Fanwork: Image and Quill (DSS Secret Sankta 2025)
This is my entry for the Darklina Discord Server's Secret Sankta 2025. It's gifted to @silberias, whose wish list included 'romance' and 'Regency AU'
(Heavily inspired by the Wrexford & Sloane mysteries by Andrea Penrose. Start with Murder in Black Swan Lane.)
The Polite World is utterly fascinated with and wary of Alexander Morosov, Marquess of Kirigan. His fondness for black clothing, his cold personality coupled with savage sarcasm, and his general disdain for Society have led the Ton to nickname him 'the Lord of Darkness'. Alexander, on the other hand, couldn't care less: with the aid of his scientifically minded valet, Ivan, Alexander is using his education in chemistry, his interest in mechanics, and his obsession with shadows and light to create a new form of art. A mechanical device that can capture images of the world and put them permanently onto paper.
Then a public argument with the dissolute Lantsov heir, followed shortly by his murder, lands Alexander in the sights of the infamous A J Quill, whose satirical artwork is influential enough to shape public opinion - or even sway hanging judges. Alexander puts his oldest friend, Society butterfly Fedyor Kaminsky, to work hunting down the artist, and is shocked, and eventually entranced, by what he finds.
Alina Oretsev was raised in and suffocated by a world of wealth and restrictions. Desperate to pursue her passion for art and live on her own terms, she eloped with her childhood friend and escaped to the Continent. After returning to London a widow, Alina now lives on the outskirts of the notorious St Giles district with the three street children she found squatting in her house. Under a male pseudonym, she creates maps for the Army. But her true source of income, and the real use of her talent, is as the satirical artist A J Quill; utilising the information garnered from her military contacts and the street network run by her foster children Kaz, Inej and Jasper, Alina can bring to light not only the scandals of Society's elite, but highlight the issues of the day in order to educate both rich and poor.
When she turns her pen onto the notorious Alexander Morosov, Alina finds her world trembling, as Morosov discovers what no one else has - her identity. Joining forces to clear his name and safeguard her secrets, Alina and Alexander's alliance and eventual romance brings them both joy and danger.
The closer they become, the more impossible their relationship seems to Alexander. But the closer they become, the more vicious Alina's dilemma. For not even her little Crows know Alina's deepest secret - that she was born Alina Keramsov Starkova, grand-daughter of the Duke of Keramzin. If she reclaims her birthright, Alina will be mired in the quagmire of expectations and rules that she sacrificed every privilege to free herself from. But how else can she and Alexander be together?
BTS Notes: The background is a Regency era wallpaper I found a pic of. Alexander's mansion is located on Cumberland Terrace, London; it was designed by James Nash, an architect during the Regency and Georgian Eras, who was patronised by the Prince Regent and eventual King. I don't know whether the artwork is an actual Regency era illustration, or something done later in the style of the day. While researching this, I found that photography in the form that we know it wasn't invented until well into the Victorian era - so if Alexander succeeds, he'll be about 40 years ahead of history. I have faith in him!
I put Kaz, Inej and Jesper in this, because the heroine in Wrexford & Sloane has two adopted sons, Raven and Hawk (she basically walked into the house, found them squatting there, and went 'mine now!'). The Crows range between 9 and 11 in this AU. For lack of child pictures of the actors I went with symbolism instead.
To my deep indignation, neither Ben Barnes or Jessie Mei Li have ever done a Regency era project (why on earth not???) The closest I could get was the Victorian era Dorian Gray, but Ben looks a bit too young and he'd never have chin length hair. Regency society men never wore beards, so the S&B shots were out. The closest I could manage was 'Pickman's model', from Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities.
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