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bakerstreet2016-06-12 06:59 pm
marlowe_tops) wrote in bakerstreet2016-06-12 06:59 pm
Regency AU Meme
Regency AU
Whether your character was dropped through a portal or just has always been here, welcome to Regency Era England, the height of fashion, social decorum, and questions of marriageability. Or, well, nearly Regency Era England. In this version, no one’s going to think anything odd of your character being of another species (unless you want them to), and no one civilised would possibly object to marriages between persons of the same sex (unless you want them to).
But all of the delightful propriety and social manoeuvering, and the utmost importance of making a good marriage match, well, that’s all perfectly intact. Welcome to (mostly) Regency England.
Character roles:
1. Heir to a Fortune - You have 20,000 pounds a year (incredible!) and perhaps even a title. Whoever marries you will net a fortune, and a life of luxury.
2. A Notable Army Career - You’ve distinguished yourself with honour in His Majesty’s Royal Army (or was it Her Majesty’s All-Female Fighting Dragoons?). Now that you’ve retired, for whatever reason, you’ve been honoured with a title and a very pleasant estate in the country. All you need now is an eligible companion for your new life.
3. The American Heir - Your family has money, but you’re hoping to net the one thing that money can’t buy—a title. Surely there’s some impoverished and attractive young noble who would be delighted to remedy that.
4. Winning Personality - You haven’t got money to speak of, nor a title, but your family has four daughters (or sons) to be married off, and you’re the eldest. Your family can fund you for one year to make your Debut in society, so you’d better make it count.
5. The Courtesan - They may have been edged out of polite society in the social reforms of the Victorian Era, but in the regency, courtesans like Harriette Wilson and Julia Johnstone were scandalously popular. Perhaps your virtue was lost or the prospect of being a powerful noble’s lover was too tempting—either way, now you’re a member of the Demimonde of London, and all of London is fascinated and delighted by your weekly scandals and spectacular balls.
6. The Bohemian - You are an actor, an artist, a model, a singer, anything you please, and your talent is enough to get you mentioned—perhaps lauded!—in society.
7. The Governess/Tutor - You’re well-born and well-educated, but you inherited little to nothing and find yourself reduced to making a living on the fringes of polite society. Specifically, working as a tutor or governess (or perhaps as a valet, chaperone, or lady’s maid, depending on how far you’ve fallen) to members of your own class who find themselves better-monied than you.
8. Upstairs Downstairs - The unseen and unsung heroes of the glittering society, you are not one of the Quality, but they cannot live without you. Perhaps it’s to be an affair with your master or mistress? Risky. Safer to conduct a romance—and find marriage—with a member of your own class.
9. Not One of the Blessed Few - You’re a working class English citizen, in London or the country. The world of high society doesn’t notice you at all, unless it’s to splash you with their passing carriage. A farmer, a labourer, or perhaps a prostitute, but your lack of high birth doesn’t make you any less worthy of life and love.
10. Wildcard
Situations
A. A London Ball - Every Wednesday at Almack’s club, there’s dancing that lasts late into the evening. No entry after 11, not even to royalty, and the guest list is the most exclusive in London. But somehow you’ve secured a token of admittance, whether you’re Cinderella for an evening or whether you attend every week.
B. A Private Party - Not your usual stomping ground, perhaps, but you know the host, and you heard that there would be some interesting figures making an appearance.
C. A Garden Party - It’s so pleasant to escape London in the summer, isn’t it? The heat, the stench… But it’s very lovely here, and the gardens of the estate have been strung with Chinese lanterns. It’s the party of the season, at least in regards to the society of Herefordshire.
D. The Gothic Manor - In classic gothic romance fashion, you’ve been shipped away to the countryside as the ward or fiance of a gloomy gothic mansion. Your host is very attractive, and just your type, but what sort of secrets are they hiding in the attic?
E. New to the Neighbourhood - You’ve just moved into a lovely provincial estate, at least for the summer, and you’ve heard the most interesting things about your neighbours. Time to pay them a social visit! Or perhaps they’ll be visiting you.
F. Zombies - It is a truth universally acknowledged, after all, that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.
G. Choose Your Own Regency Adventure
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