#heidi chen

[master-wus-tea]

Yay more Animator Wu refs!!!!!

[bytheangell]

Midnights - Femslash February Edition

Throughout February I posted a series of femslash fics, each inspired by a different song off of Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ album. Here they all are in one place! <3  1. Lavender Haze - Staring at the Ceiling With You - Catarina/Lydia (Tumblr) (AO3) 2. Maroon - The Rubies That I Gave Up - Isabelle/Lydia (Tumblr) (AO3) 3. Anti-Hero - One Day I’ll Watch as You’re Leaving - Camille/Isabelle (Tumblr) (AO3) 4. Snow On the Beach - Weird But Fucking Beautiful - Aline/Helen (Tumblr) (AO3) 5. You’re On Your Own, Kid - Still, the Yearning Stays - Becky/Clary (Tumblr) (AO3) 6. Midnight Rain  - I Broke Her Heart ‘Cause She Was Nice - Clary/Isabelle (Tumblr) (AO3) 7. Question...? - Did You Wish You’d Put Up More of a Fight? - Aline/Lydia (Tumblr) (AO3) 8. Vigilante Shit - The Lady Simply Had Enough - Heidi/Lily (Tumblr) (AO3) 9. Bejeweled - I Polish Up Real Nice - Jocelyn/Maryse (Tumblr) (AO3) 10. Labyrinth - Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind - Clary/Maia (Tumblr) (AO3) 11. Karma - Me and Karma Vibe Like That - Isabelle/Maia (Tumblr) (AO3) 12. Sweet Nothings - Running Home (To Your Sweet Nothings) - Becky/Maia (Tumblr) (AO3) 13. Mastermind - None of It Was Accidental - Dot/Jocelyn (Tumblr) (AO3)

[kenpiercemedia]

Big Apple Comic Con Releases Artist And Special Guest Rundown for Holiday Event

The Press Release: Big Apple Comic Convention, NYC’s original comic con now in our 28th year, is proud to announce our 4th Annual Holiday Con, a party convention with loads of gifts, prizes, and special events to open and celebrate the Holiday Season, and NYC’s all season love affair with the world of comics and pop culture collectibles with our fans. The BACC Holiday Con features over 100…

[dismaltouch]

muses tag dump #11

[kngstr]

Here are some drawings that I did of the Chaos Theory Story Team during our first year working together.

(from top to bottom, left to right)

Team 1: Rianna Liu @riannimation, Aevery Huens, Heidi Neunhoffer @neunhofferart , Emma Gilless.

Team 3: Shelby Peake, Natalie Carmouche @natamouche-art , Sadako Leong-Suzuki @dakooftacos , Michelle Xin.

Team 2 (the team I was in): Jiedi Chen @tio-trile, Jeffrey Chang, Ben Holm, Natalie Ruybal.

[maslosstuff]

The recurring characters of Macchio Falls! There are more to come in the future

Information about each character is below

Bash Johnson (Junior)- The high school quarter back and stereotypical school bully. He keeps those lesser than him under his thumb; even bullying teachers to give him an A+. There’s nobody he hates more than the ninja, he vows vengeance from the ninja for stealing his spotlight

Morgan Kranski (Junior)- The Deputy Mayor’s vain and spoiled daughter. She can destroy a girl’s spirit with just her words alone. Morgan wants nothing but to dethrone Heidi as head cheerleader, often teaming up with Bash to achieve her goals. She doesn’t have a problem with Howard

Bucky Hensletter (Freshman)- A clarinet playing dork who often meets the misfortune of being Bash number 1 target. Bucky loves to create symphonies with his talent but he often backs out of publishing his work.

Julian Fowler (Sophomore)- Older cousin of Theresa (by a month) Julian always looks for the positive of a bad situation, he may be not that bright but he makes up for it by rocking out

Theresa Fowler (Junior)- An outgoing and trendy stylist, she loves to try new things whether it be on her body or an extreme sport. Whenever Randy is feeling down or needs a new haircut she’s your girl! She doesn’t attend Macchio high

Pradeep Channa (Sophomore)- Former student at Flackville High, Pradeep is gifted in the field of science and astronomy. He’s often paired with Howard on class projects (This always makes Randy jealous)

Chen kang- Snappy and straightforward. Chen always gets to the point, wasting no time for arguments as even if she’s wrong she’s right. As an photographer, Chen is determined to picture everyone at Macchio High, being obsessed with getting a picture of the Ninja. As every year the Ninja is listed in the “Not Pictured” section of the yearbook. Her parents own the best beauty shop in town (the only one) “You’ve Got Nails Salon

"Stevens" Stephen Richards (Junior)- An outgoing, talkative chill guy. Stevens is always looking for a good time to party and flirt with girls. He isn't without his generosity always helping the little guy, he's deeply ashamed of his academic achievements as he pretends to be stupid. His prestigious parents are unaware of his tomcat endeavors

Susan Thermopolis (Sophomore)- Sarcastic and stern. As student council president she takes her job seriously and those in her inner circle describe her as bossy. She is assertive and outspoken, often sharing her opinions freely. She used to play the flute as a freshman

Raquel Antfee (Freshman)- Sweet and bubbly, yet slightly airheaded. Raquel loves cute things and doesn’t take no for an answer. Whenever someone is in need (whether they like it or not) she on the case. Despite her kindness she has a competitive edge and feels lonely.

David López (Senior)- A man a few words but overall a chill guy despite his peers. He doesn’t take pleasure in bullying others and would help the unfortunate. He’s also a massive musical theatre fan, he shares this interest with Juggo.

“Juggo” Jeremiah Marceau (Freshman)- A silent exchange student from France whos passionate about silent films and the art of mimicry. He loves to tell jokes but no one can understand his silent humor.

[honeyhour]

hiii someone let me use my main muses for some new threads pls <3

caroline mercer / jenna coleman. pastry chef. 

dawn waters / elizabeth olsen. kindergarten teacher.

eleanor temult / hannah dodd. politician's daughter & art student.

freya fisher / olivia scott welch. nursing student. 

heidi edison / courtney eaton. band member. 

isla watson / madison iseman. actress.

jasmine sharma / amita suman. gang member.

julia riley / ella purnell. mechanic. 

kelsey hoffman / halston sage. radio show host.

meredith dorian / kennedy mcmann. teaching assistant. 

theodora decker / kathryn newton. literature student. 

zelda chen / jessie mei li. royalty.

[woodrowhq]

"Welcome back, dear. It’s been too long since we’ve had the pleasure of your company."

Congratulations, you've been accepted as one of Richard's wards!

The Ambitious — Sama Ali ( Aiysha Hart ) played by Bree

The Charmer — Jacob Butcher ( Corteon Moore ) played by Tia

The Guardian — Alison Torres ( Melissa Barrera ) played by Sam

The Introverted — Naomi Kojima ( Anna Sawai ) played by Auddie

The Lookalike — Estrella Soto ( Jenna Ortega ) played by Pea

The Melodramatic — River Billingham ( Justice Smith ) played by Reu

The Mischievous — Reece Starling ( Rachel Sennott ) played by Gray

The Misunderstood — Reuben Sharpe ( Mike Faist ) played by Heidi

The Nostalgic — Mickey Jacquemin ( Ruby Cruz ) played by AJ

The Nurturer — Darcy Beaumont ( Elizabeth Lail ) played by Sushi

The Observer — Sebastian Son ( Lee Soohyuk ) played by Mini

The Perfectionist — Natalia Chen ( Havana Rose Liu ) played by D

The Protector — Angus Byrne ( Callum Turner ) played by Nie

The Rebel — Still available for applications.

The Scholar — Dominic Lepoult Serveille ( Jacob Anderson ) played by Mimz

The Tormented — Carmen Alvarez ( Adria Arjona ) played by Gina

"Now, before you settle in, there are a few things we need to go over." 

While you await the announcement for interactions to begin, kindly complete the checklist below.

Send in your account within 36 hours.

Follow your fellow wards.

Follow the Hub for starters and more.

Post your introduction ( outline provided here ). #wrhq.intro

Complete your first task. #wrhq.task

"If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask. Now go on, settle in."

[chen-chen-chen-again-chen]

15 Questions | 15 People

Rules: Answer these 15 Questions, then Tag 15 People 

Hello hello! Thank you for the tags, @cutestkilla, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @yellobb, @raenestee, @artsyunderstudy! I have loved reading what you've shared and getting these neat little glimpses into your lives (also taking notes for who I can ask when I have research questions about travel planning, designing clothes, swimming, etc... y'all are such a talented and interesting bunch!).

I'll skip on tagging this time, since I think most of the folks I would tag have been tagged already, LOL.

1. Are you named after anyone? Yes! My paternal grandfather is named Gregorio, as is my dad, and my both of my brothers' first names are Greg, so I wound up with "Gretchen."

My aunt tutted and said that people would think I was a blonde and blue-eyed Heidi of the Alps type, so my family and friends have always called me Chen, or Chen-Chen. I have a cousin who is named after me, and when I was holding her as a baby, I'd refer to us as "Chen Squared."

2. When was the last time you cried? Oh, yesterday. Writing poetry for a therapy assignment, LOL!

3. Do you have kids? Non. This was something my spouse and I debated for YEARS, and went back and forth on. We settled on not having kids, but being more involved with the little ones in our lives. The kids we are closest to are my spouse's half-brother and sister (they are nine and five), and my godchildren (who are nine and four). For Filipinos, the relationship between godparents and godchildren is really special, and I love being "Ninang" (godmother) to my beloveds.

(It will probably not be a surprise to anyone who has read "Jelly Babies" or "Baker boxer teacher grief" that my spouse's relationship with his younger sibs influenced my depiction of Baz with his sibs).

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot? LOL, more so when I was younger and more barbed! I've embraced the joy of being more maudlin and earnest as I get older.

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people?  Clothes. I think it's a writer thing, where I like clocking what people are wearing so I can use the details as story fodder, haha. But as part of my job, I work with people face-to-face a lot, so I also try to gauge what mood people are in and how open they are to talking.

6. What’s your eye color? Dark brown!

7. Scary movies or happy ending? Happy endings! My best friend is a horror fiend, which is hilarious because I'm the biggest baby when it comes to scary movies.

8. Any special talents? Hmm... I can type around 100 WPM (Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing was one of the first computer programs we had in my house). I've been told I have a nice phone voice, so I used to record all the voicemail messages for our office. I've also been told that I put together kickass care packages. 👍🏽

9. Where were you born? Winnipeg, Manitoba.

10. What are your hobbies? Gardening, cross-stitch, cooking, baking, painting (poorly), video games, reading, fountain pens, anime/manga. I think like others, my gardening sort of falls off in midsummer and I just try to grab every zucchini before they grow huge. 😆 I love to sing though I'm not very good at it ("Try the Worryin' Way" by the Fabulettes is a FANTASTIC song to belt in the shower).

Oh, I also find it very soothing to clean and fiddle around with my mechanical keyboard (I used a Das keyboard with Cherry Blues for a long time, and just switched to a Nuphy Halo 75, with delightfully clicky Gateron Blues).

11. Do you have any pets?  NO, SADLY! I'm allergic to cats and my spouse to cats and dogs (which is a shame, because animals adore him). I just cuddle other people's dogs and admire their cats from a distance. We have a neighbourhood cat that likes to roll in our catmint in the summer.

12. What sports do you play/have you played? Badminton, swimming, rollerblading. I am also asthmatic and uncoordinated, so organized sports were a trial growing up; in 8th grade, I skipped gym as much as possible by helping out my Art teacher after class.

13. How tall are you? 5'0" (I'm a shortie, it's just how Filipinos roll)

14. Favorite subject at school? In high school, English Lit, and in uni, Film Studies. I learned more about writing from Film Studies than I ever did in English.

15. Dream job? For the longest time, I wanted to be an English professor. Then I dropped out of grad school because of Depression, went back after a year, graduated, got a closer look at the job prospects and work culture for academics and said "No thank you."

Reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert really changed my expectations. Instead of wanting to make it as a professional writer, I switched to wanting a stable job where I would have the work-life balance and resources to pursue writing in my free time. And now I have that! So I am living the dream!

[jolintsai-es]

2019-2024 蔡依林 UGLY BEAUTY 世界巡迴演唱會 World Tour 2019.12.30 臺北小巨蛋 Taipei Arena → 2024.08.18 廈門奧林匹克體育中心—白鷺體育場 Xiamen Egret Bailu Stadium

– UGLY BEAUTY WORLD TOUR ALL-TIME DANCERS P1 – Adam Charles Vesperman @adamvesperman Amanda Leigh Kinert @amanda_kinert Ayden Hammer @aydhammer Bailey Michael Piña @bailey_pina Caleb Jerome Gopal @calebjerome__ Carl Robby Flavell Trice @carlflavell Charles Rodger Williams @chuckthemover Charles Rodger Williams @chuckthemover Christa Michaela Albert @christaalbert Dai Boyd @daiboyd Dayne Christian Sempert @daynesempert Diorrion Kiar Archer @diorrion Eden Estella Coleman @edencolemann Elyssa Ariana Cueto @elyssacueto Floris Bosveld @florisbosveld Hana Rachel Morris @hana_morris Heidi Chen 陳賀@heidizzle_c Hugh Espiritu Aparente @hughniverse Isaac Hernandez @isaachernandez96_

Jalen Robert Forward @jalen_forward Jazz Smith @jazzsmith.a Jessica Rita Ann Toatoa @jessicatoatoa Jordan Laza @j_o_r_t_a_y Jordan Taylor Laza @j_o_r_t_a_y Kaiti Reese @kaitireese Kaylee Ann Purtell @kayleepurtell_ Keaton Thomas Kermode @keaton_kermode Kiel Mark Jacob Tutin @kieltutin Kyleigh Ann Butts @kkyjones Leilani Rose De Marco @leilanidemarco Louis Dipippa @louisdipippa Lilli Jay @lillyjay___ Oritestsolaye Akuya Maddison Mackenzie Barnett @maddy__barnett Maikolo Robert Fekitoa @maikolo_fekitoa Marcus Vrondas @marcusvrondas Michael Tapiua Metuakore @michael_metuakore Morgan Geraghty @iammorgan3

Nathan Kara @nathankara Payton Gray @paytongrayofficial_ Peyton Matthias Albrecht @peytonmatthias Riley Mark Francis Bourne @rileybourne Riley Patricia Groot @rileygroot Rudy Alexander Abreu rudyaabreu Sarah Elizabeth Kinert @sarahkinert Shannon Ashley Walter @shannon.ashleyy Stephen Carlos Perez @stephenperez Tahlia Petreska @tahliapetreska_ Toa Paranihi @toakp Zara Dimmock @zaradimmock_

[revenanthq]

WELCOME   TO   FORKS   !   I   hope   you   will   enjoy   your   stay   and   don't   let   the   rain   ruin   your   time   here.   We   hope   to   see   you   arrive   in   the   next   24   hours   !   But   more   about   that   can   be   found   HERE   !

Emmet       Cullen       (   fc:   Emilio       Sakraya       )       by       Blaik Olivia       Mendoza       (   fc:   Peter       Gadiot       )       by       Blaik Heidi       Volturi       (   fc:       Eiza       gonzalez       )       by       Trix Denali     Villalobos     (     fc:     Lizeth     Selene     )     by     Trix Alice       Cullen       (   fc:   Daniela     Nieves       )            by       Arty Kate       Denali       (       fc:   Halston     Sage       )     by       Arty Rosalie       Hale              (   fc:   Pinar     Deniz       )       by       Nesta Yi     Yoongi     (     fc:     Kim     Jiwoong     )     by     Nesta Esme       Cullen       (       fc:       Matilda       Lutz       )       by       Gem Jane         Volturi         (       fc:         Danielle         Rose         Russell       )       by   Nyx Maia     Reid   (   fc:     lisa      yamada     )       by   Nyx Marcie         Cruz         (   fc:      Mikey      Madison      )         by         Ki Angela       Weber       (       fc:    Aybuke    Pusat       )       by       Lizzie Lucia       Diaz       (       fc:       Jenna       Ortega       )        by        lizzie  Jessica     Stanley     /     Sadıklar        (       fc:      Melisa     Pamuk       )     by   lily Amara     Michaels        (       fc:         Danielle     Campbell        )     by     lily Corin     Volturi         (       fc:         Hande     Ercel           )       by       Amii Hayes     Monroe     (     fc:       Dylan     O'Brien     )     by     Amii Athenodora     Volturi         (       fc:         Emilia     Clarke         )       by       Lo Jasper     Hale         (       fc:         Josh     Heuston         )       by       Lo Bui   Niran     (     fc:     Kasidet     Plookphol     )     by     Bun Edward     Cullen     (     fc:     Song     Kang     )     by     Bun Kai     Chen     (     fc:     Derek     Luh     )     by    Vic Michael     Hill     (     fc:     Casey     Deidrick     )     by     Vic Elise     Lynn     (     fc:     Ruth     Willson     )     by    Kate Hayes     Monroe     (     fc:       Dylan     O'Brien     )     by     Amii

[bytheangell]

The Lady Simply Had Enough

(Read on AO3)

Heidi hears the footsteps approaching. She could run, and she probably should run, but she doesn’t. She’s too full of herself, too high on the thrill of her string of successful kills to flee now.

Plus, she knows those footsteps and she doesn’t want to run from them. From her.

“Lily, darling, I’m so happy to see you!” Heidi says just as the other vampire rounds the corner.

“You shouldn’t be. You know why I’m here, Heidi,” Lily says, careful to keep her distance. Heidi is equal parts offended and amused by her hesitation.

“Because he told you to find me,” Heidi says. “You know he did this to me, right?”

Heidi watches the flicker of doubt on Lily’s face. “I know,” she finally admits. Heidi appreciates the fact that Lily doesn’t lie to her, or hide the hesitation this truth obviously brings with it… but why is she still doing Raphael’s bidding, then? If she knows?

“And you still want to follow him instead of joining me?” Heidi questions, genuinely confused.

“Join you for what?” Lily takes the bait and Heidi grins, wide and manic.

“For fun, Lily! For whatever we want!” The volume of Heidi’s voice rises with every word, as does her pitch. By the end of her declaration, she has her hands in the air, spinning in a circle to emphasize the fun aspect. “And maybe for a little revenge, too.”

“You’re insane,” Lily protests.

“So come with me. Keep me sane.”

“I can’t help you go after Raphael,” Lily says.

“He deserves it. When the others find out what he’s done, what he’s done to me, they’ll understand.” Heidi hesitates. “You understand, right?”

“I can’t let you kill him,” Lily insists, shaking her head.

“So come with me,” Heidi repeats her plea. “Be my moral compass if that makes you feel better,” Heidi takes several steps toward Lily, slowly, to make sure Lily doesn’t run. She doesn’t. She waits until Heidi is directly in front of her, their faces only inches apart. “Come with me,” Heidi says again, one last time for good measure.

“I don’t know…”

“What if I promise not to kill him?” Heidi offers.

“Just for me?” Lily asks, sounding surprised.

“Just for you,” Heidi promises.

Lily leans forward, not answering with words but with a press of lips onto Heidi’s. Heidi smiles into the kiss, a wild grin that nearly ruins the moment because it makes it very difficult to kiss Lily back.

“Is that a yes?” Heidi asks when Lily finally pulls away.

“It’s a yes for now,” Lily says, reaching out a hand that Heidi readily takes. “Let’s get you out of here.”

[thelightofthebane]

through the good and bad and all in between

Summary: Magnus was born a warlock. Magnus became a mundane for love and by self-sacrificing tendencies. Magnus turned into a vampire after an act of spite and revenge.

A story about survival, new identities, love through adversities, and accepting changes.

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Episode: s03e17 Heavenly Fire, Vampire Magnus Bane, Turned without consent, Major Character Undeath, Immortal to Mortal to Immortal, Magnus Bane Deserves Nice Things, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Good Boyfriend Alec Lightwood, Soft Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Cat & Alec friendship, Domestic Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending

Rating: E

Chapters: 10

Words: Around 23k~

This fic was created for the Shadowhunters Mini Bang 2023: Presented by the @malecdiscordserver

You can read it on AO3 or the ninth chapter below ~

Chapter 9 - Would you guide me through all of this again?

“More to the right. No, wait, left. More to the left.”

Slowly, Magnus’ new apartment was being put together. Despite some initial nervousness, he was now very excited, his old self slowly returning and showing all his flair for decor.

Once he decided to move back to New York, it didn’t take too long to plan everything - it also helped to have a very thorough boyfriend who was unable to leave a single dot out of place.

First, there were the vampires. Magnus had to be officially appointed as the leader of the New York clan if he expected to make any real changes. For that, a meeting was scheduled and all vampires presented had to vote. Even Simon and Raphael attended it - nevermind that Raphael was a mundane and technically shouldn’t even been in a vampire den.

However, Raphael was still very much respected by his old peers, and he didn’t need enhanced abilities to make some cower in fear - the boy still had a killer glare. Simon also proclaimed himself as ‘Raphael’s personal bodyguard’, which also gained a hiss and cold glare from Raphael, but Simon seemed to be having too much fun to be discouraged by it.

And there was Lily Chen, who had been the clan’s interim leader since the mess caused by Heidi. Lily had too much respect and adoration for Raphael, and she vowed to rip off the head of any vampire who dared to harm him.

Magnus already adored that woman.

As Raphael had predicted, Magnus easily won the voting. Most of them has been helped once by Magnus or had someone closer who had been. Even the ones who were still fledglings have heard many stories of Magnus Bane, and were in awe with him. It also helped that some of them felt proud to be lead by the former High Warlock of Brooklyn, and wanted to boast it to other minor clans in the city.

Which led to the old political game that Magnus was very much acquainted. He talked to all clan leaders who were willing to listen to him, and even errant ones who preferred to isolate themselves - but Magnus needed to make sure if they really didn’t need any help of some kind.

Then, there was other Downworld leaders - since Magnus became the new Vampire representative for both the exclusive Downworlder Council and the New York Institute’s Downworld Cabinet.

Lorenzo wasn’t much amused, which only delighted Magnus more. Especially during the meetings, when Lorenzo would make a mistake and Magnus corrected him with a very sassy “Actually…” while mentioning some magical theory or talking about a warlock of New York that Lorenzo didn’t know about, but Magnus did in very thorough details.

Magnus might’ve lost his powers and even his identity as a warlock, but he was still full of a knowledge that Lorenzo could only dream to have.

It was also easy to formally introduce himself as a new clan leader for the local Institute's head. Some would say said Head was very much biased.

(Alec Lightwood would never agree nor deny such statement.)

Finally, there was Magnus’ new residence. Taking upon the suggestion Raphael had made, Magnus moved to Hotel DuMort’s penthouse. It was an abandoned place full of dust and cobwebs and a black blob of ichor that looked like some lost demon - it was innofensive though, and Magnus would have adopted it if Chairman Meow didn’t try to lick it.

The wooden boards covering all windows and the living room’s balcony could be removed too since sunlight wasn’t a problem to Magnus anymore. He didn’t try to keep being a Daylighter a secret, and a plausible explanation was necessary. Fortunately, there were no registers of a warlock becoming a vampire, so there were no precedences for his case and it was easy to convince everyone that it was probably just a mix of residual magic and his heritage as the son of a Fallen Angel.

And no, it couldn’t be replicated.

All in all, everything else seemed settled, and Magnus was ready to begin this new phase of his life.

“For fuck’s sake, Magnus! Make up your mind already!” Jace groaned, but shut up upon seeing Alec glaring at him.

It also helped having a group of Shadowhunters with runes to carry boxes and clean the entire place.

“Fine, fine. It’s good there. You can put it on the floor.” Magnus pouted, but he was still very pleased with himself.

While Alec and Jace were busy moving the furnitures, Clary was painting the walls and Isabelle was putting the ornaments, books and utensils in place.

For now, Magnus was only giving orders and being pretty.

He deserved that.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and everyone stopped what they were doing.

“It must be Simon. He told me he was coming,” Izzy snickered, already going to the front door to open it.

“Who invited the vampire?” Alec huffed.

“Hey!” Simon gasped, poking out his head from behind a pile of boxes and bags.

“Alexander, I’m one too now,” Magnus tutted, but there was humor sparkling in his eyes.

“I brought food, okay? Pizza for the Shadowhunters, and Taki’s Vampire dishes for me and Magnus. Maia even sent a bottle of that cocktail you loved from the last time, Magnus.”

“The one with vodka, O-, a double shot of AB+ and two drops of plasma?” Magnus perked up, grinning broadly.

“Yep. She is always saying how you are her best customer and she doesn’t mind making exceptions for you.”

“I will thank her later.”

They all settled on Magnus’ beautiful mahogany table to eat, all the while chatting about different topics and even gossiping.

“Hey, Magnus,” said Clary after finishing her second slice of pepperoni pizza. “How did you get your things back? I thought they were still in your loft with Lorenzo.”

“Ah,” Magnus smiled in amusement. “I heard that Alec and Cat had a private talk with Lorenzo. I wish I could have seen it. He agreed to send all that belonged to me.”

Clary grinned. “I bet it was a hell of a talk.”

Alec just shrugged, not giving a hint. Jace said he swore parabatai secrecy and Izzy, despite being clearly smug about it, chose to side with her brothers and keep quiet about it.

Magnus knew Cat would be even harder to crack, so he had already accepted that he would never know.

“But the asshole didn’t let us take anything from Magnus’ apothecary. He said that as the High Warlock, he had the duty to keep in his care any magical item that could pose as a threat for mundanes.” Alec rolled his eyes.

“Catarina has already sent a letter to the Spiral Labyrinth’s Council in the hopes to at least grant me the chance to choose whom to give all my work to. But we’re sure that Lorenzo will use the argument that it wasn’t my work but of the High Warlock of Brooklyn.”

“Isn’t this stealing?” Simon frowned.

“Lorenzo thinks it’s his right.” 

Soon it became a full discussion between outraged Shadowhunters and one young Vampire who knew nothing about Warlock laws, but were ready to defend and help Magnus. At some point, it become a tactical plan of finding a loophole in the Accords so they could secretly curse Lorenzo to be bald for the next centuries.

Silly, silly children. All of them.

Magnus could only listen to them and shake his head in fondness, his heart full.

Later, when the penthouse was quieter, Magnus went to the balcony to watch the sunset, the Manhattan skyline painted in beautiful shades of purple and pink and orange.

He easily heard the steps coming from the master bedroom, already used to the accuracy of Vampire hearing, and soon felt two strong arms hugging him from behind.

They stayed like that for a while, just watching as night slowly greeted them, when Alec ultimately spoke.

“Do you miss Brooklyn?”

Magnus thought for a moment, but the answer was already on the tip of his tongue.

“No.”

There, resting on Alec’s arms, their bodies pressed together, feeling his Shadowhunter’s lips ghosting over his skin, Magnus let go for once.

“I’m already home.”

~*~

No no no no.

It hurt. It hurt too much.

Stop.

Please, stop.

“...gnus.”

Don’t, please.

Don’t do this.

I’m begging you.

No.

“...Magnus…”

I’ll be good. I promise, I promise.

No.

Not my neck.

Stop.

Don’t touch me.

Don’t.

No.

Please.

Please.

Please.

“Magnus!”

“DON’T!”

Magnus opened his eyes and sat abruptly, throwing a blanket away. He was shaking like a leaf, and if he still had a beating heart, it would certainly be thumping like crazy inside his chest.

A nightmare.

Again.

Magnus was no stranger to bad dreams, but they got worse since his death. It wasn’t only about his mother or stepfather anymore. It was Asmodeus. Edom. Camille.

Getting killed again and again and again.

It was waking up under the ground and desperately searching for a way out.

It was Camille’s voice and touch and her hands killing him.

“Magnus…” Alec called softly. When Magnus turned his head towards him, he saw his fiancé’s hands hovering in the air, earning to touch but waiting for Magnus’ consent.

Alec’s eyes were soft, understanding.

Magnus wasn’t the only one battling nightmares.

Alec, too, had his bad nights. He would dream of being there when Magnus was killed, but unable to do anything to save him. Or being back in that hole, falling, burning, dying. All the while, Camille’s taunting voice laughing in a mocking symphony, reminding him that he lost and Magnus was gone.

They were such a pair.

“Same one?”

Magnus nodded, still shaken.

But now, when one or both of them woke up in terror, they knew how to act and help. It took some time, but they’d learned in the worst way that bottling things up would only make any open wound fester, pushing the other away. Thus, they started to compromise. 

Sometimes they talked. Sometimes they kept in silence, being a quiet supporter to the other.

Sometimes they would go to the kitchen to make a warm tea for Alec and warm blood-infusion tea for Magnus. Sometimes they simply stayed in bed and cuddled until a new day started.

This time, though, Magnus felt doing neither. He had too much restless energy to stay still, to stay inside. It was like all the walls were closing him, keeping him trapped.

Buried.

He shivered. 

“I… I think I’m going for a run.” Magnus barely finished, and he was already out of bed, going to his closet to change clothes.

“Can I go with you?”

“I don’t want to go slow, Alec. I really need to run, and you won’t be able to keep up with me. Vampire speed, you know.”

“Are you sure about that?” Alec arched an eyebrow. He picked up his stele from the beside table and twirled it between his fingers. “I do have a speed rune.”

This time, it was Magnus who arched an eyebrow.

“Are you sure?”

“You’re on, Mr. Bane.” Alec challenged before getting up from the bed and activating the rune on his left inner forearm.

And despite all the exhaustion, all the lingering fear and all the pain…

Magnus genuinely smiled.

~*~

Alec sighed as soon as he left the portal and stepped into Alicante. He hasn’t been in the City of Glass since Jonathan almost destroyed it. After months, everything seemed in order now, and the Nephilim lived as if nothing major really happened.

So, when Alec got an official fire message from the Consul’s office, requesting his presence that same day for an important meeting, he started to wonder if another world-ending disaster was about to happen.

At least he hoped there wasn’t a new Valentine on the loose somewhere.

But the last thing he expected to hear from Jia Penhallow was an offer to be Inquisitor.

Only years of perfectly masking his reactions that prevented Alec to imitate a fish out of water. 

Saying he was surprised was an understatement.

“Since Imogen was killed, we’ve been keeping a rotation for the Inquisitor position, but none has been worth of it. A lot of more experienced Shadowhunters died during Jonathan Morgenstern’s attack, and most of the younger ones are either too eager and prone to mistakes or haven’t figured out yet how the political scene works. I don’t need amateurs beside me, Mr. Lightwood.”

“But why me? Forgive me my bluntness, Consul, but we both know that I wasn’t exactly in your good radar until recently.”

“That might be as well, but I don’t need to like you to acknowledge how competent you are as leader. Despite the New York Institute seeming to be a magnet for trouble, you’ve been doing a better job than other Heads that have twice your experience in the field. You even managed to make the local Downworlder community work with you.”

“It’s still a work in progress.”

“And yet,” Jia pointed out before crossing her arms over her chest. “We need an Inquisitor with an open mind, Mr. Lightwood. Who will be fair when analyzing a case and who won’t punish innocents. Who will uphold the Accords while keeping the Angels’ mandate. We’re even considering open the borders to allow Downworlders’ entrance - with some rules, of course.”

Alec frowned.

That… That was huge. Allowing Downworlders in Alicante, that weren’t prisoners, was an incredible step forward. Magnus would be able to visit, maybe even live here, too.

And being Inquisitor… His parents would be so proud. Becoming a Head was always in the plans for Alec since he was a child, but getting to the second highest position of the Clave before he was even 30?

But.

“So, what do you say? When can you start?”

He didn’t want.

Yes, he could help bring so many improvements as the Inquisitor. He could even review old cases to check if a Downworld was being kept locked in the Gard unfairly.

Then again…

There was still a lot of things he had to do in New York. The Downworld Cabinet was still taking baby steps - and Alec had plans to expand it for more factions, like the Unseelie and the Selkie -, the Shadow Market was finally opening to Shadowhunters, and they were receiving more Shadowhunters in their traveling year than ever.

And there was Magnus.

That night, his fiancé woke up screaming and writhing on the bed again. Magnus had already endured so many changes in a short period of time. Bringing him to Alicante would be another big change, too soon after the last one. And while Alec knew the vampire would gladly accept for his sake and follow him, he also knew Magnus wouldn’t feel comfortable there.

Not in a place full of people who once despised and hurt him.

And even if they couldn’t physically harm Magnus without breaking the law, words could cut deeper than any weapon.

Alec wouldn’t take the risk.

He wouldn’t let Magnus get hurt again if he could prevent that.

“I’m very grateful for your offer, Consul. But I’ll politely decline it.”

Silence.

Jia scrutinized him as if Alec had lost his mind.

Maybe he had.

But his heart was in the right place to be found.

“You’re something else, Mr. Lightwood. It’s rare for a Shadowhunter to decline a position in the Clave. A great one at that. Even rarer so to do it twice. Some people would do anything to merely be nominated as Inquisitor.”

“And I’m very honored, Consul. But my heart is in New York. I’m certain I can do better there. I’m sure there are many people who would also do a marvelous job as Inquisitor, too. If you allow me, can I make a suggestion?”

Jia sighed, clearly upset, but nodded. “Go on.” 

“She is also from an old family. She is very competent, and I’m sure she will be fair in her judgement. She will know how to deal with the Downworld and create alliances with them.”

This time, it was Jia’s turn to frown.

“Who?”

Alec smirked.

“Lydia Branwell.”

[solatgif]

TGIF: Roundup for June 2, 2023

Save the date! “Writing the Next Chapter,” the 2024 Asian American Leadership Conference, will take place on April 23-24 in Orange County, California. More info coming soon.

Peter Lim, Jason Min, and Kevin Yi were privileged to be included in an assembly of Asian American Christian leaders from all over the United States for an unprecedented Listening Session with the White House. Read their reflections.

This newsletter is one of the many ways you can keep in touch with us. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more, check out my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group and TGIF Playlist on Spotify. You can reach me on Twitter and Instagram.

Aaron Lee, Editorial Curator

Enter to win this excellent book! What does Scripture show us about Jesus? In Road Map to Jesus, Alistair Chalmers takes us on a trip through beloved Biblical texts to show us the Savior. Read my review. Thanks to Alistair Chalmers for providing this book for our giveaway, in partnership with my newsletters for @diveindigdeep and FCBC Walnut.

Articles From Around The Web

N. Gray Sutanto: 4 Realities in Jakarta That Expose Western Judgments of Christianity

“To those who experience social guilt and shame, Christianity announces a better way. It calls sin by name, depends on Christ’s blood for absolute cleansing, and calls sinners to be made new in him.”

T. Kim: What Risks Can Moms Take? Following Jesus with Small Children

“Fellow mom, though I may be oceans away, neither of us raises our family in the country of our citizenship. You also face many risks as you serve Christ. Do you trust him? Is he worthy? If so, what is a faithful, risky yes you can say to him today?”

Virginia Chen: Our Beloved Ones Don’t Become Angels When They Die

“Despite what Chinese religions and pop culture might suggest, they stay human—and that’s a good thing.”

The SOLA College Writing Cohort is our new writing cohort for college-age students to receive mentorship and training as young Christian writers. Editorial Board member Soojin Park will personally be leading this initiative, and she is very excited at the prospect of nurturing the next generation of Asian American thinkers and writers who will help encourage and edify the Church!

Books, Podcasts, Music, And More

Journeywomen Podcast: Unashamed with Irene Sun

“In the face of intense shame heaped upon her by others throughout her life, Wen Wei Chieh was never ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This woman of the faith endured poverty, loss, and rejection at every turn, but she stood firm on the Word of God, knowing the Lord would remain faithful to her.”

Related: Sharing Biblical Theology With Kids: An Interview with Irene Sun

The Russell Moore Show: Curtis Chang Says Anxiety Is Opportunity

On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Curtis Chang explains that the root of anxiety is the fear of loss. The conversation also covers social media, the role of medication in addressing mental health struggles, and various spiritual practices for responding to anxiety.

Related: Youth, Politics, and Social Media: A Conversation with Russell Moore

Aaron Lee: Related Works

Book Reviews: The Existence and Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock, Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity by David A DeSilva, The Cross in Context by Jackson W., Serving as Jesus Served by Michele Howe. Listen to our TGIF playlist on Spotify. Join my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group.

For Mother’s Day, check out our Moms & Motherhood collection! Featured authors include Faith Chang, Amy Loh, Alice Kim, Heidi Tai, Grace Lung, and Kristen & Karisa You.

Featured This Week On SOLA Network

Connie Nelson: The Best is Yet to Come: How Knowing Jesus as Our Resurrected Lord Impacts Our Parenting

“If our children are in Christ, we can be confident in their future.”

Matt Ng: The Sound Witness of An Ordinary Life

“A sound witness is an everyday, unscheduled, and unprompted endeavor that demonstrates Christian humility and charity. It tills Gospel soil. It’s a characteristically winsome lifestyle that exudes Gospel flavor to others around us—the kind of living that makes it no surprise to others that we love Jesus.”

Peter Lim, Jason Min, Kevin Yi: Reflections on the White House Listening Session with Asian American Christian Leaders

On May 4, 2023 the Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC), which is a national organization that focuses on education/equipping, advocacy, and community building to represent the voices, issues, and histories of Asian Americans, congregated Asian American Christian leaders from all over the United States for an unprecedented Listening Session with the White House.

Michael Agapito: Two Things Young Pastors (and others) Can Learn From Tim Keller’s Life and Ministry

“For a man of his size and stature, his presence was rather disarming and far less imposing. For a person of his reputation, he was relatively unassuming and even soft-spoken.”

TGIF: Roundup for May 26, 2023

What Youth Workers Need to Know About Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month / on the unlikeliest of penpals, or concerning Tim Keller / Western Classics Exclude Me. But Christ Can Redeem Them

General disclaimer: Our link roundups are not endorsements of the positions or lives of the authors.

[arutai]

Bri Chen by Heidi Tappis

[psychopomping]

chen really wrote the nation's break up song only to come home to his loving pregnant fiancee.