affection_for_research | Open Post and Meme Overflow

Alright.

[He could handle Gansey's clothes, for the moment.]

Either one of them would work.

[Noah gives Gansey a small smile, brushing fingers through his hair.]

We should probably pick clothes out, so I have them after I get out of the shower. And then we're burning these.

Probably Adam would be best. Blue might decide to improve her selections before giving them to you.

[After being stuck in the uniform for years, Noah might not mind the change, but it should be one that Noah decides on. Adam would probably get the minimal basics, but he'd focus on what Noah requested.

Heading for the wardrobe that was tucked behind the desk, he started searching for something that might fit. Sweat pants, one of his t-shirts... a hoodie just in case Noah is cold, socks. He doubted that his shoes would fit. He hesitates over underwear.]

Um... do you mind wearing my boxers? I think I have a new pair that I've never worn.

I'm not sure I'd want to wear Blue's clothes. Even if they were improved.

[Just the idea has him shuddering a bit. Not that there was anything wrong with what Blue wore, but he wouldn't wear it. He'd wear Ronan's all black outfits before wearing anything that Blue had.]

I don't mind, Gansey.

[He's not really even thinking about underwear at the moment. All he knows is he wanted out of what he was in. He didn't want to see it ever again either. Too many bad memories attached to it. Yes, there were some good too, but ultimately, he wanted nothing to do with it.]

[Despite his concerns, he smiles at Noah's reaction to Blue's clothes. He didn't mind them, for her, but they were an acquired taste. At least if Noah was commenting on Blue's clothes, it meant that he's aware of what's going on around him.

When Noah confirms that wearing someone else's underwear isn't weird, he digs through the back of one drawer to pull out a pair that is laundered but has never been worn. Adding the boxers to the stack of clothing, he offers it to Noah.]

That should be most of what you need. There should be a towel in the dryer. I'll get it for you and call Ronan while you're showering.

Edited 2020-05-18 16:44 (UTC)

[Noah takes the offered clothes and gives Gansey a small smile.]

Okay.

[Gansey gets another smile before he heads off to the bathroom, so he can strip down and get that shower. Nice hot water and soap to scrub off the feeling of death.]

[Once Noah's headed toward the bathroom, Gansey grabs the towel, leaving it where Noah can easily reach it. Then he calls Ronan, not really sure what he's going to say.

As soon as his best friend picks up, Gansey blurts out.]

Noah's alive.

[Gansey knows that Ronan hates the phone, but he does eventually pick up. Those words throwing him off.]

What do you mean Noah's alive?

[Gansey half-expects Ronan not to answer, but he also knows that after everything that's happened, Ronan is more willing to answer his calls. Which is a relief because he might not b worried about Ronan not learning about what happened until they were home, if it was hours later, Ronan might be furious.]

Noah's alive. He's as solid as I am. He has a pulse. He's breathing.

[Gansey glances over toward the bathroom.]

He's showering right now.

[No more uniform. Of all the details that's muddling his thoughts, it's that one that he's not sure how he'll process.]

[There's silence from Ronan's end of the phone. He's not sure what to make of what Gansey is throwing at him. Honestly, if he could he'd disbelieve what he was being told.

However, things had happened. Hell, he could do things that shouldn't be able to be done.]

Do we know how this happened? Is he alright?

[Just because Noah was showering didn't mean that he was fine. Did it?]

Do you all need anything?

[Gansey's trying to decide if the silence is because of shock or some other emotion. It is a shock. Gansey had hoped to use his wish for Noah, but once that hadn't been possible, he'd assumed Noah would be a ghost until he decided to move on.]

I have no idea what caused it. He seems to be physically all right. But mentally...

[Letting out a sigh, moves to one of the chairs in the main room and almost falls into it.]

I think he's trying not to freak out. Eventually he's going to need clothes and all the basics. Right now he's borrowing my things. I assumed you'd want to be here as soon as possible instead of going shopping.

Mentally, he's not good.

[Who would be good mentally if they'd come back from the dead. Especially after years of being dead.]

I'm on my way. I'll send a text to Adam and he can grab the basics of what Noah needs.

I'm sure that he's not. I just don't know what aspects of it are the worst for him.

[Gansey can't draw conclusions from his own experiences. He was too young the first time he came back and the last time had a whole set of issues that don't relate to Noah's situation.]

Thank you. Noah said he'd rather Adam picked them up than Blue.

[Tipping his head back, he closes his eyes briefly, trying to sort out his own feelings.]

I'm not sure how to process this.

We won't know until he tells us.

[Ronan wasn't even sure how to handle the situation. The fact that Noah was well and alive. Walking around and breathing.]

It shouldn't take me long to get there.

[Noah? He was actually, probably, almost done with the shower too.]

Day by day, Gansey.

I know. I still wish I understood.

[Gansey always wishes that he can understand, that he can help. Especially when he's worrying that Noah doesn't want to be brought back.]

This is one of the few times that I'm going to tell you to hurry.

'Day by day' doesn't help me process it now.

[But Noah will be done soon and Gansey has to be the one that is logical and supportive even as he tries to wrap his mind around the idea that he might have brought his friend back from the dead.]

Do you think that I somehow did this?

I'll break the speed limit without getting caught, then.

[He'll just have to make sure that he doesn't run off the road at the same time.]

I don't know, Gansey. It's possible. Does he even remember how he came back?

Be careful. I don't want to have to bail you out tonight.

[Or have Ronan pulled out of a ditch.]

He doesn't seem to. Until I showed up to take him home, he was almost wandering like Adam did when Cabeswater took over.

I'll be careful.

[Depending on where he was, it would take him maybe ten or fifteen minutes to get home. Or possibly sooner depending on how fast he took the BMW.]

Maybe that's what happened to him, except that it wouldn't be Cabeswater this time.

It could have been Cabeswater indirectly. We don't know what happened to it after... everything.

[Gansey didn't think it could have in an obvious, but whatever energy was caught in him now could have somehow found an outlet. Especially if Gansey had misspoken without realizing it. But he doesn't remember saying anything that would cause Noah to be alive.]

He should be out of the shower soon. The three of us will have to try to figure it out once Noah's settled.

It could've been. There's really no telling, Gansey.

[Honestly? It could've been many different things. It could've been Cabeswater or it could've been Gansey or it could've been a multitude of things.]

Get him settled and I'll be there soon.

[By the time that Ronan does get there, Noah's already out of the shower and dressed.]

[He says good bye to Ronan and sets down the phone. For a moment, he stares out one of the dust coated windows, trying to collect his thoughts. He's not quite sure what to think, but he knows he has to be the stable one for everyone. Even if he's not sure he feels stable at the moment.

When he hears Noah, he turns, smiling despite the concern shadowing his eyes.]

Are you feeling better?

[He's trying, and failing, to not stare. He's never seen Noah in anything other than the school uniform. Noah's familiar, but not.]

I - Ronan will be home soon. He wasn't angry so we don't have to worry about any explosions of temper in the near future. At least not because of this.

[The hot water had felt good on Noah's skin. Being able to wash all of that away. So, when he sees Gansey, he gives him a smile.]

I'm feeling much better.

[More than what he has in a very long time, in fact.]

That's good. Last thing we need is for him to get upset over all of this.

[This is going to take time to get used to. Gansey can't really label the happiness he's feeling, but it is a shock and seeing Noah in normal clothes... it's going to take almost as much time to get used to as Noah being alive.]

Good. He won't get upset over you being here with us.

[Without realizing it, he's moving closer, studying Noah now that he's solid. With Blue he could almost seem alive, but this is different. There's no blurred edges or tricks that kept his mind from sliding away from certain details of Noah's existence. Realizing what he's doing, he forces himself to look away.]

I apologize. It's taking longer than expected to get used to being able to see you.

[He can feel Gansey's eyes on him and he's not entirely sure how to feel about that. It was weird. Then again he, himself, was weird.]

That's good.

[Then the other was in his personal space and he watches him closely. Though, Gansey's explanation gets a smile out of Noah.]

I rather like being able to be seen. Not having to worry about phasing out of existence.

[Everything feels awkward and strange when it shouldn't. It's almost like meeting Noah for the first time, even if he can't actually remember the two of them meeting. One day Noah was part of the group without Gansey ever thinking of how it had happened.]

I think this may be the first time I've been able to see all the details of you.

[It's a rude thing to say but this is a strange moment so it can be excused.]

I like not having to worry about you disappearing. I always felt guilty when it happened.

That's... good.

[Just the words alone get a slight blush out of him. It was the way that Gansey had worded it.]

Why did you feel guilty?

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