maskormenace | Entry #004

[ Here is Gansey, looking a little strange. He’s wearing a navy-blue sweater emblazoned with a raven – an Aglionby school sweater, over what appears to be ordinary clothes. His shoulders and hair are damp, like he’s been rained on, and he looks strangely pale. Despite that, he’s displaying a welcoming smile, and his hazel eyes are bright and vital with some emotion he’s holding back. ]

Apparently, I vanished yesterday.

I say apparently because it feels more like several weeks ago, but according to this – [ he holds up one of De Chima’s daily newspapers – a tabloid, headlined with speculation about the upcoming import elections ] – it’s only been a day.

A lot can happen in a day. Sometimes things that give you perspective.

Can I ask – the school year is almost over. Some of you will be graduating. I will. Which is odd, because I was here for eight months, and then I went home and it was Fall again, and Senior year was just beginning. I’m not completely sure what age I am now. I turned eighteen a couple of months ago.

[ Which, he actually never mentioned. It had seemed like there were more important things to be getting along with, and the thought of getting older in the wrong world had annoyed Gansey anyway. He’d kept quiet. Now, if he could do that over again, he thinks he’d celebrate it more – even though he’s only mentioning it now because it’s relevant to this. ]

Then I go home, and I’m seventeen again, so now I don’t even know what counts. Graduation will, though, I know that much.

So: to everyone else who’s graduating. Or even if you’re not, even if it’s just that you see change coming for you. What are your plans? Will you work, will you travel? What would you like to do, ideally? I think I’m ready for it to be summer again.

Private to: Billy Kaplan, Adam Parrish, Ronan Lynch, Noah Czerny, Matthew Lynch

[ This part goes to everyone’s private inboxes. Gansey’s smile is less presidential here, but his eyes are even sharper. He seems energized, like he’s on the edge of something. His voice is trying not to sound like it. ]

Hey, everyone. I very much hope I didn’t worry you. I think I was mid-conversation with you, Billy. I’ll have to blame my rudeness on the Porter.

Listen, I’m on my way home. Could someone bring the car and pick me up? I’m getting pizza from that Italian place near the porter in De Chima. I’m absolutely famished.

I’d…like to know if anyone else vanished, too. Ronan, Adam?

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Oh, I'm all right.

[ She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. ]

A friend of mine came back. Someone I'd like you to meet. Someone you'll like to meet, I expect.

[ Gansey lifts his eyebrows.

Then a memory crashes in, and he realizes he'd not had a chance to talk to her about this before he left. Jesus, it had happened suddenly.

So much had happened suddenly. ]

Yes. Billy said something about Nathaniel. That's who you mean, right? Your friend from home.

The Magician.

[ Oh - yes, of course. He would have heard. Though now that she thinks about it, it might be dangerous having Billy's two straight-boy crushes talk nerdy to each other. Billy might actually explode. ]

That's right. I think you two will get along. He's as clever as you are - which means, of course, that he's nearly as clever as me.

[ That makes him smile, too.

Christ, Kitty Jones. He feels as though he's missed her, even though that's not even physically possible. ]

Nearly, but not quite.

All right, then. We should do something together, maybe. It feels like I haven't seen you in weeks. I know that's ridiculous.

It feels like it's been too long for me, too, and I've not had any time-displacements at all. How does tea sound?

It sounds good. Providing you make it, as always.

Barring any further unexpected exits, when is good for you?

If you'd like, we could do Sunday. We could get all of us together, actually - all of you Virginia boys, and Billy, and Nathaniel.

All of us together? That's a tall order. I hope we don't scare him off.

[ He says 'we', and what he actually means is 'Ronan'. Kitty probably knows that, though.

He also notes that this arrangement would make Kitty the only girl, due to their usual only girl not being here. Gansey's heart skitters at that thought.

Blue. Christ, he wishes she were here. ]

We could do that. You could come to The Meadows, if you like, we've plenty of space. And Billy can show off his wards. I got the impression he wouldn't hate that idea.

Oh, that would be lovely, actually. I was going to offer my place, but my place really isn't so large. I expect I'll have to bring my own tea out there?

[ No, listen Kitty, he is a functional human being who has entertained British people before. He's got this covered. ]

I can get some tea. And - milk, I suppose? I forgot about that the last time. [ Okay so he's semi-functional. ] I struggle with remembering if it's milk or lemon. We only ever make it when it's iced.

I like mine with milk. Thanks, that's brilliant. Oh, and buy good tea, won't you? A good pot starts with good tea leaves.

[ A pause. What the hell counts as good tea? ]

Ah, do you mean a particular brand? I could get Earl Grey if you like. [ That being the only 'type' of tea he actually knows. Look what do you expect from him? He never makes this stuff for himself. ]

Oh, no. Just ask the shopkeep if you're not sure. [ A laugh - ] And try not to trap them in a conversation about ley lines.

[ Excuse you, Kitty Jones.

The strange thing is, Gansey would normally laugh that comment off. Right now, it makes his expression fracture. It's only for a moment, but in that moment, there's something truly unhappy in his eyes.

It's gone quickly. If he focuses on the bad, he won't be able to hold himself together. ]

Yes, I'll...do my best. I'm sure they won't steer me wrong, I mean it's tea. How hard can that be?

[ Just wait until you see. ]

We'll get it organized.

[ Huh. She notices that. This is not, she thinks, the time to mention it. But she files it away for later. ]

All right. I'll look forward to it.

[ She smiles. ]

It'll be fun.

It should be. Yes, it definitely should be. I’d like to meet someone else from your world.

[ Her watches her thoughtfully. She’d spoken warmly of Nathaniel, though not at great length. ]

Is there anything I should avoid telling him?

[ She shakes her head. ]

No. Everything is out in the open between us. No secrets.

[ Which - he's about the only one. ]

That's good.

[ Pause. ]

At least, I think it is. You're okay with that, aren't you?

Oh, God, of course.

[ She smiles openly. ]

I bloody hate keeping secrets. I'm rather bad at it, besides.

[ Gansey can't help smiling. ]

If that's true, then I'm quite glad. I'm very tired of secrets. There's been a lot of them lately.

[ ...Ah.

Speaking of which. ]

By the way. Blue and I. We're official, now. I thought you'd want to know.

Oh, thank God.

[ She huffs out a breath, a very exasperated-sounding breath - but she's smiling. ]

So have you taken the scandalous step of hugging?

[ He smiles back. If it's tense, it's because he's remembering how recently they'd done much more than that. ]

We may even have held hands. In public, and everything, we've really matured.

My God.

[ She puts a hand on her chest in mock-shock. ]

And what about sex.

[ Jesus Christ, Kitty. He looks like he's just choked on something, and carefully swallows it back down. ]

Sex? Of course not! Jesus, we've only just publicly admitted to dating. How fast of a mover do you think I am?

[ She clucks her tongue. ]

But you have been dating for ages. And it's not like you wouldn't both enjoy sex, and it's not like you'd regret having it.

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