Grayson Jack Andrews

Grayson Jack Andrews: “I’m Lost” Inspo Board {1/?}

The cold was bitter and biting as he swam through it, he had spent too long out of the water and his bones were aching for the stretch. As he swam hard through the water he made his way back to the surface, it was a quick dip but it would have to suffice, he needed to find Tallie to pick up Riss before a family day at the park. He surfaced and felt the ice sticking to his beard, though it didn’t last nearly as long as it would have a month ago. “God it feels good to be back in the water.”

Grayson eyed the water and the siren in it with disdain. Water wasn’t his favorite thing in the world, he couldn’t swim very well and so he usually tried to avoid it. A sneer came to his lips when the man spoke, “I’m more of a warm fire-y kind of person rather than a icy water-y kind of person.” He shrugged lightly and felt his nose wrinkle up as he stared at the water. He gave a delicate shudder and took a step back. “Better you than me.” He mumbled, still eyeing the water with distaste.

Ella had spent so long trying to remember how to be herself, continuously just working at herself. And now she really felt like she was back to before everything had gone so wrong in her life. As she sat at the table in the restaurant she couldn’t help but smile as a butterfly landed on her hand, it felt like she was really getting back to being herself. “His name is reginald, I warn you he doesn’t take kindly to other names.”

“Reginald is a dumb name for a butterfly.” Grayson snorted as he flopped across the table next to her, watching the butterfly flutter it’s wings a it rest on her hand. “Though most names are probably dumb for butterflies. Their names are probably more ethereal than normal names, like the names you hear in traditional Fae-related fairytales.” He was rambling a bit, his fingers twitching as he drummed them across the table. He felt a little manic today but not as dark as he usually did. He didn’t necessarily feel light either, he just felt full of energy with no place to dispel it. “Probably something like Evander or .. Oh! Emrys, that’s a good one. Good ol’ Emrys ... always was my favorite story to hear about. Jase used to make shadow pictures to go along with it whenever it was told.” His eyes darted about and he shifted in his seat before his eyes drew back to the butterfly. “I’ll bet his name is Emrys, not Reginald.

She tried- Gods, did she try to not let him see he was getting to her. She felt like he had placed seeds in her mind that were being watered and fed by his words. The seeds were growing into her mind’s own little him that sprouted off its own words, too. Its words acted as ropes that seemed to bind her from wanting to move. Some how this fear and manipulation was so familiar it made her simultaneously feel like running away- and comfortable. Like a familiar hand clutching at her throat. “Don’t patronize me.” She clipped. “She’s.. still here?” Tallie managed to gain control of her arm long enough to pinch the bridge of her nose, frustration building in her small frame.

“Right, I’m so sure. I’m sure you have other projects you are just as anxious to see the results in. I can’t be the only person you toy with.” Tallie furrowed her brows, “I don’t understand. If you know he didn’t have a choice, and understand that- how can you be mad at him? If anything, be mad at the system.”

“I’m not trying to be a dark fae. The light is stronger anyways- darkness can’t drown out the light, but you light a single flame in a dark room, and you can see. I’m stronger than dark fae.” She shrugged. “You wouldn’t have roasted me- you’d’ve turned me into a slave or something before that. I know you have more fun toying with people than killing them. You’re that type.” she smiled softly, “I don’t need you to be scared of me. I have a better chance if you underestimate me.”

She reached forward enough to pat his knee, “Thanks. If I have any questions I’ll let you know.”

He shrugged lightly when she told him not to patronize her and tilted his head lightly. “Yeah, a doctor. Think she consults with the M.E.’s office? She used to work with his mom before Maira started working from home.” He rarely went to the hospital himself, preferring to try and patch himself up or get Ella or Annie to do it for him.

“You’re not that special, Fae Princess. I do have other toys to play with.” He yawned lightly before scowling. “Because he should have saved her no matter what!! He let her die!!” He breathed heavily through his nose, it felt like his magic was sparking along his nerves just under his skin.

“You sound almost as boring at Gabriel when you say shit like that. I didn’t think that was possible.” He laughed. He quirked an eyebrow and thought over her words carefully before shrugging. “It would really depend on my mood.” He rolled his eyes. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of a paranoid asshole. I don’t really underestimate people. Though some would say I underestimate Gabriel but honestly Angelboy just likes to pretend he has a dark side so that Annie won’t leave him behind completely.” 

He flinched at the sudden touched and shrugged before giving a nod. “S’what I’m here for according to my employee packet.”

Light!Grayson Jack Andrews: An Inspo Board {1/?}

Tallulah’s brows knitted together, everything she thought she knew flashing through her mind. Gabriel had lead her to believe there had been others. She didn’t care- she couldn’t even begin to tell him how many others she had had. Not that she’d wanted any of them. Would he even still love her after he found out she’d been run over more times than road kill? “I’m not asking him to love me more than Annael. I will never love him more than- someone else. I don’t need to be loved more than family. I don’t need to be loved.” She paused briefly, swallowing, “What was her name?” she finally asked, her voice just a bit smaller then than it had been before.

“I will ask him. And I will come back and tell you his answer.” She retorted, a strength of idiocy in her voice. “He had to save you. You’re the youngest. They always save the younger ones. He didn’t have a choice. Have you ever wondered why- if he didn’t like you as much as you think, he saved you instead?” Gabriel is a good person. Gabriel is a good person. Don’t listen to him. He’s a snake like every other man you have ever dealt with. Tallulah crossed her arms and leaned back into the shelf, refusing to be moved by this man- despite definitely being moved.

“Are you assuming I don’t know darkness because I’m a fae?” she questioned, tilting her head to the side as she did. “stop calling me that,” she added on, hissing slightly as she did. She chose to ignore his comment about Gabriel, refusing to believe any notion that he was less than good. She grinned at his bloodthirstyness, assuming it was a show of lack of control. “It’s delicious.” She grinned, knowing (thinking) he had no chance against a maneater herself. “You would find yourself roasted ngaro,” the words came out like bitter honey on her lips. She hated the taste, but hoped they held weight. It was her turn to approach him, “it isn’t Angelboy that you have to worry about, Grayson, it’s me.” She hissed, eyes dark as she did, “You are nothing in my light-” she cut herself and leaned back, smiling brightly, “Anyways! Yes, I was looking for a specific book- something on old fae magic, actually. A protection spell- preferably one made with tinctures instead of spells.” she could sense his rage still, and despite the thick fear inside of her of him, she kept up her smile.

He watched her carefully, wondering what was going through her mind. Either way he'd placed some nice little seeds of doubt and discord in her mind. He wondered how angry Gabriel would be, maybe the man would actually come to confront him, he hoped so. That would definitely be interesting. He was brought out of his thoughts when she began to speak once more. "Well, well, you are someone special aren't you?" He chuckled lowly and ran a hand through his hair. "Veronika, though I think she went by Nika. Spicy little thing, I think she's still around town somewhere."

"You do that, love, I'll await your return with bated breath." He rolled his eyes lightly and shook his head. "I'll agree that he didn't have a choice, because if he did, he would have saved her. You can see it in how he looks at me or speaks to or about me." He sighed softly and rubbed his forehead. "Just ask him and you'll see. He didn't have choice but not because of any procedure I'm sure." He still didn't know for sure what happened that night but he did know that whenever it came up around his brother, Jason would get secretive and change the subject and if Gabriel were around Jason would shot the man almost murderous looks telling him to be silent.

"Not at all. I've seen plenty of dark Fae. I just think you're a baby compared to them." He shrugged lightly and snorted in amusement at her hissed outburst. He laughed at her, shaking his head lightly, "I've no interest in the blood of a maneater, Little Fae. And I'm not an Ngaro ... not yet anyhow. If I were YOU would have been roasted by now." He chuckled darkly. "I'm not afraid of you, Baby Fae. I'm not afraid of most people though so don't worry about it." He scratched at the back of his neck in annoyance once more, wondering what the burning sensation was. "Anything that has to do with our world that Humans shouldn't get their hands on are all along the store at the top shelves by the ceiling." He pointed at the long shelf that ran along the ceiling with different sized books on it. "There's a rolling ladder at the back of the store that'll help you reach it. To unlock it and use it just touch bottom rung, it's spelled to sense Supes and be used by Supes only." He gave her a tight smile in return and gestured towards where she'd find the ladder.

“Don’t whatever me,” she murmured sadly, just wanting to help him. A part of her would always love him- even the dark him. Little Red rang in her ears, and she smiled softly. “Want to go to the peaks? Up in the hills, like past eastcliffe? We could go look at the water and the coming winter from the cliffs over the water,” she shrugged, lazily pointing off to the tall mountains. “Or take a boat from the docks out to the island and sit on those cliffs. I could even grab lunch from the house and we could eat there,” she suggested, wanting to give him the opportunity to be happy and relax.

He childishly stuck his tongue out at her before huffing lightly. At her soft smile though, he lit up a bit. He tilted his head in thought, trying to figure out which idea sounded better. “I dunno, I like both ideas. I mostly just wanna go somewhere higher up .... and eat food. Whichever you want.” He shrugged lightly, he rarely gave up control of decisions but found himself okay with whichever she chose as he wanted to do both. He stretched his arms out in front of him before stretching them up above his head with a quiet groan. Without realizing it he found himself humming Like A Prayer, as he dropped his arms to his side and took her hand in his.

Tallulah rolled her eyes back, “If you say so,” though, she could see how the man could charm his way anywhere. It infuriated her in a way. “I never said I was the queen of all liars, just that I’m a particularly good one, you had to be where I came from,” When you’re a a whore, bought and paid for, your only lesson is how to lie, while you’re…. lying. Tallie kept herself from cringing at the memory to herself. She caught herself glaring for a brief moment, before composing herself. “He did. Why?”

She continued to keep herself from cringing when his magic flew through the book store. She listened to him go on, feeling hurt in her heart for him, despite the current predicament he had her in. “He wanted you to live,” she murmured, “They always save the youngest,” she fidgeted slightly, awkwardly, knowing he must still be hurting so badly from this all. She lifted a finger for a brief moment, brushing it down his cheek.

Tallulah forced herself to stay calm as he shook around her. She had seen rage in men, to her, this was no different. She didn’t care about his magic, or what he could or couldn’t do here. “You’re not that dark, and I’ve met men much darker. I’ve got nothing left to be scared of, Grayson.” She tried to keep herself from shuddering as his lips grazed her cheek, trying to go with the touching as if it were wanted. She scowled now, “There are no Knights in shining armor. I don’t think he’s a Knight in shining armor. There are more good than bad people, and there are people who are more bad than good. I think he’s the first. And there are no heroes, Grayson.” She shrugged. Light sparked around her as he told her what she knew wasn’t true. While his magic might be darker, her’s was powerful and strong. Her magic crackled and lit up around her, offering a halo of glow around her skin. “I am not someone to trifle with. My blood is that of the man eaters, my blood is that of the first fae. I may be new to this, painfully new to this. But don’t fuck with me. I didn’t provoke the wrong person. I provoked the right person, otherwise, it wouldn’t have happened.” 

He shrugged lightly, not caring if she believed him. He didn’t feel like trying to prove her right at the moment, he didn’t feel like having anyone in his personal vulnerable space. Maybe some other time he could seduce her away from the wannabe Angel. “If you say so.” He didn’t know where she came from or why she had to be a good liar, nor did he care. He snorted lightly and shook his head. “Oh nothing. I’m sure this relationship will end up better than his last one.” He shrugged lightly. “I mean I’m sure you realize that no matter how much he loves you or says he does. He will never love you as much as he loves Annael. The last one couldn’t handle it. Was sad considering how pretty and feisty she was. She was a good match for him.” He hummed in thought for a moment before glancing at her with a faint smile. “Funny you remind me of her in a way, Angelboy must have a type.”

He laughed loudly and bitterly and sneered at her. “He didn’t want me to live. Ask him yourself. He would’ve preferred to save her. She was light and pure and good, why would he not choose her.” He shook his head lightly, but was a bit startled by her finger brushing down his cheek. “Go ahead and ask him about that night if you dare.”

He rolled his eyes and chuckled lightly. “You’d be surprised by how dark I can be. And everyone has something to fear, Baby Fae. It’s all a matter of finding it.” He quirked an eyebrow and leaned back to look at her as she spoke. “Well, I simply cannot wait until you realize how very wrong you are about dear Gabriel.” He watched her magic spark around them and tilted his head as she spoke, a bright, bloodthirsty grin coming to his face. “I’ve never had the blood of the man eaters or the first fae.... is it good?!” He laughed wildly and shook his head. “Oh how I would love to send you back to precious Gabriel covered in the mark of me.” He sighed again and leaned away, moving to sit on the counter once more. “But I’m bored now. Were you here for something specific or can you go now?” His rage still boiled in him but he didn’t want to play with her anymore, it was too boring now. As much fun as it would be to fight her, he wasn’t feeling up to it and just wanted someone’s fear, not their rage. Other people’s rage didn’t feed him, their fear did. And as much as he liked pain he didn’t feel like being in any right now either. He hissed in aggravation and scratched at the back of his neck, something itched and burned and it just made his rage boil more.

Max chuckled, knowing that it was exactly what Carissa was like sometimes. “yeah, but the good thing is I can take this one out to the park if she really gets chaotic with all of the toys.” Max was busy making silly faces at Carissa, not really noticing the humming, but her giggles made him feel so much better. “That’s exactly why were'e here, there’s books she just needs to be read.” He chuckled, nodding hid head. “I’ll take the first couple and be back to get some more.”

Gray nodded lightly. “I often tell Vivian to take Angel out to the park if she gets too rambunctious, like a little paid mini break just to calm the little one down.” He took a few more of the Peter Rabbit books to hold behind the counter for the man in case his daughter liked them. “Well, I’m glad you chose us.” For once the words were not sarcastic and he smiled down at the little girl. “Any time you want to find something for her to read feel free to stop by. If I can’t find something then I’m sure Vivian can.”

“Your magic would only keep those things away if it were light, Gray.” she murmured softly, sympathy dripping from her voice. She hurt for him. She knew the darkness. The night was dark and full of terrors. She went along with him, following him out to the damp outside. She pulled her jacket closer to her, the coldl breeze picking up. She had always loved winter. “Anywhere, really. We could go anywhere. I just want to get away for a bit.”

He frowned darkly and huffed in annoyance, he was tired of everyone talking about how dark his magic was and how he needed to turn back to the light. “Whatever.” He mumbled sullenly. He sighed deeply and glanced around as a cold breeze picked up. He didn’t mind the cold but didn’t necessarily love it either. “After you then, Little Red, I’ll follow your lead.” He smirked at her faintly and gave a mock grand gesture for her to take the lead.

Soph found herself chuckling at him. “If spice equals death you just have to make sure that you start little and eat more of it, even if it makes you get all cranky.” She shook her head as she watched him, eating more of her nachos before dumping a massive pot of guacamole on them. “Well I’d hope so, I made them after all.” She shook her head, giving a soft sigh. “Well, that would be nice I’m sure but I have enough chaos of my own with the ghost of my mother… Hey do you know anyone would do an exorcism? I’m asking everyone I can think of.”

He wrinkled his nose in distaste and shook his head. “I think we’re just going to have to agree to disagree on this point. No one wants me to get cranky so it’s probably best if I just avoid it a bit.” He picked at his food, eating it slowly, he’d always been a bit of a picky and slow eater, it used to drive his parents crazy but Jason and Arielle had always been patient with him. “Confident aren’t you?” he smirked lightly as he gave a little yawn and ate some more. “It is pretty good.” He mumbled through a mouthful, though he quirked an eyebrow at her question. “Um, the Hudsons?” He sneered the name a bit before holding up a finger. He wandered off down some of the aisles, plucking books off from the higher shelves and returning to set the stack in front of her. “These books have some information that might be helpful. You can borrow them if you don’t want to buy them. But if you don’t return them after a week I’m gonna be pissed.”

Ella knew she should have listened to the little voice in the back of her head screaming at her to run, but as much as his demons screamed, she knew she’d seen some of the same ones, and sometimes hers roared louder than his even now. “Of course, it’s all I’ll ever get with you, isn’t it? You do that all on your own, Grayson, you’re paranoid. Paranoid and predictable” She sucked in a breath and winced when she felt spots that she was sure would be bruises. “No, there is light in you, I can feel it. Anyone who is even a little light can feel it, and I know under the blackness you’re light.” She brought her hands up to rest against his cheeks again, letting him see all the cracks in her light magic, but pouring in as much of the light as she could. “You aren’t what the black makes you out to be, Gray.”

This time the lash out of his magic caused some of the bookshelves to fall and crash into each other. He was breathing heavy, fighting the urge to just lose control. “Paranoid and predictable, huh? Then why do you stick around, Ella?” He snorted with laughter, a cruel smirk on his face. “Because you want to save me? Because you love me?” He shook his head, ignoring her words about him still having a little light in himself. “You stick around because you want an excuse! You want to feel good about yourself because you’ve gotten so much better! You were dark and you fancied yourself in love with me cuz I was just as dark. But now you’re all pure and light and you stick around because you want everyone to commend you for trying to save a devil like me. Well, guess what, Ella! No one fucking cares! Everyone thinks you’re stupid for sticking around because they see what you refuse to acknowledge! I can’t be saved and I don’t want to be even if I could be!” His hands snapped out and grabbed her arms and squeezed tightly, trying to make her see. He was startled when her hands came up to his cheeks and then there was Light. So much Light. He squeezed his eyes shut and cried out as if in pain. “Stop it!” He screamed, shoving her away while throwing himself backwards. He sat on the floor leaning against the counter staring at her in a mixture of terror and rage. “Stay the fuck away from me!!” 

Summary: The Night the replays in Grayson’s mind over and over again. The night he lost his sister. The night he truly began to lose himself.  Trigger Warnings: Car accident, character death Word Count: 2,030

Tallulah rolled her eyes gently, “aside from being a reference to a movie, it is also a phrase used to insult those acting like they are shopping when looking at another human being,” she huffed, keeping her eyes close to her body, but twisting her wrist to crack it. “I lie better than you think,” she retorted, no care to her wellbeing, “You’ll never know if what comes out of my mouth is the truth or not. I was raised to lie.” to lie about love, to lie about people, to lie with people. None of it is new. “But, I’m sure- He won’t leave me. He loves me-” she huffed out a deep breath, “And what is it to you, anywa-”

The sudden wave of anger stunted her words in their infancy. She brought forth every talent she’d learned to keep herself calm- or presented as calm, so that people wouldn’t see when she was scared. Despite ignorantly thinking she was invincible, she was afraid now. “It’s always that easy… sometimes it’s just too late,” she flashed back to the scene of Father Woolsey- bloody and broken. Dying. And she couldn’t do anything. Had she known she was a fae then, she could’ve saved him. And then, Caoimhe. She clenched her eyes shut. “Sometimes it’s too late,” she murmured again, before opening her eyes to his smirk. It made her skin crawl, but she was trying to be open-minded. Surely he was not considering attemptig to make her his new play-thing.

In the moment of a single breath, she was being pushed back into a bookshelf she’d just walked away from. The anger steaming off of his body like a kettle was nearly palpable- screaming at her, and it made her nauseous. How could one person’s body hold so much anger. When her back hit roughly against the shelves, she grunted, still feeling one of the shelves pressing into her shoulder blades. “Very clever,” she breathed out, trying not to move as he broke through her bubble. “If I wasn’t right, you wouldn’t be so furious.” at this point, she wondered if she was going to get out of here alive- or unscathed. Something in her told her he wouldn’t harm her though. Hands just barely shaking, she reached up and pressed them to his chest. It was an attempt to some how warrant more space to breathe, and use what she’d been taught of energy to bleed as much as she could into him. “I’ve not been tainted, weirdo.” She attempted to make her speech light hearted, and smiled as best she could at him. “A friend.” Pausing, she took in a deep breath, “A friend who will blast you through next Wednesday if you don’t back up and let her breathe.”

He snorted lightly and rolled his eyes. "I don't have to buy someone if I want them." He tilted his head and sighed lightly before rolling his eyes again. "Yeah Yeah, you're the Queen of all Liars and no one can ever ever tell when you're being untruthful. Booorrring." He stopped at her words and a delighted grin came to his face. "Loves you? Has he //told// you that?"

His magic lashed out throughout the store, rattling shelves and windows alike in his anger. "No ... No he got there in time. I know he did. He told me himself they had a choice to make and they chose me. Well, they chose wrong!" His hands shook in anger and he smirked cruelly. "And I'm sure he regrets it every time he sees me. Realizes he saved the wrong person. All he saved was Chaos! So, whatever happens now, whatever chaos I cause, whatever damage I do, whoever I hurt. It's all on him, because he chose me over her and he knows it."

His breaths came out in shudders and his hands shook violently as he placed them on the shelves next to her head. His rage was always present in him, but he could usually hide it under sarcasm and charm and cunning little smiles. But on occasion it boiled over and became like a living beast of its own, roaring for blood and something to sink it's teeth into. "If you're so clever, shouldn't you know better than to provoke someone so Dark on their home turf?" He hummed softly, his lips brushing her cheek as he kept himself forced into her personal space. "Oh you have, you just don't realize it. You see him as a hero right? Someone light and good and someone to love? He hasn't shown you his dark side has he? Wants to pretend he doesn't have it. He's gotten inside you and tainted your thoughts to make you think he's a knight in shining armor and you think it's normal." He laughed bitterly. "I don't need friends, and your magic can't touch me in here, Baby Fae. You picked the wrong battlefield and provoked the wrong person, I'm not known for my mercy."

Annie’s brows may have been permanently furrowed. it was strange seeing him this way. So … light. She wasn’t used to it, and it almost made her think of Gabe as a child. “Maybe it’s your magic that’s keeping them, Grayson,” she murmured, letting her fingers touch his cheek bone gently, concern for him coming to the forefront of her mind. “Okay, sure. Let’s walk together.”

He scowled at her words, his brow furrowing in thought. He didn’t like that idea at all. At her touch he almost startled and blinked at her curiously. “I don’t like that idea. If that’s true it’s stupid. My magic should be keeping away things I don’t like!” His smile returned and he snagged up his jacket and led the way out of the door, letting his magic close up the shop for him. “Anyway in particular, Little Red? Want some alone time?” He teased, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

Ella scrubbed a hand over her face, she was trying to put all the pieces together in her mind, the pieces of what had happened in here and somehow she figured out what it was, but she wouldn’t mention his sisters name. “I know, because I’ll end up hurt right?” She asked, her own growl coming from her throat. “No, I don’t think you care what people think, in fact I know you don’t care, and you won’t let them remember.” She said with a soft sigh, her anger building again. “You know why I don’t fucking leave, Gray? Because I know you’re better than this, because I know you are light under the dark and as much as it hurts to admit I care about you more than I care about myself, and that’s why I don’t go running back to him, because even if you hate me for it, I’m going to save you from yourself. Because someone has to.”

His magic lashed out and made the windows rattle threateningly. “Yes, because you’ll end up hurt. Since you’re so good at pissing me off lately, Ella.” He growled out, glaring at someone who was about to come in the store until they turned right back around and left again. “Right again, you’re on a roll today, babe.” He snapped at her words and shoved her back into one of the bookshelves. “Save me? Light? Jesus, I knew you were dumb, Ella but I didn’t think you were this fuckin stupid. There is no Light in me. It’s all been put out and there’s nothing to be saved. No one can save me, because I don’t need to be saved. I’m fine just how I am.”