Clarity

[shimotsuki]

Title: Clarity
Author: shimotsuki
Rating and Warnings: PG (reference to offstage character death)
Prompt: cloud, pilfering back one of the prompts I had before I "gambled"
Word Count: 1178
Summary: Remus grieves for one friend, wondering whether he will lose the other too-and whether he ever really won her friendship in the first place.
Author's Notes:

Comments

[hrymfaxe]

Do you know, I never really considered that Remus would feel guilty for being unable to save Sirius? (which I obviously should have - it's such a Remus thing to do) And in his grief and self-recrimination he looses touch with what has been between him and Tonks in the past year... Stupid oaf! ;)

Great story, I liked it very much.

[shimotsuki]

Thanks for the comment -- I'm happy to hear you liked the story. I wanted to show Tonks's point of view in "Friends," with just how well she does like Remus, and then show his own insecurity (obliviousness?) here.

[mrstater]

Oh, poor Remus! I want to hug him so badly!

What an original take on this scene. I was so intrigued as to how you would approach this from a pre-romance perspective, and I think you've done a really conceivable take on what Remus would be thinking and feeling about Tonks' injury even as he's not realized the extent of his feelings for her. His need is, somehow, even more palpable in this context than simply a man who fears he's going to lose the woman he loves, because in a way he's taken more fully back to 1981 when he found himself so totally alone. That he thinks of Tonks as that kind of friend, the kind who could have helped him out of that pit of despair both before and now, is really lovely. Especially since he's just one step away from realizing that he's in love with her

[shimotsuki]

I really appreciate your thoughtful comments, and I'm sorry it's taken me this long to respond. Yes, Remus is completely gone on Tonks -- he just hasn't quite realized that yet! I like the idea of their love being built on top of a deep, sincere friendship, even though things are going to get rocky for them when they work out how to make the change.

[phe_o]

As usual, you present a really unique but plausible direction here, with some really fantastic Remus characterization. I also really like the organization--on each visit--and how Remus' doubts start to slowly arise, building up on what doubts will likely cause the events in HBP. Really great work. :)

[shimotsuki]

I'm sorry to be a bit late in responding, but I really appreciate your encouraging comments. Thanks for reading!

[lady_bracknell]

I really liked this - the idea of Remus, in the first part, holding Tonks' hand partly for her, but mostly to take comfort in her as a lifeline. I thought that was particularly well done, and I really like the way Remus' insecurities have surfaced so quickly. He really always does seem as if he's not quite sure if people really like him, or are just putting up with him for some reason he's imagined - and it's a really plausible take that he'd wonder if Tonks thought him a friend at all.

There were lots of great little touches, too, that echoed that doubt he has about himself and his role in her life, like Remus thinking that Tonks has parents who care about her, and that will help - without for a second thinking that he might - and him slipping away and leaving her with her family, so as not to intrude.

I'm really intrigued to see where this is going, how you'll take their friendship between here and Remus leaving, and make that have enough emotional impact to explain what happens in HBP.

[shimotsuki]

I really appreciate your taking the time to read this and leave such thoughtful comments. I'm sorry this response is so late.

how you'll take their friendship between here and Remus leaving, and make that have enough emotional impact to explain what happens in HBP

I've got some ideas about this. And I don't think it's a spoiler to say that the trajectory I've been planning to put them in through HBP looks to fit reasonably plausibly into DH canon as well, so it will be interesting to consider extending this ficverse beyond the original plan...

[jncar]

It's so sadly sweet to see this unique perspective on this time period. Remus is clearly hovering on the verge of more serious feelings for her, but he doesn't trust himself or his value as a friend enough to admit them--in fact, he thinks so little of himself that he doubts their friendship completely.

Poor Remus! That little touch of hope at the end was the perfect way to end it.

[shimotsuki]

Thanks for the comment. I'm glad to hear you found this both sad and sweet. Remus really does seem to undervalue himself badly!