open || i heard that you make old things new; so I give these pieces all to you

[adamparrish]

Adam has been busy over the last month as the city has magically rebuilt itself before their very eyes. A lot of his time has been spent out in the mountainous and forested areas of the dome, away from people, doing what he has to do to make things right. Those who know him know what he's been doing. Those who don't, well, he isn't sharing. Over the month though, he's become more and more centered, more like himself and less scattered and overly emotional. Repairing the ley lines will do that for him.

He's getting back into a routine which includes a work schedule at the garage where he repairs and builds things of all kinds. Every day around noon he's in the park across the street, usually sitting on the merry-go-round, eating a sandwich he brought in for lunch.

Every few days he stops by Monmouth to check on Gansey, Noah and Blue. He makes sure the Pig is up and running as well as she can be. Then he disappears back to the apartment he shares with Ronan and keeps notes on all that's happened in Itinere since his arrival. Sometimes he goes to check the blue door that he's sure leads to Henrietta. It hasn't opened for him yet. Just his luck, he guesses.

Comments

For Ronan

[adamparrish]

One evening after a day of working, Adam goes home and showers, changes clothes to clean jeans and a threadbare tee with tennis shoes. He finds Ronan in the living room with Chainsaw and plops down onto the couch next to him. For a little bit he just sits there in silence, letting the day slip away and opening himself up to the evening and the plans he has, plans of which Ronan has no idea of. One might even call what he has planned a surprise. Adam hates surprises. They're usually never good. This one, he thinks, is good.

Finally, he looks sideways to Ronan, studying him in profile. "Wanna go for a walk with me?"

[fictor]

Ronan is wearing his customary black tank and a pair of worn jeans. He's got combat boots on his feet and he's busy irritating Chainsaw. He keeps balling up pieces of paper and throwing them at her. She gets involved in shredding one of the pieces of paper and he throws another one. He's greatly amused by the whole thing. Ronan knows exactly when Adam starts down the stairs toward the living room, his eyes glancing up then off Adam to return to Chainsaw. He doesn't really look at him until he plops down next to him. Even when that happens he doesn't say anything, content to sit with Adam in silence and continue to irritate Chainsaw. He's got no clue that Adam has a surprise planned.

At Adam's question, Ronan cocks up one scarred eyebrow then nods. "Yeah. Something happen today?" he asks assuming that Adam doesn't want to talk about whatever it is in from of the children (Chainsaw). He pushes himself to his feet.

[adamparrish]

At the very least, getting Ronan out of the apartment will keep the place from getting trashed. They just got the apartment back. Adam is worried about it getting taken away again. He isn't used to having nice things. Shredded paper on the floor is fine for awhile, but then, as always, Adam will always develop a twitch and go pick it up and throw it away. Sometimes he thinks Ronan leaves things laying around on purpose just so Adam will eventually be compelled to pick it up.

He reaches over to rest his hand over Ronan's to still it before he can throw the next wad. He shakes his head. "Nothing out of the usual. Just come walk with me." His eyes say please. Because any other delay he'll start taking as a no. Yes, Adam can make things more complicated than they have to be.

He stands up and picks up the shredded paper, which gets a squawk out of Chainsaw. Adam throws the mess away and glances at Ronan before heading to the door.

[fictor]

Ronan doesn't really mean to trash the place. He's just having fun with Chainsaw and they both like destroying things. He doesn't ever actually think 'wow I should stop trashing the place'.

Adam gets a confused and slightly worried look from Ronan, but he nods. "Yeah. 'Course," he says, noticing the plea in Adam's eyes. He grabs Chainsaw and puts her in the cage in the living room so that she doesn't tear the place up then follows Adam to the door, reaching out to loop his finger through Adam's belt loops.

[adamparrish]

Adam looks at Ronan with gratitude, a silent thank you for coming without delaying. The truth is that he's really nervous. He's worried that Ronan won't like the surprise. Maybe that's portraying the idea that something's wrong, or that something happened. But it didn't. His mind is actually more clear now than it's been since the city was destroyed.

The finger at his belt loop lets him feel a little better, grounded, because of the contact, because it's Ronan and touching like this or at all in any way is still new and thrilling to him, especially when done in public. Going down the elevator isn't public. But when they step out on the sidewalk, well... that finger is still there. It's thrilling. He likes it.

They start down the sidewalk in silence until finally Adam speaks up. "You know how everything got trashed and destroyed? Once things started coming back, I was worried everything wouldn't come back like it was." He pauses. "It has to be magic, right? This place is magic somehow... or way technologically advanced."

[fictor]

As mushy as it sounds, Adam took the time to put together a surprise for Ronan, he's probably going to like it. It's probably just the worry that's making Ronan concerned, that and the fact that Adam's mind has been a little all over the place. It's better lately, and Ronan knows that but he still worries about Adam.

It's still new and thrilling to Ronan as well, which is why Ronan tends to be slightly more touchy with Adam. He can touch him in public without fear of rejection or being looked at like he's crazy. No, going in the elevator isn't public, but Ronan still steals a kiss while in the elevator.

He walks along with Adam, boots scraping on the concrete as they walk. He doesn't mind the silence with Adam, but he is intensely curious what this is about. He nods a little as Adam speaks, relieved to the point that it probably shows on his face when Adam starts talking about how the city is coming back. "Sure as hell seems like magic." His brow furrows a little. "I'm going with magic. I don't think technology goes that far."

[adamparrish]

"Magic. Maybe a little of both." Right now it probably doesn't even matter whether or not it's magic or technology the likes of which they can't even fully fathom. But it does have a little bit to do with the surprise he has for Ronan. This may seem like just a walk, but Adam is slowly guiding them toward his garage.

Adam mimics Ronan, hooking a finger into the belt loop at the back of Ronan's jeans so that they're both holding on to each other. That they can do this without the world imploding doesn't stop Adam from sharply glancing around to see who else is around. It's just them so far save for the random person.

"But everything's coming back. I was glad cause... I started something before the world fell apart." He says. "And I've been able to finish it since it's been put back together again."

[fictor]

Ronan nods a little, grunting a bit. He can agree upon that, a little of both. He can't even wrap his brain around magic this big or technology that big. Ronan realizes that they're headed toward the garage, but he's got no idea why. He just figures that Adam wants to check on the garage in general.

Ronan still gets a little thrill when Adam initiates a touch like that. He knows Adam is still a little paranoid about people seeing them together in public.

He glances sideways at Adam, a suspicious look on his face as he listens to Adam. His brows pull together in something that probably looks like a scowl to anyone that doesn't know him. "Okay...what's going on, Parrish?" He says it with a curious tone of voice rather than worried the way he had been before.

[adamparrish]

The corners of Adam's lips twitch a bit, difficult to see unless you're looking, especially since it's nighttime and there's only the artificial moon and starlight and street lamps along the way. Really, it's hard to grasp that the sky isn't real. It looks so real. The light breeze that comes in from the fake ocean feels real. It all feels real, but it's not.

At his garage, he lets go of Ronan and unlocks the door to go into the garage. He flips on some lights. And rather than answer Ronan, he gestures to the motorcycle he pieced together for Ronan.

Adam rubs a hand back through his messy hair. "It's lightweight and low to the ground so it should go really fast. And... I mean it isn't all shiny like something new you could dream up. But if you... I mean I made it for..." It's yours Ronan, please take it before Adam slithers out of his own skin.

[spheksophobia]

With the destruction and rebuilding of the city, there's a plethora of new things for Gansey to study. The journal he bought when he first arrived for all things Itinere (not to be confused with his other journal, stuffed to the gills with all things Glendower) is quickly filling up with scrawled notes, polaroid photos and other bits and ends. He's scrawling in said journal when Adam walks into Monmouth. He looks up, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips as he pushes aside his work.

"Adam, it's good to see you." He's certainly relieved to see that Adam looks a good deal better than he did the last time he saw him. "The ley lines in good shape?"

[adamparrish]

Monmouth is different to Adam when he doesn't feel compelled to live there through Gansey's offers. He actually likes it. It has a different vibe. And he can see why Gansey and Ronan like it. Of course, it's also different because Blue lives here too. She's changed things, maybe for the better, maybe just to make them different. Either way, it's different.

Gansey smiles and a corner of Adam's lips twitches before falling flat again. Of course the entire crew knows what he's been up to. His mental state is a lot better now. "Yeah. A few more to fix, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel."

He shoves his hands into his pockets and steps closer to Gansey. "What are you up to?"

[spheksophobia]

Blue has changed Monmouth. It's cleaner, for one (though she's good about not touching Gansey's books). It seems more like a home now and less like a haven for wayward boys. It's taken Gansey a while to get used to it and he's still not sure he's used to living with Blue (but he likes it).

That smile might not last, but Gansey sees it regardless. Perhaps he shouldn't have mentioned it. He never seems to be able tos ay the right thing to Adam. "Good. I'm glad. If you--if you need some help I'd be happy to go with you."

He looks to the journal he'd just closed. "Trying to get as much about the destruction and rebuilding of the city down in writing as possible."

[adamparrish]

The clean part is good. The rest of the change is just change. Adam has no idea how much Gansey likes living with Blue. But he's glad that Blue is with some of them. Gansey and Noah are good people for her to be with. And he'd rather her not be alone, especially here. It has to be pretty different for her, going from living at 300 Fox Way to here. It's hard to imagine Blue anywhere but at 300 Fox Way with all the women that reside there.

"You'd be bored out of your mind." Adam almost teases. Maybe Gansey wouldn't be bored out of his mind, but he'd be so distracted by everything around them that Adam would have a hard time not being distracted too. Adam naturally follows Gansey much of the time.

Adam nods. "I've been doing that too. I have some theories... probably wrong, but..." He shrugs.

[spheksophobia]

The clean part is good. The rest is just different. Blue and Noah seem happy at least and that's enough for Gansey. Gansey doesn't want Blue alone either. He's very glad that she agreed to live at Monmouth with them. He never ceases to be surprised by Blue's presence though, in a good way.

"On the contrary, I think I'd be able to take some fantastic notes." He'd be distracted by everything around them and he probably would distract Adam or he'd get so involved in his research that Adam would constantly have to jerk him out of his academia to drag him to the next site.

"I'd be interested to hear them though." He values Adam's ideas and thoughts. He's smart and more than that, he's clever.

[adamparrish]

The sardonic look Adam casts Gansey is one that clearly says 'sure you would'. He knows exactly how bringing Gansey along to repair ley lines would go. On one hand it could be amusing. On the other it could be the most frustrating thing in the world. Which one of those it is probably depends on both his own mood and Gansey's.

"Well, I think it's magic. But I don't think it's all magic. We've heard the one's in charge talk about 'glitches'. That doesn't sound like a magic problem, more mechanical, technological." It sounds reasonable to him. There had been a time when speaking of magic would have made him feel insane. But he's seen and done too much at this point to be repelled by it in any way. Magic is real.

He gestures up. "Also, when we were attacked, the sky went away. The ceiling is glass of some kind. We could see the creature outside of it. And beyond that, it looks like... space, maybe. Mechanical."

[spheksophobia]

Yeah, it would probably be a disaster, but Gansey would still find it interesting at least. Adam would be much more inconvenienced.

His brow furrows as he considers that then he nods. "I agree. There's got to be a magical component. I'd also considered an organic component. That creature seemed to be doing something to the dome. Perhaps it feeds off energy or it's responsible for some aspects of running this place."

[adamparrish]

"Yeah, it wanted something here. No clue what." Adam agrees, glad that Gansey is on the same page as him. It isn't too often that he and Gansey are on different pages. It just so happens that when they are, it's on big huge things that affect them and their hunt for Glendower. Also, it should be noted that sometimes Adam is contrary just because he doesn't know how to make things easy.

"Also, that space out there, with all the colors. No way that's near Earth." He adds with a shake of his head. Even as he says it he kind of can't believe it. There's no denying that he'd seen outside of the dome. Colorful gases and explosions. They're far away from home.

"If this is even the same solar system." He pauses. "So then how did those doors get us from Henrietta to here?"

[deathbysk8board]

It's one of those visits to Monmouth when Noah is there when Adam stops by. Not that he has a lot to do or a lot of places to go. But still. He likes Adam even though Adam doesn't seem to understand why.

He kind of appears at Adam's side (a vestige of his time as a ghost), his hands in his pockets. "Hey."

[adamparrish]

"Hey." Adam isn't all that surprised by the way Noah just appears in places, even now that he isn't a ghost. It's just something Noah has always done and something Adam is accustomed to as well as he's accustomed to the way Ronan can make swearing sound like a classic sonnet or the way Gansey always smells of mint leaves.

Their stances are the same, one mimicking the other, each standing with their hands in their pockets, side by side. In truth, there isn't a whole lot to do here if you don't take the initiative to do it. Gansey and Ronan don't work because they've never had to. Noah hasn't had to either. It stands to reason that they don't need to keep busy in the same way Adam needs to. That's why he has the garage.

For awhile there they're quiet, just standing there, then Adam casts a sideways glance at Noah. "You wanna go build some ramps and ride a bike?"

[deathbysk8board]

"Maybe," Noah says with something of a shy smile. "I mean, it's been a really long time, but I think it'd be fun to try. They say you never forget how to ride a bike, so I suppose I can test that theory."

Too, it would give him something to do, right?

[adamparrish]

Adam nods and turns away. They go down to the base floor of Monmouth and rummage through the debris. Adam, miraculously, finds just what he needs. He knows it must be wish magic because a lot of the junk down here is covered in dust and rusted and rotted and old. These boards are new and just the right size. He asks Noah to get the other end of one and help him take it outside.

"At least I'm not throwing you out of windows. There's minimal chance of you breaking anything doing this." He says, recalling the times when Noah was a ghost that Ronan would perform death-defying acts with Noah. How he hadn't realized Noah was a ghost before, he'll never know.

But now Noah's real. Adam has to wonder how Noah's doing with that, how he's adjusting to being tangible and here. "I'm glad things here are rebuilding."

[deathbysk8board]

"Yeah," Noah says, which is kind of the biggest understatement ever. Things sucked for a long time, it seems and now that they are changing, it's got to get better.

(Maybe, too, Adam didn't notice that Noah was a ghost because sure, Noah said he was dead, but he didn't go out of his way to show it.)

He grabs the other end of the wood and helps Adam to carry it. "Are you gonna try this, too?"

[adamparrish]

It does seem to be getting better. It's kind of amazing really, to be able to watch the buildings rebuild themselves from the bottom up to just what they had been before all of the destruction. And now there was so much more information, supposition and questions. Adam's been keeping up his journals, chock full of all the information he's learned.

Noah's answer is kind of an understatement, and doesn't invite more conversation on the topic. Adam's fine with that.

He helps to get the wood out, taking the backward route so that Noah can walk forward. He's actually used to hefting heavy things and walking backward with them. "Yeah. It's been awhile but I used to be good with ramps." When you couldn't afford toys, you used what was handy to play with. The trailer park was full of cheap tricks.

[deathbysk8board]

Noah trusts Adam's ability. It isn't because he's poor or anything like that. It's that Adam is just more capable than Noah is. (Clearly, since Adam didn't manage to get himself murdered by his supposed best friend.)

So, they set the board down and from there, Noah is content to take orders as best as he can, though he's never actually lifted a hammer or anything of the kind.

"I bet you're still good at it," he says.

[adamparrish]

After they set the board down, Adam gestures to Noah that they should go back inside to get more things. They head in that direction and Adam shrugs. "There are all different kinds."

It feels kind of silly to talk to Noah about ramps of all things. Sometimes Adam thinks there's no way that Noah or Gansey or Ronan could ever be interested in things like this, things that Adam has done many, many times, normal people things, not rich people things.

"We're just gonna do a simple one, no construction required." He picks up a cinder block and gestures to another one. "Can you get that?"