Care of Magical Shippers Podcast Episode 21 - Are you Jeddy? Nathan sure wasn't! (James Sirius Potter/Teddy Lupin)

1:56AM Jan 30, 2022

Speakers:

Care of Magical Shippers Podcast

Megs

Music

Nathan

Editing Megs

Keywords:

james

albus

teddy

fic

harry

characters

read

people

laughing

laughs

episode

freckles

ship

older

pairing

literally

absolutely

write

love

fact

Hey there listener Fancy seeing you here. Look, sometimes due to the things we discuss on the pod, it might contain potentially triggering content. But the good news is, you can always review the episode description for a full list of the warnings applicable to this episode. Oh, and just so you know, this episode is rated "R" for really filthy. It includes adult themes and explicit content. So if you're an adult, buckle up, gird your loins and prepare to flood the basement because we are going down with these ships.

I ship it!

It's time now for a very special Patreon shout out segment. A colossal thank you to our patron Danni, who also goes by Danpuff, whose months of support have been keeping the wheels of our pod nicely oiled. Obviously, we wish we could live in a world without the need for expensive audio editing software costs. But thanks to your thoughtfulness and generosity, we're able to keep bringing you the content you love. Thank you to everyone who's subscribed to us, and to everyone who's supporting us in other ways too, like telling your friends about the pod or leaving us a good review wherever reviews are welcomed. And now back to our regularly scheduled merrymaking.

[You're on the canon ground, I'm up in crack ship space. Let's start a shipping war, don't care if I get hate. Don't like my pairings, well, then you can hit the bricks. This is my OTP, I'll go down with this ship. I don't care, I ship it! I don't care. I ship it. I ship it.]

Welcome back to Care of Magical shippers. I'm Megs.

I'm Nathan. [Laughs]

Sorry, we're a little loopy because it's been three weeks since we've seen each other. So we're really excited to hang out together today and you get to join us in this journey. So here we go.

Welcome back!

So I'm really excited this week. We're finally getting into some next generation HP parings. So of course Nathan is over here like, I don't know much.

I know. I need to correct you on that little statement: I know nothing. I have no idea. Yes, I do. Look, look listener. Here's the state of play. I- I have done my due diligence. I have read the epilogue. I know the character names. I know, I know that people have fun with characters that we, we barely know, I've also, I've also read the play, the stage play that thing that we're not really going t,o well, we're gonna have to talk about it. But that thing that I want to avoid calling out by name for as long as possible. I have read that thing. So I know about like, I know about Scorbus. Scorbus is canon. It's amazing. It's the one canon thing that Cursed Child does well. So I do-

Yeah, it's it's uncursed itself a little bit. Just a teeny, weeny, tiny bit.

Just, just that small smidgen of the text? Yes. Is- is good. So you know, I like that. But beyond that, I really know very little, which is worrying because the subject of today's episode is a pairing that I am not familiar with at all. So. Megs...

[Laughs] I'm trying to think if there was an episode where- I feel like there was an episode or so that I did more listening than talking and I feel like then this will be the opposite one where I do all the talking and you're just nodding along. Insert visual bit "Nathan still nodding."

[Laughs] Yes, exactly. I will be in the background providing the lift music and the refreshments for this episode.

[Laughs] Anyway, this time, we're actually we're not getting into Scorbus yet just because we see that as like, it's the Drarry of Next Gen.

Yeah, course it is.

We have very few, we have very few next gen characters, obviously, based off of if you're gonna keep close knit onto like the Potter's and you know, like all the kids around the original core group is kind of what they consider next gen. Obviously, you can go cross generational pairings and yeah, blah, blah. And we will one day. You know, we'll get there.

Yeah, absolutely.

But as for, to get started we're going to do one of the top two ships, which would be Scorbus is one. We're going to be doing Jeddy. So we're gonna do James Sirius Potter slash Teddy Lupin, and I'm really excited about this because genuinely one week ago, I was Like, hey, let's do a next gen, let's do a Next Gen episode. We can't do Scrobus yet. So what are we gonna do? Alright, I guess we'll do Jeddy. Neither of us had read anything Jeddy.

No, and I still haven't. I still have not.

[Laughs] But I did. So one of us did our work.

Yes.

So we're halfway there.

Okay Bon Jovi.

[Laughs] So, and luckily, thankfully, I didn't have to, like kill this with fire because I freakin love this ship. Like there's nothing worse than being like, Hey, we're gonna do this thing. And then I think, I mean, just to like, air the dirty laundry. I mean, I feel like there's probably been pairings that we've looked into and done episodes for that even after we were done, we're like, yeah, we're still not into this but we just made it work. [Laughs]

[Laughs] Just, we've just destroyed the whole ethos of the pod. We're just like, cause the number of episodes we've done. And we've said, Yeah, we love everything you've just completely bulldozed.

That's not true. We don't love everything. We will read everything. How about that?

Well, yeah, that's the that's better, much more factually, that is, that's factually accurate to use a politician's euphemism. And, yeah.

Do we need to go back and re talk about all the reasons why we love slash more than everything else? [Laughs]

[Laughs] Okay, so listener, if you haven't heard. Actually, is that up yet? Is our slash...

It will be. I've been slacking as far as bonus content goes for Patreon. But we have like three or four episodes recorded that I just haven't gotten my ass over to to actually edit. But yes, one of the episodes is actually why slash? Like why slash are so popular as well as why we love slash so much. So that was a really fun episode for us to do together. Because obviously as you know, I mean, heck we just did Drapple and sorry, not sorry, we're doing another slash wedding. But you know what? Our podcast.

Yeah. It is. And I think, you know, we were first you know, brought together by our unified love of slash. And there's very good reasons for that, which we go into in the episode, which should be up by the time you listen to this. So if you haven't...

Yeah, I'm gonna make that a thing, yeah.

If you haven't heard that yet. That's a, that's a fun 40 minute little jaunt into the world of slash.

Yeah, it's a little one.

Yeah.

Yeah. Anyway, so back to this episode. So yes, so I actually read some Jeddy, and I was really into it because going in, so going in with not having read any, all I could have based off of for the ship is the fact that okay, we have Albus and Scorpius as like the you know, the slash pairing and then we have James Sirius and then all of his cousins. So we are, or siblings.

Yes.

So we have James Sirius, Lily Luna. We have, what is it? Victoire. We have Rose and Hugo and then I can't remember. I don't know if you know, this, isn't it? This wouldn't have been in the epilogue. I don't think but I don't remember if George and Angelina's kids names?

No, but they did. JKR at one point drew a family tree that went up on Pottermore. And I did see that so that is another thing that I have seen.

Oh you have seen! Well, that's good.

Yes. Yeah.

Um, I'm gonna take a minute to actually see if I can find this thing. Because I'm really I'm really curious. I know I've read like Molly, like Molly, I guess Molly Jr.? But like, like Molly Weasley as like George's daughter, but I don't know if that's considered canon or not.

I think it is. I think it is. I can see the picture of it now. I'm going to...

Alright, I'll let you tell me.

Yeah, next generation Weasleys. So yeah, Molly is there she is Percy and Audrey's.

Oh, okay. Oh, look at that. That is a hand drawn family tree. Okay, so we have Molly and Arthur. Oh my God. Don't. I just, Fred is right in the middle and I've already started to cry. This is so rude. So we've got Bill and Fleur. Charlie and Fred. Ron and Hermione Rose and Hugo. Victoire. Dominique. Oh, that's right, Dominique, and Louis? Louie? Louis?

I want to say Louis, she has weird handwriting. Yeah.

Yeah. Okay, I'm going to say Louis. And then we have Scorpius obviously. Oh, Lorcan and Lysander, which was Luna and Rolf. George and Angelina, oh has Fred and Roxanne. Oh, that's right. And then Molly and Lucy are Percy and Audrey.

Yeah.

Okay, so ultimately, we have pretty much family. Like everyone's related. Sans Luna's kids. And Teddy. You know, like Teddy is part of the family. So that's also something that people have, you know, issue issue with because it's like, oh, even though he's not blood related, he's still obviously like, Harry helped, most likely helped raise him. I mean, he was an infant, and he was his godfather. You know that Harry wasn't about to, like, not be involved, you know, helping Andromeda. Just because he knew what it was like.

Exactly.

To grow up without parents. And without a godfather, having gotten to know his godfather. So I could just see him being like, I, his parents died for our cause. And ultimately, for me, I need to take care of this child. Like, if not like, it was always my headcanon that he would adopt him like, eventually, and like not as an 18 year old, obviously.

Right. Right.

But like, if it got to a point where like, I mean, I don't know, remember how old I don't know how old Andromeda is. I mean, she's not going to be like, she's not super old. And witches and wizards live a really long time. So that really shouldn't matter. But, I mean, it's still to be like a grandmother raising, you know, your grandchild or whatever, or even just like a co parenting situation thing. I just know that Harry's a huge presence in his life. So it's like I could see Teddy looking at Harry as his father figure. And then growing up with Al and, like Al and Lily, and James. They're, I think James is like, they're about five or six years apart. So they, it is a significant, like, age difference. Course to me, like, as someone who's like Harry and Snape, like,

[Laughs]

Like, okay that's nothing. So when it comes to Jeddy, I just I, I went in thinking I'm like, Okay, it's popular. But is there an issue? Do people have issue with the age gap? Do people have issue with the fact that they're kind of family? The answer is yes to both of those. But because it's like, I don't know if it's the weight of...

One of the only pairings that isn't incestuous.

Right. Well, there's that. So it's like, it's not blood, but we're making this, feel like we're making it work. We're making it happen.

Uh huh.

And crap. What was I gonna say? What's was I gonna say? Oh! That it's just, there's, there's, you can always do worse. Like this, there could be a worse pairing.

Uh huh.

[Laughs] So like, that's just kind of what I mean. It's like, what is it this like, God siblings and step siblings are kind of like the, for some people are like incest light. It's like you get kind of like the oh my gosh, they're like as close as siblings, but they're not related.

Okay.

So it's kind of okay, but people are still like, into it, because it's almost not okay.

It's a morally gray area. It's ambiguous. There are, yeah.

It is! So I was very curious going in. I was like, wow, like, obviously, Scorbus is really popular. And then we have Jeddy and then I'm like, wow, there's a couple things about this ship. That low-key is like, I'm surprised this is as big as it is. But also yeah, there's not a lot of characters to play with unless you start getting OCs involved. And which isn't, you know, there's nothing wrong with OCs either. Like if you love James

I love a good OC.

And you want him to be with some random Ravenclaw Quidditch captain and you're just gonna name him whoever. Like, cool. Yeah.

With long green hair and two heads.

What? [Laughs] Very original.

You know, why? If you're going to go to the bother of making an OC, why would you make a half-hearted attempt at an OC. That's what I want to know. If when I'm reading, when I'm reading any OC at any time, I love the ones where they have like multicolored eyes, where they can do special, you know, wandless magic?

Like a special...

Yeah. And they get they're op and they you know, and yeah, they're tortured and alone. And it's so, you know, these people have so many emotions that then of course, they need the existing characters to balance out. And you know, I just I love OCdom. It's one of my favorite parts of this fandom, especially because the potential for magic and you know, Animagus forms is too good. It's too good.

But of course, given someone like Teddy Lupin is an amazing character to also play with because obviously we know very little about him. And he, all we know is that he's also a metamorphmagus so he can do whatever to his appearance, which is really cool. We can make up whatever personality we want for him. We can do whatever. I can't remember if like, is he, is he considered Hufflepuff canonically?

I don't know. It seems like something I should know. Yeah.

I know!

He's, he's possibly considered a Hufflepuff canonically. Who knows? Let me do a quick Google and we will find out.

We're doing a lot of Googling today. We were so prepared, you guys.

We were just, we were a lot happier about coming back to do an episode than we were...

Yes! He was in Hufflepuff. Yes, he was a Hufflepuff. So that's cool. So he was a Hufflepuff. James was a Gryffindor and then obviously Albus was Slytherin. But then what was Lily? I've read that Lily is in Slytherin. Lily Luna House. Oh, it's okay, so it says Gryffindor, so so she was Gryffindor. So then someone took creative liberties with their story. Which is allowed. Anyone could do whatever they want it's been fanfiction. [Laughs] So anyway, so crap. What was I saying before we got into Hufflepuff? Oh, personality wise, like we know he's a Hufflepuff. So obviously, we can give him very Hufflepuffy traits. Obviously, someone very like, you know, loyal and kind. And just all around has to be a great, you'd imagine, like older brother figure? Because him being about five, six years ahead of James that would be seven, eight, right, seven to eight years for Albus and then eight or nine years for Lily. So it's like, so he's like the oldest, you know. I don't know, kid aside from Victoire, who's a little bit younger than he is who was still in school when Albus started. But so it definitely comes to, I'm trying to think of other like movies and shows, but I know it's very popular. Like you have the character that, they're watching their best friend and they're, or they're watching their brother's or sibling's best friend. And they're obviously like, in love with them. Like the older kid?

Right yes. Yeah.

So even though, like with James, like, they would obviously grew up as pretty brotherly. I mean, like, obviously, Teddy's over all the time. Obviously Teddy's hanging out with Al and James doing, whatever, you know, whatever stuff growing up. And

Uh huh.

And so and I've read stories where of course, that's the aspect of like, James just has this obvious, like, overly ridiculous crush on Teddy like, to an awkward extent. And of course, like, Teddy is just like, Oh, you're so cute. Like, you're so cute. James.

Yeah.

Like, you know, it's like, it's like you'll, you know, you'll meet someone your own age or something like that. Because it's like, if James is 13. So yeah, it's like, once he's like, 20. And he's still like a tweenager. Like, you're not gonna think of anyone in that, you know, way.

No, no exactly.

Unless you want to write it that way. Whatever. People do whatever.

Okay. But you know what I'm thinking of now, it's gonna seem like a massive tangent, but it isn't because it's relevant to what you just said. It's Star Wars Episode One. Anakin and Padme because there's there's a similar sort of age gap between them. But when he first starts crushing on her, it's creepy because he's so young.

Yes!

But then later on, when they're together, you don't think about that. So it's the same sort of, thing. Same sort of idea.

Yeah, exactly. And she definitely has the like, you can tell that she pushes it away because of the age thing.

Yeah, exactly.

And the fact that she's a Jedi and not supposed to be in love with anybody. But still, it was like, yeah.

Well he is. And she's, she was a like a senator or she was queen first and then...

And that's what I'm saying in regards to him. Like she knew that he shouldn't be in relationship or whatever.

Yes, yeah, yeah.

But yes, you're 100% you're 100% correct in that regard, didn't even think about that. But yeah, no, but it's so you can, you can definitely read stories that either follow the growth of you know, of James and dealing with his crush, and then realizing, Oh, it was just a crush, Teddy will never see me that way. But then eventually, one day, they're both adults. And when James thinks that his chance with Teddy will never be and they're just friends, then all of a sudden, something happens that obviously brings them together, which I'll get into as far as like, what was that I read one that was fake dating

Right.

So, I'm gonna have to look up - crap, I'm gonna have to look up what the name was, but it was recced in our server and I'm so excited. So I'll definitely link it in the description.

Nice!

But so I guess spoilers for for whatever this fic is if you want to look and see what the hell it is. [Laughs]

[Laughs] We're going to have to do a better intro to it than that! This poor author! This poor author's going to be listening.

I'm going to look it up. I'll look it up right now because it's a recent sugggestion.

Sure, yeah.

So let me just look it up. I know that I have it. I know I have it. Okay, I'm pretty sure I'm pretty sure it's A Small Spark Neglected by gyzym, who also wrote What We Pretend We Can't See which was one of my favorite Drarry fics. So when I saw it, I was like, Okay, I'll probably love this. And it was great, obviously. But if I'm correct in the story that it is, which I'm pretty sure it is.

How sure is pretty sure?

I mean the fact that they don't tag anything. So there's no tags for me to go off to like know?

Oh, okay, that's that's fair. That's that's absolutely fair.

Editing Megs here: Yeah it's not. It absolutely is not. The fic is actually This Must Be the Place by aibidil. So eventually I figure out that I'm wrong. So enjoy the journey.

So this one okay, this is a different one. This is definitely oh my god, this is so bad. I hate that I don't know.

It's fine!

Okay, okay. Okay, so all right. So this is different this is different than the one that I thought. There's a fake dating one which I'll have to find too. Okay, so the one that I just said what is it A Small Spark Ignited I think? Small Spark Neglected. So in this fic, Teddy is like- it's Teddy POV and he's an Auror/Unspeakable and there's someone who's going around and like setting a special sort of fiendfyre like loose in different homes and then people are obviously dying and whatever and so they put Teddy on the case because he's secretly an Unspeakable so they're trying to figure out the source of this crazy new fire as well as him being an Auror giving him reason to be involved in the investigation. So it's like a kind of a double agent you know, placing him in as an Unspeakable role but trained as an Auror you know, sort of thing.

Okay.

So he... I don't even remember why. Oh! [Laughing] This is the stupidest I'm sorry, it's just. I'm trying to...

Welcome the most coherent episode we've ever done! Yeah. Look, look on the one hand you've got me- on the one hand you've got me in the blue corner who doesn't know anything and then you've got Megs in the red corner who can't remember anything so [Laughing] so one's an idiot and one's got amnesia!

[Laughing] Oh my god I'm crying. Okay, so anyway, so this story for whatever reason, Teddy works for Draco. Draco is like, works or heads up the Unspeakables or something like that.

Everyone works for Draco. Yeah, yeah.

[Laughs} Everyone works for Draco. So apparently Teddy was like, caught. What was it caught? Like in a like Muggle bar kissing some dude and like a picture was taken. So it was gonna be in the Prophet saying like, Oh, like look Teddy Lupin Auror and, and speculated Unspeakable is, you know, into dudes or whatever. And of course, Draco's like, you know, you can't do this. And of course, Teddy thinks it's because it's a dude. But really, Draco's like, no, they think you're an Unspeakable, that can't happen. So I had to go to the Prophet and I had to make sure that this didn't go anywhere. So he's like,

Ah.

So it was yeah, it was mainly because he's bringing, like, obviously bringing the public eye onto himself, especially like, who doesn't love anyone close proximity to Harry Potter, what their love lives are happening. Like, obviously, that's the most important thing to everybody.

Yes, of course it is.

So Draco being Draco and I just love where this goes at the end is he's like, dude, just get married. [Laughs] Literally, he's like, you're almost 30, like get married. Because like, marriage is like, is a contract. It's a, it's a pretty much ultimately, it's like it's a mutual, like beneficial, like, it's just, it doesn't have to be

That's the most!

I know!

That's the most to antiseptic way to talk about being with the person you love for the rest of your life.

[Laughing] It's so good. So, so he's like, he's like, just just find someone it doesn't even have to be like anything, you could still do whatever you want, just so that everyone thinks that you're settled, you know what I mean? So of course then he gets it in his head that he has to, you know, make some good match and even Draco was like, You're practically part of the Potters like I don't know, marry a Potter! I don't care! Blah, blah, blah. And so then Teddy gets this through his head that he's like, okay, I guess that's like the best idea that I could come up with is trying to get with a Potter. [Laughs] At first he, at first he goes for Harry because Harry and Ginny are divorced, and he's like, I mean yeah he's kind of like my dad.

What?

But like, I mean, he's also kind of attractive if I squint [Laughs] and it's the most awkward thing for me to have read is like him trying to seduce Harry, it is the funniest thing I've ever experienced.

So, in this fic, in this in this universe, I'm picturing Harry as Tom Selleck. You know, like Tom Selleck from the Magnum PI era. He's got the mustache and the equivalent of the fast car. He's got the fast broom, but it's all like it's radiating, like older uncle vibes, right? And then, so who does he move on to next? I'm intrigued.

So of course, he reaches a point that he's like, this is dumb, and then completely pivots to just like, oh, we're just hanging out drinking beers and watching something or whatever. So the next team, well because his first stop was James, but James is his best friend. And he's like, and I, he's he's like, I could never do that to my best friend. Like I'd I wouldn't make him be...

Okay.

...in a relationship that wouldn't be what he wanted, like so obviously from the get go.

Decent rationale, yeah.

He was thinking genuinely of James' feelings first. And then obviously, no one else has mattered, but James matters. So we went to Harry and then after Harry, he went to Albus, and Albus just like it was. Albus apparently was secretly dating Scorpius. So like, Teddy just was like, I got to see if there's anything here and just kisses Albus. And Albus is like, What the hell Teddy what are you doing?

Oh my god.

I have a boyfriend like or do like me? And Teddy's like, no, but I just - I just this sounds so stupid. But it's it's so funny when you read it. Like it's genuinely hilarious. It's so good.

Nice.

So then obviously, that goes very poorly. And then James finds out. So then he is hanging out with James like they do because they're friends and they hang out all the time. And then he ends up telling him while drinking, what was going on, like what Draco said and the fact that he was like, What happened between you and Albus? Because obviously something weird's going on, Al's being weird. And he's like, oh, you know, I kissed him. And he's like, what? You kissed my brother? And of course, Teddy's like Oh, of course, he's mad, because I kissed his brother. Like, of course, he's mad. And but then it all comes down to him realizing that like James, like the reason James is mad is because he's like, Oh, so you're, you know, going for a Potter and of course, like, so I'm the last one. You know, like, obviously Lily's out because she's the wrong gender entirely. And then oh, like, here I am. Because my dad wouldn't, my brother wouldn't. So now it's me. Yeah. Okay. No. So then that's when when Teddy realizes his true feelings for James.

Aw.

Because it hurts to like leave, you know, lose him and then he has to try and convince James somehow the fact that it wasn't that way, it was literally like, I didn't go for you because I didn't want you to be in something that you didn't want. And he's like, I've wanted you forever blah blah blah kiss kiss makeup happily ever after. But of course, like Teddy gets in a big accident and that's what brings them back together.

Oh no!

Well, because he gets he becomes the like, person who's attacked by the fire.

Of course!

So like he's in the fire and he like so that he luckily is able to like apparate out of it and has to get healed and all that and that's when James like instantly obviously forgives him because dude, you almost died and that's when he was telling like Harry and, and Draco and Ginny and I don't even remember who else were there that he told him about what had happened with like Draco telling him he needed to get married and everyone just turns to look at Draco like And Harry's like oh my fucking god that is totally something he would say. And then of course the story is like, huh marriage is a contract huh? With like, you know, with benefits and whatever and he's like, he's like, but I thought it was what was it it she was like something like It's like but I thought you you know married me because you couldn't imagine living a single day with you know, without me he's like, that was true, but it's not like that for everyone! I mean, it was just like, oh, it was so funny. Draco was put on like, oh, it was it was so it was so beautiful to watch but anyway, so that was a hot that was it's just was it was really funny watching Teddy try and navigate the fact that he's like, why would you you dumb dumb. Why the hell are you listening to Draco telling you to just marry someone? Like just it's always like, yeah, okay, I'll make my way through the Potters and then eventually find out that you know, James is the one but yeah, so that was a wild one. I don't know. There's... crap. I have no idea what it is. I'm gonna have to find it. But there's a fake dating one, which is absolutely amazing. So apparently James is like one of the kids that is like, has a stalker, apparently, like he has like this crazy person who's like sending him gifts and, and just all these things because it's like, oh, he's like the single son of Harry Potter because Albus and Scorpius are together and they're in America and whatever so whatever reason like even though James is like I'm not a celebrity and Harry's like Dude, I'm sorry you're a celebrity because I am and I really sorry about that.

Yeah, yeah,

So they want him to be under Auror supervision. So he's like the best way that we can kind of either like provoke the stalker is by them thinking you have a relationship and and so I'm thinking that you and Teddy should pretend that you're in a relationship because...

Oh!

...then you have an Auror at your side.

Ah!

And you know each other, it's not like you would hate you know, whatever. And of course James is completely mortified because he's been in love with Teddy since forever. So of course James is worried that like, of course this is happening because Harry asks it of Teddy, like, Teddy doesn't have feelings for James. He's just doing it because he's his friend and wants to keep him safe and whatever. But you can tell by the way, like the things Teddy says, the things that he's doing that it's like, okay, it's different for Teddy now. Like, it's, obviously you guys are gonna end up together, James is just in denial. Cecause this was one where he was over the top in love with Teddy as a teen. And everyone knew he had a crush on Teddy. And then of course grew out of it because Teddy was with Victoire for however many years but they split up.

Yeah.

And then that's when it just never happened between them. So of course James is like, he doesn't think of me that way. If it was if it was supposed to happen, that would have happened. Well, then apparently, for whatever reason, because them just saying they were in a relationship wasn't enough, you know, to convince someone.

Of course it wasn't! I was thinking the author was gonna go down this road.

They to go all the way to a mind/soul bond.

What!

So a mental soul bond. So you're literally bound by soul. So it's like marriage, but more intense, obviously. And the mind version is so that you can read each other's thoughts. So the thought process I believe behind it was the fact that it's like, oh, like if something was going on with James, they'd be able to, like they'd be able to communicate with each other.

Sure.

Without talking like it makes sense. But then of course they're like...

It's a sort of a two-way telepathy. Yeah.

Yeah. So but then, of course, so Harry and Draco have this, like he like Harry and Ginny had split, when you know, years back. Harry and Draco are together and have this, you know, connection. So then they were helping get them through it. They're like, Oh, and by the way, it's probably going to make you horny as hell and want to sleep together. So I'm just warning you.

Whoa! Just a tiny little aside. By the way, in the fine print, you will find that this could cause like, accidental permanent arousal. [Laughs]

[Laughing] Exactly. So of course, the whole time like they can feel each other's emotions. So it's like when someone feels like a wave of lust or even love.

It's so intense!

Or whatever. It's like of course James, because it's I think it's entirely point of view James for this story.

Okay.

Obviously this is like, this is just the bond. Like Teddy doesn't love me Teddy doesn't? It's like Teddy's bond loves me. You know what I mean?

Okay.

And so them trying to figure out and being super vague on both ends, because you know, Teddy will say something that's like, James will be like, Oh, it's just the bond. And then Teddy is like, is it? And then James is like, isn't it? And then they're just like, yeah, it's the bond. You know, like, they're just saying..

Oh no!

None of them will like fess up to the fact that it's like, no, I know that I felt this before this happened sort of thing.

Why does no one in fiction ever communicate?

Communicate? No! No.

No, they're just permanently? They just, they're just like, No, I'm just gonna tiptoe on eggshells. When I could say the thing that I actually feel, but then there'd be no, there'd be no narrative, there would be no story. And the author wants drama. So.

So I won't get into like, I won't do the whole damn thing because this was too good. I will, I will definitely link it. But it just it was so fun to see them obviously, like flubbing around their feelings. But like and connected to each other and the whole time you're just like, obviously you've just you've already wanted to be together because of course in the end like they catch the bad guy or whatever, or catch the the stalker and then they can get rid of the bond and and James is all scared because then that maybe Teddy doesn't actually want him and all this you know stuff. But then Teddy's like no, I do and then it's just Oh god, it's it's beautiful. It's adorable. It's a great fake dating thing. And they're so cute. But it also like these ones address the age gap thing, because of course...

Oh!

they get into like James being like, Oh, I'm 28 now and then, you know, Teddy is whatever 30 you know, three or 34 or whatever. It's like at that age, age doesn't really make it you know, matter and and then there was the fear of the fact that Harry would dislike, them both thinking that Harry wouldn't like them being together because...

Yeah.

Teddy is like his son, because Teddy is like his brother. Like they were scared.

And they feel protective of him. Yeah, yeah.

But in the end, of course everyone's like, Yes, finally! Absolutely! Totally! Which completely reminds me of- I just finished watching because it's Christmastime when we're recording this and it's still December, but we just watched Single All the Way on Netflix. Did you watch that?

Oh my goodness. No, I haven't. But I've seen the trailer for it so I know exactly what, yeah.

So it's a beautiful, ultra fluffy, like fake dating friends to lovers thing. Go! It's it's the cutest. I was screaming the entire time. But ultimately it was like, Yeah, the whole family are just like we don't get why you're not together like, why aren't you together? You've known each other for like, however long like we don't get it. And they're just like, No, no, we're just, we're just we've always been friends. So we're just gonna stay friends and it's oh my gosh, it's Oh, it's it's it's beautiful, Nathan. Everyone, I don't care that Christmas is over. Go watch that movie right now. Because it is so, it's the most beautiful slash, live action, fake dating, friends to lovers thing. It's- Oh, it's the cutest. It's the absolute cutest.

Yeah. And who says that you have to have Christmas on the day that Christmas actually is. It could be that you're working. It could be that you have other other things that you need to do on that day. And then you know what you can think? Uh, do you know what, I have such and such a day off? I'm going to have Christmas then. And then you put on that film and you feel like it's Christmas for you. Because you deserve that thing.

Exactly.

Yes. Do that.

Do it do it. So anyway, so that's how I see it. It's definitely the friends to lovers. There's no sort of this isn't the any, enemies anything unless we're going like super AU because plenty of people will either, to avoid age gap, they'll change their ages. You know I mean you can. Like just be like, Oh, they go to school at the same time or close to the same age versus the huge gap. But I do as I as I kept reading it was really it was really cute. Just because we've seen with a lot of pairings like we can tell the theme of like the start of a relationship is like a very prominent like we found with Romione, it was like okay, the Yule Ball started everything. You know what I mean?

Uh-huh.

Like, a lot of them stem from the fact that it's like, oh, James had a crush on the older boy Teddy forever. And then of course, it never was gonna happen. He's gonna see me as the little kid brother. But then ultimately, they end up together and it's very cute. I do really like it and then I do love that they usually write them older because in comparison to like, I guess like Hogwarts like generation like I like I love school stuff, especially like when there's like conflict or things like Harry and Draco and just the things that we know the things that they know,

Sure, we know the setting, yeah.

Yeah, exactly. So it's easy for us to manipulate it. With those two, it's like them being a like, like awkward idiot adults is actually really fun. Like, it's just like, do like Get your shit together like you. And then of course, things end up, can be like pretty like wonderfully kinky because of course, it's like, okay, there's these grown ass dudes with lots of experience, and they're gonna show us that they have all of this experience. [Laughing]

Nice. Okay, now I need to read like next gen stuff.

I know!

You've known how to like sucker me into this? Because I was just because you've already sort of answered my question. I was going to ask you why it is that you think people are, the people that like writing next gen stuff, prefer it over writing from the Hogwarts generation, where, you know, like, like we've said, we know the setting, we know the characters. And is it just that people want to write something new? That they get bored with having the same old things, you know, to write about because, you know, all of the old classic tropes that we know and love from the Yule Ball to the Giant Squid? You know, we see them over and over and over. And, you know, I suppose it might be nice for those writers to write something new. I mean, sure, you do get like, aged up fic of the Hogwarts generation of like, Auror pairings and stuff, but it is mostly still school.

Yeah.

Because that's the, it's the go to right?

Yeah.

So I was gonna ask, like, what is it for you, having read some of this stuff, that you think people writing next gen material, really want to get out of writing for next gen characters?

Oof. I mean, probably a lot of the big, big fun stuff is the fact that it's like, they're navigating the fact that their parents, uncles, aunts, whatever, were like war heroes.

Oh wow.

So it's like them trying to navigate a life around the fact that they have, you know, really famous family.

Sure.

So then it's like how to find something genuine. So I think that's part of it. Like James being like, oh, he'll get into relationships when really it's like, oh, they just want to like they just talk about his dad or like, they just want to like meet you know, the family or whatever. It's like they don't really have the genuine interest in that character. It's the fact that they're from this so I think, like we say with cursed child, they tried to do that with Albus' character to be like, Okay, we're gonna put them in Slytherin, we're gonna make him super angsty and sad and angry.

Uh-huh.

And we're just gonna have him completely just like hate his dad. Like, we're just gonna make that happen. Yeah, that's completely believable. But I would do differently, obviously.

But yeah, there were some there was some artistic license taken in the direction of that character. Like, you can absolutely make those choices.

Yeah!

But but there were, the bigger, the bigger problems really with cursed child were the universal inconsistencies.

Yeah.

And for me, the one of the biggest things that still sticks out to me the splinter in my brain is the Terminator trolley witch that somehow like has a bionic arm and can go up on the roof of the train. I was just like, I would like very much for that not to exist, please.

I don't know, all that time with evil Cedric, I just like all that, all. Moving on moving on.

Yeah.

Whatever that was.

So, so actually, in terms of, in terms of, because you wrote you write fanfic, you're an accomplished author. You write really well. I was gonna say, if you were writing Albus, what would you do differently in to, like, suppose he was sorted into Slytherin and you were going to go the angst route? What would you do differently with his character to I don't know make it a little bit more good? [Laughs] Trying to think of the word.

I mean, probably just the fact that it's like I would literally keep I would just keep his character? You know what I mean? Like I would, I would take why his feelings are the way they are but as far as like the feeling, the need to change things? I don't know. I love Albus because even though in Cursed Child he is seen as relatively angsty, I don't know I see him as more of like, I play off of the I'm misunderstood, people don't, you know look at me differently because well one they either look at me because of my dad or they look down on me because I'm a Slytherin or whatever.

Yeah.

So I, I just...Of course I read Albus/his brother so it's not really like... [Laughs]

Ah well.

[Laughing] like I just, that's just... so.

Listeners, so so we, we very much know the direction that Megs would take Albus in. I'm sure you can, for further exquisite details please visit Megs' A03. Also, which we'll also link in the description.

[Laughing] Yeah, so I don't know. I just, I love Albus. Like I do. I do really love Albus. But now that I've read Jeddy, I've found a new love for James. Because usually if I would write Jalbus, is what the ship is considered. It's usually Albus' point of view. It's Albus' journey. James is just there. Now I'm like, okay, like I know who James is now and I know how to like build his narrative and now I really want to want to write Jeddy. Like that's what happens after every episode is I'm just like okay, yes now. Now I want to write this one.

Yeah.

Well, it's a slash one ultimately.

Of course. Yeah, yeah.

Oh my gosh, it was so good. And then there was another one that was just a short one shot because, because I was writing for the Fall Fic Exchange, which you know, my first Omegaverse fic. [Laughs]

Which, which I had unexpected feelings about. I have to tell you, and now you can this is gonna be one of those moments you can delete later if it's too spicy, but I had to tell you reading this was probably, it was the most unexpected reaction of my entire life.

[Laughing]

I was just like okay, I guess I'm into this. I now, I now have a whole other side of this universe that I...

Yeah.

...want to explore for reasons. But that was because of you and your wonderfully, wonderfully exquisite writing.

Exquisitely explicit!

Explicitly exquisite writing yes. I was just going to shove those two words together. Certain things were definitely getting shoved together in this fic. [Laughing] I don't know, are you gonna put this on your own AO3, is this up there?

Well it should be. It was the fall fake exchange so it'll be well posted.

Okay. Okay.

Yep, yep, yep.

Cool cool.

But anyway.

Going back to, if you want your life to change.

[Laughing] That one is a Dralbus, just so you guys know. It's Draco/Albus. So that's my that's my Omegaverse. So it's yeah, it's filthy. Anyway.

Of course, yeah.

So back to so when I was writing Omegaverse like I've read quite a bit like I love it, like I just I just love it. I mean, I don't have to give a reason. But I'd never really written it before. So of course, I had to, oh man, it was so painful to do research. You know what I mean? Like figuring out because because omegaverse is something that everyone interprets differently as far as like how alpha beta omega, like personalities or behaviors or things, it can vary. So it's, and usually you're given forgiveness of that. It's like, as long as you tell people how yours works like they're fine with it, you know what I mean? So with, with the Jeddy, I came across a Jeddy, which was also a first introduction to the pairing for me, which ultimately was the reason why I'm like, you know, I really want to do a Jeddy episode just because.

So you, so so hold on, cuz you didn't tell me this.

I'm sorry!

This is the first time I'm hearing this, which is like, cuz, because to me, Jeddy was a ship that I was like, this is coming way out of the blue. I have no basis for this, yeah. I have no clue where this came from. I now understand, listeners, very clearly where it came from. It came from Megs being very much enticed into the pairing by a fic, which can I just say must be fire? If you read it and thought I immediately need to do an episode on this pairing.

[Laughs] So the reason why I loved it so much.

Yeah, yeah, tell me.

It was one of the first instances that I ever read Alpha/Alpha. Because normally it's like, oh, alpha pheromones draw in omegas and omegas draw in alphas and whatever. And so James was going into his rut, and his and his roommate was Teddy, which of course then he's another alpha. So it was never going to be like an issue, but Teddy was supposed to go stay somewhere else. But of course, James' rut comes early and Teddy doesn't have anywhere to go for like a week. So it's like, okay, they just have to stay out of each other's space. And for whatever reason, because James can smell Teddy like on everything. That's he just, he's just so horny for Teddy. It's ridiculous.

[Laughing] Oh my goodness!

But he's just trying to like deal with it on his own in his room. And then like so then eventually, like he Teddy can like, because he, you know, they could smell pheromones. So of course, Teddy can just smell the want, you know what I mean? Like Teddy's like okay, I can...

The want. The need. The primal urge. Yeah.

No, seriously! It's true though. It's true. But, um, so, of course, then he goes to like, check on James, you know, just like, oh...

Wink wink.

You smell not great, right? You know, like, like, things aren't going that great. And of course, James is like, just give me one of your shirts or something, and I'll just, whatever, just give me a shirt, give me a dirty shirt. And I'll be fine. [Laughs] So he can like, smell it and take care of business. And of course, it wasn't enough.

Of course.

And so then Teddy's just like it's fine. I'm just here to help you out. And then they, you know, they get together, have fun and get him through the rut and the ruts over and then they realize they're just like, he's just like, I'm so sorry. You didn't have to I'm, you know, I was out of my mind. I can't you didn't have to do that blah blah blah. And Teddy's like, No, dude, that was like, I mean, I've wanted to do that for a while. And then of course, James is like, I've wanted to do that for a while. And it's like, Alright, so we're, this is the thing. All right. So then it's like they have they have on their calendar, little hearts on the like...

Oh.

On the weeks that are ruts, you know, like rut week.

That's so cute.

So that they can like take we, take they take work off, obviously, because that's just a normal thing. Like you cannot be around people.

Yeah.

When you are in that in that headspace. So it would be like they'd be like, looking forward to that like really special time together. AKA that really intense, like violent time together. But yes, so that was super fun to read. Like I usually am super about the like Dom You know, sub omega alpha thing.

Yeah.

But the fact that it was two like dominant alphas and the switching and the things and I'm like oh my god I'm so here for this it's ridiculous. So anyway, yeah, so now we're, hey Jeddy. Yeah, Jeddy wholesome. Cute little kid loves an older dude. Yeah, this is this is how we got here. Like, I swear and then I went in read wholesome stuff. So started there and then came out of it trying to understand the pairing as it was and I love it. I have absolutely I absolutely love it now and I'm sorry that I've jumbled like probably seven stories together in one and I have no idea what was what because I literally powered I downed, I went through the the pairing on AO3 and I was like, Oh, these tags look good. Oh, these tags look good. And then someone dumped a whole bunch of recs in our Discord server. So I was like, okay, download, download, download download. So I literally was like listening, like listening to these, like with a screen reader back to back to back to back. So they literally do feel like one big story to me. So I'm like, wait was that in this or that or whatever. But ultimately what I can say is, I love this pairing. And it's, I'm so glad I gave it the time of day to really understand it because it's, it's so good.

Nice. Well, I had some thoughts like not knowing the characters really.

Yeah.

But like, I, I am fascinated by Teddy, because I see him as a sort of a proxy for Harry in a lot of ways. Because he's grown up an orphan.

Yeah.

He feels he's sort of of that generation, but because he's older, he feels separate from them. So he's like the same but different. Obviously, he didn't inherit his father's lycanthropy. But he is a metamorphmagus. So he has that like ability to what's that quote? I'm gonna mess this up now.

Oh I don't know.

But it is something someone talked about, like standing out to fit in. I mean, how much of that how much of this does he feel is his own identity? And how much of it is, is he using it to mask? What he...

Yeah!

..really is?

Yes. Mmhmm.

You know.

That was in one of the stories. Yeah, that was in one of the stories.

Oh really? Oh.

So, yeah. Part of it was when he and James were like falling in love or whatever. One of James' first questions the first time they're like, intimate, then he just like blurts out because it was, I think it was their, their mind bond thing. So obviously, they're pushing feelings into each other, and they're just super horned up. And, of course, it's like, could you morph your penis? [Laughing] Like could you change your, and of course, Teddy's just like, why is it like not like enough? You know what I mean? And he's like, no, no, no, I literally am just, I'm just looking at it. And I see your hair change. And I just, I'm sorry, it just, it just, it just connected. It came out wrong, but it's just, I swear. So then he goes into like, it actually goes from sexy moment to really like wholesome, vulnerable moments.

Oh. Oh!

It was like, as was growing up in school. Like he felt like people only liked him or thought he was interesting because of that ability. Well, not, not making his dick bigger, but like the metamorphmagus thing. So they would like...

Sorry, I'm just imagining the common room just questions like so, so is everything you know, are you human tripod? Like what's going on?

[Laughing] So, he is so he, they would like dare him or like to pay him to do various weird things to himself. So of course he like, as he grew older and got out of school like he doesn't he it had lost sight of who he was because he felt like he had to make himself more attractive, make his hair a certain way make, like change things about him to fit in, like you said, but after school and as he got older, he, most of the time has his like ashy, whatever, blonde hair or like, he's like, this is me now. I mean, his emotions will change his hair, kind of like a mood ring, which I think is really cool.

Nice.

Yeah. So it's like, like, all of a sudden it'll be like, Oh, it'll be like a neon blue when he's like excited. Or like, I mean, I think that's super fun.

I love that idea.

And what was it, one of them, he had a beard. So it was like his hair would normally change color. But his beard would stay like the brownish blonde or whatever. But the time that he like got so excited with James his beard changed too. James was like, Oh, my God, I got you, like you like It's like he knew that it was into it, which was I thought it.

Oh that is so...

Yeah it was very very cute. It was like it made it to the beard. So it just, it's all the more Yeah.

Because characters just don't communicate. So instead, you've got the visual cues.

I know.

Yes. I love that. I love that. At least somebody knows what's going on now. Yeah. I'm all about knowledge and people knowing what the boundaries are and what's good and what's not. Yeah, that's a good thing.

So then what Teddy told him was the fact that he's like, I told myself that I would never change myself for anyone else, like ever again, because that obviously altered whatever. And he's like, but it's, you know, unless it's up to me, and he's like, I would choose to do whatever you wanted, because I love you, you know.

Aw.

You know, versus like, you know what I mean? Like, so I was just like, Oh my God. But of course, James is like, I was just curious, like, you are literally perfect. I don't give a shit. It was just a stupid thought that came through my brain because I'm literally just dick dumb right now like, I don't know what to tell you. You know what I mean?

Relatable.

Yeah.

Relatable.

So, but yeah, that's just oh, they there's just so so fun. I love the just the navigation of the denial, the thinking that it can't happen because of, you know, he didn't like him when he was younger or he feels like he's too young. They've been friends for however long and nothing came of it. Harry, or family wouldn't wouldn't approve, like, it's just, there's just all these reasons that I would think that people would have an issue with this ship that actually is what they write into it and probably why people love reading it because of all these reasons. So I really appreciate it because of that, like all the quote unquote, problems that I have no problem with, but I could see people having a problem with are the reason why people write and read it, which I love. I think that's great.

Yeah, yeah. And obviously, I mean, people are going to use these characters as a proxy for things going on in their own lives, which is why a lot of fanfiction is so great. But that brings me on to my second question about the pairing, which is really, of all of the characters in this wide, wide universe, why are people picking James to be interested in? Because I can see it with Teddy. I can see you know, he's got the, the orphan thing going on. And he's, you know, for all the reasons we've just talked about, he's this very, very rich character. But then what about James? What, what's the, what's the thinking there? What's the rationale?

You mean like in general, like James, like James' character, regardless of pairing or whatever?

Yeah, just why are people writing James?

Probably because we don't like we don't get enough of him in Cursed Child beside like, he's like, kind of like the dicky, brother, I guess you could say?

Oh, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.

So it's just like, we get a lot of Albus. So I can see why Albus gets rewritten in certain ways, or people wish Scorbus was the thing or they rewrote Albus and Scorpius as a thing. And people love it. Because it's like, wholesome, cute Drarry. So of course that happened. But with James, I think it's, he's, he's another one of those characters that's like a blank slate. And then when it comes to Jeddy being really popular, he's the oldest male that could possibly, you know, be like with Teddy, if it's not going to, you know, there is Teddy/Harry out there, which is like, okay, yeah, stuff like that happens too.

[Laughing] Ok.

So it's like, just, I don't know, but with James, I wasn't, like, I wasn't interested in him. Like, I'll be honest, I wasn't interested in him until I read Jeddy. And then I got to know some point of view of him. He's always been an external character. Like, he's always been there. Like I've I've written him, I know what I've, like, you know, thought he or his personality would be, but it was never from his point of view and being able to get into his head and in, in quite a few fic like I was, I was, it was nice when I did come across a Teddy point of view. That was really interesting to like, get in his head and see how he was navigating these feelings as like the older you know, the older one versus James thinking, Oh, it would never happen like thing, but I don't know. Maybe because he is. He's the oldest Potter. He's the first one to have to like go through everything. He is a Gryffindor. So even though we think of Albus as the one looking most like Harry like he's the first one who's like, following in his dad's footsteps.

Sure, yeah. Oh absolutely. Yeah.

We see him as someone who's cocky, we see him as someone who's like, eating up the like, he's kind of like a James Senior. You know what I mean?

Yeah, oh absolutely.

Like, he's a popular Gryffindor dude. Like, he's either getting around all the ladies or whatever. Like, he's just he's seen as the..

The jock.

He's eating up the fame like, yeah, he's just like the jock, whatever. And then Albus is like the awkward whatnot. Oh, which, which makes me think of, I would love to read/write a fic, doesn't have to be romantic. But who knows, I'm me. But I because, if anyone has ever seen Wished Upon a Star, it's like, I don't know if it was like a, whether it was Disney, or was some sort of like, I don't know if it was made for TV or whatnot. But ultimately, there was the sister who was super popular and older. And then there was the younger sister who was like, awkward, nerdy, like different.

Okay.

And both of them like, we think that the younger sibling is the only one to wish to be her sister. Turns out they both wished and that's how they were able to switch places. So they had the body swap.

Oh.

So then obviously, the older, the younger sister became the older sister got to date the hot guy and ultimately then things changed. And she fell in love and then the older sister fell in love with some other dude and then when they switched back, they had to realize that it was the opposite person and it was so cute. So of course I do picture if that happened between Albus and James which I could totally see James like being like tired of being overseen and being like the Potter you know what I mean?

Yeah.

And then like Albus in the background, he's like, you know, Albus has to have it so much easier, where Albus is like James has to have it so much easier for other reasons because you don't know. Like they're not in the same house. They don't spend much time together if you write it that way, so for them to switch places, then of course, I'm like, what if James and Scorpius fall in love? And what if you know, Albus? And I don't know I don't. Maybe Teddy is there and same age? I don't know.

Yeah.

But I just I love that idea of them trading places because they are so different. And I just I just I can believe that it's definitely the jock slash nerdy sibling. Um, situation, which I like a lot.

Well cause like, because that's what I thought about James, Jr. Before I had asked you about him like that he was just this sort of jocky stereotype.

Yeah.

But I was wondering then, why people would rather write that James than say, James of Marauders era, like what sets them apart as characters? Is it more that that younger James has a sort of a quality of Fred and George about him that as well as just being cocky that there's an impishness with it, or that he feels that like, because he's inherited so much fame, and glory from his dad, that he can like, ride on his coattails. And there's a little bit of Malfoy going on there. And that makes that fun to play with. I'm just like, I can absolutely see why people want to write Teddy. I'm just having a hard time going. Yeah, I definitely understand why people write James. But I tell you, what, if listener, you write young James, and you're one of those people, and you're and you're like screaming at your podcast app going, Nathan is so stupid this week.

[Laughing]

Why can he not see that James is such a glorious character. If you want to get in touch with me and tell me all the reasons why you write for James, that would be terrific. Because I would love to, if I can understand it, I'm sure I will root for it.

Yeah.

But like, but that for me to ship the pairing for me to ship Jeddy? I feel like I need to understand both of them. And I feel like I really only get half this pairing. And James is just sort of there. You know, because he's there.

Well, then I will definitely send you the James point of views that I read that were really good. And then you should read those because that

Okay.

I mean, these are good. I mean, I've obviously I've given you express trip through everything.

Yes.

But that's this is me reading these is literally what did that for me. I mean, I was in your seat, like before actually diving into everything. So it just takes that exposure.

Yeah.

Which just like you said, like you don't know, because you haven't seen it or been given the opportunity. And yeah, I'm so glad that I gave it the time of day because I'm really excited about it. But it's like when you compare the two James, I don't know, I mean, I guess it's just the more I've I've started to dabble in the different generations. Like there are things I love about like Tom Riddle's era, like all the like older, you know, generation of families and the Tom Riddle and, and the early Death Eaters that's very dark, and then we get into the Marauders and it's like playful, but also like bullying and like angst and like it's you know, can be really like dramatic be that, you know, you have Sirius' character who's like super goofy, and then you have like the broken, you know, Remus and then like Peter has all their points of view of who Peter is and James and Snape and all these things like I can separate them out and enjoy them and write them as like exclusive things to to the experience like I don't know, I just now that I've gotten into next gen like I love Albus and I love Scorpius and now I love James and Teddy and I want to see more of Teddy's like just I mean yeah, I'm now I'm really interested in Teddy now which is which is great, because a lot of these are like them older. So you're like you don't...

Yeah.

You don't get to see Teddy's growth because obviously the unless you're doing a long fic of starting, like, oh, Teddy is in school. And James is like a little kid. You know what I mean? Like, it's just.

Yeah.

Like you don't really get to see that progression unless it's just like a Gen fic. Or like, you know, like Harry and Teddy and you're seeing or, or if it's a Harry slash, whoever. Usually that's the instance we get to see Teddy because Teddy is like his, obviously his Godson. So he just he comes into play because of that role, but it's not like we're seeing Teddy's journey without him literally being surrounded by a bunch of OCs. You know, when you think about it, like if Teddy's in school no one else in next gen is is experiencing it, experiencing it with him apart from maybe like, like his seventh year and then maybe James' first year so at that instance, it's still like, oh my gosh, Teddy, like the older seventh year looking out for his you know, little friend James, like you don't see...

Well, exactly.

Yeah.

Exactly. And at that stage, Teddy's Head Boy as well, which, so he's not going to have a lot of time to socialize, even if he were socializing outside of his year, which is improbable.

Yeah.

So I can understand why a lot of this stuff isn't set during their school times respectively.

Yeah.

But I'm not saying any of this to hate on next gen or anything.

Oh no.

It's just that it's just that I literally do not know and I want to be enlightened. So this is why I'm asking this, because I see how excited you are about this. And I now, and I know now that it was sparked because of one very entertaining fic that you that you were like, This spoke to me on a deep, deep level and...

I mean, too deep. Very deep. [Laughing] But it was just like, Okay, so these guys and then read other things. And yeah, so ultimately, then all I can say is, let me give you some fic and you'll you'll be on my level, you'll understand and that's that'll be great. So, yeah, no, it's super fun.

Sure, sure. I'm looking forward to it. Well, you know, that I like you know, stories about what the original, the sort of OGs, have grown up and become Aurors and gone off and done things. So this is going to be up my street anyway, I feel. But I just but older James, it took a while for me to warm to him as a character, because he was just, for so long all we got of him was boorish bully.

Yeah.

Who felt like he was entitled to being a wizard and entitled to assuming his place and just being Sirius' pal that you know, went off and had these really dangerous prankish adventures together. And, and it's so it took me a really long time to get to a place where I could understand why someone like Lily would want to end up with him.

Yeah.

And I feel like a lot of my, if there's hesitation in accepting Jeddy, it's it's coming from that place of I don't know what rounds that characterize, and makes him human again.

Yeah.

You know, so that so I'm looking forward to reading that and thank you in advance.

Yes, yes, yes. And I just feel so bad that I that I'm like, Okay, it's gonna be a ridiculous list of fic obviously, in the show notes because I just, I don't even know. Um, yeah, I yeah.

But all this means is a lot of it is so good.

Yeah.

That we can't just give you one or two this week.

No.

We, we have to give you an extensive list because clearly you struck upon a goldmine

Yeah

That you didn't know existed.

Yeah.

Which is which is next gen.

Yes!

I, I should read more of it, but because life has been life for those of you for those of you who don't know I got a new wheelchair this week. So I have been breaking that in if you can imagine like you know that feeling like when you get new shoes what it's like?

Mmhmm.

That it's it is like that, but that then for your back.

Yeah.

So I've been I've been in quite a bit of pain this week.

[Sympathetic noise]

So what I what I haven't done is on my downtime been like, you know what I should do? I'm going to read some Jeddy.

Yeah.

That would have been excellent prep for this episode, but I am a human man. And definitely my human, my human foibles have taken center stage this week. Finally caught up with me and I am very well intentioned, but woefully underprepared human.

Mmhmm.

Who, who just wants to smile in the corner with a tray of mints this week. Going yeah, yeah, wasn't that, wasn't that good, Megs?

Well, I'm I'm glad at least you took the time to read my omega \verse because I needed that to be read so I could submit the dang thing. [Lauhing]

I'm very very glad that I did as well because now I, now I understand that I I have feelings for thing that I didn't know I had feelings for before that that is you have you have broadened my horizons in unexpected ways.

Yeah. That's kind of how it happens.

So much fun.

So low key still, you know related to we're kind of talking next gen. Something that I've noticed but I don't know if you would or could create opinions on this. Why do you think that there's not a lot of fic as far as like I can really have found as far as popularity goes like things based on like Hugo and Rose and like the other like, Why is it only like Harry's kids most the time? You know what I mean?

Well, I kinda think the series was based around Harry, you know, it was never was never Hermione Granger and the Abolition of the Patriarchy. It was always...

Even though it was! Like literally if it hadn't been for Hermione and literally doing everything for Harry slash Ron like it just like...

Oh, absolutely, there is a Tumblr thread that explains all of this beautifully. The books should have been more Hermione-centric, but because you know, they are a product of a particular mind at a particular time. They weren't. And so we've sort of become used to them being Harry centric.

Yeah.

And I think that's an idea of a thing that's carried over into future generations as well. So whether or not we do it consciously, we gravitate towards Harry's descendants, because...

Yeah.

They symbolically continue the story. And I think, you know, if you look at other fandoms, as well, if you look at Star Wars, really, we had recently, the last three films, it's all been about the, you know, the continuation of the Skywalker line, you know, other, other things do this as well. So I think you know, it, it's almost expected that certain characters should continue a lineage, but I'm not sitting here arguing that that's necessarily the best choice.

Right.

In fact, I think some Hugo and or Rose stuff might even be more interesting to read. But I think the the overwhelming opinion is that, you know, we need to symbolically follow on from what's already been established.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. So now, in my point of view, your thoughts regarding having no thoughts for James is kind of like now I'm opening up to like, Okay, I need to, like, move to another, you know, like, section of next gen, like I've, I'm obviously all into like, the Harry's sons, obviously, like, all all facets. [Laughing] It's, uh, yeah, I That's, I mean, you'll see the families getting together and like, oh, the cousins are there or whatever. But as far as like actually reading about them, we'll definitely have to find like, I'll have to look for something. And maybe I can find something, I'm sure we will, there's obviously got to be great stuff.

Yeah.

And then eventually, we could do an episode focusing on the like, you know, even if it's just a general episode, next gen. Of the non Potter kids, you know, what I mean? Like talking about everything else.

Yeah.

What we think as far as head canons with them, and then their experiences. So it's just, yeah, so that's just I can, I can totally relate and completely agree with that. That it's, we just, we think of Harry, we keep focusing on Harry, and there's a lot of Harry fic that it's, you know, post divorce, and the kids are there and they're a big, prominent role while Harry's navigating, you know, his future things. So we know of them to a greater degree than we do with, you know, the other ones. So yeah, absolutely.

Yeah. I think personally, I'm most interested in in Luna's kids in Lorcan and Lysander, if we're going to go down that road, because I think back to way, way back in episode five, when we were talking about Luna and Ginny, and you made this brilliant point about Luna being a great artist, and she has all those friend portraits on her wall. I wonder what sort of a parent Luna would be that's a, that's a fic I really want to read.

Mmhmm.

I don't care if it's just complete fluff. But I just I think Luna the mum would be an incredible character to get to know. I'm interested in it. I want to see how her how her quirkiness and her zaniness and her artistry. And her willingness to I don't want to say make believe, but like, extend the peripheries of reality can translate into being a parent. That's something that would give me give me a lot of joy to read. And that's why I think her children's relationship with her and whether or not she's with Rolf.

Yeah.

You know, who knows? Really, she ends up with Neville. [Laughing] In my head she ends up with Neville.

Yeah, most of my stories that it's yep.

Neville deserves love too!

Yeah, it's either it's either Linny or it's Yeah. Whatever.

Leville?

Nuna nuna or yeah Leville? [Laughing] Yes, no, but yeah, cuz it'd be interesting to see whether her kids would kind of like her and her dad have this like expanded like acceptance of the potentially unreal but to them is very real like, or whether her kids would see that and acknowledge it as crazy like I could see the kids in school being like, Oh, your mom is that you know, is that loony? Like that loony girl and then them being like, why what and so it could easily could be her and her kids completely being at odds versus you know them growing together. So there's lots of opportunity there for her and any kids, whether it's, you know, canonical kids or anything else.

Yeah.

Yeah. Well, we went way around, we went a lot of places with this.

Yeah, do you know, I think I think before we started recording I said to Megs, you know, because I had hardly done any prep for this episode, I was like, d'you know, I think this is gonna be a shorter episode. I'm looking at the timer, and we've gone an hour and 20 minutes so far.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean, we have a lot of googling. And me flubbing over what the name of a fic is, and family trees and so, So yeah, if you're confused by what I'm saying right now, we I cut a lot of stuff. So theres' just some random things like Nathan and I are really good with Canon obviously, like we're really good with the books' canon. But even even me with this, this is just just because I haven't really held on to much as far as like Cursed Child goes like other than just like knowing the characters and I know the like...

Who has? Who has held on to anything from Cursed Child?

So it's not like I'm rereading that all the time. And really can like know these characters to the extent that I know the characters in the main series so same thing goes with like Fantastic Beasts, you know, that stuff is completely you know, these are completely different characters a different world, all I'm really given are movies, which I don't like going off of, like, just, it's just so hard to, you know, when you're shown something, it's like, oh, this is what you're given versus being able to imagine a world I think that makes you know, all the difference but so I mean, and even like with characters that have nothing to go off of, I mean, same goes with characters we know that are put in AU situations of them having nothing to do that we know of them in canon so I feel like people have fun playing with anyone in any instance. Just because like we said before, like Tom Riddle, people will just just like the idea of Tom's character, and they'll just be like, Yeah, we're gonna make him a healer in like Harry's, you know, timeline, and they're gonna fall in love, but he's still gonna have the same characteristics. Like, they're just gonna put people wherever, which is, is super fun. And that's what makes fics so great. And yeah, I just...

That's the creative license. No, I absolutely agree.

Yeah.

And this isn't me saying, you know, none of this belongs and you know, that I'm some sort of ridiculous canon purist, because I'm absolutely not.

Yeah.

But sometimes, in order to fully appreciate a ship, you need to get why these characters are emotionally invested in each other. And if as in the case of James, you're only given that he's a bit of a cocky brat. You're not really given very much wiggle room to go. Oh, yeah, I can see what the two of them should do.

Right.

Belong together. So I think this is the first time ever that I'm like, half mast with a ship.

[Laughing] Oh, my gosh. Wow. Yeah. I mean, hey, that's fair. That's honest. [Lauhging] Oh, man, well, obviously I am. I ship it real hard. I am. I'm loving it. I definitely look forward to the opportunity to writing some of it at you know, a later date. Well, we'll see at the very least reading more because it's just it's so great. Oh, okay. So I have to get into this because I've seen some fan art and I'm really like it I have a really strong James headcanon now. How do you and when you think of James Sirius Potter, like what do you picture as far as like, I guess how he looks? Or what do you you know, what do you picture

So I guess I sort of see a cross between like a young, a young James like a young senior James and a young let's say Fred Weasley. I'll take one of the two. Where, um, slightly gangly, but then also like long wavy hair, sort of shampoo advert good looks.

Oh nice! So there was a what is it? I think it's trash can prints has a has a bunch of next gen fan art, which is super great. And they drew an image of James Sirius, which for the first time I've ever seen him in this way as like taking after the Weasleys and he's like a head or so taller than Harry and he's got red hair and Harry's green eyes and I'm just like, oh my god, I'm in love with you. Like I am just so about red hair James just because I know that we usually see him. It's like, oh, he also has dark hair, but maybe Ginny's brown eyes or we have then we have Albus, who's you know still has the brown hair and then Harry's green eyes and Lily Luna has the red Hair and but we see also with dark I mean we see everything as far as but as soon as I saw that I was like ah yes because there just be this complete contrast to Albus' character because I...

Yeah.

Yeah and I mean, talking about what we talked about before if people are super into Albus, ie me what makes James more interesting what if he's like kind of like Harry light or Albus light as far as like if we don't really have a clear image of him so that really created a very clear like unique identity in comparison to his brother Albus because it's like, oh, he just he looks different. But he has his mother's hair. He has his father's eye color. And he's super tall, which looks hilarious after you know, if you think of Harry as being like on the shorter side. So then he gets the the height from some of the Weasleys like his Uncle Ron and whatever.

Sure, yeah.

And I absolutely, I absolutely love that. And then Albus is still kind of short and like his dad and...

Yeah.

I just think that's the absolute cutest thing ever. versus James just like sort of looking like Harry with Ginny's eyes. And then Albus like, Oh, he's like little, you know, little Harry or whatever. So yeah,

Yeah, I think the thing that excites me least is when people start to become like carbon copies of Harry with minor alterations.

Right.

That that isn't exciting to me. Because, you know, if you if you look at actual people, they're not carbon copies of their parents, except in really rare. You know, there are there are a few exceptions to that rule, but they're not in the majority. So I would like to think that people could be a little bit more visually creative than just here is like Harry with Ginny's eyes. Just like yawn...

Don't come for me! I have all about Albus being tiny Harry with freckles like that's literally my, that is it.

With freckles!

He has freckles. He has the Weasley freckles, but he looks like Harry. So it's just.

But Nathan, they're so distinctive!

They are!

They're so original!

They are! they're such distinctive, freckles. He's so different. [Laughing]

So, so, okay, so if you're going to sell me on this, oh, the freckles arranged in any sort of particular pattern? Is there a swirl? Where are they? How far down do they go? [Laughing]

Okay, so this makes me think of like, when people, well it's the thing like with the Weasleys a lot of times they're they the freckles come into play.

Yeah.

Be that for Charlie's character or like when I've written bill or anything like that.

Sure.

Like it's it's something that usually whoever they're romantically being paired with, like, finds extremely cute. Like, it's like, oh, I you know, like, I could count every freckle on their, you know, cheeks or every freckle.

Oh, yes. Yeah.

Or like, you know, or like I love the fact that it you know, does look like something or sometimes it is like a like a constellation or you know, something like that. It's just, it's usually like it's on the verge of like a freckle kink, like people are really into the fact that their SO has freckles. So I don't know.

Oh, yeah, there's a word for it as well. I forgot the word because I was reading about it. I was reading about it yesterday, but it's a something -ophilia. And it's a love of freckles.

Now I'm googling again. Because I need to know this word.

Well, I can tell you that lentigines, I believe, is the Latin word for freckles. And that isn't. And I've just hit my microphone because I feel as passionately about this.

[Laughing]

That there is a word there is a Latin word that ends in -philia that describes a love of freckles. So anyway, listeners, yeah, let's wrap this up.

[Laughing] So I'm just gonna say I mean, we have three weeks, we've tossed around a couple different ships, I'm just, I'm gonna say we don't know, because we're still kind of going back and forth on what we think we're going to do. And that's okay. So, because the number of times we've had to...

Yeah.

Re-record that or dub in the fact that we're doing something else, I mean.

Actually, we're gonna have to do this after this episode. So I'm gonna clue the listeners in so after we finish recording for this episode, we have to record a new outro for an episode that we've recorded an outro for about three times because we keep changing the order around. So yeah, so we're professionals we know we're doing we love you very much. Tune...

Sorry not sorry about doing a surprise holiday episode. Because that's pretty much just put us you know...

Well, it put it put a spanner in the works.

Wrench in the cog.

But it is... what, what, wait, what are you saying?

I said a wrench in the cog.

Is that what you said? So we say put a spanner in the works.

Whoa, I've never heard that before.

I'm pretty sure it's the same thing because you call a wrench a spanner. But like...

Okay!

But like it's a weird one because I'd never heard yours before. And I'm pretty sure you've never had mine.

Probably!

So we both we both said the same thing, listeners, but there was a real transatlantic divide happened there. And we were like what just happened. This is really weird.

[Laughing] That's actually really funny, I'm so glad we were literally on the same wavelength just I was very American, and you were very...

And I was very British. Yes.

[Laughing] Oh man, so great. Anyway, so thanks for dealing with whatever mess we made. It was so much fun. I am going to send Nathan all the fic as should you guys because he needs to know how amazing Jeddy is and yeah, we can't wait to see I know we've done two we've done two slash ships in a row. So either the next one is going to be femslash or poly I can't remember if we Oh, we did het with Lockhart and

McGonagall!

McGonagall recently.

Yes!

And then Hagrid and all the people.

Yes!

So I think that we're about due for femslash or poly which is I always love doing that too. So we'll see what we come up with next time we will let you know but thank you for listening and we will, whatever, goodbye!

Well, I guess I really don't want to say anything cheesy like Land Ho! I'm just gonna say bye.

So goodbye.

Goodbye!

Love you guys as normal.

Yeah.

Goodbye!

We still love you see the episode from two weeks ago for full details.

Oh.

I ship it!

So now that you've finished enjoying that episode, I bet you're wondering what we're going to be talking about next time. Will it be a ship? Could it be a trope? What about a character centric episod. Editing Megs: put the listeners out of their misery. Next time we'll be focusing on...

We are going to be reading some Valentine's Day and love themed fanfiction.

So come back to enjoy that you're really as possible convenience, but you know, preferably sooner rather than later. Because we do make it so you'll listen to it. And we enjoy it. Remember, you Guncle Nathan's advice. Be kind to each other, manage your mischief and we'll catch you in the next one soon.

I ship it!

While you're waiting for the next episode, all the shipping fun can continue online. You can head over to all of our social media platforms like magical ship pod on Twitter and Instagram, and Care of Magical shippers on Tumblr. You can get in touch with us by email at CareofMagicalshippers@gmail.com. Or you can leave us a voice message with all of your ship and fic thoughts and feels and have the chance to be featured on a future pod episode. We are also live on Patreon. Patrons have access to early episodes, bonus content, extended uncut episodes with all of our nonsense, ficlets written by me exclusive merch and a patron discord. Another easy way to show your love for the pod is by leaving a review on Apple podcasts. And thank you so much for listening.