jlh | Time it was and what a time it was, it was . . .

Right. Well. That's done then.

I don't think there is anyone reading this who doesn't know that I am (was?) involved in

nocturne_alley. Hell, there's been a big fat clue for you sitting on my LJ for a few months now. If you don't want to know anything more than that, don't go into the cut. If you never read NA or never liked it, please, allow me my sentimentality over something that I worked very hard on, am so very proud of, and am mourning now. If you do click below, please don't spread things around as there are those that don't want to know "who's who". Thanks!

So yeah. Since July of 2002, I've been

seamus_f in Nocturne Alley. I was the only player to have that LJ (the person who played Seamus before me had a different LJ). So everything you've seen from

seamus_f, good or ill, has been me.

NA was my entry into the fandom. When I was asked to join (what an honor!) I had posted about five chapters of EWFS, and had been on LJ for two months, in fandom for about seven. I wasn’t on anyone’s radar screen, and I hadn’t met a single person in fandom face to face. The mechanics of how this all happened are unimportant now, but suffice it to say: I was shocked, I took a deep breath, and I said yes. And that made all the difference.

Because of NA, I met so many people, though of course I can't reveal them even now. I can honestly say that NA was one of the best experiences I've had in the fandom, and I'll cherish all of it. Yes, even when it was wanky, and frustrating, and annoying, and just plain pissed me off. Because it was worth it. And because these people, all of them who ever worked on this game, and especially all of them who were mods, put out one of the best things I have ever been lucky enough to be associated with.

I couldn't begin to say what my favorite bits of it are, though I'll likely pour through two years of posts and put plenty of them in Seamus' memories. I can't believe that when I click on that link on my LJ, I won't just be checking in on who commented lately, but looking at something that will never change. But I don't think I could possibly be prouder of the document we are leaving behind.

So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to every single player I ever interacted with and the ones I didn't, because all of you were absolutely the best, and most of all, thank you to those of you who watched, and enjoyed, for letting me indulge my Seamuslove and share it with all of you.

And now that I don't have another outlet for him, Seamus is stamping his feet about the EWFS sequel. No more stalling. Promise.

Long ago it must be, I have a photograph.

Many thanks to

ely709 for making me this excellent icon from

lovedoesthat, whose

_hdcomic everyone should go read.

Preserve your memories. They're all that's left you.