#The Merry Thieves + basically everyone

[chaoskalo]

//Headcanon prompt— talk about how black mask is another mask Akechi wears!

you know what. sure !

so, i think to understand the loki / black mask persona that akechi has in royal, we need to understand robin hood. usual disclaimers off these are simply my ramblings and hcs and may or may not line up 100% w/ the game but sh.

we won't touch a lot on the "robin hood is goro's idealized view of justice," because it's very been there done that everyone agrees that it's canon. also i'll warn you now, this really ended up just being me rambling about loki as well so. maybe i didn't really answer the question it's fine.

robin hood steals from the rich and gives to the poor, he has a heart of gold, he has a band of merry men and fellow thieves that he would trust with his life, he has a woman who loves him even if sometimes things are complicated... ultimately, robin hood has a happy life, a happy existence. on the other hand, akechi has basically just known pain and rejection his entire life. he's never had anyone who truly loved or cared about him, that wanted him around for more than a short time. robin hood isn't just a pillar of justice, it's the life he's secretly always wanted.

with that out of the way... let's talk about loki.

we'll cut to chase and try to not get too into the myths of loki as that is a topic for another day. long story short though, loki is the manifestation of akechi's rage. all of his feelings of being outcast, about needing to avenge his mother, on shido... everything is rolled into the trauma holding persona that calls him a little bitch in his mind. loki tells him to let go of all this false pretense that akechi is a good person, that he actually believes any of this bullshit he spews. he reminds akechi of the fact that his anger is so all consuming that it's suffocating him.

in royal, black mask basically acts like a feral little goblin, and while you can see this as akechi just showing his real self, and i do think that's a valid interpretation... consider what i just said about loki. loki encourages a very... something coping mechanism in akechi literally tearing apart shadows to vent all of that excess anger out. black mask isn't really a true personality, ie. his mental state is constantly being fucked with just by using loki's powers at all, with the constant maniacal laughter and general feral actions.

you can probably see what i'm getting at here, in that black mask really is just... the only way he knows how to deal with and cope with whats happened in his life for a very long time. and it cracks in the engine room too, where he can no longer hide behind bloodlust and countless shadows, where he has to stand there and be faced with how his plan is crumbling down around him despite his best effort.

[northern-passage]

Is sign language something the Order teaches?

After asking that, I realise that it's much more likely that Handlers learn it as part of their education (being the one who engages with the common folk out of the duo).

But what if a Hunter wanted to learn it? Would they have to request being taught as well?

And outside of the Order, how is sign language treated in the overall world?

it is, actually! sign language is pretty widely taught as a second language in Adrania. that's not to say that everyone is fluent, though, and there are different dialects just like in real life (ie ASL vs BASL) if someone is fortunate enough to receive schooling they will typically study common sign language (which is mainly used for trade and is very formal), but whether or not they retain it and can still understand it varies from person to person, and again there are variations that will differ from the basic common version taught in a school. with the class divide in Adrania, i also imagine there would be a drastic difference between the culture and sign of lower classes (who most likely will not have received any kind of education) and the upper classes.

and you're right, Lea is the one that is more proficient in it between the two, mainly because they are the one doing most of the talking. the hunter has a basic understanding and can typically interpret signs, but isn't the best at signing themself. if you go with Merry in Blackwater, you can see her, Mal, and Branwen all sign to each other, with Branwen actually being hoh. the hunter recognizes that Branwen calls Merry a bastard, but for the most part the three sign too fast for the hunter to understand. Merry and Mal will continue to use sign throughout the story, and they actually use a variation that neither the hunter nor Lea will recognize, even if they were signing slower; think of it like the thieves cant, but in sign.

[amaryllisblackthorn]

MAJOR chain of thorns spoilers !!!

[[ negative thoughts under the readmore about a particularly topic ]]

i also cannot help but feel as though chain of gold did a better job at handling christopher's potential death when he was poisoned than chain of thorns did with christopher's actual death

like, yeah christopher died right when everyone didn't have time to afford to like properly mourn or grieve and they had to take action but like. still.

and i think part of it, for me at least, is that while we get bits of like, thomas grieving it's from an outside perspective and never iirc in his own point of view??? like, there's when he first finds out of course, and then you get i think cordelia remarking in her pov that thomas lost both his sister and basically brother in a year, and that he was the last of the merry thieves currently and he must be feeling so lonely etc but from what i recall we never get thomas' feelings and thoughts regarding these things when we're in his pov???? and yeah there are 'more important things' to focus on re: the watchers and stuff but it makes christopher's death feel empty and as a result unnecessary. it feels like the same story beats could have been accomplished by christopher being severely poisoned and like comatosed, while the adults are all unaccessible in Idris which worsen his odds or something. he's still taken out of commission and the stakes are still heightened.

maybe i would have taken his death better if he was immediately still or something after he's hit instead of i think lucie hearing him say afterwards,that he was fine, because iirc the actual moment he was hit came off as like significant and i thought he died but then it was like 'oh his shoulder's just hurt! he's just injured! dw we'll just be out of the way bc of his injury' and then it's like 'oh actually he's dead now'. i think that 'false hope' just made his sudden death feel kind of cheap to me, for lack of a better word, and contributed to his death feeling unnecessary. maybe his death would have felt at least a little bit 'better' to me if it wasn't for that, bc otherwise it came off less of a 'this is war and people die' situation and more of a 'he is dead simply for shock value' situation. like i get, in-universe, christopher saying he’s fine when he’s not but the way it played out, as a reader, was unsatisfying to me.

like, the doylist reason for his death is that one of the merry thieves had to die for ""realism"" sake but like. it shouldnt come off as that obviously being the reason when you're reading, you know? and at the very least it should be given the weight and respect it deserves ?? as it is it feels like christopher was killed off for shock value and bc 'well one of them has to die and christopher is the easiest one to get rid of' and everyone's like 'oh no! well we can't dwell on that rn' and then they just never dwell on it, and it just makes his death feel empty and unnecessary and it has me feeling sour ngl

and maybe im an unrealistic idealist who feels like none of the main kids had to die! but if they did i’d imagine their death having more weight and presence in the story after it’s happened !

like, i feel if it was matthew who died, there'd've been more dedicated to it. granted, he's james' parabatai . but still. i feel like if even thomas had died, there still would've been more.

thomas and christopher had such a close bond that we got to see in the other two books and the lack of thomas' feelings from his own perspective just feels wrong. i dont care if theyre shadowhunters and needed to focus on battle and the bigger picture. and i know that thomas especially tries to cope with grief by action. and maybe it's supposed to signify everyone's maturity in this book with their reactions vs back in chain of gold. but it still comes off as significantly unsatisfying. imo.

outside of the scene where thomas finds christopher is dead, and outside the brief moments of anna coming off as reckless/wanting to fight the watchers in anger bc of kit, a lot of the christopher grief came off sort of like ‘telling not showing’ if that makes sense??? 

not to mention that i like personally really dislike when a character survives something where death was like a legit real possibility to then just die later on, especially when it comes off as just killing someone for shock value and/or to signify that ““things are serious now””. you can claim that their surviving is 'false security' and spin it as subversion or whatever but. i just dont like it. i never like it, whether it's in book series or tv shows, except i guess cases where it's just done well and makes sense and is thematically satisfying. so like, christopher dying after being poisoned and in danger of dying back in chain of gold and surviving also has me feel dissatisfied. especially because his death came off as “well someone had to die” and the aftermath of it was so neglected and it just felt so unnecessary and im just really sour about it.

a lot of this is ramble-y and all over the place and i dont even know if i got out all that i wanted to in regards to my feelings and thoughts about the topic but. yeah.

[edwinspaynes]

What are your favorite sibling/platonic dynamics in TSC? I really appreciate Cordelia and Alastair as well as Gideon and Gabriel, but I think basically all the sibling sets are incredibly well written and deserving of love

SIBLINGS

Probably unsurprisingly, my favourite familial relationship dynamic in TSC belongs to Cordelia and Alastair as well. They're two of my favourite characters, which definitely helps a lot. But I also think they just have such an authentic and layered relationship.

Alastair has done everything he can to protect Cordelia and keep her safe, but at the price of pulling away emotionally from her; the loss is worth her safety to him. But Cordelia, who doesn't know this, feels abandoned by him and talks to mirrors for company. It's a really realistic relationship for two siblings who are simultaneously isolated and living in an abusive household, and I find it fascinating. But there's no argument that there's a lack of love between them, and I adore that so much.

Some of my all-time favourite TSC moments are them in ChoT, when they finally have escaped The Horrors(TM) and are allowed to reacquaint themselves with each other as normal siblings. They're close again, they're co-conspirators again; they're messing with each other and teasing and joking and they're peers, finally, and I love that.

Other TSC siblings I really like are Thomas/Eugenia/Barbara, Anna/Christopher, and Alec/Isabelle/Jace.

FRIENDS

My favorite TSC friendships are essentially every iteration of the Merry Thieves and the Carstairs siblings. I especially am fond of James/Matthew, but even more so Matthew/Thomas and Matthew/Alastair because I'm me. Thomas/Christopher hits every single one of the good buttons, too. Really, it's just all iterations.

I'm also extremely fond of Matthew and Anna's friendship. It's wonderful. Love seeing the absolute unashamed queer vibes from them. True gay/thespian solidarity.

Another friendship I love (totally switching gears) is Tessa/Sophie. They're so lovely whenever they're hanging out and also the SoBH letter Tessa writes to Sophie broke me. I also love both of their friendships with Charlotte, she's a great mentor/mother figure to him.

All six TMI characters also of course have one of the most touching friendships out there. They're the perfect found family, so well-balanced.

The immortals - Magnus, Ragnor, Catarina, and Tessa - also are a great friendship that hits the good spots.

Finally, I can't end this list without nodding to one of the objectively best platonic bonds Cassie has ever blessed us with - Will and Jem. I love the way that Will makes Jem more lively (as he does with almost everyone) and Jem has been a sort of salvation for Will.

[sorcerous-caress]

Yeah they did all live under the same roof and the same room because this version of the Merry Men are basically a thieves guild but I forgot to specify that each one of the kids have separate adoptive mothers that are all genderbent members of the Merry Men gang. Gillian Gysbourne who I made alongside my character’s mothers was taken in by Big Joan (genderbent Little John) Katharina Lamelin was taken in by Alana Adell (genderbent Alan-a-Dale) and Esai was taken in by Billie Scathelocke (genderbent Will Scarlett)

This one is Zarek a Warforged Paladin taken in by Cleric Till (genderbent Friar Tuck). Zarek is based on the story of King Midas specifically King Midas’ daughter who he turns to gold when she hugs him. In this version Zarek doesn't die when turned to gold he is still alive and able to move. Originally he was a human but due to the magic of being a man turned to gold he acts similarly to a warforged. After being turned to gold he ran away from his kingdom and ended up running into the Merry Men. He's the oldest of all the other kids being 18 when recruited while most of the others were around 8 or 9 when recruited and by the events of BG3 he’d be 29. He was also 18 when turned to gold and has looked 18 ever since not being able to age.

Also since there’s no option to actually make a character gold in BG3 I just had to give a rough idea of how he looks.

Also you’re right to see similarities in Robyn Hood and Jaheria because I immediately caught that after going to her house in Baldur’s Gate. Both blonde, both wear green, both are folk heroes, both have adopted kids. My Tav would probably be very close to Jaheria due to how much she reminds him of his mom. I don’t think he’d ever tell Jaheria why he’s so close to her though at least not unprompted.

Gold?? GOLD?? WARFORGED?

OKAY lemme be a nerd for a moment so.

Idk shit about electronics but I was researching stuff about computers the other day out of curiosity and I've always wondered why do they use so much gold in them?

Long long rant below about gold as a conductor and warforged in general

Let's start with the fact most warforged are made! For one to appear naturally like yours is very unique experience, so much I can't even think of another situation where a warforged is just born into the world without an inventor.

And since warforged are made, they're really really fucking expensive. Much like a decent pc in today's standard would cost around 1000$ just to meet the minimum requirements for most games and softwares. And even those ones are quickly degerading, especially since Windows 11 rolled around, most of the low end pcs don't meet the requirements to update to it.

Imagine how expensive a warforged would be? Probably ten times as that just for a low end one. So to lower the cost people use copper wiring, switches and connectors.

There is also silver an aluminium but copper has the best rounded out stats for its price.

Then comes gold, which literally sweeps the floor with all the other competition. Gold is so much superior as a conductor in electronics that even just plating things with a thin gold layer helps in improving them and allowing for more electrons to pass through faster.

But it's expensive, crazy expensive which is why it's literally unimaginable for someone to make a warforged out of gold, that's Nasa space computer level budget.

Everyone except for Zarek, who was handed his literal own weight in gold.

Other reasons why Gold is superior in electronics

It doesn't oxidise (or only does very very veryyyyy slowly) and there is no fear or tarnish or rusting! Literally a warforged worst ever enemy. Gold isn't reactive either so there is no fear of it mixing with chemicals. It is a noble metal! Which means any alchemist or evil witch throwing potions your way would probably have zero effects.

It's extremely easy to mould and work with. Gold can be recycled, and there are so many gold jewellers across the globe who specialise in working with it. A warforged made out of gold would have an easier time finding a smith or jeweller willing to fix them up! Plus, it allows for a lot of decorative opportunities since gold can be moulded into any shape and isn't brittle , nor does it break easily. (Gold purple exists too, a naturally purple gold, but it is extremely brittle, so ignore it)

AMAZING CONDUCTIVITY, i can't even stress this enough. Your warforged would be running at 240hz with a 4x64GB RAM in comparison to your every day to day warforged.

IT LOOKS METAL(hehe) AS FUCK

And making him based on that fairytale concept is such a good backstory? Fuck that's a beautiful fully closed loop that I'm adorning. This is just a great character concept 10/10

Also I really like the make up! It was the first thing I noticed before reading the ask. Now I know it's just supposed to resemble gold but still.

If you ever play on pc or with mods, there are multiple skin colours ones that can make him glossy and metalic gold yellow!

Idk if this was intended, but the name Zarek is also an arabic word

زَريق

Which can mean "blueish" or "to become blue"

Also can mean something hitting the target, the action of it connecting with its target is called zarek.

Side note: Sol would literally be so obsessed with a gold made warforged. Gold in general is the love of their love so making a living being out of it is like winning the jackpot. If their bad ending ever happens, Zarek is on top of the lists of people they plan to kidnap and keep in their dragon hoard. Zarek better stay away from any flying red dragons who'd wanna snatch him up.

[theneverwriter]

Dragon Age AU

I think I wrote this as a reply to an rp that never took off. Varric is basically Robin Hood in this which I think is very fitting.

Everyone knew that the Korcari wilds was as unforgiving as its name. Mothers would tell their children that was where the chasind lived, bandits thrived and witches lured little children in for their dinner. Most of which was highly exaggerated, and Varric Tethras loathed being called a bandit. You see, your common thug had no order, no discipline. They took everything they could from anyone who crossed them and would kill those who refused. That was not the way Varric, nor his band of merry men went about their business. They had a very specific clientele, thank you very much, no matter what lies his bastard brother fed the nation.

Varric lived by some very simple, honourable rules and so too did those under his command. Number One: Only take what others don’t need. Now this could be anything from gold, jewellery, fine silks… anything that would be considered a luxury item and not a necessity. Number Two: No killing. Sure, by all means, ruffle them up a little... but murder only gave a bad rep. And besides, they wanted people to talk about them. They wanted the attention. 

Because that was the whole point wasn’t it? Show Bartrand and those jumped-up bastards in Kirkwall that they had messed with the wrong Dwarf. He had only been gone for what, a few years? When he returned he found his brother and that demon woman Meredith had completely taken over the city he once loved including the lands pledged to it. They squeezed every last bit of coin they could and let those Templar shits run amok and cause chaos; bullying people, burning their villages to the ground... you got the picture.

No, Varric would not stand for this. Unfortunately though, with his ties to the merchants guild severed and Bartrand taking ahold of all his property, Varric had been left with nothing but his wit and trusty Biance to set the record straight.

It had taken time and a lot of blood, sweat and tears until finally Varric had established himself as the Prince of Thieves; robbing from the rich to give to the poor, upsetting the uneven balance of Bartrand’s claim to the throne and giving the people of the Free Marches what they deserved. A happy and prosperous life. They had set themselves up in several different trade routes on the outskirts of the Korcari wilds where Bartrand’s faithful travelled most frequently. They only attacked one point at a time and changed it randomly, so that nobody could predict their next move. And because the route was imperative to reach Kirkwall, they had no choice but to venture forth.

Varric and his men built their hideout up in the tallest of trees, deep within the heart of the wilds. It was nowhere the Templars could find, no matter how many parties they sent to look. Varric was too cunning for them, too quick like a cat waiting to pounce. Those who entered the wilds were never seen again.

Fast forward to today and Varric was bored. Today had been particularly quiet whether it was due to the fact Kirkwall was stocked up or people were just too terrified to even bother. Whatever it was, he had been stuck up in this tree for hours and there was only so much cleaning of his crossbow that he could do before she reflected the sun into everyone’s eyes. He could tell his men were getting restless just sitting there with no bountiful merchant or some lowly lord heading in their direction. He was about to call it a day when in the distance he heard the clatter of hooves and what sounded like a very large wagon coming their way. Withdrawing his spyglass, Varric peeked through the lens until he caught sight of the origin of the noise.

It was a wagon indeed, led by a man who looked more like he belonged on a ship than on land. Varric had always wondered why they insisted on wearing those big hats with the feathers but then again he had never been the most fashionable of fellows. The caravan was well-guarded, though it was nothing that they weren’t prepared for. There was a hidden ditch up ahead which the horses would miss but the coach would fall prey to, rendering it stuck long enough for them to spring their surprise. 

Varric raised his hand in the air and gave his men the order to get into position, a soft smirk on his face. It was sad, really, just how easy this would be. Varric was thankful that at least something had come along to brighten up their day. Soon the telltale sound of a wheel cracking gave them the signal and Varric dropped his hand. In a moment the cart and the men protecting it were surrounded with Varric leading the assault. The bulk of the guards were quickly disposed of, leaving only the Captain scrambling to pick his sword off of the ground, which Varric placed his boot on top of and pointed the tip of his arrow at the man’s throat.

“We’ll be relieving you of your wares today, kind Ser.” Varric taunted with a grin. 

The defeated man huffed and puffed, glancing nervously at the caravan. The Dwarf noticed his look and cocked a brow, inclining his head for one of his men to take over as he approached the door of the lustrious cart. 

“Something in here you don’t want to part with eh?” Varric said, gripping the handle of the door.

“No! Don’t!” The Captain cried but it was too late, Varric already had yanked it open and was peering inside. 

“Andraste’s tits.” Varric breathed in shock at the sight that befell him. 

Sat on the floor was a box made of wood and glass filled with water, and inside sat a woman of immense beauty with the tail of some aquatic creature. Varric frowned and turned to address the Captain. 

“You caught a mermaid?” He asked in incredulous disbelief. “You know that’s a sin right? To imprison a mermaid? What in the name of the Maker possessed you to do that?" His barrage of questions lingered in the air as the scene settled into an awkward silence. 

Part of him wanted to let the caravan be on its way, to take the damned creature to Bartrand and the curse she carried. Varric saw the fear in her eyes, the desperation to be free and in his heart he knew he couldn’t let this man take her. 

“Don’t worry.” He said reassuringly to the woman. “I’ll get you out of here, just… hold on a sec.” And with that, he turned back to take care of the Captain before instructing his men to help him carry the box and whatever else they could find. 

Silently he led his crew through the forest, making a path for their cargo. He had spent many months wandering through the undergrowth that he knew every root and tree, even though the farther they went the darker it grew. Eventually, they emerged into the light once more, into a clearing where a crystal blue waterfall cascaded into several rock pools. Varric signalled his men to place the box close by and approached it, opening up the lid. 

“Easy there. I’m not gonna hurt yuh, I’m just gonna carry you over there, okay?” He said calmly, pointing to one of the larger of the pools which would be big enough for her to be comfortable. 

His eyes lifted to where all his men stood around, watching him and he frowned. 

“What’re you all gawking at?! Don’t you have stuff to do?” He snapped, driving them all away back to their camp, which luckily was not too far. Sighing and running his hand through his hair, Varric looked down at the woman once more. The more he looked at her, the more enraptured he became.

[faithfromanewperspective]

wow this is amazing thank you so much! you make some really good points. also, I imagine they weren't well developed at the time but if they were I can totally see cecily sneaking him blockers/hormones which would make EET (the one story that makes least sense with this) fit in a little better. no wonder anna makes such an effort to affirm his masculinity.

I do also think that he's very absentminded in the earlier stories because he doesn't care about what he doesn't care about, but if he were truly so clumsy he wouldn't do so well with all the chemicals and glass (genuinely the amount of times I've lost count of 'have I measured this thing yet/done the maths properly but I hate lab work so there's that). the main discrepancy that gets me is 'christopher didn't have the best of luck with runes' as an excuse for alastair to give thomas an iratze, and it's from cordelia's pov so lucie or james must've told her that. and then for the rest of the series we don't see that at all. I do think that once he's a little more confident with his science skills (post Mandikhor) Christopher takes to noticing other things a little more. Hence everything in Chain of Thorns (he carries a champagne bottle and glasses to the silent city!! without breaking them! and analyses who james is compatible with and is like 'oh I can go fetch cordelia so this can get sorted' and probably figures out thomas and alastair before anyone except cordelia). all these things pretty much could happen whether or not he's trans.

and honestly I think that before Cordelia came Lucie wasn't included in most of the Merry Thieves' doings so they had less reason to protect her (she wasn't there). but even then Thomas makes sure she doesn't drink at the Devil and we do get references to James' protectiveness which Lucie clearly hates and imo would kick up a fuss against way more that Christopher. I think Kit is very aware of where he doesn't always measure up to society and so he kinda just accepts it. We only really see him doing his own thing in Chain of Thorns and basically looking after everyone else.

As for their protectiveness of him, James and Matthew both have their own issues that I think cause them to treat him less as a friend and more as an eccentric child they have to take care of (Thomas I think treats him as an equal, even if he doesn't always understand the lab stuff, and honestly is more protective of James and Matthew and Lucie). For Matthew, Kit reminds him of his father (also I wonder if that's part of why he wasn't so bullied at the Academy, because inventor guy=a lot like Henry Fairchild, the Consul's husband? Or maybe they don't want to be blown up and also realise that he's nice when you talk to him and less argumentative than James and Matthew? Bullies don't really need reasons or lack thereof I guess. maybe they just grew bored. but certainly Alastair never seemed to target him and Kit never hated him too much once he came to London), and Matthew grew up believing he had to take care of everyone. He was even charged with keeping Kit away from explosives at the Academy. Some habits never die I guess. And then for James I think it's a projection of how he doesn't like being treated, which imo is kinda worse and really unfair. Will and Tessa have this emotional dependence on their children's happiness he picks up on based on feeling how he can't deliver it, and he longs to be free of feeling both like he can't measure up and the way that they'd do anything for him but he'd rather be left alone. And James is neurodivergent too, it is very obvious especially at the Academy, and he's very aware of social norms that rub him the wrong way and are a lot more effort to pass in to live in harmony with people the way he's been taught to--which Christopher seemingly ignores whilst still getting along with everyone and causing less conflict than James. (He also longs for Matthew's confidence to break rules and do whatever he wants.) I hate that so much because it's something the cousins could bond over and yet James sometimes seems weary of Christopher's eccentricity or acts as if if he can treat Kit the way his parents treat him, than Christopher is in that position he really hates being in, rather than him. I think they would be besties down the line (I can totally see TMT main split going to Matthew and Thomas/Kit and James, with the whole Grace situation throwing a spanner in the works I'm not sure about) once James learns to accept himself, lives out of home for a while, and actually tells Will and Tessa what they're doing is unhelpful. I'd pay a lot to see that resolution, actually.

But anyway, I don't think any of this really matters either way if Christopher is trans or not!

I am So Very Curious and I can't remember if you talked about it before, but what was the inspo behind the trans christopher hc/fics? is there a story or something in the way you read his character that was an 'aha what if' moment?

Heads up, this is going to be a long one, I have a lot.

I actually wrote this down a while ago but I never actually put my thoughts anywhere for anyone to see. But anyway. The initial inspiration for it was actually a small but weird discrepancy in his visual description. Christopher is described as very unkempt, hair is messy, shoes are untied, collar askew, etc, etc. He's sixteen so while he's not a grown man yet he's closer than he is to being a child and so if he were that haphazard it would make sense that he'd have nicks from shaving where he's not putting the proper care into it, or he's going to have patches of stubble again from the same thing, or he would just give up. Except we never see any of this described. In fact he's fairly fresh-faced as I recall, he certainly is in any art we've seen. So of course my idiot brain went, well, duh, it's because he doesn't have to shave.

Then I started noticing other bits and pieces that added to it and made it make more sense. His friends are always so overprotective of him, moreso than any of the other characters (nevermind that Lucie is the same age, canonically shorter, canonically would know less about some life-things just because that's how they treated women's education in that time and is just as wide-eyed and optimistic in her own way at least at the series's start) and the trans headcanon feels like it explains some of that. Christopher is basically confirmed as aspec and neurodivergent, add being trans to it and you've got the Trifecta of Things That Get You Treated Like A Baby. And Christopher is often infantilized and dismissed for his general nonconformity with peer pressure and Nephilim high society. But it also adds a layer of sense to why his friends are so overprotective: it's not just because he's a little innocent and kind of absentminded, they're very aware that some of the world is going to be unkind to him simply for being who he is.

But I feel like it recontextualizes/adds layers to his relationships with a lot of other people beyond just his friends, and to his way of being in the world as well.

It always stuck out to me that Christopher doesn't seem to hate Alastair quite as much as some of his friends initially do. Christopher still doesn't like him but it's not the same sort of hatred that particularly James and Matthew have at the series's start—despite the fact that, of all the Merry Thieves, Christopher would've been a bully's weakest, easiest, and most obvious target if the logic is (as Alastair's seemed to be) to put others down in the false hope of making one feel better about oneself. Perhaps Christopher dislikes Alastair less than he could because Alastair found other things to pick on him for, and left the obvious alone.

Anna is some kind of unlabeled genderqueer herself, and so if Christopher were transgender, then he'd have his big sister/sibling to help him through it. He wouldn't have to brave it alone. But, if we accept that he was already Christopher when he made it to the Academy, he would have canonically come out before she did. So perhaps it may have been her first step in recognizing her own nature. Perhaps she put him first, prioritizing his transition while he was at an age where there were still opportunities open to him that she had already missed (say, studying at the academy, having childhood memories where he gets to be himself).

It recontextualizes Christopher's way of being in the world as well. As an author, even before this headcanon I typically wrote Christopher as someone done with his situation, tired of being dismissed and infantilized and overprotected, of aiding and boosting his friends without a chance to grow and shine and just do something for himself and only himself for once. And yet, instead of being angsty and snarky and rebellious about it, he puts on a cheerful face and plays the optimist and kind of puts that aside. A transgender Christopher feels like a Christopher who would be very aware of his position of priviledge. Comparatively to many trans people both out of the closet and in it, even today much less in his decade, he has it really good. He has not only the support and acceptance of his friends and family, but he's reached (at least for the time) a state of transition where the rest of the world just sees Christopher and doesn't ask questions. And while the fact that he's overprotected and treated like a little brother must certainly be infuriating, it likely also allows him to get just about whatever he wants. So either out of self-awareness or feeling invalid with his first-world problems or both, he keeps quiet.

And then there's Grace. I have no doubt that her gift would still work on a transgender Christopher, or at least that she would fully believe that it would work, so her choice not to use it still carries the same weight. And I do think that largely, she likes him and trusts him because he doesn't look at her the way other men do, he sees her mind more than he sees her body. But I think it might add another layer to her choice. She might recognize that he would know better than some just how fragile a lady's safety and security are—he's in a precarious position too, very lucky that a) a lot of people aren't aware of his transition, and b) those that do are okay with it. She might then trust him to be aware of the priviledge he has now, to not run roughshod with it the way some do.

[khaleesiofalicante]

OK but what do you think our favorite parabatai parings would post on TikTok?

Will and Jem - It's basically a Tessa stan account. They just talk about her and how amazing she is. They would tiktoks like 'Times Tessa slayed' part 1 out of 120'.

Matthew and James - Lots of pranks and borderline illegal shit. Also cute content of them playing with Mr. Oscar Wilde. They are also on booktok. Matthew convinces him to do those tiktoks with the outfit changes.

Lucie and Cordelia - Absolutely organized and very popular. Drags the misogynistic men on tiktok who say dumb shit. They get a lot of brand sponsorships and stuff. Lots of wholesome content with the Merry Thieves + Alastair.

Alec and Jace - It's just shitposting, bro. It's 100% chaos. They would be posting all sorts of nonsense and they have the highest followers. Alec would be live streaming Jace getting chased by a demon and Jace would do try to film Alec embarrassing himself in front of Magnus. Some 'fitness tok' content too. God bless!

Julian and Emma - It's the account where everyone comments 'y'all should date'.

[cordeliaxcortana]

Chain Of Thorns Theories pt3.

🚨 Chain of Iron Spoilers 🚨

I buried the unseemly urges

Deep down in the ground with the roots

But it's all coming up to the surface

Maybe it's getting ready to bloom

And I don't wanna be a monster in the making

I don't wanna be more bitter than sweet

I don't know how to be just standing by blankly

Not gettin' angry

now this song as a total is about suppressed anger and being wronged

there are three people in my mind that fit this narration: James, Alastair & Grace

'Cause another and another comin' up out of the gutter

Till I'm drowning in an ocean of entitled motherfuckers

And they're pushin' all my buttons

But they never seem to wonder why

Another and another, ask each other

Alastair??

And I don't wanna drink the venom they made me

I don't wanna be controlled by the past

Boy if you were me, could you really blame me?

Would make you crazy

Grace?

'Cause it gets my blood boiling and I’m comin' unglued

It would eat you like poison if you knew what I knew

You would be angry

James?

Calm down girl, why you so mad?

Why's your heart gone rotten?

It's all good girl, why you upset?

Guess they have forgotten what they did

Yeah so basically I think these three characters will avenge themselves and show everybody else what they are capable of.

Also I think this the first time I've thought about the similar anger these three particularly have to be grouped together like this...

You're no good, you're no good

You could kill me and you should

I'm an idiot for thinking

This was anything but blood

On listening to this song the first time I thought it was about Matthew, BUT IT ISN'T.

It's James.

Why? because this song is about mistaking abuse for love. And we all know who fits that narrative.

Also the song is from dual perspective.

On the wall, on the couch

On the corner of my mouth

You must like being the victim¹

You've done nothing to get out

Of this pattern of pain

Washed away by the rain

You'll forgive me if I promise²

And do nothing but the same

This is life until death

Could be my last dying breath

But this is love, love, shut up, this is love³

1. this is a common thing in victims where they would blame themselves for getting hurt in the first place.

I think we might see James doing it too.

2. a manipulation tactic where they've promised multiple times only to keep the person chained to them.

with or without Tatiana's influence Grace repeatedly had gone to James (saying that she actually does not want to harm him and yet going back to do the opposite)

3. the speaker here is convincing yet silencing the person they are speaking with

By now we know with respect to James & Grace it isn't love but manipulation.

Oh I was hit as a kid¹

I was good but then I quit

Everyone that tried to fix me

Knows that I can't change a bit

I've got no shame, got no pride

Only skeletons to hide

And if you try to talk to someone

Well then someone has to die

Once you chase me down the hole

Yeah once you think you're in control

You'll believe that we are partners

And you're feeling comfortable

Oh then the darkness rolls in

And you'll forget who I have been

But you'll love, love, love it, this is love

now this is from the manipulator's pov.

also most of this is like the run down events from the past i.e. everything before COT

1. it's like giving an excuse for the abusive behaviour saying they were on the recieving end of it as a child.

Why do I have a feeling that rather than getting a revenge arc Grace might end up joining Tatiana & Belial in the end?

Forget everything you used to know

I think you better tell your friends to go¹

Stick around cause I'm about to show you

The beginning is the end²

1. what if the rest of merry thieves (and in extension every other character except cordelia) never find out what grace & tatiana did to James??

2. ... yeah grace is definitely going to do something big.

-> people might find out about how Alastair had to deal with his father's addiction.

James will not anytime soon forgive Grace for what she did.

And finally remember how before leaving the house james asked Effie to call Charlotte and tell her that he has a criminal waiting here for her ... Yeah I'm pretty sure grace does not end up getting arrested. Either she escapes before it or Tatiana does something to get her out, maybe even before Charlotte arrives.

Grace may or may not get a morally-grey-character turned hero arc but she definitely won't be ending on good terms with the extended merry thieves (og + lucie, cordelia, anna). To those who are gonna say she & Christopher are going to end up together-

HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT THE FAMILY TREE IS WRONG

Infact Cassie even called it someone's Wishlist!!! Like move on seriously!

[brightwoods]

Im not sure which thomas thoughts it was, but i remember that after alastair calls thomas ”light of my eyes“ In persian, thomas thinks ”i love him”. Was that just a throwaway comment or…..

Oh, that was definitely not a throwaway comment! It's actually going to come back up in the actual fic very soon. And what went on with that is going to come up more in his thoughts when I post it for more chapters too

That's in this one/set during chapter 11, but their first date and first kiss only happened on Sunday and Alastair only calls him that on Friday night. So Thomas was self-aware enough to be like whoa I've been into him for years and I got to holy shit I'm in love with him fast and it's almost definitely far too early to bring that up without scaring him off (especially since he had no idea about the fake dating or the Charles situation so he thought that Alastair's random bursts of distance up to that point were from Thomas scaring him off so he was definitely like this is a keep to myself thought for now).

And then while he was holding off, things got really complicated for Alastair with the whole Elias situation and he was like yup, he has a lot on his mind without me making things about me and throwing that at him when it's almost definitely still too early

And then Elias was gone and things were going really well and they had that really good date and he was debating whether it was still too early to say it when it was less than a week since he originally thought no, that's too soon and they still hadn't actually been dating for two weeks

And he was kind of psyching himself up to do it and be like I know it's still early but- but then the rest of the Merry Thieves showed up at Alastair's house and there was the awkwardness of them coming to pick up Cordelia and they were going to get Thomas right after but oh great they could take him now then and there was all the awkwardness of them half-heartedly offering that Alastair could come and Alastair clearly not wanting to go and Thomas not really wanting to ditch Alastair when they were having such a nice time and he was with him first but all of his friends were being impatient and Alastair was claiming he was busy anyway and telling him to go and basically there went that opportunity for the day and then Thomas kind of had other things on his mind like were things with Alastair okay or was stuff with his friends messing things up after he'd tried proving to everyone (including himself) with that movie night at Matthew's house that he brought Alastair along for that he could spend time with them both at the same time and it would be fine

And then Monday he was just relieved that things seemed to be okay and that apparently Alastair and Kit hung out or talked or something, but he was still worried about the Matthew and Alastair uncomfortable dynamic, but still, that was a whole other thing and things between Alastair and him were still going to well and he was back to telling himself he was going to find a good moment and just tell Alastair and then they had plans together with Alastair's friends and he thought maybe he'd tell him after or after one of the dinners with their families or at some point when they were alone together after a nice date

And then things imploded as fast as they were planned before he got the opportunity to say anything and he was very very relieved that he hadn't said it and made even more of a fool of himself and he didn't want to know if Alastair would have said it back as some joke or to keep stringing him along while he was dating someone else (because the moment Thomas saw the text, the Charles and Alastair thing clicked together and that is why he was so upset and reacted like don't talk to me again)

And then he was living under those assumptions and with those beliefs including when he thought Charles and Alastair broke up after his own break up with Alastair until the end of chapter 20 when Alastair drunkenly told him about breaking up with Charles over the Grace thing before he'd ever actually asked Thomas out and now anything that Thomas has thought or processed since the end of that chapter is redacted until I post chapter 21 because it would definitely include spoilers

[haaam-guuuurl]

In honor of the amazing sibling dynamics in TLH, I thought I'd try and bring this back:

James (and Matthew) basically interrogate everyone who simply asks Lucie to dance and she's sick of it

Barbara and Eugenia fuss over Tom SO MUCH and it was annoying when he was a kid but it's bordering on patronizing now

Christopher once burned one of Anna's outfits with an experiment. He wasn't allowed back into her flat for a month

Anna borrowed so many of Christopher's outfits, (back when she was still living with her family) and it was usually fine, he doesn't even notice, but the problem becomes clear when he really doesn't notice he has no more clothes and nearly leaves the house in his pajamas

Lucie will force James to hear excerpts of her novel all about "Evil Prince James" when he's annoyed her

Back when they first got it, the Merry Thieves wouldn't let Lucie in their rooms at the Devil Tavern, and she was SO MAD she was about to tell on James to their parents but Thomas stepped in and convinced the others to let her in before anything else happened

When Alastair first died his hair, Cordelia inadvertently burst out laughing and he didn't speak to her for almost a week

Lucie once got ink in one of James' favorite books and he nearly lost his shit

Eugenia's constant snark at parties has made Tom not bear to sit with her, and Barbara, though she stays out of politeness, have a very hard time keeping her laughter in

Eugenia teased Barbara so much when she and Oliver first got together she blushed whenever her sister and him were in the same room - an opportunity Eugenia never missed to waggle her eyebrows suggestivelly behind his back

Gabriel teases Gideon mercilessly over the scones story - orders them for him everywhere they go, requests them from Sophie every time they come over for dinner...

When Cecily didn't like something Will said or did to her, she'd tell his kids scandalous (sometimes true) stories of his youth

Lucie (who was immune to the Herondale's fear of ducks) would set them off in James' direction whenever they went to the park, to scare him. It usually ended up scaring Will, too

Matthew has figured out little ways to constantly annoy Charles when he's being the worst - move around stuff in his office, switch out important papers, ...

And probably more lol

Along with saving Inquisitor Diego Rosales can we also petition @cassandraclare for some sibling rivalry? I want to see Helen absolutely lose her mind because Dru won’t stop smacking when she eats. I want to see Mark and Julian argue because someone *ahem Mark* ate all the strawberries. I want to see everyone getting annoyed by Tavvy because he’s a curious child and won’t stop asking questions they don’t know the answer to.

[gold-tinted]

jem's letter and all the pain he talked about basically confirms the commonly believed fact (at least I think everyone believes it) that something real bad happens to one of the merry thieves (*cough* Matthew *cough*)

[merry-thieves]

Alastair and the Merry Thieves  being friendly toward each other...(in CoI)

I hope I found all the important scenes!

““I have tried to apologize. and to change,” Alastair said, and even through the door Cordelia could hear his voice shake. “How can I make amends for my past when no one will let me?” When James replied, there was real kindness in his voice. “You must give people time, Alastair,” he said. “We are none of us perfect, and no one expects perfection. But when you have hurt people, you must allow them their anger. Otherwise it will only become another thing you have tried to take away.” Alastair seemed to hesitate. “James,” he said. “Does he-””

“...and even told Alastair that his hair looked nice.”

“She’d had no idea James knew any Persian beyond a few words for food, “thank you,” and “goodbye.” Even Alastair was staring at him with a mixture of surprise and respect.”

““You told me before that Alastair kept your father’s condition from you during your childhood. That you never knew about it.” “That’s true.” “I suppose I never realized until tonight what a great effort that must have taken. It is not an easy thing to hide. And not an easy thing to confront someone about it, if you fear they have - such an illness.””

““Bloody hell,” said Alastair. “I hope James sent him packing with a flea in his ear.” “Good for James, which are words I never thought I would speak during my lifetime.” “James will understand that.””

So, James is the first of the Merry Thieves, what we know of, to be (sort of) genuinely friendly to Alastair

it’s not a friendship but James starts to respect Alastair for what he did for Cordelia all these years

in turn Alastair also respects James and actually calls him by his first name and not “Herondale” any longer

““That was the first decent thing Alastair ever did in his life. And to think I was here to see it.””

Matthew still can’t really stand Alastair but he’ll admit to Cordelia that Alastair is not always a terrible person 

“Thomas cleared his throat. His hazel eyes were steady as he said, “I came to tell you that I’m sorry about you father. I really am.””

Thomas starting to think about Alastair’s feelings again ;)

“Matthew sat down with a thump. Thomas stared at Alastair with a dazed expression. Gideon looked pleased, if not a little bit baffled by every else’s stunned expressions. “Er - what?” said Christopher - speaking for them all, James felt.”

I don’t know, I just love how Alastair surprised everyone 

also, Alastair protecting Thomas but I don’t think that he had platonic reasons 

“Alastair kissed Cordelia’s forehead. As he did, he closed his eyes, and James felt the strange sense that he was getting a rare glimpse at the intensity of Alastair’s true feelings.”

James seeing the real Alastair :)

““I know you don’t care particularly what happens to Alastair, but I do.” She hadn’t meant she words to come out quite so pugnaciously. After a moment, James said, “Daisy, what Alastair did was quite brave. Not in the least because he did it for someone he knows dislikes him.” “it was rather selfless,” said  Lucie. “Honestly, we do care what happens to Alastair.” “We do?” Christopher sighed. “I feel as if I can never quite keep up.”

So, we have James caring for Alastair’s fate

and we see that Christopher isn’t against liking Alastair but he will only do so if the others can forgive Alastair

which probably means that he has no personal grievances with Alastair (Christopher is simply perfect <3)

I tried not to include any romantic scenes between Thomas and Alastair but rather scenes with them actually speaking with each other

“Alastair looked amused. “Never before have I ever heard such a concise statement of the ludicrous philosophy with which you and your school friends go through the world, running toward danger,” he said.”

““My point,” Thomas went on, an edge to his voice, “is that I don’t think you believe the rude things you say. And I don’t understand why you say them. It doesn’t make any sense. it’s as if you want to drive everyone away.” He paused. “Why were you so awful to us in school? We never did anything to you.””

““Then you lot arrived, a bunch of boys from famous families, too well brought up to understand at first what went on far from home. Expecting the world would embrace you. That you would be treated well. As I never had been.” Alastair pushed back a lock of hair with a shaking hand. “ I suppose I hated you because you were happy.””

“But they had spoken more truthfully to each other in the last few minutes than they had in their entire lives.”

I think we can safely assume that Thomas likes Alastair and that Alastair likes Thomas after the Sanctuary

Alastair finally told one of the Merry Thieves why he did what he did and can tell Thomas that he sees his errors

Yet, I’m not sure if Thomas has actually forgiven Alastair or just tries to repress his memories of the Academy 

“Alastair looked dismayed; Thomas, who was used to his uncle’s ways, shrugged. “You’ll get used to it,” he said to Alastair. “The more alarming the situation, the more frivolous my uncle’s demeanor becomes.””

Thomas talking to Alastair in a friendly way in “public”

““Do you want some seraph blades?” Thomas was about to protest that he’s already taken several when he realized  Christopher wasn’t talking to him. he was talking to Alastair, who seemed to have remained at Thomas’s side.” “Alastair nodded his thanks and took the weapons. He headed to the front doors while Thomas was still fastening his jacket. Christopher followed -” 

“Thomas exchanged a quick glance with the others. He had no intention of being kept back so he could stand at a window with a witch light. If the Institute was being attacked, he wanted to be out there, defending it. It was Alastair who moved first. He started down the steps, Christopher and Thomas on his heels. Thomas coughed as the air thickened around them, suffused with the rank,  damp smell of salt, fish and rotting seaweed. As they reached the bottom of the steps, Thomas’s boots came down in freezing water. He could hear Christopher exclaiming about scientific impossibilities. “Well, it might be impossible,” said Alastair, rather reasonably,“ but it’s happening.”” 

“He sloshed farther into the courtyard, through the ankle-deep water, Christopher and Alastair nearby.”  

“Christopher shouted hoarsely and ran toward his father as shilling-size drops of scarlet blood pattered down around him. Thomas scrambled to his feet and dashed after Christopher, hurling himself at the massive tentacle. He plunged his seraph blade into the rubbery treen-black flesh, over and over, dimly aware that beside him, Alastair Carstairs was doing the same.” 

“Alastair clambered onto a pile of rubble, spear in hand, turning to help Thomas up after him.”

Probably one of the best parts in the book: Alastair, Thomas and Christopher fighting together

Christopher noticing that Thomas and Alastair are seemingly on good terms and immediately being friendly to him

“Thomas had taken Cordelia aside; James heard him say something about the battle, and the name Alastair, and he saw Cordelia brighten. So Alastair was alright; James realized he was relieved about it, and not just for Cordelia’s sake. Interesting.”

James starts to actually care about Alastair’s well-being, interesting indeed James

I’m starting to sense a new and fifth member of the Merry Thieves

““Alastair,” Matthew said.” “Stuff good terms,” said Matthew. “Alastair, Cordelia assures me that you have a heart. She says you’re different than you were at school. The boy I knew at school. The boy I knew at school wouldn’t visit my brother, just to spite me. Don’t make your sister a liar; she’s a better person than you are, and if she believes in you, you should try to be someone she can believe in. I know I do.””

Not exactly a friendly conversation but Matthew actually called him “Alastair”

Though, I’m not sure what to think of what he said after that; it’s a mix of acknowledgement that Alastair can be a good person and a threat

““Alastair!” he called, again, and Alastair turned, a look of surprise crossing his face. Alastair said something to his cousin, then beckoned to Thomas as Je mood some distance away, offering them a semblance of privacy. Alastair looked at Thomas inquiringly. Thomas, who had realized almost immediately that he had no idea what to say, shifted from one foot to another. “You’re all right?” he said eventually. “I didn’t get to ask you, after the fight.””

Thomas caring about Alastair’s well-being ;)

“We cannot pretend forever,” said Alastair. “eventually the truth must be faced. All of your friends hate me, Thomas, and with good reason.”

I wanted to end with this quote since it shows what Alastair thinks the Merry Thieves think about him

in reality: Thomas is in love with Alastair (but he definitely should face his own inner demons before starting a relationship with Alastair)

Christopher seems perfectly willing to forgive Alastair and begin a friendship with him when his friends also forgive Alastair

James cares about Alastair and respects him -> possible friendship on the horizon

So, everyone basically forgave him except Matthew 

Matthew and Alastair did make progress but also not really

What did you think about this whole thing? Be free to tell me if I missed some important quote and if you would add anything to my comments!

Also, should I do something similar like this again? I was thing maybe a Gracetopher or Thomastair compilation?

@thegreatests @my-lady-of-roses @foxglove-airmid @blackasmysoul 

[msbrightsides]

Ok 5 things you physically need from CoT: GO

Oof only 5? Lol I’ll try to make this cohesive

1. I want Malcolm’s hatred for the Blackthorns explained more. Does he start to hate them because Jesse was brought back but Annabel can’t? Does he try to force Lucie to bring her back? Will Annabel’s ghost make an appearance? How will this fit in with TDA? And also how are Lucie and Jesse going to interact now that he’s alive?

2. I want more sibling interactions: James and Lucie, Thomas and Eugenia, Anna and Christopher, Matthew and Charles. Alastair and Cordelia too but they’ve already had a lot more than the other pairings tbh.

3. Someone to defend Alastair besides Cordelia(and Thomas tbh). And even Alastair to defend himself! Like everyone needs to stop shitting on him all the time. I’m not a hardcore Stan of his but the characters treating him like he’s evil and awful is getting real old for me. I want redemption for that scene of Matthew basically gaslighting him and Cordelia being like “wow that was so kind”🙄 like wtf

4. For Grace to rat out Tatiana and Belial to the Clave and/or our protagonists. I say that because I want the Clave to know so that there’s official recognition of the bullshit chaos they’ve caused but knowing the Clave, they’ll make it worse so Grace explaining everything to the Merry Thieves and Co would probably be better. And for her to show she can fight and get the damn “gift” lifted so she can learn to be a normal person in society and not an abused pawn.

5. This whole Fairstairs business to STOP. Sorry if you love them but it’s impossible for that to be a happy, fulfilling Union for both of them. The friendship is good but the relationship is a roadblock to Matthew’s recovery and growth as a person and Cordelia learning the truth about James and Grace and how she was also manipulated. I love Jordelia but I’d be happy with just her learning the truth even if the didn’t end up together.

There’s obviously many more things I want but these are the most pressing ones for me rn! Feel free to share your thoughts and thanks @underestimatedgenius for the great ask!

[queenlilith43]

So I've been seeing some d i s c o u r s e in the fandom focusing on Matthew and Alastair. Even though when I started writing this it was there more, but it's kinda faded into the background. But I still feel like I should point this out because it's just infuriating for me.

TW: Alcoholism, addiction is discussed. Also bullying.

Putting everything under Keep Reading because I have a lot to say.

Honestly, at this point, the fandom has two different sides. Most people fall on one side and there's no overlap.

Part of us are on Alastair's side, and the other part is on Matthew's side. And a lot of people completely HATE the other character.

And I just hate this. I don't want a fandom war.

But I hate when Alastair/Matthew stans prop up their character as the most perfect human. Reminds me of when A*OTAR stans love R*ys and NEVER point out any flaws. (Yeah, R*ys is another class, but I'm using this as a comparison.)

Starting with Alastair:

Alastair did do some bad things. Everyone does that, we're human. Honestly, he's blamed too much and needs to be treated better. Alastair needs to be treated better and needs to also not blame himself, because he's doing that.

Honestly, if he just apologizes to the Merry Thieves everything will be so. Much. Easier. Alastair needs to find a way to get a new start with these people. He needs happiness. Plus, it's the only way he can be with Thomas.

Onto Matthew!

I feel like Matthew has a good character. He's the sarcastic bisexual relief character.

But I'm not acting like Matthew's a saint. He did suggest Alastair as the murderer in COI in front of Cordelia, and didn't apologize.

I think Matthew is a human character. His alcoholism needs to be treated better.

Like, I know people who are alcoholic or addicted to something are go in a downwards spiral, but WHY IS THIS IN HERE. Matthew needs help, and he's just drinking because of a mistake he made when he was fifteen. I wish there was a better explanation, though it could just happen because brain chemistry.

I'm worried for Chain of Thorns. There's a chance that instead of Matthew beating it on his own, Cordelia is going to fix him up. (Sighs.) Women aren't here to fix men up. Hopefully this doesn't happen by there's a serious chance it could.

In summary, Matthew and Alastair are both character with flaws who deserve to have their issues handled better.

The fandom needs to GROW UP. These are two different characters who both make mistakes and both have issues that I hope Chain of Thorns will make better and overall handle better.

So everyone sit in a corner and THINK about what you do. I don't want everyone to basically help Matthew and Alastair in their rivalry. I don't want to be the middle ground in a fight.

Y'all, realize the flaws of these characters and how their situations need to be treated better. If we stop hating on the character maybe we can realize they both deserve better.

[carstairs-supremacy]

My opinion with Alastair (this is quite long because he deserves my effort)

Tw/ mentions of alcohol, bullying and suggested child neglect/abuse

Okay so Alastair was brought up in a household where he had to constantly look after his drunk father, who could have done anything to him or said anything to him whilst drunk. He also had to keep this a secret from his sister (I think Cassie said somewhere Sona doesn’t know the extent to what Elias did pls correct me if I’m wrong) which can’t have been easy for him.

He was then forced to go to the academy full of white privileged boys by his father. Then at the academy, already dealing with so much at home, he was bullied and beat up within the FIRST WEEK of being there and had to endure that for a whole ass year (I highly doubt that the first week was the last time he got beaten up). He was probably alone for this year of being tormented, and then the only way he could make friends was being awful to other students. He did what he had to survive, although that doesn’t excuse anything he did it still explains it. And bare in mind he’s like 14/15 years old when this was happening.

Then the Merry thieves come to the academy (this is no slander to them cuz I love them with my whole heart) and they’re loved by everyone. He starts picking on them and being awful to them- but there was also the others (Augustus and Clive from what I remember) then one of his close friends died due to a ‘prank’ gone wrong. As soon as he died, Thomas was one of the only people to check on Alastair by the way, the academy blew up and Matthew directed him to that part, which could have caused him to be hurt.

Then the rumour, I don’t know if this was before or after everyone’s parents came but his, but Matthew was there insulting his looks which has been insecure about (as Cordelia said to Anna ‘he hates that his hair and eyes are dark’) (Also Matthew couldn’t have known this but this isn’t a post to slander Matthew), so he said a thing to hurt him more, which ended up badly. He felt bad as soon as he said it, but he still said it anyway because so much has happened in that one day.

Then in Paris- maybe before- he was in this toxic relationship with Charles, who doesn’t seem to care as much for Alastair than Alastair does for him. Alastair was in love with Charles when it didn’t seem like Charles was that deep for him or being ashamed to be with him (not going sight seeing, basically staying cramped up in the institute). He was so in love with him that he would talk about him to Thomas, and Charles didn’t appreciate him enough so he got engaged TWICE while they were together, something Alastair opening dislikes and is hurt by. Now I could go on and on about how Charles treated Alastair badly and how he hurt him ( the whole scene where Cordelia eves drops says everything).

So he finally breaks up with Charles, and now is trying to make up with the people who he hurt. At this point I think this is where his feelings for Thomas were already there (from him looking away from Thomas’ tattoo and how in Paris he saw him as beautiful), then the rumour gets brought up and Thomas is-rightfully- angry and threatens him if he ever talks to him again. This is the first time we actually see Alastair crying.

To make it worse, his father comes back after 4 months and is still an alcoholic and he was to look after him, again, and after the scene with the wedding reception where he’s with James, he send him off and says that him and his friends are gonna ‘laugh about it later’. Now we don’t see what his home life is like during this time as Cordelia is with James in their home, but we have no reason to believe it has changed from before. So in a way, he’s right back to square one (until Elias dies obviously).

When he’s locked in the Sanctuary with Thomas, it seems hard for him to open up to him but he does it anyway, and Thomas seems to forgive him (I mean he kisses him). These scenes are one of the only times we see Alastair smile and be genuinely happy. But then he breaks it off with Thomas before anything could happen because- in my opinion- he feels as if he is a bad thing for Thomas and doesn’t deserve his love. He also doesn’t want Thomas to chose and he doesn’t even feel like a worthy option.

Anyway he’s been through so much and I wanna see atleast one person (Cordelia or Thomas) stand up for him or even better stand up for himself. And I also want him to forgive himself and just accept the love Thomas is offering.