Nothing But A Shadow.

[Ophelia Kenny]

Ophelia was fine. Really, she was, nothing to see here as she wandered her way up a Mountain side with nothing but a drawing guiding her way of what she was supposed to be seeing. She’d brought a bag, filled with some clothes and blankets, and a different one with stuff for a picnic. Worse case scenario, what she’d seen in her dreams was a bunch of bullshit and she’d have lunch in a cave. Or… maybe that was the best case scenario really. 

What she’d seen had bothered her enough that she hadn’t really given much thought as to why Julian would be stuck in a cave. Was he really stuck though? She had no idea. Her dreams had only seemed to give her fragments of a full story, what she saw when she was awake though really was what tended to bother her into action, but the idea of him being up here all alone made her sad. Plus she didn’t know if it was even real. She still wasn’t convinced that she was having Prophetic dreams and visions, even if they kept coming true. Ophelia really didn’t want that. This was just another avenue of figuring out what was going wrong and maybe helping a friend along the way. At least she wasn’t seeing anyone dying. But why would she ever dream up Julian being stuck in a cave? Maybe he’d been exploring and gotten lost. She could probably lead him back, right? 

Opening her drawing once she’d gotten to… wherever it is she was, she looked for the most defining features, nodding to herself as she decided that yes, this was probably it. She’d seen it before when she’d been exploring, she was known after all for hiking all day around wherever her heart deemed fit when she wanted to be outside, only returning when she got cold or too tired to continue. 

folding the drawing away she wandered up to the mouth of the cave and peaked inside. It was dark. She wasn’t sure what she expected. Pulling out her wand she whispered “Lumos” making the tip light up as she began her trek inside, her feet quiet. When she finally spotted who she was looking for, her first thought was ‘Damn.’ She had sort of hoped she’d be having a picnic by herself, safe with the thought that her dream had just been a dream, but apparently she was meant for these stupid things to keep happening in the real world. First the kid falling down the stairs and now Julian was really here. She frowned as she set down her things. 

“Hello.” Ophelia said, giving him a smile. He looked bad, she hoped maybe she’d get some answers as to why. “Are you stuck?”

[Julian Blackthorn]

But you're alive and you will be alright, someday.

What had it been six or seven months? Julian had lost track of time. After Killian had left him alone that night, the serpent had made a camp of some sort but he didn't dare use his wand until after his birthday the next day. Magic made it tolerable but it was still lonely. He missed Nico and Chelsea. He had seen Killian, Ava, and his father once every other month but he longed to see Emma, to reassure her that her big brother wasn't bad...that he did it for her.

Most days, Julian sat near the edge of the cave's mouth but still out of view, he didn't dare go outside, airing on the side of caution, but it was his daily sunlight. Sometimes he could hear the chatter of the students on Hogsmeade weekends. Today was a bit colder than normal and the serpent decided to stay by the fire he had crafted. Until he heard a noise...footsteps.

Straightening his back, Julian reached for his wand pointing it forward. He had been so careful, how did someone find him? Closer now, he steadied himself with a deep breath ready to fight as the figure stepped forward with their wand alit. "Serpen...MERLIN Ophelia!?" he said, lowering his wand. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"...Are you stuck?"

Julian's mouth was a little agape as the blonde talked. Stuck? In a sense...yes. "N-no. How did you find me?" This was suspicious and immediately Julian went into defense mode, raising his wand again, level with Ophelia. "If it's really you, what did you tell me you wanted to be when you grew up, in the divination classroom?" Julian kept eye contact, his friend had told him once upon a time, that she wanted to be a really bad fortune teller, it was the start of their friendship when she had exchanged notes with him for the divination final.

Tagged;; Ophelia Kenny

[Ophelia Kenny]

Ophelia couldnt help but smile as she lowered her own wand, tucking it away on a holder on her thigh as she cocked her head to the side, unafraid in the face of Julian’s defense. They were friends. She cared for him and she could feel his fear from here. Something had happened and if this made him more comfortable then well… that was okay. She didn’t move towards him, despite her want to wrap him up in a hug. He looked pale and tired, but the cave was much nicer than what she had seen in her dreams, her vision. That was good at least. Oh, right he had asked her something. Multiple something’s. 

“A bad fortune teller.” She supplied easily, setting her supplies down on the ground next to her as she hummed and dusted her hands off. It was kinda dusty in here wasn’t it? Whatever, she didn’t mind. She reached into her bag and pulled out her drawing, unfolding it and handing it over to Julian to look at. “I saw you here…. In a dream I think. Seems like-… I may have been a bit wrong though. I think it’s fortunate for me. You as well maybe? I thought you were stuck.” It had certainly seemed that way. She was glad he wasn’t doing as badly as she had thought when she’d first started on her hike. 

“I figured we could have lunch together. I brought some things.”  Like the blanket she’d brought, the change of clothes that maybe would fit him, and the food, most of it either made by her from things she’d foraged or brought from the kitchen itself. It still didn’t explain why Julian was here. It wasn’t so pressing that she was going to ask right now. That could wait until later. She was mostly just glad he wasn’t as ragged as she had seen. She looked up at him fully, holding eye contact for the moment. How was he really? It seemed not too good. Just from what she could tell.

[Julian Blackthorn]

But you're alive and you will be alright, someday.

Julian's construction magic needed a lot of work but most of this was set up from when Killian had stayed here a few years ago. It was a lot nicer than what a cave should be. The pair lowered their wands and Julian sighed in relief when he got the right answer back. "I'm sorry...There's a lot of people looking for me right now. I had to make sure you weren't someone using polyjuice."

A piece of paper was being unfolded as she set down her bag and pulled it from the depths of the bag. He took it as she handed it over and he looked down at the drawing of him as Ophelia spoke...

I saw you here…. In a dream, I think. I thought you were stuck.

The serpent looked up from the drawing and stared at Ophelia. "I think you're gonna need to rethink that 'bad fortune teller' career," he said as he handed the drawing back. He knew Uncle Killian told him not to tell people but it was Ophelia...he could trust her. "I am stuck here but not in a literal sense."

I figured we could have lunch together. I brought some things.

Whatever was in that bag, smelled delicious. Julian didn't leave the cave but could accio small herbs and things he saw from the mouth of the cave. The supply runs from Killian on Hogsmeade weekends (when he felt like going) and his father/Ava was helpful but those were far and few between. "This is really nice Ophelia, I'm so grateful," he said, sitting on the blanket that had been spread out.

Tagged;; Ophelia Kenny

[Ophelia Kenny]

Could she hug him now? She waited for him to finish speaking before she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, giving him a brief but tight hug. If he needed another she’d be more than willing to give him another but right now she was sort of focused on trying to get him fed. He looked like he needed better food than what he was getting. Or maybe he just didn’t get enough vitamin D. Vitamins were important. She hummed as she folded the little paper back up and stuffed it into the bag with the clothes she’d brought, opening the little basket. There was quite a bit, figs and berries, a tart, bread and jams and what not. She hadn’t been sure of what to bring. 

“I’m not so sure about that. I was pretty set on being a bad fortune teller.” But dammit if he wasn’t probably right. She had wanted to be wrong, to find nothing up here and be able to dismiss it all as a strange dream, but it seemed her luck was starting to run out on that front. It was only a matter of time before she saw something really important, something she wouldn’t be able to keep to herself. 

Ophelia sat down as she handed a little plate of items to Julian, grabbing herself a fig and a slice of bread. She hesitated for a moment, before taking a bite of the fruit and looking Julian over. “We don’t… uh.” She stopped talking, scrunching up her nose for a minute as she looked at him maintaining eyecontact for as long as he would hold it with her, trying to piece together what was going on here without asking. He was already in a sore spot. She didn’t want to make it worse. “We don’t have to talk… about whatever’s going on. But I get the feeling you might need someone to talk to right now.” She offered finally, motioning broadly to the area around them. It was nice enough, but she could imagine he was lonely. 

Tagged: Julian Blackthorn

[Julian Blackthorn]

But you're alive and you will be alright, someday.

The words barely escaped his mouth when she rushed him with a tight hug. Julian wrapped his arms around her back, offering her a grateful smile as she pulled away. It had been months since he had any sort of human interaction. Yes his family did visit with supplies but Blackthorns weren't known for their arm embraces. The cave was lonely, he was loosing count of the days, Ophelia being here was like a dream...a dream he was afraid to wake up from and be stuck alone yet again.

Julian chuckled. "I bet you were, but you found me and I doubt my family told you anything..." His family. He thought of Emma and how crushed she must be. "Err... if you see Emma around the halls can you let her know that I'm alright? Not where I am or anything but that I'm okay?"

The serpent took a seat next to Ophelia as she passed him a plate of food and he tucked in right away. Everything tasted so much better than he remembered. We don't have to talk, she had stated but oh how Julian longer to tell her everything. The only ones who knew everything was Roxie, Tommy, Killian, Ava and his father. That list sounded smaller in his head. "I want to tell you everything, I really do but you can't tell anyone. Not even Lydia." Julian knew that those two were usually inseparable these days but this was a need to know basis, he supposed Ophelia didn't NEED to know but Merlin she would find out eventually.

"I'm not a killer...but I did have a hand in it," he paused to run his hand through his hair. "Things just got so messy and now the Ministry thinks I killed Mickey Darling."

Tagged;; Ophelia Kenny

[Ophelia Kenny]

She couldn’t tell Lydia… that was fine. She was willing to keep a secret for a friend. And Emma… well Ophelia would do her absolute best to let her know her brother was fine without freaking her out. It shouldn’t be the hardest thing she’s ever done, but in the same breath she understood she could be a little…. Off putting. She focused on her fig for a moment and she listened to him speak, raising her eyebrows in surprise. That all…. Didn’t seem very likely? She couldn’t really imagine Julian killing anyone including whoever Mickey Darling was. 

Shed heard the name a handful of times before. Mostly because of Noah and Ava and their angry ranting when they’d first been engaged but…. That was about the extent of what she knew. She frowned turned her head to the side, blinking owlishly as she stared into Julian’s, trying to piece out exactly how he was feeling. Fear was obvious, a touch of guilt maybe? She was pretty sure the fear was overshadowing a lot of what she could get off him. 

“What happened?” She asked finally once she was done analyzing him for just a second. He didn’t… strike her as dangerous or a murderer. Nothing really had changed about her friend other than how nervous he seemed which was understandable. “You don’t exactly strike me as a cold blooded killer or anything… you’re still the same… Yknow in-“ She motioned over her heart and then gestured to his own. “At least from what I can tell.” And boy was she a decent judge these days.

[Julian Blackthorn]

But you're alive and you will be alright, someday.

It would be hard to keep this secret but hopefully things would be cleared up eventually. If Julian was lucky he would be back home with his family by Christmas but that was a fantasy. There was no promise of salvation, no matter what Killian had said about doing what he could. Julian's frown deepened as her eyebrows raised, he wished he could read her thoughts. What did Ophelia see him as now that she knew?

The pair held eye contact for what seemed like an eternity but Julian didn't dare back down. She looked scared and Julian couldn't help but shrink a bit, the last thing he wanted was her Ophelia to be scared of him. 

What happened?

The last thing Julian wanted to do was to throw Roxie under the bus so maybe he wouldn't say her name. "It was organized by someone I know and I didn't want her to have to go through it alone." Julian was sure Ophelia would figure it out but he still wanted to be true to Roxie. "She was devastated by this mans actions and he was going to ruin Emma's life...she was only 11. I couldn't let him get away with all these business engagements." Jules sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck, "things just got way out of hand and the other person used my wand to kill them but I still had the trace on me."

"The ministry is still hunting me and I don't know how long that will be for. So you're right I am stuck here....just not in the way you thought."

Tagged;; Ophelia Kenny

[Ophelia Kenny]

Well. This wasn’t boding well for either of them now was it? No. She frowned heavily and scooted closer to him so she could lean herself into his side, resting her head on his shoulder as she chewed quietly. He wasn’t a killer, not really, and yet here he was hiding out in a cave, on his own. Stuck. Ophelia sighed and pat the others knee gently taking a deep breath. She wasn’t quite sure where to go from here but the best thing she knew how to do was offer some sort of comfort. She was doing her best right now. 

“…I don’t think of you any differently if that’s what you’re scared of.” Ophelia said quietly. Julian had just gotten himself into a predicament trying to protect his family and she could understand wanting to protect your family. Her own parents had waited a year to send her to school so she had time to sort of.. get her wits about her more before she was introduced to the huge social setting that was Hogwarts. Maybe not comparable but it was all she really had. 

“I think you’re very brave. Especially when you’re stuck here because of it.”

[Julian Blackthorn]

But you're alive and you will be alright, someday.

As he took another bite, Julian felt Ophelia lean into him, resting her head on his shoulder. Every tension in his body released and he rested his head on hers. Both chewed in silence but that was the beautiful thing about their friendship, nothing had to be said. They could exist in the same room without it being awkward. 

…I don’t think of you any differently if that’s what you’re scared of.

Still resting his head on hers, Julian let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. He wasn't a killer but he wasn't completely innocent in the whole affair either. "Thanks. I...that's a great comfort." It was odd to think of himself as capable of murder, but the serpent was very protective of his family. He supposed that this wasn't that surprising, that it had been a family matter that brought him this far into darkness. 

"You're kind... kinder than I deserve," he said as he took another bite. It was nice to have Ophelia here. "So," he began, looking down at her without removing his head from hers. "How long have you been having these dreams?"

Tagged;; Ophelia Kenny

[Ophelia Kenny]

Ophelia could feel Julian’s gaze trained on her, but she didn’t make any move to look back up at him, too comfortable in her position where she was. It was nice to be able to see her friend, even if she didn’t really have him back officially. No, he was still stuck here for the moment, until this whole stupid thing blew over and he could be free again. Maybe after having such a taste of captivity he would take this as a warning to truly run with what he wanted to do with his future. Ophelia could hope that for him. He always seemed like he felt ill met by fate when he spoke about it. She wanted him to be happy. He deserved it, after all he’d sacraficed everything for his younger sister. 

‘So, how long have you been having these dreams?’

Ophelia was sort of snapped from her thoughts as she took a deep breath, figuring that she owed him some sort of explanation. This has to be odd, huh? Waking up in your secluded cave to a friend knocking on your door. She couldn’t blame him for having been so wary in the begining. She frowned as she considered where to start with all this. “Since my fourth year, really.” Ophelia began, focusing her gaze on the food in her hand, pressing her fingers into it to play with it rather than eat it at the moment. “They’ve gotten much more… intense recently. Like they’re tired of being ignored.” She admitted, her voice quiet like she was afraid someone might overhear them.

[Julian Blackthorn]

But you're alive and you will be alright, someday.

Her voice was quiet as she explained the dreams, how they had started, and how they were going. Julian listened and for the first time since he had known Ophelia, she wasn't giving her intense eye contact. "Wow, that must have been scary...the first time you had one of these dreams." Julian at least imagined it would be scary having these dreams, not knowing if they meant anything or not. "They sound like little puzzles that you have to figure out. I mean they led you to me... here so maybe they're good things?"

Julian had been nervous about having Ophelia here at the start. The solitude was making him a little paranoid, but he was glad that she was. It had been a long time since he'd actually had a concersation with anyone. When Ava and Killian stoped in, they werea few words, a drop of supplies, then gone.

His father said that he was proud of him, that none of his other children had taken this big of a step in the Balckthorn direction. He didn't regret what he did, someone needed to do something for Emma and Roxie...maybe even more Darlings. Julian wasn't sure how many people were affected by Mickey's arranged marriage mission. There was no regret but Julian still couldn't look in the mirror without seeing Mickey's blood on him.

Tagged;; Ophelia Kenny