James: Was your muse bullied as a child or did they billy others?
Neither, particularly—if any, she bullied others, but it largely depends on your definition of bullying. Marlene has always been more snarky than cruel—she can be vicious, absolutely, but so can any wild thing when backed into a corner. As a kid, when teamed up with someone who had as few qualms about putting fellow children in their place as Rodolphus Lestrange, it wasn’t exactly necessary for her to do the same. Was she a snarky little shit? Hell yes. Was she cruel? Not really. Marlene’s always been prone to saying whatever’s on her mind—especially in situations where Rod couldn’t, her murmured snarky commentary would be on behalf of the both of them—and she’s absolutely not afraid to call someone out on their bullshit. She can be caustic and mocking, both now and as a kid, but the sharpness of her tongue has generally been tempered by a nonchalant grin, at least when not provoked by anger. There’s also something to be said for how snark and quips were her general method of communication amongst most of the people of her youth, except Rod and a few others—Matty and Rabastan amongst them—who received snark and quips, yes, but sincerity and laughter and honesty lacing her words as much as love.