Neither Heaven nor Hell but somewhere in between (OTA)

[nephilimson]

The Jace Wayland that emerged from the hotel on this day looked entirely different from the one who had arrived during the weekend. His clothes were clean (new found in his closet), his wounds were healed (thanks to a stele found in his room) and he looked as if he'd been spending long hours at the tattoo parlor (the stele again). He had Marks on

Comments

[black_nimbus01]

Draco was fussing with the Apothecary's window display - there was a distinct lack of hearts, this was a bloody Apothecary, love potions or not - and was idly thinking about putting a display window in at Hidden Franks. The Kings and Queens would love it, but if it fogged up as much as this one did, it might be more trouble than it was worth!

Growling in frustration, Draco cast an anti-fog charm on the glass. he sat back on his heels, debating whether to bother fixing the problem himself or passing it on to a repairman, and because his mind was so excellent at multitasking, he admired his fellow blond out on the street. What? It was a reflex.

[nephilimson]

A Downworlder, Jace's instincts told him and he stopped, hand in his pocket if he needed a weapon. It was instinct.

An apothecary, the sign said. Interesting. So he stepped inside, looking around. He glanced at the man and away, starting to pick up random bottles to read the labels. A warlock's supply store. Wasn't that lovely.

[black_nimbus01]

"Loooking for something specific?" He asked over his shoulder, and swung his legs over the lip of the window to face inside the shop. Draco took out his messenger to look for anyone that could fix a leaky window.

[nephilimson]

"How often," Jace asked, "do you have someone wanting the ingredients for a silencing curse?" He held up a bottle, turning golden eyes on what he assumed was the owner.

[timetobeaman]

Carl was at the arcade, trying... really really trying to have fun. But he couldn't get comfortable with this place, this village.

He was thrilled that his mother was alive here, of course he was. But the idea that this place was safe wasn't something he could accept. Especially considering how this place had been when he'd arrived. He hadn't brought his gun, but he was already regretting that decision. It made him feel naked.

So, there he stood, his father's sheriff's hat on and staring at the kids playing 'House of the Dead' game. He'd played games like it too before everything went to hell. But now, he really couldn't see anything appealing about it.

[nephilimson]

Standing behind him, Jace watched for a few minutes. "Ridiculously easy to kill, those," he noted.

[timetobeaman]

Carl had a thing about being sneaked up on, so when he heard the voice, he spun and reached to his back for where his gun would have been-- only he hadn't brought it.

He tried to make it look like nothing, like he'd simply just been startled, "I'm sorry?"

[nephilimson]

Up went an eyebrow and Jace smiled. "Those things. Mutants, are they? They're easy to kill. Here."

He reached for the controls and took over the game fingers dexterous as he started killing things very effectively.

[needsthumpin]

There is a place called 'The Ribbon', the sign for which contained, beside the name only, 'All are welcome.' The door glass and windows showed a large room, polished wood floor, beams in the high ceiling, a large stone fireplace with fire blazing, baked goods, fruit, cheese, and sausage set out, as well as hot drinks a coffee urn, a samovar for tea and hot spiced cider in a crock pot, with cups and dishes available.

There was a black and white dog flopped on a mat to one side of the hearth, relaxed but keeping an eye on the door.

On one of the comfortable and sturdy looking chairs, there was a skinny girl, singing.

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise..."*

A listener might feel a subtle sense of release from a weakness or addiction, a feeling of hope that it could be beaten. A sensitive listener, might notice that the feeling was coming from the young woman with the song.

[Song is Blackbird by the Beatles]

[nephilimson]

A listener might, but Jace wasn't typical. The voice was nice enough, sure. The dog was nice enough, too. The Ribbon. Was it, he wondered, anything like The Sin? (which, he thought might be interesting to explore.)

[needsthumpin]

[sorry about the mess, I tried to edit, but it wouldn't let me.]

The dog barked, drawing the girl's attention to the door. She stood.

"Good greeting, welcome to the Ribbon. How may I help you?"

[nephilimson]

"You can tell me what this place does," Jace said, leaning against the doorjamb.

[gobacktoheaven]

Aaron was busy dealing with the influx of Valentines-themed candy that had started appearing in the store in the last couple of days. The candy hearts were as chalky and tasteless as he remembered, but at least it wasn't more Peeps.

He was busy putting up a sign offering a free bag of the things with each purchase, blah, blah, when he picked up something sort of ... orange(?)... on his angel-o-radar or whatever. Something that seemed to be the blond guy walking up.

Nice-looking, too. Aaron definitely wouldn't kick him out of bed.

[ooc: Aaron can sense angelic beings, so I'm assuming he would get some sort of something off Jace, though he's got no clue what it is.]

[nephilimson]

Alas, Jace was only interested in girls. And even then not for long. He didn't think about Clary, purposefully.

Candy. Mundanes did like their candy. He turned up his nose.

[gobacktoheaven]

Just as well, really. Aaron would never get anything done if all the cute guys in town swung his way.

He didn't miss the upturned nose, but it was good for a chuckle. Gabriel might have made it rain Peeps on the guy for a day or something, but it was all good. To each his own, and all that.

Aaron gave the guy a dismissive wave and headed, laughing, back to his counter. New M&Ms to stock, and such.

[nephilimson]

It was when he turned that Jace went still, staring through the window.

And as much as he hated candy, he went inside, following. "What are you?" he asked.