WT

Inspired by You Signed Up For This! by Solmussa on AO3. ╭━━༺𓇼༻━━⋆｡°⚓︎°｡⋆━━༺𓇼༻━━╮ The summer ferry brings Regulus, Dorcas, and Y/N to Alder Isle and the harbor cottage they will share. Before the luggage is cleared, congestion in the loading lane sparks an argument between Regulus and James. James finds the visitor rude and entitled; Regulus finds the local irritatingly intrusive. Neither backs down, beginning a mutual dislike before learning how often the island will force them together. Remus and Lily arrive together later, separate from the first group, and take individual rooms at Frank and Alice’s inn. Pandora follows alone, moving into the apartment above Mary’s café without knowing Lily. Meanwhile, Barty and Evan remain in London, having only recently met. Evan alone knows the few minor details Pandora privately shared about her trip. Barty knows nothing about the vacation, Alder Isle, or Regulus being there. ├────༺≋≋ 𓆝 ⋆ 𓆟 ≋≋༻────┤ Alder Isle is home to James, Sirius, Marlene, Peter, Frank, Alice, and Mary. Its crowded summer brings Regulus, Dorcas, Y/N, Remus, Lily, and Pandora in separate parties, each with different plans and no intention of becoming one group. Regulus came to escape Barty, his toxic on-again, off-again partner, but his immediate conflict with James ruins any hope of a peaceful holiday. Their repeated encounters gradually blur the line between hostility and something harder to ignore. Pandora eventually posts an innocent photograph showing Regulus with James. Evan sees it, and Barty clearly asks him to find out what is happening. Since Pandora and Barty have never met, Evan messages her as though the questions are his own. Pandora answers without knowing Barty is involved. Barty then travels to Alder Isle with Evan in tow, bringing the relationship Regulus tried to escape directly into the tense new life forming around him. ╰━━༺𓇼༻━━⋆｡°⚓︎°｡⋆━━༺𓇼༻━━╯