What do I know?

LJ 18th anniversary

arynwy — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 18:10:42 GMT

[OFFICIAL VIDEO] Bohemian Rhapsody – Pentatonix

arynwy — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 16:05:05 GMT

Because. Happy Easter to those that celebrate, and to those that don't - enjoy anyway!

FIC: Moving On (PG)

arynwy — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 16:26:43 GMT

Okay, now that the fest is over, I get to share that I commited fic in 2017! After receiving a small amount of prodding and finally agreeing to pinch-hit if I was given a prompt to write to, I submitted this to snapecase.

Thanks again to keladry_lupin for letting me talk this one out with you. It made all the difference.

Originally posted by iulia_linnea at FIC: Moving On (PG)

Title: Moving On
Age-Range Category: Four
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Severus Snape, Luna Lovegood, Lily & James Potter
Author: arynwy
Beta Reader(s): keladry_lupin, iulia_linnea
Rating: PG
(Highlight to View) Warning(s): Canon-compliant, character death.
Note: 5078 words.
Summary: Severus Snape awoke on his thirty-ninth birthday in surprise . . . because he was most certain he'd died in his thirty-eighth year of life.

Severus Snape slowly rolled onto his back and peeled his eyes open, only to find himself dressed in his favourite night shirt, bundled up in an unknown bed, located in a space with questionable lighting and no other discernible features. Sitting cross-legged at the end of said bed, on top of the duvet, singing to him with a surprisingly adequate voice, was Luna Lovegood.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday Professor Snape, happy birthday to you! You're thirty-nine today. Isn't that exciting?"

Not especially, he thought to himself. Sitting upright, Severus closed his eyes, waited a moment and opened them again. She was still there. Humming that infernal song. And she didn't have shoes, which was a semi-normal state for her.

Closing his eyes firmly once more, he stated softly, almost more to himself than to the hallucination currently occupying the foot of his bed, "This isn't possible. I remember that godforsaken snake. I bloody well remember dying after I gave Potter my memories. You can't be here because I'm dead, and I'm more than certain that even if you've managed to get yourself killed, you wouldn't have landed in whatever Hell they've sent me." Opening his eyes once again, he added, "If you are dead, I find that quite disappointing. I worked rather hard that last year to keep you alive."

Luna smiled. "Oh, I'm quite alive, Professor."

"Ha! Then you can't actually be here. That's not how this works. I'm dead and should be guided by someone who's passed on and meant something to me in life." Severus smirked. "You are not it. Besides, I am dead and last I checked, the dead do not have birthdays."

Luna's smile grew larger. "Well, that would be true, Professor, except for the fact that you're just mostly dead, which makes you slightly alive, which isn't the same as being all dead, you know. Which means you still get a birthday."

"I'm fucked." Severus muttered, looking on as Luna frowned, idly twirling a bit of hair about her finger.

"Really, Professor, there's no need to be crude about it and just why does everyone believe they know how this is supposed to work?"

Severus took a deep breath to fight off the headache that was making its presence known. He was certain he'd regret it, but still he asked, "And just how does this all happen to work, Miss Lovegood?"

"I thought you'd never ask! You see, I can be here, or anywhere and when I want because Harry is Master of Death. He beat Tom in the end you know. Well, you didn't know, but I'm telling you, so now you do, and that's the important part." She tilted her head to stare at him — a personality tic that had always exasperated him.

"Anyhow, Harry said I could visit when I asked, even if he really doesn't believe he's Master of Death, because he got rid of the Stone and gave up the Wand, which didn't change anything that really mattered, although it's what they all believe. I know he just wanted to humour me, but that doesn't make the fact that he's still the Master less true. So, when I asked, he just nodded and said yes, and Bill's your uncle!"

"That's supposed to be Bob."

"But I like the sound of Bill better."

Severus leaned back onto a large pile of pillows that manifested, pulled the duvet over his head and muttered, "Just kill me now."

"Sorry," Luna sang. "Nagini tried that already. I thought you understood? Now, I'm confused." She folded forward and rested her elbows on her knees, chin cradled in thought.

"Harry said that when he was In Between, it was only moments, a decision, and then he was back with us. Obviously, you've got Wrackspurts and you've got them bad, otherwise, you would already know that all your debts have been settled and you've made peace with all your past actions, which means you can move on. Instead, you're currently stuck in Purgatory, which isn't where you'd be if things were otherwise."

Luna studied the lumpy silhouette in front of her. Fishing about in the bag that hung from a strap like a long necklace about her neck, she pulled out a cord that was strung with small radishes before moving from her spot to pull back the duvet and expose her quarry.

Satisfied to see her former professor's glare, she reached around him and tied the cord loosely about his neck. "There. Now things should make more sense." Finished with her immediate task, she settled back into her spot at the foot of the bed.

Severus was about to argue, but it was obvious that his thoughts were rapidly clearing. He looked down at the radishes hanging about his neck. Glancing back at the girl, he lifted a hand to the ridiculous string of charmed vegetables and sighed. "I could have used this during that last year, you know."

Luna shrugged. "I wanted to, but I could never find the right moment…," Severus looked on as her voice trailed off and her large eyes narrowed. "You are trying to change the subject, Professor."

"What was your first clue?"

He was more than a bit surprised when the normally placid girl hopped off the bed and marched around to the side, only to poke him repeatedly in the chest with her finger as she spoke.

"This whole avoidance thing stops now. The fact that you won't decide is affecting more than just you, Severus Snape! It's been a little over eight months and it's your birthday. Professor, you need to decide what you want to do, you've been here long enough. If you don't decide today, you'll wind up as a ghost and I believe you deserve better than that."

Severus looked down at the finger that still rested on his sternum before looking directly in Luna's eyes for the very first time amidst this farce and gently removed the offending digit from his person. He would not shout at her, his head hurt too much for that. Still, raising one's voice was not the only way to get a point across. A genteel bit of malice could serve as well. "Miss Lovegood, if you would just bloody well tell me what it is that I've to decide, maybe we could get somewhere."

He watched as Luna straightened and blinked. And blinked again.

"They made it sound as if you'd been purposely stalling, but you really don't know about your choice," she said.

It was Severus' turn to blink as he watched Luna slowly lower herself to a floor that hadn't existed until that exact moment before looking up at him.

"You have to decide whether you want to go back to the life you were living, take another turn on the Wheel in a new life, or take your final rest."

Severus snorted in amusement. "Well, that's an easy one, I'll —"

Luna sprang to her feet. "NO, you need to understand first!"

Severus rolled his eyes but waved permission for her to continue as she sank back to the floor.

"Professor, Harry made everyone understand what you'd done. You're a hero. Even the students who hated you have spoken up for the times you protected them without seeming to. The remaining members of the Order have spoken as well. You could start again, do something different. Mrs Malfoy recovered your body before others thought to look because she wanted to provide a proper burial for the man who saved her son. You haven't died though — you're in a coma, so she's secretly had you cared for all these months.

"If you don't want to go back as Severus Snape, you've earned another turn on the Wheel to be birthed to a much more advantageous life, which you've earned. And, finally, if neither of those options appeal, you can remain in this realm and take your rest with those who have gone on before you. See your mother, if you like," Luna stated quietly, while looking at her hands.

"It's still an easy choice — I'm not going back."

Luna looked up. "But I don't understand," she said, the confusion plain on her face.

"Let me help you." Severus held out his hand to Luna and lifted her to her feet and patted the duvet next to him. When she'd made herself comfortable, he continued, "It's easy for everyone to forgive a dead man, as you have seen. If I were to reappear, that forgiveness would be short-lived. Eventually, there would be those who would want answers from me as to why things were done a certain way, why I saved this person while letting another in the same situation come to harm or die. I've made too many enemies and I don't fancy having to watch my back for the rest of my life. I only have a meagre amount saved, and little else to commend me. I refuse to go back to Hogwarts, even if they would have me. I don't want a life as a Muggle and I would be infamous no matter which magical community I joined. Before, I wasn't trusted for the most part and now, no one would truly trust me. Don't you think I couldn't have saved myself if I'd wanted to continue? Saved my money, created an identity elsewhere for after the war? No, I am done."

Luna slowly nodded her head in agreement. "I see. Yes, you've got a point. Rita Skeeter published a book about you, you know. Snape: Scoundrel or Saint. It wasn't very flattering but it was better than the one she wrote about Dumbledore. But what about taking the new life? You've been promised a better one this time."

Severus smiled before answering. "Would you believe I've done the "better life" bit before? I'm starting to remember things," he finished, lifting the radishes in salute. "As a matter of fact, that better life was so privileged, I asked to be sent back to something more challenging when it ended, and look where that got me. In short, Miss Lovegood, I am tired."

Luna surprised him by leaning over and giving him a hug. "I've been wanting to do that for ages. You've always looked as if you could use one." Leaning back, she continued, "If that's truly how you feel, I guess this is goodbye then. I will help Mrs Malfoy place your body in the empty plot that has your marker. They gave you a memorial with honours."

Severus watched as she hopped off the bed and headed towards a door that hadn't existed before, opening it and calling out, "You were right, he's all yours now," before two figures stepped past her to enter the room.

"Bloody Hell. Miss Lovegood, I thought you said my debts were clear?"

She smiled, stepping onto the threshold. "Oh, they are. But these two must finish off their debts and you are the last of them. They will help you out now. Goodbye!"

Severus glared at the traitorous chit as she pulled the door shut behind her. Crossing his arms defensively, he looked at his newly arrived aides. "Mr and Mrs Potter. Charmed." He looked down and was startled to find himself fully clothed and sitting behind a desk that was much like the one he used in his private quarters back at Hogwarts. Looking back at the two who stood before him, he waited.

Lily was the first to speak. "Hi, Sev. It's been a while, yes?"

"You don't get to call me Sev, we aren't friends anymore. Remember?" Severus said, raising an eyebrow for emphasis when she flinched. "But you are correct; it has been a while."

He leaned back in his chair, taking a moment to look at the painfully young couple before him. Luna said his slate was clear, but it truly wasn't until he'd done one last thing. "I am sorry for my part in your deaths. Neither of you deserved to have had Riddle pointed your way specifically. I know you were fighting him before, but it was my foolish, selfish actions that lead to the events —."

"No, Snape, it was my staying to fight when I knew Lily and I had a child on the way," James Potter said, with a grim look on his face. "Too busy being caught up in the glory of it all, I suppose. I didn't want to be a coward, leave my friends to shoulder the burden alone. I should have removed my family from the old man's chess board. Obviously, I wasn't thinking," he stated with a shrug. "I was just as selfish and foolish as you. We could and should have left and gone elsewhere, especially when we were told about the Prophecy and had warning from you that Voldemort was after Harry."

Severus looked at the other man and nodded. He, too, would have removed Lily and the boy — gone to America, Canada or anywhere that the war wasn't. "Still, I was a catalyst for events and for that I apologise." Pushing his chair back, he stood and walked around the desk to stand in front of two of the people who'd had so much effect on his life, even after their deaths. "So, I've said my bit. Shouldn't you two be moving on or whatever it is you do here?"

He watched the two fidget uncomfortably for another moment before Lily spoke again.

"We have our own apologies to make, um, Mr Snape, before our debts are discharged, so —"

"Oh, for the love of god, Lily, go ahead and call me Sev. Mr Snape makes you sound like Minerva and I truly have enough to be getting on with without that." He was inwardly pleased to see the bright smile he remembered being directed at him.

"Yeah, so, Sev, I'm sorry for not sticking up for you from the beginning the way I should have. I was well-liked and the professors would have listened to me if I'd spoken up to say that James and his friends started all those early confrontations — that they were actually seeking you out." Lily nervously pushed a lock of hair that had fallen forward behind her ear. "But I was a child and I wanted to stay well-liked. I was away from home and it was all so new. It's not as if I was blind, I saw how your House treated you."

"Big of you to notice. I bet it was easier for you to ask me to be the bigger person and walk away, to not engage, instead of standing up to your House," Severus said with a knowing look.

"Of course it was! My House already had issues with our friendship. It took some time for me to understand that you depended greatly on my support, but Sev, I was a child — that was asking too much. And then you started hanging about with the biggest bullies in your House. I was scared and I had every right to be. They wanted people like me dead and not just a simple death."

"You forget, I had to live with them for seven years. I had to sleep in the same room with them."

"I know that! I'm older now and have a better understanding of things, that it wasn't all black and white. But, they didn't even consider me a person. I should have said we were done when you blew off what Mulciber did to Mary."

"Yes, you should have done. It would have made more sense to have cut me off then, you had real cause," Severus snapped. He stepped closer. "Why didn't you?"

"Snape, don't you think you're being a bit harsh?" James said.

"Stay out of it!" Lily and Severus shouted, and James turned away in a huff.

Severus looked down at Lily and waited.

"I know we argued, but I just wanted things to go back to the way they were." Lily looked away and sighed. "I just wanted my friend back, but I didn't want to deal with more arguments and put in the extra effort it would have taken to see your side of things and look for options. Like I've said before — I was a child! You needed an adult to have made a difference in your life, not me. And then you called me a Mudblood and I just didn't care anymore."

Severus took Lily gently by the shoulders. "I'm intimately acquainted with that feeling, the not caring. Look at me."

When he had her attention, he said, "That was the one moment you could have demanded anything of me and I would have done it. You had that much power over me. I would have walked away from Lucius and all the others that were telling me that Voldemort was the only way I could get what I wanted. I would have endured the tormentors inside and out of Slytherin to have kept you. That one moment, I would have listened to you. You were my obsession, I admit it."

"Do you know how creepy that is?" Lily shuddered.

Severus nodded. "But it's the truth. And yes, I should have listened to you before and walked away from a lot of what was going on, however, I was just a child. No one ever wants to see that. I was just as afraid as you, but for different reasons. Until you repudiated me, you were the only bright spot I had!" He released Lily and started to pace.

"You knew I didn't have a good life at home. Mum was the queen of passive aggression and most of the time Da was a drunken bully. Great examples they were. I was powerless! Hogwarts was supposed to mean freedom for me, a chance to prove myself, a way to a better life. Instead, because my mother built castles in the sky instead of telling me the truth, I was dead set on joining her old House, Slytherin, the worse possible choice a poor half-blood like me with no connections could have made. My House hated my very existence — I was worse than a Mudblood as far as they were concerned."

Severus stopped and turned to face Lily and James. "Did you know I broke curfew on my second night there and as often as possible to get to the library and learn spells to protect myself? Lily, you know I didn't know any more magic than what we'd figured out between the two of us from Mum's books before Hogwarts. I might as well have been Houseless for all the support I had until I became useful to Lucius and the other upper years by doing the research for their homework and other menial tasks."

"I was obsessed with the Dark Arts because they were the most powerful of all the spells — when I had mastered them, my enemies would never be able to hurt me again — I could put them down and they'd stay down, or so I thought. But it never got better. Black and Potter will never admit it, but they singled me out because, just like all purebloods in good standing, they knew I had no one to speak for me. I was an easy mark. If I didn't give as good as I got, if I didn't find ways to retaliate, my House made things even harder for me. It's not an excuse — it's just the way things were. I had to work harder, do better and outshine the others of my year to gain a bit of credit."

Severus walked back around his desk and took a seat, crossing one leg over the other.

"By the time you were shut of me, I'd already faced Lupin-as-werewolf. Black and Lupin were protected. I was the one punished and threated by Dumbledore while your husband received an undeserved special award for services to the school, ironically, just like Riddle. It only proved to me that I wasn't worth anything to the people on your side of the war. And because I was a child, I went with those who would have me. Who could give me the power and protection I sought," Severus finished.

Lily moved closer to the desk and sighed. "I never could understand how you didn't see that the promises were a lie, but you never were this honest with me before. I can see how you might choose them now."

"Did you think I wanted the only real friend I had to see me as powerless and weak? It takes someone much more mature than I was at the time to say these things. I just need you to understand, I wasn't choosing against you, Lily."

"No, you were choosing against Black, Lupin and me," James said softly, as he moved to the corner of the desk and sat on the edge.

"Glad you understand that, although I wouldn't have expected you to admit it."

"Well, it's a part of my apology, to be honest," James replied, running his hand backwards through his hair until Lily reached over to pull it into her own. "I never should have called you Snivellus or embedded the damnable name in the Map. And you're only partially right about why we singled you out."

James pulled Lily closer. "Lily-Flower here is the reason that I never gave you a break. She was the most enchanting thing I'd ever laid eyes on and you had her friendship. I wanted that, and as we became older, I wanted more, but you know that."

"Well, you got what you wanted, Potter," Severus said with a sneer.

"But at what price? Do you know we were forced to watch the entirety of Harry's first thirteen years? How Petunia became increasingly frustrated with his accidental magic and moved Harry into a cupboard of all things to keep him away from her 'normal' child? How Dumbledore would just send the Obliviators out when things got out of hand, but never provided any real assistance to Harry?"

"There were so many times I wished I could have doused Dumbledore's lemon sherbets with a prank potion," Lily mumbled, as she leaned into James.

"And when Petunia allowed her son to bully and torment Harry, I knew then that my son was paying for the relentless way we Marauders tormented you. Dursley Senior only made things worse as Harry grew. Just as you had no adult you could trust or rely on, the same was visited on my son. He didn't get enough to eat at times, just as you didn't. Harry had things blamed on him unfairly, and he started acting out."

"And then he got his letter to Hogwarts," Severus finished for James, who nodded in agreement. "A place of wonder and magic. A refuge from his sorry Muggle existence, only to find it a place of trial and tribulation as well. However, your son gained real friends over time who supported him, unlike me."

"Did you have to be a total arse to Harry?" Lily asked.

Severus smirked. "Yes. I am petty and mean-spirited when I feel I am wronged. You know that. Besides, I didn't know how much of a bitch ole Tuney turned out to be until the boy's fifth year. At least I didn't relentlessly seek him out."

"No, he only felt like you did," James retorted. "But you also kept your vow to look out for him. There were so many times I wanted to throttle him, you weren't the only one — but I guess all parents go through that stage."

"I wasn't his parent and I didn't want to be, although I offered. To be truthful, I wanted as little to do with him as possible. The only years of freedom I experienced were those between the end of the war and your boy's arrival at Hogwarts. Now are you done apologising? We could be here forever, rehashing all the wrongs we dealt each other."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, Sev. So, do you accept our apologies, such as they are?" Lily asked.

"Yes. Anything to move on." Severus lowered his leg, sat forward and leaned on the desk.

They all sat in silence until a thought occurred that Severus wanted an answer to.

"Just out of curiosity, where are Lupin, Black and Dumbledore? I would have expected the whole gang, as it were."

James smirked and wrapped his arms about Lily. "Remus is off in a corner somewhere, beating himself up over leaving his newborn son an orphan and temporarily walking out on his family. I still have a hard time with the fact that it was Harry that set him straight on that issue. He hasn't even started dealing with all the times he should have pulled the rest of us in line. Remus is the most practical of us, so I reckon we'll see him in a couple of years. Sirius will be a while yet. He still doesn't want to admit that what we did at Hogwarts was wrong, mostly because he'd have to deal with the fact that he was truly a son of the House of Black."

"Azkaban wasn't good for him at all," Lily added.

"True, but just like I'd earned my hell on earth by shackling myself to two sociopaths, he'd earned the time spent there. His family would have been hard pressed to have kept him out if the werewolf incident had been handled properly," Severus said, treating both Potters to a glare that dared them to object.

James shrugged.

"No arguments here," Lily said. "As for our esteemed Headmaster Dumbledore, I don't know if we'll ever see him. He's still hung up on his 'Greater Good', which justifies everything he's ever done. You wouldn't believe the reasons that complete tosser gave me for what was done to Harry. 'You have to see where I was right — it all worked out.' — I don't have to see anything. He's totally lost the plot. And then he expected me to forgive him!" Lily laughed bitterly. "My son is a much more forgiving soul than I. He gets that from James, I suppose."

Severus looked at James and decided to say nothing, which must have been the right decision because another, larger door appeared and there was an actual outdoors visible. He pushed his chair back and stood. "It appears that we've said enough. What happens now?"

"We need to take you to see your Mum. She's been stuck here all this time because she won't forgive herself for staying with your father instead of doing what was best for you," Lily replied. "You know, she'd probably take it better if you knocked off a few years. Maybe fourteen or so. You look old, Sev!"

"You might want to ditch the dungeon bat look and try for something less, um, bat-like?" James added.

"Ouch! What'd you do that for, Lils?" James complained, rubbing his arm.

"You promised to do better!"

"That was better."

"If that's your idea of better, then —"

Severus decided to interrupt the two before the situation deteriorated further. "Am I going to be forced to listen to the two of you bicker like twelve-year-olds for eternity?"

James and Lily looked at each other. "Pretty much."

Severus shook his head and walked past the Potters, deliberately changing his clothing and appearance to how he appeared as Slytherin Head of House when he was twenty-five. That was one of his best years. He was more than happy that circumstances would allow him to save his mother from herself this time, and he wanted her to see him at his best. Stepping through the doorway, he stopped and admired the scenery before him.

There were blue skies, rolling hills and small dwellings off in the distance to his right. To his left, a small stand of trees was bordered by a babbling brook. He turned around to see what was keeping the other two, but there was nothing but impossibly green grass as far as the eye could see. The door, and the room it was attached to, had vanished.

Turning about again, he noticed a ridiculously large blue and green butterfly which fluttered directly in front of him, only to fly off a ways and return. After the third time, he shrugged and followed it over to the stand of trees, where he saw a familiar figure seated beneath the canopy they created.

"Why are you still here?" he asked, watching as Luna sat on the impossibly green grass, patiently stringing a new cord with a combination of radishes and butterbeer cork tops.

The butterfly fluttered about a bit more before landing on her head, becoming a small hair ornament. She looked up from her work and smiled at him. "Did you really think I'd abandon you to them? The Potters are moving on, just as you must. Let's go see your Mum," she replied, holding up the now finished necklace. "Eileen's a difficult case, so you can give this one to her. She needs to move on as well."

"Or she'll end up as a ghost, I suppose," Severus said, taking the necklace and placing it in his pocket.

"Professor, if we were still at Hogwarts, I'd have to take points for inattention. Your mother is all dead, not In Between and slightly alive like you were before you stepped through the door. Purgatory takes as long as it takes for the all dead — they are never in danger of becoming ghosts. In this case, since she's fixated on you, you get to help your mum move on. Don't you think it's nice that perhaps you'll both be able to move on together?"

"I suppose so. However, if I'm all dead, as you say, then you can't actually be here now." Severus looked carefully at the young woman before continuing. "You are not Luna Lovegood."

"Who says I'm not? I am if you think I am, Professor. Just because this is happening in your head doesn't mean it's not real. Harry is Master of Death, and I did ask."

"I am not having this conversation again."

"I always knew you were one of the smarter ones. Let's go find your mother, shall we?"

Severus walked on with 'Luna' in silence. He was one of the smarter ones. He wasn't about to argue with Death.

Happy birthday to me, indeed.

A change in plans for the Obama Family resulted in...

arynwy — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 05:11:48 GMT

Us getting an unexpected visit to our lovely city this evening. Due to fifty mile an hour winds, the plane couldn't land in Palm Springs. So they set down two and a half miles from my home at March ARB. Mr A was kind enough to brave the cold and hike over to take video of the motorcade as it left the base. Best wishes to the family - they've earned a well-deserved rest.

Art Rec: Ouroboros (G)

arynwy — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 20:58:44 GMT

If you haven't been following snapecase, you're missing out on some fantastic art this go round. Today's submission is just another example of the talent that abounds in fandom. If you like Snape,go here and I dare you to tell me you don't want a bookmark, stationery, a t-shirt, coffee mug or something with this image on it. Mine would say Snape Lives!

Enjoy!

Fitbit Anyone?

arynwy — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 22:18:04 GMT

Okay, so if you have a Fitbit, are you doing this? If not - join me!

https://www.stepitupusa.org/?tId=cf6e0102-c3b6-4434-bde5-30a6e560b92c&tTok=afce404ed8f7d5bc20f6b5bc92662cf14b84f9ddb50a85e8c45fc27b50c1f77c

SNAPECASE - It's Back!

arynwy — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 14:50:37 GMT

I've really missed this particular fest, so I am very pleased to see it return. Come on, Snape fans - go write something intriguing for me to read. I might even join you if inspiration strikes...

Go ahead, click on the icon. I know you want to.

snapecase: Celebrating Severus Snape throughout his ages!

Why ask why?

arynwy — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 23:09:15 GMT

So why does the LJ layout place Friends Feed in alignment with Remove Friend when you are looking at a friend's entry? Your cursor has to pass over Remove Friend to reach Friends Feed, unless you come at it sideways. It's not like I've got a multitude of "Friends" in the first place, so I really don't want to accidently remove them when I'm tired and trying to click on Friends Feed.

Sigh.

Happy Valentine's Day!

arynwy — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 16:27:42 GMT

Hi, all! A wonderful day to those that participate and a wish for happiness for those that don't.

For those of you that like SS/HP, the lovely mods at snape_potter are currently hosting the Valentine Comment Fest HERE, which has an assortment of offerings to fit just about every mood. Whilst there, I have to admit that I might have added a ficlet or two to the fray. Yes, iulia_linnea, I wrote and actually posted said stories and the sky did not fall.

I love exuberance

arynwy — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 18:36:13 GMT

And these folk absolutely are. Enjoy!

Scones?

arynwy — Wed, 20 May 2015 22:35:47 GMT

Does anyone have a decent yeast-based recipe for scones? I need to make a large batch and yeast dough is easier to work with than dough that uses baking powder. Help?

PURPLE!

arynwy — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 04:27:41 GMT

My lovely, new purple Assuit dress! I got to wear it today while performing at the Riverside County Fair & Date Festival. The only down side was the metal embroidery actually managed to heat up enough to sting a bit on my bare skin. Fortunately, that was only my arms because I wore a sleeveless unitard underneath. Will most likely wear one with 3/4 length sleeves in the future in order to avoid that issue.

If you've never seen Assuit material in person, the embroidery is done with exceptionally thin metal strips instead of thread, so the designs can cunduct heat. My dress is very well done and completely coverd in designs, front to back.

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!

Okay, so this made me smile

arynwy — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 20:12:08 GMT

I don't do this often, but this needed to be shared. Go, Hermione!

If Hermione Were The Main Character In “Harry Potter”
Hermione Granger and the Goddamn Patriarchy.

I love Flash Mobs

arynwy — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:51:45 GMT

Especially one as classy and well executed as this. Enjoy!

For the Music Lovers on the F-list

arynwy — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 23:46:22 GMT

This is amazing.

Thank you, juniperus!

arynwy — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 16:53:11 GMT

juniperus, I've put a dry flower arrangement, tulips and a couple of other things in the vase you crafted and sent me, but I've finally found the perfect plant, which will now make its permanent home in your lovely creation. Thank you!

Solar energy and other attempts to make things comfy

arynwy — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 00:44:31 GMT

We've taken the plunge and will soon have solar panels on our roof supplying most of our electricity needs, which will allow us to control that part of our budget. Then I saw information on radiant barrier insulation. Our attic stays a nice, toasty 115-120F all summer long once the traditional high temperatures roll in. This stuff can lower the attic temp in our area to a comfortable 85F. I'm having the contractor come out on Monday to see if we can budget this for this month. I'm really hoping the numbers are in our favor.

Since we're doing solar, hubby has been researching plug-in vehicles and he's pretty enamoured of the Toyota RAV4 EV. It gets about 115 miles per charging cycle, which would more than cover his local running about on a daily basis and installing a charging unit in our home would give us an additional 30% tax credit. I've been eyeballing the Honda Accord electric Hybrid - it's a gas engine/plug-in combo that gets 47mpg in gas engine mode, has 570 mile range and also has a dual mode that give you 124mpg city and 105 highway.

Playing with the numbers with current energy prices, we can potentially save about $13,400.00US in energy costs a year, which would make the Honda pay for itself in three years and the Toyota in three years, seven months. The fact that we can plug them in and charge them via solar is a plus. Does anyone know anything about electric vehicles that might make this whole idea less attractive? So far, it's looking like a win/win/win situation.

Another reason to appreciate Son #1

arynwy — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 04:48:16 GMT

So, today we were looking at the concept of weregeld and I ran across this passage and showed it to my son.

"In the 8th century the Lex Alamannorum sets the weregeld for a duke or archbishop at three times the basic value (600 shillings), while the killing of a low ranking cleric was fined with 300, raised to 400 if the cleric was attacked while he was reading mass."

Son #1's response to said information?

"Ah. We can now pinpoint the historical genesis of the ridiculously long sermon."

Story Rec: Words, Words, Words by dragoon811 PG

arynwy — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 03:16:08 GMT

I realize that most of you pretty much hate having to got to the pit of voles to read stories, but this short character study by dragoon811 is well worth the trip. It's 855 words long and addresses how and why Severus Snape used words to great effect.

I know that the Potions speech reeled me in and started my fascination with the character, but everywhere Snape spoke in the series, the words had impact. You can't say that about most of the HP characters.This author tells us why via Severus himself. Go read - it's short, lovely and deserves more exposure.

"Before going to Hogwarts, even before the rarely-attended Muggle primary school, Severus Snape discovered the value of words." http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8898427/1/Words-Words-Words

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes!

arynwy — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 17:51:00 GMT

50 is such an introspective point in one's life.

I can be pleased that my health seems to have drifted back to what I deem acceptable - so I'm not "feeling my age" at the moment. I'm even indulging in my dance hobby and resurrecting all of that harp music that I couldn't see nor play nine months ago when health was all kinds of suck.

I can honestly say that I've been very blessed and have lived a somewhat charmed life at certain points, which is really fabulous considering the state of the world in the last 50 years.

My family is whole, healthy and happy, which is all that one could ask.

The friendships that count are strong and fulfilling. I don't have to chase them down or do things for them in order to be included in their sphere of existence, which is a huge improvement over the quality of "friends" I had before. I've also learned to let the other type of "friend" fade into the woodwork and file them in the "acquaintance" folder. I'll hear from those types when they need something from me - I always do.

I've gained a certain level of peace with myself and my existence which has made trials less troubling and living much more important. Thank you for being a part of that transformation.

Hugs to all.

thank you for the birthday wishes

arynwy — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:18:35 GMT

Thank you all for the warm wishes and gifts. Currently, I'm on board the Golden Princess, sailing about the Hawaiian Ilands. This will probably be the only post till I get home around the 9th of May. Sending messages via a phone is not the way to go, lol!

Dumbledore's excuse

arynwy — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 19:53:47 GMT

As some of you are aware, Dumbledore was never one of my favorites. I even actively loathed the character at the end of books six (I was spitting nails by the end of The Lightning Struck Tower) and seven (I'd given up on him when Harry had finished dealing with him at the pseudo-King's Cross station). I could never really forgive him for not dealing with Tom Riddle before the whole wizarding world was plunged into a new war.

Yes, I know that we wouldn't have a series, but I needed a logical reason for Dumbledore to have drawn a line in the sand by refusing him a post at Hogwarts when he knew what Tom was capable of and doing nothing more. Why the hell would he pass the buck by allowing a portion of the prophecy to get back to Riddle? (Do we really believe he didn't know that Severus had overheard?)

Why? The Elder Wand. Albus had already defeated Gellert and taken possession of the wand by the time Tom Riddle had shown his hand. He couldn't risk a confrontation that might end with Riddle as the owner of the Death Stick. So he needed a strategy that didn't involve him and the wand directly.

And yeah, I haven't forgotten the battle in the Ministry Atrium. That was a calculated risk on Dumbledore's part and it was a very short exposure - at this point in the game, it was all about Harry Potter for the both of them.

Does this make me like the character any better? No. However, it does allow me to be annoyed with him for a few lesser offenses instead of seething at the thought of him sitting back and basically doing nothing for no discernible reason. He's still a manipulative bastard as far as I'm concerned.

Yes, I'm the guilty one...

arynwy — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:45:52 GMT

So the SSHG Exchange reveal is up and I confess - I'm the one responsible for breaking hearts fandom-wide. christev still holds first place for the best, NO!YOU CAN'T END IT THIS WAY, WE CAN FIX THIS!!!, response. *smiles* If you still haven't managed to figure out which story is mine, it's this one here:

The Anatomy of True Friendship

The best part of the Exchange - Part 2, was my recipient, absolute_tash. Her heart-felt response to her gift made me jump up and down and dance for days. Her response made the risk I took worth every moment of, "omg, I can't believe I'm doing this my first time out - they will ALL hate me." The second best part was the fact that she ended up writing my favorite story of the whole exchange as well. It still boggles my mind.

The best part of the Exchange - Part 1, was the superbly stellar art that droxy gifted me with. TWO lovely gifts. I want the file for that second piece so I can print and hang it.

I can now thank the following people: bambu345 for letting me run my plot idea past her, asking great questions and ultimately telling me to go where the story takes me, whether it's a hard line to walk or not. aurette for the absolutely stellar alpha work - she is the best cheerleader ever and provided the honest critique I needed, when I needed it. iulia_linnea for the emergency SPaG beta and additional critique - she bravely stepped in when my original arrangement for beta-work fell through and dealt with 31K worth of ficcage in under a week's time. And finally, talesofsnape who created the really cool banner and icons that we all admired, as well as Brit-picking. You ladies are love. *hugs*

Support the Petulant Poetess Archive

arynwy — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 23:09:01 GMT

I'd really hate to see another quality fanfiction/original work/art archive go under due to lack of funding, so if you have a few dollars to spare to help out with the two-year subscription fee for the web-hosting, pitch it in the pot here:

http://petulantpoetess.livejournal.com/96883.html

I've tossed my few Galleons into the pot, so if you can, feel free add your contribution to keep mine company. Thanks! Y'all are the best.

Happy Birthday, Severus - and an excellent story to celebrate it with!

arynwy — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:39:24 GMT

I don't make many recommendations, mostly because I'm too lazy to post - but not today! Today is the birthday of one of my favorite literary characters and the mods over at the sshg_exchange have posted a fine tale to celebrate him with Roses for a Stone.

It's a quick read (3316 words) and really manages to pack an emotional punch while filling in another missing moment in canon.

Go read! Shoo!