Name: starbuck (Signed) · Date: 23 Apr 2019 08:02 AM · For: ten thousand reasons

hey joey, i'm here for one of your award reviews!

 

honestly, i have to admit that i've never considered a regulus black/fabian prewett relationship before reading this (and obviously i've never read it.... :P ) but i really love what you've done with regulus' character, actually, with both of their characters.

 

there's something fundamentally sad about their relationship, it's sort of doomed from the start even though regulus has the hope that they could run away, that they could disappear. but i think that his hope isn't truly real. he's known fabian for quite a while, they've been so close to each other, they knew each other best, and i'm sure that regulus knew fabian would never run away. he would never be able to turn his back on everything and be a coward. i'm not saying regulus is a coward because he quite obviously isn't, but, like any slytherin, he values the ones he loves above everything else and i can understand that.

 

regulus' ultimate sacrifice is heartbreaking - he can't be with fabian, he can't openly do anything against voldemort, he's stuck, he basically has no real way out...and then he finds a way to do something, to be brave, to help the cause fabian has been fighting for, and not just because the man he loves believes in that cause, but because regulus has always known it was wrong even though he couldn't quite act on it.

 

i loved reading this, great job joey!

 

kris

Name: MadiMalfoy (Signed) · Date: 17 Apr 2019 05:53 AM · For: ten thousand reasons

Hey Joey! I'm here with your entry review for my Broadway Musical Song Challenge! :)

 

First off, Dear Evan Hansen just makes me cry whenever I listen to the soundtrack, so I hope you know what you're putting me through with this fic! Not only did you choose Only Us, but you also chose to write about Regulus Black with Fabian Prewett. You mentioned in your author's note that you twisted the lyrics for Only Us in the opposite way (aka darker) than the way they are meant to be done with the actual musical, and did it fantastically. The opening scene where you set up Regulus's character exhibits his personality nicely. The contrast with Fabian in the next bit before Ancient Runes is so stark and sets up the rest of the story so well.

The progression of their relationship, well initially friendship with hidden feelings, throughout their seventh year is so lovely and it did make me smile there in the middle! What I love that you've done with the first set of lyrics is that they're placed after the two of them confess their crushes on each other and they decide to move forward with their relationship, and it's initially positive and hopeful that they'll be able to be together, war or not. Then, when we come to the second set of lyrics, it's more about them realizing the parts they have to play in this war and what that means for them as a couple.

 

I wasn't sure how you were going to end this, but when I saw Kreacher pop in, I just knew how heartbreaking it was going to be. Even though you're writing Regulus dying the same way he does in canon, he does it here with a much more emotional and personal motivation for Fabian.

 

So thanks a lot for breaking my heart, Joey! I'll have the results posted soon :)

 

~MadiMalfoy x

Name: poppunkpadfoot (Signed) · Date: 05 Apr 2019 12:40 PM · For: ten thousand reasons

Joey! Hi! I'm here with my ridonkulously overdue review from our swap :'D I am SO sorry for the long wait!

 

So when you tweeted about this story asking for swaps, I clicked on the link to see what this was about and was immediately SO intrigued. I don't think I've ever seen a Regulus/Fabian story before? In fact I think it's generally quite rare to see a non-straight Regulus. (Non-straight Regulus adds a whole extra super sad dimension to my personal headcanons, but putting that aside hahaha.)

 

The first line is so sad because it came so close to being true?! I like to believe that the Golden Trio made the truth known about how Regulus died, but if they hadn't figured out R.A.B. he would've always been known as a Death Eater who couldn't hack it, instead of as a hero. Already with the first line I'm getting pulled into this story, because I'm already a fan of how you're handling Regulus.

 

The opening is so relatable, lol. I've definitely been there where I'm in a situation that's so noisy and overwhelming and I'm just waiting til I can leave. (Although - can't relate to his punctuality, hahaha!)

 

 

A bit of that Pureblood snobbery does start to come through quite early on - I'm really eager to see how that's going to play out with Fabian! Given that (as Regulus notes) Fabian is also a Pureblood, it seems like the topic of blood purity etc. *could* be skirted entirely - but I very much have a feeling it won't be.

 

 

Fabian is immediately very likeable - I'm into his energy, lol. It's interesting that he's wanting to pursue Runes further even if it seems to be a subject he struggles with, and idk why but that makes me like him even more.

 

 

Love the idea of the private room behind the portrait, and the line "You'd be surprised by the things the portraits here know". I was pretty delighted by this little piece of worldbuilding!

 

 

Aw, I'm also a big fan of Professor Babbling! A teacher willing to set time aside to just chat with students is a teacher that I like!

 

 

(Ah, so there is some avoidance happening here re: the war and loyalties. I have a bad feeling about this.)

 

 

HAH, I love the scene where Regulus points out Fabian's crush on him. It was really refreshing, so angst or drama, just humour and teasing. I have a feeling, though, that I'm being set up for some terribly angsty scene down the line :P

 

Aaaaand yep, there it is. This line: "Regulus' seventh year was a time of desperation, cracked veneer, and second thoughts" is SOOOOO good, I love it. I can just feel the tension building, and I feel like I'm waiting for the inevitable, but I really don't want it to come L

 

It was REALLY clever how you had Regulus reading about Horcruxes in the Restricted Section, setting him up to later understand the true horror of Voldemort's actions (and therefore to act against him).

 

And there's the ending. Even though Regulus made the right choice in the end, and did something really significant to stop Voldemort, it hurts that he did it without anyone even knowing - and it hurts a LOT more when I remember that Fabian died in the first war. He never knew that Regulus did the right thing in the end L UGH Joey I'm going to cry I stg.

 

This is, unsurprisingly, REALLY excellent. You've done brilliantly, and I never would've guessed that this is your first Marauders work if you hadn't said so! You should definitely write more in this era in the future, because I think you've done such an awesome job!

 

Thank you so much for the swap, Joey! <3

 

-Kayla

 

Name: Felpata_Lupin (Signed) · Date: 23 Mar 2019 04:38 AM · For: ten thousand reasons

Hello, Joey! I'm finally here for our swap! So, so, so sorry again for the wait, it's been a bit of a difficult week... :/

But I'm here now, and to make myself forgiven I'll try to leave a very long and detailed review... also, I'll try to review as I (re-)read, let's see how that goes... :P

You are already killing me with the foreshadowing start... (which is beautifully written, btw...) knowing how Regulus' life will end and that no one (not Sirius, not Fabian...) will know... it just makes me so sad... poor Regulus... :(

And then you show us how lonely he was, even as a student. The contrast with the Great Hall pulsing with energy... such great imagery, btw. You always have such brilliant descriptions!

Of course he would take punctuality so seriously (no pun intended), and always be so impeccable in his deportment... he was the golden Black child, after all... definitely my headcanon. I also think it's interesting that he loves Ancient Runes. :D

And... their first exchange! It's just so cute! It must've been a big shock for Rugulus, who was so used to be invisible... When I first read this, I thought that Fabian was incredibly daring in approaching him that way, but.., that's why he is a Gryffindor, I guess? Either way, I'm so glad he managed to... force Regulus out of his shell, I guess? Their whole exchange and Fabian's offer of friendship was just so sweet, I loved it all so much!

And then the progression of their relationship... that's so sweet and so well developed, too! The visit to their Professor's scene was so nice and, at times, funny. I loved the boys' jokes, and found endearing how Regulus secretly wishes that he could teach one day (and so depressing to think that the war is already changing their lives so much... they are starting to feel the danger, the obligations, and I don't like it one bit... especially because I know none of them will get out of there alive and it's just cruel...)

The Astronomy Tower scene was so heartbreaking already, because you can really feel the growing pressure, but also sweet because they are still together and supporting each other and they can still pretend that everything will be alright, even if they (and we) know it is not. I absolutely love this line, it's probably my favourite in the whole story: But that gentle tap, tap, tapping kept him firmly rooted in reality--time was moving and he with it. Regulus Black; living metronome.

Regulus wanting go to into hiding with Fabian, and Fabian refusing because fighting is the right thing to do... this once again breaks my heart... :( (Btw, loved the subtle nod to Horcruxes, so cleverly done). I just wish Fabian accepted, but of course that's not who Fabian is and I probably wouldn't have liked it if they did... sorry if I'm making no sense... I think what I'm trying to say is that I want them both to be saved but I know there's no alternative path for them because that would negate their nature and they deserve to be recognized for who they are, if this makes sense? In any case, it's unfair.

"You're going to get yourself killed." Regulus took a step back. Fabian shook his head, drawing in a sharp breath. "And you might have to do it." This exchange just killed me... I guess I'm glad they never met each other on opposing sides of a battlefield, at least... :(

And of course the ending. Which I knew would come since the very first line, but still caught me unprepared. And that's when my already fragile heart broken irreparably. But also, I love the determination with which Regulus made his sacrifice. This was another brilliant line: As he walked to his death, Regulus was calm. Anything he could give to slow down the madman to whom he'd been sold was something he was willing to give up, even himself.

If it wasn't clear, I absolutely adored every single word of this story. You are a wonderful writer and you made me feel such a vast range of emotions in this story, I'm still trying to recover from it all.

Thank you so much for swapping and for your patience! And woderful, wonderful job with this!

Lots pf love and snowball hug,

Chiara

Name: TreacleTart (Signed) · Date: 19 Mar 2019 06:22 PM · For: ten thousand reasons

Hey there! 

 

 

 

I'm here for our review swap and excited to see that you have a new peice if writing up! I'm even more excited that you decided to write the Marauders era. I can't wait to see what you've done with it. I feel like that's the hardest era to write, so I'm impressed that you tackled it.

 

 

 

I think you've really nailed Regulus here. He isn't necessarily a bad guy, just a lonely guy. He doesn't seem very capable of standing up for his convictions, but it also doesn't mean that he sees the Death Eaters as being right. Not everyone is brave enough to fight and you make that very understandable here. 

 

 

 

I love the way that Fabian and Regulus slowly fall for each other. I mean it's clear right away to the reader what Fabian's intentions are, but they still don't rush into a deep relationship. They just let it grow naturally. I really enjoyed that. 

 

 

 

I think the conflict that slowly and quietly grows between them seems realistic considering what is happening in the wizarding world. I am saddened that Regulus' love for Fabian isn't enough to pull him away from the Death Eaters initially, but I do like it as a motivation for him to eventually go after the locket. I wish Fabian would've had the chance to know about it.

 

 

 

It's also tragic to think that Fabian will die shortly after Regulus. I know that Regulus' actions affect future generations, but I kind of wish it affected the person he loved as well.

 

 

 

All in all, this was a lovely story. I thought your first dip into the Marauders was very successful and it was cool seeing a pairing that I'd never really considered before. I think I might add this to my headcanon for the HP books. :)

 

 

 

Good work! 

 

 

 

~Kaitlin

Name: Noelle Zingarella (Signed) · Date: 18 Mar 2019 01:10 AM · For: ten thousand reasons

 

Hi Crestwood! I’m here for our review swap and I’m delighted to get a chance to get to know you and your work.

 

 

 

I’m a sucker for good opening lines, and you drew me in instantly with an irresistible opening paragraph. “Regulus Black was never meant to be eternal….a martyr dressed as a villain.” So well put and so tragic—I’m hooked. 

 

I’d like to complement you on your writing style. You are so clear and you seem to know exactly how to make the words say what you want them to say. It is very enjoyable to read.

 

You paint a vivid picture of Regulus sitting in the noisy dining hall, simply wishing to have some quiet. The one liner about him being ‘one to filter out other people’ tells us a lot about him right away. You also tell us a lot about him by his habits of punctuality and his attitudes towards his fellow students. He goes to his class on runes expecting to remain aloof from all the other students, but it looks like that is not to be. 

 

I loved the phrase ‘not yet sullied by clumsy translation.’

 

Regulus is in for a surprise when Fabian takes an interest in him. It is logical that he would be suspicious that this popular Gryffindor is paying attention to him. He’s sure there must be a catch (although, I have to say that as a Gryffindor married to a Slytherin, I think it’s a good combination).

 

It seems that Regulus follows Fabian after class against his better judgement. Fabian is direct and friendly, and Regulus is reserved and suspicious—but part of Regulus seems to want it to be true that Fabian is interested in him. It’s so telling that Fabian has been watching Regulus and I loved that Regulus couldn’t keep himself from blushing over the attention. I’m glad he decides to take a chance (although I’m cringing inside, because of course there can’t be a happy ending).

 

 

This next scene is such a nice tangle of emotions. I like that the boys are so close with their professor and that they’re dreaming of having a normal life. But all that is shattered because they start talking about the war—the war that is going to ruin all their lives. And then we go from that to Regulus’s reaction that his favorite teacher is a Muggle-born. And from there to the boys finally admitting that they’re more than just friends. The cute and the sweet is perfectly mixed together with the danger and destruction of the war. Nicely done.

 

 

I really liked this line:  “Regulus could feel the shifting tides…..mundane aspects of his life.”

 

And this one: “Regulus wasn’t really sure…..the mere silhouette spoke such volumes.”

 

Oh my, and the image of “Regulus Black: living metronome.”

 

And that “Fabian fought in measured jabs, not knockout blows.”

 

My sympathy for Regulus keeps growing as you show him realizing that magic is an ‘imprecise and, at times, grotesque’ thing. I also feel so sorry for the young men who can’t be other than they are. Of course Fabian wouldn’t run away, even when he knows that Regulus might have to kill him. The best and most irritating part of Gryffindors right there.

 

The last two paragraphs are so beautifully put, illustrating the whole tragedy and waste of war in a very personal way. 

 

I’m so glad that I read this and I look forward to reading more of your work soon. 

 

Yours,

 

Noelle