[ Okay, so. All of this is getting a little out of hand. Everyone around Gansey has gone insane, Billy is still a terrified eight year old, and he needs to fix this thing.
He also needs an adult. Please. ]
Hello, is this Erik Lehnsherr?
I'm terribly sorry, I know we don't know each other, but I do know your grandson, and--
Oh, Christ. Please tell me that you're still yourself, first of all. The whole Network seems affected. Do you remember who your grandson is?
It's a long story. I'm at my house, and I brought Billy here. He's currently hiding under my bed. He's terrified. I think it might help to see a familiar face.
Listen, I found him this way. I work with him, and when I got there this morning I found him hiding under the office desk. I got him out and brought him here because it's safe, but he's still afraid, and I don't know what he's afraid of.
[ A pause. Gansey doesn't sound overly sure of himself, which actually, is not usual for him. But he's worried now. ]
He's also eight years old. And he doesn't remember me.
I honestly thought you had my twenty-year-old grandson hiding under your bed. I don't think he'll recognize me either; I'm supposed to be a lot older. But I'm coming.
[ I'm going to assume he knows where Gansey lives somehow. He just uh. He looked it up on the IC housing list? Is that a thing? He'll be there in a bit. ]
Gansey is sending him directions, anyway. They're attached. ]
Good. Okay. I live at The Meadows, I've sent the address.
Listen, there's something else. He told me that he cast a spell. I think it's why he's eight, and I think it's why the whole Network is...well, you've probably seen.
[ Gansey, gratefully, takes Erik upstairs. His bed is not in a bedroom; it’s on the balcony that overlooks the living room. There’s a ladder that leads to Blue’s attic at one side, but that door is locked. ]
He’s been under my bed for hours, but he was asking for you. I thought if he saw you, then –
[ But they are upstairs now, and it’s very obvious that Billy is not under the bed. Gansey stares at the space. ]
No, wait a minute. He was just here, I saw him right before I called you. Billy, your grandfather is here, where did you go?
[ He calls that last part, while he starts looking around the room. It was only a few minutes ago. Is this a game? He couldn’t have gone far. ]
[ By now, there are several clones of Gansey running around the place. They're all searching, and two of them have taken the car towards De Chima, just in case.
The one Erik approaches looks harried. It's not clear at all whether he's the real Gansey, or just another clone. ]
Yes, almost certainly. He's afraid of someone discovering what he is. And he knows about his magic.
[ At which point, Gansey closes his eyes, and starts to glow. Two clones appear beside him, and head off into the grounds. Then he looks at Erik again. ]
I’ll wait until we’re in De Chima before I make the others. We should head off now.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
During the Road Not Taken plot - audio
He also needs an adult. Please. ]
Hello, is this Erik Lehnsherr?
I'm terribly sorry, I know we don't know each other, but I do know your grandson, and--
Oh, Christ. Please tell me that you're still yourself, first of all. The whole Network seems affected. Do you remember who your grandson is?
Re: During the Road Not Taken plot - audio
[ Erik at least wait to see where he is... ]
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[ Gansey sighs. ]
It's a long story. I'm at my house, and I brought Billy here. He's currently hiding under my bed. He's terrified. I think it might help to see a familiar face.
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--What did you do to him?
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Nothing! It wasn't me.
Listen, I found him this way. I work with him, and when I got there this morning I found him hiding under the office desk. I got him out and brought him here because it's safe, but he's still afraid, and I don't know what he's afraid of.
[ A pause. Gansey doesn't sound overly sure of himself, which actually, is not usual for him. But he's worried now. ]
He's also eight years old. And he doesn't remember me.
no subject
He can't even
respond to this.
After a pause, he speaks: ]
I honestly thought you had my twenty-year-old grandson hiding under your bed. I don't think he'll recognize me either; I'm supposed to be a lot older. But I'm coming.
[ I'm going to assume he knows where Gansey lives somehow. He just uh. He looked it up on the IC housing list? Is that a thing? He'll be there in a bit. ]
no subject
Gansey is sending him directions, anyway. They're attached. ]
Good. Okay. I live at The Meadows, I've sent the address.
Listen, there's something else. He told me that he cast a spell. I think it's why he's eight, and I think it's why the whole Network is...well, you've probably seen.
no subject
Could you tell him his family is coming?
[ That might assuage him. Or terrify him. Because that sounds like a vaguely terrifying lie a kidnapper would tell... ]
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[ His grandfather will keep Billy safe. He's better off with him. ]
I'll find a way to fix this. He left notes on what he did in the store. I just need time to look.
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I'll talk to Billy's mother.
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[ Gansey lets out a sigh. ]
You're his family, I thought you should know first.
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[ Gansey there's a knock at your door. ]
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Hello. You're Erik?
[ He had mentioned Billy might expect him to look older, and no wonder. This man does not look like anyone's grandfather. ]
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Where's Billy?
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[ Gansey, gratefully, takes Erik upstairs. His bed is not in a bedroom; it’s on the balcony that overlooks the living room. There’s a ladder that leads to Blue’s attic at one side, but that door is locked. ]
He’s been under my bed for hours, but he was asking for you. I thought if he saw you, then –
[ But they are upstairs now, and it’s very obvious that Billy is not under the bed. Gansey stares at the space. ]
No, wait a minute. He was just here, I saw him right before I called you. Billy, your grandfather is here, where did you go?
[ He calls that last part, while he starts looking around the room. It was only a few minutes ago. Is this a game? He couldn’t have gone far. ]
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[ Gansey, you got some splainin to do. ]
[ He's texting Billy... just making sure that he's like. A child, and not an adult. ]
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Fuck. ]
No. Look, I swear it's not, I wouldn't do that! He was here, and he's eight years old. We have to find him!
[ Gansey runs his hands through his hair, and then takes off back down the stairs. ]
I'm checking our yard.
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He catches up to Gansey a little later. ]
He's not here. Have his powers manifested?
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The one Erik approaches looks harried. It's not clear at all whether he's the real Gansey, or just another clone. ]
Yes, almost certainly. He's afraid of someone discovering what he is. And he knows about his magic.
I know he wanted to find you.
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He could be anywhere.
How many clones can you make and how fast can you walk?
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[ Gansey’s head is already spinning. He’d made five the time that Ronan was missing, but he’d been exhausted then, and new to his powers - ]
Enough for every Porter city. More if I’m careful about it.
I found him in the store, it’s the only other place I’m sure he knows. The odds he went back there have to be high.
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If one of the others see him first, tell him his grandfather is waiting.
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[ At which point, Gansey closes his eyes, and starts to glow. Two clones appear beside him, and head off into the grounds. Then he looks at Erik again. ]
I’ll wait until we’re in De Chima before I make the others. We should head off now.
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[ And yes he is just going to run. ]