theseasonhq

[theseasonhq]

And with that, after eighteen months, The Season draws to a close.

I don't often come on here as the writer (I'd much rather be your Narrator, your News & Bits Editor, or one of the grand voices of our Ton). Hi. I'm Annie. If you're reading this, you probably know me.

The short version of this message is: thank you. Thank all of you, everyone who applied, who brought in characters, who obsessed over carriage types and the material of stays and just how long could a slow burn last. I started this game on January 1, 2021, still mostly locked down in my home. I was existentially tired, bored of living, secluded, in my house. And you -- all of you -- brought this unbelievably rich world to life with me. I am grateful.

(A special shout-out to my partner-in-crime, right-hand gal, person-who-messages-me-before-my-alarm, Cal. This would not have happened without you, and you know it.)

To go a bit longer, let me start with this: Closing does not mean that the game is dead. We'll continue on! This game will transition out of being actively managed and into something that is player-led, with different players picking up roles, running events, and fostering this lovely world we live in, for as long as our writers have muse for it.

It has been such a privilege to run a game like this, that gets so much traction, that sparks so many ideas. I am stepping down from leading us into a third season because I feel called to do something else. To make something else. To see if we can codify the success of The Season into a repeatable pattern, because the truth is: I'm not a regency-era writer. I didn't even watch the second season of Bridgerton. I make games for writers, and it's time to try something new.

The last fifteen months have not been without lessons. Cal and I have made a point to not discuss the impact of adminning on the main, because it isn't helpful. It doesn't promote a safe space to know that we, at times, did not feel safe. And I can see why, after engaging on this platform, some admins decide that it is not worth it.

But here's the thing: creativity is not a zero-sum game. It is not something that you have, so we don't. It is like fire, or light, or love. Creativity multiplies.

What we did inside The Season felt new, but it was built on years of books and games and writing with people across the world. It was the result of hundreds of hours of creative investment -- by me, and in me, with people that I met on a screen. If we continue to operate inside a community that villianizes people, if we continue to foster a culture of ripping off, of tearing each other down, of monitoring and hate-spamming, there is only one place this writing community ends up.

I'd like to suggest another way.

To that end, I'm leaving the game materials needed to run The Season up on this site. You'll find my favorite skeletons, our best events, and the mechanics needed for running a game like this. Take it. It's a gift. Run the game exactly, or take the pieces that suit you and make something better.

And thank you, again. It has been a wonderful ride. Annie 🌸

#theseason;end

[theseasonhq]

My my! How quickly the season has come and gone. As the inhabitants of the Ton are loaded into their carriages, they find pamphlets shoved through windows, passed on the road, and carried quickly by late-to-leave siblings. You could not leave without a News & Bits, could you?

NEWS & BITS 30 August 1800

Farewell, dear ones! Until we meet again! As you kick dust onto roses and take the long roads north, south, and everywhere else, tuck this into your pocket, your reticule. Know that we are never far.

The Queen’s Luncheon ended as it so often does, with dramatic revelations, cruel misfortune, and an abundance of sherry. Mother and two of the Inspired Sisters have been held by the constable for further questioning, and their cloister has been overrun by investigators, who found -- and I quote -- a “dragons hoard of gems, wines, and lewd drawings”. Whatever will the Church think of next, readers?!

St. George’s claims no affiliation with the Inspired Sisters, and the Vicar nearly had an apoplectic fit at the mere mention. In any case...

While the weather to the north promises to be balmy, those heading on a southern track may encounter storms. Remember, the rain outside London requires more than a parasol. Do mind the mud.

The Queen and her court (including one Miss Thorne, our Diamond!) have departed London already, traveling to Hampton Court for several weeks. With last year’s visit to Prussia merely a glimmer in our eyes, one wonders: where might the Queen go this year? And, perhaps, could it be somewhere warm? We are hopeful, dear ones. The sea-side awaits!

As we foray into our homes, we begin the tradition of the Golden Swan being passed from one estate to the next. It was delivered just this morning to the first electee of the of-season, to hold an event at her home within the confines of autumn. We have it on good authority that the swan statue arrived at the home of Baroness Lydia Gramercy just as she was set to leave town. How fantastic, readers! Onward to Brighton.

Conveniently, Gunter’s is delighted to relocate to Brighton for the next month! Those endeavoring for a bit of seaside cheer, do stop in to see Mr. Gunter.

We would be remiss without a congratulatory note for our newlyweds: the Marquess of Halifax, and his wife, Lady Frances Ackerley, and the Earl of Harcourt, and his wife, Lady Margaret Harcourt. Whatever will the Fitzroy-Mulgrave alliance do without its sharpest icicles? (We are delighted to find out.)

And lastly, we thank you. While the halls of Covent Garden ring empty, not a scant ribbon left at Mrs. Bell’s, the memories of this season will carry on in our hearts, minds, and ringing in our ears for months to come.

Ta! Aloysius Grimsby, Editor, News & Bits: The BEST in London

#theseason;news #and with that... we are off! #season!

[theseasonhq]

IN THE STUNNED SILENCE, A SOFT ROUND OF APPLAUSE BEGINS TO FILL THE GARDEN. It is lead by the Matrons of Almack’s, all in varying states of confusion at the Inspired Sister who has been plunged into the lake. Even the swan (yes, that swan) is too floored to immediately attack.

Slowly, the applause grows, lace-covered hands beginning to join the fray. Tension strings from each group like fine, silver thread, the spotlight flickering between three stages:

First, the lake, and the sister floundering in it. She is shrieking something unintelliglble, pointing with silent rage at Lord Timpton, whose complexion alternates from parchment-pale to rose-red. As she pulls herself out of the lake, she collapses, coughing, upon the shore. Unfortunately, she is the least interesting of the three. 

Second, of course, is the Queen. It is rare to see color upon her cheeks not placed there by a careful brush, but she is full of it then. The blush darkens her skin well-past her eyebrows, and her fingers -- usually calm, still, perhaps quietly tapping, are clenched in rage. It is an affront, an insult. She has had enough of it. The Queen rises, and strides out of the garden in a flutter of pastel pink, blue, and violet. She and her ladies depart.

Third, still in silence is the Mother of the Inspired Sisters. She has somehow swept the eastern table of all of its cutlery and is pocketing it in her habit. The nerve. It is just then that the Lord Marshal arrives, sweeping into the garden with two constables. With some struggle, they arraign the Mother and hold her still, managing to slowly march her out of the garden -- and into a waiting cart.

The other sisters are apprehended (save the first, still coughing and somewhat hidden by a lilac bush). A careful eye may draw back to her as the rest of her order is removed from the garden and placed in the constable’s cart, only to find her absent, only a soggy imprint upon the shore. For now, one of the sisters has escaped.

“My lord,” says a soft voice, breaking through the silence. “Your carriage is ready.”

This concludes the Queen’s Luncheon, and the London Season! Congratulations to all who made it through with us. Do take these memories home with you as you depart London tomorrow. See you in the off-season!

#theseason;luncheon

[theseasonhq]

Our hiatus page has been updated!

#theseason;hiatus

[theseasonhq]

Our hiatus page has been updated!

#theseason;hiatus

[theseasonhq]

Welcome to Meme Friday at The Season! 🧣  Each Friday, we’ll post one or two memes for characters to reblog on their accounts. Reblogging the meme indicates that you are accepting asks from it, and that you’re also sending asks out to others. Feel free to reblog and answer memes until end of day Sunday. After that, save what’s left over in your inbox for the next Meme Friday. Enjoy!

TEXT MEMES! Send a symbol + the prompt for texts from my muse!

send ✆ for a morning text send ♔ for an angry text send  ♠ for a drunk text send ☏ for a vague text send ✉ for a 2am text send ⁇ for a worried text send ❤ for a lusty/loving/affectionate message send ♣ for a text not meant for you send ✺ for a sassy text send √ for a long-winded confession text send ☠ for a misguided advice text send ☢ for a desperate text send ☼ for a congratulatory text send ✘ for a text that should never have been sent

#theseason;meme

[theseasonhq]

Welcome to Meme Friday at The Season! 🧣  Each Friday, we’ll post one or two memes for characters to reblog on their accounts. Reblogging the meme indicates that you are accepting asks from it, and that you’re also sending asks out to others. Feel free to reblog and answer memes until end of day Sunday. After that, save what’s left over in your inbox for the next Meme Friday. Enjoy!

University AU drabble prompts: REDUX! Send a symbol + the prompt for a drabble!

🍺 to buy my muse a drink at the bar 🎤 to sing karaoke together (bonus if you send a song too!) 🕺 to convince my muse to go out dancing (on a school night!) 🥏 to challenge my muse to a game (billiards, frisbee, sender’s choice - please specify!) 🙏 to both reach for the last available copy of a book 😦 for my muse to realize they’re in the wrong class 🤒 to tend to my muse while they’re sick or injured 🎟 to see my muse at a school sporting event 🧪 to be lab partners and you’re the last ones to finish the experiment 😼 to help my muse sneak into a class building at night 💦 to go skinny dipping 🏖 to take a weekend trip to the beach 🙋‍♂️ to join my muse's study group ❄️ to run into my muse leaving campus for winter break

#theseason;meme

[theseasonhq]

WHILE MANY QUEUE TO MEET THE QUEEN, others still depart their tables to delight in the trails and hedgerow of the rose garden. It is picturesque of course, secluded in some alcoves, broad and open to the sun in others. Surely each will find themselves an opportunity to chat.

@ernestpembroke & @lordedmund​ @tonyofledeclune​ & @in-singh​ @sarah-st-john​ & @lcnewolf​

#theseason;luncheon

[theseasonhq]

With the luncheon in full swing, the garden is filled with the sounds of chatter. Lace-gloved hands reach for soft sponge cakes, attendants pour tea and punch in equal measure, and the room is alight with talk and cheer. As the sandwiches are cleared away, music strikes up from the string quartet nestled in the corner, and white-gloved hands appear at the backs of the ladies’ chairs as attendants assist them with rising. The gates to the garden walk swing open, and two options are presented to you: would you go to the garden walk, to mingle with other couples, or would you stay in the rose garden, to be presented to Her Majesty?

—

The choice is yours.  You may do so as a singleton or as a couple, though the latter is vastly preferred by the Inspired Sisters. You are in love, after all. You’ll have until this June 29th to make your choice.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO TO THE GARDEN WALK, reply to the thread in #events with a 1d6 roll to be matched with another suitable couple for a thread – or, if you do not match, what awkward situation might befall you! Oh dear.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO BE PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN, reply to her starter HERE, with your entrance and a 1d20 dice roll, to determine how well you are received.

#theseason;luncheon

[theseasonhq]

Welcome to Meme Friday at The Season! 🧣  Each Friday, we’ll post one or two memes for characters to reblog on their accounts. Reblogging the meme indicates that you are accepting asks from it, and that you’re also sending asks out to others. Feel free to reblog and answer memes until end of day Sunday. After that, save what’s left over in your inbox for the next Meme Friday. Enjoy! 

University AU drabble prompts! Send a symbol + the prompt for a drabble!

🏠 you run into my muse at a house party (optional: one or both are drunk) 👋 your muse catches up with my muse after class to ask for help 👯‍♂️ our muses have a partner project due tomorrow ☕️ for our muses to grab coffee at a cafe together 😳 for our muses to wake up beside each other after a wild party! 💀 for our hungover muses trying to revive themselves on a Sunday morning  🕰 for our muses hanging out after midnight  🚗 for our muses jumping in the same rideshare without realizing it ⚔️ for our muses to be on opposing teams (either sports or academically)

#theseason;meme

[theseasonhq]

Welcome to Meme Friday at The Season! 🧣  Each Friday, we’ll post one or two memes for characters to reblog on their accounts. Reblogging the meme indicates that you are accepting asks from it, and that you’re also sending asks out to others. Feel free to reblog and answer memes until end of day Sunday. After that, save what’s left over in your inbox for the next Meme Friday. Enjoy!

University AU Headcanons! Send a symbol + the prompt for a headcanon!

🧦 for a dorm room headcanon 😴 for a sleep schedule headcanon 🤓 for study habits headcanon 🍣 for a late night food/drink headcanon 🍰 for a social club headcanon ⚽️ for a sports headcanon 🤔 for a why they chose their major headcanon ☎️ for how often they call their parents headcanon 🍠 for a roommate headcanon 🐦 for how our muses met

#theseason;meme

[theseasonhq]

@sebastianofprussia​

#theseason;activity #I'm not posting the rules on this one #you know how this goes

[theseasonhq]

@elxwenthehxpeful​

#theseason;unfollow #the hopeful #:( we'll miss you!

[theseasonhq]

INSIDE THE GARDEN, the air is full of polite chatter and the occasional clink of glassware as the luncheon’s invitees are seated. Each place is set with white latticed porcelain, delicately painted with a pastoral scene in dutch blue. A series of small forks and little knives complement the diningware, teacups and crystal-cut goblets set near the top of the setting, crowned by a place card in Her Majesty’s seal and a veritable effusion of roses in the center of each table.

Accented throughout are trays of watercress finger sandwiches and cuts of smoked fish and meats. White taper candles burn brightly in polished silver, and each table is strewn in rose petals, cut into the shape of a heart. Delightful.

At each seat is a small pillow, delicately embroidered. There is a pocket in the front of it, meant for you to place a donation to the Inspired Sisters. This can be coin, jewelry, or promises of a favor.

The Queen rises to give a welcome, her voice dulcet, like the light through cut amber. She has a way of looking through the crowd, taking each in turn, meeting the eyes of several but never truly seeing them.

“It is my particular pleasure to welcome you to our Rose Luncheon,” she greets, almost kindly. “As the best among us know, true worth can only be found in the service and care of those less fortunate. Today, we welcome the Inspired Sisters--” she nods to a cluster of women, dressed uncharacteristically in dark habits, amongst the pastel of the crowd. “--to not only thank them for their service, but pledge our continued support.”

Here, her kindness breaks, and she gives particular, deadpan looks, to Lord & Lady Ackerley, Lord Mowbray, Miss Thorne, and Sir Fraser in turn.

“For we may only do penance to correct our misgivings.”

As the Queen finishes her speech, Lady Kedley bops up, quick to start a round of applause. But her timing is quite unfortunate, as several things happen at once:

Mr. Wyatt and Lord Pembroke arrive, managing to snag the last of the served champagne in their entrance.

Lord Tewks and Miss Griscomb slip in unnoticed and are quickly ushered to their seats at the Queen’s high table.

Princess Amelia arrives, avoids stepping on the dress of Lady March, and entirely avoids her mother’s notice for, of course --

Lord Ridel strides forth, his bold and broad presence eliciting several gasps of delight from the crowd. Three of the debutantes even blush.

“Sit down, Lady Kedley,” intones Lady Selwyn. She does, but not without a second glance at Lord Ridel.

As the luncheon gets underway, one of the Matrons of Almacks slips beside you and makes an introduction between you and one of your near neighbors. Do mingle, won’t you?

—

Thread pairs for the luncheon are below! Please start a thread with your paired partner. You are not restricted only to this thread, of course!

@lordedmund & @mmthorne @ixnay-on-the-ipshay (preparing a recitation as Lord Tewks) and @ernestpembroke​ (leaning over his chair to speak at another table) @themarquessofislay & @lady-castleton @ladywinsomes & @lcnewolf​ @jeremiahtheyankee & @tonyofledeclune​ & @in-singh @sarah-st-john & @francesackerley @halestcrm & @earlharcourt @margaretmulgrave & @conradmowbray @lucyofedinburgh & @kleineschatz

We’re listing who’s seated at each table (and how close they are to Her Majesty) so you can interact with everyone at your table. And don’t worry – there will be mingling soon, you’ll get a chance to chat with everyone. Stay tuned for the next update on June 26th!

AT THE QUEEN’S TABLE Her Majesty, the Queen of England, and her Ladies Lord Steve Tewksbury & Miss Cecelia Griscomb Lord Edmund Berkeley & his Sister, Miss Phillippa Berkeley Miss Emmeline Thorne & Mr. John Leary

TABLE TWO, ON THE NEAR LEFT Lord Kenneth Ridel & Lady Lydia Gramercy Lord Richards & Lady Louisa Saunderson Lord Ernest Pembroke & Mr. Sidney Wyatt

TABLE THREE, AT THE BACK Miss Elowen & her Cousin, Mr. Phillip Carlton Lord Jeremiah Ackerley & his Wife, Lady Frances Ackerley Mr. Peter Singh & Miss Sarah St. John Sir Anthony Fraser & Miss Janet McLauren

TABLE FOUR, ON THE NEAR RIGHT  HRH Princess Lucy of Prussia & Lady Victoria Howard St. John Lord Richard Harcourt & his Wife, Lady Margaret Harcourt Lord Conrad Mowbray & HRH Princess Amelia of England

#theseason;luncheon

[theseasonhq]

Welcome back to...

@elxwenthehxpeful​ @mmthorne​ @tonyofledeclune​

You’ll have 24 hours to rejoin the dash, if you haven’t already :)

And with that, our hiatus list is cleared!

#theseason;hiatus

[theseasonhq]

@lordedmund​

Activity checks are triggered when we haven’t heard from you in-character in 4 days. You’ll have 24 hours to make an in-character post (or two! or three!) before we unfollow. Please note that memes, tasks, and inspo posts will not count toward activity. If you need a hiatus, please send us an ask.

#theseason;activity

[theseasonhq]

@plainjanetemple​

#theseason;unfollow #:( #come back!