maskormenacelogs | I was looking at a Riverbed

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I was looking at a Riverbed

WHO: imPorts!
WHERE: Maurtia Falls Memorial Library
WHEN: April 22nd, all day.
WHAT: Registration in motion at Maurtia Fall’s new and improved library. Come to see the grand unveiling and stay for the snow sculpting contest, fun costumes, or games. You might be encouraged to remain as quiet as possible in a library under normal circumstances, but just today, you can feel free to be as loud as you want!
WARNINGS: None anticipated. Let me know if that should be changed!

Although it’s April, Maurtia Falls is covered in a blanket of glistening snow. And whether the arrival of all these Westerosi folk is to blame for the prolonged winter or that pesky groundhog who saw his shadow, it seems as though spring will not rear its head today at least. But have no fears! A path has been shoveled and the large stone steps leading up to an even larger building are cleared, greatly diminishing the risk of slips (and lawsuits.) Welcome to the newly constructed Maurtia Falls Memorial Library!

Invited guests have been encouraged to come in costume -- dressed as either their favorite literary hero/character or author. And although imPorts are not necessarily book characters, they will find several mini-me versions of themselves running around from children who just wanted to use the day to dress up like their favorite imPort. Is that a tiny Rincewind with a lunchbox luggage? Look at that crazy cotton ball hair on that mini Doc Brown! And that little know-it-all girl is definitely playing a very convincing Kitty Jones!

The day begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which might fill imPorts who know Ambassador Baelish with dread because it means he’s going to give a speech. But it’s surprisingly short and concise, thanking everyone for attending, expressing excitement over what the library means for the city, and stating that this project is the result of everyone’s kind efforts and that it will be immortalized as a true testament of the things they can accomplish as a collective. However, simply because Ambassador Baelish isn’t as long-winded as usual does not mean the others who have been invited to speak will not be. Among such honored guests are Senator Mitchell Hundred and Count Dooku.

But once the ribbon is cut, the large doors are opened to reveal the common area of the library. And if you thought the main room contained all the books the library had to offer, surprise! There are at least three more side rooms that contain everything from comics to classic literature. ImPorts may notice many names fancily engraved into the stone pillars and archways. A little plaque hanging at the entrance indicates that these are the names of natives who have lost their lives in the city of Maurtia Falls and how you can honor the fallen by donating to the families at the front desk. Near that plaque and on display for the event are several signed copies of The Methodical Walter White by Doctor Frederick Chilton (available for purchase), The Luminescent Moon Trilogy which is a series from The City and was loaned generously by Kanaya Maryam (protected by magic seals to prevent theft), and in honor of the recently departed Dorian Gray -- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is accompanied by a framed picture of the actual Dorian Gray along with a pretentious inscription that says: Forever immortalized and never forgotten.

But books aren’t the only form of entertainment at this Swear In! In the Tony Stark Information/Technology Wing, imPorts are invited to try out a demo of the newest mmorpg ION (ImPorts Opposing Nations) -- a game where you can customize and create your own imPort character, give them a power/costume from a small list, and from there, choose to live heroically or villainously within the world’s setting of a highly corrupt set of nations. As you level up, you get the chance to unlock new powers and abilities or enhance the set you currently have. However, there are still many glitches to be ironed out, so don’t be surprised if your character turns the corner and comes out with the face of Komasan! Or if you encounter something even more unsettling.

If video games aren’t your thing, perhaps you’ll be more interested in heading to one of the classrooms for a featured game of Magic and Mayhem (an RPG table top game that hit the majority report back in February). Or maybe you’re feeling less adventurous and more generous. If so, there are many different money raising events going on with all proceeds donated to those many families who lost loved ones in this city. Feeling photogenic? You can donate your time to take pictures with children and fans at one of the many stations with silly backdrops. It only costs five dollars per picture to allow professional photographers to capture all your best sides and give away a happy memory to a fan. Feeling vindictive? A panel has been set up with popular fanfiction writers from across the country. For only about five dollars per fic, this team of writers will make magic happen and write up any pairing you so choose in any situation -- from as benign to as salacious as you want! (The more lewd it gets, the extra the cost.) None of these writers are profiting personally from this, of course! Oh no, no. It’s all for fun and charity. No lawsuits allowed! But that one writer cosplaying Jeff Winger will tell you it’s the premise of her next big fic, where all the male imPorts enlist Mr. Winger to help them win a huge lawsuit, and as a payment Jeff demands that they [CENSORED].

But perhaps you’re feeling hungry instead? Lunch is served all day in buffet style. Catered by many of the most expensive eateries in Maurtia Falls, you can find piping hot food to all tastes -- whether it’s sweet and spicy wings from Wingin’ It to a bouillabaisse from Francey Meeting You Here. Lettuce Help has also donated a wide variety of fresh salads if none of the warm food meets your dietary requirements. And if you’re just looking for a hot drink on this cold day, the staff at Brewed Awakening is prepared to make you anything from cappuccino to cocoa. All of this is free of charge, but each of the companies have a tip jar out if you really like what you taste.

If you’re feeling competitive and don’t mind the cold, the largest event of the day is taking place outside. It’s a snow-sculpting competition! Participants are invited to make as large and elaborate of snow sculptures as possible. The grand prize winner will receive $1000 and get their sculpture made into an actual statue outside of the library. This will be handpicked by Petyr Baelish himself, so anyone incorporating mockingbirds will have a clear advantage! Of course, everyone’s a winner here, and there will be several small trophies and prizes handed out to anyone who participates. Do bear in mind you have some steep native competition. One sculptor in particular is making a very convincing (and anatomically correct) homage to recent newlyweds Hermann Gottlieb and Newton Geiszler.

And if none of the offered events catch your interest, no one is stopping you from enjoying what is probably the last snowfall of the season. Have snowball fights, make snow angels, be that jerk who puts snow down your friend’s back. The only limit to your fun is your own imagination! That and some of the killjoy imPorts who are attending the event as well. But hey. That’s not on Ambassador Baelish!

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Gansey straightens back up, idly brushing some of the accumulated snow off of his jacket fixated on the figure that, unmistakeably, belongs to his best friend.

He lets out a small laugh of disbelief and walks towards him. They're all here. The Aglionby boys. Gansey of course doesn't have the hesitation of the other two. As he walks, he bends to one side, leather gloves skating through the snow and pulling some up, forming it into a ball. When he's in reasonable snowball throwing distance, he launches it, trajectory right between Adam's shoulders.

Edited 2017-04-23 00:56 (UTC)

The impact knocks him half a step forward, knocking the breath out of Adam. Alarm and confusion spiral through his mind, locking his guts. He's made a few friends here, but none of them are on good enough terms with him for a snowball to feel at all appropriate.

Did somebody miss and hit me? Who would throw something at me?

It feels like being back in Henrietta in the worst way, before he made friends with Gansey, when the playground bullies would throw snowballs at the back of his head.

The wind picks up hard, hitting them all with a single sharp, icy blast.

And then Adam sees Gansey and all of his feelings melt into gratitude. Gansey's here. Gansey.

The wind is gone as quick as it had come, returned to gentle flurries like nothing had happened, with only soft puffs of wind to make the flakes spin.

He doesn't see the others yet, since Gansey had approached ahead of them, and Adam's so stunned by Gansey that his mind can't yet process the possibility that he's not alone. "Gansey?"

Gansey is grinning widely, elated to see Adam as he jogs up, cheeks and nose rosy from the cold. He's not sure what that gust of wind was all about, but it doesn't matter right now.

He comes up to Adam, and holds out a leather gloved hand in a fist.

"Been here long, Parrish?"

A grin splits across Adam's face in response and he steps forward to meet the fist with his own, standing just a little too close so that he can study all the details of Gansey's face to make sure that it's Gansey, his Gansey, here in this world. "About two we--"

And then he catches sight of the giant dark figure standing a little ways behind Gansey, and then the smaller, brighter, surprisingly not dead figure at his side, and it's there his mind stutters, because Noah looks so solid and brightly colored.

"Noah?"

For just half a second, Noah looks too distracted to hear him. It's only when he breaks his eyes away from Ronan's - a strangely intense gaze - that he sees Adam's eyes on him.

"... Hey."

He gets up from the snow, dusting it off his jeans. His winter coat is a bit too puffy for normal motion, and a ludicrous cat-eared toboggan is pushed down over his hair.

Do you remember? he asks, right into Adam's mind.

It's Noah like Adam's never seen him before. Cat-ears, puffy coat, looking so... alive.

Overwhelmed by all of them being here, Adam has so many questions, and none of them are helped by Noah asking him a question inside of his mind.

Adam winces, not anticipating that, and he doesn't know what to do with it. "Remember what?"

He stays by Gansey's side, reassured by Gansey being the same Gansey that he knows, even in this other world.

His eyes flick to Ronan, lingering for a moment, but he doesn't get any answers and the dark glasses Ronan's wearing don't help, so his attention flicks right back away.

Gansey looks between Noah and Adam at Adam's odd outburst. Likely Noah reading Adam's mind.

"Two weeks? That's about how long I've been here too," he replies with a small frown. How had they missed each other for so long?

Gansey remains where he is, looking between Adam, only half a step away, and Noah. The air of the whole situation seemed to shift and he wasn't sure why.

And that's when he realizes Ronan hasn't approached any further yet.

"Lynch, you alright?" he calls over.

"Yeah," Ronan answers dryly. "I'm fantastic."

He is not, in fact, fantastic. The wise part of him is telling him to leave, and the stupid part of him is too transfixed by Adam for him to take a step. And so Ronan's caught in limbo here, watching this reunion from a safe distance, reminded once again (despite Noah's telepathic protests to the contrary) that he Does Not Belong.

You know what I'm talking about, Noah tells Adam. His face stays neutral, free of any anger or fear, but still deeply hesitant. He turns back towards Ronan.

"Come over here."

I want you to be over here, he adds. Please.

I genuinely don't know what you're talking about and can we talk not inside my head? Unless it's a secret? Is it a secret?

There are so many things going on at once and Adam doesn't know what's happening with any of them. His shoulders hunch forward, and his hands slide into his pockets, taking up the posture he uses when he wants to reduce conflict.

Now Ronan's distance seems weird, because both of the others have drawn attention to it. "Lynch," Adam says, with a little jerk of his chin that's his equivalent toward Ronan of the fist bump he gave Gansey.

Ronan is entirely skeptical about whether Noah really means that. Peace has been so tenuous between them since the dream. Ronan's felt like a grenade every time they're together, and now that Adam's here, it's as if someone's pulled the pin. But he approaches anyway at Noah's beseeching, shuffling forward in a lazy and disinterested sort of way.

"Parrish," he acknowledges finally, chiding. "You don't write, you don't call."

I don't know if he remembers, Noah continues in Ronan's head, shy and quiet. He pulls his hat down farther by the pom-poms.

Adam's heart aches with gratitude that he has all his friends here, and they're real, and he's not in this world alone. He wants to hug all of them, but he doesn't know how to offer that kind of emotional vulnerability.

It's Noah who intrigues him most of all. Gansey seems like Gansey--happy and enthusiastic, which is the best Gansey--Ronan seems like Ronan--more standoffish than usual but still well within normal ranges--but Noah...

Adam moves to stand in front of Noah, tipping his head so that he can study Noah from close range. He's not smudgy. His cheeks are rosy rather than bruised. Adam tugs very gently at one of the pom-poms, trying to figure out what's happening. "Noah?"

Noah peers up from below the hat, brown eyes wide, freckles vibrant in the cold. "Hi."

He wants to pull Adam aside, to make sure that they're safe, to put that fear at ease - but not here. Not in front of Gansey, who's so full of optimism and relief. They can sort of all out later.

"I missed you."

"Are you..." Adam can't look away from him, utterly fascinated. He's Noah, but it's like he's a Noah that he's never seen before. Full-color, with cat ears and freckles. Adam doesn't think he's ever seen--or at least never noticed--Noah's freckles before.

Very careful, Adam reaches out, touching Noah's cheek. He's warm. "Are you alive?"

Noah nods, eyes flitting over Adam's features as well, looking for anything that suggests the dream he knows they shared. He doesn't want to invade his mind further.

"Just here. They gave me a body."

Adam grins, full of hope and warmth. He takes his hand back, letting Noah have his space again. Noah's alive. This place is... good. The four of them are together, and Noah's alive.

"I'm glad."

He looks around at the others, finding that everyone's staring at him. "Are you all here? In Maurtia Falls?"

Gansey shakes his head.

"We're right outside De Chima. I was actually assigned to live in the government housing in De Chima before I realized Lynch and Noah were here."

He's so glad they're all here together, although it's a little odd seeing Ronan and Adam be so stand-offish with each other.

Ronan is suddenly grateful he wore shades today. The subject of Noah's renewed life continues to overwhelm him, and just watching the realization dawn on Adam's features is enough to bring tears to Ronan's eyes. It's a miracle. This whole fucking situation is a miracle.

But between the sunglasses and the scarf, Ronan remains unreadable to everyone but Noah, who knows what he's feeling at all times.

Ronan's emotions roll right into Noah's head like a tide, and he turns to give him a soft, private smile. Just in Ronan's head, Noah projects the warmth and tenderness of a soft kiss.

"We've been here awhile," he tells Adam, demeanor visibly brightened. "We have a farm and everything."

Adam's grinning his head off, unbelievably happy and grateful to have his friends here, in this place where he's been given autonomy and an escape from his past. Only the best part of his life has come with him, and they're all standing around staring at him.

"I'm in the government housing in De Chima, too." he says, heart pounding with gratitude.

Remember what? Adam's not about to let that go. He's not quite sure how to think at Noah, because usually he doesn't try, but Noah's question and subsequent avoidance makes Adam paranoid that he's missing something. You've gotta give me context or something.

It's hard to keep the broad smile on his face, but Noah makes a valiant effort, trying not to alert anyone else to the mental conversation.

Russia, he thinks simply.

Adam blanches, grin dropping away into horror as he stares at Noah. His cheeks flush in blotchy patches.

That awful dream that he had. The sickness that everyone's talking about, which had him unconscious for a day and a half and made him miss his first deadline. The excruciating realness of it, sounds and smells.

His hand twitches up to his ear, and there's nothing, just the familiar awful numbness, and he remembers that in the dream he could hear in both ears, because they'd fixed that, fixed him, made him into something approximating his worst nightmare, and his gut clenches with misery and gratitude that at least he wasn't his worst nightmare, at least he wasn't his father.

Do you remember, Noah asked him, because Noah was there, in painful detail. Adam's eyes drop to Noah's arm, which looks whole and unharmed. Pressing the back of his hand to his mouth, Adam tries not to retch.

He's not processing this well. He's processing this very visibly, as the shockwaves of it radiate out through his usual fastidious self-control.

His eyes go to Ronan next, wary and guilty, remembering viscerally how Ronan was his everything, the only thing in the world that he trusted. Ronan got him out. Ronan told him that it was a dream, and he'd been stupid enough to believe that it was only a dream.

Ronan's looking at Adam. He hasn't stopped looking at Adam, despite the reassurances Noah pressed into his mind a moment ago, though now he says, "Noah." It's both a warning and a plea. Whatever it is Noah just did to Adam, the effect is obvious, and Ronan can guess well enough the subject of their mental discussion.

Now Adam's looking at him, too, and Ronan is forced to pluck the shades off so that he can properly meet Adam's eyes. "It was just a fucking dream," he says to Adam out loud, because to speak into Adam's mind would require revealing too much. It wouldn't be a voice, but a flood of everything inside Ronan's head.

He was right. He should have left. Correcting that mistake, as he slides his shades back on and turns away from the three of them.

Ronan's eyes are complicated and familiar, and they glisten just a little too much.

Adam's lips part, brow furrowed, because if it was real, if they shared it, then it clearly wasn't just a fucking dream.

But before he can process that, Ronan has turned and is walking away, and it feels like a punch. Adam doesn't understand why Ronan's walking away. He's processing far too much, and he's been feeling overwhelmed for weeks, ever since he got here, because he senses all energy and magic the way he sensed Cabeswater, and in the middle of the city, surrounded by superpowers and electrical lines, it's like a cacophony in his head. And now he's trying to process the fact that his friends are here and not long ago they shared a nightmare where two of them betrayed and tortured the third, except that Ronan is walking away before Adam can even begin to come to a reaction.

"Ronan," he snaps, temper flaring that Ronan's reaction is to just walk away.

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