#Alec’s face this whole episode is a whole entire mood

[im-out-of-it]

part 4 of season 2, episode 10 MALEC FIRST I LOVE YOU, “by the light of dawn”

42. I love how this whole time alec is unimpressed by aldertree no matter what he does or says. Aldertree breathes and Alec is like can you not?

43. it’s actually sad how traumatized aldertree is but that still doesn’t excuse his behavior in season three or really any of his stuff. and I wonder if he is trying to tell Alec that downworlders and shadowhunters don’t mix for a reason but who knows

43. I didn’t think all the aldertree stuff would cover this whole part but what do you know, it does lmao

44. to be fair, aldertree did warn Izzy of the risk of the yin fein but Izzy was set on going to the citadel. I think he can be labeled as a bad person but I think he uses his past with Eva to make sure that it can’t happen again. I think aldertree was so traumatized by Eva that he believes in a way that demon blooded creatures shouldn’t exist in a way- and I mean what he does in season three, not now. he still should’ve known better than to offer something as strong as yin fein but in a way, he’s partly right. but he should have offered something not as strong first and work his way up to that. as Alec said in the last episode, an ex medic knows better

45. this scene isn’t all together but I’m using it for this part so it’s fine it’s all fine ITS FINE

46. Alec: yeah, ok whatever. neat story, I don’t care

47. Alec appreciation because he’s so pretty

48. Alec: I still don’t trust you

49. Alec is a mood

50. it’s funny when people compare to Malec or try to say how shadowhunters and downworlders won’t ever understand each other and Malec both look so uninterested. Alec: I don’t care

51. YOU DONT LOCK AN ANGRY AND SCARED WOLF

52. Maia: thought you saw the last of me? FUCK YA THOUGHT

53. Maia: you have no idea

54. oooooo I can watch Maia smack jace all day 🥰

Maia has every right to be mad and she is right. what kind of wolf pack leader puts shadowhunters who are known to hunt wolves and kill then without reason over their own wolves? it a really fucked thing to do. a wolf pack needs to know that their leader will fight for them and protect them. how can you trust Luke if he only remembers you exist when clary needs saving and is hardly there for you?

I sure wouldn’t trust that kind of leader. there were so many avenues that Luke could have used in this scenario with valentine and the sword but he chose to punish Maia, use her fears against her, and lock her up. while it’s understandable why she’s terrified. Clary is out there while everyone knows she’s a key to unlocking the soul sword so downworlders can die. anyone would be upset about that and rightfully so. but it’s just another example of how clary goes unpunished, how she can do whatever she wants without consequences, and how everyone is desperate to save her. if I were maia, I couldn’t look at Luke the same way again. he’s shown his true colors

and just to show how unfair the treatment of downworlders is, later in this season shadowhunters get killed and they are all in like the shadowhunters are mad and make it their top priority but when downworlders die- they don’t punish anyone. Valentine is arrested for previous crimes and jace doesn’t get punished at all. he lifted the sword and didn’t use any common sense because he believes the villain. Valentine isn’t always wrong but you have to be real stupid to believe everything Valentine says.

Jace believes he’s a demon without any evidence, believes clary is his sister without any evidence, believes he can destroy the soul sword without any evidence, believes valentine in his father once again without any evidence. yes Magnus saw a vision but there hasn’t been any evidence showing that it’s jace the vision is about. Jace grew up with a fake Michael wayland but he still doesn’t have proof that Valentine is his blood. it’s funny how most shadowhunters act superior and how they’re better and how jace is the best but he can’t use any fucking common sense or investigate like a normal shadowhunter would. at least Alec uses his brain and plans shit out. and jace goes unpunished for his crimes against downworld in early season two. he’s only punished because he’s not highly devoted to the clave. if a downworlder fights back, they’re awful and must be defeated but if shadowhunters kill downworlders, it’s a okay

I have a major issue with this storyline and how things are kept from downworld so they don’t fight back. let’s not tell them that their deaths are being planned so they don’t get angry and revolt SO MUCH BLOODY FUCKING OPPRESSION TO THE DOWNWORLD COMMUNITY. they get hunted for centuries and shadowhunters are like yeah sorry about that but don’t fight back because we will make hell for y’all. some of the shadowhunters behavior is similar to how everyone treats jace and clary. have to worship them 24/7 and can’t ever be angry with them. and Alec seems to be the only shadowhunter I can think of that actually tries to change things

I’ll try to do a part 5 later today and no, we are not as close to being done 🥹

[goodplace-janet]

Leverage s1e11, The Juror #6 Job

another heartbreaking intro scene :’( and some parker character development!

let’s go out-heist the defense team and steal a guilty verdict

except no one will listen to parker because i guess sports is just too important :///

i was hoping hardison was going to say they should listen to her, but instead he was like “she doesn’t have social skills, cut her some slack” ???

so we have eliot spencer who goes by his first name, and alec hardison who goes by his last name, and parker, who ... ?

is hardison his grandma’s last name, and that’s why he uses it, to distance himself from his foster families or something?

also where did parker get her name

i’m fascinated by names and what they tell us about characters i guess

GOD is nate like, admiring this lady’s evil legal heist skills? watch out, crowley, there’s a new nemesis in town

“who’s alice white?” “you are!!”

“she’s going to buy the jury.” “not if we [dramatic pause] steal it first.” i love this show

parker’s outfit with the cute skirt and the t-shirt and tiny suspenders? adorable

“a chess game has three stages, right” me, who knows nothing about chess strategy: if you say so

parker’s face when nate is like “so you need to get these people to trust you” is a whole entire mood

parker’s autistic, right? we all agree?

i did see a post float by my dash that said it’s canon

the ‘let’s teach parker social skills’ scene feels a little like the ‘let’s rehab nate’ scenes, like.... i’m uncomfy with it, but in an unarticulatable way or something idk

actually everything parker wears in this episode is super cute??

they really just went and had gina bellman do brownface. they did that.

wow.

“a steak made outta beans”

parker’s ‘i just made a friend’ face, i’m cry

“unless she found a guy with a cia-level cover story and fake identity” actually,

i hate every single detail of this real indian company with a fake indian representative plot, oh my god

like, taking advantage of a dude’s cultural appropriation to pull off their scam is not the worst idea? but the writers went about it in a gross af way

“they all have their own alice white, you just happened to give yours a name.” i... the dialogue in this scene is maybe a little weird? but i like the concept that everyone is performing to an extent

*the dialogue is a little weird as in, define “““normal”““ and i wanted the overall message to be ‘no one is ~normal~’ but it didn’t go quite that far

the stolen wallet toss to the driving by accomplice thing was incredible

“some of you even made friends. it’s not as bad as you thought, right?” i’m CRY i love parker and hardison both being in the courtroom, trying to pull off this job, and being nervous but also supporting each other 💕💕💕

okay, driving his phone gps around is so great, i did not put that one together until she explained it

“alice made a friend! :)” “YOU made a friend” i love this!! eliot not letting her downplay her accomplishments 💕

the brownface was SO BAD, but everything else about this episode was pretty good

[normal-thoughts-official]

more malec livewatch, everyone! i decided to start making the posts separately instead of keeping reblogging the same one over and over because i don’t want to drive everyone crazy with that gigantic fucking post. you can read the first ones here and i’ll keep updating the posts to lead to the next ones i guess. also im tagging it malec livewatch for those who want to avoid this nonsense

so let’s brave pre-wedding episode 12 i guess

oh boy.... we’re gonna do it... we’re gonna experience the Maximum Cringe

the special effects are so BAD odaijsdoaj when he summons the wine into Alec’s hand it’s just...... god

“we never finished our conversation” i mean you were the one who finished it magnus so wtf are you going on about

“it’s about family, tradition, honor” yeah we get it zuko boi duoahsiudhdiusa

really tho like he’s so clearly just.... reciting it. taking some shit out off the top of his head about how it’s the right thing and it’s sad tbh

he clearly kinda already has a script too? like “you and I understand marriage very differently” he says it right off the bat, he’s been thinking it over and hghgghgh

magnus goes near alec and alec swallows immediately and magnus ain’t even making a move to touch him yet. just diuahsdah it’s so obvious how hard he’s trying to hold back here

“you’re confusing me” is like the only thing he says the whole scene that sounds genuine

he’s paying so much attention to magnus’ dumb little speech about what love feels like too like. he’s trying to hold back but he’s very clearly pulled in, and i don’t even think it’s by magnus specifically (i mean obviously cuz have you seen him) but because he... kind of wants to hear it, kind of wants magnus to give him some golden argument that will make his whole resolution shatter. except he doesn’t because he doesn’t know what he’ll do then, but he’s still hoping for something and it’s sad

like how magnus clearly pauses like he’s waiting for alec’s reaction too, like. alec makes to leave and magnus doesn’t go after him, but he speaks, and alec stops. only when alec stops he gets closer. only when alec looks at him, clearly waiting to hear more, does he begin to talk again. i dig that even if most of this scene is kinda ugh to me

i hate how he uses his magic tho like what’s the point?? like yes i know that magic “can’t create feelings” but still dauhdsa it kinds feels like he’s cheating or trying to manipulate alec or something and i’m.. not into how the whole thing is done

oof hate how alec says “this is all just a game to you, isn’t it?” like bitch you know damn well it’s not like he’s putting himself at risk and showing you so much vulnerability and i hate how he goes for the whole “oh magnus doesn’t care about anything he’s just a seductive lothario” narrative in here lowkey. like i know he’s just trying to distance himself and he doesn’t fully believe it but... aaaaa i hate it

and he’s so HURT by alec’s words too like the rejection doesn’t hurt him as much as hearing alec say that he just flirts and it means nothing to him does. he’s trying so fucking hard to be open and honest and taking such a RISK (psychological, emotional, even physical) and alec is just throwing all of that bullshit persona he’s actively trying not to hide behind in his face, belittling all his efforts and feelings, and aaa

like again i don’t really blame alec but he truly is so hurt

still wonder what alec was about to say when he turned around to talk to him and magnus wasn’t there anymore tbh like. probably something else to try and distance himself so it’s probably good magnus left and isn’t there to hear it and it kind of forces alec to really think it over to himself instead of trying to argue but...... i do wonder what he was going to say diahsiduahdisah

magnus doesn’t even answer the whole “this means nothing to you” veiled accusation which.... also hurts like idk if he’s trying to avoid a fight or derailing like alec clearly is trying to, or if he just is too tired to have this argument, or if he just doesn’t want to open up this much, but either way he doesn’t acknowledge it except for his hurt look and oof

no one cares about jace and clary talking or whatever’s happening here next

i had never noticed the way magnus winks at clary when he says “oh, it’s happy hour somewhere, my dear” daishdaiuh it’s kinda cute tbh

hodge is so uncomfortable like the way he talks to magnus and gets too close to him... in a way that he doesn’t with anyone else either like he’s clearly just lowkey despising him/getting into his space and magnus notices too and it gives me the heebie jeebies

diuhaiudsahduaishdai magnus’ IMMEDIATE reaction of “why is ragnor fell there, he’s not more powerful than me” asohdaiudha we stan bickering bffs i truly love them so much

“he’s older than you” “certainly not wiser” daiohsahda

i think he might also be lowkey trying to protect ragnor and take the clave’s attention away from him now that i think about it but still i love their bickering

nah that’s cancelled he immediately rats him out on having been jocelyn’s profesor lmaoo

“that’s why he hasn’t been responding to my fire messages” daoihdsaiohads someone needs to lick their wounds

he’s just like “oh ragnor is hiding in his specific safehouse outside of london” like daoiusduaihdasuda love how he just knows that off the top of his head when ragnor clearly didn’t actually tell him about it since he just fucked off and hasn’t been responding

“didn’t know you were here” “that was the point” doaiuhdasiouhdaiuhdas

like i know he’s talking about the marriage but also.... just mood in general tbh

again with the eye flickering. hes looking at magnus, no hes not, yeah he is, haha SIKE, oh there it is again, nope it’s gone..... kinda funny cuz like i know that alec’s eyes flicker a lot in general but afterwards when they are together every time he looks at magnus it’s just so pointed and intense and focused on him so the contrast of watching the s1 scenes and realizing how little his glances at magnus always lasted is... interesting and heartbreaking. like obviously he doesn’t want to be looking at any man for too long, doesn’t want to take that risk, keeps hyper aware of his attraction at all times, but he still can’t help the glances and then when he can look he just does it so unapologetically and intensely and you can tell that it’s just. intimate to him (to both of them really) right then, and wow

i know we talk a lot about alec’s Big Hands but magnus’ hands are so nice too in like a totally different way... anytime he holds anything it just looks like he’s treating it like it’s precious, it’s so delicate and careful and his hands are smooth and pretty and wow i love him so fucking much

wow can’t believe nothing heartbreaking at all happens when they go to ragnor’s house and that ragnor just winks at magnus like “haha yes i am ‘dead’” and magnus is like “yes, this is a lie and a ruse and also a plan. i am perfectly aware that ragnor is not dead at all”

ragnor says “my dear friend, i will always be here for you” with so much honesty and love and ugh i love them like they’re always little bitches to each other but they still have the room to be perfectly loving and honest with each other and i stan

ragnor looks at magnus with so much fucking hurt when magnus says “i prayed she would love me the same” like you can tell it destroys him to even remember it or think about it and aaa

“he was always so much better looking than you” and the way magnus purses his lips in what is clearly a smile like he just knows it’s the teasing and he loves ragnor and their dynamic and i just daouhdsauida also he’s so beautiful boy i die

the way ragnor says “someday, someone will come and will tear down those walls you put around you and around your heart” and magnus looks at him with so much. fucking PAIN in his eyes because someone did but it got nowhere and in the end alec just kind of acknowledged his walls again and went back to pretending that it never happened and that magnus didn’t progress or open up to it at all, that magnus was just lying, that it’s just a game and dauhdaiudha god he’s so HURT

again i owe harry shum jr my entire life like he might be seriously the best actor i’ve ever seen in any show, he’s so damn expressive and talented in every little motion he’s truly a pearl in the desert of shit that is this show

“even in death, you give the best advice” ugh love how this really cements that magnus is used to opening up to ragnor and even with their bickering there’s so much room for them to be emotionally honest like we stan

anyway sure wish this had any emotional continuity whatsoever but at least the cringefest is over. onto an actual good scene fucking finally

love every little detail about this scene as yall probably already know so i’ll try not to point every single one of them out yet again but who knows if i’ll succeed. i bet that i won’t tbh

love the contrast between alec looking so tense when lydia comes down the aisle and she’s like all smiles and shit

she’s before him and he can barely look at her like his eyes flicker a bit between her and the bouquet and he settles on the bouquet this whole thing is so... wrong so clearly, like i could show it to someone who doesn’t know shit about sh and they would be able to tell that nothing fits

even alec’s clothes are weird, like idk i don’t understand fashion but his look looks so disjointed, like the blazer doesn’t really match the pants, the bowtie looks weird and doesn’t match the buttons, and shit and nothing about him looks like it’s in the right place. and everyone else (except maybe izzy who also looks miserable lmao) looks like a perfect picture and he’s just.... idk there’s this aura of wrongness around him that’s subtle but really well done in the terms of costume and shit. the costume department really went off in this whole scene honestly like we stan. possibly the only ones other than the actors who knew what the fuck they were doing lmao

when lydia smiles at izzy and izzy barely moves up the corner of one of her lips dajdasnjdan she looks even more miserable than alec does and god i love the lightwood siblings so much like i truly do. she’s supporting him because she’s decided she’s not going to keep pushing him when it only leads to him not trusting her but she’s all broken that he’s broken, and she was willing to take his place and throw her life away even when that’s everything she’s always tried to avoid, just so he wouldn’t have to do this, and aaaaa

who cares about jace and clary looking at each other @directing team like seriously get over this

he turns in the direction of the silent brother in an almost kind of jerking motion like he completely forgot about where he was supposed to go or something, like again he’s just... not in it

they are holding hands in the WEIRDEST possible way too like there’s so much distance between them it’s almost funny ldaojsja

he tries to smile at lydia when she’s about to put the rune on his arm like he knows she knows that he’s hating this and he’s just bearing it and trying to not make her uncomfortable? like doajdsaoj

the way that magnus INTERRUPTS not just the wedding but also the chorus, you could tell there was a crescendo coming even if you’ve never heard the song, but magnus pushes the doors open and suddenly it stops and there’s this little bit and then the “tututututu” of tension as he comes into view and his steps perfectly match the three little beats that were already there before, but sound so much louder and more prominent like a heartbeat, like before they were muffled and now they’re real??? the poetic cinema bro

ill just never get over the way they used song here it sounds like an AMV like the song isn’t just giving the vibe, they are telling the story THROUGH the song and the whole scene is basically a coreography, and the song is the narrative, and holy shit i love it so much could you imagine if they had used this amount of thought and genius and clever storytelling the whole show?? i’d shit myself

ugh the DRAMA of magnus’ look again i KNOW i’ve been over this again and again and again and again and again and again but i just. i love how they used his makeup & costume to accentuate magnus’ 1- face, 2- eyes, 3- jaw, and 4- adam’s apple. the whole focus is on his face and eyes (which again so expressive we stan harry shum jr in this house), the fact that his eyes are his WARLOCK MARK (yeah they’re not out but like we’re still drawing attention to the part of magnus he tries to hide the most, and the part of him that marks what makes him disdainful to shadowhunters), the fact that his jaw and adam’s apple are so prominent. his whole face looks really sharp and masculine you know?? like the whole focus is on everything about him that’s supposed to be “wrong” and make malec “wrong” but he’s never looked more beautiful (IT’S SUCH AN UNDERRATED LOOK) and they didn’t sacrifice his gnc-ness for it either, on the contrary, they gave his hair the hot pink streak which. INSPIRED WE STAN, and the makeup is very clear (again esp around his eyes) which of course only adds to it because he’s not just a man, he’s a gnc man and that makes it “worse”, but also like, i like how they accentuated his masculinity in alec’s coming out scene, without sacrificing his identity and gender non conformness. again the costume department is the only one who genuinely knew what they were doing 100% of the time i hope they all got big fucking checks

alec just blinks and focuses on him and it’s the first time it looks like he’s really looking at something and i just wow

izzy is so happy to see magnus there :) she loves her brother so much :)

magnus holding up two fingers to get people to shut up... the way he snarls “maryse, this is between me and your son” with so much certainty and like no room for bullshit he’s so good at making shadowhunters too speechless to stop him and honestly im such a whore tbh if he did this to me id just nut on the spot. shut me up daddy. fuck who said that

like how they included the “i’ll leave if he asks me to” and how he really doesn’t say anything, he’s just standing there, like they made sure to make this scene respectful and i was kind of dreading it the first time because i’d HATE it if magnus had outed him or made this whole drama out of it but he didn’t and i like that so so much

“i thought we were doing the right thing, but... this isn’t it” always gets me and i can’t even put my finger on why. it just does like again this is not really about magnus or their relationship, it’s about how he feels about the whole thing, everything that he’s giving up and he barely knows what for anymore, and i justjfianfajf

again the BRILLIANCE of the song usage the way that he’s talking to lydia and the beat is so damn loud and overwhelming and then as soon as he turns to magnus everything just drowns out and there is one (1) piano note and it’s just him and magnus and it’s like everything silences??? he’s just so damn focused and it’s not the nervousness and loudness of everyone else and their whole audience (they don’t even show the audience anymore after alec turns to him for real and before the actual kiss i don’t think) and there’s just that sharp focus and certainty because alec’s made up his mind and there’s no sound anymore like mwaaahhh poetic cinEMA

and it’s just that moment of clarity as they both look at each other and the song begins again with the higher tempo again, but it feels more like, a march? than that overwhelming noise. and of course there’s the singing and it feels like everything has purpose and is just laser focused and it’s still intense but in a completely opposite way, not lost but found and wow im such a whORE for this scene it’s unbelievable

like how alec takes the first step towards magnus after he’s down the stairs exactly as the song goes “want” like mwaahhhhh brilliance amazing talented showstopping spectacular never been done before completely unique,

his “enough” is dajksdfahidasdhadusahuash again im a simple sub id nut

i was right they only really show the audience again after the kiss. except for maryse but even then it’s so quick, we see her going to alec and after alec says “enough” she literally doesn’t show anymore it’s like she’s not even there, she just disappears it’s so sexy we stan??? like again alec’s made up his mind and nothing else is there to stop him wow love that for him could you imagine thinking this man is shy and insecure? can’t relate

THEY ARE SKIGGNISNGG

FOREVER A WHORE FOR THE WAY MAGNUS CHASES AFTER HIM HOLY FUCKING SHIT. THE WAY HE’S SO LOST IN THE KISS, IN THE ELATION, AND HE JUST CAN’T HELP GOING FOR MORE BEFORE HE CAN STOP HIMSELF AND KEEP UP WITH HIS TIGHT COMPOSTURE (because magnus had barely moved once alec had seen him, he just stood there and waited like he was waiting for his cue, he was holding himself perfectly steadily and just had so many walls) LIKE HE JUST CAN’T HELP BUT WANT?? AND GO FOR MORE?? AND THEN HE REALIZES ALEC IS PULLING AWAY AND HE LOOKS AT HIM FOR A SECOND (and his eyes look so DIFFERENT, not like there’s a wall there, he looks relieved and happy and even kind of dazed and i just wow the difference is SO clear) AND ALEC LOOKS AT HIM AND HE TAKES JUST A FRACTION OF A SECOND BEFORE HE LEANS IN AGAIN, AND IT’S THE FIRST TIME THAT MAGNUS HAS ASKED FOR MORE AND ALEC’S GIVEN IT, BECAUSE ALEC HAS BEEN GIVING HIM SOME OPENINGS BUT EVERY TIME MAGNUS WANTED MORE HE TURNED AWAY, BUT THIS TIME HE FUCKING GIVES MAGNUS WHAT HE’S SILENTLY ASKING FOR, HE’S CHOOSING HIM FULLY AND NOT JUST ENOUGH FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER, HE’S CHOOSING TO GO ALL IN AND KISS MAGNUS UNTIL HE’S SATISFIED AND HOLY SHIT THE POETIC CINEMA!! THE TALENT!!! THE BRILLIANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SHADOWHUNTERS CREW FOR PUTTING UP YOUR FIVE TOTAL BRAINCELLS TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS FANTASTIC THING HAPPEN HOLY FUCKING SHIT THIS SCENE IS EVERYTHING TO ME 

a bitch needs to lie down i think that’s all for today

next part

[ralfstrashcan]

3x15 Reaction / Commentary

........who died and made her queen? Literally no one finds it weird that the newby from a day ago holds announcements and motivational speeches? And I thought vampires don't like swift changes. Guess that was racist of me.

..................?? Literally who has ever denied the vampires entry? Except maybe the shadowhunters to their Institute and the werewolves to their home-restaurant? So she's basically saying “If anyone doesn't want us in their private homes we'll break and enter!” How is no one calling her out on how stupid that is??

hahaha how long did she work on that line?

........? Why? Because up until this point I was under the impression that the Accords where strictly restricted to governing the border between shadow world and mundanes, keeping them separate and protecting mundanes from demon and downworlder attacks alike.

If you care to remember, the whole mess with helping-save-Luke / not-helping-save-Luke in season 1 happens because Alec says shadowhunters aren't allowed to interfere in downworlder affairs, hence saving Luke would be seen as shadowhunters meddling in downworlder business which isn't a thing shadowhunters are allowed to do. It's why him going to lend Magnus his magic to save Luke was a Big Deal for him, because it was basically breaking the rules. It's why he was so against Jace and Clary helping Luke in the first place, because interfering is – at least the way I understood that! – a breach of the Accords, which grant downworlders the right to govern themselves.

In basically all other situations where there are conflicts between downworlders we don't see shadowhunters interfere: Luke beating Taito-or-however-he-was-called into submission, Camille being put into a coffin in the DuMort's cellar indefinitely for reasons. I'd even let myself be convinced that these might be exceptions, since those are ritualized thingies where downworlders decide who gets to rule, and so the shadowhunters aren't allowed to interfere even if their respective election systems consist of battle to the death / whoever wants to revolt revolts.

But how do you then explain all the other instances: Simon getting that Glen werewolf guy into a wheelchair and never facing any consequences except Luke scolding him a little, Simon fighting to the death with Quinn which never gets investigated, and don't even get me started on the seelie queen because she does shit however she wants to whoever she wants, kidnapping random werewolves and holding them hostage, putting marks of cains on unsuspecting daylighters, openly siding with Valentine, etc. and no shadowhunter ever cares about any of this! Not to mention that when Jace first encounters Jordan, he clearly recognizes his authority as Praetor and withdraws, indicating that the Praetor are an established and known organisation who deal with downworder affairs, and shadowhunters have to steer clear of them. Even Kaelie who murdered shadowhunters wasn't sentenced by shadowhunters! She was transfered back to the seelie court after she was captured and the seelie queen dealt with her as she saw fit. To me that simply fortifies that shadowhunters don't govern downworlder-downworlder-relations. If they don't even govern downworlder-shadowhunter-relations.

Besides, if shadowhunters really were supposed to police downworlder-downworlder-relations then please explain to me why the hell it's always treated like an invasion and an insolence if a downworlder dares to come close to the Institute? I mean, shouldn't there be a contact point for them to get in touch with their executive forces? Wtf??

So I guess this is just a random curveball the show throws my way to make this episode's plot work. And really, this is bullshit. I can't accept this. It's one thing to bend and twist portal travel and magic because, whatever, it's magic. But to just 100% turn around their entire frikkin legal system is not something you can just do! No!!

He 100% nicked that horse statue thingy from Magnus's loft to make him feel more at home in his room.

Also, I get that this is a cute parallel with the orange juice, but I also get that this is the show again depriving me of seeing Magnus and Alec actually waking up in bed together and it's NOT OKAY. I just want to finally see Alec “Little Spoon” Lightwood in action, is that too much to ask? Apparently -.-

Also, I have questions. If Alec is just putting on his day clothes.... did he go fetch Magnus's orange juice bare-chested? In his pyjama??? Does he have one with little bows and arrows? I need answers!!!

Rude hahaha, as if living with Magnus was a strenuous, orange-juice-less experience. Kidding, I know he's trying to make living at the Institute palatable to Magnus, quite literally.

I know I wasn't the only one who had severe Pirates of the Caribbean flashbacks at that because after the sneak peek aired I saw a gifset pointing out the parallel XD

Also

MAGNUS'S FACE Btw I think it's sweet that Alec spouts reassurances none of them buys just to make Magnus feel comfortable. Just like it's sweet that he brings Magnus a glass of orange juice that they both proceed to ignore, and to add insult to injury, Magnus gets himself a new one later. Rude.

Okay, so the runes we see here are the nourishment rune (blue), the sharing rune (green) and of course the stamina rune (yellow).... so shadowhunters know to eat real hard. And also... those two tiny tables are supposed to be enough to sustain all those people? With only drinks? Is this some perfidious game where shadowhunters just get drinks and need to feed themselves with nourishment runes? Barbaric.

Yeah I'm in the mood for pancakes now, too, thanks.

I'd like to repeat my question from last episode: If Sentry Guy wasn't planning for his untimely demise, how the hell did he want to hand over that data chip?

Okay but do you realize how amazing and hilarious that is? Because Izzy just came from the serving counter. If she wanted bacon she could have gotten some. But she didn't. To me this looks like routinely stolen food, maybe even just because it's on Jace's plate. This is something that happens regularly and I love it. Need more sibling-y Jace&Izzy interactions honestly!

Also? Izzy missing the piece of bacon on the first try hahaha <3<3<3

Can we please take a moment to appreciate Magnus's absolutely disgusted face and the fact that he carrys that tray with minimal finger contact? Hilarious.

1) I too was wondering why they didn't just go out for breakfast to avoid this situation, so I'm glad they mention that this option has crossed the protagonists' minds as well. 2) Why do they already have beverages on their trays when the refreshment tables with the glasses are off to the side? Possibly so they don't have to run around stupidly?

!!!!!!!!!What other food events are there??????? I need to know okay!!! Also, I think we can all agree that Alec isn't in it for the pancakes but to Prove A Point.

Also, quick question: Who the hell mans the serving counter, who cooks, who cleans the dishes, who buys groceries, who--- etc.

You know what I was just wondering? This is a new outfit, right? Has he moved all of his clothes to Alec's room? Or are they still in this apartment? What's Lorenzo gonna do with all that stuff? And also, do they really expect me to believe Magnus only had this one apartment and literally no other home anywhere? He couldn't have rune!portaled literally anywhere else? He couldn't have stayed with the ever elusive Catarina? Or crashed on Luke's couch since he's not currently using his apartment, being in jail and all? (Though to be fair, we never actually see Luke's apartment so who knows if it even exists? Since they kind of pretend that all werewolves live at the Jade Wolf.) Magnus couldn't have gotten a hotel? I mean he has cash, right? But sure. I'm totally buying that this was the absolutely only option he had.

Izzy is the best and I love her.

So is he supposed to step in as racist, now that Raj is gone? Cuz that'd be unrealistic. I'd buy it if he's miffed that Alec didn't tell him about this, since he's Head of Security and all and could have helped but istg if he reacts badly to Magnus being there I'm gonna flip my shit because Underhill totally ships Malec, okay, why would he react badly?? I'm anxious okay.

“They don't see a lot of warlocks in here.”

HAHAHAHAHAHAH OMG the sass!!!!!

I noticed this in the sneak peek already and honestly, I think the shadowhunters are just angry Magnus is there because he gets to eat fancier stuff than they. I mean, look at him! He even changed the shape of the glass because he's so extra. Love him.

Hahahaha who doesn't want to get a call from jail over breakfast from their father figure. Also I feel like those roles should be reversed XD

I mean, I get it. But thanks, Luke, for not relaying the crucial detail that this was Heidi or at least that Maia is still alive and to contact her for further info since he's in jail, and thus enabling everything that follows. It's not like he told Simon and Maia to drive off with Jordan because he'd handle filling in the Institute on all that happened. Honestly. He's like that one guy in group projects who says he'd do something and then just.. doesn't.

..............................................why Look I don't have the energy to rage about this but wtf Luke. If you think anyone would buy all those fang marks being caused by one person alone, then why not try to get the actual culprit to be imprisoned? Or at least, idk, investigated after to gain some time? Honestly. It's like he wants to go to jail.

Hahahaha okay this is too good an opportunity to pass up, so please go read the dumb drabble I wrote about this exact situation shortly after 3A aired. It's here.

Btw I wanna see that verdict. Because Luke's prints sure as hell aren't on the corpses, and keep in mind any forensic worth a damn should be able to notice that those people died half a day before Luke was found on the site of the crime. Not to mention that since Luke frequented the Jade Wolf it's not exactly surprising he'd want to check up on all his homies there. Not to mention he has zero motive (since his fallout with the pack is so recent nobody not involved would have noticed). And not to mention that he wouldn't even have had time to kill all those people in the 3 minutes after he arrived at the Jade Wolf and before his surveillance team caught up to him. Just, sigh.

Edit: Wow actually they're gonna find his prints all over the corpses because Luke, in his unending wisdom, touched them all to close their eyes. It's like he learned nothing in How To Not Get Imprisoned For Crimes You Didn't Commit 101.

Great Scene. Very relatable.

Though I gotta say I never got the feeling Maia particularly liked any of her packmates since we always only saw them hating on her for dating a vampire and being general idiots, but I'm gonna ignore that right now. It's easily arguable that their happy pack life together wasn't shown because it wasn't relevant to the plot.

And also.... how did they find the Praetor? Isn't their location top secret? How should I imagine that? Was Jordan lying in the backseat half dead, shouting instructions “Turn left now!! No, not your left, my left! Turn right dammit!!” Wtf.

RIGHT BACK AT YOU IZZY FFS. *sigh* Okayyyyy technically Clary killed him, but Izzy didn't react with all the indignated outrage she displays now and I vividly remember this and I already ranted about this at length after 3x04 aired. I'm so done with her attitude on this.

Since when does Alec accept the “I wasn't in control” excuse? Either you were in control, then you go to jail. Or you weren't, then you go in a holding cell because you're an unpredictable danger. In no scenario do you get a free pass. Wtf.

??????????? You get talked into crossing against a red light, not into a frikkin sadistic hostage-taking, what the actual hell???? Why does Alec buy that???? Is he stupid????

...................................wtf Alec I hoped you'd do better this episode, but apparently not?? I mean, not investigating anything, just taking random person at her word, not even taking the time to talk with Izzy – even worse, showing in front of a third party that he didn't know about the Raphael* thing – and finally, basically him making that offer half-felt like he was trying to get back at Izzy for her keeping secrets from him? Wtf Alec? Wtf? And also, since the only werewolves left are Luke (currently in jail), Maia (currently missing in action) and Bat (currently at home like the neat little werewolf armcandy that he is) it's really not like Alec is under time pressure to get the vampires who killed all the werewolves behind bars. What's gonna happen if he takes a few hours to investigate properly? There is literally no risk of a war breaking out between werewolves and vampires since there are basically no werewolves left. Wtf Alec, I just robbed you of your already super flimsy excuse for your behavior, so please. Explain yourself. It's as if he wants to make up for last week's inaction by making super swift decisions. Wtf. If this is not Plot Convenience then I don't know what is.

*I guess Alec stopped holding those weekly downworld cabinet meetings or otherwise he would have noticed that Raphael is missing...... LOL or else maybe they want to tell us less than a week passed since 3x04 which, honestly, I WOULDN'T EVEN BE SURPRISED OKAY

Luke and Clary and Jace are so frikkin stupid. I mean, it's not like they were in this exact same situation in this exact same precinct in season 1 and remembered to turn of the frikkin security cams are you kidding me wtf

Self-fulfilling prophecy, Luke. Well frikkin done. I don't even feel sorry for you.

Actually they kicked you out because they new you didn't prioritize them, but sure. Survivor's guilt. I get it.

Anyway now that Luke is caught on tape talking to non-existent people about werewolves and vampires I guess he'll go to the psych ward instead of the jail, so yay for improvement?

<3

Quick question.... after the cut, to they just awkwardly stand around until someone opens the door again so Jace and Clary can slip out?

WTF Underhill don't make me hate you.

Izzy: “Raphael is not a bad person. He just made a horrible mistake.” Alec: “He commited a gross violation of the Accords.” Izzy: “He's trying to turn his life around.” Alec: “It doesn't change what he did.”

And yet.............. Alec pardoned Heidi....................... and yet..................................... Izzy hates on Jordan........................................... It's like no one on this show is able to assess situations consistently while disregarding personal relations to the people involved. Really. I don't even really expect it from Izzy because she's too passionate for that. But I sure as hell expected better from Alec. Smh.

................................................................. What. What even. Because doing things by herself worked out so well last time. Because Alec totally acts like his trust in her judgement wasn't shaken by this revelation. Wtf Alec, why do you agree to this. It makes no sense.

?????????? this is not the Aline from 2x15

and that bothers me because 1) why recast her wtf and 2) I think 2x15 Aline looked more approachable and warm and yeah wtf why recast her. So from now on I'm calling this imposter “Aline”. I'm serious. Watch me.

Plot Twist: In German they are dubbed by the same dubbing actress.

Edit: Apparently they recast here because 2x15 Aline wasn't available due to scheduling conflicts which, okay, valid. But I'm still calling the imposter “Aline”. I've commited to it already, okay??

Alec, your arguemnt is still invalid because the only werewolf ready to wage war is standing right in front of you and you said yourself you thought she was dead. Wtf man.

YEAH ALEC AND FOR THAT REASON YOU WAIT BEFORE YOU STRIKE A DEAL WITH SUSPECTS WTF MAN YOU OVERTHINK EVERYTHING BUT IN THIS YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT THREE FRIKKIN MINUTES ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME-- I'm exasperated, in case you can't tell. Mainly because Alec assuming Maia is dead makes no sense whatsoever. She wasn't among the dead, so why would he assume she's dead instead of escaped? Why didn't he try to track her? Why didn't he try to call her himself? Why didn't they call ahead?!* So many questions, all answered with two words: Plot Convenience.

*Oh right, because they trusted Luke to tell the Institute everything. But my point still stands. This miscommunication is ridiculous.

Also, can we talk about the pacing? In the time Simon needs to drive his and Maia's ass over to the Institute, Heidi walks in, Alec draws up an amnesty and organizes a mission, they go to the DuMort, secure all the vamps, and bring them back into the Institute. Just how slow was Simon driving? Makes no sense. Wtf.

Uh-huh. Sure, Head of Security, why would you need to know that. Also, who made those keys? Are they lying around somewhere in a spare drawer? So many questions.

Good save, man. I can accept that. Seems he's trying to do his job. But still. The way he half-whispered insolently during that mission briefing strikes me as really not fitting his character. He calls Alec “Sir” dammit. As if he'd stoop to such cheap bitchy behavior, especially when it stands to reason that the shadowhunter he was whispering to doesn't respect Alec like Underhill does because, y'know, gay and dating a downworlder and the general tendency of shadowhunters to be biased and racist.

LOL I guess the first thing I can really appreciate about this episode is that they make an effort to bring back stuff from the past season???

Aha. Looks like someone felt the need to change.

Clary: “He somehow got it in that twisted head of his that I'm gonna help him find it.”

........did I miss that part? Because I sure don't recall it.

Well, Simon, then I hope you have a degree in psychology and don't ask any leading questions that make her useless as a witness. Also, be sure to carry your plan out while Alec isn't present so your story will be more credible and Alec won't think you encanto-ed her so she says what you need her to say to get Heidi behind bars. Since, you know, you and Maia are totally neutral when it comes to this investigation. It's always a great idea to conduct investigations yourself when you're completely unbiased and absolutely not involved in any way, with no personal stakes in the matter. SIGH.

This.... was actually unexpected. See, this is why I like Heidi as a villain. She is smart and she knows how to cover her tracks. And that whole plan to stir up werewolves and vampires against each other was expertedly executed (even if her defense in front of Izzy and Alec was a little weak and Griffin could have acted a little less stupid).

Hahahahaha Magnus. Tbh though, Alec knew Underhill would be in charge of setting Magnus up with a key, and the long amount he thought about what the hell Magnus meant makes me think he doesn't really think handsome = Underhill. Surely not after that haircut amiright ok sorry sorry I'm shutting up. Underhill is a handsome guy.

Ugh. Okay, honestly I don't want to do this. I want to say this was a cute scene and move on. But I just can't move past Alec's apology. Why the hell does he apologise? He did nothing wrong? It's his typical my-opinion-doesn't-count,-whatever-the-person-I-love-says-must-be-right-and-I-am-wrong spiel and I hate it. It would have been something else entirely if he'd said “I didn't know this bothered you so much, I won't do that again in the future if it's a problem to you.” Finding a compromise while recognizing that talking about his issues is his right, since Magnus didn't ask him to keep quiet about it. No matter how good he knows Underhill – and I agree with Magnus on that one, it was strange for Alec to talk about his problems with someone he barely knows, but at the time it was, oh surprise, Plot Convienience to bait some cheating angst – it was his right and with his apology

he basically asserts that it wasn't. Because of some misguided jealousy from Magnus. Magnus should protest this immediately but he doesn’t, he just lets it sit there and just..... argh!

Also another thing, since I saw some people getting worked up over it: Yes, I read the scene earlier in the way that Alec didn't realize Magnus was talking about Underhill because he finds him so super hot, but because context reasons. Still, even if he did find Underhill attractive... that's not a problem? It's part of interacting with someone and looking at their face while talking to them and by the way realizing “Wow, this person isn't fugly.” If he spent all his days oogling Underhill that would be something else entirely, but he obviously doesn't. So, even if his conclusion was “Handsome? Must be Underhill!” that wouldn't make him a bad person. We all know he only has eyes for Magnus.

*sigh* I'm a weak woman, okay, this placates me a little.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA I  C A N ' T The fact that he thinks he needs to clarify!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amazing.

I have so many questions. If she wakes up, will she hold her breath again? I honestly expected her to be dead after Heidi's order, but apparently encanto only takes hold of the person's actions while they are conscious. So this leads me to the question why the f Nora is in a coma instead of simply unconscious, since if your brain doesn't get oxygen you slip into unconsciousness, not coma wtf.

...............by? The shadowhunters on washing machine handling duty?? So many questions.

.........or just do it right away. Why wait?

!!!!!!!!!YES at least someone has common sense left this episode. It physically pains me that this person is Jonathan. Wtf, show.

1) Soooooo why is his magic suddenly blue again? Though it's slightly tinted so I guess one could argue that this is Magnus trying to cover up the ugly Lorenzo-color. 2) Did the nurse really let them all in? Are they using glamors? I need answers. 3) Won't this place be swarming with doctors as soon as she wakes up?

“This is Maia. If you're hearing this, it's because my phone's battery sucks.”

Hahaha, I approve.

Lol this is the other reason I like Heidi as a villain, she's cheeky.

That.......... WAS UNEXPECTED OH MY GOD WOOOW I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!! Color me impressed!!! And from Maia no less, who's always throw fists first, think straight later!!!

But..... while we saw where she got that syringe from I can't help but wonder where the hell she got that Holy Water from? Also how the hell did Simon, Magnus and Alec know in which back alley exactly she was hiding?? Guess we'll never know.

Soooooo whenever she stares into the flames she gets a Jonathan-possession-episode???? Okay??????? Why?????????????????? But anyway, the solution to their predicament seems clear: Just keep her away from fire. Then again they're shadowhunters, so compulsively lighting candles is a thing, so I see where this might get difficult.

You know, this scene would probabley even touch me emotionally if I wasn't busy muttering wtf under my breath because I'm still not over how they completely screwed over the Accords. With the way things were back in 3x04 what Izzy did in banishing Raphael was nothing more than an exceedance of competence. (Yes, Raphael deserves punishment for what he did, but not. from. Izzy.) And now suddenly it's a law-breaking act of compassion? Wtf, no, doesn't compute.

Also, as Bohemian pointed out: why the hell is Raphael's Dramatic Pre Jail Scene with Izzy instead of, idk, Magnus who's like a father to him and also at the Institute in this very moment?? Why do those two don't get any screen-time together when their relationship is more profound than, sorry, anything between Izzy and Raphael?? Tbh reducing Raphael to a pining mess who's only thinking about Izzy makes him feel real two-dimensional to me and he deserves wayyy better than that.

...................you know what? No!! Too late!! I've mentioned it in a past reaction post (from 3A I think) that I would have loved for this to be the reason they break up: Maia's okay-ness with ending a conflict through violence and Simon's relative patriotism. And even though this scene was everything I hoped for in this regard it still leaves a stale taste in my mouth because it's come too frakkin late. They are already broken up and their break up scene wasn't up to par. And why wasn't this their break up scene? Because if they'd been together up until now we couldn't have gotten the Jordan/Maia cuddling. Ugh.

Also this

would have certainly packed more of a punch if it came from someone who was consistently opinionated that way and wasn't randomly stricken by “I don't give a damn who gets injured, I have a gig to get to” moods (and yeah, I'm still not forgiving that, Simon).

Ohhhh no Magnus, stay away from that carpet, bad things will happen here, didn't you see the sneak peek????

WOW I am impressed, this is more than I expected so I'm really happy about this, especially since we all know how Magnus “It's all in the past” Bane normally deals with conflicts. You can see how much it costs him to get over himself and say this, and I love it. (What I don’t love is that Alec immediately glosses over this and barely even registers it but, whatever, that’s not Magnus's fault. He did what he should have done, and I’m happy about it.)

“Having an outsider live at the Institute, that is against protocol. And how can I expect everyone else to follow the rules if I don't follow them myself?”

I mean, I don't really think Maia would have refrained from her little murder plot if Magnus had spend the night at a hotel instead of in Alec's bed, but I recognize Alec at least attempting to be true to his rule-abiding, authority-acknowledging character for five seconds. So I'm somewhat semi-..... uh, quarter-proud of him.

Awwwww and Underhill just worked the whole day to get him settled in, the poor guy.

AGAIN WOW you can see how much courage it costs him to ask this after last half-season's moving-in-talk went so smoothly!!! I love it!!!

I LOVE IT!!!

I HATE IT!!! Yeah wow, I really hate it. Why can't they be happy for two seconds istg!!!!!

Btw I'm ordering you to read Matt's live tweets because they are therapeutic, okay.

(Bacon Gif Source)

[morgemuffel]

MALEC. ➰FORGET. EASIER SAID THAN DONE. (aku cinta kamu)

This story takes place after the episode 3Bx18

-> Let's have a look on a deeply sad Magnus after Alec broke up with him. His best friend Cat is not available and he needs someone to talk to. Painful memories of him and Alec are haunting him and a homeless man gives him a lesson in life.

I remember the pain very well, which I went through a few weeks ago when I collapsed because of Lorenzo's magic. I thought I had reached the peak of my pain tolerance. Such an enormous pain that led me to experience my deepest desires. I had this dream, this idea of a perfect life with Alec. We sat at the table ate waffles were joking about crêpes laughing and dancing. A dream quite obvious. Dazzle, deception I would have many names to call it. Never again, I had sworn after Camille. Never again would I open myself, make myself so naked and vulnerable towards another person. Over 400 years old but I never learn. I'm not worth being loved. Not even my mother loved me enough to stay with me. How could I assume that it would be different with Alec? Maybe because he had said so? Because after all these years of incompleteness he gave me the feeling of finally being whole and complete? Because he made me feel like I was the only important thing in the world, the only thing that matters? And even worse, all these things I do have for him. Even now while I'm sitting here and still can't believe it, can't understand it and don't want to understand it. Even now I know that the love for him and thus the associated loss will be my end. A life without Alec surpassed every imaginable pain. "Stay with me" I had whispered desperately. And I thought I knew pain, I knew loss. But as Alec walked through that door, the memories of us shattered into thousand pieces and pelted down on me like dangerous shards of glass. I can clearly visualize the splinters above me. As if they were real and every single one of them wafer-thin and razor-sharp, shoots down on me and right through my heart. My heart that doesn't seem to beat any longer, because there is no reason for it to beat anymore and even worse there is no one there for it to beat for. Magnus sat huddled up on the floor in Maryse' bookstore. He was replaying the past situation over and over again in his head. And tried to figure out when the exact moment must have been when Alec realized that the relationship was no longer working for him. Was it already after his collapse at the institute in his office last week or after the failed dinner yesterday or even before? He knew that he wasn't an easy Person and his personality wasn't simple either. As well that his losses had entirely thrown him off track. Magnus trembled with anger and the tears flowed down his face hot and salty. At first he was angry at Alec because he had left him and then at himself because he knew that this time it was his fault. His depressive mood fluctuation, the constant self-pity and not to forget his slightly exaggerated alcohol consumption had teared the couple apart. He took a deep breath and stood up to put on his jacket. He had to get out of here because he didn't want to accidentally fall asleep and still lie here like a bunch of misery, when Maryse comes back tomorrow to open the store. "You're part of the family." he heard her voice in his head. Every single word was a sting in his heart and the pain it caused almost strangled the air out of him. Alec was everything he had ever wanted, his one true love, his home, his safe haven and his soul mate. And now he was gone, forever. Magnus left the bookstore and locked the door behind him. He hid the key in the large flowerpot next to the front door. But where should he go now? His first instinct was to go to the next best bar, but then it occurred to him that his drinking was a reason for his new single existence and he decided to discard this idea. So he wrote Cat a text message to ask if she would like to eat two or three cans of ice cream with him later and just started to walk in no specific direction. Without knowing it he suddenly stood in front of a big rusty heart made out of metal with the capital letters L O V E beside it and the next memory of him and Alec appeared. His smiling face as he proudly presented Magnus the lock he bought to implement the European tradition in New York. Their trip to Paris had inspired him to place a symbol of their love here as well. A symbol of their eternal love, "Aku cinta kamu", Magnus heard himself whispering before he shrugged from the touch on his shoulder and the memory faded away. He turned around to identify the person and saw a scraggy man in a dirty checkered shirt and a much too-short dirty pair of trainer pants. Clearly a homeless person. Magnus looked at him expectantly with his face smeared with tears.  "I noticed that you weren't doing very well..." he began to speak hesitantly. "Maybe you would like to feed the pigeons with me... that calms me down most of the time when I am sad... and I have a half of sandwich left that I would share with you... if you like? You look so sad..." the homeless man said with a throaty smoky voice that was actually much too deep for his stature. Magnus was visibly irritated but wrested to a smile as he nodded and followed the man to the nearest bench. Cat still hadn't responded to his message, probably she had a late shift. And since Magnus urgently needed someone to talk to, he decided to trust this stranger man with his sorrows. Of course a censored version without shadowhunters, warlocks and vampires. The cool October breeze blew passt the two of them and they sat there for a while and remained silent. Bob the homeless man fed the pigeons with some grains and breadcrumbs. As he broke the silence. "I wasn't always homeless, you know," he suddenly spoke. "I had a great job, a lot of money, a beautiful house, my wife and kids... But when the children grew up and moved out and my wife died cause of her illness a year ago and I was suddenly alone, I realized that all these material things were worth nothing to me. He looked at Magnus to see if he was listening to him and nodded as he continued speaking. "For some reason we all define ourselves more and more by status symbols and forget that it's the little things that really count. Like spending unforgettable moments with your loved ones." Again he looked at Magnus who slightly blushed under his examining gaze. "Every day I try to give something back to the people around me. I help in the soup kitchen or clean the streets in winter and so on. They are small things but they fulfill me. Some people look at me and see a disgusting homeless person, but why should it bother me how others see me as long as the people whom opinions really matters, know my story and love and appreciate me? Love is the only true currency and once you have found it you don't need anything else. He paused and looked into the void when he asked: "Do you believe in magic and the magic behind love? The Has-been-warlock thought about the question and although Bob didn't know that Magnus is, was a centuries old warlock, and belonges to the shadow world. Magnus still felt as if the homeless man could completely see through him. Magic, yes he believed in magic and he thought he was missing his and the immortality and that he'd be nothing without it. But the truth is Bob was right. There is another kind of magic. Magnus chose his words with caution as he replied. "I thought I had everything, too. A great job, a great home, magic... well..." He cleared his throat and continued: "The love of my life I mean, but he left me and it is my fault. He faltered as he spoke and Bob didn't urged him to speak any further. Instead he continued: "I have learned to renounce, because I can and not because I have to. What does the well paid job mean if you don't have anyone you can share the money with? Or worse, what use does money have if you're lonely at the end of the day? We don't live forever and the time we have should be used sensibly. I miss my wife every day, but I know that the time with her was magical and when your girlfriend..." he broke off when he saw Magnus raising his eyebrows. "Your... boyfriend...?" he asked hesitantly and Magnus nodded half-heartedly. "Probably more my ex-boyfriend now" he murmured embarrassed. Bob looked at him insistently as he began his speech again. "If your boyfriend is really the love of your life you should ask yourself if you want to fight for your relationship or try to forget him and guide your time and energy into a meaningful direction. A dove sits on my lap as I open my eyes. It's already dark and Bob has left, if he was even real... and I didn't just imagine the whole conversation. I'm not sure cause I'm holding an empty tequila bottle, wrapped up in a paper bag in my hand and my head is humming. So much for that no more alcohol statement before. Alec's face appears again, his loving smile... God my soul hurts and it's hard to think clear. I have to shake away the thoughts of his perfect face. Fight for us or guide my energy into a meaningful direction Bob had said. I had fought, hadn't I? I literally threw myself at him when he was about to leave me. Begged him to stay, kissed him and tried to show him that I was still the same. That I love him and need him. But he didn't care, he left and I can't and don't want to forget him. Or can I? I always kept telling myself that the pain after a break up is part of the process to forget, it's there to learn from your mistakes. But a life without Alec and knowing that he left me literally tears me apart and I only know one person who can take all those bitter-sweet memories away from me. Yes maybe I'm a coward, maybe that makes me hypocritical and weak but I don't want to stand on a bridge again and... I just can't live with the memories. I need to talk to Jem Carstairs and ask him to erase my memories of Alec.

[snarktheater]

Shadowhunters — Episode 2x16

Last time, Sebastian…I mean Jonathan Morgenstern…revealed his true identity and killed the real Sebastian Verlac. So I guess that means the plot will finally progress past that, right?

Right?

Yeah, spoiler: no it doesn't.

In other despair-inducing news, Simon's still getting an ungoldy amount of screen time in various plot cul-de-sacs for some reason. You'd think someone would realize that he has no bearing on the plot and either write him out in adaptation or actually incorporate it in the plot better, but, nope!

Luckily, I can sum up his subplot much quicker this time around. Maia wants to cheer Simon up, because he's moping over the Clary situation and killing someone. Which, the latter at least is a decent enough source of angst, so of course they'll barely talk about it and spend the rest of the episode avoiding the issue entirely. Which annoys the hell out of me, because there are really interesting points to make, regarding both the ethicals and the emotional aspects of killing in self-defense (which Simon did). Instead the show…seems in a rush to move on from it.

Anyway. Maia offers happy hour to lift Simon's mood, but, well, getting drunk got him in this situation in the first place, so that's a no. Hey, some good decision making, finally!

Instead, Simon mentions he's visiting his family for Yom Kippur, and his grandmother's even coming from out of town. Maia expresses concern that he hangs out with mundanes in his current state, where he could be a danger, so she basically invites herself, even though Simon points out that's not really something you do for Yom Kippur. (Side-note: I'm not very familiar with Jewish holidays, so I'll just take everything here at face value. If you want to raise issues, I'll remind you all that I have comments on this blog)

So we cut to dinner, where Maia introduces herself as Simon's girlfriend, and charms everyone with her \~hidden depths\~. By which I mean she's studying marine biology in college, and really, it says a lot about the show that Maia's been around for most of the season and it's the first time we're learning anything about her beyond "she's a bartender and she's seen some shit".

But then, drama! Simon's mom apparently has a tradition of telling everyone in the family what sins you're atoning for this Yom Kippur, and that might mean Simon will have to confess to being a vampire, and, you know, killing a dude. Oh no, whatever shall he—

Yeah, Maia makes something up to save face. He's fine. Ironically enough, Maia ends up talking about how she's estranged from her family and wants to reconnect with them. Even though 1) Simon's family are total strangers to her, 2) she's not even Jewish and doesn't observe this specific family tradition and 3) doesn't owe Simon shit.

So Simon's safe, dinner was perfect, and Simon apologizes for never finding out more about Maia. Which…I guess apologizing is the best he can do at this point. Maia's fine with it, and gives him a kiss on the cheek before leaving.

Must be true love. You know, until the show feels compelled to make Simon and Isabelle hook up. I don't really expect them to change the book's endgame ships.

So that was a completely pointless interlude. Let's check in on the actual plot, where Jonathan has taken Valentine to his cottage by Lake Lyn, in Idris. He does a whole lot of monologuing at Valentine throughout this episode, and…I'll be honest, I kept zoning out during it. I know, it's not really good criticism to boast about your inability to keep up with the thing you're criticizing, but it was all generic rehashing of what we already know about these characters.

"You made me what I am, Father. Everything you did to me created this. And now it's my turn to replay the favor."

I mean, this is ominous enough, but like…we know that Valentine made him who he is. And it doesn't really tell us much about his motivation going forward, because "repay the favor" could be misconstrued in any number of ways.

Well, I'm lying a little bit. We don't know everything that Valentine did to him. Remember how Jonathan's true form is burned to a crisp? I took that to mean he had been permanently like that after the Fairchild house burned down. You know, when he was a baby and Valentine faked his death. But that's not actually the case! Turns out, in this continuity, Valentine was so afraid of his own son's murderous tendencies, he ended up sending him to Edom. You know, literal hell.

This, however, backfired, because while Jonathan was tortured (including having his skin burned off as he is now), he was also taught to use his demon powers. Which, as I hinted at in the previous episode's review, he can only use while in his true form.

"I may be grotesque in my own skin, but with it I have power that you could only dream of."

He still stays as Sebastian most of the time, because…

"I think it rather suits me."

Translation: it's easier on the budget. Which, fair enough. I prefer looking at Will Tudor's face anyway.

All this comes up because Valentine also has no idea what his son wants, or even how he escaped. For the latter, turns out he and Azazel made a deal to basically free each other. But their motives are separate; so Jonathan's not after the Mortal Instruments. What does he want, you ask?

"You'll find out soon enough."

Allow me to yawn.

Well, we do find out his immediate plan eventually. By "repaying the favor", turns out Jonathan means sending Valentine to Edom like he did to him before. Which leads to a race against time, since our protagonists kind of want Valentine back.

Speaking of which, the protagonists! I haven't talked about them yet. Well, Jace is a one-track mind who's really sad that Clary keeps avoiding him, because it's not like she has the right to mourn her relationship with Simon or anything. Clary, thankfully, will have none of it.

"Jace, Valentine's missing, okay? We have more important things to deal with right now."

Speaking of important things, Alec's apparently taking the blame for Valentine going missing. On both ends: the Downworlder cabinet is currently meeting at the Seelie Court, without him, which isn't a good sign; and the Clave is sending a representative, possibly to replace him as head of the Institute.

But no, it's actually Robert, and he saved Alec's job. Yay, I guess? I'm never sure what the expect me to think about that. I mean, the Clave is corrupt and/or inefficient, it's definitely bigoted and a little fascist, so…why should I be happy whether the protagonists are in good standing with them?

Somewhere, in another universe, the Shadowhunter books are about overthrowing the Clave and making a new Shadowhunter organization composed of Nephilim and Downworlders working side by side and making decisions together. Sadly, we are not in that universe, so we're meant to be relieved that Alec still leads the Institute. And we're also supposed to care about his issues with his dad cheating on his mom. Which, I guess I feel sympathy for him, but also, Robert's making it really hard to root for him.

"I never meant to hurt you. But I fell in love. You of all people should know what that's like." "Magnus isn't an affair!"

Yeah. As they say, bitch please. The issue with cheating is that you committed to be faithful to someone else, not that you're in love. I can't believe I still have to say that.

Alec, being the bigger person to his own father, decides to stop arguing about this and focus on the search for Valentine. Which leads us to…well, that.

Turns out, Jace requested to be assigned with Clary, right after she expressed the need for some space, because disrespecting someone's wishes is sexy, you guys. So sexy. Oh, wait, no, I meant it's terrible and you shouldn't do that.

Anyway. The Clave believes Valentine's still in New York, but Jace doesn't think so. In fact, he's guessed Valentine's exact location, because…Mary Sue Guessing Powers, I guess? I mean, he does know Valentine, obviously. The issue is more…Valentine didn't pick the cottage, Jonathan did, and Jace doesn't know him at all. Lucky coincidence?

Whatever. Problem is, Jace didn't get permission from the Clave to Portal into Idris to search the place, because the Clave is useless. Since a warlock can't Portal into Idris's wards without permission, this is a problem…for about five seconds. Time for more of Clary's convenient new runes! Even better: this time around, the rune just happens to be in the shape of Lake Lyn on the map. I don't know how that matters, but the show decided to do it, so it must clearly be relevant and totally not something utterly random.

So Clary opens a Portal on the fly, gets it right immediately, and they take it to Lake Lyn. Clary does make an excuse that they have to take it right now because she has no idea if she can open another one, but that sounds pretty convenient.

You know the next scene from the books: Clary ends up in the water and loses her stele, and Jace has to rescue her. Also, Jace himself left his stele in New York, since they kind of improvised this. What's different from the books, is that Jace has no idea of Lake Lyn's hallucinogenic properties, so when Clary starts tripping and goes off on her own, he has no idea what's going on and he loses her pretty fast.

Luckily, the Portal…broke into shards after they took it? Don't question it, it's just a way for Alec and Isabelle to find out where Jace and Clary are after Alec senses through the parabatai bond that something happened to Jace. Robert sees it too, and he knows about Lake Lyn's effects, down to and including that Clary will lose her mind completely if she's not cured soon with an iratze rune. You know, the healing ones. I can't remember if the show ever actually established that; it feels like at some point they just started throwing the term around and expecting the audience to know what it means.

Anyway, this does create some tension, so while it's a little contrived, I mostly approve of this change. See, now Robert has to get a Portal authorized for Isabelle to go after Clary and Jace and heal them (well, heal Clary, but they don't know for sure who's affected) before it's too late. And since Jace and Clary don't have a stele, they can't just do it on their own. By the way, Alec's stuck at the Institute because, you know, leadership stuff.

The fact that Robert's the one who has the information…sure, why not, he's older and important and stuff. It also gives me a nice opportunity to remind people that I did end up writing that fanfiction of him and Michael Wayland getting it on while high off the Lake Lyn's waters, based on Tales from Shadowhunter Academy. I'm not linking it in this post, because come on, this is a classy blog. But it exists. And is probably not that hard to find. ~~Or you can always just drop by my ask box, if you're really interested.~~

But back to the plot. Clary sees Ithuriel, who looks much younger now that he's recovered from being Valentine's prisoner. He tells her that Jonathan's still alive, and gives her some cryptic advice before leaving, so you know he's not a hallucination. Unfortunately, Clary assumes he's talking about Jace, so that's lost on her. For now.

Isabelle arrives to Lake Lyn, and finds Jace first. He didn't drink any of the lake's waters, so he's fine, but as I mentioned, he lost Clary, and she's not. They find her quickly enough, but she's delirious to the point where she doesn't recognize them and starts fighting them. And she can take them two on one, because…hallucinations make you stronger? Yeah, I doubt it.

Clary breaks Isabelle's stele in the struggle, so she can't be healed. Oh no, whatever shall they do? Oh yeah, Jace still has his angel power to activate runes without a stele, so she's fine. Crisis averted.

They set out for Valentine's cottage, where Jonathan's in the process of opening a portal to Edom to send Valentine there. During the ritual, however, Valentine manages to grab the Soul-Sword. While Clary permanently disabled its Downworlder-killing abilities, it still forces Shadowhunters to speak the truth, and he tells Jonathan that he realizes he was wrong to send him to hell, and he's the ultimate warrior that Valentine was looking to create after all.

"You have always been my greatest creation, son. Always!"

This sways Jonathan, who changes his mind, and they leave the cottage together right on time for Clary, Jace and Isabelle to find the cottage empty, but with traces of their recent presence.

"We're too late."

No shit.

So they head back, taking Valentine's journals with them.

But our heroes' troubles are not over! As I mentioned, Jonathan has the Soul-Sword, which no one was aware of until now. Well, no one except Robert, and that's how he saved Alec's position as head of the New York Institute, which he reveals to Alec because…long story short, Max found his blackmail messages to Imogen, and Robert blew up at him over it, which Isabelle found out and told Alec about. This is just setup for the next episode, which is why I saved it for the end of the review. Specifically:

"Are you gonna tell Magnus?"

Gee, it's Shadowhunters. Honesty and open communication happen approximately once every blue moon. I wonder.

Meanwhile, while studying the journals, Jace finds out that Valentine was recording his experiments with him and Jonathan. And for some reason, even though he was studying them, Clary's the one who points out that these experiments all happen long after Jonathan supposedly die as a baby.

"He was talking about my brother. He's still alive."

Well, good. Now are we moving past the impostor Sebastian plot line? Find out next time, because right now, Valentine and Sebastian just have a lovely, evil family dinner.

[ohliverfelicity]

chokehold

“Well, there you have it," Magnus sighed dramatically, "the things I would do for you, Alexander Lightwood."

or: when magnus proposes to alec, it doesn’t go as well as he had planned.

Mundane traditions were never Alec's go-to's but Magnus always entertained them because he found them endearing. The thing about mundanes was that they were so ignorant of the world that was devouring theirs completely, of demons and monsters, that they lived and loved carelessly and to the fullest and if anything, Magnus found that horribly wonderful.

So when it came to the stage in their lives where Magnus and Alec had come to terms with the unshakable fact that there would be no one in their lives but each other, Magnus looked for ways that were perfect enough in both their intention and presentation to ask Alec Lightwood to marry him. Magnus had watched innumerable episodes of reality tv shows and angsty movies alike to know by now at least seven different ways of proposing. There was the 'propose at the top of a roller coaster' option, but Alec was terrified of roller coasters though he'd never admit it, and the 'gather the whole family on a national holiday and set up a public spectacle' option but for one, he'd seen that one go downhill and end up in public embarrassment too many times when the significant other said 'no' and second, Alec wasn't fond of public declarations of undying love. At the end, what was utterly them, and said 'stay-home date, good food and a private evening to themselves' was the notorious hide-the-ring-in-dessert tradition. Alec loved it when Magnus cooked instead of magically conjured food and everything else was too uncharacteristic of them anyway, so Magnus planned the night of his life.

When the day came, Alec arrived home early with wild hair and a huge smile. He was told, like Magnus had watched on TV, that this was a good old, normal, plain-Jane kind of date.

"Magnus," Alec smiled brightly, approaching Magnus after he'd showered, "You look great."

Magnus looked at Alec with amusement, down at his half-sleeved grey shirt, an accomplishment of a change from his birthright black wardrobe.

"Alexander," he replied in his huskiest voice, "You're rocking the spring colours too, my darling."

Alec laughed with feigned exasperation and something carefree in his eyes that looked more beautiful than any clothing item would on him. Magnus had started witnessing that airy, freeing thing in Alec more and more often now: sometimes in the loose way his shoulders fell even when Magnus touched him around his mother, or in the way he intertwined their fingers on a crosswalk, and sometimes, just sometimes, like on New Years' Eve, in how Alec would kiss the sanity out of Magnus in front of a whole crowd of people without a backwards glance with that feeling of having nothing to lose.

The rooftop looked beautiful, with glowing paper lanterns and Christmas lights hanging along the walls. Magnus had set a table in the middle, lit with candlelight and adorned with flowers he couldn't name. There were platters of rice and sauces and meats and everything else that Alec liked best and Magnus promised him that nothing had been stolen by magic, he'd cooked it all himself.

"You know, you really didn't have to do all this," Alec said, "I know you're allergic to it."

"Allergic to what?"

"Manual cooking."

"Well, there you have it," Magnus sighed dramatically, "the things I would do for you, Alexander Lightwood."

"Oh wow, I never knew I could eat this much." Alec had been bullied by Magnus to try absolutely everything on the table because "I slaved over the entire day for you, Alexander Lightwood" and besides, Alec had truly been touched by the effort. He kept mulling over in his head the possible reasons that called for such an eager Magnus tonight and it wasn't anyone's birthday, it wasn't Magnus' yearly anniversaries of getting banned from anywhere in the world, so really, he resigned to  believing that since he loved good food and Magnus loved him, it was an innocent, uneventful gesture.

"Oh, but you haven't even tried the best part of the night yet," Magnus said to Alec's horror. Alec really was full and with training everyday to stay in shape, Alec wasn't used to downing so much at a time.

"Really, because I think you're the best part of my night," Alec said in a low voice, raising his eyebrow in that mischievous way Magnus liked, and it was only partially because he was trying to divert Magnus' attention from the food. Magnus looked at him intently and he almost caved in to kissing Alec right there and then, but he had an agenda and it wasn't going to get him engaged by the end of the night if he couldn't stay disciplined.

"Alec, darling, as much as I love you, the chocolate fudge cupcake I made for you loves you more, you're absolutely going to have to give it a shot."

If Alec was anything, he was stubborn by default and he'd really try anything to took to not eat it.

"How about I eat it tomorrow? Magnus, I love you for the cooking but I'm going to explode if you make me."

At this point, panic started rumbling in Magnus' stomach because maybe he shouldn't have tried to force Alec to eat absolutely everything on the table, maybe he should've done dessert first, veggies later—

"Okay, I'll eat it," Alec sighed. Magnus looked up, surprised. Alec smiled at him, "Well you look so sad I'm not eating the cupcake thing, so preventing self-destruction isn't worth seeing you worried."

Magnus was confused until he realized the horror of Alec not getting to the cupcake part must have gotten to his face and as guilty as he was in tricking Alec, he was grateful for his concern. Besides, it would only take one bite for Alec to bite on the ring.

Alec sighed with a smile, "Well," he picked up the cupcake delicately and without flinching, "go big or go home, right," put the entire thing in his mouth in one go, just as Magnus registered the sight with horror and had time to say, "No, Alec don't—"

Everything that happened after happened way too quickly. Magnus was reaching for Alec in horror, Alec Lightwood, epic soldier and powerful Head of the Institute choked on his own wedding ring, several utensils clattered to the ground, and somehow, after lots of dragging and coughing, Magnus managed to lay Alec on the ground, with his arm under Alec's head, trying to get him to breathe.

"Oh for God's sake Alexander, the whole thing? You can't take things slow can you," Magnus mumbled with an ugly combination of worry and anxiety.

 All he'd wanted to do tonight was to propose to the light of his life to marry him and he instead had him on the concrete floor of a rooftop, under the most romantic moonlight and the coolest night wind, choking out empty air instead of a "yes, Magnus, yes."

Marriage was a big deal for everyone, mundane, shadow hunter, downworlder alike, but for Magnus, it was colossal. It was acceptance and finality and finally calling a place home because home was where he'd smell Alec's clothes and hear Alec's voice. It meant Magnus still owned a villa in Paris and a mansion in Rome but home was his loft in New York City. Magnus Bane loved a place of a few two thousand square feet, decorated not with paintings of L'arc de Triumph or any work of Picasso, but with sloppy photo booth pictures of Alec and him, with a bedside frame of Alec Lightwood on his 20th birthday, where the couches were draped with Alec's jackets and the laundry bin was filled with nothing but seven pairs of Alec's black jeans. He'd never had that dependency before, never waited up for anyone after midnight before. He'd loved before, yes, but this was so much more than love. It was need and it was trust and it was everything that could break Magnus and he was holding it dearly in the palm of his hand and offering it to Alec tonight in a chocolate fudge cupcake, if only Alec would say yes.

Alec coughed a final time, his eyes red and his throat hoarse and he coughed up the culprit in his hand.

He groaned, "I think I'm okay now," Alec said hoarsely. Magnus almost laughed.

"You can't get rid of me with a poorly cooked cupcake. I'm not that eager to leave," Alec joked and Magnus had just looked a little wilted. Alec sensed that he had murdered, or rather, had choked up the mood and then spat it out, so he brought his free hand up to Magnus' cheek.

"Hey, I'm sorry I choked on your cupcake. It really was good though, don't look so upset, I loved it," Alec grinned. Magnus looked down and him, at the way he was still looking up at Magnus with his cheeks flushed and eyes eager and Alec Lightwood had never looked more beautiful.

He smiled, his heart ramming against his chest because Alec still hadn't opened up his fist to see what he'd choked on. He was almost afraid of what'd happened next, he'd had everything planned out and then this happened and there was nothing else to do.

Magnus took a deep breath, preparing his heart for a massacre and whispered, "Open up your fist, Alexander."

Alec looked confusedly at Magnus and then his hand, then shifted his eyes slowly back towards Magnus' face.

"Okay," he said tentatively, and Alec's fingers opened to reveal a shining, (magically cleaned, he presumed) silver ring on his palm. It had thin, elegant carvings on the outer edges that was simple and remarkable in its making. The first thing Alec thought of it, strangely, was that the clean styling was so Alec-like. It took Alec a while to understand what he was looking at, why there was a random ring he'd never seen in the cupcake Magnus had made him, why Magnus had insisted he eat it. Did Magnus want to show him a new ring? He'd never done that before. If not, then why—

Oh.

Magnus practically witnessed the hurricane of questions and confusion pass over Alec's features, his eyebrows knit in concentration, his eyes shifting to process his thoughts and then, Magnus saw, the moment, the eureka moment, when it all clicked into place, and for all the emotions in the world, Magnus felt cold fear rise up his throat.

Alec froze, his pupils blown as realization finally dawned and he finally thought that for all the battle plans and strategies he could think of, why hadn't he known what this was before? Somewhere, a string in his heart went loose and Alec felt like he was breathing for the first time because he didn't deserve this, he didn't think he could ever have this and how did he get so lucky—

"Yes," he whispered with awe, after what Magnus will describe had felt like a decade, to their children.

Alec looked at Magnus and this time it was just raw awe and wonder that was choking the air out of his lungs when he tried saying it louder, "Yes, I'll marry you," and he didn't give Magnus a chance to finally let go of his breath because too quickly, they were kissing and it felt infinite and perfect and for a moment, all of New York held it's breath as Alec Lightwood kissed life back into Magnus Bane.

That night, Alec laughed like he had conquered the world.

"Angel, Magnus, murdering your fiancé via unintentional choking would've sure landed you in the next edition of World's Best Husbands."

Magnus had laughed too, because it all felt unreal: the words, being able to laugh as if there were flowers planted in his lungs and feeling Alec's laughter build a home in his bones. He didn't know which was more magical, that Alec Lightwood, doused in cool moonlight, looked like a mirage laying there in red silk bed sheets, or that looking at him, Magnus feared that he would perish in the strength and intensity of what he felt for this Lightwood boy.

And when Alec leaned in and kissed him this time, Magnus knew it was neither. The only magic in the world was this and this and this.

[ralfstrashcan]

3x05 Malec Scene Analysis

I already gushed about this scene in my reaction to that episode but honestly, there is so much to this that it needs a separate post. Here we go.

He says this so flatly, the implied question “Why didn't you answer?” isn't even a question anymore. I feel there is slight accusation in his voice, betraying his nerves, showing how on edge he is, before the box-immortality-topic is even addressed. This shows that it's been in his mind all day, since he first peeked into the box and it hasn't left his thoughts ever since.

*“I've been busy.” (Damn, incorrect subtitles, driving me crazy.)

Sure, Magnus, so busy with accounting you didn't have time to answer your boyfriend. You're not fooling anyone. With the knowledge that Magnus already knew that Alec had looked through his things I think it's pretty obvious that Magnus has been avoiding Alec. Why? Maybe he was hurt and/or angry that Alec would invade his privacy. Or maybe he couldn't bear the thought that he'd talk to Alec and Alec won't mention what he did, will lie about it, even if it's only lying by omission. I think after that whole Soul Sword Debacle it's safe to say that Magnus is a bit sensitive about that.

I love that Alec is so honest, because this is who he is. Even with that Soul Sword Debacle, he immediately admitted that he knew when Magnus confronted him.

First off, I hope that Magnus would have addressed this matter himself if Alec hadn't, but since Alec did we'll never know. Second off, notice how Magnus busies himself with things to do? He is clearly tense about this whole affair, and this is the first indication.

“I had no right. It was an invasion of your privacy and I'm sorry.”

I don't need to say anything to Alec's apology except it's very Alec: short and to the point, very accurate, and not trying to find excuses for what he did. He's taking full responsibility for his actions.

“Apology accepted.”

Magnus forgives easily, this isn't news, but I feel like he should have tagged on an “if it never happens again.” I don't think Alec would do something like this again and Magnus probably thinks that, too, but. I don't know. I feel like it should be acknowledged from Magnus as well that what Alec did here was a serious breach of privacy and this is something huge. Even if it is forgiven almost instantly I imagine Magnus was pretty worked up about it when he first found out and he should communicate that, because I feel like he tends to gloss over how much stuff affects him.

“He.. must be special.”

I love everything about the way this line is delivered. The hesitance to ask (curling his lip, glancing around), his tone... perfect. On any other occasion I would think it insolent to talk about something you found out by looking through another person's stuff without their permission, especially because Magnus's reaction earlier left no doubt that he didn't want Alec to know what was in the box. But in this situation I can't really fault Alec, because the way this must have been invading his thoughts all day is so relatable. His tone is vulnerable, he sounds wary, as if he's scared to ask. And I think he kind of is.

“He was. A brave soldier. Like someone else I know.”

I get it. Magnus is trying to lighten the mood or maybe trying to convey that he cares for Alec, but this is like the wrongest thing he could have said, and I honestly don't understand why he didn't realize that. If there is a way to make Alec feel like he's replaceable or maybe even being the replacement, comparing him to an ex Magnus obviously cared about is the best way to do that.

This pained face says it all. Alec tries to credit Magnus's attempt to cheer him up, but he can't. The fake smile falls right off his face because the implications of Magnus's words, or at least what Alec understands from them, hurts too much.

I don't really understand this smile, to be honest. It's not an “Ah dammit, that fell flat”-Smile and Alec's :l-face really doesn't warrant a real smile, so. I don't understand it. Suggestions?

Especially because Magnus senses the fraught mood and tries to distract with cocktails immediately after this. He wouldn't do that if he honestly thought everything was fine i.e. he believed Alec's fake smile.

>>fast forward>>

I love this. I feel like half the time Magnus's No. 1 Coping Mechanism with issues is Ignore It Until It Goes Away. (Just remember the Soul Sword Debacle: “It's all in the past.” Wtf dude it was literally two days ago and it was a big ass issue and not talking about it is really not helpful... but whatever, that's not the point here.) Magnus had the perfect set up to ignore the issue at hand. If he'd gone and come back with drinks I have no doubt that Alec would have let it go, put on an unaffected face and faked his way through, acting as if this didn't eat him up inside. Magnus probably knows this, too. This is the moment Magnus realizes he can't do this to Alec, to them. And even though it's the harder choice he chooses to address it.

“You're not jealous, are you?”

Perfect.

“You were weird before, when I asked about moving in.”

I love how this isn't objectively an answer to Magnus's question, but really is. This isn't about some soldier guy or jealousy. This is about Alec wondering if he's the only one currently residing in Magnus's heart. I love that the box wasn't the only cause for his wondering; the Moving In Talk was a different incident factoring into Alec's thoughts. He didn't see the box and freak out – he's trying to piece a picture together based on two unrelated events.

Magnus. This isn't an answer. The way he delivers it, dismissive head shake and all, is (in my opinion) a calculated move. It really doesn't seem that way, but Magnus is a good actor. (He gets that form Harry. Hahaha ok sorry for that li'l punch through the forth wall. Shutting up now.) I get why he does it. He must have realized by now that Alec is feeling insecure, and going into how these people still mean something to him, and how he kinda in a way maybe still loves them isn't really the right conversation topic for now... but you can't tell me he would just shake off a past lover like that, like the fact that he's been dead for a century means he lost his place in Magnus's heart. Just remember the reverent way with which Magnus touched the objects in the box earlier. He wouldn't do that, wouldn't have this box at all if he really meant that head shake.

*“The man's been dead for over a century.” Incorrect subtitles strike again, trying to smoothen that statement. “The man”? You can't convince me Magnus would talk like that about someone he loved once.

>>fast forward>>

Again, perfect delivery. There's impatience, incomprehension and undeniable tension. He could have made sense of all the stuff being George's, but to keep all these things from different people.. he can't understand it or doesn't want to understand what it means, and it's clearly alarming him.

Damn. You can see the pain of memories, the melancholy in his eyes.

*“Why do you keep it?”

I'm not too sure what to make of that line, because it lacks the urgency from before. Alec seems kinda relieved to know that the stuff didn't belong to one person alone, tho why? The only explanation that makes sense to me is that he doesn't expect a relationship to have that much of an impact past its expiration date. Like Magnus's life is divided into different compartments and now that he's with Alec, all the past relationships he's had are in closed boxes (pun not intended) and don't interfere. It's probably a naive way of looking at it, but this is Alec's first relationship and even though he is very mature in most aspects of his life I believe there are some things you have to experience to extend your expertise past a certain point.

Okay, thanks for casually breaking my heart. As an avid fan of Merlin and Doctor Who I'm no stranger to immortality angst, but this is the one aspect I tend to ignore because it's too painful to deal with. Outliving everything and everyone you know is one thing, but forgetting them? And being entirely helpless to do something against it? To be honest I'm very glad I'm mortal.

>>fast forward>>

“Well. Now that I've seen some of that history with my own eyes...”

The way he looks, the way he closes his eyes for a second, the way he swallows. He's scared of rejection. He's scared this will turn out to be a thing Alec can't deal with. All honesty wouldn't have helped. It would have all been in vain, and he's bracing himself for that.

I'm not usually one for symbolism, but this, this even I couldn't miss. The shot shows Alec and Magnus in opposite sides of the frame, with a thick black void between them. This is their argument, this shows how they fail to communicate and reach one another at this moment in the conversation. (Keep this in mind for later.)

Yeah, well. That is the face of a person that has spend a lot of time thinking about that exact thing already. In general, in other cases, and about Alec.

So first off I wanna give a shout out to that facial expression because it's both hilarious and wonderful. Second off, Alec completely disregards Magnus’s perspective here, which is understandable since he's only just started thinking about that whole thing and is therefore fixed on his own perspective.

It makes Magnus's outburst all the more understandable. Because Alec makes it sound as if moving on will be easy for him. His frustration is palpable, because he's been in this exact same position often enough already to know that the outcome is always the same. He lives on, his love dies. And nothing can change that.

Also I love that even though Magnus raises his voice, probably for the first time since they know each other, Alec doesn't flinch back or anything. He just looks at Magnus, assessing him.

“I am immortal! It's not as if I have a choice. I can't change what I am and neither can you.”

And here they are now. Raw.

This is Magnus, full on pleading to let the subject drop.

The way he slowly walks up to Alec and finally holds onto his jacket. Alec can't deny him. He nods those little nods that you do when you know you have no choice but to agree, but at the same time you wanna curl up somewhere and feel miserable for a while.

Also, remember that stuff about symbolism? Here we have the second part. Magnus crossed the void and they are on the same side now. I wouldn't say that the worst part of their conflict is over, but they've decided to take a break from it for now, and that itself is a small victory.

Alec doesn't answer, he leans in and kisses Magnus, though that is probably answer enough.

And while Magnus keeps his eyes closed (the way he almost always does after they kiss) and seems to look at least a little peaceful, Alec is watching him and thinking sad, serious, alec-y thoughts.

“You're right. I love you, too.”

Yeah, I feel like that 'you're right' part only means Magnus's implied 'I love you.'

That line. It's so much. It's continuing Magnus's theme of staying in the moment, but at the same time it's an allusion to Alec's “I'm not going anywhere.” Magnus isn't exactly reminding Alec of what he promised, it's more like he's repeating it to himself, a reassurance. Because he's the one that was reminded of his pending loss by this conversation.

Alec smiles, and it does look genuine. Despite his dark thoughts Magnus can bring out his happiness.

But as soon as Magnus leaves we get this

and it's clear that this is far from over.

Also I feel like the theme that played in the background was the same as during those Scenes where Magnus was contemplating his past with his mother killing herself and he killing his father, so yeah. Great mood reference.

(Gif Source)