maskormenacelogs | A Small Redirection (Open)

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A Small Redirection (Open)

WHO: Gansey, Sabriel, and anyone who answered the call to help.
WHERE: New York City
WHEN: Thursday 16 - Friday 17 June
WHAT: Gansey, Sabriel, and anyone who agrees to help them search for the puzzle box Billy used to cast the Road Not Taken spell. Their search will conclude with them ending the spell and turning everyone back to normal.
WARNINGS: Probably none! But will update if necessary.

[ Billy Kaplan’s spell seemed to have touched every Porter city. The Network has been full of people who aren’t themselves, and others who are confused and, in some cases, angry. Billy himself is safe with his family, but he’s still a child, and his magic is showing no signs of wearing off. To protect him, Gansey has kept his name out of all of this; only his closest friends and Sabriel have been told where the notes he’d found came from. As far as anyone else is concerned, this is the result of research. Very intensive research.

They had actually come from Billy’s office in the Magic Store. They had been scattered but instructive, and once Gansey had the time to scour them, a pattern had emerged. He’d sought help from Sabriel, who in turn had put out a general call. Billy had anchored the spell in an object, and hidden the object on a ley line. If Gansey were not so frustrated by the entire thing, he’d probably be amused. Billy had hidden this thing in a way that guaranteed Gansey would know how to find it.

Maybe that had been the point.

With Sabriel’s help, he has searched far and wide, while both magic and instinct drew him to a line of energy connecting De Chima to New York. New York is important to Billy, Gansey knows that; he’s gone there with him before. It seems right, and more than that, it feels right. Gansey had learned to trust his instincts long before he’d understood there was anything supernatural behind them. He’s certainly going to trust them now.

The search moves to New York, where everyone helping them to look for Billy’s object will descend. Gansey has barely slept in days, and is starting to look the worse for it. But this is their only way forward. They have stop this spell. He has to get his friends back.

In the centre of New York, Gansey turns to the others. ]

All right. Now, the indications we have are that height is the key. It’s New York, so we’re not short on options for that. Try the landmarks first. The buildings that make up the skyline, the statues, anything that stands out.

Perhaps we should split up.

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[Sabriel doesn't look much less exhausted than Gansey. She's dressed a little more oddly than usual- she has something that at first glance looks like a metallic backpack, but on closer inspection is something else- a jetpack.

Finland may have been a mess, but she got one good thing out of it.]

So any particularly famous skyscrapers, the Brooklyn Bridge, and that big statue out in the harbor?

Let's start with the buildings- they're closer together.

[ Gansey nods, his eyes focused on that skyline. It feels right to be here; it feels like something that Billy would do. But New York is a big place, and there's no shortage of buildings the box could be planted on.

At least Sabriel can fly. Gansey would have preferred a helicopter, but he'll take what he can get. ]

It'll be on the roof, out in the open. Probably hidden, but I doubt he'll have put it on a lower floor. He'll have wanted it as close to the sky as he can get.

[ He looks at her. ]

If you fly up, I can direct you from here, make sure you don't stray far from the ley line.

That makes it easier- I can just go from roof to roof, no need to ask people for permission to go inside.

[Sabriel fidgets, then pulls out a street map of Manhattan- she apparently came prepared.]

Let's use this to narrow it down- we don't need to check every tall building, just the ones on the ley line- can you tell me exactly which way it runs?

[ Gansey's expression flickers with a smile, but he comes close to the map regardless. From his own messenger bag, he pulls out a strange, handheld machine, which shows wavering levels. At the moment, each of the bars on its screen are wavering low, but when Gansey moves to the left, they suddenly spike high. After a moment, he matches that spot on the map. ]

Okay. I think this, right here - this is me standing on the ley line, but it's not very strong. It's spiking, but not staying spiked. Now, I think it goes in this direction, both ways.

[ He gestures along the map. ]

But I can't be sure until I walk it, and track it with the EMF. A wrong angle could end up putting us off by miles. Run with that angle, but keep an eye on me. If it's wrong, I'll set you right.

[Sabriel nods, memorizing the angle.]

Well, that rules out the bridge, and most of the islands in the harbor. I'll head to the closest skyscraper and work south, then north- use my communicator to call me if I'm off course.

[And with that, Sabriel fires up her jet pack, watching as Gansey and the crowd around him start to get smaller and smaller- and Sabriel realizes just how tall some of the skyscrapers are. She ends up waving through the windows at several office workers as she keeps going up.]

[ Gansey watches her until she's too far above to see clearly, and feels glad for his bright orange polo shirt. His friends give him no end of teasing for wearing clothes like this, but right now, it's going to help to be visible.

To help with that all the more, he holds a torch up over his shoulder and lights it, before moving slowly along the path of the line. He keeps his eyes on the EMF reader, watching for any spike. There's enough of a signal to indicate ley line activity, but it's low, and not substantial.

He doesn't think the box is here. Craning his neck up, he pulls out a pair of binoculars and aims them towards Sabriel. His voice comes through the network, locked to her. ]

Anything? It seems quiet down here.

Nothing on this roof. Let me- [And there's a sudden surge of static as Sabriel starts drawing on the Charter, probing the ley line and probably startling office workers in the building with a sudden brownout. When Sabriel's voice finally cuts through the static, it's energized and focused.]

Well, it's much closer than it was in De Chima- but it's south of here. Can you trace the ley line in that direction?

[ Gansey briefly pulls back as the static comes over the line. He knows what magic can do to electronics, and this isn't very surprising.

It comes up with less than what he'd hoped, but he won't let himself give up. He turns, facing physically south. He has a compass and his map clutched in one hand, and his EMF reader in the other. ]

Ah...

Yes! Towards the river. New Jersey? No, wait -

[ He pauses, with a slight correction to his angle. Slight deviations mean a great deal out here. He breathes out. ]

No, towards the Bay. Then on out to sea. It must be between here and there.

You mean on one of the islands? We'll have to get a boat.

[Sabriel sighs, mostly in irritation as she heads to the edge of the roof. If she were more prone to dramatics, or slightly more comfortable with her jetpack, she'd jump off the roof before starting it. Instead, she fires it up with her feet on the roof, before drifting over and starting her descent downwards.

Aside from almost kicking someone in the head as she descends. She has to fight through a growing crowd of curious onlookers- many of whom are taking pictures.]

Gansey?

Maybe. Or looking towards them. It's hard to tell until we have a clear view of the angle.

[ Meanwhile, Gansey has found himself in the centre of a growing crowd of onlookers, many of whom are wearing vacant expressions and holding phones in their hands. That's not going to be helpful.

Irritated, he pushes through them to where he sees Sabriel coming down. ]

I'm here. I know there's ferries. We might be able to catch one if we're quick. Do you think you can cast that tracing spell from a cab, if I get one to take us there?

If you're willing to risk stopping the engine, then yes. [It's a pity the only horse-drawn vehicles are near the park.]

Let's get a cab, then I'll cast the spell at a ferry station.[Sabriel starts walking, heading south and hoping Gansey will catch up.]

[ Gansey’s eyebrows lift; he’s amused, in spite of himself. ]

I take that risk most times I get into my car back home. Christ, I miss that thing.

[ The car he uses here is far more reliable, which actually means that it’s far less of a comfort to Gansey. Maybe he should do something about that.

No, he should definitely do something about that. Later. It doesn’t take him long to flag down a cab. He catches up with Sabriel, gesturing the car to a stop beside them and then holding the door for her. ]

Anyway, if it’s that much of a risk how did your jetpack survive?

It's temporary- if I stop using magic, it starts up again quickly.

[Still, it's a risk they'll have to take. Sabriel slips into the back seat, buckles in, and lets the engine start before she reaches into the Charter.

The taxi sputters, slows, and makes some interesting sounds, but it keeps moving. Sabriel's eyes are open but unfocused- she's focused more on the Charter than her physical surroundings.]

It's too far- it has to be on one of the islands.

[ Gansey unfolds the map on his lap. He traces the imaginary line with his finger, wishing he could be certain of the distance -

But if it’s on an island, then… ]

Billy brought me to New York, after I came back here. He was on Liberty Island. [ He looks up at Sabriel. ] On top of the statue, on the torch. We sat there for most of the night, just talking. He loves that place.

[ Gansey checks again, tracing the route. It’s possible. It’s definitely possible. His heart seems to thrum with the rightness of it. The place Billy had taken him to, where they’d talked about so many things that Gansey hasn’t spoken yet to anyone else. He looks up at Sabriel, eyes bright. ]

It’s on the line. [ And then to the driver, growing in excitement. ] Get us to that ferry!

[As Gansey speaks, Sabriel's eyes widen. Her intuition isn't a power, but she trusts it nonetheless- and as Billy speaks, things click into place. She lets go of the Charter, turning her attention to her physical surroundings as the taxi roars to life.]

Up high- he could have hid it on the head or the torch!

The torch is where we sat.

[ He remembers it so clearly now, how they’d lain there supported by Billy’s magic and watched stars that they could only see because Billy’s magic let them do it. This isn’t just about finding somewhere high. It’s about finding somewhere that Billy would go. ]

If I’m right…here. Thank you!

[ That’s said while he pays the taxi driver, and then hurries out to the line for the ferry. The problem with this is that they’re going to have to be inconspicuous in a crowd of tourists. And Sabriel has an actual jetpack. ]

I don’t suppose your magic could conceal us.

It could, if you want to wait twenty minutes. Otherwise, we'll just deal with the questions and photographs.

[Sabriel's honestly not sure which would be a bigger inconvenience. She could probably glamour her jetpack to look like a backpack and make her skin look a little less unnaturally pale easily enough, but did they have enough time...]

[ Gansey hates dealing with questions and photographs. He also feels like they don't have time for that, but neither do they have time to wait for a lengthy spell like that. He sighs, and shakes his head. ]

I suppose my clones could give us a distraction if we need it. Come on. We have to get to that statue.

Right. [Sabriel fishes out her wallet- might as well make this as quick as they can, even if they're still getting stared at and photographed.

She suspects this will be a very long boat ride- or feel like one, anyway.]

[ It is a long boat ride, one in which they have to rub shoulders with unsuspecting members of the public. Gansey works his way to the front of the boat, while carefully creating clones to send into the crowd and try to create a kind of perimeter for them. Eventually, he manages to carve out a little space for them at the front, where at the very least, they have some room to move.

The statue approaches in the distance, and Gansey's stomach twinges in anticipation. ]

We're almost there. How close do you need to be before you can launch?

[ You know what's great for finding Sabriel and co when they're looking for something magical in an effort to break the spell cast over imPorts? A tracking spell? Angel radar? NOPE. Social media. Social media is how Lucifer finds the group, after the group turns out. You may thank the people on Bwitter taking pictures of imPorts in New York City like they're witnessing the new Avengers movie being filmed there or something.

Because here he is, a whisper of feathers through air, or for those who can feel it an intense ripple of magical disturbance, focused into one singular spot the moment before his appearance. He wasn't invited, but he's crashing the party anyway.

--Rolling invisible sleeves up his bare arms, and wearing a t-shirt that says "Keep Calm and Call Satan". Just to rub it in. ]

AirLucifer at your service.

[Sabriel's expression suggests she just bit into something extremely unpleasant.

Still, her voice is calm when she finally speaks.]

Lucifer. What are you doing here? I thought I made it clear enough that I didn't need your help.

In fact, you made it perfectly clear you didn't want my help. Different thing entirely.

[ He steps closer, amusement touching his expression. ]

I can only imagine you don't want me to get my hands on whatever this magic is. You needn't be so suspicious, hm?

Let me repeat- we can do this without you. [Sabriel keeps her expression carefully schooled.]

Since you're here, why not enjoy the sights? See some museums, visit the park, watch a musical?

[ To say Gansey isn't thrilled is something of an understatement. There's a moment of distinct worry on his face, before he manages to cover it and draws a breath. He and Sabriel had discussed this; neither of them had felt they could trust someone like Lucifer. It's not a commentary on his power; in fact, that would be more than useful.

It's a question of motivation. Gansey doesn't like the idea of Billy's puzzle box falling into the hands of the Devil.

Also, that t-shirt. Jesus. ]

I didn't think you were coming. [ At least he keeps his tone light. ] You know that we mean to stop what's happening.

[ Meaning: you aren't keeping it. ]

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A Small Redirection (Open)

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