#john arlex

[coulson-is-an-avenger]

by the sword by the cheek?👀👀👀👀👀

WAAAA thank you so much for asking for my incarceron one hehehehe :3 for the rarepair of rare books!!! jarlex!!!

the context for this ship/fic is Jared is tutor to the Warden's daughter, Claudia, and Claudia is soon to be wedded off to the royal court, where she and her tutor will be under Intense scrutiny. Jared is disabled, and also Claudia's dearest friend, so they already get weird looks here, and Warden asks to give him a private self defense lesson. repressed gay Baroque shenanigans ensue.

“And what would you have me do?" Jared scoffed. "Prepare to be challenged in a duel for my life? Through such crude means as a sword?”

"Allow me to offer you a lesson."

Jared blinked in surprise, an emotion that was only heightened as a small shred of emotion – was it fondness or mercy? – flickered in the Warden's eyes. Jared suppressed a shudder at the brief look behind the mask; Claudia was right, he was far more frightening as a man than a Prison-Keeper.

"You may refuse,” The Warden reassured him, “or call for an end to the session at any time, but I wish to offer my services."

Jared was baffled. "Why not Claudia's swordmaster? I–"

"I am not offering you her valuable time, Master Jared, I am offering you mine."

HEHEEEEEE. the title of this fic comes from the fact that the self defense in question here is fencing/swordsmanship, and the warden's signature gift of affection is a cool kiss to the cheek (which Jared may or may not recieve at the end of this fic hehe)

[coulson-is-an-avenger]

thinking about The Warden from Incarceron again.

He's The Warden Of Incarceron, he's mysterious and mystical and dangerous. he's a shadow in fine black velvet. his status is so high he can hold private court with the Queen. his home is so used to his absence that his very arrival unsettles the grounds. his daughter hates him. his daughter offends him only once and vows never to do it again because his quiet, human, pain is more frightening to her than any calculating mask shes ever seen him wear. she isn't his daughter. she chooses to be his daughter many times over. he is quiet and callous and cold and sharp. he is deeply entrenched in treason. he is a force to behold. he is The Warden of Incarceron.

and yet. his given name is john. he's weird and jealous of his daughter's best friend. he has no power over the prison he wardens and the one time he tries he gets all but laughed down. he has a goth alter-ego he calls "The Dark Sapient" in reference to the friend he's jealous of. he genuinely takes no action for the entire series except to completely explode a door and then poison a teenage girl (unsuccessfully). he's so fucking funny. i need to put him in a jar so bad.

[pernicioustothemind]

All she felt was fear. And for a moment, just a fragment of time, something she never felt before. She felt sorry for him.

-Catherine Fisher, Incarceron

[catboxes]

The world is a chessboard, Madam, on which we play out our ploys and follies. You are the Queen, of course. Your moves are the strongest. For myself I claim only to be a knight, advancing in a crooked progress. Do we move ourselves, do you think, or does a great gloved hand place us on our squares?

private letter; the Warden of Incarceron to Queen Sia