bloodofithuriel | (no subject)

[ Jace blinks at that and then sighs, and frowns. ]

No. No, I don't. Which means it's just me, actually. I don't believe that stupid crap about Downworlder's being naturally evil.

[ That doesn't help, in fact it just makes him feel worse about it, but that isn't Ragnor's problem. ]

Do you think Alec is twisted?

[ Seeing how Alec is dating a Shadowhunter, has settled in with a Downworlder, and has the same Submissive mark Jace does.

Ragnor knows he can't always trump feelings with logic, but identifying a toxic mindset can be the first step to addressing it. ]

[ His immediate concern has been addressed, and Izzy is safe. Which just leaves the awkward fact that he'd been essentially flirting with the girl he was raised as the brother of. ]

Well. It seems to be going around. Missed texts, I mean. Just making sure you hadn't got like, drugged or coerced.

Ha. Well. Lucky whoever you meant to send it to? You're a grown woman, Izzy. You never had any trouble getting what you want. Go you.

[ Jace actually rolls his eyes at that, snorting in amusement at the idea. ]

Of course not. That self-sacrificing idiot. He's living with Bane in my world, you know? They're practically engaged at this point, really. I'm not surprised they gravitated towards each other here, either.

Not tonight, at least.

( it's meant as a joke, but there's some seriousness laced within the response. she wasn't sure if she could call it a full on 'being drugged', but the drinks had certainly been sweet enough to disguise it. there's an admission in her statement, though. there was no influence, no coercion, nothing to blame other than her own pent up want. neither her or jace had ever been shy about their tastes, but they'd never been this blunt about it, either. )

You say that as if you have that trouble yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if you'd managed to meet your quota already. ( now that's more of the typical tease she's used to dishing out; it's hardly an insult. )

Don't joke Izzy, this place is weird. I worry.

[ About her. About Alec. About himself. About what this place will do to him. Let him be. ]

Honestly? I haven't really tried yet. Its been uh, complicated.

Besides, I'm not the only in this discussion who should have no problem meeting any quotas.

I know you do. I'm fine, really. Just kind of restless I guess.

( and it's difficult not to be, given she doesn't have the typical distractions and means of keeping herself busy like she did back at the institute. )

I accept the compliment, but you said it yourself. This place isn't exactly home.

I can't really just call someone over to help out, either. Even if I want to. Everything comes with complications.

( she's obviously not thinking about where he is. obviously. )

Oh believe me, I get that feeling.

[ He was used to filling his days with training, with missions, with all sorts of distractions, to keep himself out of his own head and his own feelings. ]

I mean, technically you can. I saw some woman put out an actual open roll call for volunteers. You'd have more applicants than her in a heartbeat. You're gorgeous Izzy, you know that.

That's not exactly my style.

( there's no judgment there, but she likes to at least try and let things unfold naturally. )

It's not all looks. Knowing someone goes a long way when it comes to pleasure, even if I've been pleasantly surprised.

Besides, maybe there's things I want that I don't know how to ask for. Or at least, don't want to broadcast across an entire network.

They're together in mine too, but that's not the topic at hand.

[ although it is very nice to know those two do get together in both worlds. ]

Since we've established neither the demon blood nor the attraction to men is an issue, then I believe by process of elimination, the problem does not lie with you, but with the Nephilim.

[ Jace stares down at his phone for a long time. In some ways, Izzy is saying things he's been thinking, and keeping to himself for ages. He wonders if... No. That is a stupid lane of thought and he should nix that immediately. ]

Oh Izzy. Trust me when I say I understand that predicament in... many, many ways.

Although I'm sure whoever you originally meant to send that picture to would be jumping to do your bidding immediately upon proper receipt.

( she wants to ask him to explain, but it's not something she should be curious about. they'd always toyed with one another, knew full and well neither were ashamed to talk openly about sex and whatever came with it. but it'd never been anything other than that, surface-level chatter and bantering.

she shouldn't. but it's late and she's not in the mood to stave off whatever this was— )

And if I said I haven't sent it to them?

Why the hell not? It's clearly someone you know would welcome the invitation, right?

Izzy, since when are you hesitant to go after what you want?

More than likely, yes.

I can't just send it to someone else! You'll just have to appreciate it for what it is for them.

( because that's appropriate. )

Maybe I'm not sure what I want.

Izzy.

I mean. Don't get me wrong. I can definitely, uh, appreciate. The uh, aesthetic. But Alec would literally rip my eyes out of my head. And feed them to me. Raw.

This place can make things very confusing.

( it's a soft denial, but it doesn't come with shame so much as it does an inward look to get her shit together. the topics already been breached, even if it's only slightly—so allow her the curiosity, at least. )

My brother doesn't exactly get a say in that department.

I can make my own decisions. You can too, you know.

( ~~it's not like he has to know.~~ )

[ Jace doesn't know what to do. The idea's never crossed his mind before. He's certainly not adverse to it. Okay, let's be honest, he's very much in favor of the idea. But shit with Alec is complicated at the moment, and he doesn't know that he can keep those kind of secrets from his parabatai. He doesn't want to say no. He just isn't sure he should say yes. ]

No. No, he doesn't, but it doesn't mean we can't discount his reaction entirely, either? Like, I like my eyes in my skull. They're useful there.

I can. I absolutely can. I just...

Angel, Izzy. You're fucking beautiful and the things we could do...

I just don't want either of us to regret it later.

( it's not like she'd been one to think about it, either. maybe it was the city's way of toying with her, throwing her into a situation that would never unfold back home. she can recognize his looks for what they are, she gets the appeal other woman find in him, but what's more is she knows what's beneath that bravado, that arrogance, and he knows what's beneath her own.

the last thing she wants to do is talk about her brother in the current circumstance, but she gets it. )

He wouldn't touch you. Especially if he knew I was the one instigating. If anything, he can be mad at me.

( but she doesn't think it'll go there. if there was anything her and alec gave one another it was understanding; support, even if blindly. )

Why don't you tell me about some of those 'things.'

I mean. I'd rather he wasn't mad at either of us.

[ Then again, Alec had his boyfriend and Magnus and who the hell ever else he was hanging around these days. It wasn't as if he needed Jace around too.

Jace was good with women. Well, most women. The women who he slept with, flirted with, his 'book club'. Izzy was different. Izzy mattered, and for one of the first times since he was about fourteen he found himself somewhat tongue-tied in trying to say something smooth. ]

You want words, when you know how terrible I am at those?

When's the last time he stayed mad at either of us for more than a day?

( they were all too important to one another. and as much as her comfort in this place comes from the fact that her brother had come to find her only a few hours after she'd arrived, she knows a risk when she sees one, and no part of her believes this would do anything to fracture that.

she's still in that robe kissing silk against her skin every time she shifts, draft from the brisk city outdoors coming in through the curtains. she can't help but to imagine him seeing her this way, wearing so little, layer slouched over a single bronzed shoulder. and she finds she wants so much more from him than words, but he'd always been able to run his mouth—surely he could handle the task before him now. )

Maybe they'll earn you an invitation to show me instead.

Tell me, one thing. The first thing you think about.

[ Well she had a point, and Alec HAD told him to go and more or less... try people out. So really, he had only himself to blame if Jace did that. ]

Finding out if your skin is as silky as that robe. Running my fingers over it and know you won't give a shit about the sword calluses. Finding out what happens when I play with your hair now that I'm not just trying to tug it and run away.

We've trained before. It wouldn't be the first time you've felt my skin, but maybe the first time you'll be paying attention.

Why don't you come see what happens?

( it's as much an invitation as any, and what's better, he doesn't have very far to go. )

It's certainly the first time I'd do so with a certain intent.

On my way.

[ If Izzy's bluffing, he's going to call it. If she's not. Well. At least one Lightwood hasn't replaced him in their life. ]

( she's not that cruel, but maybe she should be. maybe she should turn him away once he gets to that closed bedroom door, shouldn't think about his fingers tangling into her hair, tugging it in a far different manner than a childish tease. but she cant, now, not with skin burning in waiting, not as antsy as she is idling in those sheets.

it's all she can do to slip from the bed, winding that robe a little more securely about her figure with a loose bow, still lazed over a single shoulder. and she makes it to the door as she hears his steps quietly padding down the stairs, courtesy of the rune along her neck. for the most part, swallow wood is quiet, asleep—everyone tucked away to their own rooms, for what she knows, and as she steps outside of her bedroom door, cold marble beneath her feet, she leans against the wall just outside of it instead.

it's risky, waiting there for him like a treat in the dark, but maybe she likes it that way. )

[ It was one of the few nights Jace allowed himself the indulgence of staying at Swallow Wood, instead of sneaking back to the Down to sleep, paranoid about getting Magnus and everyone else in the house in trouble.

Predictably, he hadn't been able to sleep anyways so the text hadn't woken him up, but he had been in bed. When he pads into sight in the hallway, he's in nothing but a set of borrowed sweats from Alec, his usually slicked back hair mussed and half in his face, and that very familiar smile showing up, half crooked on his face.

He's still not entirely sure of his welcome, but she's still wearing that robe, the slope of one shoulder showing, her runes standing out on her skin and it hits him suddenly, like a brick to the face, that Izzy is one stunningly beautiful woman.

He'd known it. Objectively. Like one knew a painting was beautiful. But his brain had never made the connection for him between Izzy being gorgeous and being attractive as hell before. It probably showed on his face too, and in the way his steps slowed for a few seconds, before he hurried to her faster.

When he got close enough, he crowded up into her space, his hands coming to rest almost reverently on her hips. ]

Hey.

It was one word, whispered under his breath, but there was a wealth of heat in it all of the sudden.

(no subject)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

will they or wont they: place your bets

Re: will they or wont they: place your bets

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject