Mr. Lightwood-Bane-10/17/2017
EMMA AND JULIAN.  // @EmmaDoodle  | @Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian you wake up in an underground warehouse. lights flicker on and you realize you both are bolted down to the floor. shackles cover your ankles and you can not remember how you got there or what you were doing the night before. there is a clock on the wall that appears to be counting down. 23:45. you don't know what the countdown means. there is a small duffel bag in the middle of the room, just beyond your reach. there is a large metal door, shut and locked with no feasible way out. no windows or grates appear in sight.(edited)October 18, 2017
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
It's cold. Why was he cold? He remembered going to bed with Emma and Mack, and specifically not being cold. Or did he sleep under all the blankets at his own place? He couldn't remember. But the cold woke him up, Julian curling up into himself and reaching for someone / the covers, only to feel the ground. His eyes shot open, taking in his surroundings. It looked like a warehouse, and those were definitely chains on his ankles. He sat up and tugged at the chains, even though he knew it was useless. He then looked around again, only then noticing Emma. "Em?" He called, trying to crawl and reach her only to find he couldn't quite reach. "Emma!"
Mr. Lightwood-Bane-10/18/2017
an intercom chimes. Hello, Julian. I see you are awake. Don't worry about Emma. She will wake up in her own time. However, how long she stays awake will be up to you. It's always up to you, isn't it? A hero. And as far as you're concerned, a hero also translates into a murderer, doesn't it? For years and years you have lived with the guilt of killing somebody. Emma has been living in fear of being killed. Tonight, you two best friends will help each other heal from those fears. If you play right. In the center of the room is a bag. Julian, you must acquire the duffel bag's contents first. Once you have retrieved the bag, you can choose to use the object within it. There is one saving grace within the object. Only one 'shell' of salvation. You have 24 hours to choose how or if you are going to use that salvation. To save you both. Live or die, Julian......make the right choice. For you both.(edited)
The familiar voice was pulling her back to consciousness. Groggy and confused, not to mention cold. The blonde shivered violently as it started to piece back together. The last thing she remembered was being at the bar with Mack. Mack. Eyes opening wide she groaned when she tried to get up too quickly. “Julian?” Now she was confused and stared across at him, heading toward him only to be jerked back by the chain she hadn’t known about until now. “Jules? What the hell! Are you okay?!”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
A bag. What bag? He looked around again just as Emma began to move. Relief flooded through him -- she was okay. "Relax, Emma. We'll be okay. I promise." He saw the bag, and began to move toward it. It looked to be just out of his reach, but if he flattened himself against the ground and stretched, his arms just reached it. He pulled the bag toward him, moved backwards and sitting up as he opened the bag. "A gun. They...." He trailed off, assaulted with the memory of the last time he'd held a gun. "Okay. A gun. One bullet." Think, Jules.
“We will be okay?” The confusion was strong in this one and she wasn’t getting any clarity. Her eyes followed the chain from her leg to where it was secured to the floor. “Are you—?” But she didn’t finish the question upon seeing the chain coming from his ankle as well. Swallowing hard she went to move as close to him as she could but stopped when he opened the bag. “... what are we supposed to do with a gun with one bullet? How in the hell do we get out of here? There have the be keys, or a weak link in the chain or something.”
Mr. Lightwood-Bane-10/18/2017
A CRACKLE OF ELECTRICITY SOUNDS AND A SHOCK IS GIVEN TO EMMA FOR GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE BAG.
“Ow! What the fuckin fu-“ cuts off staring around the room brows tightly knit together. “So someone is getting off on watching this. Isn’t that some kind of fetish. Jerk it harder, sweetheart. Fuck.” Grimaces rubbing her ankle.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
Julian flinched at the shock to Emma, as if he'd felt it himself. "Just relax, let me think, okay? And don't antagonize Jigsaw, please." He sighed before pulling the gun out, eyes wide when finding several of what looked like photographs in the bottom. Keeping them in the bag and out of Emma's view, he flipped them over and immediately wished he hadn't. They were of Emma and Mack, neither of them clothed. The sight turned his stomach, if only because he was seeing what should have been private moments. He shoved them further into the bag as jealousy bubbled up, choking him.
“Relax? We are chained to a floor in the middle of nowhere. And apparently it’s mild electrocution. Fuck” her rambling continued as she began examining the chair, fingers running over the metal and looking for that tiny flaw that would be exactly what she needed. “Okay, What kind of dominatrix shit are these chains made out of?” Looking up now she frowned watching him. “Jules? What’s in the bag?”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
"And it's not going to get better any time soon." He pointed to the clock counting down. He zipped the bag up and tossed it behind him, away from Emma. "Nothing."
“What is the clock for? So we have to get out before the time is up? What happens when it is up?” Frowns deeply staring at her liar. “There aren’t instructions or anything? They just leave us in a room with a clock?”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
"Well, there was some creepy voice coming from the intercom just before you woke up." He still couldn't look at her. "Uh...it talked about me, about you, said we'd help each other 'heal from our fears' or whatever. It told me to get the bag, that there was 'a shell of salvation' inside." He picked up the gun and looked it over. "There's only one shell, Emma. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with that." He swallowed, looking at the gun for longer than necessary to avoid looking at her.
"We're going to help one another heal from our fears? So it's crash therapy without alcohol or blankets? Sounds wonderful." Eyes widen a bit as her eyes looked over the gun in his hand. "Wait. Wait. Are you supposed to shoot someone?" Her eyes finally went to look at him, still a bit in shock. "What in the fuck...." Swallowing hard, she sat back on her heels. "There has to be another way."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
"That means we have to stop hiding things from each other, I guess." He sat the gun down and put his head in his hands. "If anyone's getting shot, it'll be me."
"Stop hiding things? So this is a bare your fucking soul or die session?" Immediately her head shakes. "No. Absolutely not. Give me the gun right now -- I don't -- No."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
"I don't know." He snorted. "So you can shoot me?"
"Why in the hell would I shoot you?" Looking toward the chain warily and giving it a tug again.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
He sighed and rubbed his face. "If it would get us free, why not? The voice didn't say it had to be fatal."
"I am absolutely not going to shoot you, and you are absolutely not going to shoot yourself at all. No. Julian. No." Her voice was firm and rough despite her hands focused on the chain again and working herself free.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
He threw his arms up, finally looking at her. "How are you going to stop me, Emma?" Almost immediately he looked away, standing up  and physically turning away from her.
"Did you just tell me that you want to shoot yourself?" Immediately she jumped to her feet and started forward, forgetting the chain for a brief moment -- until it jerked at her ankle -- in her haste to get to him. "Julian. Look at me dammit, what in the hell are you talking about?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
"Don't tell me I don't deserve it. I killed my own father, Emma." He hears the chain but doesn't turn. "I'm saying one of us needs to get out of here, and I'm not going to let them hurt you like this."
"You absolutely do not derserve it. I can't think of a single person that would deserve it less than you." Shaking her head again violently. "And I'm saying that I am not leaving this room without you. It's not happening." Still on her feet, giving another yank to her chain that was around her ankle, ripping into the tender skin and spilling blood. "I'm not going anywhere without you."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
Julian sighed and turned to face her, frowning when he saw what she was doing to her ankle. "Out of the two of us, I don't want you to be the one to get hurt here, Emma." His face flamed the longer he stared at her, turning around again to hide his face.
"How about we go with neither one of us gets hurt. You have been through some horrible, awful things. But you're the strongest person I know. I admire you so much -- don't you dare throw in the towel now, after all of this time. Living with you and your family is the only reason I'm still going...." Her voice softened despite giving another desperate tug on the chain, trying to get to him. "Jules."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
"I'm not throwing in anything, Emma. I just don't know how to get us both out of here with one shell." He flinched at the sound of the chain again. "Emma, you're going to hurt yourself worse if you keep that up. Stop, please."
"How about we don't shoot anyone -- or if we have to, You shoot me." Shaking her head again with his request. "No. You just told me you're ready to shoot yourself, I will rip off my damned foot before I let that happen."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
"I already told you I wasn't going to shoot you, Emma." He sighed and turned around again, making his way closer to her and reaching out for her hand. "I'm not suicidal, Emma. I'm trying to protect you."
"And you're not going to shoot yourself either, so if that's the case then you better throw that gun away just like the bag. Or, better yet. Give me the bullet." Her hand went out for the bullet but instead found his fingers and immediately she grasped on. "You're not shooting yourself. I don't need you to protect me. Not like this."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
"It's not really your choice. I have the gun." And the bag. He looked away from her again, unable to keep eye contact with the photos fresh in his mind.
"That almost sounds like a threat." Her blood was pulsing through her veins faster than usual and pounding in her head and his words had her drawing her hand back slowly. "You want me to sit here and watch you shoot yourself."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/18/2017
"Might be." He sighed at the loss of her hand. "I won't shoot myself."October 19, 2017
"Might be, but you won't shoot yourself." Throwing her hands up, she dragged them through her hair. "What sense does that make!?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Exactly. It doesn't, Emma. What else am I supposed to do about this? What options do we have?"
"You're not shooting yourself. Give me the fucking bullet if you won't give me the gun. No. Julian. Just no."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I'm going to do what it takes to get us out of here, Emma."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"And you get to control all of this why?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"The voice told me so."(edited)
"Oh. Okay. Let's be in grade school then." Folds her arms, staring him down as she yanks her chain again, more blood spilling over the metal.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Emma. Stop. What's going to stop them from shocking both of us if I give you the bullet?"
"Better some stupid shocks than you with the bullet in your skull. I will not watch that. I can't watch that."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"They could kill us if we fail this test, Emma." He sat down again. "What do we do?"
"They could kill us anyway. Where in the directions did it say shoot yourself?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Alright then, kick the stupid gun out of both of our reach."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Not if it's going to be important, Em. What else do you suppose we use to get free?"
Shrugs now still staring at him, her arms folding tighter. "Kick it away. All it's gonna do is get one of us hurt."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I'll throw it across the room is you answer one question honestly."
"You'll throw it if I answer something honestly? Fine, shoot." A small smile pulled at her face with her own little joke.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"You and Mack. Are the two of you a thing?"
"A thing? I just met him when we got here. Are you asking if he and I are going steady?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I asked you to answer the question, not ask me another question."
"I don't understand what in the hell you're asking, so I'm looking for clarification you smartass." Giving another jerk to her ankle she sighed. "Why are you asking about this?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
He rubbed his face. "Because what the fuck else are we going to talk about? Got another topic for me?"
The anger took her back a bit and she surprisingly went quiet for a moment. "We didn't talk about anything. I just like spending time with him. It's comfortable and easy."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Great. Cool. Awesome." He willed himself to calm down. He was so unreasonably jealous, and that was all the more infuriating. "I'm sorry. I don't even know why I'm so mad, Emma. I hate being here. I shouldn't have come here. I miss my kids, and now we're here, and I don't know how to save both of us with one bullet."
"Wha--..." All she wanted right now as to go to him, to feel that steady beat of his heart that was the easiest way to ground her and calm her. "I'm sorry you're stuck here... I never wanted this for you, nothing ever like this for you. We are getting you out of here, and you're going home to those kids, do you understand me?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"How, Emma? How are we getting out of here?" He gestured around. "There are no tools. There's nothing but us, the chains, the gun, and the bag."
"I don't know yet. But I will figure it out. We will figure it out in a way that doesn't end with you getting shot." Frowns again, looking around the room slowly but then drops down to start trying to force the metal anklet down further. "Then we figure it out."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Well, we have..." He looked up at the clock. "Twenty two hours to figure it out, I guess."
"You're right. We do." Going silent now, setting her face in a determined line, she bit down hard on her teeth, to keep slowly trying to drag it further down.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Emma. Stop. Please. You could get an infection."
"Probably will. But not sitting here and doing nothing, and definitely not sitting here and watching you shoot yourself. I can't."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Emma. Stop. Do you think I want to watch you get some kind of deadly infection? Or a gross one?" Terrible joke. Ten points from Slytherin for that one. "Tell me something about you. Something you haven't told me yet."
"It's not like it's going to be an immediate infection that you'll watch devour my leg in seconds." Her fingers slipped beneath the manacle easily, slick from her own blood as she continued trying to force it down her ankle toward her foot. "Something like what? I've told you everything."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Emma, stop. You're going to lose a foot." He wished it could move close enough to make her stop. "I don't know. They want us to do something. I just don't know what."
"Still better than you losing your skull. I'll be fine." Gives another brutal yank, causing a vicious stream of not-so-tavvy-friendly words to fall from her lips. "They want us to do something -- why did you ask about me and Mack?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Emma!" He snapped. "Stop it, or I'm going to get up right now and get that gun." And to do what? He didn't specify. "It doesn't matter."
"You told me you'd toss the gun out of reach if I answered your question honestly." Another tug and a grimace. "And I did." Another. "And you lied to me." Shuddering and yelping out with another violent yank. "It matters to me, thats' why i asked."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I'll throw it if you stop that. On my kids, I promise. Just stop." He flinched, hand on his ankle. "It doesn't matter, Emma."
At the promise her hands went up immediately in surrender. “Now it’s your turn.” Shivering violently on the cold floor she stared at him. “Do you remember when  we first met? When I moved to LA?”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
He sighed in relief and crawled to the gun, moving it out of his reach. "Yes." Of course. He remembered everything when it came to Emma.
“Thank you, now give me the bullet.” Her hand went out toward him. “I was barely off the bus and already causing trouble. Terrified of my own shadow and you and Helen scared the living hell out of me. You nearly ran me down in a car first off, and then you crazy people demanded I let you give me a ride in return for trying to murder me.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
He looked at the duffel bag. He wasn't going back in there, and he wasn't giving it to Emma. "That wasn't the deal." He sat down near her again. "I wasn't trying to murder you."(edited)
"Why not? I can't reach the gun, and then you can't reach the bullet. So it's split nice and even down the middle and I won't have to worry about you deciding to do some stupid hero stuff." Gives him a fake glare. "Well, then you're finally admitting that you're a terrible driver."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"It's in the bag. It's fine." His tone tried for casual but missed it's mark. "I'm an amazing driver."
“Then let me see the bag - maybe you missed something.” Remains on the floor eyes locked on the man before her. “Then you were trying to murder me. It’s one or the other.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"There's nothing else in the bag, Emma." He looks away from her again. "No it's not. You're being dramatic."
“Then let me see the bag.” Brown eyes burning in to him. “I excel at dramatics.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"You don't need the bag." He insisted.
“If there is nothing in the bag then it doesn’t matter. Maybe I’m cold and going to use it as a blanket.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"There is nothing do it doesn't matter. If you're cold, just say so. You can have my jacket." He gestured to the flimsy jacket he had on. "Don't know how good it would be at keeping you warm, though."
The frustration was clearly mounting, and it was written all over her face. She wasn’t known for hiding her emotions - not well anyway. “I don’t want your jacket. Why can’t I have the bag? What else did the voice say?”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Because the bag isn't important, Emma. Why can't you just believe me?" Probably because you can't look at her, Jules. "I told you everything already."
“If it wasn’t important you wouldn’t be fighting this hard to keep it from me.” Sort of wants to throw something at him maybe. “Except whatever you’re hiding.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
He sighed. "There's nothing else in the bag, Emma. Please, just -- take my word for it."
“No. I don’t believe you. But fine, keep the bag and your secrets, Julian.” Pulls her legs up so she can lay her head on them now, arms going around her shins and brow furrowing in thought while she watched the clock on the wall.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
He sighed again, crawling over to the bag, making sure he obscured her view once he reached it. He opened it and quickly grabbed the pictures, stuffing them into his jacket before throwing the bag in her direction.
“Wonder what happens when the clock hits zero.” She could almost feel her eyes roll into her skull with annoyance when the bag hit the ground. Shooting him a nasty glare she unwound herself and reached for the material. Dragging it to her, she took her time going through every inch of the bag, not saying a word until she was done. Then she clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and let the bag fall. “I’m sorry I’m an asshole.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Hopefully the door opens and we don't die, since there's not much else we can do." He adjusted the pictures so they wouldn't fall out or be noticed before crawling back to his spot, watching her dissect the bag. "You don't trust me, I get it."
“I told you I’m not letting you die here.” His words hit her like a sledgehammer to the chest and she flinched vividly. “You know that’s not true. I trust you more than anyone I’ve ever known, it’s this place. I’m so sorry, Jules. Seriously. I’m sorry.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I believe you." He braced his elbows on his knees, placing his chin on his hands as he watched the clock. "Then why do you not take anything I say at face value? Have I ever lied to you?" Barring what he'd lied about just then. "Scratch that. I don't want to argue. Being shackled is not my think and it's making me crazy."
“Good. You’re going home to those kids.” A goal, something to work toward and not crumple into pieces. “I believe everything you say.” Swallowing hard her eyes closed again, on your way to destroying the only relationship you have idiot, “I told you. It’s this place, it’s messing with my head and I’m paranoid and not thinking. You have to know I believe you, and I trust you implicitly. You have to know that.” Pathetic or not, she couldn’t keep the pleading from her voice.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"We. We're going home to those kids. The moment I came here, it stopped being my safety or your safety, it became our safety. We're in this together and I'm taking you home." He finally looked at her again, the pictures resting against his chest seeming to burn him. "I do. I love you and I trust you too, Emma."
Just the mention of the word home brought a smile to her lips and a burn of longing to her throat. “In this together even if I want to kill you myself for that stupid little choice.” His words washed over her like pure relief and she broke into a wider smile. “I love you too. Now let’s figure out how to get out of here, yeah?”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"It's fine, Em." She hadn't seen the pictures, and he would protect her from that. "What can we do? The only thing useful is the gun and the shell."
“Yes, after I kill you for being in this situation. It will be fine.” The light hearted was was back in her voice despite impending doom. Getting to her feet she walked as far from him as she could and started making a slow circle, pulling the chain tight the entire way, but eyes scouring the room. “If I can get this chain off, we can get out.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"We already established that won't be happening." He smirked, blue green eyes watching her. "There's nothing in here except us and what's in that bag."
“Established that I’m going to murder you? Oh it is on.” Grinning despite her slow trek all the way around, able to reach right up to him. “That should be all we need. C’mon McGuyver.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"To I get to choose how at least?" He glanced up at her. "Do you have a buzz saw on you? Or a bone saw?"
“I’ll think about it. What would be your top three choices if you could?” Still amused by the conversation she stared at him seriously and nodded. “Of course. I always sleep with my bone saw.” Flopping to the ground in a pile of limbs her fingers going to the chain again.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Poisoning, a well placed punched to the heart at the right point in the heart's rhythmic cycle, trampled to death by dogs." Wow, Julian. Been thinking about that a lot, have you? "If you start yanking on that again, I'll rip my ankle off just to come over there and smack you."
Stops to stare at him for a long moment. “Trampled or punching, that’s all? Wow, would have thought you would look for something really extravagant.” She was grinning again, amused with her own joke and waving him off with one hand. “I can get it. And you can’t rip your ankle off, bone isn’t ripable.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"You said top three, not the most elaborate. Didn't think you'd care for something too complicated." He narrowed his eyes at her. "Muscle and skin tissue is ripable. Bones can be broken. A loud sound, too. Wanna hear it?"
“Yeah, good point, well thanks for keeping me in consideration. Like usual.” Shoots him a smarmy look and bats her eyelashes and begins speaking in a ridiculous accent. “Why Julian! I would never. I am a lady, the very thought has me feeling quite faint.” Starts fanning herself dramatically.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Always." If he could have moved without jostling the pictures, he'd mimic her. "Well, my fair and delicate lady, you touch that chain piece around your ankle and you'll see just what I'm capable of."
“I know.” That look turned to a slow, calculating smirk and she began inching her fingers toward the chain, all the while keeping her eyes on him.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
He unfolded his legs and gripped his leg just above where he was tied with one hand, grabbing his foot with the other, challenging her as he made a move as if to begin twisting. "I hope the twins will still love me without a foot. Dru will probably dig it."
“The won’t. They won’t even look at you again. And imagine the scars you will be inflicting on Octavian. How could you do that?” Pretending to gasp her fingers grabbed the chain. “Hand slipped.”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Poor baby. I'll have to use crutches again. Maybe I'll get a wheelchair." He shrugged at her 'accident'. "If I get a wheelchair will you push me around?"
“And then they can all take turns flipping you out of the wheelchair.” Attempts to subtly go back and working the chain further down her leg. “How much am I getting paid to push you and how long are you thinking I’m going to have to do this job for?”
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"To wouldn't." Or would he? "You'll do it out of the goodness of your heart." He glared before pulling up his pant leg and gripping his leg and chain, beginning to move it back and forth as if he was sawing at his skin.
“Sure, if you say so.” Scoffs loudly, bear snorting while staring at him again and grinning, almost giggling. “Now you’re the delusional one, aren’t you.” Eyes rolling she pushed her manacle down further. “Don’t be dramatic. The damage is already done, it just makes more sense for me to keep goin.0
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"No. Because the disability will be your fault." He frowned, having to stop and quickly adjust the pictures. "Emma," Name pronounced as if each letter was a syllable. He sounded very distressed, eyes watching her. "Stop it."
“Excuse you, the only way it is my fault is if I am the one that does it to you personally - and believe me, I’m starting to think about it.” She didn’t look up from what she was doing, fingers grasping for purchase. “I’m fine Julian. I’ve had a hell of a lot worse than some scrapes around my ankle. ... what if we....” trailing off she suddenly stopped and jumped to her feet scooping up the empty bag and hurrying toward where he had tossed the gun. Flattening herself out on her stomach she held to one strap of the bag and tossed it, attempting to pull the gun to herself.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Why don't you come say that to my face." He hmmed. "Emma!" He yelled, jumping forward -- the pictures poking out the top of his jacket. "Emma Cordelia Carstairs, you touch that gun and I will never talk to you again."
“If I could reach you completely, I might think about it.” Calling over her shoulder, she ignored his warnings and pulled the bag back, groaning out as she stretched her body even further, the chain biting hard into her skin, sending off a new wave of blood and tossed the bag again.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Emma, stop it!" He's pulling at his own chain now, the metal biting into him though not as savagely as Emma was forcing hers to. "That's enough! "
"I almost have it!" Calling out again she pulled the bag again, this time every muscle in her body was screaming at her, and she groaned again from the effort, teeth clenched tightly together as she tossed the bag and hit purchase. "YES!" Grinning widely, clearly proud of herself, she slowly dragged the bag to her.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Fine." He shimmied backwards in defeat, sitting with his back to her. "I gave you the bag, I wasn't supposed to. I threw the gun to keep us both safe. But sure, put my siblings in danger by breaking the rules, Emma."(edited)
Sits back up, pulling the gun into her lap but freezing immediately hearing his words. "Why didn't you just say you couldn't give me the bag because of the kids?! Or the gun!?" With that she immediately threw the gun from her as if it were a rattlesnake. "Julian! You said you TOLD me all of the stuff that creepy thing said! You never said anything about me not being allowed to touch anything or the kids were in danger. What in the hell?!"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
He looked over his shoulder. "They didn't threaten them. But I kind of feel like it's implied. Again, sad that I can't get you to just listen to me. But whatever. Do what you like, since you do anyway."
"Are you serious? You keep information from me and then are going to get mad that I'm not just snapping upright and obeying your every command? You never said the thing said I couldn't touch the bag. OR the gun. You just kept telling me not to."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I usually have my reasons for telling you not to do something, Emma. And I told you everything. I'm not going to keep repeating myself."
"Reasons that are usually just you looking out for me and for some reason doubting my ability to take care of myself." Brows furrowed tightly staring at him. "There was nothing else?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
He turns now. "What makes you think I'm doubting you? I'm very aware that you can take care of yourself. Wanting you to not do something stupid isn't not believing you can't take care of yourself." He shrugged. "No."
"Your reasons are usually you being worried about me, or you not thinking I should have to do something, or you thinking i'm being too hard on myself." She shot him a glare with his comment on doing something stupid and with that threw the bag at him as hard as she could. "Fine. We don't use the gun to get free."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Which is usually true. You're making all that sound like a bad thing. Should I be apologizing for trying to look out for you?" He shrugged at her glare again, catching and putting the bag down, adjusting the photos jostled around his jacket. "Cool. Now I get to wait for you to try and yank your foot off again." He looked at the clock. 19.
"It is a bad thing when you don't just let me make my own choices. That's when it is a bad thing. You're the only person that looks out of me, so you know I appreciate it." Sighs again, putting her elbwos on her knees and her head in her hands. "So what else do you suggest? We literally sit here and wait for the clock to run down to zero?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I only stop you when those choices could hurt you." Eyes move back to her. "Why not?"
"Pretty much all choices anyone could make are going to hurt them in some way or another." Sighs heavily. "Because that's a long time, and how do we know we don't have until the timer runs out to get out of here? Like the room won't fill with gas, or be locked forever or someone comes inwith a shotgun to finish us both off?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"You know what I mean, Emma. I mean things like trying to tear your foot off." He took in a deep breath. "Why don't you get a couple hours of sleep and we'll think about it then?"
"I wasn't trying to tear my foot off, I was trying to tear the chain off." Sniffling again, she wiped at her face with her hand. "I just woke up from a who-knows-how-long sleep. I think I'm okay right now. You can sleep, I'll take the first watch."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"And taking your foot with it in the process." He pushed the photos down and flopped onto his back, stretching out before reaching out for her. "C'mere."
"Nah, I like my foot right where it is and unlike you moocher, I don't want someone pushing me around in a wheelchair forever." Shivering violently again, her hands run up her bare arms and she looked him over with a smile. "Think it will reach? Or are you gonna yell at me for clinking the chains?" Teasing even as she scooted over.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Please, I've been mooched off of since I was twelve. I'm just giving back." He sat for a minute, turning away a bit to slip the photos out of the jacket and under his backside, unzipping the jacket and tossing it over to Emma. "Here." He laid back down and reached for her again.
"And you are the most generous moochie I've ever met and will ever met. You deserve all the mooching." Grinning his way, eyes narrowing as he tossed her the coat. "No." Grabbing it and dragging it with her until she was beside him. "I guess we do reach." Glances to the jacket. "Blanket?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Maybe when Ari turns eighteen I'll mooch off my kids." But the youngest Blackthorn hadn't even hit double digits yet. "Yes." He blew a stray hair from his face and watch her come closer. "I'm not cold. I'll take it back when I am."
"Isn't that the whole point of having kids, so once they finally grow up they can spend the rest of your life taking care of you." Reaching as far as she could, she stopped and motioned him. "You gotta scoot, I can't reach. Stay?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"It is." He agreed. He kicked slightly, rustling his chain. "Close as I can get, Em. I'm sorry."
"I knew you had a real reason behind all this seemingly selfless sacrifice." Sighing again she laid on her stomach, folding her arms and resting her head in them. "Not your fault."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"You caught me." He smiled at her, letting his hands rest on his stomach. "I'm going to hug all the kids when we get home."
"That's it? Just hug? I figured you would be spoiling them rotten, not letting them leave your sight, making them all sleep in your room again." The smile was still on her lips when she turned her head to look at him. "Even if I'm not, I'm glad you're here, Jules."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I might — with Ari and Tavvy at least." The older kids probably wouldn't be bullied into his over-protectiveness. "I was so worried about you, Em. I think the kids all sensed it, and I'm sure I drove Mark insane."
"At least. Meaning you'll casually mention it several times over and you'll end up with Mark and his weirdo curled up on the foot of your bed." The smile flickers some but remains. "Is he already on the insane side? I didn't mean to worry you... this just wasn't what I expected when i signed up is all."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"The weirdo can camp out on the floor." Voice deadpans before his smile returns. "Emma, you're part of our family. I know you don't like it, but we care about you."
"Outside of the door in the hall, right?" Now she  giggled a bit and the nshook her head. "I love being apart of your family, Jules, seriously. It's the best thing in my entire life and sitting with Ari while she's learning to read and helping Tavvy build tower after tower and watching ridiculous movies with Dru and shopping with Liv and exploring with Ty and joking around with Mark ... it's amazing. I just worry -- about what happens to the people that care... about me."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Right." He smiled as he listened to Emma, as he did about anything to do with his family. She'd come to fit right in, and he'd have it no other way. "I know. And I want you to know that you'll be safe with us. That no one will be able to hurt you. You're surrounded by love, not to mention people who like to liberally use weapons. Me, Mark, Helen and Aline, Kieran and Cristina even."
"You know that I'm not worried about me. I'm not worried about me at all, and whatever else happens to me. I am worried about you, and your family." Grins and perks up a bit. "Aww, you called him Kieran, I'm telling Mark."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I know. We've been through danger before, and we'll handle it together if it comes again." He rolls his eyes. "I do call him by his name occasionally."
"You shouldn't have to handle it, and you know that very well." The conversation had happened so many times already, she could recite it by memory. "Usually only when you're cursing him out."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"But I will if that means you'll stay." He said quietly, tapping his fingers against his stomach. "Which is always."
"You've managed to keep me all these years now, haven't you?" Her smile widened even though her eyes closed. "Exactly. Sort of like us, huh? Always."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"By nagging you, apparently." He teased, finally closing his eyes. "We're forever, Emma. That's why I want you to stay with me. Why I came here for you."
"You're an excellent nag with a soothing voice." That voice was lulling her into a comforting sense of security despite the cold, hard floor and the chain around her bleeding ankle. "Forever. Stay with me." Mumbling the word out and reaching for him, even if their fingers wouldn't touch.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
He tilted his head to listen to her, reaching out when he heard her moving again, their fingers touching. "Always. Let's get some rest, okay?"
"You sleep first." She mumbled into her other arm, sniffing again, damned cold really was making her exhausted because she was wiped out despite her however long nap.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"On the count of three." He murmured with tired sarcasm, already beginning to drift off.
"One." Burrowing her head further into her arm, breathing in the scent of him off of the jacket draped over her, her entire nervous system relaxing.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Two." He replied, adjusting just a little before letting himself relax enough to sleep.
"Three." Whispering the last number out, her fingers twitching and curling around his jacket. " love you. "
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Love you too." Last words before he drifts off.
Mr. Lightwood-Bane-10/19/2017
THE CLOCK ON THE WALL BLINKS 00:00 a jolt of electricity travels through the chains to both sleeping bodies before it releases the chains on their ankles and the door slides open with a resounding scrape of metal on metal.
"FUCK" yelling the word out, she jolted and bolted to a sitting position, hands going toward her ankle to find it crusted with dried blood, but free of the cool metal. "JULES!" Calling out her eyes wide going to the door. "Come on, let's get the fucking hell out of here."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
He jumped at the electricity, and again when she yelled. He only nodded in agreement and reached for his jacket, snatching it away from her and putting it on to slide the photos into. "Hell yeah." He hopped up and reached for her hand.
Immediately grabs onto his hand, her fingers tightly gripping around his and she pulled him along with her. "And maybe a little ow." Wincing as she put the weight on her legs. "Screw ow, I need a drink, or seven."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Emma," He slowed down, pulling her to a stop. "Let me carry you. We'll get to the bar faster and you can drink while I clean up your leg."
"Fine. Up we go." For once not fighting him, she wound an arm around his neck and hopped up, blindly knowing he would catch her."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
Of course he caught her, adjusting her to sit comfortably in his arms before continuing on. "I can't believe the secret was to do nothing."
Leaning into his chest her eyes rolled. "Does that really surprise you? A stupid test, that apparently we passed. So I'll go with it." Shifting in his arms, she raised a brow. "What in the hell is that, a souvenir from our time in the creepy room?" Asking even as she began reaching into his coat.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Right." He huffed, smacking her thigh lightly when she reached into his jacket. "Grope me for it later. Which way to the bar?"
"I have the freedom to grope you when I please when you're carrying me like a damsel. It's in the fine print." Jerking against him when he hit her she gave him a glare and only stuck her hand in further, quickly clutching and snatching her hand back. "Left."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Emma, please for once do what I ask you to. Please." He considered dropping her, he really did.
"I always do what you ask me to. What is this?" Grabbing the papers and pulling them into his view now. "Don't drop me."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Emma, put them back." His voice stated that if she looked she'd regret it, probably because he was close to dropping her. Quickly weighing his options he stopped short and put her on the ground, taking the pictures back and hurrying away from her.
"What are these? Seriously what did you manage to find in a room with absolutely nothing in it?" The curiosity was pulling hard at her as she pulled the pictures out. When he set her down she oofed and stared at him with his snatching. "Are you seriously running away from me?"(edited)
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I didn't. I brought it with me." Come on, think. "It's part of a task. But I thought you'd respect a no when I've said it five million times." He pulled up his pant leg, sticking the photos in his socks ( and shoe to keep them in place) and pulled his pant leg down. "Respect my stuff, Emma. It's not like I don't give everything I have to everyone else already. Let somethings be mine, alright?" He approached her again and picked her up, continuing on.
"You were able to bring things with you? You come with your jacket, shoes and some home comforts and I end up here in a tank top and my shorts? Sexism." Scoffing, her eyes rolled again, watching his moves. "Fine, let it be yours, but put me down, I can walk, this is ridiculous. And no, it has nothing to do with you and your secrets."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"I had them on me already. I sleep prepared. I've got six kids, remember. Seven somethings. Eight when you're a little too drunk." He snorted and kept walking. "I'll put you down when we get to the bar, okay?"
"Prepared with plans. Okay, okay. Like ou said, you give everything to everyone else." Shooting him another glare, clearly not appreciating his comment on her alcohol intake. "Whatever."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"How does the rest of you feel? Besides your ankle." He ignored the glare and the whatever. Let her be mad, as long as she didn't see the photos.
"Tired, head hurts, chest hurts. That's what colds do to you." Almost on cue, she started coughing violently. "Can I get down now?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"No. If I was afraid of germs or catching things, I wouldn't be a very good parent. I think we're almost to the bar."
"You're the best parent." Giving in and letting her head drop against his chest. "And clearly the best secret keeper."
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Not really, but thanks." His father had been a good parent. Before some switch in his brain flipped and he'd tried to kill them. At the thought a shudder ran through him. "Shouldn't secrets always be kept? Isn't that why they're secret?"
"Yes really. The best and that's the end of that. "You know all of my secrets, at least I think you do." Liar.
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"Everyone has secrets they keep to themselves. It's not my job to pry you for them." That’s philosophy is why his older kids trusted him. He was there, but not too overbearing.
"Isnt that exactly the job of the best friend?"
Jace/Kody/Jordan/Liv/Julian-10/19/2017
"For you, maybe." His tone was teasing. "Why waste my nagging on unimportant things?"
