thisavrou_log | away with us he's going, the solemn-eyed.

Entry tags:

away with us he's going, the solemn-eyed.

Who: Residents of St. Monmouth & OPEN to their various guests
When: Throughout February
Where: St. Monmouth in Kauto R2
What: The Backstreet Boys move into their magical farm of dreams.
Warnings: Look to the subject headers.
Notes: This is a mingle/catch-all log. Start your own threads! Tag around!

[Ronan didn't hesitate. Almost as soon as they arrived, he was making arrangements and picking out a plot of land. No payment necessary as long as he agreed to feed the locals? Fine. Perfect. He'd signed whatever he had to and picked out his favorite place in the lot, then he'd laid down in the grass and dreamt.

When he closed his eyes, he wasn't sure what he would build. The idea of "home" conjured up so many images in his mind. He thought of the Barns, of course, but also of Henrietta as a whole. He thought of Monmouth Manufacturing and dusty old books and the scent of mint. He thought of St. Agnes and its magnificent stained glass and the cramped coziness of Adam's bedroom above the office. He found Cabeswater sprouting up in the strangest places as the landscape shifted around him, spilling out of the walls and claiming rooms all for its own. Corridors and staircases emerged out of his memories, leading him through a maze of rooms both familiar and not-quite. In the end, when Ronan stepped outside to take a look at his work, he found he'd made himself a palace of nostalgia. Then he imagined a set of house keys, turned the lock of the front door, and woke up.

Ronan woke with his head resting on the welcome mat, sprawled across the front steps, gazing up at the spire of what he would dub St. Monmouth. It would be the main building of several he'd end up creating. Their new home.

Like God, he didn't rest for several days. Every time he shut his eyes, he devoted himself to dreaming something new. A farm needed animals and crops and barns and feed and equipment. Home needed streams and fish and bridges and flower gardens and glittering lights. He let his imagination run wild, and this meant that his dream things often emerged strange and senseless, but that reminded him of his father, which made the place more beautiful.

When he was finally satisfied - although not completely finished - he invited the others to join him.]

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[ That small grin on Jesse's face lingers, and he looks down in concession because he's not going to argue with that. In answer to Ronan's question about whether he brought his shit with him, Jesse gives his pac disc a brief pat as he strolls the final several steps towards Ronan until he's standing in front of him. ]

As requested, man. [ Jesse glances at Chainsaw perched on Ronan's shoulder, and he is half tempted to reach up and pat her. He's not sure she wouldn't take his finger off, though. He peers up at Ronan. ] Gonna clue me in on what the plan is here? Y'know, beyond, "meet me at some church out in the middle of nowhere, bring your shit with you".

[ Which was more or less the gist of Ronan's message to Jesse, just with some curt directions added into it. That Ronan is inviting him to stay in St. Monmouth - which Jesse assumes is actually a church, based on the name - hasn't remotely crossed Jesse's mind yet. ]

[Yes, Ronan is beginning to realize that Jesse hasn't read between the lines. Well, that means he's only looking more and more mischievous. Surprises can be delightful.]

Your journey's nearly ended, adventurer. Follow me.

[Chainsaw clacks her beak, and as Ronan turns, she takes off into the air again and goes on ahead of them, soaring over the copse of trees Ronan's heading for. It's a thick, imposing natural gateway to the new Barns at St. Monmouth, but the path is clear, and once they're through, the main building lies directly ahead of them: Half-church, half-industrial factory, nestled bizarrely into a pastoral fantasy land.]

[ Uh-oh. Mischievousness from Ronan can only mean he's got something horrible planned, or something entirely awesome. Never any middle ground when it comes to Ronan. Jesse isn't sure whether to meet that mischievous look with a slow growing sly smile or with wariness, so he somehow kind of manages to do both at the same time, while also looking kind of confused on top of that. He hesitates for only a second before he starts following Ronan as instructed.

When the building finally comes into view, Jesse slows to a stop and peers at it. Wow. A somewhat bizarre, impressive, beautiful building, set amongst an even more strangely bizarre yet beautiful landscape. Hardly the weirdest thing Jesse has seen since winding up in space, but definitely out of the ordinary regardless. ]

Wow. How'd you manage to find this place? [ But then, it suddenly occurs to him, while he takes in the beautiful strangeness of it all; a strangeness that has a magical, almost dreamlike quality to it: ] ...Wait. [ A quick glance over to Ronan. He gestures to the building with an incredulous little furrow of his brow. ] Yo. Did you...?!

[ Did you dream this place up?! ]

[Ronan returns Jesse's glance with a laugh, not bothering to answer that question because duh. Of course he dreamt it. Where else would it have come from?]

You've barely seen anything yet. Come on.

[He continues on down the path, passing a brick wall that looks half-melted into the ground, through a gate with a gothic arch and past a tree with a mirror nestled into its trunk. Chainsaw has found them again, and she perches on the mantle above the door to watch them as Ronan takes the handle and heaves it open.]

[ Jesse really ought to be used to this whole dreaming thing Ronan can do, except he has never seen Ronan dream up anything as elaborate and sprawling and big as this. So, a dumbfounded expression crosses Jesse's face as Ronan continues ahead. Slowly, Jesse continues after him, his dumbfounded gaze sweeping here and there and all around him.

Now he's finally beginning to read between the lines: Ronan has invited him here to... what? To crash here for a few nights? (Because Ronan inviting him to live here? Naaah. Why would Ronan do that? Why would Ronan even want to do that?) Just being invited to crash here a few nights is enough to make a twinge of guilt begin to prickle at Jesse, though his amazement at his surreal surroundings and the fact that Ronan created all of this is far louder at this moment.

Following Ronan through the front entrance, Jesse comes to a stop in the front hall. That dumbfounded look on Jesse's face is verging on nearly comical with how baffled and stupefied he is by all of this. ]

Whoa. [ It's a drawn out whoaaaaa; quiet and almost reverent with awe. ] Jesus... You gotta be kidding me.

[ And he turns that nearly comical look of wide-eyed, baffled awe onto Ronan. ]

[Ronan's already making his way up the stairs when he realizes Jesse's not following him. He turns and laughs again, both at his expression and his awe in general.]

Do you need to sit down for a minute? Are you gonna have a heart attack?

[ Through his awe and amazement, Jesse manages to roll his eyes at Ronan with a brief laughing scoff. Please. But then, as he quickly moves forward to catch up with Ronan, his expression has settled back into amazement at everything around him. Hand trailing up along the stair bannister as he ascends the staircase behind Ronan, he remarks: ]

...Holy shit, Ronan. This is like... [ ...Like what? What words can he possibly use to describe all this? Unable to think of the right words, he resorts to repeating, this time with enthralled excitement: ] Holy shit! [ And then starts babbling in mystified wonderment all the rest of the way up the stairs, almost sounding like an excited kid: ] You're fucking with me, right? You seriously dreamed all this shit up? All of it? No way. No fucking way, yo. Oh mannnn. This is awesome, yo!

[ The word 'awesome' echoing through the building because of how loudly he excitedly exclaims it. ]

[Ronan shrugs off the praise as if it's nothing to him, like he's so cool and used to it by now. But the truth is, it's incredibly rare for anyone to see his creations, let alone admire them so enthusiastically. He's proud of his work and proud to share it, warmed when his efforts are appreciated.]

Just try not to fall down the stairs with all that spazzing.

[He continues on his way, expecting Jesse to come along with him. It's probably best to start with the bedroom so Jesse can drop off his things. Ronan heads for the corridor that leads to the sleeping quarters, each room behind various industrial steel doors.

He stops near the end of the hall and slides open the door leading to a wide, whitewashed room.]

If you hate this one, there's a couple more you can choose from.

[ Honestly, Jesse almost does fall down the stairs, his foot catching on the top stair when they reach the landing because he's too focused on looking wildly all around him rather than watching where he is going. It's just a clumsy couple of stumbling steps, though, before he catches himself.

Of course, when they reach a room and Ronan rolls the door open with an announcement that Jesse can choose another if he doesn't like this one, Jesse's gaze sets quickly onto Ronan. Even though he's finally realised Ronan has invited him here to hang out, hearing him say that takes Jesse completely off-guard. ]

...Uh... What, you mean, like... Crash in here for a few days?

[Ronan says nothing. He merely stares at Jesse and waits for him to figure it out, eyebrows slightly raised in expectation.]

[ Ronan's silence works: it dawns on Jesse, while he's waiting for Ronan's answer, what Ronan means. Naaah, thinks Jesse incredulously. Ronan isn't offering him the room indefinitely, is he?

That dawning realisation settles onto Jesse's face as he stares right back at Ronan. After a long pause: ]

...Seriously?

[He leans against the door, his eyes still fixed on Jesse. Because nothing is simple with Ronan:]

Back in my world, for a long time, I wasn't allowed to go home. There was a clause in my dad's will that said I was exiled from the moment of his death, and I'd lose my inheritance if I ever set foot in our house again. My mom was in a coma. My older brother, as my guardian, refused to fight it. Overnight, I basically lost my family and my home in one fell swoop.

It was a really shitty situation. I could have been totally alone in the world. But my best friend Gansey had this place, and he invited me to stay. I don't know what would've happened to me if he hadn't taken me in. I try not to think about it.

I guess I'm saying you shouldn't be alone, either. Unless that's something you're looking for.

[But Ronan doesn't think it is.]

[ The speechless look on Jesse's face withers a little at what Ronan reveals about his past. He lowers his head and looks down. ]

Shit, I dunno what to say, man. [ He really doesn't, either. He's so taken aback by Ronan's unexpected kindness that he feels like utter shit for making Ronan believe he's actually some kind of good person who deserves Ronan's generosity. Does he want to be alone? Of course not. He doesn't deserve this, though. ] Ain't like bad shit has happened to me like the stuff you're talking about.

[ Actually, plenty of bad shit has happened to Jesse. Only difference is, he brought all that bad shit on himself. ]

[Ronan remains composed. His tragedy is well-worn, like a favorite sweater. Only the scars on his arms betray the lingering pain of being Niall Lynch's favorite son.]

Good thing I'm not running a contest for who's got the saddest sob story. You're welcome here because I want you here and I think it'd be good for you. But you're not obligated to stay. If this is just a place you crash in between parties and one-night stands, it's no skin off my nose.

[ Jesse is about to interject, 'What I mean is, you don't gotta do this', but when Ronan goes on to say he wants Jesse here, Jesse silently looks up at him instead. Any argument he might have - should have - against taking up Ronan's offer immediately starts to dissolve. It shows on his face, too.

Although... ]

...And Adam's gonna be okay with that? Some random guy he barely knows just hangin' 'round? 'Cause I'm assuming if you're living here, then he is, too.

[An excellent question. Ronan has no idea. He knows two things: That Adam wants no further details on his previous affairs and that Adam wants him to have everything he wants. With one stipulation, which Ronan was happy to promise. Because Adam made it clear that Ronan was meant to stop doubting him, Ronan has carried on with obtaining everything he wants, permission already granted.

He wants Jesse close to him.]

You can ask Adam yourself, if you're worried. But it's not like you're the only one moving in with us. It's a big place.

[ Ask Adam himself. "I totally hooked up with your guy, mind if I live here?" Yeah, right. Except he knows that's not necessarily what Ronan is implying by 'ask Adam yourself'. Besides, all that is in the past, right? He and Ronan both agreed on that.

But hearing he wouldn't be the only one moving in makes it even easier to concede. Makes it sound way more like a group house, with housemates, rather than the thought that it would just be Ronan and Adam, and himself.

Jesse finally lets his eyes drift from Ronan's face to the bedroom, and he takes a step through the door. For the first time, he properly looks at what Ronan is offering him. It's far more than Jesse could ever offer in return. That Ronan wants him here makes it impossible for Jesse to refuse.

He turns to face Ronan. At last, a grateful little smile starts to spread onto his lips. It's a smile that says, Guess I'm moving in, then.

The smile grows boyishly lopsided at Ronan, and he voices his sincere thanks in a way Ronan tends to prefer expressing fondness - playful ridiculing and taunting: ]

You're the weirdest sentimental asshole I've ever met, just so you know. Nothing but a giant ass marshmallow.

[Ronan remains at his perch by the doorway, watching Jesse take in the room. As it always is whenever someone admires his dream things, there's a flutter of pride in his chest. He's glad to see Jesse accepting what's been created for him. Even if it sort of gives away the fact that he's secretly a nice person.]

Call me a marshmallow again and I'll throw you out the window.

[Please do not forget that time he shoved Noah off a cliff. He has an image to maintain.]

[ That lopsided smile broadens. ]

One of those kinds that's super gooey in the centre.

[That's it. Ronan leaves the doorway, taking a menacing step forward while a perfectly evil smile pulls at his lips.]

I did warn you.

[ Intimidating, for sure, but Jesse knows Ronan a little too well by now. That lopsided grin doesn't falter. ]

Maybe more like a roasted marshmallow, come to think of it. Y'know, all black and charred and nasty looking on the outside but a warm gooey mess on the inside.

Well, that sounds slightly more accurate, but there's still the matter of marshmallow.

[As soon as he's in range, Ronan dives very suddenly to scoop Jesse by the waist and haul him up onto his shoulder. Jesse's such a skinny little thing.]

[ Jesse just laughs, all smugly amused and maybe just a little fondly - until Ronan is suddenly gathering him up and slinging him over his broad shoulder. ]

Hey, whoa, whoa--! [ Exclaimed in alarm but it's accompanied with a surprised, protesting laugh. God damn but Ronan is effortlessly strong. Jesse immediately starts struggling, and he taunts just to be an ass: ] You're seriously gonna turn into a little bitch over being called a marshmallow?!

Who's the bitch in this situation, really?

[Because from where Ronan's standing, it looks like he's got Jesse's teeny tiny squirmy body hoisted up on one arm. Undeterred, Ronan makes several long strides across the room, carrying Jesse with him. They come to a halt in front of the bed, and then Ronan unceremoniously tosses Jesse onto the mattress.]

[ And Jesse feels more or less like a bitch slung over Ronan's shoulder like a rag doll. Legs kicking in a struggle, he reaches his hand down with intent to shove it into Ronan's jeans for his boxers, to give him a one giant wedgie in retaliation. Ronan's sudden strides forward have Jesse shouting out with laughing complaint instead, and he yells out a startled noise of surprise as he's launched onto the bed. Ronan discards him onto it like he's a sack of potatoes. ]

Jesus, what the hell, man?! [ Exclaimed in outrage, though he's laughing. ] You're having a hissy fit over marshmallows and I'm the bitch?

[ Oh, but man, this bed is so comfortable. In fact, it's so comfortable and feels so damn good to actually lie on a bed for a change, that Jesse's amused outrage is instantly forgotten as he sprawls his limbs out luxuriously on the bed, a blissed out look overtaking his face. After all those weeks sleeping in a tent... ]

Oh, my goddd. This is literally the best thing ever.

away with us he's going, the solemn-eyed.

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