InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Bring on the SMACKDOWN!"

Arcturus Black (arcturusfirst) wrote in compass_network,
@ 2022-03-25 13:14:00

Entry tags:

alexander hamilton, miguel o'hara, ~arcturus black

[Filtered to older Arcturus' party guest list]

My dear friends,

I always suspected I would end up back in this place, although I did not think it would be so soon. I said that I would be content if only I weren't kept away from my home and family forever, and I meant it. The timing is inconvenient, because we were about to have school holidays, and my birthday. Last year when I asked my elder brother about the gardens I had heard of in Vauxhall he found the idea excessively amusing, and said he'd been there with Ella, and that he would take me on my next birthday for then I'd be old enough, and I meant to hold him to it.

Is Mr Darcy still here? I didn't lose any time at all back home, you know. Nobody knew that I was gone, and I returned to school where I had left off. As a result I've done capitally well in my Latin ever since, although it caused me all manner of trouble, because when I was put up to the first desk this other chap Cotterell who is usually top accused me of cheating, and then a couple of the seniors said they couldn't tolerate it and wanted me to fight him for the honour of the House, and there was a terrible fuss. It all came right in the end, which pleased me because there's nothing to gain from a member of the Club going up against an untrained fellow who does nothing but study. It wouldn't be sporting.

As I understand it I was gone perhaps a month here, although Sirius gives me a strange account of the man who replaced me, and I know it to be a true one because I can see the differences in the property, furnishings and spellwork both, and when I review the correspondence on this telephone, as I am slowly attempting to do, it reveals some very peculiar things. I am not sure that I like all of them, or agree with everything that he did. O'Hara, did he really agree to send Sirius to your classes? I thought I was quite against it. One of you must please tell me what I have missed.

I am not sure that I like the idea of knowing the future at all. He - I, I suppose - suffered much tragedy in his life. At first I wondered if I might prevent it, by taking drastically different action, but I don't think that I can. It's wrong for a man to flee from his responsibilities. ~~He left me a letter. It said that I~~

Will one of you please tell me if you know the meaning of the cupboard full of little wooden boxes I seem to have acquired? Sirius says that they are for letters, but they are empty and not some sort of filing system. I dropped a silver sickle into one of them and it simply vanished.

I would very much like to renew my friendships here, as I think of many of you very fondly. The memories faded, when I was back in Britain, but they did not disappear, as I can tell from all that comes to mind now. Do write if you remember me. You needn't write at such length, because I know how laborious these telephones are, but I should like to hear from you all the same.

Your hopeful friend,

Arcturus C. Black

[Edit: postscript is added by Arcturus after he hears from Miguel]
P.S. O'Hara has explained the boxes to me, and you must write to me that way if you prefer it.

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	Handwritten on a notepad page, inside an envelope that says A BLACK on it. miguel_ohara 2022-03-25 06:42 pm UTC (link)
	Welcome back! Sirius has been learning Spanish for a while now, yeah. He's picking it up well. The boxes are for mail. You gave out pairs of boxes, one for sending and one for receiving. You're the sorting office, I suppose. -M (Reply to this) (Thread)

arcturusfirst
2022-03-25 07:19 pm UTC (link)

[There's a lengthy delay in replying while he figures out all this business with boxes, but when it does arrive it's very neatly handwritten]

O'Hara,

Thank you! It does feel strange to be here again. You've been back and forth enough times that I expect you understand it. Slightly adrift, but glad to see my friends again.

Sirius seems to like the class. At least by the look on his face when I told him I was going to put a stop to it. Look, I know I said I didn't agree with any of it but it seems unkind to disappoint him. Would you consider another arrangement? That is, that he keeps attending, but that I go and sit by him and observe and make sure all is well? It isn't you that I'm worried about, it's his classmates.

Really it was the other chap who gave out the boxes and not me. They're very clever, aren't they? Very advanced transfiguration. I wouldn't know how to do it! It's my best subject, but those localised and directed vanishing spells must be so difficult. I suppose I ought to carry on with the system. For his sake, if he went to all that trouble, and because it seems far more sensible than writing long letters on the telephone.

- ACB

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	miguel_ohara 2022-03-25 09:10 pm UTC (link)
	I know that feeling, yes. His classmates are fine, but sure, you can join the class as well. Explain how that's transfiguration? Are you changing the letter into air, and then air in a different place changes into the letter? -M (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

arcturusfirst
2022-03-25 09:17 pm UTC (link)

O'Hara,

How long does it last?

Very good. I'll observe the class and keep an eye on him, and if all is well then he can keep attending.

They appear to be miniature Vanishing Cabinets, and vanishing is a branch of transfiguration, and vanishing something to make it appear in another magically-linked place is more complex than just vanishing it into nothingness.

- ACB

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	miguel_ohara 2022-03-27 09:49 pm UTC (link)
	The first time took a couple of days to really shake it off, but I've changed ages a lot by now, so it only took about the first evening to work out what I'd missed and what was going on. Should I get you some catch-up material, so you can see for yourself how well he's doing? I'll have to research that. -M (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

arcturusfirst
2022-03-27 09:58 pm UTC (link)

O'Hara,

I daresay it will take me a little longer than that, with so much correspondence to review, but it's heartening to know it likely won't be a terribly long time.

That's kind, but it won't be necessary. I trust to your assessment of his progress, and if he needs help indoors, there are a few textbooks he has shown me.

I expect you're wondering about the big question, aren't you? Where the matter that is vanished goes to? There's an awful debate over that.

- ACB

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	miguel_ohara 2022-03-27 10:06 pm UTC (link)
	I have all kinds of questions, as usual, but I'll need to read up on things first before I can ask useful questions. -M (Reply to this) (Parent)

Via letterbox.

unimpeachable
2022-03-26 10:20 pm UTC (link)

[Beautifully handwritten, envelope wax sealed]

Dear Mr Black,

Your older self did mention that this might happen, but I admit that I didn't take the concern too seriously until now.

Are you now 14? I suppose then you won't remember me at all, but ~~you~~ he you ~~were~~ were a good friend to me, although I haven't been here long at all.

Are you quite well? I know you are not an infant, but it can't be easy looking after both yourself and your nephew, so if you ever need a helping hand with anything you can count on me. As a friend, you understand.

I look forward to getting to know you better at this age.

Yours in friendship,

A. Hamilton

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Via letterbox.

arcturusfirst
2022-03-27 08:20 am UTC (link)

Dear Mr Hamilton,

I am very sorry that I do not remember you, as in the letter he left me, the 'other me' assured me that you were a sound and trustworthy person, and a friend. If he is much like me, and I have reason to believe he is, he won't have said such things lightly.

I am very nearly fifteen now. Really I am very capable of looking after myself, and Sirius is no trouble, and even if he were it'd be my duty to look after him anyway because there is no older member of the family to do it.

I wonder if I might ask you something, though, as a friend. There are people on this station who would take advantage of the fact that I am here without my father or any of the protections of home. Would you mind if I told them that I may be without family but I am not friendless, and they cannot mistreat me without consequence? It feels presumptuous to mention and I don't want you to think I'm the sort who will not fight his own battles, but in his letter the other fellow urged me to ask it. Needless to say I shan't mind a bit if you think it too much.

Your friend across time,

A.C. Black

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Re: Via letterbox.

unimpeachable
2022-03-28 10:33 pm UTC (link)

Dear Mr Black,

I am very glad to hear it. I considered him a true friend, and I also do not say so lightly.

I have no doubt that you are capable, Sirius is a fine young gentleman and I'm aware that is at least in part due to your continued influence. However, if you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, or you just need someone to mind him for an hour or so, you know where to find me.

Of course you may, I would very much like it if you did in fact. Just because you are able to fight your own battles does not mean that you should have to do so alone, especially when you have friends more than willing to stand up for you.

Best wishes,
A. Hamilton

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Via letterbox.

arcturusfirst
2022-03-29 05:23 am UTC (link)

Dear Mr Hamilton,

Thank you. It is very decent of you, all of it. I'm glad that you think well of Sirius. I must always remember that he is here without his parents too, and he is so very young. He's doing admirably.

I shan't bother you for trifles, of course - but when I was here last there was some insane person who claimed to have spied on me from a distance for some time, and made much of saying that I was not capable of raising Sirius properly, and threatened to maim me horribly should I ever be nearby. I took precautions, naturally. We travel under concealment spells and I am very careful about where we go and the company we keep. Yet the fact remains that if my father were here nobody would ever dare treat me that way. They wouldn't live long if they tried to.

I don't ask that sort of intervention of you, but it would mean a great deal if, should that sort of person trouble me again, I have someone else who thinks it unacceptable.

Your friend,
A.C. Black

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Re: Via letterbox.

unimpeachable
2022-03-30 08:23 pm UTC (link)

Black,

This place is difficult for anyone, never mind one so young and out of time. He's doing great.

I really wish I could say that I was surprised by this revelation, but unfortunately I am not. I have seen such threats first hand now, although not directed towards me, it was alarming to say the least. Rest assured that I will be nipping anything of that nature in the bud, and if it happened behind filters or verbally, you just call on me. I know you wouldn't do so lightly.

I have hope that these threats are entirely empty ones, the product of a very troubled mind, but I understand your hesitancy.

Absolutely, I've got your back.

- Hamilton

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Via letterbox.

arcturusfirst
2022-03-30 08:56 pm UTC (link)

Hamilton,

I appreciate it, very much. In turn if you ever need protective spells, or someone ought to be cursed, you must tell me.

I agree that it was the result of a very troubled mind, but that isn't terribly reassuring, because someone disturbed enough to issue the threats could also be disturbed enough to carry them out. I'm not a coward; I'll face another wizard in a fair fight if I need to, but this is something else altogether.

The threats were all made openly. That means that people didn't read them, or they did but approved of them, or they disapproved but thought that I didn't matter. Obviously I cannot guess at the proportions for each, but it was still very alarming. All of which is to say that your support means a great deal.

- Black

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Re: Via letterbox.

unimpeachable
2022-03-31 07:18 pm UTC (link)

Black,

Thank you for the offer of protective spells, mentioned in your last letter. After the incident I wrote of, I sought the assistance of Mr Longbottom, and he offered magic protection during the town meeting. If I find myself in a similar situation in future, I'll possibly take you up on that.

For sake of clarity, and I don't expect you to name names if you aren't comfortable doing so, but a simple 'yes' or 'no' or 'no comment' will suffice. Are we talking about Ms Maryanne Walker?

I'm glad to be in a position to offer it.

- Hamilton

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Via letterbox. arcturusfirst 2022-03-31 07:41 pm UTC (link)
	Hamilton, Naturally if you prefer Longbottom's spellwork I won't mind a bit, but yes, I'd be happy to provide the shielding spells should you ever need them. Perhaps try both and see which you feel safer with. ~~Did I write too much, or something that~~ I shan't comment on that. - Black (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Via letterbox.

unimpeachable
2022-03-31 10:32 pm UTC (link)

Black,

I can't say that I have a preference. Your older self did not attend town hall meetings, and I wouldn't have liked to ask him to go somewhere he wasn't comfortable just to help ease my worries.

Okay, no problem. But if it was, theoretically speaking, that is one perpetrator I am aware of, and I am working to get that situation under better control. I will not allow her to hurt you in any way, I assure you.

And if it was not, theoretically speaking, and there is another person issuing threats that I am not aware of, rest assured that I do not approve, and I certainly think that you matter a great deal. So I must not have read it. If that happens again, draw my attention, and I won't look away.

- Hamilton.

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Re: Via letterbox.

arcturusfirst
2022-03-31 10:51 pm UTC (link)

Hamilton,

I think it was a sensible choice of his to avoid those meetings, having skimmed the minutes of the last one. I thought rather that I could meet with you before the meeting to cast the protective spells on you. They would last until after its conclusion, at the very least.

Thank you. That really does mean a great deal to me. I suppose I can tell you that my older self did write to me concerning Mrs Walker ~~appending a crumpled note which proved that~~ and without revealing too much I can say that I am glad you are aware of her tendencies.

If I am threatened in such a way again, by this person I first mentioned or another, and I do not know how to resolve matters myself, I shall write to you, you have my word on it.

- Black

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