InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Too much pressure man!"

descensus averno facilis est. (nothingweak) wrote in expresslogs,
@ 2012-08-06 13:00:00

Entry tags:

!plot, alec lightwood, william herondale, {jace wayland, {james carstairs, {magnus bane

Characters: Alec Lightwood, Jace Wayland, Will Herondale, Jame Carstairs, with later appearances by the (drumroll) FABULOUS Magnus Bane, High Warlock of Brooklyn.
When: Monday afternoon.
Location: Outside the train, a open area in the forest.
Warnings/Rating: Injury, gore, squicky stuff for people who may not like reading that.
Summary: The boys are out messing around with the zombies, despite all the ominous warnings. Alec saves Jace from being attacked by one of those demon corpses, and gets bit in the process.
Status: Closed, and ongoing!

Alec was sure he had never wanted Jace to come down with a sore throat so badly before in his entire life. Though he was positive that would not keep his brother from continuing this long strain of banter about ‘who was better than who’ with William Herondale. It seemed that the moment they each killed one.. or two zombies, out would come the arguing. The knife throwing. The ‘how quickly one could sever the head-arm-leg of said zombie’ faster. While there did seem to be a few lulls in the attacks of zombies, there never seemed to be a lull in the conversation between Jace and Will. While Alec was always impressed with the way Jace handled himself in battle, Alec found himself watching out for his parabatai’s back more than usual since zombies, while plentiful, were also rather resourceful in their attempts to kill them.

Alec was no where near the ‘body count’ as Jace was. He had shot a few from a distance away, using the time to practice his aim. They were told that the zombies were demons inhabiting dead bodies, and for some reason it left Alec more hesitant to kill them than his counterparts. They used to be mundane. People who didn’t deserve an inhabitation after their life had passed through them. And the demons could have been the one to do it. Alec was doing nothing more than mutilating poor souls who were innocent until whatever allowed the demons into the world had done so. He didn’t know how he would handle it, knowing that someone he loved might have been killed only to be unnaturally resurrected. The thought bothered him more than it should and the arrow he had poised to shoot at a zombie of young man, no older than him, fell to the wayside.

Sighing Alec turned toward the voices again; Jace’s smug cool tone to Will’s sarcastic witty tenor. He wished that he could prove him and his parabatai James wrong. But unfortunately Alec actually liked James, and found it hard to compete against someone he enjoyed the company of. But the moment he softened to the companionship of another Shadowhunter, Will would say something impeccably ill-timed that made Alec see red. Will seemed to get off on those comments, especially when it came to his relationship to Jace and their bond as parabatai. It seemed as if that was the topic of conversation as Alec approached them, Jace and Will sharing a circle of mauled corpses. Arguing, again.

That was when Alec saw multiple things happen at once. Will had stepped forward, challenging something Jace had said. Both of them looked tense, ready to rip the other’s eyes out, or in Will’s case, stab them with the small knife that slid from his gore covered shirt sleeve to his hand. A movement from the trees that was far clumsier and conspicuous than James had been when he was in the forest, or even in the case, too untrained for a Shadowhunter. In a flash, a zombie charged for Jace, who was unassuming and deep in a stare off with the other boy. Alec didn’t even realize his feet had moved from his spot until the distance closed between the zombie and Jace. Alec willed himself to go faster, he had to, he had to protect Jace...

Alec collided with the zombie, losing his footing and going straight to the ground. The impact, for the briefest moment, knocked the wind out of him, but that was all the demon needed. Alec was pinned by the undead corpse, and as he struggled to break free the zombie went for the closest pulse point, that was now beating rapidly in Alec’s throat. There was a searing flash of pain, before Alec felt the coppery taste of blood pool into his mouth.

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steadyflame
2012-08-06 05:05 pm UTC (link)

It was true that while Will and Jace were continually at each other’s throats, Alec and Jem had found that they actually shared some common ground. As the more level headed and mild mannered of their respective parabatai pairs they had actually given one another a chance as opposed to constantly taking the confrontational route. While Alec was rather quiet and difficult to read, Jem had come to respect him over the past few days as they started to get to know one another. If anything, it was nice to finally be able to converse with another Shadowhunter without egos flaring completely out of control. Unfortunately the same could not be said for Will and Jace.

The zombie killing competition had been ongoing for a few days now and Jem fueled by both adrenaline and the drug found himself starting run out of steam despite his best efforts. He continued on however because he didn’t like the idea of Will facing the hordes on his own. Not to mention that like Alec, once they had learned the truth about the undead foes they were up against, Jem’s perspective had shifted somewhat. Things were now a bit more complicated than simply slaughtering dangerous Downworlders for sport. In his opinion however, killing the bodies that the demons were inhabiting was a sort of mercy. The people they had once been did not deserve such a fate and Jem knew that if he were put in such a position he would want to be put out of his misery rather than be used as a tool to wreak havoc. And so there he was out in the woods once again, armed with his sole seraph blade, his clothes stained with the blood of demons.

Jem had just finished dispatching of yet another zombie, pulling his blade free of its skull before hauling himself up to his feet again. The zombies were not only fast but cunning as well and they were putting up a hell of a fight. This last one had managed to gouge a pretty nasty scratch across his cheek before it went down. Wiping the blood from his face, Jem turned back toward the others wearily only to find that Will and Jace’s bickering was beginning to escalate again. He sighed. This would be going much more smoothly if those two would remain focused on fighting the enemy and not each other. A notion that was only further proven by the sudden appearance of a zombie lunging out of the woods and straight towards the arguing pair. Jem saw it happen at the same time Alec did, but Alec was closer. “Will! Behind you!’ he called out to his parabatai but Alec was already there, hurling himself into the zombie and sending the both of them tumbling to the ground.

Without hesitation Jem raced over. He briefly considered stooping to grab the bow Alec had dropped but realized quickly that he’d never get a clear shot with the zombie grappling with him the way it was. Switching his grip on his blade Jem instead stabbed the zombie square between shoulder blades in attempt to get it to loosen its hold on Alec. The zombie reeled back in pain and Jem took the opportunity to sink his blade between its eyes. Sinking down to his knees, Jem shoved the rotting corpse back away from Alec and tried to assess the damage. Alec’s blue eyes were wide with shock and there was a gaping wound on the side of his neck, blood spilling out profusely and staining his shirt a gruesome crimson. It must have bitten him, he realized. “Alec? Alec...can you hear me?” Jem frowned and quickly shoved his hand into his pocket to fish out his handkerchief, pressing it firmly to Alec’s neck in attempt to staunch the bleeding. “Jace!” he called over his shoulder. “Your stele...the marks will be stronger...if you do it,” Jem panted, out of breath.

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jlightwood
2012-08-06 11:22 pm UTC (link)

They were behind. They were losing and Jace did not like to lose at anything or to anyone. He knew he was better, and he knew what both he and Alec were capable of. Perhaps he tried to push Alec more than he should, but he knew his brother, his parabatai, had the potential and capability to do great things. Jace had the utmost confidence that, no matter what was thrown at them, both he and Alec would come out victorious. Even if it meant coming back covered in blood, dirt, and sweat. They were well-trained and always prepared even when those around them - mostly a certain Herondale - said otherwise. No matter how skilled they were, though, even Shadowhunters could endure so much.

It had been hours since they had been outside, and the time was beginning to feel longer. There was that irritating sense of exhaustion that was creeping up on Jace that would have become a distraction had he not been in a heated battle of wits and words with William. He was growing increasingly irritated by the second at the snide comments that were becoming more heavily directed to Alec rather than himself. Jace could take Will’s words. He knew Alec could, but he didn’t have to. Jace would make sure of that.

That was when the arguments had begun. The zombies were forgotten except for one or two that had managed to get around Jem and Alec’s attacks that had met a fateful end at the blade of Jace’s seraph blades. He should have paid more attention. He should have kept a better eye on Alec. Jace was better at keeping Alec in his view at all times even when they were just training. It was what parabatai did. It was what brothers did. A second too late, his speed and agility failing him, Jace swore the seconds that Alec fell to the ground with the demonic undead creature on top of him felt like hours. Time caught up to him, reality hitting him hard in the face, when he finally heard Jem yelling out to him.

His stele.

Shoving Will aside, perhaps a bit harder than needed, Jace was at Alec’s side. He knew Jem was trying to help Alec, trying to help the situation, but the idea of someone else saving Alec was already making his stomach churn. That should have been him pulling that undead monstrosity off of his brother. Not this stranger.

He had to keep himself calm. One wrong move, a wrong mark, and he wasn’t sure what would happen to Alec. With steady hands and an intensity on his face, Jace made quick work of the iratzes. The overly confident and cocky air that Jace Wayland typically wore was gone. Pure concern was the only thing that colored his features behind the drying, dark blood, purpling bruises, and cuts that he had sustained in the skirmish of battle. “Your shot’s definitely gotten better.” Giving a weak smile, the marks were completed and Jace pushed Jem’s hand away from the wound as politely as he could before clamping his hand down on the soaked cloth.

“We need to get you inside and to the infirmary.” He paused, his typical grin on his face. “Get you patched up so we can get back out here.” He forced a chuckle before turning a bit to get Jem and Will in his view. By the angel, he hated to think about what he was about to ask of them.

“When I can, I’m getting himself. Think you two can keep them off long enough for me to do that?” He needed them to, but Jace was not about to say that. He was not about to ask, beg even, if they would help them out so that he could get Alec to safety and get him the help that he needed.

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hatesducks
2012-08-07 12:09 am UTC (link)

Will was having so much excitement pestering Jace ‘I think I’m better than my predecessors’ Lightwood. A past time of Will’s was certainly pissing off the Lightwood family and when there were two of them so easily uproarious about the smallest comment, he couldn’t resist. There were a few times when he would look to Jem, and find that he often asked permission if his bantering and rude remarks were getting to be too much. He could lay off -- say one only once an hour, or so -- but Will had lost sight of Jem in the current predicament and when he noticed that Alec had not nearly shot a thing in a handful of minutes, Will had to say something.

What he didn’t expect was for one of them to get brutally hurt.

Will was already moving before Jem had finished his warning, knowing that tone even before Will could see him -- it drove Will to turn on his defense in a drastic way. Jem’s voice had a power over him that he didn’t dare admit out loud. Will had spun and moved away from Jace, only to come up and see the zombie on top of Alec. Will felt that moment of hesitation about how to attack the thing with it so close to another living person, that it was his own parabatai who had come to the rescue. Were this any other situation that was not hinging on another boy’s life, he would have congratulated Jem on a kill well received.

Will, in a rare moment of shock, didn’t move as Jem called to Jace. Then exchanged positions, and Will looked on as Jace huddled over his parabatai, who was now drenched in crimson and looking paler by the second. A chilling thought ran through Will in that moment -- it could have been Jem, it could have been Jem.

“Jem..” Will finally breathed, calling him over, noticing his parabatai out of breath, exerting his precious energy to help the other Shadowhunter. He stepped closer to the scene, at first wanting to keep a safe distance from the other boy on the ground. The one that looked frighteningly like him, the boy who was a Lightwood. It was hard to wish ill on him on principle when he looked on the verge of an unfortunately early death. Will knew that he would be no help at the moment. He couldn’t be the one to draw on the runes after all. He noticed the blood on Jem’s hands, examining his parabatai. The cut on his face marred his normally exceptionally pale skin. That had not been done by Alec’s wound, that was Jem’s blood. Will wuickly removed his own handkerchief from his pocket pressing it to Jem’s face. A terrifying thought crossed his mind again, knowing that pessimism was appropriate right now but necessary.

“Were we not warned of the damage those demons could do if one us were bit?” Will asked, addressing Jace and then Jem as if needing justification. He did not imagine the statement, did he? Did cuts count as well? Will’s eyes were wide, staring back at Jem, his hand with the cloth still against Jem’s cheek. Jace was saying something about taking Alec back -- which seemed like a good idea, but Will was in another world, his voice distant -- and probably the only time he would ever unquestioningly agree with a Lightwood, nonetheless Jace.

“We will take care of it. Go. Now.”

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nothingweak
2012-08-07 12:14 am UTC (link)

There was a lot happening at once that Alec was trying to stay focused on, rather than the increasingly uncomfortable feeling of choking on his own blood. The weight from the undead corpse was easily lifted off of him, and instead of Jace the newly familiar face of James Carstairs was bent over him. The rush of water in his ears from the trauma made everything sound hazy and far away, muffled. He was calling for help, that much he could assess. Alec had that same look in his eyes before when he needed someone’s assistance. He felt a new pressure of Jem’s hand on his neck, which caused him to cough and sputter more blood out of his mouth. Alec wanted to apologize suddenly, but he knew, even as he tried to open his mouth that words wouldn’t come.

The warm tingling feeling of the blood from his wound dousing his shirt, and his face made Alec twitch. His limbs felt heavy as if someone was pinning them down. He knew that he had to somehow calm himself down, or his heart would pump all the blood quickly out of his system seeing as the zombie had gone for a major artery. He felt weak and dizzy, his eyes blacking in and out of consciousness. Everything starts to slow down around him, the ground beneath him once solid, felt empty as if he was floating. It was then that James’s concerned features were replaced with Jace’s, and Alec felt himself involuntarily match his brother’s smile. Only to sputter blood again, a second later.

There was a new sensation on a different part of his body, that for a brief moment, drew his attention from the wound in his neck and that he was not finding it difficult to breath with blood filling his senses. Jace was drawing on an iratze, Alec would have done the same. The pain was starting to subside as quickly as it had started, but there was still a sharp jabbing throb from his neck, and Alec coughed again trying to not feel like he was drowning. That just made him nauseous, and staying awake was becoming more and more difficult. He still couldn’t hear properly, but he only hoped that Jace was taking him back inside, as his brother turned to the others behind him. He needed help.

Alec found that he did have some strength left in his body, and he numbly reached for Jace’s sleeve. Alec tried to speak, trying to urge Jace to take him to the one person on the train that could, and just by chance happened to be the one of the person Alec wanted to see if he was could to die from this wound. Alec could only manage a croak of Magnus’s name on his lips, before blood oozed out the corners of his mouth and unconsciousness took him.

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steadyflame
2012-08-08 04:04 am UTC (link)

“Don’t try to speak,” Jem said hurriedly as Alec struggled to breathe beneath him, blood bubbling at his lips and drenching the handkerchief pressed to his throat. When Jace appeared suddenly at his side, Jem quickly and carefully switched places with him, allowing the other boy to take over applying pressure to the wound before climbing up to his feet. As a parabatai himself, he knew all too well how the Lightwoods must be feeling and there was no question that Jace would be best suited to see to Alec.

Stepping back to join Will, Jem hissed softly at the unexpected touch on his cut cheek. It stung sharply but it was nothing a simple iratze couldn’t take care of later. He wasn’t sure if Alec, who was rapidly growing paler by the second, would be so lucky however. Will’s words finally wrenched Jem’s gaze from the scene before him and he glanced to his parabatai, startled. Now that he thought about it, he did recall a vague mention of the bites being dangerous. He didn’t think he’d read anything about what exactly being bitten entailed. “You don’t think that he’ll...” Jem trailed off anxiously, reaching up to slide his hand beneath Will’s to take over pressing the handkerchief to the side of his face as his eyes flicked back over to Alec on the ground. Did it really work that way, as it did with vampires and werewolves? He very much hoped they were mistaken...

At Jace’s request, Jem gave a determined nod. Tired as he was he had no doubt that he and Will could buy Jace some time to try and get back to the train. Hopefully it would be enough, for Alec’s sake. Either way, they were going to have to do quickly as already the zombies were regrouping and threatening to overwhelm them once again.Taking a deep breath, Jem forced himself to ignore the burning in his lungs and wiped a bloodied hand on his pants before tightening his grip on his seraph blade. He handed Will's handkerchief back to him, inclining his head gratefully. “Well then, William, let us see how many more points we can add to our impressive tally,” he said just as Jace made a break for it.

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jlightwood
2012-08-10 10:09 pm UTC (link)

He didn't want to think about the consequences of the bite, of the wound that was slowly killing his brother. There had been warnings, numerous warnings, but Jace had scoffed at them all. He had never expected any of them to get bitten, let alone Alec. His selfish pride, his need to remain on top when it came to besting Will, was going to kill Alec. What would Isabelle say? What would she do? What would the Lightwoods say? They had just lost Max, and now Alec?

Wiping at the blood seeping from Alec's lips with the hem of his shirt, Jace shook his head. He didn't need to talk. He didn't need to tell him where to go. Jace knew exactly where he was going and who he was going to seek out as quickly as possible. Stele secured in his pocket, Jace slid one arm around Alec's torso. His movements were careful and practically methodic as he brought both himself and Alec to an upright position. Weapons secured and his hand still pressed firmly against the neck wound, Jace took his chance. The position was awkward as he worked to keep a support against the back of Alec's head while practically carrying his brother back to the train. Perhaps later, he would thank Will and Jem.

If he remembered.

The length of the train seemed both annoying and intimidating given the situation at hand. Alec was losing blood by the second and Jace could feel every drip running down along his wrist and forearm. Swallowing hard, swallowing down the fear that rarely plagued him, Jace sought out Magnus' room. He had tried to nudge it open with his shoulder, having no time to knock, but the door didn't budge. Turning with a frustrated grunt, Jace gave the door a swift kick while doing his best not to jostle Alec or cause any more blood loss.

"Magnus! Magnus, open the door!"

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