#figured I might as well upload some of the sketches i've done here

[angbands-last-hero]

[taralen]

Information

𝕎𝕖𝕝𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕪 𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕘!

I am a fantasy artist and writer based in the USA. This blog is mostly for my art and for sharing others' art. Sometimes, I'll post writings, musings, or theories about a work of fiction that I think warrants some in-depth analysis. I don't have any separate blogs, as I don't see the point in making them. I struggle with a lot of mental health conditions, so I'm really unstable but congenial. Hope you don't mind! Trust me, I am no threat to the public at large! I love making others laugh and smile, so why not just laugh at me, with me? The subject of this blog is primarily art and writing. I do not repost memes if they have nothing to do with either of these two categories.

If you're looking for specific tags, please use this guide:

#my art - Use this tag to filter posts showing only stuff drawn by me

#my writing - Similar to the above but just for writing I've done.

#musings - Random thoughts, journal posts, or ramblings, aka actual "blog" posts.

#merch haul - Posts related to collectibles I've obtained that I want to share with others.

#not my art - Filter posts to only show art I've reblogged by other people.

You can find me in a few other locations, but I'm only going to list my active ones here.

DeviantArt: https://www.deviantart.com/taralen For most of my completed pieces. The only sketches you'll find here are for clients who commissioned sketchy pieces.

Myfigurecollection: https://myfigurecollection.net/profile/Taralen For my figure and hobby-related stuff (doujin, merch, etc.) I sometimes build my own figures (aka Garage Kits.) I've been collecting valuables since I was a kid, so you can consider me an experienced collector. Have questions to avoid getting scammed? I'm the one to poke!

Pixiv: https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/3540237 [[JP Only. Also 18+ but censored.]]

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taralen Uncensored 18+ options, Hi-res versions, process compilations, and original pieces (usually concept art) I don't upload publicly.

Discord: [[Private]] I love meeting new people, but I would rather speak to someone privately on here first before I share this. I'm extremely chatty, so be warned!

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Taralen I'm the least active on here, but I might as well include it.

DNI IF YOU: Nothing offends me. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) JK I am a very curious and open-minded person. If you have views that don't align with mine, we might not have the best conversation, but it can certainly be an enlightening or interesting one! What are my views? Well, we learn these things from each other through polite conversation. Exposing myself to different lifestyles and opinions is enriching. Who knows? Even a hateful individual might change their mind when speaking to someone with kindness and understanding. I'm open to being followed, messaged, etc., by just about anyone, even people who I vehemently disagree with, UNLESS: ❎ You've committed or condoned acts of animal, child, elderly, or disabled person abuse/assault. We don't need slimes like that anywhere. Anyone that harms real innocents is a piece of human scum, regardless of whether or not they fit the categories I listed. ❎ You're just trying to sell some sex service to me. Sorry, but I am not interested. ❎ Condone or committed acts of necrophilia on deceased humans or animals. Seriously, what the $%^& is wrong with you? ❎ You are a stalker. Kind of obvious, but I had one in the past, so don't act like I forgot. 8^)

If you have similar interests, feel free to message me or ask me questions. I am lonely, so it's nice to talk to new people now and then. If you think my ideas, "headcanons," or interpretations are stupid, then that's fine. I don't expect everyone to like them. It is what it is.

Any and all reblogs are appreciated. If you repost my stuff like, say, on Reddit, please give credit and link back to the source, whether it be here or somewhere else. I always like seeing my work shared.

[plantcrazy]

Progress Update 20.05.23 - Lost Children of the CCC

I've got quite a few changes & updated stuff to talk about (as well as chapters to renumber... again >> )

FIRSTLY! I figured out why my word count has been stupidly high for the amount of chapters I actually have written vs to write. The average YA book word count is 90,000 ish, and I'm on 102,000 at 40% done.

Because of this, I've broken the story up into 4 part for what was going to be the escaping the wall section. I think the story will have a total of 6 or 7 parts when finished.

Progress

Part 1 as you can see is about done. The biggest hold up is the two comic chapters (Ch.20 & 21) and Ch.1 & 11. The only thing I haven't started on is the final chapter. But everything else is in some stage of editing, either an old version getting updated or final tweaks.

Part 2 is a very patchy with lots of edits to be made to what chapters are done or started. However, I know what I'm wanting to write so I'm quite confident once part 1 is done, it won't take me long to make some good headway.

Ch.20 - ArE wE hAvInG fUn YeT~ [Part 1] I've got two pages to colour & everything is finished & ready to upload.

I've got a lot of school work & Ch.21 to get done in the meantime, so I'll be sticking with the Monday & Friday uploads till all the pages are out, at which point the full chapter will go up on A03.

Ch.21 - ArE wE hAvInG fUn YeT~ [Part 2] The first script is done, and I've sketched out pages 1-8. I've found some edits I might need to make to the backend of this chapter and will be reviewing if those changes are needed over the next couple of days.

Art wise

Chapters 1, 2, 11, 19, 23 - 26 need covers making still.

All chapters need cover numbers updating (again) as the intro chapter I was debating making, will be the new Ch.1

I'm on the fence about adding bio's or not at the end of the respective chapter. I looked at it, but never got around to it in the past.

Looking on other art ideas to go with the chapters.

A03 Updates

I've updated tags, so they're more accurate to the updated version of the story. And yes, I gave in. I added the shipping tags. I've never done romance, but I've been inspired by everyone's amazing works over here so... shippers, you may celebrate. I'm joining your cult, lol.

Story description updated to be more accurate for Part 1

Chapter no. changed from 17/?? to 17/26

Update chapter 19/11/22 removed.

Current Ch.17 is actually Ch.22 OLD VERSION. I haven't taken it down, as A) I don't want to upload all those pages again. B) I'm pretty near to 'releasing' that chapter with my current speed. I've put a disclaimer on it so readers are aware it's an old version.

[lovelywingsart]

Here's an update, I promise I am alive!!!

I actually just got done playing Resident Evil 4 Remake, as well as replaying Village for a 4th time to work out some more details for Metalworks!

- RE4R was AWESOME, and it's officially the second RE game I've finished!!! I really loved it even though I did need some help from friends, and I do plan on eventually playing the other games as well! 😊💙 My favorite character was Luis, and yes I shot Krouser in the face with a rocket launcher. If you know, you know.

- Despite it being my 4th playthrough of Village(which I hopped into last night immediately after finishing 4R), I actually noticed a few things I hadn't before, specifically in Donnas section, which of course led into a few new headcanons both for Donnas part AND Karls(mostly Emelia), and even RE8!Mica thanks to Donna. I actually took a bunch of screenshots when playing as well, because I have... plans. 👀 Screenshot 'rendering' plans, like the one I did a while ago for Emelia. 👀👀👀

- This requires its own section because I'm including pictures, BUT- I also took the chance while going through the factory to write out some details about Emelias part of the game!

I've been meaning to write it out with a bit more detail, and I'm actually ADDING detail to it to flesh it out a bit more; but once the initial meeting in the Foundry is fleshed out, y'all are getting a Metalworks Main Timeline story for the first time in fucking forever. I'll *eventually* work out the meeting in the Survival AU, because there are some massive differences (other than the obvious). But I worked through the initial meeting as well as placement and all (done while looking around the room in game and all), and a nice chunk for what would be her Mini-Boss fight. What I DONT have is, obviously, the inclusion of items and all you'd be able to pick up for the fight, or the placement of her own 'diary' except for the very last page you find. I ALSO didn't include the part with selling the crystals to Duke which I just noticed, but I'll add that in later!

I dont think I'll play Shadows of Rose again immediately since it's also pretty fresh in my brain, and its easier to watch a playthrough since it's a simple layout/story instead of 'so much detail that a YouTuber would typically skip over but I need'. I'll work more on that at a later time when I'm farther into the Survival AU and get done alot of other things I want to do!

**If I DO write fully for the DLC, it will most likely be, like, 2 stories. One for her meeting Rose and another for when they beat Miranda again. There isn't too much in between.

But... yeah!! There's my massive text wall update.

Uploading to Instagram has been paused for a bit and I've been suffering through a depressingly large bour of art block(and probably impostor syndrome), hence why I played Village. It definitely helped, and I have a bunch of ideas for warm up before other big things.

Dear Mother is one of those things, as I've been stuck in the middle of the sketch because I hit a blank when halfway done. 🙃 BUT I'm gonna do a few things beforehand while hopefully chipping away at it, and once I get over the little speed bump of a panel I should be good!

I hope yall are as excited as I am, I'm really hoping that my brain works out fully to actually do everything I want. Its been a cycle of 'on and off again' for a good few weeks... hence why I took a break to play Resi. I figured it might help me clear my head a little and give some new ideas.

Here's hoping it works!! 💙

[n3mesi5]

Study Sunday #4

17-11-2024

Status update: I am not dead, just sad 💀

So anyways, I missed a few sundays which where I need to post the about the knowledge I gathered. I am actively documenting what I'm studying overtime, I don't have the energy to lay it out in a way that can be simply learned in one read, so a quick summary.

I am working on art pieces too, but there are some areas that I haven't learned to draw yet!

but hey, I'm alive, I'm well, staying healthy! and I'll resume what I'm doing.

#1 Wanderers are back!

Here are some "very early concept art" of a redesign of my characters for me to feel their vibes

(Left to Right)

Cindy, Gaige, Lavlanr (Kyra and Turrim are coming soon)

(I'll reveal more about them as I finish their art, they're my most fleshed out characters yet and I want to illustrate who they are than just telling it through texts! I can draw for crying out loud! Show n' tell!)

Gaige pose 2

I want it to have this feeling of she's "Breaking her elegance" because of how pissed she is.

#2 Splicing art together!

I learned about splicing references together from a talented artist, Svavelstickan / LK

please check their game out: Star Fetchers! It's a new experience with its own unique flavor and gameplay! Still waiting and excited for episode 2!

#3 Signalis Fanart Prototype

The prototype was a test to make something cool for the game's anniversary, but I already struggle with deadlines :( but enjoy this prototype as a proof that the effect I had in mind was possible!

I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT! The whooleeee-bleeding-effect-thing!

Last study sunday, I went through trial and error, tears and anger just to figure out how to make this effect! (The bleed from her eye is piercing through other solid colors) I want it to find a way to simplify it, but also a way to teach it with a video, and I'm camera shy...

But anyways, I think everyone should take advantage of water color's unique properties! Add effects possible through water color instead of using it to add flat colors- They aren't markers... (unless you're broke to buy a set, like me...) But as a confession, I use watercolors to add "flat color bases" for my prismacolors so they won't feel too rough or grainy.

Closing thoughts:

I have a lot in my life as of late and everyday I always invent something that will help me cope with my disadvantages.

Here's what I learned that you folks might help you out too!

(TLDR: Divide your art into each"Steps / phases" and finish a step or more per day. Small commitments leading up to big progress.)

I always treat art as "can be done in one sitting" since I've seen others talented enough to make fanart before the trailer/teaser finished uploading😭 But! art takes time! So this idea involve dividing your art into each steps or phases! I feel like professionals already know this, but some of you might not know it like I do!

For example, you finish layout on day 1, finish sketching on day 2, add layout in day 3! Small commitments building up to big progress, which is good enough and healthy for your schedule if you're really busy with other crap in your life! like me!

[nellysartchive]

Hii! This blog is a portfollio/archive for @oleyceon's art. Here, I want to try sharing EVERY sort of art I've done as well as their creation dates if I can. Typically older stuff and smaller art will be shared here, but any art I post to my main will be reblogged here I may fuck around a bit with this blog, but I'll still focus on simply archiving my art for the sake of it. I don't really care about reach since thats what posting on my main is for, so the tags will mostly just be my system

Tagging system:

#art - Mainly used to filter out anything off topic I might post here artwork - Finished pieces of art #sketches - Small drawings done for fun that have a lot of messy lines #doodles - Sketches with cleaner lines and/or more effort put into them. However, theyre still messy compared to acutal pieces #edit - Anything that I've like.. edited that is still consider art in a way (may contain a bunch of gacha lmaoo) #animations - Anything that moves #animation meme - Animations set to music or other audio, most likely uploaded to my youtube #3d - Anything I've made in a 3d program like blender #model - A 3d model I've sculpted myself #render - An image composed with said 3d software (will probably most likely be splatoon renders lol) #comms - Art commissioned by others that I've made for them #artfight - Any artfight related media I've made, usually attacks #shitpost - Stupid shit I do -There may be some extra miscellaneous tags on posts. If it becomes prevelant enough, I'll add the tag to this list

These tags were set in place for people to filter through my art if they wanted to. It's mainly for people who want to commission me and take a look at my work. For example, they can use #artwork to see all my serious pieces and sift past the shitposts

Speaking of commissions, if you like my art and want to commission me, please check out nellycomms.carrd.co!! (great advertisment i know) Currently, they're closed because I want to figure shit out and set it up properly, but I'd appreciate if you'd keep an eye on me for when I do open them ^^'

Extra links

Main - @oleyceon Carrd Commission Carrd Twitter Youtube

Okay that's all please enjoy my shit :D

[archfeyworkshop]

I Participated in Artfight 2023

On reflection, not sure how much of a good idea that was. Let's talk about it. All the pieces in this post are those I produced for the event.

To summarise briefly for those who aren't involved: Artfight is an art event that runs the length of July. Everyone who signs up splits into two opposing teams with arbitrary names, and uploads art of their own characters. They then launch 'attacks' on other artists by drawing the characters of the attacked artist gaining points based on the effort put into the piece. It's ultimately just a way to do art trades and fanart with the veil of a competition. I chose to use it as a way to get myself to practise poses, perspective and proportions. I don't work very well just drawing random sketches to figure this stuff out - I've always needed to finish pieces I want to do or I get despondent.

It was a bit of a rocky start too. The first piece above was when I still wasn't too clear on shading, and on top of that it turned out I'd attempted an attack against a spectator...which doesn't work. It was still lovely practise, drawing mechanical arms and...snitties. I like snitties. Interacting with the environment was important too, and this was probably my strongest foray into it. Not much to start with here though.

You can see a pretty big difference between these two pieces. For a start it's a pretty clear demonstration on my lack of experience - with this kind of simple perspective when the body is all at roughly the same distance I can get it right. But this came just after I was given some advice on shading and the difference is obvious...at least on the arms. It's a little sketchier lower down. The eye is my favourite part of this piece and I think generally it was the best work I did. And of course I've a soft spot for the wings that looked a fair bit like my own.

This ended up being essentially a revisiting of the first serpentine piece with improved shading, which of course looks visibly better, though the eyes and lips somewhat suffered. My hair on this and the previous piece were a jump ahead though, even if I don't entirely know where the change came from. I was enjoying these pieces regardless, though. The shapes, the anatomy practise, drawing snakes and moths and things that aren't my idea.

This was unfortunately about the time I learned about the controversy surrounding this year's Artfight. That the site's owner had embezzled a fairly sizeable (for the project) number of donations while the people running and maintaining the artfight site were receiving nothing for their efforts. I'll admit that put a dampener on my thoughts, though given that I was only going to be producing one more piece at best I ended up deciding to carry on as planned. Who knows if I'll participate next year though.

There was also the factor that focussing on Artfight alongside all my other projects, vtubing stuff included, was a fair amount of strain. It was a pretty stressful month in the end. This piece, the final one, I forced myself to finish on-stream despite my frankly many misgivings about the face that...I wish I'd done better on. I received help from an artist friend to figure out how to clean it up afterwards, but this was the end result as per my personally-set challenge. I might post an edited version later sometime though.

Even if I didn't do a great job of it, this was probably the most technically-difficult piece. Low angle, foreshortening, lots of other art terms I don't know because I'm self-taught...I did a half-decent job of the hair and cloth I think and after a rework between streams, my general take on the anatomy was good, barring the head and the right foot. I'm told I did fairly well for a first time but...I'm not at where I want to be yet. Not compared to the previous pieces.

Artfight this year was worth it, to me. But it was stressful and the controversy makes me unsure if I'll be doing it again next year if it even runs, even if my art has improved by then.

[stardestroyer81]

If the Fated Acolyte and Quincy T. Page are any indication, it's no surprise that I love creating self-inserts that are designed as faithfully to their source material/time period as I can manage! And after discovering two games that would ultimately shape this blog into what it is today— Rivals/Lovers of Aether respectively— it only took a couple of days before I decided to design a self-insert for the Aether franchise.

And I did! ... sort of.

Because designing a Rivals/Lovers of Aether self-insert would involve choosing an animal to base myself on as well as drawing him anthropomorphically as well as taking what I would come up with for his Rivals design and make a Lovers-accurate design based on it... the prospect of a Rivals/Lovers S/I was easier said than done.

However, I did have a general idea of what I wanted his character to be like for both iterations, and before long introduced Psycha, the Clairvoyant Enigma, to my blog in this post right here! It was after I uploaded this post that I began scouring the internet for inspiration on how to design an anthropomorphic sheep character, and while I did ultimately begin a sketch of Psycha's Rivals counterpart...

Longtime followers know which counterpart came first.

And as of today, February third...

It's been a full year since the creation of Psycha's Lovers of Aether design!

Personally, of all of the OCs and self-inserts that I've shown off on this blog, I think Psycha may very well be my ultimate favorite. While I make sure to design all of my self-inserts to have an aspect that I have— whether that means their personality or what they look like— I find that Psycha is the absolute closest to who I am as a person (Barring the fact that he's a 4'10" sheep, of course).

So, some time after I began speaking of him more and more in various posts on this blog, I knew that I wanted to draw him again for the one year anniversary of the design of his Lovers of Aether iteration. I initially intended on drawing up a completed art piece of his Rivals of Aether iteration, which is pretty much finalized by now, though...

I think it's safe to say that Psycha's Lovers design is the definitive Psycha.

Some might notice two interesting details in this drawing of Psycha; firstly, he's not wearing his usual blue plaid flannel. I realized when going into drawing him again that I had only drawn Psycha without it once, and that sketch didn't even end up being posted. I figured I ought to draw him in just the t-shirt he wears underneath it for a change— it's also the first time you get to see his full 'Supaboy' shirt design, which is modeled after the Super Famicom logo!

Secondly, proudly pinned to his chest is a heart-shaped bi flag pin. I decided to include this because, in all honesty, I didn't start embracing the fact that I was bisexual until a little after I designed Psycha, which was when I knew for certain that I swung both ways in terms of gender attraction.

It's kind of an unwritten rule at this point that all of my self-inserts are bisexual, though the most bi S/I of them all is for certain Psycha. Even in spite of his sheepishness, I feel as though he would be proud to show off who he is with such a pin, and it fits his design a lot better than I expected it to. Perhaps I'll make it a permanent addition!

I'm really proud of this drawing of Psycha, seeing as in some ways it's a fully realized version of this sketch, and I hope that you've enjoyed reading about the process of this art piece of Clairen's very canon love interest!

(As a side note... hey, Dan Fornace and @elranno, since it was decided to add the four new workshop rivals to the Rivals lineup... can we make Psycha canon to the Lovers universe for real? 👀)

[professorsnape394]

The Potions Master’s Apprentice

Chapter Four: The Three Broomsticks

A/N: This is the fourth part to my fanficiton ‘The Potions Master’s Apprentice (Severus Snape x OC)’. Chapters 1-16 can be found already uploaded on Wattpad under the same name. Feel free to leave requests in my inbox for anything Snape related you want me to write. Leave a comment below if you wish to be added to my tag list.

Pairing: Severus Snape x OC (Dumbledore’s Granddaughter)

Summary: A talented young witch is employed as an apprentice professor at Hogwarts, but who will she be working under? Severus Snape is not best pleased with his new responsibility of taking on an apprentice, however she is relentless to create a friendship between them. Will she be successful? Or might the friendship just go a little two far? With the eyes of her grandfather constantly watching over them, an attempt at a relationship might not be in the cards for Aria Dumbledore and Severus Snape.

Word Count: 1733

Warnings: n/a

Credits to Gif Creator

The following days transpired just as the day before had done; a lot of potion brewing and a little conversation. However, more notably Severus Snape was actually participating in the conversation for once. Aria could not yet say she had seen a pleasant side to the man, however he was acceptable to converse with at the very least. By the end of the third day he no longer pretended to busy himself with textbooks and he actually elected to help with the potion brewing for once. Being able to talk to the Professor and ask him any questions helped her a great deal in learning the correct procedures. She felt herself being more at ease around him, and soon enough they had developed their own way of working together, that she found quite enjoyable. Even Severus had become accustomed to the woman's presence in his classroom as she pranced around the cauldrons, laughing every now and then at his sarcastic comments he hadn't entirely meant to be humorous.

Aria had been lost in thought as she stirred the final potion to completion. "I was thinking." She said cautiously. "It's pretty hard finding things to occupy myself at nights, there isn't much to do here, except aimlessly wandering the halls. How do you feel about maybe taking a trip to Hogsmeade this weekend, have some dinner, maybe drinks? It would make a change from the elves cooking, although I admit they'd be pretty hard to beat."

"I appreciate the offer Miss Dumbledore. However you know how I feel about spending time with Mr. Hagrid, I doubt a change of setting would convince me, especially with the addition of alcohol." Severus spoke, his tone softer than it usually would at such a request.

"Hagrid wouldn't be there." She hastened to add. "He mentioned he has business out with the castle grounds. I just figured since the two of us would be here anyway, it wouldn't make any sense for us to sit alone."

"You may have forgotten, Miss Dumbledore, but I like being alone. I eat alone every night, and I do not wish to simply be your back up plan, now Hagrid has left you to do the same."

"I don't mean for you to be a back up plan Sev- Professor Snape. I just think it might do us both some good. After all haven't we been getting along better these past few days." Aria wanted to get to know the man more, she felt they had got off on the wrong foot and the way to fix this was spending more time together, and hopefully they would even become friends at the end of it all.

"You haven't been as disagreeable as I expected you would be, I will admit. This does not change my previous opinion." He stated.

"At least consider it." She pleaded.

With a sigh Snape flipped another page. "I'll consider it." He agreed, continuing reading his book, no longer interested in conversing with the young witch.

The next few days dragged in more than ever. Aria enjoyed keeping herself busy and was not used to having this much free time. The only thing keeping her sane was her passions for drawing and nature. She chose to combine the two and spend her days outside, sketching the beautiful landscape she found herself in. She preferred to opt for portraits, capturing the essence of humanity in her sketches, but trees were fine too. She shrugged.

Sunday morning eventually came around and Aria chose to tackle something she had been putting off ever since her arrival at Hogwarts. A small pile of letters had accumulated on her bedside table, ignoring each one as they came in. She immediately recognised the scrawled writing on the envelope and could not face opening them. Every second day she received a letter and it broke her heart knowing what lay within. Reading each one carefully, she knew she could not face writing the response the sender desperately awaited. Instead she scribbled a small, generic reply, making sure to include that she would be too busy to write often due to her crazy schedule. This of course was a lie as she had virtually nothing planned for the next couple of weeks until term begun. Aria did not want to face even reading any more letters as long as she remained at Hogwarts, and so she swore to herself she wouldn't no matter how hard she knew it would be.

A firm knock echoed through her quarters just as Aria sent her letter off with beautiful brunette barn owl. "Come in." She called curious as too who would be calling on her. Shocked to see Professor Snape striding into her private chambers, Aria couldn't help but question his presence there.

"I've had time to think about your offer." He stated blankly, visibly out of his comfort zone.

"And?" Aria pressed.

"And I suppose there would be no harm in joining you for one meal. After all, as you say, we both will be here alone, we may as well keep each other company."

"Fantastic!" His colleague gleamed, jumping up from her position on her couch. "Just give me some time to get ready and I'll meet you there? Say six oclock at the Three Broomsticks?"

"Six is fine with me. Don't be late." He warned, leaving the room just as quickly as he came.

*

Aria entered the Three Broomsticks at five forty-five, ensuring Snape had no reason to reprimand her once again for her tardiness. It stunned her to find the sallow skinned man already sitting at a booth, firewhiskey in hand, patiently waiting on her arrival. She couldn't help but smile to herself as she watched him tap out a rhythm on the side of his glass as he took yet another sip. She wondered if it was out of impatience or nervousness, either way she thought it slightly endearing to see.

Hearing the click of a familiar set of heels quickly approaching him, Severus Snape looked up from his glass, almost needing to hold back the urge to smile, but managed to keep his composure. He rose to his feet, holding out a hand to greet the fellow Professor, instantly cursing himself for such a foolish action. "Sit." He commanded, motioning to the seat across from his own. "I'll get you a drink."

"Oh no, there's really no need Professor." Aria insisted, shaking her head, causing her beach-like waves to brush over her exposed shoulders. "I'm afraid alcohol doesn't agree with me at the best of times." She admitted.

"Correct me if I am wrong, Miss Dumbledore, but as I recall it was you who suggested a meal and drinks. Or did I mishear you." Snape asked, feeling almost foolish, having already down two glasses of Firewhiskey.

"I did say that didn't I." The young Miss Dumbledore blushed. "I apologise, sometimes I just cannot stop myself when I speak, I often forget the consequences of drinking, which as it happens is the ultimate consequence of drinking." She chuckled.

The older man shot her a small look of disdain, not at all as amused as she had expected him to be. He let out a small grunt of dissatisfaction, and proceed to down the dregs of his drink.

It took a few more awkward moments of silence and Severus being slightly more irritable that Aria had wished for before the two finally settled in to a rhythm of conversation. Soon enough it came time to eat and Aria took it upon herself to call over the waitress. As he ordered Aria watched as Severus made no effort to look up at the woman serving him. It crossed her mind that maybe this was a deliberate attempt at ignoring her voluptuous breast and curvature of her hips. However, on the other hand she considered that maybe he truly was not interested as she thought back to their conversation a few days before.

"She's stunning." Aria couldn't help but observe. "You should go for it, chat her up, she might be into the dark, brooding, intellectual type."

"As I told you before, Miss Dumbledore, dating it not top priority for me. If you find her so attractive why don't you, as you say, 'chat her up'." Snape replied sarcastically, not expecting the woman to take him seriously.

"I might just." She said, finding her eyes following the waitress back to the kitchen for a moment or two. He couldn't help but feel a little jealous as the witch watched the woman walk away from their table, though he was not sure why.

"So tell me Professor Snape." The young Professor began. "What are the other Professor's at Hogwarts like? Who am I took look out for? Who's my competition." She grinned, wriggling her eyebrows menacingly.

"I'm not sure I know what you mean." He hummed in response.

"You know." She shrugged. "Who are you close with? Will I have to fight them for custody of you." She laughed, although the Professors expression did not change. "What I'm trying to say Severus is, I'm new here, besides yourself and Hagrid I know no one. I'd like to consider us friends, though you may have a different opinion. I was simply trying to express my nervousness at being the new girl. I was hoping you'd be able to help me settle in, introduce me to your other friends and colleagues that is." She sighed.

"You do not seem to understand my disposition, Miss Dumbledore, that which I feel I have made abundantly clear. I am not one to socialise. I am not one to make friends. I am here to teach and teach alone. I do what your grandfather asks of me and that is the extent of my relationship with the staff. They understand how I am, and respect that. I do not bother them and in return they do not bother me. You have been the first to struggle with this concept, Professor." He struggled to grant her the title.

"I didn't realise." Aria stuttered slightly, not understanding how she had not caught on. "I had simply thought you had a vendetta against me, due to my position here at Hogwarts. I didn't realise you shut yourself off from everyone. I apologise for any inconvenience I have caused you." The tone of her voice softening, becoming almost a whisper-like volume. She was embarrassed she had forced him out of his habits and brought him to the Three Broomsticks to clear the air. She realised now it had been a pointless act. This man had been stuck in his ways for over a decade and she would not change that a fortnight into knowing him.

"I am here, aren't I." Severus stated, trying not sound as harsh as he previously had. "Had I truly despised you I would not be wasting my time here with you. I have come to the realisation that if we are to work in such a close proximity to each other, it would be best if we maintained at least some level of civility with one another."

"I appreciate the sentiment, Professor." She replied shyly, remaining silent. Immediately Severus regretted opening his mouth. He didn't entirely hate her company and in fact he had found himself starting to enjoy the evening. It took him a minute or two to gain the confidence to speak the words aloud, but he figured the pay off was worth the sacrifice of a small amount of pride.

"Will you stop fretting woman." He demanded. "I was just beginning to find your constant rambling tolerable. If I wished to spend the evening in silence, I wouldn't have made the effort to accept your invitation to come here tonight. You have managed to entice me thus far, do not spoil what may be your one chance at a friendship with me."

"A friendship?" This piqued her interest.

"You know what I mean. A working relationship. A tolerance. A chance for me to accept your position as my apprentice." Snape corrected himself, fumbling over his words.

"Mmmm." She smirked, taking a small sip of butterbeer. "I'll just pretend a friendship is off the cards for us then, Professor. Although I don't recall you mentioning trips to Hogsmeade as an exception to your reclusive personality." She raised an eyebrow suggestively.

Despite his annoyance at her persuasive abilities, and daring comments, he was glad he had convinced her back to her previously inquisitive self.

Both choosing to ignore any reservations they might have about their 'non-friendship' the two spoke for hours with ease. With each empty glass of fire whiskey Severus Snape found himself relaxing more into the conversation, his reputation becoming a distant memory. It was the first he had allowed himself to truly relax in possibly the whole of his life.

It seemed in one evening Severus had gotten to know all there was to know about Aria's life, although strangely she mentioned nothing regarding her family and Snape chose not to pursue the subject. He loved listening to her talk, she was a rambler, rarely needing any interjection from him except the odd mumble here and there and that's the way he liked it. He was a listener, he loved taking in new information no matter the subject. Most importantly it meant he did not have to share anything about himself, unless the woman specifically asked, and even in those rare occasions, she knew better than to pressure him when he chose not to provide an answer.

Aria told him of the schooling she received in Ilvermorny, her school in America. She told him of her job working in a local alchemists after she left school. She confided in him of her dream to become a professor, or an auror even, really she was just desperate to make a difference in someone's life and her dream would not succeed by spending the rest of her days working in a dingy old shop. "And that's why your grandfather brought you here?" He questioned, the topic piquing his interest. "You told him of your dream to teach?" "I guess you could say that." She agreed, not wanting to raise any more questions than necessary. "He didn't bring me from America though, if that's what your meaning. I was already here. My mother sent me to school in America to protect me, with all that Wizarding War carry on and what with me being a Dumbledore, she didn't want to put me in any more danger than I already was. She remained here with my father however and I visited on the holidays." Snape raised a single brow at the mention of her mother and father but changed the subject completely, seeing the woman being to shy away slightly.

"It's getting late." Severus observed. "I should walk you back to the castle before it gets too dark."

"That would be nice" Aria smiled, rising from her seat.

The couple made their way back to the beautiful lit up castle as the sky turned a deep shade of blue above them. They continued to speak all the way down to the dungeons, this time Severus participating just as much as Aria. The Potions Master escorted his apprentice to the door of her quarters, the two of them swaying awkwardly not knowing where to go from here.

"You can come in for a drink... if you'd like." Aria hesitated to ask. "Although I'm not sure I have anything alcoholic, so tea might need to suffice."

"I appreciate the invitation, but it's been a long day for me, I'm afraid I must retire for the night." Now they were back in the familiar castle grounds Severus felt as though he had suddenly returned to his body, and the events of the night lingered at the forefront of his mind, a deep feeling of regret developing in his stomach.

"Very well." Aria agreed, feeling slightly uncomfortable herself. "Good night, Professor Snape."

"Good night, Miss Dumbledore." He spoke softly, rocking anxiously the balls of his feet, waiting for the woman to disappear into her quarters. With a simple nod and one final smile from Aria, she vanished from his sight. The sound of the door closing echoed through the halls, ringing in Severus' ears, and suddenly he felt more alone than he ever had before.

Aria stood with her back to the door, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. As much as she enjoyed the evening with her mentor, the intense awkwardness that occurred at her door, got her thinking about the man on the other side. Her intention was to get to know the man better, and though he did not confide in her much, she felt she had achieved that, maybe more than anyone ever had.

Why had he allowed her to get close to him when he claimed to distance himself from the world?

This thought circled her brain for the rest of the night.

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