#regulus.

[ofblackskies]

@auriibus​ said: “Mmm, I lied.” (For Regulus)

     "Did you, now?" Regulus hummed, though there was something almost playful in his eye. Something that was rare for him. "I hear Blacks are particularly good at that skill - lying."

[ofblackskies]

@goeticapothicaire​ said: “we’ll never make it in time.”   // for regulus!

     Regulus ran up the steps just in front of Severus. They hadn’t been paying enough attention, had been toying with a potion together just to see if they could change its properties. Now, they were missing dinner for it. And Regulus, for one, had realized he was absolutely starving. “We’ll make it! I swear it.”

[ofblackskies]

@goeticapothicaire​ said: “You look like hell, and you smell like death.”   // for Regulus

     “Funny. Should probably take a whiff of yourself before you put that last but out there.” Regulus shot before he considered his words. Although honestly, he probably would have said it anyway. “I was up all night studying.”

[ofblackskies]

- - - - - LILY @lovelylilyevcns

     Regulus ran through the great hall at dinner, disrupting people’s meals but not seeming to care as he practically hyperventilated. Rushing up to the Gryffindor table, he looked frantically for his brother, but he didn’t seem to be there. “Where’s Sirius?” He demanded of Peter, who just looked at him with wide, frightened eyes. “Where’s my brother, rat?” Regulus tried again, only to growl and give up. Peter was useless. But Lily. Lily wasn’t useless. Scanning the table again, he saw the mane of red hair and moved further down the table and grabbed her hand. Across from her, James rose quickly. “It’s fine, I’m not… I just… Lily, please. I need your help.”

[ofblackskies]

Tag drop: Regulus Black

[polarishq]

Meet NICOLAS ST. MARTIN. They are FIFTY-TWO years old and hail from AVIGNON, FRANCE. Nico embodies the star, REGULUS. They use he/him and they/them pronouns. Their faceclaim is CHANCE PERDOMO.

Regulus reminds me of origami, doodles in homework margins, hospital corridors, nasaly vowels from an accent you’re still trying to shake, photographs tucked away, dear mom and dad can you ever forgive me, the replaying of grief over and over again in your head (as if it’ll get any easier), city lights reflecting on rain-covered streets, and a collection of converse high tops in every color .

BIOGRAPHY

(TRIGGER for chronic illness and what more or less amounts to assisted suicide)

The first thing to know about Nico is that his life has never truly been theirs. Nico was born the second child to two highly stressed parents, who had debated even carrying the pregnancy to term. They didn’t think they could handle a baby on top of their first born — Nico’s brother, René. You see, the St. Martins came from a long line of magic, and René’s star mark manifested at the tender age of 3. While this would be a proud moment for most magic families, it came with nothing but horror for them. Rene’s sponsorship was one that many dreaded, because it carried with it a blood disease that passed from user to user. The family’s lifestyle changed overnight, and every bit of their parents attention was poured into taking René to the best healers they could find. Somewhere in the back of their minds though, they knew what it all meant. People with René’s sponsorship seldom lived very long.

When René was seven, and the family had tried (and failed) to acclimate to their lives of hospitals, medications, potions, and treatments, Nicolas was born. In trying to prepare, their parents had decided that their new child would be raised by relatives to minimize everyone’s stress. That all changed when Nico took their first, wailing cry, and their parents took notice of the mark on their shoulder blades. A child born with a sponsorship was rare but not unheard of. A child born with the innate life force magic of Regulus... well, to the St. Martin family, it felt like a gift. Just not in the way that a newborn should be considered a gift.

From there, Nico’s lot in life revolved entirely around René. Through trial and error, their parents learned how to tap into Nico’s magic so that their energy could transfer to René. Often, this meant that Nico was left significantly weaker and in pain, though they really didn’t have anything else to compare it to. It’s not like they didn’t care about their second child. But when weighing the possibility of losing René against the price it cost Nico, there wasn’t much of an exchange rate at all. By the time Nico was old enough to understand that their hurt and fatigue kept René alive, it just seemed like that’s how life was meant to be.

Despite the almost parasitic relationship created by their parents, René and Nico loved each other dearly. Nico never blamed René for their constant weakness, and René was almost always apologizing for what it meant. Nico’s energy was the only thing keeping their brother alive, but it did nothing to alleviate any of the physical symptoms of illness that persisted. While their parents may have hoped that Nico could save René, the consequence was two children, both drained in separate ways and wanting nothing more than to be free.

Nico hated the plan from the start, let’s make that clear. Their biggest regret will always be agreeing to it. But when René came to them when Nico was 17, and asked that Nico stop agreeing to the energy transfers, they were at a loss. René was in constant pain, he explained — this was keeping him alive but also keeping him teetering just barely on the edge. He didn’t say it, but Nico also knew that it was something of a gift too. If René passed on, it would alleviate Nico of having to live for their brother. It would give them a chance at purpose. Both of them also knew that it would break their parents hearts more if they knew what René wanted though, so instead, Nico took control. They refused to go through any more medical procedures or energy transference, and at that age, his parents had no way of making it happen on their own. The result was weeks of constant fighting, Nico growing stronger while René dwindled away, and the heartbreaking moment when it all came to a halt.

When René died, Nico knew there was no recovery for their family. His parents may have loved them as their child, but in their mind, Nico had taken another away. And Nico, ever loyal to their brother, refused to tarnish their memories of him by revealing René‘s part in everything. So instead, they did what they thought was best. Less than a year after René passed, Nico was out on their own.

The decades that followed were largely uneventful, with Nico maintaining as minimal contact with their parents as possible and living in a small magic community located in Southern France. Truth be told, magic wasn’t something that ever really interested them. It had never been viewed as a gift, and Nico’s only exposure to the finer aspects of magic were through their parents. To Nico, their magic was simply a means to an end, one that had destroyed their entire family. It wasn’t until about three years ago that they began questioning what else they might be able to do. Energy transference had only ever meant pain and heartbreak, but maybe it could be used for some good if used properly. And that meant learning about magic as a whole. Through asking around, Nico learned of Polaris. There wasn’t much for them in France, honestly.

Learning what Regulus can fully do terrified Nico, and they’ve committed to only tapping in to their inclination if absolutely necessary. And luckily, thus far, there hasn’t been any sort of necessity. The worry is always there though, on if they’ll lost control or be sweet talked into using their powers for bad. One of the byproducts of their upbringing is that Nico is rather desperate to be liked, as a result of such limited interaction as a child. But you don’t grow up in the St. Martin household without being prepared for tragedy at every turn; Nico knows that Polaris is a trap door into another hundred different possibilities. Good thing they’ve learned to walk on eggshells so easily.

INCLINATION

Life force and life energy magic punctuate what it means to be sponsored by Regulus. Those gifted with it are capable of sharing their energy with others or taking energy from others and putting it elsewhere. It cannot create and it cannot destroy — its all a matter of transference, though giving and taking too much can leave its user physically and emotionally depleted. Its also painful, both as its happening and in the aftermath. Regulus is an interesting sponsor in that there are two options for elements: light or darkness. Its always picks a wix at birth, and the element is chosen by the baby’s surroundings at the time. But regardless of their element, a Regulus magician is capable of toeing the line between life and death, and is often sought after for personal gain.

CONNECTIONS

Filling the role of Sage Mannox’s Bad Influence

Filling the role of Blair Harcourt’s Choir Nerds

How You Remind Me (should be no older than 35): This one is a doozy and has a trigger warning for chronic illness. Nico’s brother was sponsored by a celestial force that carries a curse behind its magic. that manifests into what seems to be a blood disease. Those gifted with this magic have a high magic ability but often don’t live to see old age, by witch or human standards. Nico’s older brother passed away as a result, and the sponsorship moved on. This individual is his successor, and has inherited the cursed illness as well. Nico met them at Polaris and hasn’t told them about their own history or about their brother, but they feel compelled to get to know this person. Nico sees it as a way of connecting with their brother, and is wondering if Regulus’ life energy magic might be able to help them as well.

Penned by Jeanne ★

[ofblackskies]

- - - - - OPEN THREAD (REGULUS BLACK)

     "What do you mean the library is closed?” Regulus demanded. “You’re having me on. This is a bloody joke and you’re not funny.” He just really needed to get in there to study.