.full.waning.

[lumenrelegandus]

The man standing in the center is the dreamer.

You know him, or have seen him in past broadcasts, or can't understand why the first person perspective on this forge is not its owner. It's Sirius Black.

Because who, especially himself, could ever identify Remus Lupin with this situation.The stonework etchings at his feet gained in dimension around

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[wotchesyou]

I'm not that person Remus. I'm not strong. I don't know how to get back to being that person. I wish I knew.

[ When he looks away she forces him to look back at her. Both of her hands came to rest on his face. Her movements were not angry but her hands did tremble a bit. ]

You still should have told me Remus.

[ She could love him. Tonks could give him her whole heart and then some. However, right now her heart is bruised and battered.

Tonks knows in that instant what she has to do. It won't be easy. He's so much of a comfort to her. She takes a great deal of strength from him but perhaps she has become to reliant.

She leans forward and kisses him. Her forehead presses against his and Tonks closes her eyes for a moment. ]You're going to have to leave me alone. Not forever, please don't think forever, please. I can't put everything into words. I'm so angry Remus and I hurt. I hurt so much and this is just... I don't know what it is

[lumenrelegandus]

[He returns the kiss-and doesn't hold back.

Not aggressive; never. Not pushing physical boundaries; goes no farther than she does. But with all his untethered concentration and force of memory and heart. Like he's been drowning and this is air. Like he's clearly kissed her this deeply, and moreso, before.

And he doesn't pretend not to remember exactly how to do it.

Their foreheads are still touching when she speaks again.

He keeps the contact with eyes also tightly closed. She can feel him shaking. She's entirely right.

He wanted to help her when she couldn't help herself. Thank God he'd been able to. But when that worked, the time had to come when it would shift: when his helping her would start to be in place of, obstructing, her helping herself

[wotchesyou]

[ The kiss is nice. If she let herself she could get lost in it. Tonks is glad that Remus is the one that ends it.

This is possibly the hardest choice that she's ever had to make, to send Remus away. ]

I'm sorry.

[ Her words are a whisper. She is truly and deeply sorry. She regrets what has passed between the two of them. They could've been wonderful.

The hope for something beautiful still remains. It's why she kissed him but she knows that if she doesn't send him away, she'll come to resent him. Tonks still feels hurt by his actions. She's hurt all the more by what Bellatrix did to her.

Tonks is a mess and she knows that. Everything is a mess. ]

Don't break that promise.

[ She meets his gaze. ]

Don't you dare.

[lumenrelegandus]

[It's strained, faint, and grieving, but the fact that he still smiles feeds the hope. He'd thought telling her would be an ending rather than a beginning. It can't have gone more badly than it had. …But this still-thanks to her-doesn't feel quite like an ending…

Enough that he can joke about his failure to do so until now:]

Dare? Me? Do I ever?

[he glances around until his eyes find the Photograph. He reaches toward it. His fingertips and the photo begin to glow. The eyes of those in it-the children of Hermione and Ginny and Harry and Ron-turn to him. He repeats,]

I promise.

[So sworn and witnessed, his fingers only briefly tighten on the door; wanting to touch her once more. But he doesn't. He steps through the door and closes it gently behind him.]

[wotchesyou]

I think once or twice, you probably did, possibly even solemnly swore.

[ She wish that could smile in return. It's enough, possibly, that she doesn't frown and her voice carries a hint of lightness.

Tonks watches him make that vow. It surprises her enough that she cannot speak. Her mouth drops open a bit and then closes immediately. That is not a vow to make lightly.

There are no more words from her. She nods her head when he says that he promises. Her head lowers slightly but she turns her head enough to watch him leave. Tonks wants him to touch her. She wants to kiss him again but going down that path will just lead to more agony.

It is for the best that she sends him away. ]

I'll see you around Remus.

[ Because it's not really a good-bye. ]

[lumenrelegandus]

[ooc: Note to self: someday they'll have to have part two of this conversation. When he gives her the death toll. Sirius, Moody, Dumbledore, Ted.]

[wotchesyou]

((OOC: Yes, they probably should. She won't take Moody's death or her dad's death well at all.))