[video]

[alwaysimpure]

[It's Sirius Black, on video, apparently in a good mood. That can't be good.]

I'm interrupting everyone's busy schedule of catching mice and grooming for a very important announcement: It's Harry's birthday tomorrow! Happy Birthday, Harry!




[A wizard with a wand and some fre time on his hands can do a lot of real life sparkles.]

So, I'm not sure how comfortable you are with making this all public, but let's be honest, birthdays are always partly an excuse to publicly embarrass the birthday boy. At least I'm not singing. Yet. I will in a few hours, when it's your actual birthday, I'm just starting early, because you never know what this island will be up to next.

I did however already get you a present and I think I finally managed to work out most of the kinks.

[With that he moves the device to show the gift he made for him.]



I've been working on it for a while now and chances are this one won't break free and evade capture for months on end. Probably. Anyway, I'd like to celebrate. If you don't mind. There's a lot of catching up to do and I have some things to show you.

Everyone else, you should celebrate tomorrow too! It's a great day.

[Private to Sheska and Once-ler]

I need birthday food for a teenage boy and I thought, hey, I know two people very likely to be willing and able to help me out. Against payment of course, Once-ler. Maybe you two could work on it together? [nudge nudge wink wink]

[ooc: Sorry for spamming the comm, but it's HARRY POTTER'S BIRTHDAY, damn it. Also, the image isn't quite right, but you try finding a flying broom that's not a replica of a Harry Potter movie prop.]

Comments

[alwaysimpure]

That's what I thought. Anyway, I think in theory I might be heir again by now, since everyone else died. So I guess that paid off.

It's very hard to appreciate the irony, given circumstances, but there you go.

[thneed]

Sirius, your life is really intense.

[alwaysimpure]

Well.

I'd say at least it's not boring, but that's not even true.

[thneed]

How is that boring?

[alwaysimpure]

Er.

I'm in prison right now, back home.

[thneed]

Sirius. No.

If there's ever an option to go back to our regular homes, you should go with someone else instead of going back there. That just seems.
The worst ever.

[alwaysimpure]

Is that an offer? From what people tell me I manage to escape in about ten years.

Anyway, I have unfinished business back there.

[thneed]

Uh-huh. You'd like it. ...Ten years is a long time.

Well okay.

[alwaysimpure]

Yeah, it's a very long time, especially at that place.

What's it like, where you're from?

[thneed]

That's a long time to be alone anywhere.

Hmmm- I lived in a beautiful valley filled with trees and really cute animals that were currently all my friends.

[alwaysimpure]

Not quite alone. Although I reckon alone would be easier.

And... [What is his life. How is he friends with someone like that?]

...congratulations. Hope it stays that way, you lucky bastard.

[thneed]

I don't think alone is ever easier but maybe that's just me. I can't stand being alone.

[ Sirius it's like you're friends with a really messed up Disney princess ]

Thanks! Me too. I really miss it sometimes.

[alwaysimpure]

Well, the creatures that guard the prison aren't the kind anyone would like to be around.

[It really is how did this happen. They're so close to a song number, too, I can feel it.]

I'd imagine so. I loved the forest back where I went to school, even if it was full of things that could kill you.

[thneed]

What are they?

[ the guitar is RIGHT there. right there. ]

What kind of school has a forest that could kill you?

[alwaysimpure]

Dementors... They enjoy decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. If you're too near a Dementor every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If they feed on you long enough they reduce you to something like they are. Soulless and evil. Leaves you with nothing but the worst experiences of your life.

[...let's make a song out of that?]

Well, you weren't supposed to go in. It's even called the Forbidden Forest.

[librariansheart]

[Don't mind her going very white over here.]

[alwaysimpure]

...oh, Merlin, Sheska, I'm sorry! I forgot you could see this, fuck.

[librariansheart]

[Faintly...]

No... don't be sorry... Sirius, what...? Is that... personal experience...?

[alwaysimpure]

That's... It doesn't matter, look. It's just a story, really.

[librariansheart]

It really does matter if that actually happened to you. If you don't want to talk about it, I understand, but... this is the sort of thing sometimes I wish I knew about you. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been looking.

[alwaysimpure]

Why would you want to know such things about anyone? Someone like you...

[librariansheart]

[She winces slightly at that phrase, but soldiers on, trying to put the feeling into words.]

Because it helps me understand you better. It helps to know what you've gone through. The sorts of things that might make you feel bad. Or good, if there are good memories! The bad things are as important as the good things. I wouldn't want to give someone a spider shaped cookie if they're afraid of spiders. I don't know what a... Dementor looks like, but I should probably know so that I don't accidentally startle you with something that reminds you of them.

[alwaysimpure]

They look like nothing, they're just felt.

I don't want to scare you, love.

[librariansheart]

I'd rather you frightened me and I knew what was going on than you hiding things that hurt you. If it's past, it's pretty unlikely that I'd be able to help, but...

[She stops for a long, vaguely uncomfortable moment, then shakes herself and re-sets her shoulders, looking at him with clear-eyed calm.]

I trust you. I know there are things everyone feels a need to keep to themselves. If you feel comfortable sharing something with me, or needed to talk something over, you know I'll be there as quickly as I can. Not apparating, obviously, but still. I won't push. Just promise me you'll let me know?

[alwaysimpure]

[The thing is, Sirius doesn't want to tell her of his present, of his future. He doesn't even want to tell her of his past. He doesn't want to see the concern in her eyes as he described Azkaban, doesn't want her to, when one day he leaves, know that this is what he's returning to.

But he knows she cares and he doesn't want to disregard that, either.]

Come by the shop, Sheska, and I can show you some things.