just crash & fall down . avon

[Isabella]

watch it from your ivory tower
paint the sky grey, like a coward

The sky had faded to a deep blue-grey colour by the time Riley finally got to his room, exhausted after a day of running around doing errands and training. He'd barely had a second to sit down, so his blue-covered bed looked rather inviting at the moment. However, as he pulled off his long-sleeved shirt in exchange for a more comfortable plain one, he was hesitant. The boy hadn't seen his sister all day, and was positive she wasn't even home. That alone worried him; what if she'd gotten hurt? Though Avon was most definitely capable of defending herself, unlike Riley, he didn't feel comfortable sleeping without knowing she was safe. Biting his lip, he wondered if he should maybe talk to his father--no, that probably wasn't the best idea. Someone might end up getting in trouble, though he didn't really think he cared if Avon came home late. Pulling on a large black sweatshirt, Riley walked out of his room and quietly pulled the door shut behind him. He didn't think anyone was still awake, and even if they were, Riley was sure no one wanted to be disturbed by a slamming door.

He ending up heading towards the library, figuring he could finish up a book he'd be reading while being able to catch Avon on the way in. After turning on the lights, Riley wandering over to the shelves, instead looking for something new to read for a bit. He sat down in a cozy armchair in the center of the room, in plain view of the door. Yes, this would do. Leaning back against the chair, Riley began to read. A couple minutes later, he put the book down in frustration. He wasn't really in the mood to read. Honestly, he wanted to sleep, but he couldn't do that without knowing Avon was safe. Riley constantly lived in fear that something would happen to his siblings; he probably couldn't live without them. They were...well, they were his whole world. He had never really known anything but them; Riley didn't have many friends. He supposed Jacob and Gallifrey were his friends, but he thought of them as siblings as well. He'd thought they were his real brother and sister for a while, actually.

Having a brother and sister so utterly amazing at what they did--demon hunting--upset Riley. Not because they were better than him, but because he wasn't. Honestly, he was a bit of a disappointment in that area. That would be why Riley had spent nearly the whole day training, hoping he would be able to actually protect himself when they went out. No one would have to constantly have an eye on him like he was still a child. Unfortunately, training didn't do much to change his attitude about everything. Riley still didn't want to fight anything, because he was not only a bit of a pacifist, but because he was scared. Oh, yes, Riley was a wonderful Shadowhunter--he had all the qualities of one, didn't he?

Anyways, Riley had dropped the sword he'd been training with too many times to count, and had almost bent the blade several times. The sword was a bit heavy for Riley to properly wield it; he'd probably do better with a knife or shorter blade but that would mean getting closer than he wanted to. It seemed as though he was hopeless with every weapon imaginable. Sure, with some he was alright, but Riley had yet to find something he was completely comfortable with. At least he was starting to make the effort in actually training. It was a bit late to start trying to actually pay close attention to what he was doing, but it was better than nothing. Perhaps he could pass it off as being a late bloomer. Sighing, Riley decided to just forget about everything for now. He probably wasn't even thinking right, this late at night. He had to wonder what Avon was doing. Chances were she had left to do some demon hunting alone. That alone worried Riley even more. Her doing that was...reckless. Riley would never go out at night to do that. That's because you can't, idiot. He told himself, amused by his thoughts. Of course he wouldn't; he could barely do that during the daytime.

Even though she would probably have no trouble, being Avon and all, Riley still felt that little itch. An itch that told him something could go wrong, and suddenly she'd be gone. Riley pursed his lips and pulled his legs up onto the chair. She'd be fine, he was sure about that. The boy was just being his normal worrisome self; he could probably even go back to his room to sleep and she'd be there in the morning, perfectly fine. Still, Riley stay rooted to the chair. His eyes scanned the hallway outside and he strained his ears for the sound of a door opening, or even footsteps. Anything to assure him she was alright. You don't need to worry so much, Riley, she's fine. He told himself. However, he probably wouldn't stop the terrible thoughts and scenarios running through his mind until he saw Avon and assured she was fine.

a sweet little tale that ended sour
my words will ring in your ears

[Elegant]

Howling ghosts they reappear
in mountains that are stacked with fear
but you're a king and I'm a lionheart.
And in the sea that's painted black,
creatures lurk below the deck

Avon stared up at the lights above her. The library was a shining beacon in the night in comparison to the disjointed, faint glows that specked the Institute here and there. By the Angel, be awake, please. Struggling slightly, she began to climb the wall up to the library on the second floor. It was difficult with only he use of one arm, but she could manage. of course, she might have just gone through the front door, but this route would save time, and stamina that Avon didn't feel that she ha at the moment. It was only one am, a early return for the huntress, but she had made a stupid move and let herself get injured, resulting in a long tear down her right arm. I need a healing rune, help me. She could have drawn it herself, as she is just as deft with her left hand as she is with her right, but her hands were trembling a bit from the pain coursing through her body in spiteful little piercing bites.

Flushing with colour at her effort, Avon muttered quietly to herself. "You just had to be a hero and attack three of those assholes at once. Yes, yes, so what if you took them all down, it doesn't matter, you didn't get away scott free, and if this wound scars as badly as the ones on your back, Willow is going to be so pissed and then you will never hear the end of it. That'll be an and to these nighttime escapades because they'll know. Maybe if you had a stupid parabatai, it would be alright, but you don't, you idiot. No, that's alright, I'm fine alone, I do better alone." With a huff, she gripped onto the great big windowsill of one of the library's windows, and pulled herself up and over, tumbling into the room. She let out a slight hiss of pain as her arm hit the carpet, leaving a bit of blood on the ground.

Composing her features, she rolled up into a sitting position and cradled her arm in the palm of her left hand, stele tucked absentmindedly behind her ear. There was someone in one of the armchairs and it was boy shaped, but the lights had gone low in their tapers and it was hard to tel hair colour and physique. Angels, let it be Kae, please. When it came to marks, he only came second to her because she had spent so many years studying each one. her skin was crawling with pre-hunting ones even now given to her from her own stele. I don't have a companion to do it for me. Not that she wasn't comfortable in her solitude. She had always thought that she worked better alone anyway, and when the others chose each other for parabatai, it was confirmed. Not that she really minded.

She sat bent over her arm, as she waited for the boy in the chair to realize she was there. She knew that she wanted it to be Kaelen for his prowess with the stele, but the part of her that still held emotion really wanted it to be her brother, Riley. He can't fight, and is terrible at runes. She knew it was dumb that she wanted it to be him sitting there, but dangit, the had grown up together, and no matter the fact that he had replaced her as their father's object of affection, she still loved him. He was a weakling, and sometimes even a fool, but he was her's. And yes, she wanted it to be Kaelen sitting there, because he could fix her better, but when it came down to it, if it was Riley sitting there, she'd be even happier. She'd feel safer to have him there. In all honesty, she'd always felt safer with him around, the missing piece to her. She didn't know which brother sat in the chair, but she would always call out for her twin when she needed him most.

"...Ri?"

She cursed lightly at the sound of her voice breaking the silence. The pure emotion in it unsettled her, how Riley could always unsettle her. She didn't need her brother per say, no, need and want were different. She didn't want her brother to love her, she didn't deserve it. She was a murderess, a huntress, a daughter of the angel, however you wanted to put it. in their short lives she had seen and done a lot more than Riley probably ever would. She had dug under the floorboards of the nightworld, killed creatures with too much loathing to describe. She didn't need her brother at all. She loved him, yes, but she would never show it. Clearing her throat to clear the decay of sweetness from it, she spoke again, "I could have killed you five times by now for all the notice you've given me. I wa- need your help."

but you're a king and I'm a lionheart.
And as the world comes to an end,
I'll be there to hold your hand
cause you're my king and I'm your lionheart.
A lionheart.