Masks and Mirrors, Chapter 6 (Part Two)

[mrstater]

(Continued from Part One)

A heartbeat of silence.

Two.

What the hell was going on? Was this really Fleur, or someone else impersonating Fleur? Because nothing had struck Tonks as so singularly out of character as Fleur not immediately pouncing on the opportunity to show off her knowledge of information others weren't privy to. The glow of healthy

Comments

[gilpin25]

Have I mentioned that I'm really pleased some ill-begotten swine lit a fire under you about continuing this? The world definitely needs more R/T fics where the Order takes center stage, and the kids don't hog the glory, and canon gets totally manipulated to produce the R/T story that some of us hoped it might at least do a tiny fraction of. So that all is well. ;)

Fleur wouldn't be one of my favourite characters but I always think you write her particularly well - she's definitely self-centred and irritating here, but you get the hidden depths in, too, so that I do think "Ooh, no, Tonks..." when she goes just that bit too far. Some of Fleur's lines were so good, especially, "Marry een poor fashion taste, repent een photography zat are never erased", lol. The ever-so trendy handbag, and almost forcing the wedding album on Tonks, seemed just the kind of things she'd have and do.

I can see you're building up to being very mean to poor old Remus and Tonks with all these obstacles to True Love - and wedding bells - gradually amassing in their path, and bringing back painful memories of not too long ago. I'm sure Remus is busy chastising himself that this is all his fault for messing around in the first place, as well as being busy with so many other things it appears. And now it seems as though you're going to split them up, which I'm sure will impress Tonks no end?! It was a very evil cliffie indeed, but they always make me eagerly anticipate the next one so no complaints. (Might have to light the odd fire, though...;))

I really enjoyed all the humour in this; Remus and his 'useful little spell', his flowers getting destroyed again, and the brilliant trick on Pye, which he did pull off with the flair of a true Marauder. Sirius and James would probably think Fred and George were definitely kindred spirits too. I also liked that it was Ginny who was responsible for the U No Poo and, best of all, was Pye using 'Silencio!' on Molly. It makes the more serious parts, like Tonks not knowing when she lost her morph, even more poignant.

So, I'm very, very glad this is back. There's so many intriguing things going on, interesting dynamics amongst all the characters, and I enjoyed reading it tremendously. Especially for Ron's classic remark about Remus and the Age Line. If you look hard through your screen, you can see me grinning happily. :)

[mrstater]

I do see your grin! I hope you can see me grinning back, even though it's a whole day after the fact. ;) And I've been meaning to ask you whether that icon is of Tonks' eye, as I think she would really like that eyeshadow and would totally morph her eyes a lovely starry violet that Anne Shirley would envy. ;)

Seriously, I really can't thank you enough for beating me with gelatinous boobs lighting the fire under me to update, because once I got over the hump of not having touched this in four months, I really did fall right back into stride, and I'm so, so full of ideas about where to go with it, which I suppose does mean DH was good for something, since I at least can rip it off shamelessly, lol.

I think that Fleur is not normally a favorite of yours makes it even nicer that you like her in this, because it really is one of my missions in life to make people appreciate Fleur. (Clearly I don't have enough hobbies or interests!) I do think, as you've said before, she was sort of wasted potential in the books, largely due to them being from That Darn Harry Kid's POV. You'd think he could at least pay attention to a Veela! I'm thrilled you liked all the little details like her purse and the wedding album, and some of her snarkier lines, because she really is fun for me to write. Probably doesn't speak very well for my own personal depth, but she does crack me up and I get a kick out of writing her self-centered side. Seriously - I think the main attraction for me with Fleur is the ways the Bill/Fleur storyline can underscore Remus/Tonks, and even before DH didn't go there, I thought it would be a lot of fun to explore R/T through some parallels of the other couple, especially as Cursebreaker!Bill and victim of Greyback!Bill fit into other major storylines. So I do hope you enjoy where I go with them -- all in the name of R/T, of course. ;)

I do firmly believe that humor makes the serious aspects of life more poignant, and it's something I've really been attempting to balance in my writing lately, so I cannot tell you how thrilled I am you think that worked in this chapter. Especially since the fun parts kept threatening to run away with me and I wasn't sure that I didn't have too much distraction going on.

And yes...most of my plans include not being very kind to them...But at least you can be sure I won't be as cruel to them as JKR was!

Thanks mucho, dear. I really really appreciate your words. :)

[gilpin25]

I'm glad you like my Inner Eye. ;) It's by cherrystonelane at papersquares and she does some great eye ones, which I (Ha!) can't resist. They do make me think of Tonks!

I've got this one, too. And a special one I'm saving for Christmas. There's a gold one, which Tonks might wear to mock Fleur, when she's in a very bad mood because you're so mean to her and the Sex God. ;)

[mrstater]

Ooh, I really like the glitter. Tonks would so coordinate her eyes to match her makeup.