[ Bellamy gets to watch the little bubble with the dots (or whatever similar notification for someone typing is on the bracelets) pop up only to disappear a few times before Clary finally sends another message. But hey, at least she's typing normally again. Even just figuring out how best to explain all of this seems to have calmed her down some, so that's a win. ]
Do you want the short version or the long version?
Okay, well, I guess I should start with the fact that I never knew my dad. My mom told me he was some guy named Jonathan Clark and that he died before I was born. She had this picture of him, framed and everything, and even this box with the initials J.C. on it that she would take out every year, look through, and cry over.
[ It's a weird lead-in to the story, but it's important. ]
On my 18th birthday, before I found out I was a Shadowhunter and there were people after me and my mom, I ran into this guy named Jace at the club Simon, Maureen, and I were hanging out outside of after their gig nearby. He was covered in all these really weird tattoos, and I was the only one of us who could see him. I chased him down to try and get some answers only to end up in the middle of a fight with him, Alec, Izzy, and some demons.
Completely freaked out, I went home, questioned my mom, and was portaled away by Dot to the precinct where Luke (a family friend that was basically my dad) was working before I could even get answers. But I thought he was part of the group that were after us, so I left and went back to the apartment, only to find a demon disguised as Dot there. She/it attacked me but Jace had tracked it or something, I guess, because he jumped in and basically saved my life. He took me back to the Institute, where I started training and living because my apartment was completely destroyed. (Not from the fight, from my mom.) Because Shadowhunters come from old bloodlines, pretty much everyone knew of me because of my mom, though they all knew me as a Fairchild, not a Fray. They told me about this guy, Valentine, who created a rebellious Shadowhunter faction when my mom was around my age and was determined to basically annihilate all of the Downworlders.
They also helped me try to unblock the memories my mom had someone erase, because of the being hunted thing, but all I really got was information on my dad. Turns out, my dad is Valentine, who is very much alive and is the one that's been after me and my mom all this time. We've been trying to find him ever since, not only because he's incredibly dangerous but also because he has my mom.
Jace was at my side the whole time, sticking up for me and helping me even though it went against the Institue and even his best friend's wishes. He and I grew really close as we searched for Valentine and my mom.
[ Clary pauses there, because the rest of this is still difficult for her to process, especially since Jace (understandably, but annoyingly) pulled away from her immediately after finding out about it. ]
We ended up tracking down the location of Valentine, but when we got there, he and my mom were nowhere to be found. Instead, we found Jace's dad. He said he'd been basically held prisoner by Valentine all this time and decided to help us track down where Valentine had disappeared to, but something about his just felt really off to me. I ended up exposing him as Valentine disguised as the person Jace knew as his father and he revealed that he'd been posing as this other person all of Jace's life, that he was actually the not-dead son of my mom and Valentine. My brother, Jonathan Christopher.
[ And because that all might need a little more explanation, Clary sends one last message: ]
Everyone in the Shadowhunter world had thought my dad and brother died in a fire before I was born. Apparently that's what my mom had told them. But when I remembered overhearing my mom and Luke talking about Valentine being my dad, is was assumed that he had escaped but my brother didn't. Turns out Valentine AND Jonathan escaped and went into hiding. Jace ended up at the Institute with Izzy and Alec's family after Valentine, or Michael as he was calling himself, faked his own death.
Still glad. [ Even if that was a lot of information to process. ] That's some story. No wonder you were upset about your mom the other day. [ Her situation was so much worse than Clary let on. ]
Yeah. It's... a lot. And that's not even all of it, I just tried to keep it to the brother-relevant stuff. My life got really crazy before I ended up here.
[ Don't even get her started on the alternate dimension/timeline/whatever she went into, or her choice to make Simon a vampire... ]
[ Clary nearly leaves it at that, as their feelings are probably unimportant, but she wants to tell Bellamy. She wants him to know everything about her, even the uncomfortable stuff. ]
It was a huge shock for both of us, not just because it changed everything we knew, but also because we were sort of together at the time. We never slept together, thankfully, but we had feelings for one another.
[ After that last message, Clary's quick to type another, suddenly realizing that perhaps telling Bellamy that wasn't such a good idea. She'd be weirded out hearing something like that (though living it is far, far worse). ]
God, I realize how horrible that sounds out loud. I really hope it doesn't change how you see me or anything; we really, genuinely had no idea.
[ She may not be as freaked out by Mia's existence now, but she's definitely panicking a little at the idea that she just fundamentally shifted Bellamy's perception of her. He's never given her reason to believe he'd just write her off because of something, but then this revelation isn't really the normal or expected sort. She certainly wouldn't blame him or anyone else for being grossed out by it or something. ]
AND DONE someday i'll just do one tag again in this thread but today is not that day
[ On the heels of her other revelation, Clary considers downplaying what she wants to happen to Valentine. But she doesn't want to lie to him, and honestly? If damage has already been done to them, she may as well go for broke. ]
There is, and sometimes I think that would be alright, to have him stuck there for the rest of his life. But most times it doesn't seem like enough, not after the pain and destruction he's already caused. And even if he did get locked up, I don't think that would be enough to stop him.
That's an awkward situation to be in. [ He doesn't want to think about it too much because he has a sibling and the thought of being in Clary's place with Octavia makes him feel ill, but all it sounds like is that Clary has the worst luck when it comes to relationships, not that she's sick in the head. ] If you didn't know, why would I think any less of you? It's unfortunate circumstances, that's all.
And if there are still feelings there, I'm not gonna judge you for that. I imagine it's hard to turn feelings off, even if you've learned something that ruins it all.
So if you lock Valentine up, you risk him escaping and hurting more people. If you execute him, he doesn't suffer for anything he's done, but at least it all ends.
Sometimes killing is the only option to protect your people.
[ Clary isn't really sure why she'd feared a negative reaction from him, though she wouldn't have blamed him for it. The whole thing leaves her feeling unsettled and, honestly, queasy at times, even if he's absolutely right about them not knowing. As for turning off feelings, well... It's hard to do that even when there's no world-shocking revelation but you still know it's a disaster waiting to happen. Like developing feelings for someone on an island fueled by sex. ]
You're a good guy, Bellamy Blake. But "unfortunate circumstances" might be downplaying it just a little.
[ Hey, look at that - Clary's officially panic-free enough to joke again. Though the first part she means whole-heartedly. ]
You know, before all of this happened, I don't think I would've understood a statement like that. But now...
[ She's not sure how she feels about her newfound understanding, though. ]
Anyway, that's the story of my newly discovered brother. Thanks for distracting me, and for letting me freak out about Mia. I hope I didn't worry you too much.
Sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like it's no big deal. Obviously it is, but it doesn't change how I see you. That's all I meant.
[ Not a lot of people would probably share a story like hers with someone. It probably says a lot about how much she must trust him. ]
You can freak out to me anytime Not that I want you freaking out on a regular basis. Hopefully this is the last crazy thing to happen in a while. [ Probably not though. ]
I'll swing by your place later if you don't wanna be left alone with your thoughts? Or if you want to be alone, that's okay too.
No, I know that, I was just teasing. [ Clearly her teasing skills are not up to par today, though. ] But I'm glad. Really glad, because dealing with this place would suck without you having my back.
Company would definitely be appreciated. [ Were it anyone other than Bellamy offering, she'd probably turn them down but it would take a lot more than this for her to not want him around. ] Plus you being there will make it a lot easier to convince my brain that I'm real if I start doubting it again.
[ Clary may not be quite back to herself enough to be flirty like she usually is, but she's also not freaked out enough to be unable to catch his drift. ]
I don't doubt it.
Feel free to head over whenever you want; I'm on my way back right now.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Do you want the short version or the long version?
no subject
[ And it'll distract her for longer, he figures. ]
1/??? i'm guessing three.
[ It's a weird lead-in to the story, but it's important. ]
On my 18th birthday, before I found out I was a Shadowhunter and there were people after me and my mom, I ran into this guy named Jace at the club Simon, Maureen, and I were hanging out outside of after their gig nearby. He was covered in all these really weird tattoos, and I was the only one of us who could see him. I chased him down to try and get some answers only to end up in the middle of a fight with him, Alec, Izzy, and some demons.
Completely freaked out, I went home, questioned my mom, and was portaled away by Dot to the precinct where Luke (a family friend that was basically my dad) was working before I could even get answers. But I thought he was part of the group that were after us, so I left and went back to the apartment, only to find a demon disguised as Dot there. She/it attacked me but Jace had tracked it or something, I guess, because he jumped in and basically saved my life. He took me back to the Institute, where I started training and living because my apartment was completely destroyed. (Not from the fight, from my mom.) Because Shadowhunters come from old bloodlines, pretty much everyone knew of me because of my mom, though they all knew me as a Fairchild, not a Fray. They told me about this guy, Valentine, who created a rebellious Shadowhunter faction when my mom was around my age and was determined to basically annihilate all of the Downworlders.
They also helped me try to unblock the memories my mom had someone erase, because of the being hunted thing, but all I really got was information on my dad. Turns out, my dad is Valentine, who is very much alive and is the one that's been after me and my mom all this time. We've been trying to find him ever since, not only because he's incredibly dangerous but also because he has my mom.
Jace was at my side the whole time, sticking up for me and helping me even though it went against the Institue and even his best friend's wishes. He and I grew really close as we searched for Valentine and my mom.
no subject
We ended up tracking down the location of Valentine, but when we got there, he and my mom were nowhere to be found. Instead, we found Jace's dad. He said he'd been basically held prisoner by Valentine all this time and decided to help us track down where Valentine had disappeared to, but something about his just felt really off to me. I ended up exposing him as Valentine disguised as the person Jace knew as his father and he revealed that he'd been posing as this other person all of Jace's life, that he was actually the not-dead son of my mom and Valentine. My brother, Jonathan Christopher.
i was right, 3/3.
Everyone in the Shadowhunter world had thought my dad and brother died in a fire before I was born. Apparently that's what my mom had told them. But when I remembered overhearing my mom and Luke talking about Valentine being my dad, is was assumed that he had escaped but my brother didn't. Turns out Valentine AND Jonathan escaped and went into hiding. Jace ended up at the Institute with Izzy and Alec's family after Valentine, or Michael as he was calling himself, faked his own death.
Still glad you asked for the long version?
1/?
no subject
done!
What do you want to happen to him, when he's caught? Is there some kind of magical prison for people like him?
1/?
[ Don't even get her started on the alternate dimension/timeline/whatever she went into, or her choice to make Simon a vampire... ]
no subject
[ Clary nearly leaves it at that, as their feelings are probably unimportant, but she wants to tell Bellamy. She wants him to know everything about her, even the uncomfortable stuff. ]
It was a huge shock for both of us, not just because it changed everything we knew, but also because we were sort of together at the time. We never slept together, thankfully, but we had feelings for one another.
no subject
God, I realize how horrible that sounds out loud. I really hope it doesn't change how you see me or anything; we really, genuinely had no idea.
[ She may not be as freaked out by Mia's existence now, but she's definitely panicking a little at the idea that she just fundamentally shifted Bellamy's perception of her. He's never given her reason to believe he'd just write her off because of something, but then this revelation isn't really the normal or expected sort. She certainly wouldn't blame him or anyone else for being grossed out by it or something. ]
AND DONE someday i'll just do one tag again in this thread but today is not that day
There is, and sometimes I think that would be alright, to have him stuck there for the rest of his life. But most times it doesn't seem like enough, not after the pain and destruction he's already caused. And even if he did get locked up, I don't think that would be enough to stop him.
1/3
no subject
no subject
Sometimes killing is the only option to protect your people.
1/2
You're a good guy, Bellamy Blake. But "unfortunate circumstances" might be downplaying it just a little.
[ Hey, look at that - Clary's officially panic-free enough to joke again. Though the first part she means whole-heartedly. ]
no subject
[ She's not sure how she feels about her newfound understanding, though. ]
Anyway, that's the story of my newly discovered brother. Thanks for distracting me, and for letting me freak out about Mia. I hope I didn't worry you too much.
no subject
[ Not a lot of people would probably share a story like hers with someone. It probably says a lot about how much she must trust him. ]
You can freak out to me anytime Not that I want you freaking out on a regular basis. Hopefully this is the last crazy thing to happen in a while. [ Probably not though. ]
I'll swing by your place later if you don't wanna be left alone with your thoughts? Or if you want to be alone, that's okay too.
no subject
Company would definitely be appreciated. [ Were it anyone other than Bellamy offering, she'd probably turn them down but it would take a lot more than this for her to not want him around. ] Plus you being there will make it a lot easier to convince my brain that I'm real if I start doubting it again.
no subject
[ Spoiler: it involves kisses. ]
no subject
I don't doubt it.
Feel free to head over whenever you want; I'm on my way back right now.
no subject
In the meantime, just remember you're strong and you can overcome anything.
no subject
Thanks, Bellamy. For everything.
no subject
I'm not doing anything you wouldn't do for me.
But if you insist on thanking me, you're welcome. [ He's sure she'll return the favor somehow. ]
no subject
I really hope this situation in particular is never reversed. One of us having a look-a-like is bad enough. But if it is, I'm here for you.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)