carstairsstan

[carstairsstan]

I Need Book Recommendations

Basically what the tittle says. Plz help I’m bored, and I have no idea what books I should read.

[carstairsstan]

Wait! If Thomas returned from Madrid after 9 months... Choi happens 4 months after Chog. It means we missed both Alastair and Thomas's birthdays??

Pretty much.

Now I'm sad... I really would have liked to see some birthdays. There hasn't been a single birthday in TLH series so far. 😔

[carstairsstan]

wait but thomas was born in a different year to alastair he was born in 1885 and alastair september 1884 so it must be at least four months later at january at the earliest right?? not criticising you just i think the timeline is a little messed up and doesn’t always make sense cos some of it was probably planned way in advance and then parts of the story changed, like i spent ages confused about thomas going to spain because he’s there for nine months, has arrived back fairly recently in august, but that would leave him only two months in 1902 to go on holiday to paris and it feels like they wouldn’t give him a holiday that early?? idk, i guess the ‘few weeks’ between thomas returning and cog may be a couple of months to make the timeline make more sense

Hello, thanks for sharing this piece of info.

TBH I don't exactly understand this either. This is very confusing, but I will definitely look into this more. When I have a better answer, I will edit this post. 

Thanks for the ask😊!!!

[carstairsstan]

Hey! Sorry to bother, but if you don’t mind… could you tell me what scene in Chain of Gold tell us that Alastair is 2 months older than Thomas? I know you even put the page’s number, but I don’t have the physical book and now I am curious…

Thomas

When the Merry Thieves go to their hangout place, they toast to Thomas being back from his travel year and say "Thomas had only just returned from nine months in Madrid a few weeks ago.” That means Thomas is 18 years, 9 months, and a few weeks old.

Alastair

When Alastair, Cordelia, and Sona were going to the London Institute in a carriage, Cordelia and Alastair were arguing. Sona reprimands them and Cordelia and thinks, “he[Alastair] was one month shy of his nineteenth birthday.” This means Alastair is 18 years and 11 months old.

So they are 2-3 months apart 

[carstairsstan]

Notes on Chain of Gold Reread (Part 1)

I apologize if most of these are about Grace.

pg.20 & 24- Alastair is 2 months older than Thomas. More Detail

pg.59- “ It was always better to know the truth.” Cordelia says that and when Grace thinks the same thing and it’s horrible and it messes everything up. Seriously?

pg.65- Grace is giving James hints that something is wrong. “When we are not together, when we are not with one another, the bond between us weakens.”

pg.66- Grace says “I should like your friends to like me.” In Chain of Iron we know she can control men, and we know that Matthew doesn’t like her. That means that even though Grace can control Matthew she doesn’t force him to like her. If Matthew likes her, then it would make her (her mother’s) plan a little easier. Grace draws a line and does whatever she can to not cross it (though sometimes Tatiana forces her to cross the line) she doesn't do it if she can avoid it. See 6 Reasons NOT to Hate Grace for further explanation of Grace’s reasons. Remember I’m not saying she didn’t make bad choices, I’m saying that she had reasons for them.

pg.120- Cordelia’s POV “ Cordelia could smell the sharp, sweet perfume of the alcohol, familiar as childhood.” This means that some subconscious part of her mind knows that her father was an alcoholic, maybe she smelled it but could not place where it was coming from because Alastair hid the evidence so well. She related the smell of alcohol to her childhood before she knew of her father’s drinking habits.

pg.132- Bridget says, “Carriage all ready for you, Miss Baggage.” Bridget said to Lucie. “Try not to get in trouble. It fusses your parents” I just thought this was funny.

pg. 132- Cordelia hears someone sing inside the Wentworth carriage, on pg.134 it is revealed that it is Matthew. Just thought it was funny and wanted to mention it.

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Cordelia:*just arriving from Paris* I second that. 

*at elias’s funeral*

alastair: he died as he lived

alastair: being a total asshole and complete nuisance to everyone in his life

[carstairsstan]

Alastair Rant

When Alastair puts himself down, the fandom thinks he should get over it and see that he is loved. Sometimes love doesn’t help, it is understanding that helps. Alastair needs someone facing the same problem to help him get over it. He can’t just wake up one day and realize that he is loved and everything is ok. He needs someone else to realize that he is hurting and actually help him, he is being self-distructive because he believes that no one should love him, he refuses that love. He think that he is not worth that love. The only other person in The Last Hours series that has the same problem is Matthew. And since Matthew currently hates Alastair is a long road to fixing the problems, but it is only Matthew that can truly help Alastair no one else. I know from personal experience that hating the people who hurt you helps but it never fully takes away the self hate. Alastair and Matthew talking it out is something that needs to happen in order to help each other otherwise it is not realistic. Cordelia and Thomas can’t help Alastair, it is completly on Matthew to help.

[carstairsstan]

My reaction to Chain  of Iron

This takes place a week after Chain of Iron released and I have not read read Chain of Gold in quite some time.

This was so overdue.

*Alastair does something nice*

Me: ummm, ok so we like Alastair now???

Brain: You adore him.

Me: *confused af* As much as I love Cordelia???

Brain: Even more than you love Cordelia.

Me: So would I take a bullet for him or nah???

Brain: You would die ten times over just for him to even have the possiblitity of surviving, loving himeself, or stop being self-destructive at the very least.

Me: Oh.........Ok 

*First mention of Thomastair*

Me: I low-key ship them.

Brain: *OFFENDED*  *ERROR*  NO, NO, NO, HONEY, YOU SHIP THEM WITH EVERY INCH OF YOUR BEING.

Me: ...

Brain: DON”T GIVE ME THAT LOOK. YOU KNOW YOU LOVE THEM.

*Sanctuary Scene*

Me: asdfghjkl they are sooooooo cute.

Me: YOU WERE RIGHT BRAIN, I WOULD DIE FOR ALASTAIR AND I LOOOOVE THOMASTAIR

Brain: TOLD YA SO :D

Me and Brain: *Jumping up and down like 2 year olds*

*Camera pans away from all this crazy nonsense*

[carstairsstan]

Masterlist

Observations/Rants/Jokes

6 Reasons NOT to hate Grace

Reread of “Chain of Gold”

My reaction to “Chan of Iron”

Alastair Rant- This is the realistic solution for Alastair’s self destruction

Notes on Chain of Gold (part 1)- includes Chain of Iron spoilers

Fanfiction

“The Last Hours” One Shot: Modern au (Mostly Thomastair, Gracetopher, Jordelia)

[carstairsstan]

• Use the hand you write with.

• Make a fist with your thumb outside, not tucked inside. If it’s tucked inside your fist, when you punch someone, you might break your thumb. The thumb goes across your fingers, not on the side.

• Don’t be like in the movies—don’t aim for the face. Face punches don’t usually stop people, and you can miss when they duck their head or break your hand on their jaw. If you want to get away quickly, or end a fight, aim for the chest, or the ribs. If you really want to do some damage, e.g., you’re being attacked, aim for the throat, which will make it hard for your attacker to breathe for a hot minute.

• When you punch, you want to aim and hit with your first two knuckles. Not the flats of your fingers, and not your ring or pinky knuckles, which can break more easily. You can use your weight, if you’re on your feet, to add wallop, and spring into a punch with your feet and torso.

[carstairsstan]

The Last Hours Oneshot

This is my first fic!!!

***Cordelia’s POV***

“I am so going to beat you,” Cordelia said confidently, keeping her eyes focused on what she is doing.

“Not if I win,” James shot back with equal confidence.

Cordelia could hear the soft, steady chant of her name from their friends, Lucie, Matthew, Thomas, Christopher, Anna, Eugenia(she was waiting for her group of friends), and Jesse(because Lucie came and Grace is on her way), in the background. She was a champion at this. She would not-no could not lose to James. This was easy as breathing, this was her childhood. When she completed a difficult obstacle, all their friends started cheering even The Merry Thieves, but was quickly shushed by both James and Cordelia before stating that the competitors were going to get distracted if they kept cheering for every little thing. James was pretty good at this, he made everything fast paced and she could barely keep up but she knew that she was the best, no one could beat her. Well except for her cousin, Emma Carstairs. But that doesn’t matter here because she was going to crush James. 

“She was the best.” “She was the best.” “She was the best.” 

After a few minutes, it was clear that she was in the lead.

“Oh come on Cordelia, couldn’t you just let me win one game,” whined James.

“Tough luck,” she bit out before returning her focus to what she was doing.

There was something in his voice that most people wouldn’t hear. She suspected that he had a trick up his sleeve. She was in the lead but who knows how long.

Distantly she heard the door to the room open. It was most likely Alastair and his friends, Grace and Ariadne. Now there is no way she was going to lose because if she did then he would tease her about it for the rest of her life.

***Alastair’s POV***

“Oh no, they're at it again,” Alastair said exasperated.

“So you didn’t expect that?” Kamala(Ariadne) asked, as she flipped her black hair mocking surprise. 

Alastair threw a chip at her.

“Of course they are,” Grace said as she laughed, her grey eyes alight.

Grace rarely laughed, but now she was getting better at laughing more and more openly. Her laugh called the attention of Christopher Lightwood a.k.a. Kit. The resident scientist and the second one of the Merry Thieves to forgive him. Which drags his mind to the first to forgive him… No he wouldn’t think of him now, later would be fine. Grace and Christopher were partners in the science lab because of their mutual interest in science. Nobody except Grace and Henry could understand his scientific rants/discoveries. 

“Hello Grace, nice to see you,” said Kit enthusiastically smiling. It was quite obvious that Christopher liked Grace, but who knows when he is going is going to find the courage to ask her out.

She smiled back at him. And then people started screaming. Apparently, James made a comeback and they were cheering him on. 

Without even thinking Grace, Kamala, Alastair, James, and Cordelia screamed at the same time, “shut it!”

While some were dumbfounded by the simultaneous order, others just knew it was a reflex to loud noises.

***Thomas’s POV***

As soon as Alastair walked into the room the rest of the world disappeared. He wasn’t looking at him but that was to be expected if they wanted to keep their relationship secret. Well not for long they were supposed to tell them today after they both get their friends in a good mood. They had already told Eugenia, Grace, and Kamala. He was looking especially gorgeous today. Well, he looks like this everyday so... He would have sat there watching Alastair chat with his friends and eating chips from the corner of his eyes all day long if it weren’t for the very loud interruption which included everyone who was sitting jumping up and screaming. Except James. Cordelia threw her gaming controller on the sofa and smirked at James.

“So am I going to get that $100 from our bet or no,” Cordelia said smugly. Just like her brother he thought.

“No”

“That’s not an option,” replied Cordelia without missing a beat.

James scoffed and handed her a 100 dollar bill. Cordelia held the bill in the air triumphantly like one would hold a trophy.

Alastair cleared his throat and said, “If you lot are done cheering then I was thinking we could go to the movies to celebrate.

It was a lazy excuse to get the group in a good mood because it is not a regular Alastair thing to do in their eyes. But it works because a chorus of oks and sures echo around the room. Cordelia leaps up and announces that she is going to go change from her pajamas. Eventually everyone leaves the room to go get their things and get ready to leave. Only Grace, Eugenia, Kamala, Alastair, and Thomas himself were left. Alastair smiled a smile that lit up his whole face. He came and sat at the arm of the chair Thomas was sitting at and kissed him. And then Cordelia walked in.

***Cordelia’s POV***

Cordelia walked into something she wished she could unsee as a little sister, but she was happy that Alastair had found someone who deserved him. Though the frightened faces told her that she might need to clarify that she was happy.

“You do know that I am happy for you both right?” she said, smiling a bigger smile than she had when she won the game. Afterall, it was just a game, this is real life. 

They both relaxed.

“But you can’t tell anyone,” Alastair said quickly. She must have looked confused because he added, “because we were going to tell them after going to the movie.”

“Well it’s good that you guys got that sorted out,” an amused voice said. And a few giggles broke out of at least 2 other girls.

She spun around quickly because she didn’t realize that there were others in the room. She saw Grace, Kamala, and Eugenia now openly laughing. She rolled her eyes, but she was yelling at herself internally for not knowing there were other people in the room.

“Ya ya, let’s go now.”

As they walked out the door they all knew that things were going to change, but for the better.

Comment if you would like a Part 2

(I don’t play video games, so this was out of my comfort zone)

[carstairsstan]

Reread of Chain of Gold

In Chain of Gold, during the “welcome to London” party, Alastair mentions Charles so many times that I was fed up with it(Alastair you deserve so much better). I was also mad at myself when I didn’t realize that they were together when I first read it. It was so obvious and it front of me and I still didn’t even realize it, that is how good Cassie is at hiding things in plain sight.

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How I imagine Thomastair after years of being together

*A problem rises*

Alastair and Thomas: *Share a single glance*

Alastair: don't forget the-

Thomas: *nods* of course, love. *starts to explain a complicated action plan while Alastair nods and add remarks now and then*

The rest of the Merry Thieves: O-o

[carstairsstan]

6 Reasons NOT to hate Grace

1. SHE WAS 8

Like she was 8 when Tatiana literally bought her and she was trapped in a house that was never cleaned(most people would have gone crazy) with Tatiana a.k.a. THE MOST CRAZY PERSON EVER. 

2. JESSE(and his death)

Then Jesse here is her “brother” in every way except blood since she can remember (she can’t even remember her real parents so that is even worse for her), is nice to her and secretly teaches her to fight and then later just comes along and dies. She follows along with whetever Tatiana tells her to do because she thinks it will bring THE ONLY PERSON SHE CAN REMEMBER WHO WAS NICE TO HER back to life. Even Lucie wants to bring Jesse back to life(he is that loveable).

3. THE LACK OF EMOTIONS IS NOT HER FAULT

Along the way, Tatiana turns her into her emotionless weapon so Tatiana get back at the Herondale(and all Shadowhunters). So the lack of emotions is not her fault it is Tatiana’s.

4. TATIANA’S WELL DONE MANIPULATION

Grace sees Tatiana as the only mother she ever had so obviously she would like to please her, but she was also slapped by Tatiana many times so it’s a weird relationship. 

5. SHE DOESN”T WANT TO DO THIS

When James comes along, she low-key doesn’t want to do this, but she is pretty much is controlled by Tatiana because she wants Jesse brought back to life and she is afraid of Tatiana. So she has to do it. 

6. SHE IS AFRAID

She takes off the bracelet(gracelet) when her mother is “ill” because she isn’t there to control her, that just proves that it isn’t Grace that wants to do this it is Grace’s fear of her mother and her desire to bring Jesse back to life, plus she probubly thinks Belial can do anything because come on he can make Grace able to contol men and makes the Loyaly Binds Me bracelet(what can’t he do? Come down to Earth, but Grace doesn’t know that) like anyone with common sense would be afraid of him. EVEN THE MERRY THEIVES, CORDELIA, AND LUCIE ARE AFRAID OF HIM(with good reason). She is scared enough to use a power that she doesn’t like and try to escape Tatiana.

Therefore, yes Grace made a lot of bad choices but she is reedemable, just as Alastair made a few bad choices in the Academy but is still very much reedemable. Grace is simply misunderstood by the fandom. If you got this far down then thank you for being open-minded enough to read this.