[video + action] I'll love you in springtime, I lost you when summer came

[chambermusicandtenpins]

(Some spoilers for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald inside)

Genessia had felt like a dream. When he had returned home, it did not feel like he missed a single step in resuming his life there, in shifting immediately back to his daily life at the school and his further plans among his friends for handling the rise of Grindelwald. There had been times, brief flashes, when he had thought of living in a city where he and Gellert both lived, where he had made many impossible friends, where the past and present seemed oddly intertwined in ways he had found fascinating.

But it was all too easily passed off as dreams. He could easily explain it away in his own mind -- of course he dreamt of Gellert as a younger man, when so much time was focused on him and he could only remember him as a youth. And there was so much terrible news and awful happenings that of course he would dream of a place free of that, where he could make friends and enjoy his time without a war on the horizon. It was the results of a busy, tired mind, and all of the elements were pulled from his real life -- he'd even dreamed of Newt there, after he'd planned to speak to Newt about Paris. There'd even been a Kelpie, much like one of Newt's!

Admittedly, though, he could not afford to focus much on such dreams when there was so much else to worry about. It was easy to push those thoughts aside when Gellert escaped from New York and the Barebones boy fled to France, when he had pushed Newt to go after him and then immediately had the Ministry strike down his own spells. He wasn't even afforded the joy of his own classroom anymore, being forced to abandon his own courses over a few vengeful whims.

And then Gellert had escaped once more, with the boy in tow, and a pile of corpses left behind.

Newt had brought him back his own blood pact, a thing he was immensely grateful for, but there was still too much to worry over. His work was not done yet, and Gellert was still rising, and there was still war on the horizon. And now he knew, for certain, that Gellert had aims specifically to kill him -- a thought that broke his heart all the more than it already had, especially when such a plan was to be done so coldly.

But he could not afford to let himself fret over that, not when there was work to be done, not when there were plans to be made. He fell asleep the night after Gellert's escape with those thoughts whirling through his mind, spinning through his head as he sunk into sleep...

...and then he was back at the docks. And it was as if no time had passed at all.


[video]

[Albus is standing in front of the dream docks, though this time he looks a bit dazed and disoriented. He doesn't look any different than before, except that his wrists bear marks on them like they'd been cuffed. For a moment, he blinks and seems to bring himself back to where he was, his memories flooding to him in a rush.]

...well. I seem to be back, now. From however long I was away for.


[action with Gellert Grindelwald]

[The first place he goes to is Gellert's home, without stopping to change clothes or rest or reorient himself. His head is still spinning, and everything is still a confused jumble -- Gellert is younger, but not, he loves him, he wants to kill him, he is killing people, he is working to be better. Albus can't keep them apart in his mind, the two of them melding together in his thoughts, and his heart aching with the confusion of it, of how mournful and pained and loved he feels when thinking of him.

But he does remember that he promised to go to him first once he returned. And in truth, he is desperate to see him, to remind himself of this version that loves him and wants to change. Even if his interactions with Gellert's plans have been distant and cautious, every word and image of him has been an ache to his heart. He wants to remind himself of the rest of him, of how much more there is to him, of the hope he'd had before he'd been summoned away from this place.

Albus knocks on the door a little frantically, looking dazed and tired but also desperate to see him.]

Comments

[Video]

[li_amaranth]

Welcome back.

[Li's studying him, both curious and cautious since she knows next to nothing about how the dock affects people.]

How do you feel?

[Video]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

Thank you.

[It takes him a moment -- he remembers Li as a friend, but there is a second or so where he remembers all of it, the curse, the potion, the dragon's blood.]

Mostly, I feel confused. And disoriented. It's all coming back to me now in a rush.]

Re: [Video]

[li_amaranth]

...Sounds like you're in for a massive headache.

[And is dissuading her from ever going near the docks.]

Hope things weren't too bad at home.

[Video]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

I imagine you're right.

[Even if his head doesn't hurt, exactly, it is a sudden huge rush of information. It's a shock-like feeling, the initial numbness slowly fading into an ache and then a sudden rush of knowledge he did not have.]

...they are not going well right now. [Which is an understatement, but also too complicated to explain fully for the moment.] What have I missed?

Re: [Video]

[li_amaranth]

I see.

[Li isn't going to press for answers. Not right now anyway. Besides, there's no guarantee that he'll want to tell her anyway.]

Not a whole hell of a lot. It's been quiet.

[Video]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

All right. I suppose that's good, then.

[And then, the question he is admittedly desperate to ask:]

How is Gellert?

Re: [Video]

[li_amaranth]

[She went quiet for a moment or two.]

...Quiet. I think he's been keeping himself occupied.

[Action]

[greatestgood]

[The days haven't been easy and Gellert has occupied himself, keeping his hands and his mind busy to drive out the yawning absence of Albus. He will return. He trusts the other man's word, but that doesn't stop him from imagining all the horrors Albus might see. What if he comes back with a change of heart?

It's not like he could blame him. Mountains of corpses and a war would be enough to extinguish love of any sort - and vague promises made in a peaceful land could hardly outweigh what Albus might see.

So he keeps himself active, barely pausing to sleep, making potions, writing and discarding ideas for spells and, most of all, doing his utmost not to fall back on his violent tendencies. He feels a tug when Albus is returned, but before he can leave the house, there is a knock on his door.

Oh. Fear rises in his throat and he purposefully leaves the Elder wand on a table. He doesn't want to make any mistakes. His hand shakes as he unlocks the door and opens it.]

Albus. [He hesitates, struck by how exhausted the other man looks, before pulling him inside and into his arms.] What happened?

[Action]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

[At the sight of Gellert, something in his expression shifts and crumples in on itself, as if he had been forcing himself steady until he was able to lay eyes on him once more. Even if it has not been very long, it feels like twenty years have passed all over again, like he's seeing him again for the first time. Something about the sight of him young and caring undoes him, breaking down a barrier he did not know he still had.

Albus doesn't answer, not right away. All he does is grab Gellert just as he's being pulled into his arms, wrapping his own around him as tightly as he can. For a moment, he buries his face into his neck, breathing in the scent of him, holding him as if afraid he would slip away from him at any second or shift into something else if he let go for even a moment.]

[Action]

[greatestgood]

[It's frightening how desperate and sad Albus has become. Gellert realizes he is the cause of all of this and it shatters his heart. Deep down, he had told himself "it's not that bad in the future" and he had almost believed that lie, but now he sees it is so much worse than he ever understood. Only a true nightmare could break Albus down so cruelly.

His words are jumbled and meant to comfort, his voice hoarse as his throat tightens.]

Shhh it's alright, Albus. You had a very bad dream and now you are awake again. [Gellert rubs over the other man's back and soothingly strokes Albus's auburn hair.] What have I done to you? Have I hurt you?

[Action]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

No. No, no, nothing like that. [Not physically, not with magic, nothing of that sort. His voice is raw when he speaks, the words muffled against Gellert's neck. Albus doesn't shift even a breath away from him, still wrapped in him, his fingers curled tight into the fabric of his shirt. He doesn't like feeling so very vulnerable and in need of reassurance, and yet Gellert's words are a balm in his ears, reminding him of which version of him he is holding.

He takes a deep breath, and then another, before he speaks again.] It is just...it is very good to see you.

[Action]

[greatestgood]

[He communicates his relief by kissing Albus's temple. Then he leads them, slowly and carefully, to the bedroom. Once there, he sits down on the mattress and tugs on Albus to follow suit. All things considered, he is worried their legs won't hold them up for much longer.]

Is it? I'm glad to hear that. [Though, of course, it's complicated.] I want you to rest. I'm not going anywhere and I won't let anyone hurt you - including myself.

[Action]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

[Albus is very docile, letting Gellert lead him without a word of protest. Really, he savors it, appreciating the way he chooses to look after him. It is a sharp contrast to the plans of his older self, and he feels a surge of intense love for him for the way he immediately seeks to care for him.

Even as he sits down with Gellert on the mattress, he does not stop touching him. It is as if he fears that letting him go even for an instant would make him lose this version of him forever.]

You are too kind. [He says it quietly, thoughtfully, looking at Gellert with deep wells of emotion behind his eyes.] I won't go anywhere. When I came back, I remembered that I promised to come here first.

[Action]

[hufflepuffpride]

[As soon as Newt heard Albus's voice over the network; apparated near the Dream Docks and went running around and looking for Albus to give someone a big hug. Someone missed you]

[Action]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

[Albus accepts the hug without any resistance, smiling slightly if a little tiredly as Newt grabs him. Stepping back slightly, he asks:] What have I missed while I was away, Newt?

Re: [Action]

[hufflepuffpride]

[Someone Newt manages to withdraw like a hermit crab and whispers without looking Albus in the eyes]

Tina - disappeared. I think she went home.

[Action]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

[His smile falls at that, looking at Newt with concern as he pulls away.]

I'm so sorry, Newt.

Re: [Action]

[hufflepuffpride]

[Newt doesn't know what to say or what there is to say; mostly because there isn't a way to go after her. Just gonna keep hugging Albus]

[Action]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

[Albus returns the hug, his arms wound comfortingly around Newt. However long Newt needs to hug is fine with him.]

Wherever she is now, I'm sure she is safe. She is a force to be reckoned with.

[Video]

[borntolove]

How was it?

[Video]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

...enlightening, but very worrisome.

Re: [Video]

[borntolove]

Want to talk about it?

If so- let's meet up. And have tea.

[Video]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

If you'd like.

Where would you wish to meet?

Re: [Video]

[borntolove]

I'll meet you. Where are you?

[Video]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

At home, currently, in my apartment in Fayren.