cad" unironically....

[persianflaw]

cool regency era slang term: actaeon (in ref. to the mythological figure), meaning cuckold

[questioningdragons]

Okay, so, I like to read historical romances, but I have a weird pet peeve about how frequently they use the anachronistic phrase, "make love". While I know that this phrase didn't start being used until the 1950s, I don't know that many sexual euphemisms from before that. However, I just came across "sleep with" in a book set in 1928 and decided to look it up on etymonline. Apparently people have been using the phrase "sleep with" to refer to having sex since old English! So unless you are setting a book prior to the 900s ce, then you are good to use that particular euphemism.

[ripthomasthorne]

Thomas Thorne + Regency-era slang

[stagefoureddiediaz]

What IS this "friend of Dorothy" theory? I know it's connected to the wizard of Oz and over the rainbow as gay symbols or something, but I'm otherwise clueless...

Hey!!

Thanks for stopping by and asking - you’ve given me the perfect place to talk queer history 😎🤓

So a friend of Dorothy is LGBTQ+ slang for a gay man.

It’s precise origins and use as an lgbtq term isn’t fully know but it is believed to predate the 1939 Wizard of Oz movie. The theory is that its use came about based on several references in the original Frank Baum books the film is based on (which if you haven’t read I highly recommend), espeically the second one - the road to Oz. In that book, Dorothy’s friends are described as queer and her reply to that comment is that queerness doesn’t matter as long as they’re friends. There is possible innuendo related to the scarecrow when he comments that you can go both ways along the yellow brick road (his line is ‘of course some people go both ways’). And the princess Ozma in the books is viewed as one of the first transgender character in literature (it’s too long to go into in detail but basically ozma is given to a witch - mombi- who transforms her into a boy called Tip so that the rightful heir to the oz throne is usurped.

The 1939 film can be argued to take things further - all of Dorothy’s three friends have queer attributes - for example the cowardly lion is a dandy lion (which is a play on Dandelions the flower, but also on the dandy - a specific type of man that became a thing in the regency (1800’s) era and transformed men’s fashion. Beau Brummell was a major force in the development of the dandy look. He was very close friends with the prince regent of England and it is rumoured the two were lovers (there is plenty of circumstantial evidence but no official proof has come to light and the royal family keep a lot of that information under wraps if it wasn’t previously destroyed) until their very public falling out!). Other things that contribute are the change from black and white to colour in the film - which was done in large part as a way of showcasing the new Technicolor technology, but can also be viewed as a metaphor for Dorothy escaping the black and white morally rigid small town she came from and ending up in city in a world full of colour with friends equally as colourful. The song over the rainbow became a queer anthem after the films release and in part (the fact she was also one of the first stars to have her life splashed over the tabloid press in gory detail and was othered because of it was also a part of it - along with her intense stage fright and deep self doubt about her talent whilst simultaneously being an electric and absorbing performer when onstage) led to Judy garland becoming a queer icon (something she embraced) and the rainbow from the wizard of oz and from that song was a contributing factor in the adoption of the rainbow flag as a symbol of the gay community and then the wider lgbtq community (and that hs obviously developed further into the progress pride flag we have today).

Because in a pre stonewall world (stonewall happened in the days immediately after Judy’s death - it’s never been fully stated as the reason for the riots, but it may well have been a contributing spark that help ignite them), Judy had become a gay icon through ‘over the rainbow’ and the wizard of oz, her concerts were a way for gay men to meet and thus referring to themselves as a friend of Dorothy’s as a way of subtly letting other know their sexuality with a greatly reduced risk of persecution. I could go much more into Judy garlands backstory because it’s fascinating and very much related to queerness in Hollywood but I don’t have the time to right now - I recommend looking into it though there are a couple of great biographies on her or there are many documentaries that look at her life!

I hope that’s helped 😎💜

[sixshotsinatumbllr]

I'm working on a fic atm that includes a bunch of notes that Crowley makes on his phone, and in one note included the term lol.

But then I wondered, am I projecting my own elder-millenial slang on him there? Would Crowley use Millenial or more likely Gen X slang, because that's the generation he presents as, or would he use the slang of Gen Z or Gen Alpha because he likes to keep up with the times? Always on the cutting edge of trends.

(Meanwhile Aziraphale still uses Regency slang).

What do you think:

Also, please, give me examples because I need a bit of cheering up this week.

[chicago-geniza]

Haven't talked to a human being for about 2 weeks since I've been away from work with COVID and in that time I've done nothing but watch Upstairs Downstairs and made-for-TV 19th-century novel adaptations which means I've picked up interwar British slang like "divvy" (pronounced DEEvy, short for divine) and Regency/Georgian slang like "salute" for kiss. I'm an American in 2024 and I sound like a random anachronism generator from the United Kingdom

[thelamentknight]

Rosarine Lapin-Blanc

Male/17 years old

French

Rabbit Beastman

Virgo

Gay

Hometown is the Kingdom of Roses

Twisted from the White Rabbit

Heartslabyul

2nd Year

His best subject is Magic Analysis 

He is in the Book club

His Favorite Food is Rose Lychee Macarons 

His Least Favorite Food is Prunes

Dislikes Loud Noises

Hobbies include: Reading, collecting stationary supplies, gardening, watercolor painting, and shopping at antique stores and bookshops

Talent: Horse Riding

Unique Magic: “Running from Time.” When Rosarine uses his UM, he is temporarily able to stop time. He tends to use his UM a lot to make to class or unbirthday parties on time. He can add however many minutes he wants to his time stopping, but there’s a catch: when he exceeds 10 minutes, blot begins to form. Rosarine can only have a maximum of 10 minutes of frozen time to be safe from gathering blot.

Rosarine is an introverted and studious boy. He takes his studies quite seriously, and aces his classes. While he is very organized for some things, he can be clumsy and forgetful about other things. He is organized with his supplies and desks, but is forgetful about times and due dates. He can stress out quite easily. He is kind of jittery, and secretly on the verge of breaking down.

Background: Rosarine’s Father is a merchant while his Mother is Florist. The Lapin-Blanc house is a wealthy house of nobility, so Rosarine is a noble. Rosarine is the middle child of 5 boys. His older brothers already run successful businesses, and Rosarine and his younger brothers are expected to do the same. 

Fun facts:

Reading Books while drinking tea and eating pastries tends to help Rosarine calm down

He loves taking care of the flowers in Heartslabyul and the Botanical Gardens

Likes to use a typewriter for his essays instead of typing them on a computer

He tends to run late, which causes him great stress

(Warning as this mentions s**cide) Has considered drowning himself to end his misery and stress

When he gets mad, he’ll stomp one foot

He speaks rather formally for a 17 year old (he had a private tutor who gave him etiquette classes). Even in texts, he never uses slang.

DESPISES the PE classes. Why are they even there? To make him more miserable? 

Thinks Silver is SUCH a dreamboat. Now he gets the appeal of Prince Charmings

Watches and reads Bridgerton

He wants to write a Regency Era Romance book series

He carries around a parasol and fan that he pulls out of thin air

He’s a bit of a people pleaser. Tends to say “I’m sorry” or “my apologies” a lot

He has bad eyesight. He would wear regular glasses, but he likes the heart glasses too much to NOT wear them. So he wears contacts

He’s scared of just about everyone

He can shapeshift into a little white rabbit. He tends to shapeshift when he’s alone, as he’s scared of others picking on him

He has Hearing Sensitivity 

He has crippling low self esteem. He kind of thinks he’s worthless 

Rosarine considered the Science Club, but then sprinted for it when he found out Rook was in it

The Library is his favorite hiding spot

Voice Claim

[mermaidsirennikita]

What do you consider to be the hallmarks of a good fantasy romance? And great examples from that genre?

I think it's a combination of:

—Good worldbuilding that nonetheless isn't so dense that it takes away from character development. To me, a great romance is all about character development, and, contrary to everyone forgetting this in order to dump on "romantasy", fantasy historically has NOT been considered one of the strongest genres for that. Not that there aren't fantasy novels with great character development; but many have historically prioritized the World over the Character, and relied on character types and journeys that fantasy readers recognize in order to get by. Chose One archetypes, for example.

One of the reasons why ASOIAF was considered so subversive and interesting when it came out was that GRRM took archetypes and twisted them. That's how much fantasy relied on them.

—I.... am not hot on the slang and dialogue that feels supermodern. It can work! I don't need all fantasy to come from a space super grounded in the historical. But sometimes, I think fantasy romance writers are basically plugging contemporary dialogue into a fantasy setting and saying "There, be happy".

—Plot! If I'm reading a fantasy romance, I want a plot that goes beyond Cozy. This isn't necessary for all readers, and I get it, but if I wanted something lighter on plot I simply wouldn't read a fantasy romance.

I'd recommend trying:

The Winter King by C.L. Wilson. This is a great arranged marriage fantasy romance, with characters who have their flaws and their issues with each other. The magic isn't crazy complicated, but I really liked the world (Wilson was an early adopter of the Scandi influence on fantasy, and the following book doesn't seem reliant on the typical Western European vibes either).

The Witch Walker series by Charissa Weaks. Just a lot of fun. I love that the heroine reads as competent and smart, versus Aelin-influenced. The hero is dangerous and complex, but also needs her help a good few times. The classic "friend guy" you see so often in fantasy romance (the heroine's buddy and/or ex who's Normal) is dealt with in a way that feels way more mature and interesting than your standard issue love triangle. There's a fun b-plot villain romance brewing. Lots of interesting side characters. I have a great time with it.

Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked series and beyond. This one sort of flits about worlds; there's a Sicilian vibe, a Regency romance vibe. Some of the books are darker than the others. The heroes are very morally gray, and the heroines... are also. It feels very "alive" to me. There is a lot more plotting and a lot less "kick, pow".

While I found The Hurricane Wars a little slow to begin, Monsoon Rising really kicked it up a notch and I had a great time with it. It began as Reylo fanfic, which isn't a problem for meeee, but Thea Guanzon's rework brought in a lot of her Southeast Asian roots, which you don't see a lot of in fantasy. The hero is a virgin who can't drive (and so is the heroine, but she's a lot more.... apt.... than he is lol).

In terms of lighter, more historically rooted fantasy (so, historical romance but make it fantasy basically) India Holton is a great writer. Her books are kinda fluffy but not without Plot, and never fail to make me laugh while also selling the romance so well. Her prose is also fabulous.

It's quick (with another book to come, hopefully) but A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan was one of the more enjoyable dragon-y fantasy romances for me. The hero and heroine have a great connection, it's another one that deals with the friend guy well, and I really liked the heroine's journey.

Another more historical-y one is A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland, which is an f/f selkie romance. Super lyrical and sweet, with the injection of some darker themes through an examination of the myth. So well-written.

A Fated Inked in Blood is so fun. A vikings-y fantasy romance with a bit of a chosen one narrative, but more on the berserker side of things. The heroine is married (though it's in name only) to the hero's dad, which is SO fun. It does something I've really come to enjoy in fantasy romances, and it's not like... not predictable, once you know what to look for, but I REALLY liked how this one did it. If you like vikings-y fantasy romances, Demi Winters's Road of Bones is also good, but a little heavier on the world and the fantasy of it all.

Ruby Dixon's Aspects and Anchors series are very Ruby Dixon, but also like... good fantasy romances? They're kinda campy, super OTT, the voice very chatty... But the modernity is excused for me because the heroines come from our world. The parallel universe thing is very creative, and makes for a lot of fun culture clash stuff.

A Hear of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane reminds me of C.L. Wilson in a lot of ways—big on the world, lots of action and violence. It's higher heat than the Wilson books, though (those aren't low heat either) and there's a lot of... really daring stuff in this one. Like. REAL wild.

[historiavn]

ASSORTED HEADCANONS: Ophelia Chronsturn

She began playing the violin when she was three years old, and the piano when she was seven years old.

Although she was reluctant to begin learning the piano, her father insisted — knowing that ultimately, it would be a major asset if Ophelia ever shifted to Regency England.

It is difficult for Ophelia to sit still for extended periods of time. When she is restless, she will either fidget in her chair or, if possible, pace around the room.

Her favorite Shakespeare plays are Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing.

Any skills that Ophelia picks up while time traveling or multiuniverse traveling will be retained when she is in the waking world. The curse will also sometimes provide her with a certain skill if it enables her to witness a particular historical event, such as new languages or etiquette. However, sometimes the curse will also “throw her to the wolves” and not give her any prior skills at all.

Her favorite historical fashion is the Mid-Victorian Era (1860’s-1880’s), though the fashion of the 1940’s comes as a close second.

Per plotting with @audaciiae, Ophelia is the only living direct descendant of Julius Caesar (yes, that Caesar)

She’s also directly descended from the philosopher Socrates on her father’s side of the family. In fact, it is the Socratic branch of the family that is responsible for the Chronsturn Curse. Socrates’ lineage was cursed shortly before his execution by a witch who was angry at the role that he had played in “corrupting the youth” of Athens.

Sometimes, if Ophelia draws a sketch of some sort of clothing, it will appear in her wardrobe during one of her Chronsturn Curse shifts.

In threads where Ophelia is in her early twenties, she is a member of Gen Z. She’ll be prone to utilizing modern slang terms and referencing trends during interactions, with no regard for whether this might be “cringe” or strange for the given universe. The older that she is, the less likely that this becomes.

Ophelia has spent an extraordinary amount of time attempting to find loopholes in the curse’s laws — particularly the caveat that she is not allowed to speak of her bizarre origins. The loopholes that she has found include the ability to discuss the curse in writing and the ability to allude to her origins through vague statements that indicate she knows more than she is allowed to share. The sole criteria is that she is forbidden from speaking the word “curse” out loud.

When Ophelia attended Georgetown University, she was active in the theatre department as one of her numerous extracurriculars. She would often act in musicals and plays, and even was the student director of several Shakespeare productions.

Swordsmanship is another strange hobby that Ophelia has picked up as a result of the Chronsturn Curse; she learnt to wield a sword while still a teenager, and was on the fencing team at Georgetown.

She is a gifted equestrian, and began riding horses at her father’s insistence when she was five years old.

Ophelia swears like a sailor in numerous languages, no matter the time period or universe she’s shifting to.

In her Percy Jackson universe, she is the daughter of the titan Cronus, and Cronus bestowed multiuniversal travel abilities upon Socrates’ lineage not as a curse, but as a blessing. However, this knowledge has long since been lost, leading to the widespread belief that their reality shifting is a curse. Ophelia is the first demigod child that Cronus has fathered in centuries, if not ever.

She is force sensitive in her Star Wars universe, and has a strong affinity for the dark side of the force.

[mayhemchicken-varneyposting]

Varney the Vampire, Chapter 15: Shiver Me Timbers

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While Henry and Marchdale are off visiting Varney, an expensive coach pulls up to an inn in a nearby town. The occupants, a grizzly old Navy admiral and his *ahem* valet, a sailor named Jack Pringle, enter the inn, demanding a private room and an audience with one Josiah Crinkles, a lawyer. These two old sailors spend pretty much the entire chapter, and indeed every moment of shared page time they get, arguing like an old married couple and talking in heavily exaggerated nautical slang.

The admiral, Bell, turns out to be Charles Holland's uncle, and he has a letter from Mr. Crinkles urging him to chase down his nephew at once and stop him from marrying into a family with a vampyre in it. Mr. Crinkles, after reading over said letter, tells Admiral Bell that he did not write the letter in question, and indeed he didn't even know the admiral had a nephew, let alone one connected with all this vampire business. The letter, then, is a forgery, penned by an unknown hand.

The two sailors insist on having a drink with Mr. Crinkles, and he offers to tell them what he knows of the whole affair, as well as some lore about vampires - specifically, that anyone who is bitten by a vampire will become one, including Charles' would-be bride. The admiral and Jack Pringle resolve to find Charles and the Bannerworths and learn the truth, and fight the vampire too if it comes down to it.

Ladies and gentlemen, the comic relief has arrived.

The chapter opens with a quite lengthy description of how gossip concerning the vampire attack has spread from the Bannerworth's servants to the whole surrounding countryside. We already knew this, of course, as Henry found out when he went to see Chillingworth, but the author reminds us anyway, at length.

There, it seemed as if the lovers of the horrible made a point of holding their head quarters, and so thirsty did the numerous discussions make the guests, that the landlord was heard to declare that he, from his heart, really considered a vampyre as very nearly equal to a contested election.

I will grant this line is pretty funny.

We are now introduced to Admiral Bell and his rascally sidekick Jack Pringle, who are one thrown bottle away from divorce at all times. These two men are so nautical it is physically painful.

He was attired in ample and expensive clothing, but every article had a naval animus about it, if we may be allowed such an expression with regard to clothing.

The author spontaneously decides his story is set in the Regency period; Admiral Bell is described as wearing "the undress naval uniform of an officer of high rank some fifty or sixty years ago", and Jack Pringle makes the following observation about the inn they've arrived at:

"They call this the Nelson's Arms; and you know, shiver me, that for the best half of his life he had but one."

Nelson, for the record, died in 1805.

To give an idea of the sort of nautical tomfoolery I had to slog through for this chapter, I will reproduce a small sample of dialogue; imagine, if you will, pages and pages of this bullshit.

"Heave to!" he then shouted to the postilion, who was about to drive the chaise into the yard. "Heave to, you lubberly son of a gun! we don't want to go into dock."

"Ah!" said the old man, "let's get out, Jack. This is the port; and, do you hear, and be cursed to you, let's have no swearing, d—n you, nor bad language, you lazy swab."

"Aye, aye," cried Jack; "I've not been ashore now a matter o' ten years, and not larnt a little shore-going politeness, admiral, I ain't been your walley de sham without larning a little about land reckonings. Nobody would take me for a sailor now, I'm thinking, admiral."

"Hold your noise!"

"Aye, aye, sir."

At least it's funny for now; the constant arguing between these two starts to wear on the nerves as the story goes on.

Jack Pringle namedrops Charles, although it's not confirmed until later in the chapter that he refers to Charles Holland.

"Well, but where's Master Charles? Lawyers, in course, sir, is all blessed rogues; but, howsomdever, he may have for once in his life this here one of 'em have told us of the right channel, and if so be as he has, don't be the Yankee to leave him among the pirates. I'm ashamed on you."

There's a lot of lawyer-bashing in this chapter.

Mr. Crinkles (don't you love how there's two different characters introduced in this chapter that are named after potato chips) reminds me of Discworld's A. E. Pessimal, minus the surprise bloodlust. A "very conversible, nice, gentlemanly little man", he contrasts amusingly with the two rambunctious sailors.

"So you are Crinkles, are you?" cried the admiral. "Sit down, though you are a lawyer."

"Thank you, sir. I am an attorney, certainly, and my name as certainly is Crinkles."

"Look at that."

The admiral placed the letter in the little lawyer's hands, who said,—

"Am I to read it?"

"Yes, to be sure."

"Aloud?"

"Read it to the devil, if you like, in a pig's whisper, or a West India hurricane."

"Oh, very good, sir. I—I am willing to be agreeable, so I'll read it aloud, if it's all the same to you."

The letter, besides warning Admiral Bell of Charles Holland's imminent decision to marry A Vampyre, contains a "definition" of vampires which is bafflingly unhelpful:

"P.S. I enclose you Dr. Johnson's definition of a vampyre, which is as follows:

"VAMPYRE (a German blood-sucker)—by which you perceive how many vampyres, from time immemorial, must have been well entertained at the expense of John Bull, at the court of St. James, where no thing hardly is to be met with but German blood-suckers."

Mr. Crinkles, as it turns out, has never seen this letter in his life. Who wrote it, then, is and remains a mystery; the authorship of this letter never comes up again in the text. I mean, it was probably Varney, but that's never confirmed.

Admiral Bell and Jack Pringle seem to have a very shaky grasp on what a vampire is; evidently Dr. Johnson's definition was not helpful.

"Shiver my timbers, if I knows what a wamphigher is, unless he's some distant relation to Davy Jones!"

"The vampyre!"

"Ah! I always forget the names of strange fish. I suppose, after all, it's something of the mermaid order?"

Mr. Crinkles provides an astonishingly detailed account of the vampire attack on Flora, and repeats the idea that all victims of vampire attacks become vampires themselves. Jack Pringle accidentally hits on the reason why in vampire stories this is usually not the case:

"Whew!" whistled Jack; "she might bite us all, and we should be a whole ship's crew o' wamphighers. There would be a confounded go!"

If vampirism has a 100% transmission rate, the vampire population grows exponentially. We will eventually learn more about how vampirism actually spreads in this story; for now, as far as anybody knows, Flora is set to become a vampire after death.

At the end of the chapter, Jack refers to Charles as "our nevy", which I will point to as evidence that he is, in fact, more than a valet. (These aren't the only gay sailors Rymer has written, either. Ask me about the background gay couple in The String of Pearls/Sweeney Todd.)

Next: The worst romantic dialogue I have ever read in my life

[hollyand-writes]

Rating: Teen   Word Count: 1,956 Pairing: Anders/Male Hawke Other Tags: Alternative Universe – Regency, Meet-Cute, Flirting, Fade to Black, Written for the @mhanderszine

Summary:

mol·ly house (noun): 1. (British, historical slang) A Regency Era meeting venue for cross-dressing and/or gay men, often a tavern or coffee-house. — Regency AU. The dashing Mr Garrett Hawke meets Doctor Anders at a local molly-house, and sparks fly.

———————

Mr Garrett Hawke, most eligible bachelor in Kirkwall, was said to be looking for a wife. Tall, handsome, rich, and living in an estate so grand that its balcony boasted the best views over the city, it was a truth universally acknowledged that not a single lady in Hightown would refuse him… if he asked.  

The only problem was that any reported desire for marriage was little more than wild speculation; for Mr Hawke, as charming as he was to every lady in Hightown, had no interest in any of them. This made him enigmatic, elusive, desirable even; for many noble young ladies and their mothers saw such a gentleman as a challenge to capture and tame into matrimony—but the truth was really that Mr Hawke preferred to spend time at a certain coffee-house where men consorted with men.

High society would be scandalised by the many love affairs Mr Hawke had had from the venue in question, if they ever knew that particular coffee-house was a front for a molly-house (and notorious for it among men of Mr Hawke’s persuasion). Women were barred; like they were from so many coffee-houses or other places a gentleman would socialise in; so there was very little risk of Lady Leandra catching her son there, and very little risk of her gossipy female friends witnessing the revelry inside. On the rare occasion Mr Hawke was ever questioned on his predilection for frequenting the place, Mr Hawke would simply say he enjoyed the coffee.

But Mr Hawke’s more recent visits had nothing to do with the coffee—and everything to do with the new blond doctor that had suddenly started showing up of late...

Read more on AO3...

[mswyrr]

bridgerton 2x01

Just started Kate & Anthony's season! Assorted comments below.

1 - Kanthony

What a fun start they're off too! Great chemistry and sparks with this Rivals to Lovers pair.

I feel for Anthony and his severe (!) Eldest Brother Syndrome, but oh gosh. When he spouted some of that nonsense about finding a lady with "child-bearing hips and half a brain" I wanted to kick him lol I am so eager to watch him absolutely come apart with love of Kate.

Their first meeting is perfect. We learn quickly, within about 2 scenes here and later, that Kate is an expert with horses and doesn't back down from a challenge, not from Anthony or Lady Danbury - her back and forth with both of them really establishes (along with her careful planning, research, and care for her little sister) that she will make a magnificent Vicountess

"does your maid know you're riding astride?"

-Anthony, you are not EVERYONE'S older brother

-Anthony.... does the thought of her.... astride... perhaps intrigue you hmmmmm????

There's something interesting about the way that, at the party, both Kate & Pen observe and listen from the edges, the duality of being not considered but keeping your ears open for insight? unexpected/feminine power moves 🤔

Kate likes to keep her secrets!! it's a way to keep control AND YET she feels drawn to Anthony enough to confront him directly about the shit he was just talking. it's a real risk, given his power and money. As much as he is already struck with her, SHE is struck with him too, to take that risk.

"your character is as deficient as your horsemanship. i bid you goodnight" LMFAO his face!!! it's clear the actors were having a wonderful time. love it!

I think it's great that Kate is telling herself she's trying to protect Edwina from him, but actually.... they're both already so struck by each other there's all kinds of delicious subconscious motives at play imo!

2 - Women's relationships

-kate's own Eldest Daughter syndrome oh honey 🫂

-kate & lady danbury's conversation & pen & eloise's conversation are so good? there's intimacy and stakes between the women that i really like. despite the society emphasis on m/f marriage and the ways it rankles and is part of patriarchy, the "marriage mart" is really a women run world in many ways.

-pen's family of women is SO NASTY which makes a good contrast - this thing being run by women doesn't mean it's good or nice.

-somebody let the queen and lady danbury have Old Ladies Yuri i beg of you

-it's.... kind of crazy how shippable Pen and Eloise are. though i am totally aware it is intended to be a platonic friendship and i think it's interesting on that level as well! the way Pen wants her column as Lady W to please Eloise, even to the point of revising it to suit Eloise's tastes... I'm really looking forward to seeing how their besties relationship came apart. The drama! oh it's gonna hurt (rubs hands together)

3- MISC notes

-diamonds weren't the highest valued gem at the time. that was a product of later debeers advertising (late 19th cent). the "diamond of the first water" slang is from Georgette Heyer in the 1920s lolllll Regency Romance is a Fantasy AU and always has been, which is why the way this show has adapted the books to create its own unique Fantasy AU is perfectly in keeping with the Regency Romance vibe!

-I love how relevant Pen's journey is to the plot and themes overall - how you can see the places (in her experience of family and society) her sharp edges come from, but also... her business savvy, her wit, and her decency (demanding a wage increase for the boys who sell her column!). ALSO even with her mother trying to dress her dowdy she still is such a cutie pie <3