01 | VIDEO

[dreamkid]

[ Here's a video of a teenage boy, young and square-ish, new to these parts.

Anyone who knows Ronan Lynch might pick up on the similarities in the face before them--the same shade of blue in Matthew's eyes (though his are round with anxiety), the same perfect teeth (though Matthew's are worrying at his lower lip in a way that Ronan would never allow for himself), other shapes and lines in his face that suggest they might have come from knockoff molds of the same man.

The hair is very different though, a full head of golden curls as opposed to Ronan's edgy, close-shaved skull. Also distinctly different are his general mannerisms--Matthew has manners, for one.

His voice is strained, like he's trying very hard not to freak out. Which he is in fact doing. He's just recently been dropped off at his new government-provided apartment and even after all the explanations, he's not feeling super settled. ]

Can anyone tell me the best way to find somebody here? Somebody specific? He's not answering his phone.

[ He gives a short-lived, nervous laugh, a very pale imitation of a normally infectious and beautiful thing.] I mean, that's normal. But--

[ He draws a slightly shuddering breath, stopping himself before he has to try to explain. Obviously calling his brother's number is not working but he doesn't know what else to do. This has been kind of a crazy day and he's not so well equipped to deal with it on his own, sorry everybody. ]

Look, Ronan, Declan, if you guys are here, I'm-- [ Have a pause in which he is briefly replaying the events of the day to himself and trying to figure out what to say. ] --here, too.

I'm ready to go home.

Comments

slides in here.

[fuckwashington]

where the fuck are you

(Voice) or whatever he's just going to call you as soon as he sees the ID

[dreamkid]

Ronan, it's really you, right?

[ Hear that sound of utter relief in his voice? But also still kind of scared and stumbling over his words. Because help. ]

What's going on? I don't know where I am; they said it's in Virginia but I've never heard of this place before.

[fuckwashington]

No, it's the other Ronan Niall Lynch.

I'll explain when you tell me where the fuck you are. Virginia's a big place.

( video. )

[aberth]

Matthew?

[ Adam avoids video as much as he can but a somewhat familiar face might help. He's in an office, the backdrop behind him sleepy and quiet for once. ] Are you okay? Where are you?

[ It's dangerous, so dangerous, to have Ronan's weak spot here. He thinks about Kavinsky, and the Soviets, and the thousand and one things that could harm Matthew and make his brother crazy.

Someone needs to get to him asap. ]

( also still video! )

[dreamkid]

[ Matthew looks at the screen and-- ]

Adam? You're here, too? It's me. I'm okay, I think, just...

[ Just??? Whatever is happening??? ]

[aberth]

[ He's okay.

But Adam trusts this place less and less as the days go by. ] Yeah, Ronan is too. And Gansey. [ And Blue, but Adam's not sure if the two are acquainted beyond fire and death and rage. ]

Someone will come get you.

[inmyothertights]

Uh, well.

A lot of people have like, the ability to find others.

But if you're looking for Ronan Lynch, you might want to try calling Gansey.

[dreamkid]

Ability? So the superpower thing is real?

[ It's not exactly that he thought all those military types were joking but he didn't really believe they could be telling the truth, either. ]

[inmyothertights]

Oh.

Yeah, it is.

They told you what they gave you, right?

video;

[brushoff]

Someone tell Gansey's ley lines to calm the fuck down.

[ because this is what, the sixth person from Henrietta, why are all of you showing up? ]

video;

[quaerit]

That's just what I was thinking. Coincidence?

[ Because it's not, obviously. ]

video;

[brushoff]

Not in the slightest. Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, three times is enemy action, and six times is ridiculous.

[ Moscow rules for a bizarro Cold War setting. ]

video;

[dreamkid]

What do you mean? [ Hang on. ] You know Gansey, too?

[ It's a Henrietta party, obviously. ]

video;

[brushoff]

Third Wheel and I are great friends. [ to the point where Dorian's trying out every sort of 'three' based nickname to see which one sticks/which one embarrasses Gansey the most. Besties. ]

Welcome to the Cold War, littlest Lynch.

video

[quaerit]

[ Well, there's a surprise. A quick check of the responses tells him that Ronan already has this covered, which - given that it's Matthew - is no surprise at all.

Matthew actually being here, though. Jesus Christ. At this rate all of Henrietta is going to be imported. Interesting times. ]

That makes two of us.

But it's good to see you, Matthew. I know Ronan's on his way to you. Is there anything I can help explain, while you wait?

video

[dreamkid]

[ Thank you, Gansey. Thank you. Matthew opens his mouth, closes it, opens it again, and then-- ]

They said we got teleported here and we're s'posed to fight Communists. They tattooed my arm.

[ Man, he hopes Declan isn't going to be pissed at him for that--assuming Declan is here, too. But anyway, Gansey is free to interpret that answer "I have no idea what is going on; please explain everything to me again, more slowly, and in a way that makes sense." ]

video

[quaerit]

[ Gansey feels a surge of frustration at the American soldiers. Yes, of course they'd said that. To Matthew Lynch, of all people. Could there be a person less inclined to be a soldier? ]

You don't have to fight anyone, Matthew. They can't make you do that. I'm not fighting a war for them, and I don't think you should, either.

The teleportation part is true. That's something you'll get used to - there's porters between some of the cities, too.

And it's not precisely a tattoo. It only looks like one. It's caused by the nanites they inject us with. It glows in the dark, too. I know that all sounds alarming, but the important thing is, they won't hurt you.

[ Actively. Gansey actually has a good many problems with the nanites, especially lately. He doesn't want to panic Matthew, though. ]

(voice)

[chancetoatone]

[Because, you know, he doesn't like to freak out the new people. Or want any undue fascination.]

I'm afraid this is the best way, though I'm unfamiliar with the names you've spoken. That doesn't mean they aren't around.

[A pause.]

My name is Thane. Can I be of some help?

(video)

[dreamkid]

[ Matthew sticks to video because it's what he's been using, but yes, it's probably a good thing he can't see Thane right now. The strangeness of the voice? He's just going to chalk that up to a weird connection. ]

Yeah, I heard from my brother, and some more people I know. [ Which has calmed him down, at least enough that you can hear the relief and then gratitude in his voice. ]

But thanks, for explaining. I'm Matthew. Did this all happen to you, too?

[video]

[justanotherlink]

[Pacifica is sitting somewhere with a cat on her lap when she turns on the video.]

If you're trying to call somebody with your normal phone it won't work. You have to use these things.

[She shakes her communicator.]

And if they don't answer they're probably not here.

[video]

[dreamkid]

[ Matthew bobs his head as she speaks. ]

Thanks, that makes sense. [ He peers at the screen. ] They didn't teleport you here, too, did they? How old are you?

[ She looks like a kid. (He's only three years older than her, though.) ]

[ video ]

[enucleation]

The communicator will allow you to see a list of available inboxes. [ and thus, imPorts ]

But you can't go home on your own decision, I'm sorry.

[ video ]

[dreamkid]

[ He would've done really well to have heard that part of the explanation when it was given to him the first time. He messes around with the communicator for a bit and then-- ]

Oh, yeah, I see that now. Thanks.

[ And the other thing... ]

That's what they said, too.

[ He still doesn't really know how to process that part. ]

text;

[pillz]

ill meet u there

[boo.]

and then matthew freaked out and threw ronan his phone

[dreamkid]

fuck off dickhead