#is there a tag for the original style of Wolfstar

[22degreehalo]

Seeing new-style Wolfstar stuff makes me feel like I finally understand people who get super stubborn about seme/uke dynamics

Like, yes this is all just a vast generalisation smoothing over a huge number of personality, physical, and backstory traits that too often perpetuates heteronormative stereotypes rather than accepting the inherently diversity of real human beings.

But also, Remus being the more masculine partner and Sirius the more feminine one????? Absolutely not. Blocked

[cool-lesbian-is-here]

Intro post!!!!!

I’ve never actually officially done one, so I might as well.

I am Katya (short for Kateryna)

I was born in Ukraine and lived there for two years before moving to England with my family. I also had like a weird year where we lived in Luxembourg but whatever. So yeah I speak Russian and English fluently and I can understand ukrainian but not speak it fluently.

I am a cis lesbian MINOR (14).

I love music, I listen to it all the time so here are some artists I like 😁😁: David Bowie, queen, Rolling Stones, the smiths, oasis, Måneskin, the Runaways, the Beatles, T. Rex, Aerosmith, Jon Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Billy Joel, deep purple and pink Floyd, ABBA, girl in red, Chappell roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Ayesha erotica, K$SHA, Britney Spears, mccaffferty, Alex G, Penelope Scott, Rio Romeo, the front bottoms, Mitski, Laufey, Madilyn Mei, the cardigans, Conan Gray and arctic monkeys

TV Girl has my heart

There are obvs more but I can’t remember them all, anyway, moving on, fandoms!

BBC Sherlock, the marauders, LOTR and The Hobbit, dead boy detectives,the dead poets society, wicked, a series of unfortunate events, Good omens, Percy Jackson and gravity falls.

Books that literally changed my brain chemistry: the Perks of Being a Wallflower, dead poets society, Girl, interrupted, the catcher in the rye, Solitaire, and a separate peace.

Movies I adore wholeheartedly: tell it to the bees, Girl, interrupted, Dead Poets Society, mamma Mia, say anything, the rocky horror picture show, imagine me and you, I saw the TV glow, the perks of being a wallflower, the whole ass LOTR series

Obsessions I had when I was younger(please don’t laugh): Ed sheeran(I KNOW, OK.), Katy Perry (her songs r still kinda fire tho) and of course “The Land of Stories” (that shit had a hold on me)

Hobbies: reading, crochet, playing idle games and watching yt side by side, and making random shit

Style: I’d say I dress grunge so my clothes all have like a little bit of each marauder in them

Marauders!!!: my moonshine says I am a James kinnie, I have also been told I’m a marlene kinnie, so do w that what you will, my fav marauder is sirius tho and my fav ship is wolfstar(nothing is better than the original in my opinion). Honestly, I think I lean towards fluffy fics more when I’m looking for a wolfstar fic and also there’s this random lore Abt me that I have read ATYD twice and also ATYD-Sirius’s perspective twice.

Random lore: when I was 11, my brother and I exploded a power bank together so now I have this big scar on my leg from the burn. My favourite colour is cherry red. I also have a fake name that I give to ppl who I don’t rlly want knowing my name. I’m allergic to gold but I look rlly good in it 😔😔. I annotate my books.my fav dinosaur is the triceratops. I love to quote random songs on here ✨✨. Also I rlly wanna play guitar but I have zero musical talent 😭😭 EDIT: MY DAD IS LETTING ME GET LESSONS AND IM GONNA START SOON!!!. Also I love death note!!!

I have a tortoise named Bowser, but in Russian, we call him Боря (boris) :DDDD

This blog has a lot of random, uncensored thoughts that pop into my head, so be ready for the randomest of statements without tags being on your dash

yes I am hater and I hate Taylor Swift with a passion. BUT IF U LIKE HER IDRC ILL JUST KNOW THAT U AHEV A SHIT MUSIC TASTE

I am a person that fully believes you must like a band to wear that bands merch

I am forever a user of YouTube music, no amount of disappointment in me will change this, so don’t try.

I honestly think that’s everything, so um yeah! That’s me :)

ALSO GUYS JS QUICKLY, IF I CALL YOU “girl” OR “bitch” IM NOT TRYNA CALL YOU AN ACTUAL GIRL OR AN ACTUAL BITCH ITS JS SMTH THAT I USE AS GENDER-NEUTRAL THINGS TO ALL PPL. IM RLLY SORRY IF I MISGENDER U, I RLLY DONT MEAN TO, ITS JS A THING I SAY!!!

This is a cool funky collage of my vibes 😁😁, a courtesy of my beautiful, talented, cool, funky, awesome sauce moot: @dont-turn-left

✨my moonshine✨: @corvibb

my fav girlies:

Little ball of sunshine <3: @permetutotheworld Professional crash outer <3: @theheightsarewuthering

some guy that keeps telling me to drink water: @st4rboyloser

a very dear friend that gangs up w Cael to bully me into drinking water :(( : @jammahanna

I genuinely don’t know how this happened but we’re like soulmates??: @wiitchessdaaughter

WATERMELON IS PINK, FUCK YOU @corvibb

[padfootscoldleathers]

ladies, gents, bents, non-conformants!

welcome welcome one and all to me posting about my fic and welcome to my mailbox if you want to send me stuff you'd like to see in the fic (i will consider them even if they dont make it to the fic)

this is a band au for the marauders era BUT the original marauders are not the band. let me explain. also i want to preface by apologising because i just jump from character to character w the povs so

Moths to a Spotlight: Sirius, Peter, Marlene, Dorcas (no band name yet so shoot your shot if you want to)

the marauders era characters have a LOT of different roles here. Regulus and Pandora are ballet dancers, Mary and Peter grew up together & met Remus in highschool in America and did music but now Mary and Remus are like what billie is to finneas? (also i made Remus southern) Alice is a ball of whimsy and the next artist of our time painting only in vibrant and swelling colours BUT has one singular monochrome painting and i'll explain later. Evan manages Mary and Remus and MINERVA, queen that she is, is basically the band's mother/manager. fluffy black brothers!! oh, and andromeda is dead. whaaaat who said that

i know what you're thinking "where the fuck is james?? lily?? barty??" heh heh WELL you're not gonna like this. lily is the villain here and not in a good way. it was a VERY toxic marylily and lily is the Casual girl (chappell roan) ANYWAAAY you're gonna see a LOT of that BUT she does have her redemption arc. i think. maybe.

barty broke up with sirius right before they went on tour, a couple months before the beginning of the fic. they grew up together, its very bittersweet, might give you heartburn. AGAIN redemption arc.

and uh the jegulus here will just slap you in the face

OR. Mary and Sirius break up with Lily and Barty respectively and have to figure out how to clean up the mess from here only to be slapped in the face with new love interests. Mary joins Sirius' band as an opener for the european leg of their world tour and along the way finds that to love someone isnt pouring all of yourself down their drain hoping they'll eventually be satisfied but to be respected, remembered and cared for. While Sirius slowly falls head over heels for an oblivious Remus who joined Mary on the tour. At every stop it becomes more and more obvious until finally Sirius, a rockstar, ends up performing a sweet love song completely different from his music style as a love confession with help of Peter.

ch. 1

don't worry guys, every couple shall get their minute of fame

basically the journey of their lives together. they find love, they find FRIENDSHIP, they find beauty in the little things, they find laughter and peace and passion. this entire fic for me was to discover all the little things, the day to day things that makes life what it is. the shitty things people do and how they can come back from that. it's filled with jokes and family and bittersweet memories, pain and heartache and stretched silences. its all those moments you weave into stories to tell when you're old on a porch swing or young in a rocking chair. its their life.

ships & sexualities (let me cook)

alice - aroace bi

peter - asexual bi

mary - bisexual

pandora - pansexual

remus - bisexual

sirius - the gayest man to ever gay

regulus - transmasc gay

james - demispec pansexual

dorcas - lesbian

marlene - demisexual lesbian

lily - "not a lesbian"

barty - aroallo

evan - transmasc ace bi

mary x pandora = bitterhope/pandamary/ rosemary (my roman empire)

pending* peter x alice = palice (most beautiful qpr to ever qpr in the marauders era)

sirius x remus = wolfstar

regulus x james = sunseeker

dorcas x marlene = dorlene (they need something cooler)

evan x barty = rosekiller (gonna happen eventually though i kinda just dunno how)

i'm going to post in snips on this blog until i figure out the ao3 tags etc. main blog: @morallyundefined

@moonyswarmsweaters @sspadfoot @thingthatoncewastruee @babygirlsteddie @probs-reading

@labyrinthhofmymind @percabeth-trash @drunktayloratthevmas @cheekyboybeth

@starving-marauder-lover @yourlocalbadgerscales @taleofapart-timepoet @mirrs-ball

@tea-blankets-andstars @where-is-vivian @amberlink @wastingawayinmyroom @ashes-to-ashesxx

@equippedtolove @moon-girl88 @starregulus @siriusly-insane @jamespotterbbg

[iamsiriuslyriddikulus]

hold you, enfold you

summary: “Remus,” the woman says. “Nice to meet you… ?” It’s a nice name, Remus—one that suits her. Sirius nods and belatedly realizes she has to answer. “Sirius.” She holds Remus’s gaze with a feral intensity, hoping something in her recognizes that they are the same. OR: On a summer day in the South in 2001, Sirius Black went on a campus tour of the conservative college she would attend in the fall, expecting to be bored out of her mind. No one told her the tour guide was going to be hot—brown curls and snake bites and freckles and visibly queer. She stood out against the manicured hedges, a sharp contrast to the traditional values of everyone around Sirius. What followed was one long day of sticky summer heat and a house party that changed the course of her life. Poor Evan never stood a chance. length: 9,014 tags: Lesbian Wolfstar, Fluff and Smut, Cunnilingus, Fingerfucking, Riding, Age Difference, Sirius Is 18 And Remus Is 26, Queer Euphoria, Minor Sirius Black/Evan Rosier, Compulsory Heterosexuality, Infidelity (Towards Evan Rosier) note: For @wolfstarbingo2024 (square: infidelity). You can listen to the playlist here.

Read on Archive of Our Own.

The July air is thick and unbearable, almost as humid as it is hot. Even with her hair up, sweat drips down the back of Sirius’s neck. The thought of ice cold water makes her salivate—anything to cut through the misery that is summer in the South.

Yet Evan insists on holding her hand. 

His palms are clammy and sticky, and Sirius is certain it’s as unpleasant for him as it is for her, but he’s always been better at doing what’s expected of him. And with Walburga hardly more than five feet away from them, watching like a hawk, she supposes that she can’t blame him.

“After the original chapel burnt down—unsurprising given that it was made out of wood—a new one was constructed out of stucco in 1832.” The university tour guide points to the columns wrapping around the building. “The Greek Revival style…” Sirius drifts. It’s too hot to concentrate. Besides, she’ll be back in a little over a month to attend school here—not that she has much of a choice. Legacy status opened doors she never wanted. The thought of staying in the South for some private school makes her whole chest ache. She’d applied to NYU and gotten in, but her parents had made it clear they had no intention of paying for any school other than their alma mater.

The saving grace of the day is the tour guide—a cute, lanky woman with short golden-brown curls and tan skin. Her shirt is clearly hand-designed—a faded tie-dye shirt that’s been cut into a cropped muscle tank that shows off her freckled arms. Overtop, she’s thrown on the university vest, though the way it’s draped, her name tag is obscured. 

And Sirius desperately wants to know her name. 

She’d missed it at the start when the woman had introduced herself, too caught off-guard to see such a visibly queer person on a conservative campus such as this one. When she laughs, the silver of her snake bite piercings reflect the sun and shine. She’s out of place—starkly chaotic against a backdrop of well-trimmed hedges and pristine sidewalks—in the best way possible.

The tour ends in the main quad inside the student center. While the air conditioning is more than welcome, if a little weak, Sirius’s stomach sinks at the realization that the woman is about to walk away, never to be seen again. There’s little Sirius can say about the architecture or campus history, but she’s not ready to say goodbye. 

Sirius glances over at the woman as much as her circumstances will allow without getting caught. Her parents stand by Evan’s, grumbling about the heat and discussing what to do next. At first, the woman answers some other families’ questions, but soon enough, the room clears out. With a final wave, the woman leaves. Mumbling an excuse about needing to use the restroom, Sirius shakes off Evan’s hand and makes a beeline to the hallway.

She expects the woman to be further down and nearly runs into her. But she stands three paces from the door, vest off and slung over one arm as she texts on her yellow Nokia.

“Shit, sorry,” Sirius says. She straightens her shoulders and swallows thickly. The woman is even more attractive up close. From this distance, Sirius would guess that she has to be around twenty-five. The woman offers Sirius a bright smile.

“Did you have a question?”

“I, uh…” Sirius hasn’t thought this far ahead, but she isn’t about to let the opportunity slip through her fingers. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“Remus,” the woman says. “Nice to meet you… ?” It’s a nice name, Remus—one that suits her. Sirius nods and belatedly realizes she has to answer.

“Sirius.” She holds Remus’s gaze with a feral intensity, hoping something in her recognizes that they are the same. Normally, she dresses how she wants. It’d caused enough issues at the boarding school her mother had shipped her off to, not to mention endless arguments over the holidays. But she hadn’t wanted to make things more difficult than usual and had opted for a simple black dress and black platform sandals—not Walburga’s favorite but not bad enough to warrant a fight.

Remus gives her a warm smile, and the corners of her eyes crease. “What brings you here, Sirius? Applying to colleges soon?” It would have been the proper order of things to attend a tour before her junior year, but her parents knew where they expected her to go. She’d seen the campus enough times when they’d dragged her there as a child to attend football games. Thankfully, her mom had eventually put her foot down on that front, and the long days of tailgating and uncomfortable stadium seating had come to an end.

“I’m attending in the fall.” She grimaces as she says it.

“And it’s your first time on campus?”

“My parents went here too, so I’m sadly familiar.” It’s more than her parents.The law library and a garden both have the Black family name on them, hailing from the days when her great-great-grandfather Phineas was Dean of the university, but it’s not a detail she cares to reveal. Instead, Sirius sneers, hoping it gets across her disdain. “Do you go here?”

It’s hard to imagine Remus on campus, but she nods. “It’s not my favorite environment, but they have one of the best Entomology departments in the country and decent insurance for grad students, which is all I can hope for.” Remus’s phone beeps, and she glances down at it. For a moment, Sirius worries that she might say she has to leave, but then she pockets it instead. “You’ll get tired of this question quickly, but what are you majoring in?”

“English lit and political science.” She sucks in her bottom lip and rolls it between her teeth. It suddenly sounds uninspiring, so she adds, “Political science is for my parents. They said it’s the best pre-law degree. I think if I could choose a different one, I’d go with theater. Though I looked up the shows they typically do, and it’s a lot of classics, so maybe it’d be stuffy.”

“Stuffy’s a safe bet here.” Remus crosses her arms. As she does, her cropped tank rides up. Despite herself, Sirius’s eyes drop to the bottom hem, which falls just above the bottom of her breasts. Judging from what Sirius can see, she’s not wearing a bra. Sirius swallows and draws her eyes back up to Remus’s face, hoping that the way Remus’s lips curl up into a smirk has nothing to do with her indiscretion. “Your parents have high expectations, huh?”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

Remus’s phone beeps again. She pulls it out and sighs. “I have to head out to meet a friend, but I’ll tell you what—I'll be at a house party later. There’ll be jungle juice and good times and plenty of freaks like us.”

The logistics of that will be hard, but Sirius has never let that stop her before. She nods so vigorously that her neck hurts. The next two minutes are a blur as Remus pulls a notebook and mechanical pencil out from her Mudd messenger bag. She tears a scrap of paper with an address written on it. “I’ll be there,” Sirius promises as a refrain echoes in her head. Freaks like us. 

“See you later, then, Sirius,” Remus says. With one final wink, she walks away.

Sirius beams all the way back until she meets Evan, his parents, and her own back in the room where she left them. “What took you so long?” Walburga snaps.

“Got lost,” Sirius says. Evan reaches for her hand, and Sirius bites the inside of her cheek to keep from scowling.

“I didn’t like that tour guide one bit,” Evan’s mother says, shaking her head. “It’s a bad image for the school.”

“I’ll speak with one of the administrators,” Sirius’s father says, and Sirius’s stomach drops. There’s no doubt in her mind that she has to see Remus, if only to warn her. So she turns to Evan. 

“What if we went out tonight?” she whispers as their parents continue to speak. Not wanting to risk Evan rejecting down her proposal and ruining any shot she has at sneaking out, Sirius does her impression of an enthusiastic girlfriend. She squeezes his hand and bats her eyelashes in what she hopes is an Oscar-worthy performance. “I want to see what we have to look forward to in the fall.”

It’s almost a little sad how easily Evan falls for it, expression softening. “Leave it to me. I’ll plan the perfect date night.” He lifts Sirius’s hand and presses a kiss to the back of it. His lips are dry. “Just you wait.”

“Let’s get back to the hotel,” Evan’s father interrupts. “I’m sweatin’ like a sinner in church.” Walburga frowns.

★ ★ ★

Their parents easily take to the idea of splitting up for dinner, though Walburga spends the time they have in the hotel fussing over Sirius’s hair.

“I can do it like you had it for cotillion. Wouldn’t that be a nice surprise for Evan?” 

As if Sirius needs to be reminded of her and Evan’s first date. He’d asked Orion for permission to be Sirius’s partner for the night and then, after, to date her. She’d put up a fight—nauseated at the thought of spending weeks practicing the same outdated traditions her mother had already instilled in her and debuting with some boy her parents deemed proper—but Walburga won in the end and shoved Sirius in a long emerald gown. Unbeknownst to her mother, however, Sirius had slipped a few butterfly clips under her gloves. She’d put them on in the bathroom once they got to the venue and refused to take them off, even when the teachers had scolded her. It had been what her mother had called a scene.

Evan, much to her surprise, had stood by her choice. “You looked so sad when we were practicing for the dance,” he said to her. “But now you’re smiling. I like it when you smile.”

She’d decided then if she had to pretend to date a boy, Evan was as good as any. Besides, he was friendly with Regulus. Sirius was relatively sure that Regulus even looked up to him.

Sirius makes it out of the hotel with her hair styled as she wants it. She opts for a low rise maxi skirt and a nice blouse to keep her mother happy but shoves a shirt she got from last season’s Lip Service catalog in her bag to change into later. It’s slightly cropped—enough to show off the belly button piercing she’s miraculously managed to hide from her mother.

Dinner is predictably boring. She’s undoubtedly underdressed for the type of establishment it is, but outside of a glare from the maître d’, no one bothers her. Evan orders oysters despite the fact that neither of them are fond of the texture. She waits until Evan is halfway through his shrimp and grits before she makes her next move. Twisting a piece of hair around her finger, Sirius asks, “Ev, how would you feel about going to a college party?”

Evan’s eyebrows shoot up. As much as he likes to act like a southern gentleman—opening car doors and pulling out chairs—it’s no secret that Evan enjoys the fact that Sirius breaks the mold, that she’s rougher around the edges than other southern girls. “I’d love to, but I’m pretty sure you have to get invited to those.”

Sirius resists the urge to roll her eyes. “Why do you think I’m asking?”

As he leans back in his seat, Sirius can’t help but think that Evan looks slightly impressed. “How did you manage that?”

“A lady never tells.” If Evan knows from whom she’s received the invitation, he might become wary. “Only problem is, I’m not sure how to get there. I have the address, though.”

“I’ll ask the waiter.” He looks curious when Sirius digs through her purse and hands him the scrap of paper with the address on it, but he doesn’t press.

“I’m gonna freshen up and powder my nose.” Sirius stands. By the time she’s back, she’s sure Evan will have paid the bill and gotten directions. He’s nothing if not efficient. Still, she takes her time, changing shirts and reapplying lipstick. Her eyeliner is slightly smudged under her right eye, but she decides she likes it better that way and tries to get the left to match. Other women circle in and out of the restroom, older than her, venom in their eyes as they wash their hands. One shakes the water from hers vigorously and looks pleased with herself when it splashes onto Sirius.

Before she steps out, she pulls the rattling tin of citrus sours from her bag and pops one into her mouth. Her timing could not be more perfect. Just as she turns the corner, Sirius notices the waiter leaving their table.

“Didn’t know powdering your nose was such an involved process,” Evan says, taking Sirius’s new look in. He wets his lips and stretches out a hand for Sirius to take.

As much as she wants to bat his hand away, she knows better. So she takes it and lets Evan lead her out of the restaurant, trying to ignore the way her skin crawls when he places his hand on the small of her back. “The party’s not too far from downtown. Waiter said it was about an eighteen minute walk.” It’s a relief but not necessarily a surprise—everything in this godforsaken college town is walking distance.

“Perfect.”

The humidity’s calmed down, and the night brings a light breeze with it. Sirius feels a mosquito hum in her ear and swats at it, though she knows it’ll do her no use. Still, it’s pleasant when compared to the daytime. With dinner settling in, they walk in silence, and Sirius tries to soak in the ambient noises of the town. It helps distract her from her racing thoughts and nerves. 

They hear the party before they see the house. Faint music and voices echo in the quiet street. And then it comes into view. It’s not big, but it stands in contrast to the others, grass not neatly manicured, mailbox painted a bright pink that sticks out against the sea of blacks, reds, and whites.

Sirius can tell by the way Evan’s palm sweats that he must be nervous and is liable to change his mind, but she isn’t about to let that ruin her chances of seeing Remus again. With a tug, she pulls him toward the front door before he can get a word in otherwise.

The music is much louder inside the house than it is from the outside, and from what Sirius can tell, the party’s attracted an eclectic group of people. It’s probably for the best that the entire crowd isn’t queer given that she can’t be sure how Evan would react if that were the case, but the fact that it’s crowded makes it harder to find Remus.

Evan’s eyes are wide as he looks around. “This is no joke,” he says to Sirius, raising his voice to be heard above the music. “This is a legit college party.”

“Obviously.” Sirius gives Evan a playful nudge and extracts her hand from his grip.

“Hey, y’all.” A tall, bubbly white woman with a spaghetti top, rhinestone denim miniskirt, and body glitter walks over. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before. I’m Marlene.”

“Sirius.” She does her best to play it cool. The last thing she wants is to declare herself an outsider.

Sadly, Evan’s priorities are not the same. “Evan. We’re attending in the fall.”

Marlene squeals. “How exciting—welcome, welcome! Hey, Dor, fresh meat!”

For a moment, Sirius wonders who Marlene is talking to. Then, she sees her—a tall Black woman with Fulani braids, a tube top, and bright blue-and-silver eyeshadow that makes her brown eyes pop. She takes them in and smirks. “Dorcas. Where did you all come from?” Sirius watches as if in slow motion as Marlene and Dorcas wrap their arms around each other’s waists, and it hits her.

Evan’s probably blissfully unaware, but Sirius’s eyes stay fixed to the spot where Dorcas’s hand falls—between Marlene’s top and skirt—where her thumb strokes gently at her skin. It hits her with a wave of euphoria that they’re like her and Remus.

“Sirius wouldn’t tell me—” Evan starts but before he can finish, Sirius hears a voice from behind them.

“So, you made it.” It’s low and slightly rough and makes Sirius’s whole body float. She spins around, heart pounding in her throat and beams at Remus.

“Hey.” Sirius usually prides herself on her ability to act cool and collected, even when she feels anything but, but it eludes her now. With Evan beside her, however, she has to figure out a way. She takes a deep breath and steadies herself. “Thanks for the invite.”

Evan looks between them, confused. His mouth opens, and Sirius braces for the flood of questions, but he must decide better because none come. 

“So this is why you got all dressed up?” Dorcas poorly hides a chuckle. Remus has changed as well—dressed now in a floral, boxy, short-sleeved button-up. She’s still wearing the same faded, frayed shorts as earlier, a carabiner and keys dangling from a belt loop. It’s hard to tell in the dim, yellow lights of the house, but Sirius belatedly realizes Remus has a small amount of smudged brown eyeliner on as well.

“Jungle juice is in the kitchen, along with some other drinks,” Marlene says. Out of the corner of her eyes, Sirius watches her tug on Dorcas’s hand, leading her away as she mouths, “C’mon.”

“Jungle juice?” Sirius asks. The term had confused her earlier, though she hadn’t dared ask what it was for fear of appearing uncool and out of the loop.

“You just throw a lot of shit into one bowl with some mixers to mask the taste, but be careful. It’ll hit you hard. What did you two get up to after the tour?”

“Sirius wanted a taste of what date night spots this town has to offer, so I took her to dinner at Half Moon,” Evan’s says. “Nice oysters.”

A look of surprise flickers across Remus’s face before she hides it. Brief as it is, it makes Sirius want the ground to swallow her. There’s no clarification she can offer while Evan is standing next to her. “I’ve never been, but I’ll take your word for it.”

“What! You really should.”

Sirius clears her throat and reaches to grab Evan’s hand. “We’ll check out the drinks. Give us a minute.” Evan opens his mouth to protest, but Sirius drags him before he has a chance.

“I think it might be a little pricier than Remus is used to. Don’t be rude,” Sirius hisses as they come to a halt in the kitchen. Two people drinking out of red solo cups and talking share a look and slip out.

“The snapper was only $35. That’s doable..” Thankfully, Evan decides this isn’t the hill he wants to die on, but his next topic isn’t much better. “When did you even have a chance to meet the tour guide?”

“Remus. Her name is Remus. And on my way to the bathroom when all of you were complaining about her.”

Evan shrugs. “I thought the tour was fascinating. Though I can see why she’d rub our parents the wrong way. What was Dorcas implying when she said this was why the tour guide got all dressed up?” The fact that he’s refusing to use her name doesn’t bode well. Evan’s never been an open book of emotions.

“How should I know? I just met them all. Remus and I only talked for two minutes. She said house parties were a right of passage for freshman or something. I was curious.”

The answer must sound reasonable because Evan nods. “Okay.” His attention turns toward the table with beer, liquor, and a giant clear plastic bowl with a ladle and questionably-colored liquid in it. “What do you want to drink?”

Sirius breathes a sigh of relief and opts for a beer. Evan, perhaps trying to prove some sort of point, pours himself a full cup of jungle juice. “Are we okay?” Sirius asks.

After a moment, Evan nods. “Yeah.”

Not wanting to risk anything, Sirius bends over and braces herself before pressing her lips to Evan’s. He always takes it further than she likes, his lips parting as his tongue darts between hers. It’s wet and makes her skin crawl. But it does the trick. When Evan pulls back, his shoulders have dropped, and his smile is more relaxed.

Drinks in hand, they make their way back to the living room. It feels more crowded than when they left, but Sirius soon finds Remus standing in a crowd. For the moment, she keeps her distance. Evan had always been a lightweight, and she knows it won’t be long before his attention will slip from her.

Somehow, he finds a group of geology majors. Despite everything he’s said about his other intended major in finance, it’s never been a secret where his passions lie. “With rocks,” Sirius likes to tease, amused by the way Evan takes the bait and launches into a speech about the universe and the earth and the ancient dust that ties it all together every time. It’s rather progressive given that his parents’ idea of the earth and evolution follows the Bible as far as Sirius is aware.

So she stands by Evan, zoning out as they geek out about their interests. Like clockwork, forty-five minutes in as he takes his first sip from his third cup of jungle juice, Evan’s hand slips from her shoulder, and his speech begins to slur.

“I’m going to go to the bathroom,” Sirius says, excusing herself.

She weaves through the crowd, humming along to a Destiny’s Child song that blasts from a boombox in the corner, until she spots Remus, pulled into a tight circle with Marlene and Dorcas, whispering. Two beers is enough to give her a pleasant buzz while still having her wits about her. Sirius knows she’ll need it for the explanation she owes Remus.

Sure enough, Remus’s eyes narrow, and she frowns and crosses her arms across her chest as Sirius steps toward her. Before she can say anything, Sirius starts. “I’m sorry. That had to have been all very confusing.”

For the second time that night Marlene and Dorcas step away, though Dorcas throws her a warning look before she does, as if to say fuck with my friend’s heart, and you’ll have me to deal with. Somehow Sirius doesn’t doubt her ability to follow through on the implied threat. “You have a boyfriend. Why didn’t you correct me when I—”

“Because I am like you,” Sirius interrupts. “He’s just… Evan.”

“Thank you for clearing that up.” Remus rolls her eyes but softens. “Let me guess—it has something to do with your parents.”

“How did you know?” Sirius offers Remus an anxious smile. “My family knows Evan’s. We started dating when we were thirteen. My parents don’t know that I’m…” She anxiously chews at the inside of her cheek. It’s not a word she says often.

“A dyke?” Remus asks. It’s sharp and abrasive, but Sirius loves the way the word sounds in Remus’s mouth. She nods.

“Evan doesn’t know either, obviously.”

“Thanks for telling me, and sorry for assuming the worst. Thought you might be one of those straight girls who likes to get drunk and experiment.” Remus rubs at the back of her neck, and a light pink flush covers her cheeks, making her freckles stand out more. Sirius stares, mesmerized for a moment, imagining what Remus’s cheek might feel like against hers.

She’d simply used the bathroom as an excuse to get away from Evan, but as she shifts her weight from one leg to the other, Sirius realizes it might not be an excuse anymore. “Hey, mind showing me where the bathroom is?”

“Yeah, of course.”

They turn toward a small hallway where Sirius sees a few people waiting outside the door. “Thanks.”

But Remus shakes her head and sets a hand on Sirius’s shoulder, guiding her toward a door on the right. Her hand is calloused and warm, and Sirius has to stop herself from leaning back into it. “There’s another one. Dorcas and Marlene have their own. Friends can use it during parties, but since it’s through their bedroom, everyone unfortunately has to use mine and Benji’s. It’s always a mess by the end of the night.”

“You live here?” Sirius looks around, taking in the hose in a new light. Remus laughs.

“Yup. It’s just four of us—me, Marlene, Dorcas, and Benji, who I haven’t seen in a while. A little queer commune in the middle of hell.” It sounds incredible—not having to hide in the shadows. The thought of existing without a weight on her chest, without the constant dread of being caught sounds as close to paradise as it gets.

For a brief moment, she considers asking Remus what she has to do to join. She’ll manage without a room of her own—all she needs is a couch. But then the door opens and Sirius loses all train of thought.

One man kneels before another, head bobbing up and down as he blows him. The other—the man being blown—grips the hair of the man kneeling so tightly that his knuckles turn white.

Remus sighs. “Dorcas will kill you if she sees you, Benji.”

“Just need another…” The man who is presumably Benji says as he holds the other man’s head down. It’s impressive, really, watching the way the other man takes it, yet Sirius can’t shake the feeling that she’s intruding. She swallows and looks elsewhere, at the Sade poster on the wall, then over to the odd mix of collectibles on the dresser—an empty Sea Monkeys tank, a Furby, three Troll dolls of varying sizes, and a hot pink Tech Deck. 

Benji grunts, and his hand slips from the other man’s hair. Despite her best efforts to give them privacy, Sirius can’t help but watch as he pulls his briefs back up. 

“You have your own room,” Remus says.

“And it was occupied.”

It’s hard to believe how nonchalant everyone else is about this—outside of Remus’s annoyed disapproval.

“Who’s the new kid?” The kneeling man asks. He turns and wipes his mouth off on the back of his hand.

“None of your business, Edgar. Now, scram.”

Benji stands and pushes past them, rolling his eyes. Edgar is more apologetic, his lips pulling back into a tight, anxious smile as he says, “Pardon,” and follows Benji out of the room.

“You’ll get used to it,” Remus says. “Benji was caught fucking someone on-campus once—in the bathroom by the student center—and if it weren’t for his family connections, I think would have been kicked out. He’s not exactly what you call subtle.” She shakes her head and motions toward a door. “Anyway, the bathroom’s there.”

“Thanks.”

It isn’t until she’s washing her hands and staring at herself in the mirror that Sirius realizes that she’s more drunk than she thought. She blinks slowly back at herself, trying to ignore the way she feels slightly off-balance. Not wanting to waste time, she splashes water on her face and steps out. Remus waits by the door.

“My parents are going to complain about you to the university. They don’t like gay people very much.” Sirius blurts out the words, surprised herself that they’re spilling out of her at this precise moment. “I don’t know if it’ll affect your job. They have some… sway.”

“I appreciate the heads up. But I hated this job anyway. I find the history interesting, but the administration is a shitshow. Not how I wanted to go, but it is what it is.”

Relief and guilt merge together. “I’m still sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You’re not your parents..” Remus nods toward the hall. “You ready?”

The thought of going back to the party before they’ve had a chance to spend time alone makes Sirius’s heart clench. Emboldened by alcohol, with all the tact and subtlety of a bulldozer, the words slip out of Sirius’s mouth, “What does your room look like?”

The same bemused look Sirius saw after the tour flits across her face. Sirius’s cheeks heat up as she chews anxiously at the inside of her cheek. “If you want to see my room, all you have to do is ask.” Before Sirius can parse out the full implication of Remus’s words, Remus is out of the room and in the hallway.

Sirius stumbles over a heel on the floor, its twin nowhere to be seen, and by the time she steps out as well, Remus is at the end of the hall, looking back. It’s like a playful game of cat and mouse, yet despite her chasing, Sirius doesn’t feel like the cat. She gets through the few people in her way with a mumbled apology. Then, the door opens, and she’s being pulled into the room.

“Ask and you shall receive.” Remus shuts the door and leans against it. She cocks her head as she looks Sirius up and down.

Remus’s room is small but suits her. A smattering of band posters and art cover her walls, and plastic stars decorate her ceiling. There’s a hand-painted butterfly on the wall with the name Pandora under it like a signature. She has two bookshelves too, both brimming with books that Sirius wants to take a closer look at. But her eyes are instead drawn to a desk in the corner of the room with a Portishead concert poster above it. Sirius stares at it, jaw dropping. “What was it like to see Beth Gibbons in person?”

“Totally unreal. That was three years ago,” Remus says. “I drove to see them with Dorcas and my friend Pandora.”

“And all these people go to school here?”

“No, a good chunk of them are townies or moved here for other reasons. Pandora’s from here. She started an arts collective in the middle of the woods about twenty-five miles outta town. Marlene’s a part of it. Other people are administrators or professors because it was where they could get a job. Other people do other things. Dorcas and Benji are students like us, though. Benji’s actually TAing for some English classes, so you may see him.”

The thought of seeing Benji and having to take him seriously as a teacher makes Sirius’s neck burn. She’s certain that all she’ll be able to picture is Benji on the bed, gripping Edgar’s hair. 

“So this is your life?” It’s a level of freedom Sirius hasn’t dared imagine.

“Could be yours too.” Remus reaches an arm behind her and the lock clicks. “It was infuriating watching your boyfriend talk to other people and ignore you.” She steps forward. “If you were my girlfriend, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off of you. God, the things that I would do to you…”

Sirius’s breath catches in her throat. After she’d left the boarding school, she told herself she’d break it off with Evan. Before college, so she wouldn’t cheat—not again. They’d been separated by gender back in school—taken different classes, only mingling during lunch and on the quad. But now, their lives would be enmeshed. The promise of an engagement loomed over her, as Walburga wouldn’t stop reminding her. In her mind, she moved the end date of the relationship from graduation to summer to as soon as they moved on campus.

But Remus’s eyes are hungry, a sharp contrast to what Sirius has gotten used to—furtive and timid glances, hook-ups usually followed by confessions of guilt. This was a mistake or it doesn’t mean anything or God will judge you for your sins as if they hadn’t come willingly, hadn’t been the ones to throw themselves at her.

Remus wants her, and despite the locked door, she has no shame, no need to hide except to protect Sirius from Evan’s wrath. 

Sirius could fall apart just from that thought alone. She whimpers, needy. “What would you do?”

Although she grins, Remus says nothing. She steps forward, closing the space between them, and places an arm by Sirius’s waist. The fabric of Sirius’s skirt bunches in her hand and then lifts up a few inches from the ground. Her skin is warm. The room is stuffy, the fan clicking as it whirs on the lowest setting, but Sirius welcomes the heat from Remus’s touch.

Another few seconds, and the hem of her skirt rises past her calf. Sirius trembles, knees threatening to buckle under her as Remus’s other hand slips under and drags up her thigh. She can feel her heartbeat in her throat and her skin burns, yet she holds her breath, terrified that breathing too deeply might make everything unravel. 

But then Remus’s fingers brush against her, and she breaks, a low, breathy moan filling the space between them. Remus’s thumb hooks into the thin strap of her thong and pulls it to the side as her pointer and index fingers run along the length of her cunt, leaving her tense and dizzy. Her touch is light, teasing, careful not to dip in, and it takes all of Sirius’s willpower not to rock against it.

“Such a pretty, little thing,” Remus breathes. “So eager and wet already.” And then one finger rubs a circle over Sirius’s clit. Sirius’s legs nearly give, but Remus must expect it, as she braces and switches positions slightly to support her.

Remus leads her backward until Sirius feels the bed against her calves, and then she’s toppling backward, hands gripping Remus’s shirt so that Remus comes down with her. A laugh bubbles up her throat, the delightful absurdity of the situation hitting her as she thinks, for the first time, that this life might be possible, even for someone like her. Remus grins back at her and laughs.

“What are you thinking about? I can see the gears turning.”

“How much I want to kiss you,” Sirius says. 

“Then, do it.”

Sirius weaves her fingers in Remus’s hair. Her neck strains, and then— 

Remus’s lips are soft. Beneath the cherry Lip Smackers, she tastes like cheap whiskey and Dr. Pepper, like boozy Cheerwine. Sirius’s eyes close, and she submits to the kiss, gentle at first and then deeper. From this angle, Sirius can feel the cold metal of Remus’s snake bites. She breathes in sharply through her nose and scrapes her nails against Remus’s scalp, drawing a breathy whine from Remus.

The noise makes her thighs clench. Despite her quiet prayers that the movement go unnoticed, Remus’s sudden smirk against her lips confirms otherwise. She pulls back and takes in Sirius’s flushed cheeks and furrowed brow. “Don’t be embarrassed. I like how reactive you are.”

She’s never liked being seen , never liked the way it makes her feel so exposed, but all that goes out the window with Remus. Instead, all she feels is warmth. In her head, she pictures herself as a cat, exposing her soft underbelly as if to say I trust you not to hurt me. It’s entirely absurd. By all accounts, Remus is still a stranger, but Sirius can’t doubt her gut.

When Remus moves off the bed and stands, Sirius nearly reaches for her. But then, Remus drops to her knees, and all protests evaporate from her lips. Remus’s head disappears under his skirt, and Sirius watches, enraptured, as she sees it move through the fabric. She hears a quiet clink of something small and metal dropping to the carpeted floor before Remus slips two hands under Sirius and pulls her effortlessly down to the edge of the bed. Kisses trail up her thighs, and Sirius’s knees drop further apart until—

She gasps, head falling back against the bed as Remus’s tongue traces the outline of her cunt. Gently, Remus sucks at her clit and then dips her tongue in.

She moves slow as molasses, pressing her tongue in until it can go no further, her nose firmly against Sirius’s clit. Sirius gasps, and hands fall to the bed, desperately trying to grasp at something as she marvels at the fact that she can feel Remus in her. And then Remus pulls back. Sirius’s leg quake. She holds her breath and listens to the wobbly fan. Each click seems to bring her closer to something more.

Click. Remus’s left hand slips out from under Sirius, pulling her thong down with it.

Click. Remus places that hand on Sirius’s thigh.

Click. Sirius’s skirt tents as Remus’s head lifts and she places her mouth over Sirius’s clit. All she feels is hot breath against it as a bead of wetness drips out of her in anticipation.

Click. Remus says, “God, you’re a mess,” and her breath tickles Sirius’s skin.

Click.

“Oh, fuck.” Two of Remus’s fingers slide into her, past the first knuckle and the second until Sirius can feel the slight burn of being stretched out. She turns her head to the side and buries it half in the comforter as she groans. Remus’s fingers curl, and she fucks her in earnest, sliding in and out, wet noises filling the room. Her tongue matches her pace—flicking, then sucking, her teeth occasionally grazing ever-so-slightly against Sirius’s clit. 

And all Sirius can do is lie there, knees spread so wide that they’re practically on the bed, her body electric as she moves closer toward the edge.

With a shaky hand, she reaches down and pulls her skirt up, bunching it around her hips until it’s no longer obscuring her view, and she can see Remus’s face, eyes closed and lost in pleasure.

Before long, her body tenses and her back arches. Her whole body burns, and sweat drips down her temple. A third finger slips in, and Sirius bites down on the inside of her cheek. She’s not used to being stretched this wide, not used to experienced hands. Sirius grinds down against Remus’s face and clenches around her fingers as she comes. Remus never relents, fucking her until Sirius’s body falls limp against the bed and she squirms, oversensitive.

Remus slips out. Grinning, she looks at Sirius, wet from her nose to her chin. Her tongue darts over her lips. “That was fast.”

Sirius flushes. She’d been so caught up in the moment that she hadn’t realized how quickly it was over. “Sorry.” Excuses come to her lips—it’s been long since she’s come by another woman’s hands and never like this, but before she can say any of them, Remus shakes her head.

“No, don’t apologize. It’s hot.”

Remus adjusts herself, wincing slightly as she stands, the pill of the carpet visible against her knees. As Sirius pulls herself up further up on the bed, resting against the pillows, Remus bends down and picks something up off the floor. It takes Sirius a second to realize that the sound she’d heard earlier were rings dropping to the floor. Remus sets them on a dresser and undoes the button and zipper of her shorts. They drop to the ground, and Remus steps out of them before getting on the bed, swinging one leg over Sirius’s until she rests on Sirius’s thigh.

Her cunt is hot through the thin, slightly damp fabric of her briefs and feels heavenly.

Her hand reaches for the hem of Sirius’s shirt and pulls it up. Having opted for no bra, Sirius’s breasts come into view. “I knew it,” Remus breathes as she rocks against Sirius’s thigh. No doubt, Remus is talking about her nipple piercings. Sirius grins up at her and lifts her knee so Remus can get a better angle.

“Tongue piercing’s next.” Away from prying, judgmental eyes—at least, those that matter to her—Sirius knows it’ll be easier to get away with, though she doesn’t doubt that Walburga has spies everywhere, ready to report back to her.

“Mmm.” Remus sounds distracted. She bends down, taking a nipple in her mouth. The nub is already hard, but when her teeth graze against the metal, making a soft clinking sound, Sirius feels herself starting to get wet again. As Remus’s eyes flutter shut and she begins to ride Sirius’s leg in earnest, it’s hard for Sirius to know where to focus—on the feel of Remus’s cunt—sticky even through the cotton—or on her mouth—sucking with such reverence—or her face—freckles against a pink flush, hair stuck to her forehead.

With some difficulty, Sirius slips a hand between them. She fumbles with the waistband for a moment and then slips under Remus’s briefs. The position is awkward and hurts her wrist, but Sirius can’t find it in herself to care. Their movements are disjointed and desperate. As best as the angle allows her to, Sirius circles Remus’s clit with two fingers, trying to match Remus’s frantic pace.

Sirius can tell Remus is getting close when her tongue slips from her nipple and her head falls back. Her lips part, and she moans, like a portrait of ecstasy. Sirius watches, enraptured, as Remus’s pace becomes more erratic. All Sirius can do is keep her hand still and let Remus use her, grinding down against it until she comes, her flush spreading from her cheeks to her neck as she trembles.

Sirius’s fingers are sticky and wet. She brings them to her lips, feeling smug as Remus’s eyes open, and she watches, breathing heavily. When she’s sucked them clean, she drops her hand, satisfied, and sighs. “You’re incredible. I never…” Sirius trails off, uncertain how to finish the sentence.

She’s had sex with girls before. And the only time she’s felt any shame about her identity was a short period of three months when she was eleven. She’d been searching for her retired Polly Pockets in the basement and instead found a stack of old Playboy magazines her father had stashed in a box creatively labeled “DOLLS.” The way she felt looking at photos of naked and half-naked women coyly staring at the camera—despite the sermons she’d heard about sin—was dazzling. Everything clicked into place in a glorious way that was cut short by her mother’s scream and the knowledge that her grandfather had, at that precise moment, suffered a stroke.

All fear that her grandfather’s passing was the God’s punishment for her transgressions evaporated, however, when she snuck another peek precisely twenty-four days later, only for the day to be entirely mundane and unremarkable, if not a little more enjoyable than most given that Walburga let her watch an extra episode of Sailor Moon.

“You never what?” Remus asks.

“Never knew it could feel like this—this… good. This easy.” That’s not quite what she means either, but the other thought that comes to mind feels wrong to say aloud—reciprocal. Most girls wanted something from her, but the thought of giving in return seemed to cross an ethical boundary they’d set up in their head.

A knowing look flashes in Remus’s eyes, and she gives Sirius a warm smile. “Knowing other queer people makes all the difference. And even if you’re not out, there’s a whole spectrum between being discreet and hiding in the shadows.” She sighs. “As much as I want to stay here and pretend the rest of the party doesn’t exist, we should get you back to the party before your boyfriend realizes that something’s up.”

It feels tempting to ignore all instincts and lock themselves away, but Remus isn’t wrong. It’s been long enough to draw suspicion, even given how inebriated Evan must be by now. Sirius reaches for her shirt and skirt, adjusting them accordingly as she stands. “How’s my hair?”

“Almost perfect.” Remus reaches out, presumably to fix a strand that’s out of place. Perhaps it’s an excuse to touch her one last time. Remus lingers, her fingers brushing against the back of Sirius’s neck. When she finally pulls back, Sirius nearly whines. Where Remus’s skin had touched hers burns, and she aches for more. But there’s no time. “There.”

“Thank you.”

She makes quick work finding her thong and straightening her clothes. By the time she’s done, Remus has dressed as well. She slips her rings back on and motions to the door. “Ready?”

“Yes.” Sirius is grateful Remus doesn’t call her bluff. Yet judging by the way Remus moves slowly and furrows her brow, she is similarly hesitant. Sirius knows it’s her life she’d be blowing up, which is likely why Remus refuses to suggest it herself, but Sirius knows if she asked to stay, Remus would agree.

Lord, does Sirius find it tempting.

But this isn’t how she wants things to end with Evan. He deserves more dignity than that, and angry as he’d be if he found out now, she can’t see how his mother wouldn’t know by daybreak. And what Evan’s mother knows, so does Walburga. The thought of pretending for even a second longer seems nauseating, but her self-preservation matters more. Sirius isn’t sure what that says about her, but she watches the door handle unlock and turn and promises herself: soon.

The noise of the party floods is louder than before, though the crowd seems a little thinner than Sirius recalls. She weaves through it once more, ahead of Remus, and braces herself.

No amount of bracing can prepare her to turn the corner and see Evan talking to Marlene and Dorcas. There’s no telling what Evan has drunkenly confessed, nor what Marlene and Dorcas have divulged about Remus’s interests. Her fears only seem to be confirmed when Dorcas spots her, a wild look in her eyes. “Speak of Lilith, and she doth appear,” Dorcas says with a breathy, humorless laugh. Beside her, Marlene shifts from foot to foot.

“Sirius.” Evan’s voice has the drunken pout to it that Sirius hates so much. “Where were you?”

Sirius joins them. “I was waiting for the bathroom for a while before Remus took pity on me and showed me Dorcas and Marlene’s en-suite—”

“Did she?”

Sirius ignores the interjection. “And then, she showed me her room.” It’s a lie with enough truth to it to be believable, but Evan doesn’t look entirely satisfied.

“So, you were with her the whole time?”

Before Sirius can defend herself, Remus rounds the corner, and it becomes immediately obvious that this is the real ambush Dorcas has been waiting for. A cold smile plasters itself on Dorcas’s face as she says, “Evan told us the most fascinating thing.”

Sirius looks at Evan, desperately wishing that she could read his thoughts. But Evan doesn’t even look at her. He traces the rim of his beer bottle clumsily with a finger and tilts, off-balance. Given how visibly drunk he is, she considers pulling it from his hands, but she knows it won’t be well-received.

“Spit it out, Dorcas,” Remus says.

“Sirius’s cousin is Bellatrix.”

Sirius blinks a few times, confused. Her cousin had attended the university a few years back, but Sirius can’t imagine what she has to do with anything. Yet Remus’s face says otherwise. Her lips turn into an “oh,” and she rubs at the back of her neck.

After a few seconds, however, another realization spreads across Remus’s face. This time, she looks more upset. “Does that make you a Black?”

The buzz Sirius had felt a mere minute ago has vanished. She sighs and nods. “Phineas was my great-great-grandfather.”

“Well, no wonder you do what your parents ask.” Remus’s words are not what Sirius expects. It’s no secret that her family name is reviled among anyone with half a sense of decency. But she feels like she’s proven to Remus that she’s more than her legacy. Remus must see the hurt in Sirius’s eyes because she quickly adds, “Because you must have a lot to lose. That came out poorly.” The regret in Remus’s eyes tells Sirius that she’s not just trying to cover her ass with a lie. Swallowing the hurt down, Sirius nods.

“You better watch out,” Dorcas warns Remus. “You know what happens with girls from that family.”

The only person in all of this who looks like she’d rather be talking about anything else is Marlene. Her lips are pressed in a tight line, and her finger taps against her leg.

Evan, with the tact of a tractor, blurts out, “Need to piss and then we should head back. It’s late.” His eyes are too glazed for Sirius to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it has anything to do with him reading the energy of the room.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Dorcas says.

Sirius waits until Evan stumbles away before she turns to Dorcas, a tight knot in her chest. “It’s no secret my cousin’s a piece of work, but I don’t see what that has to do with me. I didn’t choose my family.”

“But you haven’t broken from them either.” Dorcas lets out a shaky breath. “Your cousin was the same way, promising things would change, that we’d be together, and then she went off and married the first asshole your parents approved of.”

A sudden buzzing fills her ears, and Sirius stares blankly at Dorcas. Surely, she’d misheard. After all, there’s no way that Bellatrix is anything but straight. She laughs at snide remarks their family has made throughout the years and defines herself through her cruelty. “You… and my cousin? But she’s straight.”

The anger in Dorcas’s face dissipates as quickly as it came on, softening instead into a look of quiet condescension. “Oh, bless your heart. You didn’t know.” It’s not a question. “We dated for two years. She kept promising to tell her family. Said she told her sister Andromeda through a letter, but who’s to say if that’s even true.”

It’s too much to take in. Sirius opens her mouth to say something, but a laugh just comes out instead, choked and hoarse. Before Dorcas can take offense to it, she adds, “I’m not laughing at what she did to you. That’s awful.” Reaching up, Sirius runs her hands through her hair. Her family has always been one of secrets and lies, but they’ve always made sense—been ugly in a way befitting of their temperaments. “I’m sorry she did that to you. Does Evan know that—”

Dorcas shakes her head. “No, it didn’t seem like a good idea to share that with him.” She sighs. “You’re not wrong. You’re not your cousin.” It looks like she has more to say, but before she can, Evan returns.

“Thank you for inviting us and for opening us up to the wonderful world of jungle juice.” Evan stretches out a hand to Dorcas to shake. There’s a large wet patch on his shirt with a small speck of vomit beside it, clearly accidentally missed. Too drunk to realize the chaos he’s caused but not drunk enough to forget the manners that have been instilled in him—Sirius doesn’t know if she finds it reassuring or frightening.

“Yes, thank you. Tonight certainly was… enlightening.” Sirius’s gaze moves from Dorcas to Marlene and finally to Remus, using the distraction of Evan shaking Dorcas and Marlene’s hands to offer her a brief smile.

Remus winks.

Finally, Evan turns to Remus. For a brief, horrifying moment, he simply stares, brow furrowed as his eyes dart about, but manners win out in the end. He stretches out his hand. “I enjoyed the tour earlier.”

“Thanks.” Remus tentatively takes Evan’s hand and shakes it. “I appreciate it.”

“Well, we best be off.” It’s funny to make such a show of leaving in the middle of a houseparty, yet almost no one is looking their way. Sirius thanks the heavens for small miracles as Evan marches through the crowd. 

“Sorry again about my cousin,” Sirius says to Dorcas, but she merely waves her hand dismissively.

“It really was lovely to meet you. I know Remus had a good time,” Marlene says, earning a less-than-discreet glare from Remus.

“See you around in the fall?” Sirius asks.

“No offense, but as long as you don’t bring him, you’re always welcome,” Dorcas says, looking at Evan.

“Perhaps.” Remus’s smirk gives her away. 

“Sirius!” Evan calls from the front door and motions Sirius over. With a final look around and an awkward wave toward Remus, Dorcas, and Marlene, Sirius turns and follows Evan out of the house.

With each step further away, the music fades until it disappears, replaced by the sound of crickets. There’s no more waiting until they are on campus or the end of summer to end things with Evan. A door has been opened. She’d known as soon as she’d stepped into the house that there was no going back. Her happiness depended on it. 

To tell Evan tonight would cast a shadow over her perfect evening, but soon, Sirius decides. Maybe not tomorrow but within the week. Historically, the thought of breaking up and the change and havoc it would wreak on her life made her heart pound and her blood freeze. But now, in this moment, she feels as though she can properly breathe.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Evan asks, nearly stumbling over a crack in the pavement.

“Nothing. Weather’s nice. Cooler.” A breeze makes Sirius’s hair fall forward in her face. She thinks of Remus’s skin on the back of her neck and slips her hand into her pocket before Evan can reach out with his.

[teacup-tai]

Tai Recs: March Readings

One of my New Year's resolution was to give back to writers more love through reccing fics I loved reading. I decided to start creating shortened lists of great fics I loved reading each month!

March brings us a very eclectic list filled wih gemstones made of amazing writing style, complex plots, rich characters and wonderful originality, also some very steamy delights. Thank you to all wonderful writers tagged here, your stories made me company during many lonely hours! Thansk for sharing your works with us!

OR: Welcome to the crazy mind of Tai and the absurd amount of words read this month, and a slight obsession with SebastianL's fics. lol

DRARRY

Danse Ruse by Frayach (E, 140k) - read between feb/march tw: it's not tagged enough, terribly dark, read at your own discretion

True Love. Soul Mates. They're just words until put to the test. Harry and Draco have a bond that was forged in the hell of the post-war years and pulled them both back from an abyss of nihilism and self-destruction. Nothing can break it, or so they believed. But True Love can demand sacrifices too great to bear and deeds too terrible to justify.

The Man Who Lived by @e-sebastian (E, 253k)

Draco breaks a cup, and one thing leads to another. A story of redemption, tattoos, dreams, mistakes, green eyes, long conversations, and copious amounts of coffee.

Take a Chance on Me by @mintamintathings (E, 41k)

There's a DJ on RareFM with a secret. Or: the one with all the ABBA in it.

Interpersonal Relationships Year 7, Unit 3: How to Have Sex Like a Responsible Adult by InnerLilith (E, 7k)

Harry came to Hogwarts to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. He did not come to Hogwarts to obsess over Draco Malfoy. He definitely did not come to Hogwarts to channel that obsession into…supervising Draco’s sex education class? Whatever, Harry saved the world. He could handle sex ed. Right?

Heels flat, chin up by @vukovich (E, 3,7k)

In Draco and Harry's entryway, there's a very low, very thick hook mounted to the wall. And a rather sturdy bar above it.

WOLFSTAR

Wolf wolf by @e-sebastian (E, 105k)

Remus lives a quiet life after the war. He works on his book, thinks of the past, and spends all his spare moments with Sirius. It all seems so perfect. Only when have things ever been perfect? A story of friendship, loss, second chances, and a complicated love that endures beyond reason.

a sawn off shotgun by @dykesiriusblack (E, 14k)

But the stage lights blur out the crowd and Sirius gets to his knees in front of Remus with their guitar and bass between them, and he does it again in their hotel room, has been doing it since their first tour, has been wanting to do it since he first learned about wanting, the kind that ruins you.

RARE PAIRS

Mistakes by @e-sebastian (M, 148k - Neville/OMC)

Professor Neville Longbottom is on the verge of becoming Head of Gryffindor. If he has a summer fling before that happens, it won't affect anything that comes after, right? Right? | A story about the road not traveled, refusing to bow down to dark forces, and finally learning that no one should ever underestimate Neville Longbottom.

The Hollow by @wolfpants (E, 12,5k - Remus/Draco)

They both drink, and Remus wonders how much longer he can stay here. His eyes are already moving around slowly, looking for an escape. Anything to get away from the eerily familiar slope of Draco’s cheekbones, from the richness of the voice that sounds so much like the ghost inside his own head.

Sing a Mad Rebelion by @femmequixotic (E, 56k - Snape/Harry)

The State Security Forces come not in the middle of a dark night as one might expect, but on a bright, sunshiny Sunday morning just after the sausages are set on the kitchen table.

See you next month! Love, Tai <3

[wolfstardaughter-jj]

About me (tagged by @robynlilyblack) sorry I posted it late, exams and projects have been piling up like pancakes:////

♡ favorite time of the year ♡

New years eve, The fireworks display that happens in my neighborhood is the highlight of my year<333

♡ comfort food ♡

spicy ramen, something that I have mentioned in many posts of mine:)

♡ favorite dessert ♡

its between tiramisu and chocolate chip cookies with extra chocolate chips

♡ things you collect ♡

I recently started collecting movie tickets when I finally got to watch movies at the cinema after 2 years of not going:) I also collect my artist friends drawings and doodles that they make for me, I love each and every one of them<3333

♡ favorite drink ♡

Caramel Frappuccino or Pearl Milk tea, obsessed with both

♡ favorite musical artist(s) ♡

Taylor swift, Stephen Sanchez, Harry Styles, Lana del Rey, Conan Gray, Clinton Kane, ABBA and last but not least, Cigarettes after sex<3

♡ last song listened to ♡

Satisfied by the original Broadway cast of Hamilton, I'm constantly singing this song its getting concerning....

♡ last movie watched ♡

How to train your dragon, I missed watching the movies so why not rewatch it for the 100th time:)

♡ last series watched ♡

The Sandman, ngl Lord Morpheus's voice got me weak in the knees

♡ currently watching ♡

The Walking dead, I needed to feed my Zombie film addiction

♡ current obsession ♡

Guitar, I've been practicing almost every day now for 3 weeks or so? And I even made a song:)))

♡ dream place to visit ♡

Italy, London and France with my mom, I am in need of a vacation:))))

♡ place you wanna go back to ♡

to Bantayan with my relatives, had the most fun there with them. I've been wanting to go back for a while now.

♡ something you want ♡

A black cat, nothing else, I just desperately want a Black cat

♡ currently working on ♡

"Such a beautiful thing" A Sirius Black fic that was a request, a Loki the cat blurb that was also a request:)

Tagging some moots<3 @ghostofscarley @ell0ra-br3kk3r @expelliarweasley @wolfstar-jegulus-shipper @x-trinitx-x

[wolfstargames]

Coming Soon

Wolfstar Games 2021 is coming soon!

What is it? A prompt-based fest where participants are split into teams to engage in some fun-spirited competition as they create

How does it work? Each team member will create a work, either fic or art, inspired by a prompt, for their team

Is there a theme? Yes! The theme for this year is NATURE. The Teams are LAND, SEA, and SKY

When is this happening? Sign Ups begin on June 14th and run through June 27th

How long do I have to create something? Works will be due October 24th

And if I want more information?

Just keep reading below!

The Basic Rundown

There will be three teams based upon the fest theme. Participants will be given the chance to request a team upon sign up, but we make no guarantees that you will receive the team you requested, as teams need to be at least relatively even for voting purposes. This is, in fact, a competition, but only in the spirit of pushing each other further to create better works for this ship we all love so much.

Each participant will create a work, fic or art, based upon not only the theme but a prompt. Details on the prompts as well as how to claim them will be revealed after the teams are solidified. Then, those works will be revealed and voted upon in a blind vote to determine how each team did.

During the creation time there will be both team and inter-team activities. These will all be low key and completely optional. They’re just a way to spend some time with your team/fest participants and have a little fun to keep tensions low and promote a friendly sort of competition.

Once posting begins there will be a poll attached to each work, which will be posted anonymously, for readers/viewers to vote on how well the piece fit the theme of the fest as well as how well it fit the prompt. Those votes will be averaged for a total team score at the end of posting. Please keep in mind that these works are not in direct competition with each other. The voting is not meant to compare works. There will simply be a representative work from each team. Please be aware that team participants and mods will not be allowed to vote, for fairness purposes!

As this is a scored fest please keep in mind that all works are to be anonymous. We understand that this is slightly difficult for artists as style may be recognizable, but please do your best. This means that you may not share any snippets, anything more than very vague ideas, or any pieces or bits of your creations until after the reveals when the work is wholly yours to do with as you wish. We do understand the concern about posting unsigned art, so we will be providing a Wolfstar Games watermark for any artist that wishes to use it. And if you have any concerns about this please contact a mod and we will see what we can do for you.

Just remember, Wolfstar Games is about having fun and creating more content for our favorite boys, not about winning or losing. And most importantly, it’s about having fun!

Theme: NATURE

This means any way you want to interpret nature. It could be a story about taking a walk through nature, or about mermaids living in the ocean, or playing a Quidditch game in the air. There are lots of ways to interpret the theme.

Time Line:

Sign-ups begin on Wednesday, June 17th and last through Sunday, June 27th, ending at 11:59pm Eastern time (GMT-5). Sign-ups will happen via google form, so please watch this space for that to go live.

Teams will be announced on Friday, July 2nd. so please watch this space for more info.

Prompts will be available for viewing only on Friday, July 2nd.

Prompts will be available for claiming on Monday, July 5th and will close at 11:59PM EST (GMT-5) on Sunday, July 11th. Prompts will fall into three categories: Word based, Image based, and Audio based. Each prompt will be available only one time per team, so the sooner you make your selections the more likely you are to get the prompt you want. If, for any reason, you are not available during any of the claiming period please contact a mod and we will make accommodations for you.

Works are due by 11:59 PM on Sunday, October 24th EST (GMT-5). As always we want this to be fun and low stress, so if there are any problems with finishing please just contact a mod and we will work with you to see what we can do. As this is a team competition there may be a small points penalty incurred for late works, however, so please contact a mod as soon as you can if there are any difficulties. There will be check ins along the way to see how everyone is doing and make sure there are no issues, but if something arises please don’t feel the need to wait for a check in to talk with a mod. That’s what we’re here for.

Posting begins Monday, November 1st and runs until we run out of works.

The winning team will be revealed once posting is complete and the mods have had a chance to tally the votes. Keep watch on this space for more information on that further into the fest.

Rule & FAQ

What sort of content am I committing to if I sign up?

For fic, the minimum word count will be 1000 words. There is no maximum, however, please keep in mind that ease of reading, which unfortunately sometimes includes length, will have an impact on how the voting goes. We would never dare to stifle anyone’s muse, so please write as the whim takes you, just keep that in mind when you’re creating.

There is no minimum size for art, but we would request that the maximum size be something that is easily viewable on a single screen. Again, we don’t want to cramp anyone’s creativity, but for voting purposes it’s helpful to be able to see the entire work at one time.

What sort of artwork is acceptable?

All art must be visual, original art. By original art, we mean that the final product must be an original product of the artist. Using photos for reference is fine, and you can use whatever traditional or digital medium you require, so long as the art starts and finishes as your own product. Photo manips are not allowed. Hit up the mods if you need clarity on an idea.

Can I use a work that I’ve published previously, or that’s been sitting in my drafts?

For this fest, we need all original content, none of which has been published previously. Since this is a theme and prompt-based fest, all creators should plan on starting new projects so they can be fully inspired by their chosen prompt.

Is there an age requirement to participate?

All ages are welcome! However, if you are under 18, your creation must be rated G or T on AO3.

Are there any other restrictions on creations?

This is a Wolfstar-centric fest, so we do ask that your creation focuses on Remus and Sirius’ relationship, though other pairings are welcome. All fics must be properly tagged with the appropriate content and trigger warnings on AO3. All fics must be edited, beta read, and legible.

Will I need to be signed up for any specific platforms to participate?

You will need an AO3 account for posting purposes. All fest info will be shared on Tumblr. A Discord chat system will be set up as well. All of these platforms, other than AO3, are optional.

Can I share snippets of my work on my social media?

Since this is an anonymous fest, we ask that absolutely no snippets or hints be shared during the run of the fest. Once the fest has concluded, you may post whatever you like to social media.

I can’t sign up, but I still want to participate, what can I do?

No worries, there are lots of ways for you to help support WSG! Follow us on Tumblr; reblog, comment, and share our posts to spread the word. We’ll also be asking for help with beta reading, pinch hitting, and other cool ways for you to get involved!

I’ve got more questions, help!

No problem, we’re happy to hear from you! Ping us on one of the social media sites above, or email wolfstargamesmods at gmail dot com.

[wolfpants]

tag 9 people you want to get to know better

Thank you for tagging me @academicdisaster24! Loved reading your answers, and I'm obsessed that you love Captive Prince. I need more people to gush to about this amazing series of books! Also, I'm very very excited for your original work - that's incredible that you're embarking on it and I wish you every ounce of luck in the world!! 🖤

--

Favourite colour: Green. It's always been green! It's a colour I wear a lot of (when I'm not just wearing black/grey!) and my flat is very green-orientated. I have a mcm style bottle green velvet couch which might be my favourite possession, and I also have a lot of plants which are, of course, green. I've just always felt drawn to it more than any other colour. It makes me feel peaceful.

Currently reading: In terms of fics, I'm reading @lostmykeysie's The Horcrux Hunt and @wolfstarting's We never went to church. Both highly recommended. In terms of books, I've finally picked up Dave Grohl's The Storyteller and I'm also reading Exciting Times for a book club I'm part of.

Last song: Just opened up my Spotify and apparently it's The Waves Have Come by Chelsea Wolfe! I've also been on a bit of a Metallica kick recently and have had Kill 'Em All on repeat, my favourite album of theirs. Listening to it while houseworking/writing makes me feel like I've had about 1000 cups of coffee. Also, I will die on the hill I've created, insistent that Kirk Hammett (especially 80s!Kirk) is the perfect Sirius fc.

Last series: Succession season 3: devastating.

Sweet, savoury or spicy: Okay this is hard because I love all three of them together! But I always reach for savoury snacks first. I am absolutely obsessed with salt and vinegar crisps (Co-Ops own brand is unmatched imo). BUT I love spicy wings and put hot sauce on an alarming amount of dishes, so.

Currently working on: My Wolfstarbucks get-together one shot, which I'm hoping to get online next week; the next chapter of Pages of You which features a camping trip in the Surrey Hills and an awkward tent situation. Next up is, probably, my Nick Hornby Wolfstar fic. And, on the back burner, I also have an original novel that I've been meaning to work on for a few years now. I would like to work on that this year, if I find the courage.

Anyone who sees this, feel free to take part! But for rules-sake, I'll tag @lostmykeysie @wolfstarting @wanderingbandurria @aqua-myosotis @slytherinreggieblack @aeridi0nis @remuslupingf @dykesiriusblack @mollymarymarie 🖤🖤🖤

[iwontscreaminmyhead]

OTP TOP FIVE.

Thanks for the tag @getmehighonmagic.

Larry (Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles)

Absolutely obsessed with these lads, courtesy of Angel. Cheers babes.

2. Wolfstar (Sirius Black/Remus Lupin - Harry Potter series)

Absolutely and forever my original OTP. The reason fandom is my way of life. I'll love you forever, no matter what JK Rowling does. We got you, boys.

3. Eliver (Elio and Oliver - Call Me By Your Name)

Christ. I don't even know what to say about these boys. I'm obsessed with them and always will be. From the moment I stumbled across the book over a decade ago in my local library, they've had my heart.

4. Hannigram (Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter - Hannibal)

Easily one of the most complex, dark and real ships I've ever loved. There's something so beautiful about the tragedy of these two men.

5. Johnlock (John Watson and Sherlock Holmes - Sherlock)

Oh these boys. BBC did you dirty, didn't they? Queerbaited us all for four seasons. Never mind, the fans know the truth.

I tag @china-nightingale, @nonbinaries-on-ice and @deli-is-rogue . Have fun with it guys!

[matuk-art]

5 works tag game

Rules: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (ish) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

Thank you!! ❤❤❤😢 @ogaferoga @manarly-banarly 😘😘

1. Diego hugs Five

This made people so happy 🤗❤ I'm still proud of this work.

2. Follow me home

One of my favorite songs. I think it fits them perfectly. I cried while editing 😅. The way Five loves his family... it's so relatable to me.

3. María for the pain

My style changed a lot since april (To be honest I feel I don't really have a style) Still love the idea behind it. And I don't hate the drawing (yet) Wolfstar is my OTP 💙

4. Dramatic exit

This work took a week or more. I can't believe I didn't give up halfway!

5. Christmas

I just want to say that this is an extremely personal piece.

TAGS ❤❤❤

@circumstellars @kamishirazu @theboywantscoffee @niwamorii @fivesmargarita @hinnth @andyoudoctor @neuronary @disco-tea @hargreeving @the-aro-ace-arrow-ace @fivevanyaklaus @tuagifs

I'm probably gonna keep adding people

[sunflower-swan]

Wolfstar Chapter 10

A/N: Here’s what you need to know: I created this story for Writer’s Month 2020. Every day is a new prompt, and therefore a new chapter. This is an AU Wolfstar where Remus is a tattoo artist next door to Sirius who manages a flower shop. James and Lily are alive in this universe and own a coffee shop across the street. And to make parts of the story work with the prompts, Remus is about 10 years older than Sirius. It also takes place more or less in present time, minus Covid-19.

This is chapter 10 of a multi-chapter work. If you’d like to start from the beginning, here is chapter 1.

Disclaimer: I don’t own these characters. I just like to play with them.

Day 10 Prompt: Bunnies

Rating: Teen and Up

Word Count: 1542

Tags: language, angst, fluff, original character

Chapter 10

Sirius

Panic! At The Disco, “Mad as Rabbits”

Come save me from walking off a windowsill

Or I'll sleep in the rain.

Don't you remember when I was a bird

And you were a map?

Sirius hurt. It felt like there was a hole in his chest where his heart had been. He went with Remus to the Tattoo Lounge because it was better than drinking himself into a pickle at home alone. In truth, he was quite thankful for Remus. The day ended much better than it began, which wasn’t saying much considering how the day started. But Sirius would take any improvement at the moment.

He found he enjoyed watching Remus run his shop. Lily had taken a few messages for him in his absence, so he rang those people first. After that he had a steady stream of customers the rest of the day. Some by appointment and some by walk-in. A few were consultations, and Sirius was impressed by his friend’s compassion and professionalism. In the lull between customers Remus and Sirius would chat, or sometimes they would sit in comfortable silence and Sirius would watch Remus sketch.

One woman had an appointment for her very first tattoo. Sirius remembered being nervous when he got his first ink, but this woman seemed over the moon excited. She brought a friend with her. The friend waited on the leather couch that sat back in the tattooing area of the shop while Remus discussed tattoo plans with the woman. In the end they developed a plan for a half sleeve involving a Mammoth Sunflower, a few common daisy blossoms, and a Monarch butterfly. The sketch Remus created was beyond beautiful. Even though this would be the first of at least three sittings, Sirius was sure the end result would look so realistic, one would expect the butterfly to flap its wings and fly away.

Remus took a break mid-day and explained, “People are looking for more than a tattoo. They’re looking for an experience. The customers I like to work with are looking for a one-of-a-kind piece of art to display on their body. Every piece I do is an extension of myself. And these people walk around the world with it for the rest of their life.”

Wow. Sirius placed his right hand over the rose tattoo. There was not another exactly like it in the whole world. For the first time in many days, he felt a tiny light flicker inside him. A tiny light of hope that told him he would make it through the pain and heartache in which he had been absorbed.

Later on around mid-afternoon, Sirius and Remus were chatting about nothing in particular while Remus cleaned up his equipment from a walk-in. The walk-in had requested a geometric mandala design between his shoulder blades. It wasn’t Sirius’ style, but the man had seemed pleased with it. Then the bell over the door dinged, and in sauntered Logan. Sirius was beside himself, giddy with excitement to watch him interact with Remus. He tried the best he could to blend in with the wall, and watch the show.

When the door opened, Remus looked up from his cleaning. His expression turned to one of surprise to see Logan moving stealthily toward him. Logan didn’t even notice Sirius sitting in the corner. From the moment he walked in, he only had eyes for Remus.

“Hey, Remus,” Logan said.

Remus blushed. “Uh, hey, Logan.” He nervously wiped his hands on his trousers.

“You never called me.” Logan was within arm's distance of Remus now, and he stopped.

“Erm…” Remus scratched the back of his head. “No...I guess I didn’t. No that, um...not that I didn’t want to, but…”

He’s so awkward! Sirius thought to himself. He’d never seen Remus so flustered. It was kind of adorable.

“It’s ok,” Logan said with a chuckle. “I am still interested in a tattoo though.” The corner of his mouth lifted.

“Right! Yeah, of course,” Remus said. “Just uh…” He cleared a space for them to sit, and grabbed his sketchbook and a pencil. “Here, have a seat.”

They took a seat on the leather couch. Sirius was covertly pretending to flip through a magazine in the far corner, and was therefore too far away to make out much of their conversation. But he could see, and that was enough. Logan was so obviously flirty.

He started off on the opposite side of the couch from Remus. But after about fifteen minutes or so, he had slowly worked his way closer to Remus. Then there was the way he kept brushing his hair back. And any excuse to touch Remus: his shoulder, his elbow, his knee...Godric, this guy was a bit much.

Logan was throwing everything he had at Remus, but Remus seemed oblivious. Remus maintained an air of professionalism throughout the entire consultation. Sirius was surprised Logan hadn’t jumped into Remus’ lap by the end. It was about the only thing he hadn’t done to get Remus’ attention. There is such a thing as coming on too strong, but this Logan fella never got that hint.

Finally Logan cleared out, and Remus approached Sirius. “Do you trust me?” he asked. He was holding a sketchbook to his chest, eyebrows raised.

“Yes.” Sirius didn’t need to think twice.

“Come over here.” Remus motioned with his hand and walked toward the chairs. “Pull up your right pant leg, and lay down on your stomach.”

“Excuse me?” Sirius laughed and put his hands on his hips. “What is happening now?”

Remus tapped his foot and repeated himself, “Pull up your right pant leg, and lay down on your stomach.” He gestured toward the padded bench. “You said you trusted me, right?” He tilted his head down with a smirk.

Why do I feel like I might regret this? Sirius asked himself as he did as Remus directed. “I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me what you’ve decided needs to be permanently marked on my body.”

“Nope.”

Brilliant.

A couple silent hours later, Remus announced he was done. “Before you look at it, I want to tell you something.” He came around and crouched down in front of Sirius and looked him dead in the eyes. The intensity Sirius saw there was intimidating, but he did not break eye contact. “What you have gone through, and what you have yet to go through, is really hard. This is just a stumble in your road, it’s not the end of your journey. Haruki Murakami once said, ‘Such wounds to the heart will probably never heal. But we cannot simply sit and stare at our wounds forever.’ I hope this piece can be the beginning of your healing.”

Sirius's mouth had gone dry. The tiny light grew a little brighter. He twisted to look at his calf. Is that a fucking bunny? “Is that a fucking bunny?!” Oops, I said that out loud. “A bunny and a...crescent moon? Why?”

“Calm down, shut up, and listen.”

I’ll shut up and listen, but that doesn’t mean I’ll calm down. Sirius fixed Remus with a stare and tried to convey a hurry-up-before-I-lose-it expression.

“What do you know about rabbit spirit animals?”

“Remus, my animagus is a dog...why would I care about a rabbit spirit animal?”

“A rabbit spirit animal symbolizes a person who has no problem expressing happiness and affection when it comes to people they love. You have so much love in your heart Sirius, that is why it hurts so much right now. Your animagus form may be a dog, but I think that dog’s spirit animal is a rabbit.”

Sirius mulled Remus’ words over in his head. No problem expressing happiness and affection to people I love. It hurts so much, because I love so much? No...because I have so much love to give. I give my love freely. Too freely? No...the people I love deserve my love. But why does it have to hurt so much? Kind of ironic that a dog’s spirit animal would be a rabbit since the two are natural enemies.

“Ok, then what about the crescent moon?” he asked. That bit didn’t really make sense.

“Well,” Remus said, “the rabbit is an animal of the moon. And I thought it looked cool.”

It was a cool design now that he looked more closely. A tribal hare, rearing on it’s back legs. It sort of looked like it was playing with the crescent moon. Why did Remus not quite meet his eyes with that explanation though?

“You can stay here tonight, if you want.” Remus offered, disrupting his thoughts. “I just mean...on your own didn’t pan out so well...you’re always welcome here anytime…” His sentence sort of wandered off after that.

“Um…” Sirius knew he didn’t want to be alone with his thoughts tonight. He had tried being alone the past few days, and look where it landed him. He also didn’t want to be a burden on his best friend. He also remembered with vivid clarity that Remus walks around in his boxers in the morning.

“Let’s at least get a bite from Potter’s,” Remus said, “I’m starving. Then you can decide what you want to do.” Remus swished his wand and his equipment flew back to their respective shelves. He cast a disinfecting Scourgify and turned to Sirius with a smile.

Next Chapter: Chapter 11

[useless-slytherclaw]

My Top Favorite Works of 2020, So Far

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5 favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world. Tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

I was tagged by @mdelpin​.  Thank you for that.

I decided last november to get back into writing, after I had to put my hobby of writing on hold for the sake of my education.  I’ve done a lot of writing this year (I’ve already got more than 100K on AO3.)  My writing is still a bit clumsier and slower than it used to be, but I’ll get better.  It’s hard to choose five, so I’ll put them in chronological order rather than an order of preference.

 All Things Beautiful - Harry Potter - Dorlene.  This is actually the first piece I published this year.  It’s a piece about the deaths of Dorcas Meadows and Marlene McKinnon.  But what it really focuses on is grief.  I lost my father a few years ago now and that was my first brush with true grief.  It’s something that I hadn’t been brave enough to put into writing before.  I think that I managed to capture emotions quite well in this piece. 

Tattoos Tell The Story - Harry Potter - Sirius Black (minor wolfstar).  This fic is a collection of vignettes that explore different portions of the life of Sirius Black.  Every scene is inspired by a line from the song ‘Rose Tattoo’ by Dropkick Murphys and has a sketch of a tattoo to accompany it.  It was a lot of work to blend together a song, a story of a life, and tattoo art, but I like the way that it came out. 

Good Slytherins - Harry Potter - Regulus Black.  This is a fic where Regulus Black, along with Sirius, comes back after Sirius’ fall through the veil.  This is the longest work that I have on my AO3, and I’m proud of how quickly I was able to put it together without (I think) sacrificing quality.  It’s my only AU piece and it’s also my only piece with an important OC.  I’m proud of the OC because she’s much more human than the OC’s that I wrote when I was younger.  She has her own flaws and her own motivations.  The fiction also deals with things like PTSD both from the wars fought and from childhood trauma.  I feel as if a lot of fics about Regulus skip over the sort of affect these things could have had on him.

No Need For Restraint - MDZS/The Untamed - Zhuiyi.  This is my favorite of the two explicit rated fics on my page.  I have a bad tendency to write in a repetitive choppy style that I picked up via my day job as a physicist, and that's especially easy to do with action.  I think that I broke that habit with this piece and did a decent job of merging emotions with the action.  It’s definitely more romantic or stylized than pornographic, but I like it that way.

Sugary Kiss - Fairy Tail - Chendy.  This is just a cute story about Chelia and Wendy shopping and falling in love.  This fic makes the list for being the only fluff piece I have.  It was incredibly difficult for me to keep to something lighthearted and fun.  But I did it.  I’m proud of myself for stepping out of my angsty comfort zone.

Honorary mention goes to my (oh so cleverly named) Midnight Cobra series.  (Fairytail midco)  This series of one shots follows the arc of midco as I imagine it.  This has my first fight scenes after coming back to writing and my first smut scene.  It’s a bit rough around the edges because of that, but I’m proud of it. 

Not sure who to tag so... @wynnefic @a-sentimental-man @themadmage @gooseberrybrains @ladybirdsparrow @queenofthedagger @furidojasutin @thehufflebean

[incorrect-marauders]

THE OWLS ARE IN! IT’S TIME FOR THE SURVEY RESULTS!

So, as many of our followers are probably aware, we recently did a survey to get a feel of what people thought of our blog. We got a total of 57 results and we are grateful to each and every one of you for taking the time to let us know your thoughts. Now, we’re here to share the general consensus of what people thought and how we will accommodate these opinions.

We’ll definitely have some changes to the blog, so read on to see what those changes are!

Before we begin, we have a few things to briefly mention.

The results are pretty scattered. We didn’t want to restrict anyone, so most were free response or included “Other”. In hindsight, there were a few questions that could have easily been multiple choice without really restricting anyone. (Side eyes the first question.) Therefore, most of these will just summarize the results we got. Occasionally drop the graph for the multiple choice questions.

Because of the large amount of responses we got, not every answer will be listed here. We highlighted the things that were either most commonly mentioned or had us thinking the most.

If anyone would like to see the full results for some reason (par the names, to keep anonymity), feel free to email us at incorrectmarauders.tumblr@gmail.com and we’ll send it over!

And yes, we are making changes to accommodate these results! That’s what this survey was all about!

We’ll be opening applications for new mods within the next couple days as well.

We’ll have a tiny hiatus as all of this is going on.

Now, we begin...

How long have you been following incorrect-marauders?

The most popular answer seemed to be around 2 months or 10 months. A lot of people filling out this survey seemed to either be relatively new or here since the beginning. Kudos to you incorrect-marauders veterans, and welcome newer followers!

How did you find incorrect-marauders?

Somewhat as we expected. Keep reblogging us, lovely people!

What do you love MOST about incorrect-marauders?

"It's funny.” (x50)

No really, we got 50 variations of “It’s funny,” “It’s hilarious,” “The humour,” “The funny text posts.”

Thanks, we appreciate it!

“How weirdly in character the quotes always are.”

(Similar variations include, “How actually accurate your post are,” “That not every post is as funny, imho, but that they do keep true to the characters,” “How much they fit the characters.”)

“They offer new content to the Marauders 'franchise' as it were because some stuff within the fandom is constantly being reused.”

“How correct it actually is if Joanne made it canon.”

“McGonagall with the marauders and that the sources are listed.”

“Accurate representation, variety of ships and relationships, isnt toxic.”

“Very funny and can be great art/writing prompts.”

“The taste.”

“EVERYTHING.”

These are all very nice, thank you all. Glad we hit where we were aiming.

What do you love LEAST about incorrect-marauders?

The most common response was, “Nothing,” or a variation thereof, but that’s no fun for this question, so here are some of the legitimate criticisms we received!

“Quote sources, I think, occasionally aren't there.”

Our original quotes often don’t have sources. But if there’s one where a mod forgot to credit a source, please just message us and one of the admins will fix that!

“There isn't a particularly nice aesthetic to the blog, e.g. a matching layout and profile picture or quote.”

Yeah, we’re working to fix that. I like pretty blogs too.

“Could be updated a little more.”

(”Not much posting in my opinion,” “Long time between posts.”)

Strangely enough, we got this a few times but our later poll about how often to post were contradicting this. So, unfortunately, we will not be adjusting this.

“I mean I would say that Peter is on it, but can’t really get rid of him...”

(Got a few of these, like, ”Peter being seen as a good person.”)

Sorry!

“Some are a bit too small.”

“I don’t like the long quotes.”

Well, then.

“Seeing my #notp but that isnt rly a minus?? Its called diversity so im not gonna hate or anything.”

Thank you for appreciating the diversity. We get occasional hate over it, but we also get hate over not posting some of the other ships. I suppose that’s what happens when you have lots of different followers of different opinions.

“If I send you a text post you credit the source in # but i'd like you to include a link to my tumblr in the post itself so people would actually find my tumblr. I doent send you text posts anymore, cause it doesn't really profit me and it feels like you get credit for my work.”

We’re sorry you feel that way. We always put it in the tags, just in front of the source. We are more of a mod-based blog rather than a submission-based blog. Anyone is welcome to submit, but about 98% of our posts are created by our mods.

“Sometimes I feel like the wrong characters were chosen or not well thought out.”

We can assure you our mods put a lot of thought into what characters to use, but you are welcome to message us with your own suggestion! (But please note that we are a Marauders blog; we got a few comments about how we don’t post enough Hinny or Romione, but that’s not what our blog is about.)

What makes incorrect-marauders stand out?

Once again, we got a lot about how funny we are, so we’ll skip over those and highlight the more unique answers!

"They don't use things from other people without credit.”

“The love and attention put in to everything.”

“Don't think there are any other blogs about marauders in this style.”

(We got this a few times. ”Like the type of blog and incorrect-marauders was the first one Harry potter themed I found,” also, “Its really funny and pretty much the only blog that just does this kind of post and i LOVE it.” But alternatively... “There are a lot of textpost blogs like it, but it is one of the only ones that I have found that consistently keeps characters in character in the posts and appeals to my sense of humor.”)

“I feel the quotes are in character and from multiple sources which Is cool.“

“How open it is.”

“The continuous content.”

“The posts arent so often that my dash is spammed like other blogs of the same nature.”

“Not sure but I like you.”

Not much to comment on these except we’re happy to see people think this about us!

How satisfied are you with the blog and the posts, in all?

So, you’re telling me, we opened a public, anonymous survey and not a single hater filled it out? Am I impressed or disappointed?

Please explain your response to the previous question.

“I just love the whole blog.”

“It's not my favourite blog ever ever which is why it's not a 10 but i still love it.”

“You guys are just so awesome! But it'd also be cool to have a little, meet the creator(s).”

“Its good but I don't have or want notifications on.”

“It’s the #qualitycontent i signed up for.”

"Always room for improvement, and also there's no 9 3/4 option.”

Awesome! We definitely agree that we can always improve, which is what this survey is for!

How often should we post?

We got a lot of variety here. Some say once a day (which is how often we currently post) was ideal. Others put stuff like...

“I wouldnt mind my entire blog just being filled with your posts.”

While Once A Day is the most voted for, the rest of the options put together, which we’ll name Two or More Times a Day, do win overall. Since we have one new post followed by a reblog, we’ll compromise by posting two times a day, but with one new post a day (the second being a reblog).

In UTC, what times do you prefer us posting?

As expected, not many people cared. But two people felt very strongly and voted for 12am, 1am, and 6pm UTC. So, we’ll consider that.

What characters, relationships, universes, etc. would you like to see more represented in our posts?

We got a lot of responses here, primarily being more Wolfstar, Jily, and BFFs James and Sirius. We also got a lot saying we should post about Hinny, Romione, next gen, FBAWTFT, etc. in which I remind you that this is a Marauders blog.

We also got the hilarious response that said we should maybe post about the “merauders”. Well, we can certainly promise you that.

We also got a lot of people saying more McGonagall. That’s something we can definitely do.

Would you like to see more original quotes from us?

For the longest time, the option 50/50 was at exactly 50%. Kind of disappointed that is no longer, but the 25% option is at 25%, so that’s something. Anyway, we’ll aim for 50/50.

What else would you like to see us post?

This was one of the results that will make the biggest change to the blog. People seem to really love these ideas. So expect...

Marauder Mondays! Every Monday we’ll have Marauder Monday, where we’ll answer asks, reblog posts, and have a party! Probably when we’ll post the “extra” posts, like our GIFs, graphics, aesthetics, videos, etc.

How would you feel if we did sponsored posts?

Combined, it seems like ~75% of those who took the survey are good with sponsored posts.

These results honestly surprised us. We’ve gotten a lot of offers of sponsorships in the past but have always denied them because we didn’t know how our followers would feel. We probably won’t do this in the near future, but it’s an option.

What kind of projects would you like to see us host?

We got so many people suggesting merch. Shirts, stickers, pins, other merch... So we’ll keep that in mind! We’d love some Marauders shirts ourselves.

“Projects that other blogs can get involved with to help other accounts grow.”

Noted!

“An art challenge maybe? like, 30 day challenge where you have to draw them as characters from movies/tv shows? like, friends, clueless, avengers, dc characters etc.“

Definitely interesting. Art challenges would be a lot of fun. Hopefully there’s an interest for this!

Which of our other accounts do you follow/would like to follow?

We’ll look into bringing on people to regularly post on other sites.

What device do you use to browse our blog most often (whether through Tumblr or our site)?

Why are we bothering with a redesign again? Oh, right. Personal vain.

How often do you visit the blogsite?

Those numbers are higher than expected...

What kind of things would you like to find on our blogsite?

“Character aesthetics.”

“Fanfiction links.”

“Marauders fan art would be cool.“

We’ll be working on this! Thank you for the suggestions!

More meet the creator(s) (if not comfortable with should, maybe just telling a funny story)

We got a lot of people saying they’d like to know more about us. We are anonymous, but this particular comment had us thinking. We’ll be implementing something in the near future. We will still remain anonymous, but we will have “blog identifies”, I suppose you could say. More info to come!

Other than show, character, and ship lists, what would you like to see in our navigation?

We didn’t get many new suggestions for this, except for fanart, aesthetics, etc. which we will add as more people join the blog!

Do you have any additional suggestions for us?

"Maybe find a blog that could do fan art, but only if you’re comfortable with it. Also, you’re blog is already so amazing, and any redesign would just make it more awesome!!! Don’t let anyone get you down espically if some one puts something negative on the survey because it is so so great already.”

We got no negative feedback (just constructive criticism), but thank you for your concern!

“um. keep doing this. i like it. it helps fill the gaping void in my soul“

Mood.

“Thanks for making the survey, caring about our feedback, and being awesome overall :)”

Of course! This is not just our blog, this is the Marauders fandom blog. Your feedback means everything to us and we hope you will like the changes we’ll make in response to it.

And that covers all of it! Cookies to anyone who read all of that! Keep an eye out for those new mod applications if you’re interested in joining our team!

We’ll be taking a tiny little hiatus as we’re figuring some stuff out.

[emdop]

WIP tag game

I was tagged by @fallynephemeron. YESSS! I love getting tagged in posts, especially when they have to do with writing. 

What genre(s) you write:

I mostly write Romance and the occasional Fantasy. Although there isn’t a genre that wouldn’t be interested in trying…except for maybe Historical Nonfiction. I’m not trying to write a textbook anytime soon. 

What’s on your reading wish list:

OOh, boy. Get ready for the shame; there’s so much I haven’t read. Anything by V. E. Schwab. I’ve heard so many good things about her books and I follow her on social media. She seems like an amazing person and I honestly need to read her books. 

Grisha trilogy and six of crows duo logy. I know. I know.

Good Omens by Terry Prattchet and Neil Gaiman. I actually own this book and I bought the gorgeous UK edition. It’s on next month’s TBR in time for the show. Stoked to start reading it.

The Night Circus. The artwork for this book is lovely and I think I’d really like the atmospheric quality to the writing. 

Now for a list of stuff I haven’t read but plan on getting to at some point: An Ember in the Ashes series, Children of Blood and Bone, Scythe, Strange the Dreamer, Dumplin’, Wayward children series, Throne of glass (I’m not so stoked on this series, but I thought I’d at least try it before dismissing it), Holes, The Lunar Chronicles… the list goes on. 

Your favorite character from your current WIP:

Jet pansexual rock star who just want to make music and have a good time. He has a habit of breaking out into song and changing the lyrics to famous tune to match whatever is happening around him. Some of them are unbearably catchy and his bandmates will get them stuck in their heads. 

Fortune yes he hates his name and I’m not sorry about it. He’s from a different WIP that I haven’t talked about much because I haven’t started actually writing it yet. But this guy will NOT SHUT UP in my head; he’s constantly jabbering at me. Like DUDE I don’t need your whole life story just yet. His personality is if Ronan Lynch from The Raven Cycle met Seamus Finnigan from the Harry Potter series, and they had a kid named Zuko. 

Some writing tropes you like:

There are many, especially since I write romance. Here’s a couple I’m a sucker for: found family, forced interaction (aka people who don’t want to work together have to work together), flamboyant dramatic wizards (Read: Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle and Fanon Sirius Black), fake dating, Shakespearian style scheming, bad boy with a heart of gold, dumbass with pure intentions, the chosen one…

The story behind your WIP’s name:

There isn’t really a story behind Sing This Love. It’s more utilitarian than creative. It’s supposed to suggest that this story is a romance about someone who sings. I’m not entirely sold on it, but it’s the best I’ve got.

Are you a pantser or plotter?

Plotter

Do you post your work somewhere?

I occasionally post small bits of original stuff on here and I’ve written one Harry Potter fan fiction story on AO3 (user name is emdop on there too if you want to read to it. 

Do you also read/write fanfic? If yes, for the same genres as what you write? 

I do both. Reading wise, I tend to gravitate toward smutty romances. Writing wise, I’ve only written the one, which is a cute WolfStar piece that’s more about emotional healing than physical connection. AKA the rating is General audiences. 

Your favorite dessert. Because why not.

Semi-savory cupcakes. My mom makes these vanilla rosemary cupcakes for my birthday and they’re divine.

I’m tagging a few of people in the hopes they won’t mind, but I seriously need more Writeblr friends

@bettsican, @futureauthor-mabye, @writernoir

[gothictumblerfartz]

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A post shared by Tired3y3 ('°Ω°')▶ (@tiredeyesharkco)

@mochawulfie speedpaint sneep peek color flash! . .I will be posting a speeddraw for mocha 🐺 On my YouTube sometime today a link to mochawulfs channel will be in the video description! 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 follow 💤🦈👀👇 .https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJRssyTzRx6QDbzRr... . I do not own the character mochawulf I just drew their original character as a femail in my art style along with the bendy inspired little devil float,I also call it a Rave~Monic Karma demon...lame name roiiiiight lol O well.! .... ....question..... I am slow... And dont yet understand how cc © works since i get different answers..... is this a © ... I am an honest artist just trying to get things right lol sorry for asking... ..... thanks for any answers in advance! My lg stylo 4 phone is my tool, My app for art used to make this illustration @sonysketch . . . . . .. . . . Tags #mocha #wulf #🐺 #wolfartist #wolfart #fanart #characterart #wolfstar #wolfys #evilart #dark #karma #bendy #fantasticcombination #combinationart #digitalartwork #sketch #furryart #furry #animeartstyle #myartstyle #artgift #speeddraw #speedcolor #kawaiidark #inspiredart #littledevil #float #fanfloat (at Salem, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxk8055HRY6/?igshid=1piomr983ldjk

[teacup-tai]

Top Five of 2020

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5 (ish) favourite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. Tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

My lovely @the-starryknight thanks for the tag!  I’ll tag a few people, but you probably already did it: @ruinsplume @kasjophe @gallifrey1sburning @quicksilvermaid @prolix- @dazedandinked 

Right. This year was insane, I got stuck first half of the year in Ireland with only 2 friends close by, all my family in Brazil or Spain while I was writing my bloody master thesis (that is what I’m proudest of this year, but it’s not published yet, so won’t go in this list). I managed a lot of hard emotions in solitude, by myself, while reading drarry fics to keep afloat (great coping mechanism, actually!). And after handing my thesis and moving to Spain, I was feeling deeply empty. So I went back to fic-writing, after 2 or 3 years of not even looking at my old fics. 

It all started when I saw the posts for prompt claiming on the @hd-hurtfest  blog. To think how that post changed everything in my life is just bizarre. So I am very thankful! It has been a huge pleasure to go back to fic-writing and to re-embrace the HP fandom, mainly the drarry squad! To get to know so many lovely people and I’m forever grateful for that. 

Here is my Top Five:

hear me (with your whole body): (Drarry, E, 9k) this is the fic I wrote for the hd-hurtfest 2020. I saw @quicksilvermaid’s prompt and I shivered. It lured me so much I had the whole plot in my head as soon as I finished sending the claim. It was so hard to write it. Because the topic is very sensitive: open relationships, sexual mismatch, bad communication skills. I brought most of my bad experiences in all these sensitive topics as if I was purging it from my body while writing ‘hear me’. It was a very raw process of looking into my own still bleeding wounds, but very cathartic. And it was hard because it was my very first drarry (I love drarry and I normally only read drarry, but I’ve never felt confident enough to write it), so I was very nervous. And in bloody English xD LOL but I’m bloody proud of it. I wanted to write something real without making a show of blaming one of the parts, at the same time I wanted to use and unreliable POV (Harry’s) and to bring forth all those very uncomfortable realities of jealousy, insecurity of one’s sexuality etc. in a way people could relate to. I’ve never imagined the response to this fic would be so nice, and many of the comments drove me to deep reflection. I’m specially happy about this fic because after writing ‘hear me’ something cracked open inside of me, in my own personal-romantic life and also in writing. Like a small miracle. And then, I couldn’t stop writing anymore.

Rebel Rebel: (Sirius/Remus. E, 5k) heh, Wolfstar is my OTP *-* So writing this tiny fic with ‘there was no war’ prompt for the sirius black fest was a bloody delight. The feeling of exploring their youth, in the early 80s and the whole atmosphere of that time was exhilarating! Bowie’s concerts, HIV+ and Aids, queer community and old school crushes. Giving them a future and professions was fun as fuck. But the best part was making Sirius Black fuck around, wild and free, you know. Because he bloody well deserved it. I love the writing style I explored there, very influenced by Caio Fernando Abreu, one of my favourite Brazilian writers and it was just great great fun!

Dragons Don’t Know Paradise: (Drarry + Wolfstar, E, 40k+ WIP) I need to post 3 more chapters along this next few days.  I’m adding Dragons here because NEVER. IN. MY. LIFE I thought this story would come out of my head into the pages, and I’m so bloody happy, so bloody proud of myself. I cannot believe how much I’ve written in a month, about a plot that had some path in my head but never a shape, and how this all blossomed inside of me and how it’s coming out just brilliantly. I know I’ll think back at some point and think this and that are not great. But I think this fic is one of my best works, it deals with the queer community, with depression and acceptance, with HIV+ folk, and deep emotions. Everything I’ve ever dreamed of writing. And here it is, and writing it made me manage the fact that I wouldn’t be able to spend this xmas with my family, so I spent this last month with this characters and feeling the opposite of lonely. And to be able to write Harry having a family, you know, being raised by Remus and Sirius is just marvellous. I’m over the moon with wolfstar being great gaydads :D

Scorching: (Pansmione, E, 1.5k) first time I translated a Portuguese fic of mine to English. It was fun to do it, as it’s purely smutty smut and well, I love pansmione and it makes me greedy to go back to writing about this ship. I like how it turned out, but it’s not beta-ed so maybe it’s not great. But damn, I really like this Pansy. ^^

The Old Ways: (Voldemort/Walburga, M, 3k). So, I have a whole word document full of snippets on the Black family. As the Black family is my huge guilty pleasure (that’s why Tainara Black has been my pen name since 2005). I don’t like to think Walburga was only a mad pureblood bigoted woman, I like to think of her as being strongly magical and very sure of herself. Someone three-dimensional with knowledge of Dark magic of the old ways and a deep insanity that comes with legacy of pureness, but also with financial influence and  management of old wizarding land. I realised Walburga is only 1 year older than Voldie, she is closest to his age than her husband or brother (if we follow the Balck Family Genealogical Tree), and this sparked a whole idea inside of me. So this fic is a character study of Walburga when Sirius is only 10 and Voldemort is organising a war, and I honestly think is one of my best fics (even though it wasn’t beta-ed). I loved writing about this powerful witch, that got stuck in keeping her bloodline alive, that gave up on great deeds of power and freedom to become a pureblood mother and wife. But it’s the fic no one reads, so I’m adding a bit of it here in hopes it may interest someone:

He climbs the last step of the noisy, rusty, winding stair, his eyes mapping the place in silent wonder. The rooftop is sombre. Rough grey cement floor and dead flower beds in a far corner, big dark clay pots with dead branches and dry bushes scattered around; the only living thing is an imposing carnivorous plant, it’s toothed lips opening and closing sharply around bugs and other insects.

She is right there, in the centre of the chaotic rooftop garden and he thinks the house is in shambles, and so is she. The moon is reflecting its cold brightness over her as if it were a stage light. He takes a second to contemplate her stance. He has never seen her like this before. It is such an incongruous sight it almost feels like he’s intruding. Is not a feeling he’s used to.

She’s perched in a high frail copper chair, her ankles crossed lightly, with pale bare feet against the dirty coarse floor, one white arm falling languidly from the armrest, her elegant fingers holding a thin long smoking pipe. Rings of smoke rising into the night sky. The back of her skull resting on the back of the chair, he can’t see her face from this angle, but he’s stunned by the imagery.

She looks almost mythical; with her long black mane messy and loose, barely touching the ground. He can’t remember when was the last time he’s seen her hair down, but he’s pretty sure it wasn’t that long, nor were there silver strikes colouring it in a mix of salt and pepper.

“How long do you plan to stare?” her voice is as rusty as the whole house and he scoffs.

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