#and this is what I got. The ink splatter (where the name is) didn't turn out how I expected

[size-two-shrimp]

Virtue!!

Alt lighting/unedited version + progress pics under the cut

[figgrrr0]

Hii im new here! Found your blog by chance and I love how you write! Would you be able to write wanderer x jealous!reader on valentines day? Lets say Wanderer has got a lot of admirers from the akademiya and reader is just silently furious abt it but doesnt say anything. When Wanderer finds out he fucks them nicely and praise them/ reassures them <333

Apparently I struggle to do angry jealousy, I just make it sad... but it's light this time! And soft.

Also it feels so weird writing Wanderer as a name??

Want to skip the lead up? Look for the NSFW sign that marks the smut!

Valentine's with Wanderer

Character: Top!Wanderer/Scaramouche

Reader: Bottom!Gn // Genre: Smut, angst

Cw: Classic Scara misunderstandings, praise/reassurance, fingering, soft sex, slight angst(?) it's more hinted I guess

Plot: A little // Word count: 1.9k

Valentine's Day: a day of love, gifts, and showing appreciation for your partner.

Usually, everyone tries to take the day off, freeing up their schedule so that they can focus entirely on the occasion, however it may be that they want to spend it. Which is why you were quite surprised to find yourself alone in bed when you woke up in the morning.

Now, that's not when you started feeling doubt. After all, maybe Wanderer, your boyfriend of the past few months, was in the kitchen. Breakfast in bed is a traditional start to Valentine's Day, and an easy way to get in anyone's good books. But, when you heard nothing after a few minutes of waiting, – no clanking of cutlery or slamming of cabinets – you just had to go see where he was.

Unluckily for you, all you could find was a little note, hastily sprawled and left waiting on the counter:

"I'll be gone for a while, don't wait up for me. I left you some breakfast in the cupboard, it might need heating up if you stay in bed too long, but that's not my fault...

–Happy Valentine's Day."

As usual, his handwriting is kind of hard to read; quick and messy. But, at least he did technically make you breakfast, even if he also alluded to you being lazy.

However, what most takes your attention, is the blotch of ink that splattered right at the end of "fault". It was as if he were hesitating to let go, to pick up the pen and leave it at that.

Which is why you felt oddly warm at the fact that the last part was perfectly legible and obviously had been written slower than the rest.

Even though you know Wanderer isn't particularly fond of outright expressing his feelings, you thought that surely, today of all days, he could push aside his own pride for you. Even just a little. Maybe that was too high of an expectation. His ambitions never let him take a break, so why would he take one for a made-up holiday?

Well... at least he's aware enough of your excitement for the day to acknowledge it first thing in the morning, even if he wasn't there to actually say it.

But, you knew that with Wanderer, everything would be awkward and touchy the first time around. You had to move slowly. Baby steps, you remind yourself, as you head back to your shared room to start getting ready.

It's only the start of the day.

...

You wish it weren't Valentine's Day.

Every street was lined with couples, each and every one of them holding hands, carrying flowers... things that you should be doing with your boyfriend right now.

And it didn't help that you felt like everyone was judging you for being alone, especially when most of them likely knew who you were dating. It's not like you hadn't seen them staring before now.

You couldn't blame them, really. Wanderer had shown up in Sumeru suddenly and didn't feel especially inclined to explain himself, so of course people would be curious. You just didn't like the way that their eyes would... linger after him. Even when you were there! And on the rare day that Wanderer was comfortable enough to let you hold onto him in public, the admiring stares turned to full-blown jealousy.

Now, what was wrong with that? Shouldn't that be an ego boost for you? You'd thought so too, at first. But then you realised that just meant they'd want to try and steal him from you.

You thought you could put up with it at first. After all, you knew that Wanderer wouldn't stand for anyone else touching him or getting in his way other than you. You trusted him just fine. You didn't trust the average Akademiya goer, though. They all seemed to think they were entitled to have whatever – or whoever – they wanted, just because they'd gotten into the prestigious school at all.

You'd tried to bring up your concerns to Wanderer about the whispers going around and the jealous looks you'd get when walking through the streets or halls of the Akademiya. Almost instantaneously, he shut down your complaints, finding the words so easily that it almost felt as though he hadn't even tried.

"Tch... they're annoying and only want to waste our time. Just ignore them like I do."

That response was actually exactly what you'd expected to hear, and while you were grateful for his straightforward answer, you'd wanted a more... passionate outcome. Something to show he cared.

That definitely isn't what you got, considering he didn't even look at you when he said it.

After that, you didn't want to bring up the same problem again. Especially not on Valentines Day, even though he'll probably come home having been confessed to over twenty times in the past hour alone. Okay, maybe you were over-exaggerating a little, but it really didn't feel like it to you. Plus, it's the day of love! You're allowed a little leeway for feeling paranoid, right?

Maybe this evening will be better, when Wanderer finally comes come.

...

As you walk through the door, you're instantly met with a faint smell that you recognised to be the lavender lemongrass scented candles that you kept around the house. Of course, this clued you in to the fact that Wanderer must already be home. But what solidified this, was that when you walked through the doorway, there he was, waiting for you standing next to a vase of beautifully arranged flowers. It was mainly made up of your favourite flower, along with some of the famous Valentine's flowers as well, such as roses, carnations, and even some daisies.

Most likely, it was thought up by the florist that he went to. But at least he knew your favourite flower, as well as followed the tradition of buying them for you at all.

Often times, it was unusual for him to initiate physical touch with you; even though he was comfortable with you, he still just wasn't used to it yet. Tonight, however, he seemed to have no trouble in walking right up to you, taking your hand to guide you into the living room, where you could both just relax in each other's company. The calming lavender lemongrass candles eased your mood quite well, and you were happy that your Wanderer had really tried for Valentine's day.

...

You had a lovely evening with your boyfriend, cuddling on the couch as you spoke in hushed voices about anything and everything (even if he was slightly apprehensive to start), the lovely atmosphere of romantic music quietly flooding through from the street.

And even though it had felt perfect, as you get ready to retire for the night, the candles having gone out a while ago, you can't help but feel the uncertainty from before start to overtake your thoughts again.

Resigning yourself to forget about it, you get into your side of the bed, your Wanderer already having been waiting for you to return. But he can tell that something in your mood has changed almost as soon as he lays his eyes on you again.

"What's wrong?"

"... Nothing."

He leans forward, showing his engagement. "Bullshit. If you don't tell me, there's nothing I can do to help you get over it."

"I just... those people from the Akademiya... they're still bothering me." You look down at your hands.

He sighs, closing his eyes for a second, "I've told you to just ignore them. There's nothing I can do to control how people think of you, or me, or us."

"I can't just ignore them!" You whine, "They're always looking at us when we're together... it's making me worried..."

At that, he looks over at you, his eyes scrunching as he thinks your words over. "Worried about what?"

Not sure how to say it, you move yourself to lay against him. Your back is pressed to his chest now, and the feeling of his warm breath on your neck helps to soothe your thoughts just enough for you to find the words:

"...I don't want them to take you from me..."

Now, it's Wanderer's turn to be silent. Now, he realises the mistake he'd made in telling you to just ignore those insignificant people; by ignoring the problem himself, he'd made you focus on it more. Of course you'd be feeling worried about this, he'd shut it down the first time you'd tried bringing it up.

You didn't need to just forget about it. You needed to work through it so that you could forget about it.

After almost a minute of tense silence, you're surprised when you feel his lips press gently to the back of your neck, accompanied moments later by his arm curling around you, pulling you ever closer against him. His hand rests over the place where your heart rests, while the other intertwines your fingers with his against your stomach, as if caging in the butterflies that start to flutter.

"Allow me to try again..." He presses a kiss to your ear before speaking again, "you don't need to think about them, or what I think about them." The hand on your heart shifts to cup your chest, your breath wavering when his hand brushes over your hardening nipples. "Because I'll never want anyone but you."

Then, the night is almost a blur.

Wanderer sneakily pulls a bottle of rose scented lube from under the pillow, liberally gathering some as he starts to stretch you out on his fingers. The scent slowly fills the room, intoxicating you on the heady fragrance, allowing it to pull you deeper into the moment.

He steadily pushes his fingers against the sensitive bundle of nerves inside of you, never slowing until after you've cum around his lubed up digits. Your hand finds purchase with the one on your chest, tightening your grip around him as you come down from the residual high.

He's whispering short encouragements to you while you collect your breath, the moans you'd been letting out dying on your tongue. Wanderer slowly lifts your leg, allowing him to guide his hard cock to finally, finally press against your hole, not making you wait to feel him as the slowly pushes in.

You don't need to adjust much, the lube and his attentive fingers having done the work well enough that only the comforting sensation of being full registers in your core. He starts thrusting when you signal that you're ready, his pace is easy and the power behind his hips is controlled enough to pull a soft moan from you with each stroke. It's different from what you're used to, but it's good. So good. And what makes it better is the hushed and stuttered, "I love you," and, "You're the only one that matters," that gets breathed into your shoulder as you both approach your shared climax.

The next morning, you wake up to find your Wanderer exactly where he ended last night; right next to you in your bed. You close your eyes contentedly, knowing you'll never have to worry about him being taken from you.

He's your Wanderer.

Want to send a request/brainrot with me? Check my rules!

Thank you for reading! 🩷

[kittycattoys]

Ink - Eddie Munson S1 E1

Masterlist | Epilogue | Characters

Welcome to Season 1 I will no longer put warnings or summaries just straight into story. If you don't like smut and angst this fic isn't for you 👍

This starts the Friday before the Sunday Will disappears and Ava's tattoo has healed.

And remember that Ava has dark skin so prepare for raciest names not including the n word. It might not be the most accurate because I am paler then a saltine cracker and I wish I made that up. Also I'm not fetashiesing the black body I just thought I'd spice up my character roster.

Eddie is a Senior Ava is a Junior

____________________________________

Ava was feeling like she shouldn't have to hide her relationship anymore. She didn't care if Steve had a fit what's the worst that could happen, she loses her popularity. Woop dee do. So that's why she sat down next to Eddie instead of at her normal table.

Eddie looked at her with confusion and adoration, meanwhile the rest of the table full of weirdos looked at her as if she was the weirdest one there.

"H-hey" Eddie breathed out with a smile from ear to ear. A bright red covered his face.

"Hey" she let out a small laugh at seeing how red he got.

"why are you sitting here"

"Well can't I sit with my boyfriend" his heart melted a little hearing her say it in public.

"Ok Eddie how much weed did you give her for doing this" one of his friends on the other side of him said earning a slap on the back of the head from Eddie.

"I don't understand what you mean by that" she gave a death glare to the friend

"he has had a crush on you since middle- ow" Eddie gave him an even harder slap to make him finally shut up

"So the boy you were seeing really was Eddie" an aggravated voice came from behind her. She stood up and turned around to find Steve glaring at her.

"I don't see why you care so much about it Steve"

"He is a bad influence on you-"

"Says the person who got me to drink my first beer, first joint, first alot worse then Eddie could do" Steve knew exactly what she meant by the last comment which only made him more mad

"you better stop seeing him or else"

"or else what you'll beat me can't do that with out getting your money cut off, or will you bully me into becoming a reject guess what I don't care"

"or else I'll tell your parents what you have been up to I'm willing to bet they wouldn't like their little girl dating a drug dealer" she froze knowing he really would do that. She gave an apologetic look to Eddie before grabbing her tray and moving back to the popular table "that's what I thought"

She spent the rest of lunch hatching out a plan because no way in hell was she going to stop dating Eddie just because Steve didn't like him.

********

School ended and Eddie was nearly to his van when he felt two arms wrap around his waist from behind

"Shit Avs you can't do that you're going to give me a heart attack"

"Sorry"

"why are you here I thought you weren't going to date me anymore"

"You didn't think that I would really stop seeing you because of a stupid threat"

"you sure made it seem like that at lunch"

"well because it wasn't an empty threat so that's why I'm going to arrange for you to meet my parents"

"WHAT!? WHEN!?"

"don't worry I'll give you time to prepare but you just need to be yourself an then Steve can't do shit about us dating I'll call you later with the time" she gave him a kiss and then left for her car leaving Eddie with a panic attack

********

She took a deep breath before opening the door to her house

"Hi Sweetheart how was school" her mother asked from the nearby kitchen

"Uh it was fine... Where is dad?"

"I think he is up in his studio. Why do you ask?"

"I have something I need to talk to you guys about" Ava walked up the stairs.

She entered the bedroom they had turned into an art studio for her father's work. He stood in front of his easel painting a landscape on a large canvas. The air in the room recked of oil paints. His arms and black tank top were splattered with colorful paint.

He noticed his daughter standing in the doorway and set down his palate turning twords her. "What do you need Ava"

"I want to talk to you and Mom about something"

"Ok I'll be down in a minute" he said grabbing a towel off the counter.

**********

They all sat in the living room waiting for Ava to speak

"Um I've been lying to you about where I've been recently... I've been seeing a boy and I really like him and I think it's time you meet him"

"Oh we already knew you were with a boy" her mother stated calmly

"What?!"

"he was very loud sneaking in" her father added in

"And your not mad?"

"No your a teenager, we thought that eventually you would intaduce us but not this soon"

"So can we have him over tomorrow night"

"Yeah sure"

"By the way Steve really doesn't like him like make up stuff about him doesn't like him"

"So that's why you're introducing him now"

**********

Eddie stood outside the door afraid to knock. He wore the only nice outfit he had a blue button up tucked into a pair of cackies. His hair was tied into a low ponytail hoping to try and hide how long it was. He practically doused himself in cologne to hide the smell of weed and cigarettes that always followed him.

He wiped his hands on his pants before ringing the doorbell. It wasn't long before the door was opened by Ava who quickly embraced him.

"Eddie I thought I told you to be yourself" she said seeing his outfit.

"I know it's just I want to impress them... I don't think your family would like you dating a metal head drug dealer."

"I mean I get the cologne but you do realize my father dresses like a metal head"

"He does?"

"Yes now let's get inside" she grabbed his hand pulling him in. "He's here" she called to her family. She dragged him into the dining room. She Plopped down on one of the chairs at the table. He sat down lightly next to her still holding her hand.

"So your the boy she has been hanging around with" Her mother said poking her head out of the kitchen. "Would you go up and fetch your father I doubt he heard you in his studio"

She quickly complyed with her mother heading up the stairs leaving Eddie at the table.

"Would you help me set the table?" She asked turning twords Eddie who stood up right away. He walked into the kitchen. "So Eddie where do you live?"

"Up at Forest Hills"

"The... Trailer park" she looked at him confused.

"Yeah" He grew scared they wouldn't like him just for being poor.

"Huh. I used to live there" she saw the very surprised look he gave her "It's crazy how much can change in a lifetime."

********

The dinner went off well. There were the standard are you good enough for my daughter question's. As soon as she was excused Ava practically ran up the stairs with Eddie following close behind.

Ep. 2

[charlenasaxen]

City of Bones Quotes

“They didn't know what it was like to eke out life in a dead world, where the sun hung limp in the sky like a burned cinder. Their lives burned as brightly as candle flames”

“beckoning with her eyes. He turned to follow her, tasting the phantom sizzle of her death on his lips.”

“Humans were so stupid. They had something so precious, and they barely safeguarded it at all. They threw away their lives for money, for packets of powder, for a stranger's charming smile.”

“He could smell her mortality, the sweet rot of corruption. Got you”

“the clothes, the music made it like a dream, someone else's life, not her boring real life at all. But she was always too shy to talk to anyone but Simon.”

“Clary slowed her dancing and stared. She could just make out that the shapes were boys, tall and wearing black clothes”

“Clary turned just in time to see the blond boy slip through the no admittance door”

“he saw that it wasn't a bracelet at all but a pattern inked into her skin, a matrix of swirling lines.

He froze. "You—”

“Her smile glittered like poisonous water. "He's all yours, boys."

A low laugh sounded behind him”

“the smaller, fair one, whose hair gleamed like brass in the dim light”

“the fair-haired boy paced back and forth, his arms now crossed over his chest”

“Jace raised his head and smiled. There was something fierce about the gesture, something that reminded Clary of documentaries she'd watched about lions”

“Isabelle and Alec think I talk too much," he said, confidingly. "Do you think I talk too much?”

“Rage flared suddenly in Jace's icy eyes”

“And you—" Jace turned the knife in his grasp, the edge sparking like a line of fire. "You can join him there.”

“you've seen girls before, Alec. Your sister Isabelle is one.”

“That's true," admitted Jace, twirling the knife between his fingers. "What do you care if I kill him or not?”

“You can't just go around killing people."

"You're right," said Jace. "You can't go around killing people.”

“Jace threw an arm up to protect himself, and the claws raked it, splattering blood”

“Swift as a flick of Isabelle's whip, Jace rolled over”

“With a grimace Jace stood up. His black shirt was blacker now in some places, wet with blood”

“Alec had reached Jace and was holding his arm, pulling at the sleeve, probably trying to get a good look at the wound”

“He grinned at her and dropped a half-apologetic, half-mocking shrug”

“She slammed the cab door shut behind her, and the taxi took off into the night”

“A golden circlet bound his blond locks, his handsome face was cold with the rage of battle, and…”

“a wedding ring, and a single lock of blond hair. Sometimes Jocelyn took the box out and opened it and held the lock of hair very gently”

“Jocelyn recognized reading as a sacred pastime and usually wouldn't interrupt Clary in the middle of a book, even to yell at her”

“Clary, you're an artist, like your mother. That means you see the world in ways that other people don't. It's your gift, to see the beauty and the horror in ordinary things.”

“Jace's tawny eyes. Beauty and horror.”

“I saved up all year! You promised." She whirled, turning to Luke. "Tell her! Tell her it isn't fair!”

“Luke sounded really angry. "She's not a pet, she's a teenager. Almost an adult.”

“Clary's brownstone, like most in Park Slope, had once been the single residence of a wealthy family”

“you know, your mom gets like this sometimes," Simon said. "Like when she breathes in or out.”

“No, it isn't. It's weird. It's weird that I don't know anything about my grandparents.”

“We're talking about names again too."

"Oh, yeah?" Clary hid a smile. Simon's band never actually produced any music.”

“they sat around in Simon's living room, fighting about potential names and band logos. She sometimes wondered if any of them could actually play an instrument.”

“Eric has turned over a new leaf. He has a girlfriend. They've been going out for three months.”

“She glanced away, afraid that if she looked at anyone for too long they would sprout wings, extra arms, or long forked tongues like snakes”

“shoved the phone back into her bag. "Come on," she said. "We're going to be late for the show.”

“Please don't tell anyone I know him.”

“Simon's greenish color deepened. "If I were, I would dress better.”

“Sitting on a faded green sofa a few feet away from her was Jace”

“His arms were bare and covered with faint white lines like old scars. His wrists bore wide metal cuffs”

“But I see you. She stared at Jace as she thought it, and he raised his left hand to wave at her. A ring glittered on a slim finger.”

“I said his poetry was terrible. It sounds like he ate a dictionary and started vomiting”

“And tell them what?" Jace said witheringly. "That invisible people are bothering you?”

“In the old days people thought eating the seeds would let you see the Fair Folk. Did you know that?”

“But you're human," Clary said.

"I am," he said. "But I'm not like you.”

“but I know what I am. Can you say the same?”

“He smiled smugly and lowered his hand”

“I lied," Jace said without a shred of embarrassment”

“Don't be ridiculous. No one believes in mummies.”

“What if I don't want to see him?"

"That's your problem. You can come either willingly or unwillingly.”

“Are you threatening to kidnap me?"

"If you want to look at it that way," Jace said, "yes.”

“Do you understand me, Clary? Don't you dare come home. Go to Simon's.”

“the sound of something falling, shattering, something heavy striking the floor—”

“call Luke—tell him that he's found me—" Her words were drowned out by a heavy crash like splintering wood.”

“her voice eerily calm: "I love you, Clary."

The phone went dead.”

“Clary," Jace said. It was the first time she'd ever heard him say her name. "What's going on?”

“Stop that." Jace hauled her to her feet, his hand gripping her wrist. "Has something happened?”

“Without even thinking about it, she struck out at his face, her nails raking his cheek. He jerked back in surprise.”

“The night had gotten even hotter, and running home felt like swimming as fast as she could through boiling soup”

“she'd made him chop up an old sofa with an axe so she could get it out of the apartment”

“Most terrifying were the paintings. Every single one had been cut from its frame and ripped into strips”

“The empty frames looked like bones picked clean”

“Clary felt a scream rising up in her chest: "Mom!" she shrieked. "Where are you? Mommy!"

She hadn't called Jocelyn "Mommy" since she was eight.”

“A sob rose in Clary's chest. Mom, she cried inside, what happened to you?”

“crouched against the floor, a long, scaled creature with a cluster of flat black eyes”

“To her horror Clary realized that the noises it was making were words.

"Girl," it hissed. "Flesh. Blood. To eat, oh, to eat.”

“Her pocket. Plunging her hand inside, she drew out the plastic thing she'd taken from Jace”

“Valentine will never know. He said nothing about a girl. Valentine will not be angry.”

“She tried to duck, but it was too late. An object slammed heavily into the back of her skull, and she collapsed”

“Jace knelt beside her, the silver cuffs on his wrists throwing off sparks of light”

“Her words dissolved into a fit of coughing. She raised her hand to cover her mouth. It came away red. She whimpered.”

“Amazing, isn't it?" Clary said, savoring the look of thinly disguised amazement”

“Oh, he's rude to everyone," said Isabelle airily. "It's what makes him so damn sexy.”

“Jace? My brother? No. Whatever gave you that idea?”

“His father was murdered when he was ten. Jace saw the whole thing.”

“Jace was seated at the grand piano, his slender hands moving rapidly over the keys”

“certain repeating motifs: angels and swords, suns and roses”

“We have to be everywhere, because demonic activity is everywhere. But to a Shadowhunter, Idris is always 'home.'”

“Their spines were studded with dully glowing jewels and illuminated with gold script”

“these books were not just old but were well-used, and had been loved”

“faces engraved with a look of suffering, as if the weight of the slab were breaking their backs”

“Jace chuckled. Clary could tell that he had come up behind her and was standing there with his hands in his pockets, grinning”

“Hugo is a raven, and, as such, he knows many things.”

“Yes," Jace said kindly. "It'll do you good—try to think of it as endurance training.”

“Now you're suggesting it committed suicide?”

“She's not a mundane," Jace said quietly”

“Clary saw the slight movement of his throat as he swallowed”

“she thought of the lack of more than one photo of her father, the way her mother never spoke of him, and knew that it wasn't true”

“I'm the one who saved her life! You want me here, don't you?" he appealed, turning to Clary.”

“Not everyone wants you all the time, Jace," he said”

“Unfortunately," said Hodge, "we're all out of bitter revenge at the moment, so it's either tea or nothing.”

“One before, but I didn't realize what it was. The first time I saw Jace—”

“It's a name we all know," Hodge said shortly. His voice was steady, but she could see a slight tremble”

“No. Valentine is—was—a Shadowhunter.”

“We are sometimes called the Nephilim," said Hodge. "In the Bible they were the offspring of humans and angels.”

“Those who drank the Angel's blood became Shadowhunters, as did their children and their children's children.”

“Destroyed by Valentine, just before he died. He set a great fire and burned himself to death along with his family. Scorched the land black. No one will build there still. They say the land is cursed.”

“Valentine broke the greatest Law of all—he took up arms against his fellow Shadowhunters and slew them.”

“When the Downworlders saw the Clave turn on Valentine and his Circle in their defense, they realized Shadowhunters were not their enemies. Ironically, with his insurrection Valentine made the Accords possible.”

“If Jace agrees to it, you may both go.”

“With an imperious meow he led her into the hall”

“The place smelled of metal and leather and steel polish. Alec and Jace, no longer barefoot, sat at a long table in the center of the room, their heads bent”

“I'm not," said Jace, with great dignity”

“He put his hand to his cheek, more in surprise than pain. "What the hell was that for?"

"The other ten percent”

“In daylight his eyes were the color of gold and were…looking right at her. He cocked an eyebrow. "Can I help you with something?”

Jace assumed an air of mellow gratification. "Of course they are," he said. "I am stunningly attractive.”

“He winked at the girls, who giggled”

“His father was my godfather—that's why I live with them. They're my adopted family.”

“Jace laughed. The laugh seemed to enrage the creature”

“The enormous fists caught hold of him as the giant staggered and fell, dragging Jace”

“slipped her fingers into his pocket. She was standing so close that she could smell the scent of him”

“The runes are agonizingly painful. The Marked ones go insane—”

“they're fierce killers. They can obey simple commands, too. It's like having a—a slave army.”

“That might be nice, an extra pair of arms," Jace said. "Handy in a fight."

"Not if they're growing out of your…”

“It's my name." Jace looked shaken. "I can't say I like that she knows it.”

“What have we got to lose?"

"Once you've spent a bit more time in our world," Jace said, "you won't ask me that again.”

“What?" Jace said, looking flustered”

“Jace said, with a supercilious look, "I'm not like other guys.”

“Well, there goes my plan for selling them all on eBay”

“If you were half as funny as you thought you were, my boy, you'd be twice as funny as you are.”

“Clary looked sideways at Jace, who was sitting beside her and who had taken possession of the sandwich plate”

“I hate cucumber," Jace said, and handed the rest of his sandwich to Clary.”

“Is there anything else you hate that I ought to know about?"

"Liars," he said.”

“Mules are sterile crossbreeds."

"Your knowledge of livestock is astounding," said Jace.”

“It's also said that they're the offspring of demons and angels. Faeries are as beautiful as angels are supposed to be, but they have a lot of mischief and cruelty in them.”

“For the devil has no power," said Dorothea softly, as if she were reciting an old rhyme, "except in the dark.”

“Jace looked affronted. "But I'm not done with my—"

The old woman snatched the cup out of his hand”

“I see violence in your future, a great deal of blood shed by you and others. You'll fall in love with the wrong person. Also, you have an enemy."

"Only one? That's good news.”

“Jace assumed an injured air. "I wasn't going to."

"You were working up to a leer, I could tell.”

“The style of the artwork was as familiar to her as her own breath. "This is a good card, right?”

“Jace stood up, his eyes cold. "How well did you know Clary's mother?"

Clary craned her head to look up at him. "Jace, you don't have to—”

“What name was that?"

"Valentine."

Clary sat straight up in her chair. "But that's—”

“That's what you do, isn't it? You hide criminals here.”

“Sed lex dura lex," said Jace automatically. "The Law is hard, but it is the Law.”

“We can't all get by on our looks like you."

Jace looked unmoved by the flattery.”

“There are dips and folds and nooks and crannies all tucked away”

“Clary, no!" Jace reached for her, but her fingers had already closed around the knob”

“Clary found herself flung forward and tumbling through empty space”

“She was just beginning to sit up when someone landed on top of her”

“She was knocked backward. A forehead banged against hers”

“Clary coughed hair (not her own) out of her mouth”

“Ouch," Jace said in her ear, his tone indignant. "You elbowed me."

"Well, you landed on me.”

“He levered himself up on his arms and looked down”

“pitching Jace to the side. He rolled gracefully to his feet and held out a hand”

“the sun was setting behind the skyscrapers of lower Manhattan, outlining them in gold”

“Jace cleared the top of the fence and sprang down the other side, landing in the bushes to the accompaniment of an earsplitting yowl”

“She heard Jace shout in surprise as he fell backward”

“Jace cried out in triumph. "Got him!" Clary turned to see Jace sitting on top of the prone intruder”

“when she'd pictured her reunion with Simon, when all this was over, he'd been in a better mood”

“I've never asked him, but I'm sure he has a fairly stringent policy about random teenagers lurking in his shrubbery.”

“You're not random; he knows you.”

“And my hair is naturally blond," said Jace. "Just for the record.”

“She glanced at Jace. The last light of sunset struck gold sparks from his eyes.”

“as if he half-expected her to tell him that none of it was true and Jace was actually a dangerous escaped lunatic she'd decided to befriend on humanitarian grounds”

“was examining his flawless nails for defects”

“Only when they've been naughty."

For a moment Simon merely sat and stared”

“I've heard of dungeons," Jace said. "Also dragons. Although they're mostly extinct.”

“Clary worried for a moment that Jace might lunge across the porch and throttle Simon senseless”

“said Jace, setting her gently aside”

“loops of metal attached to short chains, the ends of which were sunk into the wall. "Are those—"

"Manacles,”

“Someone tried to yank these things out of the wall. Tried pretty hard, from the looks of it.”

“the volumes on them "double-parked," one row blocking another”

“plowing through the entirety of The Chronicles of Prydain here, curled up in Luke's window seat as the sun went down”

“Luke collects stuff. Art objects.”

“across the smiling faces of Clary, Luke, and her mother. "That is mine," Clary said, taking it out of his hand.”

��I know. I did that—I smashed it. When I threw it at the Ravener demon.”

“He must have been the last person to come through the Portal," said Jace. "That's why it took us here.”

“Men?" Jace crossed the room in a few strides, peered through”

“There was something about those two men, in their thick cloaks the color of arterial blood, that was terrifying”

“Clary could see tension in the lines of his shoulders and mouth. "I suppose Valentine sent you?”

“That was a great and terrible day. Do you remember how we trained together for the battle?”

“Hidden, more like. Hidden by Jocelyn.”

“She has not yet regained consciousness. Valentine is disappointed. He was looking forward to their reunion.”

“Yes, Jocelyn had a daughter. Clarissa. I assume she's run off.”

“Everything makes Valentine suspicious”

“Look, I've got no idea where the girl is, but for what it's worth, I'd guess she's dead.”

“Jocelyn, for the Cup? Safely delivered, right to your door. That's a promise from Valentine himself.”

“I intend to be out of his way when it happens. He's a monster—a killing machine.”

“Suddenly there was something feral behind his eyes, something vicious and cold. "You could try.”

“Clary stayed where she was, frozen, hearing the front door swing shut”

“Of course she isn't." It was Jace, his voice sharp and cold as ice shards.”

“At least now we know who would send a demon after your mother. Those men think she has the Mortal Cup.”

“Jace laughed, a harsh, almost vicious noise that raised the hairs up on Clary's arms. "I doubt that.”

“The laughter had gone from his voice entirely when he replied. "Do I know them?" he echoed. "You might say that. Those are the men who murdered my father.”

“Clary stepped forward to touch Jace's arm, say something”

“It was a calm that made Clary think of the deceptive hard sheen of ice just before it cracked under your weight. Jace was scary-calm. His face was expressionless, but something burned at the backs of his tawny eyes.”

“She was still watching Jace as they turned onto Kent Avenue. The lights of the bridge behind them lit his hair to an unlikely halo.”

“There it was: the true vision, glowing through the false one like light through dark glass”

“Jace said, kneeling down to stroke the cat's gray head”

“Jace crinkled his nose, which Clary might have found cute in other circumstances”

“apparently conversing with the cat. Clary wondered what they were talking about. Politics? Opera? The high price of tuna?”

“I'm making soup," Isabelle said, waving a spoon at Jace. "Are you hungry?”

“JACE WAYLAND," she said. "Explain yourself."

Jace was glaring at the cat. "I told you to bring me to Alec! Backstabbing Judas.”

“Don't blame Church," Isabelle said. "It's not his fault Hodge is going to kill you.”

“started wondering what would happen if she dumped the contents of the pot on Isabella’s head”

“said Jace disgustedly. "I can't believe you've been stuffing him with fish again. He's looking distinctly podgy.”

“her spoon poised dangerously. "What did you say?"

Jace edged toward the fridge. "I said I'm going to look for a snack to eat.”

“Of course not," he said around a mouthful, "you ate all those sandwiches."

"It wasn't that many sandwiches.”

“No one wants any soup."

"I want some soup," Simon said.

"No, you don't," said Jace. "You just want to sleep with Isabelle.”

“That's what she does to boys like that."

"Is that what she did to you?" Clary said, but Jace only shook his head”

“Bring us anywhere else, and I'll make you into a tennis racket."

The Persian snorted and slunk down the hall”

“could see the stress and tiredness in the line of Jace's shoulders. She wondered if the tension ever really left him.”

“Jace laughed softly. "Not Isabelle. She's one of the best Shadowhunters I've ever known.”

“leaning down from the steps as if he were poised to fall”

“Maybe because he's always protecting Izzy and me.”

“Home," said Jace, "to me." He pushed aside a hanging frond and ducked past it.”

“I will be ready to risk my life at any time for the Circle, in order to preserve the purity of the bloodlines of Idris”

“Clary saw it, and felt a small and inexplicable shiver of apprehension run up her spine. "Because," he said, finally, "I helped write it.”

“Clary's mother as well.”

“Because," said Hodge, "she was Valentine's wife.”

“both Clary and Jace began speaking at once. "Valentine had a wife? He was married? I thought—”

“They had been very close." Hodge shook his head. "Then Michael Wayland. Your father, Jace.”

“Jace looked thunderstruck. "What about you? When did you leave?"

"I didn't," said Hodge softly. "Neither did they. … We were afraid”

“We were banished here, the three of us”

“They can return to Idris on official business only, and then only for short times. I can never return. I will never see the Glass City again.”

“Hodge looked alarmed. "I—I—I had a very filling breakfast," he stammered”

“Look, I know you don't like my cooking—"

"So stop doing it," Jace advised her reasonably.”

“Awesome." Jace ducked by her with an affectionate ruffle of her hair.”

“That's why it's generally better not to ask him anything unless you know you can stand to hear the answer.”

“I think it's kind of romantic," said Isabelle, sucking tapioca pearls through an enormous pink straw”

“So now he's back from the dead and he's come looking for her. Maybe he wants to get back together.”

“Alec, who had turned up when the food was served”

“It wouldn't be my move," Jace agreed. "First the candy and flowers, then the apology letters, then the ravenous demon hordes. In that order.”

“A child army," said Isabelle softly.

"Only for a few years," said Jace. "Kids grow fast. It wouldn't be too long before they were a force to contend with.”

“He would use the Cup on any child he could capture, and cull out the twenty percent who survived to be his army.”

“we had made the world safe for humans for a thousand years," said Hodge, "and now was their time to repay us with their own sacrifice.”

“it was assumed that he had burned himself and the Cup to ashes rather than relinquish either”

“Hodge looked at Jace as if he'd proposed juggling nitroglycerine as a solution”

“All this is best left to skilled, experienced Shadowhunters."

"I am skilled," protested Jace. "I am experienced.”

“His lashes were long, casting shadows down over his angular cheekbones”

“it looked narrow and menacing. "I am not a child.”

“he must be one of the few people in the world who looked at Jace not as if he were afraid of him, but as if he were afraid for him”

“You're probably the best our age. But Valentine's one of the best there ever was. It took a huge battle to bring him down.”

“Suddenly no one at the table could meet her eyes.”

“Jace leaned forward and touched his fingers to the side of her temple, so gently that a flush crept up her face”

“I don't hate them," said Jace candidly. "I'm afraid of them. It's not the same thing.”

“They are librarians."

Simon whistled. "Those must be some killer late fees.”

“I'd rather have someone mess around inside my head than chop it off.”

“leave him screaming alone in the dark if that is what they desire.”

“she could see the darker amber flecks in his light eyes”

“But what's in your mind belongs to you. Someone's hidden secrets there, secrets you can't see. Don't you want to know the truth about your own life?”

“Jace glanced over at him, a slow, sweetly poisonous glance”

“There was a bronze chain around his throat, and his hair and eyes looked more gold than ever”

“Clary saw Isabelle there, with Alec, both of them in royal blue. They were holding hands like Hansel and Gretel in the dark forest.”

“He leaned close. She could feel his lips against her ear. They were not cool at all. "Wake up, Clary," he whispered. "Wake up. Wake up.”

“Her wrists were held in a hard grip; she tried to pull away, then realized who was restraining her. "Jace?”

“How did I get here? I don't remember…"

"I found you asleep on the floor in the hallway." Jace sounded amused”

“hear music in her ears, feel the heavy jewels brushing her cheeks. "I don't remember.”

“since it's five a.m., I figured you'd be less cranky if you had something nice to look at.”

“You might even like him. He's got a great sense of humor for a guy who never says anything.”

“Jace smiled thinly. Church meowed as they set off down the hall”

“I was right," said Jace. "I usually am.”

“She above all people would have known what would happen if Valentine had the Cup.”

“Forgetting Jace, Clary fought the urge to cry out. The archivist's head was bald, smooth and white as an egg, darkly indented where his eyes had once been.”

“he managed to look cool despite the heat. It made Clary want to smack him.”

“No, I'm Jace," said Jace patiently. "Simon is the weaselly little one”

“You may be right," said Jace. "I've met an attractive weasel or two in my time. He looks more like a rat.”

“that Jace had been saying something to her. When she blinked at him, she saw a wry grin spread across his face.”

“I wish you'd stop desperately trying to get my attention like this," he said. "It's become embarrassing.”

“Your pain will be outer soon if you don't get out of traffic. Are you trying to get run over by a cab?"

"Don't be ridiculous," he said. "We could never get a cab that easily in this neighborhood.”

“On the black metal driver's bench sat Brother Jeremiah, holding a set of reins”

“Just relax," said Jace. "Enjoy that new-carriage smell.”

“the horses sprang lightly to the top of the cab”

“Jace's tone was sharp. "Not at all. He indulged me. He taught me everything—”

“He gave me anything I wanted. Horses, weapons, books, even a hunting falcon.”

“Jace looked down at his hands. They were slim and careful hands, the hands of an artist, not a warrior.”

“he'd know I wanted to kill Valentine myself. And he'd never let me try.”

“I was ten," Jace said. She turned to look at him. He was without expression. It always seemed like some color drained out of him when he talked about his father. "We lived in a manor house, out in the country.”

“Not men. Forsaken. They overpowered my father and cut his throat. The blood ran across the floor. It soaked my shoes. I didn't move.”

“realize he was done speaking, and another to find her voice. "I'm so sorry, Jace.”

“A Shadowhunter who kills another of his brothers is worse than a demon and should be put down like one”

“Jace turned on her, looking exasperated”

“They come to a world and use it up. They can't build, just destroy”

“But even in my lifetime more and more of them have spilled in”

“But we haven't had the Cup for years now, and a lot of us die young. So our numbers slowly dwindle.”

“We love reproducing. It's one of our favorite things.”

“His arm was lightly muscled and downed with golden hairs”

“they were grave markers. A chill scraped up her spine. Where were the bodies? In the walls, buried upright”

“It was Jace. "Don't screech like that. You'll wake the dead.”

“The face of the angel was fierce and beautiful and sad. In long white hands the angel held a cup”

“It means, said Jeremiah, The descent into Hell is easy”

“Do not fear, said his voice inside her head. It would take more than a single human cry to wake these dead”

“When he released her arm, she skittered down the stairs after Jace, her heart pounding”

“No need to stand on ceremony, Brother Jeremiah," he drawled. "Lead on. We'll be right behind you.”

“After a moment she followed, knocking Jace's outstretched hand aside as she went”

“Those who die in battle are burned, their ashes used to make the marble arches that you see here. The blood and bone of demon slayers is itself a powerful protection”

“Jace laughed, and the flame of the torch he held flickered. "You had to ask.”

“We have arrived. Clarissa, stand before the Council.”

“The Brothers made a sound then, a sound that raised the hairs up all along Clary's neck”

“That doesn't mean you can't be careful about it.”

“My father's name was—

Her mind seemed to snap in on itself”

“Ashes to ashes. Jocelyn wrapped in her patchwork quilt, tears spilling down her cheeks”

“branches came down to block her view; she was in the park again, and green faeries, tiny as toothpicks, buzzed”

“Two words leaped out at her, burning into her eyes: "MAGNUS BANE.”

“the rest of the Brothers rose alongside him. They inclined their heads toward Jace”

“If you wanted me to rip my clothes off, you should have just asked.”

“next time you're planning to injure yourself to get my attention, just remember that a little sweet talk works wonders.”

“she thought she saw a certain gratification in the set of his shoulders”

“if there was actually a faintly affronted tone to his "voice.”

“Then he broke into a grin.

"No way," he said. "I hate those things. Let's hail a cab.”

“The taxi driver responded by jerking the wheel so hard to the left that Clary was thrown against Jace”

“started dialing. "Alec! Wake up!" he shouted.”

“It didn't look like much—a low brick building that sagged in the middle like a collapsed souffle”

“Jace," Clary hissed as the door shut behind them. "Who was that?"

"You mean Clancy?”

“Clary moved to sit beside him, but Alec was already there”

“A page of the beverage section was devoted to the different types of blood they had on tap—to Clary's relief, they were different kinds of animal”

“It tends to make humans a little crazy. One minute you're munching a faerie plum, the next minute you're running naked down Madison Avenue”

“Not," he added hastily, "that this has ever happened to me.”

“Something about Jace sharpened him, brought him into focus”

“Jace was looking down as Alec spoke, smiling a little”

“Werewolves," said Jace. "Though I don't mind a bloody steak myself every once in a while.”

“Shut up," Alec hissed, thwacking Jace”

“Good idea," said Jace. "I shall be Baron Hotschaft Von Hugenstein.”

“Jace grinned. "The usual," he said, and got a smile from the waitress in return.”

“Jace shook his head. "I respect her privacy.”

“Kaelie turned to smile at Jace, who put an arm around her. She snuggled in.”

“I wouldn't say that," said Jace, sliding back into his seat next to Alec. His hair was mussed and there was a lipstick mark on his cheek.”

“It's Magnus Bane." He grinned at Alec mockingly. "Rhymes with 'overcareful pain in the ass.'”

“he sat up straight and stared. "Where did you get this, Izzy?”

“Magnus," said Simon. "Magnus like Magnus Bane?"

"I doubt there are that many warlocks named Magnus in the Tristate Area," said Jace.”

“My mother knew that book, Clary thought. She touched it, read out of it.”

“The boy was good-looking, with hair so fair it was nearly white, and black eyes.

"That's Valentine," said a voice at her elbow. "When he was seventeen.”

“The white-haired boy in the photo was smiling at Jocelyn, his eyes crinkled”

“he indicated a very handsome boy with curling dark hair, high color in his square-jawed face—"is Michael Wayland.”

“stroke Hugo, who was strutting along the edge of the desk importantly”

“The more venerable families, especially, cling to the old times, when Downworlders were for killing”

“A place blessed by the Angel. You have never seen a city until you have seen Alicante of the glass towers. It is more beautiful than you can imagine." There was raw pain in his voice.”

“Was there a mermaid fountain where they danced? Did Valentine wear white, so that my mother could see the Marks on his skin even through his shirt?”

“she entered her bedroom and found Jace sprawled out on the bed, looking at her sketchbook”

“Why not?" Jace looked tousled, as if he'd been asleep himself”

“Jace looked wounded. "A diary with no drawings of me in it?”

“It's not love," he said, after a pause. "At least—"

"You could try not being charming all the time," Clary said. "It might be a relief for everyone.”

“They were like Hodge's hands already, snowflaked with tiny white scars, though the skin was young and unlined”

“When the boy was six years old, his father gave him a falcon to train.”

“The falcon didn't like the boy, and the boy didn't like it, either. Its sharp beak made him nervous, and its bright eyes always seemed to be watching him.”

“For weeks his wrists and hands were always bleeding. He didn't know it, but his father had selected a falcon that had lived in the wild for over a year, and thus was nearly impossible to tame.”

“But the boy tried, because his father had told him to make the falcon obedient, and he wanted to please his father.”

“keeping it awake by talking to it and even playing music to it”

“he tried to sit where the bird could see him as he touched and stroked its wings, willing it to trust him”

“he wanted the bird to know him, even if the bird had to consume his blood to make that happen”

“He began to see that the falcon was beautiful, that its slim wings were built for the speed of flight, that it was strong and swift, fierce and gentle.”

“When it learned to circle and come to his wrist, he nearly shouted with delight. Sometimes the bird would hop to his shoulder and put its beak in his hair. He knew his falcon loved him”

“Instead, you taught it to love you. Falcons are not meant to be loving pets”

“Later, when his father left him, the boy cried over his pet”

“The boy never cried again, and he never forgot what he'd learned: that to love is to destroy, and that to be loved is to be the one destroyed.”

“Jace had his legs pulled up, his chin on his knees. "Is it?" he said ruminatively.”

“the rhythm of Jace's voice had made her sleepy. "Or you'll break.”

“Not if you're strong enough," said Jace firmly. He reached out, and she felt the back of his hand brush her cheek”

“she heard the echo of words in her mind. He gave me anything I wanted. Horses, weapons, books, even a hunting falcon.”

“just as a powder puff smacked her in the face, releasing a dense cloud of glitter”

“held in place with sparkling pins. Clary was reminded suddenly of her dream, the heavy hair”

“No, it isn't." Isabelle sounded near tears as she scrabbled around”

“You absolutely can't tell anyone," said Isabelle.

"Not even Jace?"

"Especially not Jace!”

“how few other people her age Isabelle had ever really met”

“I love my brother," said Isabelle. "I'd do anything for him. But there's nothing I can do.”

“thought for a moment of Jace, who thought of love as something that broke you”

“The left one is gold, which is poisonous to demons, and the right one is blessed iron”

“Isabelle laughed out loud. "You'd be surprised.”

“His eyes ran up and down her lazily, like the stroking paws of a cat”

“he was standing very close to her, close enough that she could feel the warmth of him”

“It was a long thin dagger in a leather sheath. The hilt of the dagger was set with a single red stone carved in the shape of a rose.”

“Jace watching her through hooded eyes”

“Much better," he said, and she thought this time that maybe his voice was slightly uneven too.”

“I'd certainly hate to interrupt your pleasant night stroll with my sudden death.”

“She felt Jace's fingers brush her shoulder”

“Jace turned, his hand falling away from her shoulder. "Yes?”

“What's that?" Jace joined Alec; Clary heard him laugh.”

“reached out a hand and stroked one of the bikes along the sleek chassis”

“So am I," said Isabelle, who didn't look inclined to admit anything. "Now hurry up.”

“Even if one of them spills a drink on my new shoes?"

"Even then.”

“Jace looked faintly abashed. "As for this," Magnus said, sliding it into Jace's jeans pocket, "keep it in your pants, Shadowhunter.”

“Jace looked bored. "I know what I'm doing."

"I hope so." Isabelle flounced past him”

“she saw that Jace and the others were gone, swallowed up by the crowd”

“Jace was wearing a strand of tiny glowing flowers around his neck and seemed pleased”

“We put the holy water in his gas tank, you know," he said.

"ALEC," said Jace. "Shut up.”

“Vindictive little bastards, aren't you?”

“Ow!" He glared at Jace, who had kicked him sharply”

“My mother was one of the Clave," Clary said. It was the first time she had said it out loud and known it to be true.”

“As Oscar Wilde once said, 'To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose both looks like carelessness.'”

“My signature," he said. "I knew it was folly when I did it. An act of hubris …"

[sur-un-fil]

Ink demonth 2022 - Responsibility

Or... What kind of responsibilities does he have?

Chapter 3: 1940- 1959

Joey slowly opened the door to the ink machine room. He didn't have to report his presence in the Studio, as he was expected and didn't have time to deal with Sammy's whining. He just wanted to see how it went. It was the first time he had used a "donor" he had not sacrificed himself, and whose body was so damaged... But nothing was to be lost, was it? Maybe it would give an interesting result all the same. And when the ink had completely corrupted the body, there would be no more obvious evidence of any murder in his Studio. So he would have killed two birds with one stone.

But when he turned on the light, there was nothing in the big tray under the machine's outlet pipe. It was splattered with still-liquid ink, yes, but his latest test subject was not there. That was surprising, usually they were too weak, dazed or busy crying like calves to move. Joey clicked his tongue, annoyed. Where had this idiot gone? He began to walk slowly around the ink machine, noticing that the silence was only disturbed by his own footsteps, and really hoping he wouldn't have to look for that thing in every department. He stood up and glanced at his watch. Time was running out. He looked around the room, and a voice suddenly sounded behind his back.

"You look familiar."

Joey flinched and turned sharply. Between him and the door stood a being made of ink, almost as well-shaped as Lawrence, looking at him thoughtfully. The only thing that distinguished him from the others was his neck. It was bisected with a visible gap wide enough for Joey to see one end of the door on the other side. Yet his upper neck and head stood straight on his shoulders with nothing holding them back. 'Interesting. The cause of the subject's death obviously impacts the ink form it adopts afterwards. I wasn't sure, but it's obvious now. I'll have to tell the others so we can take it into account in future tests.' That said, he was unusable in this state. He might as well take advantage of his calm to gain his trust and solve the problem right away. He smiled at him.

"Really? That's quite flattering. Do you remember anything else?"

"No. I woke up here, in the dark. I... I don't know how I got here."

"It's perfectly normal, don't worry."

"Normal? Why? Did I have an accident?"

"In a way, yes. If you'll come with me, I'll be able to..."

"I can't remember my name. Or... Or my face. Why have I forgotten my own face? Or the colour of my skin? And... I don't remember my family, or any event in my life before I woke up here!" His voice became more and more shrill, turning into a long, terrified scream as he looked down at his hands. "What is THIS? WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?"

Joey held back a grimace as he thought about the noise. He kept his composure and his smile, trying to be reassuring.

"It's all right. You fell in the ink, that's all. Join me and I can help you..."

'...by putting you back in the tank as dry as possible for another run through the ink machine,' he thought, discreetly checking that he had the keys to open the hatch. Yes, they were in his pocket.

"Can you really?"

"Yes, of course. That ink machine is mine. I know exactly what to do to make it work, you just have to trust me."

The being, who had taken a step towards him, stopped at that word.

"Trust? No, not you, Mr. Drew."

He looked very briefly astonished that he could recognise him, and then his voice became charged with anger.

"Yes, I remember now! You spent your time lying to us! About the ink, about the disappearances, and even about the bankruptcy of the Studio. I suspected it and I was on the lookout, it was so obvious that even those three kids were investigating and... Kids! They had decided to search the Studio! I hope nothing happened to them. It's strange that I don't remember anything after talking to them... I left them, and when I came back I heard a noise behind me... I felt this horrible pain in my neck... And then..."

His voice died. He looked again at his hands, at the machine and then at Joey.

"IT'S YOU! YOU'RE THE REASON I DIED!"

He threw himself at him, his fingers stretched forward.

"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"

Without backing down, Joey uttered a single word and the being collapsed in a heap before him. He shrugged, brushing a drop of ink off his cheek with his thumb.

"I don't like to talk about faults. There have been mistakes made, and some unfortunate accidents, yes. But that's no reason to give up. I'm not just doing it for myself, you know, but in memory of those who gave their time and their lives for this dream. It's my responsibility to carry on regardless."

Joey allowed himself a small smile.

"I'm sure you don't want to have 'lost your head' in vain either, Norman. Besides, it makes me think..."

He glanced thoughtfully at the vat, reached for his keys and opened it, ignoring the sounds halfway between sobs and pleas that the being was painfully trying to make. He plunged his hand into the ink that lapped fearlessly at it and groped for a moment, before managing to grasp by the hair what he was looking for. He pulled it out, too soaked with ink to bleed any more, and tossed it carelessly into the first open box he saw. Leaving the hatch gaping, he then grabbed a large shovel and a bucket, and walked over to the inky being, who was shaking a little more with every step he took towards him.

"Let's see how your mind will stand up to the ink without your head. I don't think you're going to keep much of it, and I have to say I'd be fine with that. It would be really annoying if you kept that much fortitude and managed to retain so many memories next time. You could be a detestable influence on others... I can't allow that, unfortunately. Keeping morale up has always been one of my most important responsibilities, you know? And I take my responsibilities very seriously."

NEXT

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[latte-fairytaekwoon]

𝚈𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝙰𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚣 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚜: 𝙺𝚒𝚖 𝙷𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚓𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚐

Disclaimer: In no way am I condoning, encouraging, justifying, promoting nor romanticizing yandere behavior or lifestyle. This is all a work of fiction and not meant to represent real life scenarios.

Warnings: Mentions of toxic relationships, stalking, murder, kidnapping, torture, mental manipulation, use of LSD, physical violence, mind breaking, sexual scenes and other yandere behavior. Read at your own discretion.

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𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎: 𝙺𝚒𝚖 𝙷𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚓𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚐

𝙳.𝙾.𝙱: 𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟽𝚝𝚑, 𝟷𝟿𝟿𝟾

𝙷𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝: 𝟷𝟽𝟸 𝙲𝙼/ 𝟻'𝟾 𝙵𝚃.

𝙰𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕: ■■■■□80%

𝙾𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕: ■■■■■100%

𝙼𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝙸𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢: ■■■■□90%

𝙾𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕: 𝙷𝚒𝚐𝚑

𝚈𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗: 𝚃𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚛

𝙱𝚎𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝙰𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚜:

𝙴𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚋𝚓𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚒𝚝𝚢/𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 .

𝙾𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚞𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎.

𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚡𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 '𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝' 𝚘𝚋𝚓𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝.

𝙴𝚡𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗.

𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚍𝚜 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

He was a lost and wandering soul when it happened.

It wasn't that he was depressed or unsatisfied with his life.

But for the longest time he felt....empty.

As if he was carrying a void that couldn't be filled.

Not even his favorite hobbies gave him joy any longer.

It was as if he was either tapping out tunes on the piano or splattering colors on articles of clothing.

They had no meaning whatsoever anymore.

Live no longer felt to have any more meaning to him.

He felt like he was merely an empty shell, just going through life but never actually living.

Coming out of an arts and crafts store, his hands were full of all sorts of acrylics and watercolors he had just bought.

A passing cyclist didn't see him and didn't really care as he slightly collided with Hongjoong.

Letting out a big "oof!" he stumbled onto the pavement underneath him, all his materials flying out.

Although he wasn't hurt much, he still let out a groan and tried to get up.

He was startled when a gentle hand reached out towards him, lending him some help.

Looking up, his heart somersaulted as he stared at the kind and beautiful stranger that was offering him assistance.

"Are you all right?" Her eyes were full of concern and tenderness for him.

Hongjoong forgot how to speak in that moment, too amazed and stunned by the beauty standing right in front of him.

Nevertheless he did take her hand, his body trembling nervously as soon as he had the first physical contact with her.

The woman shook her head as her eyebrows furrowed.

"Seriously, what a jerk. Can't believe some people honestly."

Hongjoong still didn't respond, instead he shyly began picking up some of the stuff that had fallen.

"Let me help you." She offered her help once more.

Of course she was faster and picked up most of the stuff because he had a huge scrape on his knee and he was limping slightly.

"Thank....thank you." His voice was barely above a whisper as he took the stuff away from her.

"You're welcome. Would you like me to help you carry them to your car?"

Waving his hand he adamantly denied her offer, assuring her over and over again that he was all right.

Before he could leave, the girl extended her hand once again.

"I'm Y/N by the way. Nice to meet you."

"Y/N...."

Her name repeated itself over and over again in his head even hours after she had left him.

Even as he layed in his bed and stared blankly at the ceiling, he couldn't keep the softest smile off his face.

He didn't know if he had drifted off to sleep or was zoning in and out of a lucid dream, but all he could think about was her.

He was up as soon as the sun rose up, flinging his blanket across the room as he ran to his desk and took out his sketchpad.

Right away, he began to outline her face, wanting the vivid image of her to stay with him should his mind ever dare to erase her from his memory.

Although he was satisfied with the ending result, it was still not enough for him.

He felt his goddess, his newfound muse needed more justice than just pencil to capture her beauty.

Watercolors, acrylics, oil pastels and even ink, there wasn't any art material that Hongjoong didn't use to create a portrait of Y/N.

Soon his studio was filled and covered with paintings of her and he couldn't be happier...

Until he realized how much he'd rather have the real thing right there in person with him, in his arms, holding her and never letting go.

He almost fell into a depressive state again, dreading the fact that he'd never see his beloved muse ever again......

Until he saw her once again, walking across the street from the cafe he was in.

He quickly sprung out of his seat and ran out the door, eager to see her once again and hopefully talk to her more.

Just as he was about to call out to her, he stopped when a male came up to her, hugging her ever so intimately and ruffling her hair.

Hongjoong's hand tightened into a fist, nails digging into his skin as his eyes burning with anger and jealousy.

"She's my treasure, I found her and I won't let anyone else take her from me."

Making sure they were unaware of his looming presence, he stalked them out, trying to find the perfect opportunity to strike.

They seemed to be going on some sort of date, which only fueled his anger.

Finally, after they both went their separate ways, Hongjoong followed the mysterious man home, not letting his chance escape.

As soon as the man parked in his driveway and got out of the car, Hongjoong cornered him.

Using his belt as a makeshift weapon, he wrapped it around the man's throat, tightening it until he cut off his air flow.

Although he put up quite a struggle, Hongjoong was so full of anger and rage that he kept him strangled until his body stopped writhing and layed cold on his feet.

Taking his keys, Hongjoong decided to go inside the house to see if he could find anymore information about his precious treasure, figure out where she lived and what not.

Finding a cabinet full of documents, not only did Hongjoong found her address but also ended up discovering the man he just killed was actually her brother, and not a lover as he believed him to be.

"Oh well. Mistakes happen." He justified himself.

"Besides, he still would have been an obstacle and might have come between us."

A week later and now he was waiting for her inside her house, not having any difficulty in breaking in.

His eyes would anxiously look at the time, waiting for her to come home from work like she would usually do at that time.

When he heard her car come up in the driveway, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

Y/N walked into her house as usual, throwing her bag onto the couch.

As she was about to turn on the light, she felt a hard blow to her head, knocking her to the ground, her vision suddenly turning black.

When she awoke, she was beyond startled by all the countless portraits and clay figurines modeled after her.

Her eyes scanned the entire room, somewhat frightened by all the countless images of her staring back at her.

She was so bewildered by the scene that she didn't hear the door open and didn't see the person who came in until she was jolting out of her seat when a hand placed itself on her shoulder.

When she turned around and saw who it was that was smiling at her, she couldn't believe her eyes.

"You......you're...you're..."

Hongjoong nodded. "Yes my darling. I'm the man you helped out a month ago. Which, by the way I'm still grateful for."

Cupping her chin with his fingers, he leaned in to give her a kiss but she backed away, which made him frown.

"Hey, it's not very nice to reject someone's offer of gratitude darling. Did they not teach you manners at home?"

When he reached out to touch her once again, she smacked his hand away, moving as far away from him as possible.

Although it didn't really hurt him, Hongjoong was disappointed that his beloved muse could actually strike at him.

"This isn't what I imagined or expected from you love. You're supposed to be gentle, serene, obedient and just outright perfect.... like the pictures surrounding you.."

Y/N put her hands above her face when he crept closer to her once more, but Hongjoong, who was deceivingly strong for his body built, quickly took hold of them and uncovered her face.

"But that's ok.......if a small lump of clay can be easily molded into a beautiful vase, I'm sure I can mold you to perfection."

Y/N shuddered at his words, and tried to writhe her way out of his grasp as he pulled her out into the hallway and dragged her down into what she assumed was his basement.

Using his strength to overpower her, he easily strapped her down into one of the chairs he kept there, binding her legs and hands down.

"I suggest you start familiarizing yourself with this place Y/N. This...."

With an eerily calm and somewhat sadistic smile, Hongjoong extended his arms to gesture around the room.

"Is where your training begins."

7 months.......for 7 excruciating months, Y/N had been kept in Hongjoong's house, 3 of which were spent inside his room of horrors.

She still didn't understand how she came out of there alive and in one piece.

There wasn't a single night where she didn't relive the torture she went through.

Slapping, canning, limbs stretched out til they were almost out of their sockets, head submerged in water til she nearly passed out.

One time she had resisted so much and pissed Hongjoong off extremely by slapping him that he strapped her hand down and smashed her fingers one by one, breaking them entirely.

Of course, although he helped her heal them as he did her other wounds because he didn't want permanent physical damage on his treasure.

It'd only serve to ruin and taint her perfect image.

But the worst for Y/N wasn't going through all the physical torture.....

Her worst nightmare was all the times Hongjoong dosed her on LSD, prompting her to start hallucinating horrible scenarios.

Her mind seemed to weaken with every dosage he gave her, it would slowly eat away every last bit of her sanity.

Which might explain why now she tried to be more obedient and pliant towards Hongjoong, doing everything as he said and exactly how he wanted her to.

Although occasionally she would still step out of line, he'd shoot her a glare and warn her about it.

"Do you want to go back down there? Did I not give you sufficient training?"

At the sole mention of being taken back downstairs, she'd immediately remember herself and portray the illusion he wanted.

Hongjoong seemed thrilled to finally have created the perfect model, his beautiful creation came to life.

He was absolutely head over heels for his lovely goddess, she was beyond perfect and ethereal.

Sure she still had a little bit of stubbornness in her, but that was easily fixed and she'd be his perfect little doll once more.

And he loved praising her and reminding her about it, especially when they were intimate.

"See love? I knew you would come to love me." He whispered softly in her ear, a low moan escaping his lips as he moved inside of her.

Kissing the sides of her neck, he panted softly as he came inside her.

"My beautiful and perfect goddess."

Months turned to over a year and although Y/N still played the part of a loving and perfect soulmate, she didn't know how long she could take it anymore.

Perhaps it was being locked up for so long, perhaps it was the fear Hongjoong instilled in her. Maybe she was tired from playing a role she couldn't keep up with anymore.

All that combined with the fact she was now pregnant with Hongjoong's child, her hormones going crazy and her mind worrying about what her future would be like had her ready to snap.

One particular day, she just about had it.

Hongjoong had been smothering her all day, constantly nagging about taking care of herself and not harm the baby.

Her blood was boiling with rage as he kept pestering her about it over dinner.

Having had enough, she got out of her seat and reached for the nearest kitchen knife and pointed it at her stomach.

"Why don't I just rip out the baby out then? Maybe then you'll be satisfied."

Hongjoong immediately got up and tried to take the knife away from her.

"Y/N! Have you lost your mind?!" He exclaimed.

"If I lost my mind it's all thanks to you!"

Even after Hongjoong managed to toss the knife out of her hands, Y/N still continued to struggle and smack her hands at him, beating at his chest as hard as she could.

"I hate you!" She declared before her fist tried to collide with his face, but Hongjoong being faster than her, stopped it from hitting him.

Outraged that his model was breaking down, he picked her up, not caring about her being pregnant and stomped his way back to the training room.

Y/N was already bursting into tears when he began strapping her down into the chair, protesting about it.

"You'll hurt our child you mon-."

Gripping her throat tightly, he cut her off from finishing that sentence.

"This coming from the one threatening to rip the innocent baby out herself. But don't worry, I'll make sure no harm comes to our child."

Letting go of her neck, he quickly took out a familiar vial and needle out of a cabinet.

Although Y/N tried to get away, it was no use as she was once again tied up and the sting of the fluids shooting up her veins, making her dizzy immediately.

Hongjoong only watched with a blank face as the drugs started to take effect.

Going back to the cabinet, he took out a folder and walked back to Y/N with it.

"Now.... I never planned to show you this, but I guess you left me no choice."

Even in her hazy state, Y/N could make out what seemed to be a picture of her brother, but she wasn't sure if it was an illusion or not

"Yes, that is your brother indeed. Took care of you when your parents died and you were very attached to him. Your only living relative right?.....or is he?"

Pulling out another picture, Hongjoong made sure to hold it up right in her face so she could clearly see the gruesome image.

"This is how I left him after I attacked him one night. You'll be proud, he put up quite a good fight, but as you can see......in the end he still lost." He actually had the audacity to chuckle as if it was an amusing thing.

Y/N wanted to scream, but her body wouldn't allow it.

She couldn't believe that her remaining family, the only hope she could grasp onto and help get her out of the mess....

Was gone, forever vanished from the face of the earth by the same monster who took her away.

She no longer had the physical, mental nor emotional strength to resist and fight anymore.

She allowed her body to succumb to the effects of the drugs, eyes closing as she fell into a deep sleep full of haunting memories and images.

When she awoke hours later, she felt absolutely nothing, only numbness.

Gently stroking her hair, Hongjoong leaned in and scanned her expressionless face, satisfied when she just allowed him to pet her as he pleased, no longer resisting his touch.

"Do you know who you are?" He simply asked her.

Without even so much as blinking, she answered in a monotone, almost robotic voice:

"I'm your soulmate, your muse and your goddess, and I love no one but you."

Hongjoong nearly bursted into tears. Finally after so long, after so many experiments and efforts, he finally created his ultimate masterpiece.

"Perfect......at last...you're absolutely perfect.