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linnaealyn · 6 months

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Old mod page, abandoned 3/2/24; New mod page @ Godsibb

Finally, after 2 years of work, it is complete. -But still being updated.

There's a Japanese version of the mod now!

今は日本語版のMODがある！

This is a mod for Xenogears using Retroarch's Beetle PSX HW core real-time texture replacement feature. (It requires the Vulkan driver, so make sure your graphics card supports that.) (Duckstation doesn't have a similar option, unfortunately.)

It replaces every single character dialogue portrait, menu portrait, & (almost every) battle portrait (looking at you, Yggdra officer Gear pilots) with high quality, cleaned up artwork, as well as recreated high quality UI while keeping it as close to the original game as possible.

And best thing about it is, if there's anything you don't like about it, like certain aspects of the UI, you can locate and delete that file from the folder. Everything is optional. (if you have any questions as to what's what, drop them into my dms)

Current version: 1.4

現在の日本語版: 1.4

(More screenshots below download info and UI changes.)

Being a real-time texture replacer, it should work with any English version of XG, both base-game and modded/patched. Any fan-translated patch using the US version as a base should display correctly.

There's a separate version for the Japanese version of the game. May need some editing still with other characters' UI ("Ether"/"Spells"/"Arcane"/etc) but for the most part its good to go in terms of battle UI. Let me know if you find any errors.

(I've been using it with the Perfect Works Build mod. Highly recommended!)

(Note!!: If you use PWB mod, don't use its "readjusted portraits" patch when patching your rom, as that patch interferes with this mod's portraits texture replacing.)

(It works on Steam Deck... but don't ask me for details in setting that up in particular, I don't own one 😅)

~~~

Download/ダウンロード

I recommend reading the instructions txt files I included in the DL.

This includes information such as how to set up .cue and .m3u files, swapping discs, renaming the texture folder, Retroarch settings and Beetle PSX HW Core settings to get the mod working, settings suggestions for making a cleaner looking and faster playing XG (YMMV), and settings to fix certain emulation issues Ive come across (freezing on fast-forward, crackling audio during 3D/effects-heavy cutscenes/gameplay, blank screen during Rico flashback, etc).

~~~~~~~~~~

-Changes made to the UI include:

Menu UI:

selection triangle, Walk/Gear icons

menu portraits

▲ ■ ● ✖ button DeathBlow menu icons

ABXY button DeathBlow menu icon- alternate textures

Battle UI and on-foot specific battle UI:

Circular battle palette and tags behind text

Battle palette text, "Combo", "Return", "Enter", "Miss", "EP", & HP/DMG/heal/AP numbers

HP/AP bars

"Time", "fuel", "total damage", AP numbers, "1/2/3 point(s)", "cancel end"

battle portraits

▲ ■ ● ✖ button DeathBlow icons

ABXY button Deathblow icons- alternate textures

Bottom screen mid-DeathBlow ▲ ■ ✖ icons (unfortunately, there's no way to change the other mid-DB quadruple-button icons)

Combo 1-7 and Accept icons

In-Gear specific battle UI:

"fuel" and fuel numbers

"Fuel" (when using boost)

fuel bars (top and left)

All Gear status menus' green text/numbers

Attack level numbers and ∞

Gear menu backgrounds

Gear "power shut down", "camera damaged", "out of fuel", etc, statuses

background UI elements, runes, triple red triangles, Gear lock-on UI (unfortunately, there's no way to change the circular part of this UI)

Misc UI changes:

Red/grey spheres (in the menu and loading screen)

All instances of selection diamonds, both horizontal and vertical

Load/save screen "CARD 1"/"2" text, memory card icon, load/save bar/text

Disc 1 and 2 maps (with alternate color versions; makes the enterable area indicators harder to see though)

NESW compass letters (unfortunately, there's no way to change the circular compass texture)

~~~~~

-Screenshots (before & after and alts):

And Japanese version's (日本語版) UI:

⬇!!Spoilers in images further down!!⬇

I won't be showing all portraits here; only the ones worth mentioning.

Portraits created for the mod that have no artwork equivalent:

Portraits to match their sprites vs official unedited artwork:

(default on left, alt on right)

Roni/Medena/Erich edited sprite equivalent vs their official PW art

Citan edited unsmiling (dialogue-only) sprite equivalent vs official smiling art)

Krelian(s) edited sprite equivalent vs official art

Portrait alts created for fun:

Both sides of scar-eyed Bart

Two-eyed Bart

Kim lab coat with glasses

Fei-colored Id

Fei-colored Id with Id's yellow eyes

Fei-colored young & older Emeralda

(might add to this list later. have any suggestions? fun ideas? lmk. It doesn't have to be canon-compliant.)

Screenshots of alt portraits in-use:

I'll continue to update this and subsequently reblog it as new versions are released.

With any new updates, just DL and replace/overwrite the old folder.

In-progress tumblr post of the past as a bit of a time capsule for myself 😄

#Xenogears #Xenogears modding #Playstation modding #modding #texture pack #Playstation classic #my mods #Xenogears texture pack; PAW #long post #image heavy #Last edited: Feb-19-24

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atravesty · 13 days

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General Message From the Universe

This is a quick one! If you're currently feeling conflicted about a situation, there may be some guidance meant for you below (please heart/share/follow if this resonated with you):

Pick a Rune - 1. Raido or 2. Algiz

Pile 1 - Raido (Travel/Movement), Blank Side

Numbers: 3, 5, 6, 8, 33

Tarot: Ace of Pentacles, Queen of Cups Reversed, 5 of Wands Reversed, Strength

You may be stuck in a conflict with others in which you're waiting for the illusive "right moment" to resolve, which may never come. There may be a codependent dynamic that is causing you to live for other peoples' expectations that conflict with your true desires, out of fear that you don't have what it takes to break free and pursue what you truly want. External influences are contributing to your internal turmoil, and you may be compromising yourself to avoid conflict, but you are being encouraged to leave your comfort zone and address any issues that are preventing you from growing. Take the time to center yourself, meditating or journaling could be beneficial, and assess what changes need to occur in your internal and external world in order to move forward. Listen to your intuition, not the unrealistic expectations of others - what serves others may not serve you. The Universe is supporting you and giving you the green light to pursue this opportunity for a prosperous new beginning. Believe in your inner strength and wisdom to overcome any obstacles/conflicts to manifest your goals; trust that you have the capacity to achieve your true desires. Be calm and tactful, but always assert your boundaries with others that try to steer you into an unwanted direction.

Pile 2 - Algiz (Protection & Defence)

Numbers: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7

Tarot: Ten of Cups, Hanged Man, Hierophant Reversed, 3 of Swords

I feel two different energies for this pile, so please take what resonates with you and leave the rest.

You may be at the crossroads of a long-term relationship, possibly even an engagement or marriage, where you currently have to decide whether you should stay or go. Ongoing external difficulties and/or conflicts with your partner may have given you a new perspective on the dynamic - what was once deeply harmonious and fulfilling for you now feels unbalanced and stagnant. You may have discovered that your partner, or this relationship in general, is no longer aligned with your long-term visions for the future. You are being encouraged to face these difficulties head on and seize this opportunity to take decisive action to clear the way for a better future, despite potentially feeling a lot of grief and heartbreak over having to make this choice. Though it can feel incredibly soul-crushing in the moment, there is a lot of wisdom to learn from your pain, and you are being supported in your journey to reflect and change how you approach future relationships for the better. The Universe has plans for much better things to come into your life after moving on from this period of upheaval and lack.

Alternatively, you may have already left an unfulfilling long-term relationship, after realizing that the dynamic no longer brought you happiness and wouldn't harmoniously align with your visions for the future. You are already in the process of reflection, and you understand the importance of learning from this heartbreak and grief in order to create a more successful future. The Universe is congratulating you for facing these difficulties head-on and is supporting your decision to choose what is best for you. Take this as an affirmation that much better days are ahead after your period of upheaval. You may have left your relationship to pursue a more spiritually aligned path, which may include holistic healing or a different therapeutic art - I feel as though you are becoming, or already are, a master of alchemizing the outcome of negative situations into great wisdom to pass onto the world. You may also be in the process of decluttering your life to have a much more simple, meaningful existence.

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fyonahmacnally · 4 months

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20 Questions More

This is a deeper and more detailed version of the 20 questions for AO3 fanfic writers. Thanks to @casualsavant for the tag. I'm not even sure I did the first 20 Questions round, but rules be damned.

1) How do you keep getting ideas for your ship/fandom?

Well, like anything I write, I get ideas from everything around me - they come to me from dreams, something I see, from random prompts, etc. As most writers know, we are simply the vessel, it's the brain goblins that tell us what to do.

2) Which authors inspire you in your fandom, and why are they so freakishly good?

Geez, we have so many in the Supercorp/Supergirl fandom. I'm not even sure that's a fair question. HA. I will inevitably leave someone out, but here are a few of my favorites @searidings, @jazzfordshire, @chaotic-super, @lovesastateofmind1, @innamorament0, @someoneyouloved93, @lostariels, @luthordamnvers, @thornedrose44, and @fazedlight. I read such a variety of genres, tags, and tropes that I will give almost anything a chance so the authors I read will vary. There's oh so many to choose from in this fandom and the vast talent is beyond imagination!

3) Aside from the characters of your main ship, who are the characters you love to write?

Hmmm, I like writing Sam, Andrea, and Jack. The rest of the main cast is fun too, but those three characters are fun to explore in fics. The shenanigans they get into together makes it easy to play with.

4) Are there pairings or tropes you know for sure you'd never write about? Which ones?

Karamel, Lames, and Kalex. I am pretty open-minded, but those are my hard limit ships. To each their own. It's not my thing at all. I'm pretty open to tropes, too. Haven't had a chance to explore too many yet.

5) What is your writing process and why is it cursed?

I'm not sure how to answer this one, really. It can vary depending on what's going on in my life and how the idea came about.

Generally speaking, I get an idea, outline the basic premise of the story (usually in a word or google doc), do whatever research is needed (longer fics), and just start writing (or staring at the outline and empty doc). That's writing too, ask any writer. LOL

One shots tend to be more like: get idea, sit at desk thinking while blank doc stares back at me tauntingly, look out window, turn back to blank doc, write three sentences, back space all three sentences, look out window again, write three more sentences, repeat previous steps, then the brain goblins take over and suddenly it's 4 hours later, somehow there's several thousand words staring back at me.

6) What is your favorite part of your writing process?

Because I am a huge nerd, the research. I love to research the things I write. Not all of my stories require it, but when they do, I dive right in. Completing the story is a big one too. The anxiety and excitement that comes with yeeting something into the ether is indescribable.

7) What’s the weirdest thing you’ve had to research for a fic?

Weirdest thing...pagan rituals and ancient runes or bondage/fetish clubs in Amsterdam. There is some really interesting things out there. I learned a lot during that time.

8) Is there a particular writing rule you struggle with (grammar, spelling, tense, reality in general)?

I think tense is one that slips on me. I try to catch them all during rereads and edits, but those little bastards are sneaky.

9) What was your hardest scene to write so far and why?

The panic attacks and abuse scenes relating to Lena in Carterhaugh-Wood Academy (CWA). Lena is my absolute favorite character and writing anything that causes her harm hurts my soul.

10) Have your characters ever done something you didn’t expect, changing your plot completely?

Is water wet? My characters always do what the brain goblins want despite my initial protest. I am just here to convey the message, after all.

11) If you could converse with any of the characters, who would it be and why?

Oh, hands down, Lena. I wouldn't pass up a chance to speak with any of them, let's be real, but Lena would be #1.

12) What are some of the tropes or themes that you find yourself returning to in your writing?

I am by nature a fluff and happy-ending writer. However, I am working on an angst with a happy ending fic at the moment. The tropes I have written so far have been limited to friends to lovers and a little light angst with happy ending. I'm still exploring other things. Hopefully 2024 will be the year I can flex my writing muscles and expand into new territory.

13) What's your most important resource as a writer?

Friends and other writers. Nothing beats a good brainstorming session with writer pals. I also like to do improv writing to boost creativity. You never know where a story will go when that happens.

14) Can you share some of your strategies for editing and revising your work?

The strategy depends on the story. For longer fics, I have a few writer friends that help with reading over it and helping with typos, grammar errors, and helping fluff up the places that need it. For one shots or shorter fics, I will let it sit for a bit, go back and read it again to do the editing and rewrite the places that my brain doesn't like.

15) Which is worse: making the summary, picking the tags, or the anxiety when you post your fic?

Oooof, definitely the posting anxiety. I usually immediately find something else to do so I don't obsess over it.

16) How do you define success for your fanfic - hits? Kudos? Comments? Bookmarks? Or just if you like it?

Hits, kudos, and comments are always fun and rewarding, but I write for my own enjoyment and sanity. I have plenty of fics that barely get any love, but I enjoy writing them. It's therapeutic for me. The rest is just noise. Also, like any writer, I love to hear from readers and try to respond to all my comments because they mean a lot to me.

17) Do you have a playlist for your favorite character/ship?

Sometimes, yes. It depends on what I am writing and how I am feeling. Most of the time it is instrumental piano and/or cello music because I will start accidentally typing the lyrics of a regular playlist. If I am going for a specific vibe or writing because of a specific song, I will have the song on repeat or at least an album by the artist.

18) If fan art was going to be made from your work, which fic would you pick and which fan artist would you like to create it?

SCBB delivered that on a platter for me. CWA got art from the multi-talented @bigmammallama5. If you haven't seen it, you can check it out here.

19) How many WIPs do you currently have?

13 total with another one that is in the planning stages.

20) What's your advice to new fanfic writers?

Write for yourself. If you love it, it brings you enjoyment, and adds to your life, continue doing it. You're not going to please everyone and there will be people who are less than kind about something you publish. Those voices don't matter. There is someone out there that has read or will read your work and it will stick with them for the rest of their lives. Always do it for you.

Tagging but no pressure: @lovesastateofmind1 @casualkoalatea @fabulousglitch and @sssammich

#20 questions more #ao3 writer #ask me stuff #writer #writing #fic writing #fyonahmacnally #Mac things

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illarian-rambling · 5 days

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Thanks for the tag @kaylinalexanderbooks!

OC Interview

I'll answer for Avymere, since I don't think I've really introduced them properly

1. Are you named after anyone?

"I'm the fifth Avymere of the Spearsong family. The first Avymere actually ruled Skysheer as regent briefly and was given the city of Salis as a reward when the Silverwind monarch they ruled for grew up. It's a name with much history attached."

2. When was the last time you cried?

"A few months ago, I was sparring with some of my guards and got kicked in a rather... sensitive area. I held it together until they left, but once I was alone, by the gods, I was on the floor."

3. Do you have kids?

"No, but I suppose I will someday. My father will rule for at least another hundred years, so I have until then to find a partner and produce an heir. By that time, I'll hopefully be a little more eager."

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

"I can't help it in front of the court sometimes, but I think it comes off as too subtle and they usually just assume I'm actually dumb. That's beneficial though, as it helps my disguise. My father always laughs, at least."

5. What's the first thing you notice about people?

"I notice how they're dangerous. A few tell-tale burns let me know that someone is a rune smith. A certain twitch of the hands reads as sorcerer. Fighters are easy - they always stand a certain way when pressed. Even socially dangerous people have their tells."

6. What's your eye colour?

"A pale gray. I wear glasses as well - everyone in my family is terribly nearsighted."

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

"In front of the court, I'd certainly say happy endings, but I don't know, I sort of enjoy the catharsis of fictional terror."

8. Any special talents?

"Other than my fighting skills? I play the piano very well, though I'm a little out of practice. I had more time to play when I was younger."

9. Where were you born?

"In my family's palace, one hundred and thirty three years ago."

10. Do you have any pets?

"My father keeps falcons and sometimes I'll pick one to train, but it's hard to get attached when they die so quickly. I've heard parrots live almost as long as humans, however, it would be cruel to keep a tropical bird so far north. I don't have time for a pet anyhow."

11. What sort of sports do you play?

"I'm an adherent of Talmel Valkys. It's one of the oldest forms of elven martial arts, having been invented back before Nabafyr and Skysheer were even proper nations. While Nabafyr developed many styles of open hand fighting later on, my people frown on physical violence, so Talmel Valkys is one of the only styles to have survived to the modern day here. I've always wanted to travel to Nabafyr and learn some of their styles, through I doubt they'd want a Skysheerian poking around their martial arts, especially when the most renowned styles are passed down family lines exclusively. Oh my, I've been talking for a while, haven't I? My apologies."

12. How tall are you?

"5'8". That's tall for an elf, though I'm only of a middling height when surrounded by humans."

13. What was your favorite subject in school?

"History, of course. It's the story of our world, more incredible and convoluted than any fiction. Every lord must study the victories and mistakes of those who came before them if they want to rule well."

14. What is your dream job?

"Ruling Salis after my father steps down is my sworn duty. It's my purpose as a child of the Spearsong line. ...If I'm being honest though, I've always envied the people who are free to travel. Maybe, in another life, I would've been happy to see the world as a caravan guard. However, this is not another life, so I will wear the mantle I was born to and rule Salis with all the fairness and grace I can manage."

I'll tag @rkmoon @amandacanwrite @apolline-lucy @televisionjester and anyone else who wants in :)

Blanks under the cut

1. Are you named after anyone?

2. When was the last time you cried?

3. Do you have kids?

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

5. What's the first thing you notice about people?

6. What's your eye colour?

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

8. Any special talents?

9. Where were you born?

10. Do you have any pets?

11. What sort of sports do you play?

12. How tall are you?

13. What was your favorite subject in school?

14. What is your dream job?

#writing #writerscommunity #writblr #my ocs #oc interview

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elithemiar-blog · 1 year

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Had a wierd dream:

Young Danny Fenton (7/8?) can see spirits and the image of Phantom (16) guides him into a forest.

This forest is a wrong, like cursed or something, where there's a legend that if you enter the forest at night the spirits will take your soul.

So, young Danny with Cujo (Rottweiler puppy [very much alive]) follows Phantom into the forest and with every step Danny and Cujo grows weaker. Cujo gets so weak that Danny carries him the rest of the way.

For some reason, Danny is known to the spirits to play with them, so getting contacted by them is normal. Currently, Danny sees no problem following the older spirit due to child curiosity.

Phantom gets them to an area that glows green, on the ground is a set of 3 circles inside one another. Between the outer and 2nd circle is a set of runes/symbols, between the 2nd and center circle is blank, but inside the center circle holds crossing lines, unsure if they cross each other at the center or not.

Young Danny sees Phantom motioning towards the set of circles, and the moment he glimpses it he's nocked out.

Cujo, whose also knocked out, slips away from his living form into his ghost one towards Phantom.

Phantom eats? breaths in? young Danny's essence? soul? and leaves the area with Cujo in his arms.

------

I think I should stay off tumblr and Ao3 for a while...considering this had been in comic form and not seamless.

#normal #danny phantom #danny fenton #danny phantom cujo #it was a dream #in comic form #ya know i get child spirit dreams once in a while #which is wierd in itself cause i barely tolerate children #but at least this one i can write off as

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pastsaoi · 1 year

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NXX Boys and Their Nintendo Ds Games

i recently started playing on my 2ds again and i was like. huh what games would these idiots play bc they never leave my head.

this is the stupidest idea ever but i had to do it it would not leave me alone all day

these are all games that ive played before and i think they'd enjoy But pls pls if u have other ideas Tell Me this is horribly niche but whatever

Marius

style savvy. i cannot say much more than this he would have Loved That Shit

Any Pokemon game. look me in the eye and tell me that marius von hagen does not have every single pokemon memorised

Mario Kart 7. i feel like he once spent 8 hours straight just playing mario kart

nintendogs. he would look after those dogs like his life depended on it they had The Best life ever and he would be so good at the tournaments

Luke

Ace Attorney. Detective shit yk!! its fun and stressful he'd like that

professor layton too. puzzles n stuff yk

Animal crossing bc him and rosa would play it together All the time their new leaf town was beautiful

Doctor Kawashima's Brain Training. do i need to explain

luke is the yo-kai watch kid to marius the pokemon kid. Arguments over which is better for sure

FIRE EMBLEM AWAKENING. just bc its one of my fav games and i feel like luke would also really like it

Vyn

i was at first. tempted to leave this blank bc this guy would Not have had a ds However

any kind of picross game. a personal fav of mine and ik vyn would spend ages on these stupid puzzles. He'd be damn good as well, finish them in 20 seconds flat. sanrio picross is his fav

legend of zelda. idk why. i think he'd like the story and link. he has played them all

harvest moon. fun, relatively easy and not very stressful. chill down time game

Hatsune Miku Project Diva. here me out everyone needs at least one stressful game amongst the calm ones and this is his. he gets Intense

Artem

Tomodatchi Life. he would love those miis like his own family would try his hardest to make it a nice place for the miis to live. got stressed the first time some miis had kids

rune factory 4. great game. artem loves his farm. he loves all the characters and very much likes the story and vibe

magician's quest. MY FAV GAME. its like animal crossing but it at wizard school and its great artem has spent too long making his dorm look good. love all the characters. thinks its very silly and fun

Order Up. the necessary stress game but he loves it. restaurant and speed cooking.

#tears of themis #artem wing #marius von hagen #vyn richter #luke pearce #this is ridiculous im sorry #ngl the nds is a really good handheld device i love mine lmao #if u have a ds.... go play all of these they r So Good #was thinking about this while i was at work it was Bad

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phoenixiancrystallist · 10 months

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Month 7, day 6

Hoo boy, have I got a doozy for y'all tonight! I'm working on teaching myself Athian, and yes that qualifies as art for two reasons: 1) translation is an art, dammit, and 2) I'm planning to make two sets of custom fonts! One set is the Athian script in my handwriting (left), and the other is recreating the actual runes that the game uses (right). Which might actually wind up being two fonts in and of itself; the font on the monuments is different from the one on the altars in the labyrinths.

My Rosetta Stone, as it were, is the sign out in Praenost that @cruelfeline translated ages ago. Yes, I know they've already done their own translations, but I wanted to do it with my own and I just needed a jumping off point.

Using what I knew from this sign, I copied down the individual letters into a notepad, and then I pulled up the inscription on the altar at the end of the labyrinths, copied out what I knew, and filled in the blanks from there. It's amazing how much you can extrapolate with just nine letters figured out :D So, I'm actually going to give you homework! If you so desire. It's entirely up to you. Using just the text from that sign, see if you can translate these two images:

I've already done both, and I'm entirely confident that they're correct. My translations are under the cut if you want to check your work :) The right hand image is the one that I'm using to recreate the proper script/runes, and you'll notice that some of those runes are damaged or illegible. That's added a little bit of an extra challenge, but all that challenge means is I skip that rune and move on to the next one.

And just for fun, here's how I'm marking off my progress on the recreated runes. You might notice something else interesting, if you haven't noticed it already.

#the great artscapade of 2023 #art #my art #forspoken #athia #athian #athian script #athian alphabet #sorry if I got your pronouns wrong CF!#that something else interesting in the last image there? look at the two letter i's in the top row :)#there's also two H's :)#some runes have differences in capitalization; others are just bigger XD

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riderunlove · 2 years

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2, 7, 8, 15, please and thank you, ma'am!!!

I'm still angry that you made me do this. Should have made you pick passages honestly.

(2) Is there a trope you’ve yet to try your hand at, but really want to?

I've been tempted to do a time loop fic or fake relationship/marriage of convenience.

(7) Share a snippet from one of your favorite pieces of prose you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

I am really pleased with this section from HHH when Julie arrives at the workshop. It feels very magical to me while also reflecting how overwhelming and impossible that would feel.

Just as she started fully shivering they reached a set of huge, exquisitely detailed wooden doors. Runes stretched across the top in a language Julie didn’t recognize. Her desire to be warm briefly battled with her fear of whatever lay on the other side. Escaping the cold won, and she sighed in relief as they crossed into the warm foyer. The expansive space was toasty, and a hysterical giggle escaped as she considered what it must cost to heat it. The stained glass design on the ceiling, depicting what appeared to be the origin of Santa, stunned her into silence again, and her veins crawled with the tingling ice of adrenaline.

“Don’t dawdle, girl. Some of us have work to do,” her guide grumbled irritably.

Chastised and unwilling to be left behind, she nodded and picked up her pace. The further they walked the more unbelievable it seemed. A childlike voice whispered in her mind that it was real. All of it. There were huge rooms full of workers making every toy imaginable, overflowing piles of wrapping paper and bows, computer station with screens that flickered in too many languages to name, and messy stacks of letters precariously perched on every available surface. Elves moved through the hallway and rooms in a complicated dance, all so intently focused that no one so much as glanced her way.

(8) Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

This one, from Ghosts and Guns. Julie’s anger balanced with how truly evil Caleb is in that ‘verse. He is so enjoying gloating about what he’s done and twisting the knife.

“What did you do to him?” She snarled.

“I made some improvements. He was already a good agent, but now. Unmatched.” Caleb put a possessive hand on Luke’s shoulder making her skin crawl.

She ignored him, “Luke, please, it’s me” she whispered, but he didn’t react. His face stayed a blank mask, his eyes empty.

“He can’t hear you, Luke is gone. Locked so far inside himself that no one can hear him screaming anymore. All that’s left is the Ghost. He held out longer than I thought. For you, I assume.”

(15)If you could choose one of your fics to be filmed, which would you choose?

Mmmmm... Is it cheating if I choose something that isn't done? Ho Ho Ho and Other Mysteries. Adorable Christmas hijinks for the win. Close second is Ghosts and Guns because so sad and so pretty.

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bytheangell · 2 years

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Worth the Risk

(Read on AO3) @shadowhunterbingo Square: Rune Ceremony Pairing: Jimon Warnings: Canonical Death (George Lovelace)

Simon can’t believe that he’s actually here. The series of events that lead him to this particular moment is probably the least likely timeline of all his timelines in any universe - the leap from being friends with Clary leading him to learn about, forget about, and then re-learn about the Shadow World.

With a million impossible-to-replicate decisions bringing him from human to Vampire to human again, Simon takes a deep breath and mentally prepares himself for what he just spent the past few months physically preparing himself for - the transition to Shadowhunter.

Everyone in line with Simon made it through the Academy successfully. Many of them are shining examples of everything Shadowhunters are meant to be, like his friend George Lovelace who stands in front of him in line. Others, like Simon himself, barely managed to scrape through after giving it everything they had. But they’re all here now, all waiting for their turn to be equals as fully ascended Shadowhunters.

It isn’t the fighting and battle fame that Simon wants, though - it’s his memories back that he lost when he became mundane again. It’s his memories, very specifically, of Jace. Simon wants to remember the man he supposedly fell in love with against all the odds, and he wants to see if the two of them have a chance of rekindling whatever they had before… or maybe just starting something new. Either way, Simon put a hard pause on their relationship while he was at the Academy. It was too weird to try and date someone who had memories of you that you don’t have of them, and even more than becoming a Shadowhunter, Simon is ready to become fully himself again, with all the blanks finally filled back in.

Jace is waiting among the family and friends allowed in to watch, and Simon feels the flush on his face at the look of pride sent his way. Simon doesn’t know why Jace waited for him… hell, he doesn’t understand why someone like Jace likes him in the first place, no matter what he did or didn’t do in his previous life. The fact remains that Jace does like Simon - loves him, in fact.

Simon doesn’t fully understand why, but he feels that same love deep inside of himself for Jace, too. Once he does fully understand it, he can’t wait to finally say it to him out loud. For now, he smiles back and gives Jace an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

A thumbs-up.

Why is he like this?

George gives Simon a nervous smile when it’s time for him to go up. Simon gives a nervous smile in return because George is in line just ahead of Simon, which means it’s nearly time for Simon to go up. It isn’t as if he simply fails out of the Academy if this doesn’t work - they’re all fully aware of the risk of death that comes with the Ascension ceremony. It’s easy to forget with every successful student before him, but the chance is there with every mundane who drinks from the Cup. In their graduating group, only 7 of the 10 of them showed up for the actual ceremony, and Simon doesn’t blame the 3 who decided not to risk their lives in the end. If it wasn’t for Jace waiting for him on the other side of all this, he isn’t sure he would’ve, either.

Simon watches as George steps into the double circles surrounded by runes on the dais, he watches George kneel and drink from the Mortal Cup after a cheer of “Sláinte!” that leaves the room laughing, the way only George could manage even in situations as life-changingly serious as this one.

Instead of the blue flames that rose up around everyone before George, blinding darkness surrounds him at the same time as George’s scream pierces through the air, cutting the ripples of laughter off abruptly.

The thing that’s left when the darkness leaves isn’t human, but it certainly isn’t a Shadowhunter, either. Students are being escorted from the hall, but Simon’s moving toward George, not away. Or at least, he’s trying to. There are black veins growing across the discolored skin of what was once George Lovelace, and Simon wants to help. There has to be something he can do, something someone can do---

“Simon! Simon, you can’t-” the voice belongs to Jace, and it breaks through the haze in Simon’s head as Jace’s strong hands pull him away from where the Silent Brothers surround George now. “It’s too late.”

“He can’t… It's George. He’s the best of us, he’s… he’s…” Dead. George is dead.

“I’m so sorry, Simon,” Jace says, pulling Simon into a hug that doubles as an effort to pull Simon out of the room with everyone else.

A silence falls between them now, the unspoken question hanging in the air between them: what if that happens to Simon next?

“I don’t care if you’re a Shadowhunter, Si,” Jace says suddenly, holding Simon just far enough away to look into his eyes. “We’ll figure out how to start again without your memories. Just… I can’t watch that happen to you, Simon. You can’t die.”

“I won’t,” Simon says with a lot more confidence than he feels. “Okay, I know I can’t promise that, but… I came this far, Jace. And I need my memories back. I need to be me again. The me you all think is a hero. The me you fell in love with.”

“Simon-”

“I know I don’t have to do this for you, or Clary, or any of the others. But I have to do it for me. You get that, right? After everything I know now, everything I’ve learned, I can’t just go back to being just another mundane,” Simon sighs. “I gave up everything for this - I can’t bail now.”

Jace looks like he wants to argue, but he falls silent instead. Then, finally, says, “Okay.”

They begin to call everyone back into the hall to finish out the ceremony.

“Okay?” Simon echoes.

“Yeah. It’s your decision, Simon. I’m here to support you, no matter what. If that means staying, then it means staying. And I’ll be right here waiting, whatever happens,” Jace promises. “So let’s get you back in there to finish what you started.”

“If I don’t make it, I need you to know-”

“No,” Jace cuts Simon off. “No goodbyes. You’re going to be fine. Whatever you want to say you can say it after the ceremony.”

Simon frowns, but nods. “Right. Talk to you soon, then.”

“Soon,” Jace promises.

Simon barely remembers walking up to the dais, which shows no signs of the death that just occurred there. He feels the tension sitting thick in the room, the air around him feeling much more stifling than it had before.

“This is for you, George,” Simon mutters under his breath as he swears his oath and raises the Mortal Cup to his lips, turning his head ever-so-slightly to look at Jace one last time, just in case.

Simon drinks.

It comes back to Simon in flashes, like the images of a flipbook or a stop-motion picture. It feels like days, like weeks, like years… it feels like the blink of an eye, and then it’s over.

He’s alive, and he remembers everything.

The relief that floods the room is palpable, but none more intense than the look shared between Simon Lewis and Jace Herondale.

The moment he’s able to, Simon makes his way to Jace and throws his arms around him.

“I love you, Jace.”

Jace beams. Simon knows he’s been waiting to hear this ever since the day Simon came back to the Shadow World to train to be a Shadowhunter - ever since Jace first reminded Simon about their past.

“You remembered,” Jace says, smiling.

“Yeah, but I loved you before I remembered. I know I put us on pause, but I still loved you. Deep down, somewhere, I still felt it. I still knew, even if I didn’t remember why. It’s what I was going to say before we went back in. I love you, Jace Herondale. I always have.”

“With any luck, you always will,” Jace tacked on before leaning in to kiss Simon for the first time in far, far too long.

Somehow, Simon thinks, this kiss feels like a much more meaningful culmination of everything he’s been through than his actual Ascension, and he hopes Jace can tell that with how fiercely Simon kisses him back.

#simon lewis #jace herondale #jimon #george lovelace #tsc #elle writes a few deadbeat lines #long post #hmdiscord #sh bingo

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green-and-grey-kenaz · 2 years

Text

I Sleep with the Dirt by Fire Glow

Language: English

Chapter: 7: I'll burn your ship alive I'm coming home

Characters in chapter: Regulus Black, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin

Chapter Summary: Sirius and Regulus attempt to destroy Slytherin’s locket and reflect on their family’s past. Later, Regulus and Remus get to have a conversation over dark magic, especially in those who do not (or feel that they don’t) have a choice.

Word Count: c. 4 500

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34049455/chapters/102405879

The locket glowered up at him. They had taken it into the overgrown garden of Grimmauld Place and down into the underground shelter where glowing toadstools decorated the blank, hastily carved walls. Their father had said that during the Muggle bombings they had grown so afraid that their spells would not save the house that they had had dug deep into the earth to create this cavern, then strengthened it with spells and trusted to the cold earth to protect them. Regulus attributed this part of his childhood to their father’s paranoia and need for every protection spell under the sun to be cast on their home.

“I always hated this place.” Sirius said, trailing his hand across the cold stone of the wall, tracing some carved lines. Regulus came closer and looked at what his brother’s fingers followed.

“Orion Phineas Black.” Regulus read out. Alongside it were carvings of protection runes. “He would have been eleven, I think?”

“Yeah. I think I remember father telling me that although most people stayed at Hogwarts over Christmas, grandma and grandfather never felt safe not having him home. Didn’t want to miss having their last Christmas together, should the protection fail. I think mother and our uncles were fostered out to the Rosiers in the summer.” Sirius said softly.

“Makes you wonder… they couldn’t have seen the best side of muggles. I think mother said the mudbloods at Hogwarts hated her because of her German heritage.” Their maternal grandmother was German-born. The Crabbe family had managed to establish a German branch which strengthened their ties with mainland Europe and made access to Durmstrang easier. There had been hopes for the Black family to do likewise. Especially as their numbers were declining and impolite circles muttered about their limited pool of relatives (they might go the way of the Gaunts). Europe would have offered fresh blood but war had ended that.

Now there was just him and Sirius left to carry on the line.

It was a duty that Regulus did not care to think about. He wondered if dying had made him impotent – an ideal way to escape his burden. He glanced at Sirius and feared that he would rather let the house die with him.

“Muggleborns.” Sirius corrected, startling Regulus from his thoughts.

“Pardon?”

“Muggleborns, not mudbloods. If that old portrait of Phineas can get it right, I don’t see why the rest of our family can’t.” Sirius said, finally pulling his gaze away from the carved name. Regulus stared at Sirius, who gave a shudder. “With any luck, what we’ll do today should hopefully seal off this unhappy place.”

“Let’s hope that it isn’t going to be so… destructive. It is just a fang, after all.” He pointed out, pulling the carefully wrapped tooth out of his bag and placing it on the floor. It sat next to the locket, which continued its hostile glowering, as if it could sense their intent.

Sirius watched.

“So that tooth has to go through the metal?” He asked.

“I guess so.” Regulus frowned, unwrapping the tooth to stare at it. It looked kind of fragile in comparison to the hard metal. “I haven’t been able to open the locket, but I assume the Dark Lord’s soul… Riddle’s Horcrux is still locked away inside.” He tapped the locket with his wand, muttering spells he had tried many times over in his attempts to open it. Nothing happened.

“May I?” Sirius asked, holding out a hand.

Regulus paused in his casting, taking a small breath as he stared at the locket and its familiar snake pattern. The strange possessive urge to guard and protect briefly flickered through but he forced himself to offer it. Sirius lightly took the locket and started casting his own spells.

“I suppose at least we’ve got fiendfyre should this fail,” Regulus muttered, eyes fixed on the locket. Just in case.

“I still don’t like that option.” Sirius’ brow furrowed. Regulus gave a small shrug.

“You said we can lose this place, might as well set it up that we can seal it off. It’d be work but I think we could cast enough charms on here to contain the fire, should I lose control.” Regulus said, flicking his wand and trailing a light blaze of fire through the air. Sirius’ eyes narrowed.

“I think we’d do better to find a way to open this and get another basilisk tooth, if it comes to it.” He returned the locket to Regulus.

It almost felt like it had a heartbeat.

Regulus took a slow breath. The Horcrux wanted to live. It would fight against them. It pulled at the dark enchantments that had been placed over his body, ordering him to protect. Tried to renew bonds that Regulus had long hoped broken. He focused on the fact that he had died so this might be destroyed. He could and he would succeed.

“Reg?” Sirius asked softly.

“Yeah, I’m ready. Just… this is something I hadn’t thought I’d live to see.” His eyes were on the locket and the snake embedded into the metal surface. His fingers followed its scaled body. Such fine craftsmanship….

“But you made it.”

Sirius placed the tooth in his hand and wrapped his fingers around it. The basilisk tooth felt cold to the touch, nearly as cold as the metal.

“It was an accident,” Regulus murmured. “I should have died.”

Had he earned the right to do this? The doubt niggled in his mind, a dreadful uncertainty. What was he but one kid who thought he knew better than everyone around him? A kid who had gotten himself killed because he was too stubborn to live… to make a plan. He hadn’t meant to see this through.

“But you’re here now.” Sirius’ hand was over his, a thumb lightly brushing over his hand.

Regulus wasn’t certain Sirius realised how big this moment was. That it was something that had driven him so thoroughly. True, he had learnt that there were other horcruxes out there, but they weren’t this one. Would he still have a purpose?

He closed his eyes. There was his family. Sirius, Narcissa, even Draco who was yet to warm to him. There was Barty, out there, trying to live the life that Regulus had groomed him into – a boy he now needed to save from himself. He had his own council that he was trying to found, which may yet prove to be a future for their kind. Regardless of whether or not the other horcruxes were his to destroy, he still wanted the bring about the end of the Dark Lord.

Regulus plunged the tooth forwards.

Sirius swore as the tooth shattered, only just waving his wand in time to freeze the flying splinters.

“Merlin!” He exclaimed, rushing over and grabbing Regulus’ arms. “Are you OK? Did any get you?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Regulus muttered, glancing over his arms. “You?”

Sirius held his arms up to demonstrate that he had escaped the radius, then flicked his wand and the shards of tooth flung back together in a pile.

“Well, the basilisk tooth didn’t work.” Regulus commented, picking up the locket and examining it from different angles. It was not damaged in the least.

“No kidding.” Sirius said, glowering at the shards of tooth. “I think I might be able to use this though. It’s the venom that’s what destroys beyond repair. Maybe I can harness it, concentrate it into an acid, or infuse it into something that might make a dent in metal.”

“You?” Regulus asked, a small smile forming on his lips.

“I’ll have you know I’m one smart sorcerer.” Sirius said, giving him a nudge.

“Don’t you think distilling basilisk venom is more of a potioneer thing.”

“I’m good at a range of magic!” Sirius protested. “I got mostly Os on my Newts, a few Es.”

Regulus hmphed. It had never seemed fair to him that Sirius, with his ‘defy the family attitude’ should do well in his education. His own grades only exceeded Sirius’ when one compared their fifth years, the year Sirius had left. Perhaps when he finally returned to school he could beat Sirius’ Newt scores and make his family proud.

“Hey, you’re smart too.” Sirius said, putting an arm around him and pulling him into a hug. Regulus rested his head on Sirius’ shoulder. “You figured out about the horcrux after all, not even Dumbledore can lay claim to that.”

“He didn’t have my insight. I wouldn’t have known if it hadn’t been for him requesting Kreacher’s aid.” Regulus said softly, pulling out of the hug.

“Regardless, Reg, you’re smart. We’ll think of a non-Dark Magic way out of this. Together.”

“I just want it to finally be over so I can live my own life. First it was trying to be the perfect son, then the perfect Death Eater and now it’s to finish this.” He poked at the locket. “I know it’s not going to be over when this is gone, I still have to destroy the Dark… Riddle and then I don’t know, probably still trying to be what our parents wanted but at least that’ll be something I chose for myself.”

Sirius was silent, brow furrowed as he stared at him. Regulus lifted the locket and pocketed it deep in his robes. He could feel the malice locked up in the artefact pressing against him.

“You don’t have to be what our parents wanted for us.” Sirius said softly. “You can do whatever you want.”

“What if I want to carry on their legacy, Sirius?”

“Why would you?”

“Because I’m proud of who I am, of my ancestors. Why shouldn’t I be allowed that?”

“Because they’re blood purists, Reg! Because they would have advocated for things such as muggle hunting. That’s hardly right.”

Regulus shook his head.

“They helped to found our world, our laws, our society. I owe it to our heritage to build upon that, to keep us relevant and important in the world.”

“There’s two of us, Reg and I don’t know if things will change but I don’t think either of us are particularly interested in having children. Merlin, of our generation the only ones who tolerated producing offspring only managed one each. Don’t you think that’s a sign that we’re meant to end?”

“I don’t want to talk about this.”

Sirius drew in a breath but did not press the issue.

“Okay,” He said at last. “Let’s go back inside. We can think of something.”

Regulus closed his eyes and traced the locket in his pocket before nodding.

“I’ll ask Kreacher for some hot chocolate.”

It was an attempt at returning Sirius’ love. It was poor and Regulus knew it, but even such little kindness caused his brother’s lips to twitch in a genuine smile. Kreacher’s hot chocolate was legendary and he only made it upon the request of one person.

“I’d like that.”

_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_

Regulus shivered, casting a quick charm to dry himself and bring some heat into his body. There was not much comfort to it.

He felt sick.

His stomach churned as he ran his hand along the cold stone, fingers searching out for that familiar thrum of magic.

There.

A murmured spell and a cut opened up on the back of his arm, spilling bright red blood. Regulus ran his fingers through it and smeared the blood on the wall. It opened up to him, welcoming him home as he stepped into its dark embrace.

The nausea increased.

“This isn’t home, this isn’t home.” Regulus whispered to himself, his voice echoing in the dimness. Then, with a breath to steady himself, he took a step inside and smelt the familiar damp of the lake, saw that familiar green glow across the lake.

How long had this lake been his resting place?

Sixteen years.

He had died just shy of eighteen.

Come back.

He stared at the dark waters, the other inferii, waiting for their Dark Lord’s commands.

He wondered what their names were. He wondered if any of them, like him, had a chance to return to life. His spirit, his soul, had been so ready for death he had passed before his body did and somehow ended up hidden inside Sirius, who, unknowingly, had held him safe. He couldn’t be the only one.

Or perhaps his ill health had been worse than he thought…

Certainly many who made their final resting place here had had no time to realise what was coming and so thoroughly reject life…

Come back to us.

He shouldn’t have come alone. He should have asked someone but there was no one he trusted to not try stop him.

A dark thought crossed his mind. Perhaps the Potter boy. He would not know enough to stop Regulus from doing this and if he messed up, Regulus would get a satisfaction from it. Watching Potter be dragged under, the final end to that family’s blight on his own life... It was almost enough to make him turn about and wait for that opportunity. He squashed that desire.

Regulus pulled out the locket and placed it down on a rock, looking around at the cavern.

Fiendfyre would grow and grow but this cave had been designed to hide magic. It may be enough to contain it.

What did it matter if not? What would it matter if no one could stop the fire destroying the world? A voice asked.

Sirius. Kreacher. Barty. Severus.

Regulus took a breath. He had to keep this under control for them. His anchors.

Come back.

Come back to us.

Join us in our endless slumber.

The voices in his head began to clamour, just as the undead had once swarmed towards him as he desperately tried to quench his thirst. Drowning, terrified, cold, alone, dark.

“I’m going to bring you peace!” Regulus shouted out across the voices and into the empty, echoing cavern. “I’m going to bring you peace. Please! Let me put you to rest.”

Blessed silence.

Staring at the rock, the locket glinting maliciously on it, Regulus started the spell, muttering deep and dark incantations as the dark magic that had grown inside him since his death sang a glorious hymn. He could feel it in his veins, his heart, his very being and flame erupted.

Regulus could sense heat around him, embracing him as a friend.

He watched through its burning as the locket started to melt, started to scream. He thought he might have laughed as the fire consumed the Dark Lord’s soul.

With a breath he let the fire fill the cavern, hissing water and steam causing his skin to prick.

Regulus stepped back, out of the cave and into the cold sea air. He watched the fire consuming until there was nothing but white.

Ending the spell was easy.

Or easier than he had thought. The flames did not want to cease but he forced them to heed his call. They guttered and died down, the entrance sealing as Regulus slid back into the sea and made for the point at which he could apparate.

The saltwater bit at his blistered skin and his vision remained strangely white but the locket was gone and his heart felt a little lighter.

Finally, he pulled himself out of the water and returned to Grimmauld Place, dripping. Sirius was out at whatever spot of sport they were putting Potter through (perhaps he still might die today...). At least the house would be quiet and free of questions.

With a wave of his wand, he was dry and Regulus made his way downstairs to try and find whatever potions might help to soothe his blistered skin. He trusted more to memory than sight, for everything remained strangely white, as if he had burnt out his vision.

“Regulus?”

He blinked, trying to figure out who the shape was. It existed as a shadowed sliver, perhaps as dark as a bright moon hidden in this strange white blindness.

The man swore.

“What happened?”

“Lupin?” Regulus asked, frowning. “My brother sent you.” The realisation hit him like being struck. Sirius did not trust him to be left alone.

“Yes, he thought it was best you weren’t left alone but I couldn’t get here before he left to watch the Triwizard tournament. What happened? Is the house…” Regulus had the vague sense that Lupin was coming closer, wand drawn. He blinked, trying to get his eyesight back to normal. He could feel the heat coming off of Lupin’s skin as he moved by.

“No. I went out. And I do not need to be babysat.” He said, moving to walk past Lupin who grabbed his shoulder.

Pain.

He must have let out a cry for Mother’s portrait started to shout and dutifully he made his way over to her, ignoring Lupin.

“Mother,” He greeted cautiously, staring up at where he knew her face was. “I’m sorry that we disturbed you.”

“Why would you make such a racket?” She spat.

It hurt Regulus to speak to her portrait. He knew his death must have caused her to deteriorate and become the woman who had made this spiteful thing. She hadn’t been like this in his youth. He refused to think that this was a side of her that had always been present.

“An accident. I caused myself some minor injuries, nothing to worry about. I’m sorry mother.” He answered, head bowed.

“You look a mess.” She commented, sniffing haughtily.

“I know. I’m going to sought it out mother.” He looked up at her, eyes starting to begin to focus. “I need the kitchen to brew a potion.” He added, gesturing to the burns.

She relented and he was permitted to close the curtain.

Lupin followed him into the kitchen.

“I’m brewing the potion.” Lupin said firmly. Something hit the table. Regulus’ eyes made out a shape and he reached for it, fingers following the shape.

“A chocolate frog?” He asked, a smirk on his lips. “Am I not a bit too old for them?”

“Tell that to Sirius. He still eats them. It’s chocolate, it’ll do you good,” Lupin said, turning to look through the cupboards. “Where do you keep your potion ingredients?”

Regulus gestured with a hand, opening up the box and grabbing the frog before it could leap. He felt it squirming in his hand and felt a moment of revulsion at the echo of the urge to hunt and tear flesh. That was all it was. An echo. He wasn’t one of them anymore.

With a breath he crushed the frog and started to pick at the bits of chocolate.

He heard a cupboard door close and smelt the beginning of a potion. Lupin had found the correct cupboard.

“So, are you going to tell me what happened?” Lupin asked.

“Don’t have to.” Regulus pointed out. “I’m legally an adult.”

“You are a dependent,” Remus pointed out. “And I’m Sirius’ friend. He’s going to find out one way or another so it might be better if he gets the truth rather than what I might be able to piece together.”

“And what might that be?”

“That you are playing with dangerous magic.”

Regulus gave a laugh.

“Dangerous magic is part of who I am, Lupin.” He commented.

“Do you know what your eyes look like?”

Regulus blinked.

“Have they changed?”

“They’re silver.”

“That’s their normal colour.” He tutted.

“Let me clarify then, both your iris and pupils are molten silver, Regulus.”

“Ah, that explains things.”

According to the stories, the Dark Lord’s eyes had become red while before him, Grindlewald’s eyes had become day and night. Dark magic liked to leave its mark on those who played with it. Regulus honestly did not expect one casting of fiendfyre to be enough to leave a physical change, but then again he had been building himself up to it through the casting of progressively darker spells (whenever Sirius was out and thus unable to stop him) and he could not recall a time where he had not practiced at least some level of darkness. It was in his blood, after all. Perhaps he had reached some level of saturation…

A pang hit his chest.

He had hoped to return to Quidditch for his final year at Hogwarts, defeat Potter who he had been told was a seeker.

“Yes, I imagine so. From what I’ve read, they should return to normal after a few hours. But the more you play with dark magic, the more likely that it’ll become permanent.”

Regulus wrinkled his nose, relieved at the reassurance he would still get to play Quidditch but not at the possibility that he might continue to risk his sight.

“I think that that is unlikely. This was one experiment.”

“What was it?”

“Fiendfyre, if you must know,” Sirius would figure it out once Lupin mentioned the situation. There was no point hiding it. But he could deflect. “Tell me, Lupin, did you find any differences after you were bitten?”

It was something that they had not discussed but during his time of being… between the living and the dead, there had a certain amount of conversation happening over him. Part of that had been Sirius and Lupin being fairly open about Lupins affliction. It was rather apt that someone with his name be bitten, although he did not think it would bring comfort to Lupin.

“You know about that, huh?” Lupin asked.

“Didn’t try to hard that to keep is secret,” Regulus pointed out, leaning back in the chair.

“Just approaching you with the salve,” Lupin warned. Regulus heard something being placed down. “Left arm.”

Something soft and calming went onto his skin. The strange heat calmed.

“I can do this,” Regulus said, reaching for the pot. It was fresh from the stove, still hot but the magic cooled the burning skin.

“Very well,” Lupin said, settling into the chair. “You want to know about my life as a werewolf?”

“Not particularly,” Regulus muttered, smoothing the potion over his blistered skin. “Did you find any differences? When you were bitten?”

“Not that I can remember. But it isn’t exactly the same, becoming a werewolf and choosing to use dark magic.”

“It was just a spot of fiendfyre and it’s not like I’ve done much else. Nothing that I can’t get away with when Sirius is living in the same house. These silver eyes, it’s probably just because I was an inferius so long. The residual dark magic from that alongside the fiendfyre.”

He heard Lupin sigh and a chair scrape as if someone was leaning back and glanced at the vague shape that must be Lupin.

“Yeah, it does change you. I like to joke that my preference for red meats on the rarer side is because of my condition but there’s more to it. I’ve always had a natural predilection for the dark arts, not that I’ve done much in the way of experiments, but, well, you know jinxes and other combative spells fall within the purview of the Dark Arts and they have always come more naturally to me than I would like.”

“I get that,” Regulus said softly, moving on to his face, rubbing the salve in. The damage was from the steam and not the fire. He should heal fine. “Dark magic was always something I was skilled in but after coming back… it’s too easy.”

He could sense Lupin thinking as he continued to rub the potion over anywhere his skin had been scalded.

“Have you spoken to anyone else about this?”

“Sirius.”

Another pause and Regulus began to apply a second layer. The first had already melted into his skin but he could still feel the burn. He wondered how bad the damage was.

“It may be worth getting a more thorough check up from St Mungo’s. It’s been months, nearly a year now since you’ve come back.”

“I think the fiendfyre I cast should have ended the dark magic that was placed over me.”

It was a sort of truth. He’d felt the subtle pressure of the Dark Lord’s magic subside. The enchantments that were ready to take any who died in that lake were thoroughly ended. Perhaps it was just his time as an inferius, or the amount of practice that had gone into this casting, but he could feel the dark magic still pulsing within his veins. It was nothing to be afraid of.

“It still might be worth it. I know your family did not share this view, but dark magic is not healthy. I know if I could get rid of my condition…”

Regulus frowned, pausing as he lathered himself in the salve.

“Your affiliation with the dark arts is rather… less desirable. Mine is as near a choice as I can make it. I am fortunate that I can and have recovered from my mindless state. You must bare it out once a month. For all my love of the dark arts, I would not choose your curse. Lupin, I am aware of the dangers. My mother schooled me in them when I was a child on her knee. Sirius, if he had bothered to listen, would have learnt to see them. I am no mad man and I will not destroy myself in living as who I am. But to be myself, I must have some connection to this side of me. As you must find a balance in yourself, so must I.”

“I’d rather say my balance is trying to contain this unwanted darkness,” Lupin said softly.

“Containment is not healthy. If I may be permitted to be blunt, it greys you. Use the darkness constructively and you will see yourself in better health. You need not fear the consequence of too much darkness for you would have to stray far from your path. As for me, my path winds and for now, it snakes towards the darkness. Perhaps one day, it’ll lead me away, back to what society deems acceptable. We shall see.”

“Dark magic can have an addiction. It’s like gambling. There’s always that question of whether next time will be a better hit… easier to control, more powerful.”

“Spoken as a true dabbler.”

Regulus heard Lupin shift, perhaps uncomfortable with that truth.

“Severus was not the only spy. I served as a spy for Dumbledore for much longer, hiding out with the werewolves. Dark magic was to be expected,” He finally offered.

“Huh,” Regulus said. His burns hurt less now.

“And I was Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, if only for a year. I fancy I might know something of the subject.” There was a smirk in his tone there. It sounded more like the schoolboy and not the adult who had lived through war.

Remus sighed.

“Why did you cast fiendfyre, Regulus?”

“To put the past to rest”

#Regulus Black #Sirius Black #Remus Lupin #my fics #I Sleep with the Dirt by Fire Glow

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p0plotte · 9 months

Text

Wanderer of The Stars

My Time - Bo En

Minori’s supposed to be the protag but i pnly introduced her here?!/!/ 😭😭..

—•—

Stood atop the school roof top was a girl in grade 7, brown strands of hair falling over her eyes. Her hands behind her back, fingers fiddling with the carefully crafted lovey-dovey envelope she had prepared just for this moment. It was different from the one she prepared the day before, which she had implanted in his locker. It was much more special.

Because if he actually showed up.. it meant he was worth the extra details.

She stared up to the heavens, the fluffy white clouds complimenting the sky which was painted in orange, pink and yellow hues.

Though, the sound of slow footsteps broke her from her trance. Like an eager child she was quick to turn.. and there he was.

She took a nervous step forward, looking the raventte up and down. He was perfect.. stunning, even.

Mysterious, yet beautiful. And as the sun began to set, he became her new light!..

Black. Pitch black darkness.

That is the color in which the world is coated in. Everything is patterned with black and white lines, greys filling in the blank spaces. Only a day ago the boy known as Asmodeus Rune, the misfit of the school, recieved a note.

One which left a red line through his vision ever since. One which showed him his destiny. His fate. And now, it guided him here. To the meeting point which the letter entailed.

Without a word, yet filled with hesitation, he reached a hand out to hers. Red, red is a girl.

Soon, his black lines overlapped with hers of red, and when together they would create a gradient. Something he’d never seen before.

When red and black meet, they form anew.

“You’re Meguri, aren’t you?”

“Mm! Meguri Haida, I’m in your science class.. I sit behind you.”

Caught off gaurd by the sudden touch her cheeks flared red. The brown haired girl turned her head to the side, gaze hitting the ground.

This far already with little to no words. Had he been paying as much attention to her as she had been to him? She could stare off into space at him for the entire period sometimes, watching as the boy fidgeted with his erasers or pins- drew random scribbles, bounced his knee rhythmically to whatever he had playing on his headphones.

Had he noticed those small things about her as well? Is that why he was able to hold her hands with no strings attached? No .. fear?

“You.. read my note, right?”

“Mm.”

Living his life in the dark, he had never seen this light before. Everyone around him prior to this was covered in the same sickening air, black scribbles feigned their identities from his view. No matter where he turned, he couldnt rely on a single person. Nobody was ever truly there.

Just.. scribbles.

Nothingness wrapped in a pretty bow called society.

“Meguri, will you follow my string of destiny with me?”

His gaze wandered to behind red. The string continued further on from her. Still hand in hand with red, he moved forward till his left hand rested on the railing to the edge of the rooftop.

And that’s where the string ended. Below, red scribbles covered the ground. That was his ending destination.

“You believe we’re soulmates, correct?”

“O-Of course! I wouldn’t have said so if I didnt..”

She gave the other a glance of confusion, grip on his hand tight. She was trusting him with her everything right now.

“Then we share the same fate.” The ravenette turned before holding his arms out like a bird, “Will you commit a double suicide with me, Meguri?”

“H..Huh?..”

She froze and watched as he moved behind her, body once again feeling warmth as he embraced her in a tight hug.

She was silent as he undid the buttons to her cartigan, gaze falling with the ribbon of her uniform.

“You showed me the way.. and it all ends here. We end here.. I dont know why.” He paused, “But I have to go through with it.. I need to know what comes afterwards, or if this is the end.”

His hands wandered from her chest to her hair, slowly he ran his fingers through it and undid the small pigtails which had been so carefully put up with heart pins beforehand.

He removed his shoes, hands now by his side.

“So what do you say, Meguri Haida?”

Saying nothing still, she slowly removed her shoes. Her breath had hitched in her throat. Everything was .. moving in slow motion. This.. couldnt be happening, yet it was. It was all too.. surreal..

But for some reason her body moved without thinking, and as he took her hands in his she simply accepted her fate.

“Goodnight.”

His body went limp, yet as their lines had once overlapped, they soon spread apart once more. He watched as the two grew further and further apart.

Even though she hadn’t gone through with it.. he.. wasn’t upset. More so curious. Was it not both of their fates to die there?

Was her red- somehow different?

Well, either way, in his final moments he savored it. Yes. Red is a girl, the sweet girl who sat behind him in a class of delinquents and cruelties.

The sweet girl who had changed her fate, or so that’s how he chose to see it.

His red.

——-•——-

The splatter and cracking noises which followed the tragedy still lingered in her mind. They were just.. kids!.. Junior High kids with crushes. Why would he do that?

Maybe she was in over her head asking him out when they’d barely talked, but to end his life right there and call it fate?

Was that.. truly what he wanted?

Was it her fault he ended his rope there?

“Idiot..!”

As she stared down from the very same rooftop during the hopeful twighlight, she clutched her side bag.

Now that she could finally face herself here without the feeling of needing to escape.. now she could finally move on. Find a future where he could be proud. Where everyone could be proud.

A future where she would save everyone.

—•—

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