#I love her because she’s kind of horrible

[v1x3n]

REUNITE! ── ripped apart.

♯ PAIRINGS - john price x falsely accused reader x 141

♯ SYNOPSIS - tortured for information by your family and the person you loved, john price. you were harmed for something you hadn't even done, you were framed as the traitor and soon they would find out.

♯ TAGS - angst - mentions of torture, panic attacks and breakdowns.

─ previous chapter // masterlist // next chapter ─

Days go by, long fucking days where you're practically stuck in this bed. You could get up and walk around but you didn't want to. You stared at the ceiling, kind of hoping it would fall down on you but it never came. Your face stuck in the same position for hours as you melted into the bare sheets of the hospital bed. A singular tear pricks down your cheek while you look towards the dying flowers that sit on your bedside table.

"Hi honey!" Your nurse walks into your room with some food clumped on the plate. You glance up at her with weak eyes. She places the food on your bedside table. Glancing at the withered flowers, she sighs. "They been in here recently?" Jane asks with a hint of disappointment. Your head shakes, not really wanting to even think about or even talk about them, let alone speak to them. "Listen, I know what they did to you was terrible and you probably never want to open that wound but-"

When you scoff and look away after the 'but', she continues talking. "...You should talk to someone about it. I'm not asking you to talk to them. Because god knows I wouldn't even look at them, but you should see a therapist. You do need one and you can't keep pushing away everyone who wants you to get better." Jane's sweet smile makes you acknowledge that there are nice people in this world.

"I-I uhm- I was forced to go to a session like within the first week of being here but they just..." you trail off, looking towards the flowers that had lost nearly all their life. Huh, you never thought you could relate to flowers.

"I understand, I do." She gently puts her hands on your knee. This time you don't flinch though. This time, memories didn't flash through your eyes - forcing you to relive the horrible things those fucking four put you through. This time, it was peaceful, it was comforting. "You should still give it another go, after what you went through - you need someone safe." Your nurse's thumb rubs against your knee as she speaks.

You take in her words, the lingering feeling of wanting to get better - to heal - stabs at your heart but you also wanted to show those fucking horrible four that this is what they fucking did to you. Not wanting to waste time getting better, if you even could, you knew deep down you'd always hurt. You wouldn't be able to trust anyone again - especially a man. What they did to you tore you apart.

So, you shrugged off your nurse's words before she let you be, to eat your hospital food. The slop slumped onto the plate looked so disgusting. The sandwich that you could tell would stick to the roof of your mouth was unappetizing. Honestly the food there made you less hungry. After sighing and shoving the meal to the bedside table, pushing the dead flowers off the wood so they splattered all over the floor. The hard floor was littered with wilted petals and the dark, pale green stems.

So here you are. Sat in another white fucking room, except there wasn't a lonely bed or flowers scattered across the floor. There were two cream couches and a massive window. And a woman wearing a tight pair of trousers, a white blouse with a blazer swept over the couch she was sitting on top of. The girl was holding a clipboard with text filling the papers. Her hair was straight and was neatly brushed - the total opposite of you. “Ah, y/n? Right? You can call me Jones." she smiled as you came into her viewline. You nod nervously as you swipe down on your little gown the hospital gave you. 

Multiple panic attacks. Your body was in pain. The wounds that litter your body - not to be healed ever again. Your 8 fingers that trailed over the stitched up cut across your cheek. The breakdown you had just a week ago. How you flinch when anyone (but Jane) gets close.

All of that flashes through your head while you sit opposite the women. "You're quite famous, you know?” the woman states. You tilt your head towards the left. 

“Oh?” you hum, looking around the room, clearly avoiding eye contact. She scribbles something quick onto a clean bit of paper, the one with text flopped over the top of the clipboard. “Heard about your ‘story’ a lot, from a lot of different people.” You slump against the sofa. Feeling the soft fabric beneath your fingertips. “Oh.” mumbling when your eyes finally meet hers for the first time. Her blue eyes connect with yours. A deep passion for helping was buried in her eyes. You could tell. 

“I haven't heard the story from the person who went through it all though.” Jones looks down at her clipboard, “why don't you tell me about it? How are you feeling?”

“What's there to tell?" you scoff. Sweat starts pouring from your forehead so you pull an arm that was littered with healing bruises up across it. Your question was not much of a question, more of a statement. What was there to tell? She knew the story, everyone fucking did. “Let's start with how's your day?” Jones smiled with a hint of amusement when your scoff reached her ears. “Fine.” She raised an eyebrow skeptically at your answer but didn't comment on anything. She leaned forward. Placing her clipboard on the seat beside her. 

Your figit uncomfortably, "that's.. all? Fine?” Jones questions, her voice hinting at suspicion. “Yep.” 

“You know if you aren't honest, I can't help you." 

After burying your head into your hands, you drag your cheek down with your palm as you let out a long sigh, "I'm doing better.” 

“Well that is good to hear,” she coos, reaching for her clipboard and writing down a few words in the margin. “Has anyone visited you lately?” Her question makes you hesitate for a moment. “Like family and friends?” Jones nods whilst leaning back.

Looking around the office you notice the way the woman in front of you tilts her head in the slightest when you shake your head. Her ramblings go on and on but you end up blurring them out. High squeaking forms in your ears, blinding out your therapist talking. 

That's when a loud bang sounds from the door that you entered through. It brings you back to life. You flinch back as the door opens. “Hey Jones, sorry 'm late just got outa trainin’” the blurred man walks through the door, holding tight onto a notebook. His scruffy appearance so familiar.

You wish you didn't have to face him yet.

“Your session is on a Thursday from now on, I told you-” she gets cut off when Johnny drops the book in his hands as he stares at you with wide eyes, his mouth opening slightly as fear shoots through your stomach and heart. The man before you mumbles one quiet word.

 “...Bonnie.”

[kquil]

DIVORCING ORION BLACK | CHAPTER EIGHT

08 : PASTRIES

CHPT. SUM. : Alpahard comes for a visit and you help the Belbys run their shop while Damocles focuses on the wolfsbane potion. Everything appears to be going as planned.

LENGTH : 9.7k

TAGS : OG Walburga is a scheming bitch ; Orion is an absent and neglectful father ; Alphard is a good uncle who loves his nephews ; Reader just girl bossing it ; Ruth and Damocles are couple goals ; Reggie finally being happy and very baby

CONTENT WARNING : talks of divorce

A/N : I'm posting this now to give it a week before I post the 9th chapter on February 1st -- you'll have to excuse me if I'm a little late on that update though because I'm currently out of commission from the most horrible cold/flu I've ever had (╥﹏╥) -- please send your thoughts and prayers because I haven't had a peaceful night's sleep the last two days and I swear this impromptu post is also a part of the delirium I'm experiencing

← PREV. 07 : INVESTIGATIONS | SERIES M.LIST

14th September 1971 | 12 Grimmauld Place

Walburga throws a fit, trapped in the abyss of your mind. She’s furious, seething from your menacing intrusions upon her life and secrets. It was frustrating and annoying beyond belief! The intricate web she had just begun to create was unravelling before her very eyes, and she could do nothing but watch! She had meant to secure a different future with her forming web; impervious to the imminent cycle of life she had witnessed that fateful day months ago. She had made one fatal mistake in all of her meticulous planning and preparation, labouring over an ancient ritual that would guarantee full obedience from her two boys. And, rather than force her mind and ideals over the thoughts and actions of her two sons before their fates began to set permanently, she was being made to fall under the thoughts and actions of another individual, you.

Being forced to watch you take over her shoes has been Walburga’s own personal hell. It’s far more painful knowing that she has no say over what you do. She’s limited to only watching, watching and agonising over her perfect plans being torn to shreds. The love and kindness you were showing her sons was unbecoming, going completely against her values on the way a mother should parent. It’s clear that you know nothing about how to raise two young boys born into the most ancient and noble house.

Walburga’s resentment grows and grows by the day. As a prisoner forced to share her identity and existence with someone who goes against her beliefs, it is unbelievably torturous. She screams ‘NO!’ and ‘STOP!’ at every offending action you take, all of which seem to be the exact opposite of her true self. Openly showing affection? Her sons will only grow clingy and burdensome. Being open to conversations? Growing boys should only speak when spoken to and not dare question the things being told to them for their own good. Cooking without magic? (Cooking at all!) There’s a house elf to fulfil that role. Thinking about your foreign behaviour has anger quickly bubbling up from her stomach. You’re so foolish!

But there was hope…

After every major fainting spell Walburga has induced, your unconscious body has left your thoughts and mind completely silent and open to her reclaim. Dwelling in the dark depths when all is silent, Walburga can feel a ticklish sensation from afar. And it only grows ever palpable after every major blackout. A wicked smirk touches her lips as she reaches forward and feels the wisps of connection between the floating space she was suspended in and the tangibility of the physical world.

One powerful, familiar thought moves her fingers a centimetre. It was small but a big step forward. The solid material she registers at the edges of her nerves -–the feeling of bedsheets atop a solid mattress— was alien in its distance and bizarre for its unfamiliar yet known sensation. It was like returning to something and your brain had yet to recognise the perception as one that was formally commonplace.

However, just as Walburga was wrapping her mind around that singular, grounding feeling, it was suddenly ripped away. Once again, she was surrounded by an empty coldness, suspended in an unfeeling space. Despite the frustration that quickly mounted inside her, it was accompanied by a resolve that plastered itself solidly in her chest, a determination to bide her time and remain patient. She will wreck terror and havoc when times are right and after she’s deteriorated your hold, she’ll regain full control once more.

It will only be a matter of time…

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

You wake up to a familiar scene and sigh sadly. The ringing in your head is a powerful one, an annoyance that makes the sun rays falling through the gaps of the curtains feel like a knife to your eyes. Reaching for your wand, a silent swish fills the gaps, shutting away the sun and reducing the sting in your eyes to something you can easily blink away. The curtains act like a filter for the light outside, partially bringing a soft, green radiance into the room.

At the sight of your youngest curled up against you once again, you lean down and affectionately kiss his crown, “I’m sorry, little love,” although you kept your voice to a quiet whisper, it’s enough to raise Regulus from the warm abyss of slumber. Your little prince sits up and rubs his eyes as you admire his adorable image.

“Good morning, my darling,” you comb his hair back from his tired eyes and lean close with a lowered, soft voice; an intimate moment between mother and son, “did I worry you again?” Regulus nods silently and launches himself into your arms as you apologise over and over.

The night before, Kreacher had been open about another blackout you’d experienced. And, although Regulus was grateful, he was anxious all night long. It never fails to make his heart jump to his throat. He remembers your still—far too still—body laying in bed, in a room entirely separate from his father’s. You look at peace but it wasn’t a comfort; you didn’t appear to simply be asleep, rather, you looked more deathly… he dreads to even think back on such thoughts. He’s only comforted by the sound of your steady heartbeat and soft breaths so he wastes no time in reaching for his blanket and sleeping beside you, close enough to hear the rhythm of your heart and the melody of your breathing.

“A-are you feeling sick?” that wasn’t the real question he wanted to ask, you can see the truth in his pleading, sweet eyes. Are you afflicted by some sort of incurable disease that cannot be stopped?

Regulus closes his eyes to savour the kiss you press into his forehead, “I’m perfectly healthy, my little love. Please don’t worry too much,” you pull away to cup his face tenderly in your hands and thumb over the softness of his cheeks.

“You promise?”

“I promise,” you nuzzle his nose with your own and the tense, fretful atmosphere is washed away by your shared giggles.

Kreacher soon appears with a tray of breakfast and another phial of magenta liquid. You eye the offending potion for a hard second but before you can groan, Kreacher is already lecturing you.

“Mistress must drink! Must must must!” he insists with beseeching eyes, urging the phial into your hands.

“Let me, at least, have some breakfast first, Kreacher,” you try to set aside the phial and reach for the breakfast tray instead while Regulus suppresses a laugh at the scene. He couldn’t believe his mother felt the same way about healing potions as wizarding children and newly appointed witches and wizards did. It was amusing to see a reflection of childishness in his mother, who had always been so cold and unfeeling.

“No!” Kreacher pulls the breakfast tray away from you, insistent on having you drink the potion before any food, “Potion first, Mistress!”

“FILTHY ELF! DISOBEYING COMMANDS! I TAUGHT HIM BETTER THAN THIS– LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO MY SERVANT!” Walburga’s shriek makes you wince, and Kreacher takes it as the sign to draw back and apologise for his loudness while Regulus balances comforting you and the spiralling house elf.

“Kreacher is deeply sorry, Mistress…” Kreacher suppresses his guilty thoughts in favour of his mistress’ well-being. Going into another one of his many anxious episodes won’t be helpful to you. “Please drink,” he cups his hands around your own to fold over the phial once more. His large, watery eyes, silently plead for you and lift in relief when you finally agree and down its disgusting contents.

“Thank you, Kreacher,” you smile at the elf who finally sets the breakfast tray on your lap above the covers.

“Mistress is w-w-welcome…” he stretches out the syllables of the unfamiliar word, appearing unsure over its usage but his tense shoulders immediately sag in relief as soon as he sees yours and Regulus’ kind smiles. You had been urging him to use the word for quite some time and are happy to see that he was finally confident enough to begin trying it. Hopefully, after this first try, he’ll be more confident in using it in the future. Sending you a thankful smile, Kreacher handles the empty phial and disappears after wishing you and his young master Regulus a good morning.

“Kreacher looks happy,” Regulus comments absentmindedly before taking a bite of toast. Once again, the two of you are sharing breakfast in bed and you lovingly wipe away stray crumbs from the corners of his smiling lips, “I like him even more when he’s like this!”

Melting from his sweet words and the brightness in his eyes, you nod in agreement, “Me too,”

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

Finally out of bed and roaming the house, you notice Orion’s missing jacket from the hallway coat rack and call for Kreacher.

“Master Orion asked for his healing potion, Mistress,” Kreacher shuffles his feet and wrings the hem of his shabby clothing between his hands. It appears that he too is uncomfortable with Orion’s reappearance, although, you suppose your husband had suffered long enough. Calculating the time in your head, you resist the urge to sigh sadly. Three days. The poor fool. You hoped he would have lasted longer than that but you suppose it was fun to see him suffer while it lasted. It was karma working its best under the hand of a spiteful wife.

“I see…” you patiently search for the house elf’s eyes before asking the important question, ”Did he say ‘please’?”

After a pause, Kreacher finally nods, “Eventually, yes, Mistress,” Kreacher looks unsure, probably remembering the tense exchange he had with the patriarch, however, it’s soon swept away by your smile and gentle pat against his bald and wrinkled head.

“Well done, Kreacher,” the house elf’s ears wiggle in glee and you see a shy smile creeping up from under his long nose.

18th September 1971 | Muggle London

“You’re excited,” you giggle at the sight of your youngest practically skipping along beside you.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Uncle Alphard. Sirius and I always love it when he comes over,” you smile at his response, happy to know that there was an adult figure he and Sirius felt safe around; Walburga and Orion were definitely not a safe place for themdespite being their parents. “I’m happy you two aren’t fighting anymore,” although Regulus beams up at you, you couldn’t muster an equally bright smile in return. What did that mean? You were positive that Alphard only got into a serious fight with Walburga when he supported Sirius running away at 16. Perhaps this was a lead-up to that?

“Me too, dear…” For the moment, you keep your questions to yourself. The books and movies kept the relationship between the Black family rather vague so you’ll pick up the clues along the way. For now, it’s better to focus on your darling son and the precious memories you’ll make despite the modest outing to the French bakery. “What do you think we should have for afternoon tea with your uncle? Hm? I’m thinking of English breakfast,”

“That sounds great, mother!”

“And for snacks? What would you like to have on the menu?”

“Butter scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam,”

“Of course, a classic. Anything else?”

“Chouquettes, Macarons, Eclairs, Madeleines, Mille Feuille, Profiteroles!” all French baked goods.

“Goodness,” you exaggerate your reaction and smile at the light giggles it draws from Regulus, “All of our teeth will be falling out by the end. How about we include some finger sandwiches too? We can buy fresh bread and assemble them at home,”

“No crusts?” Regulus asks without hesitation and your heart warms; you love knowing he feels safe and secure enough with you to speak freely.

“It’s the only time crusts are not allowed,” you wink and silently awe at how his beaming smile seems to get even wider. Many depictions of Regulus made him a stoic and cold character but seeing his bright disposition and childish mannerisms was a delight. You prefer him like this. And you want to keep him this way forever, such a motherly sentiment. All you have to do is make sure he doesn't feel forced to abide by the toxic pureblood family rules and beliefs. Instead, you will gently nurture his interests, gently guide him whenever he feels lost and make sure he always feels supported. And you will do the same for Sirius.

Happy and content, the two of you walk into a lovely French bakery with high spirits. The warm atmosphere and welcoming fragrance of freshly baked goods leave you both enraptured and salivating at the mouth – it was hard to resist not getting a bit of everything. Together, you pick out the best-looking pastries to box up before selecting a loaf to be pre-cut and packaged for your convenience. The bakery staff were very helpful and were more than happy to oblige with every request. They also lovingly cooed over Regulus, who partially hid behind your long skirt, though this only seemed to make them all the more awed by him. His softly spoken gratitude was what had pushed them over the edge, and you could only laugh as they offered an extra macaron for him. Regulus was a very sweet boy and looked very much like a prince, so you didn’t blame them for their swooning.

“They liked me, Mother,” Regulus shyly addresses as you make your way home. He holds the wrapped-up, pre-cut loaf under one arm as his other holds onto your spare. As a gentleman, he insisted on carrying both the boxed pastries and loaf but you argued against it, insisting on wanting to hold his hand; the equally shared burden was your compromise. You think it was the best option, really — the best of both worlds.

“As they should, my baby has all the irresistible charms,” your open praise makes him shy into the folds of your skirt once more and you suppress an adoring coo.

“You really think so, Mother?”

“I know so, little love. I’m confident in this for your brother too,” you fake an exasperated sigh, “I’m going to have my hands full in the future. You two are going to be such heartbreakers, I’ll have girls constantly knocking on my door with tears in their eyes,”

Regulus giggles as he looks up from your waist, eyes sparkling from your playful antics, “I won’t do that to you Mother, I promise,”

“But it’s not about intention, you see,” you eye him with a kind smile, “when someone falls in love, they fall in love, there’s no saying ‘no’ to it. And with two very handsome, exceptional sons, well…” you let his thoughts silently complete the rest of your sentence and resist reacting to the adorable pout that forms on his lips.

“I’m very sorry, in advance, Mother,” his sincerity draws out a laugh but you’re filled with pride, regardless. Honesty is a great trait to have.

“That’s very sweet of you, thank you, darling,”

In anticipation of Alphard’s arrival, you and Regulus help Kreacher make finger sandwiches and brew the tea. The closer the time ticks to two in the afternoon, you ask Regulus to help you prep the tiered dish rack while Kreacher dresses the teapot with a tea cosy. By the time Alphard arrives via floo network, the reception room is already well prepared, clean and proudly displaying a delicious tea spread.

“Uncle Alphard!” Regulus cheers and launches himself at the square-jawed man who steps out of the green blaze, exiting your fireplace. He is smartly dressed in a black three-piece suit and polished oxford shoes. His hair is gelled back in a flattering style of frame for his handsome face — straight nose, shapely lips, piercing eyes and level brows. It makes you wonder if he was dressed in his work attire or not. Tea should be a comfortable occasion, especially when hosted by family, for family. What did he even work as?... You hardly know anything about the man, so you have to keep yourself alert to any potential hiccups you may accidentally let slip. You’re supposed to be his elder sister, after all, you should know more about him than his name.

“Good afternoon, Regulus,” Alphard grins at his nephew after visibly shaking off his shock. Never before had he seen his youngest nephew so high-spirited. Their greetings were also usually much more formal than this, distant and dispassionate. This type of behaviour was strongly discouraged by his sister, so the sudden change was rather suspicious. Alphard, however, wanted to believe in Regulus’ sincerity for the sake of such a sweet boy. He instinctively looks around for Sirius but remembers all too quickly that the eleven-year-old was in Hogwarts for his first year, hence the primary topic of his arrival.

“Welcome, younger brother,” you smile warmly at him, ignoring the look of surprise that he doesn’t attempt to cover up. At least he manages to dip his head in a hesitant nod of acknowledgement, “Let's head to the reception then shall we? Orion won’t be joining us, I’m afraid,” you don’t see it but Alphard releases a muted sigh of relief, easily veiling his real emotions by smiling warmly at Regulus, who walks close beside him.

All furniture that occupies the reception room stylistically matches one another. They’re all made of dark walnut wood, embellished with elegant silver accents and dark green leather. The central table has a dark leather sofa on one side and two grandfather chairs with swirling arms on the other. There’s a decorative fireplace on one side of the room with a drab oil painting hanging above the mantle and the only light source is from the open window, occupying the far right wall upon entering.

“Can I sit next to Uncle, Mother?” Regulus politely asks, not wanting to separate from his uncle but also not wanting to make you feel excluded.

“You can sit wherever you wish, little love,” you smile softly, sitting in an armchair and watching as Regulus eagerly pulls Alphard to sit on the sofa with him. Your youngest is already chatting his uncle’s ear off about the snacks featured on the tiered dish rack. This then led him to talk about your morning visit to the bakery, where he had charmed the staff to offer an extra macaron.

They ‘really liked him’ and now his ‘mother is very worried’, why? Because he’ll ‘become a heartbreaker one day’. Alphard listened intently, still shocked but eager to listen to his nephew who he had never seen so bright and secure. Every few seconds, however, Alphard would look towards you for signs of any rising anger or frustration, compounding into an explosive outburst. He was familiar with that. He was familiar with your disapproval. However, there wasn’t a single trace of any negative emotion on your countenance. Rather, your eyes were full of affection and warmth, directed at Regulus while sipping your tea, silently listening to their exchange. Never before had he seen his eldest sister look so… content.

Pausing for breath, Regulus finally remembers the occasion and flushes adorably. His face is much rounder, healthier looking, Alphard notices and is shocked when you allow him to have a small plate to pile on his share of the delicious selection of goodies on the tiered dish. The majority of which were rather sweet to taste. He didn’t know his sister to be one who encouraged the regular consumption of sugar because you would only allow it for special occasions such as Yule and birthdays. Not wanting to startle his nephew, however, Alphard bites his tongue and distracts his racing thoughts by pouring his tea.

“Milk and sugar?” Alphard asks, bewildered at the options freely offered on the coffee table. You had long forbidden milk and sugar to be part of afternoon tea after finding how his tastes had affected your two sons’ preferences.

“Of course,” you voice as if he had been crazy to question you, “everyone is free to make their tea however they wish,”

Alphard follows Regulus’ lead and freely makes his tea… just the way he likes it. With lots of sugar and lots of milk. If you were going to test him, he was going to test you right back and readily anticipate your outward, shrieking protests. However, there were no shrill screeches or ear-splitting lectures over how muted, milky and sugary he liked to have his tea. Rather, Alphard, heard you giggle. His older sister. Giggling? The world must be coming to a terrifying end! Slack-jawed he looks up and stares wide-eyed at your cheerful smile.

“I see you and Regulus have similar preferences in tea,” Alphard shares a sheepish look with his nephew, “How refreshing. It makes me wonder how good it must taste for the both of you to enjoy tea the way you do,” another giggle.

Regulus happily offers his cup, “You can try some of mine if you want, Mother,” Smiling at his nephew’s kindness, Alphard is even more awed by your drastic change in behaviour.

“That’s very sweet of you, little love, thank you. But, how’s about I finish my cup first and I’ll see about having a sip of yours if you have any left?”

“Alright!”

The happy atmosphere wasn’t something Alphard was used to, especially not from his older sister. However, he was grateful for his nephew’s happy disposition. His sister’s strict education and harsh manner of child-rearing left plenty of room for worry but, no matter what seems to have changed, provided that his nephews stay happy and safe, Alphard would happily keep his many questions to himself. Perhaps this was maternal instincts finally taking over. He dare not interrupt by drawing attention to it.

When there’s a lull in the conversation and everyone takes a sip of their tea or a bite of their selected treat, you begin to investigate the relationship between the original Walburga and Alphard. You weren’t impervious to Alphard’s shocked expressions in your periphery; admittedly, it was admirable of him not to make a scene out of his staggering surprise at your ‘odd’ behaviour. It’s fair for him to believe you’re still his original, bigoted sister. You can only speculate that he wasn’t drawing attention for Regulus’ sake and you admire him for that.

“Alphard,” he hums in acknowledgement, setting down his cup and reaching for a madeleine, “how is your work?” your question makes him visibly freeze up but the moment he realises Regulus is watching, he smoothly eases back into normal, less robotic motions.

“It’s been well,” you can tell he wants to leave it at that, satisfied to leave the topic there. However, you were not and kept silent, quietly pushing him into answering further, “...the office has been operating normally. My client is dealing with a relatively common case of discrimination based on pregnancy at the workplace,” he’s a solicitor then. And practising mostly in employment law, it seems. “And before you say anything about women needing to better plan their pregnancies and how a woman needs to be at home with her husband rather than working, I want to remind you of the company,” his voice is firm and he’s plainly referring to Regulus being present, therefore dubbing the subject matter sensitive. However, his insinuations on the original Walburga’s dogmatist beliefs make you visibly disgusted and it pulls on his interest. Never had he seen his sister look so abhorrent to the views he knew she supported.

“I wasn’t going to say anything of the sort. I appreciate that you’re doing good work for the people who need it—”

“Even for a half Veela?”

“Everyone deserves to be fairly represented in a court of law, dear brother. And please don’t interrupt me again, Regulus should find quality, male influence in his uncle, please demonstrate the appropriate, good manners for him,” Alphard is surprised by your sharp eyes and firm demand. You had always been demanding but never to this degree, never to such a reasonable degree, and never without raising your voice. Yet, your voice has remained level, only adjusting for firmness.

How odd… Alphard doesn’t know whether to laugh mockingly at your hypocrisy or dare to feel hope for the positive change he’s beginning to see in his sister.

“...I apologise,” Alphard nods to you before turning to Regulus, “I didn’t set a good example Reg, I’m sorry,”

“It’s okay Uncle,” Regulus beams up at him, happy to be referred to by the affectionate nickname his uncle hadn’t been able to call him in many months.

“Why not ‘Reggie’?”

“I’m sorry?” Alphard looks genuinely perplexed by the change in behaviour. You had always strongly reprimanded him for daring to call your sons by any affectionate nicknames as you wanted your boys to stay faithful to their full birth name — it was a source of pride, after all. To be named after the stars and be in the most ancient and noble house, their names were sacred and it was a mockery to shorten despite it being done with affection. But now you were supporting it?

“‘Reggie’ is a cuter nickname,”

“Reg is good— cute enough, it’s short and sweet,”

“But Reggie is cuter than Reg,”

“Both are cute,”

“...Reggie is cuter, though,”

“Let’s agree to disagree. I will keep calling him Reg and you call him Reggie,” the boy in question was a healthy shade of red now. For a lighthearted argument to centre around him like this wasn’t what he anticipated happening but he was happy to see his mother and uncle getting along harmoniously. Not once have they raised their voices or forced the other to leave the room in a huff. This was nice… Sirius would have really liked this. Maybe Regulus should send another letter, even if his brother has yet to reply to his previous one.

“What nickname do you call Sirius?” you ask, voice soft and eager to continue the topic of your sons. This was another new side Alphard was seeing to you, his usually cold and unfeeling sister had never been one to perpetuate gossip surrounding her sons, and yet, now you were so eager to— and on a topic that is so innocuous and unproductive. But it was a good change, one that he’s sure will be a good influence on his beloved nephews.

“Siri,”

“That’s perfect,” you smile into the lip of your teacup and sip, “we can agree on that front,” Alphard actually manages to chuckle and nod along. He had prepared himself for a harsh and loud argument, not this but he dare not complain; this was a very pleasant surprise. He even dares to feel confident in re-addressing a long taboo topic.

“...You feel I do good work as an employment lawyer?” he begins, hesitant, his hands beginning to shake. The suddenly nervous man opts to set his cup down and wipe the sweat from his hands along his trouser-covered thighs.

“Of course,” you wonder where the conversation is going.

“And what of my extracurriculars too?” he avoids your eyes and your mind flashes with a memory of a young Alphard nervously standing before his elder sister, his small hands curled into fists on his knee-length shorts. This man is your younger brother now. However, you can’t help but think that Walburga cared deeply for him despite their strained relationship, judging from the fond memory that had flashed behind your blinking eyelids. In the depths of your mind, you imagine she still likens him to his much younger, toddler self, an endearing but common trait in an older sister.

“Extracurriculars?”

“My voluntary work with the less fortunate, typically with other magical beings,”

You frown when you finally realise what had caused the strain between brother and sister. Walburga had belittled and strongly protested against a man who only did good. A man of justice. This was the man who favoured Sirius in the original timeline because they shared the same sense of justice and the need to rebel against their bigoted family.

“I’m sorry Alphard,” you look into his eyes with such sincerity that Alphard feels as though he could cry. He had grown up admiring his sister but the instant he had begun to think for himself and see the unfairness of her skewed views, he swears he had felt his first ever heartbreak. His sister, who he had loved and admired so much, who he thought of as an amazing person was not who he thought she was and the revelation was earth-shattering. It broke his heart all the more when he saw his younger brother Cygnus follow in her footsteps. “I’m sorry for all the past unsavoury comments I said to you about your profession, and on what you have chosen to do with your life and beliefs. I was wrong, the way I thought of the world was wrong. I’m truly sorry for who I was before. And I want to assure you that I am no longer that person. I think what you’re doing is truly wonderful and this world needs more people like you in it. My boys need a good uncle like you to help raise them with good values and sense for the world,”

Alphard looks at Regulus, eyes wide with shock, his mind reeling and needing something to ground him, to confirm that the shock he was feeling was reasonable, but to hope for the best and to trust in his sister’s words again was feeling too much at that moment. All he needed was Regulus’ reassuring smile, and that was exactly what his young nephew faced him with, as if to say ‘It’s alright uncle, you can rest assured now,’.

“Why….” Alphard slowly turns his attention back to you, “why did you change your mind?”

You smile to yourself, “For my sons, of course. They deserve the world, the least I can do is be a good mother to them,

“You’re the best mother in the world!” Regulus protests as your eyes humbly close.

“Let’s not lie to ourselves and completely forget what has happened. I have hurt many people with the way I used to act, for believing in the things I used to believe. What’s worse is that I have hurt those most dear to me and those who I should have taken better care of… I’m very sorry Alphard, I don’t think I’ll be able to express how truly apologetic I am. It wasn’t right of me to hurt you that way,”

Blinking back tears, Alphard musters a crooked smile, his voice slightly shaky but his heart light and chest warm, “Apology accepted, dear sister,”

“You said you wanted to talk about something important, little brother?” you wanted to move on from the topic, but Alphard no longer knew if he had the right to express his worry. After witnessing your change in demeanour first-hand, the weight on his shoulders was finally lifted, and his chest didn’t feel so heavy.

“...after the sorting ceremony, I was worried about Sirius and Regulus – they are my nephews, after all. I wasn’t confident in their safe treatment at home,” Regulus looks to his uncle with an appreciative smile, earning an affectionate ruffle of his hair.

Smiling softly, you take his implicit criticism with grace. It wasn’t even your doing but you move forward with it anyway, “thank you for worrying about them but, as I said, I am a changed woman,”

Alphard smiles into his teacup and hums in contentment, “I can see that… I’m glad – you’re also no longer against my profession and my extracurriculars. The moment you accepted my request to come over for tea, I was somewhat relieved but getting to see your change myself was even more of a relief,”

“I’m sorry again, for the past. I don’t know what on earth was the matter with me,” your slight jab at the original Walburga has the witch throwing a muted tantrum in the back of your mind. It’s quite hard to resist smiling wickedly at how easy it is to rile her up.

“No matter…the past is in the past,” Regulus nods and readily agrees.

“I’m really happy Sirius got into Gryffindor. In his letters, he says how happy and at home he feels there,” Regulus’ eyes shine with such pride, it was easy to smile with him. Alphard is comforted by the thought of his eldest nephew having a good start away from home and, atop that, being supported by his mother and brother. He holds no hope for Orion however, many of those in the family have heard of his inappropriate behaviour at Hogwarts. It was unbecoming from the patriarch of the most ancient and noble house. That was why many assumed why he had not made any public appearances at the Wizengamot for a few days, using sickness as an excuse in his letters to the office.

“Which Hogwarts house would you like to join, Reg?” Alphard asks, curious. Judging from your displays of changed temperament and child-rearing, he assumes and hopes his youngest nephew no longer admires the idea of going to Slytherin as he’s known his sister and Orion to have ceaselessly enforced onto the two.

Growing shy, Regulus looks to his lap and picks at his fingernails nervously, “I don’t know… as long as I’m happy and feel at home, that’s all that matters, right, Mother?” Regulus looks to you for assurance and smiles when you nod with fondness in your eyes. A slight tension leaves Regulus’ small shoulders immediately and he settles back into the sofa with a silent sigh of repose, Alphard following closely behind his nephew. What a relief.

The interactions and conversations with you have been quite a shock but in the most pleasant sense. Alphard no longer felt his fingers tensing at the thought of writing a letter to his eldest nephew. They had already exchanged some letters and Alphard was concerned that the assurance within Sirius’ written words was nothing but something to cover up the tensions at home from his sorting ceremony. What a relief to know that it was all true. Sirius did feel happy, he did feel supported and he did miss home. If Alphard’s own mother acted the way you did, with soft affection, fond eyes and a warm touch, he would miss home too.

Light conversation and the peaceful atmosphere continued until Regulus had to do his scheduled piano practice. Regulus politely excused himself while Alphard stared in wide-eyed confusion and awe as another miracle played out before him: you showing open affection for your son by kissing his forehead in front of company before he promptly left for his piano. A silence draws out as you wait for the distant sounds of piano playing to continue your conversation. This time, however, you aim to finally put your central plan into action, one that you were finally seeing the answers to when Alphard revealed his profession.

“What do you specialise in as a solicitor again?” you begin.

“Employment law, sometimes corporate and civil law too,” Alphard states nonchalantly, closely examining your face, his heart beating faster at the implications of your lack of a strong reaction. He supported the change in you but you can tell that he has yet to fully believe in the dream world that was playing out before him.

At the sudden look of worry on your features, Alphard leans forward with concern, “What’s wrong?"

Sighing heavily, you set down your teacup and lean back, "Do you know anyone working in Family law?”

“Naturally…” he answers, his silence carrying a question as he stares at you with a raised brow.

“I want a marital separation from Orion… and I want to take the kids – it’s not safe for them here with him around,”

Alphard nods and immediately begins to hatch a plan. It was a natural mode of work he had refined throughout his years as a solicitor, “I don’t blame you for wanting to leave…and I think I may know of someone who you can talk to. They’re a half-blood specialising in family law, who actively pushes for similar laws being passed for muggles to be transitioned into the wizarding world,”

That sounded like the perfect lawyer for you, “I would really appreciate that Al, thank you,” you say the nickname without thinking and are ready to rush out an apology but stop in surprise when you see the warm smile on Alphard’s face.

“You haven’t called me Al in years… you must really want to leave your husband,” he teases, trying to distract from his choked-up voice and tear-filled eyes. You laugh airily and nod as he joins, the happy atmosphere contagious between you. This was the type of relationship Alphard had always wanted with his sister. It was a shame that it only came about now when you’re actively experiencing rough times at home with Orion.

Before leaving, Alphard goes to Regulus, momentarily interrupting his piano practice to say goodbye. His youngest nephew insists on escorting him to the fireplace with you to properly wave him off and he doesn’t protest. That was the first time Regulus had ever seen his mother and uncle wave goodbye happily, sharing a warm smile and promising to see each other again soon.

This would definitely be worth writing another letter to Sirius.

6th October 1971 | Belby’s Potions and Ingredients

“Thank you again for helping out my husband and me,” Ruth smiles softly at you, setting aside her embroidery momentarily, not wanting to draw too much attention to her weak, shaking hands.

“It’s not a problem at all,” you look over to where Regulus’ legs were sticking out from where he sat examining some bottled potions, unable to help your smile as you and Ruth sat behind the counter together, “I’m only sorry I couldn’t come sooner. I’m afraid I can’t trust Regulus to be home alone even with his tutor Peony as a deterrent,” Ruth’s brows furrow at the implication of your words and reaches for your hand as a silent comfort. It isn’t the right time to pry into your home life, Regulus was such a happy child and she knows it’s all because of you; you’re doing your best to protect him as a mother should and that was good enough to you it seemed. In the meantime, she’s satisfied with offering a quiet consolation.

“You’re doing more than enough,” the two of you share a small, knowing smile and you thank the gods for Ruth’s kind and gentle disposition. It’s been rather lonely despite you having the best sons to look after. You’ve often found yourself aching for a friendship and you’re confident you’ve found one in Ruth.

“Thank you, Ruth,”The shop bell rings as a customer strolls in and greets you at the counter, “Good afternoon, do you happen to have any dried nettles?” you greet the man kindly and readily offer your help.

“You can find them in the second aisle down and can have your pick between whole leaves or the powdered sort,” you helpfully offer your guidance while Ruth returns to her embroidery.

The man thinks to himself for a moment, “Which would be more effective for umm…curing boils?” he looks rather bashful at the confession but you provide no judgment. Thinking for a moment and giving Damocles’ simplified shop notes a look through, you finally give the anxious man his answer.

“Both are equally effective. Only the crushed nettles mean for a quicker brewing time as they will turn the potion green much quicker,” the man nods along to your suggestions, eyes slightly shifty, probably eager to brew his boil curing potion at home, “Or you can purchase the potion itself, and save yourself the trouble,” a relieved laugh escapes the man.

“I’ll go for that then!”

“You’ll find the potion on the back wall, it should be blue,” he nods eagerly and thanks you before rushing to the back wall of the shop.

“Goodness, you’re a natural potions shopkeeper,” Ruth giggles beside you, her eyes tired but full of life.

“Why thank you, madam,” you bow at the waist exaggeratedly and grin, “I’ve actually been reading up on some potion books so that I can be of some help for Damocles,” Ruth tucks her chin in and bashfully avoids your eyes.

“It’s so very kind of you to help someone like me,”

“None of that,” you tut and hold her hand in the same comforting way she had held yours mere moments ago, “You are not allowed to refer to yourself in such a way, you hear?” Ruth is hesitant but nods anyway. You guess it’s her attempt at not causing a fuss but you’ll accept it.

The man returns with the boil curing potion at hand and the purchase is done smoothly. You have to hand it to the glamour you placed on yourself; without it, you’re sure many customers would leave without so much as taking more than two steps in the door — you wouldn’t have been any help to the Belbys at all. Wanting to protect Regulus’ identity as well, you’ve also fixed him with a glamour too and ensured you still look like mother and son.

“I see that you’re looking rather well despite it being only one day after the full moon,” you comment, brightening Ruth’s expression with a smile.

“Damocles is incredible!” her eyes sparkle as she talks proudly of her husband’s achievements, “The recent changes he’s made to the potion have made it so that I don’t feel as anxious during my time under so I don’t feel as mentally exhausted atop being physically drained. I think he said something about a stone. A wishing stone?”

You hum and nod in understanding, “the moonstone then,” she confirms with a soft gasp of remembrance, “That’s wonderful news, Damocles must be really happy,”

“Yes, but he is not yet satisfied…” she huffs and scowls, however, her delicate features don’t make the emotion appear quite as menacing on her face; she makes it look rather sweet actually, “I swear that man adores being sleep deprived and overworked. It’s worrying…”

“Maybe that’s his real aim,” you wink at her perplexed appearance, “I’m sure it’s healing to the soul for a man to experience his beautiful wife’s sincere worries for his well being,”

Ruth blushes a deep red and looks away, but you still manage to see the smile playing on her lips, “oh you!” The two of you giggle together as Regulus comes bounding over with a grin on his face, holding up a small sprig of dried lavender that’s tied together at the stems with a rough string.

“Mother, this smells lovely, you should smell it too,” he holds up the lavender and watches eagerly as you lean on the counter to smell it.

“You’re right, it smells very soothing,”

“I want our house to smell like it,”

“Oh? That’s easily done,” you turn to Ruth with a smile, “would it be okay to purchase your entire stock?”

Ruth’s jaw drops, “You want our entire stock? B-But that’s so costly!” if Ruth’s jaw could have dropped any lower, it would have dropped to the floor when you merely shrugged your shoulders. As if buying an entire stock of one ingredient didn’t put a dent on your finances.

“We have a rather big house and Reggie wants our whole house to smell like lavender, so we need everything you have,”

Regulus smiles as you both turn to him, “It really is a very nice smell,” Ruth can’t say no to you both and smiles gratefully. She knows your hidden motive. You were already helping the couple so much but you couldn’t just stop there, you also had to purchase from them too.

“May I, at least, offer a family friend discount?” Ruth barters and watches as you turn to Regulus to ask for his opinion.

“Should we accept, Reggie?” you tilt your head thoughtfully, “Should we accept paying less for this hard-working couple’s labour?” Regulus shakes his head ‘no’.

“That wouldn’t be fair Mother, nor polite,”

“Spoken like a true gentleman,” Regulus beams up at you and Ruth awes at the young boy’s innocence, “How is my son so well mannered?” it was supposed to be a teasing remark but Regulus, accustomed to your teasing now, is quick to reciprocate with his own.

“It's because I have you, Mother!”

“Oh!” you heat up at the cheeks, “I think I’ve taught you some bad habits, Reggie,” Regulus doesn’t deny the statement and laughs with Ruth at your flustered expression.

Once Damocles finally decides to take a break from brewing in the back room and analysing his previous notes, he sits beside Ruth and leans his head against her shoulder. But not before softly kissing her cheek. It was a timely break as no customers came to purchase anything and there was a quiet lull in the shop’s activities. Wanting to give the couple some privacy, you take the time to go on a small mission with Regulus, similar to the bakery run you did for his uncle Alphard. This time, however, those baked goodies will be for Ruth and Damocles. They both deserve some good tea and snacks. You try not to take too long and opt for only a small collection of pastries, some sweet and some savoury as you don’t know their preferences.

“I hear you’re purchasing our entire stock of lavender without our prestigious family-friend discount,” Damocles presses as soon as you and Regulus return, avoiding the temptation of the pastries you had brought back.

“The lavender smells really nice,” Regulus explains, “and I thought it would be good for the house to smell like it,”

“Precisely, Damocles,” you grin when you see the potioneer’s eyes soften at your youngest’s beaming smile. “I only want to fulfil my Reggie’s wishes. And I also agree that the lavender smells lovely,”

“A-at least let us offer the discounted price,“ he’s almost pleading.

“Nonsense,” you huff and cross your arms with slightly narrowed eyes, though not too threatening, “are you saying I can’t afford to pay full price?”

“O-of course not, Lady—”

“Then I’m paying full price and that's final.”

Damocles falls back into the chair you had once occupied as Ruth comfortingly rubs his shoulder, “I told you it was no use arguing, dear,”

“I suppose not…” Damocles looks at you with searching eyes before huffing a laugh and shaking his head. “Alright then, since you’re so insistent,”

“Wonderful! Now, you two need to eat, I’ll brew some tea in the back. Do you like French Earl Grey?” you ask, moving to the backdoor as Damocles lifts Regulus onto the counter.

“We don’t have french earl grey?”

“I bought you some while I was out,” the couple shake their heads in disbelief once more before Regulus pulls away their attention by running through the collection of goodies you’d both purchased. The French early grey you had brewed was a new taste to the couple, but it wasn’t an unpleasant one.

“Is that rose?” Ruth asks with wondrous eyes as Damocles smiles beside her, lovingly admiring her sweet expression.

“Yes, french early grey adds rose petals to the blend. Do you like it?”

“Very much,” Ruth beams and takes another long, savouring sip while Damocles leans over and whispers that it’s one of her favourite essences to have in anything palatable.

“And she loves Turkish delight,”

You can tell that Damocles didn’t want to take a break for too long, his eyes often drifting to his backroom door and his fingers twitching uneasily on his lap. If it weren’t for Ruth, you don’t think he would have allowed himself to finish his tea or his pastry. But thanks to his loving wife, he was willing to reach for a second and third pastry. The entire time, Damocles was drawn all the more to her, often checking her likeness for the pastries she wanted to try in the small spread, even offering her several bites of his own. He also worried often for her health and well being, always being the first to jump in making her feel more comfortable, either by fetching a blanket to keep her fragile frame warm or pillows to keep her posture upright. They’re truly a match made in heaven, you’ve never seen a more compatible pair. And you’re happy Regulus was a witness to it all. Seeing their close bond and equally loving dynamic would help enforce in his mind what healthy relationships look like.

“When you finish your break and before you return to brewing, may I have a word in private with you, Damocles?” you ask, partway through your pleasant tea break.

“Of course,”

As you step aside with Damocles, he’s already launching into an oration of gratitude. There’s clear appreciation in his eyes and stance as well as his words. “I’ve been able to get a hold of ingredients I couldn’t even dream of working with. I can’t even begin to express how life-changing your help is to both me and Ruth, thank you. I actually have some hope that I can manage to pull this off,” he laughs to himself humbly, in disbelief of his own words.

“I have full faith in you, Damocles. I know you can do it, the boundless love you have for your wife will ensure that you succeed,” he blushes slightly at your words but doesn’t deny anything.

“I haven’t been able to send you the updated reports yet, would you like to take the duplicate notes from my lab?”

“I’d appreciate that but I have something I want to talk to you about first,” Damocles nods, reminded of your earlier request and the reasoning behind it, “I just wanted to ask what you plan on doing after you’re successful with the potion,”

His voice goes quiet but his smile is beaming, “You really have that much faith in me?”

“Yes, I do,” your voice is stern as the potioneer’s eyes grow slightly distant, looking over your shoulder where Ruth is happily chatting with Regulus, who remains seated atop the counter still in his glamours, “You’re the only other person who’s believed in me so strongly other than my wife– not even my own family…”

You pat his shoulder comfortingly, “You’re an incredible potioneer and you adore your wife, I know you’ll go through the ends of the earth for her alone, you can make this potion work for her,”

Damocles nods with a grateful smile and finally answers your earlier question, “In all honesty, I haven’t given it much thought… the natural direction I’d go with the potion would be to present my findings to the ministry so that it may be mass-produced and given to werewolves in need of it,”

You’re shaking your head in disagreement before he could even finish his thoughts, “I strongly argue against that,” your words strike confusion in the potioneer. He’s sure his findings would prove helpful to many werewolves and you can see the belief in his eyes but do your best to convince him otherwise. It’s important that he knows where you stand in all this so that you bring him to the same level and see eye to eye on the matter.

“Do you know about the werewolf code of conduct?”

“Yes, of course,”

“It requires registering as a werewolf to the ministry and vowing to never bite any innocents and locking yourself away during every transformation,” you begin to explain, gauging where his knowledge stands.

“I know that,”

“And do you know anyone who happily registered as a werewolf to the ministry?” Damocles can’t answer confidently, rather, he stays silent. “Did Ruth register? Would you like her to?”

“…N-no…” Damocles hated that he couldn’t trust in the ministry but they‘ve proven nothing when it comes to the protection and fair treatment of other magical creatures, especially werewolves.

“I know the plan I want to carry out will only further perpetuate the stigma against werewolves and lycanthropy but the ministry has already proven that they cannot be trusted or relied upon in the matters of lycanthropes. I am, at least, confident in providing some help, do you trust me?”

“I trust you,” his voice doesn’t waver and you smile.

“You’ll be sacrificing a great reward, I’m afraid,”

“How so?”

“Surely discovering a treatment for lycanthropy will grant you an Order of Merlin as a reward…”

“I don’t care, so long as my wife is safe and happy and as long as we can actually help people like her, I’m willing to follow your plan,” as before, his voice doesn’t waver and you’re confident in his words. He’s a good man.

“Then it shall be!” you share a firm handshake. If only Harry had met an adult as capable and reliable as Damocles… you’re sure he wouldn’t require such dependence in the future, however, not in the future you’ll be creating, at least. And you’ll make sure of the same for his parents and all their friends —- all characters you love and wish only the best for. And it’ll all start with your two beautiful sons.

9th October 1971 | 12 Grimmauld Place

Tucked away in your home office, you look over the notes you’ve made on your current plans, avoiding the pages you’ve filled with notes on the secret parlour only for the Black family ladies’ use. You know it’s something you’ll need to confront very soon, in the meantime, however, you were perfectly occupied by current projects you were hard at work on.

Damocles sent you the report he duplicated from his most recent findings and Ruth’s improved condition following the full moon. Not only was he a loving and dedicated man with a passion for potion making, but he was also brilliant in his report writing. He kept his notes concise and easy to read by providing clear categories of the specific things he wanted to track. From your side of the research, reading up on potions from the Black family library, you had written him a letter back with suggestions on how to make the potion more potent. One such suggestion was his use of the Mandragora, Mandrakes. Rather than mandrake leaves, you encouraged him to use the body of a mandrake instead. It’s a little pricier than just the leaves, but it was nothing you couldn’t afford. The dragon blood was something you were having trouble with, however. It wasn’t cheap, and, having to look ahead at the wolfsbane potion’s mass production, dragon’s blood would be an annoying ingredient to include financially. So you promised to look for alternatives that might be able to give the same effect. You were even willing to look into ‘muggle’ books for a potential alternative.

After securing Damocles’ opinion following the future success of his wolfsbane potion and having some back and forth with Alphard on the family lawyer, he had been easing into setting up a meeting with you; you’ve started looking at properties all over the UK. You have a good idea of what you want to look for. However, the primary, most important criteria for these properties to have were that they don’t belong to the Black family. And so, you neglect the wizarding properties completely and look into muggle properties instead. The price wouldn’t matter, although you wanted to secure a separate line of income first so that Orion remains unsuspecting of your efforts to escape him; you don’t want any additional tensions happening at home, especially with Regulus still here. As soon as Regulus begins to attend Hogwarts, however, you’ll finally put things into action. Until then, you have a little under a year, which you hope will be good enough.

A squeaky pop shifts the air to your right, and Kreacher appears with a tray of tea and biscuits, “Mistress’ tea is ready,” he presents with a smile, wordlessly making the arrangement float up and make a home for itself atop an unoccupied portion of your desk. Smiling at the house elf, you nod in thanks and express your gratitude. Wanting to appease you further, he gestures to his big ears and informs you of an owl that sounds to be arriving very soon. With a nod and a soft word of gratitude, you walk to your window and open it up in anticipation of the delivery.

Sirius’ owl was the first to arrive and you figure it’s a response to one of Regulus’ many letters. Seeing your eldest son’s familiar handwriting addressing the letter to his little brother makes you smile, and urges you to write him one soon as well. Thanking the sweet barn owl, you offer her a perch and kindly ask Kreacher to fetch it some feed as a reward. The second owl that arrives is much smaller and carries a package as well as a letter. The parcel is only small and its wrappings are a buff brown, held together with some twine. The letter is addressed to you and you have a pretty good idea of what it may be.

You give the letter a quick read-through and smile with a nod before opening the small package to reveal a golden band. Its inner face is engraved with runes, and it easily fits onto your pointer finger. Before returning to your desk, you give the small owl a bowl of feed as a reward, too. Seated back at your desk, you pour yourself some tea and take a generous drink with the ring still on your pointer finger.

“Mmmm~” you hum in satisfaction, “tastes like strawberries,” It’s been a few weeks and those two have already made such amazing progress. You expect nothing less from the same two people who were able to enchant Sirius’ protection pin. Unfortunately, you weren’t able to rope in the goblins to craft this ring. It’s only a simple design because it’s the prototype but you plan on making a more decorative line of these to sell. For now, you have yet to test it against an actual potion but you dread to think about waiting for another blackout to do so. With a thoughtful hum, you return to your office and place the letter at the centre of your desk, planning to write a response later on. For now, you’ll deliver Sirius’ letter to Regulus —you’re sure he and Peony won’t mind the interruption and that he’ll be happy to receive Sirius’ response.

NAVI. | SERIES M.LIST | NEXT. 09 : ... →

A/N : I'm so sorry, my darlings, for taking so long to update this series (ó﹏ò。) I know I promised monthly updates but with Christmas and then New Year straight after, I was pretty occupied (⸝⸝๑﹏๑⸝⸝) Nevertheless, I hope you lovelies enjoyed this chapter!ヾ(。✪ω✪。)ｼ I promise there will be more of Sirius in the next chapter since we hardly had any of our baby in this one 

[luxcuriousao3]

Part 2 of Alpha!ghost?? 🥺🥺

Please?

-🍒Anon

I've been sitting on this because I've been asking myself, "Will I write a full part two?" But the answer is probably not 😅 BUT I have part of a second chapter written, and I figure I can share a little bit of it. Think of it as an alternative ending I guess? It's not... happy, per say, but it does make Fevered Mistakes SIGNIFICANTLY less angsty lol. I guess you could call it a hopeful/open ending. And hey, I suppose if people want to see the other bits I've written for chapter two, I'll publish them, I just wouldn't call it canon.

Also I've never had emoji anons before, but I will happily accept you as 🍒 anon! I love cherries.

warnings: a/b/o, mentions of past rape, vageuly suicidal thoughts

When Simon woke up, he was alone.

He was cuffed to a hospital bed, and both his team and the omega were gone. Simon’s heart lurched in his chest. His omega. He’d claimed her. He’d raped her. He’d killed her.

Simon was not a good man. He hadn't been a good man in a long time. He’d done horrible, horrible things. Some he regretted, many he didn’t. He bore them all and kept going. But this…

He didn’t think he could live with this.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Johnny entered, clutching a cup of coffee. He looked haggard—face unshaved, hair unwashed, clothes rumpled and stained. There were heavy bags beneath dull blue eyes, but when he saw that Simon was awake, he perked up, rushing over.

“Thank fuck yer awake,” he said, slumping into the chair next to Simon’s bed and grasping his hand tightly. “Cannae take anymore o’ this waitin’ ‘round.”

“They gonna discharge me?” Simon asked, looking away. Looking at his hands, the ones that had killed that poor girl. My omega. He closed his eyes, unable to stand the sight of them.

“By the end of the day, m’guessin,” Johnny answered, and Simon let out a deep breath. He knew he deserved it, but he was surprised the military was moving so quickly. Usually this kind of thing took months of wading through red tape and bureaucratic bullshit. “Price is gettin’ the paperwork taegether now.”

Simon felt like he’d been punched in the gut. His own Captain...

“He recommend me for a dishonorable?”

“Wha—” Johnny started, brows furrowed in confusion before realization donned on him and his eyes widened. “I meant from the feckin’ hospital, ye numpty!”

“But— the omega,” Simon replied hoarsley, stumbling over his words in a way that was entirely uncharacteristic for him. He blamed it on the sucking, pulsating void in his chest, the guilt and the self hatred and the desire to take a long fucking walk off a short fucking pier and let the ocean claim him and tear him apart. Just like he’d done to her.

“Aye,” Johnny said, face growing solemn, his scent—eucalyptus, chocolate, and a clean, cool aftershave, a combination that shouldn’t have gone well together but was the most delicious thing Simon had ever smelled—grew bitter with sadness. “The omega... she’s alive, Si. In rough shape, but the docs think she’s gonna make it.”

[quartztwst]

Your Local Flower Bullies

(No Yan Sim AU)

Their names (left to right): Anisette Selcouth, Daisy Marguerite, and Rosa Russelliana!!

They don’t rule the school since the student council does but they do have power and they abuse it constantly. They come from rich families and their families constantly support the school which makes Headmaster/Principal Crowley SUUUPPERRR happy to allow their kids to attend the school.

They are also Quartz’ past friends. They hold grudges against her.

Anisette Selcouth

Anisette loves to put on a show where people believe she's this elegant and kind woman. She loves the praise and compliments so she shows off a lot and puts others down. Sometimes she'll even manipulate things into making herself look good. The student council and staff might believe she's a well composed and mature student but she's absolutely ruthless and terrible to certain classmates.

She only picks on the weak and lonely because she knows people won't believe them.

"Ah? Quartz? That dumb girl? Hah! I can't believe I used to be friends with her. If you want more information on her, then you have the wrong person. I barely knew her myself."

Anisette and Quartz were friends since middle school until Quartz left the friend group at the start of highschool. Anisette was clearly angry about this since she felt like Quartz was her closest friend.. yet... she didn't know her at all.

During their friendship, Anisette vented a lot to Quartz about her family. She never felt so vulnerable with a person before and really appreciated Quartz's comfort and support.. But Quartz would never share any personal information to her in return which annoyed her. She wanted Quartz to feel comfortable with her too. (Ok this sounds so gay but stay with me now)

Quartz was always there for her yet she left so easily. Did their friendship mean nothing? Was picking on other students too much? What did she do wrong?

Or is it that boy Azul?

Daisy Marguerite

Daisy is a bright but sneaky girl. She really loves to spread gossip and rumors. She's actually the one making up every single rumor. Not a lot of people suspect her because of her "sweet" attitude.

Although she has a friend group, she actually feels really lonely and talks to flowers like they're her friends. She realizes after Quartz leaving, they all were starting to drift away and pay attention to other things. She only makes up rumors and gossip so she could be together with Anisette and Rosa.

She feels really useless to everyone and so the only place she would feel useful in is with her flowers. They won't leave her because they need her right?

"Quartz? Oh, her!.. That lonely girl that likes Azul? I find her kinda weird hehe.. Hey! I heard that she's actually a mean person! She used to beat other students up during middle school. Like I might be a little mean... but Quartz is WAYY worse! Hehe!"

She hates Quartz and resents her. She didn't have to leave the friend group and ruin everything. She messed up the closeness and warmth they had. Why couldn't she just stay?

Daisy finds Quartz idiotic and selfish because now she's alone again. No one wants to hang out with her. They're all busy. They're all gonna realize how much of a bad person she was and make fun of her. She hates being a butt of a joke. She doesn't want that again now that no one will care.

Rosa Russelliana

Rosa is slowly becoming a reformed bully. In the past, she used to hang with Anisette and Daisy and just mess with other students. She thought it was fun at first but she slowly realized how wrong it was. She was also a slacker in her past school days. Her grades and attendance were LOW low.

Because of her horrible reputation and rumors of her beating up other kids, everyone was intimidated by her and her strength. She gave up on joining a club and stays by Anisette and Daisy, accepting her role as some mean girl. Most of the time, she's alone and doing her own thing though.

"Quartz? Oh, yeah. I remember her.. I was friends with her once. I always thought her attitude was kinda fake y'know. Maybe she was faking it for us? So she wouldn't get bullied.."

Rosa doesn't know the reason why Quartz left. She doesn't even know if she even attends the school anymore because she doesn't see her. But Rosa accepts it because she understands that the environment they created was horribly toxic.

[elliesglock]

Do the crumble cookie live !

okay so boom guess who's back with another banger. so this is just one of my fav lives in general not even for pazzi but it's just so chaotic and the one that makes me chuckle so bad. anyways tho!

my biggest thing with this live is the difference in the way p is acting before and when azzi comes into the room. before she is goofy, messing around with kk, making fun of jana, and everything is super chaotic. but when azzi comes in??? girl she's not subtle at all. she might as well be pouting with azzi as well. azzi comes into the room and is very obviously upset about assignments, p's eyes lock on her IMMEDIATELY as soon as she walks in and she completely forgets about what everyone else is doing. she is the first one to notice azzi btw. almost like her body can feel that her girls in the room. she's even being blocked by tall ass yanna but p still is able to find her and seek her out 😭 p can't take her eyes off of her and you can tell she knows az is upset just by looking at her. paige motions to the phone that they are on live so azzi knows, everybody yells that azzi fudd is here yayyy! and azzi has imo the cutest reaction ever and gets all overwhelmed, groans, and flops on the bed. everybody finds it pretty funny and laughs, guess who the only one who isn't laughing is? paige bueckers everybody.

now we know p. she does NOT like when her girl is sad or in any kind of distress of anytime. she also loves to tease azzi HORRIBLY. the things that stick out to me is that she's not smiling, locks in on azzi's every move, and does not make one single joking comment to make fun of azzi for being dramatic. she gets all soft and caring and probably wants nothing more than to go pick az off that bed and hold her. now my agenda yall. i've always imagined paige to be a very gentle, sweet person to her girl, def someone that is an empath and FEELS everything az feels. and i can tell all the chaotic energy she just had minutes ago is sucked out the minute azzi walks in. she's feeling exactly how azzi is feeling at that moment. SOULMATES THEY ACTUALLY WANT ME DEAD.

kk jokingly says "what happened?" but p IS NOT playing when she asks the same question. she wants names, faces, and explanations to whoever/whatever has her baby azzi so upset and she wants it now. azzi replies that she needs someone who can tutor her in accounting. (she's such a princess and so cute. and azzi i can do my damn best tutoring u btw i have no clue how to do accounting but ill make it work). kk kinda ignores it at first and paige gets this irritated ass look on her face and tells kk to ask the live. she gets down and if her princess needs someone to tutor her she wants to know if someone can do it immediately. i think we get great glimpses of paige's more protective side in this live with how quick she is to respond to azzi's obvious exasperation. she DOES NOT like when az feels like that. kk asks the live and azzi says thank you. paige says "this should be good" i think cause saying ppl are gonna dm her crazy stuff. azzi laughs at this and paige's eyes light up because her girls happy now! and it's because of her!! lover girl paige BACK IN BUSINESS PAZZI NATION. paige gives her a little smile and they go back to what they're doing.

you can tell paige isn't all that interested in the cookies anymore though. the only cookie she cares about is over on the bed pouting and she wants that cookie badddd. azzi stands up suddenly and guys the first ever time i watched this live i immediately thought omg paige looked at her so fast. before i was even into the pazzi side of uconn btw....just wanted to say that. okay anyway paige's head practically comes off her shoulders looking at azzi. almost like she's ready to do anything az wants her to do or anything she can to make a feel better. also peep p checking her out too. it's not really a sexual checking out tho, more like a "you good?" kinda thing. azzi kinda reaches her hands out, i think out of habit and it seems like she wants p to take her hands. now call me delusional all u want idrc but they def wanted to hold each other in that moment. i've said this to an anon before but paige would def take and kiss her hands, turn azzi around to lay against her, and whisper all the encouragement she could need in her ear. but unfortunately god hates us and they can't do that on live 😒.

azzi unfortunately leaves the frame after that and we get azzi just being absolutely adorable and p dotting on her. azzi kinda snoops and asks about the cookies. kk tells her what the flavors are and you can tell azzi wants a little bit (she's so cute im sobbing, p you truly won).

azzi asks to try the peanut butter one. and p immediately starts nodding and kk goes "girl yeah!". she's literally all of their princess she makes me want to throw up pls give me a chance azzi that dumb blonde bitch when i catch you. kk talks about how azzi will like it and its very sweet. p obv has to fight kk back cause kk don't know more about her girl than her, and she says it's very peanut buttery! didn't have to clock paige, it's okay she's yours....unfortunately azzi doesn't give us her review but i think she likes the cookie. kk starts talking about another cookie and azzi goes that's lame! p gives her a sorta "da fuck?" look and you can tell she wants to be sassy but she reels it in. smart paige you know ur girl would have ur ass.

kk says they need forks for the toffee cake and p goes up to get them. however, she stops dead in her tracks, like literally brake checks herself when azzi seems interested in the cookies. and then she kinda just stays around and yanna goes and gets the spoons. ugh. just. paige please.

while they're trying the toffee cake and paige is making fun of jana for her "OKAY SLOTHHHHH" paige says "okayyyyy turtle" to mess with jana but looks at azzi's approval of her joke 😭 bitch shut up atppppp. they're eating the toffee cake and jana is talking about splitting a bite with azzi. paige looks up at her girls name and says "YOU? and azzi?". she sounds like she's tryna say jana isn't good enough to share a bite with azzi that's the way i see it. also i just think she's jealous even though she didn't offer to share the cookie with azzi....jealous possessive paige you will always be famous. also keep making those edits yall we need to see paige accidentally claim azzi because she's soooo jealous people want a. they drop some of the cake on the floor and they're all laughing. you hear azzi say, "lick it off her fingers!" to jana and p gives her the craziest look. she probably wanted to say PAUSE so bad....also is that a little more jealous p i see?

that's all the moments i saw that really stood out to me. plus there's a little tiny part where azzi brings up paige's ipad and paige goes and shows her case. just them being little cutesy and stuff. long story short, azzi hopefully got a tutor but she def got some cuddles and kisses from paige. they prob went home after this live and paige just complimented her, told her how smart she is, and hyped her up to feel better :((( p gets so soft around az i swear. anywho!! hope you enjoy and ofc always send any moments you saw that i maybe didn't say!!

credit to my anons for reminding me about a lot of this stuff! thank you guys 💋

[sirius-crowley-immortaltwinks]

IDEK what to say about this

After a few shots of vodka, my roommates and I came up with a chaotic fancast for the marauders. I have notes but there's literally no context besides random shit written down and I figure it would be criminal to not share this absolute trainwreck with everyone so here it is... Chaotic Marauder Fancast brought to you by drunken thoughts.

Marauders

Tom Hiddleston as Sirius Black

Tom Hiddleston would be a good option to play Sirius Black. He has the capability of having a boyish attitude and sass that Sirius has become known for. Also, Adam. Nuff said.

Rami Malek as James Potter

Look at him. He also has the capability of coming up with that sass and attitude. Imagine him riding a broomstick in a quidditch uniform and that is all.

Robert Sheehan as Remus Lupin

This man could play all of the characters, but he is best suited for Remus Lupin. Unkempt look but in an attractive way. Looks like he could be a werewolf. A lot of the same Remus Lupin mannerisms.

Andrew Scott as Peter Pettigrew

A short little Irish man with a very good skill for acting a villain that's cunning and sneaky and that's why he would be a good option. He would be a very good actor to portray the change from friend to enemy.

Slytherin Skittles

Aidan Gallagher as Regulus Black

Aidan Gallagher has the capability to play an angsty character who's a little bit evil and a little bit good all rolled into one. He's also just got the look and the vibe that Regulus is kind of become known for.

David Tennant as Barty Crouch Jr.

This is partially because when he played Barty in the 4th movie, he didn't get nearly enough screen time in my opinion but the other part of it is because, after watching lots of his filmography, I seriously can't think of anyone better to play it. Unfortunately we would need to make him like 30 years younger and we don't have a time machine.

Michael Sheen as Evan Rosier

I told you it would be chaotic. Maybe it's because I can't see David Tennant without Michael Sheen anymore after GO and Staged but he's also quite similar to Evan in my mind and I think he would play the character very well. Unfortunately... still no time machine tho.

Lisa Kudrow as Pandora Rosier

I mean I was watching Friends and she kinda just stuck out to me and that is why she is now Pandora. I think Lisa has the capability to play someone as wonderful, beautiful and quirky as Pandora. Also I think it would be so sweet and interesting to watch Michael and Lisa play siblings.

Valkyries

(I will admit and say that I don't know nearly enough about the Valkyries so my roommates were the ones that came up these)

Florence Pugh as Marlene McKinnon

I don't really think this one needs explaining but I do think she would be best to play Marlene McKinnon. She's got a fabulous look that would suit Marlene well especially with the fanart seen of her. I mean just look at her.

Nina Sosanya as Dorcas Meadowes

Nina's got the spunk and the attitude that Dorcas has. Mainly pulling from her performance in both GO1 and GO2, I think she is just the most fitting to play Dorcas and would act very well alongside David and Michael (as we've seen) but I think would act very well alongside Florence and Robert.

Emmy Raver-Lampman as Mary MacDonald

Has the capability to play a sweet character but could turn deadly and horrible in 0.5 seconds and that's stunning for her and would work very well for Mary. Also the depths from her pain and everything of her friends dying and then eventually obliviating her memory.

Scarlett Johansson as Lily Evans

Scarlett has the attitude of Lily Evans in real life and honestly she would be stunning. I could totally see James falling in love with Lily if she looked like Scarlett which is one of the main reasons we've cast her as Lily.

Now, we all think that the original fancast that is the most popular is perfect and stunning. This is just some brainrot. Anyway, that is all.

[snailsgoingdowntown]

Small idea thing may or may not be canon to my story

Yan! Dion agriche x fem! Reader

Arranged marriage

Warnings: slightly implied slight codependent behavior, jealousy, mention of murder attempt(s), mention of past murder, toxic familial (?)relationships, toxic marriage/relationship, some yandere themes probably. Please tell me if I missed any.

NSFW kind of warnings: suggestive and implied dub-con-ish, and definitely a sexually frustrated Dion

Can be read as it's own thing not sure if I'll include this in main story so POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR 'HELP I REINCARNATED AS THE FEMALE LEAD'S SISTER-IN-LAW"

MINORS/BLANK BLOGS/BLOGS THAT DON'T INTERACT WITH FANDOM RELATED THINGS DNI

I couldn't get this out of my head and I just needed to share it so bad it was eating me up alive.

==

Lowkey think Roxana would pour affection (platonic) at you just to annoy Dion aka small bouts of revenge once she realizes he has a soft spot for you (aka stealing your time, smiling sweetly at you, maybe even make physical contact via pushing your hair back or the very rare looping her arm around yours as you walk in the garden together. Inviting you to dinner sometimes when Dion returns from a mission, getting in his way of his own little goal of spending time with you. Basically becomes your 'bestie' (she denies she cares about you but we all know that's a lie) and enjoys the glares Dion sends her way whenever you're having fun with her and not him.

And truthfully, despite knowing she's using you for something, you enjoy her company after a while. However, you're unable to fully give in and become essentially a sister to her or a 'bestie' because at the end of the day, she is still Roxana Agriche, an Agriche and general and you genuinely cannot see yourself becoming an important person to her or anyone else, still thinking everything is a test to see if they should dispose of you or not.

And while you're aware your husband has a 'thing' for you or even 'love's' you, he's still an imposing figure, still a man who didn't blink twice at killing his own half-brother and would gladly kill one of his step-mothers just to see Roxana cry. So, really, despite your smiles directed at the blond and your sparse forms of 'affection' to your husband, you don't really accept what they show you. Because at the end of the day, you grew up in two very different environments and you are not meant to be here. Your definition of 'love' is vastly different from their own and while Roxana knows how healthy 'love' is supposed to be, it's been so long since she's received it properly. Meanwhile Dion has a hard time understanding it still.

The story has been changed enough. And you're not sure if it should change some more.

And maybe it's because of that you unknowingly refuse to see just how soft Dion Agriche is with others (no where by much, just by like 00.6% since they're not you. ) had become ever since you entered the scene. Because if you acknowledge it then you'll start to see him as a decent person - everything he is not.

Also Jeremy would literally crash any alone time you have with Dion out of both spite for him (he's too weak to fight him just yet + Roxana probably doesn't want them to fight and he's her #2 fan - Cassis takes 1st place and you 3rd.) And some werid younger brother like affection he has for you.

And Dion would definitely steal you away once the opportunity arises and if they were normal siblings he would stick his tongue out at Roxana but since they're traumatized af they just glare at each other so sharply it could cut skin. Proceeds to awkwardly show you affection that both makes you uncomfortable and feel some pity for him because damn, Maria and Lant are horrible parents. If he acts nice enough he might get a kiss on the cheek before you scamper away otherwise (from experience) a make out session you really shouldn't enjoy breaks out but he still gets cock blocked by someone OR you stop him once his fingers start to undo the strings on your dress or his kisses travel to your neck instead, and his excitement is very much noticeable via his actions and the budge in his pants he doesn't even bother trying to hide. Sure, he's very attractive. However, pushing the fact you're still wary and/or 100-80% scared of him aside, he's big and it hurt badly the first time and you really, really like having working reproductive parts and the ability to walk + your gut tells you that there's a chance he won't stop at one (1) round.

Every night you stay up questioning if you're actually in a coma and not reincarnated.

After all, why else would these people concern themselves with you? Why else would they start to get closer to you? Why else would Dion Agriche proclaim that he's your dog?

[ignalina-c0re]

WIP Wednesday on Thursday: Flashfire - a Pacific Rim AU

I'm bringing back the Pacific Rim AUs, babeyyyy!!!

I've been having Pacific Rim brainrot, and I thought, why the fuck not take Clegan and make it drift compatible?? My second thought was that MOTA doesn't have enough insane people with insane relationships, so this is now a MOTA/SAS:RH crossover Pacific Rim AU :,D Set in the North Atlantic instead of the Pacific Ring of Fire, and Boston and Massachusetts Bay instead of Hong Kong.

Welcome to Flashfire AU!! Without further ado, here's the jaegers and their crews:

ECHO COUGAR:

Marshall Marge Spencer

Peggy Doe

HEAD OF MAINTENANCE CREW: Gale Cleven

HOME PORT: Breezy Point Shatterdome

One of the first jaegers ever made, her successes and her pilot's contributions to the development of the program caused a meteoric rise through the ranks for Marge, one of the youngest ever to be promoted to the rank of Marshall; and a deadly cancer for her beloved copilot Peggy. Peggy passed three years before the end of the jaeger program, two years after the decommissioning of Echo Cougar, and Marge, distraught at the death of her copilot and lover, latches onto the genius head of her maintenance crew: Gale Cleven. Marge is an unassumingly sweet woman at first glance, but she's strict and relentless, and she has a way of telling people off without shouting or swearing that has much bigger and much older men COWERING the moment she starts frowning. She zeroed in on Gale because he's a really genuinely kind person, very passionate, and the deadpan kind of hilarious that has Marge rolling when everybody else is like 'was that a joke...?' Also because young Gale with his long messy hair and dirty jumpsuits looks like a tired lesbian mechanic lmao Gale is into Marge because the boy has more mommy issues than a porn mag, and he's not that great at people, so when the sweet, pretty Marshall starts hitting on him, it's over for him.

Gale is a well-know junkbender and chronic overachiever, he's often on the loan for other maintenance crews and supervises upgrades and modifications to any jaeger within reach. He usually supervises multiple jaegers at one, not sleeping for days at a time and living off caffeine and candy bars, but he works miracles every time without a fail. "Get Cleven" is a very often used phrase.

After the Sierra Victory incident, Marge immediately mobilizes Gale to scrape together every decommissioned jaeger still whole enough to restore, and Gale's first thought is Foxtrot Fortress, because she's a giant sunset-red metal angel and Gale is in love with her.

FORTRESS FOXTROT:

Bucky Egan

Curt Biddick

Gale Cleven

HEAD OF MAINTENANCE CREW: Ken Lemmons

HOME PORT: Halifax Shatterdome

A truly unique Mark III, Fort comes with foldable wings and the ability to fly short distances. Her pilots, Curt and Bucky, were both orphans who grew up in the foster system together, signed up for the army to escape as soon as possible, and went on to the jaeger program because they were already finishing each other's sentences and working in perfect synch. With their strong drift, they dominate the battlefields, until Knifehead breaches the Conn-Pod and kills Curt, leaving Bucky to pilot Fort back to dry land alone.

After Curt's death, Bucky is undone. He runs to the Wall of Life project, trying his very best to ignore his whole past and a half of him that's missing (it never seems to work). Marge finds him in Reykjavik, and drags him back to Boston with her, where he's supposed to find a copilot worthy of the freshly rebuilt Fort. He starts hitting on Gale the second he sees him, and to everybody's surprise, Gale is sniping right back. The copilot trials go horribly: Bucky is so damaged that none of the candidates even comes close to fitting with him, and Gale is critical of every move he makes, which only makes Bucky's flirting even worse. In the end, Marge pushes Gale onto the mat as a last Hail Mary: it not only works, it results in a ten minute long bout, a draw, and sexual tension you could cut with a knife, so Gale becomes the new copilot of Fortress Foxtrot and they live and fuck happily ever after

AQUA ROSA:

Rosie Rosenthal

Helen Nash

HEAD OF MAINTENANCE CREW: Tatty Spaatz

HOME PORT: Massachusets Bay Shatterdome

Helen and Nash were happily married, and had plans to apply to the jaeger program together, but Nash got killed during a kaiju attack, and Helen was left adrift. Rosie was a good friend of Nash and a squadmate of his, and he suggested Helen apply with him instead, just to keep both of them afloat. They don't expect much to come of it, but they make a surprisingly strong duo, and they end up with the first and last of the Mark V's, Aqua Rosa.

They're the kind of people who are endlessly nice to others and around others, but in private they both kind of resent each other, so everybody thinks they're good friends who are helping each other out of grief, but when the doors close, 80% of their interactions end either in fighting or fucking, or sometimes both.

HORIZON JACKAL:

Paddy Mayne

Eoin McGonigal

Augustin Jordan

HEAD OF MAINTENANCE CREW: David Stirling

HOME PORT: Galway Shatterdome

Horizon Jackal was the best protector of the Celtic Sea, until a kaiju breached the Conn-Pod and severely injured Eoin, before Paddy primed the plasma canon properly and fried it. Eoin pulled through, but his left arm had to be amputated at the shoulder due to Kaiju Blue poisoning, and he had to undergo months of recovery. Meanwhile, Horizon Jackal was needed, so a French reserve pilot was scrounged up based on brain scans to ride with Paddy, and aside from the constant bickering, they make an amazing team. Eoin wants back in as soon as he can. The first time the three of them meet, a triple drift bond clicks into place. Instead of taking the back seat, Eoin contacts Gale, and asks him to do the impossible: retrofit the Jackal for three pilots. A week of no sleep, a heap of Mark III scrap, gallons of coffee, an absolutely whipped maintenance crew and a shitload of unhinged engineering later, Gale gives them a miracle: a Mark 3.5 frankenjaeger with a tail and a backwards-facing third drive mount. Five hours after the last electrical check, Horizon Jackal rolls out with three pilots, and flattens a kaiju.

TEMPEST GLORY:

Reg Seekings

Johnny Cooper Seekings

HEAD OF MAINTENANCE CREW: Jock McDiarmid

HOME PORT: Bristol Channel Shatterdome

A Mark II tank, Tempest Glory and her crew are the most terrifying of the active units. Their first response to any problem is 'blow it the fuck up'. They have an unnerving amount of shady connections, and Reg and Jock tend to get into fistfights over any disagreement ever. There is an ongoing debate about Reg and Johnny's exact relationship: most assume they are brothers, with the shared last name and the constant good-natured ribbing. Besides their core crew, the only two people who know the truth are Eve (because she knows everything, somehow) and Gale (because he's quiet and unobtrusive enough that most people forget he's there): they are in fact married, and they're disgustingly affectionate in private.

SILVER PROXY:

John Brady

Benny Demarco

HEAD OF MAINTENANCE CREW: Charles Cruikshank

HOME PORT: Nantucket Shatterdome

Lost off the coast of Newfoundland

BRAVO GOLD:

Bill Fraser

Mike Sadler

HEAD OF MAINTENANCE CREW: Bill Stirling

HOME PORT: Tangier Shatterdome

Lost off the coast of Tenerife

SIERRA VICTORY:

Pat Riley

Jim Almonds

HEAD OF MAINTENANCE CREW: Jock Lewes

HOME PORT: Castlebay Shatterdome

Entire crew wiped after damaged reactor explodes during post-battle maintenance. Castlebay shatterdome rendered unusable and hazardous.

OTHERS:

CHIEF LOCCENT OFFICER: Eve Mansour

She's an officer with a mysterious past, plenty of shady connections, and an attitude. She often argues with and directly contradicts Marge's orders (her solutions are usually more brutal). The two of them have an intense tension that tiptoes between angry and sexual.

CHIEF OF SCIENCE (PHYSICS AND PROBABILITY): Bubbles Payne CHIEF OF SCIENCE (EXTRATERRESTRIAL BIOLOGY AND DRIFT MECHANICS): Harry Crosby

Instead of open hostility, the two of them are endlessly excited for each other's discoveries, and in any discussion, they tend jump off of each other's insane ideas, until nobody around them can follow them.

KAIJU BLACK MARKET BOSS: Dudley Wrangle Clarke

Man's a scheming heap of bad news, dunno what else to tell ya lol. He'd do anything for money and glory. Him and Eve have a very strained, love-hate sort of relationship.

Snippets: TBA

Questions, contributions, incoherent yelling, headcanons, ideas, memes, anything absolutely welcome!!! Flashfire will live here on tumblr in the #flashfire au tag, because I can NOT conjure up anything coherent lmao. First snippet about how Gale ended up in the jaeger pilot program coming soonish :)

Tagging: @thegrandpineapple, @antiquitea, @bucksbluescarf LOOK I MADE THE THING

[teamfortresstwo]

Mmhhhh,,, I think LO Hera is like the bigggesssst closet case . It’s crazy how I say this for every iteration (by which I mean 2-3? I realize I haven’t said this for EPIC’s but she doesn’t even have a song to herself so I dunno if that counts but I’m getting off topic) but Good Luck, Babe was written for HER

[sharliexth]

the current madohomu propaganda is just NOTHING so let me elaborate more.

To be clear, i do not know the nature of the other ship. Make your judgement with it, but I am speaking specifically on giving a full picture of madohomu.

(Spoilers of Madoka duh)

The tragedy in Madohomu is that both girls sacrifice everything for each other, and yet in the end, they can only ever love from a distance.

Let me explain.

The plot of Madoka Magica is essentially a breakdown of the "magic girl" trope. In this world magic girls make a pact with an alien called Kyubey to fulfill a wish in exchange for becoming a magic girl to fight witches that plague the earth. As it is later revealed however, the "witches" they fight are merely more corrupted magic girls, an inevitability for them when they one day break down, and these witches are collected by kyubey for energy.

Homura was at first a quiet, and shy as a transfer student. She felt low of herself, didnt think she was anything special or strong. But then came Madoka. Her first friend. Someone who treated her with kindness, who always helped others, who thought Homura was special. When she found out Madoka was a magic girl once again her admiration grew for how Madoka always put others first.

But then calamity struck. A powerful witch laid the entire city to ruin. Madoka could not fight it off and perished. And Homura, unable to accept this fate, begged Kyubey to make her a magic girl in exchange for being able to save Madoka.

This wish was granted. And with it, Homura gained time travel. Able to reset timelines again and again to avoid the same fate.

So Homura does so. Again and again she trains to be a stronger magic girl, to be able to change events, to SAVE Madoka. But it never happens. Either the witch is victorious or Madoka wins- only to end up a more horrible witch herself. Again and again Homura sees timeline after timeline of failure, through them eventually learning the truth of magic girls and having to carry the knowledge that if at any point she gave up, she would become a witch in turn. So she keeps fighting, keeps training, every moment dedicated to saving Madoka, to saving her one true friend. Eventually in one timeline Madoka begs Homura to make sure she never becomes a magic girl. A wish Homura takes to heart. She never wants Madoka to have the burden of being a magic girl, Homura sees to it that only she will ever have to bear that pain.

In the show we see Homura as this seemingly cold figure, always keeping distance and always coming in to intervene when the eager kyubey tries to bargain a deal, sensing great power in Madoka. Madoka feels a strange sense of familiarity with Homura but cant quite out her finger on it until she reveals the truth of her time travel. At this, things finally click for Madoka, about why it was Homura was so insistent she never make a deal, that she seemed familiar, and just how much she has kept fighting to try to change fate. When the witch arrives, Madoka takes shelter with her family, knowing that Homura is fighting the witch alone.

But.

She cant just stand by

Over the course of the show Madoka too learns how witches are merely magic girls when corrupted and this thought she couldnt simply sit idly with. So she runs. She goes out to the battlefield, just as Homura is almost about to be overtaken by darkness and turn into a witch. And she makes a deal with Kyubey. Homura is horrified by this. She begs, pleads for Madoka to not do it. After all if she makes this pact, what was anything for?

But Madoka is steadfast, because her wish is a monumental one: She wishes that magic girls, from all of time, never turn to witches.

The only way to reconcile this is for the universe itself to rewrite itself, for Madoka to ascend and become an upper being, a "rule of the universe" rather than a person. Her existence must be erased to bring joy to all witches.

But as the universe is rewriting itself. Homura slips through the cracks to see Madoka.

And she cant accept it. She cant accept that she will merely forget Madoka, that Madoka wants tp sacrifice herself, that all her time fighting to save Madoka will only result in her never remembering her at all. What was it all for? What was all those timelines, all that pain, all of that hope for?

Madoka assures that even if Homura forgets her, she will be with Homura, always. That as a higher being she has seen all that Homura has fought in every timeline and now understands fully what Homura has felt all this time. That perhaps Homura will be able to remember some fragments of her, even if not the whole. And with that, Madoka disappears, leaving Homura only with the red ribbons in her hair.

In the new rewritten universe, Homura had the name "Madoka" in her mind. Wears a red ribbon. She doesnt know who or what this Madoka is, but even without memory, this "Madoka" keeps her going. Gives her hope.

Tl;dr. Madohomu is about a magic girl who reverses time over and over again to try to save her girlfriend, only for that girlfriend to end up sacrificing herself to save all magic girls from despair, assuring the magic girl that even with her memory erased from the world she will always be with her.

Tragic Ships Tournament Round 3

Capvers picture by @charlotte-fleming

Propaganda under the cut!

Madohomu:

"Sweetest girls in the whole world doomed by Madoka being really sweet and trusting (and also her desire to be a cute magical girl). Homura is fighting so hard to protect her because she thinks she's cute or whatever."

Capvers:

"One half died holding hands with the other after finally being reunited and they never got to say I love you to each other. Your faves could never"

[lovesickeros]

now that natlan is out it's tsaritsa yearning hours again because i am one nation closer to either being horribly disappointed or foaming at the mouth!

creator!reader w a little side of conflicted tsaritsa is such good food I can't not yap about it. a woman who has dedicated so much of her life to severing herself from "love" of all kinds and succeeding and. just being so confident that when she meets you she's bitter and angry and mean. because she can't stand you. she isn't supposed to love yet you worm your way into her heart anyway and you don't even know it.

especially in smth like an imposter au. she tells herself your just a tool for her to use but your treated like the Divine you really are, pampered and spoiled every step. tells herself it means nothing when she indulges you – let's you hold her hand in private, eventually let's you move aside the veil, just a little.

and she hates it. hates how easy it is to let you break down the ice she's built up for years.

all you do is smile and she feels like she can't breathe. because despite how violently she rejects love in all aspects, it always bleeds through eventually. she despises it but the way you brush your thumbs over her cheeks makes her bitter and warm and it infuriates her to no end.

she hates you and she loves you and she can't stand you and if you were ever taken from her she'd destroy every inch of teyvat if she had to go get you back.

and ironically enough I think she'd also be the one to initiate any first kiss. maybe she's still trying to convince herself it's just a fluke and itll make her realize it meant nothing, it means nothing. desperate to fix whatever you've done to her and instead it just makes it worse.

a horrible mess of a woman who gave up on love just to be confronted with it when she finally accepted it's absence.

[literallyjusttoa]

I’m in my feels about Leto rn.

She a mom!!!! You don’t understand she’s a MOM!!!! And she was left all alone after the titan war (most titans were banished to Tartarus) and then she fell in love with this guy with all these red flags but they were genuinely in love!!! They sang songs and talked about deep things and Leto and Zeus LOVED EACH OTHER!!!!! And then she was made to suffer so much for it but she never took any of it out on her kids, and then they were basically taken away from her by Olympus!!!! And she was alone again!!!! But she loves her kids so so much so she built a safe place for them on Delos to come home to!!!! And she knows she can’t protect her kids from the monster the man she loves has become but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t try!!!! Leto tries so hard!!!!! And both of her kids fucking love her with all they have!!!!!!! Family is so important to all of them despite the fact that one member has become a horrible dickwad!!!!! They love each other!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[batcavescolony]

Shut up she's doing her best and sometimes your best hurts.

[kittenfangirl20]

Adam had his injuries looked at and he would have to be off for a couple weeks, but he was fit for fighting after that. He felt horrible for having to kill one of his friends especially when he had become so popular.

Angel: You are going to be staying at the General’s home while you heal.

Adam blushed hearing that. While this man led the fight that caused his wife to die, Lucifer didn’t kill her and the fight wasn’t his choice. In fact he had been so kind to Adam and in some ways he reminded Adam of Eve.

Angel: Everyone noticed how you look at the General. I bet if you asked him to take you to his bed, he would.

Adam knew that was what he wanted. Lucifer walked over to Adam at the infirmary.

Lucifer: You can choose to sleep in any room in my home, which one would you like?

Adam: Your room, with you.

Lucifer smiled and pressed his forehead against Adam’s forehead.

Lucifer: Of course and I will bring you dinner. I will have Abel brought over because he was worried about you, he loves you so much.

It made him think of himself and Charlotte, they were so close to each other. Adam was set up in Lucifer’s room relaxing. Lucifer arrived with a plate that cheese, meat, olives, and a couple eggs. Abel and Charlotte were there holding hands. Adam smiled seeing Charlotte looked more like Lucifer than Lilith.

Charlotte: I present to you a tribute for winning the battle today.

It was a necklace with both the crest of Charlotte and Lucifer. Lucifer took it and put it around Adam’s neck. Abel crawled into the bed with Adam and Charlotte sat in Lucifer’s lap and while Lucifer hand fed Adam the dinner. They even enjoyed some cheesecake made for Charlotte’s birthday.

Abel: The really nice and pretty older lady said she was my grandmother, is it true?

Adam: Yes, she is the Princess of all of Rome. But yes, she is my mother which makes you her grandson.

Charlotte: Does that mean you are the real Emperor of Rome?

Lucifer: Yes, but you can’t say that to anyone especially not your mother. Soon Adam will be Emperor and both you and Abel will be the Princess and Prince of Rome.

Adam nodded, it wasn’t her fault that Lilith was her mother. In fact it felt like they were all a family now. Both Charlotte and Abel were confused they were taken to another room. When they were alone Lucifer crawled into the bed with Adam.

Adam: When I am Emperor, I am making you mine and mine alone.

Lucifer knew what that meant, he wasn’t just going to be the Emperor’s lover like he was Lilith’s lover. He was going to be the Emperor’s husband and consort, he would become a Prince of Rome. Their lips met to kiss again.

Lucifer: I want that more than anything, I love you.

Adam: I love you too, make love to me.

Lucifer: Are you sure? Do you want this?

Adam: Yes.

They kissed as they undressed each other. Lucifer had to be careful to not touch Adam’s injuries. They couldn’t stop kissing each other while Lucifer found a little jar of olive oil to prep Adam.

Adam: This is my first time with a man.

Lucifer: I will be very gentle my love.

He covered dick with the olive oil to make it easier to go inside of Adam. He was going to make this experience so good for Adam that he won’t want anyone else, Adam would be his and his alone.

Lucifer: Tell me when you are ready.

Adam: I want you now.

Lucifer slid into Adam and Adam’s eyes became dilated when Lucifer’s dick found Adam’s prostate. Adam’s body started to tremble with pleasure, he never felt anything so good in his life.

Adam: More…. I want more…..

Lucifer thrust deep and lovingly into Adam. Both knew at that moment that they were meant for each other.

@things-arent-what-they-seem66

(Gladiator AU)

Sera didn’t want to do this, but she had to. There was unrest in Rome and she had to get her precious son, Adam out of Rome. The Emperor had been overthrown and they would go after Adam since he was meant to be the next Emperor and he was only ten years old.

Sera: I am so sorry Adam, this is the only way.

Adam: I understand mother, I love you.

Sera: I love you too.

She got Adam on the ship and it sailed away, she just had to hope that she would see him again someday.

16 years later……

Adam was getting ready for battle with his wife Eve. That dressed in armor while their son Abel was asleep.

Eve: We will fight to the end my love.

Adam: Of course.

They kissed and went to fight, but it was a Roman legion led by Lucifer, a celebrated general of Rome. Eve was sadly killed by an arrow in the neck. Adam was taken prisoner and taken to Rome. He didn’t know Abel was taken too. While Adam was taken to be registered as a gladiator and have his hair cut very short, Abel was seen by Lucifer who took him.

Lucifer: I didn’t like having to fight people who didn’t do anything against Rome, but a child being a slave is awful. I will make you the companion of the Princess.

Lucifer was made to be the lover of the cruel Empress of Rome Lilith. Her family took over when they overthrew Sera’s father sixteen years ago. Lilith had a child with Lilith who was Charlotte the Princess of Rome, the only good thing about being her lover. Charlotte saw Lucifer and ran to him.

Charlotte: Father, you have returned.

Lucifer: Yes and I brought a friend.

Poor Abel was crying for his mother being dead and not knowing where his father was.

Adam tried to hold back tears for his late wife and his son that he didn't know the fate of. He would likely die if he wasn't found or enslaved if he was.

He was forced to wear the armor of the gladiator for the Roman Empire. He was given a sword and shield.

Adam was forced into an area with the others who survived to be forced into being gladiators as well. There were whispers that they would be trained for the generals standards.

Adam scoffed, he didn't care about some general, all he cared for was gone now.

Lucifer stood ready to see how much work needed to go into the new gladiators.

Adam entered the arena, he was tired, angry, and felt like he didn't want to be fucked with. But here he is being forced to fight like it's entertaining. He didn't know the other man he had to fight, but he didn't care. If it was him or Adam, Adam wasn't going to lose twice.

Lucifer: Now who is that?

He watched the brunette fight in such a mesmerizing way. It wasn't everyday someone caught his eye.

He had to meet him if he lived.

[morrigan-sims]

Reunion

"Rook, is that really you?" "It's me."

This render has been sitting basically finished, just un-rendered and un-edited in my folders for WEEKS now, which is a crime, because it's fucking adorable.

Rook finally got to see his former captain and mentor, Zara, again for the first time in 3 years, and it was a very bittersweet reunion. She ended up revealing that she was aware of every single things that Wolf was doing to him during his time on the Sea Snake, but was unable to do anything about it because if she or anyone under her employ were to attempt to rescue him, Wolf would have killed him. As it turns out, she gave up sailing in order to protect him, lest Wolf take any movement of hers as a threat.

Here's my write-up of the first part of the scene:

And of course the reunion was then interrupted by the arrival of a giant snake which proceeded to eat Jay, the former surgeon's apprentice on Zara's ship and Rook's only friend prior to meeting the party. When he showed up Zara had been about to explain something very important to Rook (why Wolf hates her so much, and why she went after Rook), and after weeks of delays and fighting the giant snake, Rook (and I) finally get to find out the truth on Saturday.

Zara's been hinting that it's something Not Good and that she's worried about his reaction, but luckily for her, Rook would forgive her literally anything. And I do mean anything. She was the first person in his life who was ever truly kind to him, and she means more to him than any other person in his life. And this is the same man who tried to tell the BBEG of the entire campaign that he "wasn't that person anymore", after only knowing him for a matter of months. (In his defense he didn't know he was the BBEG.) In comparison, he'd been sailing with Zara for 6 years before he was captured.

Oh, and she's also going to give him her old ship, the Tide Breaker, and name him captain, which is going to be a bit of a mindfuck for him, given his intense guilt over Jay and like 18 other bad things that have happened to the party recently. Augh, I can't wait.

[alwayshinny]

Ginny Weasley 👑 - The most underrated character in hp, and the girl who deserves so much more love than she receives in fandom.