Into the Blue

[gilpins_tales]

Title: Into the Blue
Genre: Romance, lots of. ;)
Rating & Warnings: PG
Word Count: 2,645
Summary: “Walk with me?” he asked, and the smile widened as he saw she remembered that those were almost the first words he’d ever said to her. Remus has arranged a very special day for Tonks and so, it seems, has everyone else… Set at the end of HBP.

Comments

[shimotsuki]

What a perfect end to my day to have this to read. It's so, so nice to see Remus happy and open, and to see Tonks so excited (says the compulsive angst-writer, heh). And the story is just chock-full of absolutely perfect details. I think it's exactly the right amount of romance -- leavened with humor, of course, and also, what you've got are snapshots of genuine emotion and words and actions that are meaningful to these two characters specifically, not generic "romance" that could have involved anyone. It was brilliant on Remus's part ;) to start out with the same words he used at the beginning of their friendship, as though signaling his intentions to do things right this time. Another favorite detail is the way they go walking not hand in hand but close enough. Because actually walking hand in hand is hard to pull off (actually, we see this later when they're staggering along together, don't we!), and this close enough alternative shows they're in tune emotionally even if they aren't physically touching.

The way they finished their ice creams first, before dealing with the ring, made me grin and sniff a little at the same time. I thought maybe it shows that they know it's okay to wait a minute for the life-changing action because that's the direction they're both comfortably heading in, together.

It's been said in comments above that it's fitting to have Remus bring Tonks to this place where he used to come with his father, as a way of opening up to her -- as well as how excellent it is to see the whole Order in on the scheming -- and of course I have to agree on all counts.

I didn't see the ring coming until just before Tonks found it, by the way, although I did start to wonder what was up when Remus took the ice cream she wasn't holding out to him. ;)

Now I've got a lovely image of a beach under blue sky and two happy Order members to ponder as I fall asleep. :)

[gilpin25]

It's nice to hear this gave you a good end to your day! I tend to believe no R/T fic is complete without a good dose of angst myself, but I thought I'd try and make it up to them a bit in this. Besides, I like the theory that if Remus was determined to put all doubts behind him at the end of HBP, and believe what everyone was telling him when they said he and Tonks could and should be together, how much harder would he blame himself when they appeared to be completely wrong in DH. But now I'm heading for an angst-centred review reply!

Because actually walking hand in hand is hard to pull off (actually, we see this later when they're staggering along together, don't we!), and this close enough alternative shows they're in tune emotionally even if they aren't physically touching.

It is hard to pull off on an uneven pebbly beach, lol, and that is exactly what I hoped it was showing. Which is why Tonks is content for him to reveal when he wants to what they're doing there and also later on, at the end, in the part you refer to, they rather practically eat the ice creams before putting the ring on. I like to think this is what the pink hair also meant at the funeral - that they were once again in tune emotionally, and wanting the same thing. So, in effect, they can savour the moment and the day as there's no rush.

I didn't see the ring coming until just before Tonks found it, by the way, although I did start to wonder what was up when Remus took the ice cream she wasn't holding out to him. ;)

Oh, yay!:D I thought everyone would be expecting the ring to appear any second now after I put the line in about Tonks being highly irritated by ring wavers. I did debate about leaving it out, but I thought it was quite funny in the event of what happens on top of the washing machine later on. And I liked the idea of her being so proud of it that that's what she'd end up doing...

Thanks so much for the kind words. It's always appreciated. :)