[open]

[makeslouder]

At some point in the chaos, Persephone had disappeared. Blue had mourned the loss of the woman who had helped to raise her. But as more time has passed, the easier it's become to live here without feeling the ache of missing people back home. Sure, she still misses her family almost every day. She especially misses Moira Sargent. This is the longest she's ever been away from home and her mother and it hasn't always been easy. But Blue's lucky. She knows that she's lucky. Each of her raven boys are still here. As long as she has them in her life, Blue knows that she's at home.

Since it's return, Blue has spent a good amount of her time cleaning up Monmouth. She doubts that the warehouse home has ever been so clean. At least, not since Gansey had originally moved in. The big difference between the Monmouth here in Itinere and the one back in Henrietta is that this one is her home. She had moved in shortly after arriving here and has yet to move out. Even the appearance of a 300 Fox Way on one of the random blocks in town hasn't gotten her to budge. She had tried for all of one night but it's just not the same without all of the women that lived in the house with her.

So she cleans. And cooks. And continues to work her part-time job at one of the cafes downtown. She rides her bike around town and spends enough time at the beach that she suspects that she might be getting a tan. As lives go, it's not a bad one. Especially given that whole end of the world thing that nearly happened a couple of months ago. Blue's not complaining. But there's still one thing that she wishes she could do above anything else and that's kiss Richard Gansey III. Dating a boy, let alone your true love, is difficult when kissing will never be an option.

Comments

[adamparrish]

Adam, of course, had felt Persephone's absence too. He's angry at this place for taking her away and angry at himself for not stopping it. Surely there could have been some way to keep her here. Or maybe he really isn't all that important or powerful to have any effect on her coming and going. She'd been here for a little while, and somehow that in itself just seemed like Persephone's way.

Usually he avoids being around Blue by himself. Things just tend to get awkward. He gets on Blue's nerves in some way or another. He gets defensive. Then things devolve into an argument that leaves him feeling unsettled. When he catches her riding a bike past the garage he works at, Adam thinks to just let her go on by. That would be the easier route. But something compels him to make sure she's okay since Persephone isn't here anymore.

Adam hops onto his own bike and speeds after her, catching up and riding alongside her in silence. Should he bring up Persephone? Should he bring anything up at all? Or should he just be here so she knows he's here even when he's difficult to be around? He chooses the latter. One step at a time.

[makeslouder]

Even if they had known that someone (something?) intended on sending Persephone away, Blue's not certain that they'd be able to do anything about it. Oh, she would have wanted to try. She would have fought as hard as she could but in the end, what good would it have accomplished? She has no illusions about where she standsi n whatever heiarchy exists. Or that Persephone's disappearance easily could have been at the woman's own whim. Regardless, knowing any of this doesn't make it any easier.

Though she sees Adam on a regular enough basis, whenever he and Ronan come over to Monmouth, they're rarely alone in the same room. Her reasons are much the same as his. No matter how hard she tries not to, she always seems to find some way to get under his skin. Or he does the same. They're just not good at this friend thing, are they?

But she hasn't given up trying yet. Blue's heard someone cycling behind her for a little while now. When Adam finally catches up to her, she slows down her pace so she can wave without losing her balance. One step at a time. It's a good plan. There can't be any harm in quietly biking together for a while. Right?

[adamparrish]

Her disappearance highlights the fact that any of them could disappear at any time, at least it does for Adam. That's a bothersome thought. Getting them all here had been rough, not because he doesn't care deeply for them, but because he and Ronan had been here long enough alone for something to change between them. Adam didn't know how to handle that change in front of people he knew, maybe, Blue, especially.

The idea of losing them? His mind can't really handle even the thought of it. Maybe they would all be happier back in Henrietta. But Adam selfishly wants them here if he has to be here too.

When Blue slows her pace, so does Adam. They bike side by side for awhile in silence. He's fine with silence. Adam has always been the quiet sort unless he really has something to say. Right now it's about just being around Blue without fighting with her or letting his mind play games with him. He's trying.

Eventually though... "I made Ronan a motorcycle." Random conversation. Safe topics. Motorcycles. It works.

[makeslouder]

It highlights the fact just as clearly for Blue. But she refuses to let that distract her from living her life. There are enough things that can happen back home just as easily to separate them. She'll do her best to stay here for as long as she can. Leaving the boys behind just seems wrong. She knows that Adam and Ronan have been here for longer and that it's built something between them that hadn't been there before. That's okay. If anything, it makes her feel a bit better about the way she feels about Gansey.

Selfishly, she wants them all to stay here just as much. She wants them to stay together as a group either here or in Henrietta. The place doesn't matter. What matters is that Blue has her raven boys all together.

It's not so bad biking alongside Adam. It's actually kind of nice, almost peaceful in its way. She smiles at him every now and then to reassure them both that things can go smoothly between them. When he breaks the silence, Adam's only rewarded with a bigger smile. "I've seen it. You do nice work, Adam."

[adamparrish]

The longer they ride, the easier it gets. Whatever tension is on Adam's side starts to ease bit by bit. Maybe he needs to try to spend more time with Blue and not less. He's been backed off for awhile just because they seemed to be arguing all the time. Maybe they need to spend more time. Maybe they would argue less. Maybe arguing is okay as long as they're all together.

Although, when Blue smiles like that, Adam is reminded of how beautiful she is. Part of that beauty is that she doesn't even realize it herself. That's fine. Adam has never thought himself lovable before, not until recently, with Ronan. Blue is beautiful. Adam is lovable. The grass is green and the forest is full of trees.

"I was worried he wouldn't like it. You know, because it's not shiny or new." It's all different colors and hodge-podge parts put together. Rustic and a little dirty, like Adam is. But still, Ronan liked it.