Or more accurately "Creating the Dream Pack" because there's so little about them (except for K, but still). If I was writing the story, I would make them and Kavinsky more of a presents and not just appear once and never comeback.
Ilya Prokopenko
short, blond hair; blue eyes; fair skin
looks young (around 15/16), sticking-out ears, uneven shoulders
wears quite standard clothes (e.g. hoodie, graphic tees, snickers)
has Ukraine roots
son of Mr. Kavinsky's subordinate
knew K only for few weeks before his death, spend summer vacations together
died in a car crash, after an argument with K (drove after drinking and never get to his destination)
his body was hid by K, to cover-up his death
first human K dreamt, he needed to improvise with his character (ideal friend)
often spaces out
rarely eats, doesn't need to
stays in a static state of existing (unknown if he's going to age)
at the start, doesn't know he's a dream, but sometime before the story events, after heavy party drinking K in anger screams the truth to his face
after sometime, K tells the Dream Pack about Proko
his favourite subject is biology
has only his father, before attempting Aglionby, lived with him
good at running, member of the running team (doesn't get tired, learned to pretend)
alcohol nor drugs have a effect on him
the group's nanny
the only one to stand-up to K, knows when he lies
listens to K's problems, feels than something isn't right
born on the Christmas day
gets nervous in cars, doesn't knew why
after story idea: after K's rehab, together they finally decided to "let him go", Proko gets a funeral and Kavinsky goes to retrieve real Proko's bones and after ceremony sneaks them into the coffin
Blake "Skov" Skovron
curly, brown hair (takes good care of it); light brown eyes; light skin with freckles
tall and lean
looks natural in the uniform
usually wears flannel shirts, simple T-shirts and one pair of expensive shoes (bought them to fit in with the group, fearing he would be rejected by them, instant they joked about it)
his great grandfather was polish, feels disconnect with his culture, tries to connect with it
the smart one
middle class, mother has high expectations
has a younger brother
moved to Henrietta for school from a big city
new to the party and drugs life
got to Aglionby by accident (send his application papers for shits-and-giggles)
room-mates with Swan (got into the group through him)
every Sunday, his mother calls him
has a scientific mind, his favourite subject is chemistry
almost fails Latin
careful with money
doesn't know what to do in the future
responsible and practical
has a sweet-tooth, loves baked goods
attends cooking classes
the Pack chipped in to buy him his Mazda RX-7 for birthday
Benjamin Swan
shaven, black hair; dark brown eyes; brown skin
well-build, high-cheekbones
even on normal days, wears dress shirts with designer jeans and elegant shoes
the heir of a huge fortune (doesn't want to be)
rebels against his parents (wants to have a normal life, not the one his parents made for him)
decided himself to go to Aglionby
room-mates with Skov
moody
invited himself into the Dream Pack
writes for the school newspaper, member of the student council
wants to improve and get rid-off the case of xenophobia in school
hard to get drunk, but easily effected by drugs
favourite subject is english
protective
voice of reason
after one party, wakes-up with a earring in one ear, later goes to get the other (hides them from his parents)
Marcus Jiang
medium, black hair, often tied-back; hazel eyes; light brown skin
the shortest, tooth-gap
mostly wears hoodies, track pants, beanies/caps and a bandana around his neck (uses it to cover his face)
half-asian (Chinese, through his mother)
Henrietta native
beginning tattoo artist
got into Aglionby through an Art Scholarship
the legendary graffiti artist, often "vandalises" the school buildings, nobody knows it's him
the art teacher suspects him, but has no proof
his mother is a famous artist, his father was never in the picture (resoled of a one-night-stand)
has a girlfriend but doesn't want her to know about the Pack
likes urban-exploring, found the abandoned fairground
fantastic at arts but horrible at "science subject", Skov's helps him out
the photograph of the group, catchers every embarrassing moment
besides party photos, most photos on his phone are lizards and bugs
Joseph Kavinsky
short, black hair; dark brown (looks black) eyes; tan skin
skinny with his bones visible; heavy-lidded, sunken eyes (hides them behind sunglasses)
outside of the parties, often wears leather jackets and designer jeans
son of Bulgarian immigrants
his mother didn't knew Mr. Kavinsky was a mafia boss, before marrying him
his father physically abused him, at first his mother tried to protect him
a few times, he dreamt stuff for his father to sell on the black market
when he started to refused, his father started beating him (after another refusal, he tried to kill him)
killed him in self-defence by accident (hit him once but it was fatal), he was 15/16 (after accident with Proko)
got addicted to drugs and alcohol, after discovering it numb his pain
Mrs. Kavinsky know he killed his father
he dreamt a dream copy of him, which later died in a fight with another gang
feels guilty for Proko's death, but drowns it in alcohol
self-destructive tendencies ("Because he deserves it")
made-up and spread the rumors about himself
often uses white lies
moved to Henrietta with his mother for hers sake, loves her very much
"your mama" jokes all the way
easily learns new languages, then angry often switches and mixes
with time, develops an obsessive crush on Ronan
thinks Ronan is the person to understand him, likes the idea of destroying their lives together
he's always ready to help out the Pack in any moment
afraid of spiders
loves racing, can’t imagine his life without them
If you have any questions or opinions to share, please send me an ask.
Why? Because The Raven Cycle is a mess. From the setting, through characters and to the plot, everything is a mess on a foundations of good ideas. It feels like Margaret took three to four different drafts, stitched them together and switched around events, e.g. things that should be in book 1 are in book 3, etc.
So, here is my attempted to rewrite the Gangsey.
Blue
curly, damaged, black hair kept short; brown eyes and light brown skin
short and stocky, with a big eyes; untamed, arched eyebrows; and round nose
1/4 black, 3/4 white (Maura is 1/2 black, and Artemus is welsh)
her father, Artemus, was a history professor, focusing on British Isle (especially Wales)
when she was 14, her father's ghost appeared on Saint Mark's Eve, he suddenly died few months, leaving Blue devastated
was very close with her dad, didn't forgive her mother for not trying to save Artemus
straightens and clips down her hair to make it resemble hers dad's
owns a pink switch blade, which was once red, she stole from her father's stuff, uses it mostly to cut plants
knows a lot about plants, helps cultivated and collect them for the family business
interested in and actively looks for paranormal (magic, cryptids, you name it), interest seeded by her parents
went to public school, but after middle school was pulled out for homeschooling
works two part-time jobs, as a waitress at Nino's and a dog-walker, to have her own money
a psychic but her power makes it impossible to work as one
makes and remakes her own clothes, isn't good at it but she loves it
loves knitting sweaters for her friends and family
wears colorful, often clashing outfits with a lots of accessories
loves color blue, always has something blue in her outfit, even if only as an accent color
vegetarian
knows Adam from middle school, keeps warm relations with him (introduced her to his friends)
spends her Sundays with her family (e.g. hitch-hiking with her mother, helping with Calla, making sweater and clothes with Persephone, painting nails with Orla)
know few phrases in Estonian, thanks to Persephone
opinioned, independent and bold
environmentalist
Gansey
tousled, always preciously styled, brown hair; dark brown eyes, light skin
average but quite square built (looks stiff), straight nose, shadows and bags under eyes, often has pieces of mint leaves stuck it teeth
the shortest guy of the Gangsey
born with a silver spoon in his mouth
at ten, almost died from wasp stinks but survived thanks to "Glendower", obsessed with finding him ever since
insomniac, his grands and health suffers from it
was in the rowing team, until he slept through training and hit team-mate with a oar
has the power to commend people, but it's weak
loves mint-flavor things, borders on obsession
owns five different types of mint plants (Ronan named them)
makes mistakes in his research and normal day to day actions from lack of sleep, needs help of others
his mom buys him clothes
doesn't understand the value of money, mostly throws it around and leads people with no need to return it
needs glasses but often losses them (even worse with contacts), in the beginning of the story he's on his seventh pair
doesn't have friends outside the "Gangsey"
awkward about feelings and crushes, can't deal with them
has slit ADHD, needs to do something with his hands
perfectionist, fixes mistakes of others, brushes problems off
good at social interactions but horrible at maintaining relationships
after his grands suffered too much and his search for Glendower effected his school life, his parents cut him off from finances as a punishment
with Adam's help, found a job as a cashier at a grocery store, actually loves it
needs time to remember people's names
Ronan
curly, dark brown (almost black) hair, always shaven; blue eyes, pale skin (burns easily)
tall (tallest of the Gangsey) and quite muscular, angular face, narrow eyes, multiple scars on arms and few on face (oddly proud of them)
he's a copy of his own father, Niall Lynch (looks like a younger version of him)
shaved his head and got tattoos, after he discovered he's a copy, to resemble Niall as little as possible
dresses in what his father would never wear
has only one real tattoo, a Celtic cross on the back of his neck base, the rest of his back is dreamt up
the dream tattoo always changes, reflecting Ronan's mental/emotional state, but always has motifs of wings/feathers and branches twisting into Celtic knots
tried to stop dreaming up stuff multiple times, but it caused him headache and nausea, eventually ending in physical harm, went the dream "gets out"
confused about who or what he is
self-destructive, has no regards for his own safety
has a very strain relationship with Declan, envies his "realness"
vegan, loves animals and hates people who harm them
loves speed and racing, oddly proud of his speeding-tickets
believes for a long time, only Kavinsky understands him, but their "friendship" is complicated
doesn't allow anyone to touch Chainsaw (dream creatures are very personal to a dreamer)
tries to figure out what HE likes, and find his OWN path (even if it means craving it out)
touched starved
loves nature, can spend hours outside just sitting and thinking
acts and speaks before thinking, got himself in trouble for that many times (gets physical quiet often)
helps in the family "dream trade" business, doesn't want any of his creations near him, Chainsaw is the only exception
feels drawn to Cabeswaters, but he preferably would just burn it
knows Irish, speaks it when frustrated
before Niall's death, trained tennis and played on bagpipes (uilleann pipes), but stopped after his father's murder
hates boxing
Adam
short, self-cut, light red-ish brown hair; grey eyes, tan skin with a lot of moles and freckles
skinny, deep-set eyes and a downturned lips
has only a backpack of his own stuff and a bike
deals with Gansey's antics only for a chance to escape his father and his living situation
lives with Gansey, Ronan and Noah in Monmouth
prioritises his education over his friendship with "Gangsey"
very frugal, keeps a "change jar"
mostly wears his wash-out Coca-Cola t-shirt, he bought with his first pay
the most sceptical about magic, still very cautious of it
hates loud sounds and physical contact
hates taking money from people and having money spend on him, but he knows he needs it
has three part-time jobs, including his favourite at the garage
loves cars, dreams about buying his own one day
afraid of heights and flying, childhood trauma
opportunist
highly values his independence
never refuses food
sacrificed his "hands and eyes" to Cabeswater, not only to wake the Ley Lines but also to escape his former life for good, seeing it as the only way (partly tricked by the forest)
deaf on the left ear but hears Cabeswater whispering to him through it
actively "fights" with Cabeswater for control (his way or the high way)
owns a old Nokia phone, only bought it to stay in contact with Gansey
knows how to sew and dress a wound
Noah
messy, pale blond hair; light blue eyes, pale skin with a dark spot on the left side of his face
faded and lean; small, lively eye; bright, wide smile
kept him pretty much the same, but also add
sarcastic with a dry (and sometimes dark) sense of humor
"I'm the oldest one, so you should listen to me sometimes."
his Aglionby uniform always looks crinkled and dirty
doesn't remember most of his "living life"
gets his memories back from seeing/visiting people/places he knew
his emotional state effects his corporal form, e.g. strong negative emoticons make him less visible
music helps him stay visible
still loves Blink-182 (Ronan pirated him all their albums, including those he missed)
misses skateboarding, swimming, spending time with his old friends and family, and filling the weather
doesn't remember his death, only the pain
likes to wander around Henrietta
likes anything glitter, reminds him of his sisters
gave Adam permission to take his old Mustang, "If you can bring it to live, Parrish."
his disappearance is still a talked subject in Aglionby
sometimes mumbles or swears something no one understand, took Gangsey time to figured out it was polish
+ Bonus
Chainsaw
Ronan's first dream creature (or at the time Ronan believes so)
quite small for a raven
senses Ronan's emotions, always tries to comfort him by burying into his neck or "grooming" him
can speak single works but they sound very corrupted, e.g. "kerah" is a corrupted version of "cara" (irish for "friend")
at the beginning called Ronan Greywaren, but with time it change to "creātor" (creator), "somniator" (dreamer) and finally "cara" (friend), reflecting Ronan's own view of himself
likes to collect and bring Ronan small things, e.g. pen caps, leaves or pieces of newspapers
gets close only to people Ronan likes and/or trusts
If you have any questions or opinions to share, please send me an ask.
Part 3 of my K analyses is slowly eating me out, not in the “Oh, I can’t deal with this~“ but more writing block. While looking through material, I found this scene to the rewrite stuff I was doing. Like “You’ll be fine“, this was a removed scene I was writing for fun. It’s noting big but it plays with character dynamics.
Context: It’s somewhat beginning of TDT and the gang (minus Blue) is trying to figure-out something about the Cabeswater problem, until someone is mentioned.
Ronan loved the idea of summer vacations. To stay all night and watch the stars, to races until the engine over heats, to live, to burn, to finally be. Not school to bug him, no Declan to nag him. Just him and his dreams.
But the last thing he wanted, was to stay late into the night and think about the Cabeswater problem.
They sat around their crooked table, covered in the chaotic mess of Gansey's research and plans. Crinkled maps and strings tied and knotted into a web of secrets yet to uncover, crumbling books and tapes holding up their whole world. Gansey's world. Everything was connected and yet, nothing was.
Lighted only by the few small lamps they had moved from their rooms, the only non-artificial glow in the Manufacturing, they seem almost ancient but real. Too real for Ronan’s taste.
Above the scratched wooden surface, Gansey in his old-man's pajamas, tried to draw on the map of Henrietta a straight line for the fourth time. One and erase, two and erase. His fingers banged on the table between each try, just to do something productive.
Ronan's eyes followed the previous attempts, now faint on pale colors from erasing, trying to understand Gansey's thinking. He slouched down in his chair, burying his head and arms inside his oversized sleep-hoodie. He looked up at Gansey, tired and barely standing from lack of sleep.
One more attempt. A smile spread on his friend's face.
- Here. - he finally said, he's voice almost a whisper.
They could talk louder but didn't. Any louder and Gansey's splitting headache would return.
- If my calculations are right-
- They probably aren't. - Ronan cut in, leaning back in his chair. He felt Chainsaw moving in his hood.
- The main line goes through here. - he continued like he didn't hear anything. - So we need more.
- More what?
- Power.
Ronan rolled his eyes.
- It has power. - he grunted. - It flows like it should.
- But the forest is in half. Literal half. Not enough to be whole.
- And how you want to get more from already awaken line?
- By fixing it. Fixing the flow.
- How?
Gansey blinked. He looked around for something and finally found Adam walking through the room with a mug.
- Adam?
- Call Blue. - he walked pass them.
- Adam.
He stopped and sighed.
He put down his mug on a cupboard, their drinking station, and when back to them.
It was Saturday night, the eve of Adam Parrish's freedom day. Still in his dirty jumpsuit, half-open and tied around his waist, and his wash-out red shirt, there was the rare relaxation in his posture. Tomorrow, he'll sit in his room and finish one of his borrowed books, or disappear in the morning and return for dinner.
But it was still today.
He pulled himself a chair and sat down. Crossing his arms on his chest, he tilted his head back, closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
No one made any sound, only the distend clock made its quiet ticks.
His body was motionless, frozen in place, with only his chest rising and falling.
Ronan could feel the unease in the air, he moved his eyes from Adam to Gansey.
Dick watched Adam carefully, rolling pencil in his hands, he was as worried as Ronan. Neither of them liked the idea of Adam and Cabeswater being connected in anyway. They didn't know what the forest was and how Glendower fit into it, but it was the only chance they had to find him.
Ronan glanced back at Adam, feeling anxiety building up inside him, slowly over flowing. He breath in, weeks old dust and used books, blooming mint plants and dried coffee stains. All familiar, all safe. But under it, leaking into the room, was something making his heartbeat dangerously pick up. The smell of fresh moss, evergreens and oaks, mushrooms hidden under mulch. The living and the decaying.
He felt Chainsaw climbed up and cuddling into his neck. He gently stroked her beak, shushing her and himself.
Suddenly, Adam's face twisted. Violently straight up in his sit, he opened his eyes and covered his left ear.
- Okay, okay. - he massaged his deaf ear. - That's enough. Thank you. Thank you. I'll tell them. Thank you, now hush.
Chainsaw cawed, moving even closer to Ronan's neck. He covered her with his hand. "Shh" he told her.
- Adam? - Gansey asked, reaching out to him.
Adam raised his hand. He stood up, he's legs were shaking, and went to the cupboard.
- It's the flow problem mostly, not enough energy to fully manifest. - he turned on the electric kettle. - Correcting it should partly do the trick.
- But how to fix it?
- We already know this, Parrish. - Ronan rolled his eyes. - Thanks for being late to the party.
- I'm only repeating what it, wants to say, I think. - he stressed, massaging his ear again. - Christ, - he muttered. - Nine years of normal life, and now it's full of sleeping welsh men, magic lines and "Dude, my friend is a ghost!". No offence, Noah. - he said to the air.
Noah wasn't there, or he wasn't visible, or he was wondering around Henrietta. It was never sure with him, the only certain thing was: He was here.
- And - Adam continued. He pour some coffee and sugar in the mug. - I'm now a secretary of a talking forest.
- Only nine? - Ronan grinned.
- You know, - he scratched his cheek, sounding like he didn’t wanted to answer him. - I once believed in Easter Bunny.
- Of all things, - he chuckled. - Easter Bunny?
- Don't. - he pointed a spoon at him. - Don't tell me you dreamed the Easter Bunny.
- Jeez, Parrish, I don't waste my sleep on kid stuff.
- Yes, Easter Bunny, - Gansey bugged in. - But did you caught how to fix the line?
- Gansey, - Adam said in a tone only a parent would. - Maybe I'll get you on the line with Mr. Waters to talk it over some tea and try to decipher a hive of voices and rustling, I barely understand, yourself?
- So, no?
- No clue.
The kettle clicked.
Adam pour it into his mug and stir. Without thinking, he stuck his two fingers into a pot of one of the mint plants.
He sighed.
- Gansey, did you water the mints like I asked you?
He paused. Hovering over the maps, he thought for a long bit, just to answer:
- When was it?
Adam shook his head and grabbed a bottle of water.
- Dicky, - Ronan pretended to be offended. - Not even Richard Mentha Gansey IV? How can you treat your son like that?
- Ronan.
- At least, Sargent Pepper is getting better. - announced Adam. He rubbed a leaf between his finger. - No more sugar for you. - he whispered to it.
- So, - Ronan turned to Gansey. - Back to square one?
- No, no, we're not. - he protested, grabbing his journal and flipping pages rapidly. - There are still leads we didn't check, like if the type of shells mean anything or the lake-
- For fucks sake, Dick, - he grunted. - We have time-
- No, we don't. In few days, I'm off to my parent with Adam and you with Blue have your problems. Tomorrow we-
- You, Dick, you. - he corrected him. - I'm going to church and to a family dinner. Blue has her family time. Adam-
- I'm busy. - Adam admitted.
- Adam has "me time". Maybe ask Noah but I'm doubting he wants to spend his time with you in a library. Chill, Glendower is not going anywhere.
Gansey looked him in the eyes, something inside him crashed and couldn't recover. Ronan knew, Glendower was his life work, to find him, to see the magic and mystery. Ever since they knew each other, he never cared about the wish, he wanted to know, why he survived.
He sat down and laid his head on his arms, sighing. Tired and defeated. His King was crumbling before his eyes.
Maybe... he could just dream him a new one?
- There is something else. - Adam interrupted them. - But I don't understand it.
- What? - Gansey asked, looking up and grinning like a idiot.
- Cabeswater was repeating something. - he continued. - But I don’t... It sounded something like... Ag draenáil?
- Ag what?
- Draining. - said Ronan. They both looked at him. - It's Irish.
- And "se" or "ef".
- HE. - Ronan and Gansey shot at once.
- So, somebody is draining the power.
Adam and Gansey looked at Ronan. Chainsaw cawed, backing up in the hood.
- I don't know. - he moved his head to the sides. - Maybe. Who knows? It would make some sense, I'm sure it isn't coming from nowhere, but even if, I haven't dream anything in few days.
- Ronan. - Adam's voice was flat but yet demanding.
- I swear.
- Lynch.
- The last thing I dreamed was a made up Blink-182 album for Noah.
- You never listen to them. - Gansey reminded him. - How did it turn out?
- Well, it was a weird mash-up of Twenty One Pilots and Maroon 5.
- Dear Lord. - he groan.
- It wasn't that bad.
- That's all? - Adam pushed.
- Mostly yes.
He didn't want to talk about the nightmares, nor the car keys, or the dead bugs and papers. Patches of asphalt between moss and the feeling of burning. Of wanting to burn...
- So, it's not you. Mostly.
Gansey slapped his hands on the table. He and Adam flinched.
- He. - he pointed at a box, standing next to the front door.
Ronan swallowed. The box was full of fake IDs, leather bracelets and campaign badges announcing "They can't lick our Dick" and "We like Dick". Perfect forgeries. They weren't for him, well not in that sense, it was a warning for Gansey. Or rather a reminder, that he only understood a fraction of him and dreaming.
- Kavinsky? - Ronan asked like he didn't know.
- And who else? He surely knows his stupid parties are effecting my- our quest. - he corrected himself. - He's doing everything to spite me.
- He likes your reactions. - he tried not to smile.
- He is a... - he bite his tongue. - Arrogant, doofus, thinking he's the King of Henrietta, like life is just a music video. The next thing I know, he'll be selling his stupid drugs to the police officers-
- Gansey, - Adam scolded him flatly. Not even turning to face them, he continued. - Stop talking about Joseph, like he's the devil incarnated. The worst he does, is his parties. All he talks about is cars and races, races and cars, cocktails and surprisingly, classical literature. - he paused. - But anyways, he's not interested in Glendower, I would even argue, he doesn't even know who Owain Glyndŵr is.
Both Ronan and Gansey stayed silent, as their friend drank his coffee.
Adam turned to them, slowly sipping his drink. He looked tired, it wasn't something new but Ronan could swear there was something else in his gaze.
- Yes.
- You're joking, - Gansey chuckled but smile quickly disappeared. - Right?
- How? - Ronan couldn't comprehend it. - Didn't saw you and him be buddy-buddy at school-
- Nor you. - Adam rolled his eyes.
- Or you're not saying something, Parrish.
- Ronan. - Gansey warned him.
Their eyes meet, blue and grey. The boiling water and the rain-clouds. Ronan didn't know why he was getting angry, there was nothing to get angry about. He felt Chainsaw pulling on his collar, trying to distracted him.
- If you’re so... curious, he always comes to the garage at the end of my shift. - he was calm. - His Mitsubishi beat up or missing some parts. Or just wanting to talk. - he shrugged, tacking a sip. - Quite an asshole. I get why you like him.
- I don't!
- Ronan. - Gansey whimpered, covering his head with his hands. - Please, don't yell.
- Anyways, - Adam continued, unbothered. - He's fine. What, Lynch? Surprised, I know people?
He couldn't articulate his thought, they were racing each other.
A blur.
- Not him. Anyone, but him. He's dangerous and fucking reckless, Parrish, what if he gets you in trouble at school? You can already wave your scholarship bye-bye. Or shit, with police? You'll be weight-off all your jobs, have to sell Noah's Mustang to pay off everything and than get kick out of Aglionby. You can't be friends with him!
Adam flinched a bit but remained calm. He raised an eyebrow, glaring at him.
- What a hypocrite. - he slammed the mug down. Gansey groaned even louder. - Listen, Lynch. Let me decide, who I'm friends with. I know, what I'm doing, I know the risk.
- But-
- But what? - he cut in. - Pissed that Joseph isn't just yours little secret?
Ronan didn't response. Squeezing the table's edge, his knuckles when pale, he could barely sit in place. Chainsaw buried herself into his neck, cawing softly she was doing her best to keep him calm.
He hated that Adam's face didn't change, they could as well be talking about the weather with his melancholic expression. Understand, understand, he didn't understand a thing.
- You won't answer me? - Adam asked, tilting his head. - Fine. - he shrugged, crossing his arms. - As you wish. Don't worry, I won't replace you.
- Oh, I don't fucking care! - he exploited, storming out of his sit. He stopped in front of Adam. - It isn't about me! I don't want him near you!
Adam flinched at his outburst. Angered flashed on his face.
- Is that so? - his voice was shaky, but he kept going. - Or do you don't want me near him?
- Either way is fine!
- Why does it matter?
- Because your life matters!
Silence.
They all looked at each other, the unspoken words hanging between them.
Adam opened his mouth but quickly closed it, his eyes glossy. He sighed.
- You also matter.
They all jumped.
Noah appeared on the counter next to Adam, his face serious.
- And he. - he added, looking straight at Ronan. - Don't ever say otherwise.
Before Ronan could say anything, Adam grabbed his mug and ran to his room, slamming the door behind him.
Silence.
Ronan cursed Niall in his mind. He and Gansey traded helpless stares.
Gansey rapidly stood up and announced:
- I'm gonna talk with him.
- Gansey. - Noah wanted to say more, but Gansey cut in, already halfway up the stairs.
- I'm gonna talk with him.
- Fine, but after that, go to sleep. - seeing Gansey wanting to say something, he added. - You had only four hours. - again. - I counted, with naps.
He just nodded and tripped over last steps.
When they heard him entering Adam's room, Noah turned to Ronan.
- Ronan, - he started.
- What?!
He shook his head, slipping down with a strangely fluent motion. Ronan often forgot he was a ghost and even more that he was older than them. Now, it was almost like the time caught up to him, he looked and moved more mature, reminding him of his brother. He grabbed his arm, cold fingers biting him even through the sleeve, and sat him in a chair. He moved one for himself and sat in front of him.
- I know what's going on. - he said.
- You know shit.
- Really? - he snickered. - Ronan, I'm always here, I see and hear everything. I'm trying, trying not to be nosy, to let you guys live your lives as you wish. But, you hormonal dumb-asses. Just wow. Between Gansey's embracing handling of his crush on Blue and your "friendship" with Kavinsky...
Chainsaw picked up and flew through him. Cawing, she made few circles around the room, before she returned to Ronan, sitting on his lap. She puffed up her feathers.
- Tawsheh. - she cawed. - Olk.
"Taibhse olc" Ronan corrected her in his mind.
- Níl taibhse olc. - he scolded her. - Dona. Tá Noah cara.
She made a sad caw. Ronan patted her but still angry, at her and himself.
Noah looked faded, a mist in the air. Broken bones and blooded sweater and messy hair. His expression didn’t exist, like he didn’t exist.
Ronan scolded himself for thinking that. Noah was here. Czerny was real.
He went back to normal. Same kind and tired face.
- Adam's right. - he said.
- About what?
- But you're also right. - he finished. - Both of you just can't see the other side. Don't you think, him and Adam can be friends without, - he moved his hands close to his head and made "boom" motion.
He didn't answered, patting Chainsaw's back, he knew it wasn't all.
- I don't want Kavinsky to harm him. - he finally said.
- Do you believe he can?
- No, - he felt offended. - Adam wouldn't fucking let him.
Noah nodded.
- But still, what's the problem?
He didn't say anything.
- Because you like Kavinsky. - it sounded like a question but wasn't.
- Because Joe understands. - he stood up, putting Chainsaw on the chair. He started wandering around the room, with the little raven hopping after him. - He gets the dreaming. He gets how I feel. He knows me.
Kavinsky knew him.
Not Niall, but Ronan.
- Didn't you think he might "get" Adam?
He didn't.
- Like what?
He knew the answer.
He looked back at Noah, he wasn't in the chair.
- Go talk with him.
He was on the stairs, faded and smudged.
- Noah?
- I... just need time. - he sounded like echo. - Don't worry.
A shadow of a smile appeared on his blurry face.
***
- ... but it sucks, because it's gone and even museums started hunting them for display. Museums, Adam! Museums!
They were sitting on a bed. Gansey was leaning on Adam, head resting on the boy's shoulder, eyes fighting to stay open. Adam wrapped his arm around his sleepy friend, nodding to every word he said, his own eyes puffy and reddish.
Ronan looked at them, feeling something he didn't in long time. He felt at home.
- What's he mumbling about? - he asked, leaning on the door-frame.
- The Great Auk. - Adam answered, not looking at him.
- They're gone, Ronan. - Gansey yawned. - Gone, the great bird of Scottish islands, of Kilda and Elday. No, - he murmured to himself. - Elday is Iceland's. - he frowned his eyebrows trying to remember something, suddenly he announced: - Pen gwyn.
- Falcóg mhór. - Ronan nodded. - "He made no cry. I strangled him.", a cruel end.
- Ronan. - Adam scolded him.
- This is what one of them said. - he shrugged. - Cruel fate with no future. Gansey, go to sleep. I wanted to talk with Adam.
Gansey rubber his eyes.
- Sure, sure. But first, I said, Great Auk is the original penguin and-
- You're going with me to church tomorrow. - he interrupted him. - After dinner, we gonna check whatever you want.
He looked at him, like he just show him a new thing from his dream.
- I'm not...
- Matthew likes you.
- No connection. - he insisted. - And Declan...
- He doesn’t own the church. You’ll just pretend you for a hour or so.
- I did. - Noah said, his voice hanging behind him. - My mother hated when I did.
Ronan turned his head and saw him in the same state. He moved through him and grabbed Gansey’s hand.
- Come on, - he made him stand up. - They need to talk.
- I never was...
- Gansey, - he pulled him in to the hall. - Tell me more about the gwin.
Ronan closed the door and looked at Adam. Heat rising inside him.
- I'm still standing what I said.
- That makes two of us. - he didn’t look at him.
More about the RW!Dream Pack, because I feel like shit.
Skov gets a crush on a girl from his cooking class, the boys make fun of him but encourage him to ask her out. Still too scared to do it.
Ilya feels bitter and guilty about not having the real!Proko’s memories. He feels awkward around his father’s house, seeing photos and things he should remember but doesn’t. He still cares for his father and knows he’s doing his best.
If Jiang sees a bug or a lizard, he’ll stop whatever he’s doing to take a photo. Even if he’s in the middle of a conversation, he just needs to photograph the cutie.
Kavinsky on bad day, just cuddles to Proko’s side and starts rumbling about everything. Proko would just listen and nod, because he understands, how he feels too well.
K hates when people call him Joseph and especially Joe. He would threaten others over it. The only ones who can call him that are his mother (although she uses Yosif), Proko (only calls him Joseph when angry with him), Ronan (calls him Ron and Ronek to piss him off) and Adam.
Whenever somebody at school makes a xenophobia comment at the gang, Swan is the first to “make them apologies“. Also he loves when anyone of the pack talks about their heritage.
K is always ready to help the crew, from learning Polish together with Skov, being Jiang’s guinea pig for polishing his tattooing skills, to listening to Swan’s raft-drafts for the newspaper or getting Proko things to feel more like his own person (he doesn’t accept it but is still grateful), he’s always there for them.
During working on “Dream Pack“ and reading The Raven King through the phone with my friend, a short scene came to me and I had to write it down. It’s not fantastic (or too well written) but it’s something I missed/wanted to see in TRC.
Warning: angst, some gore, Rovinsky hints (but not really???)
Context: It’s few days after the Fourth of July, Ronan is checking on the Albino Night Horror in a barn.
Ronan watched the terrifying creature trying its best to make itself comfortable in the little space inside the barn. Picking and placing piles of hay into a somewhat nest. Pressing it down with it crooked and twisted clawed feet, Ronan could see its body shaking from just holding up its weight. It white feathers were stained with soot and ragged by the flames and teeth. There were places where was nothing but burned skin, open wounds dripping with something black. It was bleeding.
He could feel its agony of existing.
He took a step closer but the Night Horror hissed at him, his two beaks twisting and clapping.
Ronan's instincts told him to leave it alone, let it suffer for what happen. But he couldn't.
He moved forwards it. It hissed and screeched at him, louder and louder with every step he made. It wasn't angry. It was scared and hurting.
Slowly, he reached out and touched the creature's neck. It fell silent, its three red eyes watched him.
He moved his hand, stroking the damaged skin and singed feathers.
The Horror closed its eyes and made a happy clicking noise.
- I know, I know, - he told it. - I know it hurts. I know you're hurting. - he corrected himself.- But you did great.
Was he lying?
Why he cared for it, after what happened?
He feel tears forming.
- You did what you have to.
There was an other way.
It wasn't it. It made it worst.
The tears blurred his vision.
- You gonna get better.
But will he?
He shouldn't care, he shouldn't care, care for it. Care for him.
They fell down his face.
- It'll take time but, - his words turned into a whimper. - You'll be back to form.
Form of anger, form of hatred. Anger at himself, anger at Niall. Anger at himself, Niall Lynch.
Of course he won't, he never will.
- I'll help you.
The screams echoed in his mind.
You couldn't help him.
- I...
He couldn't finish, all his words turned into sobbing.
The Night Horror put one of its beaks on his shoulder, cawing quietly and softly, just like Chainsaw.
Ronan embraced its neck, squeezing it tightly. The smell of burning filled his lungs. Burn feathers and flesh, embers and death.
He saw his smile in his mind. Felt his finger brushing his skin. Remembered the sadness in his eyes.
"It was never gonna be you and me."
"Bang."
"Just us."
"That's not enough."
"Lynch, Lynch, Lynch."
"It's just Ronan, Joe."
He cursed him out.
He cursed himself.
He was a Lynch.
He was like Niall.
He was like Declan.
He was a liar.
Making gansey armenian and not a total ass to Adam 24/7 would literally make everything abt trc better also half a mind 2 make ronan half armenian too in my trc rewrite because there’s a thing in my family where this gold necklace w the armenian flag has been passed down from father to son for generations and when it went 2 my father he was the youngest son and he also got the middle name Shahen which is like The Golden Name in my family and my uncles r still pissed about it and I think that would be such a Niall Lynch thing to do w Ronan
Au where the ganseys are armenian and their last name is actually ganseyan and they’re not white republicans thanks for coming to my ted talk I’ll be here all week
