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

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[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]

[needsthumpin]

"The kind that were human once, but were changed in hell."

[nephilimson]

Well, that was generic.

Mundanes. Jace would have to investigate this on his own. Vampires, werewolves and demons. "You mentioned a prophet."

[needsthumpin]

"You think that is the only kind? I've heard of others, and some refer to the fallen angels that way." Her looked hardened when he asked about the prophet, which it hadn't through any of his previous hostility.

"He's retired. He did what he needed to do, and he is done," she said flatly, crossing her arms.

[nephilimson]

Defensive, wasn't she? Must be personal.

"In my experience, prophets just can't quit."

[needsthumpin]

"I venture to suggest that your experience isn't all inclusive."

[nephilimson]

"I venture to suggest you have a personal stake in what you aren't telling me." Mundanes.

[needsthumpin]

"I do." Unapologetically. What are you going to do about it?

"You seem to take it very personally that I nurture people here."

[nephilimson]

"On the contrary," Jace answered easily. "I don't care." About any of it.

"Which seems to be my cue to go."

[needsthumpin]

"Not caring sounds boring."

She stood to see him out.

"Do you think you're here to learn a lesson, as the common wisdom has it?"

[nephilimson]

"I really have no idea."

And that was as close as Jace got to admitting any weakness.

He turned on his heel, though, to go.

Wholeness.

Overrated.

[needsthumpin]

Kerai wondered how that one would take to the relative confinement of the village. Perhaps she should tell Chuck about him.