bloodofithuriel | (no subject)

Yeah. I'm starting to get that. Definitely makes me keep my mouth shut more, I guess.

[ Jace groaned a little under his breath and sighed. ]

No? Yes? I mean, he's trying, and seems to think that's done and done, but I don't really want to impose, and Alec is acting all weird around him now, so... I feel like I'm in the way?

Are you currently in the house? This is a conversation best had in person.

[ Ragnor will find him and get him a drink. ]

Yeah, I'm here. Is this going to be like the conversation where I get told I should check the network for intel and then see horrific stuff on it, because that was a shit conversation, Ragnor.

[ He's coming downstairs to find Jace, wearing jeans and a black t-shirt which seems at odds with the whole warlock thing, but he can dress like a person.

He walks over to Jace when he sees him. ]

I apologize for that. I wasn't expecting what happened.

[ Jace looks up. Honestly, the normal clothing on a warlock is probably one of the least weird things he's seen since he got here, but it still makes him blink a little. Mostly because he's used to Magnus and his flashiness ].

I kind of get the impression no one was. Not your fault, just bad timing, I guess.

[ He looks at Jace, a long look, trying to decide if he sees Tessa somewhere in there. ]

Indeed. Do you want a drink? The safe kind. I've learned my lesson regarding unlabeled ones.

[ Jace's face breaks into a wry grin and he shrugs one shoulder. ]

Sure. As long as you're as confident in Magnus' labeling skills as he is in his potion-making ones.

I no longer trust Magnus with beverages.

[ He's getting rum and coke. He has no idea of what Jace likes, but Ragnor doesn't like beer and he also doesn't want to get the kid drunk, as much as he looks like he needs it.

He gets it all with magic, making the drink appear on the bar next to Jace. ]

[ Jace chuckles under his breath. ]

I mean, I guess I can't blame you, but his feelings might be hurt next time he gets to mixing drinks.

[ He takes the drink with a nod of thanks and a sip. It's good. ]

He should have thought of that before leaving unlabeled shots at the bar.

[ Ragnor takes a seat, looking at Jace. ]

How are you feeling? I know from experience the whole introduction to this place is far from kind.

[ Jace doesn't point out that drinking unlabeled shots in a warlock's house was probably unwise even on a good day, but he shrugs a little. ]

You'll forgive him eventually though, yeah?

[ He pressed his lips together and stared down at the glass's contents for long moment and then shrugged uncomfortably. ]

I... don't know? I mean. This place is pretty screwed up, I've already had some weird stuff happen and I've barely been out there. Alec is acting weird as hell, and except for Clary, this city really doesn't seem to like Shadowhunters, if the marks are any indication.

The marks are arbitrary but for their society to remain tenable, there has to be more Submissives than Dominants. I would guess at least 60 percent of the population is Submissives.

[ He's eyeballing it, but he knows there are more Submissives, otherwise they would be a lot more Dominants without contracts. ]

[ Jace shakes his head a little bit. ]

They don't feel arbitrary. They feel... knowing.

[ He swallows, unconsciously running his fingertips over his own before he jerks his hand away and presses it over a proper rune mark on his wrist. More out of comfort than to activate anything. ]

Makes sense, I guess. Only way Magnus can manage to keep so many of us around, I guess. Dominants are supposedly in charge, so you'd only want so many of them throwing their weight around.

Jace, you will have to shed any shame regarding what you enjoy very fast in this city.

[ He spent decades at the Academy, but he never had to teach sex-ed. The Nephilim have always preferred their children repressed and unwilling to experiment.

Except the Herondales, he supposes, that line has always been special. But if he has his history right, Jace stepped out from abuse and was directly thrown in with the Lightwoods. ]

Alec is being weird because this city is hell. Plus, he's likely worried you'll judge him.

[ Jace goes pale and then blood red and takes a very long drink before he lowers the glass to scrub his hands over his face. ]

That's... easier said than done, Ragnor. I can't just switch a lifetime of hiding things off. Especially with my family here. Even with what little I've said, Alec's already acting like I'm some clone or alternate version.

[ It was annoying the hell out of him actually.

He scoffs. As if Alec had anything to hide compared to Jace, honestly. ]

He's my parabatai and my best friend. There's nothing to judge him for. Except for being an ass.

You are from further ahead in the timeline. Things happen very quickly once Valentine reappears.

[ Not that he was there for most of it, but he's heard the story, repeatedly, with various levels of exaggeration. ]

Alec and Magnus are both from before any of it. Not entirely sure of where Isabelle is, chronologically. My timeline is different enough from yours to be frustratingly confusing, but I am several years past the Mortal War.

[ Jace grimaced. That was certainly an understatement. ]

He's two steps ahead of us, every time. He can play me like a fiddle, which since he raised me, shouldn't be a surprise, right? I keep trying to prove I'm better than him, that I'm not what he thinks I'm fated to be, and I keep falling for every damn trap he lays, and dragging the people I love into it.

[ He rubs at his eyes for a second. ]

Is it bad I'm almost glad for a break from it? From worrying about his next move, where he's got the Cup and the Sword, how he's going to destroy everything? All it cost me is every secret shame I've kept hidden since I was old enough to get excited about cute boys and girls.

[ He tilts his head and looks wry. ]

Is this where you tell me spoilers would probably be a bad idea?

I can tell you what happened in my world, but there is no guarantee things will happen the same way in yours.

[ The parallels do seem too pointed for Jace to not be a Herondale, but that just means it'd be worse if Ragnor was wrong about it. He could be a Wayland boy, raise by Valentine. He could actually be Valentine's son.

Maybe in their world there is no Sebastian. Ragnor can't be sure and saying anything about it would be irresponsible at best. ]

The war will end, as all wars do. We ought to focus on the here and now.

[ Jace made a face. Ugh. Sage advice. The worst. ]

I hate to tell you this Ragnor, but you sound just like the Clave there for a second.

[ Jace rolled his neck a little and took another drink. ]

So not spoilers. Right. Okay. Our respective common-ish universes aside. How the hell do I survive this place without you or Alec or Magnus or Izzy getting caught up in the bullshit.

I did work for you Shadowhunters for decades, we must have rubbed off on each other.

[ This Jace is very close to the one he knows, but he's never been close to him. The Herondales he knew are all long gone. ]

Unfortunately for both of us, your family and Magnus are all very nosy people. You won't be able to keep them out of whatever you get up to. The Dominant who contracts you will be legally responsible for you, and if that ends up being Magnus, he will be invested.

[ He takes a drink too. He's not sorry he contracted Magnus, but there are downsides to Magnus feeling responsible for him. ]

You have time to meet other people, Magnus particularly has a large network. And you might feel safer with someone from a different world. There's less weight to it.

Luck you, I guess.

[ Jace's expression is wry. He's well aware of how ridiculously superior Shadowhunters can be around Downworlders. Even the ones they deem useful, like warlocks. ]

Ugh. They really are nosy. Even back home.

[ He sighs, the idea of Magnus being legally responsible for him, and possibly put in the line of fire if Jace fucks up, striking him hard. ]

Fuck. I trust him. I trust them. But I don't want them in trouble. Especially not after that...

[ He shakes his head. That hadn't been a great way to start his first full day anyways. ]

I don't want to put them at risk if I mess something up.

Someone will be responsible for you regardless of how you feel about it, and no one would want you to contract a Dominant you'd be okay with getting in trouble.

[ Ragnor can recognize that having Magnus as his Dominant has been an excellent deterrent for him, very much the main reason why he hasn't been in trouble with the city yet. ]

You don't have to have sex with your Dominant— Magnus and I don't. And I imagine looking the way you look, you won't struggle finding partners, so that part is covered, at least.

[ Angel. This shit was complicated. He felt like he was screwed no matter which direction he went. He stays with people he trusts, he could get them hurt. He goes looking for a stranger and he could end up hurt. He closes his eyes, trying to puzzle it out. Finally, he just sighs. ]

I don't know what to do.

[ He says it quietly, a little lost sounding. He doesn't want to BE here. He feels like he's just in the way, at best. Another burden at worst.

Jace scoffs. ]

Please. Sex with Magnus would not be a hardship. I'd just worry about Alec killing me. I just... Angel, this is stupid. This whole place is stupid.

[ This is a lot of information Ragnor isn't entirely sure of what to do with. He'd been hoping to talk to Magnus about Jace's family— potential family, but if Jace is open to sex, then Magnus' attachment to the Herondales would only complicate the whole love triangle further. He doubts Magnus would even entertain the idea of allowing Jace to contract someone else with the Herondale possibility on the table.

Hell, Ragnor himself is not entirely sure he's comfortable with Jace contracting a stranger. ]

You have time. Don't contract anyone for the time being, my own contract expires next month and we can revisit where everyone is standing then.

[ As far as Ragnor knows, not many Dominants have more than two Submissives. He has no idea if Magnus would be allowed to have four. But he's made enough friends, he could probably contract someone else and let Magnus handle his Nephilim. ]

This place is a nightmare, but you don't have to deal with it right now or by yourself.

[ Jace already has a huge identity crisis on his his hands. Still bound up in believing he's actually a Morgenstern, that he has demon blood, that he isn't really anything other than a traitor's puppet. More might break him. Or not. It's impossible to tell.

Jace laughs a little, even if it sounds strangled. ]

And hope I don't fuck up in the meantime, I guess?

No. I mean. It's nice to have... people who know me. Or think they know me? I don't know. It must be a lot worse to come here and not have anyone.