#foodsies rambles

[foodsies4me]

Me: I'm not starting any more Wips that aren't one-shots until I'm finished with the Cat fic and past the halfway mark in Apollo, Bridges, and AWG2. I have too many wips I haven't posted yet and need to start editing etc.

My friends: *drop celebrity au idea in my lap* *drop Malec fuck buddies idea in my lap* *drop canon-compliant sugar baby-ish Magnus idea in my lap* *drop another dragon Alec idea in my lap* *drop canon-compliant Ragnor didn't die but accidentally time traveled idea in my lap* *drop yet another AWG spinoff in my lap* *drop a whole spinoff for Crow in my lap*

To the people who know who they are, just know I loathe you. (jk you know I all love you) *cries in too many wips*

[lawsofchaos1]

WIP Wednesday

(on a Saturday because who cares)

I have been tagged by the ever lovely @foodsies4me! And, speaking of Foodsies, if you aren't reading their two most recent WIPS - omg you are missing out. Their Daemon AU (Apollo: Blood Wars) is so twisty and delightful and full of foreshadowing for something I still can't figure out just yet, and I love that I'm still on the edge of my seat every chapter trying to guess what's coming next. Their Arranged Marriage AU (Bridges over Lakes of Salt) basically just went down my list of favorite tropes to check all of them off (Misunderstandings! Good Parabatai Jace Wayland! HoTI Alec!) and is incredible.

Anyways, a bit of of angst has been requested, so please have a little snippet from the final chapter of Laudanum:

The loft is bright, the windows flung wide to let in in the late afternoon sun, and the living room looks so completely normal that it takes Catarina three full heartbeats to turn her head towards the flung open doors to Magnus’ apothecary and understand what she’s seeing.  His heavy oak worktable has been hastily cleared, the several sheets of parchments underfoot and a shielded light-crystal wedged partly underneath the central bookcase speaking to the urgency in which it was done. Magnus sits askew, cross-legged, at the head of the table cradling Alec’s head in his lap. Alec himself is on his stomach, clearly hovering somewhere beneath full consciousness, eyes clenched shut in agony, his struggles weak and uncoordinated as small wordless noises of pain and confusion escape his mouth. Catarina catches only the barest glimpse of liquid gold eyes as Magnus bends over nearly in half, frantically trying to soothe the wounded nephilim. "Alexander-" the desperation in her best friend’s voice pierces her heart, “all shall be well, my love, I promise, just hold on, my darling, Catarina is coming - help is coming and all shall be well, I swear it, just hold on, my love, please,-" And Catarina jolts into action, berating herself already for even the momentary unforgivable pause. A bare two steps forward and she’s in the apothecary, pulling magic to her hands and taking an assessment of her patient.  Magnus doesn’t so much as look up, acknowledging her presence only with a slight change in the distressed jumble of promises and pleas as he promises Alec that help is here, he’ll be alright now, help is here. At the other side of the table is a second Shadowhunter, older than Alec - maybe in her early forties - with her hair pulled back in a complicated plait and lips pressed in a tight, white slash across her face.  The woman glances up to assess the new arrival, her muscles tensing in preparation to act until the meaning of the change in Magnus’ rambling words sinks in and she realizes precisely who Cat must be.  Twin trails run down both pale cheeks as she holds her Head’s hands to to the table, keeping him from injuring himself further. "Please," the woman begs, but Catarina has yet to stop moving.

Tagging @arialerendeair, @spiritsflame, @alexanderlightweight, and @dr-lemurr (and yes I know you only do art, but art WIPs should totally be a thing too - it's so cool to see the process!)

[foodsies4me]

The trainees protecting Magnus is now immortalised as one of my fav head cannons to ever exist. Mostly cause Magnus deserves to be loved and protected and pampered. He has been doing this for others for centuries and secondly he deserves it cause he is just amazing and beautiful soul.

Secondly I actually got so emotional at all the trainees banding together to give him hugs and bring him snacks. Magnus really went from single bachelor with no soul mark trying his is unloveable to the being loved by a handsome Shadowhunter and his clan of protective lil beans. I can only imagine the scene after when Malec are alone and Magnus just breaks down cause ‘fuck, I really am adored for more than my magic’. Cue protective and soft soulmate Alec and just all the emotional reassurance cuteness ☺️

You’re honestly amazing. Like never miss a beat, always on point in ways I could never imagine ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a (waaaaay too late) follow up to the Magnus getting hurt prompt and getting some trainees cuddles. (I am running so far behind on my prompts which I know all meant as prompts but they spark too many bunnies and then I want to write them.😂

Anyway here is the short follow up to that first prompt.💜

Magnus watches as the trainees walk out the door in pairs of two and threes. They’re all stalling, Hideaki “accidentally” forgetting five different pencils while Max forgets his socks, shoes and needs to pee before he runs out of excuses he can use. Clara is clinging to him, pouting and arguing with Alec that Magnus needs another Sad Pancake Day despite his injuries having entirely healed. 

Seeing the displeasure on their faces – the disappointed pouts that not even Aloysius and Ariadne manage to hide has something squeezing painfully in Magnus’ chest. Something warm and tender and painful, tearing and healing old wounds as Magnus struggles to keep his voice light and teasing.

Chairman Meow is pouting as well.

It’s not as visible as the crossed arms and downturned lips the trainees have adopted, but it’s visible in the way he’s swishing his tail and twining himself around the trainees’ legs, trying to stop them from leaving in a way Magnus doesn’t dare to.

“-okay Magnus?” Alexander’s voice pulls him out of his internal stewing. He’s looking at him, waiting for an answer. He has Clara and Steph hiked up on one arm while Leo and Barika are dangling from the other and he doesn’t even seem to notice it and the sight makes Magnus’ heart tighten again.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that darling.”

“I’ll see you tonight?” he repeats, rolling his eyes when the reminder Alexander will be back tonight causes another wave of protests.

“Now, now my darling beans – it’s only until Saturday. I’m sure you’ll all survive a few days without me there.”

“But we don’t want to,” Payton grouches this time around. “Can’t you just come live with us at the institute? And then Chairman Meow can come too and we don’t have to wait.”

“Alright, that’s enough out of all of you,” Alexander interrupts before anyone else manages to fit another word in. “We’re already late so say bye to Magnus so we can go home.”

The chorus of Fine’s that echo through his loft sound somehow even more unhappy and displeased than everything else the trainees have said before this point. They bid him goodbye with quick stolen hugs and promises to see him on Saturday before Magnus is alone again in his too-big and too-empty loft.

“Meow,” Chairman Meow complains when the door shuts behind Alexander, the sound high and whiny.

“I know, Chairman,” Magnus sighs, sitting down on his couch so Chairman Meow can climb onto his lap. His chest is still hurting, his heart overflowing with more emotions than he knows what to do with. “I know. I miss them too.”

If later that night he ends up with tears in his eyes when Alexander hands him the drawings and get-well cards the trainees made him, his heart too full of love and care, then that’s only between him, Alexander’s shirt and the privacy of his wards. 

[foodsies4me]

End of the Year Fic Recs!!!

thank you @echo-bleu for tagging me! <3

I adore this as a game because I love reccing fics (and really should do it more often because So. Much. Good.Fic). This is going to be all shadowhunters I'm afraid though because I am still very much in the shadowhunters brainrot stage and haven't read much of anything else. (Also, sorry to those I haven't left a comment for yet, I WILL, spoons have just been low this year...) Also, I'll try to keep it to one rec per author because there are so many wonderful authors, but definitely go check the other fics of these people (if you haven't already) they're all excellent.

Recommend up to 5 series or multi-chapter fics from 2023 that everyone should read (multi-year WIPs count, if the last update was in 2023).

Running from the Night by @to-the-stars-writing. My forever fic spouse and the fic I reread themost this year goes to the fantastic, angsty Alec goes to live in a small village to get away from the Clave because the poor dude is traumatized fic from to-the-stars. This fic is my fics spouse (yes I got @to-the-stars-writing's permission to marry this fic) and I love, love, love it so much.

Flames to Embers by @notcrypticbutcoy: teenage!Alec is poofed into the timeline of his older self and it is lovely, sad, and heartwarming all at the same time. Also, teenage Alec is delightfully grumpy and Adult Alec is even more delightfully Done with teenage!Alec's grumpiness.

starshine and moonlight by she_who_reads (all_fandoms_reader) A three +1 fic where Alec isn't enough until he finally is. This fic is angsty and delves into Alec's (not all that great) self-worth issues and it hurts. Might or might not have cried reading it.

The Warlock's Cat by @dreaming-marchling. I hesitated a while which one I should pick from Marchling, but I ended up choosing this one (that said PLEASE go read Bleed for Me as well it is so goooood). The Warlock's Cat is a delightful "Alec gets turned into a cat and ends up in Magnus's care" fic. I adore it, and while it has its angsty or whumpy spots, it's mostly a nice, feel-good read.

Magnus Bane: Menace by AceOnIce To give some reprieve from all of the angst in this list, here is a fic of pure, unabashed fluff. Starring: Warlock Alec and Shadowhunter Magnus, the latter of which writes some truly ridiculous mission reports to HOTI Ragnor's grief.

Recommend up to 5 single chapter fics/one-shots (long or short) from 2023 that everyone should read.

The river cannot go back by @lawsofchaos1. Alec being Alec and completely in love with Magnus which leads to him committing treason like it's nothing. It is a short, brilliant fic that had me screeching like any @lawsofchaos1 fic does.

I'm finding it hard to breath by Honey_Hued_Hermes This one is pretty heave, but it does have a Hopeful Ending. Alec never promised he would tell Magnus if things ever got that bad...and sadly they do. Diving into Alec's Suicidal Thoughts and his Self-Harm tendencies.

A Most Fundamental Truth by autisticalec A missing scene from 2X10 when Alec tells Magnus that he's never been as terrified as when he feared Magnus had died from the Soul Sword. This one-shot dives into the "Alec was really very not okay emotionally" in this scene, so go read it!

The Difficult Task by @dani-dabbles: Another Alec is going through it emotionally fic (there are quite a lot of these on this list I just realized, oops). Thankfully, Magnus is there to offer support when Alec needs it because Magnus is still the best boyfriend. (also the repeated "not good enough"is evil and I am suing for emotion damages, please and thank you very much)

come to me (in the night hours) by @moonlight-breeze-44 Izzy is a supportive sister and is there emotionally for Alec right before his wedding to Lydia. This fic left me feeling all sad and weepy. This fic is technically part of a series, but as no other parts have been posted yet I am posting this in the one-shot part.

Recommend up to 5 fics NOT from 2023 that everyone should read (oldies but goodies).

I've Always Dreamed of Meeting Someone Like You by ColorfulWarlock A non-magical Alternate Universe this time around. Single-dad, fashion designer, and CEO Magnus needs someone to draw his designs for him after a hit-and-run leaves him unable to draw for himself. Insert Alec, the wonderful babysitter, and game designer who seems to understand what Magnus envisions and draw them into reality!

Angelus ex Machina by BlueA The series starts with the sudden disappearance of demon activity and the way that lack of activity impacts the local Shadow World. I love the way the parabatai bond is portrayed in this fic (especially in the third installment).

through the fire and pain by alxndrlightwoods is another parabatai-bond deep-dive that goes deep into how a parabatai bond can change shadowhunters. It also explains why, if parabatai are so powerful, there aren't that many of them. Love this fic!

i cannot touch because they are too near by @faejilly nobody manages to write poetry without writing poetry quite like @faejilly for me, seriously the words are always so beautiful I am in awe. This fic has to be my absolute favorite though because deep-dives into the parabatai bond are interesting to begin with but the way Jilly decides to do so in this fic makes it go from interesting to absolutely brilliant.

Greater Love Hath No Man by @lawsofchaos1 Okay, I lied, here is a second Laws fic, but considering this fic led to the demise of my laptop, I felt that it deserved to be on the list. (No, that wasn't a joke). Dad!Alec is forced to send baby!Max away to a warlock orphanage when his magic grows too strong for him and leaves him injured. The pain is real and it is excruciating, tissues are advised.

Recommend up to 5 of your own fics (completed or WIP) from 2023 that everyone should read.

As much as I adore reccing fics, doing self-recs is awkward, so I'm going to keep this to one rec before I combust into flames.

All Was Golden (everyone has probably read that one already because it's my most-read fic which makes this slightly less awkward than reccing any other of my fics.) Anyway, soulmate AU with a kind of ugly meet that has some angst.

Tagging, without any kind of pressure, the authors I tagged in the rec-list (if they haven't participated already) as well as @miss-mouse.

[foodsies4me]

Basically the rookies appearing in Alec room to introduce the new smol downworlder who join the orphanage in bridges

Magnus: how come he get first introductions 😟 (I still don’t like him? 🥹)

Does this fit into the Bridges timeline? Nope. Was it such a cute prompt I still had to write it? Absolutely! So say hello to Kaylie, if everything goes well she should not make a reappearance.

By now, Alec has grown used to the familiar tingle in the air when one of the rookies sneaks into his room. He can distinguish Madzie’s Bubbles from Little Max’s pops and Shan’s sparkles from Sorcha’s static. The tingle of their magic has grown as familiar as the creaks that followed his trainees sneaking in. Like his trainees' creaks, the small tingles are enough to wake him, his mind latching on to the sensation and feeling the air for any signs of distress - sniffles, hiccups, or rapid breaths. Or, in this case, the unfamiliar tingle that Alec doesn’t recognize. Pushing himself out of his bed, Alec is greeted with Little Max’s familiar blue horns and Ali’s fiery, orange eyes. He can make out Shan’s glittering antlers and Yara’s flaming hair. He doesn’t recognize the two mantis-like arms and the row of needle-like plates that stick out of a small, thin back. “Yes?” Alec asks, looking at the unexpected newcomer and then back at Little Max who’s crawling into his bed. “Did something happen? Where’s Granny Lee?” “Granny Lee is sleeping. We didn’t want to wake her up,” Cylia explains. She places her hand on the newcomer’s shoulders, pushing her forward with a word of encouragement that is met with an unsure frown. In his sleep-addled mind, it doesn’t occur to him to introduce himself until Cylia mentions Kaylie had a nightmare. But then Kaylie sniffles, insect-like claws trying to wipe tears out of small eyes and Alec reacts in the only way he knows. Slowly, as to not startle the small child, Alec draws Kaylie into a hug. He helps her dry her tears, while the other kids make themselves comfortable in his bed and Alec can already picture the unimpressed look Granny Lee is going to give him in the morning. Putting that thought aside for now, Alec concentrates on the young girl. She's frightfully thin, her cheeks sunken in and her eyes hollowed with eyebags. Ali tells him Magnus brought her to the orphanage four days ago, which would explain why Ragnor and Granny Lee told him to stay clear for the week. Wherever she lived before, it's clear she wasn't treated well there. Looking around the room for any distractions, Alec's eyes fall on the book Magnus had loaned him all those weeks ago. He looks back at Kaylie, looks at the desperate way she tries to hide her arms and the plates on her back, and, knowing he'll regret it come morning, Alec still asks Ali to bring him the book. "Do you want me to read you a story?" He asks Kaylie as the lights on his bedframe magically light up. Kaylie looks at the book, likely noticing the warlocks drawn on the cover, all showing their warlock marks proudly, and then back at him. She nods. Smiling, Alec slides back until his shoulders are resting against the bedframe. He then invites her to join him, propping up a long cushion she can sink her spikes into before he cracks the small picture book and begins to read. "Hooray you're a warlock and a warlock is a fun person to be-"

[foodsies4me]

Canon chairman in Idris when his dad becomes Consul

(featuring standing portal back to the loft and lots of treats in Alec desk drawers)

Yessss. Chairman Meow being there on Alec’s desk to hiss at whatever Clave official dares disturb his second dad with ridiculous things, but also sitting on Alec’s desk to get all of the cuddles from Alec.

Alec begins to place a glass full of water near the edge to let Chairman spill it on the Clave officials who are extra annoying. Chairman Meow never misses and he always gets lots of treats and cuddles after he’s done it.

[foodsies4me]

Peak Alec when bridges Magnus comes to bring baby Max + Sorcha back to the orphanage

Magnus: Alec, you’re literally in a clave meeting…

Alec: 😤

(also baby Max/Sorcha breaking outta the Spiral and turning up in Alrc office??? kinda?)

This took an eternity to finish, but I got there! (Why does worldbuilding always have to happen. Why couldn’t I just write a short fic with that scene and that scene alone???) Anyway, here is some more Magnus POV, post Bridges.

Coming home to an empty apartment is nothing new to Magnus. It doesn’t happen as often as it used to, these days he’s usually greeted by Alexander, one of the trainees or rookies or his darling blueberry when he returns. Depending on the time of day, though, it still happened that the loft would be as empty as when he was a carefree bachelor. 

Case in point today. With it being three in the afternoon, Alexander is still at work when Magnus portals back from an impromptu three day trip to Siam. The loft is almost bare without the familiar stars of Nephilim magic trailing along its wards. His magic cold with displeasure the way it always is when Alexander isn’t there.

Chairman Meow is the only one to greet him when he drops his suitcase on the ground and flings his coat on the coatrack. He jumps down from his cat tree, taking the long way around to land on the back of the new, black sofa they bought. 

“I’m afraid it’ll be just the two of us for the afternoon,” Magnus says regretfully, gently scratching under Chairman Meow’s chin when he whines a familiar complaint. “Or maybe we’ll have to pick up our Blueberry and Starfish at Agatha’s. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind a day off.”

Decision made, Magnus opens a portal inside the wards covering Agatha’s cottage. He steps through without a care, already planning out what activities he could entertain his blueberry when he comes face to face with a scowling Agatha and two disappointed looking faces.

Neither of them is his Blueberry.

Or his darling Sorcha.

Yara and Yan are sitting next to Agatha, a magical leash tied around their waists to keep them within the boundaries of the daycare. They’re both glaring daggers at the coloring books in front of them, cheeks puffed out in angered disappointment and Magnus can deduce what happened with that sight alone. 

“That would make it the third time this week, I presume?”

“Try fifth,” Agatha corrects. Her voice is clipped, wrinkled cheeks pulled tight into pursed frown. She’s staring at the sweater she’s knitting - or rather deconstructing, pulling one row of stitches after the other loose. “I will portal the daycare right into your husband’s institution,” she warns. “I will not even ask. Perhaps that will teach him.”

Magnus smiles, picturing Alexander’s reaction in his mind and the unbridled delight that would follow if Agatha did ever choose to do so. "He’s more likely to stop you from undoing it.”

It’s not even a lie, Alexander’s weak spot for children is well documented. His absolute adoration when it comes to his rookies and his trainees is even more so. The man didn’t strong-arm the Clave into allowing warlock children - his warlock children and Magnus is still tickled pink at how bluntly Alexander had staked his claim - to train in the institute solely out of the goodness of his heart. It had been his delightfully selfish desire to keep his rookies close. 

“Of course he would, the shameless man.”

Magnus smiles, still amused by Agatha’s decision to refer to Alexander as such, but never him. “As if you would have him any other way,” he counters loftily as he sits down next to a still pouting Yara and Yan. 

He doesn’t mention the black yarn she’s using, nor the fact that the half-deconstructed sweater isn’t in any of their or the children’s sizes, but just so happens to fit one particulary broad-shouldered shadowhunter.

Agatha huffs. “Hogwash.”

Instead of saying anything else on the matter, Magnus turns toward disappointed frowns and discarded crayons. “And why are we pouting?”

“Granny Lee said we can’t go see Alec,” Yan grouches. “But Max and Sorcha can and everyone else can and we never see Alec and it’s not fair.” She crossed her arms and purses her lips even more. “I wanna see Alec.”

Magnus disguises a laugh behind a fake cough, pressing his lips together to stop from smiling when Agatha turns to look at them with a bland look. “You saw Alec yesterday and the day before. And on Thursday.”

“Never,” Yan repeats more loudly.

Agatha rolls her eyes - and the way she does it makes it  all too apparent who she picked the habit from. For all her appearance shows her to be three times his age, in moments like these Agatha’s real age always manages to peek through. “I suppose I should go and fetch our two wayward toddlers?”

Agatha puts her half-destroyed sweater down. “Spare yourself the effort,” she tells him. “You are better off taking these two pouting ones with you.”

Yara and Yan immediately brighten up at the suggestion, bouncing to their feet and  looking up at him with wide pleasing puppy-eyes.

“Alright, my little peppers. We’ll go see Alec,” he says. "But first I believe we should be getting some shoes.” They’re both racing off to their rooms, the magical leashes disappearing into thin air as they disappear inside the house.

“The permanent three way portal should be done by next week,” Magnus promises Agatha once they’re out of ear shot. “That should mollify them.”

It should also mollify Alec. His husband has been making increasingly unsubtle remarks about needing more rooms in the loft. Just in case one of the kids wants to spend the night, is the excuse he would stress every time. But, seeing as his blackberry hadn’t slept in the institute even once since they moved out of the Spiral and that the other trainees spent the night more often than they did not, that excuse was losing credibility by the day. 

“About that, you told Alec already?”

He hasn’t. 

“Magnus.”

“The man shadowhunter-adopted five of the children before we even started dating. I doubt he would mind having that adoption be slightly more formal.”

Agatha shakes her head. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she says as she picks her discarded sweater back up and starts the long arduous task of building it back up.

“I do,” he promises. And he does. That’s why he needs to have all his ducks - or as it stands all of his beans and  peppers in a row - before he asks Alexander to let him fix what he messed up the first time around. 

 “All ready to go?” He asks when Yan and Yara come running back, sandals and weighted sneakers tied around their feet. They both nod, running over to give Agatha a hug before taking one hand each. 

To his credit, Clearwater doesn’t blink when he sees Magnus appear. Nor do Underhill, Izzy or Jace. They simply point toward the conference room Alexander uses when he’s meeting with Clave officials, all used to this particular song and dance. All shadowhunters in Alexander’s institute are, if the ongoing bet-wars Izzy told him about are anything to go on.

Still, while Magnus has no qualms disturbing Alexander during his training-hours or even when he’s working in his office, barging into a meeting with Clave officials is another matter. Things might have gotten better, worlds better - Magnus still wakes up barely believing he can breathe without pain again. That doesn’t mean he’s ready to trust any Clave official just yet unless they’ve been personally vetted and cleared by Alexander.

Even then it would be a though sell.

The little thread of magic that ties him to his blueberry on that first day confirms he’s in the room with Alexander, though. And Magnus would recognize Sorcha’s lavender pops everywhere. 

Steeling himself to play nice with what looks seven Clave officials going by his magic, Magnus pushes the door open after ordering Yan and Yara to stay put. He readies himself to waltz his way inside and grab Sorcha and Little Max, only to stop short when Alexander raises his arms to block Magnus from taking either of their kids.

“It’s fine, they can say,” Alexander says, not taking his eyes off of the two Clave officials closest to him. “We’re finishing up anyway.”

“Puzzles!” Sorcha cheers, kicking her feet in excitement. Her enthusiasm is contagious and soon his blueberry is cheering as well. It makes the Clave official on Alec’s left turn even more red and Magnus already feels his magic bristle in anger before they open their mouth. 

“This meeting isn’t over, Lightwood. So if you’re done babysitting those-”

The shadowhunter thankfully stops himself before Magnus finds a reason to do so, sitting back down in his chair and clearing his throat with a fake cough. “The Clave has already made several concessions, Lightwood,” he begins, falling back to (clearly forced) politeness. “To show good will towards-”

“They’re going to make more.” 

Alec doesn’t wait for the Clave envoys to react to that statement and pushes himself to his feet two excited toddlers still wriggling in his arms. “If you want to discuss anything else you’ll have to speak with my secretary. I have other business to attend to.”

Alec doesn’t wait until the door is closed to bend down and give Magnus a kiss. Or to pick Yara and Yan up when they demand to be carried as well.

“But I’m the one who spoils them,” Magnus mutters when Alec refuses - yet again - to hand either his blueberry or his little starfish over to him. “The shadowhunter doth protest too much and is casting stones in glass houses on top of that, I believe.”

“Clara did not need a bioluminescent dress,” Alec protests. “Or a fourth mood ring dress.”

“And the kids don’t need to be carried around everywhere,” Magnus volleys back, using his magic to (finally) get his blueberry back in his arms. “And yet here we are.”

Alec rolls his eyes and victory, Magnus thinks, has never tasted so sweet.

“Bapak, can we fly from the big buildings again?”

“Absolutely not.”

[foodsies4me]

Magnus pulls the downworld away from the Clave after Valentine, but then Magnus hears about a shadowhunter who contacted the werewolves about a warlock baby they found. Warlock baby’s magic latched on to them so now Magnus is stuck trying to find out how to break the bond without falling for the shadowhunter first

😭🥹🥰

Alec kinda temporary (?) magical p bond with baby Max um helllloooo!?!

A tiny sneak peek for you, that will have to be reworked at a certain point. And yes, Alec having a (not-so-temporary) bond with baby Max. :D

Magnus puts on his battle jewelry, snapping poison-laden cuffs onto his wrists and switching out his passive healing piercings for his warding ones. He places a ring on every finger and snaps a belt over his leather pants before he steps through his portal to meet the werewolves.

His magic is coiled tightly around him, prepared to shield him against what will most likely be a trap. It weaves around the two werewolves that meet them, testing them and protecting them in a single breath.

Magnus readies himself for the sight that might greet him, prepares himself to see small hands bruised and broken. To see a hundred seraph blades appear when he gets within the shadowhunter's line of sight. To see blood.

He doesn't expect to see a bright-blue newborn giggling and laughing as the shadowhunter that holds the child makes funny faces at them.

[foodsies4me]

Yayyyyy new TPBG chapter and I am 😻 as always! Especially with:

- Alec including all the trainees as his oath wards because ‘as per the written law you didn’t really say one’ (or that he couldn’t have downworlders so here’s my two favs)

- Magnus swooning the whole time and Magnus’ magic yearning to wrap Alec up and keep him all warm and safe

- Imogen welcoming the downworlders (basically warlock gang) as honored guests??? I know there’s a story there

- Jace and Izzy making their oaths so centered on their brother as HOTI (and not on upholding Idris values to the core)

- ALEC SHOWING HIS SOUL MARK TO EVERYONE!

- Alec basically being ‘woops how did that happen’ about all the little decision he made that deviate from SH custom and acting so unbothered like it’s normal

Ah I love a bit of Alec doing what he wants in the name of fairness and community and love and equality. Also the sneak peek of Ragnor/Cat not being amused with Alec drinking water from Lake Lyn because he just got better and if he gets sick Magnus is going to be so mopey again 😂 Loved it so much and awesome as per usual!!

I am as always late answering but I am so glad you liked the new chapter!!!

Alec is being a little shot and reading through their laws to pick apart the wording in the way that most works with what he planned to do. If the Clave didn’t want him to do so they should have been more careful in their phrasing.

Yes there is a story and yes Magnus is halfway right with his joking « Blackmail » response. Not that he knows it.

Jace and Izzy should have written their oaths in a way that makes it clear they will support the oaths Alec makes during his ceremony and that they will stop him (if necessary by force) if he ever tries to break them. Instead, they made it seem like that’s what they were saying while meaning they would fight anyone else who tried to stop Alec from going through with his oaths. Seems like they learned being sneaky with their wording aka Baybrook helped them.

Alec is being the prettiest little shit while still meeting all fo the traditional requirements because tradition is important to him. Or said otherwise, he’s once more proving that Max is taking after him and not Jace whatever he might say because between the two of them Alec is definitely the bigger menace. He just hides it better.

Cat and Ragnor are NOT amused and Ragnor is going to make it clear that sick or not sick their first magic lesson is starting the next day and if Alec has a problem with that he should have been smarter than to drink poisonous water that is poisonous. (Aka Ragnor clucking like a mother hen but hiding it behind snark)

[foodsies4me]

Thinking about the fact that Izzy is Robert's favourite child, Jace is Myrese's and max is favoured by both robert and myrese. Alec had to grow up not being anyone's favourite and having to know that everyday.

Everytime i think about how Alec grew up i get sad bc i just know it was so lonely (not like he could complain to izzy or jace about Izzy and Jace being favoured or him getting in trouble bc of them)

The first time someone tells alec that he's their favourite (favourite teacher maybe as i can see a trainee saying it) he tries his best not to get emotional infront of them and goes to his office just to sit bc holy shit he's someones favourite.

This prompt had me screeching immediately because I love it so much, so of course I had to write it (with the usual delay because I am a snail).

You're my favorite. Alec had never been the favored child. He learned early on he'd never be the favored child either. He wasn't smart like Izzy, he couldn't pick up any arbitrary subject and master it by the end of the week. He wasn't like Jace either, the most gifted fighter they had seen in decades if not longer. It didn't mean Alec was inadequate, he was a decent fighter, a decent strategist, a decent student. He just wasn't excellent. Everywhere his siblings excelled, Alec fell short. Decent to their greatness. Not good enough to their just right. Even Max exceeded where Alec failed - hitting milestones trainees twice his age struggle with without ever losing his easy smiles or cheeky remarks. Alec has always been as thankful for that fact as secretly envious. Thankful for it meant their dad paid attention to Izzy even as he continued to forget the rest of them existed. Thankful for it meant their mom praised Jace with the affection he so desperately craved. Thankful it would keep Max safe from the criticism his parents levied at him no matter what he did. Even when the voice grew too loud to ignore, loud enough that it ended with blood and bruises and choked-off breaths, Alec never let his siblings hear it, forbade them from hearing it. Alec promised himself he would never be a source of pain for his siblings and he would keep that promise. Even when it hurt him. Especially when it hurt him. Alec had never been the favored child. He long stopped believing he ever would be. He had been too weak, too ill, too lacking to be anything above decent. Mediocre. Not enough. Alec accepted it as his lot in life. He didn't need to be his parents' favorite. He didn't need to be anyone's favorite, he had his siblings' love and that was enough. Or so he thought. "Thank you, Alec. You're my favorite," Barika mumbles in his neck, small arms curled around his neck. He looks back at his new clothes - his new boy clothes - spread out on his bed, reading some of the slogans written on them, and wipes his cheeks with the back of his hand. He then gives him a shy grin, an expression that is so unlike the rambunctious little menace Alec has come to know and asks him if he wants to help him choose his outfit for their trip today. "Sure." Barika grins, eyes shining with joy. "You're my favorite." Alec smiles, "You're my favorite too." "Not Max?" Alec pinches Barika's nose, laughing at the amused giggle it produces. "You're all my favorite," he assures, feeling the truth behind that statement settle on his shoulders like a warm, comforting cloak. "Now, do you want to wear shorts or jeans?"

[foodsies4me]

7? From the fanfic writers ask

7. How many ideas for fics do you have right now?

Too many to count! Each time I manage to write and finish a fic idea, at least four new ones sprout. The bunnies are multiplying like bunnies and my brain is overflowing with fur. But, just at the top of my head, I have in long wips alone (minimum 80k) without counting spin-offs and continuations of other fics (all not-posted yet):

Time-travel, soulmate fic

Magnus transformation into monster fic

Alec transformation into monster fic

Undercover in the circle

dragon fic Alec

dragon fic Magnus

Vampire trainee fic, Magnus or Alec murders Camille (blaming @to-the-stars-writing and @abyssal-hellcatfor this one)

The Clave decides to follow Valentine and Alec runs away with his trainees to the High Warlock because like hell is Valentine corrupting his kids (also blaming @to-the-stars-writing for this one)

The zombie (actually it’s a very rapid very dangerous rabies outbreak) fic, where mundane Alec ends up stuck with his trainees at the Zoo where Magnus is with his god daughter Madzie

the omega fic that just refuses to not be written

wing fic

Alec temporarily « dies » (his soul got stolen) and Magnus raises hell

Magnus pulls the downworld away from the Clave after Valentine, but then Magnus hears about a shadowhunter who contacted the werewolves about a warlock baby they found. Warlock baby’s magic latched on to them so now Magnus is stuck trying to find out how to break the bond without falling for the shadowhunter first

Alec and Asmodeus end up in a protection-protegee bond when Alec is a toddler and Asmodeus ends up having to become somewhat decent again (he’s not amused by it)

Alec gets turned into a bird will badly wounded, ends up at Magnus’

Magnus undercover in the Clave

Magnus’ kiss wakes Alec up when he’s in his magical coma ( a lot of things end up changing as a result)

Alec gets kidnapped by the Circle and accidentally saves an angel

Magnus ends up badly hurt and Chairman Meow tries to save him by looking for help - finds Alec.

Groundhog Day except it’s not a single day that loops but a whole month and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to when the month starts to loop again, sometimes it loops after a day, sometimes at the end of the month - Alec is slightly going insane.

And I’m going to leave it there for the time being, but yeah - far too many ideas.😆

[foodsies4me]

Chairman when he find out the Clave was being mean to his fav SH

This prompt and a discussion I had with @just-add-butter are to blame for this (Apollo-universe) ficlet. Does it work in the timeline? Possibly not. Do I care? Absolutely not!

Three times Chairman Meow almost revealed he wasn't just a housecat and the one time he didn't even try to keep up the act.

One - Magnus POV

Magnus internally rolls his eyes when Blondie opens his mouth to - unsurprisingly - repeat what Biscuit just said, only reworded in a way that's somehow even more insulting than Clarissa's had been. Magnus is almost impressed by it. Or he would be if he could muster up any kind of goodwill for the man. Still, for someone lauded as the best of his time, Jace is painfully predictable. At least in his actions and words if not his fighting. Or, Magnus hopes his fighting style isn't as predictable as everything else about him is - if only to spare Alexander the pain of losing his parabatai to his own stupidity. A small chirp draws his attention away from Jace and Clary's impassioned diatribe detailing why he should help them with their latest mess and toward Chairman Meow. His daemon is sitting on one of the tall beams, his body mostly hidden in the shadows as he looks at him with his bright green eyes. His tail swishes in annoyance, his eyes gliding over to the two shadowhunters only for a decidedly unfeline-like smirk to appear on his lips. Chairman Meow begins his act with a single meow. A soft mewl that is barely audible over Biscuit and Blondie's voices. The sound quickly turns into a wail though, his voice going up and down in the same cadence as Blondie's agitated speaking. Magnus suppresses an amused smile when Chairman Meow pushes the act yet another step further. The wail turns into a sonata when Chairman Meow starts to move around the beams, the sounds echoing around the room and starting to drown out Jace's voice. When Clarissa tries to say something he switches to a higher pitch, something closer to Clarissa's voice and Magnus is forced to hide a laugh behind a cough. "What the fuck's up with that cat!" Blondie grouches after another few minutes of Chairman's caterwauling, lasting a full minute longer than Magnus expected him to. Hearing that same sentence echoed around the room in Chairman Meow's familiar mewling growl is nearly his undoing. Magnus forces the laugh down with an easy smile and a few hasty promises that promise nothing before he's leading Blondie and Biscuit along with their daemons back out of Pandemonium before they realize what's happening. "I don't remember sassy being a trait common to household cats," Magnus teases when Chairman Meow lands on the ground to twine around his legs. "But that was an Oscar-worthy rendition, my little mouse." Chairman Meow gives him another smug grin, the magic under his skin crackling like fire before it disappears again leaving the innocent-looking tabby cat, with the innocent-sounding voice. "Meow."

Two - Max POV

Max doesn't like Mister Panghorn. He doesn't like him from the moment Panghorn arrives, because that's when Panghorn decides to snuff Alec in front of everyone and act like he's better just because he's a Clave Envoy. Minty doesn't like him either. Not even Aloysius and Sunny like him and they like everyone. So it's clearly Mister Panghorn's fault that Max doesn't like him and Max should be allowed to pull a prank on him without getting Alec in trouble. Except Max can't because Mister Panghorn is here with the other Clave Envoys for an "internal audit" to "ensure" Alec is "fit for leadership". "Maybe they should check if they're fit to have runes," Tony had snorted under his breath and while he did get scolded for it by Thornhill, they all gave him a high five for it after practice. Max doesn't like Panghorn. And he certainly doesn't trust Panghorn; None of them do. It's why they all keep an eye on him, why Aloysius keeps "accidentally" bumping into his side because nobody expects Ally to do that on purpose. Why Rara and Steph have had more questions in the past three days that only Alec can answer than they usually have in a week. And why Max has been biting on his tongue and clenching his fists to stop himself from pulling a prank on Panghorn because he deserves to be pranked. Max didn't realize they weren't the only ones keeping an eye on Panghorn. But then he hears Chairman Meow let out a low threatening hiss, his eyes annoyed and angry while glaring straight at Panghorn. He's pacing in the shadows, observing and calculating before his eyes brighten in a way Max is very, very familiar with. Chairman Meow is planning something. Planning a prank. Minty makes an excited noise that Max quickly shushes so nobody notices what they just did. Because that's when Chairman Meow jumps out of the shadows, his eyes still laser-focused on Panghorn. He weaves through the others in the Operation's Room and jumps on the rafts. The rafts where Woodowl and Hardwood are walking with buckets full of ichor-stained water in their hands. Max sees Hardwood place one of the buckets on the passageway, just long enough to dig into his pocket to grab his ringing phone. Just long enough to swipe the bucket and have the entire bucket fall on Panghorn and Panghorn alone. Panghorn can be funny, it appears. Because Max knows he's not the only one who starts laughing when he begins to splutter. "This is an institute Envoy Panghorn," Alec tells him bluntly. "Ichor stains are part of the job." Chairman Meow is purring happily when he jumps back down from the rafters and Max uses the giggling and Panghorn's screaming as a disguise to get faster to him. "Say Chairman," Max asks when the cat bumps his head against his hand to demand scratches. "Are you really a cat?" "Meow?" Max squints his eyes. "I also use that trick you know. It doesn't work on me. But it's okay, I won't tell anyone you're not really a cat."

Three - Catarina POV

Catarina breathes out a frustrated sigh the moment she's behind closed doors. The new pediatric surgeon has been working on her last nerve since he started working at the hospital three months ago. And if he weren't moderately good at his job, she would have filed a complaint already. Plav tweets his agreement from his hiding spot, his blue feathers shimmering when he spreads them mid-dive to land on her shoulder. The rest of the staff had stopped asking about her daemon after a week or two - a month at most. They all accepted her excuses at face value: Her daemon is shy. Her daemon prefers to stay outside and fly around while she's at the hospital. The explanations had sufficed for all but Steven Andrews, who somehow felt owed an introduction to Plav. As much as Catarina loves her job, she wishes it wouldn't come with people like Andrews the way it always seems to. A tingle of magic alerts her to Magnus' arrival and after another quick look at Plav, who turns himself invisible this time around rather than hiding away, Catarina heads over to the dressing room to change out of her scrubs. Of course, Andrews has to be leaving right as she prepares to leave with Magnus. "Nurse Loss," a deceptively pleasant-sounding voice interrupts Magnus' retelling of his and Alec's date the night before. "Oh, I apologize I hadn't noticed you were with a...friend." Magnus notices the particular inflection Andrews uses on the word "friend" as clearly as she does. Catarina wonders whether it's the lack of a daemon by his side - as far as the man can tell, at least -, the being Asian, or the hot-pink streaks in his hair that match his corset-vest. Most likely, it's all three of them. "I don't want to take up too much of your time, Nurse Loss, but would I be able to speak with you privately?" The request would sound more like one if he didn't follow it up with an outstretched arm and a tilt of his head. "I apologize, Doctor Andrews," Catarina says with a tight-lipped smile, "I'm afraid we have a reservation to get to." "It will only be a few short min-ouch Get, that thing off of me!" The yelp draws the attention of the others around them, all turning to see Steven Andrews with a snarling Chairman Meow in his face who just happened to fall out of the tree right then. Catarina has seen that particular trick often enough to not be fooled by it. "Let me help," Magnus cuts in, acting the perfect knight in corseted-armor with the matching innocence of a blushing virgin. "The poor thing fell out of the tree, here - oh that looks like it might need stitches," Magnus tells him apologetically as he innocently lets the "unknown" cat go again. "Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Doctor Andrews. But we really must go now." Seeing the bewildered look on Andrews's scratched-up face shouldn't be as satisfying as it is. Chairman Meow rejoins them as soon as they turn around the corner. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of small-minded, mundane men by myself, you're aware?" Catarina asks him with a pointed look. Chairman gives her his best impression of a guileless, mundane cat when he replies. His head tilted in faked confusion and his eyes wide with feigned innocence. "Meow?"

Plus One - Alec POV

Alec is half-asleep when the front door of the loft swings open and Izzy, Jace, and Clary burst in. "Magnus we need-what the fuck is that?!" Alec opens a bleary eye, wondering what managed to make Jace hit that particular frequency since he hit puberty, only to notice Jace glaring right at Chairman Meow. Or well, Chairman Meow in his slightly larer form. "Is something the matter, Blondie?" Magnus asks as he peeks out of his apothecary. "Need a pair of glasses perhaps, given you can't seem to recognize Chairman Meow." "Uh, Magnus that's not Chairman Meow," Izzy cuts in. Her hand hovers uncertainly by her side, the handle of her whip already in her palm as she keeps a weary eye on Chairman Meow. "Is Alec under there?!" "Wait what- Magnus" "And that's enough out of you three," Magnus warns as the room goes blissfully silent. "Alexander is sleeping as you all can see, so if you don't want to risk angering Chairman Meow by waking your brother from his nap, I'd suggest you keep your noise to a minimum. Now, what did you need?" Alec hears the moment Magnus lifts the muting spell and leads all three of them to his office to discuss whatever it is his siblings need. He hears them murmur among themselves, the sound quickly fading under Chairman Meow's waves and warm fur. Alec softly dozes back into his half-asleep state, buoyed by Chairman's purrs and his warm weight that covers him from head to toe when the door to Magnus' office opens again. He hears a long, thunderous growl when two pairs of footsteps step a bit too close to the couch, a clear threat that is followed by the smell of smoke and fire as Chairman Meow breathes out in their direction. "I believe that's your signal to leave before you risk waking Alexander," Magnus tells them pleasantly, ignoring Jace's startled yelp as he not so subtly kicks them out again. "You know you don't have to protect me from my siblings, right?" Alexander mumbles into the Chairman's fur, unsure which of the two he's speaking to. He doesn't care to figure it out either because Chairman Meow is warm and Magnus' fingers find their way into his hair to brush out the tangles. The last thing he hears is a deceptively, innocent-sounding chirp that Chairman shouldn't be able to do given his size. "Meow."

[foodsies4me]

Can we have a little bit of Chairman Meow, as a treat?

Of course! Here is a little snippet of Chairman Meow being adorable.💜

Magnus wakes up to a loud crash and a muffled curse that sounds suspiciously like Alexander. Looking over at the digital clock Magnus debates dozing for another ten to twenty minutes, the time it takes for Alexander to finish whatever he's cooking and join him back in bed, when a familiar yelp rings through the loft.

The sound is quickly followed by a worried-sounding Alexander and, narrowing his eyes in suspicion at whatever ploy his daemon is pulling, Magnus climbs out of bed.

He's careful to avoid startling a still-dozing Apollo, using his magic to ensure the pillow he's sleeping on doesn't move around and then, after quickly dressing himself in one of his night robes, Magnus heads over to the kitchen.

Only to see Alexander cradling a softly meowing Chairman. He's softly pressing on one of Chairman's front paws, immediately letting go when Chairman yelps again, the sound stretching into a whiny mewl that Magnus knows is fake.

"Shit," Alexander curses again, looking worriedly at the paw before he finally seems to notice Magnus' presence. Rather than greet im with a good morning or a kiss the way he usually would, though, Magnus suddenly finds himself with a handful of his daemon instead, Alexander's worried gaze still focused on his daemon and not him.

"I dropped the cinnamon powder when I was trying to make French Toast and I think Chairman Meow stepped on some glass. Can you heal him?"

Magnus opens his mouth to inform Alexander that Chairman Meow is perfectly capable of healing his own injuries himself when Chairman’s tail twitches in that particular way that promises sharp claws and revenge if Magnus doesn’t play along with Chairman’s act.

Magnus narrows his eyes at his daemon, not trying to hide his annoyance at Chairman’s latest attempt at monopolizing Alexander’s time and  attention. Wants to be annoyed that Chairman worried Alexander with his machinations while another part of him wonders how Alexander managed to be fooled in the first place considering he’s seen Chairman get struck by a seraph blade and brush it off like nothing happened and take down a wyvern with his size and teeth alone.

Inwardly scowling at his daemons ongoing campaign to monopolize his boyfriends affections, Magnus does as requested and heals the (non-existent) injury before walking over to Chairman’s brand new cat tree  to leave home there and away from Alexander.

Only for Chairman to let out another, small pitiful sound, his eyes large and pleading as he looks at Alexander to be picked back up again before Magnus manages to get his morning kiss. Again.

I’m going to portal you to North Pole  and leave you there, Magnusthreatens Chairman through their bond.

The smug look Chairman shoots him from Alexander’s arms tells him he isn’t impressed by the threat. Or it could be because he’s got what he wanted and is getting coddled by Alexander with one arm while Alexander gets back to finishing up the French toast once Magnus has banished the broken shards of glass and summoned a new container of cinnamon powder. 

The sound of flapping wings ring through the loft right as Magnus finishes setting the table, Apollo landing on the sown-in shoulder pad on Magnus’ night robe before a little beak starts to nibble on his earrings in greeting.

“Good morning, darling,” Magnus greets, running his fingers over the back of Apollo’s neck to gently scratch there when his feathers fluff up in joy. “It’s good to know some people still care about little old me.”

Alexander rolls his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips as he turns off the stove and places the French toast on the table. “Who do you think I’m making this for?” He asks, lifting the plate with the mountain of toast for emphasis. “I even went down to buy the jam you like.”

“You know I’m just teasing you, darling” Magnus says, pressing a kiss to Alexander’s lips when he sits down next to him at the table. He lifts his hand to rest on the back of Alexander’s neck when he pulls back, lightly scratching his nails down the back of Alexander’s neck.

Magnus repeats the gesture a second time, relishing in the way Alexander melts into the touch with a breathy shudder before he pulls back again, shooting Chairman a smug grin in return.

If his daemon wants to play, then he’ll play. But that doesn’t mean he’ll play fair.

[foodsies4me]

If you're still taking asks...I'd love a glimpse of a Sapphire AU - Alec isn't safe from the Clave for whatever reason and so the Warlocks do end up abducting him. The Warlocks are quite worried when he runs back to the Institute and are trying to figure out strategies to keep him safe in whatever way they can, except then he pops back up with his siblings. Of course he isn't going to leave them there once he gets out.

Okay, I adored this prompt. So much. Child!Alec would run back to the institute to make sure his younger siblings are okay and well before dragging them along with him. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this!

The distress call comes in the middle of a trial Magnus and the other Elders were overseeing. The squabble - and Magnus is being generous using that term - between Warlock Bail and Warlock Mordu would generally be something warlocks would settle between themselves. At most, a High Warlock would be involved to help mediate. So, the fact that both warlocks managed to drag the situation out to such an extent that it's being presented here in the hall of laws is laughable. The reason for their dispute is even more so. Magnus is already planning his escape route, a sudden emergency that would save him from listening to both warlocks drone on about the other having stolen their spell. Stolen. Even Magnus doesn't have the arrogance to claim to own a spell. He's about to open his mouth and make his escape when a sudden wave of pain-panic-fear makes him clench his hand around his seat hard enough for the wood to crack. The first wave is followed by a stronger second one that wipes all rational thought out of Magnus' mind because he needs him Alec needs him his little heart needs him and needs him and needs him and Magnus is not there.

There are voices calling his name but Magnus barely registers them, barely registers anything through the terror that has him tearing a hole through the labyrinth's foundations to portal to Alec's side.

All it takes is one look at the scared, tear-filled eyes for Magnus to incinerate every last Nephilim holding his little heart captive.

The shadowhunters don't have the time to react to Magnus' sudden appearance before they drop dead to the floor, their bodies scorching beyond recognition.

Magnus has already made it back to his loft, his young soulmate cradled safely into his eyes before he realizes all shadowhunters in that room had a circle rune branded into their skin.

"We can't let him go back," Elder Ndlovu says. Her voice is strained, worry visible in every line on her face and Magnus doubts he looks any better.

A warlock.

Magnus had barely believed his eyes when he'd caught sight of the small silvery-white scales - some of which had been ripped off - that decorated the young boy's skin. The warlock mark had looked out of place next to Alec's black runes and yet-

"No, we can't," Magnus agrees, his fingers clench around Alec's small, ice-cold hand. "How is he? What did they drug him with?"

Catarina grimaces. "I can't say for sure," she says apologetically. "It almost looks like they tried to drug him with everything under the sun. That or the Circle has taken a newfound interest in alchemy and potion-making - either is possible. But, I've managed to neutralize the Yin Fen, the fairy dust, and shaxweed pollen at least."

"I'm sorry - Yin Fen, fairy dust, and shaxweed pollen?" Elder Ndlovy asks incredulously, her face a mixture of horror and rage. "What the fuck were they planning to do with the child?"

"A shadowhunter-warlock hybrid capable of bearing runes - I don't think we need to guess what they were planning to do."

The lightbulbs in the bedroom explode. Again.

Catarina and Elder Ndlovu don't even react this time around. Catarina continues her monitoring of Alec's health, keeping an eye on his vitals now that his wounds have been healed and he only needs to work through the drugs they poisoned him with. Meanwhile, Elder Ndlovu banishes the glass shards with a wave of her hand, replacing the shattered lightbulbs with new ones for the fifth time.

Alec doesn't wake up until the next morning.

In that time, Ragnor and Catarina both have offered to take him in, as have Elder Ndlovu and Conan. Yet, as much as Magnus wants to accept each of the offers, he can't. Not without Alec's input.

Magnus just hopes it won't be too hard to convince the young boy that returning to his Nephilim life would be too dangerous.

Valentine might be dead - and even then, Magnus has his doubts - but the Circle was clearly still operating. And that is without taking into account the danger that the Clave would present if they were to ever find out their pure, angelic blood had been tainted in such a way.

They tell Alec as much.

While Magnus technically shouldn't be present for the conversation, the other Elders don't dare to stop him. Whether that's because he managed to inadvertently remind them how powerful he is by managing to do the impossible yet again, or because of the severity of the situation, Magnus doesn't know.

Whichever the reason though, Magnus is thankful for it because he would have promptly lost his mind if the last image he saw of Alec was of him still and lifeless in a too-large bed.

The discussion goes better than expected. And worse.

Alec is calm. Almost worryingly so. He carefully listens to Conan and Catarina's explanations, nods, and shakes his head when asked questions, the occasional mono-syllabic word escaping his lips when they ask him for more information. But he doesn't ask after his parents. He doesn't cry or scream when recounting what had happened for him to end up in the situation he was in.

The revelation about Alec's warlock status doesn't come as a surprise either, which considering the warlock mark on his back was to be expected. But, even then, Magnus had expected more. More anger. More sadness. More betrayal and grief and regret at the thought of losing the life he had lived until now. Not this-

This quiet subdued acceptance.

The Elders agree to let Alec stay another few days in Magnus' loft under Catarina's and Elder Ndlovu surveillance. The mixture of substances the Circle members drugged Alec with is still making its way through his system and placing him in an entirely new environment when he's still healing is the last thing the young child needs in his current situation unless they want to make sure he tries to run away.

Or so they thought.

Magnus is sleeping in bed, Chairman Meow lying curled up in his arms when a tingle warning him that someone passed through his wards wakes him up. The disturbance is nothing more than a minute tremble, a tingle that barely registers in his sleep-addled mind.

Magnus is halfway back to sleep when his mind registers that the disturbance carried a distinctive Nephilim signature.

Within seconds, Magnus is wide awake and racing to the guest bedroom where Catarina and Alec had been staying only to find one bed - Alec's bed - empty.

The noise of the door swinging open and smacking against the wall startles Catarina awake who looks at him strangely until her eyes follow his gaze to the empty, abandoned bed in which Alec should be sleeping.

"You don't think he-"

Magnus clenches his fists painfully. He knew Alec had been too docile. Too calm. He might not have seen the boy in years, but there was no way that the child who had sworn with so much conviction that he would make all the other shadowhunters like him, would just nod and bear it when his life got upended in the span of a few hours.

By the time they manage to track him, Alec has made his way back inside the dangerous walls of the New York Institute.

Magnus is forced to call the other Elders back ahead of schedule to alert them of the new situation as well as hopefully help him come up with a plan that would keep the young child safe without starting an outright war with the local institute or the Clave.

He is on the verge of throwing caution to the wind and stepping foot inside the New York Institute without a prior invitation when his wards tingle again, a request for entry made by one familiar angelic signature and three unfamiliar ones.

Magnus is halfway to his entrance door by the time the others notice the angelic signatures waiting for them outside. His heart is pounding in his throat as he needs to make sure the small, precious child is still safe and unharmed. Or as safe and unharmed as possible with what was very nearly a lethal amount of Yin Fen and fairy dust in his blood.

His hands are shaking when he pulls the door open, unsure what sight is going to greet him on the other side, only to stop short when he notices the two smaller, even younger children standing behind Alec, as well as the baby in the young boy's arms. A baby that is being handed to him."

"Max needs a new diaper."

[foodsies4me]

AWG Alec portalling into the Seelie realm when Magnus forgets to make kissy face at him before he goes to work

This ended up getting far more worldbuilding than it was supposed to... Anyway, here is some Alec portals into the Seelie realm because Magnus wasn't there when he woke up which is forbidden, and Magnus (slightly) freaking out over Alec's magic again because it still makes No Sense.

The thing was, even if he had known Magnus' exact location, Alexander shouldn't have been able to portal into the fae realm the way he did. Not when the man couldn't sustain something as simple as a light spell after two months of magic lessons.

And yet somehow he did.

The fae realms had always been notoriously difficult to portal into. Even Magnus tried to limit himself to the same seven places when portaling to one of the fae's domains, using the realm's twisting and moving magic to guide him to the location he needed to go. And still, Alec somehow created a portal - if one could even call what he did portaling - into the Unseelie realm to join him.

At this rate, Ragnor was going to have another conniption.

Magnus had been picking Yerpite flowers in the valleys of the in-betweens, taking enough to create multiple batches of Moonlight Draught as Catarina's and the Spiral's reserves were running low.

Despite their many attempts throughout the centuries, Yerpite, Millberget, and Engredile flowers refused to grow outside of the fae realms. No matter what they tried, the plants died within a matter of weeks, which wasn't more than an occasional nuisance when it came to the Millberget and Engredile.

The Yerpite was another matter.

Not only did the flowers grow in the so-dubbed valley of in-betweens, named for its location in the no man's land between the Seelie and Unseelie courts as well as its habit of disappearing for years on end, but they also flowered under very specific circumstances that nobody truly understood.

Magnus has no doubts that if Moonlight Draught wasn't the sole potion that could help counter Warlock's Wasting Disease, warlocks worldwide would have given up on using the flower centuries ago.

At least Magnus was close enough friends with the Drows to be notified when the flowers bloomed. Otherwise, with how different the passage of time was between their realms and those of the fae, picking the flowers would be even more difficult than it already was.

Magnus had taken on the habit of portaling instantly whenever Dhuulyn sent him a message that the valley was blooming. Whether he was sleeping, partying, or even partaking in some of the more debauched pleasures of life, Magnus never took longer than a handful of seconds to gather his magic and portal right at the edges of the valley lest it disappear again before he arrived.

Alexander, it seems, took offense to that.

They had both been sleeping in his loft when Magnus received the message. Alexander had been softly snoring, the snuffling sound lulling Magnus deeper and deeper into slumber when his wards had reacted to the burst of magic that always preceded one of Dhuulyn's alerts.

Magnus snapped wide awake within seconds, quickly but gently detangling his and Alexander's fingers and rolling away without waking him up, to grab the coin that landed on his bedside table.

Then, he magicked on some clothes before he snapped a portal into existence and stepped into the Unseelie's dark meadows.

Magnus didn't know how long he'd been gone from their realm, but he had been picking flowers for no more than fifteen minutes when a surge of powerful but familiar magic flashed across his senses seconds before Alexander materialized into thin air.

Which is how he ended up in his current situation

"Alex-"

"You weren't in bed when I woke up," Alexander grouches in that particular way he only allows himself to do when he's comfortable and still half-asleep. "Weren't in the loft either," he mumbles as an afterthought.

Magnus muffles a (slightly hysterical) laugh against Alexander's bare shoulder. "I'm sorry, dear heart," he apologizes, pressing a kiss to Alexander's waiting lips while his magic rushes to cover him up. "I'll explain everything when we're back in the loft, but this couldn't wait. But if you're here you can help me pick some more flowers before this valley disappears again with us in it."

Alexander gives him a confused frown, bleary eyes, and tousled hair proving he's not entirely awake yet. He does as Magnus orders him to though and reaches for the flowers closest to him after a request for another kiss. A request Magnus is all too happy to fulfill.

Having Alexander there to help him pick the flowers with two, doesn't win him as much time as Magnus hoped, but it does make the task more enjoyable.

Besides, Alexander's hand is too warm to let go of.

[foodsies4me]

Canon bridges Max + Magnus helping Alec maintain his sh training routine for he returns to his post as HOTI

Yesss, just Magnus smiling all cute and playing with Little Max while Alec is doing a plank or doing push-ups. Ragnor walks in on them doing that once and refuses to drop by Magnus' apartment for an entire month after that.

He maintains it's the most nauseating thing he's ever seen Magnus do and he's walked in on him and Camille in the middle of freaky business.

Cat is just amused, lol.