Alec Lightwood (
angelic_archer) wrote in
marlowemuses2019-01-10 07:11 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
The lonely become either thoughtful or empty
There had bee no other options. Someone had to guard the relics the Angel had given them. The Cup and Sword were too powerful to be left in mortal hands even those that had been blessed by the Angel. That power was too tempting no matter how noble Nephilim might be. There would always be someone, some group of someones, who would be seduced by the possibilities that those gifts represented.
Even centuries after the decision had been made, Alec wasn't sure why he had been chosen for this particular duty. His parabatai had been a better warrior. His sister was far more clever. But the Angel had chosen him. Perhaps because he was better able to accept the isolation of his divine task. His siblings would have been driven mad by loneliness after the first few decades.
There were times when Alec wondered if he would eventually succumb to insanity, but he had the books that he eventually became guardian of and the cats that somehow crept between worlds to keep him company. They weren't exactly cats, of course. They were built more like predators than pets, eyes glowing with flames instead of the usual nocturnal glow. No matter how frightening they looked, they were Alec's friends and they helped Alec protect the items the Angel had left in his care.
It was the cats that warned him that something was wrong at the gates. The largest of them howled a warning, hissing as she faced the gate. The rest of the pride ran to her as Alec sprinted for the gates. Something - Someone - was attacking. He felt the temple shiver its warning through him and he knew that no matter how impossible it seemed, someone had crossed the threshold between worlds.
Even centuries after the decision had been made, Alec wasn't sure why he had been chosen for this particular duty. His parabatai had been a better warrior. His sister was far more clever. But the Angel had chosen him. Perhaps because he was better able to accept the isolation of his divine task. His siblings would have been driven mad by loneliness after the first few decades.
There were times when Alec wondered if he would eventually succumb to insanity, but he had the books that he eventually became guardian of and the cats that somehow crept between worlds to keep him company. They weren't exactly cats, of course. They were built more like predators than pets, eyes glowing with flames instead of the usual nocturnal glow. No matter how frightening they looked, they were Alec's friends and they helped Alec protect the items the Angel had left in his care.
It was the cats that warned him that something was wrong at the gates. The largest of them howled a warning, hissing as she faced the gate. The rest of the pride ran to her as Alec sprinted for the gates. Something - Someone - was attacking. He felt the temple shiver its warning through him and he knew that no matter how impossible it seemed, someone had crossed the threshold between worlds.
no subject
He was still sick with terror that the temple might again prevent him from leaving, but he tried to push that thought aside, tried not to think about the shift at work that he was missing right now, without having called in, which might itself be grounds for dismissal.
"We can go eat," he said, figuring that he might as well make sure they both ate, as long as he was already missing work.
no subject
Brushing his thumb along Adam's hand, he grinned when there was no pain accompanying the movement. He began to speak when his stomach growled again. "I - uh - haven't eaten much lately." It'd been too difficult to eat most things and after awhile he'd been too tired and hurt to worry about food. "We could see if the temple will surprise you with food again."
no subject
“Us,” Adam corrected. It was hard to think while Alec was holding his hand. Caressing his hand. Alec, who wanted to court him. “It had better lay a spread for us both.”
He let go with one hand but left the other one connected, loosely holding hands with Alec.
“It’s this way,” Adam said, certain, though he still hadn’t gotten a complete tour of the temple. He could just feel the way they were meant to go.
no subject
Smiling when it became obvious that Adam really did mean 'us' he let the priestess lead them into the temple. "It is." Gently squeezing Adam's hand, he thought about their earlier tours and how they might seem to someone who hadn't lived at the temple for centuries. "I haven't been trying to hide anything from you, except my quarters and the relics that I'm supposed to keep safe. The temple is a strange place. It changes sometimes without warning. I can show you the rooms that rarely change, but you might be able to find things I've never seen."
no subject
It caught his attention when Alec mentioned relics he was supposed to keep safe. Adam hadn't previously thought of this place as anything other than temple and library, but now he realized that Alec had another role. He was guarding something of value, though it was difficult to know from 'relics' alone what value they held to whom. They might be priceless treasures or they might simply be artifacts of value to Alec and the angel that he obeyed or worshiped.
He tried not to think about the shift he was missing at work. Part of his mind was busy calculating the lost income, the adjustments he'd need to make, how he'd cope if he lost the job, what he'd have to give up to compensate. But his stomach still growled hungrily when he stepped through the door into the banquet hall, spread with a smaller feast filled with similar wonders. It seemed absurdly ostentatious, as though the temple itself was trying to court Adam with flamboyant gifts.
no subject
That thought darkened his mood briefly, but Alec told himself that he couldn't worry about the future. If he did, he'd be thrown into another depression. That wasn't something that he wanted Adam to see.
When Adam's stomach growled, he fought back a smile. "The temple knew we were both hungry." Looking around, he noticed that only Emily and Persephone had followed them. "We'd better hurry before the rest of the pride gets here or there'll be nothing left for us." The cats looked offended by his teasing, but they paced along the floor beside the temple, eyeing the plates for a treat. "Emily usually only begs but Persephone will steal from your plate."
no subject
Settling into a chair, Adam picked at his food, giving the cats warning looks when they came close but not bothering to shove either of them off the table as long as they left his plate alone.
He kept one eye constantly on Alec, wary and admiring. Unsure how to offer any kind of conversation, Adam kept quiet, hoping that Alec could ask his questions without Adam needing to provide an opening for him.
no subject
The feast wasn't as elaborate as before but there were things that Alec barely recognized and ones that he'd never seen before. He selected about the same amount of food as Adam, trying not to be too obvious about how hungry he was. Giving a plate of pastries a wistful look, he turned away from the treats to take a seat near Adam.
Remembering how wary the priestess had been before, Alec placed a hand on the chair in front of Adam and asked, "May I sit here?"
no subject
He ate hungrily, realizing just how hungry he was the more that he ate, and he tentatively got up to fill another plate once the first was done. "You can ask your questions," he suggested, keeping an eye on Alec partly out of wariness and partly because he just wanted to look at him.
no subject
"I'm not sure what to ask," he admitted, surprised that his plate was empty. It seemed foolish to ask questions about things he could look up later, but Adam said that he wouldn't answer questions about himself. "I did look up America, but I didn't read about Virginia. It seemed..." He shrugged and got up to select some of the more exotic fruit that rarely appeared at the temple. His voice grew softer as he thought about how curious he'd been about where Adam lived. And how Adam hadn't seemed to want to share any details of his life. "Wrong so I read about other places."
no subject
no subject
Alec wanted to know more about Gansey and Ronan, but it would be unfair to ask when he didn't want to talk about Izzy, Jace, or Max. That rule should have included Noah but Adam describing him as 'dead' was too strange for Alec to ignore. "Is Noah a vampire?"
no subject
Scuffing his toe against the floor, Adam watched Alec shyly. He was still achingly handsome, but there was a nervous awkwardness to him that was cute. Adam couldn't quite believe that he would actually want to court him, but Alec had been starved for company for hundreds of years, and Adam was his only option, so it made sense that his standards would lower accordingly.
no subject
"You answer questions. I just have to figure out the right ones to ask." Which sometimes was a struggle since hearing about the mortal world was completely different than reading about it. As long as he kept his curiosity under control, they should be all right. "And I might like Gansey but I like you too.
"If he's looking for a Welsh king, shouldn't he be looking in Wales?" His knowledge of the world was limited in some ways, but Alec knew that America was not close to Wales. "Are you looking for the king too?"
no subject
Adam fidgeted a little, because he was aware of how many restrictions he'd already put on Alec's questions, and how hard Alec was trying to operate within those restrictions. He appreciated the assertion that Alec would like him even if there were other options, but he didn't feel confident in it.
"He's found evidence to suggest that the king's body was carried to Virginia along a ley line," Adam explained. He knew how it sounded. He'd been so skeptical at first, but Gansey's passion was enough to convince anyone.
Alec's question about whether Adam was looking for the king surprised him. It was Gansey's quest, and though Adam had thought about what he would ask, if he were granted a favor, Adam had only just settled into believing it when he had instead forged his bargain with the ley line. He was part of it, now, an extension of the ley line the same way that it was an extension of him, and Adam was no longer sure what favor he would ask of Glendower. "It's Gansey's quest. I'm only helping."
no subject
"I've never heard of ley lines working like that, but there might be more about it in the library." Alec doubted that Adam would be able to find any books that would say where the king was, but there might be information that might help Adam figure out that aspect of the quest.
"I doubt that you're only helping. You're the priestess. The ley lines are connected to the quest." Noticing that the cats had finished their snack and Emily was leaning against his leg, he offered her a piece of meat and then left one for Persephone before she decided to attack Adam's plate. "It might be Gansey's quest but I doubt that you're just meant to be a helper."
no subject
"Gansey's our king," Adam murmured, though he ducked his head a little as he said it. He'd never said it out loud before. "Ronan and I, we're his magicians."
no subject
Sitting back in his chair, he considered the idea of kings in relation to the temple's priestess. Alec knew that Gansey couldn't be a true king in the sense of lineage so he assumed that there was something special about Adam's friend that would earn that title. Ronan might be a warlock, but that seemed to be one of those topics that Adam would avoid. "You haven't read the tales of kings and magicians if you think you're 'just helping'. It was the magicians that caused the stories to move forward."
no subject
There was a tray of pastries, all different, artful Parisian delicacies like nothing Adam had ever seen before. He selected one of them with care, setting it on his plate and turning it a quarter turn so that he could admire the exquisite, towering, tiny confection.
no subject
Even knowing that there was a whole plate of pastry beside them, Alec couldn't stop himself from staring at the one that Adam had selected. The care that had to have went into creating such a thing amazed him. Realizing that he was being rude again, he turned his attention to the tray. "They're beautiful." As he spoke, he selected one of the pastries and gently set it on his plate. "Almost too beautiful to eat. Even if I had the tools, I couldn't make something like this."
no subject
"I don't know how to cook," he admitted. He hadn't had time or opportunity, and didn't expect that to change in the near future. He survived on apples, cheese, peanut butter, bread, and granola bars. That was a balanced diet, as best as he could get it. The spread in front of him was a wonder beyond imagination.
no subject
"I could teach you." He wasn't sure if Adam would want to but it was a skill that he could teach...or one that didn't involve weapons. After their first meeting, Adam probably didn't want to see Alec armed. "If you want me to."
no subject
"I don't have time," Adam said, looking away. He picked at his dessert, carefully extracting a tiny bite at a time in order to make it last.
As much as he wanted to have the time to take cooking lessons with a gorgeous guy who wanted to court him, that wasn't Adam's life, and he didn't think it ever could be.
no subject
"Why don't you?" He kept his tone cautious since he didn't want Adam thinking he was demanding a role in his life. Adam had made it obvious that the temple and its guardian were not the highest priority. Alec couldn't blame him for that choice. He would have made the same choice if his siblings were involved. "Are there things I can help you with?" Alec wasn't sure if Adam would agree or if he could even help the priestess, but he might be able to. Even if it was a minor task, he would feel useful and it would be something new to hold his attention.
no subject
“I work three jobs,” Adam said, eyes on his food. “Plus school.” He briefly considered mentioning that he was missing his shift at work to be here, but didn’t.
Picking at his food for a moment, Adam turned over the offer, his pride, and Alec’s feelings. “I don’t need anyone’s help,” he said, thickly, hoping that Alec wouldn’t take it as a personal rejection.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)