PAPER CRANES.
WRITTEN BY NINI  ✷  2023

&& .. BEST VIEWED IN.

font, hoefler text . . . background
colour, white . . . reading mode,
scrolling . . . font size, the smallest.

( gif by tisiix )

Fold. Bend. Crease that corner. Fold. Flip over. Bend. Crease.

Mint Rosé McKinney was afraid of a lot of things. Heights, spiders, that dreadful feeling in your stomach when you know something hasn't gone to its original plan, cramped spaces. But there was one harrowing thing that made chills run down her spine: death. The uncertainty of what happens when your body finally gives up for all eternity. She despised it. Of course, death was inevitable for everyone — excluding the asshole who possessed the Resurrection Stone. Alas, death was particularly unforgivable towards Mint, who was born with an incurable heart disease, limiting the time and experiences healthier humans were given by a vast amount. So naturally, she hated death.

Fold corner to corner. Repeat. Open. Press down. Crease. Bend.

But, perhaps, there was a way to cheat death - well, fate. A way to give her more time. The Japanese myth of Paper Cranes. A myth where if one manages to fold one thousand paper cranes and make a wish on their last crane, that wish will come true, no matter how complicated or difficult. Others used it for fame, fortune, and love. But Mint's wish was to live. For her heart to heal so she could really, truly live.

Grab. Fold over. Inwards. Press down. Fold. Repeat.

James Potter was never a part of the plan. He was a stupid crush Mint had accustomed over the years, much like the rest of the Hogwarts population - boys and girls alike. He was reckless, mean, rude, and only cared about three things in his life: himself, the Marauders, and the poor girl who had to put up with him daily: Lily Evans. His big fucking ego got ahead of himself most of the time - which was ironic as that's how their lives got entangled in the first place.

Crease. Lift. Diamond fold. Lay flat. Smooth down. Bend. Fold.

But James Potter also had a wish: for Lily Evans to fall in love with him. So when careless, egotistical James Fleamont Potter decides to open his dumb mouth one afternoon, he manages to snag an exchange of a promise with the Crane Crafter herself, believing if he managed to get her to see the goodness of living, and perhaps the good in him, she would eventually give him with one of her paper cranes, gifting him with the myth of luck and fortune... and a bit of magic. Albeit, maybe the deal itself had other magic surprises in store from what they originally thought? Fear, courage, empathy, lies, secrets, distraught, grief, accomplishment, and a dash of love.

Will Mint be able to finish her cranes before her heart gives way? Or will the universe spare a soul who gave it their all to just... live?

This is the tale of Mint Rosé McKinney and her paper cranes.

( or. )

A broken girl relies on a myth to save her life, all the while a selfish boy tries to do it himself.

" loving you was loving war.

when the bloodshed ended,
we couldn't even recognise
each other,
our bodies were maps
of destruction and pain,
our faces the aftermath
of an entire world in ashes.

we were pandora's box personified,
it just took opening it up
to realise
how deeply poisonous
we truly were together. "
- nikita gill, pandora's box.

LILI ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀REINHART
MINT ROSÉ MCKINNEY
✹
( THE HEART )

" If you keep smoking them...
then yes, you will die eventually. "

& .

AARON TAYLOR JOHNSON
JAMES ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ POTTER.
✹
( THE EGO )

" We all die in the end, McKinney. "

&.

LANA CONDOR, IRENE KELPS,
SIRIUS BLACK, BEN BARNES. REMUS
LUPIN, ANDREW GARFIELD. LILY EVANS, SOPHIE SKELTON. KALE MCKINNEY,
LIAM NEESON. PETER PETTIGREW,
DANE DEHAAN. and other characters . . .

( 🕯️ ) WARNINGS ; marauders era au, unrequited love to lovers (thank god), lots & lots of angst, bit of fluff if you squint, profanity, violence, mentions of panic attacks, blood, death, anxiety, heart problems, overthinking etc.., james is a cunt to begin with, like you actually want to clock him so badly, talking from experience, not a warning but just a mention for my sweet boy altair mckinney, the marauders are acc mental but i love them, pls pls don't read this if darker topics trigger you!! james has a severe saviour complex - embarazzing, mint just needs a big hug, did i mention swearing already, there's a lot of that .

( 🕯️ ) NINI SPEAKS ; my sweet ppl!!!! may i present to you something i am so so proud of, worked so hard on, and of which carries my blood sweat and tears throughout ! this fic is everything i am and more. it carries my words, my speech, my thoughts, my beating heart, and i am giving to u as a gift, so perhaps it may provide you the same form of escape it gave me while writing. i started this book when i was just figuring out what i wanted in my life and deciding upon decisions that would alter it, and i have carried it through with me until now. i wish my words could begin to describe everything that has gone into this book lol, but i fail to grasp them. look after it please!!! it's all i ask of you ! anyways, enjoy this messy piece of fiction that i created once upon a time!!!! it follows my sweet angel mint who learns things about herself and goes on a journey experiencing life in its rawest form - including literally every angsty emotion u could ever think of. trust , it's defo in there somewhere. i hope you stick around w me as we go on this adventure together :) also!!! may i say b4 we start:: every single chapter is in the span of a day. keep that in mind while reading bc i know a few were like wtfffff???? yeah . enjoy hehe . all my love , nini.

( 🕯️ ) COPYRIGHT ; all rights reserved. none of this book may be copied, translated or reproduced, unless i have given permission. please ask if you would like to translate my books. other than that, no copying. if i do find any traces of copying of my work - including writing, format, edits, etc.. - you will immediately be blocked. unless you have given me credit for inspiration or asked beforehand before using something that is similar - NOTE, not copying - i will not be any less kind. thank you!

and i will try
to fix you.

started — 5th june 2019
published — n/a
status — ongoing.