First spell, mayfield_rpg, This isn't the life I went to bed with last night

[true_marauder]

A [Location: 5721 Cunningham Road, Action, locked to not!family (Basini and Shilo)]

[Something was terribly wrong, and though he didn't know what, he could feel the wrongness even before he opened his eyes.  It wasn't that he was in a strange bed; in the past months he'd spent more time on couches and at temporary lodgings then he had in his room at

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C

[imwotchingyou]

[Tonks is walking to work again. There's not much of a difference between driving and walking once you've factored in pulling out of the driveway, red lights and then parking. Besides, with walking, she can cut across yards and alleyways.

She's wearing a truly horrible rose patterned dress. Who designs anything with magenta roses on a orange background? More importantly, who wears it? Tonks, that's who. Her hair doesn't match though. Today, she's a blond and her hair hanging down to her shoulders.

For the most part, she's minding her own business until she comes up behind a guy. He's taking up most of the whole sidewalk but she thinks she can squeeze through.]

Excuse me.

[true_marauder]

[The voice startles him out of his morose thoughts, and he's already moved out of her way automatically before he turns he head to see who spoke. His eyes widen.]

Nymphadora?

[imwotchingyou]

[It doesn't register until she moves past him. Tonks turns around and just stares. For the moment, she is too stunned to even correct the use of her first name. She's too surprised to do anything other than stand there.]

Remus? What are you...? When did you...? What?

[She looks around.]

Is this a trick? You know, this wouldn't be the first time this bloody awful town decided to get it's jollies by pulling a prank. I didn't think one would be this cruel. I don't fancy my mates being pulled into Mayfield and I don't fancy having my mind messed with either.

[She rambles on for a bit before taking a step towards him. She is close enough now that she can touch him. Tonks extends the finger on her right hand and pokes him in the chest. It's just a test that revels he's at least solid.

Tonks tilts her head to look up at him.]

Is it really you Remus?

[true_marauder]

[He looks down at where she's touched him. She's the only one so far that has, and though he never considered not being corporeal it's a relief to know that he is. He's not sure who she's talking to when she speaks of pranks, but it's not him. He wished it was, that this was an elaborate prank and everything would go back to the way it was supposed to be. Strange, that he would actually wish for the heavy atmosphere of an approaching war, but at least that was real.]

I was Remus when I fell asleep in the library at headquarters last night. I'm not certain what to think now.

[imwotchingyou]

[Tonks doesn't waste anytime. She envelopes him in a hug, squeezes, and then pulls away.]

I'm so sorry that you're here Remus but I am glad to see you, if that makes any kind of sense.

[Tonks sighs.]

Have you spoken to anyone yet?

[true_marauder]

[It does make sense, in a Nymphadora kind of way, which he's starting to get used to. It's easier when he reminds himself that she's related to Sirius, whose thinking has always been unique as well.

The hug takes him aback a little; he's not used to many people doing that.]

It's nice to see you too.

I spoke with Harry a little on the telly-phone.

[imwotchingyou]

Alright, you spoke to Harry, that's good. What all did he tell you?

[The last thing she wants to do is give him an over abundance of information. If allowed to, she would have rambled on at length. Tonks is trying very hard to not do that.]

[true_marauder]

He said we're in the States, that someone's taken us but he didn't explain who or how. He said there were other people here, but I didn't know he meant you.

Are you alright?

[imwotchingyou]

I don't think anyone knows the why, the who or the how. Well, if they do, they aren't telling us or would tell us the truth.

[She smiles nervously.]

Oh, I'm alright. I'm more worried about you.

Mayfield can pull people back from the dead, you know, people like the Potters.

[true_marauder]

I don't know why you would be worried about...

[No. She couldn't have said what he just heard. Could she?]

The Potters?

James and Lily?

[imwotchingyou]

Yeah. They're here. They've been here longer than I have, actually.

[true_marauder]

James is... [Merlin. Remus puts both of his hands to his face, blocking out everything as if even visual stimuli would throw him into mental overload. James was here. James, who had died fourteen years ago was in this place.]

[imwotchingyou]

Yeah, James is here.

[She'll give him a few moments to continue to process that information.]

[true_marauder]

[He's assulted by images of his friends behind his covered eyes. James, pelting him with socks in their dorm. Racing across the Quidditch field with Sirius, both boys laughing as Remus and Peter watch. Changing into a stag so he doesn't have to be alone with the wolf. Lily, rolling her eyes in the common room when James comes to drag him away from their studying. Telling him that she's figured out his secret, and instead of turning away offering him a chocolate bar. Both of them, beaming at their wedding.

A thousand memories seem to wash over him in a matter of seconds, and he staggers back a little, overwhelmed. Slowly he lowers his hands, blinking against the light.]

I...

[He shoves his hands in his pockets.]

I don't know what to say.

[imwotchingyou]

You've had a lot thrown at you today, Remus. You were kidnapped, you woke up in this strange town and you just found out that your best mate is alive here. It's understandable, really. 'Sides, I'm sure I'm doing enough talking for the both of us.

[true_marauder]

It's nice to know that some things don't chance. [His tone is wry, but kindly directed towards her. Her overtalking was familiar, and comforting for that.]