I adored you Madly, Extravagantly, Absurdly.

Chapter 33 - Final

Look at this, the last chapter. How exciting. I saved some gold Telny quotes for last. Especially the end quote is so *them*

Thank you to everyone who has read this. i love you all.

Warnings: Smut.
Death of a parent
Dysphoria

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"The very quintessence of love was in these kisses. All that was excellent in us - the essential part of our beings - kept rising and evaporating from our lips like the fumes of an ethereal, intoxicating, ambrosial fluid." Teleny 107

The year of 1894 was rather uneventful. James took Regulus to Romania for his birthday, Spain for their anniversary and James's birthday, and Russia for Christmas. He didn't have to dress up once all year. James visited his parents a few times. A scandal spread through England when Rowena fell pregnant. It turned out to be a false story, but her reputation was in shambles by then, and no upstanding man would ever marry her. Not only because someone spread multiple stories about Rowena's loose understanding of the "Virgin Bride." "Oopsie," Barty said with a sly grin.

The year of 1895 began strangely. Regulus came home from Russia to find a package from Oscar Wilde. A Christmas present. It was a book. Not officially published anywhere, it circulated in the homosexual scene of England, according to Oscar Wilde's letter. In fact, Oscar wrote it with a few friends two years prior. He credits Sirius and Regulus as inspirations but wouldn't disclose in what capacity.

Regulus devoured the book. He didn't like the ending. He marked pages of it and read the sweet things to James and the dirty things to Barty.

"that overpowering weariness, that loathsomeness of life, had now quite passed away. I was blithe, merry, happy. Teleny was my lover; I was his. Far from being ashamed of my crime, I felt that I should like to proclaim it to the world. For the first time in my life, I understood that lovers could be so foolish as to entwine their initials together. I felt like carving his name on the bark of trees, that the birds seeing it might twitter it from morn till eventide; that the breeze might lisp it to the rustling leaves of the forest. I wished to write it on the shingle of the beach, that the ocean itself might know of my love for him, and murmur it everlastingly." He read aloud, lying nakedly on his stomach, kicking his feet and smiling at his husband, who was still blushing from the naughty passage right before this one.

On the 25th of May 1895, Oscar Wile was convicted to two years hard labour for gross indecency. The press spoke of lovers, male prostitutes, and one Lord Alfred Douglas. Remus cried when he heard about it, and no one quite understood why. Remus had a strong dislike for the writer because of the past affair between him and Sirius. Maybe not even Remus himself knew why he cried.

Regulus had copies of the book made and chose a specific shelf in the library for them and similar books. The only other books in there were The Picture of Dorian Gray and Carmilla. He cried then, too, and didn't know why.

June 1895

Regulus sits at James's desk in the library and writes a letter to Dorcas. They want to invite their friends to a small anniversary celebration next month. James' parents won't be invited; neither will anyone who doesn't know about Regulus. It will be a small and intimate celebration, as Regulus prefers them.

"Reggie," James murmurs into his ear.

Regulus ignores him and finishes the last swoop of his Signature.

"Reggie." He kisses his cheek.

"What?"

"You're sitting in my chair."